TRAVEL DIARY: MONTMARTRE 9th of October, our day started off early with breakfast at our hotel at 8 am. It wasn’t the usual buffet breakfast but wow was it so yum and healthy-ish. Great start of the day. Went on the metro just a 1 minute walk from our hotel. Emerged from this Metro station…
Category: Travels 2023
Capturing Moments and Embracing Empty Spaces
I am linking this to Patti’s Empty Spaces LAPC , Xingfumama’s Whatsoever is lovely Challenge and for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday for this week. These are photos that I took with my IPhone during my travels from October to early November this year. What lovely memories…
Seats in Park View Cafe
There was a train strike last 11th of November so we decided to just stay local and stroll in Finsbury Park. About an hour walk and it was time for brunch at the Park View Cafe Some round tables and chairs. Linked to Xingfumama’s Pull up a Seat Challenge
Paris, here we come…
TRAVEL DIARY: PARIS 1 We took the Eurostar from London to Paris on the 8th of October. The moment we emerged from the bustling Gare du Nord station in Paris we were greeted by a spectacular view and sunshine. The hotel we reserved on Belleville turned out to be small, but it wasn’t as tiny…
Connie’s garden
Tim, Jack, and I enjoyed a delightful two-night stay at my cousin Connie’s place in Edinburgh. Despite its brevity, the visit was filled with joy as we caught up, chatted, and laughed late into the night. Before we said goodbye, Connie shared her garden, filled with vibrant autumn flowers.. Linked to Cee’s FOTD challenge
The windows of Liberty
Liberty is a luxury department store in London and the building dates back from 1875. It is one of the most iconic stores in Regent Street. The Liberty Clock is a mechanical clock that was completed in 1925. I like how it looks like clocks that you may find in European Old Towns. Linked to…
Looking up, looking down in Sintra
Situated only 25km from Lisbon, Sintra is a picturesque town that has extravagant palaces, ancient castles and stunning scenery. One of the most popular day trip from Lisbon that people take is to see the colorful Palácio da Pena. This spectacular castle is located high in the Sintra Mountains and is considered one of Portugal’s…
Finsbury Park doors
TRAVEL DIARY: LONDON Departed Melbourne on October 4th, I endured a challenging 25-hour flight (including stopovers and layovers), finally reaching Heathrow Airport in the early morning. Upon our early arrival in London at my son’s place, I resisted the urge to nap, aiming to maintain my sleep schedule. Instead, I took a stroll around my…
Post-holiday Blues
It’s common to feel a bit drained after returning from a vacation, experiencing what some describe as post-holiday blues. “I really need a holiday from my holiday.” That’s what people always say. I and hubby were away for a month and a half so feeling tired and jet-lagged is an understatement. Anyway…. Back to business….
On a Road Trip
These are countryside sceneries from the car window on our way to Edinburgh from York. It is just so lovely to have spent this time with my son even just for a few days. Glad he agreed to be our driver for this road trip. Linked to Ludwig’s Monday Window and for Xingfumama’s Whatsoever is…
Night sky in Porto
This is what you get when you mix a beautiful church a cloudy sky and a full moon… Took this photo with my iphone when we passed by the Church of Saint Ildefonso in Porto. The blue and white tiles on the walls of the church is very impressive. Linked to Hammad’s Weekend Sky
Signs in Lisbon
Currently, hubby and I are leaving Lisbon and are on our way to Porto via the Alfa Pendular or the CP – Comboios de Portugal. I haven’t posted in the past couple of weeks (or months) because things have been kinda hectic. So now I am linking this to Johnbo’s Signs in Lisbon Markets Some…
On board the Eurostar
Hubby and I left early for our Eurostar train ride to Paris from the St Pancras International. Didn’t expect to get there so early giving us more time for some photo opportunities with my phone. Photos from 8 October 2023 Linked to John’s Cellpic Sunday
Weekend Sky in Finsbury Park
It has been my third day here in London and this is the first time I have seen the sun shining this brightly. It is 9:20am here. Have a great weekend friends! Linked to Hammad’s Weekend Sky
Gratitude
