I wish everyone reading this Diary entry was here with me right now. I am about to sleep - literally - under the stars in a "Starbed" - in the heart of a volcanic crater!

So we flew out of Elsa's this morning ... in a north-westerly direction - over Meru, over the Nyambeni Hills and arrived at Loisaba ... 45 minutes later.

We are now west of Mt Kenya.

Loisaba is set in the Lekepia volcanic crater ... the main lodge has 8 cottages, 1 x 8-bedroom house, swimming pool, tennis court, spa, dining room and a lounge (the "mess") that has stunning views from the balcony.

The lodge ALSO has seven "Kiboko Starbeds" - 20 minutes drive away ... Kiboko means "hippo dam" as there is a dam below filled with hippos!!

A Starbed is a bed on wheels, 10 metres off the ground, surrounded in mosquito netting that allows you to watch the stars ... all night! The stars look wonderful in southern Africa ... long day tomorrow ... long day today ... need sleep ... LOVE LOVE LOVE!

I am in HEAVEN!

Song of the Day: Song of the Stars - Dead Can Dance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0L5RFspwyE

 My Masai warrior companion here ... Solomon!

With the adorable Lodge pooch - Fupi (short) - 14 years of gorgeousness!

Lions, elephants, hippos, crocodiles, eagles, vultures, bush babies, bustards, warthogs, zebra ... Meru National Park was all mine today (literally)!

Also visited the Ura Primary School - 45 minutes drive away - where Elsa's Kopje has built three classrooms and is planning more. 416 children - 16 teachers ... some of the kids walk 10 kilometres each way from their homes! Inspiring ...

Song of the Day: Animal - Def Leppard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Djv5GJndscI

You looking at me?

Bustard

Erm - don't you know it's rude to stare when someone is eating? 

Bush Baby with a baby!

Eagle

Erm - who's a naughty boy then?

Greetings from Elsa's Kopje - a luxury safari lodge in the heart of the Meru National Park ... in ... KENYA!

The overnight flight from London to Nairobi was painless ... I slept! Yes, a large shot of whisky ... a couple of aspirin ... and I was "dead" to the world until I was awoken by the cabin crew.

From there, we took a 50-minute flight north-east to land here ... my first lodge on the show here in Kenya.

We were accompanied by Stefano Cheli - who with his wife Liz - own Cheli & Peacock - "THE" Kenyan luxury tour operator.

Elsa's Kopje -- kopje means "small hill" and Elsa was the lioness that George & Joy Adamson raised i.e. Born Free -- is the only lodge in Meru ... there are no fences ... the game run wild ... and tomorrow I will get to see them! Yes - BORN FREE - was a real story and it took place ... HERE!

I am visiting Kenya at the end of the dry season ... and the rains have started albeit at night. It looks barren at the moment BUT the landscape will soon be lush & green.

I am staying in Elsa's Private House ... complete with swimming pool. More to come on that ...

I have just had a massage - courtesy of "Mama" - who is strong and gentle at the same time! I MUST have one more of her massages before I leave! The view of the African Bush is amazing from the treatment room ... and her neck massage is just ... FABULOUS!! 

It's been a long day ... so dinner and rest ... as there's a safari drive first thing tomorrow!!

Song of the Day: Born Free - Matt Munro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISWOrI0WaLs

View from my pool

With Stefano

My friendly "pet" hyrax ... who I have named Laura ...

Kenya! Kenya! Kenya! 

Well, I am on my way ... finally.

Last night's George Michael concert was still reverberating in my ears when I awoke at St Ermin's (my home in London) and I was VERY lucky to have breakfast with one of my dearest friend's in the world - Nicola - who runs the PR for Four Seasons in Thailand and throughout Asia. She popped over with her lovely Mom & Dad who I met at the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Rai, Thailand last year! I think it's quite cool to meet up with my friends all over the world.

I have a very special and dear friend in Kenya who I will see this week! Whoohoo!

OK - so the bells are calling - see YOU in Africa!

Song of the Day: Wild is the Wind - David Bowie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbpMpRq6DV4

Avec Nicola chez-moi ...

Earlier this week, I was questioning what "luxury" meant. I think - for me - regaining time is a luxury  - nice, warm memories - ... and tonight, I was transported through a very happy part of my life (from 15 onwards, mind) ... remembering some of the girls I danced with and kissed (!) ... through the music (end of disco songs) of George Michael.

So - he was on stage for around 2 hours - and therefore, I paid £1+ a minute for this concert.

Yes - he played some of his "new" stuff (which I didn't know), yes he MURDERED the likes of New Order's True Faith (and I mean hung, drawn and quarter) BUT YES - he also took me back to a Different Corner, Star People, Freedom, Cowboys & Angels ... ahhhh ... kiss, kiss - cuddle, cuddle!

I do absolutely love live music - I have seen some of the greats live - Sinatra, Freddie, Bowie, Prince - and as concerts go, George did really very well. I was only 6 rows from the front which helped ... and I was surrounded by gay men and ladies (the blue rinse brigade) who knew every word to every song ... so there were many voices ...

