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Showing posts with the label City / Town

AUS: Melbourne Downtown (Part 2)

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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia After exploring the vibrant precincts around Yarra River and spending time at State Library Victoria in Part 1 , let's continue to discover more sights in Australia's cultural capital. From historic landmarks to colourful laneways and lively public spaces, Melbourne offers an endless variety of attractions that cater to every type of traveller.
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AUS: Melbourne Downtown (Part 1)

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Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Melbourne, the capital of the state of Victoria, is the second most populous city in Australia. It was officially declared as a city by Queen Victoria in 1847. However, long before the grand buildings and trams came to define the city, the area had already been home to the aboriginal tribes for more than 40,000 years. 
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JPN: Ise City and Toba City

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Ise City, Mie, Japan On one of the days, I headed out of Nagoya for a day trip to Mie Prefecture. My first stop was Ise City, which is home to the revered Ise Grand Shrine. After half a day of exploration and reflection, I made my way to Toba City where the evening promised a different kind of delight: feasting on the local specialty of Japanese spiny lobster.
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JPN: Gifu City Uptown

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Gifu City, Gifu, Japan Away from the downtown area of Gifu City, the pace slows down further along the serene banks of Nagara River. Nearby lies the charming old townscape of Kawaramachi, once a bustling riverside merchant district. Just a short walk away, Gifu Park unfolds at the foot of  Mount Kinka , which is the starting point to  Gifu Castle .
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JPN: Gifu City Downtown

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Gifu City, Gifu, Japan Gifu City is the capital of the landlocked prefecture in central Honshu that shares its name. Playing a pivotal role during the Sengoku period from the 15th to the 16th century, it was once a stronghold of the powerful warlord Oda Nobunaga. Compared to nearby Nagoya, the city embraces a more relaxed urban rhythm.
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JPN: Nagoya Downtown (Part 2)

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Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Time flies, doesn't it? It's hard to believe that a quarter of 2025 has already passed. My backlog is piling up, but anyway, let's continue with our exploration of Nagoya. In this second part, do expect more night shots as I wandered through the city's illuminated streets after sundown. Let's start with Sakae, a vibrant downtown district located approximately 2 km east of Nagoya Station.
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JPN: Nagoya Downtown (Part 1)

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Nagoya, Aichi, Japan Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, is the fourth largest city in Japan. Both before and after World War II, the city has been known as one of the leading industrial and manufacturing hubs in the country. Earning the nickname "Houston and Montreal of the Orient", the city is home to global giants like Toyota.
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COL: Bogota Downtown

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Bogota, Colombia Bogota is the vibrant capital city of Colombia where colonial-era architecture blends seamlessly with modern urban life. Sitting at an altitude of 2,640 m above sea level, it's one of the highest capital cities in the world. The elevation gives Bogota a cool, refreshing climate that remains pleasantly consistent throughout the year.
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PAN: Panama City Downtown

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Panama City, Panama The capital city of Panama is a vibrant metropolis known for its dynamic blend of history and modernity. Located at the Pacific entrance of the renowned Panama Canal that's significantly boosted global trade and the economy, the city was founded on 15 August 1519 by a Spanish conquistador named Pedro Arias Davila.
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CAN: Niagara Falls

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Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the USA. The largest of the trio straddles the international border, while the other two lie within the USA. In Canada, the city that goes by the same name was incorporated on 12 June 1903.
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CAN: Toronto Downtown

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada Toronto, the capital of the Ontario province, is the largest city in Canada. As an international centre of business, finance, arts, sports and culture, it's one of the most multi-cultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world. It's said that approximately half of its residents were born outside of Canada.
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JPN: Yuasa Downtown

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Yuasa, Wakayama, Japan Located to the south of Wakayama City, Yuasa is a small, but thriving port town. Since I was in the prefecture, I made it a point to go to this birthplace of shoyu (Japanese soy sauce). In the past, Yuasa was a resting place for pilgrims travelling the oldest pilgrimage route in Japan known as Kumano Kodo.
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JPN: Wakayama Downtown

