We're not all capable of reading huge amounts. I myself confess to only looking at the pictures in some magazines. Yes, those magazines. The Gallery is the visual accompaniment to the words, a journey in photographs that aims to capture the essence of inspiring places, people, and true moments of Modern Gonzo.
New: Modern Gonzo in the Maldives
It's no easy task selecting my Top 40 pics from over 15,000 shots. Each gallery below has some priceless images. But if you're in a rush and want to drown yourself in glimpses of the world, here's a good place to start. Click on the thumbnails to read the story behind each photo.
The Best of Modern Gonzo
Here are some of my best, and worst moments, taken by others around the world. Sometimes I stage the shot, most of the times, it's pure luck. Click on the thumbnails to read the story behind each photo.
ALBANIA
Albania
The backdoor of Europe, Albania resembles Bolivia with a sprinkling of Greece. Travel from
the capital of Tirana, south to the magnificent beach of Dhermi, to the port of Sarandar and
finally the mountain town of Gijoranker. Meet some local characters as you peek into a
country few travelers get (or want) the chance to explore. Click on the thumbnails for more
info.
AMSTERDAM & BERLIN
Going off the EurailFrom the beach bars of Berlin to the Red LIght District in Amsterdam, here's a few images from a week-long adventure in two of Europe's most interesting cities. There's some stunning non-traditional art and architecture, but this wouldn't be a Modern Gonzo gallery without a little silliness. Click on the thumbnails for more info
ARGENTINA
Partying Hard in Buenos Aires
They call it the Paris of South America, and with it's heroic monuments, colonial gothic
arcitecture, lovers and cafes, they'd be right. Here you'll find some local characters, a
football game, interesting streets and buildings, and just a few shots of Esrock losing his
mind in a dangerous tango of beer and beauties. Click on the pics for more info.
Rafting and Climbing in Patagonia
View alert! Taking a few more snaps of Villarica volcano in Chile's Lake District, I catch
the bus for the border and enter Argentina's gorgeous Patagonia region. Snow-capped
mountains, icy-blue lakes, dramatic granite spires, and one Gonzo rafter, hiker and climber
trying to do it justice. Click on the pics for more info.
AUSTRALIA
Tasmania
Take a photographic journey through Tasmania, where the sea is as blue as the sky. Views
from atop, views from below, wood carvings, friendly kangaroos, the famous Wineglass Bay,
painted cliffs, harbours and prisons, and finally, a glimpse of the savagely cute Tasmanian
devil. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Melbourne
With the Yarra snaking through the city like a line of school kids getting their results,
Melbourne is both modern and charming, styled with graffiti alleyways, trams, bridges, art and
fiery gas balls. I pop into the tennis, pull a clown's teeth, toast the kite-boarders of St
Kildare and stare upon statues of old queens and blue puffy skies. Click on the thumbnails
for more info.
Perth, Margaret River, and Out of My Tree
Heading to Western Australia, check out Perth by night, before hitching a road trip south to
the wine region, full of rugged beaches, bemused cows and trippy forests. There's some local
flavour, phallic lighthouses, and one extraordinary stupid adventure involving me and a giant
tree. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Fireworks, Cricket and One, Big, Ugly Eight-Legged Beyatch
A great view for Sydney's famous fireworks, lighting up the harbour with love. Ducking
spiders, I head off to investigate Test match cricket, scoring with a bouncing kangaroo and
making mates with mullets. Then it's the zoo with a view, and just a view in general. Blame
it on the bunny. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Back in Civvies, Sydney
After a fiery Xmas eve party on the beaches of southern Cambodia, it's a continent hop to the
island-continent-country, Australia. Meeting some new family, I check out the stunning Opera
House and Circular Quay, finding the God of Gonzo at the Botanical Gardens along with a few
shady characters. Comparisons with Vancouver abound. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
BOLIVIA
Guns in La Paz, Sailing on a Sea of Salt, Salar de UyuniA few shots of the Easter Friday celebrations outside Plaza Murillo before catching a bus and train south to Uyuni for 3 days in a 4x4 driving through the vast, salt and sandy desert of Southern Bolivia. Expect flamingos, more llamas, deep blue skies, white seas, and active volcanos. I didn't. Click on the pics for more info.
