When thinking of the African continent, pictures of starving children and ferocious animals are conjured in the minds eye. Africa is a destination for the wild at heart - those seeking adventure who are unafraid of what life has to offer. As with all things in life worthwhile, there is balance. With beauty there is grotesqueness; with calm there is frenzy; with life there is death. The southern African scenery gave birth to the appreciation and [...]
ARRIVING AT A SMALL COVE AT MILLER’S POINT, NEAR SIMON’S TOWN, FALSE BAY, A FORTY FIVE MINUTE DRIVE FROM CAPE TOWN, I FOUND IT HARD TO RECONCILE THE FLAT CALM SPARKLING SEA WITH THE HIGH ADRENALINE DIVE I WAS ABOUT TO DO IN AN AREA THAT IS THE EPITOME OF SHARK DIVING WORLDWIDE. I had been told this dive was possible from a shore entry, but was better from a boat due to [...]
Saigon to Hanoi: A thousand miles of a thousand hello’s “HELLO, WHERE ARE YOU FROM?!” Dozens of school children littered the road, beaming with delight at the opportunity to showcase Vietnam’s favourite English stock phrase which was being shouted out to us from every direction. The kids egged each other on and waved enthusiastically as we passed, encouraged by their equally smiley parents. My travel companion Derrick and I had soon learned [...]
SLOUCHED IN THE SOFT DEEP POW! PHOTO:JOE GOSNEY More comfortable than any easyboy, breathing hard after one of the best tree runs of the day, quite possibly my life, I sense a slight movement off to my left. Turning slowly I witness the secretive Kamoshika, a Japanese Serow, staring intently at me. Below it’s short rearward curving horns belies an almost sorrowful face that is somehow in contrast to it’s husk, powerfully broad body. [...]
NEPAL IS A PLACE FILLED WITH SOUND, LIGHT, ENERGY AND WARMTH. RIVERS FLOW, BIRDLIFE SINGS.... PHOTO: J.H The geography is incredibly diverse ranging from the highest mountain range in the world the Himalayas to the small and lush rolling hills in the lowlands. In terms of the economy Nepal is one of the most skint places in the world with the average yearly income being around $170 a year. The main staples [...]
EXPEDITION EXCITEMENT Diving into the sheer blue, 3000m of ocean plunging straight down below us, we levelled off at around 25m, with just the hint of the reef in sight in the far distance. We were on the search for big stuff - Mola Mola, Tiger sharks, Thresher sharks, Hammerhead sharks, Whalesharks, but most especially Oceanic Manta Rays and Reef Manta Rays on an expedition with Guy Stevens, Manta Man/founder and chief executive [...]
RAISED UP ON IT’S HAUNCHES, TEETH BARED, SHOULDERS HUNCHED, THE MASSIVE TIGER WAS READY TO POUNCE. As I looked around me, I felt like I was in the middle of a surreal dream. Over there, a trio of bicycles leant against each other, over here was a giant hand giving a peace sign, whilst the metal springs of a mattress lay on the floor in between. A huge lotus flower, petals unfolded, stood centre [...]
What do Tibetan Monks, Christmas trees and David Bowie have in common?
Discover Samye Ling monastery and how we ended up planting there.
Currently one of the most valuable places on Earth is the Great Bear Rainforest and sea in British Columbia, Canada. This vast area is valued by its residents; First Nations people, plants, animals, birds and marine life. It is valued by its visitors; the hikers, photographers, cruise-ship goers and scientists. And, inevitably, the Great Bear rainforest is valued by industry. But amongst all of these players, what and whose vision of value should determine the fate of this truly spectacular environment?
Ever since I was a small child, when I first learnt about Charles Darwin and his discovery of so many weird and wonderful creatures, I had a hankering to go follow his example and explore the many corners of the Earth. After learning to dive in 1998 that hankering increased, mainly fuelled by my curiosity for encountering the different marine life around the world. The one ultimate destination for me had always been The [...]
