sightseeing

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.

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.

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.

The Australian Garden

February 10, 2022July 8, 2022yggdrasille

The Australian Garden, situated in Cranbourne’s Royal Botanic Gardens, must be one of Melbourne’s best kept secrets. It’s a long way away from the CBD and I wouldn’t think that it’s on the radar of most tourists, unless they come on some kind of organised garden-oriented tour. As for me, I’ve been driving past it pretty much every year on the way to Phillip Island, thinking that we should really make an effort to see it one day. After finally visiting last year, we were impressed enough to come back for another stroll.

The Australian Garden is all about celebrating the native Australian plants and landscapes, with plenty of photo opportunities. It doesn’t waste time and sets out to impress just as you walk in, with its most spectacular Red Sand Garden. Just like the last time, I wished I had a jet pack to get an aerial view of this stunning spot.

This is no pretty manicured garden, but it blends nature, art and architecture in its own unique and beautiful way, with exhibition gardens, waterways and imaginative displays inspired by the natural cycles. It was wonderful to visit again on a Sunday morning, before it became too hot and crowded.

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.

Bright & Mount Buffalo

April 29, 2021July 8, 2022yggdrasille

A weekend trip to the alpine region of Victoria, to re-visit an old favourite and see something new. And pick mushrooms!

Mallacoota

March 31, 2021July 8, 2022yggdrasille

Interstate travel in Australia is still a gamble, so we explored a new corner of Victoria instead, this small holiday and fishing town near the border with New South Wales.

Warburton

March 2, 2021July 8, 2022yggdrasille

The third Melbourne lockdown had delayed my weekend getaway to this lovely little town on the Yarra River, but two weeks later my plans were back on.

Wilsons Promontory National Park

November 17, 2020July 8, 2022yggdrasille

I don’t blog about every weekend getaway around my home state of Victoria, but as a first post-lockdown trip beyond the boundaries of Melbourne this was quite special.

New Zealand Car Trip 2009

May 13, 2020September 1, 2020yggdrasille

2020 was supposed to be another big year of travel for me, with a four-week Europe trip in August and September including Iceland, the top country on my bucket list of places to go. Safe to say, COVID-19 tore these plans to shreds and there’s no certainty on whether any international travel will be possible this year at all. So I thought I’d look back and blog about one of my most memorable overseas holidays, a solo car trip in New Zealand.