To long for something is to feel that deep pull toward what isn’t here yet—a mix of hope, desire, and maybe a little ache. It’s not always about big dreams; often, it’s the small, everyday things that make life feel whole. This week, Egidio invites us to lean into the melancholic and the pensive, to…
Category: Travels
Lucerne 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. The River Reuss flows through Lucerne and beneath the Chapel Bridge, Europe’s oldest covered wooden bridge and the city’s iconic landmark. Across bridges and spires, monuments and lampposts, Lucerne whispers in monochrome. A Cruise through…
Virtual Scavenger Hunt
“Creativity is a scavenger hunt. It’s your obligation to pay attention to clues, to the thing that gives you that little tweak.” – Elizabeth Gilbert Anne’s challenge this week is a ‘Virtual Scavenger Hunt’—how fun is that? I’ve been digging through my photo archives and smiling at all the memories that popped up along the…
A red window in Se do Porto
The Porto Cathedral (or Sé do Porto in Portuguese) is a Roman Catholic church right in the heart of Porto’s old town. It’s one of the city’s oldest and most important buildings. Inside, there’s a red window — small and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but very beautiful if you take a…
Heidelberg & Rhineland in Monochrome
On a Rhine River Cruise, with wine on one hand and a camera on the other. Enjoying the line of coloured houses and the view of some medieval castles. In the centre of Heidelberg, the university town of Germany, are these charming houses and restaurants. The Heidelberg Castle overlooks the old town. The Bruckentor or…
Tuesday Streetart: Riverside – 100
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND Christchurch is such a great city for walking, and what makes it even better are all the murals you spot along the way. When I was wandering near Riverside Market, I came across what I thought was an old vintage building. But when I looked closer, I realised the whole thing was…
Tuesday Streetart: Christchurch – 99
Rise From the Rubble’ is a mural by Brandon Warrell on Hereford Street in Christchurch, New Zealand. It’s a symbol of hope, commemorating the resilience and efforts of the Christchurch community to restore the beauty of their city after the 2011 earthquake.
Wordless Wednesday – 43
BURANO
Amsterdam 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. Amsterdam is a city that often dazzles in colour—golden light on the canals, flower-filled windows, bikes in every hue, and gabled houses leaning into one another like old friends. But what happens when all that…
Leading Lines & Churches
Whenever I travel, I always find myself drawn to churches. There’s something about stepping inside—whether it’s the quiet, the history, or the light filtering through stained glass—that instantly grounds me. This week’s theme for John’s Lens Artist Photo Challenge is Lines, Colours, and Patterns. I’ve chosen to focus on leading lines in churches—a powerful visual…
Wooden Cottage in Glenorchy
Spotted this charming little cottage in Glenorchy, New Zealand —with its rusty old wheel still attached and glass windows with flower boxes spilling over with blooms. The weathered wood, the vintage vibes, and that stunning alpine backdrop make it feel like something straight out of a storybook. This is something really special. And this is…
Paint the town (and windows) red
The Cardrona Hotel is one of New Zealand’s most beloved historic landmarks. With its vintage character, mountain backdrop, and deep roots in local history, it’s a place that captures both the eye and the imagination. Next to it is a red vintage petrol pump, windows of a red phone booth and charming old cottages. I…
Sit & Knit
Spotted these two red chairs in the town of Te Anau, NZ—right by the lake and just too cute to ignore. Te Anau’s known as the gateway to Fiordland, but honestly, it’s got its own quiet charm that makes you want to stay a little longer. The chairs had a little sign that said ‘Sit…
London 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. Monochrome scenes of London adds mood and timelessness to the city’s iconic sights. The London Eye stands still against a moody sky, while Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament glow in contrast. A red…
Quiet Hours
This week, SH is our Guest Host for the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, and the theme is “Quiet Hours” It’s a gentle reminder to pause and notice the stillness—whether it’s a quiet sunrise by the sea, an early walk through empty streets, or a mountain view that leaves you breathless. These are the moments that ground…
Hungary in Monochrome
This week, Sarah is leading the Monochrome Madness Challenge with the theme “Beginning with an H”—and for me, it was an easy choice: Hungary. I visited Budapest, the capital of Hungary, a few years ago, and it instantly became one of those cities that stayed with me long after I’ve left. For this post, I’m…
Kia Ora Aotearoa
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 14 QUEENSTOWN The Māori are the Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand (Aotearoa). They first settled the islands over 700 years ago. In New Zealand, “kia ora” is a common Māori greeting meaning “hello,” “goodbye,” or “thank you.” More than a phrase, it conveys a wish for well-being—“have life” or “be well.”…
Strolling around Te Anau
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 12 TE ANAU On our 12th day, the rain poured nonstop. Luckily, we had this extra day to stay in—it would’ve been too difficult to drive. So, it turned into a Netflix kind of day. TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 13 DRIVE FROM TE ANAU TO QUEENSTOWN What a surprise—the sun came out just…
Chinese Settlement in Arrowtown
Let me take you back to Arrowtown, New Zealand—this time, in the opposite direction from the main street I shared earlier. The first thing that caught my eye was a historic cabin nestled against a forest backdrop. It is the old Police Hut in the Chinese Settlement of Arrowtown which is a favourite among photographers….
