Wooden Sculptures Squared

When my sister came to Melbourne for a visit, of course we had to take them to the Twelve Apostles. On the way, we stayed the night in Apollo Bay. Here we discovered Apollo Bay’s wooden sculptures, showcasing local artists’ talent. This is a permanent exhibition of wooden sculptures along the Apollo Bay Foreshore. This…

Monochrome Windows of Montsalvat

I don’t regularly join Leanne’s Monochrome Madness Challenge and it is my first time joining Dawn from the Day After blog, with the theme of Windows. I just happened to see Sarah’s post from Travel with Me … so here I am. Here are some window images from Montsalvat in Victoria. Montsalvat is an artist…

Electricity Boxes Reimagined

You’ve probably seen one and stopped and maybe even smiled because it is hard to miss a large, cheerfully painted metal electricity box on the streets. I know, because there are also some here in Melbourne and is becoming a trend in many modern cities around the world. Last week, I showcased doors from Rua…

Tuesday Streetart 40 – Under Construction

The last time I visited Melbourne CBD, the roadside was undergoing construction, presumably for renewal, reconstruction, or extension. Surprisingly, instead of typical signage, it boasted charming street art featuring Australian animals. Adorable, isn’t it? I am linking this to Becky’s SquareRenew

Misty Adventures in Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 5 We took the Hop-On Hop-Off bus for the second day and our first stop was the Porto Cathedral. Perched on a hill overlooking the Duoro, Se do Porto is the most important cathedral and religious building in this city. Construction began in the 12th century and is mainly Baroque architecture but…

A Chef by the Window – 3

Still in Porto … I was walking down below and saw this window on the second level. I thought, this is so cute. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday Window Challenge

Being hopeful …

This week, Patti hosts the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge with the topic of HOPEFUL. I am linking this also to Becky’s SquareRenew In my ripe ol’ age of 60+, there are still many things in life that make me hopeful… witnessing simple acts of kindness, seeing progress in the world, and maybe experiencing personal growth by learning new…

New Blooms, New Beginnings, a Renewal

In a garden, petals open up, embracing the morning sun. Each bloom whispers tales of renewal, reminding us that even in endings, there’s always the possibility of new beginnings. I am linking this to Becky’s SquareRenew Debbie’s 6WS and Cee’s Weekend FOTD

Indoor seating

Walking back to the hotel in Liverpool, I saw this window then I saw the seats that were like on display. A bakery in Porto with the gorgeous Azulejos tiles as back drop. Looks like rabbit chairs which I saw at the Art Gallery NSW in Sydney At a fish & Chips shop in Tooradin,…

Doors in the area of Rua das Flores

We discovered the charm of this 18th Century walking street sloping down from Porto’s San Bento Railway Station to the Duoro river. Known as “Rua das Flores,” or “Flower Street,” it earned its name from the beautiful gardens that used to line the houses along the way. Sadly, those gardens are now gone. Love the…

The Rebuilding of the Forest Glade Gardens

This is the history of the Forest Glade Gardens in the Macedon Ranges Originally, the land were two properties with orchards and large paddocks. In 1941, the Newton family bought and expanded the land to create a beautiful garden. Later, Cyril Stokes bought it and made the gardens even better. __________________________________ Sadly, the Ash Wednesday…

Tuesday Streetart, Bronik in St Kilda – 39

ST KILDA, MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Ever since I saw Bronik’s work in Barcelona, I was immediately captivated by them. Mainly because of its lively colours and by her use of the colour purple, which is my favourite. You can read more about her here. I messaged her a few months back telling her how I love…

The Magic of Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 4 Due to the persistent rain in the morning and looking like the same for the following days, we opted for a two-day hop-on-hop-off bus tour, conveniently stopping near our airbnb. From the top seats of the double decker bus we saw some amazing misty sceneries and public art. By the time…

Old Lady By the Window – 2

BATALHA, PORTUGAL Encountered another fascinating scene near Batalha Square … a lady by the window, lost in thought. This is part 2 of the series capturing such moments. There’s a certain charm in observing people by windows, and she held my attention for what felt like an eternity. I am linking this to Ludwig’s Monday…

The flower is burgeoning

Not my usual choice of word that I would use for flowers growing rapidly, but now I’m using it for Becky’s SquaresRenew challenge. I don’t even know if I used it correctly, but here goes… Also linking it for Cee’s FOTD Weekend challenge and for Cellpic Sunday Here is a pink Dahlia that I found…

Ah … to be young again!

Ah, to be young again! Running freely, without a care in the world. Exploring the world with wide-eyed wonder, filled with endless curiosity and excitement. I have three nieces, Korina, Ella, and Franceska. They each have two kids. I enjoy birthdays and special occasions because that’s when I get to see my grandkids and hear…

Bookbar

The colourful seats outside the Bookbar in Islington, London. Bookbar is an independent bookshop. It is a welcoming place where anybody can sit together and read a book or have a meal or drinks. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge

Autumn Leaves

It’s Day 3 of Becky’s SquaresRenew and here is a symbol of change. The autumn leaves on the ground symbolize the beauty of transformation and renewal, as nature undergoes its seasonal cycle of change.

Tim

“Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first.” – Matthew Jacobson In my July 2021 blog post, I spotlight my daughter Pat’s interview with Notion Magazine. Conducted by James Robinson, the interview delves into what it means to be a “creative” in today’s world. If you’re curious, you can…

Vicinity of Dom Luis Bridge

This was me and Hubby walking on our first day in Porto and seeing these doors in our walk from our Air Bnb to the Dom Luis Bridge. The Dom Luís Bridge is a double-deck metal arch bridge that spans the river Douro between the cities of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia in Portugal….

Philippines Moving Forward

It’s Day 2 of Becky’s SquaresRenew and I am featuring something that is close to my heart. As a Filipino migrant residing in Australia, every time I see something “Filipino” like these trams in Melbourne and in Sydney….I feel so excited. I’ve often wondered why discussions about Southeast Asia frequently overlook the Philippines, mentioning countries…

Moving Up

Life’s a journey, it may not be always moving forward … it may be moving up. Since I am a Streetart person, i will start with a Streetart stencil of Banksy which I saw twice… once in Barcelona and this one is from Sydney. This is entitled “Girl with a Balloon”. The message of this…

Life is too short…

Do you have a quote you live your life by or think of often? Life is too short … be happy … make the most of it … be kind … so try to travel more (haha I really had to include this) … be thankful with what you’ve got … say I love you…