What is your favorite holiday? Why is it your favorite? *** Being an Australian, i am defining holiday as not going to work or it’s also a longer break from work such as taking time off to go on a trip somewhere. In 2018, I embarked on an unforgettable journey through London, Prague, Vienna, and…
Month: April 2024
Tuesday Streetart Festival in Mordi -38
Wall to Wall Festival in the Mordi Village, is curated by Juddy Roller, bringing vibrant street art to life from April 26 to 28. It is the first time back since 2019. Ten walls transformed into stunning murals during this weekend-long celebration. It is my first time visiting while the festival is still ongoing so…
Still wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 3 BACK STORY: This is a continuation of my previous blog and this day, as I’ve said, it was pouring rain. While exploring, we stopped for lunch at a unique McDonald’s in downtown Porto, Portugal. Surprisingly, this restaurant, known as the McDonald’s Imperial, is housed in a historic café adorned with stunning…
Old Lady by the Window – 1
PORTO, PORTUGAL This is in an apartment by the Praca Ribeira in Porto. I wonder what she was thinking about? I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge
Happy Anniversary to ME!
It’s incredible how time flies, isn’t it? I now reflect on how much has changed in both the world and in my personal pursuits over these past four years. What began as a way to fill my spare time during the start of the pandemic, has evolved into a meaningful dedication, shaping not just my…
Music under my Umbrella
This week, Egídio hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of Music to My Eyes. Let me take you down memory lane with songs about autumn rain and umbrellas – “Autumn Leaves” has become a jazz standard and it is one of the most recorded songs by jazz musicians. My favourite version though is by Nat King Cole. The…
A Blue amongst the Purple Hydrangeas
CLOUDEHILLFARDEN & NURSERY, OLINDA It is strange to see only one blue Hydrangea amongst a field of purple flowers … strange but oh so pretty! I am linking this to Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge and for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Benches in Watsons Bay
A ferry from the Circular Quay took us to Watsons Bay. Watsons Bay is a lovely village at the tip of South Head in the east side of Sydney. We discover a perfect mix of hidden beaches, scenic coastal paths and old-world charm. They are tiny in this photo but there are lots of benches…
The Sydney Opera House
Nestled along the Sydney Harbour’s edge, it stands as an internationally renowned architectural marvel, celebrated as a masterpiece of the 20th century. Designed by Danish architect Jarn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House has been recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of human creative genius. We went on a walking tour of this historic building. I…
“Lest we forget“
Borrowed from a line in a well-known poem written in the 19th century, the phrase ‘lest we forget’ means ‘it should not be forgotten’. We say or write ‘lest we forget’ in commemorations to remember always the service and sacrifice of people who have served in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. ANZAC stands for Australian…
Succulents
This is a photo taken on the 14th of April while my sister and niece were still here in Melbourne having a holiday. These are succulents at the Cloudehill Garden & Nursery. For Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge – FOTD
Tuesday Streetart in the Cavern Quarter -37
LIVERPOOL, UK At Number 1 Temple Court sits the Revolver Bar in the Cavern Quarter. Outside are the Street murals of different artists. Photos taken in October 2023
Wandering in Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 2 Since we were in Porto, we started our day with, you guessed it right, Portuguese tarts. Had it in the cafe right in front of the Livraria Lello. Livraria Lello is celebrated for its stunning blend of Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau styles, making it a must-visit. Established in 1906, it’s among…
Sao Bento Railway Station Windows
São Bento is Porto’s central station and is often described as one of the most beautiful train stations in Europe or even in the whole world . This station is in the city centre, so we used it to travel locally and probably walked past it several times during our stay there. The São Bento…
Eight Tiny Rats in Yellow Toilet
This is a work done by Banksy that was in The Art of Banksy “Without Limits” Exhibition in Sydney. I am linking this to Debbie’s 6WS- Six Word Saturday
At Cloudehill
CLOUDEHILL GARDEN & NURSERY, OLINDA, Every Autumn, my husband and I find ourselves drawn back to this place, and this year is no exception. This time, we arrived a bit earlier than usual, to accompany my sister and niece visiting from the Philippines. Although the autumn colours hadn’t fully emerged yet, I’m hopeful that they…
Floral Entrances in Covent Gardens
Despite their artificial nature, these entrances near St. Martin Lane in Covent Garden, London, radiate beauty in their own unique way. Linked to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge
White Dahlias
Took my sister and niece to one of my favorite spots for urban sketching, eager to share my go-to location with them. Here are some white Dahlia at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick. For Cee’s FOTD
Tuesday Streetart – 36
BRISTOL, UK This is a Streetart done by WiIII Cross (Wi with 3 capital i’s), a street artist from Bristol. It is an oil painting of a woman wearing a Bulgarian traditional costume.
First impressions of Porto
TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 1 After a brisk journey aboard the Alfa Pendular, Portugal’s flagship Pendolinoa high-speed train, we arrived in Porto just past midday, so we were starving from the trip. Near our Airbnb, we stumbled upon a nearby restaurant where, unsure of what to choose, we trusted the owner’s recommendations for our meal. Francesinha…
St Mary’s Cathedral and its Windows
St Mary’s Cathedral is the largest church in Australia. It is an active place of worship and an important landmark in Sydney. Let me take you inside to see the beautiful stained glass windows which I am linking to Ludwig’s Monday Window.
Each stone tells a story
This week’s challenge is being led by Donna, and the topic is Rock my World. So welcome to my world of rocks, where each stone tells a story—not of scientific origins, but of cherished memories. Let me start with my most recent trip to Sydney with my sister, Pilar, my niece, Pam and Jack. We…
My Lord…it must be Jesus!
This is the St James Church on the bustling intersection in Sydney. Walking on the right side of the church I noticed a homeless person covering himself in a blanket with only his feet protruding. But then I thought, is it a real person or just a sculpture? Looking at it more closely, I noticed…
Chairs & Benches — still on the Rocks
While walking in the Rocks area of Sydney… I saw these chairs and benches. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge
The Rocks
We explored Sydney’s oldest neighborhood, The Rocks, where we found olden style cobblestone streets intertwined with modern cafes and restaurants. The rich history of Sydney’s roots are seen in some of its public art. “First Impressions” is a sculpture located in Playfair Street in The Rocks. This sandstone relief was created by Bud Dumas in 1979…
A walk through Chinatown (and its doors)
Our time in Sydney started off at night. Walked the streets and saw these bright doors of shops on the way to our booking in one of the restaurants there. So colourful aren’t they? And then had dinner with a niece and nephew both living in Sydney. This was on the 8th of April. I…
Tuesday Streetart – 35
CAMDEN, LONDON Otto Schade – Osch has another addition to the Camden area Streetarts.
Around town on our last day
TRAVEL DIARY: LISBON 4 Did you know that Uber fares are incredibly cheap in Portugal? We stumbled upon this discovery during our visit to Sintra when we opted for a taxi. Glad we found out because since then, Uber has become our go-to mode of transportation. So this was our last day in Lisbon and…
From the plane window…
I am on a few days trip to Sydney with hubby, sister and niece… Some views from the plane window which I am linking to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge Glad to see the Sydney Opera House from the plane window before it touched down…
A happy milestone
Reflecting on the days when you were a baby brings back fond memories, but today calls for something different. Here’s a message just for you on your first day of your 30s … ———******——— Hi Tishie Girl, I am so happy for you now that you’re on another solo trip. I could hear the joy…