I've practically been around the world. Firstly for my reports when I was science journalistand later aswriter. I have taken every opportunity to present my books abroad, since I have been translated into 37 languages. What interests me about travelling is to discover other ways of thinking. I shun museums, being only too eager to chat with the locals, to let them explain to me how their country works. That's the only thing that fascinates me.
I write more comfortably in the trainbut if I have to fly on long-distance tours, the must is obviously the business classwith its extendable seats. Once, on Air ChinaI experienced the first class. The dream: a real bed, pyjamas, slippers, all in my own cabin... With a hostess on hand in a second if I had the slightest need... That must have cost my publisher quite a lot!
There are countless countries that have seduced me. South Korea being one of my favourites. The people are rigorous and demanding, but always polite and smiling. There are two places that have made a particular impression on me. L'IndiaIt's like nothing you've ever seen before. Watch out for the shock. And the JapanIt's a wonderful country, with a different value system to ours. The two cities where I didn't feel comfortable, where the weight of ghosts is too heavy for me, are paradoxically considered to be the most romantic in the world. Venicewhere the population has become saturated with tourists. And PragueI found it sad, because you can see the scars of Communist oppression.
More than once, my guardian angel has pulled me out of truly dangerous situations...
The problem with travelling is that sometimes you risk your life! I remember in KenyaDuring a safari, our car got stuck in the mud, surrounded by wild animals. We had to use techniques worthy of an Indiana Jones to get out. Years earlier, in the middle of the African jungle, I was almost eaten by huge magnan ants. More recently, on a press trip, I found myself on the edge of an active volcano. With a group of journalists, we decided to get as close as possible to the monster to observe it. One by one, the journalists turned back, except for the editor-in-chief of a major magazine and myself, who kept going. Suddenly the ground became crumbly... Too late. I can see the young woman slipping irretrievably towards the steaming crater of molten lava. She clung to my leg and saw herself dying, but I tried a last-ditch manoeuvre that would save us both in the end. More than once, my guardian angel has pulled me out of truly dangerous situations...
But there are also magical encounters. Years ago, I went trekking in theHimalaya. According to our Sherpa, we were due to arrive at the refuge at 5pm. But the hours ticked by, and we finally arrived at midnight. We were surprised to discover the name of the place: "The end of the universe"the end of the world. Here, two couples are talking to each other. The dialogue went like this:
"- We've just arrived from Australia, what about you?
- So are we. We're from Sydney.
- Is that so? But we're from Sydney too!
- We live in Wilshire Avenue.
- You've got to be joking! We're at number 157 too!
- 157?! But that's incredible, that's our number too! On the 6th floor!
- Ah, too bad... We're on the 5th floor." .
They burst out laughing. In the end, the chalet should have been called 'It's a Small World'!
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