Sailboats and fishing boats moored on the waterfront, Lakes Entrance, Australia.

Boats on the Waterfront
The boats at Lakes Entrance, Australia, have their choice of endless protected inland waterways, or the wilder waters of the Tasman Sea and Southern Ocean

Lakes Entrance is a delightful coastal town in eastern Victoria, Australia. It is known for its long, beautiful beaches, recreational and commercial fishing, and bushwalking and water-based activities. It sits at the meeting point of the Southern Ocean and the Gippsland Lakes – a vast system of inland waterways.

Being only 320 kilometres (200 mi) east of Melbourne, Lakes Entrance is usually a popular weekend and holiday destination for the urban residents there.

But, these were not usual times… I was heading to Melbourne to stay on the Mornington Peninsula (see: Balcombe Estuary And Coolart Homestead), with the hopes of getting into the CBD to see a special art exhibition. But, Melbourne was in the grips of a Covid19 lockdown, and I spent an unexpected extra day in Lakes Entrance waiting to see if the restrictions would be lifted.

So, I had no real plans, except to get out for a morning walk.

I was lucky enough to be staying near the footbridge that crosses Cunninghame Arm and leads to the Entrance Walk (see: Walking Maps). This gorgeous walk is along well-marked paths through coastal bush, along beaches, and over boardwalk. There are historical buildings and the occasional explanatory sign-board as you work your way along the shores of Lake Cunninghame to the actual entrance into the Gippsland Lakes.

I heard and saw many birds that were too quick for me to photograph. According to one website, you ‘alway’ see Australian fur seals here; I didn’t. I did, however, enjoy the sight of a pod of dolphins surfing the strong currents through the tidal narrows. I had left the cameras behind, and did what I could with the iPhone.

Join me for a short and easy, but very pleasant, walk around a portion of Lake Tyers Coastal Reserve.

Ninety Mile Beach, Lakes Entrance, Victoria Australia

Endless Golden Sand
Lakes Entrance Beach stretches out before me: we are near the top end of Ninety Mile Beach – a 151 kilometre (94 mile) stretch of sandy beach facing the Bass Strait. It is the fourth longest stretch of uninterrupted beach in the world, and is also considered one of the most natural and unspoilt expanses of waterfront sand anywhere.

Lakes Entrance from Lakes Entrance Beach, Victoria Australia

Lakes Entrance Beach
As I walk along the beach, I am looking across Cunninghame Arm and back to the township. These are tidal waters, so if you want en extended beach walk, you need to check the tide tables.

Boats moored on the waterfront, Lakes Entrance, Australia.

Working Boats on the Waterfront
The walking track takes me up into beautiful coastal scrub of banksia, tea trees, and boobialla. I get glimpses of the boats along the waterfront in the township.

A tree stump on a sandy walking track, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Nature’s Artwork : A Textured Stump

Private Jetty, Carpentertown, from Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Private Jetty, Carpentertown
Talk about location! Carpentertown was established after it was decided, in 1870, to build a permanent opening between Gippsland Lakes and the ocean. The settlement included workmen’s cottages, a boarding house, and a school. Today there are a few cottages left which are still occupied by lucky descendants of those workers.

Retaining wall on Cumberland Channel, from Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Retaining Wall on Cunninghame Arm
The original project took 19 years, and the Entrance finally opened in 1889. However, it wasn’t up to the power of the elements, and many of the timber piers were destroyed by teredo worms. The second stage of project to rectify these problems was unimaginatively named the New Works.

Entrance Pier from Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Entrance Pier
Looking down over the Entrance, you can see the power of the water surging into the Lakes through the channel.

Wooden walkway from Flagstaff Lookout, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Walkway
The wooden walkway down to the pier from Flagstaff Lookout is steep, but well maintained.

Dolphins, Cunninghame Arm, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Dolphins
I got lucky! A small pod of dolphins were frolicking in the incoming waters.

Dolphins, Cunninghame Arm, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Dolphins in the Entrance
I can’t watch these lovely creatures without smiling.

Old machine, The Relics Trail, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

The Relics Trail
I love the shapes and textures of old machinery …

Old machine, The Relics Trail, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Winch at New Works
… and these rusty pieces are real historic  treasures.

Old machine, The Relics Trail, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Still Life Found : Old Machinery

Old building at New Works, Lakes Entrance Loop, Victoria Australia

Old Building at New Works

Text: Happy Walking!I followed the beach back to the footbridge – and was back in town in time for a big Aussie breakfast.

