The Mango Road

Putting the life back into lifestyle

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    • China
      • All along the Watchtowers
      • The Fire Carts of Xishi
      • Walking the Line
    • Cambodia
      • Silk islands of Koh Dach
    • Hong Kong
      • The New Territories
        • Hiking: Ghost Brides and Haunted Villages
        • On the Trail of Two Monasteries
        • Ping Shan Heritage Trail
        • Salt, fish and the Battle of Tai O Bay
        • Lunch in the officer’s mess
        • Veggies and Rebellion
      • Tai Ping Shan and Sheung Wan
      • On the Waterfront
      • The waterways of Tai Tam
      • The Tai Tam West catchwater
      • Violet Hill and The Twins
    • India
      • Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The little blue train
      • War, subterfuge and a nice cup of tea
    • Indonesia
      • Botanical Gradens, Bogor
      • The sweet smell of steam
      • Sunrise over Gunung Bromo
    • Laos
      • Watching the river flow
    • Malaysia
      • The Jungle Line
      • Penang’s Living Art Gallery
      • Climbing Mt Kinabalu
      • North Borneo Railway
    • Nepal
      • High as a Kite
    • Thailand
      • Bangkok on foot
      • Historic towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom
      • Sukhothai, The Cradle of Thai Civilisation
      • Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam
      • Simian City
      • Ko Kret: Potters Island
      • Wat Pariwat aka Wat David Beckham
  • A Postcard from …
    • Bagan
    • Cambodia
      • Angkor
    • Darjeeling
    • Hanoi
    • Hong Kong
      • An abandoned Hakka mansion
      • Devil beating in Causeway Bay
      • Nong Ping and Big Buddha
    • Kolkata
    • Krakatau
    • Singapore
    • Thong Pha Phum
  • Airports
    • Cambodia – Phnom Penh
    • Hong Kong – Chek Lap Kok
    • Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur, KLIA2
    • Thailand – Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi
    • Thailand – Bangkok, Don Mueang
    • Vietnam – Noi Bai, Hanoi
    • Vietnam – Da Nang
  • Food
    • Tai O Lookout – Hong Kong
    • Beer Republic – Bangkok
    • Glenary’s – Darjeeling
    • Shanak’s – Phnom Penh
    • Som Tam – Some Like it Hotter
    • Chops – Hanoi
    • 80/20 – Bangkok
    • Coliseum Cafe & Bar – Kuala Lumpur
    • Guppy’s – Bangkok
    • Kunga – Darjeeling
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• Features •

Luang Prabang, Watching the river flow
• Features • Laos 

Watching the river flow – Luang Prabang 25 years ago

21st March 20206th November 2023 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

It was a bit of a white knuckle descent but all that whirling land out of the port side window was an impressive sight.

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Historic Towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom
• Features • Thailand 

Historic towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom

29th February 202020th January 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

Historic Towns of the Sukhothai Kingdom Two locations close to Sukhothai that form part of the same group of UNESCO

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Salt, fish and the battle of Tai O Bay
• Features • Hong Kong 

Salt, fish and the battle of Tai O Bay

22nd February 202015th February 2025 The Mango Road 2 Comments Stories

Tagged with the rather grand epithet, the Venice of Hong Kong, Tai O, in the southwest of Lantau island, has become something of a tourist attraction in recent years.

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Sukhothai, the cradle of Thai civilisation
• Features • Thailand 

Sukhothai, the cradle of Thai civilisation

8th February 202014th December 2024 The Mango Road 2 Comments Stories

The Sukhothai era is regarded as the cradle of Thai civilisation. It had originally been a trade centre and part of the Lavo Kingdom which was under Khmer rule

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The Jiayang National Mining Park: Walking the Line
• Features • China 

The Jiayang National Mining Park: Walking the Line

25th January 202013th January 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

Only one of the mines remains operational but the steam hauled railway which serves the small mining communities that grew up along its route is still running.

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Kebun Raya, Bogor: Gardens in the City
• Features • Indonesia 

Kebun Raya, Bogor: Gardens in the city

18th January 202024th April 2025 The Mango Road 2 Comments Stories

He who plants a garden, plants happiness, says the old proverb. When Casper Reinwardt established his botanical gardens at Buitenzorg in 1817 he did just that.

