It’s time for Monday Mural again and some more from Kalgoorlie.
Artist – Em AndersArtist: – Sarah McCloskey
A poem, rumoured to have been penned by US president Herbert Hoover about his love for a barmaid he met in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, is the inspiration for a larger-than-life mural painted by artist Sarah McCloskey. Mr Hoover gave an elaborately carved mirror to the hotel as a parting gift and composed a poem to the barmaid he fell in love with.
On a recent trip to Kalgoorlie I saw some fabulous murals of Australian Native Animals. Kalgoorlie has recently tried to brighten up the town with some wonderful murals. Although there are some who seem against this idea as I saw many that were defaced with graffiti and other damage. A great shame.
These bright and colourful murals decorate the walls of the local Coles in Kalgoorlie. I believe they were painted by local artists Em Anders and Jason Dimer.
Jason Dimer
Jason Dimer comes from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia and is the son of the late Mr Neil Dimer who was an important leader and artist from the Goldfields region. Presently Jason lives and works in Kalgoorlie and his paintings depict traditional Dreamtime stories that have been passed down to Jason from his tribe. These stories include the rainbow serpent and men’s stories. Jason also paints stories of his mother’s country – Source: Creative Native
Em Anders
“Nature in all its beauty is life giving and inspirational .. I can’t help but want to paint it” Source: Art Lovers Australia
Posted as part of Monday Mural for Sami at ColourfulWorld
It was over a year since our last visit to Melbourne, longer for hubby, and it was the second planned trip this year! Anyway we finally took the risk of no lockdowns during our six day trip (although that has come back to bite us on the backside!) This visit was to catch up with Laurence and Maddy, a weekend on Philip Island and a short trip to Sydney.
We decided to stay near them so as to maximise our time together and chose The Hamptons on Chapel Street.
Arriving late on a Tuesday afternoon, we checked into a very nice one bedroom apartment and met with Laurence and Maddy for dinner just around the corner.
TulumTurkish Restaurant, Balaclava
This is one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne, it has some very tasty tapas on the menu.
A delicious start to our stay in Melbourne
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Over the next couple of days we spent time walking the streets and soaking up the sights.
The street art around Melbourne is always so different and vibrant. I took photos of some fabulous murals on our walk around the city.
The above two murals are by Mike Maka from Melbourne (Australia) a painter who works in a variety of media, mainly on walls, canvas and illustration on paper. He has travelled and created work around the world, painting the Berlin Wall to the River Ganges. Source: Street-Artwork
The mural on the right was actually blocked off and I had to step on a small wall and balance on hubby’s back while lowering the net to snap it!
Painted by Heesco – a Mongolian Artist based in Melbourne
This brightly coloured mural was just outside our apartment block, such beautiful colours.
Painted by Heesco
Heesco – a Mongolian born artist based in Melbourne. Have a look at his website, he is by far the best artist I have seen. His silo murals are extraordinary.
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Chez Bob, Armadale
One night we had dinner in a cute French restaurant out in one of the suburbs east of Melbourne. A fabulous evening with great food and service. We ate snails, scallops, pate, beef tartare, rabbit pie, duck and beef. A gourmet feast.
G2 Korean BBQ, CBD
Maddy chose G2, one of her favourite restaurants in Melbourne for our last night here. This is a very authentic restaurant with a burner of coals on the table. The staff that night were truly run off their feet as they like to cook for you. Although we did pretty well on our own.
I ordered a delicious rice wine mango cocktail, although did not mean for a jug only a glass!
As always it was a lovely few days catching up with Laurence and Maddy. But we still had the weekend ahead on Philip Island.
I’ve noticed recently that Australian Women of note from the past have been painted on murals. I think it’s a great way to commemorate their lives.
Below is Dorothy Tangney, the first woman to be elected in federal parliament and also the first female senator. It is carved into the brickwork on the side of the Norfolk Hotel in Fremantle. Artist Vhils
Dame Dorothy Tangney – 13 March 1907 – 3 June 1985
Posted for Monday Mural for Sami at ColourfulWorld.
Only recently have I discovered so much street art work around Perth. Melbourne doesn’t have the monopoly anymore after I visited Mount Lawley, a suburb north of Perth. I downloaded an urban street art map and found all sorts of wonderful works up side streets and down alleys.
Seinfeld and his cronies
Who can you spot? Jerry, Elaine, Kramer, George, Jerry White and the Soup Nazi!
The above mural was painted by Paul Deej on the wall behind the IGA Supermarket.
I could just about make out the picture on this. James Dean? I cannot seem to find any info about this picture.
Painting of a fish by Amok Island, a Dutch artist now living in PerthA Mel McVee painting
This last one is my favourite, so colourful and with so much detail. By Pablito – Something about Jazz
I’m not one for going into art museums but there’s something about street art that really grabs my attention. I will be following the Perth Street Art Map around the suburbs from now on.
Perth is certainly keeping up with Melbourne regarding street art, I snapped a few the other day while in town. I looked up some quotes to go with these images.
“As you climb your ladder of success, reach down and pull others along with you” – Frank Sonnenburg
“I have weathered the storm, I have beaten out my exile.” – Ezra Pound
Feathers appear when angels are near
“You don’t needs words to tell stories, just look into my eyes” – Madhusmita Behera
Heimaey is the main island of the Westman Islands, surrounded by 15 other islands. We visited here as part of our Icelandic tour a few years ago. Its population is approximately 4,300 people while all the other islands remain uninhabited. It can be reach by ferry from Vestmannaeyja or from Reykjavik.
