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

In my continuing exploration of local places that I had not visited in years, I recently made a trip to good old Chinatown. It is located near the Central Business District, in the southern region of Singapore. Walking through the old streets reminded me that many things remain the same as they were and yet not the same. The heritage buildings are still around, standing tall and proud, reminding us of an era long passed but whose days made us who we are today. But gone are many familiar shops, long closed and shuttered with "For Rent" signs plastered all over their shutters. I have no doubt the 2-plus years of COVID-induced business slowdowns had a lot to do with the disappearances of these once-familiar small businesses. On a positive note, local Authorities had just announced further loosening of travel restrictions as part of the move to living with endemic-COVID. Let's hope the return of international arrivals will help those small businesses still holding out. Thankf

Besides the sights, culture and people, food is an important part of the overall travel experience. The different styles of cooking, the use of local spices and herbs and the method of presentation differ from country to country and even between regions, cities, towns and villages within the same country. Thus, I always "feed" my camera before I feed myself when it comes to food. Photographing my food has very much become a routine for me wherever I travel. But of course, there are occasions when doing so is neither practical nor polite. Thus, I will refrain from photographing my food on such occasions, especially when I am an invited guest to a meal or during business lunches or dinners. There are always social graces and etiquette to consider wherever one travels.  But whenever I dined alone, then it was always the camera first before starting on my meal! Bon Appétit. Pan-fried Fish, Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Israel (2017)

World, Anywhere, Once in a Lifetime Experiences This month's take on my Travel Bucket List is different from the usual articles. All my previous articles for my Bucket List series featured either trips that I had taken which had been on my list or new additions to my list as I travelled. For this month's article, I would like to list down 3 trips on my Travel Bucket List that I intend to complete as soon as time and budget permit. Why? Because the World is changing. and changing fast. The old saying that "a place will always be there to be visited" may no longer hold true in our current fast changing world. Climate, Politics, Wars, Revolutions, Pandemics and many other unforeseen events are dramatically altering where and when we can visit. For example, in the near and foreseeable future, it is difficult to see how I can be allowed to travel for leisure to China, Japan and many other Asian destinations. Pandemic-enforced border restrictions mean that some of these des

Time out....... And Into the Wild... More than 2 years into the pandemic when international travel restrictions continue to deter leisure travel, I have been "travelling" locally, re-connecting with local places as well as even visiting "new" local places that I had never been to in my life, despite living in the same country since the day I was born! Recently, I travelled to several islands located in the south of Singapore. Some of them I had visited a long time ago when I was still in a kid while for a few of these island, it was my first visit. As COVID-related social restrictions are cautiously, gently and carefully lifted in accordance with the prevailing national infection situation, the local Authorities have since announced (a few days ago if I remembered correctly) that current rules barring camping have been lifted. Yes! 😁 Some months back, I had fantasied about going on some local camping trips to enjoy the natural environment and treat myself to the no

  "Follow the Map in your Heart, Not the Maps of Travellers before You." -  Anonymous Kintai-kyo, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (2019)

Sometimes, we do not have to travel to experience sights that we so often see in photographs of far-flung and exotic destinations. This photograph is taken at Seringat Island (a.k.a. Pulau Seringat). A truly local experience, just a ferry ride away from mainland Singapore.  Seringat Island is now part of Lazarus Island (a.k.a. Pulau Sakijang Pelepah), having been linked to the now-expanded Lazarus Island through land reclamation works. Seringat Island Beach, Seringat Island, Singapore (2022)

It is looking increasingly likely my upcoming trip to Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh later this month will need to be postponed. Work-related deadlines being brought forward translates to a need for me to be in town. Thus, travelling during this period seems to be a no-go. Looks like I will continue to be stuck in my Fortress of Solitude for the foreseeable future. 😅 For now, I can only flip through the travel photographs posted by my friends on social media as consolation. Bummer....... On a brighter note, I hope travel-related restrictions and requirements will be further relaxed in a couple of months when I can finally embark on my long and eagerly awaited cross-border trips. Personal Fortress of Solitude a.k.a. the town that is my home, Bukit Panjang, Singapore (2017)

This short video showed my climb up the steps to reach the Shrine of Datok Kong and Datok Nenek. This shrine is located in Kusu Island, to the south of Singapore. Kusu Island is just next to Lazarus Island and St John's Island. Video of Climb Up the Steps to  the Shrine of Datok Kong and Datok Nenek, Kusu Island, Singapore (2022)