How we founded Lonely Planet | Tony Wheeler | TEDxSingapore

A frequent visitor to Singapore for 43 years now, Tony Wheeler recounts his memories and impressions of the country on subsequent visits; and shares the amazing tale of how and his life partner Maureen founded Lonely Planet.

Tony grew up in Pakistan, the Bahamas, Canada, America and England, never spending as much as two years in the same school. After travelling across Europe with Maureen Wheeler, the pair arrived in Melbourne in 1972 with 27 cents between them, and put out their first book, Across Asia on the Cheap, from their kitchen table in 1973, the genesis of the Lonely Planet. Singapore was only seven years old when Tony made his first visit to the newly independent nation.


This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx