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.
Compare and Contrast
Now back in the UK for over a week – already having walked in the snow of the lakes and now having been to our illustrious capital for a taste of culture with Stephen Fry, among others, in Twelfth Night. Fantastically funny production, if you get chance go. The striking contrast between our capital city and Kathmandu bordered on the ridiculous. Take the rickshaws. London: or Kathmandu Then there are the shopping bags… All that packaging for frivolities. Much more elegant, .. and altogether more necessary The only wildlife were reindeer...
read moreBeware the Birketts
Having arrived back in the UK at 6.30am on Friday it was just over 48 hours and I found myself trudging through the snow in Borrowdale, with yet another book of walks. Seasoned hikers have probably heard of him, but if not, beware, just when you thought you had made inroads into that list of Wainwrights, there is another list to go for! The Birketts! Bill Birkett’s list is of all those fells in the Lake District over 1000ft. I now can’t describe them as mountains. Having been told in Bhutan that anything below 3000m was not worth giving...
read moreKathmandu
Kathmandu has been the ‘hub’ of my trip to Bhutan and Nepal. I arrived and spent half a day here before Bhutan, then a day and a half before Bardia and finally have spent 28 hours here before flying home. I have stayed in somewhat opulent luxury compared with the world outside. Dwarika’s is a haven of calm compared to the rest of Kathmandu and I did have to draw down my conscience blinkers. Bhutan was undeveloped and many areas were poor but because there are not the trappings (right on cue my ‘turn down service and chocolates just arrived),...
read moreUp Close and Personal
… with elephants. The next best thing to seeing a tiger has to be to watch a family of wild Asian Elephants washing and wallowing. I was awe struck. The bull arrived first Then out of the grass, the family appeared 32 in total Perfect day
read moreTiger Hunt
Far too much time spent ‘doing’ to be able to keep up with the blog. A few days in Bhutan still to report and time in Kathmandu, but to make this a little more real time, I am now in West Napal in Bardia National Park at Tiger Tops Lodge, where, I was informed, I may see a tiger. Amazingly I did! On first afternoon out in the park. After driving around for a couple of hours seeing deer and monkey and birds by the dozen, we stopped and climbed a viewing tower. Blissful silence after the noisy rattle of a rather ancient jeep. I was quite...
read morePhobjikha Valley
Hiking in to the Phobjikha Valley from the Thowa Pass was like stepping through time. We saw close up the ancient forest so far only driven past. Gnarled oak and fir covered with tree ferns and old mans beard. The only inhabitants of the conservation area are yak herders and we skirted the tiny hamlet of Langtey where some are based. The yak fitted the scenery perfectly with their shaggy skirts of black wool adding to the Jurassic Park scene. We had seen monkeys on the way up the pass and it also hides snow leopard, tiger, red panda and bear...
read moreLife in Bumthang Valley
Walking through the Bumthang valley and see Bhutanese still only lightly touched by western influence. Though more common sights are monks with mobiles, Dzongs and Stupas, the devotion of some who walk around a temple all day can not stop the local youth hanging about on street corners and garish signs adorning shops. Old trails are marked by prayer walls, used as way marking for ancient routes, many now trekking trails, and have to be passed on the right, clockwise. Hence driving on the left? Though legs are often a more...
read moreSix Hours – 200k
East West Highway – Punakha to Trongsa In England we may well have ‘four seasons in one day’, but this drive takes you through four climatic zones in one day! Add to that the excitement of the road conditions and what may appear to be set for long and tedious turns into a National Geographic experience. The main route through Bhutan is the East West Highway. At times this resembled, well, little more than a farm track. It was an interesting day. leaving Punakha and our guide Tenzin Sherpa, yes really, said we were taking a bit of a...
read morePaddy Fields of Punakha
A long drive over the Dochu La pass to east Bhutan and Punakha Valley. There is a huge change in the topography and geography. The area around Thimphu and Paro was distinctly mountainous. The nearest thing European is alpine. The Himalayan pine trees grow far higher up the mountains, with large pines growing at over 3000m. The pass is 3117m and has panoramic views of the Himalayas with the snow caps vi ing with the cloud for magnificent. Set up against the blue sky with a touch of gold in the 108 stupa recently build by the current Queen...
read moreBhutan – Day 1
First full day in Bhutan was spent walking and travelling around the area from Paro, the only airport and Thimpu, the capital city.’ There are no references to assist in the describing Bhutan. For the chaos of Nepal it was easy to think of ‘. ‘Slum Dog Millionaire’ or ‘Last Exotic Marigold. Michael Palins trip through the Himalayas there has been little chance for the outside world to see over the mountains into this tiny country, but that was the attraction. Where as other places in what we in the west refer to as the developing...
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