Copacabana, La Paz, and The Most Dangerous Road in the World
Copacabana, Bolivia, on the shores of Lake Titicaca, has the purest air and purplest sunsets.
A few peaceful days later, I was in the hustle of the highest capital city in the world, La
Paz. Not getting enough excitement, I decided to mountain bike 64km down the most dangerous
road in the world. Click on the pics for more info.
Puno, Lake Titicaca and the Isla de Sol:
The air at 3800m is brilliantly crisp, resulting in pictures with rich colours and
gonzo-vistas, filled with ancient priests, young shoeshine boys, lost chicks and authentic
cultural happy-snaps. Lake Titicaca sparkles beneath the condor as I leave Peru and enter
beautiful Bolivia. Click on the pics for more info.
Bolivia Redux: Twice in a Lifetime
Shooting an episode for my TV show, I return to Bolivia to find not much has changed, although
do manage to catch a soccer derby, play with an ocelot, hurdle ancient ruins, and catch the best sunset in the world.
Click on the pics for more info
BORNEO
Monkeying around the Jungle
Mount Kinabalu is Southeast Asia's tallest mountain, cutting a sharp silhouette in the humid
sky. Past floating mosques and colourful, traditional water villages, into the jungle to see
native orangutans, I finish up the week on a tiny tropical island, where giant sea turtles lay
their eggs and at least one hatchling.
BRAZIL
Salvador, Morro de Sao Paulo
Salvador literally throbs with its distasteful past as the port that welcomed more African
slaves than any other in the world. The old town of Pelourinho is full of churches and
charm, with the undeniable edge of exotic danger found in most African cities. By contrast,
the tropical island of Morro de Sao Paulo, a bumpy boat ride away, is postcard perfect. If
the sea didn't destroy my camera, I would have a lot more to show you. Click on the pics
for more info.
Olinda, Recife
It's a colonial town dating back to the 15th century, where every house is painted a different
colour, church spires create the skyline and the narrow streets still contain some of its
original cobble. Drums flow into the night, local characters peer out of their windows, and
storms coat the streets in romance. Click on the pics for more info.
Jericoacoara, Brazil
A slice of beach paradise, Jericoacoara is a small village accessible only by a 4x4 bus.
Crystal lagoons, big sandy dunes, lazy hammock afternoons, capoeira and famous sunsets.
Guitar and bongos provide the soundtrack for exploding palm trees, dune buggy adventures,
horsing around, early morning beach parties and pure tranquility in this little slice of
tropical heaven in northern Brazil. Click on the pics for more info.
Iguazu Falls, Hangglidding in Rio
I felt like Indiana Gonzo walking along the jungle catwalks to one of the most spectacular
sights in all South America - the 275 waterfalls that create Iguazu Falls on the borders of
Argentina and Brazil. Taking in some exotic wildlife, I make my way to Rio for some beach,
World Cup football and an unforgetable glide through the sky.
Click on the pics for more info.
CAMBODIA
Holiday in Cambodia
Exploring a few more temples around the stunning Angkor complex, I walk lightly around a
fascinating landmine museum and gaze at a country literally transforming itself from its past.
Then it's sun and surf in Sihanoukville. Who would have thought you'd find talcum powder
beaches, complete with monks, in the south of Cambodia? Click on the thumbnails for more
info.
Armed and Dangerous
From the peaceful temples of Phnom Penh, I climb into camouflage and milk my testosterone with
an AK-47, not to mention a pretty bad pair of sunglasses. Visiting the Killing Fields, I
confront Cambodia's tragic and horrific past, but find hope in the next generation. Then it's
north to Angkor Wat, to feel history at the majestic Angkor Wat. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
CHILE
Raving in Santiago, Climbing an Erupting Volcano
My wonderful hosts in the capital of Chile allowed me to hang up the money belt and live for a
week, exploring its streets and history, and also, a concert at the old train station. In
the non-Austrian ski village of Pucon, I climb an active volcano the day after it erupts in
the media. Click on the pics for more info.
