Himalayas

It was so cold even the waterfalls were frozen.

Reflection on the lake - this is my favourite shot.
Lake x

Himalayas - Nepal

Group shot at the top of x.
Nikki trekking across frozen lakes.
Nikki was very very cold in fact my feet ached.

Dave and Sherpa Vernout at Cho La Pass.

Himalayas Nepal

Frozen socks on the clothes line - it took days to thaw them out and dry them inside our sleeping bags.

Our little tent covered in snow at
Dave in front of Everest.

Dave outside morraine near
Dave at 5652m.

Maldives is paradise

Sunsets at the villa.
Sunset over uninhabited island.
We went snorkelling with the manta rays. There were 6 of them and they were enormous ! Such beautiful creatures and they simply glide through the water. They circled us and got quite close and they seem to have no fear of humans.

Along the beaches at Rangali island where baby black tipped reef sharks. All day they praticed hunting the small schools of fish and at one point the shark beached itself chasing them and had to riggle it's way back into the water.

Maldives

The shower where we were staying at the Hilton was completely outdoors but lovely.
The beach front of the villa that we stayed in had a plunge spa pool - divine!
The pool area by reception. All the chairs were in the water so you stepped straight into the water.
Dave relaxing and actually reading a book (took 9 months for him to read book) at our private garden by the bath.
The lovely bedroom with the lounge in the front. Heaven!
The luxury bath which was large enough to fit a cow!

Maldives

Huge manta ray next to Zodiac.

Atolls from plane.
Rangali island where we stayed at the Hilton.
View of beach in front of our villa.

Maldives Cruise

Snorkelling on many of the fine Atolls. It was like an aquarium with loads of fishes and turtles and a lovely temperature of 27-30 degrees C in the water.

Our lovely friends on board the boat.
Shri Lankan curries aplenty on the boat and everyday a fresh Bonito tuna caught off the back of the boat. Yum!

Maldives- Dining Out

There were about 6 restaurants on the island and this was a special night out with a seafood platter to die for!
Breakfast time with full buffet breakfast including champagne.
The Hilton has the only Undersea restaurant in the world manufactured by the New Zealanders (clever Kiwis). We had lunch their with all the fishes swimming around. Truly spectacular and a once in a lifetime experience.
There are only 8 tables in this restaurant so it is intimate. Some people videoed themselves eating which I thought was very strange!

Netherlands

Marzipan fruits graced the fabulous shop windows in Den Bosch village.
Helene enjoying a well earned glass of champagne after looking after us for 4 days.

Dave and Nik enjoying a wicked cake called Bosch bol - basically a huge profiterole with whipped cream dunked in thick milk chocolate.
We had a family dinner at the Molenaars with a fabulous salmon terraine, indonesian fish and prawn curry and rice and stir fried vegetables! Yum yum!
A classic local windmill.

Netherlands-Sailing

Frank took us out sailing on a club boat for the day. Very relaxing expect for dodging major boats along the Belgium river canal.

Netherlands-Amsterdam

Cannabis seed growing kits available for sale in Amsterdam.
The Dutch love flowers and everywhere we went their were beautiful market stalls with loads of flowers.
Some of the market stalls had about 200 types of bulbs for sale. Just wonderful!
Frank and Helene relaxing on the ferry.
Dave on the canal boat.
Museum Nemo. Controversial design- I liked it very much~Amsterdam