#852 Cu Chi tunnels, Vietnam

The Vietnam War was one of the most brutal and violent in recent memory, with many atrocities occuring and such as strong clash of ideological beliefs in a culmination of Cold War hostilities. In Vietnam, I saw many remarkable things that represented this war, from bombed out valleys, the infamous China Beach near Da Nang, the former DMZ, and the headquarter cities of Saigon and Hanoi. 

However one of the most interesting features was the Cu Chi tunnels, a collection of the tunnels for tourists to see and get an idea of what covered vast amounts of territory and contributed enormously to the guerilla warfare -- in particular it was the base of the Viet cong during the Tet Offensive. Used for communication, supply, hospitals, storage, homes and means of movement, they were a very developed system. Despite being important to their resistance against the Americans, life in the tunnels was not particularly pleasant, as life underground with a plethora of tropical pests in abundance, and the other major killer: malaria.

The tunnels have been considerably widened and enlarged to allow for tourists, and the original trap door entrances camouflaged in the jungle floor were designed for the small Vietnamese bodies. Booby traps and other dangers were incorporated into the system including bambo spikes, cages, holes, etc. They really were an amazing piece of engineering and certainly an aid in overwhelming the Americas t

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cu_Chi_tunnels

P.S. This is also one of the only posts on my blog where I am actually in the photos, which gives you a very accurate indication of how old the photos are!

#857 The Merlion, Singapore

www.cultureledger.com

Inaugurated in 1972, moved in 2002, struck by lightning in 2009, the Merlion in Singapore is an icon -- and what a strange one to have chosen: the mix of a lion and a fish. Where does such a symbol come from? Well, the answer is Indian murals, Etruscan coins, western heraldry, at one time claimed by Portsmouth, Manila and the East India Company, so not really uniquely Singaporean at all. And did you know there are actually 5 official merlions recognized by the Singapore Government? The 8.6 meter original, a 2 meter cub behind it, a 37 meter on Sentosa Island designed by an Australian, and two 3 meter ones in Tourism Court and Faber Point. There's also an official merlion in a restaurant of that name in California. I wonder what it means to be an official merlion! Interestingly, while it's body is concrete, the skin is porcelain plates and the eyes are red teacups!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlion

#862 Corregidor Island, Philippines

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Map_of_Corregidor_1941.jpg

At the entrance to Manila Bay is a strategic island shaped like a tadpole, that has been fortified by everyone who has controlled the Philippines: first the Spanish, intermittently Chinese pirates, Dutch sailors (1647), and British soldiers (1762), then the Americans, ending with the Japanese during World War II, before they lost the war.  

Surrender of US troops at Malinta tunnel in May 1942
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MalintaSurrender.jpeg

Approximately 6km long, it was named because it translates as "to correct" because Spanish used it as a customs port for "correcting" documents. Later, it was known as Fort Mills by the Americans, and had several facilities for officers, a 1 mile long barrack for soldiers, a small airfield, as well as the all important lighthouse from 1853 onwards. It was incredibly important for both losing and gaining the Philippines to the Japanese invaders during World War II with brutal battles May 1942 and January 1945 respectively, being the losing battle when the Japanese blocked Bataan from supplying them with food and fresh water and one of the first to be liberated. It was very heavily bombarded and its ruins remain a memorial to the many that died during the war, with several memorials to Filipino and American solders and a Japanese Garden of Peace.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Malinta_tunnel_diagram.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Malinta_Tunnel.JPG

One of the most fascinating military constructions was the Malinta tunnel, under the almost 600m high volcanic peak (Filipino scientists believe that despite erupting last around a million years ago, it could still be an active volcano). This was, impressively, the temporary location for the government of the Philippines (Dec 1941-Feb 1942), and it was outside this tunnet that Manuel L. Quezon and his Vice President Sergio Osmena were inaugurated for their second term as leaders of the Philippines Commonwealth. General Douglas MacArthur also made it his headquarters after much of the Philippines was controlled by the Japanese.

The ruins of the mile-long military barracks.

