The final part.

My flight to London leaves shortly.

After 146 days, 27 flights, 11 national border crossings and many miles on the road, I can’t adequately describe how I feel right now.

The past five months have afforded me incredible personal freedom, enabling me perspective, happiness, experiences and new friendships like no other period of my life.

I’ve partied under the stars in Rio; with the stars in Buenos Aires; gazed at icebergs the size of cities in Antarctica; air ballooned over ancient temples in Myanmar; risked life and limb on the streets of Kathmandu; snorkeled over pristine reefs in the Philippines; flown at dawn over one of the world’s great game reserves; para-glided off Cape Town’s Table Mountain, and enjoyed quiet contemplation in ancient monasteries in the Himalayas of Bhutan.

It’s been quite a journey and an unforgettable chapter of my life. I feel very fortunate.

So, where next? Back to work for a while – rat-race-some-more, I suppose – but Papua New Guinea, Mali, Beirut, Syria, Samoa and Panama all beckon...

End of chapter one.

Hong Kong's skyline.

Man Mo temple, Hong Kong.

A perfect last stop.

It's a clear, warm and sunny day in Hong Kong.

Last night I caught-up with my friend Philly, who in the six weeks since I last saw her has brought the gorgeous Willow into the world. She is a few weeks early, tiny and perfect - her feet each the size of my thumb (Willow's, not Philly's!)

It's a HK bank holiday but the streets are as busy as always. The Philippinas, who famously gather in all the city's public areas on their day off (usually Sundays), are all over the place noisily catching-up with each other and doing business.

I find this city's energy and personality enthralling, and it feels like the perfect place to conclude my travels. Last night as I left Philly and Willow in the hospital high up on The Peak, the city below with its constellations of lights looked incredible.

Favourite 100 (or so).

Since I left the UK nearly five months ago, I've shot over 12,000 photographs in 11 countries and on four continents.

In the next few days I'll post my favourites - around a hundred shots, in approximate chronological order - which for me bring back vivid and unforgettable memories of the places I've visited.