My book is about how, after living in London for four years, I traded Prada for Karrimor to go backpacking for seven months. I found karma in Nepal, bang lassis in India, a monumental language barrier in China, paradise ... eventually ... in Vietnam, bedbugs in Australia, and a longing for home in South Africa. Your Prada shoes might find comfort under the bright city streetlights and your hiking boots can leave footprints all over the world ... only to find that your feet will find the path that will inevitably lead you back home.

The theme will capture the hearts of travellers the world over, as well as women who have always felt more comfortable behind a mask of designer labels ... those who will either want to substitute the grime for a bit of armchair travel, or use it as a prompt to live it themselves ... and people who would far rather watch The Amazing Race than ever consider actually entering it.

Penelope has always had a passion for writing and travel … she just always assumed the writing would lead to gainful employment and the travel would involve Louis Vuitton luggage and a custom-bought wardrobe. Instead, she found herself in London's financial district pushing paper and crunching numbers … and loving every moment of the capitalist pleasures it brought.

But, after four years of hard work and over-indulgence, her Jesus Lopez shoes held no more promise of adventure in the world's most exciting capital. Canary Wharf lost its luster and Person under the train announced on the Underground intercom, filled her more with contempt than compassion. It was time to pack up and leave the Big Smoke. Time to pack away the Kurt Geiger satin slippers and the Karen Millen ball gown and scour London for the most state-of-the-art hiking boots and nasty nylon travel gear. Time for a serious change in comfort zone. Time to backpack around Southeast Asia … on a budget!

never go trekking … and other stories was born of this journey. A journey both physical and emotional, it provided a jolt as unsettling as it was liberating and a life-changing experience for everyone to draw from. Drink it in with pure envy or horror and vow to live it or leave it.

After a further three years in London, Penelope has shunned the investment world and is now living back in South Africa, finding more soul in editing, writing, photography and that often-soulless job of being a mum. There are currently no major travel plans on the horizon as the journey of life can often be enough.

Acknowledgements:

To Michael who stuck with me despite all my dodgy hotel choices.

To my sister, Melissa, whose kindred love of editing and writing led to a more complete manuscript and encouragement to open up and write less with my head and more with my heart.

To my friends for the fuel they added to my writing furnace with their endless compliments on my way with a pen and a camera.

And to all those astounded Southeast Asian locals who had to put up with my tantrums.