On Tour!

2007-06-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Home at Last!

2007-04-19T05:30:00.000-07:00

Home at Last!

15 countries, 5 continents, 39 flights, 124 beds, 2 mountains, 24 islands, 1 major illness, several weird creatures eaten, god knows how many gallons of alcohol consumed and roughly 61,387 miles covered by plane, train, automobile, tuk tuk, moto, canoe and one very faithful little camper van!

SeaWorld, Busch Gardens & Miami

2007-02-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

And another!

The view from our balcony in Miami.

Weeeeeeeeeeeee!

The awesome Sheikra ride at Busch Gardens, Tampa Bay.

Who wants their tummy rubbed?!!

Shamu does the 'Free Willy' special!

Shamu gets ready to soak the crowd of shrieking children
(and Japanese tourists!!)

King penguins lording it up in their artificially created snow dome.

Dolphin acrobatics at the SeaWorld Aquarium.

No, not a large floating blob but a very rare and placid manatee
(also known as propeller-fodder, hence the rarity!!)

Chris tries out the cowgirl look!

The dolphins at the underwater viewing area in Dolphin Cove.

Ben feeding Flipper at SeaWorld!

Flamingos in the pink (har har!) at SeaWorld, Orlando.
Late January 2007.

Vancouver & Whistler

2007-02-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

Canadian lake views as we returned to the USA.

Action man! Ben after a hard day's boarding.

One of the many gondolas taking skiers and boarders
up Blackcomb and Whistler mountain.

Around Whistler village.

Linda and Chris looking trolleyed before even going out on
Chris's birthday! Too much champagne!!!

The view from our apartment in Whistler village,
complete with balcony, heated pool and covered hot tub!!!

Our team in full flight with 'musher' Matt at the controls!

Chris takes the controls while Ben enjoys the ride!!

Mush, mush! Dog sledding around Whistler's back country,
Chris's birthday, 18th January 2007.

Well, it had been a while so here's Chris cuddling
something cute and furry, other than Ben!!!

View from the apartment windows.

Where we stayed with Linda and Stephen in Whistler.

Giddyup Rudolph!
Sleigh ride round the ski field, Grouse Mountain.

Chris posing by the cable car atop Grouse Mountain.

Views of Vancouver and the Burrard Inlet from Grouse Mountain.

Canadian wood carving up on Grouse Mountain.
Vancouver, Mid January 2007.

I still don't know what this shop was selling
but the sign certainly made you stop and look!

Canadian entrepreneur 'Gassy Jack' after whom Gastown,
the oldest part of Vancouver, was named.

Seattle

2007-02-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

Up on the Space Needle one day during a rather strong gale!

See, the first Starbucks store! Told you!

The very first (of MILLIONS) Starbucks at the market with its original

(and apparently rather risque) saucy mermaid logo!!

The famous Pike Place Market, location for 'Sleepless in Seattle'

and if you're really lucky they might throw a fish at you!

The Space Needle at night, all 605 feet of it!
(and yes, it does look like a flying saucer on the top there!)

Ben and Jimi compare riffs on Broadway, Seattle!

Continuing on with 'Dead Celeb Day'! The graves of superstar Bruce Lee
and his son Brandon. Mystery still surrounds both their deaths.
Lakeside Cemetery, Seattle.

Kurt's Park next door, where fans pay their respects.

The house in which troubled Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain
took his own life in 1994, Lake Washington, Seattle.

Deep below Seattle's streets!

Amazing Underground Seattle Tour where in

the late 19th century they rebuilt the city a whole storey

above the original and left the old buildings below!

Full of freakish fun!
Ye Olde Curiosity Shoppe! Waterfront, Seattle.

Fabulous friends! Tim, Christina, Chris, Ben and Troll!
The Fremont troll under the Aurora Bridge, Seattle.

An incredible interactive working guitar sculpture made up of
500 instuments! The EMP, Seattle.

The fabulous EMP: Experience Music Project and Sci Fi Museum,
Seattle, early January 2007.

Seattle's famous landmark The Space Needle.
Built for the 1961 World's Fair and seen on Frasier's credits each week!

New York, New York!

2007-01-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

The ball drops!!! Times Square, New York, Midnight!!

Ben and Chris, Times Square, about 11.00pm New Year's Eve.

The distinctive Art Deco Chrysler Building, New York.

Ground Zero. The former site of the World Trade Centre
and now the building site of the future Freedom Tower.

A survivor of 9/11
The Icon of Hope in Battery Park.

Lady Liberty!

The fantastic bird's eye view from above!

Going up?!
Helicopter tour over Manhattan.

The city's first skyscraper
the Flatiron building.

Sign on the right reads:
please do not touch, lick, stroke or mount the exhibits!

The ubiquitous yellow cabs of New York city.

The Naked Cowboy struts his stuff on the streets
of New York!

The Chrysler Building, Manhattan.

Downtown Manhattan as seen from the obs deck.

The view of the Chrysler Building from the

Empire State Building's obs deck.

The Empire State Building at night in
Christmas colours!

Enjoying cocktails in Times Square.

Chris outside the Christmas tree of Macy's,
the biggest department store in the world!

The Apollo Theatre pays respect to one its
greatest performers James Brown, days after his death.

Times Square, as seen from our tour bus, getting
ready for all the excitement on New Year's Eve.

The Dakota Building where John Lennon
lived and died in 1980.

Check out the view from our room!
Empire State Building, New York, end December 2006.

Chicago and New Orleans

2007-01-10T18:15:00.000-08:00

Pere Noel takes a load off after a busy few days!!!

That mulled wine makes another appearance!

Some of the light displays at the Celebration in the Oaks,
New Orleans City Park.

Some proper street jazz in Jackson Square, French Quarter.

St Louis Cathedral and General Andrew Jackson
in the Square that takes his name.

With our favourite barman John at our New Orleans hotel.

Christmas Day in our suite!

Bourbon Street getting going at night.

One of the oldest bars in the USA (and one of Chris's favourites)
Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, French Quarter.

It would be rude not to get drunk on a street with a name like this!