In the middle of jetlag and a confusion of time zones, I almost forgot my 6 year anniversary from my stroke. “Thank you Lord for the extension of my life.” I am feeling joyful and grateful that I have reached this far and still feeling this great. Oh yes…yes… I know that my body isn’t…
Sitting is an art
Sitting can be an art as seen in these Quirky and colourful benches in Bonifacio Global City or BGC in the Philippines. A stylized bench that looks like a pea pod in a park. A strong hand grip. Two figures reaching out to each other. Inspired by Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge and for…
More Doors in the Philippines (part 5)
You may all be getting tired of it so … promise… this is my last post about doors from my trip the Philippines. I don’t think I have any more photos of doors left to publish anyway. Inspired by Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge
Random Public Art in the Philippines
It has been two months since I have returned from my holiday in the Philippines and I still have a lot of leftover photos that I haven’t posted. So here are more public art for Natalie’s challenge. Photographing Public Art Challenge – PPAC The Trees is a modern sculpture symbolising the Circle of Life by…
Candid shots in the Philippines
I am usually shy in taking photos of people unaware… but here am I taking the chance. Inspired by Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – Catching People Unaware
Dream… Create
It may be McDonald’s for you, but it is called Maccas here in Australia and McDo in the Philippines. This is how McDo looks like in one of the branches that we passed on our roadtrip last February 2023. Inspired by Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge.
Caleruega Chapel
This is the Caleruega Chapel of Transfiguration located in Nasugbu, Batangas in the Philippines. It is a beautiful church known as the most popular wedding chapel around Tagaytay. It is perched on top of the highest hill surrounded by panoramic views. Unfortunately the grounds were closed because there was a retreat going on that day….
Monday Windows in Batangas
Well, I am still in my reminiscing mode so here are windows from my latest trip back home. Batangas is one of the most popular tourist destinations near Metro Manila. It is where you can find the well-known Taal Volcano. Here are windows inspired by Ludwig’s Monday Window. This accommodation was built high up which…
Windows in Manila
I am now back to reminiscing my trip to the Philippines. While driving around Manila, I saw these windows of apartments. Inspired by Ludwig’s Monday Window
Wooden Doors in Vigan
This is my last post on my trip to the Philippines. I am hoping and crossing my fingers and toes that another travel experience will be had soon enough. Here are wooden doors in Vigan Ilocos Sur. Some are well preserved… And some needs some reconstruction… but the vintage look and exposed bricks give it…
Back in Ilocos Sur
(Road Trip Part 4) TRAVEL DIARY: VIGAN The last time we were here was in October of 2016. This is the UNESCO World Heritage City of Vigan, Established in the 16th century, this is the best-preserved Spanish colonial town in Asia. Calle Crisologo, the main street that is only open to pedestrians and horse drawn…
Last Day in Santiago
(Road Trip Part 3) TRAVEL DIARY: SANTIAGO 3 It is our last day in Santiago, Ilocos Sur so I wanted to have a time all to myself for a change. I wandered off around the grounds of Vitalis Villas before breakfast and savoured the sun, the wind and the sky. I didn’t realise it but…
Along the Seaside
(Road Trip part 2) TRAVEL DIARY: SANTIAGO 2 On our second day in Ilocos Sur, only three of us went for our walk bright and early to catch the sunrise, while the others were still fast asleep. The ambiance of the place may be very different from my previous post but it is owned by…
Seats in Cafe Giya
This is Cafe Giya in Angono, Rizal where the view is to die for. Went there for a brief stop over during our roadtrip in the Philippines and found some assorted seats. Inspired by Xingfumama’s Pull Up a Seat Challenge
Village Doors (part 4)
This is the last of the series of the doors that I found in the Philippines. I hope you enjoyed it. For Dan’s Thursday Doors Challenge Stayed for three days at my brother in law’s place and here are some of the doors to houses on our way to church. This is the childhood village…