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,…

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…

Our last day in Porto

TRAVEL DIARY: PORTO 6 Before leaving our Airbnb, I suggested to my husband that we visit this church I’d seen on Instagram known for its stunning azulejos. Luckily, it was close to where we were staying. The Capela das Almas, an 18th-century chapel on Rua Santa Catarina, boasts a striking blue façade adorned with over…

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…

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…

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…

The Triennial 2023 & More

First of all, Jack and I met Pat for lunch at a Malaysian restaurant. Yummmm Took some photos of Public Art around Melbourne. We headed to the city primarily to visit NGV, the National Gallery of Victoria, showcasing the Triennial 2023—an expansive collection of contemporary art created by over 100 talented artists. When we arrived…

Whimsical: for the child within you

Step into a storybook dessert place, adorned with lollipops, fairy floss and magical trees … a whimsical world of sweets. In Camden market, London, I saw this delightful sweets and ice cream shop called Hans & Gretel. I had this Ube (purple yam) & Honeycombe flavoured ice cream. Linked to Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge…

Moooo where is the train station?

AVEIRO, PORTUGAL Two Urban cows roaming at Aveiro train station in Portugal, their purpose is probably linked to charitable organizations, though I am really not quite sure Linked to Debbie’s 6WS and for Natalie’s PPAC.

Albania through Tim’s Lens

My son, Tim, recently spent several days working in Albania, where he was directing a music video. Despite his hectic schedule, I am delighted that he managed to spare some precious moments to capture stunning photos of vibrant murals for me. Also he captured enchanting Christmas-themed public art on the streets and within the hotel…

Looking back to my Philippine holiday

I saw these in my archive … reminiscing my trip in the Philippines last March. These are cute sculptures by Ronald Ventura in the Art Alley of BGC.. And that’s my niece with a new found friend. Linked to Natalie’s Photographingg Public Art Challenge And to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday

One Morph among many in London

Morph is a British comedy animation and is now being highlighted on the streets of London. This unusual exhibition is called Morph’s Adventures in London. There are 56 sculptures of Morph popping up in various locations across the city, wearing different attires. Each sculpture is 6 foot tall and you would not miss it as…

Gnome is where the heart is…

After a long while that I haven’t joined any challenges, here is my post linked to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday and Natalie’s Photographing Public Art Challenge Some cute gnomes in a friend’s garden.

Country town of Yarragon

The Queen celebrated two birthdays each year: her actual birthday on 21 April and her official birthday on the second Saturday in June. But now, for the first time, we are celebrating the King’s Birthday Long Weekend which takes place from Saturday 10th June to Monday 12th June 2023. It is a public holiday today,…

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…

An afternoon in Tooradin

We strolled along the jetty and watched the sky as the sun sets. This was in Tooradin, a quaint fishing village in the bayside township, southeast of Melbourne. Inspired by Jo’s Monday Walk But first, I had an ice cream cone to quench my cravings. Sometimes there’s a scenic cruise operating here in the area….

A walk in Abbotsford Convent

After having a hearty lunch for Mother’s Day, fam and I went to the Abbotsford Convent to spend the rest of the day walking and talking about what has gone by during the past weeks that we didn’t see each other. With lush gardens, the Abbotsford Convent is a slice of the country, an art…

Cruden Farm

Cruden Farm is one of Australia’s most loved iconic gardens and natural spaces. this is located in Langwarrin, VIC. For Dan’s Thursday Door Challenge This is Cruden Farm, a property bought by Keith Murdoch in 1928 for his wife, Elizabeth. She lived here for many decades until her death in 2012. For over 40 years,…

Pat’s Tiny House solo Getaway

A mother always worries about her child no matter how old they may be… so when Pat told me that she booked a tiny home to stay all by herself in a place far, far away from the rest of civilisation… I was worried! For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge – CFFC – Tiny House I…

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…

Santorini of the North

(Road Trip part 1) TRAVEL DIARY: SANTIAGO 1 I haven’t been to Greece so when my sister and nephew suggested that we go for a few days in this place said to be the Santorini of the North, then I didn’t hesitate on agreeing to go. This is quite a new experience for all of…

BGC Mural Walk

TRAVEL DIARY: BGC Bonifacio Global City also known as BGC is known for its stunning skyscrapers, its many restaurants catering to all types if cuisines, its colourful surroundings, and now for its many instagrammable murals dotting the city. BGC is a financial district in Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines. It is located 11 km south-east of…