Travel Sketchbooks1.0
Sketched accounts of trips to China, Japan, Greek Islands and through Australia.
China
Further to the South to Lhasa trip in 1986, Ron Edwards tried to explore some of south-eastern Tibet in 1990. The intended destination was never reached, due to a failed Tibetan uprising, but instead the group was allowed to Mount Gongga, a huge mountain only glimpsed for a moment on the return trip. 88 pages, 53 drawings.
With a good PR man this journey could have made headlines, not the front page perhaps, but somewhere towards the middle, and nowhere near the social jottings. It was, as far as the Chinese tourist officials were aware, the first time a group of tourists was allowed to travel overland from north of Tibet down to Lhasa. The Chinese guides decided it would be the first and last trip due to the risks involved. 112 pages, 67 drawings.
In 1991 Ron Edwards persuaded the Chinese authorities to let him travel north to south through an old section of Tibet recently annexed to China. The most dangerous part of this trip was not the threat of landslides or snow blocked passes but an unfortunate incident with a piss-pot in the sinking village of Zoige. 92 pages, 40 drawings.
Japan
The story about a journey around Shikoku Island in Japan’s Inland Sea, following the Buddhist pilgrim's path with a priest called Wild Master and a collection of not always saintly Australians. 180 pages. Illustrated with over 150 ink and sumi-e drawings.
The second story of the author's pilgrimage through rural Japan, staying in Buddhist temples where the whiskey cost less than in the liquor stores. Again we meet Wild Master, but this time he is digging drains. 152 pages. Illustrated with over 140 pen drawings.
The third of the Buddhist pilgrimage series. This volume takes us from Hiwasa, the finishing port in the last book, onwards around the coast to finish on the wild south-west coast of the island. The tone of this book is softer than the previous two, a quiet journey by bicycle through the gentle rain of Shikoku. 136 pages and over 100 pen drawings.
The fourth in the series, this one takes the reader up the west coast of Shikoku Island, and tells of staying in mountain top temples and being woken at dawn by the pilgrim's bells as they toiled up the narrow paths below. 136 pages and 112 drawings.
The final book in the series describing how the author rode from Temple 66 to Temple 88, then over the mountains to Temple 1, thus closing the circle. At last he visited Wild Master who made no comment on his student's 1500km circuit. 108 pages, 75 illustrations.
A glimpse of old Japan in a fishing village on Shikoku. 16 pages, 29 drawings. Also published in Japanese.
Miscellanous Travel
Sketches and notes made during various trips. Of interest only to collectors, a few titles available.
An illustrated short history of the city of Cairns, combining history with recent city sketches. With useful information about the man who made the Golden Po for Palmer Kate, and how Kipling's uncle’s arm was swallowed by a snake. 24 pages, 19 illustrations.
A light-hearted look at Greek Island life in verse. The dreaded motorbikes are found on every island, as are charming villages, friendly people, wine, cheese and fresh bread, all tasting good whichever island you happen to be on. 80 pages.
A sketching trip to Spain undertaken by Ron and Anne Edwards in 1993. Anne had always dreamt of seeing Andalusia, in particular the Alhambra in Granada, so they set off with folding bikes, a single change of clothes and sketching gear. 107 pages, 85 drawings.
A booklet describing a small town in north Queensland, in the hills behind Cairns, with a short history of the area, description of all the sights and 3 maps. 20 pages, 23 drawings. Now out of date.
An account of a journey to the Greek island of Andros - one of the least known of the Greek islands, except to the Greeks who would like to keep it that way. It is the most northern of the Cyclades, and is regarded as one of the most fertile. A good guide for those wishing to learn about an interesting Greek island before it too is 'developed'. The author also illustrated A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO ANDROS, published in Greece and not obtainable in Australia. 104 pages, 76 drawings.
An account of a journey from Kuranda to Jondaryan in 2003
An account of a journey from Kuranda to Jondaryan in 2004
From a sketching holiday to Sicily and the hill areas east of Rome where the Edwards fell under the spell of the countryside despite the darker side of city life. The locals opened their hearts to the strangers once sure of the others sincerity, and told them many interesting things, in local dialects, very little of which they understood. But they appreciated the variety of country cheeses and sausages available. 144 pages, 134 drawings
