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

Translated literally, Neve Tzedek means "Abode of Justice". Located in the south-western part of Tel Aviv near to the Old City of Jaffa, the Neve Tzedek of today is a cosy neighbourhood with many art shops and cafes, both modern and quaint.  Walking around this neighbourhood on a weekend, I was visually attracted to its unique sights and sounds. Interesting walks almost always result in interesting finds and this beautiful wall mural was one of the sights that stopped me in my tracks. That moment was captured in the photo below with my handy iPhone 7 Plus. Wall mural of two Squirrels and several Thrash Bins, Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv, Israel (2017)

Bali offers so much in terms of relaxation and tranquility that it is not a surprise that this is one of my favourite destinations for a short vacation. I love the ways the locals blend nature into their everyday lives. Even in the resorts, nature has been successfully intertwined with the facilities; providing those amazing moments when one can sit and relax in a luxurious holiday resort and yet is able to enjoy nature just at the doorsteps. Here is a photo of a paddling of ducks as they swam happily in a large pond at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Nusa Dua. Ducks swimming at one of the ponds of the lush gardens of the Grand Hyatt hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia (2015)

Chinatown is a busy and colourful part of Singapore. More so during the Chinese New Year Periods. This article highlights the sights and sounds of Chinatown getting ready for the annual spring festival! Lion Heads of the types used in traditional Lion Dances, Chinatown, Singapore (2017) History and Geography Singapore's Chinatown is located in a very central location. Its local name is loosely based on its historical past where bullock carts were used to transport water to residences and businesses in the area back in the days of colonial Singapore. A Hindu Temple in the area highlights Singapore's multi-cultural diversity, Chinatown, Singapore (2017) Getting There The area is well-served by public transport. The local subway (a.k.a. metro) systems include several different stations in and around the area from at least 3 different service lines. These are the East-West Line (Outram Park Station of the Green-colored Line), Downtown Line (Chinatown St

A very busy January coupled with the Chinese New Year festivities has resulted in me being very late with this article. More than 2 weeks late actually, based on my self-imposed publishing schedule! ;-) The beginning of every calendar year is usually accompanied by the arrival of spring. This is usually the period of of the year when everything seems fresh and promising.  Even in countries where there are no distinct seasons to differentiate the different times of the year, there will almost always still be plenty of festivities to mark each period as the year progresses. In Singapore's busy Chinatown, the period leading up to the Chinese New Year is usually an occasion of colours, celebration, energy and goodies! This year was no different. Based on the Chinese Zodiac Calendar, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. As the new year was welcomed in joyous bursts of celebrations, the areas around Chinatown were decked out in decorations featuring beautiful lanterns and colourful

I attended a friend's wedding in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in India's Kerala State last year. The wedding ceremony was an amazing experience for me. Culturally, I learned much about a traditional Indian wedding.  The ceremony was also an awesome photo opportunity for me. Armed only with my iPhone 6S Plus, I proceeded to discreetly take photographs of the wedding proceedings, taking care not to interrupt the work of the official photographers and without being too intrusive on the guests at the wedding. Here is a picture of a group of bridesmaids waiting for the arrival of the groom. The colourful umbrellas, their beautiful dresses and the traditional gifts they bore provided a picture perfect opportunity too good to be missed. Bridesmaids at a traditional Indian wedding ceremony waiting for the arrival of the groom, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India (2016)

Travelling offers much opportunities to experience new sights and sounds. During a recent business trip to Hong Kong in January 2017, I was out for a late night supper and saw workers setting up a pop-up store for the coming Chinese New Year.  Moments later, this huge and magnificent figure can be seen fronting the pop-up store which was located in Mong Kok, along Dundas Street and just next to the Bai Yu Business Center. The photos below were taken with my iPhone 6S Plus. When travelling, always keep a camera handy for that unexpected photo opportunity! And smartphones, with their in-built cameras, are the convenient choice for me. Giant figure fronting a Pop-Up Store, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China (2017) The Pop-Up Store located just next to the giant figure shown in the above photo, Mong Kok, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China (2017)

Bangkok is the capital city of Thailand. It is also the most populous city in the country with a population of over 8 million people. And that is not including people who lives within the Bangkok Metropolitan Region.  And so, if you have just 1 day to spend in this bustling and vibrant city, how do you spend your time here within that 24 hours? Silom Complex, , Si Lom, Bang Rak District, Bangkok, Thailand (2017) I recently spent a day in Bangkok as part of a business trip. Not one who really enjoys jostling with crowds and yet not a hermit as well, I tried to strike a balance between the crowds and nature. Here's how I spent my one day in Bangkok. 10.00 am - 12.00 pm Woke up relatively late at 9.00 am as I do not have to attend any meetings. After a couple of minutes lazing in the hotel room, a quick shower followed and I was soon out on the streets. Took the BTS Skytrain to the Ma Boon Khrong Center. This popular tourist haunt in Bangkok is also regularly re