FROM the moment I discovered an ancient pilgrimage path in Spain in June last year, the attraction of walking hundreds of kilometres towards an assured destination grew on me daily.

My eagerness to go on a month-long journey on foot across the steep slopes, lush valleys and forests of the Pyrenees, and through countless small towns and villages, was part of a subconscious quest to find depth and meaning in my life.

At the age of 33, I was approaching - prematurely, perhaps - what seemed to be a mid-life crisis.

The increasing demands of my personal, family and work life often left me drained, with an unexplained emptiness. Grinding away on the treadmill, I would often find myself asking: Is this all there is in life? Will this bring me fulfilment?

That was when the Camino called to me. I thought it would hold the answers to some of my questions. The Camino became not only a physical but also an incredible spiritual adventure. It was one of the best things I did for myself.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times' Life!