Category Archives: History & Culture

Highs and Lows on the Annapurna Circuit

Posted on February 9, 2021 by moselman

Sometimes you just have to grab the opportunities out there when you have the chance. That was very much my mindset when I boarded a less-than-luxurious “tourist” bus from Kathmandu bus bound for Pokhara, in the autumn of 1993 and … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, Mountain Treks, Wild Places, World | Tagged Annapurna Circuit, Besisahar, Besisahar-Manang road, Bhakra Monastery, Braga, Chamje, chortens, Dashain, Daulagiri, Ghyaru, Jharkot, Jomosom, Kagbeni, Kali Gandaki, Machapuchare, mani walls, Marsyangdi, Middle Earth, Mring Taal, Muktinath, Mustang, Ngawal, Paungda Danda, Pisang, Pokhara, Poon Hill, porters, Tatopani, Thorung La, Tibet, Tilicho Lake, trekking, Upper Manang | 2 Comments

High Society – Flying Elephants and Calvados

Posted on February 6, 2021 by moselman

During the 1980s as a student at Edinburgh University, I was lucky enough to catch a wonderful and rare glimpse into “high society”. It was a fun and surreal little adventure involving a flying elephant, a chateau in the Normandy … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Europe, World | Tagged art collections, Calvados, Capitalist Tools, Chateau de Balleroy, Edinburgh University Hot Air Ballooning Club, flying elephant, Forbes Magazine, France, French culture, Harley Davidson, hot air ballooning, Malcolm Forbes, Normandy, Rassemblement International de Ballons | Leave a comment

Carnival in the Eifel

Posted on February 5, 2021 by moselman

It’s getting close to Carnival time here in Germany – however due to the Corona pandemic festivities will be somewhat muted this year, if virtually non existent. Normally, at this time (around mid February), the whole population goes a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe | Tagged Aachen, Blankenheim, Blankenheim Geisterzug, Carnival, cultural heritage, Eifel, germany, Rosenmontag, spirit of place | Leave a comment

In Kathmandu

Posted on February 1, 2021 by moselman

No tour of Nepal would be complete without Kathmandu; what a colourful, chaotic, crazy and fascinating city the Country’s characterful capital really is – no less than an assault on the senses at times ! I was fortunate enough to … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, Urbanism, World | Tagged 2015 earthquake, Bagmati River, Bhaktapur, Boudhanath Stupa, Budhanilkantha, Dashain, Dewali, Durbur Square Patan, Ganesh Himalaya, Ghats, Haribondhini Ekadashi Mela, Hinduism, Kathmandu, Kathmandu Durbur Square, Lalitpur, monkeys, Newar, Pashupatineth, Sadhus, Shiva, Shivapuri Hill, Street dogs, Swayambhunath, Teej, Temple restoration, Tibetan Buddhism, Tihar, UNESCO World Heritage, Vishnu, VSO Nepal | Leave a comment

On Top of the World – Two years in Solu Khumbu, Nepal

Posted on January 25, 2021 by moselman

Sometimes it’s the old adventures that are the best ! Having recently got around to scanning some old slides (it only took me 30 years !), I’m now finally able to share some of these journeys from the 80s and … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, Mountain Treks, Trees & Greenspaces, Wild Places, World | Tagged Community Forestry Program, Deforestation, Dudh Kosi, Everest Base Camp, Fuel wood, Gokyo Ri, Gurings, Jiri, Lukla, Mani Rimdu, Mt. Everest, Namche Baazar, nature, Nepal, Phaphlu, Salleri, Sherpas, Solu Khumbu, sustainable development, Tamangs, Tibetan Buddhism, trekking, VSO | 2 Comments

South Tyrol – “Slow tourism” without the crowds:

Posted on March 23, 2020 by moselman

South Tyrol, or Südtirol, is certainly in the news at the moment, but sadly for all the wrong reasons, with Northern Italy particularly suffering the brunt of the corona virus infection. However, last summer we spent a couple of magical … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Europe, Mountain Treks, Uncategorized, Wild Places | Tagged alps, Austria, Green Tourism, Italy, Südtirol | Leave a comment

The Final Mile

Posted on June 13, 2018 by moselman

Usually (if I get around to it at all), I write and share pictures about places, people and travels; however today, just for a change, I thought I would put a post about Runrig, a celtic rock band from Scotland that I’ve followed for … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Europe, In Scotland, Music, Wild Places | Tagged Celtic Rock, Cologne, Gaelic, Gaelic Music, Germany Tour, Hebrides, Lanxess Arena, Loch Lomand, Novia Scotia, Runrig, Scotland, Scottish Bands, Skye, Stirling, Stirling Castle, The Final Mile, The Last Dance | Leave a comment

Under Hebridean Skies

Posted on June 6, 2018 by moselman

Ok, so it’s not that Germany lacks nature: there are broadleaved forests galore, meadows, lush river valleys and of course the wonders of the Alps, the Black Forest and the Bayerischer Wald. But somehow, in Germany, nature can sometimes seem just a … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Scotland, Wild Places | Tagged Ardnamurchan, Clearances, Guillemots, Iona, Mull, Puffins, Razorbills, Staffa, Tobermory, Treshnish Islands, Ulva | Leave a comment

Monschau: A hidden gem in the Eifel

Posted on February 4, 2018 by moselman

The old weaving town of Monschau is a real hidden gem tucked away in the Rur Valley within the Eifel Region to the South of Aachen. I love the old half timbered houses and the rambling streets of the old … Continue reading →

Posted in Aachen & Euregio, History & Culture, In Europe, Uncategorized | Tagged Aachen, Eifel, Euregio, medieval architecture, Monschau, Red House | Leave a comment

Orvieto – In the hills of Umbria

Posted on January 23, 2018 by moselman

The hilltop town of Orvieto is dramatically situated on an impregnable volcanic crag in South West Umbria. I spent a few days last summer in Orvieto and loved walking the narrow winding lanes and shady piazzas of this stunning historical town. The … Continue reading →

Posted in History & Culture, In Europe | Tagged Hilltop towns, Italy, Orvieto, Umbria | Leave a comment