Reasons for Reasons
I was ‘raised’ – to use a phrase from our American friends – in south Lakeland and it has always remained home. Even though I left to study when I was 18 and didn’t return untill September 2010. A lot of years.
During those interim years I have had a great life, travelled and met some wonderful people and also have a managed to bring up my son fairly successfully. So, it although it was sort of ‘on the plan’, my move back North was not without trepidation.
As part of my ‘self affirmation’ that I had made the right decision I started a Facebook album ‘Reasons To Move North’. This has had wonderful comments from my friends but I never had the courage to make it public. Then recently I went on a Travel Writing Course with Zoe ,and much to my delight and surprise received more affirmation from positive comments on my travel writing. Something else which has always remained strictly within closed leaves.
A mindful review of my first year here followed and I realised that I had had an amazing twelve months. Yes, I have travelled away, but I have also done more here in the North West than I would have previously thought possible. And I have had so many visitors! People like it here! I have become a guide for friends and acquaintances who then spread the word about how wonderful the Lake District is. This led to my providing itineraries for weekends or longer visits. Some I accompanied, others I simply provided a ‘bespoke’ itinerary, with or with accommodation booked.
So, now it’s time to go Global!
And now I have built my own blog I have used my technical, from a previous life in IT, to build one for the Howgill Harriers. If you would like one put together then please contact me for a quote.
Bluebell Woods – Witherslack
Bluebells Blue slopes dotted with white flowers through hedges under hedges these striped with garlic Wonderful bluebells
read moreBluebell Walk
Still not caught up on my blogs from Vietnam but today was just so lovely. Fabulous sunny day in south Lakes around Cartmel. A day of fabulous blue sky and freshly painted larch Ferns were just beginning to unfurl Tiny woodland flowers peering out from green Fungi enjoying sunshine rather than damp grey Fabulous views over to the northern Lakes Now it was election day and even out here we could not forget Though we didn’t see many people, and not sure these guys would have a vote. May be we’d be better off going shopping? We made a detour to...
read moreSon Doong
Son Doong, the world’s largest cave, Phong Nha national park, Quan Binh province, in the central highlands of Vietnam. There’s a day’s trek from a road in the centre of the park before even reaching the caves. Down hill into a beautiful river valley, criss crossed by pure sparkling streams. Nothing but the noise of feet and birds disturbs the silence. Towering on either side are the jagged limestone mountains, harsh and inaccessible with thick forest foliage which used to harbour many more species than it now protects. If you are...
read moreRandom Review – last few days in Vietnam
I have to leave Vietnam. More accurately I have to go home. I had one of the kind of message we all dread. so my travels have been curtailed, for the moment. I will return. I have unfinished business. Places still to go and places still to see. There are gaps in my blog from the past few weeks. A lot I have seen and not yet managed to scribble about. Several days in Quảng Bình province in the central highlands where my main goal was to hike in the largest cave in the world, Sơn Đoòng. It was a wonderful five day challenge. ...
read moreMoments in Hoi An
Little things paint a bigger picture. Colour only one number and the painting is incomplete. Fill in all those shapes to paint the full experience. But sometimes a small patch is so brilliant shines out alone. Hoi An sits astride a delta. Small islands and flat hinterland rich in alluvial deposits. Perfect bicycle country. On a bike – one day – a day when blue poured out of the sky into irrigation ponds. When kingfishers sat patiently on lines and herons stalked silent and sure footed through reeds. I realised not a...
read moreA Gray Day in Hue
Today I am in Huế. Today it rained. Pretty much all day, till after 3.30 at least. Which is when I gave up being a tourist and retired to my cosy hotel with a book and iPad. Before that, for over four hours I had walked to and around the Imperial City. The reason anyone comes to Hue. In Cambodia there is Angkor Wat, in Vietnam there is Hue The rain sat as if it had edged over from Cumbria. A colony of toads appeared to have taken to the road, I noticed one hopping across, then realised a whole field was moving as they migrated...
read moreDestination DaNang
Da Nang is on the way to Hoi An. Flying in, it is the closest airport. When teaching in HCMC I’d heard it was a good place to live and work so instead of just passing through I stayed a couple of nights just to see. The fifth largest city in Vietnam, it has no where near the sprawl ofHCMC. Twenty minutes on a motor bike and you’re well out of town. Even in town the traffic is barely congested and drivers appear to obey the rules. I’d been told by a Vietnamese friend that Da Nang...
read moreSapa and Villages
Sa Pa is a lovely mountain hill town which now fully embraces tourism. Climbing Fansipan is not for everyone and many people go just to enjoy the views of waterfalls and rice growing on steeply stepped hills. Small villages dot the valley floor, farms sit like cherries on strangely distorted wedding cakes. Each ethnic group has their own traditional costume and women and children in particular wear wear it for working in the fields, shopping, weekend evenings or simply for selling to each and every tourist they meet. I have read...
read moreFansipan
This hill was on my list ever since I read it was the highest mountain in Vietnam. I was even more pleased to find out it is the highest mountain in Indochina, though I am not certain of its boundaries. It’s not quite as: well known, high, busy or maintained as Kinabalu, and like all hills it has its own challenges. It is possible to do the walk in one day. It as I am a bit of a dawdler, too many photos to take, I opted for the two day option. There are pros and cons to each. Being April and Asia it was hot at the...
read moreOn the Road Again – to Sapa
On Sunday I finished teaching in Ho Chi Minh. I am on the road travelling again. Planes, trains and automobiles!There are quite a few places and things I need tick off my list before returning home and the first is Fansipan, the highest mountain in Vietnam. In the northwest high lands it’s quite a trek from HCMC. Plane to Hanoi where I managed a short wander round the streets surrounding the station before it got too dark. I love the vibrancy of markets, trying street food and the hustle of...
read more