Visiting local markets is one of my favourite things to do when travelling. And not to be missed is Place du Tertre, the famous artists’ square in the heart of Montmartre, Paris which is known for its lively atmosphere. Montmartre is extra special—not only for its food and colourful stalls, but for the artists who…
Category: challenges
Tuesday Streetart: Windows in Berlin – 113
You probably know by now that I love sharing photos my kids send me from their adventures. Here are Tim’s phone snaps, hope you enjoy them! Some photos of murals appropriately painted on windows of tall buildings. I am linking this to this week’s Monday Window Challenge.
What’s around the corner?
Nothing spectacular to photograph today—no grand buildings or perfect shots. Just life, happening around the corner. Tim and Leigh headed off this morning, but we squeezed in brunch at Project 281 Coffee Roasters in Brunswick before saying goodbye. This is the front room. And around the corner are these doors with murals. A fuchsia flower…
Ice Cream, Smoothies, Juice & Chairs
Summer is a time for Ice Cream, Smoothies & Juice while sitting on Beach Chairs in Sorrento, Victoria. I am linking this to Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and for Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Floral Friday – 23
A photo taken in Sassafras, Victoria on 20 November 2020 I am linking this to Floral Friday Challenge
Kyoto Doors
Kyoto doors, much like the city itself, feel quiet, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in tradition. In general, they are simple and understated rather than grand. Many are made of wood that has been left to age naturally, so you’ll often see soft browns, greys, and weathered textures that tell a story of time passing. The…
Tuesday Streetart: The Wanderers’ Mural – 112
These are the windows of the Wanderers’ mural on High St, Thornbury. Artwork is by Tom Civil painted in 2014. I am linking this to Monday Window Challenge
Travel Diary in Namba – Day 12
TRAVEL DIARY: NAMBA Today we’re exploring the Namba area. Our first stop is Yasaka Shrine, famous for its giant lion head that looks both fierce and fascinating, and is said to swallow bad luck and bring good fortune. So many quirky shops around the Namba area. Walked all the way to Dotonbori which is a…
My Favourites from 2025
This week’s challenge is My Favourites from 2025. I went back through photos from two of my travel destinations and chose a few favourites. Some may be familiar, but they’re images that still hold meaning for me and bring back moments I loved. For the South Island of New Zealand, choosing a favourite wasn’t easy….
My 2025 Travels in Pen & Ink
I enjoy urban sketching—plein air sketching, sketching on location, or whatever you may want to call it. I may not be very good at it but I find it incredibly relaxing. Seeing my travels captured in watercolour and pen is the best way for me to keep those memories alive. Here are some of the…
Window & Mural in Thornbury
This mural was painted by LucyLucy on the wall of Women’s Health in the North in Thornbury. It shows two women and the words Voice, Choice, Power. The message is about women having the power to make their own life choices. I love the vibrant colours that were used. I am linking this to Ludwig’s…
That “Money Shot” Family Christmas
Trying to get that perfect “money shot” with family and kids is an adventure in itself. Blinks, giggles, distractions everywhere… but somehow, those imperfect moments become the best CLICK: Oooops no one’s ready! CLICK: Tita Mari and Marion not looking at the camera. CLICK: Well everybody looks happy here, but Remi got hungry and a…
A yellow rose in my backyard – 22
Rain on yellow rose, a quiet breath of light in the grey air. I am linking this to Floral Friday Challenge Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Free Train Weekends in Melbourne
To celebrate the Metro Tunnel opening, public transport is free on weekends (that means trains, trams, buses — all across Victoria) from: 30 Nov 2025 through to 1 February 2026. So Jack and I grabbed the chance. We went down at the Melbourne Central Station and spotted something new. Along the walls are large-scale murals…
Last Chance: South Island
Some South Island scenes I haven’t posted yet … or may have forgotten if I already did. Sharing them now before the year closes, for Tina’s Lens Artist Photo Challenge with the theme “Last Chance”. A last glimpse of autumn purple at NZ Alpine Lavender Farm. The South Island skies is always dramatic, vast, and…
Seated teddies hoping you’ll say hi
Three cute bears in the Shinsekai district of Osaka. For Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Another visit to Hosier Lane