Sandboarding in Death Valley, The Colour of Valparaiso
The dry Atacama desert town of San Pedro offers some mountain biking and sandboarding
silliness through the dramatically, and appropriately named Death Valley and The Valley of the
Moon. 24 hours on a bus leads to the colourful port city of Valparaiso, with an emphasis on
colour. Click on the pics for more info.
CHINA/MONGOLIA
Great Walls and Green Fields
Smoggy Beijing waits until dawn to deliver, otherwise the pollution crowds my view. On the
Great Wall of China, it's wow all the way, then off to the Mongolian countryside, to find a
land of wonderful beauty and culture. After finding my horse and my queen, I declare myself
king. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Animals, People, Buildings
Photographic evidence of my stupidity with the crocodiles, plus meet some interesting
creatures (turtles, chickens, snakes, eagles, lions, my friend Greg). After joining in the
wonderful celebrations that make up the Colours of Malaysia, I fasttrack it to Shanghai, where
I marvel at the commerce, cuisine and architecture. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Xian, Wuhan and Down the Yangtze
After using a photograph to guide me to the world's most dangerous hike, I bike the ancient walls of Xian before heading off to the neon nights of Wuhan, and a cruise along the new Yangtze river to the remarkable 3 Gorges Dam. Click on the thumbnails for more info
COLOMBIA
The Passion of the GonzoIf ever a country was undeserving of a reputation, Colombia is the ugly duckling of South America, surely on its way to swanhood. Colorful carnivals in Bogota, a little edge with bulletproof suits, colonial Candelaria, then off to Cartegena on the Caribbean, for mud volcanoes, paradise beaches, and pirates, of course. Click on the thumbnails for more info
COSTA RICA
La Fortuna to Manuel AntonioIn Costa Rica, they say "Pura Vida", which means Pure Life! After an action packed week that included ziplining, canyoneering, rafting, sailing, sloth, monkey and Romanesque thermal pools, the only description for it has to be "Pura Gonzo". Click on the thumbnails for more info
CROATIA
Dubrovnik
The Pearl of the Adriatic does not disappoint, and I cracked its oyster shell with some
awesome Gonzo action, including sea-kayaking, ATV riding, free climbing and running, and good
old fashioned warfare. But while the views are spectacular and the adventure quotient high,
victory belongs to the beard trimmer. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Vis, Hvar and the Blue Adriatic
Island hopping on Croatia's Dalmation Coast is like an episode of Lifestyles and the Rich and
Famous, only I felt like the production assistant cleaning Robin Leach's soiled jockstrap.
Still, the views are spectacular, the vineyards bursting, the Roman towers charming, and the
water, oh, praise be the turquoise! Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Slovakia to Croatia's Dalmation Coast
We start with virgins celebrating midsummer's night in Krakow. Then it's off to the capital
of Slovakia, Bratislava, with its charming streets and goofy public art. A long train
journey passes through 3 countries to drop me off at the Roman Palace of Split, although by
now I am far more interested in the turquoise waters of the Adriatic. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prague and Beyond
A skyline and countryside to inspire fairy tales as I journey into the Old World. Street
musicians play jazz to the hordes of invading tourists feasting on the culture, architecture
and art of Prague. Later I visit the famous Bone Church to see a remarkable display of the
human mind and body, before heading into the countryside to slay the green dragon and walk
amongst ruins. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Dune Buggies in Boomtown Dubai
Perhaps the World's Largest Construction Site, Dubai's skyline has more cranes than a bird
sanctuary. From the buildings to the desert, camels to dune buggies, resorts to strip-on
clubs, its a universe to make your eyes pop out. Artists and falconers, ski-slopes, 7-star
hotels and lavish souks - there's enough cash to green a desert. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
Board in Dubai
Returning to Dubai to shoot Word Travels, I get pretty board with all the permit restrictions. There's not much to do besides the malls, so I figure why not sandboard and snowboard on the same day? First in the Red Desert, and then inside at Ski Dubai inside the Mall of the Emirates. Things elsewhere are booming more than ever. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
ETHIOPIA
Rock Churches and Tribal Road TripsOne of my best galleries yet, from the incredible ancient rock churches of Lalibela to the jaw-dropping, lip-plate wearing tribes of the Lower Omo Valley, follow me as I jump around the proud African nation, meeting priests, strange wildlife, kids with balls and kids with guns. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
GREECE
Corfu
It's a week off, so there's not too many pictures other than my drunk duck attempts to fly on
a bungee trampoline, the magnificent sunsets on Pelekas Beach, slide racing, ouzo drinking,
posing like a superhero, and hanging out with sweet grannies. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
MEXICO / GUATEMALA
St Cristobal to Lake Atitlan
Check out images from rural Mayan villages in Mexico, where colour really is a way of life.