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Simian City The monkeys of Lopburi
• Features • Thailand 

Simian City: The Monkeys of Lopburi

30th December 201910th August 2024 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

It’s early morning in Lopburi, and a monkey has grabbed a bottle of yummy looking yellow liquid and is scampering off along the cables attached to the side of a building.

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A century old sugar mill in east Java
• Features • Indonesia 

The sweet smell of steam: A century old sugar mill in East Java

22nd December 20193rd April 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

With a shrill whistle, a cloud of black smoke and much clanking of steel engine No4, Semeru, with it’s one truck load of passengers chuffed through the gates

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The living Gallery: Art walking in Prnang
• Features • Malaysia 

Art walking in Penang’s living gallery

2nd December 201918th February 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

One of the joys of exploring Penang’s street art is that new works pop up with no announcement while old works fade or are painted over as buildings are renovated

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War, subterfuge and a nice cup of tea
• Features • India 

War, subterfuge and a nice cup of tea

13th November 20192nd December 2024 The Mango Road 2 Comments Stories

Tea arrived in the UK in the early seventeenth century but it had a slow start. It was very expensive and was marketed primarily for its medicinal properties.

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Semi-abandoned village at Kuk Po in the northeast Semi-abandoned village at Kuk Po in the northeast New Territories, Hong Kong.

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#abandoned #hongkong #village
South Gate, Dapeng Ancient City, near Shenzhen, Ch South Gate, Dapeng Ancient City, near Shenzhen, China
#china #ancientcity #architecture
It's hiking season in Hong Kong. But beware the ol It's hiking season in Hong Kong. But beware the old abandoned villages are hungry.

