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A visit to Varanassi and Agra - August 2002

  • Where Princess Di sat when she visited the Taj Mahal.
  • The burning ghats (steps) along the sacred Ganges river in Varanassi is an open air, 24 hour crematorium.
  • Due to a sacred Hindu festival, lots of people were out rowing on the Ganges.
  • Typical India street scene.
  • The Taj, built as a tomb for his wife by a bereaved husband, really is beautiful.

    • A visit Thailand and Asia - July 2002

  • This monkey seemed lonely. He held our hands and didn't want us to leave.
  • This tiger was beautiful. Unfortunately it has to live out most of it's life in a little concrete cage.
  • How about a kiss?
  • Fancy an elephant ride?

    • Moscow, Russia - October 2000

  • Don't mess with me! Red Square, near the Kremlin.
  • Outside St Basil's Cathedral, in Red Square, near the Kremlin, with my friend Val.
  • The Romanov family, Czar Nicholas II, his wife, who was seduced by Rasputin, and his daughters, all executed after the Bolshevik Communist Revolution.
  • German born 18th Century Queen of Russia, Catherine II (the Great).
  • The Bolshoi Ballet Theatre, near the Kremlin, Moscow. I'm with my friends Nikolai and Valerie.
  • Enormous Tsar Bell, broken before it was ever rung, weighs in at 202 tonnes! Cast in the 1730's and housed inside the Kremlin, it is the world's biggest bell. The broken fragment on the other side of the bell weighs 11 tonnes.
  • The Kremlin is full of cathedrals, which are painted with many Christian religious icons and scenes.

    • St Petersburg and Kharkiv, Ukraine - October 2000

  • Peter the Great had a winter palace, the Hermitage, in St Petersburg, and a summer palace, Peterhof, surrounded by a thousand fountains and decorated inside in great splendour.
  • Hobnobbing with the locals at Peterhof, the summer palace in St Petersburg.
  • The music plays, the heart beats, the mother grieves for her children who are no more. Many people died around here during the war.

    • Through the Red Centre of Australia - October 2001

  • After years of drought, there's been rain recently, so the Red Centre looks quite green! In this photo we're collecting firewood around the Toyota 4wd.
  • At night we slept in swags around the campfire. One night we cooked kangaroo tail on the coals - and it tasted surprisingly good!
  • Of course no trip to the centre is complete without going to see the Rock, Uluru.
  • Kata Tjuta (meaning Heads Many) are more commonly known as the Olgas. Named after Queen Olga of Bavaria, they are very near Uluru.
  • Forget the Grand Canyon - this is Kings Canyon!
  • Whilst at Surfer's Paradise, I did a few surfing lessons.

    • Getting About in New Zealand - September/October 2001

  • This bus trip with Flying Kiwi Expeditions was tops. Good crew, plenty of activities like hiking, campfires on the beach and bike riding, good food and good fun.
  • New Zealand has no end of outdoor things to do. This trek through snow capped mountains was tops.
  • This is rather a serene shot of Frank and Eric kayaking past an isolated rock in Abel Tasman National Park, with a lonely looking tree standing sentinel.

    • A Flying Visit to Raratonga, capital of the Cook Islands - September 2001

  • Captain James Cook never actually visited Raratonga, the capital of the Cook Islands. He visited an island further north, and the locals told him about an island down south, so he wrote on his map "raratonga", which means, "down south".
  • Even at 60, Piri Pirutu can still climb coconut trees.
  • This is a very tall tree, and Piri scaled it in about 40 seconds!
  • This man has been greeting both arriving and departing passengers with his ukelele for years.