I had earned it: it’s only a 5.6 km (3.5 mi) walk, but somehow I managed to clock up eight km!

Happy Walking!

Pictures: 17June2021

Sailboats in Sydney Harbour with the CBD in the background, Australia.

Sailboats in Sydney Harbour
It’s a perfect summer day: sunny skies; enough wind to give the genoas a nice puff; and a slight sea haze, rendering Sydney’s distinctive skyline dreamy.

Almost any city is nice in good weather – but you just can’t beat Sydney and its harbour on a sunny day.

For all my years of being in and around Sydney, I have not spent enough time on the waters there. There is no excuse for it really – the public ferries that criss-cross from Sydney’s Circular Quay to various points around the harbour and beyond are comfortable, relatively cheap, and easy to use. And, they afford the same glorious views as the more-expensive tourist boats.

But there always seemed to be something else going on …

One December, however – mid-summer in the southern hemisphere – we had international visitors and had taken them to the zoo and the aquarium. A bonus with our tickets was a return passage from Circular Quay to Watsons Bay on the Captain Cook Cruises ferry. The season had been glorious, so there was no reason not to jump aboard and take ourselves over the harbour for some famous fish and chips and a short coastal walk.

Watsons Bay is a harbour-side suburb 11km (6.8mi) northeast of Sydney’s Central Business District (CBD). While you can access it by road, the city’s traffic can be a nightmare – and if you are downtown anyway, private boats or New South Wales Ferries are easier and much more fun.

The suburb sits on the South Head Peninsula, allowing great views west across Port Jackson to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The high eastern cliffs, known as The Gap, give views to Manly on North Head and the Pacific Ocean.

Amongst other things, Watsons Bay is known for the internationally famous Doyles on the Beach seafood restaurant. That was a bit out of our league, and we didn’t have a reservation, so we made do with fish and chips from the more modest Doyles on the Wharf Take Away.

We carried our lunch up to The Gap Lookout National Park, and enjoyed some of the best food and views that Sydney has to offer.

Join me on and around the waters of Sydney Harbour.

Pyrmont Bridge over Darling Harbour, Sydney Australia

Bridge over Darling Harbour
We picked up our boat in Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour, and motored under the historic Pyrmont Bridge – built in 1902 – to get to the outer harbour. Cars were banned here in 1981, and it is now strictly for pedestrian and bicycle traffic. I walk over this bridge often when I’m in Sydney.

Australian National Maritime Museum from the water, Darling Harbour, Australia

Australian National Maritime Museum
This ‘museum of the sea’ includes a replica of James Cook’s HMB Endeavour, which visitors can tour to get a feel for the life of the early explorers. I visit the museum regularly because it also hosts the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition.

Sydney Ferry on the waters of Darling Harbour, Australia

Ferry on the Water
While Sydney Ferries get highlighted in the occasional news stories of high drama, cost blow-outs, or unreasonable delays, for the most part they are clean, fast, and efficient ways to access ports around the city and beyond.

Sydney Opera House framed by the Harbour Bridge with a sailboat in the foreground, Australia

Iconic Sydney Harbour Scene
Sailors in the crowd will note that this scene is less-than-ideal: the sails are luffing; slack with insufficient wind. But, really! A sailboat, the Opera House, and the Sydney Harbour Bridge; what more could you want? (iPhone6)

High-rises on Sydney Harbour, Australia

High-Rises on Sydney Harbour

A Sydney ferry in front of Luna Park, from Darling Harbour, Australia

A Sydney Ferry and Luna Park
Luna Park is a heritage-listed amusement park in Milsons Point. Constructed in 1935, it was closed in mid-1979 (just before my arrival in the country) when the Ghost Train fire killed six children and one adult. Although most of the park was demolished and new rides were constructed, it was closed for various reasons for most of the time I lived nearby, and I have never visited. But, I would miss that ridiculous clown-faced sun if it were ever to disappear!

Snippet of the Sydney Opera House through the Pyrmont Bridge, Australia.

Almost Abstract : Lines and Angles
We get glimpses of the Sydney Opera House as we pass under Pyrmont Bridge.

Sydney Opera House from the water, Australia

Sydney Ferry and the Opera House
And there she is! I attend performances here four or more times most years, and never get tired of visiting. What a beautiful building!

Boats under the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia.

