More than half of my ‘passionate travellers’ could not take photographs because they made their journeys before photography had been invented. And although Alexandra David-Neel could have taken pictures in 1924 when she crossed the Tibetan Plateau on her
Legendary Travellers 2: Journey to Lhasa
Legendary Travellers:2: Journey to Lhasa Dressed as a beggar, a revolver concealed in her bodice, fifty-four-year-old Madame Alexandra David-Neel walked into Lhasa, the holy city of a country forbidden to foreigners. By her side strolled Yongden, a young Sikkimese monk
Travel Tales of Bhutan: Blessings
Most people fly to Bhutan, holding their breath for the nerve-racking landing in the spectacular Paro Valley. But we took the long way round – driving from Siliguri through the Darjeeling region of India to the border town of Phuntsholing.
Travel Tales of Bhutan: Olympic Archery
Archery – datse in the Dzongkha language – originating in ancient warfare and hunting, is the national sport of Bhutan practiced by everyone from the King to a village school boy. Datse tournaments are held regularly at local and regional
Travel Tales of Bhutan: the Flying Tiger
Bhutan has tigers in its southern jungle. You might even see one if you visit a wildlife park there, but this tiger is legendary. The great 8th century Guru, Padmasambhava, is said to have brought Tantric Buddhism to Bhutan, travelling