Discovery – The Hidden Panorama

Discovery : The Glico Sign – One of the Most Popular Osaka’s Landmark

Discovery (Post#72) : The Glico Sign – One of the Most Popular Osaka’s Landmark

Photos of the day are all about the famous Glico Sign that both locals and tourist enjoys to take photos to signify that they reached Osaka. The sign became one of the Osaka’s most popular landmark. A marathon runner with arms raised in the air resembling victory design first appeared in red box for Glico’s first nutritious product heart-shaped caramel. It is worthy to know that the marathon runner sign currently displayed in Dotonbori near in Ebisu Bridge is the 6th generation display. The first generation was displayed from 1935 to 1943. The second generation was displayed from 1955 to 1963. Third generation was displayed from 1963 to 1972. The fourth generation was displayed from 1972 to 1996. The fifth generation was displayed from 1998 to 2014. The current sign displayed is an LED billboard. These photos are part of Osaka Tour last May 2017.

Notes :
Photo : Glico sign, Osaka’s Landmark, Dotonbori
Location : Chuo Ward, Osaka, 542-0071, Japan
Directions / Transportation :
1. For trains, there are four Namba Stations where different train lines stops near Namba Hatch.
a. Take Yamatoji Line for JR Namba Station or
b. Take Hanshin-Namba or Kintetsu Limited Express or Kintetsu-Nara Line for Osaka-Namba Station or
c. Take Modosuji Line or Sen-Nichimae Line or Yotsubashi Line (all subway lines) for Namba Station or
d. Take Nankai Line or Nankai-Koya Line or Nankain Limited Express for Namba Station
2. From different station, follow the walking path towards Dotonbori
3. For official access link, please refer here.
Official Website : Glico Sign, Dotonbori

Discovery : Heping Island Park – Blue Ocean Pool

Discovery (Post#71) : Heping Island Park – Blue Ocean Pool

Photos of the day are all about the Blue Ocean Pool within Heping Island Park. One of the interesting to learn about the pool aside of being part of the sea is the opportunity of the swimmer to swim together with tropical fish, crabs and other marine creatures in the blue water. Is it not that fun? The pool was transformed from natural seawater into the waterway to a pool. These photos are part of Keelung City Tour last August 2017.

Notes :
Photo : Heping Island Park Blue Ocean Pool, Ocean Pool
Location : 360, Pingyi Road, Zhongzheng District, Keelung City
Directions / Transportation :
a. From Taipei Main Station, take TRA train to Keelung Station. TRA Train website here.
b. From Keelung Station, go to Visitor Centre where the tourist shuttle bus waits. Keelung Shuttle Bus website here.
c. Choose which Zone option you wanted to visit and enjoy.
d. Please visit the access link to the island park here.
Website : Heping (Peace) Island

Discovery : Kabusanji (Mount Kabu) Temple

Discovery (Post#70) : Kabusanji (Mount Kabu) Temple

Photos of the day are all about Kabusanji Temple or Mount Kabu Temple. Learning about something regarding the temple, made it more interesting. I remembered Yasaka Jinja in Kyoto (not really far from Osaka) which more than 1300 years old, Kabusanji Temple is same old as well. From their official site, the temple is Japan’s first Satsumon Tenden Temple Nemurozan Shrine and it is an example of syncretization of Shinto and Buddhism which I understand that it happens while traveling around Japan. Temple inside the mountain probably a challenge but for me, finding them with nature makes it more appealing for me. These photos are part of Walking and Trekking in Takatsuki last May 2017.

Notes :
Photo : Kabusanji Temple, Mount Kabu Temple, temple,
Location : 3360 Hara, Takatsuki, Osaka 569-1051, Japan
Directions / Transportation :
1. Take JR Tokaido-Sanyo Line and get off at Takatsuki Station
2. Take bus Haraohashi 53 and get off at Kabu Sanguchi Bus Stop
3. Follow the walking trails from bus stop to Kabusanji Temple
4. Visit the official access link to reach the temple here.
Official Website : Kabusanji Temple

Discovery : Fushimi Inari Taisha – Senbon Torii (Thousand Gateways)

Discovery (Post#69) : Fushimi Inari Taisha – Senbon Torii (Thousand Gateways)

Photos of the day are all about Senbon Torii or Thousand Gateways. This is the main reason why we wanted to visit Fushimi Inari Taisha. Because we wanted to walk along the trail with thousand torii or gateways. A discovery to learn why there were thousands of torii gateways in Inari Mountain where Fushimi Inari Taisha is located was because of the reason below :

Torii gateways had become widely used as an offering by the start of the Edo period (1603-1868), to symbolize a wish for or acknowledgement of the “passing” of prayers from people to the deity. Today, there are around 10,000 torii gateways of all sizes along the mountain paths leading to Fushimi Inari Taisha.

