The Mango Road

Putting the life back into lifestyle

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    • China
      • All along the Watchtowers
      • Dapeng Ancient City
      • A journey to Nantou Ancient City
      • The Fire Carts of Xishi
      • Walking the Line
    • Cambodia
      • Silk islands of Koh Dach
    • Hong Kong
      • The New Territories
        • Oysters by the Bay
        • 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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Nepal

China Eastern launch Shanghai to Cheongju
• News • China Middle East Nepal South Korea 

China Eastern to launch Shanghai to Cheongju

15th June 202615th June 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments

FlyDubai opens reservations for a Pokhara service China Eastern to launch Shanghai to CheongjuFlyDubai opens reservations for a Pokhara service

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From trek hub to tech hub
• News • China Nepal Singapore Taiwan Vietnam 

From trek hub to tech hub

28th May 202628th May 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments

Plus new routes between Chengdu and Taichung, Phu Quoc and Singapore From trek hub to tech hubPlus new routes between

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Two new links with China
• News • China Nepal South Korea 

Two new links with China

2nd December 20252nd December 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments

Online arrival card and new entry ports Two new links with ChinaOnline arrival card and new entry ports On the

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New service links Bengaluru and Kathmandu
• News • India Middle East Nepal 

New service links Bengaluru and Kathmandu

17th April 202517th April 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments

New service links Bengaluru and KathmanduAkasa Air launches route between Kochi and Jeddah April 17th, 2025. Air India Express, a

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New ideas for adventure lovers
• News • Central Asia China Malaysia Nepal South Korea 

New ideas for adventure lovers

14th March 202514th March 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments

New ideas for adventure lovers March 14th, 2025. A bunch of unrelated but intriguing destinations with new flights serving Ulaanbaatar,

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New routes in South Asia
• News • India Middle East Nepal Sri Lanka 

New routes in South Asia

4th November 20244th November 2024 The Mango Road 0 Comments

New routes in South Asia November 4th, 2024. A new service from low-cost carrier Flydubai will link the UAE with

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Microlight flight around Annapurna: High as a Kite
• Features • Nepal 

High as a Kite

17th June 20196th December 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments Stories

“Ow ow ow” I yelped as I descended the stairs on my bottom. Not a good start to a trip. But it was not my first time to Kathmandu and I was aware of its rickety

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Golden Orb Weaver (nephila pilipes) knitting a new Golden Orb Weaver (nephila pilipes) knitting a new web.

#spiders_of_the_world #spider #arachnids
Winter solstice over the Pui O River, Lantau Islan Winter solstice over the Pui O River, Lantau Island, Hong Kong
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#landscape #sunset  #wetlands #awesomehongkong
Found this fellow the other day, he’d sheltered ou 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
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
Happy Halloween, may all your nightmares come true Happy Halloween, may all your nightmares come true.

I found these gentlemen cavorting in the primeval forests near Lai Chi Wo in Hong Kong's New Territories.
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#trees #forest #jungle #plants #trees #unitedbytrees #global_nature_trees #ig_shotz_trees #flora #buttressroots #spooky #halloween #laichiwo #hongkong #newterritories #hongkongphotography #explorehk #visualhongkong #discoverhongkong #amazinghongkong #hongkongphoto #hkig #discoverhongkong #picsofhk #exploringhongkongsnewterritories #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #travellife #lensbible
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
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
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🌿
Common Mormon caterpillar (Papilio polytes) chowin Common Mormon caterpillar (Papilio polytes) chowing down on one of my citrus plants.
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#commonmormon #commonmormoncaterpillar #caterpillar #papiliopolytes #naturephotography #macro #insect #insects #wildlife #naturelover #insectphotography #insect #insect_perfection #ip_insects #insectphotography #insectworld #beautiful_insects #insects_of_our_world #raw_insects #uwn_insect #nuts_about_insects #insectsofinstagram #naturelovers #naturalbeauty #naturephotography #nature_seekers #naturalworld #earthoutdoors #fantastic_earth #lifeonearth
The Ruin of St Paul's, Macau #macau #architecture The Ruin of St Paul's, Macau
#macau #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #nightphoto
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
Gunung Sumbing a 3,371 metre volcano in Central Ja Gunung Sumbing a 3,371 metre volcano in Central Java. Although the volcano is still active the only recorded eruptions date from 1730.
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#gunungsumbing #volcano #geology  #offthebeatenpath #landscape
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
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
The imposing outer walls of San Wai, a walled vill The imposing outer walls of San Wai, a walled village in Lung Yuek Tau which was founded in 1744. The houses within have all since been rebuilt to modern standards with electricity and plumbing, but the village still retains its original layout. 
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A central lane leads from the gatehouse to a communal shrine on the rear wall. The houses on either side are tightly packed into narrow alleys but along the inner walls at the back and sides, there is still room for trees, garden areas and small vegetable plots. The moat, which once surrounded the village, has since been filled in to create space for villagers to park their cars.
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#sanwai #walledvillage #exploringhksnewterritories #taifutaimansion #architecture #architectureporn #archıtecturelovers #building #buildingporn #historicbuildings #historicalplace #hongkonghistory #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #newterritories #letsgosomewhere #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
There is not too much at the western end of Lantau There is not too much at the western end of Lantau save for mountains, forests and monasteries. This one is dedicated to Kwun Yum, the goddess of mercy, or Guanyin as she is known outside of Hong Kong. The monastery itself dates back more than a hundred years though the impressive red buildings were added in 1992. From the terrace, which is the flat roof of the earlier buildings, there is a spectacular view across the surrounding mountains
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#guanyin #kwunyum #kuanyin #Lantau #temple #monastery #chinesetemple #shrine #buddhism #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk  #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #exploringhongkonkgsnewterritories
Locomotive 779, Himalayan Bird, chuffs out of Darj Locomotive 779, Himalayan Bird, chuffs out of Darjeeling station with a train load of joyriders towards Ghum. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway opened in 1881 to bring tea down from the hills and essential supplies for plantation workers up. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999.

