I've experienced the tranquil chaos of the Taj Mahal, I've toured around the solitary clusters of rocks at Ha Long Bay, I've basked in the restrictive liberty of Cuba and I've been awe-struck at the mass individuality of the terracotta army. Yet the most beautiful place on earth is home.
As I write this now, on a grey day in Reading, I'm plotting my next big trip. My head is full of intrepid fantasy about going from Buenos Aires to Bogota with nothing but a bus timetable. I've plotted a route from Mexico City to Cancun via Day of The Dead celebrations in Ochaca. I've marked out a cluster of routes through Africa; from Mozambique to Botswana and Uganda to Zanzibar. With every stroke of the keyboard, my heart flutters with excitement. The only fly in the ointment is having enough time and money to everything on my travel bucket list.
Despite all these thoughts, bookshelves packed with travel and history books, and surrounded by objet d'art I've collected from my trips, the most beautiful place is still home.
We all scoff at the daily drudgery of life. Work, sleep, eat, work, sleep, eat... We sneer at the familiar roads, the foggy mornings and overcrowded public transport. However, from the moment we leave this humdrum to embark on a new adventure, we end up missing home.
I'm not saying we'd rather deal with GWR delays and cancellations every morning than jump on an over-crowded train in Darjeeling. Or that we'd rather sit in pointless, soul-destroying meetings than sit in a cafe in Manila.
But if we're honest with ourselves, we do miss home.
I really missed Greek food when I was travelling around East Asia. I salivated at the thought of roast potatoes and I would've killed for a cuppa of Yorkshire Tea's English Breakfast.
After roughing it in damp, rat-infested hostels, squat toilets and dribbling cold showers, you start to miss your bathroom and bed.
It's not just your physical home you crave, but the familiarity of your home country. The number of times I've landed at Heathrow and thought, "ah, at last things that are properly signposted and work as they should". Or got back to Reading and thought; "ah, I can buy food at 12am on Tuesday and there are hygiene standards".
Even if go upmarket, there's a little ting of excitement at the prospect of coming home and watching a Netflix boxset in your pants.
Although travel is one of the most fulfilling things you can do. And something at enriches you in every way. We can all admit that one of the best things is coming home - as it makes you appreciate what you have that little bit more.
