Eternal golden castle

In 1874 during Emperor Tongzhi’s reign, Japanese troops invaded Taiwan, and Shen Boazhen was put in charge of the country’s defense system. He suggested a fortress be built in Anping, and Erkunshen Fortress, also known as Golden Castle was constructed using bricks from Fort Zeelandia.

Zeelandia fort (later anping fort)

Anping Fort was in the heart of the area’s tourist bubble, where from the bus stop, stalls lined both sides of the road all the way to the entrance into the fort. The site was typical of 17^thcentury forts and a symbol of Dutch governance on the island. 

The changing face of chihkan tower

Tainan had been Taiwan’s capital for almost three hundred years when, in 1625 the Dutch arrived in the city. After the 1653 uprising against them, they built Fort Provintia, and made it the hub of their administrative and commercial activities. 

A history of invasion

Fort San Domingo was a story of one European power after another seizing this location near the mouth of the Tamsui River. First the Spanish arrived in the early 1600s to deter Japanese troops invading. They built a wooden fort that was burnt down in 1636 when the aboriginal population rebelled against them. Just as they completed a stone fort, the viceroy of the Philippines commanded them to withdraw from Tamsui.

Chennai’s Fort St George

I sat in the women’s section of a train that rattled to Fort St George. This was the only place where I enjoyed a real footpath that skirted the circumference of the fort. There were no crumpled sections or potholes.

South to Galle

Photo courtesy: Krankman – Wikimedia Commons

I took a bus from Hikkaduwa to Galle. It was only a half hour trip along a coconut fringed coastline to the quiet southern town.

Singapore’s Fort Canning

Between Singapore’s National Library and Clarke Quay sits Fort Canning. In spite of seven previous visits to the island nation, I never discovered this gem of a hide-a-way until I read about it on a blog. With this visit, I was determined to go there.

Kenya’s Mombasa

The ship docked after a week crawling across the placid Arabian Sea. My foot touched African soil for the first time to the sound of an African greeting, “Jambo.”

As I explored Kenya’s coastal city, Mombasa, sea breezes sailed in off the ocean.