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A Postcard From …

Darjeeling: Mantra for the morning
A Postcard From ... India 

Darjeeling: Mantra for the morning

12th July 201931st October 2023 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

“Good morning,” they sang like a group of school children welcoming Sir into the classroom. Good morning I replied with more geniality than I ever thought I could muster at 5.00am on a rather chilly morning.

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the dogs of Thong Pha Phum
A Postcard From ... Thailand 

Thong Pha Phum: Going to the dogs

20th June 201927th September 2024 The Mango Road 0 Comments

Thong Pha Phum: Going to the dogs The soulful baying coming from the far side of the Kwai Noi was

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CONCERTS AND SHOWS


FESTIVAL The Rainforest World Music Festival will take to the stage in Sarawak, Malaysia, from July 20th to 22nd. The event, now in its 28th year, showcases traditional and modern music from around the world, as well as local artists.

The theme this year is “Connections: One Earth, One Love” and heading the show will be Al McKay, Guitarist and Musical Director of the highly acclaimed funk/Soul/Jazz outfit, Earth, Wind and Fire. Also on the bill will be Otyken from Siberia and, representing their home, At Adau, who blend ancestral traditions with contemporary world music.

There are also workshops to encourage greater participation in culture and creativity as well as music and dance. And, of course, there will be some awesome food. More info here and tickets here

Queen Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India . . . #vic Queen Victoria Memorial, Kolkata, India
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#victoriamemorialkolkata #queenvictoriamemorial #queenvictoria #architecture #buildings #architecturelovers #architecturelovers #architectureporn #building #buildingporn #history #heritage #streetsofkolkata #thisiskolkata #ohkolkata #oldcalcutta #kolkataphotography #kolkatadiaries #oldcalcutta #india #travelphotography #travelblogger #travelbloggerlife #traveller #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #travellifestyle
Found this fellow the other day, he’d sheltered Found this fellow the other day, he’d sheltered out the storm in an old plant pot. I relocated him to the lemon tree and he’s been hanging out there ever since.
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#prayingmantis #giantasianprayingmantis #hierodulamembranacea #prayingmantisofinstagram #mantis #bugs #insectsofinstagram #mantidsofinstagram #bug #mantids #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
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
The historic town of Xing Ping in Guangxi province The historic town of Xing Ping in Guangxi province, southern China. The town was settled in 265 CE and was the regional centre of the county until Yangshuo was settled 325 years later. Yangshuo is about 27 kilometres downstream on the Li River.
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A bus runs from Yangshuo to Yangdi where you can either hike along the riverbank or hire a raft for the
15-kilometre journey to Xin Ping. A bus back to Yangshuo for dinner rounds the day off nicely.
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#xingping #guanxi #china #中国 #chinadestinations #raw_china #chinatravel #remoteplaces #chinalife #chinatrips #ruralchina #explorechina #chinaphotography #liriver #chinaadventures #historicplaces #ancientcity #oldtown #architecture #buildings #postcardplaces #hello_worldpics #mostbeautifulplace #welltravelled #traveldestination #travellingthroughtheworld #travel_gram #travel_captures #travel_photo #travelblogger
Say cheese! . . . #trainmarket #railwaymarket #tra Say cheese!
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#trainmarket #railwaymarket #train #market #mahachai #vegetables #wetmarket #spicylife #chilies #lifestyle #dayatwork #thailand #amazingthailand #ig_thailand #loves_united_thailand #loves_thailand #loves_united_asia #ig_asia #super_asia_channel #unlimitedasia #travel #wanderlust #beautifuldestinations #CreateExplore #stayandwander #passionpassport
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
Evening settles on the sleepy fishing village of T Evening settles on the sleepy fishing village of Tai O at the western end of Lantau island.
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#nightphoto #nightlights #citynights #addicted_to_nights #nightphotography #nightimages #dusk #fishingvillage #tai_o #大澳 #香港 #taio #lantau #lantauisland #hkig #hkiger #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #visualhongkong #hongkongphotography #countrypark #wonderful_places #bythisriver #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
Diwali in Kolkata . . . #diwali #festivaloflights Diwali in Kolkata
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#diwali #festivaloflights #diwalidecorations #diwalicelebration #festival #streetsofcalcutta #streetsofkolkata #thisiskolkata #ohkolkata #oldcalcutta #india #kolkataphotography #kolkatadiaries #oldcalcutta #india #great_captures_people #ig_captures_people #travelportrait #splendid_people #portrait #portrait_mood #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld
A rare stretch of level footpath passing through t A rare stretch of level footpath passing through the cloud forest en route to the summit of Mt Kinabalu in the Malaysian state of Sabah, Borneo.
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#mountkinabalu #mtkinabalu #kinabalu #kinabalupark #mountainridge #mountainhike #mesilautrail #cloudforest #clouds #forest #landscape #unescoworldheritage #naturepark #borneo #exploreborneo #earthpix #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #borntotravel #traveltheworld #seetheworld #doyoutravel #travelgram #beautifulplaces
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
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
Chapel of Our Lady of Penha The church built in 1 Chapel of Our Lady of Penha

The church built in 1622 by the crew of the Portuguese ship São Bartholomeu who, after escaping from Dutch pursuers, vowed to build a church to commemorate the Virgin Mary if they made it back to Macau.

