Structure – The Hidden Panorama

Structure : Taipei City Gate – The North Gate (Chengenmen)

Structure (Post#22) : Taipei City Gate – The North Gate (Chengenmen)

Photos of the day are all about The North Gate or Chengenmen. The name of “Chengen” means “to inherit the grace of the heavens”. In all five historic gates of the old Taipei City Wall, The North Gate is the only one that still intact from its original Qing Dynasty architectural style while other gates were renovated into Chinese palace style. Historically, North Gate was important gateway during its old days but even that was the case, it was still planned for demolition but because of the scholars petition, it was decided to preserve. It was amazing to know that previously there was elevated highway beside it which removed to showcase how important cultural heritage The North Gate is. Currently, it is the most valuable state-designated historic sites in Taipei. These photos are part of Second Taipei Tour last August 2017.

Notes :
Photo : The North Gate, Cheng’enmen, Taipei City Gate North Gate,
Location : Section 1, Zhongxiao West Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100
Directions / Transportation :
From Taipei Main Station, get off at South Exit/Entrance of the train, then turn right and walk beside the Zhongxiao West Road and the gate can immediately be seen along the road.
Website : Beimen Memorial Park / North Gate

Structure : The Perth Mint

Structure (Post#17) : The Perth Mint

Photos of the day are all about Perth Mint. It is the oldest operating mint in Australia and the only remaining gold rush mint since Sydney Mint and Melbourne Mint were both closed. And to recognized the architectural work of this building, it is one of the first building entered on the State’s heritage register. These photos are part of Perth and Surround October 2016.

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

Structure : Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

Structure (Post#10) : Queen Victoria Women’s Centre

The building itself survive over a century and has been part of colourful history of Melbourne Hospital now The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Queen Victoria Memorial Hospital. Supposed to be for demolition but because of women’s organization, this historical building still survive. The snapshot is part of Queen Victoria Women’s Centre Photo Collection last July 2013.

Structure : Melbourne Town Hall

Structure (Post#9) : Melbourne Town Hall

One of the noticeable building at the heart of Melbourne CBD is Melbourne Town Hall which built in 1867. The building has its grandeur architectural design not only because of its impressive exterior style but also because it composed of many rooms that displays how majestic the town hall itself. The photo is part of Melbourne Town Hall Photo Collection 2013.

Interior : Riverside Centre Entrance Lobby

Interior (Post#3) : Riverside Centre Entrance Lobby

When I visited Brisbane during the two-days Open House event in the city, I signed-up in the website for the event organizers and I got selected to visit or tour the Riverside Centre building located in Eagle Street at the heart of business district of the city beside the Brisbane River. One of the fascinating things to see in the building is the Carlberg sculpture seen against exposed rib structure at the entrance of the building. Photo captured last October 2013.

Carlberg sculpture seen against exposed rib structure

A View of Yamashita Park and Marine Tower

Yamashita Park with Marine Tower

Yamashita Park

The green park that we saw before we reached Hikawa Maru is Yamashita Park. The place is appropriate in such place where both locals and visitors enjoys the walks while appreciating the beautiful view that Port of Yokohama offers.

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Yamashita Park

Hotel New Grand – at the front of Yamashita Park

Marine Tower

Marine Tower is located near where Hikawa Maru docked. Its front is Yamashita Park. The tower is considered as the tallest lighthouse in the world. We just took photos of the tower and we did not try anymore to visit its observation deck.

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Marine Tower

Osanbashi Pier – An Imaginary Spaceship Resemblance Terminal

While taking snapshots of the surrounding area of Yokohama port, we cannot avoid not to see Osanbashi Pier. I knew it was a pier because we saw large cruise ships stops in the area. But without really thinking it is a pier I just thought that it was a huge space ship because of its color, shape and design, very futuristic.

Osanbashi Pier – An Imaginary Spaceship Resemblance Terminal

Featuring Our World : Cloverdale

Featuring Our World (Post#2) : Cloverdale

While I am looking what to post for photo theme, I randomly checked my picasa web photos online and found one album of photos that I haven’t written a travel post story because I just visited the place of a friend that I met while staying in Edmonton, near her house in Strathearn where it offers a great view of Edmonton Downtown and its surrounding areas. It’s pretty amazing that I still have those photos after almost 8 years that had been passed. The following photos includes the Gallagher Park where Muttart Conservatory are located. North Saskatchewan River is visible and even the Commonwealth Stadium. Photos captured last May 2008.

