Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019

Sue and Martin in Mallorca 2019
On the Archduke's Path in Mallorca

Saturday 6 August 2022

Friday = Isabella Day (17)



Due to my lingering Covid infection (no remaining symptoms) I was barred from contact with Isabella this week, so Sue went to her house in Didsbury and looked after her for the day there.

A visit to her local beach was in order.








Happy Days!

Meanwhile, from a solo trip along the Bridgewater Canal towpath, a late clutch of mallard chicks.


And a major incursion from a collapsed tree just beyond the Bay Malton.


There's just room for boats to get through.

Friday 5 August 2022

November 2004 - The Annapurna Circuit - Day 21


Sunday 21 November
Sightseeing in
Kathmandu
Itinerary: DAY 21 Free day in Kathmandu. In the morning you can take the optional one-hour Everest flight (weather permitting) towards the Himalayas for awesome views of the Everest region. After that you will have the whole day free to explore the Kathmandu valley. There are many touring possibilities like visiting Pashupatinath temple on the Bagmati River (the holiest Hindu shrine of Nepal) and Boudhanath (the largest stupa in the country and centre of Buddhist culture in Kathmandu). You could also visit Durbar Square, Swayambhunath (Monkey Temple), Patan or stroll Asan Tole bazaar. Or simply relax by the hotel's pool and go shopping in Thamel. 

[Diarist: Martin]
Leisurely rise and breakfast. Mary went her own way whilst the rest of us got a taxi (vintage Merc 220D) to Pashupati Nath Temple. We watched a funeral (above), where the body of a lady who had died the previous evening, or possibly that morning according to somebody selling his guiding services, was cremated on a pyre of logs and sticks and hay, etc, a funeral director doing the 'torching' and a very plump son looking on uncomfortably in a wet robe. Quite a gripping ritual to watch. The fire was going strongly by the time we moved on, wandering around the rest of the temple. I got slapped by a monkey and we saw two of our porters hand in hand.

Pashupatinath

Images from Pashupati


Tourist trap stalls

We rejoined our taxi for the short drive to Boudhanath Stupa. More entry fees, but we weren't hassled at either of these places. They were pouring 'whitewash' down from the top of the Stupa, made from water and various crushed herbs, creating a brownish stain on the Stupa.

Boudhanath

Boudhanath

Then back in the taxi again, and lunch courtesy of the Bluebird store by the Radisson. Then everyone did their own thing, mostly shopping. Sue and I went to Durbar Square (KTM) - a half hour walk, the last section of which was in densely crowded shopping streets, with narrow streets leading off the main thoroughfare. Lots of intricate carvings on the buildings, which are mainly fairly decrepit, even the new ones. A '60s like shopping centre with posh shops - jewellers, white goods, furniture, etc, was in the middle of all this.

Shops etc around Durbar Square

Durbar Square had lots of temples, etc, and we kept a leaflet which was given to us with the entry fee. We were hassled by prospective guides, but resisted. 




Images from Durbar

Nice walk back via Thamel, then a turn around, a final briefing from Sanjeev at 5pm, before heading back to Thamel for our last meal together for the six of us, at Yin Yang Thai Restaurant. Some rather bland dishes, but perhaps because of what we ordered (we shared the food) rather than the fault of the restaurant. Back for an early night as we rise early tomorrow.  

Today, the scent of Kathmandu - a mixture of urine and exotic spices!

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Thursday 4 August 2022

More Pictures from Porthmadog - 3 to 7 July 2022



I've now sorted through the pictures from Porthmadog, and have added some of them to the individual postings made at the time, as well as updating the index.

The picture above was taken from our balcony on arrival. Here are a few links:

Sunday 3 July - A Walk to Tremadog

Monday 4 July 2022 - Abergynolwyn and Castell y Bere






Pictured below, Porthmadog harbour on 5 July 2022



And by way of contrast, a picture I took in June 1977 after a failed Welsh 3000s attempt:


I think the main change may be to the harbour area on the left. As usual, click on the images for better versions.

Tuesday 2 August 2022

November 2004 - The Annapurna Circuit - Day 20


                     Leisure time outside the Shangrila Village Hotel in Pokhara

Saturday 20 November
Pokhara to
Kathmandu
Itinerary: DAY 20 Fly to Kathmandu We take the 30 minute flight to Kathmandu (leaving Pokhara at 09:55 hrs) and transfer to hotel. 2 nights The Malla Hotel on bed and breakfast.

[Diarist: Sue]
A misty morning in Pokhara meant that we faced a delayed flight, but in this lovely spot it was not a problem. After a later-than-normal breakfast, we loitered around the hotel reception reading. When the sun came out we slowly migrated outside, where some sort of view materialised. A hazy Machupuchare and Annapurna South were visible.

After some nice fresh coffee, we headed for the airport. Our 10:45 'Yeti Air' flight eventually took off around 1pm ish. A seat on the left side meant that views were memorable [for Sue, I was on the right - Ed] all the way back to Dhaulagiri. The Himalayas were stretching as far as the eye could see during the twenty minute flight to Kathmandu.

The afternoon was spent around the Radisson Hotel - I used the sauna and jacuzzi, others used the gym. 

We treated Sanjeev and Shirish to a meal out - originally planned for the 'Yak and Yeti' hotel, but it was fully booked. Instead, we had a lovely meal at the 'Bukhara' restaurant, an excellent Indian restaurant. The size of the naan bread was amazing - enough for eight! We enjoyed three bottles of an Australian Shiraz-Cabernet before returning by minibus.

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Sunday 31 July 2022

Oh No!



I suppose it had to happen - after two and a half years of dodging the Covid virus, I tested positive on 30 July 2022. I've no idea where I picked it up - I've gone back to a 'normal' life apart from using a mask in indoor spaces.

Headache, cough, lethargy, for about 36 hours. Now feeling better, but unhappy about some awkward logistics arising from me having to self-isolate for a while.

2 August update:


Day 3: Symptoms have diminished in inverse proportion to the thickness of the Covid +ve line. Now just feeling weary...


Memories of a trip to Kandersteg



Here are Martin Scoular and Anne Donkin on a cross country ski trail in Kandersteg on 15 March 2006.

This posting results from a random visit to my 'Pictures' file, to pictures from a trip that remain untouched since the trip. That's another project to look forward to, and we look forward to visiting Kandersteg again. 

It's a great venue, summer or winter. I've previously mentioned it here.