Category: Travels

~ From Mourning to Milfontes, Portugal – not so long ago.. ~

I recently travelled back to the UK to attend the beautiful send off for my dear mum. I have my brother to thank for arranging most of this. Although sad that she is no longer in my life, it was a lovely celebration of her life. At 93 my mum was ready to join my dad.

~ 1933 – 2026 – Jean May Ward ~

Mum

Seeing all my relatives, cousins, aunts and uncles come together was a wonderful experience. They all had separate tales to tell about my mum. Remembering her in such a way felt so special.

Visiting Vila Nova de Milfontes

We decided that it would be a good time to have a break from the stress of the last few months. So it was that we flew to Milfontes and The Algarve to relax and rejuvenate before parting. As he is now living in Milfontes, myself, my brother and his wife stayed at the house he is renting.

Milfontes is situated on the Alentejo coast. It sits where the Mira River meets the Atlantic coast. The estuary provides lovely calm beaches, great for families. The beach itself is ideal for surfers. It’s definitely a good place to visit for a quiet, non-touristy holiday.

Below are photos from his rooftop

Walking around on the first day I fell instantly in love with the quaint cobble stoned streets and pastel coloured houses. I could even hang washing out from my window. Milfontes has a calmness about it and the pace of life is slow.

Four kittens kipping on the cobblestones

Exploring the village and other surrounding towns

There was a fort just down the road – The Fort of St. Clemente. I am partial to forts, castles and any old buildings really. This one was extremely grand – in its day – sadly not open to the public.

Built by King Phillip II of Portugal to fend off marauding pirates. It overlooks the River Mira and the Atlantic Ocean.

Monument to the Aviators

This monument commemorates the 1924 Pioneering flight from Lisbon to Macau, led byu Brito Pais and Sarmento Beires. The first flight crashed in India, fortunately the crew survived but the plane didn’t. Not to be deterred, through Government and public donations they were able to make a second journey. They almost made it, landing just 800 metres away in China. They sailed onto Macau to a triumphant arrival.

ABC – Another Blue Church
Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Graca

Time for lunch and my long awaited grilled sardines and a glass or two of Vino Verde.

In the evening we drove up the coast to watch the fabulous sunset over the Atlantic Ocean.

“Liberdade” – Valter Pires

The next day we drove to Sao Luis and then back to the coast. Graham was being very patient driving through the villages, when all he wanted was to dive into the water. As nice as it looked it was far too cold for me!

Sao Luis Church

There were many derelict properties in this village, but we noticed some were being readied for renovation. Maybe the council had received a grant.

We were tempted to put an offer in for this one and open up our own boutique hotel.

These two men had just laid down some food for all the stray cats that were living inside this old building.

Time for the beach and a drive across the Mira River to the coast.

Zambujeira do Mar

Walking along the cliff top we spotted a few ospreys’ nests. This was the best I could do with my S24. It looks like an extremely large nest.

We finished the day at a beach bar overlooking the sea and seeing how long people stayed in. Enough just to cool down!

…. off to The Algarve soon …

~ Murals of Silves, Portugal ~

I’ve recently spent a week in Portugal and took these cute murals on the electric boxes in Silves yesterday.  Very apt for Debbie’s one word Sunday

Also posting to John’s Cell pic Sunday

They really brighten up these cobblestoned streets.

~ An Autumn Visit to Healesville, Yarra Valley ~

After our first day in Melbourne had ended we were picked up by Laurence and Maddy for our weekend in Healesville. Situated in the Yarra Valley and just an hour’s drive North East of Melbourne. I had booked a two bed/bath house just off the high street. It was perfect for our two night stay. Healesville is one of many small towns/settlements in the Yarra Valley.

On our first night we had dinner at the Healesville Hotel. It had a cosy old world charm about it and the food was delicious. The next morning we drove into Healesville for breakfast, being Saturday everywhere was packed.

After finishing up we drove to Maroondah Reservoir Park. There is a 41 metre high dam wall offering scenic views. What I didn’t realise is that to see these views you had to hike up a steep incline. Using Laurence as a pack horse I wrapped my scarf around his waist and used him to pull me up.

The views from the top were worth it. Stunning autumnal colours in all shades of red, brown and yellow.

Maroondah Reservoir Park

Making our way up the Rose stairs, there was still a way to go. This pathway is paved with stones and brightly coloured roses line the edges.

“And all the lives we ever lived and all the lives to be, are full of trees and changing leaves” – Virginia Woolf

There are many picnic benches around plus gas and electric barbeques. The weather was definitely in our favour that day.

