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Momo Time
Novice monks in Nepal usually get two or three servings of Dhal Bhat every day, or some varition on that. Lots of rice, lots of chillies, lots of lentils. Every so often there's a special occasion, and the momos come out.

Melbourne in Monochrome
This winter I've been working on a few local projects, and spending a little more time on the streets where I live. The winter light is my favourite light, full of texture and drama yet soft and dynamic. It's my favourite time of year to be in Melbourne.

Fire and Water
Surrounded by stunning snow-capped peaks the pilgrims route to Muktinath is followed by devout Hindus from all over Nepal and India. They gather on the shores of the Kali Gandaki to make offerings and prayers, before heading higher into the mountains and the holy temples at Muktinath.

Bhakatpur in Gold
This week in Nepal the festival of Dashain is gathering pace, and the streets of Bhaktapur are awash with offerings to the gods. It's a deeply religious Hindu holiday and even some of the blokes get dressed up nice for the event.

Salt And Stone
This essay has been curated from my Kimberley Coast voyage with Heritage Expeditions. They are presented here in a square format to highight how presentation can make such an impact on how an image is received. So many of the images here are ones I'd love to hang on a wall.

Kimberley Expedition
Rock Art. Wildlife. Landscapes. Sunsets. All you need is a well appointed expedition ship, a fleet of zodiacs and some great crew to guide you to the hidden gems. Rugged coastline, pink and ochre sandstone, brilliant sunshine day after day, calm flat water and easy sailing during the night between destinations.

Hanoi Hustle
It's been 20 years since my last visit to Hanoi, and thanks to Bamboo Airways I got a chance to return in 2023 and reconnect with one of Asia's great destinations. Local markets, sassy scooters and beautiful bun-cha ladies reminded me of what makes Hanoi special.

Momos and Monks
In the Lower Mustang on the edge of the Annapurnas is a small gompa, and home to roughly 90 novice monks. These are young boys who travel far from home to learn about Buddhism plus a broader education. Mostly they eat rice and chillies, but every so often they have a special treat of freshly steamed momos. Days like this are very good days indeed.

Spring Cockies
Spring has arrived in Melbourne and the Sulphur-crested Cockatoos are back in town. Some mornings they rumble our apartment block in the middle of the CBD, and other times I have to walk down to the Yarra River to see them. They're friendly and gentle and such a joy in the middle of a pandemic!

Easy Annapurnas
This series of images was captured while travelling on a Be Your Best Tours "Slow Travel" adventure in Nepal. I love being in the Annapurnas. I love the views of snow capped peaks that greet you from every direction. I love the local dal bhat for lunch. I love the sunny skies and tree blossoms.

Kathmandu in Spring
Kathmandu Valley is a great place to be in Spring. It hasn't got too hot yet, the forest is blooming with flowers and the birdlife is amazing. This journey was a research trip for Be Your Best Tours, and the images below were captured on the new Lumix S5. Enjoy!

35mm Nepal
This series is taken by my wife, Shellie Froidevaux. We recently ran a walking tour in Nepal, and this was our first time shooting with the LUMIX S5. We had a variety of primes lenses, plus the 20-60mm kit lens. Shellie gravitates towards the 35mm anyway, and to make life simple she spent most of the trip with the 35mm in hand. Every so often I would grab it for some video :) This series of images was heavily styled in editing, leaning into the dusty and sun-soaked vibe of Nepal.

Haapai
I was lucky enough to spend a little time chasing whales in Tonga one year. I don't shoot underwater, so I decided just to take my teeny tiny Fuji XM1. I only owned two lenses for it, the 18mm and 35mm. So that's what I shot. Tonga had just recovered from a cyclone a few months before, which means a lot of staple fruit supplies were still missing. Today I think about how they might be coping with a blanket of volcanic ash, loss of communications and sudden tsunamis sweeping through the coral and islands.

Lunch in Malekhu
Overlooking the river banks of the Trishuli River in Nepal are rows of lunch stops, from Mugling to Malekhu. They appeal to truck drivers and local travellers, but rarely get a look in with us foreigners. For me they're a real treat, with freshly caught river fish on the menu and all the dishes prepared in a traditional style using a clay oven. The small fish are deep fried in batter, and the big ones are cooked in a tomato curry. Highly recommended!

Night Market
As a photographer, the Queen Victoria Night Market is a unique challenge. It's hot and cold with light, offering subjects that never stand still and will push every aspect of your autofocus and ISO perfomance to the limit. It's an evening of transience, as scenes appear just long enough to tease you before they vanish into the chaos. The food is delicious but the combination of disposable containers and gaudy light does nothing for image quality. And yet I love it.

WBG
Was lucky enough one cloudy winters afternoon to spend an hour walking through the Botanical Gardens at Warrnambool. John Sheely was very kind and shared the highlights for us, plus his enthusiasm. The people of Warrnambool are so incredibly lucky to have such a great garden, not to mention a lovely fella like John taking care of the flora. These images were taken on the Lumix G9 with a 100-400mm lens. That's why they're all "very tight" and lacking my usual mix of wide shots to set the scene. Maybe go visit for yourself though, and tag me in when you share your pix!

Dragons in Winter
Bhutan is also known as "The land of the thunder dragon", which sounds like they must have terrible weather or something. Maybe if you plan to go hiking at 7,000m, that gets a little snowy. It's always a surprise for my guests when they discover how gorgeous Bhutan is in the middle of winter. It does get cold overnight but while the sun is shining in the daytime the light is magnificent and the air is full of joy. It's my favourite time of year to be in the Himalayas. These images were taken on my trusty little Lumix G9 during the 2019 photo tour, just before Christmas.

The Solomons
The second half of the Melanesia Explorer trip with Heritage Expeditions travels out of Papua New Guinea and into The Solomons. We find some stunning reef systems, dramatic coastline and

Melanesian Explorer
I was lucky enough to journey with Hertiage Expeditions through some remote parts of Melanesia, capturing photos and video of the experience with my trusty Lumix G9. This turned out to be a sensational way to experience the islands and cultures, with generous time on shore with locals and some fantastic experts in the crew. Wildlife, reefs, sing sings and some great companions.

The North
Sometimes the dark and heavy skies of an Arctic winter can bring inspiration. Mostly we chase the sunlight and auroras when heading to Tromso, but this year I started collecting frames under the most challenging of skies. Those moments when the weather changes, when snowflakes fall in the sunshine or a blizzard moves into a fjord, are my favourite. Transition and scale.