    • A visit to Los Angeles and Venice Beach - September 2001

  • From the Hollywood Hills, I couldn't see the ocean, I couldn't see the mountains, and I could hardly even see the city skyscrapers. Is it smog, or a persistent "marine layer", or some combination of the two?
  • This busker did the limbo and encouraged audience participation. AFTER collecting the money, he did his finale - he jumped onto the broken glass with his bare feet.
  • Just browsing along Venice Beach you see crystals, massagists, tarrot card readers and fortune tellers. Now why didn't any of them forsee September 11?
  • Ever wondered why there is a PYRAMID on the American one dollar bill? Just ask this guy and he'll tell you!
  • This author was prolific in his "stream of consciousness" writing. Pot Kills Love, Sue $ Parents, and Osama bin Laden were amongst his subjects!
  • America's Death, Islam is the Enema, and Free Hugs, were just a few of his topics.
  • To my embarassment, I discovered I couldn't play a didgeridoo to save my life! While I was there a Queenslander who used to sell didges in Cairns rocked up and played a duet, and afterwards started chatting to an attractive Californian girl, Skye.
  • Ah, how I love the clean waters of home. Go to healthebay.org to check out whether or not you're likely to catch an infection down the beach today.
  • This guy had the right idea. Accompanied by his dog, surrounded by all his earthly possessions, he slept through all the fuss.

    • After New York, I flew to Mexico City and bused to Oaxaca

  • In the centre of a number of Mexican cities is a central square, known as a Zocolo. Here in Mexico City many people were dancing.
  • Many people travel to Mexico to see the amazing pyramids built by the ancient Teotihuacan Mexica people.
  • When in Mexico one must get the obligatory snap standing next to cacti! This shot was taken near the Monte Alban pyramid ruins in Oaxaca.
  • This plaque contains the vital statistics of the world's largest living biomass - an gargantuan tree in El Tule, Oaxaca, Mexico.
  • At more than 2,000 years old, with a height of 42 metres and a diameter of 14 metres, this enormous tree holds a volume of more than 800,000 cubic metres!
  • Ever since the Spanish conquest under Cortez, Mexico has had its own unique mix of Roman Catholicism and indigineous Indian beliefs. This part of the cathedral was devoted to Christian martyrs who have been slain through the ages.
  • My guide Roque and I visited this market out in a rural Mexican pueblo.

    • Visiting Manhattan Island, New York New York - early September 2001

  • Liberty with the WTC "twin towers" dominating the Manhattan skyline. Not something we'll see again for a while.
  • About one third of all Americans can trace their ancestry through the emmigration centre on Ellis Island. The first thing newly arrived emmigrants saw in NY Harbour was Liberty, holding her torch aloft, promising justice and a new life in the new world.
  • Bustling Times Square, incadescent with flashing neon and always busy with yellow cabs, is quite unique in all the world.
  • A visit to the Top of the World was something that thousands of tourists used to do every day.
  • Looking uptown from the top of the WTC, towards the Empire State Building and Central Park.
  • Another view from the top of the world.
  • The Manhattan skyline, taken early September.

    • Italy was definitely a highlight for me!

  • Outside the Colosseum in Rome I was begging a Gladiator for mercy...
  • but then the tables turned and I got the upper hand!
  • This is a panoramic shot of the inside of the Colosseum, home to many bloody and brutal spectacles between man and beast!
  • This is the view the Pope sees when he delivers a Mass from the balcony of St Peter's Basillica, Vatican City.
  • James inside St Peter's, Vatican City.
  • St Peter's Basillica really is an amazing sight to see!
  • Trevi Fountain in Rome is a popular meeting spot, and a nice place just to hang out.
  • There was lots of work going on to make sure it doesn't fall over!
  • I climbed to the top of the Baptistry located in the Field of Miracles.
  • In the Pisa Field of Miracles there is the Baptistry, a Cathedral and (of course) a tower that happens to lean :-)
  • From a block of marble that a former sculptor had discarded, Michelangelo created this amazing masterpiece, an uncircumcised David.
  • One day Christ will return to judge the living and the dead, as portrayed here in Michelangelo's Last Judgement, featured on the back wall of the Sistine Chapel.
  • The city of Florence is rather like a living art gallery. The art, the sculptures, the architecture - it's all beautiful to take in.
  • In 1492, Colombus sailed the ocean blue, and discovered a New World. This is me outside Chris's birth place in Genoa, Italy.
  • Whilst in this huge Cathedral in Florence listening to a choir of angels, I was crowned with a halo :-)
  • I'm lead to believe that this ancient Roman temple, known as the Pantheon, is very famous.
  • Legend has it that as prisoners were rowed into captivity passing beneath this bridge their sighs could be heard - hence it's called The Bridge of Sighs. However, this is NOT the Bridge of Sighs!
  • A typical scene looking along the main canal in Venice.

