Author Archives: Ursula It’s an old, old landscape… as old as the dinosaurs… The exposed cliffs of the Jurassic Coast in southern England stretch 155 km across East Devon and Dorset and span 185 million years of the geological and fossil history. Britain’s first natural World Heritage site, it was designated the “Devon Heritage Coast” by UNESCO in 2001: “The coastal […]  Gulangyu. “Drum Wave Islet”. Named for the sound that the waves make as they roll off the Taiwan Strait and hit the off-shore reefs and rocks, Gulangyu Island is a delightful place. Just a short ferry ride from downtown Xiamen, in the south east of the People’s Republic of China, it is a popular destination for local visitors. Gulangyu’s charming pedestrian-only streets are filled with traditional […]  “The cure for anything is saltwater – sweat, tears, or the sea.” – Isak Dinesen “… sweat, tears, or the sea.” Sailing provides all three. I love being on the water. And – even with the sweat, tears, and frustrations – being on the water under sail is even better. I’m not a particularly good sailor. That is in no small part because […]  The Masjid-i Jahān-Numā (the “World Reflecting Mosque”), situated in the heart of Old Delhi, is the largest and most important mosque in India. Built between 1644 (or 1650 – depending who you believe) and 1658, it was “the final architectural extravagance of Shah Jahan, the Mughal emperor who built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort”. Situated on a small hill, […]  I am a stranger to my own neighbourhood. Since “repatriating” to Australia from Asia almost three years ago, my husband and I seem to have spent very little time in the country. And, as our family and friends live a long way from our home, much of the time we do spend in the country is spent in […] |
|