For all your hexing and hoodoo needs!

A fine example of the French Quarter's ornate galleries.

Look like anyone you know???? Which one are you???

Oooo! Spooky goings on in the Voodoo Museum!

Voodoo John and his very friendly little albino python at the

Voodoo Museum, French Quarter, New Orleans.
(That's Marie in the painting)

One of the grander family tombs.

The much visited tomb of the most famous Voodoo Queen ever -

Marie Laveau. (That's Chris next to it not some scary apparition!)

The 'brick oven' style tombs of the not so affluent.

The famous above ground cemetery St Louis Number One,
New Orleans.

The space shuttle's external fuel tank, NASA, New Orleans.
Big isn't it?!

Spot the wildlife??? No we couldn't either!!!

Turtle makes like a tree to avoid capture!

On the bayou!

Crikey! A little swamp alligator in the Louisiana Bayou,
Honey Island swamp, New Orleans, Mid December 2006.

Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs and Elwood Blues!!

The view of downtown from the Sears' Tower.
1454 feet high!

An apt production!

Some of the classic art deco architecture of downtown Chicago.

Christingle Market, supplier to Ben and Chris of much mulled wine!
Daley Plaza, Chicago.

Route 66 - Part 2!

2007-01-09T19:12:00.000-08:00

The End! 2448 miles later!! Chicago, Illinois, Mid December 2006.

The Gemini Giant at the Launching Pad Drive-In,

Wilmington, IL.

It wouldn't be Route 66 without some neon!

Tall Paul, the hot dog giant, Atlanta, IL.
D'ya see the size of his sausage?!!!

We don't know what this is but we like it!
Somewhere, Illinois!

Chris rubbing Abe's nose for luck at the Lincoln Memorial Tomb,
Springfield, Illinios.

Abraham Lincoln's old house, Springfield, Illinois.

The old Soulsby Shell Station, Mount Olive, Illinois.

Another Jack Rabbit, this time at Henry's Rabbit Ranch,

Staunton, Illinois.

You can get Route 66 anything and everything!

The bizarre (and frankly dangerous!) Chain of Rocks Bridge,

St. Louis, Missouri, complete with 22 degree bend!

The Gateway Arch, St. Louis.
630 feet high!

Ben laps up some of Famous Ted Drewes Frozen Custard,
St. Louis, Missouri.

The famous Route 66 institution, the Munger Moss motel,
Lebanon, Missouri.

You just can't get the staff nowadays!

The endearingly sweet but now retired Blue Whale amusement park,
Catoosa, Oklahoma.

Elk City, Oklahoma.

'The Blob' plays at the 66 Drive-In.

Cool 1970's Corvette in 66 Diner,
National Route 66 Museum, Elk City, Oklahoma.

The Devil's Rope (barbed wire!) Museum, McLean, Texas.
Go figure!

The Leaning Tower of Texas, Groom.

Ben doing his Peter Kay impression!
"Is this the way to Amarillo...?!"

How could you resist?!

The famous Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas.

Old 66! The Midpoint Cafe, Adrian, Texas.

The halfway point! Adrian, Texas.

Route 66 Auto Museum, Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

One of the many kitsch vintage motel signs that line Route 66.

The Satellite Cafe, Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Route 66 Casino plays homage to the (now defunct)
Twin Arrows Trading Post, an old Route 66 landmark.

The Continental Divide in New Mexico where the
rain from the west drains to the Pacific and the east to the Atlantic.

Dinos at the Rock Shop, Holbrook, AZ.

"Have you stayed in a wigwam lately?".
The fabulously kitsch Wigwam Motel, Holbrook, Arizona.

The Jack Rabbit himself!

The famous Jack Rabbit trading post billboard,
Joseph City, Arizona.

A hitchhiker we picked up east of Winslow.

The Meteor City trading post, Winslow, Arizona.

Grand Canyon Detour!

2007-01-09T19:10:00.000-08:00

Airplane flight over the Grand Canyon, December 2006.

Route 66 - Part 1!

2007-01-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

Route 66 saviour Angel Delgadillo shows off his handiwork
on Ben's head! Smooth as a baby's bottom!

World famous Angel Delgadillo's barber shop, Seligman.

Ben gets friendly with the locals in Seligman, Arizona!

Original log jail in Arizona, somewhere!

Ahh, the open road!

Lost climbers in the Grand Canyon Caverns!!

Rexy outside the Grand Canyon Caverns near Seligman on Route 66.

Very sexy! Yes, the car, not Chris!
1956 Corvette outside the Hackberry General Store.

The retro 50's diner inside the Hackberry General Store.
Er..we don't know the skinny broad on the left!

Big head, somewhere on Route 66!

'Fill you up, sir?!!!'
Powerhouse Route 66 museum, Kingman, Arizona.

Nosy little 'burro' (Spanish for donkey) who snotted on our window!
Oatman, Arizona.

Inside the Bagdad Cafe with brainy Bob!
(He's the little hairy one in the middle!)

The famous Bagdad Cafe (from the movie of the same name! Their spelling!)
Newberry Springs, CA.

First Route 66 museum, Victorville, CA.

The old way to get gas at The Summit Inn!

The Summit Inn on the Cajon Pass, Oak Hills, California.

Roadtrip!!!

Ben outside the 'everything 66' store!

Have guidebook, will travel!
Ready to roadtrip! 2448 miles to go!

The start (though we had to borrow Chicago's start sign as
some idiot had crashed into LA's and burnt it up!)

Santa Monica pier, the offical start/end point for Route 66.

The famous Santa Monica carousel for all you
Paul Newman/'The Sting' fans!

Santa Monica Pier, LA.

Santa Monica beach, Los Angeles, early December 2006.

West Coast California

2006-11-25T22:39:00.000-08:00

Beware low flying planes in San Diego!

A zonkey?! No, just a painted up donkey!
Tijuana, early December 2006.

Main street, Tijuana, Mexico.

Beautiful baby gorilla with mum!

Hippo at the hippodrome!

Life's hard for Gao Gao the male panda bear!

Polar bears with their very own specially made snow!

