Never lonely planet, the

Martin Oliver grew up and served an apprenticeship in Coventry, renowned at that time for its car production companies, with the expectation of drifting onto the production line. His fear of spending his working life clocking in and out of a factory, however, led him to join the Merchant Navy and eventually emigrate to Brazil. And so begins an amazing exploration of his experiences, travelling across continents and cultures, breathing in the rich history and absorbing the ever-changing landscape, not without a few bar stops and beer on the way.  From Brazil and Dubai to Cambodia and Thailand, Oliver delights in the golf, women and nightlife, shares his recollections of his time at sea and the oil exploration industry, explores untouched villages and is haunted by the remnants of atrocities committed the world over. And then there are the people; who would have thought you could find a Liverpool FC supporting tribesman in Eritrea?  Whilst The Never Lonely Planet is both a travel book and an autobiography, its purpose is also to serve as an inspiration to the reader and to show them that the opportunity to travel is open to almost anyone if they would only take the initiative. The traveller should never be blinded by politics, religion or their ignorance of other cultures. On the contrary, a little time spent travelling will result in a new respect and understanding of the people with whom we share our planet.