travel

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.

Quote of the Day – Travel

December 13, 2022yggdrasille

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,
To gain all while you give,
To roam the roads of lands remote,
To travel is to live.”
— Hans Christian Andersen

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.

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.