My independent travels began in 1960s Tasmania, then took off with the Seventies Asian overland thing - now they call it a gap year - a consular posting in the United Arab Emirates and a stint as an adventure tour guide in South East Asia. Later, I survived a year branded as 'resident alien' in small-town Pennsylvania and then spent six months hiding from Britain's remorseless television licence inspectors. I've been locked in the medieval town hall tower of Tallinn, Estonia and stranded by monsoon rains in rural Malaysia, had my pocket picked in Naples and was detained by Soviet-era border guards - and wouldn't have missed any of it (well, almost).

I remain an emeritus member of the Australian Society of Travel Writers. My articles and images have been published in 33 countries; here is my portfolio on Alamy images.

Barbara also enjoys documenting our home exchanges and other travels together on PBase.