‘Photos don’t completely prepare you for the real thing. Machu Picchu is stunning in every sense of the word. Staying at the hotel adjacent to the entrance and having been impressed by the ruins in the afternoon of the previous day a very early rise next morning to enter the site to view the sunrise was even more breathtaking. Wonderful!

Another of the world’s great sights that again exceeds expectations arising from looking at ‘photos. Visit it twice - in both the morning and late afternoon - to see how the marble ‘changes’ in different light.  

3. EGYPT : 1996 - 28 May 6.30pm,
                     1997 - 2, 3, 12 and 13 September 6.30pm

Sunset on the Nile at Luxor

Forget the ancient Pyramids, the Sphinx, Abu Simbel or the ruined Karnak Temple at Luxor. They are all superb of course but for me nothing surpasses quietly floating along at sunset on board a traditional felucca on the timeless River Nile - older than mankind itself.

4. CHINA : 1994 - 1 October 10.15am to 2.30pm

Cruising down the Li River at Guilin and the incredible limestone hills
Reality again goes beyond what you expect from ‘photos. The limestone hills along the River Li are totally unbelievable - even after you’ve seen them.

5. AUSTRALIA : 1998 - 15 June 6.00pm :

    Sunset over Ularu [Ayres Rock]

Not just a huge rock, visible for miles and impressive for its size and colour. A magical site for the indigenous Aboriginals it is incredible to walk round but even more memorable is the sight as it comes alive and positively glows at sunset.

6 ZIMBABWE : 1997 - 18 June 9.00am :

     First sight of Victoria Falls

You hear it before you see it but then - what a sight! A chance to retrace the steps of history and the explorer Dr. Livingstone. The size, the noise - stunning

7 U.S.A. : 1998 - 3 June 8.00am :

     Arriving by air at The Grand Canyon

Awesome is a fair word to describe the Canyon. A testament to the power and work of nature over the millenniums. The width and depth you appreciate from the rim but the true size is best seen from the air.

8 PERU : 1996 - 15 October 9.30am to noon :
Visiting the floating islands on Lake Titicaca

9 CANADA : 1998 - 30 March 10.00am to noon

Dog sledding at Coal Fire Creek. Nr Mount Robson

Something again that I’d read about but never anticipated doing. But it lived up to all expectations - a team of huskies is very powerful and the speed is impressive, highly recommended. [I’m the driver on the back of the sledge]

10 RUSSIA - CHINA : 1994 - 14 to 17 September

Crossing Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan by train
18 - 25 September
Crossing China by train
A trip across Russia by the Trans Siberian railway was another dream from schooldays geography lessons. Instead, but no less impressive, a trip along part of the old silk route through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan from the ancient city of Samarkand via Almaty to the Chinese border.
Then a change of trains and on across China via Turfan, Dunhuang, Xian, Luoyang and Nanjing to Wuxi. By boat to Suzhou and train again to Shanghai.

A visit to China must include the Forbidden City and the Great Wall plus of course the Terracotta Warriors. But these are the popular sites and bustling and crowded. My great memory was visiting the Summer Palace early one morning when very few tourists were there - it was wonderfully serene : peaceful and calm.

Crossing the Nullabor Plain by train

Crossing the Nullabor gives you a great sense of our and the earth’s place in the universe. For over 400 miles the longest straight stretch of railway track in the world, without a single curve crosses the endless landscape of hot reddish brown soil. Absolutely flat in every direction there’s not a single tree and for mile after mile for around 8 hours, as far as the eye can see and with a low horizon there is nothing but a vast overarching blue sky which dominates the senses and makes you feel incredibly small.

13 RUSSIA : 1994 - 10 September :

     The Kremlin - Moscow

This is a walled ‘fortification’ within the city, but somehow not quite what you expect. Political buildings, of course, but monuments, squares, space to walk around and Cathedrals. Historically it was also the centre of the Russian Church

14 UZBEKISTAN : 1994 - 10 September :

     Samarkand - Ulugbek Madrassa

A magical name from history and synonymous with the ancient ‘silk route’ from China. Samarkand was already old when captured by Alexander the Great in 329BC. The first sight of the The Registan faced on three sides with huge majestic Madrassas is stunning.

15 ZIMBABWE : 1994 - 10 September : Great Zimbabwe

These ancient hilltop ruins, second oldest in Africa after the Egyptian sites, although not well known are remarkable and provide the name for the modern Country of Zimbabwe.

16 AUSTRALIA : 2000 - 10 April : Sydney Harbour Bridge

You know what to expect but the sheer size is of the structure is still impressive. Climb up from the harbour side and look out from the bridge across for a spectacular view of the Opera House.

17 INDIA : 1995 - 9 November - Land of contrast and colour
     Jaipur street market
The ancient lifestyle that still exists in today’s modern world. The everyday dust and dirt against the vibrant colours and cleanliness of the people and the old style street sellers against modern shops. India - land of contrast.

18 THAILAND : 1995 - 13 November :

     Damnoen Saduak, floating market

Different is an understatement. A multitude of small boats with fruit, vegetables and cooked foods and the bustle of a market - but on water! It has to be seen to be believed.

..     ..

morning



afternoon

Horseshoe Falls



Rainbow Falls

First tree for almost 400 miles

19  CHINA : 1994 - 18 September 14.00 Turfan Oasis

Turfan - Miim-Ajie Kares Well
Another memory from school geography. The oasis city of Turfan [Turpan], situated on the northern edge of the Turfan Depression was a crucial oasis on the northern silk road. It has a harsh cold desert climate with low rainfall and a summer temperature recorded as high as 50°C [122°F] while winter can drop to -30°C [-20°F].  Nevertheless it is very fertile with a system of underground wells and waterways which today allows production of grapes and wine along with other crops for the population of over 250,000

20  CHINA : 1994 - 18 September 9.00am Goachang Ruins

While China is recognised as an ancient civilisation with many historical buildings the ruins of the ancient city of Goachang are little  known but certainly interesting. The site dates from 100BC but declined around 850AD and was abandoned by the C14th. Set in the Turfan Depression it was an influential trading post along the ancient silk road from China to the West

Emin Mosque



Grape drying

Click here to return to Top of Page