Years ago, when I was on holiday in Mexico, I saw a large sign that read; "We believe in world peace through tourism." It struck me then what a great thought that was, and to this day, I still think that exploring different cultures is the best way to truly fall in love with the world we live in. While a picture may be worth a thousand words, there is no substitute for standing in a spot, and getting the full sensory experience of it. As a writer, those moments for me, are priceless.
I've just returned from one of my favorite holiday spots, Cuba. Yes, the beach was awesome, and ok, I had my share of Mojitos, but what I love most about Cuba is that it always sweeps me away, not just to another place, but almost to another time. The beautiful old buildings, and the streets filled with old cars, are just part of the charm. The rustic towns, farm fields, and mountainous regions sprinkled with towering royal palms, pulse with the lifeblood of what is real and unaffected. To a city dweller like myself, its a breath of fresh air.
What I love most about travelling, in general, is how much scope there is for the imagination. Wherever I go, inevitably I find a nook, or a vista, that sets my mind racing. Inspiration can sometimes even come from something as small as an item forgotten on a chair or a table. Who lost it? Why were they in such a hurry to leave? A multitude of ideas can come from just about anything, and the best way to find new treasures is to visit places you've never seen before.
I've just returned from one of my favorite holiday spots, Cuba. Yes, the beach was awesome, and ok, I had my share of Mojitos, but what I love most about Cuba is that it always sweeps me away, not just to another place, but almost to another time. The beautiful old buildings, and the streets filled with old cars, are just part of the charm. The rustic towns, farm fields, and mountainous regions sprinkled with towering royal palms, pulse with the lifeblood of what is real and unaffected. To a city dweller like myself, its a breath of fresh air.
What I love most about travelling, in general, is how much scope there is for the imagination. Wherever I go, inevitably I find a nook, or a vista, that sets my mind racing. Inspiration can sometimes even come from something as small as an item forgotten on a chair or a table. Who lost it? Why were they in such a hurry to leave? A multitude of ideas can come from just about anything, and the best way to find new treasures is to visit places you've never seen before.
I sit. It's quiet. I happily type the words Chapter 1, and add a title for the section, that I know will likely change later. The first line takes a little time. Then the words come, as if they've been waiting to be found. I see the fifteen foot stone wall, and it's heavy wooden doors. I see the square, and begin to fill it with life. My protagonist sits watching. She's blissfully unaware of the journey I have in store for her. It's going to be a difficult one.
While you may find it as flabbergasting as me that 8 to 13 year olds can cook like this, amazingly it's not that part that has me blown away. In a time when it seems value is placed on cold ambition, and other reality shows seem to revere 'alliances' and sabotage aimed at eliminating the strongest competitor, these kids put their adult counterparts to shame. The kids from MasterChef Junior don't just cheer each other on, they help each other. When someone does well, they cheer for them, and when someone fails, they console and encourage them. That's not to say they don't each want to win, they clearly do, but they are competing under a concept that I sometimes feared was gone; winning because you've worked hard to become the best at the task measured (not for your ability to ruthlessly eliminate competitors better than you). What a wonderful concept, winning on merit instead of by default. 
