These pictorials document our sporadic travels, our life passion. To access DIRECTORY of TRAVELS please click entry below. Thanks!
“TO TRAVEL IS TO LIVE” – Hans Christian Andersen
Author: naim
Date: 06 May 2012
Filed under: Australia, Belgium, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, England, Estonia, Finland, Gibraltar, HongKong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA, Vietnam, Wales
DIRECTORY of TRAVELS
PLEASE READ THIS ENTRY FIRST. IT’S MY “TABLE OF CONTENTS”. THANKS!
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Helsinki and the Suomenlinna-Sveaborg Sea Fortress
A day trip to Helsinki, Finland, from Tallinn, Estonia, with Tallink’s luxurious ferries — Shuttle Star and Baltic Princess. In Helsinki we take the opportunity to visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site — the 18th century sea fortress on the island of Suomenlinna. Helsinki owes its very existence to this remarkable fortress.
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The Medieval Old Town of Tallinn, Estonia
Tallin was first documented in the 12th century by an Arab cartographer, became a Hanseatic city-state, fell under Swedish rule, then Russian, before Estonia gained independence in 1918. Just before World War II, it was occupied by the Soviets, then the Nazis, to be forced into the USSR. Against all odds, in 1991, Estonia regained independence from the Soviets, together with the other two Baltic states — Latvia and Lithuania. So on one fine cold day, we find ourselves wandering around Tallinn’s Old Town — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — exploring and admiring the fascinating structures dating from 13th century.
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Saint Petersburg, the Imperial Capital of Russia
Saint Petersburg, the city founded by Tsar Peter the Great in 1703 in a mosquito-infested swamp, was the capital of the huge Russian Empire (1721-1917), only to be moved to Moscow by the Bolsheviks in 1918 (they also renamed the city ‘Leningrad’). It flourished to become one of Europe’s most elegant cities and the cultural centre for Russia. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg is now a Unesco World Heritage Site, and on a cold April weekend, we find ourselves exploring the town by foot.
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Norway, Oct 2011 — Collection of Stories
A collection of 10 stories on the trip we did 12-19 October 2011, covering Oslo, Bergen and Tromso, and of course everything in between. Highlights were the scenic Bergen Railway, the fjords, the Arctic, and chasing the elusive Aurora Borealis – the Northern Lights.
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Oslo, Capital of Norway
An Oslo walkabout, a nice and pleasant city to roam and explore.
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The Arctic City of Tromsø
A visit to Tromsø in far north Norway, 350km past the Arctic Circle. Interesting city, just a mere 2000km south of the North Pole — same latitude as Northern Siberia and Alaska, yet very modern and liveable. At the same latitude in the south, this city would have been on Antarctica. Polar explorer Roald Amundsen prepared his expeditions here. Highlight is the hunt for the elusive Aurora Borealis. 15-17 October 2011.
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Japan, Dec 2011 — Collection of Stories
A collection of 8 stories on the trip we did 04-11 December 2011 — travelled a total of 3800km on 16 trains (6 shinkansen, 6 express, 4 local) and 4 buses.
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Historical Port of Otaru, Hokkaido
A day trip by train from Sapporo on a cold snowy day, to the beautiful historical port city of Otaru. A stroll along the famous Sakaimichi Street and Canals. 08 December 2011.
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Sapporo White Illumination
Evening arrival in Sapporo from Hakodate, and we promptly have dinner at an eatery near the JR Sapporo Station. Followed by a slippery walk on ice to the famed Odori Park to witness the spectacular Sapporo White Illumination. 07 December 2011.
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Emirates Airbus A380 Official Welcome at KLIA
Official ceremony to mark the commencement of daily Airbus A380 flights between KUL and DXB by Emirates. A tour of the impressive plane is also included. Aircraft is A6-EDE. 12 January 2012.
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Snowy Hakodate in Hokkaido
On a cold snowy day, we explore the interesting bits of Hakodate, a city of 280,000 people. First Japanese port to open to foreigners, in 1854. A beautiful seaside city set on a promontory, founded 15th century, it has many historical sites. 07 December 2011.
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Utsunomiya-Hakodate Train Journey and a Big Christmas Tree
Day-long 770km train rides from Utsunomiya (Honshu) to Hakodate (Hokkaido), via the 58km-long Seikan Tunnel underneath the Tsugaru Strait. Hakodate welcomes us with a Big Christmas Tree, a gift from Sister City Halifax in Nova Scotia, Canada. 06 December 2011.
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The Tokugawa Ieyasu Shrine in Nikko, Japan
A visit to the shrine or mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu (1543-1616), founder of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which ruled Japan for more than 250 years between 17th and 19th century. A UNESCO World Heritage Site. 05 December 2011.
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The Hanseatic City of Bergen, Norway
Our short visit to the ancient city of Bergen in Oct, 2011 . Founded in the 11th century, now Norway’s 2nd largest city with 390,000 people. The old Hanseatic quarter of Bryggen is a must-see, while a trip up Mt Fløyen via the Fløibanen funicular is also highly recommended. Beautiful city, indeed!
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Driving the Coast of the Gaspésie or Gaspé Peninsula
In the summer of 2011, we drove Atlantic Canada, and one highlight was the very scenic Gaspé Peninsula, in eastern Quebec. It extends into the Gulf of St Lawrence. Our drive began just after Quebec City and ended in Bathurst, New Brunswick, for a distance of more than 1000km.
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Tokyo International Airport (Haneda – HND)
Tokyo International Airport (Haneda Airport HND) is a huge pleasure to use. It has three terminals connected via the efficient Tokyo Monorail, which also links them to the Yamanote (Green) Line for easy access to Tokyo Station. The terminals are beautifully designed with loads of amenities. The open-air Observation Decks are a must for plane-spotters.
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The Japanese Dancing Cranes of Kushiro
09 December 2011. A visit to Kushiro Shitsugen National Park in eastern Hokkaido in search of the majestic Dancing Cranes aka Japanese Crane aka Red-crowned Crane, sp. Grus japonensis, an icon of Japan. Very rare, only about 1000 birds now live in Japan. Long journey from Sapporo — a 4-hr express train ride to Kushiro, then a 1-hr bus trip to the site in Tsurumidai, just before Tsurui village. Worth it all!
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The Snow Monkeys of Nagano
11 December 2011. A visit to Jigokudani Yaen-koen, some 35km northeast of Nagano city, to see the fascinating Snow Monkeys. A long way to get there. An express bus ride from Nagano Station takes 50min to a stop near the park. Then another 40min walk along a village road followed by a 1.6km trail into the forest. Definitely an experience not to be missed.
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