Uluru and Kata Tjuta
The centre of Australia is a desert of colour. Sand is stained red with minerals, deep yellow flowers cascade off grevillea bushes and the sky is a flood of blue except for the occasional sunset where clouds throw back hues of orange and pink. In the middle of this colour palette is a massive rock, rising sharply from a rippled landscape. Each fold along it’s flanks have been drawn into stories by the local Anangu, like bookmarks in a library that has been standing long before there even was a desert. Uluru and Kata Tjuta are drama on a geological scale.

Winter Light
Winter is wonderful in the Himalayas. The days are rich in sunshine and the weather is dry, both in Kathmandu Valley and in the Annapurnas. It's always a surprise to our travellers just how warm the mountains are. We're surrounded by snow-capped peaks, but in the valleys of the Kali Ghandaki we are baking in the sunshine. The nights are very cool but comfortable, especially with a good curry in our guesthouses. Have a look at what two weeks in Nepal looks like :)

Luang Prabang
The spiritual capital of Laos is home to thousands of monks, hundreds of temples and an endless supply of beautiful sunsets. Life along the Mekong comes to a gentle halt at the town of Luang Prabang, and when it comes time to leave we're all reluctant to move on. This photo essay from a decade ago expresses what I love about Luang Prabang.

New York City
This city has a unique gift for photographers. Gorgeous architecture on a grand scale becomes the backdrop for a very human drama. NYC is about the people first and foremost, and when you walk the streets here nobody gives a brass monkey about you or your camera. You are invisible. There are so many tourists with cameras in this city that nobody pays the slightest attention to one more photographer. I love it.

Sulmac Village
The shops at Sulmac Village exist for a community of Kenyans who work in glass houses along Lake Naivasha, that supply flowers to Nairobi. This village has an abundance of tea shops, beer halls and fresh fruit. Our presence in the town made a bit of a stir. Travellers in Kenya don't stop here. They drive between parks and hotels. These people were lovely. The kids were just kids, wanting to get in front of a camera lens.

Far Outback
Every year I get to run an amazing photographic adventure across the Outback. We have a private jet-prop that starts in Melbourne and finishes in Darwin. We fly high and fast, making good time between shoots. On the ground we have some wonderful people to ensure our group are treated like royalty, getting into position for the best light. This year we had a lot of interest in the birds too, big and small :)

Dancing In The Himalayas
Every year I travel to Bhutan and every year it's a unique journey. This winter we made our way to the Trongsa Dzong for their annual festival. This valley is amazing and beautiful, and the dzong is one of the most majestic in all of Bhutan. Trongsa Dzong was also the first site for the unified kingdom of Bhutan. This photo essay travels from Thimphu, to Punakaha to Gangtey and on to Trongsa. Bhutan is wonderful.

Awunbrana in Arnhem
Davidson's Safari Camp is an old favaourite of mine, rich in rock art and wildlife. This photo essay was taken during the 2018 Grand Outback Photo Tour. All images were taken with the Lumix G9 except for a couple of drone shots. Enjoy.

Birds of Uluru
A short collection of birds enjoyed while visiting Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park in 2018. I'll let you in on a secret, most of these shots were actually taken around the hotels at Yulara, with only a few locations inside the park proving to be as fruitful. All the birds are genuinely wild, captured without the help of food or audio attractants. All I did was take slow walks through the grasslands, gardens and trails of Yulara and the national park.

City Parrots
For the last few months I've been taking winter walks through Royal Park on the edge of the Melbourne CBD. It's an often overlooked part of the Melbourne green scene, hidden between the hospitals on Flemington Parade and the Melbourne Zoo. On any given day you can find hundreds and hundreds of beautiful parrots. Galahs by the dozen gathering in the bigger trees, plus Rainbow Lorikeets and Musk Lorikeets grazing through the flowering gums. These images were taken with a Lumix G9 and their wonderfully compact 100-400mm lens.

Arctic Norway
Two weeks in the frozen north chasing the light and missing out on sleep. This was one of our most remarkable Norway trips, so filled with sunshine day after day that we almost couldn't believe it was winter. And at night the skies were clear, and filled with Nordlys. Be sure to check out the video at the end of the collection.

Ikara
About 5 hours north of Adelaide the landscape turns a shade of golden brown and dusty ochre. It's tough country for those who farm the land and can be pretty tough on the indigenous wildlife too. Ikara is the traditional name for what was called "The Flinders Ranges" by colonial settlers. As mountains go they are modest, having been worn down over millions of years to just a blip on the horizon. But within these subtle folds there are unique and beautiful ecosystems, attracting a wealth of flora and fauna.

Angsana
Maison-Souvannaphoum once belonged to the royal family in Laos. Today it's a peach of a resort just on the edge of the historical town of Luang Prabang. We used this stunning backdrop for a photography shoot with a difference, taking one of our food-photography workshops here to enjoy and photograph. Here's a quick preview of what we went home with in the camera.

Kenya Safari
Two weeks on safari with a great bunch of people, two terrific local guides and decades worth of experience and passion from Fredrik Broman. I rarely get to lead a photographic expedition with quite this level of skill and talent, let alone with a really great camera that is designed from the ground up for wildlife photography.

Maji Moto
Meeting this group of Maasai Warriors was a truly special part of our Kenya journey. To come and visit them in their home, in their country, was wonderful. You gain a unique appreciation for the depth of culture from spending a few days learning from the men of the Maasai. The camp is very basic, and very wonderful. The comfort goes down a little but the experience goes up a lot. A big thank you to Tianguali ole Ntutu and Parsaloi Nguruma especially for sharing your songs and joyous spirit up in the hills.

Birds of Kenya
I know i'm not a bird expert because I work with plenty who are. This collection of bird images from my last photo tour in Africa is by no means complete, but is intended to share the amazing diversity and spectacular characters that are flittering around the wilds of Kenya. The photos were taken in the short breaks in between game drives, when walking back to my tent or when watching the dawn roll forward over breakfast. Occasionally we would stop the Landcruiser to photograph a bustard or roller. It seems the more you get interested in the natural world the more your eyes get distracted by the ornate and charming avarians.

Water and Stone
Come for the temples, stay for the people. Angkor Wat is just one of hundreds of temples hidden in the jungles of Cambodia near Siem Reap, but what makes all of these temples truly special are the people who bring them to life every single day. The stones are weathered by time but the culture they represent has endured. From the vast shores of the Tonle Sap to the mountain streams at Beng Melea.

Damdek Leu
One of my favourite temples around Angkor Wat is Beng Melea, a set of ruins that have been left untouched without attempt to restore. Blocks of stone lie toppled about like lego blocks. The drive to Beng Melea is quite long, but where the route departs from the highway is a small but vibrant market called Damdek Leu. It's been a favourite photo stop for me for a decade.

Arctic Sweden
Every year I head up to the Scandinavian Arctic to share a few of my favourite locations with fellow photographers and enjoy some reindeer dinners. This year we had a cracking group and enjoyed the company of so many wonderful Swedish people along the way. Here's a few pics of the journey.

