Samuji

Finnish fashion designer
Pre-Fall collection 2017 designer Jenni Väänänen (see the collection)
Muse: Annemarie Schwarzenbach traveller and writer from 1930. (Short biography)

Keywords: Androgynous glamour

Auckland War Memorial Museum

Auckland War Memorial Museum Exterior

Inside is a stained glass skyline with important New Zealand symbolism.

Stained glass skyline by PurpleLorikeet

Finally, a view of the museum at night

Museum night view by Chris Gin

Queen Victoria Building

It's that time of the year again! Here is some Christmas cheer from 2014. I visited the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney Australia just over a year ago. Below are some photos.

Tiling pattern.

Christmas Lights.

Base of Christmas tree.

Clock

Staircases

Levels

Carpet

Lower Levels

Roof

Spiral Staircase

Stained glass windows.

QVB

Intercity from Wellington to Hamilton

Saw this on the way back to Hamilton

Intercity from Hamilton to Wellington

• Hamilton
• Cambridge
• Tirau
• Putaruru
• Tokoroa
• Taupo
• Turangi
• Waiouru
• Taihape
• Flat Hills Tea Rooms
• Bulls
• Sanson
• Palmerston North
• Massey University
• Tokomaru
• Shannon
• Levin
• Otaki
• Te Horo
• Waikanae
• Paraparaumu
• Porirua
• Wellington

Wellington Trip Summary

1. Saturday 3rd October 2015 Hamilton to Wellington
2. Sunday 4th October 2015 Wellington Zoo
3. Monday 5th October 2015 Zealandia, Botanical Gardens and Beehive
4. Tuesday 6th October 2015 Museums and Galleries
5. Wednesday 7th October 2015 Weta Studio
6. Thursday 8th October 2015 Te Papa
7. Friday 9th October 2015 World of Wearable Arts
8. Saturday 10th October 2015 Wellington to Hamilton

Sydney Aquarium

Diver in the water.

Shark up close and personal.

Going through the tunnel.

Art work at the conclusion of the visit.

Sydney Sealife Aquarium

Sydney Opera House

I went on the Sydney Opera House Tour on the evening of 10th November 2014. Photography wasn't allowed inside so below are the ones taken by green screening.

Exterior

Concert chamber

Exterior evening

Sydney Opera House

Hyde Park

Bird's eye view of fountain

Arching Figs

Taken in 2008

Sydney Airport

Sydney Airport

Manukau Airporter

Manukau Airporter

Go on an Antarctica Expedition with... Devorah Bennu!

Devorah Bennu is in a competition to become the blogger from Antarctica for Quark Expeditions.

The zoologist and blogger has carried out research on ornithology and photographed wild bisons. Now she is intent on braving the cold to bring us words and pictures from Antarctica. Help Devorah Bennue for this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Kaleidoscope

Christie a.k.a. Observations of a Nerd has been featured as Geek of the week! (From the Science Channel Page).

Land border crossings are a sight to behold! I have never been through the likes of the eleven described by Simone Preuss.

I liked the Spanish Moroccan border in Ceuta on the North African coast. I also found a Flickr set on Ceuta by ''petitillusion'' for some idea of what Ceuta looks like.

This is a beach in Ceuta by Mario Sánchez Bueno.

Pacific Heights in San Francisco is nice! Mom would love the patio succulent collection. Photos from Freshpinkstyle.

My last exam is on 2.15 PM 20 June. Then that's it. After that I might treat myself to Starbucks Coffee, DIY style. I'll get back to you whether it's as good as the real thing.

Auckland Trip

My long weekend in Auckland seems ages ago now. We were there to visit N and celebrate M's birthday. The plan was to do city centre, Viaduct Harbour, Mission Bay, New Market and Devonport.

Friday

Drive up to Auckland

We strolled through Dress Smart to wait for N to finish work. I got a scarf and top from the Glassons outlet. R waited while I pestered a man selling belts. I got a motorcycle buckle for Richard.

In which Watching TV could be Bad for You

N made capsicum curry for us. Her assortment of Indian spices were kept fresh in a round container. We watched the episode in which Monk gets a cold. R promptly got the snuffles so we decided that was a bad omen. L brought Disney's Lady and the Tramp. I jumped at the chance to watched it again since I had forgotten most of it.

Viaduct Harbour night life

Lenin is a Russian bar. We got lemon, lime & bitters. L took photos of Minus 5 made of ice. I liked Lenin's ceiling lights and those affluent patrons pretend not to shiver next door.

Saturday

Parnell La Cigale French Style Market

I got strawberry-raspberry crepe and Turkish delight to go. M and L recommended almond croissant for lunch. I was dubious about the icing sugar on top. (Reminded by Audrey Hepburn's dislike for those pastries).

Picnic at Mission Bay

We all had sandwiches filled with avocado, egg and tomato. The almond croissant turned out to be the best I've had in my life thus far.

Cake x2 on Dominion Road, Eden Valley

We paid a visit to Well Done Bakery (Taiwanese) and The Gateau House (Korean) on Dominion Road. M's work shout was a chestnut sponge from Well Done with OTT icing. Our less extravagant affair was mango flavoured with fruit garnish from Gateau. I picked out custard crust bun, sun and wife cake from Taiwan to take home. We hurried home to save melting cakes and have mushroom Pasta.

"Mango mousse made with French mango puree mixed with crème anglaise. Generously topped with French mango puree and decorated with seasonal fruits and hand crafted chocolate." - Gateau House.

Skycity Casino

R and I had never been to Skycity so we took a gander. I'm no fan so stayed outside with N. We eventually joined the others in the VIP lounge for supper. L bought a DVD called I'll Never be Your Woman. Unlikely title for a chick flick. I thought it a bit funny and a bit dumb, just right for winding down. We had cake at midnight!

Sunday

Yum Cha

The dim sum dishes were carried on huge platters and pushed around the packed restaurant. The tea helped with digestion. I had delicate shrimp dumplings, various shu mai, chicken feet and sesame seed balls. I was too full by the time the taro croquette came around.

Devonport Outing

The bumpy sea took some getting used to. We got a Clydesdale carriage tour of the town. I was embarrassed because people knew us by sight when we walked around later. I bought a double sided sponge/scrub, tumbleweed bunny, Easter cookie cutter and a turtle for Linda.

Afterwards...

I almost lost the ticket on the return trip. I was drained of energy. The trip home was quiet and I was sad at the prospect of not seeing N for yonks.

Nature: A great appearance of hut in the open sky

Nature: A great appearance of hut in the open sky

Lately I have been feeling this way.

I want to ride away...

• The HotelClub Travel Blog recommends 9 best train journeys in the world


1. The Glacier Express
2. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
3. Pride of Africa
4. Eurostar
5. Flam Railway
   
6. Palace on Wheels
7. Eastern Oriental Express
8. Royal Scotsman
9. Trans-Siberian Railway


• I loved the photos for the Flam Railway.
• The first photo is the majestic Kjosfossen Waterfall
• The train ends here in the next image of the station at Myrdal, Norway.
• The last photo is that of the Flam Railway Documentation Center, or Flamsbane museet

By Laura and Garrett, some rights reserved.

By Sugeo, some rights reserved.

By David Farrer, some rights reserved.

Shortz Family

Travel Blog chronicling Ron and Carlene from Michigan 2006 to 2008.
Travel Log: Journeys of Ron and Carlene