Giraffe. Obviously!

The armour plated white rhino.

San Diego's wolf in fine voice!

Flamingos strut their stuff at San Diego zoo.

The Pacific Highway on our way south!

Close up Half Dome from the Mirror Lake.
(Not much water at that time of year though!)

Half Dome from Ahwahnee meadow.

A friendly stag we met on one of the nature trails.

The impressive landmark of Half Dome inside Yosemite.

The view from Tunnel lookout over the Yosemite valley.

Pretty Christmas card views inside Yosemite.

The stunning national park Yosemite.

Lake Tahoe.

On the shore of beautiful Lake Tahoe.

Reno! The sign says it all!

Ok, you get it, it was snowing - a lot!

The arty shot of the blizzard!!

Such a change in weather!
The blizzard en route to Reno, end November 2006.

The usual pose! You know to expect it by now!

The Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco Bay.

One of the huge cables that supports the famous
Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco.

The huge Christmas tree in Union Square,
Downtown San Fran.

Thanksgiving in San Francisco with Stuart, Suzy, Annabelle
and Jade (and some bonus small kid!)

The famous cable cars.

Those famous Streets of San Francisco!

Sea lions chilling at Pier 39!

They came to escape the 1989 earthquake and never left!

'The Rock'
The eerie old prison also known as Alcatraz.
San Francisco bay, Late November 2006.

Vegas Baby!

2006-11-25T22:29:00.000-08:00

The awesome Hoover Dam on the Colorado river
outside of Vegas.

The incredible pyramid and sphinx of the Luxor hotel!

No, we didn't go inside!
The famous Little White Chapel, Las Vegas.

All 1149 ft of the Strat!

The view of the strip from up on the Stratosphere.
1149 feet high!

Ben and Chris outside the huge, new Wynn casino.

The famous Flamingo, an old Rat Pack haunt.

The very elegant Paris!

The very swanky Bellagio.

New York, New York!

Another 'world's largest'
This time: bronze sculpture- The MGM lion: 45 Feet high,
nearly 100,000 pounds!!!

Many, many miles of M&M's!

'The Strip',
Las Vegas, November 2006.

Chris with the first of many frozen daiquiries!
(See that blurring? That is how you see after a few! Even the camera was drunk!)
The Egyptian themed Luxor hotel, Vegas.

Ben sizes up the world's largest Hawaiian shirt!

The incredible 'Grand Canal' at the Venetian.

Swimming time for the tiger at the
Mirage, Las Vegas, November 2006.

Nice puddy tat!
Siegfried and Roy's old hangout, the Mirage, Las Vegas.

Vegas Baby!
Remember, What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas!!

Ooooh, how exciting! The world's largest thermometer! Baker, California.
A whopping 134 feet tall to mark the highest ever temperature in the
USA of 134 degrees fahrenheit in Death Valley, 1913!

LA LA Land

2006-11-25T21:34:00.000-08:00

Santa overseeing the Christmas decorations in LA!

Where's Wally? (Chris!)
Can you spot the non-famous person in the picture?!

Headline news: T-Rex eats Ripley's!
Ripley's Believe It Or Not, LA!

The Governator himself!!

Grauman's Chinese Theatre, home of the red carpet premieres
on Hollywood Boulevard, LA.

"Here's Johnny!"
Okay it's Jack but if you've seen The Shining you know what we mean!

The famous blonde bombshell on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame.

And again in skeletal form.

Big and furry woolly mammoth.

The real thing - in skeletal form at least!

Magestic looking sabre-toothed cats having a scrap
at the LaBrea tar pits in LA.

Poor mummy mammoth stuck in the LaBrea Tar Pits,
Los Angeles, Novemeber 2006.

And if you look really close you can just about make Mumsy
out in the top left hand window! Looks like she's lost some weight!!!

Need a place to stay? I've heard Mother really likes it?!!!

See, we told you!

SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAARKKKKKKK!

Now everybody knows it's not safe to go back in the water!

Er..Ben gets eaten by Jaws!

Chris gives Jaws a cuddle!

The Hard Rock Cafe's gigantic neon guitar.
Universal Studios, Mid November 2006.

Ben gets grabbed by Spinosaurus at Jurassic Park!

Serious stunts in Waterworld as everything goes up in flames!
No problem, plenty of water!!!

Chris gets mean on the Harley as she's chased by a Terminator!
Check out the attitude, huh?!!

Aaaaghhh! The cascading waters of a Mexican flood!!
Not really, don't panic! Just more Universal magic!

Showing off our our funky and very attractive Shrek 4D glasses!

Ready for a day of childish fun!
Universal Studios, LA.

Think Pamela Anderson, think David Hasselhoff!
That's right, think Baywatch!
Venice Beach, LA, November 2006.

As if we were famous!!
We had to get our mugs in here somewhere!

The world famous iconic Hollywood sign,
Los Angeles, Mid November 2006.

The Amazon and Lima

2006-11-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

The wild man of the jungle!!!
Ben sporting his first (and hopefully last!) ever beard (since removed!)!

The monkey and the condor.
The impressive Nazca lines as seen from above.

Judy from the jungle!
This lovely lady saved us from school children in the Amazon and
introduced us to salsa!

Ben and Chris proving they don't have two left feet (each!)
at a Cuban Salsa lesson in Lima.

The Larco Mar at Miraflores in Lima at dusk.

The Plaza Mayor in Lima.
Early November 2006.

The varied lotions and potions of the local Iquitos market.

Ben and Chris doing the tourist thing around Iquitos.

More sloth - complete with Beatles haircut circa 1963!

Ben gives cuddles to a young little woolly monkey!

'He's a bit grumpy!'
Ben holding on tight to the potentially lethal
and lawsuit-inducing rainbow boa!!

Smile for the camera!
Chris stuggling under the weight of the stinky snake!

What a whopper!
Yes, the snake!! This is a ten foot, bloody heavy yellow anaconda!
Los Boas.

Ben and one of the rescued sloths from Los Boas,
near Iquitos, end October 2006.

Ben and Chris and (short!) guide Segundo.

