It's been 14 years since I lived in Scotland and I'm itching with desire to return, to reconnect with friends, and to rediscover the magical country that inspired a lifetime of wandering.

Ideally, I envision an extended stay that piggybacks a highlands & islands walking holiday with independent exploration.

The Bolivian highlands, like Tibet, has a reputation for being peopled by some of the kindest, most charming folk on the planet. I'd like to have the pleasure of communing with the Quechua and Aymara people, in addition to a peek at the grandeur of its high-altitude landscapes.

My dream itinerary includes visiting the colonial churches and chromatic markets of La Paz, the sacred Lake Titicaca, the highest steam-navigable lake in the world, the famed silver city of Potosí and much more.

In the spirit of great curiosity, the Galapagos is as close to the extraordinary as I can imagine. My interest in natural history begs a visit to Darwin's living laboratory.

I dream of snorkeling amid sea turtles, penguins, and sea-lions; walking among colonies of animals and birds unfazed by my presense; observing giant torosies and exploring by sea kayak.

A mountainous landscape of fjords, glacial lakes and open pampas, Patagonia beckons.

I envision a lodge-based adventure featuring day hikes within the granite-and-glacier world of Paine and Fitzroy, Andean wildlife and the remote wilds of Tierra del Fuego.

An expedition to Antarctica would put me in the company of my heros - Scott, Shackelton and Amundsen, to name a few.

More than a vacation, a voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula would a life-enriching experience withopportunities for exploration found no where else on this planet.