Travels – Page 7 – MakeCookGrow.com

Bunbury Regional Art Gallery PAINTING THE TOWN

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PAINTING THE TOWN

Bunbury Townscapes from the City of Bunbury Art Collection.

These artists’ impressions are an important representation of the development of Bunbury during the last 100 years.

All these paintings are watercolours except Ron Appleton’s St Mark’s Church, Picton, which is done in acrylics.

Frank (Charles) Norton 1916-1983

BUNBURY 25th FEBRUARY 1973

Bunbury is a regional city about two hours drive south of the capital city of Western Australia, Perth. I grew up in this region. On the way back from our break at Bunker Bay we visited the Bunbury Regional Art Gallery.

Ron Appleton (1908-1999)

ST MARK’S CHURCH, PICTON, 1968

Like many regional councils, in the 1940s, BRAG benefited from a collection of art works donated by WA philanthropist, Sir Claude Hotchin. More recently, twenty two works of art were donated by Alcoa of Australia.

Sam Wheeler (1875-1939)

BUNBURY HARBOUR, MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28th, 1903

The Gallery is housed in the old Convent of the Sisters of Mercy, a beautiful building in the centre of the city. The building still has traces of its former incarnation with a nun’s cell on display and the Chapel Gallery.

Leith Angelo (1904-2000)

UNTITLED

BRAGs has a collection of over 300 botanical water colours by Bunbury artist Rosetta Kelly (1916 – 1940). This is a significant record of the wildflowers of the south-west of the State. These art works are slowly being restored and exhibited.

Ivor Hunt(1903-1971)

THE SCHOONER

Today, Good Friday, marks the beginning of Easter for Christians. It commemorates the crucifixion of Christ and many people attend church services and traditionally eat fish. We also eat hot cross buns, the crosses reminding us of how Christ died.

Easter Sunday celebrates His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. We eat eggs to signify new life and more hot cross buns. My husband would like hot cross buns every day of the year. Lots of families spend Easter Sunday together.

Easter Monday is a holiday in Australia, a time for resting and reflecting and this year, enjoying the last of summer, although it is autumn, but still hot.

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Pullman Bunker Bay Resort Break

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We’ve just spent four days at the Pullman Bunker Bay Resort. Checking in was easy and pleasant. The resort is at Bunker Bay, on a beautiful stretch of white beach. Dunsborough is the nearest town. Busselton, Yallingup, Cowaramup, Gracetown and Margaret River are all quite close.

The en suite was spacious and looked out onto a little courtyard..

We had a studio villa. It was a good size with everything we wanted, including a kitchen area

Outside the door near the kitchen was the tiniest, secluded seating area. Surprisingly, there’s no Nespresso machine or similar in the villa.

Quiet and calm with lots of nice views around the resort.

Walkway to the beach.

The resort is bordered by the Cape Naturaliste National Park and other bush land. I couldn’t really enjoy walking at night as it is very dark and there is poor lighting around the resort and but no light pollution, either, so lots of stars in an inky sky.

Gorgeous dell en route to the beach.

The beach. White, clean, private and beautiful.

My haul of things to read plus a passion fruit. They are delicious at the moment.

Sand dunes at Bunker Bay Beach.

The accommodation, the staff and the position of the resort were so lovely, as was the breakfast. I really enjoyed the poached eggs, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and smoked salmon with capers and lemon. My husband also liked the “make your own” muesli. We had villa catering (room service), dinner from the bar menu and dinner at the restaurant and couldn’t recommend any of them. Best to either go to one of the many restaurants in other towns or prepare your own dinner using ingredients from one of the plentiful sources nearby.

Today is St Patrick’s Day. My parents married on this day 68 years ago. We ate a green iced cake to celebrate.

Yesterday was World Sleep Day, intended to be a celebration of sleep but also focusing on how to get more sleep and emphasizing how good sleep is important for well being.

