A HEAD teacher who travelled from Brunei to Blaenau Gwent has written a book about his epic journey.

John Price, 55, travelled from Brunei’s capital Bandar Seri to Abertillery in 25 days last summer, covering 7,116 miles.

He took just one backpack and mobile phone to help him record his experiences, and has now released a book called From Brunei to Blaenau Gwent.

Mr Price, who speaks Russian, Arabic and French, lived in Bandar Seri for six years, where he was head teacher at Jerudong International School. But he also has a home in Abertillery which has become his base in the UK.

He decided to travel back to Gwent through Russia using the Trans-Siberian and BAM railways – a journey he had always wanted to do.

He started his trip by flying from Brunei to Malaysia, then on to Beijing in China and Vladivostok in Russia to get to the start of the Trans-Siberian express.

He took this all the way to Moscow – through “God-forsaken”

towns and villages, built by young communists before the Russian Revolution – before flying back to Wales.

Mr Price said he loved writing about his quest to get back to Gwent, and will be spending a lot more time in Abertillery after returning to the UK permanently this month for the first time in seven years.

Mr Price, who spent last year teaching in Kazakhstan, said: “To be absolutely honest, I’m a bit travelled out! I haven’t got any immediate plans, although South America quite appeals. But it’s nice to be home for now.”

Visit amazon.co.uk for the Kindle version of Mr Price’s book, and amazon.com for a print copy.