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

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 will try to visit this local icon in the city of Iwakuni. That opportunity came in July 2019 when I visited the nearby city of Hiroshima. Taking the local train line from Hiroshima, it was easy to get to Iwakuni in neighbouring Yamaguchi Prefecture. Switching from the train to a local bus after arriving at Iwakuni Station, I finally arrived at Kintai-kyo which spans across the N

Located in Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, the original Iwakuni Castle was built in the year 1608. Sited at the top of Mount Shiroyama, the castle must had looked a formidable obstacle to any attackers in the 17th century. However, merely seven years after the building of the castle was completed, it was torn down based on a decree ( Ikkoku-ichijo ) from the Shogun Tokugawa leyasu.  The present castle at the site was a re-constructed structure in 1962. As in most castles in Japan of today, the Iwakuni Castle is more akin to a museum than a place of residence. Inside the castle are displays of artefacts from the Edo period including samurai body amor and swords. Iwakuni Castle, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (2019) At the top of the castle, which is four storeys high, one can get a bird's eye view of the famous Kintai-kyo Bridge. The castle is accessible via a ropeway cable car. The station is a mere five minutes walk from the Kintai-kyo Bridge. From the upper station, a joyf

Fishing for ayu (a.k.a. sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis ) is common among the residents living close to rivers and streams in Japan. With its clear and clean waters, many rivers and streams are teaming with aquatic life and ayu , being a favourite food fish, is often fished both commercially or as a hobby by many locals. Crossing the famous Iwakuni Bridge or Kin-tai kyo  on my way to the top of Mount Yokoyama to visit the Iwakuni Castle, I looked down into the passing Nishiki River and chanced upon the sight of this fisherman fishing for ayu at low tide. Because I was standing on the bridge almost directly overhead, I could frame this shot seemingly from a bird eye's view perspective. This is another of those photo moments that would digitised the memory of that moment in time during my trip. A perfect digital momento to an unforgettable travel experience. Fisherman, Nishiki River, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (2019)

2019 Travel Review....... The year began slowly in travel terms for me. I started off 2019 with a short trip to Hong Kong in January. The trip was a combination of work and vacation. While in Hong Kong, I delighted in dinning on my favourite local food including freshly baked egg tarts, fermented tofu, fishball noodles, wonton noodles and the all-time Hong Kong speciality of Dim Sum . Apart from work, after office hours were spent shopping for my favourite Lego sets because these could usually be bought at cheaper prices in Hong Kong than when back home in Singapore. Mall decorations at Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong SAR, China (2019) February saw me travelling on a road trip to Ipoh, state capital of Perak in Malaysia. This had been my usual routine every year to celebrate the Chinese New Year holidays. And when I was in Ipoh, the local food as always, delighted my palate. A side trip from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands in the neighbouring Malaysian state of Pahang meant

Visiting the city of Iwakuni in July 2019, I came across many interesting street artefacts,. All the artefacts were crafted objects depicting the history and culture of Iwakuni in particular and Japan in general. This photograph of a street artefact of a traditional Japanese-style lamp was taken just in front of the famous Kintai-kyo Bridge, a unique wooden bridge which spans the Nishiki River. Canon EOS70D, focal length: 62mm, f/5, 1/160 Artefact of a traditional Japanese-style lamp located along the street just in front of the Kintai-kyo Bridge, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (2019)

"We cannot extend our lives. But we can certainly expand it. Travel!"  - Anonymous (verbally related to me by a friend who heard it from someone he met on his travels) The Author in front of the Kintai-Kyo Bridge ( 錦帯橋 ), Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan (2019)