In Burning Embers, Rafe and Coral take to the skies in a hot air balloon from which they see have a commanding view over Kenya, laid out beneath them in all her glory. They see blue waters and verdant vegetation, and amid them the most wonderful array of animals: elephants, antelopes, flamingos, pelicans, impalas, hippos, buffalo, zebras, giraffes. It was a wonderful sequence to write – I could really let my imagination fly and imagine all the awe-inspiring sights and the patchwork of colours beneath.

As I wrote this chapter in the book, I had in mind the beautiful ‘Earth from the Air’ series of photographs taken by French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Have you seen them? If not, I urge you to visit http://icommunic8.com/gallery.html and http://earthfromtheair.co.uk/  to see examples of these marvellous photos taken from the air. The colours are simply amazing.

The series is the result of Yann’s five-year journey across five continents and sixty countries, a pilgrimage sponsored by UNESCO in the interest of creating a photographic record of our world. Interestingly, the website of Arthus-Bertrand’s publisher states that Yann “first discovered the beauty of the world seen from the air in a hot-air balloon in Kenya, where he wrote about lions with his wife, Anne”. I think, were I writing a sequel to Burning Embers, that Coral, a photographer, would have trod a similar path.

The ‘Earth from the Air’ series includes photographs taken all over the world, and some of the most beautiful, I think, are of African scenery. I particularly like two taken above Kenya: ‘Pink flamingoes on Lake Nakuru’ and ‘The Kenya Market’.

So if you’re struggling to think of a Christmas present for a family member or friend this year, I highly recommend Arthus-Bertrand’s Earth from the Air book!