2020 Decade Highlights of Global Travel Adventures

Some Decade Highlights:2014 Dusk on the Irrawaddy, officially Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar. I returned to Myanmar to explore this river. Previously I was advised I could not travel on the river and that an Australian woman had been shot doing so the previous week. I had to wait 30+ years to achieve an ambition fueled Rudyard Kiplings poem The Road to Mandalay. PHOTO ANGROVE — **2014**: Dusk on the Irrawaddy, officially Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar. I returned to Myanmar in 2014 to explore this river. Previously I was advised not to travel on the river, that an Australian woman had been shot doing so the previous week. I had to wait 30+ years to achieve an ambition fueled Rudyard Kipling’s poem The Road to Mandalay.

Happy New Decade

Wishing you, dear reader, a peaceful, joyful, and happy 2020.

The New Year, and especially a New Decade, makes us pause and reflect. A plethora of 10-year-lists, memories and images have made headlines over the last week.

There maybe little to add to the yards of eloquent ink and catchy content. But contribute I must. This blog is now ten years old so here are some 2020 Decade Highlights.

Decade Highlights: 2017 Sunrise Adams Peak Sri Lanka. This phenomenon happens for 30 minutes after sunrise each day. The shadow of Adams Peak is projected across the valley. To reach the peak at 6:00 am we had to begin climbing the mountain with its 5,000 uneven steps at 2:00am. PHOTO ANGROVE — **2017**: Sunrise Adams Peak Sri Lanka. This shadow phenomenon happens each day ten minutes after sunrise when shadow of Adams Peak projects across the valley. To reach the peak at 6:00 am sunrise, we began climbing the mountain’s 5,000 rough stairs at 2:00 am.

In The Beginning

It began as a simple Google Blog, cavesandhills.com in 2009. I posted stories of surviving hurricane force winds aboard a small ship in the Sub-Arctic, and exploring New Zealand’s White Island Volcano, (which recently blew). Ship-connection was intermittent and the blog had no photographs. I relied on the power of the written word and the patience of the reader.

Decade Highlights:2010 Registan Square, Samarkand in the late afternoon. Heart of the ancient city of Samarkand built during Tamerlane's Timurid Dynasty. Once called the most beautiful square in the world by Lord Curzon. PHOTO ANGROVE — 2010: Registan Square, Samarkand in the late afternoon. Heart of the ancient city of Samarkand, it was built during Tamerlane’s Timurid Dynasty. Later it was called the world’s most beautiful square by Lord Curzon.

The Ancient Silk Road

A Year later I spent six weeks traveling by rail, road, air and the odd camel from Beijing to Moscow. The Xian/Tashkent section through Western China, Xinjiang province, home of the Uyghurs, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan followed the Ancient Silk Road. (Kyrgyzstan was on the itinerary however a coup d’etat caused a route change).

Decade Highlights: 2010 A Uyghur family in Kashgar enjoying an outing. The Uyghurs are ethnically Turkic and their traditions come from Central Asia not China. I had many delightful meetings with Uyghurs and am distressed to read about re-education camps. PHOTO ANGROVE — **2010:** A Uyghur family in Kashgar enjoying an outing. The Uyghurs are ethnically Turkic and their traditions come from Central Asia not China. I had many delightful meetings with Uyghurs and am distressed to read about re-education camps.

Decade Highlights of Global Travel Adventures: 2010: The Animal Fair at Kashgar. A woman tries to sell two sheep. This Animal market which sells every kind livestock from Bactrian Camels to donkeys, cattle, goats and horses is one of the most renowned animal markets in Central Asia. It is an important part of Uyghur and nomadic culture. I do not know if the fair is still allowed to function — 2010: The Animal Fair at Kashgar. A woman tries to sell two sheep. This Animal market which sells every kind livestock from Bactrian Camels to donkeys, cattle, goats and horses is one of the most renowned animal markets in Central Asia. It is an important part of Uyghur and nomadic culture. I do not know if the fair is still allowed to function

End of the Blackberry

On this journey I blogged from a Blackberry. (Remember those?) Somewhere along the way it was disconnected. This meant traveling alone, without any outside contact, for three days across the Steppes of Central Asia to Moscow.

(After this challenge I was met from the train in Moscow by a driver with an air-conditioned Mercedes who played John Lennon’s Imagine. It is a surreal moment I shall never forget.)

Decade Highlights: 2019 Amazon Reflections in the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. I traveled on a 23-person passenger barge through the headwaters of the River with some National Geographic photographers finding sloth, anaconda and monkeys PHOTO ANGROVE — **2019:** Amazon Reflections in the Pacaya Samiria Reserve. I traveled on a 23-person passenger barge through the headwaters of the River with some National Geographic photographers finding sloth, anaconda and monkeys

Angela Neal World

Traveling the Silk Road had lingered at the top of my to do list since traveling in Afghanistan in 1973. At that time I was unable to cross into the USSR to visit Samarkand.

That journey was also the catalyst for this blog, angelanealworld.com. No longer was it to be a dull missive with inches of ink. Here were images of Central Asia, with its ancient historic buildings. Images of places where Tamerlane, Genghis Kahn and Alexander the Great played a pivotal role in world history.

