KABUL, AFGHANISTAN - 12 OCTOBER 2012: An unidentified Afghan Trader waits for trade at a military base on October 12, 2012 in Kabul.

MAZAR - I - SHARIF, BALKH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - 10 MARCH 2013

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, BALKH PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN - 10 MARCH 2013: An unidentified woman walks across the courtyard in front of the Blue Mosque on March 10, 2013 in Mazar-i-Sharif

Refugees

A building taken over by refugees in Erbil, Kurdistan

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Cambridgeshire Hunt with Enfield Chace

Marney

Photo Shoot for Jane, 24mm, 1/250sec, f9, ISO640, +1/3EV

Hasandagi Volcano

This volcano is a huge feature, and is in the top ten features in Western Asia. It rises 3,000 feet above the neighbouring countryside.

Looking forward to the Taurus Mountains

The mountain views were so beautiful, at least while the sun shone. Later, I could see black clouds billowing up from the other side of the mountains. When I cut through the last motorway tunnel and out the other side it was into torrential rain and thick fog.

Mardin Views

Looking out from Mardin over the Mesopotanian plans, strectching away to Syria and Iraq.

Looking into Syria

Stopped by the roadside near Cizre in Turkey, looking over the Tigris river and into Syria. The route this morning ran directly alongside the border for mile after mile, with Turkish Army bases here and there, and observation posts overlooking the border itself at regular intervals. The border itself consisteed in the main of 2 lines of concrete walls, and additional wire fencing. The border didn't appear to be manned, but I am sure there would have been a quick response if I had stopped to show an interest. This was far enough away to be out of sight of the watch towers, but near enough to see the border itself. 01 Dec 2019

Filtering Through Traffic

Miles of lorries line up in Turkey on the approach road to the Ibrahim Khalil Border Crossing, on 01 Dec 2019. Around a thousand cars and 1500 trucks a day cross into Kurdistan.

Iraqi Policeman

I stopped and said hello to this Iraqi motorcycle police man. Of course it could not possible stop at hello. I had to have tea, and so was directed to follow him to the nearest check point. He was a friendly guy; most of the security forces here are. Of course we are now connected on Insta...

Tea Seller

Tea stop on the bridge over the Great Zab River, between Dohuk and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan, late afternoon on the 3rd of December. Tea is made in a kettle, heated over a wooden fire, giving a distinctive taste and smell to the experience. The road to this point had been very good, but soon afterwards deteriotated to become deeply rutted. The tea seller refused to accept any money for his tea, quite typical of the hospitality here. I have seen my driver in the past argue with waiters to take money from him.

American University in Dohuk

While having lunch I chatted with Khitam about her plans to learn English. They were not fully formed. I hijacked the guy who was interpreting for us, and got him to take us to the American University where, as chance would have it, the sister of my good friend teaches English. She soon sorted us out with course dates, and enrolled Khitam for a January start. We had a photograph in front of the Christmas tree; me, Khitam, Hoze, Najla and our driver for the day Zidan Khalaf. The difference between life in the camps and life at this university are profound. We are giving them a real chance for their lives to take a different path.

Hotel Leipzig, Plovdiv

As red on the inside as the out, Hotel Leipzig was a special place in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, 24 Nov 2019

Deserted Services

There were a lot of these deserted service stations and motels along the motorway in Serbia. This looked like it was still open, but it was deserted and I didn't try the door. There were no cars in the car park, and all the buildings around it were closed down. I guess modern services stations have killed business for these older places.

Tube Station in Budapest

Between Buda and Pest, 20 Nov 2019

Matriarch