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, ...

Located about 18 km (11 miles) from the city of Luang Prabang, the Tat Sae Waterfalls (a.k.a. Tad Sae Waterfalls) is the less famous cousin to the more well-known and touristy Kuang Si Waterfalls (a.k.a Tat Kuang Si Waterfalls) which can be found further away from Luang Prabang towards the south-western part of the province. Thus, while foreign tourists visiting the province trooped to the Kuang Si Waterfalls, the locals generally prefer the less well-known Tat Sae Waterfalls. No less spectacular than its more popular cousin, the Tat Sae Waterfalls has its own beauty and charms.  To get to the Tat Sae Waterfalls, I had to take a drive from Luang Prabang to the village of Bak En. Near this village, I took a small rickety local boat to cross a tributary of the Nam Khan River. The waterfalls is located at the opposite bank of this tributary. The short 15-minute boat ride was an experienced in itself. The waterline was only mere centimetres away from where I was seated and I c...

The Mekong is one of the longest river in the world. From the Tibetan Plateau, the Mekong flows through parts of China before entering Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Finally, ending in the South China Sea in southern Vietnam, the entire distance of the Mekong spans more than 4,300km. In Laos, the Mekong traverse the entire country. The importance of this mighty river in the lives of the people residing in the countries it flows through cannot be overstated. Many local communities depended on the Mekong in their daily lives in areas as diverse as transportation, fishing and agriculture.  While visiting Luang Prabang province of Laos, I had the chance to see the Mekong almost every day of my nearly week-long stay in the country. The photograph here was amongst the many that I took of the river and the activities around and in the river by the local residents. The boats shown in this photograph are used primarily for fishing and to a lesser degree, transportat...

Located in a valley in central Switzerland, Interlaken its well-known as a resort town famous for its proximity to Jungfrau.  I remembered Interlaken not for its more touristy attractions but for the valley where the town is located. During my stay in Interlaken, I did not visit the touristy hotspots. Neither did I partake in the usual touristy activities such as taking the train to Harderkulm. Instead, I took long walks and hikes in and around the town.  My daily hikes led me to sights not published in most travel guides. I got to meet the locals, sat in the plains of the valley as I took in the wonderful views, walked amongst the local livestock, bird-watch, followed parts of the L ü tschine River on foot along its banks and ate wild berries in the forested areas surrounding the town. My visit to Interlaken was an appreciation of the town, its surrounding and nature. I loved every aspect of my visit and was glad I did what I did when I was there.  Th...

Bath is located about 156km west of London and I visited this city in September 2011. Actually, Bath was not on my planned itinerary during my trip to the UK. But I decided to drop by for a short visit as part of my out-of-London day trip which included a trip to Stonehenge. Like Stonehenge, Bath is a World Heritage Site. The city was designated in 1987 and this city is an extremely popular stop on the tourist map. As I arrived at Bath, I can't helped but marveled at the beauty of this city. I can't placed what actually made this city so attractive to me. It was probably a combination of factors; the architecture of the age-old buildings, the little sidewalk cafes, the relaxed lifestyles of the locals, the neat and prettily manicured parks, the clean streets and that romantic river that ran through the city! The iconic Bath Abbey, Bath, England, UK (2011) My first stop was at the Bath Abbey. This was originally a Norman Church and the current building reporte...