One of the local families from one of the small river communities.

The big tapir we found wandering around Ceiba Tops one night.
He was twice the size of little Nelly and drank water from the bottle!

'Juane', a local dish of rice, chicken and eggs cooked in banana leaves.
Looks delicious doesn't it?!

The gang at Indiana! Our guide Segundo (far left) took us here to meet
his friends and buy them all very cheap beer!

Chris posing reluctantly at the splendid Ceiba Tops pool and waterfall!

'Look at me ma!'
It's not just us humans who smile for the camera!

A young and very cheeky howler monkey.

A shy black and white saki monkey.

Woolly monkeys getting fed.

"Ingles" the uakari monkey and the
bane of Ben's time at the Monkey Island!!

This was our taxi to Ceiba Tops luxury lodge!
If you think it looks low in the water with just the driver imagine it with
5 more passengers plus luggage!

Heavy lifting at the small village of Indiana's quayside!

A local Ribereno 'thatcher' plaiting palm leaves for roofing.

A huge cloud of butterflies attracted to a salt lick on the river bank.

We weren't kidding! They're not called giant for nothing!

The giant Victoria Regia water lilies at a black oxbow lake.

A baby caiman (named Dandy of all things!) rescued from the cooking
pot of a local family by a couple of Explorama guides.

Ben being 'cleansed' by the local shaman at the ReNuPeRu botanical
gardens near the Explornapo lodge.

The lovely Charlie! Biggest capybara ever!
Explornapo Lodge.

Gigantic elephant ear palm leaves at the
Amazon Conservatory for Tropical Studies (ACTS)

Hey, it's a rainforest! It rains!!
(Attractive plastic ponchos, huh?!)

The view over the Amazon rainforest in the early misty morning.
(Taken from the Canopy Walkway's highest point.)

One of the bridges of the Canopy Walkway.
Up to 115 feet high above the forest!

One of the beautiful margrove streams off of the Amazon
where we went piranha fishing again.

A very large (about the size of a girl's hand) and very hairy
yellow-legged tarantula near our lodge on a night walk.

One of the troupe of cheeky tamarin monkeys
who played near the lodge.

A beautiful and tiny (about 2 inches long) Poison Arrow frog in the
leaf litter on the jungle floor.

Us having a go with varied results!
No children or animals were harmed in the making though!

The Yagua men showing their skill with their hand crafted blow guns.

The Yaguas perform a traditional dance in native dress.

A traditional meeting house of the Yagua Indians
north of the Explorama lodge in the Amazon.

Fried up piranha for dinner that night!

Piranha fishing on the Amazon!
Chris's is much bigger, wouldn't you agree?!!

Little Nelly! The very friendly and photogenic tapir at Explorama.

Cabins and hammocks at the rustic Explorama lodge,
First stop down the Amazon, end October 2006.

Ben and bear share a beer at the Hobo's Hideout, Iquitos!

LAN Airline's latest addition to it's fleet!
Arrival at Iquitos airport not altogether encouraging!
End October 2006.

Machu Picchu

2006-11-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Resident llama at MP!

Ok already! More pictures of MP!!

The Temple of the Sun and its carved sacred rock seen from above.

View from inside one of the priest's chambers.

The view from up in the shrine of MP: Intihuatana.

The Temple of the Three Windows with fabulous views through
its three trapezoid windows (right).

The living quarters of the MP complex.

The incredible curved stone masonry and the Serpent Window
of the Temple of the Sun.

The huge and impressive agricultural terraces of MP.

Group hug!
The intrepid trekkers at the end of their hike.

The 'classic' shot of MP with the small mountain of
Wayna Picchu in the background.

Ok, yes, there are a lot of photos of MP!
But isn't it awesome - and it was a very long walk?!!

The inevitable posing shot in front of Machu Picchu!

Woohoo! The first glimpse through the clouds at Machu Picchu
from Intipunku - The Sun Gate!!

The stone steps and terraces of Phuyupatamarca.

Just some of the 2500 knee-jarring Inca steps!!!

The impressive structure of the Phuyupatamarca citadel.

Chris and Ben taking a well deserved rest at the third pass.

Ben and the fabulous view from the unnamed third pass.
3670m.

The first of two Inca tunnels on our way to the third pass.
Day 3 Inca Trail, mid October 2006.

The well preserved Sayacmarca ruins.

Chris and Ben at Sayacmarca ruins.

The view down to the Inca checkpoint of Conchamarca from Sayacmarca.

The stone cairns from the Inca cleansing rituals we performed at the
summit of each pass.

The small but perfectly formed circular fortress of Runkurakay.

View from the top!

Llamas enjoying the view from the
Warmi Wanusca (Dead Woman's) pass, 4198m.

Nearly at the top of Dead Woman's Pass.
It was a LONG way!

Porters making it look easy on the way up to Dead Woman's Pass.

Chris and Ben looking cool!
Day 2 Inca Trail, Mid October 2006.

Check out their sign!
'Shopping Center. We accept Visa and Mastercard!'
This was at Huayallabamba in the middle of nowhere!

Chris crossing the Kusichaca stream before our first camp at
Huayallabamba, 3100m

Ben at our first Inca site, Llactapata at 2650m.

Chris in front of the Urubamba valley.

View of the valley from near the starting point.

The awesome sight of Mount Veronica standing at 5682m high
in the Codillera Urubamba.

Walking sticks in hand and ready to start!
45kms to go!

Kilometre 82. The start of the world famous Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Mid October 2006.

Cusco

2006-11-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

The grand terraces of the Pisaq ruins.

View of the Plaza de Armas, Cusco.

A resident tarantula at Sacsayhuaman ruins, Sacred Valley.
(Pronounced 'Sexy Woman'!!)

Sacrificial zig zag carvings at Qenqo,
Sacred Valley.

Tambo Machay ruins, Sacred Valley near Cusco,
Mid October 2006.

Chris about to put someone else's foot in her mouth for a change!

And speaking of dinner! 'Cuy al Horno'!
Baked guinea pig in Cusco.

