Asian Water World

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Thursday, August 12, 2010 | 5 photos

The photos are from Asia, a most dynamic part of the globe, in the fields of culture and humanity and diversity Asia is truly spectacular. An open mind and a lack of expectations makes every trip an adventure and an inspiration.
I have been privileged to travel through 16 countries on my motorcycle which I have owned for 40 years- "the land journeys." I have sailed 35,000 miles off 5 continents - "the water journeys." And now am committed to "the head journeys" - writing about travel, the world and the plethora of fathomless experiences.
A tale....
Afghanistan by Motorbike – Part 1
"It was 5 in the morning in the little Asian town of Herat, which lies just inside Afghanistan on the western border with Iran. It was the dawning of a clear day, and I was itching to get out on the road.
My Norton 750cc Commando motorcycle, nicknamed ‘Demeter’ (after the Greek Goddess of Life) stood in the morning sunlight ready to roll out into the Afghan Desert. She had already carried me from England, through France, Monaco, Italy, Austria, Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey and Iran. But there was somehow a mystery about today’s trip, 400 miles through a pure desert on a concrete road built by the Russians.
I had been advised to go in a convoy through this stretch en route through Helmund Province to Kandahar, but I was in no mood to wait for other travellers to rally together, and anyway I was used to being on my own now, and kick started the bike feeling a fresh excitement.
Demeter and I purred out of town into the wilderness. The feeling of ‘freedom ‘was overwhelming. The desert sun was warm and welcoming and I decided to pull over and redress for the occasion. I took off my shirt and shoes, and set off again wearing only a pair off shorts and a big set off headphones atop my mop of crispy"