View from Cloverdale

Downtown from Cloverdale 2

Downtown View from the top of Gallagher Park

Downtown from Cloverdale

Muttart Conservatory from the top of Gallagher Park

Commonwealth Stadium from Cloverdale

Gallagher Park 1

Commonwealth Stadium from Cloverdale 2

Up Close of Minato Mirai 21 and Dropping By at Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History

Minato Mirai 21

We continued our walk from Nippon Maru Memorial Park until we reached the JR Sakuragicho Station. For me it was a great walk as the surroundings is really refreshing for me. Like what I experienced when my sister and I walked towards Ginza during our first night in Japan, the walk was relaxing since it still morning. The climate is not hot and just right for a good walk in the city. While we were quite a bit far from Landmark Tower, it was an amazing view of the surroundings which later I just learned that the central business district of Yokohama is called Minato Mirai 21 which means “Port of the Future in the 21st Century”.

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Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History

We crossed the Ookagawa River or Ooka River and followed the road until we found the Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History. The museum was the former Yokohama Specie Bank (a Japanese founded bank which has a significant role in Japan-China trade during 1880s as per Wikipedia). The museum’s displays focuses on the history and culture of Kanagawa Prefecture. We went inside to check what we can see, were only able to had a glimpse in the first floor where some photos of the prefecture are displayed.

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A Transient Walk In Queen’s Square Yokohama And Discovering of Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo

Queen’s Square Yokohama

Queen’s Square Yokohama (from the outside)

As we ascended from Minatomirai station to the 1st floor of Queen’s Square, all the stores were still close, since it’s still a bit early for the mall to open. We took the escalator, I can sense that the area has a bit of elegance and glamour. The ambiance that surrounds the place was also relaxing as the mall is spacious when we reached the 1st floor. We walked a bit in the Queen’s Square, then we went outside towards Landmark Tower.

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On the way to the 1st Floor of Queen’s Square

Queen’s Square

Elegant Directions

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Outside Queen’s Square to Landmark Plaza

Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo

Between Queen’s Square and Landmark Plaza, we found a silver or chrome structural art. It is a magnificent roller-coaster-esque sculpture. As per map that I got, the structure is not only an art display, it has a purpose too. The art helps to break the wind tunnel that forms between the Landmark Tower and Queen’s Square Skyscrapers which still good to know. The public art is called Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo.

Queen’s Square (from Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo)

Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo

An Express Ramble Between Landmark Plaza And Landmark Tower

Landmark Plaza

After spending time taking photos with the steel structure art called Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo, we walked in to the next mall called Landmark Plaza just beside Queen’s Square and based from the brochure that I got, the plaza is one of the most popular shopping complex in the city. Like the Queen’s Square mall, we just passed the mall too as all the shops are still closed. At the ground of the plaza, we spent time walking around the area and we took some souvenir photos because the mall has open space in the middle where it boast the elegant design of its floors up to the ceilings together with its pillars that supports the building. The mall is just beside the Landmark Tower.

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Photos outside Landmark Plaza

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Some photos inside Landmark Plaza

Landmark Tower

Entrance to Landmark Tower

During the trip, we thought that we can visit the tower later that day. Because of that, we decided to visit the tower as our last place to stop. But unfortunately, the day we spent it Yokohama was not really enough to see all the places recommended to visit. The opportunities we have in this tower was only to see it from the outside.

Landmark Tower from the outside

A Day Walk in Yokohama – Popularly Known as Port City of Japan

It was Saturday and our second day in Japan. I had my itinerary for that day but initially I was having second thoughts on the plan, it’s just that too many places that I wanted to see for a short period of time. But since I can’t decide of places that will replace the activity for the day, I ended up following the plan that I created which was to visit Yokohama.

Yokohama is the second largest city by population (according to Wikipedia) in Japan following Tokyo. I think one good reason of being one of the largest city aside from being near or beside Tokyo as its strategic location is also because the city is part where Tokyo Bay is located. Currently Tokyo Bay was heavily industrialized where a lot of development occurred and Yokohama progressed along with it.

Based on history, Yokohama tremendously affected by what Japan called Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923 and World War II bombings which impacted the development of the city.

