The Shalimar Gardens (sometimes written as Shalamar Gardens) are a Mughal garden complex located in Lahore, Pakistan. It was built by Emperor Shah Jahan (of Taj Mahal fame) in the mid-17th century. The gardens have been laid out from south to north in three levels of terraces. In the terraces, there are basins with 410 fountains in total. Unfortunately, none of them were working while I was there.
The Wagah border closing ’lowering of the flags’ ceremony, or The Beating Retreat ceremony, is a daily military practice that the security forces of India (Border Security Force) and Pakistan (Pakistan Rangers) have jointly followed since 1959. The Wagah Border is only a short car ride from Lahore and the spectacle of the ceremony attracts many visitors from Pakistan. The other side seemed packed as well.
Rohtas Fort (Qila Rohtas) is a historical garrison fort located near the city of Jhelum in Punjab, Pakistan. It was built in the 16th century under the orders of Afghan king Sher Shah Suri, to subdue the rebellious tribes of the region. It was captured by Mughal emperor Humayun in 1555. Rohtas was also occasionally used for administrative purposes by the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh after he captured it in 1825.
Harumi Passenger Ship Terminal (晴海客船ターミナル) is the Tokyo terminal for international cruise ships. It is located in Tokyo Bay at the southern tip of Harumi Island. It has one of the best views on Tokyo Bay and the Rainbow Bridge in the city. There is a viewing platform on the 6th floor but it was closed when I was there.
Sunshine City is a commercial complex in the Ikebukuro area: It features a variety of facilities including an office building, an aquarium, a shopping center and the Sunshine 60 Observatory. At 250m, the latter offers the highest point of view in the neighbourhood and a great view on Tokyo.
On the evening of the last day of 2013, I went up again to the Tokyo Tower observatory to watch the sunset.
After my visit to the Tokyo Port Wild Bird Park, I finished the day by walking to Jonanjima Seaside Park: It is a park bordering Tokyo Bay, directly across the water from Haneda Airport. Its position makes it a good spot for watching the planes landing at the airport: They are flying overhead every few minutes. There is also a beach (swimming forbidden though…) and a camping site.
Above, the last sunset of 2010, from West Vancouver.