Punakha to Phobjikha
Just a hundred miles apart as the raven flies, Punakha and Phobjokha couldn't be more different. The richly terraced rice fields of Punakha enjoy a semi-tropical climate and the grandeur of one of Bhutan's most elegant Dzongs. Phobjokha is home to potato farmers, migrating cranes and sub-zero mornings in the winter. It's a modest journey between the two that reveals so much about Bhutan.

Tang and Nang
Dancing monks. Smiling lamas. Bhutanese farmers dressed in their finest. We were guests at a couple of festivals in Bhumthang this week. Moments like these are rare and treasured.

Summer Wine
The rural landscape of Victoria has been a haven for me and my photography in recent years, and my most recent trip to Rutherglen has reminded me of what makes the North-East of Victoria so special. Very old families making very good wines, but in a modern context and complimented with great cuisine and produce. Rutherglen also offers a beautifully flat horizon at sunset, with uninhibited access to the last gasp of light. Long shadows and deep reds, and some real gems for visitors who want a little pampering.

Wat Laos
I was recently asked to say a few words about my time in Laos for a magazine bio. For me Luang Prabang is such a rewarding place for travellers because of the Mekong, the Monks and the food. I love that the morning market is still full of banana leaves and bamboo instead of plastic. I love that 100m from the most important temple in Luang Prabang there's a french patisserie serving kouign-amanns and cheesy croissants. I love that you can eat Nem Khao (rice crepes filled with pork and onion served with fish sauce and crushed peanuts) on the back streets of Luang Prabang for just $2 and it will be the best meal of the day. I love that there are no loud drunken Aussies ruining the joint like they do most elsewhere in South-East Asia that has a beach or a bar :)

Nong Khiaw
There are two things they have plenty of in Nong Khiaw, rice and cotton. Traditional weaving skills have been brought to market in recent years with the help of Ma Te Sai. The Taileu villages near Nong Khiaw have grown in confidence, as their textiles gain better appreciation and stronger markets. You can visit these parts of Laos yourself with the help of Emi at Ma Te Sai.

Nicely Icey
I love the way light dances through the ice, revealing a hint of it's origins from glaciers far back in time. On this adventure to Iceland we chased the ice on beaches, the snow falling at dusk, the geysirs erupting for its audience and the deep dark hues within freshly revealed glacial caves. And we made friends with lots of Icelandic horses, because I love them too :)

Tromso to Lofoten
It's the snow and light that I love most about travelling through the Arctic in winter. As the days get longer and the sunshine returns to the Arctic, long tenticles of light embrace the wilderness. For photographers the colours are subtle but pure. It's not just about capturing a majestic fjord the plunges into the sea, it's the experience of being wasit deep in snow or standing on a mountain plateau watching the aurora borealis burst into colour above you.

Paris Reflections
This set of images is pure indulgence. Paris in winter is divine. I wasn't even planning to take my camera out on the street, it was a genuine holiday after all. Then I got a little crazy. C'est la vie. C'est lovely.

Flinders Ranges
Hard to believe that all these images were taken over the space of four days. I've been shooting the Flinders Ranges for many years, and some of the locals have been at me to run a photo tour here all that time. So finally I did. With the help of Ian Rolfe we gathered a group of eager photographers and put together one of the best photography workshops ever. Nothing fancy, just stunning sunsets, sunrises and magnificent scenery. Big thanks to the folks in Parachilna for making this trip so wonderful.

Puffins and Ponys
Little tiny birds with bright red beaks and flapping their wings like a meth addict. Puffins are awesome. Hard to believe they can fly, but they certainly do. Most of their lives are spent on the open ocean but for a few months each year they head for burrows on land to breed. The Shetlands is a great place to see the puffins, along with the graceful gannets and cute little Shetland Ponys. Images taken on the Canon 5DSR with the Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Sports, Canon 50mm f/1.2 and Zeiss 18mm f/3.5.

Winter in Gangtey
The township of Gangtey sits at a height above 3000m, cradled by a beautiful and sheltered valley. It's cold here in the winter, so cold that the Black-necked Cranes like to visit for a few months each year. The farmers don't mind, as the potatoes fields are long harvested by then and sent off to market. These are amazing folk, surviving in such a sparse landscape. I enjoy my time in Gangtey, with it's majestic monastery and peaceful skies.

Waiheke
Just an hour by boat from downtown Auckland is Waiheke and a few thousand gourmet lovers. A handful of lovely restaurants, a dash of fine wines and some quirky little coffee carts help add character to the stunning scenery. I loved my short stay here and want to go back. Big thanks to the boys at The Boat Shed for their hospitality, and the dolphins who came to wave goodbye when I departed.

Rutherglen in Red
This is the real Australia, a dry country with undisturbed views of the horizon and bold red wines that taste like they've been carved out of the landscape. Rutherglen is rich in character. Some truly fine wines live here, plus a few great eats. The landscape is golden except for the vines and river gums.

Cameras and Tigers
This set of images is a little induglent, a collection of images from my most recent journey across Bhutan. It covers the early morning climb to shoot Taktsang, the snow capped peaks of Gasa and the festival in Punakha. I regard this as one of my best journeys ever, that perfect mix of experience and excitement. I only visit Bhutan once a year because I want it to remain special for me, and each year it's like rediscovering an old friend. Few people get a chance to see Bhutan in such depth ans splendour, and with the help of some fabulous people such as Rinzi and Tshering we found ourselves blessed with opportunity and inspiration. Thanks guys.

Taung To
A handful of tourists make it this far south on Lake Inle for the Taung To Market, but mostly it's a chance for locals from the hills to come down and stock up on produce and textiles. I got a chance to write about this part of the Shan District for National Geographic Traveller last year, and share a few photos. I only wish I had the whole magazine instead of a few spreads. My favourite treat at the market was the sweet milk tea and freshly fried roti bread. Delicious!

Inle Weaving
It's hard graft making a living on the shallow waters of Inle Lake. There's very little nutrients in the water and even less timber on hand to build homes. Life on the lake is hard. The weavers of Inle have managed not merely to cultivate skill in their craft but adapt a local resource to suit. Very fine fibres are extracted from the stems of Lotus plants and worked into thread.

Stars on the water
Early mornings are beautifully still on Inle Lake, with the sun taking a little extra time to clear the nearby hills. Fishermen come out as soon as the mist has cleared, armed with nets or cages. Rays of the sun reflect off the ripples like stars. In the middle of Lake Inle is a teak temple famous for jumping cats, and the shallow shoreline is hidden by miles of "floating gardens". Inle is kinda neat.

