Tag Archives: blog

Castles: they are a study in contrasts. There is nothing quite like the glimpse of a medieval castle on a sunny day to evoke thoughts of fairy tales, with damsels and dragons and chivalrous knights… But, once inside, it is easier to imagine the cold drafts, the lack of light, and the drudgery of those who work […]

View full post »

“I am not the same, having seen the moon on the other side of the world.” – Mary Anne Radmacher Travel is such an eyeopener. There are parts of the world that fill me with joy and humble gratitude. I love Thailand, and I especially love trips into Mae Hong Son in Thailand’s north. It […]

View full post »

Call it fate; call it co-incidence; call it what you will: my family has strong ties to Liverpool. My father moved his new bride from Europe to his Liverpool, UK, home after their marriage, and I was subsequently born there. I spent a few years there (which I mostly don’t remember!) until my parents and […]

View full post »

Inle Lake in the Shan Hills of Myanmar may not be particularly large, but it is rich with culture. Its shores are laced with canals and waterways that give access to cities and villages housing about 70,000 people. Inle Lake is as ethnically diverse as the Shan State as a whole; pockets of Intha (“People of the Lake”), Shan, Taungyo, Pa’O (Taungthu), Danu, […]

View full post »

Xiamen, an island-city on China’s southeast coast, has been ranked as China’s second “most suitable city for living” … as well as China’s “most romantic leisure city”, making it a popular destination for domestic tourists. It is reasonably accessible to foreign tourists, as well. Some time ago, while my husband was busy with meetings in a nearby free-trade zone, I […]

View full post »