I hadn’t visited Hosier Lane in Melbourne’s CBD in what felt like forever. Somehow, it took Jack’s boss flying in from the Philippines to bring me back. As we walked through the laneway, I was reminded of why I used to love coming here … the colours, the chaos, the way the artwork changes every…
The Space Between
The space in between isn’t empty. It’s what gives everything else its shape. This week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge is hosted by Stupidity Hole, having the theme, THE SPACE BETWEEN. There’s something quietly powerful about the space in between. Between land and water, shadow and light, buildings and sky. It’s the gap where the canal meets the…
Holidays fun in two cities
Ann-Christine leads the Lens Artist Photo Challenge this week with the theme of Holiday Fun. Christmas has always been a happy occasion in my family, but now it feels a little bigger and a little brighter, shared across two places where my two kids are. Don’t get me wrong … I love Melbourne … but…
Tuesday Streetart: Window Shutters – 111
You probably know by now that I love sharing photos my kids send me from their adventures. This is from Tim and he thought of his mumma and sent me some great shots of murals in window shutters from Berlin. I am also linking this to Monday Window Challenge
Travel Diary First Day of Tour – Day 4
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 4 MEIJI SHRINE, HARAJUKU So today, our tour officially began. We finally met our tour mates, and they all seemed like such a happy, easygoing bunch. It already feels like the start of a fun trip. First stop is the Meiji Shrine. I walked into Meiji Shrine through its huge wooden gate,…
Ladies Only Bench
These are the ‘Ladies Only’ seats outside St Paul’s Cathedral on Swanston Street — a small relic of old Melbourne. Once a designated resting spot for women in the early 1900s, they now quietly remind us of how public spaces have evolved. To be honest, I’d never really noticed the signage myself until we were…
A little Ornament
Every year when I take this out of the box, I’m instantly brought back to that Christmas market in the UK where I found it. The handwritten names, Mum, Dad, Tim, and Pat … make it feel even more special. It’s one of those little ornaments that carries a whole story with it. I am…
Asakusa & its Doors
As I wandered through Asakusa, I found myself slowing down for something most people probably walk past without a second thought—the doors. Unlike the ornate temples or the colourful bustle of shopping Streets, the doors here are simple, clean, and almost understated. Some are plain wooden panels softened by age, others are neatly painted with…
Travel Diary in Asakusa – Day 3
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 3 ASAKUSA It was our third day in Tokyo, and we took the train around 9am. Since it was a public holiday, I wasn’t too worried about it being crowded. We took 2 trains and a bit of walking to reach Nakamise Street. Walking through Nakamise Street felt like stepping into a…
Coffee time at Nakazakicho
A great place to rest after an hour of walking… coffee time. This area is Nakazakicho in Osaka, famous for its high concentration of unique and stylish cafes. For Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge For Jude’s Bench Anniversary
Winged Moments
This week, Beth leads us with a beautiful challenge with the theme of Wings There’s something magical about wings—whether they belong to birds just about to take flight or appear as colorful public art on a city wall. Real wings remind me of that quiet moment before freedom, when a bird pauses, gathers its strength,…
Doors from Ginza to Shibuya
We went from Ginza to Shibuya by train, and of course I was busy taking photos of the doors and every quirky little detail. Japan does this to you haha I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Door Challenge. And of course Jack had to go through the doors of the famous Tower Records to…
Travel Diary in Roppongi – Day 1 (Part 2)
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 1 (Part 2) ROPPONGI Our first day in Tokyo wasn’t over yet, but my last post was getting a little long—so here’s the continuation. We hopped on a train to Roppongi, known for its artsy vibe, and ended up arriving earlier than our booking to a Museum. Perfect excuse for lunch. We…
Leaves & Petals
The host for this week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge is Dawn of The Day After blog with the theme of Leaves and Petals A little archive of flowers and leaves, captured through the years, softened in monochrome.