A 22-YEAR-OLD has returned from a gap year full of priceless first-hand knowledge that is only available to others via Wikipedia.
Julian Cook’s travels in India, Thailand and Australia have given him incredible insights which he is sharing with those who only knew about it from TV, the internet, books and common sense.
He said: “Mumbai blew my mind. You couldn’t possibly imagine how crowded it is, and in the middle of the worst slums there are people earning pennies to make goods for the West. Isn’t that incredible?
“On the other hand you’ve got all these amazing palaces and modern skyscrapers. It’s difficult to put into words, but I suppose you’d call it a ‘city of opposites’.
“Thailand was another eye-opener. You see these incredibly beautiful ladies in the clubs, but – and I warn you, this is almost impossible to believe – they’re actually guys. Seriously.
“Australia’s more like Britain but it’s hotter and they have these beach parties that wouldn’t be practical in, say, Plymouth. Also they’re quite into outdoor cooking on grills.
“I’ve learned so much I’m going to write up my journal into a book. People need to know.”