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

Japan, Tokyo, Nakano This video was originally published in this blog in July 2021. The photographs shown in the video are based on my visit to Nakano in 2017. Before the trip, I had read about this quaint part of the greater Tokyo Metropolitan area and resolved to pop by for some sight-seeing and a walking tour if time on my itinerary permitted. And yes, I did visit Nakano on that trip. But why a video and not an article? Sometimes, pictures do speak more than a thousand words! Another reason was that I wanted to share what I saw and experienced in Nakano from a visual perspective.  And of course, my side trip to Nakano was an item in my travel bucket list.  ****************** I visited Nakano as a side trip while in Tokyo in the spring of 2017. Just minutes away from Shinjuku, Nakano is a world away from the hustle and bustle that defines Shinjuku. Here, serenity reigns. Being a rural area, the ambience is all about being slow paced and quiet. This is also an amazing place to catch s

Japan, Tokyo, Nakano The original article was first published in this blog in July 2021.  I have always been happy to visit small towns when travelling. Unguided with maps or GPS , I enjoy simply walking around with no fixed plans, exploring and taking in the experiences and chance encounters that come my way.  While in Tokyo in 2017, I decided to take a side trip to Nakano, a ward of Tokyo which is just a 10-minute train ride from crowded and busy Shinjuku. I discovered a gem of a town, one filled with cherry blossoms trees in full bloom (my trip was in early-April), tranquility and most of all, the charms that come with travelling without any pre-planned itinerary. Instead of a lengthy article struggling for words to fully describe my side trip to Nakano, I decided that a short video is a more appropriate medium to share my experience of the magic of Nakano. ****************** I visited Nakano as a side trip while in Tokyo in the spring of 2017. Just minutes away from Shinjuku, Nakan

Glasgow..... The name of this famous city in Scotland seems to evoke an almost magical nostalgia in me. Why is this so? I don't know actually because I have only visited Glasgow once in September 2011 despite being a fairly frequent visitor to the UK. Glasgow has many beautiful buildings with their awesome architectural designs. This is a relatively large city with a population of more than 3 million but yet it seems uncrowded and romantic, unlike many other large cities. During my trip to Glasgow, I had the time to take leisurely strolls around this wonderful city. This afford me the luxury to simply walk and explore the city at my own pace, without any agenda or timeline to adhere to. Basically, I had the time to enjoy the city for what it is! Glasgow City Chambers, George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, UK (2011) Stone sculpture of a Lion at George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, UK (2011) George Square, Glasgow, Scotland, UK (2011) Sights of Glasgow, walkin