Escorted Touring Holidays | Travelsphere

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In the footsteps: Isabella Bird | Henry Ponting |  Philipp Franz von Siebold

In the footsteps of: Isabella Bird

Isabella Bird, one of the most famous and celebrated Victorian travel writers, was born in 1831 at Boroughbridge, Yorkshire. Bird, who faced poor health throughout her childhood was, in 1854, encouraged by her father and doctor to travel overseas for her wellbeing.
She travelled widely and in 1878 she embarked on a journey to Japan. Her travels took her from Tokyo to Nikko and northwards towards Aomori on horseback. From there, she ventured “off the beaten track” to Hokkaido, where she hired a helper and spent time living among the Ainu people, learning about their culture and beliefs.
Writing in her book ‘Unbeaten tracks in Japan’ she humorously reflected on the suggestions she received: ‘As no English lady has yet travelled alone through the interior, my project invites a very friendly interest among my friends… If I accepted much of the advice given to me, as to taking tinned meats and soups, claret, and a Japanese maid, I should need a train or at least six pack-horses!’

In the footsteps of: Herbert Ponting

Herbert Ponting, one of the most important professional expedition photographers of his age was born in 1870 in Salisbury, England. After emigrating to California in his twenties, he explored various pursuits, before settling on his true passion - photography.
Ponting visited Japan numerous times in his early career commenting that ‘the fortunes of a wanderer led me several times back again to this beautiful land’. Ponting immersed himself in the beauty of the country, he scaled Mount Fuji and wandered amongst Kyoto’s ancient temples and scenic landscapes. Ponting described the city as ‘one of the most beautiful and fascinating cities’ and was captivated by the ‘seas of cherry-blossoms’ and ‘gorgeously coloured maple-trees’.
Soon after his travels in Japan, Ponting was recruited as the first ever professional photographer to embark on an Antarctic expedition. He joined Captain Robert Falcon Scott’s Terra Nova expedition in 1910 during which he held lectured on Japan for his crewmates.
Ponting left a truly wonderful record of life in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century and an indelible mark on the history of photography. He was elected a Fellow in 1905.

In the footsteps of: Philipp Franz von Siebold

Siebold, a physician, botanist and traveller was born into a family of physicians in Germany, and studied at the University of Wϋrzburg. In 1822 he entered the Dutch East Indies army and was stationed in Batavia. After only a few months he was posted to Dejima, a Dutch trading post in Japan, serving as physician and scientist.
Siebold’s curiosity extended far beyond medicine and he became fascinated by Japanese flora and fauna. Siebold amassed an impressive collection of specimens and built a small botanical garden behind his home which contained over 1,000 Japanese plants. He is credited with the introduction of the hosta and hydrangea to Europe.
Siebold engaged in scientific and cultural exchange with Japanese scientists, treated Japanese patients and is credited with the introduction of vaccination and pathological anatomy for the first time in Japan.
Siebold lived with Kusumoto Taki and their daughter Kusumoto (O-)Ine, who became the first Japanese woman known to have received a physician's training. She was a highly regarded practicing physician and became court physician to the Empress in 1882.