At the top

“Every leaf speaks bliss to me, fluttering from the autumn tree.” — Emily Brontë

Time for lunch now and we headed to Boat O’Craigo Winery. The name originates from a tiny place in Scotland where the owners’ ancestors came from. We were delighted with our choice. There were panoromic views from every window. We settled down to a charcuterie board and a bottle of wine. This winery is in the High Street, so within walking distance of hotels and apartments.

Boat O’Craigo Winery

Picturesque views as far as the eye could see.

Entrance to Boat O’Craigo Winery

With still a few hours left we headed off to another winery called Soumah. As it states on the website it has “the charm of Northern Italy within the provenance of the Yarra Valley”. It is actually located in Warramate foothills of Gruyere. As the temperature was still warm we sat outside and enjoyed another bottle of wine.

Soumah Winery

All too soon our little jaunt to the Yarra Valley was over. Sunday was a complete washout so we drove back to Melbourne earlier than planned. Venturing outside of Melbourne for a day or two is so easy. You can be somewhere completely different in just an hour.

“Wake up and Smell the Roses”

~ Attractions in Melbourne: From Churches to Gaols ~

We have just returned from a trip to Melbourne and Sydney. It was mainly to catch up with our son and daughter-in-law and visit friends. Having seen much of Melbourne already we had to come up with something different to do. We caught the tram into town which is now free, we stopped first for a coffee. You can’t beat the coffee in Melbourne. I saw from the maps that Melbourne Gaol was only a short walk away. I do like an Australian prison, so much history.

Melbourne

We popped into The Scots’ Church on the way and were surprised at the size inside. Built in 1874, a prominent example of Gothic Revival.

Glorious stained glass windows

Just opposite was another church. In Central Melbourne there are 111 active churches.

St. Michael’s Uniting Church

Built between 1863 and 1866 in the Lombardic Romanesque style.

The Abode Building – noted for its cascading facade, standing next to Iglu Melbourne Central – student accommodation.

Melbourne has such wonderful architecturally designed buildings, each one very different.

Melbourne Gaol is a great place to spend a morning or afternoon. It’s full of interesting history and artefacts. In nearly every cell there is information of former inmates. The most infamous of all was Ned Kelly. He remains a divisive figure in Australia, regarded variously as a Robin Hood-like folk hero and symbol of national identity, or as a murderous villain. He demanded justice for the downtrodden and the rural poor. Wearing a handmade suit of bullet proof armour he evaded the police for years. Ned Kelly was eventually captured in 1880 and executed in Melbourne Gaol.

Here I am modelling Ned Kelly’s suit of armour. I simply couldn’t resist. Anthony looked on in amazement as I struggled to put this on.

The trapdoor
The gruesome noose

The imposing entrance

Inside the cells, seems there is one inmate still serving time.

“Phrenology gained wide acceptance in the late 19th century, with the making of death masks becoming standard practice. The brains of hundreds of criminals were examined after death, as well as those of many eminent people. Eventually the results showed that most criminals had similar sized brains to other citizens.”
Science has definitely come along way since! These scientists should have had their own heads examined.

And that concludes our tour of Melbourne Gaol.

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~ A Relaxing Week with the Family at Hotel Nikko, Benoa, Bali ~

We decided to head back to the easiest place to visit outside of Australia, our home away from home, Bali. The munchkins were counting down the days from weeks ago. There are still a few red tape issues to enter Bali, eVisa, customs declaration and now a tourist tax. It would be great if they used the tourist tax to pay for better rubbish removal.

Normally around Easter Bali is bustling and busy, but with what is going on in the World right now, we noticed that the queues for immigration weren’t as long as normal. Also if you have little ones or you are over 60 you could go join a special line. It seems that everyone has this demographic!

Nikko Hotel Pool

We were staying at the Nikko Hotel in Benoa. It is situated on the beach and around 10 minutes by car to Nusa Dua. The cost was three times cheaper than Nusa Dua, where all the high end hotels are. Having left home at 5 am, we were checked in and by the pool 1.30.

I had requested adjoining rooms and happy to see this was granted. It meant that we could watch the kids when our daughter went to the gym or shops. I would say Nikko Hotel was 3.5 stars not the 5 as advertised! Not if the Conrad was anything to go by. It was very much old style Bali with a rustic charm. Solid wooden furniture and our bed was enormous. The bathrooms had been renovated, with separate bath and shower cubicle.