It was a pleasant evening ... and the orchestra facet worked!

Kenya tomorrow - back to work ...

Song of the Day: Star People - Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yOMT519goU

If you could be a "superhero" - which one would you be? I like the idea of Batman .. and his lonely, dark lifestyle ... punctuated with amazing "toys" ... Superman is another goody ... although his wage as a newspaper reporter would preclude a "cool" lifestyle ... and Spiderman ... hmm ... I just don't like spiders!

How about VietMan ...?

But what would my super-skills be?

An excellent travel news story ... B&B owner wins landmark case against Tripadvisor: http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2003483&c=setreg&region=2

Fabulous end to the week.

Song of the Day: Batdance - Prince
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teGJHiA7jwg

Today it has been the first "Cambodia Editing Day ...

And it's looking beautiful ...

Song of the Day: The Seed - The Roots & Codi Chestnutt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojC0mg2hJCc

At Angkor Wat

With the General Manager of Amansara - having a water blessing!

Reviewing my suite at Amansara

Oli at The Grand

Christian Sack - the General Manager of Raffles

Designer Eric Raisina

I look like a chipmunk (well, half of one) ... my bi-annual visit to the dentist unearthed a unfilled gap in a molar which needed attention. One injection later (a la "10" with Dudley Moore - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_x1Zd4wyXg) ... and low & behold, the world is a brighter, fuzzier and happier place to be ... 

Sorry Mr Ashcroft - the drugs DO work ... 

I have just realised that tomorrow I am in the edit suite with Oli working on the Cambodia show ... I hope I am not slurring ...

I did have a great story to recant today ... but I seem to have forgotten it.

I am so looking forward to Kenya and safari on Sunday ...

Song of the Day: Born Slippy - Underworld
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iKFn8dlxX8

Hmm ... this chipmunk had an injection on both sides of its mouth ...

After 17 days of being ravaged by mosquitoes, drenched in sweet & sticky monsoon rain and burning in hot (post-thundershower) sunshine ... it's quite lovely to be out in the cold, wet, windy and generally dreary conditions here in south England. I love dressing up for a cold day!

I went down to the seaside with a dear friend for lunch. There was no-one on the beach (no surprise there) but the beach-front restaurant was full of people .. and dogs of all shapes and sizes ... from an enormous Bull Mastiff to a cute & cuddly (!) tanned Cocker Spaniel (called Paddy).

During my travels, I do get to eat some of the finest cuisine in the world. Miss Vy's in Hoi An, for instance, has (rightly) the reputation of offering the best Vietnamese cuisine in the country SO it's lovely to find a new "best" on my own door-step. The fish burger I devoured today was simply ...perfectly-divine! It was crafted ... the fish was freshly caught ... the bun was freshly baked ... the lettuce was freshly plucked and the ketchup was fresh from a Heinz bottle. The fries were delicious, the cider filled with zesty-appley-boozy-bubbles and even the salad was ... erm ... nice.

There was even a take-away treats box for Moo ...

Song of the Day: Silenced by the Night - Keane
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HrV_B0qrdY

 Raining, cold, windy ... BUT loving it! "Gum boots" and hat keeping me dry & warm ...

 dear Charles ... 

 Gloomy

Doomy

There is a God. One story really grabbed me today- from Uganda. A lioness had just caught & devoured a female Ugandan Kob (antelope), was covered in blood and looking quite pleased with herself when the Kob's fawn came looking for her now digested mother.

Rather than eating the fawn for dessert, the lioness took pity on her and led her away to safety. If you don't believe me: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2214501/Will-mummy-Merciful-lioness-takes-pity-antelope-calf-killing-mother.html ... I usually can't verify the accuracy of the journalism from this newspaper BUT I am really hoping the photographs and words from this non-Mail photojournalist are true.

James Bond madness is upon us ... yes ... 50 years of Bond (how funny that his face changes every few years - he's like Madonna!). Many hotels are offering "James Bond" packages ... i.e. our hotel is on Bond Street - stay here or on St James - stay here or we once had an Aston Martin drive past our door so - stay here ...

It's all going too far though - Mr Bond used to drink Dom Perignon and Martini (shaken not stirred) - now he drinks Heineken beer. He used to drive an Aston Martin but recently drove a Ford ... and now there's a 007 after-shave! Really??!!

C'mon ladies and gentlemen - if your partner splashed on 007 after-shave, surely you would question his sanity ... or taste? I know of just one person who would fall for this product ... and no, it's not Tim the Cameraman ...

Song of the Day: I Need a Dollar - Aloe Blacc (in honour of the producers of 007 after-shave)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDyUhI1ArPo

Jet-lag? Pah - I am well over it.

A long walk in the fresh (cold air) with a cigar, hip-flask (whisky) and a very slow, blind Pooch was the highlight of my day.

I had a chance to think back to the past 17 days in the Far East. Cambodia - the temples of Siam Reap, Angkor Wat, Raffles, Amansara, spiritual cleansing, silk ... Vietnam - Hoi An, side-cars, paddy fields, a new jacket, the temples of My Son, Can Tho, the mighty Mekong, floating markets ... so much in so little time ...

