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

Indonesia,  Bali, Ubud This article was first published on this blog in June 2024. Planned as an idyllic vacation stay in Bali's Ubud, I instead had the opportunity to witness a religious festival. An unplanned Travel Bucket List item accomplished. ****************** During a recent trip to Ubud, I serendipitously came upon a religious festival. Following the colourful procession from a respectful distance and only using the zoom function of my camera to "get close", I make sure to stay as inconspicuous as possible. I certainly did not wish to be seen as "intruding" upon the locals celebrating their culture and religion. Offerings in a religious festival in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia (2023) Thankfully, all the locals were really friendly and they did not mind me walking behind, from a distance. They smiled continuously and even explained to me the significance of the festival. The following video on this blog's  TANKS Travel Tales YouTube Channel  was sewn from a...

Busy months of work and travel await.....  The month of June and the next couple of months to follow will be busy ones for me, both in terms of work and travel. I will need to be working every day, weekends included. And when I travel, work will definitely be on the agenda every day. Finding the right balance between work and rest during this busy period will be critical to keep myself in peak condition to fulfil both my professional responsibilities and my commitments to my family. One key strategy is to manage situations as they happen, keeping my plans and daily schedule flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances. When this busy period is over, I will be writing in this column  to share how I navigate between a heavy and packed work schedule whilst still being able to travel regularly, at least regionally! 🌏 Latte and scones, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China

Kuala Kangsar is located along the Kangsar River near Ipoh, the State Capital of the Malaysian State of Perak. The Kuala Kangsar of today is a quaint town with several historical attractions. These include the Ubudiah Mosque, the Perak Royal Museum (previously the Istana Kenangan), the Istana Iskandariah and the Kuala Kangsar Clock Tower amongst others.  The  Ubudiah Mosque, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaysia (2024) I visited Kuala Kangsar for the first time in February 2024 during a short road trip from Ipoh. I was particularly awed by the majestic facade of the Ubudiah Mosque. and the beautiful and artistic structure of the Istana Kenangan. 3 months later in May 2024, I passed by Kuala Kangsar on my train journey from Bangkok to Singapore. But I did not have the time to stop over for a second visit due to the need to keep up with the train schedules between Kuala Lumpur, Gemas and Johor Bahru. I will surely return again to Kuala Kangsar to enjoy the peaceful and serene atmospher...