A trip to New Zealand taking in the rich mixture of Malaysia, ruined temples like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and a good-sized otter in Singapore.

I went to Mexico to see Mayan remains like Chichen Itza, sample Mexican food like churros, and enjoy refined cultural pursuits like Lucha Libre aka Mexican wrestling.

My guide for my safari in Tanzania was named "Good luck", and with that good luck I saw cheetahs and lions and leopards and many things. And heard hyenas laughing at 4am.

A holiday just before Covid happened! I see Tokyo and Hobbiton in New Zealand then Gardens by the Bay in Singapore on the way back.

I visit South Korea, seeing Buddha's birthday celebrated at a nun run temple and visiting a Baduk (Go) school.

My first time in Japan, seeing many shrines and cherry blossoms. I caught a faint glimpse of Mount Fuji, and stayed in a temple on Mount Koyasan.

A second trip to New Zealand overdoing it on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, and seeing the volcanic White Island.

My first trip to New Zealand taking in both North and South Islands. A memorable place to see! I would almost rather live there than Britain!

Not everything ran according to plan when I visited New Zealand in February 2006. The weather and my carelessness denied me some expected highlights. Nonetheless I saw some great scenery, saw some of the endemic wildlife, and spent good times with my wife's relatives in Auckland. They showed me round Auckland, places like 3 Kings Hills which is now only 2 hills as they used the third for building material. That was as important as anything, I like travelling distance and meeting friendly people. The weather was changeable - when it rained it rained and blew. Boat trips (like I had planned to Tiritiri Matangi) can get easily cancelled. Mostly the weather was fine, lovely clear air, you can see for miles, but not as hot as parts of Australia. I stayed in quite a few homestays and very pleasant experiences they were too. They're like B&Bs but you're even more staying with the host family, you eat with them, you don't have keys. Some of the homestays were luxurious. A good way of meeting the locals who were very helpful. Food wise I found the potato-like Maori vegetable called "kumera" very good, and also quite liked feijoa juice. Plane food on my 36-hour journeys was dire - I barely ate. Most of the roads in New Zealand I drove along are small winding country roads. Only in Auckland did I encounter motorways (which were congested.) The road system is good with some challenges for the visitor. There were a number of bridges with but a single lane, and even some where trains also shared the same space! At the time of my visit New Zealand had a law in effect where people turning right have priority over people turning left (they drive on the left.) I didn't get this always correct. You can also overtake on the inside.

A visit to Uganda with a small Christian charity Afrinspire that I help set up computers for which are sent to Uganda and other African countries. In April people from that charity went to see projects supported in Uganda, and I tagged along to see Africa for the first time. This wasn't a tourist trip - we didn't see gorillas in the mist, or other vistas of nature which I hope to see one day. But we did see Uganda from street level and got to meet Ugandans face to face. It was a real privilege to go there, and be welcomed so warmly by those I met. Excuse an attempt at a stream of consciousness, or perhaps a Nile of consciousness. My memories not a coherent whole. Instead scenes and sights and sounds and smells tastes into my thoughts tumble. Where start I? Above the clouds? Above the sands? Desert plain blank featureless snatches. Yet circles large circles written onto the dry expanse. Signs omens of? On the flight map names legends are displayed - Serengeti, Nile, Lake Victoria. I am being borne towards someone else's world.

I liked visiting Australia so much in 2003 that I visited it again, this time meeting friends near Perth as well as returning to Arnhemland.

Good friends I knew from Waterbeach moved to live in Denmark. That was enough of a reason for me to go and see Denmark for myself!

I venture down under to see Australia stopping over in Singapore. The highlight was spending time in Arnhemland for me.

The overwhelming beauty of Bryce Canyon, the brokenness of Cedar Breaks, and water from the rock at Zion Canyon in Utah.