The Castillo de Cuy! The guinea pig castle!
Maybe it's like lobster and you get to choose your dinner!

Enjoying another lovely meal above Cusco's main square.

The Plaza by night.

La Compañia in the Plaza de Armas.

Some of the little local shops and cafes on Cusco's side streets.

Local woman with friend, San Blas, Cusco!

The cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Cusco.

Ben enjoying the local beer Cusqueña.
Cusco, mid October 2006.

Chile

2006-10-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Extreme close up! Photograph of the moon taken from a telescope at the
Malalluca observatory!!

The Big Hand!
Awesome sculpture by Chilean artist Mario Irrarzabal.

View of the volcano from the Valley of the Moon, er, with the moon!

Gigantic sand dune in the Valley of the Moon.
Those little white specks on the top, right hand side are people!

Chris and Ben getting 'romantic' at The Broken Heart Rock!

Salt caving in the Valley of the Moon.

The buried village of Tulor, a major archeological site near San Pedro.

The main square and church of San Pedro.

The extraordinarily well preserved remains of an Atacamañan mummy,
affectionately known as Miss Atacama!

Traditional hairy band in a restaurant in San Pedro de Atacama.
(Pan pipe moods anyone???!!!)

Ruins of a very early church in Peine,
an oasis of a village in the middle of the Atacama desert.

More posing at sunset!

Pink flamigoes at the Natural Reserve National Park.

Er...parents look away now! Ben being silly on the salt flat!

Posing on the Atacama Salt Flats,
made up of thousands of hexagonal formations of salt.

Ben tackling a huge mountain of processed salt in the Atacama Desert.
Early October 2006.

The abandoned engines at the railway 'cemetery' in Baquedano,
Chile, Early October 2006.

Crossing the Tropic of Capricorn!

The greenery of central Chile before hitting the desert.

Flying over the awesome Andes mountains en route to Santiago.
Early October 2006.

Rio de Janiero

2006-10-11T13:08:00.000-07:00

The weird UFO style Museum of Contemporary Art, Rio,
End September 2006.

Don't ask!! We saw this poor thing in a local Ipanema market.
Apparently he's done up like some famous bandit folk hero or something!!
(Sure is gonna get a kicking from the other local dogs!!)

Inside the crazy restaurant/bar/music venue/dance hall/antique shop
that is Rio Scenario!

A group of the local kids posing for photos so they can be famous!

Ben and two local children. The little girl here wants to be a model when
she grows up and as you can see she's been practicing
her sincere 'Posh Spice' smile!!

The jumbled rabbit warren that is Rocinha.

One of the beautiful little local girls in Rocinha, hopefully getting an education from
one of the four schools inside the favela.

Random baby pygmy marmoset in one of the alleys!
(How cute?!!)

Typical stairway in the favela.

Some of the artwork of local grafitti king YOU2,
Rocinha, Rio, End September 2006.

Inside Rocinha, the largest favela in Latin America.
(For favela read slum!)
Home to about 250,000 inhabitants.

Sharing the love at the Maracana football stadium for local Rio team
Fluminense versus the Argentinian Gymnasia.

As dusk fell and the lights of Rio sparked on an electrical storm gave us some
great scenes from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain!

Looking back towards the bay from the top of the mountain.

The ghostly view of the Christ statue in the clouds
viewed from Sugarloaf.

The cable car to the top of Sugarloaf mountain.
If it looks familiar, think James Bond and Moonraker!

The world famous Copacabana beach, Rio.
All together now: "At the Copa, Copacabana....!"

You do come to Rio for the views you know!
Weston beach it is not!!

Ipanema beach, Rio.
Everyone start humming 'Girl from Ipanema'!!

View of the world´s largest football stadium, the Maracana.

Chris and Ben make like the big dude!
Christ the Redeemer, Rio.

View of Sugarloaf Mountain from the Corcovado.

Welcome to Rio de Janiero!
Statue of Christ the Redeemer atop the Corcovado.
End September 2006.

North Island and the Cooks

2006-10-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Gotta love those Pina Coladas!
(Chris looks like she may have had a couple!)

Our place Samade from the lagoon.

And how clear is that water?!

The pristine white, palm fringed beach of One Foot Island,
Aitutaki Lagoon, Mid September 2006.

Life´s hard, huh?!

Honeymoon island on our lagoon cruise round Aitutaki.
(Yes, Honeymoon, Don´t be getting any funny ideas!)

Er...maybe one too many Long Island Iced Teas on Island night!!!

Shake that thang! Island night at Aitutaki.

Ben with book!! Call the press quick! Rare sighting!!!

Chris being just a bit of a poser in the lagoon at Aitutaki,
Mid September 2006.
(Oooh, look at me, I have arms, Ooooh!!)

Our lagoonside beach at Samade!!
Bounty chocolate bar commercials here we come!!!

Wearing our lovely leis in our beach bungalow.

Beautiful beach bungalows at Samade on the Beach,
Aitutaki, Cook Islands.

Heathrow it ain´t!!!

Flying over the fabulous lagoon at Aitutaki.

Yeah, white sand AND palm trees!! Not bad, huh?!!

It´s a hard life! Ben the beach bum on Muri beach, Rarotonga,
Cook Islands, Mid September 2006.

The groovy Skytower in Auckland where we ate proper food for the first time in
ages after saying goodbye to Ruby!!

View of Auckland from Mount Eden in the daytime.

She´s very photogenic!

Our beloved home for several weeks, Ruby!!!
(Ain´t she purty?!!!)

Auckland at night from the top of Mount Eden.

We warned you these things were big!!! This old Kauri tree has been made into the staircase
of a woodworking shop!

The great, long expanse that is Ninety Mile Beach,
northern North Island, NZ.

Chris being a cool sand surfer dude after a big run!!

Ben tobogganing down the huge sand dunes of Ninety Mile Beach.

A long way from home!!

Cape Reinga lighthouse, northern North Island, NZ.
(Where the Tasman sea and the Pacific meet.)

The famous (and imaginatively titled!) Hole in the Rock cave,
Bay of Islands.

