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Walking path at Gardens by the Bay – Bay East, with views of Marina Reservoir, Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, and Singapore Flyer.

Walk by the Waters: Marina Barrage, Singapore

By The Waters, Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Marina Barrage is a 350 m long dam built across Marina Channel to keep out seawater to form the Marina Reservoir.
As well, Marina Barrage enables flood control to reduce flooding in low-lying areas around the reservoir. During heavy rain and low tide, gates at the dam can be opened to release excess stormwater into the sea. During heavy rain and high tide, pumps at the dam can be operated to drain excess stormwater into the sea.

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Sentosa Island’s Fort Siloso Skywalk on the northern end of Sentosa Island has magnificent panoramic views of Sentosa Cable Car, Bungy Jump Skybridge, Siloso Beach, Palawan Beach, and the South China Sea.

Walk by the Waters: Sentosa Island, Singapore

By The Waters, Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

The 5-square-km Sentosa Island, located just 15 minutes from Singapore CBD, is packed with many attractions and more attractions are being built to bring new and returned visitors to this island resort getaway. There are 2 golf courses, a deep-water yachting marina, resort hotels, sandy beaches, theme parks such as Universal Studios, Fort Siloso Skywalk, Bungy Jump Skybridge, and many more attractions, as well as many entertainment, dining, and shopping venues.

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Kallang River’s Kallang Basin area has been developed into a sporting precinct. Dragon boats are seen at a water sports centre.

Walk by the Waters: Kallang River, Singapore

By The Waters, Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

The 10 km-long Kallang River is Singapore’s longest river. Kallang River starts at Lower Peirce Reservoir in the centre of Singapore, and flows through several housing and industrial estates such as Ang Mo Kio, Bishan, Toa Payoh, Bendemeer, and Kallang Bahru, before meeting Geylang River at Kallang Basin and Singapore River at Marina Bay in the south of Singapore.

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Forster is a beautiful coastal town within the Mid-North Coast and the spectacular Barrington Coast region, a 3-hour-45-minute drive north of Sydney a beautiful coastal town, and a 35-minute drive from Taree Airport, the nearest airport.

Walk by the Waters: Forster Foreshore

By The Waters, Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Forster is a beautiful coastal town within the Mid-North Coast and the spectacular Barrington Coast region, a 3-hour-45-minute drive north of Sydney and a 35-minute drive from Taree Airport, the nearest airport. Tuncurry is Forster’s twin town located just across the other side of the Wallis Lake entrance from the Pacific Ocean.

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Fishing by the river bank of Khappinghat Creek in Saltwater National Park.

Walk by the Waters: Saltwater National Park, New South Wales Australia

By The Waters, Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

A small coastal reserve surrounded by rainforest, Saltwater National Park is about a 30-minute drive east of Taree on the Barrington Coast 4-hour drive north of Sydney.
Saltwater headland, just north of Saltwater Lagoon, has an interesting headland walking track where walkers can take a short, leisurely 300 m stroll through the thick rainforest to reach the headland lookout at the end of the track. The lookout has magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean, Saltwater Beach, and Khappinghat Creek river mouth, and is a great place to go whale watching.

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A view of Double Bay Marina and Point Piper foreshore from Double Bay Beach.

Walk by the Waters: Double Bay Foreshore

By The Waters, Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Double Bay is a harbourside eastern suburb of Sydney located between 2 other coastal suburbs – Darling Point and Piper Point and is just about 4 km east of Sydney CBD. These beautiful coastal suburbs have some of the most expensive multimillion-dollar apartments. You can visit Double Bay by a 20-minute scenic ferry ride from Circular Quay.

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Hydrogen is increasingly seen as having the greatest potential to close the energy production and consumption demand gap (Graphics created using free tools on canva.com)

Hydrogen – The Critical Missing Piece of Clean Energy Transition?

My Dream Technology Breakthrough / /

Hydrogen is increasingly seen as having the greatest potential to close the energy production and consumption demand gap.
Hydrogen is energy-dense. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe. When hydrogen is burnt, it produces water and does not emit any carbon dioxide. It is totally clean and has zero carbon. Green hydrogen, which is produced using renewable energy to break down water into hydrogen and oxygen by electrolysis, does not emit any carbon dioxide in the production process.
Being energy-dense, hydrogen can be stored as a standby fuel for hydrogen-ready gas turbines during periods of peak loads. Hydrogen can be an energy carrier for export.
However, hydrogen by itself does not exist naturally under room temperature and energy is needed to produce hydrogen.
Industry experts believe green hydrogen must be produced at a cost of around US$1.50/kg to be competitive with other fuel types, and we may be close……

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Go Net-Negative, Be The “Earth-Protector” (Graphics created using free tools on Canva.com)

Go Net-Negative, Be The “Earth-Protector”

My Dream Technology Breakthrough / /

In the coming years, the impacts of extreme weather events on energy security, food security, water security, and biodiversity will force many countries to intensify their climate change actions to reduce global warming.
To reach net-zero by 2050 is no longer enough. Reaching net-negative by 2040, 10 years before 2050, shall be the new target.