Agrarian Love
More than just a cooking school, The Agrarian Kitchen is an inspiration to change your life. Rodney and Severine grow their food, milk the goats and live a sustainable existence in the hills outside of Hobart. Chestnut trees. Pigs. Asparagus. Loganberries. Pears. There's so much depth to their story that a short introduction will always fall short by miles. Checkout their website and do your best to get a booking on one of their cooking schools. Or join myself and Iron Chef Shellie for next years Food Photography Workshop in Hobart, featuring the Agrarian Kitchen and all that makes Tasmaina wonderful.

Jokulsarlon
Chunks of glaciers are tipped onto a small bay near the coast, and on the whim of winds and storms they make their way out to sea only to be thrown back onto the black beaches by ocean waves. Jökulsárlón is a truly bizarre and amazing place to visit. You never know how many bergs will be landed on the shore, or if the winds will drag them all away. The blue colour comes from the old ice trapped inside the glacier for millenia, contrasting with the deep dark tones of volcanic black sands.

Macau Streets
A few hundred years of Portuguese rule has done little to divert the deep rooted Chinese traditions of Macau. The casinos have a more potent presence than the colonial architecture or cuisine. It's the wanton soups, dim sum and morning markets that most caught my eye in these islands.

Great Ocean Photos
Waterfalls and rugged coastline. A few of us headed for The Otways and Great Ocean Road to spend a few days shooting the sunsets and chasing koalas. Just for fun. Even on the darkest and most grey of cloudy days the last light on the Shipwreck Coast often throws up a blast of colour for the final few minutes. And those cloudy days are great for visiting places like Hopetoun Falls.

Icelandic Winter
Waterfalls are a big part of the attraction when visiting Iceland. They have a few stunning locations that challenge and inspire. Gullfoss and Godafoss are magnificent, but so are the subtle moments when travelling with a camera in the Icelandic Winter.

Icelandic Horse
I love their crazy hair and short legs, their curious nature and indifference to the snow. The Icelandic Horse is a pure genetic line that has remained free of disease and cross breeding for centuries. Any horses that leave the country are not allowed to return, in order to keep them pure.

Packing Prosecco
Under the shade of river gums the Forges gather horses. Some are for riding, some are for loading up. Packing a horse was something of an art form in days gone by. You can even get a piano packed onto horses if you have to! Learning to pack a horse need not begin with a grand piano, so why not start with another local treasure in King Valley - Prosecco. Bottles of bubbles add a little pleasure to the task of learning to pack your horse.

Streets of Yangon
Take a short walk through the historic streets of Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon as named by the British. Modern times are coming to Myanmar, slowly. Life is changing and many of the old relics from colonial past are slated for an update. For now the city still holds it's charm, and photographic appeal.

Pagoda of Peace
Shwe Dagon is a sanctuary of calm in the chaos of Yangon. Years ago I met a monk at this temple, a man who convinced me that tourism can lead to change in his country. So far his prediction have proved right. I enjoy sharing my insights into Myanmar with photographers, and I enjoy the gentle neature of the people. Above all, Shwe Dagon Pagoda is a place of peacefulness, where prayers are offered in kindness to others.

Tea Time in Myanmar
There are two things they grow in the hills of Inle, food and tea. Follow this photographic journey from the market stalls through to the tea plantations. Tea leves, sweetened condensed milk, roti bread, curries and fried vegetables. Always served with a smile.

Rubies in Prosecco
It all started with Prosecco. It usually does. 2013 was the year of bubbles for me, a year filled with jaunts to King Valley to shoot photos and drink in the fine times amongst the vines. A year of indulgence matched only by lovely people. Christmas naturally becomes a celebration of the whole year, so with the help of Shellie we concocted a sweet treat that looks back over 2013 and pulls it all together. Prosecco and Rubies, complimented with light and bright flavours of Asia. Melbourne is where east loves west, where ginger and lime sit on the table with fine Italian bubbles. It all makes sense once you dip in and taste.

There's a bonus PDF to download via Iron Chef Shellie as well. It's pretty, it's useful, it's a keeper! See the link after the photos.

Mekong Dusk
My favourite place in South-East Asia, a city on the banks of the Mekong that shines like a candle cupped in your hands. At night that's what it feels like, dimly lit by incandescent globes while street stalls grill fish and serve soup. As the sun fades on the Mekong the people who draw life from it dive into the water and wash, or drift across it by ferry to head home. Mekong. Life. Laos.

Mystics of Muktinath
With the snowy glaciers of Thorong La looming above Muktinath, this little town is a welcome sight for trekkers on the Annapurna Trail. It's also a unique place for photographers to visit for Himalayan scenery and a glimpse of culture through the centuries.

Steps to Kagbeni
This is my favourite town in Nepal, a little enclave of culture at the foot of the Mustang Kingdom. Once it was a remote outpost along the windhorse trail, but today it's where we stop for yak cheese and real coffee. For photographers, Kagbeni is a true gem that shoots well from any angle.

Tangbi to Jakar
A landscape of powerful rivers, silent mountains and sacred temples. Central Bhutan is a long drive from the cities of Paro and Thimphu, a winding route that hugs the valleys. But a beautiful drive. You get a sense of the wilderness that is Bhutan, a taste of the forests and a glimpse of life in the Himalayas.

Tamshing Phala Choepa
Softly softly, like a snow leopard hiding in the Himalayas. The quiet temple of Tamshing rests peacefully all year, until the annual festival. Rustling with colour and kindness, the locals crowd inside to celebrate the monks, the chams, the blessings. It's festive, unpredictable and vibrant.

Dal Zotto and Kings
One of the great treasures of rural Australia is the heritage of Italian migrants that lies hidden in North-East Victoria. It's not just food and wine, it's generations of traditional lifestyles and lovely people. This is where you find outstanding Prosecco. Dal Zotto is also where you can enjoy food equal to the wines. When can I go back please?

King Island in Winter
A wild island full of delicious treats and enthralling coastline. Oceanic winds bring wild weather in the winter, but in between the clouds the low sun bathes King Island in brilliant light. In the space of just 3 days I journeyed the island with Ian Rolfe and got a taste of why he keeps coming back. Great people, great scenery and a luxurious peace and quiet for photographers.

Market Road
This collection follows the produce from terraced fields through to the wholesale markets of Kathmandu. Traditional farming methods are still used today all over the Pokhara Valley and Kathmandu Valleys. Entire villages head into the fields when it's time to harvest, or when it's time to sew their crops.

Smoke and Sadus
Every year a flock of pilgrims and holy men descend on the Hindu temple of Pashupati in the city of Kathmandu. Their colours and characters fill the usually quiet courtyards of the temple. Smoke fills the air from burning logs used to boil cups of tea and stay warm. On their path to spiritual heights the Sadus and Babas also smoke a little weed, and for the day of Shivaratri the laws that prohibit marujuana in Nepal are relaxed.