#macau #macau_ig #macau🇲🇴 #macao #church #citynights #addicted_to_nights #nightphotography #nightimages #nightlights #nightphoto #dusk #cityscape #urbanlandscape #urbanromantix #buildings #buildingporn #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
I made the epic journey from Pui O to Ping Che the I made the epic journey from Pui O to Ping Che the other day, one remote corner of Hong Kong to another. It involved three separate MTR trains sandwiched between two bus rides to cover a distance of about 75 kilometres and took a bit less than two hours. It was worth the effort for Wan Chuen Sin Koon, a Taoist monastery at Ping Che, is perhaps one of the prettiest in Hong Kong.
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It belongs to the Chunyang Taoist sect, a branch of the Quanzhen school, which was founded in the mid-nineteenth century on Xiqiao Mountain near Nanhai City, Guangdong. It moved to Hong Kong in 1944 but the current premises have no historical significance. The land was acquired in 1975 and used as a religious retreat but it wasn’t until 2000 that construction got underway in earnest.
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The monastery buildings are set in spacious grounds with lotus ponds and chrysanthemum gardens, though neither will be in bloom until late Summer or early Autumn when exhibitions of the latter are held. Also in the grounds is a large stele that contains the full text of Laozi's Tao Te Ching.
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Wan Chuen Sin Koon is also famous for its excellent vegetarian lunches served between 12.00 and 14.00. Portions are generous and tables fill up fast so get there early.
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#wunchuensinkwoon #pingche #exploringhongkongsnewterritories #temple #monastery #chinesetemple #shrine #religion #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #themoderndayexplorer
The crab with the pretty green and black back is p The crab with the pretty green and black back is paraleptuca crassipes or the thick-legged fiddler crab, I’m not sure about the other one but they were both sharing a hole on some tidal mud-flats, though I think it was more to hide from me rather than for co-habitation. If one stands completely motionless for a few minutes they think you’ve gone and gingerly venture out. But the slightest click of the shutter and they dart back in again.
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#crabs #paraleptucacrassipes #fiddlercrab #crustaceans #mangrove #mangrovecrabs #mudflats #wildhongkong #lantau #newterrtories #exploringhongkongsnewterritories #hongkongphotography #explorehk #visualhongkong #discoverhongkong #amazinghongkong #hongkongphoto #discoverhongkong #picsofhk #nature #wildlife #wildlifephotography #earthoutdoors #fantastic_earth #lifeonearth #wildlifeonearth #wildlifecaptures #wildlifelovers #naturephotography #natureshots
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 in order 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
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
Another shot of the Tengger Highlands in East Java Another shot of the Tengger Highlands in East Java where villages cling to narrow ridges whilst vegetables, growing in the rich volcanic soils, tumble down the sides.
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One of Java's best known attractions, Mt Bromo, is nearby but most people just come to see the sunrise over the crater and leave again before breakfast. But it is a great place to chill out in the cool mountain air for a few days.
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#kampungpelangi #rainbowvillage #colorfulvillage #tengger #nature #agriculture #terracedfields #offthebeatenpath #earthpix #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #loves_united_indonesia #icu_indonesia #travelblogger #sceneryporn #traveller #amazingworld #mountainscapes #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #besttravelpics #letsgosomewherenew
A-Ma Temple, Macau. The temple was built in 1488 t A-Ma Temple, Macau. The temple was built in 1488 to honour the sea goddess, Mazu aka Tin Hau, the most revered deity along the South China coastal regions.
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#macau #macau🇲🇴 #macautravel #macauig #macau_ig#china #amatemple #tinhau #mazu #temple #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
Main altar of the Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay, Main altar of the Tin Hau Temple, Joss House Bay, Hong Kong.
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One of the oldest and largest temples dedicated to Tin Hau. It was built in 1266 by two brothers who were salt traders from Fujian province. One day their boat was caught in storms and as they were swept overboard they appealed to Tin Hau for help. To show their gratitude they built the temple on the spot where they came safely to land.
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#tinhau #天后古廟 #temple #天后 #廟 #historicbuilding #historictemples #chinesetemple #hongkonghistory #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #exploringhongkongsnewterritories #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #themoderndayexplorer
#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hongkongphotography # #hongkong #discoverhongkong #hongkongphotography #hkig #amazinghongkong #explorehongkong #newterritories #china #asia #asiatravelguide #asiatravel
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