Markha Valley Trek: Days 3–4
After easing into the trek on the first two days, we were now properly on the move – climbing high passes, dropping into hidden valleys and getting our first glimpse of the Markha Valley itself.| Randomwire
Exploring since 2003| randomwire.com
Over the next two days, we followed the ancient trading routes deeper into the valley, explored crumbling forts and monasteries, and finally emerged onto the wide high plains beneath the sacred peak of Kang Yatze. Day 5 – Skiu to Hankar 16.7 km, 23.5 k steps After briefly reconnecting with the outside world the night […]| Randomwire
After easing into the trek on the first two days, we were now properly on the move – climbing high passes, dropping into hidden valleys and getting our first glimpse of the Markha Valley itself.| Randomwire
After several days acclimatising in Leh it was finally time to set off. I still wasn’t sleeping properly at altitude, but each night was getting a little better than the last. My excitement was tempered by a touch of apprehension — eight days without a shower or flushing toilets, and a new group of strangers […]| Randomwire
I’d arranged a driver for a day trip to Alchi, with stops at several monasteries en route. At 9 am Rigzin pulled up outside my hotel and we set off west along the Indus Valley – a landscape of stark cliffs and oasis villages that is among the world’s oldest continuously inhabited regions, once carrying […]| Randomwire
Perched at 3,500 m in the Indian Himalayan Region, Leh is the historic capital of Ladakh, a high-altitude desert once criss-crossed by caravans trading between Tibet, Kashmir, and Central Asia. For centuries it sat on a branch of the Silk Road, its monasteries and markets reflecting a mix of Tibetan Buddhist, Central Asian and Kashmiri […]| Randomwire
At the end of my HexaTrek thru-hike in July, I hinted at further adventures to come, though at the time I didn’t have any concrete plans.| Randomwire
It’s remarkable how unexpected connections occur sometimes. During the COVID pandemic, when we were still living in Kamakura, I was hiking in the hills above the coast and ran into an older American who turned out to be a Catholic nun. She’d had a fascinating life in Japan working for the Maryknoll Sisters, who devote their lives to charitable service around the world.| Randomwire
I’ve now been back in Munich for a few weeks, feeling much better and appreciating the comforts of home: warm showers, a proper bed, and home cooking at the top of the list.| Randomwire
On a positive note, I realised last night that I’d just passed the 500 km mark—a big milestone and something I’m proud of. Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep much. The heat and humidity were unbearable, and by morning I could tell something in my body was wrong. I forced down some tea and an energy bar, […]| Randomwire
The morning broke under an overcast sky, the tent heavy with condensation. I allowed myself a slow start—brewing tea in the vestibule and enjoying an energy bar alongside a perfectly ripe nectarine. Today’s trail followed the Doubs river for nearly 35 km, winding along the Franco-Swiss border between Villers-le-Lac and the canton of Jura. The […]| Randomwire
On our first return trip to Japan since leaving a year ago, we wanted to spend some time outside, but we didn’t want to carry a full complement of hiking/camping gear. Instead, we settled for a unique cycle route that connects Japan’s main island of Honshu to the island of Shikoku, passing over six smaller islands in the Seto Inland Sea.| Randomwire
In the mind’s eye of many people, Japan is a land of tranquil Zen gardens, serene temples, and exquisite tea ceremonies. Both traditional and contemporary Japanese architecture, books and magazines are the envy of designers worldwide. Yet for some reason, practically none of this mastery has been translated into digital products, in particular websites, most of which look like they hail from around 1998.| Randomwire