Lofoten in Blue
These shots were taken over a couple days in mid-February 2012, mostly taking advantage of the overcast conditions on Norway's Lofoten Islands but sometimes embracing the bursts of sunshine that greet the morning. Villages such as Hamnoy have the lovely red fishing cabins, while Sakrisoya prefer orange. Lofoten is lovely.

Lapland Winter Market
Once a year the Sami people of Swedish Lapland gather to trade reindeer furs, race reindeer on the lake and share a meal of smoked char or reindeer stew. This photo essay is from the 408th Winter Market held in Jokkmokk, just inside the Arctic Circle. Yum and fun.

Nom Nom Noumea
Patrick Morand and his magnificent macarons are the inspiration for this collection. More famous for his chocolates but the intensity of flavour and consistency of form make these macarons special. Patrick's modest little shop in Noumea is a treasure trove of sweet treats. A few extra sweets from the Gourmet Workshop (boulangerie & patisserie) in Faubourg Blanchot rounds out this collection of pics.

Dragon Rapide DH89A
Three decades of restoration work has brought this Dehavilland DH89A Dragon Rapide back to her former glory. Maurice Rolfe is the man behind the machine, whose dedication and skill now sees this 1944 built aircraft finally ready to fly again.

Labrang Tashikyil
One of the great monasteries of Tibetan China, once home to over 2000 monks and a sacred place of learning. Labrang Tashikyil is a cluster of temples, prayer halls, residences and shrines. The monks here are very friendly, a little cheeky and very devoted to their Yellow-Sect traditions.

Last Night in Xian
I wasn't actually there last night, but it was my last night. After a decade of travelling across China in search of yummy food and pretty pictures this journey may have been my last on tour. Inspired by the delicious culinary journeys of great chefs who have also visited Xi'An I share my last night in the delightful chaos of the Muslim Quarter.

Tuyugou of Turpan
Tuyugou Canyon is hidden on the back roads of the Flaming Mountains, a dramatic range of hills that rise out of the desert near Turpan. Originally a 5th century village, built from mud and timber, it is one of the many towns near Turpan that grow grapes and mulberrys and is the location of Xojam Maxar.

Market Moods
In the far west of China, where the Silk Route meets the hills of Kashmir, the city of Kashgar has been a trading mecca for centuries. On my last visit to Kashgar I imagined what it might be like to overlay the language of modern stock markets onto the traditional buying and selling of livestock that dominates this bazaar.

Daylesford Delicious
Indulgence is the theme for a long weekend in country Victoria, surrounded by some of the best produce in the state. Fine dining, great wines and lovely company. Indulgence meets inspiration as we spend the long weekend photographing dishes and ingredients, at the farm and in the kitchen.

Lovely Bits of Leica
A few lovely old Leica cameras, mostly old but one of them new, as shared by the crazy lads at The Camera Exchange. Thanks to John and Paul.

Home Valley Station
Each year we fly into HV8 and spend a few days chasing sunsets and Boabs. Where the Gibb River glides past the Cockburn Ranges we wait for the last light of the day, shooting the red ridges of the distant ranges as they reflect off the water. Kununurra and surrounds are known for their massive Boab Trees, and Home Valley is no exception.

Purnululu
This is my favourite National Park in Australia. The landscapes offer immense inspiration and opportunity for photographers, the bird life is diverse and full of song, while the flora carpets the earth with a subtle range of hues. This year we skipped the usual Purnululu sunset shoot in favour of helicopters. Yay.

Bhutanese Black and White
This set of images inspired a feature I wrote about letting the experience take precedence over the exposures. The idea is to take your time and experience the moment before you try to capture the moment. It's a technique that gives you greater ability to express something special in your travel photography, but also opens the door to unexpected and wonderful experiences. It's what follows from my three guiding principles... Go Slow, Get Closer, Let the Light Guide You.

Living Amongst The Temples
The historical treasures of Bagan's ancient ruins provide a backdrop for farmers and villages that struggle to grow crops in the parched landscape. The Irrawaddy rolls past the temples and carries away silt and sand, but in amongst the stonework are goat herds and ox cart, fields of wheat and cheeky children.

Bumthang Bumthang
Every temple in Bhutan has a festival once a year. Some are big and some are small, but all of them are unique. This year I took my photography tour to Bumthang, one of my favourite parts of the country, and met some lovely novice monks in a very modest temple. Some were cheeky, some were serene and a few were slightly drunk. Together they were wonderful.

Monks of Chimi Lhakhang
Chimi Lhakhang is the known as the Temple of the Divine Madman. Phallic symbols dominate the entire area let alone the temple, as the founding monk had something of a passion for women. To this day the blessing from monks at Chimi is known to bring good luck to those seeking to have a baby. For our photography tour it just brought us some lovely photos of monks and their traditions.

Pindaya Market
I could spend all day in a market like this, but they usually close before noon. Once a week the people surrounding Pindaya fill the streets and laneways around the old market. It's fresh, vibrant and full of colour. See for yourself.

Postcard from Dhammanyan Gyi
One of the most unique of the Bagan ruins, but very quiet in the early mornings. Most people see it only at sunset when they climb Shwe San Daw for sunset, it's the massive temple that looks like it was designed by Lego. Inside are some lovely treasures however.

Postcard from Htilominlo
A classic example of 13th century temple construction in Myanmar, and now a very popular destination for tourists. Inside a series of Buddha statues have been well maintained, and glisten with gold leaf. Outside the vendors work hard to pitch their trinkets to tourists.

Elephants of Chiang Dao
Caring for elephants is no trivial issue in Thailand. Some camps treat their elephants better than others, and one of my favourites is in the north of Thailand at Chiang Dao. About an hour past Chiang Mai, this little camp gets far fewer visitors every day but enough to keep the elephants well fed and happy. There are good and bad aspects to elephant camps of any kind, but they're better than letting these majestic creatures starve on the streets.

Tamarind and Tomato
Tamarind is the name of my favourite restaurant in Luang Prabang. This is where I first came to learn about smokey eggplant jeeow and the best lemongrass and ginger cooler in Laos. Additional treats such as the lemongrass chicken and fish amok sealed the deal. Every now and then they run cooking classes out on the edge of town, starting with a trip to market. Yummy.

Foodies in Nepal
This set is inspired by Dani Venn, who happened to mention the words 'food photography' but was likely refering to something a little more delicious than photos of dal bhat at a truck stop. But the food of Nepal is beautiful in its own way. Apple pancakes in the Annapurnas is still my favourite dish.