Boats and the Bridge
And that bridge! Affectionately called the ‘The Coathanger’, this steel-through-arch bridge opened in 1932 and gives Sydney Harbour some of its most iconic views. (Phone6)

The Sydney Opera House from Port Jackson, Australia

The Sydney Opera House

A BridgeClimb group on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia

On Top of the World!
Since 1998 the BridgeClimb has allowed visitors – well-harnessed in – the chance to climb the bridge.

Wedding under a giant tree, Sydney Harbour, Australia.

Wedding on the Shore
Unfortunately, this photo is not very sharp, but it gives a feel for the layers of age in the city, and the continual activity on the waterfront.

Fort Denison from the water, Sydney Harbour, Australia.

Fort Denison
Once a penal site and a defensive facility, this island in the harbour has been heritage-listed since 1999. I like the contrast with the ultra-modern recreational vessel in the foreground.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia.

With the Sun in my Eyes

Colourful sailboats in Sydney Harbour with the CBD in the background, Australia.

Sailboats in the Harbour
The waters here are a playground for the wealthy!

Boats in Sydney Harbour with the CBD in the background, Australia.

Sydney in our Wake
The profile of the CBD makes a dreamy backdrop for all the boats on the waters.

Shark Island from the waters of Sydney Harbour, Australia

Shark Island and its Light

Watsons Bay Wharf from the water, Sydney Australia

Watsons Bay
As we come into the wharf, it is easy to envy those with houses on the waterfront here; median house prices in this Sydney suburb are currently 5.4M Australian dollars.

Sydney and Port Jackson viewed from Watsons Bay, Australia

Sydney and Port Jackson
From the hilly land of South Head, we have views back to the city centre.

Dunbar anchor and plaque, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Commemorative Anchor
 The waters outside the headland can be dangerous. The Dunbar was wrecked here in 1857, with the loss of 121 lives.

Women sitting on a boulder, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Enjoying the Sun

Large boulder, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Weathered Rocks
I’ve always loved the colours, textures, and shapes carved into the sandstone along Sydney’s lengthy coastline.

Yellow treasure flowers, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Treasure Flowers – Gazania Rigens

Memorial to G J Grieve, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Memorial
Lieutenant Grieve was a Special Service Officer who was killed in 1900 at the Battle of Paardeberg during the South African (Boer) War. Local residents had this marble and sandstone memorial (originally a drinking fountain) erected in his honour.

Cliffs, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Looking North to Manly

Four uniformed officers, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Keeping the Beat
There is a visible police presence to discourage people from climbing; …

Lifeline and Black Dog help sign, The Gap, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

‘Hold Onto Hope’
… this is a popular suicide spot because of the unforgiving ocean below.

Doyles on the Wharf, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

Doyles on the Wharf
We work our way back down the hill to the ferry wharf.

People on the rocks and in the water, Watsons Bay Sydney Australia

View from the Ferry Pier

Woman in a cap and Captain Cook

Our Captain Cook’s Representative
Back on the ferry, we are again given the safety briefing, as well as commentary on the sights.

Mossman Pier from the water, Port Jackson, Sydney Australia

From Mossman Pier
On our return trip we stop at Mossman, which gives access to Taronga Zoo (see: A tale of Two Tarongas).

South Passage schooner on Sydney Harbour, Australia

South Passage Schooner
We are also treated to the sight of some more fabulous sailing boats, …

People enjoying the sun on the Manly Fast Ferry, Sydney Harbour, Australia

Manly Fast Ferry
… as well as some of the other commercial vessels on the waters with us.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia.

The Bridge

And, just like that, we are back.

Text: Safe Sailing

Until next time,

Safe sailing!

Pictures: 16December2017

Water merging into air over a Dead Sea landscape, Jordan.

The Dead Sea
It’s a magnificent landscape: desert light shimmers over the dense salty waters of the Dead Sea in Jordan.

Jordan is one of those places where I’d go back.

I’ve had a lifelong love of deserts, and a fascination with Lawrence of Arabia. So, to walk and camel-ride in Lawrence’s boot-steps in the magically beautiful sculpted desert landscape of Wadi Rum was an absolute dream-come-true (see: Desert Rains and the Seven Pillars of Wisdom; A Morning in Wadi Rum). I also  loved the stories, the colours, and the textures of the breathtakingly beautiful Nabatean cities of Petra and Little Petra (see: Nabatean), and could have used more time in that whole area.