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Cottesloe Beach and Sculptures By the Sea

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To Cottesloe Beach to view Sculptures by the Sea and to get my regular dose of vitamin sea! This is the 14th annual Sculptures by the Sea on the iconic Cottesloe Beach, featuring the works of 73 artists from all over the world including Denmark, Slovenia, England, Japan, Thailand, Singapore , Chile, India, Spain, America, Indonesia, Iran, China and, of course, Australia.

Here you can see such a range of themes and media, from a crocheted cat, a dog walker surrounded by dogs, a tent made from recycled toys, an enormous eggplant (aubergine), a skin diver appearing out of the sand and so much more.

The beach is stunning with over a kilometre of clean white sand, views of Rottnest Island in the distance and ships heading out of Fremantle Port and cool grassed areas shaded by Norfolk Pines. There’s plenty of food across the road including icecreams, fish and chips, coffee and cake and cafes and restaurants. The icecreams were particularly attractive as it was 36 degrees C (97 degrees F) the day we went.

The beach is such a good place to view these sculptures. You don’t need to get dressed up, it costs nothing, you can get very close to the artworks and touch them, it’s easy to get there and park and when you’re hot from wandering around, you can have a swim in clear, clean waters.

Luckily, the Fremantle Doctor, the sea breeze which occurs during summer, had arrived by the time we went to the beach. The breeze is called the Fremantle Doctor because of the relief it brings on hot summer days, blowing in from the Indian Ocean.

Sit on the grass and enjoy the artworks and the view and the constant parade of people.

It’s hot in Australia, although we are into Autumn, so everyone is encouraged to use sunscreen. Supplies are placed regularly along the beach.

Sculptures on the grass, the beach and the groyne, and one up a tree.

The white, yellow and red structure on stilts isn’t a sculpture, it’s the Surf Lifesaving lookout.

This clever “cubby’ is made of a thousand recycled toys and welcomes children to enter and relax with more toys and soft rugs. The perfect child’s hideaway.

Yesterday was International Woman’s Day, commemorating the movement for women’s rights as well as being the catalyst for change.

Just for some contrast, today is Barbie Day, marking the doll’s debut at The American International Toy Fair in New York, in 1957.

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Gypsies, Food Planning, French Decor and Finding Your Feet

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READING

Local Libraries are a rich source of recently published books, including Mandy Sayer’s, “Australian Gypsies Their Secret History”, which traces the arrival of the first Gypsies in Australia as convicts on the First Fleet, including James Squire, the brewer, whose company still exists today.

Her meticulous research across Australia reveals the origins of Gypsies and their history in Australia. Interestingly, Sayer’s research highlights their ability to adapt to the host culture while still maintaining their own traditions and mores.

Sayer traveled extensively and records the movements of many families and changes to lifestyle as they leave their nomadic lives and settle. Traditionally, the Gypsies preferred to work for themselves and still prefer to work within their family or social groups.

An easy to read, well researched and informative book.

PLANNING

After reading so many blogs about meal planning written by very well organised and inspirational people, I printed off a grid, made a plan and went shopping. Unfortunately, I forgot we were going to the cinema the very first evening of the plan, so not a great start. Will keep trying.

DECORATING

Also another book from the library, written by Australian Jane Webster, who has written two other books about her family moving seasonally to France where she hosts cooking and shopping events for paying guests. Beautiful photos and inspiring story focusing on the renovation and decoration of their chateau in Normandy.

The cover is gorgeous, but hard to read the title, ditto chapter headings. The photos accompanying each chapter are very chic, French and beautiful.

WATCHING

Went to the cinema to see Finding Your Feet. Full of humour and human frailty and some sadness; this is a very entertaining film. Funny with a great cast. Some wonderful photographic shots of London, too.

Today is Dog Biscuit Day! Dogs will be pleased, just like every other day when they’re given a biscuit.

Dog biscuits were developed in the mid-19th century by an American, James Spatt. He’d been visiting Liverpool, in the UK and saw street dogs hungrily sniffing out and eating dropped ships’ biscuits.

