Too much time on my hands?

An ambitious and green-fingered Mauri

Wanted pot-plants a little more flauri.

So she planted a few

In fresh Kiwi-bird poo,

Now her pansies are big as a Kauri.

Damian, 2007

Warning: Images of Paradise enclosed.

Clear tropical waters? Check
Dizzy backpackers? Check.

Fragile watercraft? Check.

Subterranean cave? Check.

All's well then.

Underwater caves at Sadong, Palawan, Philippines.

Bring back the Routemaster, I say.

Notice the extreme sagging of the poor, overburdened hammock.

...and all who sail in her.

The view from our cottage.
Port Barton, Palawan, Philippines

Crack out the Rum - it's Fiesta Time!

Cheers, m'dears!

Ah - a saint's day. That'll be the reason for all the carousing, then.

Everybody gets in the groove at Fiesta Time.

Haven't touched a drop, Mother.

Outside our cottage, a few nights ago...

Julia's favourite spot. A dozen paces from our cottage.

Don't say we didn't warn you. It's like this a lot.

Action shot.

When the sky looks like this, it's time to order your first beer of the day.

A-snorkelling we will go...

Hands up all those having a good time.

Sun-kiss'd and ready for lunch.

This is the departure lounge at El Nido airport, we kid you not. They even have a small group of musicians to sing you on your way.

Ah. The One True Ring.

Off in our island-hopping snorkel trip - the first of many.

Flotsam or jetsom?

The lovely Dave.

We stayed here.
Port Barton, Palawan, Philippines.

Pig snack, anyone?

Farewell Perth - Hi there, Hong Kong!

Rob and Sarah lent us this beast of burden so that we could explore Perth.
May your Lada never be empty, guys.

Damian bares down on an Emu.

We were informed by a Western Australian that this is not the middle of nowhere: "...it's The Edge of Nowhere."

While we were up near Ningaloo, it rained for the first time in a year, turning the desert in a riot of green. Everywhere we go, it seems, we take the weather, the weather with us.

Julia does some wuthering.

The quite stunning, but quite small, Pinnacles Desert, just a few hours north of Perth.

Rob and Sarah - who looked after us. Properly. Hence the hangovers. Every Day.
Thanks for your wonderful hospitality, guys: see you in Blighty soon!

Mmm. Spacious.
The Cosmic Guesthouse, Nathan Rd, TST, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

The Fountain of Wasted Youth.
Hong Kong Park.

The Hong Kong College of Cuppas. Suited us down to a...

Our first Asian temple of the holidays. Won't be the last: expect lots of pictures titles 'AFT'.

Smog on the Water.
Our view from the Star Ferry.

Three examples of building in Hong Kong. You won't need that many guesses to work out which one we're staying in.