Paul – thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. You are not a grumpy old man at all 🙂 I have a mantra about this – “Give when you can, Take when you must” – and I think thats a great philosphy for travelling, so it’s not bludging but there is an aspect of paying it forward. I guess thats why I wanted to meet Janne in the first place, I met with so much unexpected kindness and generosity in my travels I wanted to pay it forward. I think with her book and the project she has undertaken she will be paying it forward in a really unusual and beautiful way for years to come 🙂

On balance though, Janne can only do what she does because folks are in a position to be helpful and benovolent. Its wonderful so long as that benevolence is paid forward to the next budding adventurer. There can be a fine line between quirky and bludging.

Not to be a grumpy old man, but should we be relying on the kindness of strangers by choice when there are folks who have no choice but to rely on exactly that? Again, I think its about balance. Live life, but try to give more than you take.

I know Grace – Janne is SO inspiring isn’t she? Makes you think about what is possible – and yes I agree with your travel experience – if you expect the best from people thats what you almost always get 🙂