Made in London, his recipe included both meat and vegetables. Useful for training, these little treats now come in a wide range of flavours and sizes and remain very popular.

Louis, our dog, has trained me well. He often stops in front of the cupboard where his biscuits are kept, looks meaningfully at the cupboard door and then at me and back at the door, and yes, often I give him a biscuit.

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So Singapore

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A fish fillet arranged on a sliced, roasted potato. Pretty, delicious. Like so many modern Asian cities, it is very easy to eat well in Singapore, from Hawker stalls to five star restaurants. This one had a view over Marina Bay, now the financial centre of Singapore. In the 19th century it was where the British and Chinese settlers established their businesses.

Singapore is a thriving, bustling city. If you’ve already done the night zoo, the bird park, breakfast with the animals, Gardens by the Bay and Sentosa, there’s many gardens to visit, art galleries and museums, historical buildings and breathtaking new ones, plus masses of shopping opportunities and, of course, eating! We like the bum boat trip from Clarke Quay because you really can see how things have evolved in older areas.

The buildings go up, up, up.

Restored shop houses.

It’s hot and humid in Singapore. Cooling down treats.

Loved the parquetry in our hotel and the room full of balloons. It was my birthday!

My husband ate his own weight in satay sticks at Lau Pa Sat Festival Pavilion across the road from our hotel.

Corridor, old Supreme Court, now the National Gallery.

This is the new National Gallery of Singapore, opened in 2015. It houses the largest collection of South East Asian art, consisting of over 8 000 artworks. The building is fabulous. There is a modern, central section amalgamating the original Supreme Court and the Town Hall. Clever, interesting and eye catching, the gallery offers guided tours of the building, featuring the history, the public selection of the French architect who designed the connection of the two buildings and many other points of interest. Allow two hours plus time to look at each gallery.

From the roof terrace of the gallery showing the very old, St Andrew’s Cathedral, and the new towers of Singapore.

Abalone, prawn and fish balls on spicy noodles, served with a bowl of clear soup.

A Paris moment in Singapore: coffee and passionfruit macaroons.

I was scared stiff by the prices here, too.

Some interesting furniture in our hotel. Quite funny watching people sit on the settee. Mainly appealed to children.

Amazing carpaccio of Hokkaido Sea Scallops, tarama (fish roe), chive oil and grated yuzu ( a tart citrus).

This tiramisu had banana bread, creme de cacao, mascarpone and cocoa nibs, plus fresh raspberries on top.

Hotel flowers. Very beautiful.

These babushka dolls in our hotel room represent the major ethnic groups in Singapore. Purple represents Indian, 9.1%, the green represent Malay, 13.3% and red represents Chinese, 74.2%.

Street art explaining Singapore’s history.

To the roof top bar for grapefruit martinis, well, because we’d never had them before!

I had dim sum for breakfast every day and this night, dim sum for dinner, too. Freshly made and steamed, it is irresistible! Food hall cuisine.

Tomorrow is World Petroleum Day. Petroleum is not just used in our cars, but is also the key ingredient in plastics, detergents, rubber, fertilizers, pesticides, paint, photographic processes, make-up, candles and many medicines. The supply of petroleum is finite, so Petroleum Day gives us the opportunity to consider alternatives.

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In The Southern Hemisphere …..Spring Means Open Gardens

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Open Gardens allow entrance to some of the finest private gardens and occurs only once or twice a year. The entrance fee is usually directed to the owner’s preferred charity. Each is a wonderful opportunity to see gardens that are often behind houses you’d never get to visit. Generally the owners have spent months getting their garden ready for inspection. Often they are in the garden when it is open to the public and can identify plants and ideal growing conditions and talk about the evolution of their garden. The city garden above was calm and green and peaceful. Beautiful.

The rest of the gardens featured were on the Ferguson Valley Open Garden Trail through Boyanup, Lowden and the Ferguson Valley. We were blessed with lovely weather, good pub food and interesting gardens.

