The Mango Road

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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
        • The Green Hub
        • 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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Sticky fingers on Happiness Street
• Eating • Macau 

Sticky fingers on Happiness Street

12th February 202612th February 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments air_eat, slider

Sticky fingers on Happiness Street Naughty Nuri’s, 7 Rua FelicidadeMacau SAR+853 2853 0425 Rua Felicidade means Happiness Street, but it

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New meets old A journey to Nantou Ancient City
• A Postcard From ... • China 

New meets old

5th February 20265th February 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

A journey to Nantou Ancient City New meets oldA journey to Nantou Ancient City I burnished my old fart credentials

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On the Waterfront
• Features • Hong Kong 

On the Waterfront

20th January 202622nd January 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

A stroll on Hong Kong’s newly completed promenade On the WaterfrontA stroll on Hong Kong’s newly completed promenade At the

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The silk islands of Koh Dach
• Features • Cambodia 

The silk islands of Koh Dach

28th August 202424th January 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

The silk islands of Koh Dach Where are the worms, I asked. “There,” said the lady pointing at a dinner

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Ayutthaya: The ancient capital of Siam
• Features • Thailand 

Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam

21st June 202417th November 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam At its peak, Ayutthaya was said to be one of the most magnificent cities

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Steam train Darjeeling station
• Features • India 

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The little blue train

13th June 202420th January 2026 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories, transport

Darjeeling Himalayan Railway: The little blue train According to an 1896 publication, Illustrated Guide for Tourists to The Darjeeling Himalayan

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The North Borneo Railway: Steaming Back in Time
• Features • Malaysia 

The North Borneo Railway: Steaming Back in Time

5th July 20193rd April 2025 The Mango Road 0 Comments slider, Stories

The fireman throws logs into the already roaring fire, a whistle blows, and in a cloud of steam and smoke, locomotive number 6-016 chuffs out into a sun-drenched

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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
The chrysanthemums, among many others, are in bloo The chrysanthemums, among many others, are in bloom at the Wun Chuen Sin Koon Taoist Temple in Hong Kong’s New Territories.
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#wunchuensinkoon #temple #monastery #chinesetemple #shrine #religion #hongkonghistory #pingche #hongkongphotography #hongkongphoto #hongkong #hkig #discoverhongkong #travel #travelhk #explorehk #visualhongkong #visithongkong #amazinghongkong #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #picsofhk #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #traveladdict #themoderndayexplorer
Hire a bamboo raft and cruise down the spectacular Hire a bamboo raft and cruise down the spectacular Li River. towards the ancient village of Xingping, near Yangshuo, China. Towering limestone karsts, sculpted by the elements, rear up from an otherwise flat plain. The riverbanks are fringed with bamboo and the occasional hamlet.
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#karst # limestone #geology #landscape #earthofficial #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #awesome_earthpix #landscapephotography #liriver #丽江 #lirivercruise  #riverfun #raft #boat #riverlife #yangshuo  #chinadestinations #raw_china #china #chinatravel #loves_united_china #chinalife #chinatrips #ruralchina #traveltheworld #traveladdict
Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau . . #macau # Grand Lisboa Hotel and Casino, Macau
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#macau 
#urbannightphotography 
#urbanphotography
#cityphotography
#nightphotography
Incense coils at a Chinese temple in Macau. . #mac Incense coils at a Chinese temple in Macau.
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#macau #incense #smoke #burn #religion #religionsoftheworld #photography #travelphotography 📷 #travelphotography
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🌿
A small Rainbow Village, near Tosari in the steep A small Rainbow Village, near Tosari in the steep valleys of the Tengger Highlands, East Java. 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
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
Young boy ruffling some feathers in Kathmandu's Du Young boy ruffling some feathers in Kathmandu's Durbar Square, Nepal.
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#kathmandu #nepal #pigeons #childhood
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
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
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 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
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
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 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
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
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
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
The wonderfully atmospheric Pat Heung Old Temple w The wonderfully atmospheric Pat Heung Old Temple was built around two hundred and fifty years ago and is dedicated to the worship of Kwun Yum, more often know as Guanyin outside Hong Kong.
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#patheungtemple #temple #kwunyum #kwunyumtemple #guanyin #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
Plaster mouldings and decorated screen doors at th Plaster mouldings and decorated screen doors at the Lik Wing Tong Study Hall in in Hong Kong's New Territories.
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#heritage #history #doorway #likwingtong #studyhall #architecture #hongkongphoto #oldworldcharm #kamtin #newterritories #hkig #hkiger #ilovehongkong #discoverhongkong #discoverhk #awesomehongkong #visualhongkong #hongkongphotography #wonderful_places #traveling_photographs #peacefulplace #postcardplaces #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveldeeper #globetrotter #exploringhongkongsnewterritories
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
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
I took this shot many years ago one foggy morning I took this shot many years ago one foggy morning on the Dieng Plateau in Central Java. Back then there were only two rather simple hotels. Early mornings were always wonderfully misty and mysterious but the sun would shine before lunch. In the afternoons it rained heavily.
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#dieng #diengplateau #exploredieng #terracedfields #offthebeatenpath #earthpix #landscape #earthofficial #awesome_earthpix #earthfocus #earthoutdoors #landscapelovers #landscapehunter #fantastic_earth #landscapephotography #loves_united_indonesia #icu_indonesia #travelblogger #travelbloggerlife #traveller #naturelover #indonesigeographic #volcano #globetrotter #letsgosomewhere #traveltheworld #wanderlustsyndicate #traveladdict #travellif
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
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
Cotton grass and limestone karsts not far from Yan Cotton grass and limestone karsts not far from Yangshuo, Guangxi province in southern China.

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#moonhill #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
Petronas Towers and the Kuala Lumpur skyline. . . Petronas Towers and the Kuala Lumpur skyline.
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#petronas #petronastowers #petronastwintowers #architecture #tallbuildings #skyscraper #kualalumpur #kualalumpurcity #kualalumpurmalaysia #kualalumpurtower #explorekualalumpur#kuala_lumpur #malaysia #architecturephotography #architecturelovers #skyline #urbanlandscape #cityscape #cityview #citiesoftheworld #asiancities #asiatravel #traveldeeper #thediscoverer #borntotravel #traveltheworld #seetheworld #doyoutravel #traveltheworld #traveladdict
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
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
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