Far from the Temples
This photo essay was taken during my 2012 photo tour, a collection of landscapes, people and details that remind me of the Druk culture. Some images are evocative of my favourite moments during that two weeks, others connect with memories across all my journeys in Bhutan. There's more to this country than just temples and monks.

Trongsa to Dochula
Once the centre of power in the Kingdom of Bhutan, Trongsa Dzong is now a stopping point for travellers heading east. And a beautiful stop at that. Once you clear the thin air of Dochula and Yotongla the high fields of Central Bhutan offer an immense sense of space, with very few villages hidden in the mountains.

Kimberley Coast
Thanks to all the crew and passengers on our Adventure Quest out of Broome in August. This is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and even better with a blend of adventure and luxury offered by the crew of Kimberley Quest II. Love your work guys.

Kimberley Quest II
Thanks to all the crew and passengers on our Adventure Quest out of Broome in August. This is truly one of the most beautiful places on the planet, and even better with a blend of adventure and luxury offered by the crew of Kimberley Quest II. Love your work guys.

Oxley and Beyond
The King Valley is just a little bit charming. Bubbly prosecco and stinky cheeses dominate the offerings here, but horse training and windmills still hint at the farming traditions that have kept the region on the map. Autum is my favourite time in year in Oxley, and beyond.

The Flower House
These girls are part of a project to encourage the women of Nepal to expand their horizons and take more positive roles as leaders of their community. Women Lead is a local NGO that runs programs for select girls to foster their awareness beyond the school curriculum. We did a photo shoot with the 2012 gals with the objective of putting a face to the project.

The Low Road
Scenes from the 2012 photography tour in Nepal, featuring the Newari towns and a few favourite locations in Kathmandu city. Nepal is a paradise for photographers, it's not just for trekkers!

Photographers and Mountains
Scenes from the 2012 photography tour in Nepal, featuring the thin air of the Annapurnas. Nepal is a paradise for photographers, it's not just for trekkers! We take jeeps along the key sections, fly in small aircraft to reach the airstrip at Jomsom, and enjoy slow walks through pretty towns in between. And the apple pancakes are awesome!

Lavaux
Castles and Chardonne are what you can expect to find on the shore sof Lake Geneva. French influences with Swiss culture to make the Lavaux region a playground for the wealthy. Just a short train ride from European captials, the Lavaux region is equally a pleasure for passing travellers. These images were shot on assignment in 2011.

Ratchatewi Street Art
Street art in the district of Ratchatewi was my inspiration for this photo essay. Graffiti on the walls of partially demolished buildings, and in the laneways of the neighbourhood just a few feet from a busy khlong. This is what I love about Bangkok, it's a living city with a dynamic and evolving culture.

Buddha Thai
Today I was asked to dig up an image of the Buddha from Thailand for a magazine. As I rummaged through some RAW files from recent trips I got a little nostalgic. The people of Thailand enjoy their Buddha in golden tones and magnificent temples.

Outback and White
The colours of the Outback are usually pretty subtle, a landscape washed of nutrients over millions of years. This trip I got a craving for B&W instead, inspired by the winter sunshine and endless textures of the land. Most of all the people of the Outback inspire me, from the Tiwis to the Tanami.

Snow Safari
A modest but lovely safari camp in the snow has been created by the locals of Sorbyn. Guests sleep in a modern adaption of the traditional lavvo, with a wood fired stove inside that keeps you warm from the sub-zero temperatures outside. A team of dogs arrive with excitement, on their part and ours. Snow shoes, smoked reindeer and lingon berry juice round out the day.

Stay Classy Wangaratta
The Rural City of Wangaratta recently decided it was time to update their image library, and in the process it definitely updated my image of the town as well. So many lovely people, so much lovely food, plus the charms of nearby regions such as Milawa, Oxley and Glenrowan. Wine and sunshine were the main themes, with a little cycling and scenery thrown into the mix. Wangaratta is not a bad place to live at all.

Stay Tasty Wangaratta
Food and wine in country Victoria just keeps getting better and better. Wangaratta is getting its fair share of the goodies too, with great cuisine and wine lists at restaurants like Rinaldo's and Watermarc. It's just Milawa, Bright and Beechworth serving up the fine times.

Tigers and Nuns
Paro is where the western world meets the Kingdom of Bhutan, and is the departure point for travellers after exploring lands to the east. One final challenge greets us however, the ascent to Tigers Nest. A remarkable temple clings to the side of a rock, ironically intended to provide solitude and isolation from the outside world. Now the entire world comes here to see it.

Tsechu at Tamshing
Tamshing is a small temple in the central Bhutanese region of Bumthang. This is a small temple with just a handful of monks, but each year the community gathers to celebrate the spirit and traditions of Bhutan. Cham dances are performed during the Tamshing Tsechu over the course of three days, with monks dressing in the black-hat and other cham costumes.

Khamu Village
The Khamu people are one of poorest minorities in Laos. You find them in remote places, the kind of places you need an elephant to reach. Or a boat. Paul Wager is a local photographer in Luang Prabang and he helped me access one of these villages with camera in hand.

Middle Kingdom
Every year I make a special trip to China with a group of photographers to share what I love about the country. Every year the journey is unique, never the same as before and never to be the same again. This year I borrowed a Leica M9-P as my camera companion for the trip, which was both challenging and enlightening. I discovered a whole new respect for professionals who choose the M format.

Phobjikha Valley
This valley lies at an altitude of 2800m, too high to grow rice but a happy climate for the Black-necked Cranes who visit every year from Tibet. Potatoes are the crop of trade in Phobjokha. Most rural settings you'll see when visiting Bhutan have a sense of abundance, but no here. Phobjikha Valley is sparse and dramatic, a narrow thread of green hidden by the mountains near Pele La.

Angkor for Photographers
Photographers who visit the temples of Angkor are inevitably inspired to see the ruins and jungle through the cast of Black & White. The medium invokes a feeling of time long past that rests comfortably with the subject material. Places like Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm loose their depth, detail and warmth when presented in colour. See link at the end for my guide to help you photograph at Angkor.

Chitwan
Come and meet the people who live in and around the Chitwan National Park in Nepal. On one side of the river are rice fields, and the other is pure jungle. Tigers still roam for the forests, although I never saw more than their paw prints. I did see plenty of other wildlife in Chitwan, including Rhinos and Elephants, but I loved the Tharu people outside the park too.

Wrangel Island
This small island in the Chukchi Sea is best known for it's remarkable concentration of Polar Bears. When the ice melts the bears need a safe haven to wait out the summer. The bears may be hungry during these months but the foxes and owls are not, because they have the Lemmings. In fact the entire ecology of the island is driven by these little creatures and their ability to survive in the Arctic tundra.

