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…
Category: Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge
The Bruny Island (beyond) Blue Farmer
This particular piece of street art really caught my attention. I asked hubby pull over at the corner of a paddock. The Bruny (Beyond) Blue Farmer is a cheerful figure with a round face crafted from fencing wire, and it made me smile, as her face seemed to smile right back. The little details, like…
Hello from Hobart
Jack, Pat and I decided to go on a long, extended, Public Holiday weekend away to Hobart in Tasmania. Upon my arrival, I came across an adorable Tasmanian Devil public art installation near the luggage carousel. Crafted by Tasmanian artist Ruth Waterhouse, this piece is made of cast bronze. I later learned that it has…
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…
Seven Sculptures, A boy, A poem
Jack and I decided to head to Sassafras today. It’s a long weekend thanks to the Footy Finals, the weather was perfect for outdoor activities, and honestly, we just felt like getting away for a bit. It had been a while since we visited Sassafras, and this time we stumbled upon the Tanglewood Gallery and…
Angono… a fun place to be
This week, Egidio’s challenge is Destination: Fun. I struggled to decide what to post this week because, for me, traveling—whether close to home or halfway around the world—is always an adventure filled with fun. But I suddenly remembered these places that my niece and nephew took us in Angono, Rizal in the Philippines. This is…
The Charm of Barcelona Doors
Barcelona is renowned for its vibrant street art scene, and its doors often serve as canvases for creative expression. I’m not into graffiti, but here are some examples that I saw on its doors. Artists transform plain or aged doors into colourful and intricate works of art. This form of street art adds a unique…
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…
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…
Art in South Yarra
South Yarra is a vibrant inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, situated 4 km southeast of the CBD. The area is home to these two utility boxes, contributing to its urban landscape. A brightly colored road barrier, if that’s the appropriate term, overlooks the train line that serves as a route to and from the city….
Modern Sculptures in Sydney
Sorry guys, this is a late post and the exhibit is finished but I still want to share some photos of my experience for Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge and for Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge The original Maman, a towering iron spider standing about 30 feet tall, is exhibited at the Tate Modern Museum…
Doors & Art in Rue des Deux Boules
The main place that we wanted to visit was 59 Rivoli. I have featured it previously here and this is the entry door to the gallery. However, today’s post isn’t about that. I want to take you through the lesser-explored back doors and side streets of Rue des Deux Boules in the 1st arrondissement of…
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….
Liverpool
TRAVEL DIARY: LIVERPOOL There are places I’ll rememberAll my life, though some have changed.Some forever, not for better;Some have gone and some remain.– the Beatles Even if you’re unaware, you’ll unmistakably sense when you’ve arrived in Liverpool—where everything transforms into a celebration of the Beatles. But first was dinner. We decided to go to Jollibee,…
Edinburgh
TRAVEL DIARY: EDINBURGH From York, we headed to Edinburgh, where Jack, Tim, and I spent three days and two nights at my cousin Connie’s place. Our visit was more about catching up and reminiscing than sightseeing. Last time I saw her was in 2016 with her late husband Rick, who drove us around Scotland.…from Glasgow,…
San Remo & Phillip Island
A few months ago, I visited San Remo with my sister and Jack. San Remo, located in the picturesque Gippsland region of southern Victoria, Australia, is a charming coastal town. I wanted to show her the magnificent pelicans during their feeding time, which typically occurs around noon. These impressive birds gather at this spot around…
Bristol
TRAVEL DIARY:BRISTOL Arrived in Bristol at night from the Cotswolds. Our first stop was dinner at the famous Pieminister. Nestled within Bristol’s city centre, Pieminister has been a beloved family venture since 2003. There were so many choices and so tasty Through the darkness of the night, we could still see the colour and vibrancy…
Camden Town
TRAVEL DIARY: CAMDEN TOWN During the first leg of our holiday in Paris, Barcelona, and Portugal in October of 2023, we weren’t able to indulge in much shopping at the markets. Our luggage was already filled to the brim, leaving little room to bring back souvenirs or treasures from our travels. So first thing we…
Day Trip to Aveiro
and to Costa Nova do Prado TRAVEL DIARY: AVEIRO & PRAIA DE COSTA NOVA Though the days were totally wet, we couldn’t pass up the chance to explore beyond Porto, so we opted for a day trip to Aveiro. The train journey from Sao Bento to Aveiro, lasting about an hour and twenty minutes, was…
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…
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…
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…
Geelong by the Waterfront
This morning I took my sister, Pilar, and my niece, Pam, to Geelong. (They are both here for a month long holiday from the Philippines). Geelong is the second largest Victorian city behind Melbourne and is the gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula and the Great Ocean Road. Here we found these amazing sculptures which I…
Wall Art in Frankston with Sis
I hadn’t originally planned any activities for my sister and niece on their first day in Melbourne, but it turned into quite a busy day. We ended up heading to Frankston beach to admire the stunning wall art from the recently concluded 2024 Big Picture Fest. I am linking this to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art…
Pandas at the Singapore Airport
Found this cute trail of Pandas at the Kuala Lumpur airport when we left for London in October 2023. I am linking it to Natalie’s PPAC
Art Inside Pasteis de Belem
When in Belém, don’t miss trying the original Pastel de Nata. Just remember, if you’re having more than one, it’s called Pasteis de Nata. ( which I am sure you will be having two or more of them)😂😂😂 You can find tasty pastel de nata all over Lisbon, but the ones from this famous bakery…
Murals and Seats in the LX Factory
LX Factory is in Alcântara, a cool part of Lisbon. It’s got over 50 shops, cafes, and restaurants, both indoors and outdoors. You can spend a few hours or even a whole day there, checking out stuff to buy or just looking around. It’s also fun to see all these Public Art. Near the entrance…
TukTuks of Lisbon – A Splash of Colour
TukTuks appeared in the late 2000s. They are not public transportation but are privately owned, taking tourists around even on the narrowest and steepest streets. It brings colour to the streets of Libon. This is a fun alternative to taxis but they are quite expensive. Some have a minimum charge of 10 euros while an…
Streetart shutters
BARCELONA, SPAIN As we expected, after leaving the Banksy Museum, we encountered a number of street art murals adorning the shutter doors along our route. I can’t get enough of them. The artworks may not be that outstanding, but when you see so many of them in one place … that’s pretty cool. I am…