Whilst I was contemplating the different creatures I might find over on the Asian side of the Wallace Line, I found that I had become the centre of attention myself. A group who had befriended me in the morning came scurrying around the blunt end of the ferry carrying the only bench on the five decks. They were bringing it for me. But after fits of laughter, I began to realise why I had been perched on it. Have you seen those plastic characters at theme parks tha...

With visions of cutting a path through dense undergrowth with a machete whilst sweating like a pig, boots full of blood from the leeches, dangerous beasties on every tree branch, I've never been sure if jungle trekking is really for me. But whilst there is some accuracy in these stereotypical images (the guide did have a machete), three days in the rain forest of Lore Lindu was not as harsh, and far more rewarding than I expected. There weren't too many leeches a...

Heading off tomorrow into the jungle of Lore Lindu National Park to search for megaliths and unusual creatures, such as the nocturnal gremlin-like primate called the tarsier. There are also Buton hornbills, and pigmy versions of several mammals including elephants and buffalo, and many other creatures that are unique to Sulawesi. It's worth mentioning here the story of the English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace who began to send letters to Charles Darwin from ...

It didn't feel very appropriate handing over 100 cigarettes to the family of the deceased, but we were told that this would be an appropriate gift for attending a funeral. It was greatly appreciated, with smiles all around as we sat cross-legged on the floor drinking the tea we had been offered, and eating the sweets (durian flavoured) and biscuits. This was the reception day, the second day of three, where guests bring gifts and dine at the banquet and socialize...

I inadvertently seem to be following the ancient spice routes which would have seen ships from Europe calling at the Cape of Good Hope in Africa, then onto Cochin in India, Malacca (Malaysia) and then onto Makassar (also known at times as Ujung Pandang) which is a short hop across to the Spice Islands. It is nothing like as scenic as Cochin or Malacca though, and certainly lacks the tourists. "Hello mister" is the greeting that is shouted out from just about eve...