Central Asia The Caucasus - Azerbaijan - Part 2 - Baku Baku's old town is a UNESCO site, a complex of cobbled laneways, winding up to the Shirvan Shah Palace, while the Heydar Aliyev Centre is a modern masterpiece designed by the well-respected Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.
Central Asia The Caucasus - Azerbaijan - Part 1 There are 700 volcanoes in the world - half of them in Azerbaijan - the Land of Fire. The Persian word Azer means fire, referring to extensive petroleum deposits, known since ancient times, and as a former centre of the Zoroastrian faith (who worshipped fire).
Central Asia From Central Asia to The Caucasus The Caucasus were also part of the USSR which existed from 1922 to 1991. Like the other 12 provinces, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia also broke away to each become independent states. They are all quite different.
Mailbag January 2024 Mailbag No 2 Today's mailbag is a little closer to home with promotions for an exhibition at the Bundanon Gallery in NSW and one at the Australian Museum of Photography in Melbourne.
Mailbag January 2024 Mailbag No 1 Welcome to our first MailBag post for 2024 and there is no better way to welcome in the new year than with a nice surprise in your letter box which greeted me when I was visiting my brother in northern New South Wales, Australia recently!
TagCloud Day: Seascapes Most humans love the sea whether it is to swim in, boat in, dive in, travel across or to earn a living from - it is one of our little planet's most endearing features!! While the AnArt4Life team recovers from the silly season please enjoy our day off
Photography Adam Stan - Photographer Today we look at the beautiful photography of Adam Stan, who is based on the Bellarine coast, south of Melbourne, Australia. He also photographs the sand art of his friend, Ed......
Urban Landscape Catching up with Kevin McKay: Eastern Suburbs Studies As 2024 dawns I thought we would take a look into the studio of Sydney artist Kevin McKay to see what he was doing during 2023 and where he might be heading this year.
England Early Morning Reflection We welcome in the new morning with a wonderful photo from E in London followed by William Wordsworth's famous sonnet 'Composed Upon Westminister Bridge'. And our good wishes for your day to be filled with many patches of sun.
Central Asia Central Asia - Tajikistan Things are looking up for Tajikistan currently one of the world's poorest countries -with enormous growth potential of water, hydropower, agriculture and food processing, mineral resources such as gold and silver and a budding tourism industry.
Planes An important replica plane flies again! Today we celebrate the completion of the restoration of the replica of "The Southern Cross" aeroplane flown by Charles Kingsford Smith in 1928, in the first trans-Pacific flight from America to Australia.
Ships and boats Peking – Leaving Iquique by Robert Carter I thought that as we sail into 2024 it was time to return to the remarkable marine paintings created by Robert Carter OAM, FASMA, FISMP of the sailing ship era and published in The Marine Paintings of Robert Carter.
Central Asia Central Asia - Turkmenistan - Koneurgench We spent our final day in Turkmenistan on a 3 hour return trip to Koneurgench, capital of the region in the 10th and 11th centuries - a center of Islamic culture and an important stop on the famous Silk Road.
Celebration Happy New Year 2024 All of us at the "AnArt4Life" blog (Anne, Jane, Julie, Caroline, John, Andrew and Matt), wish all our readers a happy and healthy 2024 ahead, and thank you for your wonderful support so far.
Celebration It's New Year’s Eve 2023 The AnArt4Life team wish all our readers a Happy New Year's Eve, and take a look at last year's fireworks heralding 2023.....
Central Asia Central Asia – Turkmenistan - Merv After an overnight stay in modern Mary we headed to the ancient remains of Merv - the oldest and best-preserved of the oasis-cities along the Silk Route in Central Asia, spanning 4,000 years of human history.
Central Asia Central Asia - Turkmenistan - Ashgabat - Part 2 Continuing our tour in Ashgabat - the capital of Turkmenistan. A showcase city filled with at least 500 white marble buildings. multi lane roads with large white and gold sculptures adorn every roundabout and overpass yet there not many people around.
Central Asia Central Asia - Turkmenistan - Ashgabat - Part 1 Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan. A showcase city filled with at least 500 white marble buildings. Multi lane roads with large white and gold sculptures adorn every roundabout and overpass yet there not many people around.
Celebration Boxing Day Plunge Whilst here in "Down Under" we swelter in the 30+ heat some brave souls, many no doubt full of Christmas pudding, plunge into the cold, cold, cold waters in the northern hemisphere!
Christmas It's Christmas 2023! Anne, Jane, Julie, John, Andrew, Caroline and Matt from the "AnArt4Life" blog team send our best wishes to all our readers and subscribers. May you each enjoy the peace and goodwill of the Christmas spirit.
Celebration Christmas Eve Christmas Eve is a time of many interpretations in the modern world. Whatever your viewpoint please use these days to spend some time with loved ones and those who sometimes just need you to say "hello".
Photography ‘Focus’: A photographic spotlight on Australian life: 1939 – 1996 A new exhibition has opened at the National Archives of Australia in Canberra. It looks at life in Australia as it developed over the sixty years or so from 1939.
Blog TagCloud Day: Light I have been thinking about light of late and writing a little on this topic which is so important in our world. So while we have the day off to do some preparations for the festive season why don't you check out the past posts from AnArt4Life about Light.