#hongkong #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hiking #hikingadventures #hike #abandonedplaces #abandoned #spooky #spookyseason #architecture
Ruishi Lou towers over the village of Jinjiangli a Ruishi Lou towers over the village of Jinjiangli about 12 kilometres southwest of Chikan town, Kaiping in southern China. The towers, collectively known as diaolou, were built mostly during the late 19th and early 20th century, though there are a few that date back as far as the 16th.
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The older diaolou were built specifically as watchtowers to guard against invading bandits and to give refuge during floods. The more recent ones still served that function but also served as family homes. These were built by returning emigrants who had made their fortunes in other parts of the world. The designs reflected the newly acquired cosmopolitan tastes of their owners combined with traditional Chinese elements.
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Ruishi was built in 1926 by Huang Bixiu, a villager who had left and made his fortune in Hong Kong as a merchant. It has nine floors each with it's own living space kitchen and bedrooms.
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The Jinjiangli village and it's diaolou along with several other clusters in the region were made UNESCO World Heritage sites in 2007
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#chikantowm #kaiping #diaolou #oldbuildings #building #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #heritage #unesco #unescoworldheritagesite #history #watchtower #village #oldvillage #villagelife #bygoneera #ig_china #chinalife #china #ig_asia #seetheworld #doyoutravel #travelgram #mytinyatlas #beautifuldestinations #traveldeeper #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld
Found this impressive butterfly waiting when I got Found this impressive butterfly waiting when I got home the other evening. It's a spangled swallowtail (papilio protenor) resting on the bougainvillea. The wing span is about twenty centimetres. They are actually quite common, I've just never seen one stay still long enough to take a picture of it before. I'm afraid I lack the patience of dedicated lepidoptera shooters.
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#papilioprotenor #butterfly #butterflyworld #butterflies #butterfly #butterfliesofinstagram #spanglebutterfly #swallowtailbutterfly #swallowtail #lepidoptera #lepidopteraofinstagram #insectphotography #insect #insectworld #insect_perfection #insectlovers #insectsofinstagram #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #nature #naturelover #nature_seekers #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict
Sunset over the Pui O River, Lantau Island, Hong K Sunset over the Pui O River, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
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#wetlands #puio #lantau #lantauisland #southlantau #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #naturelover #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #hongkongphotography #countrypark #wonderful_places #peacefulplace #bythisriver #estuary #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere
The basalt columns at High Island in Sai Kung Coun The basalt columns at High Island in Sai Kung Country Park were formed about 140 million years ago when a vast pool of magma that lay beneath the eastern New Territories, most of Kowloon and all of Hong Kong island erupted. The land plunged downwards carving out a landscape which, after years of weathering and being clothed in a rich green forest, became one of Hong Kong’s best-loved hiking destinations.
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The volcano was one of only about fifty known super-volcanoes in the world and represents Hong Kong’s contribution to the Unesco Global Geopark.
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#hongkonggeopark #geopark #unescogeopark #basalt #basaltcolumns #geology #rocks #volcanic #columnarbasalt #landscape #highisland #saikung #newterritories #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #hongkongnature #hongkongcountryside #earthpix #awesome_earthpix #earthofficial #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #fantastic_earth #earthscience #seetheworld #traveltheworld #asiatravel #exploretheworld #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
The little rural hamlet of Muk Wu is dwarfed by th The little rural hamlet of Muk Wu is dwarfed by the towers of Shenzhen. Between them, though not visible, is the river that separates the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region from the rest of China.
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Muk Wu used to be in what was known as the closed area, a stretch of land that was set up in the 1950s, firstly to prevent gun smuggling during the Korean War, but was later expanded to stem the tide of illegal border crossings. Previously only residents and their families were allowed in but the restrictions have since been rolled back so that now only the river banks and border crossing areas are closed.
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#exploringhongkongsnewterritories
An old tree catches the bright, early morning ligh An old tree catches the bright, early morning light in Shap Long. I've no idea what kind of tree but it is a rather attractive one. It also serves as a reminder, on my morning walks, that another steep hill is imminent.
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Shap Long is a small village on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula in southern Lantau.
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#tree #treephotography #oldtre #shaplong #香港 #hikinghk #chimawan #chimawancountrytrail #lantau #lantauisland #hkig #hkiger #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #visualhongkong #hongkongphotography #offthebeatenpath #earthpix #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
Rural scene with imestone karsts near Yangshuo, Gu Rural scene with imestone karsts near Yangshuo, Guangxi province in southern China.
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#yangshuo #guangxi #阳朔 #中国 #nature #naturetravel #nature_seekers #landscape #limestone #karst #geology #awesome_earthpix #earthofficial #earthfocus #beautifuldestinations  #stayandwander  #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #travellife #lensbible #natureshots
The train to Kalka departing Howrah station, just The train to Kalka departing Howrah station, just across the river from Kolkata. The total journey time is about 28-30 hours, sitting on that step is going to become uncomfortable well before then.
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#train #rail #howra #howrahstation #howrahrailwaystation #railway #indiantrain #indiantrainjourney #indianrailways #indianrailway #indianrail #trainpassengers #passengers #kolkataphotography #kolkatadiaries #streetsofcalcutta #streetsofkolkata #thisiskolkata #ohkolkata #oldcalcutta #india #great_captures_people #ig_captures_people #travelportrait #splendid_people #portrait #portrait_mood #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld
Instagram post 17874405119671327 Instagram post 17874405119671327
Shap Long is a small village on the Chi Ma Wan Pen Shap Long is a small village on the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula in southern Lantau. There is not much there, a few houses, one road and no shops. The only public service is an infrequent ferry which calls at a pier on the other side of a short but gruelling hill. This little lagoon forms at high tide. When the tide is out it is occupied by crabs combing the silt and sand for tasty morsels.
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#shaplong #香港 #hikinghk #chimawan #chimawancountrytrail #lantau #lantauisland #hkig #hkiger #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #visualhongkong #hongkongphotography #offthebeatenpath #earthpix #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
The prows of pinisi rear up along the old harbour The prows of pinisi rear up along the old harbour front at Sunda Kelapa in north Jakarta, Indonesia. Pinisi are a type of two-masted schooner built by the Bugis of South Sulawesi. Most of them are motorised now but they are still used to transport cargo around the Indonesian archipelago. In previous times that included bringing timber from the forests of Sulawesi and Borneo to Jakarta and returning with everything from bags of cement to bottled water and anything else that is not readily available on the islands.
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The art of building Pinisi was recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in December 7, 2017.
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#pinisi #ship #boat #traditionalboat #sundakelapa #schooner #oldboat #harbour #jakarta #icu_jakarta #indonesia #loves_united_indonesia #icu_indonesia travelphotography #travelblogger #travelbloggerlife #traveller #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #travellife #total_asia #lensbible
Well before breakfast there was a tremendous pound Well before breakfast there was a tremendous pounding of drums and clashing of cymbals as a pride of lion dancers came prowling the village, chasing out bad spirits and bestowing luck and prosperity on our little community. I saw the last two but I'm sure there were at least another two before I even made it out of bed. Kung Hei Fat Choi; Happy and prosperous Year of the Dragon to all.
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#chinesenewyear #lunarnewyear #yearofthedragon #kungheifatchoi  #恭喜發財 #gongxifacai #liondance #liondancing #festival #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong  #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #exploringhongkonkgsnewterritories #travel #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict
The Cotai Strip, Macau. Sometimes referred to as t The Cotai Strip, Macau. Sometimes referred to as the Las Vegas of the East, Cotai is a parcel of reclaimed land given over almost entirely to casinos and hotels. The replica landmarks make it popular place with instagram enthusiasts and wedding photographers.
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#macau #macao #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macautravel #cotai #cotaistrip
#cotaistripmacau #london #paris #venice #casino #hotels #lasvegasoftheeast #instagrammers
Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Pin Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Ngong Ping
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#tiantanbuddha #bigbuddha #天壇大佛 #天坛大佛 #lantau #polinmonastery #ngongping #昂坪 #hongkon
Mt Kangchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in th Mt Kangchenjunga, the third-highest mountain in the world at 8,586 m (28,169 ft), appears to be floating on a cloud
Lantau Peak looking dramatic. At 934 metres (3,064 Lantau Peak looking dramatic. At 934 metres (3,064 ft) above sea level the mountain is the highest point on Lantau island and the second highest in Hong Kong.
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#lantaupeak #鳳凰山 #lantau #lantauisland #southlantau #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #naturelover #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #hongkongphotography #countrypark #wonderful_places #peacefulplace #bythisriver #estuary #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere
This, I believe, is a light-vented or Chinese bulb This, I believe, is a light-vented or Chinese bulbul (Pycnonotus sinensis). Most of the year they prefer to stay up in the forest feeding on bugs and berries. But since those delicacies are scarce at this time of year they are not above slumming it down on my balcony in return for a handout of leftover rice.

