As some of you may know- we've just returned from a crazy tour which took us quite literally around the world in ten days.

We started our journey with a promotional trip to Germany. We performed two tracks ("bond on bond" and "Fuego") for a TV show. They were doing their own version of the Eurovision Song Contest and we were the entertainment. Unusually we had some free time, so our lovely driver took us to a lake where we practised skimming stones and gazing into the distance (which we became very good at!).

Now it was time for the flight from hell: from Munich to Sapporo via London and Tokyo. Sapporo is a very picturesque area in Japan's northern island, Hokkaido. We worked out it would take us 2hrs to London, then 5hrs waiting for the connection, 12hrs on the flight from London to Tokyo, 4 hrs waiting, then a 2hr flight to Sapporo followed by a 2hr drive before we would collapse, exhausted
in our hotel beds. That's a 27hr trip.

As it turned out, it took us about 36 hours. We were on the last leg of our journey, flying from Tokyo to Sapporo and were circling above our destination when the announcement came that we would have to turn back. The fog was too thick on the ground and it wasn't clearing. We would have to stay the night in airport accommodation before trying again the next day. It was the last thing we wanted to hear, being so tired and sick of checking in and out. Needless to say, the efficient and hospitable Japanese made everything as painless as it could be, and staff rallied
around opening restaurants where they managed to cater for 200 passengers at 11.30 p.m.

VOLCANO IN SAPPORO - click to see a larger picture

When at 4pm the next day we eventually arrived at our hotel in Sapporo, we realised it had been worth the wait. The hotel was on the top of a mountain, and had fantastic views of a lake and two volcanoes, which steamed and gurgled around us.

We were here to do a corporate gig for Vodaphone. David Beckham's presence was everywhere, but unfortunately only as a two-inch tall, two-dimensional collection of pixels on Vodaphone's handsets. Hmmff

We were taken to our rooms and told that we could have a complimentary massage before the soundcheck. It was just what we needed after such a long journey. We had lovely meals of Sushi, Sashimi and Teppanyaki too. The soundcheck went well, as did the concert the next day. We played "Allegretto", "Duel", Shine", "Speed", "Strange Paradise", "Victory" and "Viva". The people from Vodaphone had a great time, and so did we.

We woke up early on our departure day, and took ourselves to the hot spa. We had heard a lot about it, but it surpassed our expectations. It was in the most amazing setting; outside, in what could have been an alpine meadow with the now-familiar views of the volcanoes all around us.
Needless to say we didn't want to leave.

We arrived back in Tokyo refreshed. The view from the hotel window was in stark contrast to that in Sapporo. The lush green mountains gave way to twinkling skyscrapers and glowing traffic.
This was to be a very short stay (one night only) with very little work. So we hit the shops, darting through the downpour to our favourite stores.

TOKYO AT NIGHT - click to see a larger picture

ME IN TOKYO! - click to see a larger picture

We left in the afternoon the next day as the typhoon winds were picking up, and we were glad we didn't leave later for fear of being trapped by the bad weather. This was another marathon flight; from Tokyo to Atlanta then Panama; nearly 24hours all in all. We left at around 3pm on May 31st, and after almost 24 hours flying, we arrived at 3.30pm on the same day. We had crossed the date line and so had in effect, two May 31sts.

We had the night off in Panama, and started the next day with several interviews. The rehearsal for Miss Universe was very entertaining! The TV crew were obviously in their element, as were all the contestants, sorry, "delegates". They all seemed very friendly and down to earth, but they
Weren't allowed out of their hotels in the evenings so we entertained ourselves and went to bed early as we hadn't slept very well on the flights.

The following evening, we were invited to a party at a very grand house. We spoke a lot to the presenter of Miss Universe and the US TV show "Access Hollywood", Billy Bush. Also there was
Matt Goss, of Bros. fame and we were introduced to Donald Trump and his friends. Repeatedly.
they offered to fly us on to New York in Trump's private jet.

US WITH DONALD TRUMP - click to see a larger picture

The next day, we learnt all the new edits of our tracks. There were extended versions of "Fuego" and "Victory" as well as a medley of "Shine", "Strange Paradise" and "Liebertango". Performing this medley was made more difficult because we were placed on a platform that moved from side to side at the whim of the stagehands! We became for a while the world's first surfing string quartet.

PREACHING TO THE MASSES! - click to see a larger picture

We practised our quick changes, and the delegates practised their choreography. There were amusing scenes backstage as 72 potential Miss Universes clamoured for mirrors and makeup artists. The crew told us stories of contestants from previous years breaking each other's high heels and cutting bra straps moments before going on stage. In contrast, these delegates
seemed very supportive of each other. There was a lot of sitting around for us, and we took the
opportunity to discuss our next album and do some practise.

US BACKSTAGE BEFORE THE SHOW - click to see a larger picture

A paying audience of six thousand attended the dress rehearsal, and that time, Marco, one of the choreographers won the title of Miss Universe! He looked fantastic as he strutted down the catwalk in his tiara! We had laid bets on who would win the contest so we were very eager to see the outcome, all of us convinced that we were right. As it turned out Haylie was right, and shared the winnings with one of the crew who had bet the same way.

and the winner is... MR UNIVERSE! - click to see a larger picture

After the show (which Miss Dominican Republic won) we all headed to the party, and then the after party, party. The delegates could finally let their hair down and set about congratulating and commiserating with one another.

and the REAL winner is...! - click to see a larger picture

The next day we flew to New York, along with Miss Ireland, Miss USA, a lot of the crew and the presenters. About a year ago there had been a competition in Rolling Stone Magazine to win a day with bond in a New York Spa, and this trip was for the winners to do just that. We met the winners, Heather and April in the Spa itself, and were told what treatments we could have. A facial, a massage and a float tank later it was time for us to leave to catch our next flight home.

It was a clear day as we approached London, and we flew low along the Thames. The plane tipped its wings first this way, then that, giving us fantastic views of the London Eye, the Houses of
Parliament and the Royal Albert Hall. Everything was glistening in the early morning sunlight.
Only one more trip to Germany the following day and our ten
days around the world were over.