After partying in St Cristobal, take a boat ride under 1000m cliffs, before catching a crowded
chicken bus to the centrefold volcanic lake of Atitlan, Guatemala. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
GUATEMALA / HONDURAS
Antigua to La CeibaClimbing the Pacaya volcano near Antigua is sure to generate must sympathy for Frodo's journey to Mount Doom. Then we explore the cobblestone streets before crossing the sleepy border into Honduras to explore the Mayan ruins of Copan. Bad weather cancels the Caribbean, so I beat Nemo. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
HONG KONG & MACAU
Living on the EdgeThe skyline lights up at night like a light show, perfect a spot of street racing, and then it's off to Macau, to marvel at the buildings, the decadence of The Venetian, before heading to the Macau Tower to Skywalk, Skyjump, and the highest commercial bungee jump in the world. Click on the thumbnails for more info
AUSTRIA / HUNGARY
Vienna and Budapest
Chasing culture in the museums and schnitzels of Vienna, I arrive in a wet Budapest to find a
city rich in architecture and characters. A quick visit south to the town of Szeged and I'm
back in Budapest, crawling into rocky womb deep in the caves beneath the city. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
From Budapest to Istanbul
A day at Sziget, the largest music festival in Central and Eastern Europe, produces some
interesting characters and adventures. After the party, I pack up for the East, arriving in
the only city that straddles two continents, Istanbul. Mosque Alert! Dramatic minarets
pierce the skyline in this ancient of city of awe and magic. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
INDIA
Rishikesh to Dharamsala
After soaking in the spiritual ambiance of Rishikesh, it's off to Dharamsala, the home of the
Tibetan government in exile. Nestled in the snowy foothills of the Himalayas, picture
red-robed monks, prayer flags, and as luck would have it, the Dalai Lama himself. Later,
effigies are burnt during a Hindu festival to see off the bad and usher in the good. Click on
the thumbnails for more info.
Delhi to Rishikesh
A few days in Delhi, staying in the hectic, nasally unrewarding backpacker ghetto of Pahar
Ganj, and visiting a couple sights by rickshaw. Next stop is holy Rishikesh, home to babas,
monkeys, high rollers and gurus, and the ashrams and temples that cradle the spectacular
Ganges. Discover a magic jungle waterfall, and my infamous tattoo. Click on the thumbnails
for more info.
