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Top Ten Tuesday – Places of Worship Around the World I Visited

April 18, 2023yggdrasille

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic from That Artsy Reader Girl is a Non-book Freebie! My list was inspired by the recent classical concert at Melbourne’s St Paul’s Cathedral, and is dedicated to the memorable cathedrals, churches, temples and mosques I visited on my travels. I decided to limit to one place per country, otherwise nearly half of my list would just be Italy.

Though I’m not a believer myself, I’ve always enjoyed religious buildings, for their historical and artistic value as well as their atmosphere of peace and reaching out to something greater beyond. I have fond memories of my grandmother taking me to a Russian Orthodox church when I was little, where I listened to the choir and looked at the beautiful frescoes of angels and saints.

Charlie the Cat at Five

March 7, 2023yggdrasille

At five years old, Charlie has matured a little bit but mostly remains the same silly, mischievous boy.

Holiday in Cambodia

December 16, 2022yggdrasille

I finally broke the three year-long dry spell, and travelled overseas for an incredible couple of weeks in Cambodia.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Read on Holiday

October 11, 2022yggdrasille

Another great topic from That Artsy Reader Girl that combines reading and travel.

Though I will readily admit the practical advantages of Kindle, I remain old-fashioned and always prefer to take a physical book with me, even if it occupies valuable luggage space. Quite a lot of space at times: looking at the list, I really tend to go for massive door stoppers when it comes to a long overseas holiday.

Top Ten Tuesday – Books Set in a Place I’d Love to Visit

August 2, 2022yggdrasille

I’ve really looked forward to this topic on the That Artsy Reader Girl, since it combines my two great loves, reading and travel. Some of the places on my list exist only in imagination and will always remain out of reach… but one can always dream! I probably could have filled the entire list with nothing but fantasy and sci-fi, however I tried to keep it mostly grounded in this reality.

Tasmania East Coast

April 29, 2022July 8, 2022yggdrasille

I spent the Anzac Day long weekend across the Bass Strait, in one of my favourite holiday destinations.

Charlie the Cat at Four

March 24, 2022March 5, 2023yggdrasille

Despite the promising start, 2021 turned out to be pretty much a lockdown-ridden sequel to 2020. But once again, my little fluffball remained blissfully ignorant of the COVID-19 crisis and just enjoyed his chance to pester me while I was working from home.

Phillip Island and Cape Woolamai

December 2, 2021July 8, 2022yggdrasille

I’ve been to Phillip Island almost every year for the last 26 years, and never knew that this beautiful nook existed.

Top Ten Tuesday – Bookish Memories

November 30, 2021June 27, 2022yggdrasille

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Another Top Ten Tuesday list, organised by That Artsy Reader Girl – this week’s topic is Bookish Memories. I really enjoyed compiling this one and travelling down the memory lane!

Hampton Beach 2 Brighton Beach

October 22, 2021October 22, 2021yggdrasille

Six Melbourne lockdowns later, there’s finally a cautious hope that The Most Locked Down City in the World is putting those times behind it. So to mark the occasion of eased restrictions, I thought I’d do a photo tribute to my favourite beach walk that helped me keep my sanity in 2020 and 2021.

If there’s any silver lining to the Covid era, it’s the fact that it got me walking outside in almost any weather, on an almost daily basis. There are a few nice parks and green areas around where I live, but nothing has done more for my mental health during lockdown than a brisk walk by the beach, and a chance to look out on that infinite horizon, breathe in the salty air and feel less boxed in. I loved watching the beach change from day to day, and couldn’t resist taking photos.

One of the most pleasant things about this walk is getting rewarded with a view of the city and the famous colourful Brighton Beach cabins from the top of a small hill; on occasions I would extend the walk and check them out.