These hungry fellows were the unusual guests at a little gathering this week organised by Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery - the former to promote this winter's coming season of cruises to Antarctica, the latter to remind us of their fast-approaching first season of cruises to the Far East.
And no, you don't get too many penguins in the Far East - actually you don't get too many in London either, but we were all mustered in the Komodo Dragon House at London Zoo and Komodo Dragons, the largest lizards in the world, are found in Komodo, Indonesia, which is one of the stops on the Voyages of Discovery's route around the Far East.
Sir James Hodge, a retired diplomat and former ambassador to Thailand, was brought in for the evening to tell us what a fascinating region it is.
I was just about to suggest to Swan's managing director Colin Stone that Sir James would be a great lecturer for Swan - his short talk was informative but lively and humourous, unlike most I saw on Swan last week - when it transpired he has been snapped up by Voyages!
It was also confirmed that this will be Swan's last winter in Antarctica - the driest, coldest and windiest place on the planet but stunning too, so you really should go and see it before all the decent ships pull out - and after that it too is going East. You read it here first.
Jane Archer