A Week in Goa
Exploring Goa's incredible coastline by scooter, I discover Hindu temples, 17th-century
churches, and wonderful local character. Narrowly avoiding impalement on a cow horn, I
arrange a date with destiny at a tattoo studio, coming face-to-calf with my fear of needles
and emerging truimphantly with a permanent physical reminder of my week in Goa. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
Bombay to Goa
There's so much to look at during my first week of culture shock. Celebrations for Ganesh were
taking place in Bombay when I arrived, peering through the windows of a lost cab. Cricket,
characters and cherrybombs. A night train to Goa later, it's moody monsoon beaches, holy cows
and coconut trees. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
JORDAN
Serving up Dreams in the DesertFrom the streets of Amman to camping Bedouin style in the desert, I live out my Indiana Jones fantasy by horse at Petra, marvel the Wonders of the World at the Treasury, float on at the Dead Sea, and crack myself up on a camel tow. Click on the thumbnails for more info
LATVIA
Riga, and a Quick Visit to ParisChecking out Riga's groovy art nouveau buildings, crashing some parties and getting in Top 3 Gonzo Jump, I spontaneously take off to Paris to catch the rugby World Cup semi-finals, complete with absinthe, good mates and green wig. Click on the thumbnails for more info
LITHUANIA
Vilnius, and Searching for Roots in KupaskisMy first Baltic State is also the home of my ancestory, as I travel into the countryside to see where I come from, a small town seeped in tragedy. Vilnius is as beautiful a European town as ever, cobblestone and churches, art quarters, and a few Knights of Absinthe. Click on the thumbnails for more info
More Images from Kupaskis and Panavezys
Here are some pictures for those who might be interested. Click on the thumbnails for more info
THAILAND/LAOS
Phuk'et in Package Tourist Hell
I kiss Laos goodbye the only way I know how...with disco bowling. One day in Bangkok and then
it's south to Phuket, a nightmare of package tourists, hookers, she-males and bad taste.
Jumping a ferry to the beautiful Railey Beach, the weather strikes out, leaving a sombre glow
on the islands of southern Thailand. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Floating Uphill in Laos
The poorest country in Southeast Asia delivers my richest experience yet, from the smiling
kids and stunning, sparkling temples of Luang Prabang, to the breathtaking mountains and
backpacker utopia of Vang Vieng. Enlightenment is mine, no thanks to the "happy" menu or my
attempts to fly like a chicken. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
LONDON
FRUITSTOCK, FEAR AND LOAFING
A weekend of fear and loafing at a free summer festival in Regents Park, where the Pimms and
Lemonade flows thick and Mexican wrestlers abound. This week's short gallery hardly captures
London, but at least you'll get a sense of my terrific weekend in the company of friends, old
and new. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
LOS ANGELES
Sucks to be Me, Week 2Chasing a sum total of 14 adventures in 14 days, this week I ride a wind tunnel, helicopter over the Playboy Mansion, pilot my own plane, race turbo-charged go-karts, paraglide over the Pacific, learn how to be a spy, skydive from 13,000ft, and finish up with a bungee jump off the Bridge to Nowhere. Click on the thumbnails for more info
Chasing Blue Bananas, Week 1
My mission, which I chose to accept, is to spend two weeks in La-La Land, experiencing
adventures known as Blue Bananas. This week, I tasted hot air balloons, sailing, soaring on a
sailplane, figure-eights on a 1928 biplane, and a fighter jet simulation. Oh, and a lesbian
superbowl party. This is LA, after all. Click on the thumbnails for more info
MALAYSIA
Kota Bharu and Terengganu
Rain delays play in Kota Bharu, where the monsoon season and Ramadan combine for an isolating,
yet culturally rich and delicious experience. Next is Kuala Terengganu and a gorgeous
forest lake with islands, waterfalls and gi-ants. Turtle eggs, massage chairs, birds cages
and temples make an appearance too. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
The Taj Mahal to Penang
Before leaving India, there was one last adventure. Considering what it took to get to the
Taj Mahal, allow me the indulgence of a few sunset shots. To Malaysia then, with Kuala
Lumpur's Bladerunner-ish Petrona Towers, and later the tropical fruit, bugs and beaches of
Penang. Finally, I learn that Buddha truly comes in many forms. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
MALAYSIA/CHINA
ANIMALS, PEOPLE, BUILDINGS
Photographic evidence of my stupidity with the crocodiles, plus meet some interesting
creatures (turtles, chickens, snakes, eagles, lions, my friend Greg). After joining in the
wonderful celebrations that make up the Colours of Malaysia, I fasttrack it to Shanghai, where
I marvel at the commerce, cuisine and architecture. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
JUNGLES, CAVES & COLOURS OF MALAYSIA
Snapping some of the monkeys that line the Kinabatangan River in Borneo, I pass some
fascinating caves on my way to Kuala Lumpur, where the world is my stage. Getting funky with
the creepy crawlies, meet some characters and unusual creatures as we journey to Malacca,
Malaysia's colorful historical town.
