Author Archives: Sarah
Beijing China September 26-October 3, 2025
Xinjiang China 2 September 1-20, 2025
D10 Tashkurgan – Kashi (300km) We set off at 9am and had two nice photo stops to take photos of Mt Muztaga and the grassland. The panorama photo of the snow-capped mountains and the lake was taken with drone by our driver Wang. On our way back to Kashi, we would visit the Oytak Glacier Park 奥依塔克冰川公园 after … Continue reading
Xinjiang China I September 1-20, 2025
Xinjiang China September 1-20, 2025 Xinjiang 新疆 (full name: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region) with an area of approximately 1.66 million km² and a population of 25.85 million (2020), is China’s largest administrative division, covering about one-sixth of the country’s total landmass. It consists of two main regions geographically separated by the Tianshan Mountains天山: Dzungaria to the north and the Tarim Basin to the … Continue reading
Australia 2025 (3): Darwin – Sydney
Darwin – Adelaide on The Ghan 2-5/8/2025 The Ghan is an iconic passenger train taking about 53 hours to travel 2,979 km between Darwin, Northern Territory and Adelaide, South Australia with three stops at Katherine, Alice Springs and Manguri. As early as the 1800s, discussions began around building a rail line stretching from the south to north … Continue reading
Australia(2): Kimberley Coast 2025
July 22 – 31, 2025 Australia’s Iconic Kimberley onboard Le Soleal Day 1 (22/7) Darwin Boarding at 4pm As boarding would start at 4 pm, Kylie and I spent the day leisurely at the hotel. I continued with my writing. After getting onboard, we were ushered to stateroom 325. As a Grand Amiral member, I … Continue reading
Malaysia & Australia (1) 14/7-18/8/2025
Background I planned to go to Sydney in August to celebrate the birthday of Alan, my elder brother. By chance, I was able to add three side trips including a brief visit to Melaka, Malaysia on my way to Darwin, an expedition to the iconic Kimberley coast on Le Soleal (Darwin-Darwin), and a journey on … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 6- France & UK
May 22 – 29 Bordeaux France Why Bordeaux Again? During my first retreat in Plum Village last winter, I felt at home and wanted to return. When I learned about a hiking retreat from 23 to 30 May 2025, I immediately signed up as I would anyway be in Europe after a 40-day voyage. I know hiking might be … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 5- Portugal & Spain
May 14 day Evora & Monsaraz Elaine and I travelled together in September 2017 from Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. I tried to find places that we had not visited before. At the end, we booked a small group guided day tour to Evora and Monsaraz. Located about 130km from east of Lisbon, Evora has a … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 4
Day 31 – 32 Cape Verde I first arrived in Praia on April 28, 2015 at the end of a 36-day voyage on Ortelius from Ushuaia, Argentina to Cape Verde. I stayed for 18 days and visited six (Santiago, Fogo, Brava, Sao Vicente, Santo Antao and Sal) out of the ten islands. I had fond memories … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 3
Day 22 April 24 Abidjan, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast with an area of 322,460 km² and a population of 31.5 million (2024 estimate), is the third-most populous country in West Africa. The area became a protectorate of France in 1843 and was consolidated as a French colony in 1893. It gained independence under the leadership of Felix Houphouet-Boigny … Continue reading