    • Switzerland is a great country!

  • This signpost up Mount Roche de Nay reminded me that I'm a long way from home. Rome, < 700km. London, < 800km. Moscow, < 2400km. Jerusalem, < 3000km. North Pole, < 5000km. New York, > 6000km. Beijing, > 8,000km. Tokyo, < 10,000km. And Sydney? - well, Sydney is nearly 17,000kms from Switzerland! Australia sure is a long way away from here.
  • The Chateau de Chillon, Lake Geneva, Switzerland. Lord Byron wrote a famous poem about the true-life Prisoner de Chillon.
  • A view from a turret of the Castle, overlooking Lake Geneva and the Swiss Alps.
  • Another view from the Castle of Chillon, this time overlooking the Swiss city of Montreux.
  • In an armoury room of the Chateau de Chillon, here I'm stood by a fireplace..
  • The prisoners of Chillon were kept in a dank dungeon which let in water during high tide. This torture device is where many would have been chained.
  • I stayed in this hotel at Caux in the Swiss Alps whilst attending a Moral Re-Armament (recently changed to Initiatives for Change) convention. The conference topic during my stay was the powerful theme of Reconcilliation.
  • With it's many turrets and spires, the Caux hotel looks rather like something from Disney Land.
  • Marina was my Russian flat mate in London. This picture is taken in the Ball Room of the hotel.
  • Marina again, this time seated inside the main conference room.
  • Caux is situated up Mount Roche de Nay, near the Swiss city of Montreux, along Lake Geneva. I hiked up this mountain, and also paraglided down!
  • Looking up at my paraglider.
  • Looking down between my legs at Montreux city.
  • Freddie Mercury and Queen recorded many albums in Montreux, and if you're in the neighbouring town of Vevey, the birthplace of Charlie Chaplin, you can go pay a visit.

    • I visited with my friend Jaime in Gothenburg, Sweden!

  • Here's my host Jaime with his Mum who made me a great lunch. THANK YOU to both of you, your hospitality is much appreciated.
  • Jaime hanging out with a statue in Gothenburg.
  • A view of the city.
  • Standing along the canal in the central city.

    • Here's some snaps from Paris!

  • The Australian Embassy is right near the Eiffel Tower, and this shot shows that there's kangaroos loose in Paris!
  • This is one of the better shots I got of the Eiffel Tower.
  • Seeing the tower from a different perspective - looking up from underneath.
  • My friend Raphaelle and I took advantage of this beautiful day to look around King Louis the XIVth palace in Versailles. The Palace is huge, and was being worked on constantly all throughout the king's reign.
  • Most of King Louis the XIIIth reign was spent at war. This photo was taken in the War Room of the Palace at Versailles.
  • The Hall of Mirrors is where the Treaty of Versailles was signed after WWI.
  • My friend Raphaelle with the Eiffel Tower.

    • What to do in Northern Ireland?

  • If ever you're in Arthur St, Belfast, drop in to the California Coffee Co and say hi to Edmund and Kim. Also in the photo is the bike I rode around Ireland on.
  • Sunday Bloody Sunday happened here in [London]Derry in this largely Catholic area known as the Bogside, when in 1970 British paramilitary troopers opened fire on a protest march going on along the street below.
  • My hosts, Edmund and Kim (centre), taken at their wedding in Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast Australia.
  • Take a stroll along the Giant's Causeway, built in 1586 by the Irish Giant Finn McCool.
  • This is another view of this amazing geological formation.
  • Taste some whiskey at Bushmills, the world's oldest licensed whiskey distillery.
  • It's amazing what you see just riding around. For the Protestants flying the Union Jack, it's No Surrender!
  • Rathlin Island is a great spot to watch colonies of seals and wild sea birds. This photo was taken whilst lying on the cliffs of the Rathlin Island bird sanctuary.

    • At Home in Perth, W.A.

