Articles

Extract from
Gangamai- Mother Ganges
An account of a visit to Varanasi


The fire burned fiercely and rapidly enveloped the body, sensitively blocking the burning flesh from sight. The last act of this macabre drama was staged as two thin charred sticks of arms; hands and fingers contracted, by the heat, rose ghoulishly from the devouring flames. The skull was broken, with a bamboo pole, when the fire subsided. Relatives stood nearby. They were not weeping or wailing, they just watched with dignity and serenity, comfortable in the faith that their loved one was being freed of past misdeeds and assured of future rebirths.


 

Ocean Contact.
An account of my first close contact with the
Humpback Whales of the North Atlantic.


Gazing into an eye the size of a grapefruit and being scrutinised back,
by its owner, is an experience that touches one’s soul deeply.
A close encounter of this kind, with one of the world’s largest creatures, the great whale, is truly an "Ocean Contact".
This creates an addiction and feel good factor,
that makes one want more and can last a lifetime.

 

Extract from
A Gaggle of Gannets
An account of a visit to
Cape St Mary’s In Newfoundland


One of Canada’s largest colonies of sea-birds is on the famous “Bird Rock” that is situated at Cape St. Mary’s Head in Newfoundland.
Close-up views of one of the most spectacular colonies of Northern Gannet can be viewed in complete safety, from a vantage point 100 metres above the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape St. Mary’s Ecological reserve provides the visitor with a unique opportunity to observe thousands of sea-birds, at extremely close quarters.

 


Extract from
Peter gets the wind back in his sails.


An account of a retired engineer who decided he wanted to rebuild a derelict windmill.
Don Quixote tilted at the whirling sails of windmills, mistaking them through his clouded eyes for mythical giants, Peter’s giant task however was no myth and his eyes were wide open.
Peter Lewis decided that the quality of his life was more important and buying and restoring a windmill, was a way of enhancing this.

The restoration of the derelict windmill on the top of a small hill in rural Shropshire, near Minsterley, may not be everyone’s idea of a fulfilling retirement. This was exactly what Peter decided that he was going to do.


Extract from
Where Icebergs are Born.
An account of a visit to Disko Bay in Greenland


Gigantic bergs were arrayed as far as the eye could see. It was like the home of the snow queen. Huge monoliths of ice the size of small towns towered many stories high, out of the glass smooth, oily, cold sea. It was here where the berg which sank the Titanic was born.