Seeing the city with my very own eyes, if there are historical evidence of war in the place or ruins of earthquake, it may not be evident to the sights and places that we visited during the day trip. The whole day that myself and my family spent in Yokohama was indeed a worthy visit.

Shimbashi Station

Yokohama Station

From Kayabacho Station, we took Tozai Line to Nihombashi Station, we transferred to Ginza Line to Shimbashi Station and from the same station we took JR Tokaido Line going to Yokohama Station. Around 10AM, we reached Yokohama Station, from the station we took Tokyu Toyoko Minatomirai Line which is a local train in Yokohama. We used the Passmo card in the local train.

We reached Minatomirai Station, we got off the station and we found ourselves inside the mall, wherein the Queen’s Square is just at the top of the station. I felt excited because it seems that there’s something exciting to discover in the city.

During our visit in the city, the places we saw in Yokohama were:

1. Queen’s Square and Mok Mok Wak Wak Yokohama Yo Yo

2. Landmark Plaza and Landmark Tower

3. Nippon Maru Memorial Park

4. Minato Mirai 21 and Kanagawa Prefectural Museum of Cultural History

5. NYK (Nippon Yusen Kaisha) Maritime Museum and NYK Hikawamaru

6. Zuo-No-Hana Park / Zuo-No-Hana Terrace

7. Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse

8. Osanbashi Pier

9. Yamashita Park and Marine Tower

To be honest, one day was not enough to see everything in the city, seeing all the brochures that I got, there are more places that I wanted to enjoy and discover. I hope I can comeback again wherein time is not really a constraint.

It was a great day spent in Yokohama.

Colors : Tent City Area – Ciudad de Victoria

Colors (Post #3) – Tent City Area – Ciudad de Victoria

When my family decided to celebrate the New Year’s Eve at Ciudad de Victoria in Bocaue Bulacan where the biggest dome-arena in the world is located which is Philippine Arena, at the time of celebration there were Tent City area that surrounds the place. The photo above was just one of them. This photo captured last December 30, 2014.

Ueno Park – One of Japan’s First Public Park and Once Kaneiji’s Ground

Ueno Park

Ueno Park

From Tokyo Station, we took JR Yamanote Line to Ueno Station. We got off at Ueno Station to visit Ueno Park. The park entrance is just beside the Ueno Station and because of this no one will ever miss the park by any visitors. We checked the map and search for things we can see around the area. There are lots of places to see in the park and all these places had their own entrance tickets. Because that day was our last day in Tokyo, we wanted to make a wise decision because we wanted to see more places as we can in a limited time that we have.

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Grand Fountain

Day Market

Tokyo National Museum

Therefore we decided to walk around the park and not to enter to any museums. Near the entrance we passed the The National Museum of Western Art Tokyo. Next, we saw the Grand Fountain wherein at the time of our visit, beside the fountain was the temporary day market. As we walked further we found The Tokyo National Museum. During that walk I used Triposo app to see if we can see interesting areas in the park aside from museums. Facing The Tokyo National Museum main entrance gate, we turned right and found The Ueno Rinnoji Temple (Rinno-ji Ryodaishi-do) which is a Buddhist temple which enshrined two priest. The temple is part of cathedral of Kaneiji temple. Beside Rinnoji temple, the Kaneiji Temple Imperial Cemetery. After taking few photos around the temple we walked back towards The Tokyo National Museum until we were near the Gate of the Inshu-Ikeda Residence known as “Kuromon (Black Gate)”.

The Ueno Rennoji Temple

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Kuromon (Black Gate)

Kuroda Mermorial Hall

In the same corner of Kuromon, we saw Kuroda Memorial Hall. The hall was part of the estate of Kuroda Seiki which considered as father of modern western-style painting. Kuroda Seiki offered the part of his estate to be used for furtherment of the art.

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Kaneiji Temple

From the corner, we turned right and walked until we found the Kaneiji Temple. Kaneiji temple is also a Buddhist temple. I just learned that the whole Ueno Park are grounds of Kaneiji which converted into the park after it was destroyed during civil war and the temple has been relocated to where it is now. We spent time for taking photos in the surroundings of the temple and left to continue our stroll in the park.

