TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 6 ON THE ROAD FROM LAKE TEKAPO TO QUEENSTOWN We loved our stay at the AirBnb but we had to move on. It was a bit overcast when we left for our day. Driving through Lindi’s Pass felt like stepping into another world — endless golden hills, quiet roads, and that feeling…
Category: Jo’s Monday Walk
Day Trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 5 AORAKI/ MOUNT COOK Started the day with coffee and some store-bought bread I’d picked up beforehand—simple, but it did the job. It’s one of those days—drive a bit, hop out to take some photos, walk around, then back in the car. We just followed Google Maps to see what lies ahead….
Roadtrip from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 4 On the Road from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo Ever heard that New Zealand has more sheep than people? I used to think that was just a running joke—but it turns out, it’s absolutely true! In 2023, there were about 24.4 million sheep roaming the country, compared to just 5 million humans….
A Day in Akaroa
TRAVEL DIARY: Day 2 AKAROA I don’t know how it always happens—no matter how much I plan for a relaxing trip, I end up packing in so much! This was especially true on our second day in Christchurch, when we found ourselves heading out to explore even more places, including the beautiful town of Akaroa….
Pirianda Garden
Jack and I figured autumn was almost over, so we wanted to catch the last of the leaves before they all dropped. I found Pirianda Garden in the Dandenong Mountains on Google—we hadn’t been before, so we thought we’d check it out. But when we got there, I hesitated. The walk looked seriously steep. And…
Roadtrip in Christchurch
TRAVEL DIARY: Day 1 CHRISTCHURCH STREETART To be honest, Christchurch wasn’t part of my original plan for our South Island trip. I was more excited to see nature and all the beautiful landscapes. But when my husband said Christchurch is known for its street art, I got curious. After a bit of research, I was…
Veg Out … a walk in the community garden
We visited this place a few years ago, but as we passed the wire gates of Veg Out Community Gardens this time, we noticed countless new things to discover. Curiosity got the best of us, so we decided to step inside and explore once again. Veg Out Community Garden is an organic, chemical-free oasis in…
… Still in St Kilda
This is a continuation of my walk in St Kilda. We are now in Acland Street, a vibrant and foodie area. From the Pier, we walked past the Palais Theatre and Luna Park. … then passed by the Australian Bicentennial Project which was created in 1988 to celebrate 200 years since the arrival of the…
A stroll in St Kilda Pier
Last weekend was perfect for a leisurely walk, with the scorching mid-30s heat finally easing to a comfortable 20-25 degrees. We began our stroll at the Catani Archway on the St Kilda foreshore in Melbourne. Designed by Carlo Catani, the archway was part of an ambitious foreshore reclamation and beautification project between 1890 and 1916,…
A walk to the beach and back
This was last December when hubby and I stayed overnight in Phillip Island. Phillip Island is a popular day-trip destination from Melbourne, just off Australia’s southern coast. When we checked in, the owner advised us that the beach was nearby, so we decided to see it for ourselves. The walk to the beach is always…
A walk in the Polka dot world of Yayoi Kusama
‘Our earth is only one polka dot among a million stars in the cosmos.’ Yayoi Kusama, 1968 I had been so looking forward to this exhibit of Yayoi Kusama and I booked the tickets way in advance last year. “Yayoi Kusama is one of the world’s most celebrated living artists. Her polka-dotted pumpkin and flower…
A Christmassy walk around town
I hadn’t caught up with my daughter since our trip to Tasmania a month ago, so we met up last Saturday for lunch. Before that, we took a stroll past the graffiti-covered walls of Hosier Lane—though there wasn’t much new to see. For lunch, we chose a Chinese restaurant near Chinatown. Then followed by some…
Day 5 Last day in Hobart
TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 5 And just like that, it was already our last day in Hobart. We spent the morning driving up to Mount Wellington. Luckily it was a great sunny day with clear skies, so it offered us glimpses of the city below, nestled between the sparkling Derwent River and rolling hills. Perched atop…
Day 4 in Bruny Island
TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 4 From Hobart, it’s about half an hour by car to Kettering where the ferry takes off for Bruny. This is where we bought our tickets and boarded the ferry with our car. It didn’t take long—just about 20 minutes, and we were back on land. Bruny Island, just off the coast…
Day 3 in Hobart
TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 3 We started our day early to catch the ferry going to MONA (Museum of Old and New Art) in Hobart. We went inside the Brooke Street Pier entrance. This was where we waited for our designated ferry to arrive. Inside the ferry. MONA is situated 11 kilometers north of Hobart, about…
Day 2 in Hobart
TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 2 This was where we were dropped off by our Uber. And straight away we could already smell the aroma of food. Today will be primarily spent at Salamanca Market, Tasmania’s most popular tourist attraction. Held every Saturday from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM, rain or shine, it was a must-have on…
Hobart Getaway
TRAVEL DIARY: TASMANIA 1 It wasn’t long after we arrived in Hobart that we decided to take a walk around the city. I hadn’t realized just how hilly it was! I had forgotten my walking stick at my daughter’s place in Melbourne, so naturally, I had to find one that matched my jacket. Anyway, despite…
Lysterfield Lake
Lysterfield Park is a hidden gem in the outer south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I recently enjoyed a refreshing walk there with Jack and some great friends. This is a lovely spot to unwind. I saw people preparing to set sail on the lake, adding to the vibrant atmosphere. Some visitors were out kayaking on the…
Market Walk
My husband and I love exploring local markets, but this Saturday, we decided to try something different. Jack, Patricia, and I headed to St. Andrew’s Market, nestled among the gum trees in the Yarra Valley. It’s Victoria’s oldest and most unique market, offering a delightful mix of local produce and artisan goods. I love admiring…
Alowyn Gardens with friends
Alowyn Gardens, located in Victoria, Australia, is a stunning horticultural destination that offers a blend of natural beauty and carefully curated landscapes. As we entered the gardens we were greeted by period carts, oil lamps, flowers and sculptures. We paid our discounted entry since we were all seniors. Then we proceeded to the Autumn Harvest…
Bayside Walk
We wanted to go to the beach for a stroll because the weather seemed great for it. We decided to pass by this trail of murals in Mordialloc, which we saw previously but then it was still in the process of completion during the festival. It was like this then click here and it is…
Walking the Vibrant Town of Sassafras
Visiting a place I hadn’t been in a while was a true delight. While some familiar sights remained unchanged, many new additions had emerged. As we anticipated, the beautiful weather brought a bustling energy to the town last weekend. Sassafras, located in the Dandenong Ranges of Victoria, Australia, is a charming village known for its…
A stroll on Father’s Day
In Australia, Father’s Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of September, setting it apart from other countries. Last Saturday, we enjoyed a lovely lunch and stroll in Fitzroy, near my daughter’s place. We started with a meal at Blue Chillies, a Malaysian restaurant, and the food was absolutely delicious. After lunch, we wandered through…
A return to Montsalvat with Sis
TRAVEL DIARY: MONTSALVAT WITH SIS Its funny to experience the same thing with different people. You see how they react, and how they meet or subvert your expectations. I had a fantastic time at Montsalvat earlier this year with friends, so when my sister came to visit in April, I was excited to introduce her…
Public Art Walk
BRIGHTON & ST KILDA We had this walk on the 1st of April 2024. First stop was the Beach Boxes in Brighton which is a popular free destination whenever somebody from overseas comes along. Jack, Pilar and I walked from one end to the other, taking in the vibrant and varied designs of the houses…
Exploring Forest Glade Gardens
“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden I previously posted the rebuilding of the Forest Glade Gardens, and now I’m excited to share a special walk my husband and I enjoyed there last May. I almost overlooked posting about it, but Anne-Christine’s Lens-Artists…
Being a tourist (in Melbourne)
We parked near Federation Square to take advantage of discounted parking—only $16 instead of $25. Great deal, right? Then we hopped on the tram, which was free within the tram zone area, so that didn’t cost us anything either. Headed straight to Askal. Traditional Filipino flavours in an upscale contemporary experience. Another birthday celebration for…
Day trip
TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON PENINSULA Time went by so fast, and it has been more than three months now that my sister and my niece visited me here in Melbourne. Jack and I took them to Arthur’s Seat Eagle. Arthur’s Seat is a picturesque coastal landmark situated on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. We went…
A short stroll in Mornington
TRAVEL DIARY: MORNINGTON It was a sunny weekend so hubby and I decided to go out and enjoy our Sunday. About half an hour drive to Mornington Walked around the main town. And saw some stools and got envious of these cuties sitting on sun chairs. Then it was lunch at Betty’s Burgers. Heading away…
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
TRAVEL DIARY: SYDNEY I’ve visited Sydney numerous times, yet I’ve never had the chance to explore the Botanic Gardens until now. One of the perks of hosting visitors from overseas is discovering places I wouldn’t typically think to visit. This is the entrance to the Gardens, Austtalia’s oldest botanic gardens with all its natural beauty….