— Fushimi Inari Taisha Official Website

These photos are part of First Kyoto Tour last September 2015.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Captured along Senbon Torii

Notes :
Photo : Fushimi Inari Taisha Senbon Torii, Senbon Torii, Thousand Torii, Thousand Gates
Location : 68 Fukakusa Yabunouchichō, Fushimi-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto-fu 612-0882, Japan
Directions / Transportation :
1. Take JR Nara Line towards Nara and get off at Inari Station
2. Visit the official access link to reach the temple here.
Official Website : Fushimi Inari Taisha

Discovery : John Lomas Cottage or Buckingham Palace ?

Discovery (Post#68) : John Lomas Cottage or Buckingham Palace ?

Photos of the day are all about Lomas Cottage which commonly known as Buckingham Palace since Warder Buckingham lived in the cottage. This was built for John Lomas, an ex-convict and became ‘Imperial Pauper’ for whom the Government provided housing and provisions. Because of my curiosity with John Lomas as Imperial Pauper, I found another page which wrote something about him which also questions why an ex-convict for many times, will have its own cottage and even ration supply for his living? To see the article please visit here. The cottage is now being used as exhibition space in the island. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Lomas Cottage, Buckingham Palace, colonial building, historical cottage
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery – Wadjemup Lighthouse

Discovery (Post#67) – Wadjemup Lighthouse

Photos of the day are all about Wadjemup Lighthouse or commonly called as Rottnest Island Lighthouse Station which also located almost at the center of the island not far from Oliver Hill. Its original tower was the first stone lighthouse built in Western Australia made by native prisoners as the island used to be a prison for aboriginals. Then the second tower which is the current visible lighthouse was a replacement of the first that was demolished. I was reminded again that the designer of the lighthouse was William Douglass, the same designer of Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse that I had a chance to visit as part of Margaret River region tour. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Rottnest Island Lighthouse Station, Wadjemup Lighthouse
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery : Rottnest Wind Turbine

Discovery (Post#66) : Rottnest Wind Turbine

Photos of the day are all about Rottnest Wind Turbine. Because the island aims to increase renewal energy and to reduce the greenhouse gas emission, to be able to achieved that objective, a wind turbine was built. Currently it is 35% source of the islands electricity which generates 600kW. Though the island just have 300 permanent residents but it receives half a million visitors annually and 15k during peak season requires enough electricity supply. Even though it cost $3.8 Million but it were able to reduce 430k Liter of diesel and greenhouse emissions by 1.1k tonnes per year. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Notes :
Photo : Rottnest Wind Turbine
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery : The Shark Wreck

Discovery (Post#65) : The Shark Wreck

Photos of the day are all about “The Shark” Wreck. One of the intriguing and interesting scenery that I had seen while our tour bus was taking Parker Point Road in Rottnest Island was the wreckage visible near the coast or beach. It is called “The Shark” Wreck, it was a hopper barge (non-mechanical ship that cannot moved around by itself and designed to carry materials) wrecked happened in 1939 as it broke free from moorings at Fremantle and drifted to Henrietta Rocks where it was wrecked. This wreckage location became one of the easy snorkel spot to enjoy. These photos are part of Rottnest Island Tour October 2016.

The Shark Wreck

Notes :
Photo : The Shark Wreck, hopper barge wreckage, ship wreck
Location : Rottnest Island WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth where different options are available or
2. Take cruise to the island with your own or rented boat
Official Website : Rottnest Island

Discovery : Rabbit-Proof Fence (State Barrier Fence of Western Australia)

Discovery (Post#64) : Rabbit-Proof Fence (State Barrier Fence of Western Australia)

Photos of the day are all about Rabbit-Proof Fence (now called as State Barrier Fence of Western Australia). This fence is the Longest Fence in the World. The fence is a pest-exclusion fence built from 1901-1907 used to keep away rabbits and other agricultural pest from east out of Western Australia. The fences were also previously know as State Vermin Fence and Emu Fence. There are three fences, No.1 Fence which starts from Starvation Bay, west of Esperance on the south coast, to the Ninety Mile Beach, east of Port Hedland. When there were rabbits found passed the No.1 Fence, the No. 2 Fence built which started to Cunderlin and move north to meet No.1 Fence then from Cunderlin to Point Anne on the south coast. The No.3 Fence starts from south of Kalbarri in west coast to meet No.2 Fence in Woogalong. All fences completed in 1907. These photos are part of Wheatbelt Region Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : street billboard, fence name, rabbit-proof fence, vermin fence, emu fence, State Barrier Fence of Western Australia
Location : Corrigin-Quaraiding Road, WA, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth or
2. Drive towards Corrigin-Quaraiding Road
Official Website : None

