Travel Central Asia Join me as I discover part of the Great Silk Road which crossed from China through the Stan’s and the Caucasus, stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to Mongolia in the east, a vast area of desert, steppes and mountain ranges forming a bridge between Europe and Asia.
Neighbourhoods Arts Precinct - Bayside 2023 The annual Open Day of the Advantage Road Arts Precinct In Highett, Melbourne was held in the middle of October, 2023. Fabulous art works by Kate Sellars-Jones and Robyn Hayes amongst others on display.
Gardens Tantalising Toowoomba Toowoomba, 2 hours west of Brisbane has a temperate climate and renowned for its beautiful gardens. Each September the city hosts the Carnival of Flowers, showcasing breathtaking gardens, flowers and topiary in its beautiful parks, the streets filled with colourful flower beds.
Architecture The Swan Bells - Perth The Bell Tower, in the centre of Perth houses the Swan Bells - a set of 18 bells hanging in a futuristic specially built 82.5-metre-high (271 ft) copper and glass campanile. 12 of the bells had resided in St Martin-in-the-Fields church, London – the parish church to the British Royal family.
Women Artists Meg Maguire - An Artist with Passion Meg Maguire is a figurative artist living and working in North Canterbury, NZ. Creating works informed by curiosity, Meg's output is equally intimate and candid.
Australia Rottnest Island - Western Australia Rottnest Island, located off the coast near Perth, colloquially referred to as Rotto, visitors can cycle for a day looking out for delightful quokkas and enjoying the azure sky, blindingly white sand, crystal clear and majestic coves formed by naturally sculpted rocks.
Australia The Australian Outback Showcasing the magnificence of the West Australian Outback and the Outback in general.
Australia The Pinnacles - Western Australia The Pinnacles Desert is located in Nambung National Park, 2 hours north of Perth, Western Australia. They are natural limestone structures, formed approximately 25,000 to 30,000 years ago.
Australia Kalbarri Skywalk - Western Australia Venture out onto the cantilevered walkways of the Kalbarri Skywalk in Kalbarri National Park, high above the Murchison River, in Western Australia.
Australia Coastline between Monkey Mia and Kalbarri - Western Australia Along the coast of Western Australia - the Bigurda Trail in Kalbarri National Park and the Pink Lake.
Australia Telegraph Point and Shell Beach - Western Australia Exploring Shark Bay, Western Australia - Eagle Bluff Lookout, Shell Beach and Stromatolites, at Hamelin Pool - part of the same huge marine nature reserve as Monkey Mia.
Australia Monkey Mia - Western Australia Monkey Mia, located on Shark Bay, north of Perth, is known for its tame dolphins and vast sea grass beds - the staple diet for approx 10,000 dugongs that reside here.
Australia Ningaloo Reef – Western Australia Heading south from Broome, Ningaloo Reef, located near Exmouth is a sparkling gem in Western Australia’s crown. The turquoise lagoons are home to one of the world’s most incredible marine creatures – whale sharks.
Nature Green Sea Turtles Green sea turtles are one of the world’s largest species of turtle, weighing around 65-130kg and measuring between 1-1.2m long. They have a strong, tear-drop shape shell, called a ‘carapace’, which covers most of their body, except for their head and four flippers.
Nature The Delightful Dragonfly Dragonflies love sunlight living near water, usually by stagnant pools and marshes. Their four large wings have beautiful lace-like pattern of veins, long slender bodies, a huge head and prominent eyes.
Australia The 6 seasons of the Kimberley The Yawuru people have been the traditional owners of the lands and seas around Broome in the Kimberley for tens of thousands of years. They recognise 6 seasons characterised by changes in their surrounding environment – Man-gala, Marrul, Wirralburu, Barrgana, Wirlburu and Laja.
Australia Broome - Western Australia Broome is a multi cultural city rich in history, located in the north of Western Australia, part of the Kimberley region. It’s a long way from populated cities - Perth is 2000kms away while Darwin is a little closer - a mere 1800kms.
Landscapes Jordan - Wadi Rum Wadi Rum, located in the south of Jordan covers an area of 74,200, is the largest and most magnificent of Jordan's desert landscapes.
Architecture Jordan - The Rose City of Petra Petra was the capital of the Nabataeans from the 1st century BCE to 4th CE built on their riches by offering a safe haven, food, water and shelter on the lucrative trading route between Asia, Africa, and Europe.
Architecture Church of Annunciation - Nazareth, Israel The Church of the Annunciation, is located in Nazareth, Israel. It is two churches in one – the current, modern structure seen above ground was built atop earlier shrines and conceived by the Italian architect Giovanni Muzio.
Architecture Antonio Barluzzi - Architect of the Holy Land Antonio Barluzzi (1884-1960) was an Italian architect who became know as the Architect of the Holy Land. The Franciscans asked him to design and build churches atop the ruins of Byzantine and Crusader churches In all he completed 24 churches, hospitals and schools between 1912 and 1955.
Women Artists Jaffa and Israeli artist Ilana Goor Located just 2 kms away from the young city of Tel Aviv in Israel, is the ancient port city of Jaffa and the art gallery of Ilana Goor, a world-renowned artist born in Tiberius with no formal studies and developed her own artistic techniques from an early age.
Architecture Tel Aviv - Bauhaus Architecture Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 when 66 Jewish families combined resources to purchase land north of Jaffa. Development halted during WWI and resumed in 1921 sent many Jews north to Tel Aviv. Jewish architects fleeing Nazi Germany set about designing apartment buildings in modernist Bauhaus style.
Photography Maits Rest - Otway Ranges Maits Rest is a stunning, yet easy 30-minute loop walk through one of the few patches of temperate rainforest within the Otway Ranges not far from Apollo Bay. Authors own photo.
Photography The Great Ocean Road Cavernous caves formed along the Great Ocean Road in the soft rock and eventually became majestic arches framing the sea. The surf and storms were relentless and eventually, the arches collapsed to make the towering stacks we see today soaring up to 45 meters in height.