This one was on the lamp post opposite, waiting for me to go inside so it could have its breakfast and squabble with the red-whiskered bulbuls and sparrows.
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#bulbul #lightventedbulbul #chinesebulbul #pycnonotussinensis #birds_brilliance #newterritories #hongkong #wildbird #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdstagram #birdwatching #birding #bestbirdshots #birdphotography #birds #birdlife #featheredfriends #birdsofhongkong #birdsofchina #birdsofasia #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifeonearth #wildlifecaptures #wildlifelovers #naturephotography #natureshots
A black-crowned night heron relaxing on the Tsuen A black-crowned night heron relaxing on the Tsuen Wan waterfront.
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#tsuenwan #newterritories #hongkong #blackcrownednightheron #wildbird #egretsandherons #catchoftheday #fish #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdstagram #birdwatching #birding #bestbirdshots #birdphotography #birds #birdlife #featheredfriends #birdsofhongkong #birdsofchina #birdsofasia #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #wildlifeonearth #wildlifecaptures #wildlifelovers #naturephotography #natureshots
Dysdercus cingulatus, otherwise known as the red c Dysdercus cingulatus, otherwise known as the red cotton bug, on an okra plant. While the bugs look quite pretty they a loathed by farmers as they attack various crops by feeding on the seeds and seed pods. Along with cotton, they will feed on okra, hibiscus, white jute, citrus, maize and numerous others.
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#insect #insect_perfection #ip_insects #insectphotography #insectworld #beautiful_insects #insects_of_our_world #raw_insects #uwn_insect #nuts_about_insects #insectsofinstagram #entomologie #entomology #bugs #redcottonbug #abugslife  #wildlifeonearth #wildlife #wildlifephotography #dysdercuscingulatus #creepycrawly #nature #naturelovers #naturalbeauty #naturephotography #nature_seekers #naturalworld #earthoutdoors #fantastic_earth #lifeonearth
Rua de Felicidade, or Street of Happiness. Macau's Rua de Felicidade, or Street of Happiness. Macau's former red light district
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#macau #macao #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macautravel #backstreets
Coracle racing in Hoi An, Vietnam. #tourism #trav Coracle racing in Hoi An, Vietnam.

