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

Located in Nikko, the Nikko Tosho-gu (a.k.a. Toshogu) is both a Shinto shrine as well as a mausoleum that is dedicated to the founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa layasu (1543 - 1616).  The Toshogu shrine is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing of the Shrines and Temples of Nikko. My visit to the Toshogu shrine on 5th October 2014 was partly clouded by the impending arrival of super Typhoon Phanfone. Although Nikko wasn't in the path of the typhoon, the accompanying rains sort of "wash-out" my day trip to Nikko. I started the day trip early in the morning and the bus journey from Tokyo to Nikko passed through parts of Saitama Prefecture offering picture-perfect views of the countryside despite the drizzle which got stronger as the tour bus neared Nikko. Because of the rain, I was unable to take much photos of the lavishly decorated Toshogu. The most famous of these decorations being the wooden carvings of the Three Wise Monkeys, who toge...

The Clock Tower in Hong Kong is located in the Tsim Sha Tsui area in Kowloon. This clock tower used to be part of the original structures of the old Kowloon Terminus of the Kowloon-Canton Railway network. The clock tower is strategically located where it overlooks the famous Victoria Harbour. At slightly more than 40 metres in height, not including the lightning rod, this iconic structure somehow reminds me of the colonial heritage that is part of the modern history of Hong Kong. The city of Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony until 1997 when it reverted to Chinese rule as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (a.k.a. Hong Kong SAR) of the People's Republic of China. I took this picture as I was strolling along the Star Ferry Pier during a visit to Hong Kong in December, 2012. The photo was taken using an iPhone 4S. Clock Tower, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China (2012)

Hong Kong's air pollution has been in the news in recent years. For a fairly large percentage of days every year, this pollution can be so bad that it literally blocks out views with a hazy and overcast tone. But on those days when the air is clear; either due to directional changes in the winds or a change in the weather, the view of the Hong Kong waterfront can be spectacular. During one of my visits to this southern Chinese city, I was taking a stroll along the waterfront after a heavy meal when I realised that the view of the buildings across the water was spectacular. It was one of those clear nights, a rare occurrence indeed! With only my iPhone 5 with me, I took this photo which I am sharing here. Another of those photo opportunity moments. My advice again, keep a camera close at hand during your travels. Don't miss that photo moment. :-) Waterfront, as viewed from Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China (2012)

Airplanes are synonymous with today's notion of traveling. Whenever I am at any airports waiting for my flight, I always enjoyed watching planes took off and land. During such moments, I have never failed to marvel at the incredible engineering feat that enabled such big machines to literally lift off almost effortlessly from the ground and into the air! Amazing isn't it? As part of my aircraft watching past time, I usually took photos of these planes; using my iPhone as that is the most convenient camera that I have on hand. Here is a picture of a Thai Airways Airbus A380-800 taxying along one of the runways of the Hong Kong International Airport (IATA: HKG, ICAO: VHHH). Thai Airways Airbus A380-800 at the Chek Lap Kok Airport, Hong Kong, China (2012) See also other  Airplane Pictures  in this travel blog

London's Natural History Museum houses a vast collection of exhibits spanning different segments of natural history. Whenever I visit London, and when time and schedule permits, I would usually spend a whole day at this museum. There are so much to see, so much to learn and so much to discover. I especially like the exhibits from the segments on Palaeontology and Zoology.  I will be following up with separate blog posts on the segments on Palaeontology, Zoology, and Mineralogy soon, complete with photos of some of the exhibits from these segments. But until I can find the time to pen those posts, I am sharing a few photos of the exhibits from the Palaeontology and Zoology segments of the museum. These photos were taken during my visit in September 2011. Author's Note: My most recent visit to the Natural History Museum was on 26 May 2017. A re-created exhibit depicting what a dinosaur nest would possibly look like. Natural History Museum, London, UK (2011)  ...

The Jaffa (a.k.a Yafo) of today was part of an old city adjourning Tel Aviv to the south-west. Although the city of Jaffa reportedly dates back more than 3000 years, the current Old City of Jaffa was originally built during the Ottoman Empire. View of the Old City of Jaffa from Tel Aviv, along the beach bordering the Mediterranean Sea near the Opera Tower. Jaffa, Tel Aviv, Israel (2002) Housed within Jaffa's unique stone houses and narrow alleyways are many restaurants, shops and artists' galleries. Walking along these narrow alleyways evoked an almost nostalgic feel that seems to transport me back to medieval times! Indeed, Jaffa's history went way back to eras even before medieval times! Historical records from as far back as 1470 BC described the city of Jaffa as being part of the conquests of the Egyptian Pharaoh, Thutmose III. Archeological excavations have also revealed artefacts dating back to the Bronze Age. Historical characters such as Saladin (first ...

Stonehenge is world famous, being known as a prehistoric monument made of monolithic stones. Located in Wiltshire, England and about a few hours drive from London (depending on how fast the drive is!), Stonehenge is probably one of the most accessible of the ancient monolithic sites in the world. Visitors to Stonehenge will notice the roads that ran just in front of Stonehenge (near the Heel Stone) and the herds of livestock grazing near the monument. Stonehenge was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1986 together with Avebury Henge. Stonehenge, bathe in an almost magical glow in the early morning light, Wilshire, England, UK (2011) Today, it is a known fact that Stonehenge wasn't built in a single time period. It was built, re-built and added upon over thousands of years dating possibly as far back as 3000 BC to about 1600 BC. To the uninterested and uninspired visitor, Stonehenge is probably just a bunch of large stones placed in the middle of some...