Prince Komatsu statue

Ueno Park – Famous in Cherry Blossoms During Spring Season

We walked back to the center of the park by taking the same path we took on the way to Kaneiji Temple. After reaching the Kuroda Memorial Hall again, we walk the pathway where we found the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum. We passed the main gate of more than century old Ueno Zoo. Along the way we saw the statue of Prince Komatsu. According to Wikipedia, Prince Komatsu Akihito was a member of Fushimi-no-miya, one branches of shinnoke of imperial family of Japan and eligible to Chrysanthemum Throne if the main line died out.

Benten Gate

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Bentendo

Some Fish found in Boat Pond

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Boat Pond

We walked in the middle and main walkway of the park. The said pathway is the famous area for sightseeing during spring season where visitors expecting cherry blossoms. In the nearby area we found the Benten Gate and Benten Hall which surrounded by ponds such as Uno Pond, Boat Pond, Shinobazu Pond and Hasu Pond. Benten Hall was dedicated to Benten a goddess of good fortune, wealth, music and knowledge.

The Shitamachi Museum

From Benten Hall we walked towards The Shitamachi Museum (Museum of Down Town Customs). The said museum was dedicated to its traditional culture of Tokyo’s Shitamachi.

Ameyoko

After leaving Ueno Park, we walked in the nearby market called Ameyoko (a short name of Ameya Yokocho – candy store alley). Based on history the market was black market before second world war where most of American products were available. But even this time, it seems that if follows the history, because the said market still selling lots of various western products and common store sellers are not local Japanese but foreigners.

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Chromatic Outlook : Saigon Central Post Office

Chromatic Outlook (Post#23) : Saigon Central Post Office

One of the significant building to see while we’re strolling around the downtown of Ho Chi Minh (also known as Saigon) was its French building Saigon Central Post Office. This building was constructed in 1892 with a neo-classical architectural style when the country was still part of French-Indochina. Photo captured last March 2011 during my backpacking adventure in Vietnam.

Beyond Our Reach : Menara Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur Tower)

Beyond Our Reach (Post#1) : Menara Kuala Lumpur

One part of our itinerary during our visit in the capital city of Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur is its famous tower named Menara Kuala Lumpur or Kuala Lumpur Tower. Though we never went to its observation deck, we just stroll around the area which is a great place to chill out. Looking at the KL Tower from the ground by imagination from where I coming from, its tower tip is beyond my reach. But this kind of tower enable the human to see things far from its limitation and made our vision see it for real.

Interior : The Block Arcade – Elizabeth St Interior Walkway

Interior (Post#2) : The Block Arcade – Elizabeth St Interior Walkway

One of the things that I really enjoyed in Australia while strolling around in its different cities are its century old arcades and one of them is “The Block Arcade” or simply “The Block”. The said arcade is located almost at the center of Melbourne CBD. When I got a chance to enter in this European touched arcade I was really amazed. Looking at its interior design, you will really feel the building’s history and culture. Photo captured last July 2013 while walking around the city.

Structure : Royal Exhibition Building

Structure (Post#3) : Royal Exhibition Building

Royal Exhibition Building is one of the building on my list that I wanted to visit while I was in Melbourne. But it was only happened when Motorclassica (showcasing classic cars) event happened last October 2013.. Visiting the building requires reservation and most of the time, it is fully booked for events and exhibitions. This building based on history was the first in Australia to be awarded as UNESCO World Heritage status, being one of the last remaining 19th-century exhibition building. The building also hosted the opening of the first Parliament of Australia in 1901.

Chromatic Outlook : 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Chromatic Outlook (Post #22) : 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

This post is related to the first photo I published under “Theme” which featured a classic car with a model of 1923 Chenard et Walcker 3L Roadster. This time I am featuring one of the super luxurious sports car – 2012 Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster. This model of Lamborghini was displayed in the Motorclassica event that I attended in Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne last October 2013. The event gave me a chance to glimpse the car from a distance. It was so close yet so far as it has some distance to the spectators.

Structure : British Columbia (BC) Legislature Building

Structure (Post#2) : British Columbia (BC) Legislature Building

BC Legislature Building is one of the significant structure that are noticeable within Victoria in Vancouver Island. This is the building where Members of Legislative Assembly to create, review and debate whether they pass or reject the law. From the shore, this building seems like a castle because of the architecture structure design that it has that is truly admiring to whoever got a chance to see this building. I never got a chance to enter this building as I only spent one day in Victoria during my 5 days visit in British Columbia province in Canada last June 2008.