Travel

South of Nara, Japan, the Yamanobe-no-Michi trail leads through traditional villages, past pretty temples, and through nice farmland.

On the northwest side of Jeju Island, we stumble through the bushes near a brewery, we hike along pretty Gwakji Beach, and a farmer gives us half a crate of oranges.

In the southwest of Jeju Island we find our way through a construction zone, end up in the middle of a festival, learn about Japanese atrocities, and we wade through the surf at pretty Saekdal Beach.

While hiking Olle 1 through 5 on Jeju Island we encounter Haenyeo women divers, squid drying in the sunshine, surfers at a palm-backed beach, a wedding pond, beautiful paintings on a Buddhist temple, and pretty shorelines where black lava meets the blue sea.

On the south coast of Jeju Island, we spend three days walking the Olle trails. The landscapes are varied: coastal cliffs, orange groves, dense subtropical vegetation, open views of lava coastline, sea-stacks, gravel beaches, and more. We wish we had more time to continue down the Olle trails.

Using Swansea as a base, we explore the coastal hiking trails of the Gower Peninsula, Wales.

In part four of my journey through Nepal, I hike up Poon Hill to catch the sunrise over the Annapurna Range, and I spot wildlife in Chitwan National Park.

In the third part of my journey to Nepal, I explore the high country of the Khumbu area. Nara and I ascend Chukung Ri, Kala Pattar, Gokyo Ri, and Knobby View to get panoramic vistas of some of the world’s tallest peaks.

In part two of my journey to Nepal, I trek through the Middle Hills. The rice, millet, and corn harvest is in full swing. I join the Tihar (Diwali) celebrations in the Arun Valley.