Around the World in 80 Days 2014

2014 will be the 25th anniversary of Michael Palin's groundbreaking, still immensely enjoyable first travel series, 'Around the World in 80 Days'.

I believe I once read that Michael was rather keen on the idea of redoing this epic journey again and I think that is a splendid idea.

Of course the world is much different place now than it was back in 1988. For a start, the dhow journey would be a lot more dangerous, what with Somali pirates active in the area.

Dubai has grown beyond all recognition to become a kind of Arab-Disneyland.

China has also grown to become a major global economic power and a revisit would certainly contrast it with the still rather backwards, grimy China he saw back in 88'.

Could he once again successfully complete the journey, or would the 21st century version stump him?

And what about the US? My feeling is that there is a lot more paranoia and fear in that country than what existed twenty-five years ago.

In so many ways this could truly be a fascinating journey and a way to gauge how certain parts of the world have changed over the past quarter century.