Puffins and Polar Bears
The north eastern tip of Russia is known as Chukotka, and it's a very long way from Moscow. Rugged cliffs along the Chukchi Sea are a haven for Puffins, and the long seasons of ice are a haven for Polar Bears. I joined the expedition ship Professor Kromov to get close to the wildlife. Sort of close. Bears are dangerous, Puffins are aloof, and indigenous hunters have made most wildlife in the region very shy of human activity. This region is a genuine challenge for photographers.

People of the Drum
Held high in the tops of ornate towers, the Dong people built skin covered drums as places of spiritual worship. Under Chairman Mao the drums were destroyed, but their spirit lives on. Know recognised as the most beautiful singers in China, it is with great irony that the drums remain silent.

Xijiang Miao
The ethnic minorities of Guizhou have a simple recipe for enjoying the holidays. Drink enough rice wine to drown a chicken, kill a pig and cook it for your friends, and round up the meanest water buffalo in the village and let them fight it out. In between the chaos and cheers a few fine dances are put on display by the prettiest girls in town.

Wild in Arnhem
Most people visit Davidson's Safari Camp for the indigenous rock art, and no wonder. It's one of the most intimate and impressive ways to experience tens of thousands of years of indigenous culture in Australia. But the natural history is equally impressive at Mount Borradaile. Rare grasshoppers, immense diversity of flowers and magnificent wetlands combine to provide a unique enviornment for spotting wildlife. Where the stone country meets the wetlands a unique experience awaits.

West of Alice
You'll need more than a camera to photograph this part of the Australian Outback. A 4WD is a big help, plus a little desire to get out and walk. Mostly you need time, and after one short week of driving west of Alice Springs I wished I had a month. There's more than rocks and sand out here, rather a rich collection of landscapes where Ghost Gums and watering holes are joined by the Milky Way each night.

Mini Skirt Miao
In Vietnam they are known as the H'Mong, and China the Miao. From one edge of Asia to the remote reaches of Guizhou this ethnic group have adopted local customs to form unique sub-groups. The Mini-Skirt Miao of the Da'Tang township in Guizhou are fast becoming famous. They dance, smile and habitually offer guests copious amounts of rice wine. These traditional dances are usually seen at harvest time or the welcome to spring, and are a genuine celebration.

Bucket of Frogs
The Melbourne Museum was once a place for preserved artefacts and stuffed animals, but not any more. The Live Exhibits people have frogs on display, lots of little ones that hop, climb, leap, dig and swim. They're cute as buttons, really cute amphibious buttons. I needed to review a bunch of macro photography gear, so bring on the frogs.

Colours of Uluru
Formerly known as Ayers Rock the dramatic rise of Uluru from the desert landscape is something that has to be seen to appreciate. And for goodness sake there's no need to climb the rock to enjoy it. As beautiful as the rock might be to photograph, no photo can do justice to the experience. This is a place that has energy, you feel it. Surrounding the monolith is a precious landscape of red sands, desert flowers and wild creatures. Little wonder that Uluru is a place of great significance to the indigenous people of the region.

Landing in Broome
They say in Broome you can shake a tree and at least three pilots will fall out. They are everywhere up here, and even the fella who dropped off my hire car was a pilot waiting for a chance to clock up some air-time. I get pretty exceited about small aircraft aviation in Australia, and places like Broome are great examples of why. Helicopters, light aircraft, commercial props and jets all share the downtown strip. Once on the ground you're minutes from the hotel and once in the air you're minutes from some of Australia's best coastal scenery.

Golden Triangle
In the very far north of Thailand, where the Mekong meets Laos and Burma, the Golden Triangle Elephant Camp provides a better life for over 30 elephants. It's not enough to care for the elephants though, here they also care for the mahouts who own them and the families who rely on the income. Five-star resorts at Anantara and Four Seasons help keep the camp going and keep the elephants working.

Northern Sulawesi
Most divers who visit North Sulawesi head for Manado, focusing on the wall-dives around Bunaken National Park and the remarkable biodiversity of the Celebes Sea. Two hours from Manado the Lembeh Straits provides a different style of underwater exploration, with fewer divers in the water, plenty of fish and the added bonus of muck diving through the volcanic black sands. Throw in a really good resort with genuine five-star standards and you have a unique destination for pleasure above and below the water.

Inside Kenya
This was my very first commission in Africa and turned out to be quite a journey. My wildlife camera died on the first day but thankfully I had a spare body to enjoy the experience through the lens. Am very grateful to David Bowen for getting me on this shoot and all the great things that flowed from that experience.

Bay of Bengal
This patch of the Bay of Bengal is about 160kms from Yangon, or about 6 hours in one of the better Burmese buses. Tourism is still young here, with basic elephant camps hiding in the nearby forests and luxury developments starting to claim the beaches. Fishing villages still thrive however, and kids play soccer on the beach at sunset. This is not what we usually expect when we think of Burma.

Shwe Dagon Paya
On a cloudless afternoon the sunset turns orange and the magnificent golden chedi of Shwe Dagon changes colours from yellow to gold to pink. Parasols on the tips of spires muffle the last rays of sunlight. Yangon's shining pinnacle is not just the Shwe Dagon Paya itself but hundreds of shrines, intricate statues of Buddha and a village of prayer halls that cover the hill-top in gold and white. Shwe Dagon is a sanctuary from the concrete and steel of the city below, a peaceful place where monks and residents offer blessings to images of the Buddha.

Pilgrims Trail
One of the holiest places on earth for Hindus and the site of centuries of Buddhist devotion, Muktinath is better known to western travellers as the first town of civilization at the end of weeks of trekking through the Annapurnas. In spring the snow recedes to expose hidden chorterns and mountains covered with prayer flags.

Lower Mustang
The Mustang Kingdom was one of the last wild frontiers, a forbidding place barely livable for tbe hardiest of mountain goats. Yet here the Tibetan people continue to live as they have for centuries, practising rich Buddhist traditions and greeting each new spring with joy. When spring arrives in the Annapurnas and the skies turn clear the peaks of Nilgiri, Dhaulagiri and Tukuche are visible in the distance. Mustang is where Tibet meets Nepal.

Below Jomsom
Jomsom is an outpost town with an airstrip. From sunrise to late morning the planes hop between Pokhara and Jomsom, ferrying trekkers and pilgrims on their way to points high in the mountains. At an altitude of 2800m the air is thin and the apple brandy is heavy. The Thakali caste who dominate in these parts are skilled not only at making apple brandy, but apple pancakes and all kinds of apple pies. Enjoy it while you can, as the apples don't grow 1000m higher up the hill.

