2018 was a year full of travel, adventures, and some nice time back home. I made sure to keep things interesting by having a wide diversity of themes to each trip, probably more so than I’ve done in recent years. From cooking classes in Dubai, Hong Kong, and Kuala Lumpur to backpacking trips in Kyrgyzstan and the Grand Canyon, and cycling through Western Australia, it was a great year.
January – Trying strange street-food in Hong KongFebruary – I visit my mom and Aunt Bev on the Columbia River in BC. Here’s Bev’s new house, coming along well.March – Cycling all the way from Perth to Kalgoorlie to see the Super Pit – one of the largest open pit gold mines on earthApril – Cycling through Valley of the Giants in Western AustraliaMay – Walking Scotland’s West Highland WayJune – I join a great group of people to walk coast-to-coast cross SwedenJuly – Backpacking the spectacular Northover Ridge in unusually warm weatherAugust – Traversing the remote volcanic landscape of Edziza in northern BCSeptember – Enjoying the clean mountain air of Kyrgyzstan’s Pamir MountainsOctober – Discovering old Communist monuments in TajikistanNovember – Hiking and backpacking in the Grand CanyonDecember – Sometimes it’s nice just to be home, enjoying the company of loved ones
2019 is shaping up to be another great year of travel with even bigger, grander adventures in the works. Can’t wait!
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan, that region of China famous for its spicy food. Chillies are a vital ingredient in almost every dish but what’s not well known is that chili peppers originated in South America – not Asia – and have only been part of Sichuan cooking for around 300 years. Continue reading “Chengdu – Home of Mouth-Numbing Sichuan Pepper”→
I’m stopping over in Chengdu China on my way back from visiting the “Stans” of Central Asia. Chengdu is famous as the home of the endangered Giant Panda. The weather here is perfect for them – warm and wet – just what you want for growing lots of bamboo. I’m very lucky that it’s actually clear and sunny! A rare occurrence, especially in winter, and a great opportunity to capture some photos of people enjoying themselves outside. Continue reading “Chengdu China – Home of the Giant Panda”→
One of my favourite things about travel is trying all the new unfamiliar foods that one encounters. Here are a few of the delights I discovered while traveling through Kyrgystan and Tajikistan. Continue reading “What does Central Asia taste like?”→
I’ve just arrived in Malmö, Sweden’s third largest and most multicultural city. It was once controlled by Denmark and is actually a shorter train ride from the Copenhagen airport than is Copenhagen itself. Continue reading “Who says Scandinavian has to be expensive?”→
September just might be the best time to visit Ladakh, a mountainous region in northern India sandwiched between Pakistan, Tibet, and Kashmir. Charles and I enjoyed the crisp mornings and cool nights and each time we returned to the bustling city of Leh, where we stored our luggage between treks, we were amazed at how quiet the streets were becoming. Continue reading “A Month in Ladakh”→
Last year I set a goal of visiting 40 countries by my 40th birthday. Less than 12 months later I find myself in Brazil, celebrating reaching that goal (and early too). I’d thought my 40th country might be somewhere exotic but I couldn’t have chosen a more festive atmosphere than the home of Carnival, especially during the 2016 Rio Olympics. I’m also happy that I got to share the trip with my brother, who loves the Olympics. Continue reading “40 Countries”→
