What a breathlessly busy six months it's been ...

* I kicked off the year with my family in the Philippines, doing a recce of the Bataan Death March (stay tuned for more on that), visiting all the military sites in Leyte (where Gen Macarthur made good on his 'I shall return' promise), and wreck diving in Subic Bay: spanish galleons, Japanese hellships, US gun boats. The history of the Philippines is lying on the bed of that bay. Thanks to my kind supporters/sponsors at Philippines Department of Tourism, especially Consuela Jones who teed it all up. See www.wowphilippines.com.ph

* The three 'POW Experience' tours I led for NRMA Travel through Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand were fantastic fun. I learned as much as from the groups -- mainly children of Allied soldiers/prisoners in WW2 -- as I imparted. Each tour was physically and emotionally exhausting, as it's impossible to remain distant from the highly personal experiences that all have endured. Some good friendships formed, and memorable travel experiences.

* On that subject, I had a 1700-word front cover feature in the Weekend Australian entitled 'Truths Too Far' on the reality and myth of the Bridge on the River Kwai. The movie did a great job in introducing people to the whole Thai-Burma Railway episode but it perpetuates some absolute furfies.

* The South China Morning Post ran a double-page colour spread on my Sandakan Death March trek. Click here to read it.

* Other articles of note recently include Malaysia Expat Lifestyle running the story of my very sad and sorry night in a Johor Bahru prison (of my own volition, I hasten to add!). I can safely say it was the longest night of my voluble life so far, and one I choose not to repeat. It was for research for 'In the Shadow of a Scarecrow', my book about the POWs in Southeast Asia, which is written and in the hands of my agent currently.

* I just returned from an excellent foray deep into the heart of central Australia. My mission was to visit the five (yes, five) officially recognised centres of Australia. I can tell you're wondering ... depends on how you measure it. BUt they're all within a few hundred kilometres of each other in the Ayers Rock/Alice Springs region. What a colourful time: I met Dinky the singing Dingo, there was Andy in Kulgara who starts his doorless car with a screwdriver, interviewed farmers wives whose nearest supermarket is a good 300 km away yet did not feel isolated on their million acre cattle stations. Fascinating! (Another fun part was seeing 165 km/h come up on the speedo on the eponymously named Stuart Highway.)

So what does the second half of this year hold? Who knows. Perhaps I'll finally get down to writing up 'Tales from a Tiger's Den', perhaps some more tours through Southeast Asia, probably some more travel features, and definitely lots of motorbiking.

* I attended the Ulysses Club AGM in Coffs Harbour recently. Can you imagine 6115 bikers on 4000 bikes rumbling through a small coastal town? My report on this ran in Mature Traveller. One of the highlights to me was the speech given by Ulysses' eighty-something founder, Stephen Dearnley. He said: 'LIFE HAS NO TRADE-IN VALUE'. Amen!

On the music front, The Steaming Latrines continue to rehearse regularly and play gigs now and again. Just added some new songs to the set including The Mavericks All You Ever Do is Bring Me Down, Mondo Rock's Cool World and Chris Isaak's Somebody's Crying. I also played a James Bond-theme party with another 'supergroup' christened Shaken But Not Stirred for the night. Currently rehearsing a skit called 'The Colorectal Surgeon' for a Hash House Harriers away weekend in Cowra!

Cheers for now, and safe and healthy travels. Stu.