PhotoHunt - Venice after Dark

The best time I had in Venice was strolling along the canals after dark. It's quiet, romantic and completely magical. The city looks absolutely gorgeous after dark with the ships and gondolas moving by and I like how the dim lamps are beautifully lit up against the dark sky.

Skywatch - Blue skies smiling at me

I'm sharing a couple of skywatch photos of Salzburg, Austria. Walking around the city, our eyes are drawn to so many different style of buildings, both old and new. Not sure which part of Salzburg we were in when I took the pictures. The architecture is amazing and looks wonderful against the blue sky.

Ruby Tuesday - Window shopping in Florence

One of the best things about window shopping in Florence is the chance to see the attractive window displays where all the big names in luxury fashion can be found at Via de' Tornabuoni. I was fascinated by their designs and eye-catching shop windows and here they have Gucci, Prada, Pucci, Cavalli, Ferragamo, D&G, just to name a few. Each neighbourhood has something to show off and it never fails to draw people with its intriguing architecture, trend-setting fashionista and bustling colourful districts.



Prices are notoriously high and not everyone can afford to splurge on luxury designer clothes but what else can you expect from famous fashion houses that stands right in the center of Florence. Even though I can’t afford to shop, I enjoy window-shopping and people watching on this luxury-laden street. It's worth to take a look around and take some pictures, then brag about how you visited this place in Florence. The surroundings are absolutely gorgeous and inviting, so it's a trip I won't forget, even if I had to walk away empty handed.

In the meantime, here are some shots for your viewing pleasure.

PhotoHunt - Orange

One of the distinct features of Athens is the rows of orange trees that lined the streets and pathways. When I first spotted these trees laden with fruits, I was intrigued. They are highly aromatic, look so fruitful but it makes me wonder why had no one picked them. I later found out that the fruits were actually bitter oranges, far too sour and bitter to enjoy.

These oranges are picked every year by the city hall and they are primarily used to make marmalade, liqueurs like Cointreau and Grand Marnier, or various sauces, glazes and other culinary treats. The flowers are used to produce essences for aromatherapy and the leaves for herbal purposes.

Skywatch - A lone seagull at sunset

This was an early spring’s sunset taken at St Mark's Square, Venice this year.


The sunset was lovely and that very moment in time was magical for me. I enjoyed this view of the bird flying over the orange sunset along the way.



This fella in the picture was kind enough to pose for me. It only took one look through the viewfinder from where I was standing and I managed to press the shutter before he flew off.



I was able to get another shot of the seagull at a different angle. I liked the simplicity of it and also it seemed so content. Lovely and calming, this gull sure seemed to enjoy watching the sun sink below the horizon.

Wordless Wednesday - Wall Decorations

Hydrangea Bouquets

While walking along the streets of Salzburg, I spotted these eye-catching hydrangea bouquets at a restaurant's patio. The hydrangea flowers are beautifully lifelike and they are so delicate that you'd be hard pressed to tell them from fresh flowers. I stood there for a long while to enjoy the charm of these beauties, they make me happy. :)

PhotoHunt - Miniature

On a trip to Cameron Highlands last year, I noticed a variety of beautiful potted miniature cacti and succulents at Cactus point. It has the best collection of miniature cactus as well as other exotic plant species here. I couldn't help but be captivated by their structures and beauty, there are so many to choose from. I bought a few pots of miniature cactus but to my disappointment, they didn't bloom well as they couldn't survive in such humid tropical environments.

Skywatch - Cherry tree blossoming against the blue sky

Wordless Wednesday - Unconditional Surrender

Unconditional Surrender in San Diego. A 25-foot, 6,000 pound sculpture by artist J. Seward Johnson commemorating a famous World War II photo as seen below.


The original photo was taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt titled "The Kiss", of a Sailor kissing a nurse in Time Square, New York City on Aug 14 1945.

Ruby Tuesday - Hop on Hop off in Rome

The hop on hop off bus was one of my most enjoyable experiences while in Rome. We had 2 days in Rome and managed to visit most of the top notch attractions in the city. You can find these sightseeing buses everywhere in other European cities too. It's very convenient for free and easy travelers like us and most of all, it saves your feet miles of walking. This is a good option to explore the city apart from using the metro system. The buses are frequent and had a good schedule. It was great to be able to hop on and hop off whenever we wanted.

The open top double-decker buses offer great views, but taking photos can be a bit hit and miss. Even though I can't take good pictures from the top, I had fun and enjoy the sights from a very cool perspective.

Are you a fan of hop-on hop-off bus tours?

Flowers in My World

My little corner of the world is aglow with colour as thousands of bougainvillea grow in abundance and bloom to their fullest throughout my neighbourhood. They have become popular choices for roadside beautification efforts too. The colours are so vibrant and eye-catching and I just had to pull over to take some photos. I hope you enjoy these flowers as much as I do!