  • At the Sicillian Restaurant with Sally and Patrizia.
  • My friends Sarah and Nana hanging out at Cafe Villa, Oxford St, Leederville.

    • What to do in South Africa?

  • Ride a Mountain Bike.
  • Ride an Ostrich...
  • or get an Ostrich massage.
  • Go Sea Kayaking...
  • with the dolphins and seals.
  • Visit the African JackAss Penguins
  • Climb Table Mountain.
  • Pip, James and Keren up a mountain.


    • Harare, Zimbabwe

  • A photo for Jeff, taken outside an African village in Mocambique.
  • Me with a 150 year old friend!
  • We rode on this elephant.
  • I had to get quite close to get this lion pride shot.
  • Lions spend about 18 hours a day doing this...
  • but the cheetahs tend to be a little more active.


    • From Zimbabwe to Malawi via Zambia

  • Canoeing a dugout around Thumbe Island, Lake Malawi
  • and snorkelling with the tropical fish.

    • Out and About at Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

  • Mind the hippos when canoeing!
  • Symetrical gorge canoeing shot on the Zambezi.
  • The gorges are gorgeous!
  • The crew I went canoeing with.
  • Hans van de Heiden, pilot extrordinaire, and his plane.
  • The world's biggest tomb stone - apparently there are several construction workers bodies entombed in the Kariba dam wall!
  • We flew so low I could almost dangle my toes in the Zambezi!
  • This shot of Kushinga Lodge from the aeroplane turned out O.K.
  • Lake Wilderness, Matusadona NP, home of 300 lions.

    • Canoeing in the Mana Pools Wilderness, Zimbabwe

  • Up close and personal with a pachyderm.
  • Really, he's this big!
  • Canoeing on the Zambezi.
  • There were hundreds of these bee-eaters nesting along the banks.
  • Why it's not wise to swim in the Zambezi...

    • (More crocs!)
  • ...but we did, anyway!
  • ...because we were with our fearless hunter guide, Craig!
  • Hippo City - The Zambezi has more hippos than you can shake a stick at!

    • Horse Riding in the Mavuradonha Wilderness, Zimbabwe

  • Me Riding Storm Break
  • Zebras in the wilderness
  • Jane riding Lucifer, Scanning for Elephants in the Mountains
  • The view from a loo, at Bat Caves camp!
  • This fruitbat died whilst eating its last meal.

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    Out and About in Bulawayo

  • Pastor Khumani, Bridget, Colleen and Various Local Kids, out street preaching
  • Moses Sunflower Oil Enterprises!

    • Touring the Great Zimbabwe Monuments

  • Me in the Great Enclosure of the Zimbabwe Ruins
  • Me (with haircut!) at the smaller Khami Ruins

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    Cecil John Rhodes Favourite Spot - The Matobos

  • Looks like God is stacking balancing marbles!
  • Rhodes called it "View of the World" - Hard to appreciate from a photograph.
  • James and Eric (from California) up on the rocks surrounding Rhode's grave.

    • Chipangali Wildlife Park for Orphaned Animals

  • He had a good roar and marked his territory!
  • This guy is a browser on twigs and branches

    • Brethren in Christ Church (Vic Falls, Zimbabwe)

  • Brethren in Christ Church plus Mercedes 230E
  • Inside the church
  • Praising the Lord Jesus

    • Out and About at Vic Falls, Zimbabwe

  • Giraffes at Hwange NP
  • James with Phineas kids at Falls
  • Ready to fly...
  • Bungeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
  • Bridget & Phineas at Halfway House
  • Mean customer

    • ABOUT LONDON

  • At the Henley-on-Thames rowing regatta
  • Nederlands, Belgium and Deutschland all meet at this point
  • Wild Horses let loose in London!
  • Cricket Anyone?

    • At Madame Tussauds

  • Hanging with the Dali Lama

    • Arround Marlow (30 miles west of London)

  • I used to live here in Marlow!
  • Rowing Club on Thames
  • Keep the flag flying!

    • Afternoon Tea at the Duggan-Crouches

  • Lorna, Glenda, Annette, Eleanor and Adam!
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