Author Archives: Sarah
88-Temple Pilgrimage, Shikoku, Japan December 6-10, 2012 (2)
88-Temple Pilgrimage, Shikoku, Japan December 6-10, 2012 (1)
Kobo Daishi弘法大師, founder of Shingon-shu or “True Word School” 真言宗, was born in Shikoku 四国. The famous 1400-km long 88-temple pilgrimage route in Shikoku 四国遍路,is associated with Kobo Daishi. After completing the first stage of the pilgrimage route visiting 23 temples in Tokushima Prefecture, I reached his final resting place in Mt. Koya高野山. The … Continue reading
Taiwan November 26-29, 2012
The 35th anniversary gathering of my Social Work Class will be held in Taiwan next July. I had no intention to visit Taipei before this occasion till my neighbour Jocelyn persuaded me to go with her. This is the only trip I have taken against my wish since my retirement.
57 Days in Central Asia & the Balkans: Epilogue
Both the Silk Road and the Balkans have long been on my wish list. Finally I have come to see these two fascinating regions. Comparing with my 72- day overland journey to nine West African countries earlier this year, this 52-day trip to ten countries in Central Asia and the Balkan Peninsula is smooth, … Continue reading
Balkan (6) Ohrid, Macedonia & Tirana, Albania October 11-14/10, 2012
Balkan (5) Prizren, Kosovo & Tirana, Albania October 9-10, 2012
Balkan (4): Bosnia and Herzegovina October 6-8, 2012
Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosnia) is a young nation with a rich but sad history. The assassination of Austrian Crown Prince Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 was the curtain raiser for the First World War. Bosnia’s declaration of independence from Yugoslavia 20 years ago led to a most gruesome and devastating war from March 1992 … Continue reading
Balkan (3) Serbia October 3-5, 2012
I first learnt about Yugoslavia, Tito and political turmoil in the Balkan Peninsula when studying world history in 1970s. Yugoslavia disintegrated following wars and bloodshed in 1990s. After having visited Croatia, Montenegro and Slovenia more than five years ago, I have longed to see other parts of the former Yugoslavia namely Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, … Continue reading