I had the following e-mail from Robin Tilley:

" Do you know Andy Clements? He is on a round the world trip at the moment, possibly for a year, and he seems to be intending to send occasional bulletins. People he knows, and who know him, could well be interested. I will forward the one I received shortly. I have asked Andy if he minds if we put it on the site, in case he would prefer that we don't!   Robin."

Apparently he is quite happy for us to publish it. I have added a few pictures from Google Images just to illustrate his travels.

Dear All,

A quick note to let you know that I have had a good start to my travels.

Japan is a really interesting place to visit - I think I will return for longer next time and do some longer treks. The language barrier presents some difficulty, but I found the people friendly and helpful. I soon got used to bowing all the time. The highlight was a visit to Hakone National Park - a mountain region neat Mt Fuji. I stayed in a minshuka (guest house) where I had a traditional Japanese room. The open air onsen (natural hot spring baths) were wonderful. Shared an enjoyable breakfast with 3 ladies - 2 Japanese and 1 from Bali. Minon from Bali was good company as we took a tour around Hakone National Park on buses, cable cars and a mock pirate ship.

Vistied Bhuddist temples and a Shinto shrine where samurai used to pray. Japanese food was interesting too - more than just sushi. Went to a small supermarket simialr in set up to Lydl, but half the sales area was devoted to fresh fish, and I counted 9 different varieties of mushroom in the fresh veg.

Had fun in Japan. Fell asleep on the train on Monday (effects of jet lag). Missed my stop, woke up at the end of the line, didn't know where the hell I was, but managed to get the last train back down the line and after a couple of changes got to my destination. Arrived at hostel about midnight. Phew. Lucky I didn't get stuck somewhere overnight as I had a flight to catch in the morning.

Singapore is a noisy energetic city. The population is mostly a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian. The people appear very happy, and certainly friendly. As I waited to be checked through customs I was mindful that they hang drug trafficers here (how many times had I repacked and checked my bag?). Paradoxically the passport and customs control had a dish of sweets to offer us!

The place is a spend fest for mega-consumers, and the main shopping district an amazing sight lit up at night for Christmas. I couldn't help but see the irony of the token bill board sign "the real reason for the season"

After the cold dry weather of Japan Singapore is very hot and sticky. I searched out their little bit of rainforest at Burkit Timah, rather than shopping malls! Got off the bus one stop too soon along Burkit Timah Road. This is a very long road, and the strategic highway captured by the Japanese in Feb 1942 which confirmed the fall of Singapore. Dad missed being here then because he had his m/cycle accident in London.

Found a Chinese market off this road and bought some tropical fruit and a couple of batik sarongs (or table cloths). B.T. Shopping Centre is on 5 floors but has few shops, but many employment agencies for maids. They do the training there too. One girl was watching a training video outside - "you must get up early, wash your face and do your personal care quickly....."

I had a really enjoyable trek through the rainforest nature reserve over about 4 hours. Took it easy, carried plenty of water and a litre of freshly squeezed guava juice (cost $2.70/GBP1). The summit of the nature reserve is the highest point on the island and a place to enjoy an occasional cooling breeze. The forest is very noisy - the cicada (bit like a cricket) sounds like a buzz saw; and in places is a bit smelly from the stink horn fungus which emits the smell of rotting meat to attract flies (bit like my socks now). The forest is not so dense as you might imagine jungle - the canopy of trees prevents upto 95% of sunlight penetrating to the forest floor. Saw lots of plantain squirrels, a large lizard and very colourful butterflies. The only monkeys I saw were a family of long-tailed macaques on the roadside just outside the reserve. I didn't see any snakes even though they have 75 different species on this small island.

After the trek had another chinese meal - fried sea food. Not very tasty, but seemed a better option than curry fish head or stir-fryed frog (even with dry red chilli)!

Food is cheap here. Breakfast cost less than $5 (under GBP 2) from a chinese cafe near the hostel. Chicken rice - the chicken and salad prepared by cleaver so not exactly finely sliced; also tried a yam fritter and lamb curry puff (a small pastie).

I'm flying on to Perth this evening while there I shall meet up with some cousins I have never met before.

ATB, Andy Clements