Category Archives: Travel

A History of Discovery and Exploration: The Search Begins

Posted on December 13, 2020 by jananson

I’ve been aware for a long time how the heroic age of discovery by European explorers, from the late 15th century onwards, raised the curtain for the imperialist conquest and exploitation of the populations and territories of other countries. But … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, Travel | Tagged exploration, explorers, imperialism, military expedition, travellers | Leave a comment

Daniel Odier’s Tantric Quest

Posted on February 11, 2018 by jananson

Daniel Odier is a novelist and his spiritual memoir Tantric Quest: An Encounter with Absolute Love has something of the feel of a novel. I found it much more readable than some other books in this genre, such as those … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Spirituality, Travel | Tagged Daniel Odier, Devi, Himalayas, love, Tantric Quest, yogini | Leave a comment

Deep Time, Exotic Excursions

Posted on December 13, 2016 by jananson

This year’s visit to New Caledonia got me musing whether I should change the name of my blog – to signal a broadening of scope that would justify my writing here about my travels. ‘Deep Time, Exotic Excursions’ is what … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Prehistory, Travel | Tagged Deep Time, Edward Said, exotic, Exotic Excursions, Prehistory | 1 Comment

Kindness to Strangers

Posted on November 1, 2016 by jananson

The first thing I need to report about my expedition to New Caledonia is the incredibly generous hospitality I received there. From all kinds of people: indigenous Kanak, white Caledonians, metropolitan French, and other expatriates. They welcomed me into their … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, Travel | Tagged Caledonian, England, EU referendum, immigrants, Jeremy Corbyn, Kanak, New Caledonia | 3 Comments

Cycling Back to the South Pacific

Posted on August 23, 2016 by jananson

One thing I always intended to blog about was my field research for Deep Time. I’ve done a post about the trip to Gabon, but not yet about the one to New Caledonia – and now I’m about to return … Continue reading →

Posted in Ecology, Travel | Tagged Cretaceous, cycling, Deep Time, flora, New Caledonia, novel, prehistoric, trees | 3 Comments

Helicoptering over the Rainforest

Posted on March 11, 2016 by jananson

I’d already written a couple of drafts of Deep Time when I finally saw first-hand the Central African forest my story begins in. Unexpectedly, I ended up going there by helicopter and so got a privileged view of hundreds of … Continue reading →