I was born in Cardiff, South Wales where I lived until the age of 18 when I moved to London to study Land Surveying and Cartography. After graduating I worked for some years for a London based land surveying firm on a variety of projects in the U.K. and Iraq. I visited Iraq four times working in Baghdad, Basra, Samarra and Ramadi. I then took a sabbatical and travelled extensively in South America for just over a year. On my return to Britain I worked for many years in student travel. In 1997 I moved to Colombia where I have lived ever since. In Colombia I teach English to high level executives and university students, and also do translation work from Spanish to English. Since arriving in Colombia I have meditated and this practice led me to become a vegetarian some eight years ago. I do not follow any religion though I lean very strongly towards Buddhism. I am passionate about photography especially landscape and food photography. I enjoy nature and the countryside and regularly go hiking in the Andes Mountains which surround the city where I live. I enjoy combining my love of writing with that of photography and design, and my first book, In the Footsteps of Fernando Gonzalez, is the end result of that combination.