Shikoku is One

Based on the principle, “Shikoku is One”, Shikoku Tourism has been working with local governments, tourism regional development corporations, related businesses, and economic organisations in the region to promote the attractiveness of Shikoku, both at home and abroad. They plan to attract more visitors to the island, in cooperation with ministries and agencies, the Shikoku District Transport Bureau, and JNTO.

Having been selected to be inside Lonely Planet “Best in Travel 2022” Regional Edition, this year’s selection is another recognition to the Shikoku pilgrimage culture of hospitality and the awareness of local residents to protect the environment, thanks to the joint efforts of the public and private sectors.

Shikoku Tourism is strongly encouraged by this selection, they will be moving forward “with” and “after” the global pandemic COVID-19. They will continue to take this opportunity of the ongoing Shikoku Destination Campaign to actively promote the establishment of the Shikoku brand in an effort to attract visitors with a focus on safety and security.

What is Lonely Planet?

Lonely Planet is a travel media company known for its globally popular guidebook series of the same name.

Lonely Planet is a travel media company known for its globally popular series of guidebooks of the same name. In addition to English, the company offers guidebooks, travel magazines, websites, videos and other media in a variety of languages, including German, French, Italian and Spanish

Information and links

For more information on Shikoku, please visit Shikoku Tourism website.

Lonely Planet’s website: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel

On a personal note as a avid Japan travel and tourism fan

If you have been following my travel and tourism coverage, I am a big fan of Japan travel and tourism. There are many prefectures in Japan that I have yet to visit, Shikoku is one of them I watch and follow various travel programs around the world, from local Japanese travel to international broadcast (e.g. BBC Travel) and media outlets as well as travel information from local JR Cafe here in Singapore and travelers and photographers from Japan that I know on Twitter. One of the Japanese destinations that caught my attention is Shikoku, I have been researching on Shikoku, adding travel plans and locations that I want to visit in Shikoku.

Some of the travel destinations/itineraries that I would like visit/embark on in Shikoku are

1. Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage
2. JR Shimonada Station
3. Dogo Onsen Honkan
4. Vine Bridges in the Iya Valley
5. Mt Kamegamori 

I really hope to visit Shikoku prefecture in the near future, share my travel stories, photographs and videos to the whole world!

* Information and picture courtesy of Shikoku Tourism, Lonely Planet and Media Outreach *

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Having printed my own photography book previously, as well as printing different sizes of photographs from square pocket, 4R to A3 size, it was very enjoyable, a sense of pride and achievement when I printed my photographs, for display or as a gift. Next up, I created an account with Zno and began my printing adventure!

Zno Designer user interface, layout and workflow

Using Zno Designer user interface and layout is not difficult at all, it’s pretty easy to navigate, select and start making your desired photo book. Once you have your curated and edited photographs ready for your photo book, it’s not difficult at all to upload your photos, placing and arranging them to your liking and preference. 

My Hokkaido 2016 autumn travel photography adventures

I visited Hokkaido during October 2016 for an autumn travel photography adventure, wonderful and bright colourful memories brought upon by the changing colours of the maple leaves. I was able to get two seasons in one frame, with autumn colours and winter snow covering some of the destinations that I visited in Hokkaido. Do visit my Flickr photography collection and you can enjoy my Hokkaido autumn travel photos! 

Therefore, I decided to select my Hokkaido 2016 autumn travel photography adventures as the theme for my square 8×8 little black book with Zno.

Personal thoughts and views

Although this Square 8×8 hard cover little black book of 24 photographs is printed at no cost from Zno, the international shipping fee is not covered and I had to pay for it. 

When I unboxed and opened up my Square 8×8 Little Black Book photo album of my Hokkaido 2016 autumn travel photos, I was impressed by the Lustre Photo Paper quality and vibrant colours. This little black book is classy yet modern and elegant with a designer feel and look. 

This would be a good personal photography book for all (not just photographers) to showcase their photography works, special moments or travel memories, and of course, this can also be part of a photographer’s portfolio of works for the clients to touch, feel and enjoy. A little black book makes a lovely gift idea for any occasion! For those who wonder about printing photographs, I would like to share with you my article, “Why we should go back to printing photographs”

For the high quality paper and print quality, my personal opinion is Zno pricing is reasonable and really good. 

I would like to thank Zno for this opportunity to know more about you as a new lab printing house and to be able to print a square 8×8 hard cover little black book of my Hokkaido 2016 autumn travel photography adventures.

The post A Square 8×8 Little Black Book with Zno appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Yes, in the comfort of your home kitchen, with the help of modern technology apps such as Zoom or Skype, we can learn from the locals in Japan on authentic Japanese cooking! Being a huge travel fan of Japan and Japanese cuisine (check out my Japan travel photography collection!), I started to look at airKitchen online cooking classes that are currently available.

I am a big fan of Japanese ramen, there are quite a number of different varieties and styles of Japanese ramen and I always wanted to learn how to cook ramen. Looking through the online classes, I discovered

• Online ramen noodle from scratch class (veggie/non veggie option) by Nahoko
• Online private vegan ramen and gyoza course by Rina
• Online lesson all handmade dumplings and miso soup ramen by Miki

Maybe I should sign up for all three ramen online cooking classes?

