The witty and sometimes poignant travel tales of a man with no plan. Armed only with an illegal air ticket, a small backpack and two pairs of very expensive socks, this is the story of a year randomly roaming the globe with decisions, big and small, often taken on the toss of a coin. Around The World In Wonder Socks is packed with weird, wild and wonderfully heartwarming encounters across the globe. There are lovemaking tips from an Indonesian gigolo, mystical moments in ancient temples and the thrill of driving a passenger train in Burma. The world's most beautiful woman tells of legendary encounters in Hollywood and Stone Age tribes warn of the dangers of standing on rocks. Along the way there are late night lock-ins with monks, touching tales from a Vietnamese war widow, two wedding proposals in ten minutes and etiquette tips for watching movies in Belgium and Laos. Around The World In Wonder Socks is an encouragement call to the middle-aged to put some sparkle, spontaneity, fun and excitement back into travel. It's also a reminder that the world is full of amazing, kind and caring people. The BBC's internationally acclaimed World Affairs Editor John Simpson called it 'a joy and a delight' and 'the ultimate book of escape'.