“Why?” It’s rapidly becoming the question that people ask when I announce my next travel destination, and my Christmas in Iceland trip was no exception.

To be fair I did have doubts. Having spent a winter in Norway a few years ago I was expecting short daylight hours, cold and snow. And it was Christmas so I was expecting a few things to close. But I was also expecting some wonderful, directional light, ideal for photography; I was expecting crisp, blue skies and pristine snow; I was expecting cozy bars and restaurants; and I was expecting to see the Northern Lights.

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Fresh. I include this image partly because it’s taken in a market that was overflowing with fresh fruit, but mainly because it always amuses me. The sleeping lady was, seconds later, woken by her colleague laughing at me taking the picture.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks competition! I’m entry 216.

My entry for this weeks PhotoFriday contest, Stillness, was taken near Oslo, Norway. Scandinavia specialises in these beautiful, still lakes and pine forest scenery.

This weeks PhotoFriday challenge is Destruction. My entry is a US tank left destroyed in Vietnam. I guess it did more than it’s fair share of destruction when operational.

Please vote for my entry in last weeks “Thin” theme. I’m entry 318.

I’ve been reading the magazine Wanderlust for a few years now. It’s a great magazine with interesting stories about places that are often well off the beaten path — my kind of travelling! A couple of months ago I took the unusual step of writing a letter. It came in two parts, a comment about my time in Cuba (in response to someone who said he couldn’t find any night-life) and a second, longer piece about my time in Gdansk, Poland (as a counter-point to their piece on long-weekends for less than ?100).

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Girl. My entry is number 543. This image was taken in Hoi An, Vietnam. Approaching this little girls home, she ran out with this huge grin on her face.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks competition, Bright. I’m entry 447 (“–> Stephen <–").

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Bright. My entry is number 447. Here the bright, morning sun is shielded by the trees. It was taken in Oslo, Norway.

Please also vote for my entry in last weeks competition, Boy. I’m entry 419 (“–> Stephen <–").

This weeks PhotoFriday theme is Boy. My entry was taken in Vietnam. A whole group of kids came out to see us. I don’t think they see many foreigners in this area.

Please also vote my my entry in last weeks competition, Silver. I’m entry 244 (“–> Stephen <–").

I was introduced to the strange world of Geocaching over Christmas last year.

For the uninitiated, geocaching is, basically, a high-tech scavenger hunt. People hide things all over the world, typically Tupperware boxes containing various goodies, and post the co-ordinates on a website. Other people then enter the details into their GPS systems and try to find them. It sounds simple, silly even, but it can give you a good excuse to look around an old and familiar area with a new perspective.

Friends, leaning against a car chatting. This was in Trinidad, Cuba in 2004. Taken on my Canon EOS300D with 18-55mm lens. Come back next week and vote for me, I’m entry 432.

Please vote for my entry in last weeks “Four” competition! I’m entry 494 (–> Stephen <–).