If ever a military base has been respectfully converted -- this is it. It is a peaceful, historical museum of an island now, with beautiful greenery and few visitors, the circular guns no longer used and the roads only for tourists.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corregidor_Island
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malinta_Tunnel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Mills

#899 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur may be famous for it's twin Petronas Towers, but few know that there's actually a telecommunications tower that more people climb (mainly because booking the Petronas Towers is difficult). 

A moderate Muslim capital in the middle of diverse South East Asia, it has strong Chinese influences, and traders from across the world. Each group of people, whether the colonial British, Indian traders, or Chinese businessmen, each has left his mark on the city -- modern architecture vies for influence among colonial and Islamic buildings. 

#902 Boracay, Philippines

Idyllic, beautiful Boracay, the pride of Philippine beaches for decades, and a truly well-deserved reputation for spectacular gorgeousness! It's an island in the Visayas, and not so easy to get to considering the nearest airport is a banca boat and van/bus ride away. But of course, it's been years since I went and am sure the infrastructure is improved since 2001! What more to say about a picture-perfect, motorbikable, wanderable island in the warm Pacific Ocean with diving and snorkelling and suntanning?

 

Apologies, once again, for the poor quality scans of film photos. All you have to do is close your eyes and imagine crisp white sand beaches, turquoise oceans and tranquility and you're there, anyway.

#931 Kyaiktyo (Golden Rock), Myanmar (Burma)

One of the most sacred pilgrimmage places in Burma is a place called Kyaiktyo, where a precariously perched rock which has been painted with gold-leaf and people travel across the country to spend time meditating there. An amazing journey in itself, the collective travel and sense of purpose that accompany it make it collegial and full of community. Likewise, while the majestic vision itself perched high above a valley is a sight to behold, the people you watch and the spectacle are equally unique.

The area is a marvel of magic and devotion, religious iconography, excessive commercial development, rosaries sold aside toy rifles, people meditating, sleeping, and touching the rock (affixing more gold-leaf). The walk up is several hours long, and in a wonder of contrasts, passes through villages, past stupas, statues, shops and souvenirs.

The gravity-defying rock iteslf, with a 7.3m high stupa on top, is one of Myanmar's most sacred sites, perched on the edge of Mt. Kyaiktiyo (pronounced chay ti tyo). Legend has it that the rock can sit thus because of Buddha's specially placed hair inside the stupa. King Tissa (11th century) was given the hair by a hermit who had secreted it in his own topknot. The king was instructed to find a boulder that resembled the hermit's head, which was found at the bottom of the ocean, and upon reaching the mountain top, the boat turned to stone (which can be seen nearby).

Source: Lonely Planet Myanmar (9th Edition)

#937 Hong Kong, China

When I was a child, there were few places as exotic as Hong Kong... the familiarity of being British and yet also fast pasted Chinese, with capitalism, expat lifestyles, high rises, and shopping! My mother tells the stories of her first visit in the 1960s when the harbor was full of junks and it was a poor if lively place, but it is high class, chic and sophisticated today. 

Other than transiting through the airport, I visited in 1997, just before handover, on my way back from Africa, and stayed in a hostel way up on the hill. We landed in the old airport, where planes had to bank a sharp turn to avoid the sky scrapers and hills, and it felt like you would land in the harbor itself. The new airport is of course, luxury impersonated, but I didn't enjoy walking forever!

It really has it all -- a great climate, innovative architecture, fantastic shopping (even if I don't really like most duty free shops), great food, multiculturalism, big name shops and companies, the sea, a great harbor, hills and hiking, culture, people from everywhere, etc, etc. However, I think one of the most amazing things about Hong Kong is how much it changes and adapts. They used to say in the late 90s before the British handed it back to China that everyone was leaving, but in reality, there was a huge influx of mainland Chinese. It's always been one of the Asian hubs and an economic tiger. Originally just Kowloon Island, with the New Territories added to later, from China it came, to China it returned, but yet with its own distinct identity. It will always be exotic to me... when can I go back? (As you can see from the age of these photos, its been too long!)