More playing with the dolphins in the Bay of Islands, northern New Zealand,
Mid September 2006.

Chris dwarfed by a humungous Kauri tree stump at the Waitangi Maori treaty house,
Mid September 2006. (These things are BIG!)

New Zealand - North Island (mostly!)

2006-09-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

Back above ground and ready for a hot shower!

Floating through a glowworm covered underground cavern
(Stock photo from the company)

Ben and Chris floating through the labyrinthine caves underneath Waitomo and the surrounding Hobbiton countryside!

Rubber ring conga line!
(Stock photo from the company)

Chris testing her ring doesn't leak!

'Black Labyrinth'
Into the Waitomo caves.
(Stock photo from the company)

Ben and Chris ready for action at The Legendary Black Water Rafting Company, about to take on Black Labyrinth!! (Mmm, nice outfits!)

Dusk at Lake Rotorua,
September 2006.

Boiling, bubbling mud at the mud pools.

'Frying Pan Flat' at Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Park.
(Wai-o-Tapu in Maori means 'Sacred Waters' - ahhh!)

Ben and Chris looking like they don't know there is a large geyser erupting behind them!
Lady Knox geyser, Wai-o-Tapu Thermal Park near Rotorua.

The 'chiefs' shaking their thang at the end of night and helping to perform the haka!
(This is meant to be the scary eye-popping/tongue poking bit!)

Part of the haka in the Wharenui (meeting house).

Ben is chosen to be our chief and to accept the Teka (peace offering - stick!)

Scary Maori warriors at Tamaki Cultural Village challenging us all as a visiting tribe in the
'Te Wero'.

The view of the lake from our camper park in Rotorua.

The Craters of Moon thermal park near Taupo.
Early September 2006.

The raging, tumultuous waters of Huka Falls, near Taupo.

Ben trying his pro golf swing at the Hole in One.

The big prize floating Hole in One, Lake Taupo,
Early September 2006.

The Maori rock carvings in Mine Bay, Lake Taupo, where we went on Errol Flynn's old yacht The Barbary.

The gateway to Lake Taupo.

Mount Ngauruhoe, better known as Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings!
Tongariro National Park, en route to Taupo, September 2006.

Waterside poems at Wellington Harbour (as made a bit famous by Billy Connolly on his jaunt round New Zealand))

This is what the Kiwis call a cable car (it's a furnicular railway!) in Wellington,
Early September 2006.

Wonky rock outcrop about to fall by the looks of it at Punakaiki.

The Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki.
Late August 2006.

Coastal road to Punakaiki.

The 'Pukie Pub' where the 'Roadkill' menu features dishes such as 'Guess that Mess', 'Headlight Delight Pie' and 'Shovel-Flipped Roadside Pizza'!
We stuck with one of Pete's Famous Possum Pies! (Yuk!)

Chris about to be attacked by a giant sandfly! The Bushman's Centre,
Pukekura, August 2006.

Franz Josef Glacier.

Mind your heads! Rocks and glaciers may fall on you!
Fox Glacier, Late August 2006.

The road to Fox glacier.

Muscle man Ben holding up the Leaning Tower of Wanaka at Puzzling World.

Chris defying gravity in the sloping room.

Ben making use of the Roman style toilets at Puzzling World!

Stuart Landsborough's Puzzling World near Wanaka.

Mount Aspiring, Treble Cone ski fields and the other dramatic scenery flanking Lake Wanaka. Late August 2006.

New Zealand - South Island

2006-09-14T02:07:00.000-07:00

The boys looking terribly polite with theirs!

Chris and Linda looking a little the worse for wear after a few teapots of cocktails in the World Bar, Queenstown.

Kiwi ice sculpture, Minus 5.

The gang looking cool - get it, cool! The Ice Bar!!!
Minus 5.

Ice sculpture in Minus 5, the Ice Bar.
Queenstown, Late August 2006.

Lord of the Rings country! Glenorchy (Near Queenstown) where a lot of filming was done.
Late August 2006.

View from the Mirror Lakes on the drive back to Queenstown.

Avalanche warning signs during the convoy back to civilisation.

Driving through the snow from Milford Sound behind the snow plough and the gritter!

Glorious Mitre Peak at Milford Sound on a soggy day!

The road out the other side doesn't look much better!
(That's it snaking down into the valley!)

Daunting Homer's Tunnel through a mountain en route to Milford Sound in snowy conditions.
Late August 2006.

Some crazy para-sailing dude over the piste.

Chair lifts up the slopes.

Ben looking a real pro (Dude!) boarding on the slopes at Coronet Peak.

Ski Bunnies!!! Stephen, Chris, Ben and Gina boarding up Coronet Peak.
Late August 2006.

Celebrating with a Tower of Beer - Woohoo!
Er, no, that's NOT just Chris's!

That blur is Ben flying off the Ledge!
Photos of the rest of us didn't come out very well!

Great view of The Ledge bungy site, 400m above Queenstown.

The site of The Ledge, sitting high up on the hillside over Queenstown.
(Those are little cable cars going up to it)

All that bungy is bad for you! It shrinks your body!!!

Thar she goes (again!). Fowards this time!

Chris about to take to the skies and looking pretty darned pleased about it!

The 'after' shot! Looks like he enjoyed himself!

Ben taking a dive over the Nevis Gorge.

Linda, Gina, Chris and Stephen in front of The Nevis - no one looks nervous, honest!!

This is the hanging gondola cable car from which you jump The Nevis! All 440 feet (134 metres) of it!!!

Look at him go!

Ben taking a pro-diver's jump off the bridge!

Wheeeeeeee!!!!!

And she's off!

Thar she goes!!

Chris about to jump off the Kawarau Bridge Bungy - BACKWARDS!!!

View of Lake Wakatipu from Linda and Stephen's Queenstown apartment.

The Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Tekapo, en route to Queenstown, August 2006.

The picturesque view on the way to Methven.

Look, see, we told you Christchurch was dull! This is the only picture we put on here and it's of a tram!! Christchurch, August 2006.

Super Sydney

2006-08-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Opera House at night.

At the opera house.