Discovery : York Hotel (formerly known as Palace Hotel)

Discovery (Post#63) : York Hotel (formerly known as Palace Hotel)

Photo of the day is about York Hotel which previously known as Palace Hotel. This hotel was built by a former farmer named Matthew Ryan. And at that time, the hotel was considered luxurious because of its tiles, fitting and furnishings. But such splendid hotel did not come in cheap. Mr. Ryan had financial difficulties which resulted him to mortgage to a pastoral company. In the end, the hotel was sold but Mr. Ryan still stayed in the hotel and did not want to leave the property even threatened the new owner of the hotel. They heard at that time that Mr. Ryan will blow-up the hotel if he was forced to leave the premises. Then he got arrested and found evidence of this plans to blow-up the hotel. Mr. Ryan went into trial but his claim and explanation was changed which made him found not guilty. The name of the hotel changed to York Hotel after it was bought by Swan Brewery in 1937. Some parts of hotel has already been changed since its renovations in 1990s with the new owner named Mr. John Hay. The photo is part of Wheatbelt Region Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : heritage building, York Hotel, old Palace Hotel (York)
Location : 145 Avon Terrace, York WA 6302, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth or
2. Take bus from Transwa Bay East Perth to Esperance or Albany and get off at Joaquina St in York Town
3. Take train from Perth Station to Midland Station, then exchange train from Midland Station to Joaquina St Station in York.
Official Website : York Palace Hotel

Discovery – Castle Hotel (York, WA)

Discovery (Post#62) : Castle Hotel (York, WA)

Photos of the day are all about York Castle Hotel located in the corner of South Street and Avon Terrace. This hotel is the oldest inland hotel not only in the town but in the whole state of Western Australia which established in 1853 and managed by Craig family until 1990. One of the interesting discovery in this hotel aside from being the longest family business running in York, was found during its renovations in 1989, when the paint was stripped in the dining room, they found an insignia of the Order of the Garter with its motto “Honisoit qui mal y pense” (translated as “Shame on him who thinks this evil”). The Order of the Garter is the highest and oldest order of British chivalry founded by Edward III in 1348. The said discovery made some assumptions that the room used by members of Agricultural Society (wealthier and influential men of the town), other people believed that Court session may have been held in the room. As of this writing, this historical hotel still in business and offers combinations of accommodations, shops, bistro, bars and swimming pool. These photos are part of Wheatbelt Region Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : heritage building, hotel, Castle Hotel (York, WA)
Location : 95-97 Avon Terrace, York WA 6302, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth or
2. Take bus from Transwa Bay East Perth to Esperance or Albany and get off at Joaquina St in York Town
3. Take train from Perth Station to Midland Station, then exchange train from Midland Station to Joaquina St Station in York.
Official Website : Castle Hotel

Discovery : Cape Leeuwin Weather Station

Discovery (Post#61) : Cape Leeuwin Weather Station

Photos of the day are all about Cape Leeuwin Weather Station. Because of the strategic location of Cape Leeuwin, it became a great place to put instruments that will observe the wind speed and direction, temperature, rainfall, barometric pressure, visibility, cloud formations and the state of the sea. Based on history, the station started to logged these information since Jan 1, 1897 until 1993 when non-staff ‘Automatic Weather Station’ installed in the precinct. The station is one of the longest continuous observational weather data records in Western Australia. These photos are part of Margaret River (Western Australia) Region Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : meteorological instruments, information board
Location : Leeuwin Road, AUGUSTA WA 6290, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth or
2. Take Transwa Train from Perth Station to Bunbury Passenger Terminal. Then, take Pemberton Bus to Augusta and get off at Blackwood Avenue. Finally, take a taxi from Blackwood Avenue to Cape Leeuwin.
Official Website : Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse

Discovery : Zygomaturus Jawbone

Discovery (Post#60) : Zygomaturus Jawbone

Photos of the day are all about fossil of Zygomaturus Jawbone, an extinct large marsupial from Australia. During the visit in Mamoth Cave, we had a chance to see the fossil jawbone that still embedded within the limestone wall that was dated 50,000 years. These photos are part of Margaret River (Western Australia) Region Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : fossil, jawbone, Zygomaturus Jawbone
Location : Caves Rd, Boranup WA 6286, Australia
Transportation :
1. Join Day Tours from Perth or
2. Driving to Boranup
Official Website : Mammoth Cave

Discovery : Swan Bells (The Bell Tower)

Discovery (Post#59) : Swan Bells (The Bell Tower)

