On our way from Tokyo to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station, we made a quick stop (toilet and lunch break) … and yes, I got excited to see these murals.
Category: Travels
Windows at the Porto Cathedral
Here are some windows at the Porto Cathedral taken on October 2023. I am linking this to Monday Window Challenge
Kyoto Doors at Night
Walking around Kyoto at night, I noticed the doors. Wooden doors, metal doors and small shopfronts sat quietly under soft lights. Each one felt calm and timeless, resting after a long day (except of course for the ever busy Don Quijote – a Japanese discount store). I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge.
Verona in Monochrome
There’s no set theme for this week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge, so I’ve decided to feature monochrome shots from my travels. This is Verona in Italy. Wandering through the narrow lanes, you’ll find yourself surrounded by history and stories — from ancient Roman ruins to Renaissance palaces. Verona is a city that feels like it was…
Shapes & Designs
Shapes and designs is the topic for this week’s Lens Artist Photo Challenge from Tina. This is such a vast topic that it’s hard to know where to start. So today, I’ve decided to narrow it down to architecture.., exploring forms and patterns found in Sydney, Melbourne, and Barcelona. This is the State Library of…
Doors can be fun
Japan’s doors are not all about quiet minimalism, nor are they purely chaotic bursts of detail. Some sit gently in between … and some are simply fun. I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge and Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge
Szentendre Triptychs in Monochrome
This week’s Monochrome Madness Challenge is from Elke with the theme of Triptychs. This is Szentendre, a charming riverside town just outside Budapest, known for its cobblestone streets, colourful facades, and creative art scene. With its baroque churches, quirky museums, vibrant public art, and lively markets, the town feels both historic and playful. Szentendre in…
Where did 10 years go?
2026 is the new 2016” isn’t just a random caption — it’s become a social media phenomenon where millions of users on platforms like TikTok and Instagram – ChatGPT Joining the bandwagon of nostalgia… grateful I went when I could, laughed when I did, and took way too many photos. These are photos from my…
Almost Deleted
I often find myself drawn to the rejects in photography—the frames that didn’t quite make the cut. The ones that are slightly off, imperfect, or overlooked. Sometimes it’s in these discarded moments where the real story lives: a raw expression, an honest haze, a feeling that wasn’t planned. They may not be technically perfect, but…
Where Smiles Meet the Grumpy Chef
In Osaka, I spotted several smiling golden figures sitting proudly in Japanese restaurants and shopfronts. This is Billiken, a beloved good-luck character. Originally inspired by a Western statue and introduced to Japan in the early 1900s, Billiken has become a symbol of happiness, prosperity, and good fortune. Billiken is usually shown seated, with pointy ears…
Simple Doors in Osaka
Osaka may be bustling, yet these doors whisper simplicity and serenity. I am linking this to Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge.
Carrousel de la Tour Eiffel
Inspired by Leanne’s Monochrome Madness Theme of Carousel, this image was captured while wandering the streets of Paris. Jack and I were walking from the Eiffel Tower along the Seine, heading towards where the Bateaux-Mouches boats were docked, an easy half-hour stroll. We boarded the river cruise at sunset and that’s when the city softened…
Travel Diary in Osaka Castle – Day 14
TRAVEL DIARY: OSAKA CASTLE, SHINSEKAI MARKET There’s a charming little tourist train, often called the Osaka Castle Park Train, which loops around the castle grounds. It is an easy way to see the sights and save on walking. Here are some images from around the castle, with the added bonus of autumn colours. Food stalls…
Monochrome Moments at Place du Tertre
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…
Travel Diary in Katsuo-ji Temple – Day 13
TRAVEL DIARY: KATSUO-JI TEMPLE I’d seen Katsuo-ji Temple on Instagram and had been really excited to visit. We left at 9am, taking the train and then a bus, and the hour journey itself already felt like part of the adventure. This is the Katsuo-ji Temple in Mino, Osaka, and we knew we had arrived the…
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…
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….
Travel Diary in Nakazakicho & Umeda – Day 11
TRAVEL DIARY: NAKAZAKICHO & UMEDA It was still a tour day in Osaka for those who booked the optional excursions, but Jack and I decided to explore on our own. Took the train to Nakazakicho. But first Brunch… I’d read about this place called Nakazakicho, Osaka’s bohemian soul. It is just the place for me…narrow…
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…
Travel Diary in Nara – Day 10
TRAVEL DIARY: FUSHIMI INARI, NARA, OSAKA From Kyoto, we headed to Fushimi Inari … and as expected, it was incredibly busy. We wandered around, browsing here and there, taking in the energy of the place, and even found time to try the famous 10-yen coin–shaped, custard-filled pancake, which was a fun (and sweet) little treat…
Tavel Diary in Miyama & Kinkaku-ji – Day 9
TRAVEL DIARY: MIYAMA, KINKAKU-JI It was our free day on the tour, so I asked the hotel if they had any trips to the Golden Pavilion. They said the shuttle wasn’t direct and would pass by Miyama, which meant the journey would take a bit longer. Oh well — it was a free shuttle, so…
Travel Diary Kyoto – Day 8 (Part 2)
TRAVEL DIARY: KYOTO Jack and I continued our walk and reached the Kamo River. The Kamo River (鴨川, Kamo-gawa), runs through Kyoto and is a popular place for locals and visitors to wander, sit by the water, and enjoy a slower pace of the city. Enjoyed a lovely lunch overlooking the Kamo River. Honestly, it…
Travel Diary in Kyoto – Day 8
TRAVEL DIARY: ARASHIYAMA, KYOTO Kyoto has this quiet charm that reveals itself in its little laneways—narrow paths lined with wooden houses, simple doors, and tiny details that feel like stepping back in time. Every turn seems to lead to a hidden shrine, a tea shop, or an old doorway that has its own story. It’s…
Travel Diary On the way to Kyoto – Day 7
TRAVEL DIARY: OBUCHI-SASABA, KYOTO Another long day of travelling awaited us, with around four hours on the bus ahead. We started the morning with an early breakfast, took a quick walk around the hotel grounds, and then began our journey toward Kyoto. It was one of those quiet travel days where you just settle into…
Travel Diary: On the way to Shizuoka – Day 6
TRAVEL DIARY: 5TH STATION MT FUJI, LAKE KAWAGUCHIKO, FUJI FIVE LAKES, OSHINO-HAKKAI, SHIZUOKA Today’s tour from Tokyo to Shizuoka was a mostly relaxed one, spent largely on the bus as we made our way from one stop to the next. Altogether, we were on the road for about three hours. It is just enough time…
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
Travel Diary Azubadai Hills – Day 5
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 5 AZUBADAI HILLS Our main itinerary for today was to visit TeamLab Borderless, since we had a free day on our tour. So we took our time exploring the area before heading in on our designated entry time of 12 noon. Azabudai Hills is a modern shopping centre with a sleek architecture…
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…