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Elephant Rocks are rocks that look like a group of elephants, and that was how the place was named. From Elephant Rocks, visitors can follow the staircase down between the rocks to Elephant Cove. Elephant Cove is stunningly beautiful when viewed from high atop the Elephant Rocks – white sand and clear blue water dotted with round-shaped rocks jutting out of the beach and water.

Western Australia South West Edge Road Trip Part 3 – Rainbow Coast

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Western Australia Rainbow Coast stretches over 150 km from Walpole in the west, through Denmark, to Albany in the east. Why called Rainbow Coast? It is because visitors see rainbows very often in the wetter months of Autumn, Winter, and Spring. Rainbows can appear in sunsets, sunrises, on a misty morning, and when there are rains out in the ocean.

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A view of Cape Leeuwin and the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse visitor centre from the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse in Western Australia.

Western Australia South West Edge Road Trip Part 2 – Margaret River to Point D’Entrecasteaux

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Margaret River is an inland town named after the 60 km long Margaret River that flows past the town in the western direction into the Indian Ocean. The Margaret River Region, a famous holiday destination for many, actually refers to the region beyond Margaret River town stretching from Busselton along the coastline down to Augusta. This region is known for its spectacular beaches and surfing spots, exquisite caves, beautiful forests, extensive walking trails, and award-winning wineries.

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Point Peron lookout bridge, at Point Peron near Rockingham, offers amazing views of the rugged limestone cliffs and the panoramic views of the Indian Ocean.

Western Australia South West Edge Road Trip Part 1 – Perth to Gracetown

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Western Australia South West Edge refers to the southwest region that stretches from south of Perth towards Albany then east from Albany to Esperance. The coastline from Perth to Albany stretches more than 700 km by the Indian Ocean. Continuing from Albany to Esperance is another approximately 500 km of coastline by the Great Australian Bight, which is part of the Indian Ocean.

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Chongqing 重庆 is the start point of Yangtze River Cruises 长江游轮 that sail through the magnificent Three Gorges 三峡 of the Yangtze River 长江 and the cruise journeys end at the humongous Three Gorges Dam 三峡大坝 which supplied about 10% of China’s electricity at the time of completion.

Central and Western China Travel: From Chongqing 重庆, Yangtze River Cruise 长江游轮, Zhangjiajie 张家界, To Chengdu 成都

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Is it feasible to visit Chongqing 重庆, Three Gorges 三峡, Zhangjiajie 张家界, and Chengdu 成都 in Sichuan 四川, all in a short single trip? That was my motivation for planning independent travel in China to include these 4 destinations in Central and Western China.

Central and Western China Travel: From Chongqing 重庆, Yangtze River Cruise 长江游轮, Zhangjiajie 张家界, To Chengdu 成都 Read More »

From a distance, Chongqing’s 重庆 Chaotianmen Square 朝天门广场 and Raffles City Chongqing 重庆来福士 with the crystal corridor structure together look like a giant ship with a sail that is about to sail away in the night.

Central and Western China Travel: Chongqing 重庆

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Chongqing 重庆 city is a financial centre, manufacturing hub, and transportation centre in central and western China. Chongqing city’s downtown centre is located on the Chongqing peninsula surrounded by Yangtze River 长江 and its branch Jialing River 嘉陵江. Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport 重庆江北国际机场 is a major aviation hub serving this region and is one of the top 50 busiest airports in the world. Chongqing city is well-connected to other major Chinese cities via China High-Speed Railway (HSR) Network 中国高铁网.

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Without capturing any giant panda from the wild and using technological innovation, Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base 成都大熊猫繁育研究基地 has bred and raised more than 200 panda babies since 1997.

Central and Western China Travel: Chengdu 成都

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Chengdu is located in the central part of the Sichuan Province 四川省 in southwest China and is the capital of the Sichuan Province. With a population of around 14 million, Chengdu is the fifth largest city in China, after Shanghai 上海, Beijing 北京, Shenzhen 深圳, and Guangzhou 广州.
Chengdu is famous for being the home of giant pandas 大熊猫 that are immensely popular and well-loved around the world. Giant pandas are protected under Category 1 of the Chinese Wildlife Conservation Law of 1988 and are considered the national treasure of China.

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Elizabeth Quay continues to develop with new high-rise buildings being added.

Walk by The Swan River: Elizabeth Quay <-> The Old Swan Brewery

By The Waters, Free (or Almost) and Easy, Sights and Scenes / /

The 2 km one-way walk between Elizabeth Quay and the Old Swan Brewery by the Swam River foreshore takes you through the well-landscaped David Carr Memorial Park. You will walk underneath the Narrows Bridge where you can have a close-up look at the Narrows Bridge’s structural details from underneath.
You will enjoy seeing people doing all kinds of sea sports, and boats and ferries moored or on the move on the Swan River. South Perth foreshore is on the other side of the Swan River connected to the Perth city via Narrows Bridge.

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David Carr Memorial Park extends to the Swan River foreshore and has stunning views of the Swan River and South Perth foreshore on the other side of the river connected by Narrows Bridge.