Photos of the day are all about Swan Bells or famously known as “The Bell Tower” or “Swan Bell Tower”. When I reached Barrack Street Jetty, I was fascinated on glass tower located in Barrack Square. I did not know much about the tower aside from seeing it as outstanding structure from where I am. I was not able to get inside of the tower to see it up close, since its already closed for the day. Swan Bells is set of 18 bells hanging in specifically built campanile in Perth and is one of the largest sets of change ringing bells in the world. These photos are part of Perth and Surround Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Bell Tower, Campanile, Swan Bells
Location : Perth, WA, Australia
Transportation : Perth CAT
Official Website : The Bell Tower

Discovery : The Perth Mint’s Golds

Discovery (Post#58) : The Perth Mint’s Golds

Photos of the day are all about golds displayed inside the mint. Some gold are still in the form of dust and some are still nuggets. And the amazing thing to learn about gold is that it is a metal which are not naturally existed in earth but came from outer space as debris from a supernova. It means that the amount of gold we have in the world is limited and fixed. These photos are part of Perth and Surround Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Gold
Location : 310 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004, Australia
Transportation : Perth CAT
Official Website : Perth Mint

Discovery : Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin – The World’s Largest Gold Bullion Coin

Discovery (Post#57) : Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin – The World’s Largest Gold Bullion Coin

Photos of the day are all about Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin. The gold bullion coin is 99.99% pure gold, the biggest, heaviest and the most valuable gold bullion coin in the world. And currently estimated to be worth as AUD 50 million. The obverse of the coin also portrays the Ian Rank-Broadley effigy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. These photos are part of Perth and Surround October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Gold Bullion Coin, Australian Kangaroo One Tonne Gold Coin
Location : 310 Hay St, East Perth WA 6004, Australia
Transportation : Perth CAT
Official Website : Perth Mint

Discovery : The Australian Pearl

Discovery (Post#56) : The Australian Pearl

Photo of the day is about the Australian Pearl. One of the rarest and most valuable pearls ever produced was in display in Cygnet Bay Pearls store because it achieved all the five pearl grading virtues (lustre, surface, shape, size and colour) perfectly. The pearl is said to be the World’s Largest Fine Quality White/Pink Round Pearl. The photo is part of Broome Sightseeing Tour October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Cultured Pearl
Location : 2/23 Dampier Terrace, Broome WA 6725, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Transit, Broome Cycles, Broome Broome
Official Website : Cygnet Bay Pearls

Discovery : Pearls

Discovery (Post#55) : Pearls

Photos of the day are all about Pearls. One of the stop we had while in Broome was a store of pearl called Cygnet Bay Pearls. It may sound like marketing strategy of the store to be part of Sightseeing Tour, but the store itself is the famous and has the Australia’s oldest operating pearl farm. The store gave me an opportunity to see genuine cultured pearls. And while at the store, I had a chance to listened for a presentation about pearls. In the said presentation, I had a chance to see different pearls while the presenter was talking about the different characteristics of pearls and how a pearl has more value than the other. These photos are part of Broome Sightseeing Tour October 2016.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Notes :
Photo : Cultured Pearl
Location : 2/23 Dampier Terrace, Broome WA 6725, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Transit, Broome Cycles, Broome Broome
Official Website : Cygnet Bay Pearls

Discovery : Pinctada Maxima

Discovery (Post#54) : Pinctada Maxima

Photos of the day is all about “Pinctada Maxima” that was displayed in Broome Historical Museum. It is marine bivalve mollusk, world largest pearl oysters with two color varieties : the White-lipped oyster and the Gold-lipped oyster. It is also known as South Sea Pearls.

The pearls that cultured in Broome are called Australian South Sea Pearls which best known and valued for their white/silver with pink hues from the white(silver)-lipped pearl oyster.

The interesting facts about this Pinctada Maxima, it is the same type of pearls that can be found in my country (Philippines) 1000 peso bill which also known as Philippine South Sea Pearl, typically produce golden pearls from the gold-lipped pearl oyster.

Truly indeed places has relations to each other and South Sea Pearl is one of it. The photo is part of Broome Historical Museum Visit October 2016.

Pinctada Maxima

Notes :
Photo : Exhibit, Archive, Display
Location : 67 Robinson St, Broome WA 6725, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Transit, Broome Cycles, Broome Broome
Official Website : Broome Historical Society & Museum

Discovery : Riji

Discovery (Post#53) : Riji

Photo of the day is about “Riji”. Riji (from Bardi language) or jakuli are the pearl shells traditionally worn by Aboriginal men in Broome Region. It is worn as pubic coverings and only men initiated to the highest degree could traditionally wear them. Riji were objects of great value and were traded with inland Aborigines along ancient trade routes over vast areas of the continent. The photo is part of Broome Historical Museum Visit October 2016.

Notes :
Photo : Exhibit, Archive, Display
Location : 67 Robinson St, Broome WA 6725, Australia
Transportation : Town Bus Service, Broome Transit, Broome Cycles, Broome Broome
Official Website : Broome Historical Society & Museum