The gardens are in rural areas and were various sizes but all bigger than a suburban block in the city. Several fronted lakes or river beds . They were all great to visit.

The gardens varied in age, with one evolving over the past ten years and others being much older and added onto at various times.

The older gardens grew mostly European plants, some were a blend of both European and native Australian plants, like this bottle brush flower.

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Roses grow so well in this region. Not photographed but all the gardens had vegetable gardens, mostly in raised beds. There is very good soil in this locale and the gardens are green and lush.

Some of these gardens were on a grand scale, some were gardens which had just grown to fill the available space. Scent and colour everywhere. Most of the gardens had plants for sale, many had Devonshire teas. (Coffee and tea, scones with jam and cream) All enjoy gorgeous vistas across rural countryside.

There’s a mix of native West Australian plants and traditional imported garden plants.

Beautiful banksia, related to proteas.

It was really interesting to see what other people had planted, especially in shaded or windy areas and to see how they made the most of available water supplies.

Today is Sesame Street Day, established in 2009 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the beginning of the program. Sesame Street was devised to promote literacy in the USA and has been declared amazingly successful.

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What I Pack To Go Overseas

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A JOURNAL

I’ve written in a journal every day for years. I glue in photos, ticket, maps, draw pictures and generally keep records. Each evening I like to sit and reflect on the events of the day. I blogged about covering the journal, marbling the inside lining papers and making the elastic hold-alls for pens and papers.

SUNGLASSES, READING GLASSES, ZIPLOCK BAGS

I can’t see outdoors during daylight without sunglasses, can’t read without reading glasses and have found so many uses for ziplock bags! I use then for packing wet swimsuits, controlling chargers, securely carrying shampoo and conditioner bottles in my toilet bag and they’re good for day packs of nuts and crackers. I’ve seen really glamorous jewelry rolls but put my necklaces in ziplock bags, too.

PASHMINA and FOLDUP MAGNFYING GLASSES

Big and warm, this pashmina has been used to keep the three of us snug on ferries, as an extra blanket, a curtain to reduce glare, a knee rug on flights but mostly as a scarf.

I need magnifying glasses for reading and twice these have broken, once early in a flight and another time, at our destination. I read a lot when we’re away, especially on long flights. I was able to buy replacement fold-up glasses at Changi Airport and the other pair were replaced at an optometrist, but only after lots of difficulties so now I carry these fold-up glasses in their hard carry case as emergency back up supplies.

PENCIL CASE

I have a pencil case mostly for journal entries. It has

pens
pencils and an eraser (useful for crosswords)
highlighter pen (great for marking routes on maps)
scissors ( just make sure your scissors are in your luggage, not carry on bags)
mini glue stick

ANTIBACTERIAL HAND SANITISER

Great for freshening hands when we’re out and about, for all those WCs without paper towels, for cleaning up spills on clothing and general clean ups. I refill a collection of small bottles from a one litre bottle before we travel as they are easier to carry in my handbag.

I also buy small spray bottles of my perfume to reduce baggage weight.

MOISTURISING MASKS

My normally dry skin totally dehydrates on flights, especially long ones from Australia. I liberally apply lip balm, lots of moisturiser plus I drink plenty of water en route and then use a moisturising mask when we arrive.

Other basics include a small SEWING KIT in a plastic box and nylon SHOPPING BAGS that which are tiny when folded into the cover and huge when you pull then out. Many shops don’t provide plastic carry bags for shopping.

Today is World Teachers Day which is celebrated in more than 100 countries world wide. The day was declared by UNESCO in 1994 to recognise the role played by teachers in society. Internationally, World Teachers Day is celebrated 5th of October but this falls during school holidays in Australia, so we celebrate on the last Friday of October each year. If you can read this, thank a teacher.

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Beautiful Bangkok

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Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, was a small trading post 200 years ago but now covers a vast area. So many things to see and do with shrines, palaces, lush parks and gardens, shops and restaurants and everything else you’d expect in a vibrant Asian city which welcomes more visitors every year than any other capital in the world.