The swimming pool was fantastic with a sandy “shoreline” making for an easy entry. It was right on the beach with sunbeds facing towards the sea to catch the cool breeze. You could gaze for ages at the shimmering water and watch the various water sports in action.

There were always plenty of beds and who doesn’t love a swim up bar for happy hour.

Going on an adventure

There were always so many ships, tugs and cargo boats waiting to enter the harbour. Jet skis, banana boats, parachutes and hoverboards in were in action throughout the day, so never a dull moment on the ocean.

Benoa Beach, Boats and Mount Agung

We tried different restaurants every night enjoying the Balinese cuisine and friendly service. I felt sad for the Balinese people who tried to entice us into their venues, so many of the places were empty. Having just recovered from Covid and now to suffer another blow to their economy.

One restaurant in particular stands out for the munchkins, called Ketut. There were many iguanas on display who loved to be petted. After dinner every night they would go along for ice cream and a cuddle with the iguanas!

A girl’s best friend
Hopefully they won’t find their way
into our luggage

And the rest!

Don’t be koi now!

We were all very well rested and relaxed after a week here. Back to school on Monday and my decluttering awaits.

~ Views from the Eurostar – London to Paris ~

I’m joining Dan’s Fun Foto Challenge this week and the theme is views from or in public transport. I took the Eurostar a few years ago to join a friend in Paris for the weekend. It’s the ideal way to travel, avoiding those lengthy queues at the airport and not having to put all your liquids in a tiny bag.

I opted for lunch on board and was happily surprised by the food served and being waited on! It was such a comfortable journey and I would happily do it again.

Seems like I had the train to myself, but it did fill up!

Leaving St. Pancras

The windfarms at Beaulencourt

The Return Journey

Slightly blurred shots of the French countryside!

~ Monsoon Valley Winery, Hua Hin, Thailand – Dining with a View ~

During our stay in Thailand we headed out to the hills to have lunch at Monsoon Valley Winery. I was surprised that there was a winery here, never having been to one in Thailand before.

Monsoon Valley Hua Hin

There is also an elephant sanctuary situated here and you can take a small minibus out to see them. We had left it too late to book a tour though.

Anthony and I were delightfully surprised by the magnificent scenery that surrounded us.

We were seated outside on the verandah and had a lovely view over the extensive vineyards. It was exceptionally hot though and I was still recovering from a flu virus! There was a fan nearby which I had positioned to blow on me.

Stunning views from our table on the verandah

The menu was full of delicious dishes and when they arrived did not disappoint. Starting with a charcuterie board followed by coconut flakes and dried shrimp in grape leaves and grilled prawns and pineapple fried rice. We enjoyed every mouthwatering morsel.

You can’t tell that I have a fever!
Enjoying a crisp cold white wine
A multi coloured sculpture of an elephant made from wood

The Monsoon Valley Restaurant

Another creative sculpture

What a wonderful way to wile away an afternoon, good company, great views and gourmet food. I would definitely recommend a visit if you are ever in Hua Hin.

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~ February Adventures – Wan Chai’s Historical Gems ~

Back in February we had a few days in Hong Kong. Normally February weather can be quite bleak, getting ready for the Chinese New Year cold snap. We were surprised this time by how mild it was, we even saw blue skies.

I’ll be linking to Monday Windows and The Changing Seasons hosted by Brian and Ju-Lyn.

There was somewhere particular I wanted to see after spotting it on google maps. It wasn’t too far from our hotel so one morning we took a walk there. Just my luck that the day we went it was closed. Anyway I was still able to take a few photos. It was called simply “The Blue House”.

Stone Nullah Lane, Wanchai

The building was constructed in 1920 and is a four tier tenement block. It was fully renovated around ten years ago and the original tenants were allowed to stay. The Housing Society came up with a plan of HK$100 million to preserve nine Chinese-style buildings in Wan Chai. I’m glad that money is not just being spent on high rise buildings, it’s great to see a glimpse of the past.

Emas – Wooden Plaques for writing prayers

Inside the courtyard of the Blue House – decorated for Chinese New Year

The front of the building is in Stone Nullah Lane.

At the start of the 20th century, shops that processed soybeans were established near Stone Nullah Lane. Because of the unpleasant odour emitted during the processing, this led to protests from residents in the neighbourhood. Eventually, the shops were forced to move to other areas. The nullah, (a water channel made of stone or concrete was located on the street ) which also emitted a foul stench, was culverted in 1959 and relocated underground, where the stream from The Peak still flows today.  Although the nullah can no longer be found on the lane, the street name was left unchanged. Source: Stone Nullah Lane.