Chaos in Kathmandu
Kathmandu is not a small town yet it still retains its unique character. A blend of Buddhism and Hindu devotion taints the daily life of residents, for the better. If all you see if Kathmandu are the souvenir filled streets of Thamel, then you haven't seen Kathmandu yet. The temples, holy men, smiling vendors and crazy taxi drivers are essential to the vibrance and persistance of the city. This town posses a different kind of beautiful.

Newari Villages
The Newari Caste are the artisans of Nepal, creating pottery and woodwork that appeases the eye. Small villages in the Kathmandu Valley are filled with talented Newari people and their crafts. It's not all about souvenirs either, it's just a way of life.

Ducking About Dordogne
Getting lost in the lanes and discovering a foie gras farm off the map is one of life's great joys. Dordogne is just brimming with lovely towns. Some are very small with a chapel and a few dozen houses surrounding, others are large with a pedestrian old town to help preserve the architecture. All of them have at least one if not a dozen chateaux to add a touch of elegance and grandeur to the location. Many towns are built on the apex of dramatic cliffs, hills or mountains which adds to their photogenic nature.

The Gardens of Villandry
In the Loire Valley of France I found a garden that threw inspiration at me like a shower of rose petals. The formal gardens at Chateau de Villandry are magnificent examples of how the ruling class of France combined their artistic flare and desire for fresh produce in the kitchen. It's also a world of its own for visiting photographers.

Cycling Alsace
Vineyards and forest trails make the country side between Strasberg and Kaysersberg a charming setting for getting outdoors. These images were taken for a media shoot, so not only was the scenery fabulous but I had some wonderful companions to fill the frame too. A little bit of sunshine goes a long way in Alsace.

Caravans of Laos
Once known as the land of a million elephants the kingdom of Laos is still home to over 1,000 of these majestic creatures. Half are domesticated for working in the forests, and some are friendly enough to help travellers instead of loggers. A week with the elephants is the best way to slowly explore the forests and the villages within.

Antarctic Ice
From 2011. Three weeks on the Professor Kromov and most of them at sea being tossed about the Southern Ocean. On the way down we visit The Snares, Auckland Islands and spend a few days at Macquarie Island. Soooo many penguins. Then we hit the ice in Antarctica, and the ice is so nice. Adelie Penguins pop up everywhere to say hello and whales lurk between the bergs.

Peninsula Penguins
From 2011. Sometimes penguins travel solo, often they roam in packs. Always they are sensationally cute, tiny little characters facing the harsh conditions of Antarctica. Adelies are my favourites, without a doubt.

Little Bits of Outback
The Australian Outback is bristling with detail, gorgeously rich bits of detail. My first exhibition of work was of leaves and dirt photographed on a road trip to Alice Springs, and I've never lost sight of how the little details in life are what make all the difference. Get closer.

Kimberley Wild
The dry landscape of The Kimberley region in Western Australia is home to great destinations and stoic characters. Home Valley has their horse whisperers, Purnululu has their helicopter pilots, and the resort camp at Faraway Bay has a mad fella named Bruce who built his dream escape near the King George River. The Kimberley is big, but beautiful.

Wats in Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai holds a unique place in the history of Thailand, the former city of the Lanna Kingdom. Overlooking the city is the temple of Doi Su Thep, a site chosen when a fabled white elephant carried a relic of the Buddha into the forests. Where the elephant came to rest is where they built the temple.

Bangkok Specials
Buddhism is woven into the fabric of Thai culture, a strong and beautiful element that give strength and character to the people and their nation. The lotus flower is a special symbol to Buddhist, a pristine flower that emerges from the muddy depths of still water. It symbolises the journey towards enlightenment as we emerge from Samsara.

Macquarie Island
Three days sailing from Hobart the remote outpost of Macquarie Island is a haven for seals and penguins in search of a beach. Royal Penguins number near a million and the majestic King Penguins in the hundreds of thousands. Fewer than 1,000 people are permitted to visit Macquarie each year.

The Albatross
The islands south of New Zealand and north of Antarctica provide a unique home for these birds. Remote habitats with few predators plus strong winds that favour their large wing spans make it a happy home. Wandering Albatross have the largest wing-span of any bird, reaching over 3metres, yet smaller albatross in the Mollymawk family are no less charming.

Paris When It Sizzles
Nothing says Paris like a cheap miniature Eiffel Tower sold by an Algerian hawker or a very bad faux-impressionist painting at a Bastille Flea Market. Nothing says photography in Paris like a roll of black & white film and a cafe au lait. You don't chase photos here, you just sit down with a drink and wait for something interesting to walk by.

Ringha
This little village is home to a lovely temple that takes in domestic animals that no longer have a home. There's a very posh resort hidden away here too, blended nicely into the traditional architecture of the region. Lots of barley soup and yak butter tea on offer. Beware the yaks, they are cranky in the mornings.

Litang in the Sky
The town of Litang is not easy to reach. After two days on public buses that rattle along mountain roads, clearing high-passes at 5300m and stopping every few hours to buy more cigarettes, our driver finally pulled into the town of Litang. My guesthouse was named Pokhara Palace, but was not as glamorous as the original in Lhasa. At night the wild dogs roam the streets and bark incessantly. Litang sits at 4100m, and a mile out of town the monastery sits a little higher, casting a paternal watch across the valley. The monks here are known throughout the Tibetan world, because three Dalai Llamas have been schooled here and today they continue to practice sky burials. Litang is where the sky meets the earth, where the wind-horse is carried by the breeze.

Kham Tibet
Zhongdian means the 'middle valley', a place below the snow peaks but above the grassland where the growing season is very short and only half-breed yaks can survive in the meadows. Beijing has renamed the town Shangri-La, the famed oasis in the novel 'The Lost Horizon'. Only they can't say the name in English, so they officially call it Xiangelila. This is a cultural centre for Kham Tibetans, and the towns surrounding the city are rich in the living traditions of the Kham. They drink Yak Butter tea take care of their monasteries.

The Silk Route
Spicy lamb and oven cooked bread is not what you expect in China, but as you travel west of Xian the cultural journey takes on a very different flavour. The Silk Route is where Islam meets Buddhism. The western province of Xinjiang is vast and diverse, with Tibetan influences to the south and Uyghur people to the north. Head far enough west and you evetually reach Kashgar, one of the world's truly great trading cities, even in this modern day.

Regal Rajasthan
The deserts of Rajasthan or anything but deserted. This is an ocean of colour that teams with life, rich in spiritual and cultural traditions.

The Blue City
The city of Jodhpur is one of those places in Rajasthan where tourism has not quite caught on. Life inside the blue-washed walls of the old town still runs to a distinctly Indian rhythm. Donkeys share the streets with auto-rickshaws, fresh produce and recycled clothing fills the central market and food stalls line the streets as camels and cars pass by.

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