The Taipei Grand Trail (TGT) is a fun way to explore the mountains and hills that surround Taipei, on a series of well-trodden and clearly-marked footpaths that link up into one big 130 km-long trail. This includes 92 km of … Continue reading 臺北大縱走 Taipei Grand Trail 2025!
Yes, the Taipei Grand Trail ~ and the second time I’ve done it this year, whoop whoop! The first time was over Chinese New Year in February 2022, all in the rain and mud. Check out my previous post below … Continue reading 臺北大縱走 Taipei Grand Trail @ April 2022!
Reflections on the water bamboo field in Sanzhi early this morning…. ‘Each day I seek a sunbeam, a luminous moment of grace, be it a poetic passage, a compassionate glance, an affirmative word. Just a single sunbeam, nothing more. This morning while walking, a splash of sunshine fell upon a maple tree. It was too much, like the Mount Tabor epiphany, and I turned away, overwhelmed. I walked on asking God to turn down His glory lest I, like Milton, too soon would lose my sight.’ (‘A Splash of Sunshine’ by Robert F. Morneau) And late this afternoon, a rainbow … Continue reading A Splash of Sunshine….
Meanwhile, back at the ranch here in Sanzhi, the swallows are very busy feeding multiple babies. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served all day long…. The neighbours are a bit further along…. It’s a great life if you don’t weaken. Happy babies – exhausted parents! Continue reading Swallows in action!
Yep, out of all the places in this northern Taiwan town of Sanzhi 三芝 for swallows to choose to gather for their nightly rendezvous, they choose the main intersection right in the centre of town, where life goes on more or less non-stop 24/7 – this was the scene there last night! In the evenings there’s a shop selling fried chicken right here under these lights, and next door is a breakfast shop, so there’s not many hours when people aren’t lining up right here to buy something! Swallows are regarded as auspicious birds in Taiwan and people go to great … Continue reading Sanzhi Swallows Nightly Rendezvous!
Kendal, Cumbria is a beautiful town on a sunny day! Happened to be there today, down by the parish church, and along the river where there were tons of seagulls getting fed…. Then for the last 20 minutes I raced up to Kendal Castle and back – it took 7 minutes to run around the top of the castle and in and out of every ruin – and then back down to the town to get to the car before the parking ran out! Never been to the castle before, it’s best-known for being the ancient home of the Parr … Continue reading Kendal, Cumbria
A non-stop 3 days at St. James’ Church, Taichung – it’s always non-stop action! Straight off the flight from Penghu, and in at the deep end! Mike and Harriet, my always-ready-for-action visitors, spending the last few days of their trip visiting all my old friends and colleagues at St. James. And what a great time we had! An 8-course (or was it 9?) welcome dinner with Luanne and Samuel at ‘Tasty’, followed by a night city tour…. On Tuesday the weather was amazing, thanks be to God ~ and my good friends Jerry and Jean kindly took us to Sun … Continue reading Warmly welcomed by St. James, Taichung ~ as always!
Catherine Lee 