I have just 5 days at home before the next trip ... Kenya - safari ... and finally visiting a very dear friend who set up his life's dream - a safari camp in the Mara. So excited ... I may even take my new boots with me! 

Song of the Day: Duel - Propaganda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLhYxLE8uCA

Amansara ... Siem Reap, Cambodia

These days the word "luxury" is used to describe a plethora of brands - from toilet paper to 3-star hotels and from cat food to even the humble trouser press. The word "luxury" (and possibly "love"?) is the most bastardised and misunderstood in the English language.

Sadly, in the eye of the consumer, using "luxury" to describe a product makes the quality of true marques somewhat redundant ... using it is - often - as untrustworthy as a politician ...

Okay, I am a wee exhausted ... so I am now rambling ... focus!

ANYWAY - I received a gift yesterday in the form of a nice, new, shiny pair of Hunter wellington boots ... from the "Balmoral Sovereign" range no-less ... (they did NOT come from a pr company or anything like that, by the way) ...

As far as wellies are concerned, these are a pair of Bentleys.

Early this morning I stomped about St James Park (in the dark) and this afternoon gallumped through 1 foot high streams to test-drive them ... and I am pleased to report that my feet remained warm (the Shearling insoles helped here) and quite dry ... and now I think I need some Hunter boot socks (shooting) and Shearling mittens to compliment my new footwear! There is only one downside ... driving in wellies is not a great idea ... I nearly backed my car into a fence as I couldn't feel the pedals!

Hunter wellies - TRUE luxury ...

A glass of Rust en Vrede pinot noir beckons.

This weekend is going to be very quiet - the weather is looking cool, dry & sunny - I feel a trip to the seaside coming on for tomorrow (more boot testing)!

This time next week ... well ... you'll see!

Song of the Day: Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDcuRgk-JEI

(and before you think I have lost my musical marbles ... this song is dedicated to a VERY, VERY special couple in Thailand - who love elephants as much as I. Miss you guys ...)

I am home! Yay!

Well, when I say home, I mean in London ... in my hotel (St Ermin's) as today has been one of London meetings ...

The flight (Vietnam Airlines) from Hanoi was lovely ... easy ... and Tim sat next to me, chattering to himself. I think he is going "slightly mad". We arrived at Gatwick Airport at 0900 ... and I zipped into London for 1100 ... 

I am totally exhausted ... and am looking forward to a weekend of "nothing" ... although I may stomp in some fields in my new "Wellington Boots" ... photos to come!

Yesterday - Vietnam - HOT RAIN ... today - London - COLD RAIN! Bah!

Home (-ish)! Yay!

Song of the Day: Sing It Back - Moloko
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DBG_uDp8Qc

Tim & I make a friend

And then "real" friends - with some onboard filming!

On my way home!

Next stop - KENYA!

Song of the Day: Leaving on a Jet Plane - John Denver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLBKOcUbHR0

That’s a wrap …

The fortnight of Far East filming has come to an end. Today is the last day in Vietnam and we fly home tomorrow.

Can Tho is the 4^th largest city in Vietnam … and my hotel is the only luxury hotel here. The Victoria Can Tho was opened in 1998 – and has 92 rooms including 8 Victoria suites. I am staying in one of those … as is Tim! The hotel makes a mean pizza … and there’s a great spa (massage …), and it even has its own boat – the Lady Hau.

I am feeling much better today which is rather positive.

Yesterday we filmed the whole property … which included an interview with the General Manager – Vo Xuan Thu – who worked her way to the top!

The hotel is situated on the banks of the Mekong River. It’s 4350 kms in length – starts in China and meanders through Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and finally Vietnam.

Can Tho is the main city closest to the Mekong Delta … just 90 kms from here.

The city is famous for a “floating market” … which we visited this morning in the Lady Hau … an old Vietnamese rice boat. Can Tho is the “rice bowl” of Vietnam … and I also learnt how rice noodles are made.

My guide Nghia has been most helpful today.

It’s been a couple of amazing weeks – while I am sad it’s over, I am also pleased to escape the monsoon-uncertainty of filming this show.

Home soon …

Song of the Day: Talking In Your Sleep – The Romantics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwT9ltDBG14 

 With the hotel Pet - a water buffalo called Bravo ... 

 I take control of the Lady Hau

 With Thu - the hotel General Manager

 On the Mekong

With my guide Nghia

Song of the Day: Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxPj3GAYYZ0

Greetings from Can Tho (located in South Vietnam) ...

Very early start ... VERY VERY VERY early start actually ... VERY VERY sad farewell to Claude and the rest of the team in Hoi An ... flew from Hoi An to Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) ... then it was a 3 hour drive to here. We are 90 kms from the mouth of the Mekong River ... which winds through Vietnam ... to Cambodia, Thailand, Laos then China ...

The weather is ... quite monsoony.

Am not 100% ... in bed filled with drugs ... this trip is getting quite long.

Song of the Day: The Drugs Don't Work - The Verve
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToQ0n3itoII

A local