THE MALDIVES
Honeymoon for One
Chasing screensavers in one of the world's most exclusive and luxury villa resorts, it's more of a romantic holiday without the romance. As a window into the kind of honeymoon that dreams are made of, the view is as crystal as the surrounding Indian Ocean. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
MEXICO / GUATEMALA
St Cristobal to Lake Atitlan
Check out images from rural Mayan villages in Mexico, where colour really is a way of life.
After partying in St Cristobal, take a boat ride under 1000m cliffs, before catching a crowded
chicken bus to the centrefold volcanic lake of Atitlan, Guatemala. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
MEXICO
Cancun to Palenque
A deluge welcomes me to Cancun, where I spent just enough time to steal a rock band's glory,
before heading to the charming colonial city of Merida, and the magnificent temple ruins of
Chichen Itza. Then we'll visit three breathtaking cenotes, meet some locals, and
head south to explore Palenque's jungle legacy (and find my inner Indiana Jones). Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
CHINA/MONGOLIA
Great Walls in China, Green Fields in Mongolia:
Smoggy Beijing waits until dawn to deliver, otherwise the pollution crowds my view. On the
Great Wall of China, it's wow all the way, then off to the Mongolian countryside, to find a
land of wonderful beauty and culture. After finding my horse and my queen, I declare myself
king. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
MONGOLIA/RUSSIA
All Aboard the Vodkatrain
On the world's longest train journey, expect pictures of life on a train. But a few days on
Lake Baikal, the world's largest lake, shows that despite the gray wooden shacks of Siberia,
there is plenty of colour to be found. A freezing swim, some local characters, welcome to
life at 120 km/hr. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
MONTREAL
A Good Place to Meat
More people than places, I discover Montreal with the fortitious help of a good friend and a
beautiful wedding. From late night biking in Old Montreal, to late night boozing in bowling
halls, prepare to meet some amazing personlities as I embark on the Great Smoked Meat Hunt.
Click on the thumbnails for more info.
NEW CALEDONIA
Hunting the Good Life
On a French island in the South Pacific, it's time to test whether I've got the Gonzo fromage
to lead the good life. Spearfishing giant lobsters on a crystal reef, hunting deer on the
Africanesque plains, wave bashing on a jet-ski, feeding tropical fish by hand in a natural
aquarium, eating turtle, but staying clear of those delicious fruit bats. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
NEW ZEALAND
Blue Days on the South Island
The sun came out to play in the gorgeous Abel Tasman National Park, allowing Captain Gonzo to
take the wheel. Along the West Coast, New Zealand's famous views strutted their stuff, like
girls on the bar in Baz Vegas. Digging into the blue ice of the Franz Josef Glacier, I hit
Queenstown to feed my flock. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
The Great Gonzo Blowout
He skydives from 12000ft. He rafts over the world's highest commercial Grade 5 waterfall. He
straps himself into a rubber ball to become a human sock. He bodyflies, luges, jetboats,
bikes, speed races and conquers an 80-degree vertical drop in a 4x4. It's the Great Gonzo
Blowout in Rotorua! How much madness can one hack take? Click on the thumbnails for more
info.
The Not-a-Week-Off
It was supposed to be quiet week in the run-up to the insanity of the Great Gonzo Blowout, but
I ended up partying off my nut during Australia Day, sizzling on Coogee Bay, basking in the
glow of Buddhas before heading off to Auckland, where I found myself leaping off the highest
tower in the southern hemisphere. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
NICARAGUA
Leon to Omtepe IslandArriving in Leon, it's colonial town central, surrounded by volcanoes. For one of them, Cerro Negro, I'd don orange overalls and sandboard off the sucker on a plank of wood. Then we'll meet some people in Granada, discover some art, some history, and the world's largest freshwater island. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
PERU
Cusco & The Inca Trail:
Cusco, the historical capital of Peru is the image you have of the Andean people - bright
colours, cobblestone streets, modern bars? The 45km Inca Trail was a gruelling 3 day hike
through the Andes to the lost city of Macchu Picchu. Breathtaking views, Inca ruins, an
African war dance? Click on the pics for more info.
