Ed Fuller spends an average of 400K miles a year in the air. He recalls his toughest year as 1997, when he chalked up 700,000 miles. Yet he says one of his biggest frustrations is not having enough time to do more travel.

What is the biggest buzz you get out of what you do?

Travel with my partner Marsha around the world visiting different cultures, studying history, meeting people and making friends. And, time in my California home.

What do you most dislike about it?

Not having enough time to do more travel.

What is your most perfect travel moment?

There are many... Dinner at JW Oahu on 17th floor, balloon ride in Pagan, Burma, a ballet at Bolshoi, dinner in Luxor watching a sunset over the Nile, elephant riding in Thailand ...

What irks you most about travel?

Lost baggage.

What is your most treasured souvenir?

An elephant statue from Nepal, made of wood & bone.

Who's the most interesting person you have met in your travels?

Way too many...

Who's the living person you most admire?

JW Marriott.

What is the quality you most admire in others?

Strength of character…honest, straightforward, hard working.

What is the talent you would most like to have?

To become a painter in oils.

What do you value most in your friends?

Trust and candor.

What's your favorite word?

We can.

What's your least favorite word?

No.

What's your favorite noise?

Ocean on a rocky shore.

What's your least favorite noise?

Car horn.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Creating and managing a division in Marriott that has created 72,000 positions in 68 countries and has gross sales of 5.5 billion.

What's the one thing you would say to kids?

Think before you leap.

What's the one thing you must do before you die?

Safari in Africa.

The SHY Report
A regular column on news, trends and issues in the hospitality industry by one of Asia's most respected travel editors and commentators, Yeoh Siew Hoon.

Siew Hoon, who has covered the tourism industry in Asia/Pacific for the past 20 years, runs SHY Ventures Pte Ltd. Her company's mission is "Content, Communication, Connection".

She is a writer, speaker, facilitator, trainer and events producer. She is also an author, having published "Around Asia In 1 Hr: Tales of Condoms, Chillies & Curries". Her motto is ‘free to do, and be'.

Contacts: Tel:  65-63424934 , Mobile:  65-96801460 

Yeoh Siew Hoon's other writings can be found at www.thetransitcafe.com. Get your weekly cuppa of news, gossip, humour and opinion at Travel's Busiest Junction.