Foto Friday – The Laugavegur Trail

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Following stone cairns for guidance I found myself trekking in a small team across a snowy plateaux in southern Iceland in 2013.

The whole team found the going to be way tougher than we’d expected for even though it was early July there was still a load of persistent deep snow left on the ground which made the going pretty hard.

The trek took five days to complete and took me from Landmannalaugar geothermal springs to the Þórsmörk nature reserve.

See more photography from the trek at www.jameshandlon.com/category/iceland/

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Foto Friday – Boudhanath Stupa Kathmandu

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After a successful expedition in April 2022 to climb Mera Peak in Nepal I was lucky enough to have a few down days in Kathmandu. Nearly everyone who visits Kathmandu at some point goes to see the Boudhanath Stupa.

Boudha, also known as Boudhanath, Khasti Chaitya and Khāsa Chaitya is a stupa located around 11 km from the centre of Kathmandu. The stupa’s massive mandala makes it one of the largest spherical stupas in the world. Boudha Stupa was listed in the world heritage list by UNESCO in 1979 and is rumoured to contain the relics and remains of Buddha himself.

It is one of the most atmospheric and spiritual places I have ever visited. Pilgrims come from all over Nepal and the world to worship at the stupa by walking around its outside base, usually clockwise — an experience that can prove meditative for both Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. Many believe that circumambulating a stupa purifies negative karma and fosters realizations of the path to enlightenment.

I’m not sure I found any path to enlightenment but the whole experience was mind-blowing!

For more photos from the expedition and Kathmandu please visit my Flickr Account: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jameshandlon/albums/72177720299683196

Bikepacking The South Downs Way

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How hard is cycling the South Downs Way? Well it is 160 km long or for those who prefer imperial 100 miles, it is steeply undulating with 3,810 metres of climbing along the route. A mountain bike is a must, with at least front suspension and preferably rear as well. It is mainly off-road and traces a route through the rolling hills of Hampshire and Sussex. Twelve years ago I bought a book about it ‘Mountain Biking on the South Downs‘ by Cicerone, so it was about bloody time I gave it a try.

On The SDW

The intervening years had not been good to either myself or my bike. I had what was now a 12 year old Giant Yukon MTB that was showing its age. Large framed and heavy as hell with splitting tyres and worn out disc pads for brakes. The description could also have been applied to myself without too much alteration.

Continue reading “Bikepacking The South Downs Way” →

Foto Friday – Karnak Temple

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In 2008 we were lucky enough to get a chance to sail up the river Nile in a restored 1920’s Royal Steamer the SS Misr from Luxor to Aswan. We stopped at the monumental city of Thebes where you will find the world famous Karnak Temple Complex which comprises a vast mix of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amun a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II (ca. 1391–1351 BC).

Find more photos from the trip here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jameshandlon/albums/72157627355513354