Today’s been a productive – but also hot and sticky, day. 5000 words and a lot of research later my latest magazine article was emailed to the publishers this afternoon. Meanwhile, the next edition of RAIL – which contains an earlier article of mine as well as pictures illustrating others – hits the news-stands. There’s always a sense of achievement mixed with relief when a complex article’s finished. With the weather being what it is at the moment I’m looking forward to being released from the confines of the office, althought there’s still much to do. In less than a months time I’ll be starting my bi-annual tour of the rail network for RAIL and that’s going to present some very special challenges this year as well as a unique opportunity. This time planning will be far more important as options for travel and accomodation will be restricted. Even so, I can’t wait. After being cooped up for so long it’s going to be a delight to be back exploring.

The subject of exploring brings me neatly onto the picture of the day. Back in 1992 I was travelling through Sumatra and met up with a group of like-minded people who persuaded me to sigh up for a 10 day jungle trek on Siberut, the main island of the Mentawai Islands, 150km off the West coast of Sumatra. It was the most amazing experience. Joni, our excellent guide arranged for us to say in Umas – the communal village houses of the indigenous people who lived a hunter-gatherer existence out in the jungle. Our hosts were the local medicine men, the Sikerei, here’s one, who was an incredible character. I took this picture in May 1992…

If you want to see more photographs of my trip to the interior of Siberut, you can find them by following this link.

 

 

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