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These days regular services are diesel hauled with the steam locos being used only for tourist trips.
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#train #steamtrain #toytrain #railway #nostalgia #railwayphotography #railways_worldwide #railways_of_our_world #railsupremacy #steamtrains #indianrailways #darjeelinghimalayanrailway #oldtrains #unesco #unescoworldheritage #heritage #travel #wanderlust #darjeeling #incredibleindia #travelrealindia #travelblogger #travelbloggerlife #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #travellife #lensbible #travelenthusiast
#hongkong #discoverhongkong #hongkongphotography # #hongkong #discoverhongkong #hongkongphotography #hkig #amazinghongkong #explorehongkong #newterritories #china #asia #asiatravelguide #asiatravel
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
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
Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis) Asian longhorned beetle (Anoplophora glabripennis)

#beetle #insectworld #insect
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
Locomotive number 60 is the most recent addition t Locomotive number 60 is the most recent addition to the small but interesting Hong Kong Railway Museum in Tai Po. Built by General Motors and introduced in 1974, it was one of the last diesel locos to be added to the old Kowloon-Canton Railway network.
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When the line was electrified in 1983 it was relegated to freight and maintenance services and finally retired in 2021. It took up residence at the Museum in 2023, after a paint and polish by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It joins locomotive number 51, a rake of coaches and an old narrow gauge steam loco that worked the long-forgotten Fanling to Shau Tau Kok branch line.

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#trains #exploringhongkongsnewterritories #heritage #discoverhongkong
An abandoned spirit house next to an abandoned bui An abandoned spirit house next to an abandoned building building in a rural part of Phang Nga, southern Thailand. The blue wires lead to a socket for a tiny  bulb to give the spirit light during the dark nights but the bulb has since been removed.
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#spirithouse #spirit #home #architecture #abandned #overgrown #buddhism #green #trees #faith #instathailand #onlyinthailand #thailand #amazingthailand #ig_thailandia #ig_thailand #phangnga #wonderfulplaces #raw_southeastasia #southeastasia #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #themoderndayexplorer #wanderlust #beautifuldestinations #CreateExplore #stayandwander #passionpassport #globetrotter
The Bombay Saloon is actually in Kurseong, West Be The Bombay Saloon is actually in Kurseong, West Bengal.
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#hairsalonowner #hairdressers #hairdresserslife #hairdressersunited #hairsalons #hairdressersofinstagram #kurseong #westbengal #india #peopleinframe #westbengal_photographers #westbengaldiaries #people_of_india #indiatravel #india_ig #localpeople #loves_united_people #people #people_and_world #humanity #great_captures_people #ig_captures_people #people_infinity_ #1001people #worldface #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #traveltheworld #traveladdict
South Gate, Dapeng Ancient City, near Shenzhen, Ch South Gate, Dapeng Ancient City, near Shenzhen, China
#china #ancientcity #architecture
Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau #macau #hote Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau

#macau #hotel #casino #architecture #architecturelovers #architectureporn #travel #travelphotography #travelgram
The Great Mosque of Central Java, Semarang. . . . The Great Mosque of Central Java, Semarang.
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#mosque #masjid #placeofworship #indonesia #loves_united_indonesia #icu_indonesia #ig_world_colors #dusk #nightphotography #nightphoto #nightlights #addicted_to_nights #travelblogger #travelbloggerlife #traveller #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #travellife #total_asia #lensbible #ig_reddit #redditphotography #canon5dmarkiv
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
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
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