View of the Chao Phraya River from our balcony. The moored ferry, bottom right of photo, takes people from the hotel to Saphan Pier, linking with the Thaskin Bangkok MRT, the Sky Train. Lovely way to avoid the traffic.

Barge being pulled by four tugs, plus a stabilizing tug at the rear, taking sand to building sites along the river.

Time for lunch, so up to the 36th floor of our hotel for yum cha. Very good food, very good service and amazing and distracting views.

More yum cha. These treats are unusual as we’ve never had sweet buns like this before. They are crystal cream buns and cream buns.

The cool hotel garden. The path goes down to the river where we catch the ferry to Saphan Pier for the train or nearby shopping.

Entrance to Jim Thompson House and Museum. Jim Thompson, born in 1906, was an American architect who joined the US Army and was in Europe and later Asia, where he was sent to Bangkok as a military officer. He admired the local architecture and bought and transported six traditional Thai houses, most of them more than two centuries old, to Bangkok, where he amalgamated them into one house where he lived. He began filling them with local antiques and artifacts.

He revived and developed the old cottage industry of silk weaving. He achieved world wide recognition for silk woven in Thailand. He designed the fabrics and the pieces to be made from it.

In 1967 he went walking alone in the Cameron Highlands in Malaysia and disappeared. No-one knows what happened to him. His house and collection are now overseen by a Thai Foundation. It was an interesting place to visit and see what he achieved.

The garden at the Jim Thompson House and Museum. It was very hot so we sat to cool down for a while before heading back into the traffic.

Dinner Choices.

We have been to Bangkok twice in the past three years and prefer using the river to get around. Traffic is congested and can be slow. A good way to see everyday Bangkok is to take a local water taxi and head up some of the canals.

We like to sit and watch the mesmerising views on the busy river. There is a lot to do in Bangkok and we are planning a return journey.

Today is Information Overload Day. Information overload can have a negative impact on our happiness and productivity. Try turning everything off for half a day and feel how relaxing it is to control your own time, or maybe, you’ll suffer from dreadful FOMO! ( Fear Of Missing Out) New research suggests engaging in any screens, even e-readers, an hour before going to bed interferes with sleep.

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Hello Hanoi !

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Hanoi is one of the most ancient capitals in the world. It is known for it’s architecture; some of it very old, contrasting with the very new. South Eastern Asian, Chinese and French influences are all evident. In the Old Quarter, narrow streets are named after the trades that traditionally flourished there, for example, silk street, gold street and embroidery street. There’s also lots of little temples and cafes if the crowds or heat get overwhelming. This is a vibrant and rather chaotic part of town!

Entrance foyer flowers, very beautiful but no scent.

We visited Hanoi last year and enjoyed it so much we returned. A contrast of the traditional and the contemporary, there’s always something to do, see and, especially, eat!

I get itchy ears, too! National Gallery of Fine Arts.

Womens’ Museum. The fabrics were grown, woven, dyed and sewn by hand.

Womens’ Museum. Wedding attire, 1970’s.

Wedding attire, October 2017.

Old buildings in shopping area.

Hot Pot lunch.

Hoan Kiem Lake, always busy with people exercising, walking, chatting with friends and snacking.

Mid Autumn Moon Festival (Tet Trung Thu ) street parade so lots of beautifully decorated moon cakes on sale everywhere.

Hanoi Opera House.

Interesting array of electrical wiring.

Reflexology followed by a pedicure. Such lovely ladies!

Wet Green Papaya Salad, shaken then dropped onto the bowl. Delicious.

Slow Cooked Duck Breast, potatoes and beans.

Breakfast. Really good coffee, too.

Began with foyer flowers, so ending with flowers in the restaurant at our hotel. So pretty.

Today is World Maths Day. Founded in 2007, the intention was to get students away from standard maths lessons and take part in games, aiming to raise standards of numeracy.

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