View from Mrs Macquarie's Point at night.

The city at night.

Dinner at the Waterfront, Sydney Harbour.

The harbour at dusk.

Inside the bridge.

At the centre on the very top by Blinky Bill (the flashy light that stops planes crashing into the bridge!)

The intrepid Bridge Climbers.

City view on the Bridge Climb.

Ben and Chris on the Bridge Climb,
August 2006.

Climbers on the East arch of the bridge.

Ready for climbing: the Sydney Harbour Bridge!

Woohoo! Finished!

Ben very excited about his massive meal!
Yes, that's just his!

More eating! Robert, Kirsten, Chris, Ben, Rich and Karen about to eat their own body weight in meat at Ribs n Rumps, Manly, Sydney!

Ben enjoying his chilli topped pie.

The World Famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels Pie Shop,
Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

Golf pros Ben and Chris

Bondi Beach.

Chris excited on Bondi Beach, Rich not amused!

Chris being a tree hugger! A Boab tree hugger!
Botanic Gardens, Sydney, Mid August 2006.

Botanic Gardens resident: Fruitbat!!

View of the Opera House and the Bridge from the Botanic Gardens.

Cableway returning to the top.

More view! (Three Sisters on the left)

Amazing view from the Cableway of the railway and the rainforest.

Cableway back up to the top.

Beautiful waterfall in the rainforest.

See, I told you it was steep!

The world's steepest railway - Watch your kids!!
Blue Mountains, Mid August 2006.

Chris and Ben posing at Echo Point.

The Three Sisters, Echo Point, The Blue Mountains.

Much silliness: an Aussie Rules Football game at the SCG!
August 2006.

Ben and Chris being silly in front of famous landmark!

Kirsten, Rich, Chris and Ben landmark spotting in Sydney Harbour.

The Mug Shot Gallery, part of the photography exhibition at the Police and Justice Museum,
Sydney, August 2006.

Rather scary looking (but non-people eating) Nurse Shark.

Blue tang pretty fishy!

Sea horse.

Playful sealion, Sydney Aquarium.

Puffer fish, Sydney Aquarium, August 2006.

Beautiful Darling Harbour (Not normally this full but the Boat Show was on!)

Another famous landmark: Sydney Opera House.

The familiar 'Coat Hanger', Sydney Harbour Bridge,
August 2006.

Gold Coast, Croc Hunter & Hippies

2006-08-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Yes, love one another, blah, blah!

Hippie Hash Museum, umm... peace man?!

The Hippie Haven of Nimbin,
Near Byron Bay, July 2006.

Good hair day at Byron Bay!

Byron Bay, End July 2006.

End of a long day!

It's been a long day - he did stand up apparently - just didn't capture it on film, hmmm??!!

Riding the waves, woohoo! Hang ten and all that!
Waiting to catch a good one!

Ben heads off for the waves at Surf School!

Arty surfboard shot, Surfers Paradise, July 2006.

Back in Surfers.

View from the highest treehouse platform 30m up!

O'Reilly's Treetop Walkway, Green Mountains section of Lamington NP,
July 2006.

Admiring the view on the way to O'Reilly's!

The Coomera Valley from the Caves walk circuit,
Lamington NP.

Big find! Our first wild echidna snuffling round for ants!

Native wildlfe, a big, handsome male swamp wallaby!

The view from our cabin back towards Surfers and the coast.

Our fantastic safari-style canvas cabin,
Binna Burra, Laminton NP, July 2006.

Fabulous view of the Numinbah valley on the Bellbird Lookout walk,
Lamington NP.

Lamington National Park.

The aptly named Rainforest walk, Lamington National Park.
July 2006.

En route to Lamington National Park.

Chris's favourite! A genuine 18th Century Vampire killing kit!
Cool!

Ben and some fat guy!
Shrunken heads from Ecuador!
Tough job being a missionary, huh?!!

Ben sizing up Robert Wadlow, the tallest man who ever lived at 8 feet 11 inches!
Believe it not?!!

The Incredible, Impossible, Fantastical Freak Show that is:
Robert Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium!!!
Surfers Paradise, July 2006.

Awesome cloud formations on our return to shore.

Big ol' tail slap!

Humpback whale watching, Surfers.

It's so shiny! Doing it's best impression of Miami!
Surfers Paradise.

Glitziest place on the Gold Coast: Surfers Paradise.
July 2006.

'I think I'm gonna fall over!'
Chris a little bit wonky on the spinny tunnel,
Sciencentre, Brisbane.

Ben's head on a plate!
The crazy world of science and illusion!
Sciencentre, Brisbane, July 2006.

The Crocodile Feeding Show! Ooooh!

Fabulous tiger making a bid for freedom!

Dingo sizing us up for his next meal!
Only joking, they're very placid. All that baby stuff was just bad press!

Everyone say 'aahhh'! Baby koala,

Australia Zoo, July 2006.

Nice cute little otters posing for a fish supper!

And this is what happens if you don't listen!

Very important: Do not feed yourselves to the crocodiles!
It ruins the show!

Massive great crocs at Australia Zoo.
(Steve Irwin is poised just out of shot about to leap upon them and ruin their sunbathing! Honest!)

The Crocodile Hunter! Ben Irwin!!
Australia Zoo, Beerwah, July 2006.

Pretty Southbank, Brisbane.

BrisVegas as the (deluded) locals like to call Brisbane!
Mid July 2006.

High Seas and Sand Isles

2006-07-23T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sunset back at Rainbow Beach, Carlo Sandblow Lookout, mid-July 2006.

The southern bay at Rainbow Beach.

Double rainbow at sunset on the beach.

Arty truck shot!

Lake Wabby, preparing for another 'refreshing' dip.

Ben and (almost) monster truck.

Mmm, sand sandwiches! Lunch at Lake McKenzie,

Fraser Island, mid-July 2006.

Inland action shot, Pile Valley.

Romantic shot at Lake McKenzie. No, that's not a skirt Ben's wearing, it's a towel!

Lake McKenzie - clear waters, fine white sands, bit cloudy though!