Lima
Forget the panpipes, welcome to a modern, bustling city where beach life reigns (for those who
can afford it) and civic pride takes on new meaning. A city of contrasts, warm people and
delicious food, these pictures do no justice but then again, justice is blind and I just
peeked up her skirt. Click on the pics for more info.
THE PHILIPPINES
Paradise in Palawan
Heading south to the tropical island paradise of Palawan, I explore the world's largest underground river, soak in some killer sunsets, sea kayak crystal lagoons, live in luxury on stilts and generally embrace the decadence of those old cigarette commercials.
POLAND
Into Poland
A few more shots from the Czech countryside, and then into Krakow, Poland. You'll see the
largest medievel square in Europe, the massive Wawel Castle, and then an emotional journey
into the heart of darkness, Auschwitz. Another train to Tarnow, a small town where my
grandmother was born, capped off with swallows at sunrise. Click on the thumbnails for more
info.
ROMANIA
Meeting Folk in Romania
It starts in blistering Bucharest, where I am introduced to the ribald Hash House Harriers, who toss me off in beer and flour. Then a night train to Transylvania, where I journey into the countryside to meet the village people, returning to Cluj Napoca to measure the size of my schnitzel.
Click on the thumbnails for more info.
RUSSIA
Moscow and St Petersburg
How can you not like a city that puts chandeliers in its subway stations? With its striking
monuments, churches, and hardened local characters, Moscow is truly something to see. Blink
and you might think St Petersburg is Amsterdam, all canals and bridges. But not if you spill
vodka and blood at dawn. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
The Trans-Siberia Railway
On the world's longest train journey, expect pictures of life on a train. But a few days on
Lake Baikal, the world's largest lake, shows that despite the gray wooden shacks of Siberia,
there is plenty of colour to be found. A freezing swim, some local characters, welcome to
life at 120 km/hr. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
SLOVAKIA
Slovakia to Croatia's Dalmation Coast
We start with virgins celebrating midsummer's night in Krakow. Then it's off to the capital
of Slovakia, Bratislava, with its charming streets and goofy public art. A long train
journey passes through 3 countries to drop me off at the Roman Palace of Split, although by
now I am far more interested in the turquoise waters of the Adriatic. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
SOUTH KOREA
Having a Riot in SeoulThere's a beef riot in the capital, but a little water canon and a thousand riot cops can't stop me sniffing out the meat in Seoul. Check out a mega church, me teaching a class of 11 year-olds, meditating with mosquitoes in a meditation centre, and feeding myself to carnivorous fish.
SRI LANKA
A Nice Cuppa CultureIt's everything you want in exotic travel: friendly people, bizarre festivals, stunning scenery, great weather. From Buddhist temples to Hindu festivals and Muslim acts of devotion, to the emerald carpets of tea that cover the hills of the Central Highlands, there's a whole lot of serendipity going on.
TAIWAN
Taipei 101
Taiwan, the other Republic of China, an industrious island with unusual quirks. Staying in grand style, I get set on fire, eat lunch on a toilet, and investigate costumes and the world's tallest building (for now). Click on the thumbnails for more
info.
TOKYO
Only in Tokyo
There were some moments that left me shaking my head, muttering "only in Tokyo!" Like the
singing Elvis's, or the subways at rush hour, or the goth-punk-whackjob Harajuku girls.
Coupled with the gorgeous temples and shrines, colorful kimonos, traditional ceremonies and
full-on karaoke, my week in Tokyo is a compulsive thumbnail clicker. Click on the thumbnails
for more info.
