The Via is completely changed from what I've experienced in the past few weeks. Everything they say about Switzerland is true. The pristine landscape, the manicured design, the efficiency, and the very high prices (US$39 for a Chicken Burger?!?)

I can’t tell you how excited I feel after so many weeks of flat terrain. Honestly, it has been a huge test for me to find the beauty in the fields and forests and empty villages. There is no denying that “my heart’s in the highlands!”

I thought the empty flatlands would never end but I'm finally getting a strong sense of some serious changes to my Via. More social engagement, along with more elevation change, all serve to give me new energy.

My recent social interactions have been a welcome break from the isolation I've felt over the past few weeks. I hope it continues. And I also hope to finally see some elevation changes ahead...

The vast fields seem never-ending. Which allows me (or maybe, forces me?) to look for the subtle differences from day to day.

This signboard and map confirm that I am now in a whole new section of the Via. I wonder if I'll notice much difference to the endless fields and empty villages I've seen so far.

I’m back! The doctor advised me to stay off my sore foot for 5 to 7 days. Since I had walked into Arras on 1 May, my goal was to walk out of Arras on 8 May. The swelling in my left foot had decreased significantly since last week. Though it was still somewhat red and tender, standing still or walking slowly through museums over the past two days hadn't caused any pain.

Many people who try multi-day trekking for the first time, and enjoy it, develop a curiosity about other similar routes around the world. Quite often, I compared notes about other paths with pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés) in 2022 (which I blogged about here). It was on that walk that I learned about “the longest ancient pilgrimage route in Europe: the…

I spent time over the winter holidays in Thailand and Laos, where I saw friends, explored new places, hiked in national parks, and visited temples and historical sites. Starting in the south of Thailand, I made a counter-clockwise loop through the less-visited region of Isan, a couple of stops in Laos, then back into the north of Thailand. I even took the “slow boat” on the Mekong River, but in the opposite direction that most people travel (which made it the “even slower boat”).