Tag: Travel

A Trip to Nepal

May 7, 2025

I had wanted to visit Nepal for some time. Given my love of ancient cities and big mountains, it seemed like a place that I should have been to already, but it was only recently that I first journeyed there. My trip wasn’t part of a work-related writing assignment; it was the result of a plan I had started making with an old friend a few years ago. The Mardi Himal trek is quieter than many others in the Annapurna region. It involves hiking through picturesque villages and verdant forests before ascending a spectacular ridge to a 4,500-metre viewpoint. … More A Trip to Nepal

Adventurous Artists of Antiquity

December 28, 2024

One of the themes that connects a lot of my writing is that of the challenging but rewarding journey. I often think about the topic in the context of the present day, but I am also interested in historical stories of adventure involving travel to distant or exotic places. Nineteenth-century artists David Roberts and Frederick Catherwood were two travellers who played crucial roles in educating the public about the history, culture and architecture of the ancient Egyptians and Maya. … More Adventurous Artists of Antiquity

The Sands of Time

December 24, 2024

As the number of years I spend in Japan increases, I sometimes find myself thinking about the effect that living in other countries has on those who emigrate. . . . What cultural beliefs and customs do they bring with them or leave behind when they settle in a new place? How do they adapt and utilise the ideas of their new home to forge fresh identities for themselves? I also wonder how those who migrate influence their surrogate societies in the long term. Humans have been crossing borders and settling in foreign lands for thousands of years. … More The Sands of Time

Red Mountain – An Autumnal Antidote

December 15, 2023

Japan’s summer is very hot. It is also extremely humid. The discomfort begins in June, when rising temperatures coincide with the onslaught of the rainy season. By the time the one-month mini-monsoon wraps up in July, Tokyo has been transformed into a torturous concrete cauldron that bakes and broils its inhabitants as they scurry from one air-conditioned refuge to another. 2023 was the hottest summer on record and led to one of the highest amounts of heatstroke-related deaths in recent years. … More Red Mountain – An Autumnal Antidote

Humanity’s Legacy

September 30, 2021

The individual journeys we make during our time on Earth are short when compared to the path our species has been on, which extends over millennia. The outstanding monumental remains of various ancient civilisations that are spread across the globe attest to its length. Perennial targets of past and present explorers, they emit an alluring call to people from all over the world—beckoning with the promise of adventure and possibilities yet unrealised. Having withstood the ravages of time, they also hint at the knowledge and skills of our ancestors. … More Humanity’s Legacy

First Light, Last Light

September 12, 2021

Every morning is marked by the appearance of the sun when it climbs out of the darkness of the preceding night and up over the horizon. It radiates warmth, providing all living things with energy. It has been a symbol of birth and renewal for civilisations since as far back as we know, and without it, there would be no life at all. Rising in a silent and stately manner, it carries all the possibilities of a new day. As its power intensifies, we continue ahead on our personal journeys—taking on challenges, surmounting obstacles and striving for our goals. … More First Light, Last Light

Inspiring Scenery

September 3, 2021

Earth is a remarkable place. The planet we live on is unique, and the scope of scenic showpieces it offers is so vast that no one can experience them all during their lifetime. . . . If we don’t have the desire to get up, get out and get away from our usual daily routines, we can expect to see very little at all. However, with sufficient willpower, opportunity and the all-important variable of luck, we might be able to visit enough places to gain a firm firsthand grasp of just what it is that makes our home so extraordinary. … More Inspiring Scenery

The Natural World

August 30, 2021

Despite our variety, we are just one of the species that inhabit this amazing planet. Other living organisms can give us a renewed appreciation for the vast amount of biological diversity we share Earth with. Different parts of the world have different climates, habitats, flora and fauna. We might already be familiar with some of the animals and plant life we encounter during our travels. Others will be new to us and, in certain cases, seem exotic or downright strange. Observing and interacting with the other species that make up the natural world sometimes teaches us important lessons. … More The Natural World

Local Life

August 13, 2021

On the path of adventure, we veer away from what we have always regarded as normal. Seeing and experiencing something different can result in both positive and negative reactions, but regardless of this, new encounters help us to develop and grow. One thing that makes any journey interesting is observing how the communities we come across live. Learning about local culture through traditions, customs, dress, food, drink and typical lifestyle practices leads to more empathy, knowledge and broader cultural horizons. … More Local Life

Pathways

July 27, 2021

Every journey and every adventure begins with a single step along some kind of path. We may not know where they will take us or what trials and rewards they will present us with, but we can be certain that starting out along one of them will open up a myriad of possibilities. Some of them are solitary and straight, heading off into the distance on their determined lonely course. Some are winding and carry the traveller around corners to hidden things, while others lead to unexpected destinations via serendipitous intersections. … More Pathways