Now I could really share my travels, and I must thank my mentor, Cheryl, who guided me through the intricacies of creating a website, domains and internet interface.

Decade Highlights: 2015 Traveling through Yunnan Province, China we stayed at a Songstam Lodge in Meili. The lodge faces mountains crowned by Mt. Kawagebo which peaks at 22,000 ft. It is sacred and also said to be the inspiration for James Hilton's Lost Horizons. At 5:00 am I was able to capture the first golden light of dawn. PHOTO: AN GROVE — **2015**: Traveling through Yunnan Province, China we stayed at a **Songstam** Lodge in Meili. The lodge faces mountains crowned by Mt. Kawagebo which peaks at 22,000 ft. It is sacred and also said to be the inspiration for James Hilton’s Lost Horizons. At 5:00 am I was able to capture the first golden light of dawn.

New Beginnings

You, dear readers, were kind, enthusiastic and encouraging. I honed my photographic skills, published two books on the Ancient Silk Road and began to give talks on far away places illustrated with my favorite images

Decade Highlights: 2016: Elephant has some peaceful early morning time in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I took this image from a small helicopter. We had taken off the door so I could get a better view. Seatbelt was secure. PHOTO: AN GROVE — **2016:** Elephant has some peaceful early morning time in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. I took this image from a small helicopter. We had taken off the door so I could get a better view. Seatbelt was secure.

A Little Philosophy

I mostly take a positive stance in my writing. I want to share my travels and open eyes and minds to the wonders of our planet.

However I am passionate about the dangers and consequences of Climate Change. I have seen the endangered forests of Amazonia and Indonesia, the diminishing herds of animals of Africa, the plight of the orangutans in Borneo as well as melting glaciers of Europe.

The reports of re-education camps from Xinjiang in China are also deeply troubling. The province was one of the highlights, for me, of my Ancient Silk Road journey.

I am worried, about the world my grandchildren will inherit. I was pleased to read today that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pointing the spotlight on climate change with their Earthshot Prize. Click on this link to see David Attenborough‘s stunning video.

Decade Highlights: 2018 Dusk at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi. I had just been to the new Louvre Museum and was able to capture this photogenic time at the mosque PHOTO ANGROVE — **2018:** Dusk at the Sheikh Zayed Mosque, Abu Dhabi. I had visited the new Louvre Museum and was able to capture this photogenic hour.

2020 Decade Highlights

To celebrate the first day of 2020 I have included some of my favorite images. Some you have seen before – many can be found in the 100 posts which make up angelanealworld.com

A very happy and peaceful New Year to you.

2020 Plans?

On the travel list for this year? Exploration of the Arctic and Canadian Northwest Passage in a 7-passenger craft, hiking the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks and exploring Morocco. Stay tuned!

Decade Highlights: 2014 Borneo. I traveled extensively in Indonesia, visiting Java, Sarawak,and eventually Borneo. This was the highlight. Seeing orangutans in the wild, visiting the orphanages and learning about the destruction of their habit was bittersweet. PHOTO ANGROVE — 2014 Borneo. I traveled extensively in Indonesia, visiting Java, Sarawak,and eventually Borneo. This was the highlight. Seeing orangutans in the wild, visiting the orphanages and learning about the destruction of their habit was bittersweet.

Decade Highlights: 2012: Being blessed in a Buddhist ceremony in Laos. I returned to Laos after 39 years. I was there previously during the Vietnam war. Photo AN GROVE — 2012: A blessing at a Buddhist ceremony in Luang Prabang, Laos. After 39 years I returned to Laos. My previous visit was during the Vietnam war.

Decade Highlights: 2019 Hummingbird in the headwaters of the Amazon, Peru. PHOTO ANGROVE — 2019 Hummingbird in the headwaters of the Amazon, Peru.

Decade Highlights: 2010 Duhuang China. This desert region was one of the most challenging for pilgrims and travelers along the Ancient Silk Road. Dunhuang has one of the greatest collections of Budhist art dating from 7th century. It can be seen in cliff caves PHOTO ANGROVE — **2010:** Duhuang China. This desert region was a challenging obstacle for pilgrims and travelers along the Ancient Silk Road. Dunhuang has one of the largest collections of Buddhist art dating from 7th century. This can be seen in cliff caves.

Thank You

In this post I must also thank intrepids who have shared travels and shared many new experiences. You, my travel companions, have made all of this so much more fun and added much depth. There are some places I would not have been tempted to visit without your company. Thank you!

Comments

cheryl says

January 1, 2020 at 3:52 pm

Angela, I am so delighted that you wrote this piece and your photography–wow! it just took my breath away. Thank you so much for giving me (us) a peek into the people, place and issues of parts of the world I’ve not seen…And, can you believe this endeavor is 10 years old?! Wonderful. Happy New Year!
- Angela says
  
  January 1, 2020 at 4:49 pm
  
  Thank you Cheryl, one of my greatest supporters! It is interesting looking back ten years – which i did for this piece – to see how the blog has evolved from mainly writing to mainly photography. I find myself watching now for the perfect image to add to the piece. happy new year1