My very first travel article came after I pitched the Jakarta Post a piece about the sulphur miners of Kawah Ijen, In Java. On assignment for CNN in Hanoi, hosting a travel TV show from the back of a scooter. One of my first ever freelance assignments was documenting a month in an off-grid survivalist camp in Scotland, for The Independent. Job? What job? On assignment in Phuket, Thailand. On assignment in Goa. Discovering Japan's vending machine culture on assignment in Tokyo Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge on assignment in New York City Some down time during an assignment in Samui, Thailand Tasting local life while on assignment in Myanmar One of my (many) roommates while on assignment in Thailand On assignment in the Blue Mountains, Australia On assignment at Sentosa Island, Singapore On assignment in Myanmar again On assignment in Komodo, Indonesia. This was a press junket, one of the perks of a travel writing career. Photobombing what would have been a very nice picture of some Burmese tribeswomen while on assignment for the Jakarta Post. A trip during Chinese New Year to meet my extended family for the first time resulted in a piece for CNN about the drinking games that take place during the festive period. Meeting Pawan Girdharilal Agrawal, CEO of the Mumbai dabbawalas, for a piece for Hotelier India. The amazing Taj Lake Palace Hotel, which I visited on assignment for a book contribution. One of my more colourful assignments in Tokyo Enjoying the scenery on assignment in upstate New York. On assignment in Doha, Qatar Cooling down halfway through an eight-hour trek in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia, on assignment for Travelmag.co.uk Tasting sugar cane in Indonesia On assignment in Singapore Enjoying one of the perks of being on assignment in Macau, for a hotel review Suits me! On a foodie assignment in SE Asia On Assignment in Laos, running a 100km 'ultra-marathon'. It took three days, and a dozen blisters, but it was one of the most satisfying gigs I've done. Returning to Kobe, Japan, 25 years after having lived there as a child, on assignment for Momentum. A chance meeting while diving in Samui, Thailand, inspired my first opinion column for CNN, which led to many more assignments. A freelance travel writing corner, Mumbai. On assignment in Xi'an, northern China. A walking guide assignment in New York City The early days of CNNGo, during which I discovered how to buy and edit travel stories On assignment climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge Feeling rather frazzled after an eight-hour trek in Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia, on assignment for Travelmag.co.uk On assignment in Bangkok, Thailand A tranquil assignment at Inle Lake in Myanmar (or Burma) A chance encounter on my first night in Myanmar led to giving an impromptu English lesson at this monastery.