It’s a beautiful little island, with abundant wildlife, but mostly famous for the puffins. It also has two volcanoes, Eldfel exploded in 1973 with all the inhabitants having to leave the island for almost six months! The island was left under lava and ash, but with the help of foreigners and other Icelanders, it was cleared to make it habitable again for the Westman Islanders.
The volcanic rocks we passed on the ferry
Before checking into our hotel we did a tour of the island taking in the puffin sanctuary. It was August when we visited, the time when the baby puffins are born. The puffin parents stop feeding their young early so this forces the babies out and into the town looking for food. The lights at night attract the young and they fly down in their hundreds. It is a pastime for the youngsters of Westman Island to rescue these young birds and the next day the children take them to a safe nesting place on the island.
After seeing the puffins we then went onto to walk the volcanic trail around Eldfell Volcano, Anthony decided he would walk to the top later on that afternoon. He mentioned it was tricky to descend because you tended to slide down!
Volcanic ash is very fertile
Eldfel Volcano
Volcanic town of HeimaeyThe new volcanic island formed from volcanic eruptions from 1963 to 1967
We were staying one night at the wonderful Hotel Vestmannaeyjar, where we had a great room overlooking the harbour.
It’s a lovely little town to explore on foot and we had the afternoon and night free to ourselves. Anthony wanted to try the local delicacy of baby puffin, a bit sad after we had just seen them! So he did get his wish after we found a pub for lunch.
Before
After
A puffin and a pint – Verdict: Fishy pigeon
Photos from around the town
View through volcanic rock
Municipal offices
Fabulous murals depicting local life
Open air fish drying
A very fine Oldsmobile
A nightcap in broad daylight!
Before leaving the island the next day our tour driver picked us up to visit the black sand beach, Reynisfjara, very popular with locals during the summer.
Lengthening shadows
I loved the setting of this tiny island and it’s well worth a visit if you ever get to Iceland, a beautiful hidden gem full of colour and history.
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That’s it for W, next should be X but I’m stumped with this. So it will be straight onto Y!
London, the city I was born in, worked in and lived for a while. It is one of my favourite cities and even though there must be hundred of blogs about London, these posts are about my memories of London. We try to visit at least a few times when we go back to the UK to see my parents, either taking the train which is around a 30 minute journey or drive up.
I found a wonderful website called Just Park . It’s a site where people rent out their parking spaces for a day at a time. We have never paid more than £10 a day, which is a bargain considering the astronomic cost of parking in London. If we take the train, we buy a travel card for the day and this lets you use, trains, tube and buses. The train for us takes us into Fenchurch Street Station and from here we walk to the tube or bus stop. I have found that google maps is brilliant for telling you what number bus to take and when it will arrive.
So much has changed over the last twenty years I find it hard to know my way around like I used to. Tall architecturally designed buildings now dominate the city with centuries old churches nestled in between.
By Day
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Tower of London
Plantation House
Monument to the Great Fire of London
The Walkie Talkie Building
St. Mary Aze
Leadenhall Street
Royal Exchange
The iconic red London double decker bus is the best way to see London especially if you are at the top in the front! We did manage this during one visit only to be turfed off shortly down the road due to the “Save the Planet” protests.
By Night
The Gherkin from the Heron Tower
The Gherkin with St. Mary Axe
Alleyways
and Pubs
Nowadays there are so many places to eat in the City, whereas many years ago it was really just pubs and cafes. The food is always good wherever you go giving London the gourmet reputation it deserves.
A fine bottle of Pouilly Fume
Crab Cakes
Seafood pasta
Obscure captioned poster!
Oops! Can you pay?
Lunchtime at Davy’s Bar, underneath the arches in Crutched Friars
Brick Lane
As I’ve written before my dear hubby is mostly interested in shopping and is always on the lookout for shops that sell a particular denim or certain item of clothing that has caught his eye. Brick Lane is where his favourite shop is located, Son of a Stag. It sells mostly jeans but there are also other quirky designer items. I usually sit on the bench inside and know I’m in for a long wait, while he discusses weight and thread count with the sales assistant. We’re normally here for 45 minutes but then have to go back to collect said item after it has been altered.
“I won’t be long”
“How does it look”
Street Art around Brick Lane
The old Truman Brewery, said to be founded in or around 1666 by Joseph Truman. Now it is home to East London’s arts and media centre. Housing bars, restaurants, galleries and shops.
Back to their roots
During one of our trips up to London my mum and dad came with us to show us where they used to live. My Dad came from Bethnal Green and my Mum from Hackney. We also visited the church where they got married.
Aged 10
Aged 84
Still has the same smirk!
Mum’s old housing estate
Outside St. Leonard’s Church, Shoreditch
Still going strong after 64 years
St. Leonard’s Church (also known as Shoreditch Church) dating back to approximately 1740. This church was mentioned in the nursery rhyme “Oranges and Lemons” – “when I grow rich, say the bells of Shoreditch”.
Prospect of Whitby, Wapping
Still in the East is the district of Wapping, sitting on the banks of the River Thames and near St. Katherine’s Docks and Tobacco Wharf. This area is now a much desired place to live. The Prospect of Whitby used to be one of my favourite pubs and I decided to revisit on one of our trips.
It dates back to around 1520 and is probably one of the oldest taverns in London. I don’t think anything has changed much over the years!
There is so much more to see of East London and the City especially the markets. You don’t always have to do the touristy stuff to have a good time in London.
Some of the fabulous markets to visit if you have time
Petticoat Lane Columbia Street Flower Market Leadenhall Market Old Spitalfields Market To name but a few!
