My Europe trips
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
Northwest Passage: Greenland 28 August – 2 September 2024
The NW Passage is the sea lane between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean, along the northern coast of North America via waterways through the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. Le Boreal’s journey called “The Northwest Passage, in the wake of Roald Amundsen” suggests the route taken would follow those of Amundsen (1872-1928). … Continue reading
Pre-Northwest Passage: UK & France 18-27 August 2024
Why the Northwest Passage? The historical Northwest Passage (the Passage) has never been on my bucket list. Then in March 2024 while travelling on the Silver Cloud, I discovered a good deal on Le Boreal Ponant that charges no single supplement on the Passage this summer. The expedition would begin in Paris on 28 August … Continue reading
Dominica to Namibia: 8 January – 24 March 2024
Why this Journey I have joined a sperm whale watching trip in Dominica in mid January and an expedition by boat from Puerto William, Chile to Walvis Bay, Namibia in March. As a result, I decide to stop at Amsterdam, London and northern eastern part of Brazil during this journey. January 8-9: Amsterdam & London … Continue reading
Germany (3) July 31 July – August 21, 2022
August 14: Berlin Today was Sunday. I strolled through a small part of the leafy and peaceful Tiergarten to reach the historical Brandenburg Gate. I had brunch in Restaurant Berlin Mitte on Unter den Linden. A wonderful relaxing morning. In the afternoon, I attended a concert held in the Kopenick Palace, a Baroque water palace of the … Continue reading
Germany (2) July 31 July – August 21, 2022
August 9: Baden-Baden & Leipzig Before taking the 2:31pm train to Leipzig, I took a leisure stroll through the elegant spa town before visiting the Frieder Burda Museum, a beautifully designed modern museum. I spent over two hours looking at the paintings and exhibits of the modern era. I had a light lunch at the Casino … Continue reading
Germany (1) July 31 July – August 21, 2022
Germany is a large country in Europe with 43 cultural and 3 natural UNESCO sites. I traveled by train to visit parts of Germany that I have never been before and revisit Berlin, Dresden, Hamburg and Dusseldorf. Before departure, I was delighted to learn the offering of a 9-euro ticket for travelling on all modes of local and … Continue reading
UK 18 – 31 July 2022
Part 1- July 18 – 20: Edinburg and Glasgow, Scotland July 18: K’s departure flight would be from Glasgow on July 21, we decided to spend three nights in Glasgow (I would stay in the UK till 31 July). We landed at the Edinburgh airport from Faroe Islands on schedule after 4 pm. After … Continue reading
Faros Islands 12- 18 July 2022
Faroe Islands (FI), a North Atlantic archipelago, comprises 18 major islands with an area of 1,400 km² and a population of 54,000 (as at June 2022). Located 320 km north-northwest of Scotland, 580km from Norway and 430 km from Iceland, FI made up of an approximately six-kilometres-thick succession of mostly basaltic lava, are rugged and rocky with … Continue reading