Woman wrapped in a shawl on the beach at Similan Island no 4, Ko Miang (เกาะเมียง) in Phang Na Province, Thailand

Woman wrapped in a shawl on the beach at Similan Island no 4, Ko Miang (เกาะเมียง) in  Phang Na Province, Thailand in May 2016

Giant mural of a woman with a shawl around her head on the side of a building in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne

Giant mural of a woman with a shawl around her head on the side of a building in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne in September 2017

A woman with a shawl at the Floriade flower show in Canberra

A woman with a shawl at the Floriade flower show in Canberra in September 2015

Pashmina shawls for sale at the market in Candelo, NSW

Pashmina shawls for sale at the market in Candelo, NSW in October 2014

Karen weaver

A woman weaving shawls in the Karen hill tribe village of Ban Sop Had on Doi Inthanon (ดอยอินทนนท์), Thailand in June 2011

Thai shawls

Hand made shawls made in the Karen hill tribe village of Ban Sop Had on Doi Inthanon (ดอยอินทนนท์), Thailand in June 2011

Old woman resting

Fon walking and an old woman resting on Sunambin Road in Chiang Rai, Thailand in December 2009

Indian couple

An Indian couple at the Floriade flower show in Canberra in October 2011

Fon and Van at a picnic

Fon and Van in Canberra in December 2010

Young monk

A young monk at Wat Phra Kaew temple, Chiang Rai, Thailand in December 2009

Clean oasis

This is the end of my Dera photos. The last one. Sorry, but all good things have to come to an end sometime, somewhere and somehow. And so my Dera journey also came to an end, not that I knew it at the time. But my abiding memories of the Dera and its associated philosophy are neatly encapsulated in this picture; The cleanliness and orderliness of the colony which contrasted with the dirt and decay found elsewhere in India, and the warm radiant smiles born of a philosophy where one receives by giving. This final photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in January 1990.

Shy woman

This woman was very shy and bashful and didn't want to be photographed. But she was so pretty and sweet that I gently insisted and she eventually agreed. Well worth it! The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Turbaned warrior

A dramatic Indian man, turbaned with a tightly wrapped shawl to ward off the cold. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Dera portrait

A lovely group portrait. Such a fantastic mixture of people and expressions and clothes. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Bed time

Relaxing in bed at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India. The photo was taken in December 1989. This man has the most wonderful face, full of life and light and laughter

A penny for your thoughts?

What are these woman thinking about or looking at? Photo taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Journey's end

happy and excited Satsangis off to see their Master. The photo was taken at the Dera Radha Soami Colony in Beas, Punjab, India in December 1989.

Deidre in New Delhi

My friend Deidre in New Delhi, India, in January 1990. A beautiful flower-child smile.

Saintly man

I took this photo at the Radha Soami Centre in New Delhi, India in December 1989. He looks like an evolved soul. He made a big impression on me at the time so I asked him if I could take his picture and this is the result.