The journey that began it all twenty-seven years ago. I didn’t meet my ace photographer Basil Pao until we reached Hong Kong, so these photos are taken mostly by the crew (myself included) and have a nice rough and ready feel.

The journey that began it all twenty-seven years ago. I didn’t meet my ace photographer Basil Pao until we reached Hong Kong, so these photos are taken mostly by the crew (myself included) and have a nice rough and ready feel.
Pre-journey tests to ascertain my suitability for employment with the BBC.
Passepartout and me. Left to right: Julian Charrington, Angela Elbourne, Ron Brown, Fogg, Dave Jewitt, Simon Maggs, Clem Vallance, Roger Mills, Nigel Meakin, Ann Holland and Nigel Walters.
Boarding the Venice-Simplon Orient Express at London Victoria.
Great Dustment of the World.
Venice, after we've cleaned it.
With the Evzones of Athens.
The Corinth Canal: threading ourselves through the eye of a needle.
Mr Lalli at his most relaxed.
On a camel called Michael at the Pyramids.
Captain Abbas of the Saudi Moon II (crossed out).
Smoking hookah at a pavement café in Jeddah.
Warning: camels crossing.
Living on the edge – the facilities of the Al Sharma.
Man with a BBC series on his mind.
Anwar does his Treasure Island audition.
Captain Suleyman and Deyji Ramji show me the way.
The rising sun wakes Kasim.
With Clem and Ron in the library.
Hoisting sail on the dhow.
Preparing to leave the dhow at Bombay.
A street barber attends to my designer stubble.
Looking out over Bombay from the top of the hideous extension to the Taj Mahal hotel.
A family in Tent City.
The hot and lively streets of Madras.
‘Déjeuner sur la mer’ or barbecue day on the Susak.
Rough days on the South China Sea: Phileas looks out on a Force 7 gale.
Owing to an error in the BBC computer, I’m met by a Rolls-Royce in Hong Kong.
Attacked by a cockatoo in the bird market, Hong Kong.
On the ferry to Cheung Chow I note that they call this ‘Millionaire’s Weather’.
Joining in the gambling at the Happy Valley Race Course.
Life on the barges.
On my way into China.
Mr Cha making a kind gift of his cap badge.
Boy looking out of the window on the Shanghai Express.
On the train to Shanghai: Englishmen are a curiosity in Intermediate Class.
At Zhen-zhou station – China is the last great refuge of steam.
Faces of Shanghai.
The great Chinese workout.
Bedtime at the capsule hotel in Tokyo.
Braving the stage for karaoke.
An international incident as we cross the Date Line. N.B. It’s tomato ketchup, not blood.
Killing time on the 11-day Pacific crossing to Long Beach.
On the phone to my agent aboard the Queen Mary.
Dog sled approaching, Aspen, Colorado.
In a hot air balloon, drifting over Aspen.
The Leda Maersk thespians.
Throwing the line ashore at Felixstowe.
Buying a newspaper, to confirm my date of arrival.
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