Walk by the Waters: John Oldham Park <-> David Carr Memorial Park

By The Waters, Free (or Almost) and Easy, Sights and Scenes / /

John Oldham Park and David Carr Memorial Park are located just a stone’s throw from Perth CBD and right next to the very busy Narrows Interchange but when you are in the parks, you don’t feel like you are next to high-traffic roads. These parks seem to be able to shield their visitors from traffic noise.
John Oldham Park and David Carr Memorial Park are part of Narrows Interchange parklands which were constructed on reclaimed land from Mounts Bay more than 60 years ago to build Narrows Bridge and Interchange to connect South Perth to Perth city centre.

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Perth’s iconic landmark Blue Boat House by the Swan River. Perth's city skyline can be seen from afar.

Walk by The Swan River: Forrest Hall <-> The Old Swan Brewery

By The Waters, Free (or Almost) and Easy, Sights and Scenes / /

The walk between Forrest Hall and the Old Swan Brewery, with a one-way distance of 2.1 km, allows walkers to walk on flat riverbank walking paths alongside Mounts Bay Road and the Swan River, and visit three of Perth city’s iconic landmarks – Blue Boat House, the Eliza Sculpture, and the Old Swan Brewery.

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COVID-19 Endemic – Are We There Yet? (Graphics created using free tools on Canva.com)

COVID-19 Endemic – Are We There Yet?

COVID-19 Living and Life, My Dream Technology Breakthrough / /

We are, by April 2022, 25 months into the global COVID-19 pandemic which was declared officially by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 Mar 2020.
In many parts of the world, lives have come back to almost like the pre-pandemic normal. People have gone back to offices to work at least for some workdays instead of working from home. Students have gone back to schools for face-to-face learning. International borders are open in many countries.
So, are we in the COVID-19 endemic yet?

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A 1-week Central Canada road trip itinerary in Central Canada may start from Toronto and may include Niagara Falls and major cities such as Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, as well as other cities Gatineau, Hamilton, Kingston on the road trip route without too much detour.

Central Canada Road Trip: 7 Major Canadian Cities in 7 Days plus Niagara Falls

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

A 1-week Central Canada road trip itinerary in Central Canada may start from Toronto and may include Niagara Falls and major cities such as Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, as well as other cities Gatineau, Hamilton, Kingston on the road trip route without too much detour.

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Toronto’s important landmark CN Tower always stands out in the Toronto city skyline.

Central Canada Road Trip: Toronto

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Canada’s largest city Toronto, like Canada’s capital Ottawa, is in Ontario Province where a third of Canada’s population lives. Toronto is located by the coast of the massive Lake Ontario. Niagara Falls is a 2-hour drive along the coast in the eastern direction. Ottawa is a 4-hour drive northeast of Toronto. Its central location makes Toronto a good base to start a road trip in Central Canada.

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Belvedere Jacques Cartier Bridge over St Lawrence River can be seen from Montreal Old Port – Montreal, Canada.

Central Canada Road Trip: Montreal and Quebec City

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

From Ottawa, a 3-day road trip to Montreal and Quebec City may include picking your own apple during apple harvest season at Verger Labonté on Perrot Island, which is a 30-minute drive southwest of Montreal, then Montreal downtown Underground City, Old Montreal, and the nearby Montreal Old Port waterfront, Mount Royal Park, Jean-Talon Market, and finally an evening visit to Montreal Botanical Gardens for “Gardens of Light” held at the time of my road trip. You may use Montreal as a base and have a day-trip driving to Quebec City, 3-hour away from Montreal, and back to Montreal on the same day. The Quebec City day-trip may include Plains of Abraham, Old Quebec, Quebec Old Port, and Montmorency Falls.

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Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and is Canada's sixth-largest city.

Central Canada Road Trip: Kingston, Ottawa, and Gatineau

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and is Canada’s sixth-largest city. While Ottawa is a city in Ontario Province and Gatineau is a city in Quebec Province, the 2 cities are really just separated by the Ottawa River, on the 2 sides of the riverbank. The total metro area population of Ottawa-Gatineau is about 1.4 million and Gatineau’s population constitutes about 25% of the total population. Gatineau is often considered part of “Greater Ottawa”.

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Lotus Pond (莲池潭), where Dragon Tiger Pagodas (龙虎塔) are located, is one of the most traditional scenic spots in Kaohsiung (高雄).

Kaohsiung (高雄) and Southern Taiwan (南台湾)

Sights and Scenes, Travels and Destinations / /

Kaohsiung (高雄) is a hidden gem for travellers. It is a coastal city in southern Taiwan that has mild tropical weather and because of that, there is an abundant supply of good quality local tropical fruits. The city’s affordable and efficient mass rapid trains (which started operations in 2008) and light rail trains (which started operations in 2016) have made many tourist attractions in the city a lot more accessible. Food prices were very affordable in 2019. Visitors can have a reasonable lunch or dinner meal at less than 200 Taiwan Doller (~A$10 or ~US$7) in 2019. Be sure to visit the night markets (夜市) while in Kaohsiung where you can find many delicious Taiwan snack or small dishes (台湾小吃).

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