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Monday, October 20th, 2025 Amsterdam/Toronto     It was a long day, flying west, gaining hours, and also bhakti , I hope.  Those marvellous devotees in Amsterdam saw me off, waved goodbye.  Tot ziens !  Until next time, which should be happening, as time keeps us busy.  The seven-plus hours flight on Air Canada was indeed an aircraft full of tired people.  I guess walking is truly the most energetic mode of transport.   In both Holland and Canada, Diwali , the festival of lig

Sunday, October 19th, 2025 Kwintsheul, The Netherlands My last full day in Holland, the Netherlands, was very very special.  The very expert team of Nama, Vaibhavi, and Rabin, arranged for a family reunion at the Kastanjehof Hall in Kwintsheul.  They arranged the venue, the food, the promotion for members of the Vis and Persoon family, the clans of my dad and mum.  From a low stage level, I welcomed all in an appreciation for their coming.  I gave a quick overview of the eigh

Saturday, October 18th, 2025 Den Haag, Netherlands I was told by a number of folks, the ones we met at Radhadesh, Den Haag, and Naalwijk, that we were very lucky in regards to the weather during our trekking in Holland. “You had practically no rain – unusual for this time of year.” I consider myself blessed on many counts.  Our first nine hours were spent at Radhadesh’s castle.  The class I delivered was on the topic of renunciation.  I told the listeners of how my dad, while

Friday, October 17th, 2025 Durbuy, Belgium It is a day of rest, perhaps deserved.  Yes, we have been going strong over the last eight days at twenty kilometres.  A pause is always good.  Downtime.  A handful of us on the “Walk for Devotion” project are taking it easy in this tiny town, Durbuy, and specifically at beautifully showcased Radhadesh.  It is an oasis of a tastefully done tourist trap and includes a Radha Krishna temple, restaurant, bakery, boutique, art museum, a c

Thursday, October 16th, 2025 Babberich, The Netherlands Mission completed.  After 20 kilometres and maybe a few more steps, our team reached the German border at Babberich.  From Arnhem (pop. 200,000), our core group trailed through swervy streets and came to a more straight line when we met a smiling Lia, another cousin I didn’t know I had.  Because of the competent organizers, I was able to link up with kith and kin on this journey and I felt a relief thanks to my navigator

Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 Arnhem, The Netherlands To date, this was our best day yet.  There was a solitude amongst the trees, mostly oak.  The terrain changed with more hills, but only after the plains, Ginkelse Heide, where British troops landed in 1944 via many parachutes.  Here, there were to trees.  The area is declared a nature preserve.  It was much more like a prairie.  Apparently, Polish troops also came to the area, another ally to advance against Hitler’s cause