Disappointed that we couldn’t enter the house that day we wandered down the street to Wan Chai Pak Tai Temple. It was built in 1863 by locals and is dedicated to Pak Tai, a martial deity.

Red framed windows of the temple

A Door God to protect against evil spirits and intruders
Entrance to the Temple

Ornately carved eaves and beams

I didn’t want to intrude on the people worshipping and praying, so no photos from inside.

Street Scenes

As we wandered back to our hotel I took some photos of everyday street scenes.

As fresh as it gets! – not sure about the joint on the ground

Fishmongers hard at work

Orange trees in preparation for Chinese New Year

Every time I visit Hong Kong I always see a different tram.

It was good to spot a mural without graffiti for a change

I’ll finish with this photo that I took from the top of the bus. Another side of Hong Kong. I’m wondering is he homeless or selling some wares? He has a few too many items to pack up.

~ Adventures in Hua Hin, Thailand – Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park ~

Continuing with our week in Hua Hin, today we set off for the wetlands in a nearby national park. We had missed out on the abundant lotus flowers blooming but were hoping to see some birdlife.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

This national park is surrounded by towering majestic limestone mountains. There is also a kilometre long boardwalk to view the surroundings or you can hire a boatman and his boat, which we did.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Viewing Tower

The first thing I noticed was the complete silence with maybe the occasional bird call. You are immediately struck by the serenity and peace here.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Boats for Hire
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Our happy captain

The birds were there of course, hidden by the long grasses so it was difficult for me to take any decent shots.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park
Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

It was a hard job for our tiller man to navigate through the reeds. Going slow or fast or stopping completely to untangle the propellor. He did need to get out a few times to push us through!

The photos below are the best of the bunch. It was tricky trying to focus, especially when Mr. Tiller only briefly slowed down.

Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park

Gliding through the reedy waters and looking out for the birds was a great way to spend an afternoon. We were on the boat for around 45 minutes and our backsides were getting quite numb.

One of the boats on a tour

A pagoda to sit and relax and watch for wildlife

This is a tour well worth taking, reasonably priced and well organised.

After this we stopped at a small place for iced coffee. Although try as I might I find iced coffee too bitter for my liking.

Behind the kiosk there was a large cactus display showing some very quirky and colourful blooms.

A Gallery of Cacti

If you’re ever in Hua Hin, I highly recommend setting aside a day for this amazing outing. It’s a wonderful escape from a day at the beach.

🐎 Kung Hei Fat Choi 2026 – Year of the Fire Horse 🐎

Kung Hei Fat Choi everyone, Happy New Year of the Fire Horse. Although the Chinese New Year Calandar cycle is every 12 years, the year of the Fire Horse is only once every 60 years. After shedding the year of the snake in 2025, 2026 is meant to be an abundant year for all. This is something I am hoping for anyway, after a somewhat stressful 2025.

Having recently been in Hong Kong I took the opportunity of snapping a few shots of some of the decorations I saw.

Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong

Hong Kong can always be relied upon for ornate decorations whatever the event.

The lotus blossom is a powerful, auspicious symbol for Chinese New Year  representing purity, harmony and abundance.

We stayed in Wanchai on Hong Kong Island and below are photos I took at different times of the day from our window.

Above is a video playing of different images of horses.

In case you are wondering what animal you are I have added a photo of a Chinese New Year Calandar. I am a dog, faithful and loyal. Which one are you?

How did these particular animals get chosen to represent the Chinese Calandar? For your information I looked this up!

According to legend, the 12 Chinese New Year animals were chosen by the Jade Emperor or Buddha to compete in a great race across a river. This was to determine their place in the zodiac. The first 12 animals to finish secured their spots, resulting in the order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 

1. Rat: Won by hitching a ride on the Ox and jumping ahead at the end.
2. Ox: Diligent, but outsmarted by the Rat.
3. Tiger: Strong, powered through the current.
4. Rabbit: Nimble, hopped across stones and rode a log.
5. Dragon: Strong, but stopped to help others.
6. Snake: Hid on the Horse’s hoof.
7. Horse: Spooked by the snake.
8. Sheep; 9. Monkey; 10. Rooster: Worked together to cross.
11. Dog: Delayed by bathing in the river.
12. Pig: Stopped to eat and nap.

🔥 Wishing everyone a Happy Year of the Fire Horse 🔥