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Wakayama City, Wakayama, Japan Wakayama City is the capital and the largest of the nine cities of the prefecture bearing the same name. On average, it takes just about an hour by train from Osaka, and an hour and a half from Kyoto. The area occupied by the city was the centre of the ancient Kii Province (紀伊国), from which the Japanese bookshop chain Kinokuniya (紀伊国屋) derives its name.
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JPN: Omihachiman District @ Shiga Prefecture

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Omihachiman, Japan One of my personal aspirations in life is to visit all 47 prefectures of Japan. For that, I brought along my family on a day trip to Shiga, a landlocked prefecture encircling Lake Biwa, Japan's largest freshwater lake. The quaint Omihachiman district was our destination, which is easily reachable by train from Kyoto.
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JPN: Osaka Downtown

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Osaka City, Osaka, Japan First of all, Happy New Year! Formerly known as Naniwa, Osaka stands as Japan's second largest metropolitan area after Tokyo. It's served by two airports: Kansai International Airport  (KIX) and Osaka International Airport that's also referred to as Itami Airport (ITM). This short post features two areas renowned for their pulsating nightlife and culinary delights.
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JPN: Arashiyama District @ Kyoto Prefecture

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Kyoto, Japan Nestled in the western outskirts of Kyoto, Arashiyama (lit. Storm Mountain) is also the name of the mountain that serves as a backdrop to the district. Primarily known for its enchanting bamboo grove, the area has historically been a haven for aristocrats to seek solace, delighting in the vibrant hues of autumn leaves and going boating along its scenic waterways.
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JPN: Gion District @ Kyoto Prefecture

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Kyoto, Japan Known as Kyoto's most famous geisha (lit. arts person) district, Gion holds a profound historical legacy tracing back to the Sengoku period that spanned from the 15th to the 16th century. The district originated as one designed to cater to the visitors to Yasaka Shrine, a focal point of the Shinto faith in the region.
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JPN: Kyoto Downtown

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Kyoto City, Kyoto, Japan Kyoto, the former imperial capital of Japan known as Heian-kyo, holds an enduring allure for visitors with its seamless blend of ancient traditions and modernity. As mentioned earlier, I don't have a lot of photos to share this time round, but I'll split the story into three posts. The first one here shall cover a few attractions near the downtown area.
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AZE: Baku Downtown

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Baku, Azerbaijan Baku is the capital city of Azerbaijan that's situated at 28 m below sea level, making it the largest city in the world below sea level. It's also the largest city in the Caucasus region, covering an area of approximately 2,140 square kilometres. About 25% of the country's population live in the metropolis.
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AZE: Icherisheher

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Along Neftchilar Avenue, Baku, Azerbaijan Icherisheher (lit. Inner City) is the historical core of the capital city of Azerbaijan that's surrounded by fortress walls. Along with Palace of the Shirvanshahs and Maiden Tower that can be found within the complex, Icherisheher became the first location in the country to be classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
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NZL: Air New Zealand NZ124 (Business)

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MEL-AKL (3h 40m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD: 12.10pm (GMT + 10) ETA: 5.40pm (GMT + 12) I'd heard plenty about Air New Zealand's legacy herringbone seats in the Business Class cabin, mostly not for the right reasons. Lo and behold, I finally had the opportunity to experience them for myself on what was also my first flight ever with the flag carrier of the country. Let's find out whether the criticisms are justified.
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NZL: President Hotel Auckland

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27-35 Victoria Street West, Auckland, New Zealand In Auckland, New Zealand, my travel buddy and I stayed at President Hotel Auckland (3*). Located right in the heart of the Central Business District, the hotel is only 200 m away from soaring Sky Tower. Previously operated by the Best Western group, the property has since been rebranded to Edit Auckland Central.
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NZL: Auckland Domain

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Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand Right in the heart of Auckland lies the city's oldest park, which is one of its largest green spaces. Spanning around 75 hectares, the park was developed around the crater of an extinct volcano. Beyond its expansive lawns and walking paths, it's also home to several notable attractions, such as Auckland War Memorial Museum and Wintergardens.
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