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

Kumamoto , Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan This article was first published on this blog in April 2024. Prior to this trip, I had already know about Kumamoto and their cute mascot, Kumamon . This day trip was a port visit when the cruise ship Spectrum of the Seas made a port call as part of the cruise from Yokohama to Singapore in August 2023. Originally not part of the itinerary, this port visit was a last minute insertion after the ship had to skip port visits to Shimizu and Osaka due to Typhoon Lan . I was not upset about the skipping of the two scheduled port visits because I understand the importance of safety for everyone onboard, both passengers and crew. I was instead thrilled about the last minute inclusion of Kumamoto (via Yatsushiro Port ) as a port stop. And thus, one of my bucket travel list item to visit Kumamoto was achieved. ****************** I visited the city of Kumamoto for the first time in August 2023 as part of a port visit by the cruise ship I was saili...

Kuala Kansar , Perak, Malaysia This article was first published on this blog in June 2025. Far flung exotic locations from our home cities. These are usually the places on most people's Travel Bucket List . But there are also locations near to our home cities that can be equally amazing and more than worthy of being on anyone's Travel Bucket List. For me, Kuala Kangsar is one of these places on my Travel Bucket List. Located in peninsular Malaysia in the state of Perak, Kuala Bangsar is just under 600km from my home city of Singapore . From Singapore, it is accessible by land (around 9 to 10 hours on a leisurely drive along Malaysia' North -South Highway) or by air (via Ipoh followed by road).  Kuala Kangsar is of course, also easily reached by road or rail from Padang Besar (Perlis), Alor Setar (Kedah), Butterworth (Penang), Ipoh (Perak) and Kuala Lumpur. ****************** Kuala Kangsar  is located along the  Kangsar River  near  Ipoh , the State Capital ...

Cambodia, Angkor Archeological Park , Angkor Wat This article was first published on this blog in May 2024. Built almost 900 years ago, Angkor Wat is located within the ancient Khmer city of Angkor.  Visiting Angkor Wat has always been on my Travel Bucket List since I was a kid. I finally visited for the first time in 2015. This was followed by a second visit in 2022 when I recorded this short video for my YouTube Channel. ****************** The Angkor Archeological Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . It is also one of the most important archaeological site not just in Cambodia but also probably in the South-East Asia region . The park covers an area that extended for hundreds of square kilometres and include major sites such as the Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom ancient temple complexes. Other notable sites include  Banteay Srei , Beung Mealea , Srah Srang , Preah Khan and Preah Lup . I had been fortunate to get to visit the Angkor Archeological Park twice. During these vis...

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 f...

Thailand ,  Prachuap Khiri Khan Province , Hua Hin This article was first published on thus blog in August 2024. I visited Hua Hin for the first time whilst on a backpacking train journey from Bangkok to Singapore . I had always thought of Hua Hin as a place where upscale resorts abound. But the Hua Hin I visited was unlike what I had imagined. Maybe it was because I was on a backpacking trip. But my short sojourn in Hua Hin was one where I blended in seamlessly with the friendly locals at the local night market, eating what the locals eat, walking around in my flip flops, enjoyed myself at the beach despite the scorching heat of the day, had a great chat with a wonderful gentleman from the Netherlands who now stays in Hua Hin and of course, simply enjoying myself as a backpacking traveler would! For me, this is a real Bucket List experience.  This article focuses mainly on my night market experience in Hua Hin.  ****************** I had so often heard about Hua Hin but ...

Japan , Shiga This article was first published on thus blog in June 2018. Spring has always been the season welcomed by those living in places where the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter can be experienced. It signifies the beginning of a new year with new dreams as the snow of winter melts and the warm of spring brings forth blooms of flowers. In spring of 2018, I was in Takashima in Japan's Shiga Prefecture . Staying at a hotel on the shores of Lake Biwa , I was literally transported into a magical world of flowers in the midst of sakura blooms as I found myself surrounded by the snow-like falls of the petals of the sakura whenever the wind blew.  A truly beautiful moment of peace and tranquility, an experience worthy of inclusion in any Travel Bucket List . ****************** Spring is generally a good season to visit any temperate countries . This is the season where wild flowers bloom aplenty and the weather is typically mild and cool. In Japan, a visit ...

Japan,  Tokyo This article was first published on my other blog, Monde des Stylos . This other bloc entered on anything and everything related to Pens and Stationery. Since I started using fountain pens a few years ago, I have always wanted to attend the Tokyo International Pen Show (TIPS). Thus, being able to be at TIPS 2024 is definitely an unlocking of one of my Travel Bucket List items. And to be able to attend TIPS with my Japanese friend, who is a fellow fountain pen user, certainly made the event even more meaningful for me. ****************** This was my very first time attending a pen show. I did not actually planned to attend this event. But somehow, my travel dates to Japan in autumn of 2024 coincided with the show. Realising this, I gladly took the opportunity to include the show into my travel itinerary and through social media, managed to get in touch with a kind gentleman based in Tokyo who helped me with my event ticket booking. Thus, on 3 November 2024, I attende...

Japan,  Iwakuni A beautiful wooden arch bridge, the Kintai-kyo in Japan's western prefecture of Yamaguchi was originally built around 1673. With a history dating more than 350 years, the bridge spans over the Nishiki River , overlook by the Iwakuni Castle on top of Mount Yokoyama.  The original article was first posted in this blog on 4 July 2021. ****************** When I travel, I typically do not have a fixed itinerary or a list of sights to experience. My preference being to wander around without any fixed plans while hoping to serendipitously chance upon local gems not listed in any travel guide books. But occasionally, I did have an item on my to-do-to-visit list which I usually picked up while browsing magazines or watching travel shows on TV. The  Kintai-kyo  is one such item. Having been "introduced" to this historical wooden arch bridge while watching a travel documentary on Japan's NHK channel , I decided that when the opportunity presented itself, I wi...

Japan ,  Nagaoka The Hanabi Matsuri in Nagaoka is arguably one the best in Japan, a country renowned for its many Hanabi Matsuri held annually all over the country in the summer months of July and August. I had the rare opportunity to fulfil a personal Travel Bucket List item when I attended both days of the Nagaoka  Hanabi Matsuri in August 2023. ****************** Attending the Nagaoka Hanabi Matsuri (Fireworks Festival) has always been a travel bucket list item for me. This year, I finally managed to check this item on my list. I attended the event on both days, on the 2nd and 3rd of August 2023. With an estimated 20,000 rounds of fireworks launched into the summer night sky of Nagaoka, this is arguably one of the best fireworks display not just in Japan but probably in the world. Held along the Shinano River , this is truly the mother of all Fireworks Display for me. Here, I am sharing a couple of photos and a short 12-seconds video of part of the fireworks display. I ha...

UK,  Scotland, Glasgow Time do fly indeed. This article was originally posted in this blog on 17th September 2014 describing my trip to Glasgow even further back by another 3 years, in 2011. This was my one and only trip to Glasgow.  During the trip, I had spent time exploring the city on foot, alone. Without any digital GPS-assisted map to guide me. Why? Because I was neither looking for anything nor going anywhere in particular. Thus, began my love for uncharted and unplanned walking trips around cities I travelled to. I often will spent a day or so, diving straight into parts of a city; walking, sightseeing, discovering and enjoying what the city has to offer. And hopefully, serendipitously chance upon a minor adventure or two that I can translate into a travel tale after the trip. And while on my little "adventures", maybe to tick off an item or two on my travel bucket list. ⛰ ****************** Glasgow..... The name of this famous city i...