Author Archives: Sarah
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
Cape Town to London 2025 Part 2
Day 11 April 13 At Sea Lecture Day Of the three lecture on “Venom”, “Marine Megafauna of West Africa” and “China-Luisphone Africa Relations”, I enjoyed the last one by Clifford most. Clifford whose ancestors came from Goa and who was born in Kenya before migrated to the UK, is now teaching at the Centre of African … Continue reading
Cape Town to London 31 April – 1 June 2025
I love the sea and have been able to visit the North Pole, the Arctic and Antarctic region a dozen times. One of the voyages I have longed to take is the sailing along the west African coast following the footsteps of early Portuguese explorers. I therefore signed up for a 40-day expedition on Silver Wind … Continue reading
India 2 February 8 – 22, 2025
Footsteps of the Buddha with Plum Village My first pilgrimage to India and Nepal (November 10 to 19, 2017) was organised by the Buddhist Charity of Hong Kong. In seven days, I visited Varanasi, Bodhgaya, Gridhakuta Hill (Vulture Peak), Venuvana (Bamboo Forest), ruins of Nalanda, Vaishali, Kushinagar and Lumbini. I am keen to go on … Continue reading
India (1) 28/1-22/2/2025
Why India? Pilgrimage is the primary purpose of this trip: I have joined “The Footsteps of the Buddha” organised by the Plum Village from 9 to 22 February. Though I was in Ladakh from August 5 to 22, 2013 visiting Leh and Alchi, and taking a 10-day trekking tour from Chilling to Stok, I decide … Continue reading
Saudi Arabia 17/12/24 -3/1/25 (2)
Day 7: 26 December -Dadan & Jabal Ikmah – Medina We had an early start at 6:30 am and arrived at the visitor centre at Dadan to join a group guided tour by 8 am. Dadan was therefore the capital city of the Kingdoms of Dadan and Lihyan. Some 2,600 years ago, the oasis in … Continue reading
Saudi Arabia 17/12/24 -3/1/25 (1)
Why Saudi Arabia? Saudi Arabia which has been open to foreign tourists since 2019, was one of the few Islamic countries that I had not visited in the Middle East. I joined a 13-day Saudia Arabia Explore (20/12/2024 to 1/1/2025) offered by Exodus Travel that I have travelled with many times. I flew from Bergen, … Continue reading
Tromso – Bergen Norway December 7 – 16, 24
Why Arctic Norway? After a 2-week retreat at Plum Village Bordeaux, I flew to Tromso looking for Northern Lights. Though I was passing through Tromso a few times, I had never visited it. As solar activities have been very strong in 2024 resulting in spectacular display of Northern and Southern Lights on numerous occasions, I … Continue reading
Bordeaux France 21 November – 6 December 2024
Plum Village Rain Retreat 22/11 – 6/12/2-24 I first heard of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh (1926-2022) (fondly called by his followers as Thay) and the Plum Village when I attended a dharma talk given by the Venerable at the Coliseum in Hong Kong in May 2013. I later met two nuns from the Plum … Continue reading
Peru & Chile
Day 11 November 10: Callo (Lima), Peru We were glad to step ashore after two sea days. Passengers were offered three excursions and I took a 6-hour tour to Huaca Pucllana in the district of Miraflores and Larco Herrera. Huaca Pucllana is an impressive archaeological site belonging to the Lima culture of regional developments. Evidence … Continue reading