Tuesday Streetart: Giant Spray Cans – 92
Before the earthquakes hit Christchurch in 2011, street art was mostly seen as graffiti or vandalism. But after the quakes, the damaged buildings gave artists a chance to turn the city into something more colourful and creative. In 2017, these giant spray cans were set up as a way to give artists a proper space…
Coach Tour to Milford Sound
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 11 MILFORD SOUND Our day started with a 9 am walk from our hotel, passing through the Te Anau Botanical. Such a peaceful walk especially during this time of the day. Met the rest of the tour group at the town centre in Kea Cafe. Got our lunch voucher from our tour…
Drive to Te Anau
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 10 DRIVE FROM QUEENSTOWN TO TE ANAU This drive felt exciting—we knew that tomorrow we’d be heading to Milford Sound, the highlight of our entire trip. But today’s journey was simply about getting to a small country town where we’d be staying. When we finally arrived in Te Anau, the town turned…
Reflections
There’s something calming about reflections. It lets us see the world from another angle. On my travels, I’ve come across many beautiful moments where water turned into a mirror—showing not just what was there, but something more quiet and poetic. Here, I’m sharing some of my favourite places where reflections made me pause, look twice,…
Day Trip to Arrowtown
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 9 DAYTRIP TO ARROWTOWN Arrowtown is a small town near Queenstown on New Zealand’s South Island. It began as a gold mining town, and you can still see that history in its old cottages and stone buildings. Many of the houses were built in the 1860s, when Chinese miners and European settlers…
Wordless Wednesday – 38
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM, BILBAO
Tuesday Streetart: Antarctic Gateway City – 90
RIVERSIDE MARKET, CHRISTCHURCH This awesome mural was created to celebrate Christchurch’s special role as a gateway to Antarctica. You’ll find it just outside Riverside Market, right on the corner of Cashel Street and Oxford Terrace. This is the third week in a row I’ve featured street artist Dcypher—clearly a favourite! This piece was a team…
Windows in an Arrowtown church
This is the charming St John’s Presbyterian Church in Arrowtown, New Zealand. It’s a small stone church with a peaceful presence, quietly nestled among trees and layers of history. Above its entrance is a beautifully shaped stained glass window that immediately caught my eye. I felt drawn to it, so I wandered down to the…
Day trip to Glenorchy
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 7 DAYTRIP TO GLENORCHY We set off bright and early from our place on Gorge Street in Queenstown, excited for the day ahead. First stop is the Wilson Bay Reserve. Wilson Bay is a nice little lookout on the road between Queenstown and Glenorchy. Still on the winding road to Glenorchy. Jack…
Tuesday Streetart: DCypher – 89
As with my last week’s post, this is another mural by artist DCypher, and this time you can see it on Gloucester St, Christchurch. This is in conjunction to the Flare Ōtautahi Street Art Festival in 2023.
From Lake Tekapo to Queenstown
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…