One difficulty I have with people is their constant question: “Why do you make travelling so hard on yourself? Are you short of money?” They cannot understand picking up a backpack and travelling on as little money as possible, sometimes camping or sleeping in a hostel. “What sort of holiday is that?” they ask. “That’s suffering, not travelling.” My question …

It is midnight, and I cannot sleep, still shocked by the news I heard at twelve twenty-four. Reza messaged from Sweden: “What happened to Nasser?” Me: “Nasser? Which Nasser?” Reza: “Our Nasser! Nasser Zare.” Me: “What do you mean? What happened?” Reza: “He’s died. Look at Ehsan’s profile picture.” Then came calls to old friends, a little time for the …