#tourism #travel #vietnam
Eastern great egret (Ardea alba modesta) making of Eastern great egret (Ardea alba modesta) making off with the catch of the day.
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#egret #easterngreategret #greategret #egretsofinstagram #egrettagarzetta #egretsandherons #catchoftheday #fish #bird #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdstagram #birdwatching #birding #bestbirdshots #birdphotography #birds #birdlife #featheredfriends #birdsofhongkong #birdsofchina #birdsofasia #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography  #wildlifeonearth #wildlifecaptures #wildlifelovers #naturephotography #natureshots
Potter wasp (Phimenes flavopictus). #wasp #potter Potter wasp (Phimenes flavopictus).

#wasp #potterwasp #Phimenesflavopictus #waspsofinstagram #bugs #insectsofinstagram #bug #insectphotography #insect #insect_perfection #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #creepycrawly #abugslife #nature #insectworld #bugsofinstagram #insectstagram #insectlicious #beautiful_insects #insectguru #fulgoromorpha #earthcapture #inmygardentoday #colorfulbug #insects_of_our_world #insectlovers #insectlover🐞 #insectlovers🌿
New Lucky House on the corner of Nathan Road and J New Lucky House on the corner of Nathan Road and Jordan Road, Yau Ma Tei. Built in 1964 its 16 floors boast 200 units and 35 guesthouses.
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#citynights #addicted_to_nights #nightphotography #nightimages #nightlights #nightphoto #dusk #cityscape #urbanlandscape #urbanromantix #buildings #buildingporn #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #travel #travelhk #華豐大廈
Instagram post 17941133006104276 Instagram post 17941133006104276
A hefty strand of spider silk stretched across the A hefty strand of spider silk stretched across the footpath slammed into my face as I set off on my walk this morning. A reminder that Summer is just around the corner and that soon the trees in my neck of the woods will be festooned with nephila pelipes or golden orb weavers. Their name comes from the yellow sheen on the webs of mature spiders.
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They are quite majestic beasts but for those unfamiliar, they are the stuff of nightmares. Fully grown the body is about the size of my thumb with a leg span a little wider than my outstretched hand. The webs are commonly about a metre across, though I have seen some that were easily 1.5 metres, and are spun from some of the strongest silk known. Though they do look very pretty when caught in the sunlight. Multiple spinnerets at the blunt end of the spider mean they are quite capable of making spider rope and they are also able adjust the composition of the silk according to their environment. 
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These huge spiders are always female. The males are a rusty brown color and little bigger than a fingernail. They hang about on the edges of the web waiting, presumably until she has a meal large enough to hold her attention so that he can dart in, do the business and retreat without becoming a light snack himself. I’ve read that a bite can be quite painful but the venom itself is not considered dangerous. I have no plans to put it to the test.
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#spider #spiders #spidersofinstagram #spidersoftheworld #spiderlove #instaspider #bigspider #orbspider #spiderweb #arachnid #arachnidsofinstagram #arachnidsoftheworld #goldenorbweaver #nephilapilipes #nephila #wildlife_perfection #wildlifephotos #wildlifelovers #naturelovers #nature #naturalworld #naturephotography #earthfocus #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #creepycrawly #lifeonearth #wildasia #asia #hongkong
Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Ayutthaya, Thailand. Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Ayutthaya, Thailand. The 19-metre-high Buddha statue, known as Luang Pho Tho, dates back to 1334 although it has been renovated numerous times since then.
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#watphananchoengworawihan #ayutthaya #buddha #buddhism #temple #thaitemples #faith #religion #thailand #ayutthayathailand #amazingthailand #ig_thailand #loves_united_thailand #loves_thailand #ig_asia #loves_united_asia #super_asia_channel #unlimitedasia #unesco #unescoworldheritage #history #culture #statue #smartphone #igmoment #travel #wanderlust #beautifuldestinations #CreateExplore #stayandwander
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