Welcome to my website !!

A life in aviation has undoubtedly been the catalyst for my travel interests and wanderlust. I have been fortunate enough to travel in every Continent, amounting to 96 countries to date. The development of the low cost airlines has certainly encouraged today’s traveller and I have sampled the discount airlines extensively around the world, including throughout Europe, North America, India, South East Asia and Australasia.

Including traveling, my hobbies are varied and are also photography and motorcycling. On 2 wheels my trips have taken me through parts of Australia and Namibia, comprehensively in New Zealand & Iceland and extensively around Europe and the United Kingdom. All 3 hobbies complement each other and I try and combine all 3 whenever possible. I shoot with a Nikon digital SLR and specialise in landscapes and people.

I hope you enjoy my gallery of photographs I have selected from some of my favorite destinations and, a small sample of travel articles.

Some traveling highlights ...

Most hospitable moment

Whilst travelling in Western Mongolia, we stayed with a local family in their Ger. Our driver and translator laid the way for an amazing stay. Arriving at lunchtime, the head of the family caught several large fish from a nearby fast flowing river. They were gutted on the spot and the entrails were hurled to the skies where circling eagles caught their snacks in the air. From river, to cooking, to plate was less than 10 minutes! Later we helped corral their animals, cows, sheep, goats, yaks and camels close to the Gers ready for the evening. We dined on mutton that had been bubbling and boiling all day. Intestines, eyeballs and testicles were optional. During the night, a cow gave birth to a healthy calf and to avoid the potential attack from patrolling wolves, the family member on guard, placed the new borne in our Ger. I was awoken at dawn by the gentle gurgling of this confused juvenile at my feet. He was reunited with mother as we breakfasted on tea, yogurt and biscuits, whilst enjoying the magnificent mountain ranges close by.

Most coolest moment

Cool in more ways than one. Close quarters to the amazing glacial and snow covered mountain ranges make this a very special place. I felt in touch with the planet here. At small settlements, facilities are minimal. Few restaurants and bars and no glitzy tourist facilities. But quite honestly, you don’t travel to Greenland for these things. I have only had similar feelings when flying low level over the dramatic South Georgia landscape in the South Atlantic, or maybe whilst motorcycling in Iceland. Although Greenland is Ice, Iceland is green!

Most fraught moment

While photographing Elephant Seals on Sea Lion Island, Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, my confidence nearly got the better of me. It was breeding season and Bulls were guarding their harems of up to 8 Cows, many of which had just given birth. The cows were quite timid, however the Bulls would normally charge intruders, including humans and 3 – 4 lurches forward of their 2 ton bulk would customarily be enough before rest was needed. I miscalculated my distance from this aggressive charging character and evaded contact at the last moment. I caught the odour of his foul fishy breath, as his immensity filled my camera lens. I dropped my camera whilst escaping!

Most extra terrestrial moment

Drink stop on a gravel road in the in the Namib desert, not another car in sight. A most surreal view of bright blue sky with discrete flecks of cloud and undulating red dunes-I thought for a moment I could be on another planet. This was a Martian Moment!

Most isolated moment

‘’The Canyon is over there mate, 25 miles or so, mind how you go’’ were the comments from the Park Warden. No cars, but I found the car park, stepped out and nearly fell down the Canyon edge. Amazing, it was laid out there in front of me. The only other life I could detect were the circling vultures overhead. No other humans, no refreshment and souvenir stalls. It was so still I could hear the sound of the large birds soaring overhead, as they awaited their next meal. It was Christmas Eve and + 40’C. The Fish River Canyon in Southern Namibia is undoubtedly one of the worlds most special and thankfully under visited locations. Whilst standing on the rim of the canyon, I felt isolated, but in a positive sense and I was not surrounded by tourists. I can only remember a similar feeling of isolation when walking miles from the nearest village in the rough Camp of the Falkland Islands, whilst awaiting a helo pick up.

Most still moment

I made it on to the path for the summit of Ayers Rock, just before the Wardens were closing the walk for the day. Excessive heat and rain and the scramble to the top becomes difficult. It was the heat that was my foe and I soon ran out of water. Apart from the ghostly heat shimmer, visibility was unlimited and with not a breath of wind, the summit provided a stupendous view from the ‘Top of Australia’.

Life's most special moment

I went to Rwanda for 2 reasons, to meet the locals in Kigali and to photograph the Mountain Gorillas in the Volcano National Park. You can see Gorillas in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The tours in Rwanda are particularly organised with expert and friendly guides. Following a 3 hour drive from Kigali, I joined a group and after an informative briefing and flanked by local soldiers, started the 2-3 hour hike through the forest to see our family of Gorillas. The trackers had been out since dawn and located the family. They had been feeding all morning and were mostly quite content with our company. The Silverback however, gave us a customary welcome of chest beating and strutting around a bit before settling and allowing close up viewing of him and his family. One of life’s special moments.