Mali

It was actually one of the most challeging, toughest and fascinating trips of my life Leia. We (myself and 3 North American women) were on the same barge for 7 days, no toilet, boiled rice, no room to stand and relegated to the toxic smoke filled rear. The barge grounded on sand bars every hour or so and our beds were sacks of rice. Tough yes, character building you bet.

This has a Peter Pan feel to it!

This is great. Love the framing and mood. Wouldn’t have realised it was a difficult trip from the image.

A hugely eloquent shot for me. It shot and sounds like a life changing trip, Rob. A trip we all fantasise of taking. And returning changed better people.

I love this. This is my dream

What a great shot to remember your amazing trip.

Thanks. Yes I felt like it changed my life…significantly. It was one of those journeys that started out somewhere else – Greece – and never intended to end up in Africa let alone Timbucktou. In fact I could never see myself in Africa. Africa seemed…too unreal somehow and frightening. It wasn’t of course. It was very real. The roof of this barge was the only private spot – an retreat

this is so lovely!

what a great picture robert, thanks for your contribution to the train. Was wondering if you mind me cropping your pics down to the 10×10cm specifications (tastefully of course, almost a collaboration in itself if you like), just so as to keep all the images the same size. Perhaps in the future a collage can be made into a huge poster or as Dragonkat suggested a quilt! For want of time constraints being gone (I have a busy week) I will upload the cropped pics tonight and if you are not happy with the result I will try something different. At any rate I will consider it my collaboration with your work and cut creatively and elude to your original photos in my inspiration and then invite someone else to try a manipulation or some such thing? What do you think? I hope this is ok with you. :-)

Sounds divine mate. Good to collaborate hehe :)) happy cropping cheers

I would love to collaborate this work. Will you give me permission to do so.

Hi Gayle, yes of course. Great taht you are keen and I would be honoured :) Have fun .)

this is absolutly gorgeous.. very serene!