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

Japan, Gifu Prefecture, Okuhida The original article was first published in this blog in June 2020.  I am a firm believer that trekking, hiking or going about on foot are among the best ways to explore and experience a destination. Taking time out to explore a place on foot allows me to see more, feel more and enjoy more of a place than any other travel alternatives such as sight-seeing from a tour bus, car, tram, train or any other modes of transportation. Thus, whenever possible, I will always go on foot to explore a place that I am visiting. This article featured a personal bucket list travel item when I went hiking on trails around Okuhida during a stay at a wonderful local ryokan (traditional family-run Japanese inn) during a trip to Takayama.  ****************** Hiking on foot when we travel has many advantages. We get to see and experience stuff that would otherwise bypass us if we are in a vehicle or some other form of transport. Hiking trail, Okuhida, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture

Hiking on foot when we travel has many advantages. We get to see and experience stuff that would otherwise bypass us if we are in a vehicle or some other form of transport. While hiking in the Okuhida region of Takayama, I enjoyed the sights of many beautiful wild flowers and plants. Following a stream which eventually joined with other streams to turn into a river, I spent almost an entire day just admiring, sketching and photographing the flora of the area. Because it was autumn during my hike, the pleasant weather and temperature made the hike a lot more comfortable.  Wild flowers encountered during my hike, Okuhida, Takayama, Gifu Prefecture, Japan (2014) And of course, I was never far from civilisation as the small clusters of village houses and scattered plots of small vegetable farms were always within sight. Yet, I was alone to enjoy the beauty of nature. I could hear the waters flowing in the stream, birds sing and insects chirping. Armed with my small sketchboo

Japan, Nagasaki Prefecture, Tsushima Japan is a country which is heavily forested. Close to 2/3 of the country is covered in forests. I had always wanted to travel to and hike in some of Japan's forested areas, preferably in locales where the human population is sparse. Not that I am a hermit but less populated areas usually means more flourishing flora and fauna due to lesser human activities. Over the years and during my many trips to Japan, I had hiked in the Okuhida region of Takayama's mountain range as well as in the forests of Shiga Prefecture. One of my hikes in Japan's forests was in November 2019 when I traveled to Tsushima from Busan (Korea). Located between Busan and Nagasaki, Tsushima is an island group. With a sub-tropical marine environment, Tsushima has unique flora and fauna not found elsewhere in the Japanese main islands. A secluded shore in the n orthern part of Kamino-shima, Tsushima, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan (2019) During my tr