Of course, there are other Japanese cuisines that I would love to learn and cook too! Do visit airKitchen LIVE Online Cooking Class and check them out!

For all fellow travel wanderlusts and foodies, we would love to travel again once COVID-19 is under control with the vaccine available and international travel opening up again for us travelers. When you visit Japan, remember to sign up for the airKitchen authentic cooking class  in Japan!

During this COVID-19 situation, we can still learn Japanese cooking with airKitchen LIVE Online Cooking Class, thanks to technology such as Zoom and Skype!

Do Pay It Forward and Pass It On, share this wonderful Japanese cooking experience with airKitchen live online cooking class with your fellow travelers, foodies, your family, loved ones, relatives and friends!

頂きます (Itadakimasu) !

Thank you! Have a fun authentic Japanese cooking and おしい (Oshi) experience!

The post Learn Japanese Cooking with airKitchen LIVE Online Cooking Class! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

What is Shinrin-Yoku? Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴) literally means Forest Bath (thanks to Google Translation). The YouTube videos produced by Forest Digital from Hokkaido were very soothing, calming and therapeutic. I visited Hokkaido twice in 2014 and 2016, it’s a very beautiful destination for landscape and wildlife photographers, not to forget their delicious cuisine too!

Inspired by their videos, I revisited my Hokkaido travel photography 2014 and 2016 collections on Flickr. Being an outdoors and travel person, this is probably why Shinrin-Yoku resonates so much deeply inside me, whenever I am inside forested areas, surrounded by the fresh air, beautiful sounds of Mother Nature, tranquil surroundings and in peace with myself inner soul. Nature therapy is one of the best natural therapy around us.

During this tough period, I hope that the Shinrin-Yoku videos and my Hokkaido travel photographs would be able to give you some peace and tranquility from all the stress, anxiety, frustrations and pressure that you are facing right now during this Covid-19 situation.

One day, I would return back to Hokkaido again, to continue my travel photography coverage of her spring and summer seasons. Along with climbing mountain peaks in Hokkaido, I am going to add Shinrin-Yoku pilgrimage in Hokkaido too.

Forest Digital

Website: https://forestdigital.org/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ForestdigitalO

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xYvCZf-Magqh6Nj6PVXmA/

The post The Art of Shinrin-Yoku appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

Travel writer

Although at times I have more travel photographs than travel writing, embarking on the travel writer route is a natural progression from where I had been sharing my travel stories on my photography and travel portal/blog over the years.

Most recently, I added the following travel writing guides “How to be a Travel Writer” from Lonely Planet, “The Art of Travel Writing” and How to make a living as a Travel Writer” from Nomads Worldwide, along with these books that had been with me for a while, “Globejotting – How to Write Extraordinary Travel Journals” by Dave Fox and “台灣街角小旅行” by emico. Last but not least, my Travelers Factory journals are waiting for me to fill in those journals with travel stories, moments, photos, stickers, ink stamps and drawings.

Therefore, I would practice my travel writing stories inside my upcoming photography zine publications, from online/digital to small prints.

Travel planning

The amount of travel tools, websites, apps, blogs etc are in abundance in this modern social media and digital era. It’s so much easier to do your travel planning with the information available such as Best Travel Sites: Top 25 List for you to plan and book your next travel adventure! For all fellow travelers and travel wanderlusts like me out there, travel accessories are important in your travel planning too, do check out Best Travel Accessories: The Top 25 List, you would definitely need some of these travel accessories before you embark on your next travel adventure!

Visit Japan!

If you have been a regular reader and supporter of my photography and travel, you would have noticed that I am a big fan of Japan travel! There are still many destinations to visit in Japan that I have to do so!

Visit Mie, has an instagram account that I followed, they recently conducted a lucky draw for the contest that I participated in and I won a pair of Kintetsu Rail Pass Plus 5 days pass! I can now travel across Kansai region, visiting Mie, Nara, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara! The expiry date for this pair of pass is end October 2020, I really hope that I can make this next Visit Japan travel photography adventure happen!

I also want to visit Hokkaido again, for spring, summer and late winter seasons, to complete my Hokkaido autumn 2016 and early winter 2014 travel photography adventures, that would allow me to produce my second book on Hokkaido travel photography!

Do visit my Flickr travel photography collection and check out my travel photographs of the various destinations that I visited!

Goodbye to a travel icon in Singapore

At Changi Airport Terminal 2 in Singapore, there is a solaris board at the Departure area, the iconic analogue flight information board that had influenced me to be a travel wanderlust since I tasted traveling overseas. It’s sad to say goodbye to the analogue flight information board, I hope that I can still see you somewhere in Changi Airport, for old memories sake!

What is my travel bucket list for year 2020 ?

Japan – Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Mie

Sri Lanka

Climb and conquer another mountain peak

Year 2020 kicked off to a very disruptive start, no thanks to the COVID-19 virus situation, travel and tourism industries are badly hit. The recovery from this virus situation might be three to six months away hopefully, keeping our fingers crossed.

Thank you for all your support and encouragement, please continue to follow me on my travel photography and travel writer adventures!

The post Travel wanderlust February 2020 edition appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.