On March 21, 2011 I was sent to do a job in the far south-east of Turkey. Me and Erol, my indispensable helper, met the local contact, dined, and were then driven far into the hills. I only had the fuzziest of notions where I was going – as no-one spoke a word of English… Continue reading Chromite and Pine Forests – the closest I’ll ever get to the Old Syria
Category: Travel
Tropical Rainforest in …. South Westland?
At Ship Creek, just a few kilometers north of Haast, in South Westland, New Zealand, there is a wonderful boardwalk though an original swamp forest (It’s less than 3 km south of Coal Creek – where I found my first plant fossils, aged nine). The key tree is kahikatea (Dacrycarpus) and the walk features a… Continue reading Tropical Rainforest in …. South Westland?
Black Sea rainforest? Gorgeous, green, Georgistan
Rainforest in Georgia? (as in Georgistan, Black Sea, by the way, not as in ‘Good-Old-Boys’). I saw it marked on a Wikipedia map and it seemed like a damned good excuse to go and have a look-see…. Some background: The word ‘gorgeous’ is reputed to stem from Georgian women. Evidence I gathered supports this, from the passport… Continue reading Black Sea rainforest? Gorgeous, green, Georgistan
Canary Islands – ‘Last’ Rainforest in Europe (?)
The fossils are clear – just a few million years ago Europe was covered in broad-leaved, evergreen forest. There were palm trees and numerous other trees that are now only found in the tropics. Under almost any definition, this would be called ‘rainforest’. The climate then cooled and dried and the evergreen forests were mostly… Continue reading Canary Islands – ‘Last’ Rainforest in Europe (?)
The Last Deep Dark Primeval Forest in Europe?
In Poland there are any number of subjects that might make good postcards, Polish girls perhaps. But decaying logs? In the far east of Poland, this is in fact the case. Białowieża Forest is reputed to be the last, or perhaps the last sizeable ‘untouched’ forest in Europe. Unlike the rest of Europe, where forests are… Continue reading The Last Deep Dark Primeval Forest in Europe?
Discovering the ‘Bridge of Stone’ – the ancient route over the Kawarau River, New Zealand
Part way along the Kawarau River between Cromwell and Queenstown (Central Otago, New Zealand) is a feature known to Maori as ‘Whatatorere’ (Kaumatua Huata Holmes of Kati Huirapa Runaka ki Puketeraki pers. comm. to Lloyd Carpenter, lecturer in Maori Studies at Lincoln University) and to Pakeha (non-indigenous New Zealanders) as the “Natural Bridge” or “Chalmers’ Leap”. Before… Continue reading Discovering the ‘Bridge of Stone’ – the ancient route over the Kawarau River, New Zealand
Mongolia – The Lost Forests of the Gobi
When an entire landscape loses its forests, it can be so complete that most of us would have no comprehension of what had once been. The trees are cut down, or burnt, the soil washes away … and the very evidence has been obliterated. For this reason the odd ancient tree or patch of original… Continue reading Mongolia – The Lost Forests of the Gobi
Continental Déjà Vu – the Great Escarpments (Australia, Brazil, South Africa)
Most Australians and many tourists will be aware of a prominent topographic feature not too far from the east coast. For example, the Blue Mountains are a nice day trip from Sydney, while nearly two and a half thousand kilometres to the north, a visitor can pop up to the Atherton Tablelands. Both of these… Continue reading Continental Déjà Vu – the Great Escarpments (Australia, Brazil, South Africa)
Traditional Christmas in Hamburg
Late 1984, I was booted out of Denmark and hit the next ferry to Puttgarden (this was a condition of the local cops when they gave my passport back), then hitched my way south through the mist-swathed Northern German Plain towards Hamburg. Being the old-days, East Germany was nearby and I could hear the eerie sounds… Continue reading Traditional Christmas in Hamburg