This beautiful building, with its white-paned windows and ornate details, is a striking example of old-world charm in Porto. The curved balconies and decorative columns add elegance, while the rows of matching white windows bring symmetry and grace to the facade. Looking closer is a whimsical mural just above the ground floor—and a sculpted face….
Tag: Travels
Stormy times
I’m originally from the Philippines, a tropical country where storms are a regular part of life. Growing up, I was used to them—when a storm rolled in, we stayed home. Schools would close, sometimes offices would shut down as well, and everything came to a standstill. These storms weren’t gentle either—they were strong, often followed…
The Giant’s House
In the charming town of Akaroa, New Zealand, artist Josie Martin has turned an old 1880s villa, known as The Giant’s House, into a colourful and imaginative sanctuary. It is said the be the “Happiest Garden on Earth.” The Giants House has become a part of Akaroa’s folklore, earning its name when a small child,…
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…
Queenstown
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 8 QUEENSTOWN Walking through town from our hotel, it was easy to see why Queenstown calls itself the adventure capital. There are so many thrill-seeking activities—skydiving, jet boating, bungy jumping, you name it! Well not for me thank you very much Sometimes it’s best to just wander around Queenstown. This wharf’s a…
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…
Wordless Wednesday – 37
AKAROA, NEW ZEALAND
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.
Books at Livraria Lello
Books open doors to new worlds, ideas, and emotions. They let us travel through time, explore different lives, and understand others better. One of the most beautiful places to enjoy books is Livraria Lello in Porto, Portugal. Opened in 1906, this historic bookstore is famous for its stunning staircase, stained glass ceiling, and magical atmosphere….
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…
Tuesday Streetart: Dcypher – 88
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND Spotted another epic Dcypher piece on Colombo Street! This one’s a collab with the Flare Ōtautahi Street Art Festival and features Athena and Minerva in this wild, cosmic scene. I’m not sure what the exact story is, but the colours and details totally pulled me in—feels ancient, futuristic, and kind of magical…
Playful Windows
For Monday Window Challenge Photo taken at The Giants House in Akaroa, New Zealand.
Colourful Benches
I don’t know about you, but there’s something about colourful chairs and benches that I find so irresistible. Maybe I’m just a vibrant kind of gal—drawn to bold murals, splashes of public art, and anything that brightens up a space. Haha! Here are benches for Jude’s Bench Anniversary Challenge which I found on our trip…
The Mirror Lakes
The Mirror Lakes are small lakes in Fiordland National Park on New Zealand’s South Island. When the weather is calm, the water is very still, and it works like a mirror. You can see the Earl Mountains clearly reflected on the surface. I am sure that this Iphone photo really suits the Reflection challenge. I…
Wordless Wednesday – 35
HIGHLANDS, SCOTLAND
Tuesday Streetart: Takahē – 87
Meet the Takahē—a rare, flightless bird found only in New Zealand. Once thought to be extinct, it was rediscovered in 1948 in the remote Murchison Mountains. With its bright blue and green feathers and chunky red beak, this native is a conservation success story and a true Kiwi treasure! And a Public Art in Te…
Day Trip to Aoraki/Mount Cook
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 5 AORAKI/ MOUNT COOK Started the day with coffee and some store-bought bread I’d picked up beforehand—simple, but it did the job. It’s one of those days—drive a bit, hop out to take some photos, walk around, then back in the car. We just followed Google Maps to see what lies ahead….
Lamp Posts in Monochrome
Lamp posts make great subjects in photography. At times you can often tell which country you’re in just by looking at them — their design, shape, and placement can be surprisingly distinctive. But beyond their appearance, it’s the story behind them that truly matters. It’s the memories we associate with them — a quiet street…
Roadtrip from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
TRAVEL DIARY: DAY 4 On the Road from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo Ever heard that New Zealand has more sheep than people? I used to think that was just a running joke—but it turns out, it’s absolutely true! In 2023, there were about 24.4 million sheep roaming the country, compared to just 5 million humans….
Tuesday Streetart: Trades People – 86
CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND Murals with the central themes of construction and labour. The artwork is filled with diverse figures, each doing different types of work, capturing the energy and variety of the building trades.
Night time in Christchurch
TRAVEL DIARY: Day 3: CHRISTCHURCH at Night Nestled in the heart of Christchurch, New Regent Street is a charming pedestrian lane where only the trams can pass. By day, it’s a delight with its beautifully restored buildings in soft pastel hues. But come nightfall, the street transforms—bathed in colourful lights, it becomes even more magical….
Serenity found Outdoors
Being outdoors brings a kind of peace you don’t find anywhere else. There’s something really calming about a misty day. Sometimes it’s in the rustle of trees as the wind moves through them. Other times, it’s the stillness of a lake, or the soft ripple of water as ducks glide by. Even clouds drifting slowly…
A Day in Akaroa
TRAVEL DIARY: Day 2 AKAROA I don’t know how it always happens—no matter how much I plan for a relaxing trip, I end up packing in so much! This was especially true on our second day in Christchurch, when we found ourselves heading out to explore even more places, including the beautiful town of Akaroa….
Wordless Wednesday 32: Do you know what these are?
LAKE TEKAPO, NEW ZEALAND
Tuesday Streetart: Ice Cream & Beeees – 85
This cute and quirky artwork by Queenstown artist Sharon Duncan is part of Chorus’ cabinet beautification project. Titled “Bee in the Moment,” it shows an older woman enjoying an ice cream as bees buzz nearby — a gentle reminder to slow down and savour the moment. It can be found in Queenstown CBD’s Beach Street.
Tall Sculptures in the Queenstown Airport
Queenstown international airport is located at the foot of the Remarkables in New Zealand. You can find the Sculpture of three Maori chiefs by Mark Hill. They were completed in November 2007 and stand in front of the main airport building. I am linking this to Debbie’s Six Word Saturday
Mirrored Reflections
This week’s themed topic is from Margaret of “From Pyrenees to Pennines” – Mirror. My take for this week’s topic is mirrored reflections. Some of the photos i’ve used previously but in colour. They show the world in reverse, familiar, yet subtly altered. It may even make us pause for a moment to see things…
A Cinematic South Island
Cinematic photography is the art of creating still images that feel as though they belong in a movie. It’s not just about capturing a subject, it’s about telling a story, setting a mood, and building a visual atmosphere. The South Island of New Zealand is a dream for cinematic photography. With its dramatic mountains, crystal-clear…
Wordless Wednesday – 30
RHINE RIVER CRUISE