TANKS Travel Tales - a travelogue.......

Having mobile phones with good cameras provide us with the opportunity to take interesting photographs whether we are at home, at work or traveling. The convenience that comes with taking photographs with our mobile phones means we are unlikely to miss out on those good photo opportunities wherever we are. While strolling along the beach on a nice afternoon at Fremantle, I came across this group of children playing and enjoying themselves during a day out in the sun. With my mobile phone, I zoomed in and took this photograph. The innocence of childhood captured in the photo brought back memories of my own childhood and set me on an introspective mood. Children playing at the beach, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia (2018)

2018 Travel Review....... In 2018, I did not travel as much as I wanted due to work commitments. Compared to the preceding year of 2017, I traveled a lot less. Nevertheless, I still managed to clock some amazing personal trips and got to visit many places for the first time. These included the cities of Moriyama, Omnihachiman and Takashima in Japan's Shiga Prefecture and also Perth and its surrounding areas in Western Australia. I also got to visit Indonesia's beautiful island of Bali for the first time in 2 years as well as my favourite and usual destination cities of Hong Kong and Taipei. And all these trips within a year in which I was supposedly "grounded" in my home city because of work!  Fireworks over the harbour to celebrate Western Australia Day on the night of 3 June 2018, Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia (2018) My travel in Shiga in April 2018 was amongst one of the best trips I had ever taken. The itinerary was intentionally p

The port city of Kobe is one of the largest cities in Japan and has a population of about 1.5 million. It is also the capital of Hyogo Prefecture. Personally, I feel that Kobe is most beautiful and romantic in the night as the city lights up in a kaleidoscope of colours. I took this photograph on my mobile phone in April 2018 and it has remained one of my favourite photos of Kobe, reminding me of the magic and beauty of this city. The photo shows a view of the Meriken Park which is located in the port area. The Kobe Tower in red-orange colour is in the centre while the Kobe Maritime Museum is the curvy structure lighted in green colour to the right. This beautiful night view can be enjoyed from the shopping and entertainment hub of Kobe Harborland which is within walking distance from the JR Kobe Station. View of the Meriken Park, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan (2018)

Located in the state of Western Australia near to Perth, New Norcia is a monastery town of the Benedictine Order. St Gertrude's, New Norcia, Western Australia, Australia (2018) Central Administration Building, New Norcia, Western Australia, Australia (2018) History and Geography The town of New Norcia is 132km north-east of the Western Australian state capital of Perth and is part of the Avon Valley region. Established in the year 1847, New Norcia is named after the Italian town of Norcia, birthplace of St Benedict. The former boarding schools of St Ildephonsus and St Gertrude have been converted into accommodations in today's New Norcia. St Gertude's College was opened in 1908 while St Ildephonsus' College was established in 1913. Other significant buildings in the town include the Abbey Church, an old and a new Flour Mill, Bishop Torres Beehouse and the Monastery. Entrance to St Gertrude's, New Norcia, Western Australia, Australia (2

Located in a valley in central Switzerland, Interlaken its well-known as a resort town famous for its proximity to Jungfrau.  I remembered Interlaken not for its more touristy attractions but for the valley where the town is located. During my stay in Interlaken, I did not visit the touristy hotspots. Neither did I partake in the usual touristy activities such as taking the train to Harderkulm. Instead, I took long walks and hikes in and around the town.  My daily hikes led me to sights not published in most travel guides. I got to meet the locals, sat in the plains of the valley as I took in the wonderful views, walked amongst the local livestock, bird-watch, followed parts of the L ü tschine River on foot along its banks and ate wild berries in the forested areas surrounding the town. My visit to Interlaken was an appreciation of the town, its surrounding and nature. I loved every aspect of my visit and was glad I did what I did when I was there.  The Gasthaus Steinboc