Lake McKenzie, Fraser Island, with crazy bather.

Beach action shot.

Maheno and Rainbow.

Maheno Wreck, Fraser Island.

Action shot,

Fraser Island, Mid July 2006.

The gang all ready to go!

Getting ready to rock Fraser Island. Tying down our possessions for the bumpy ride ahead.

Chris found a mascara knocking around in the bottom of her backpack so

they thought they'd go out and celebrate! (and yes, they are blue jeans!).

Back on dry land, July 2006.

Raising sails is hard work!

British Defender in full sail.

"So, who fancies the Bahamas then?

Bosun, set a course...."!

Still sailing!

Skipper Mike sailing us to another snorkelling haven!

British Defender amidst looming clouds.

Lots of coral and fishies at Blue Pearl Bay snorkelling spot.

Ben snorkelling at Manta Ray Bay with the locally known "Giant Poofish", 'cause that's what they eat!

It's hard work all this sailing lark!

Where Chris learnt all that colourful sailor's language!
The tallship Chris used to work on: Solway Lass.

Arty leaves shot!

Ben about to dive in.

Arty footprints shot!

And what it looks like if the sun is shining!

And again, the view from Hill Inlet lookout of

Whitehaven Beach.

This is the same view as it's meant to be seen!

Pretty spectacular, huh?!

Ok, this is the legendary Whitehaven Beach as we saw it.

Chris looking every bit the sailor - not!

"Splice the what...??"

Leaving Airlie Beach behind as we set sail for the Whitsunday Islands.

July 2006.

Our trusty vessel British Defender ,

Whitbread Around the World racing Maxi.

The man-made lagoon at Airlie (because we don't really have one) Beach!

Great Ocean Road to Maggie Island

2006-07-08T20:18:00.000-07:00

Apparently now you can only smoke under a blanket in a locked appartment with an armed guard at the stroke of midnight on a full moon!

Horseshoe Bay from the World War II fort lookout.

Radical Bay, Magnetic Island, July 2006.

Little baby carpet python above our kitchen! He was only about 10 inches long. Bless!

Miss Magnetic Island 2006!!!!!!!
About to take the horses swimming in Horseshoe Bay.
She may have been called Velvet but she wasn't that soft!

Ben on Mischief (well named!) Horseshoe Bay.

Performing possum!

"Please don't crap on me, please don't crap on me!!!"

Ben beseiged by wing-ed things! Think Hitchcock!
Friendly lorikeets really!

The cabins, Bungalow Bay, Magnetic Island.

Mmmmm...lunch! Ben's always thinking with his stomach!

Bicep curls with baby crocodile!
He was called Godzilla though so I think they have big hopes for him!!!

Checking for tongue piercings!
Blue-tongued skink, Bungalow Bay wildlife sanctuary,
Magnetic Island, early July 2006.

Well won 'Koala Brunch' at Bungalow Bay, our Trivia Quiz first prize! ($50 worth!)
So called 'typical' Aussie brekkie consisting of Champagne, steak, lamb chops, sausages, pancakes, fish, bacon, eggs, I could go on.....!
....and that is a koala in the background, honest!

Not like your everyday British roadsign! they tell it like it is in Oz!

Some hot guy at the secluded Arthur Bay!

Making them work for their supper!

Back at our cabin the local possum posse goes in search of food - anywhere!

Yup, that'll still be the sun setting then!!
Thought the little boats looked pretty though!!!

Oooh, haven't seen a sunset shot for at least 10 minutes so here's
Horseshoe Bay, Magnetic Island!

'Twitching' again! Resident kookaburra,
Bungalow Bay Koala Village, Magnetic Island, early July 2006.

Cairns new man-made lagoon at sunset.

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water! Ben diving,
Great Barrier Reef, end June 2006.

Not a happy bunny! Ben on our way to the Great Barrier Reef to dive/snorkel after
England woefully left the World Cup!

Ochre rock face painting after canoeing!

A sleepy carpet python. Some of the native wildlife
spotted whilst canoeing on
Lake Tinaroo, On the Wallaby trip, end June 2006.

"On the Wallaby" group after a gruelling 18km cycle!
(Check out the unique road sign too!)

Dinner Falls, Crater National Park, The Tablelands.

The beautiful view spoilt by these two interlopers!
(They seem to get everywhere!!)

The spectacular Millaa Millaa falls. One of the most photographed waterfalls in the world
- you can see why!

Giant Cathedral Fig tree, Atherton Tabelands,
Late June 2006.

View of Cairns and surrounding area from the Atherton Tablelands,
en route to Yungaburra and 'On the Wallaby'.

Ummm.... Miss United Kingdom as you've never seen her before!!!
'At the races', Johnno's Blues Bar Cairns.

Look at 'em go!

No, he didn't turn into a prince! Didn't win either!!!

Kiss for good luck! Cane toad racing, Cairns.

Lush view of Mount Sorrow from our veranda,

FernTrees, Cape Trib, June 2006.

The Lone Ranger and his faithful Tonto!

(More accurately Chris on Kaori and Ben on Commanche)

Myall Beach, Cape Tribulation.

Weeeeeeee!

Still in one piece, soft landing!

Skydiving, Mission Beach, June 2006.

Our brave, intrepid (soggy) rafters!

Tully River, Mid June 2006.

Rafting the Tully River - this really is us! Promise!

Soft bungy landing. (No, that's not us either!)

50m bungy jump, Cairns. Er..yes, that is neither Ben nor Chris but we couldn't take our cameras with us so we've improvised!

The Cairns Bungy platform. 50 metres of empty space to jump into whilst making high pitched girly noises!!!

Ben and Chris looking happy in the Telstra Dome shortly before the Australians kicked our butts in the rugby!

Groovy 'old factory in a mall'. As you do!

Melbourne, Mid June 2006.

Lunar Park, St.Kilda, Melbourne.

What's left of the Twelve Apostles! I think that pile of rubble in the front
means that it's now eleven!
Great Ocean Road, Mid June 2006.

Spectacular Great Ocean Road coastal drive,

Adelaide to Melbourne.