I may not always have looked after myself as well as I should have, especially in my younger years. Back then, life felt endless and mortality like a myth. Over the last five years, however, I’ve developed a much greater sense of self-awareness, both mentally and physically, and the things I once took for granted have become a weight upon me. I realised the only person who could change my inner and outer world was me. I gave up habitual drinking and smoking, hit the gym, and

I like to think of Ben Langley as, at his core, a strong character. Physically he could hold his own, having trained in martial arts, and he was a loyal friend, brother, and father. It was only when he became entangled in a chaotic relationship that his fragility began to surface – slowly at first, then completely – until the consequences finally unravelled him. Even the toughest of us are not immune to what Ben endured. Some people find their way through trauma; others simpl

In 1996, I embarked on a solo backpacking trip around India for one hundred nights – the journey that inspired much of Towards the Within . In those days, there was no social media or mobile phones, and instead of Spotify, I carried a Walkman loaded with cassette tapes. In some ways, they were simpler times. When I returned from a trip around East Asia and Australia in 2017, I realised how much I’d lost by taking endless digital photos and being glued to my mobile phone – how

India was not the first country I travelled to, nor would it be the last. Yet it has held something within me that remains very special, spiritual even. It was a trip taken after what I considered a lifetime of running from my past, and it was there that I finally found a sense of freedom. Perhaps it was the mystique of the place, or perhaps it was a land so opposite to my own that it anchored me long after I had left. To this day, I am often caught off guard by a memory. But

Earlier this week, I met someone by chance who had a close connection to a traumatic event from my past. The outcome couldn’t have been more different, yet the circumstances leading up to it were eerily familiar. Let me rewind to 1986, when I was fourteen. I was a keen photographer, documenting the beginnings of the Hip-Hop movement in London over the course of almost three years. I’d been an avid breaker myself and often earned extra pocket money with a friend, dancing in Co

Ever since I first discovered the Himalayas in the mid-nineties, I’ve been a little obsessed with mountains. Whether it’s the space, the...

As a teenager, I was always nervous around girls. Something about these ethereal beings from another world made my heart slam in my...

Whenever I arrive in a new city or town, the first thing I do after setting down my luggage is head straight out to wander the streets. I...

For most of my life, I felt like I was swimming in circles, never really getting anywhere, trying to justify my existence and struggling...

Life is short – that’s what I’ve always been led to believe. However, as I’ve grown older, and the more I have done with my life, I...

There’s something special about travelling alone. For many, the idea of venturing out solo into a foreign country like India can feel...

I am pleased to announce the upcoming release of my third book. I've spent four years writing and preparing a story that I’m extremely...

Warning: Towards the Within spoilers ahead The following are deleted scenes from Towards the Within. These sections were removed from the...

A special thank you to all those who have purchased, reviewed and supported What We Become.

The writing of What We Become commenced in late 2017, once the final draft of Towards the Within was complete.

A special thank you to all those who have purchased, reviewed and supported Towards the Within.

How long did it take to write Towards the Within? About four years. I'd written for various travel publications in the past.

The many symbolisms of an elephant perfectly summed up the story and was undoubtedly the only choice for the front cover

I first started writing Towards the Within in 1999. Then, it was nothing more than journal entries from my 1996 and 1999 trips around India