Kaunton, KL and into Tokyo
A mosque, a waterfall, a view and sayonora Malaysia. Everything gets decidedly weirder when
I arrive in Tokyo to find fashion, pigs, Gonzo accountants, models and $200 buck melons.
The koi cooperated at the Emperor's gardens, as did the doggies on the subway and the barber
shop. Richard Gere is not amused. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
THAILAND/LAOS
Phuk'et in Package Tourist Hell
I kiss Laos goodbye the only way I know how...with disco bowling. One day in Bangkok and then
it's south to Phuket, a nightmare of package tourists, hookers, she-males and bad taste.
Jumping a ferry to the beautiful Railey Beach, the weather strikes out, leaving a sombre glow
on the islands of southern Thailand. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Northern Thailand and the Slowboat to Laos:
After witnessing some knockout Thai kickboxing, I hop a friendly elephant for a jungle stroll,
come across some traditional hill tribes, and then hijack an ox-cart to visit some striking
dragon temples. Crossing the border in Laos, it's two hard days on the slow boat down the
Mekong, one of Asia's most spectacular adventures. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Khao San Road is the famous capital of Bak-Paking, crammed with budget travellers and
everything they could possibly desire (including the infamous Ladyboys). Dodging heavy
storms, I take in a few of Bangkok's famous temples, before heading north to the city of
Chiang Mai just in time to catch a spectacular floating lantern fesitval. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
TURKEY
Amasra, and Istanbul Redux
North to the Black Sea, and a beautiful, sleepy coastal town of Amasra. A popular weekend
getaway for Turks from Ankara, Amasra has Byzantium castles, enterprising youngsters and
magical views. A few days vanish into thin air and its time to head back to Istanbul,
catching in a few sights before my tour of Turkey comes to an end. Click on the thumbnails
for more info.
Cappadocia and Ankara
Three million years ago, a volcano erupted in the Cappadocia region, creating a fantasy land
of fairy chimneys, modern cave societies and (call them what you like) penile rock forests.
A few days in Goreme is like a few days on another planet. Following my Gonzo instinct, I go
against the flow and decide to visit Ankara, Turkey's capital city. Click on the
thumbnails for more info.
Selcuk, Koycegiz & Paragliding in OluDeniz
A night bus south to the town of Selcuk, a base to explore the massive ruins of Ephesus, but
even better, a spring water swimming pool in a mandarin orchard. Further south to the
lakeside town of Koycegiz, boat cruising past 2000-year-old rock tombs to the glorious
Mediterranean. A day later, I jump off a mountain, paragliding over the Blue Lagoon in the
world-famous Olu Deniz. Click on the thumbnails for more info.
From Budapest to Istanbul
A day at Sziget, the largest music festival in Central and Eastern Europe, produces some
interesting characters and adventures. After the party, I pack up for the East, arriving in
the only city that straddles two continents, Istanbul. Mosque Alert! Dramatic minarets
pierce the skyline in this ancient of city of awe and magic. Click on the thumbnails for
more info.
VENEZUELA
Into the Orinoco DeltaA full-power jungle kayaking adventure with the People of the Canoe, entering a harsh but stunning world of water, animals and life. But first, I canyon off a waterfall, fulfill my dream to swim with dolphins, and soak up the stunning blue waters and islands of the Caribbean. Click on the thumbnails for more info
THE YUKON
Dogsledding the Great White NorthCatch a flight (or a mouseclick) to the Great White Frozen Canadian North, to dog-sled with the huskies across sparkling frozen lakes, exploring old gold mining towns where drinks are served with severed human toes. Yes pardner, that there is a real human toe.
WEST COAST TRAIL
Chuck Norris and the Legend of the West Coast Trail
It's an infamous 75km hike along the rugged coastline of Vancouver Island, full of slippery
obstacles, boardwalks and ladders. Sharing the woods with wolves, bears and cougars, we cross
enormous old growth trees, stunning tidal pools, waterfalls, beaches and the legend of Chuck
Norris. Click on the thumbnails for more info.