Opinion

Travel writer October 26, 2026 — 5:00am

October 26, 2026 — 5:00am

My wife thinks I’m funny, which is about as close to a joke as I get these days. Unless, of course, you consider my bank account, which is hilarious to everyone but me.

This is all to say that while my years of improv comedy did nothing to sharpen my sense of humour, they did wonders for me as an open-minded traveller, and it all comes down to this golden rule.

Yes, and …

The cornerstone of any good performance, ‘yes, and …’ is about more than accepting the offer, as it’s known in the parlance. It’s about creating a scene where there are no closed doors and no dead ends.

Although it’s been a long time since I’ve done any actual improv comedy, you’d be amazed at how much this rule has echoed through my travels, where invitations are accepted and going off script is all part of my poorly laid plans.

When your flight plan falls apart in Myanmar, the road trip of a lifetime begins.…