At just over 89,000 square kilometres of semi-arid country, Jordan is relatively small. But, it sits at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, and has borne witness to at least 200,000 years of civilisations and migrations. The evidence of this history that still sits on the landscape just is amazing! As well as the Nabateans, the Romans left their mark (see: Ancient Jerash) – as did the early Christians (see: Shobak and Mosaics and Churches). Today’s population of 10 million people is 98% ethnic Arab; although about 84% of people live in the cities, they still cherish their nomadic desert roots. This is evident in all aspects of culture, food, art, and dress.

I only spend a week in the country, but with a small bus and a good guide, we criss-crossed north-to-south and back again, taking in a wide variety of sites, and stopping at some roadstops full of fascinating offerings for tourists.

My last afternoon was spent at the Citadel, an archeological park at the center of downtown Amman which epitomises the long and varied history of the country. Although most of the ruins and structures still visible at the site are from the Roman, Byzantine, and Umayyad periods, evidence of Neolithic and Bronze Age inhabitation has also been found on the hill.

Join me on some Jordanian roads and road stops

Commercial hangers, Queen Alia International Airport, Jordan

On the Tarmac
Even from the airplane window as you land at the Queen Alia International Airport, you get a sense of a modern world blending into a desert landscape. (iPhone6S)

Straight highway lined with light poles, Jordan.

View from the Bus
Jordan has a relatively modern educational system, which probably helps with maintaining decent roads and infrastructure.

Ornate inlaid furniture on display, Midway Castle, Jordan

Ornate Inlaid Furniture – Midway Castle
There some extraordinary things for sale at the various highway rest stops! (iPhone6S)

Bowl of red spice surrounded by souvenirs and gifts, Dead Sea Gift Shop, Jordan.

Spices and Resins
Spices and scents are available everywhere – as are cremes, lotions, clothing, and souvenirs. (iPhone6S)

Portrait: Palestinian man in a red and white keffiyeh, Jordan

Our Guide
On our bus rides, our guide kept us oriented, educated, and entertained …

Straight highway in front of colourful desert mountains, Jordan.

Scenes from the Bus
… as the magnificent desert landscapes flew past. This is around Wadi Rum, where rock mountains and mesas were thrown high above sea level by tectonic shifts, and carved by millenia of fierce winds and blowing sand.

Mountains east of the Dead Sea Highway, Jordan

Valley Gulf
At a roadstop further north, near the top end of Valley Gulf, the sculpted mountains rise in the east over the Dead Sea Highway.

South end of the Dead Sea from a bus window, Jordan

Almost Abstract : Scenes from a Bus
Floating off into a haze of heat and power lines, the south end of the Dead Sea comes into view.

Turquoise Dead Sea water bordered by sandstone cliffs, Jordan

Edge of the Dead Sea
The high mineral content of the Dead Sea makes for rich colours in the early afternoon light.

Lot

Lot’s Wife
On the other side of the road stands Lot’s wife, who, according to the Book of Genesis, was turned into a pillar of salt for looking back at Sodom.

Steps down to the beach, Dead Sea Spa Resort, Jordan

Down to the Beach
Once we are checked into our room for the night, we can walk down to the Dead Sea itself.

Beach umbrellas at the Dead Sea Spa Resort, Jordan

Beach on the Dead Sea
Between climate change and excess use of water up-stream, the Dead Sea is receding dramatically – and the walk across the beach is a lot further than it used to be. Israel is hiding a short distance away, in the heat haze on the horizon.

People floating in the sparkling waters of the Dead Sea, Jordan.

That’s Me – in the Dead Sea!
When in Jordan … you have to cover yourself in black mud, and have a float … It is actually harder than it looks! If you are not careful, you can be flipped over.

Night lights over Amman from the Grand Palace Hotel, Jordan.

Night Lights
By complete contrast, Amman, the capital of Jordan, is vibrant and modern.

People on a rooftop bar at night, the Grand Palace Hotel, Amman Jordan.

The Beautiful People After Dark
With a population of over 4 million, it houses almost 40% of Jordan’s population, and is the fifth-largest city in the Arab world.

Night time view from the Grand Palace Hotel, Amman Jordan.

Blue Amman
The roof of our hotel gives me a good view over the darkening city.

Stone information panels, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Information Panels
The Amman Citadel, in the middle of downtown, has a long history of occupation by many civilizations. Stylish stone information signs as you enter the site outline some of this history. The Greeks called the city Philadelphia; the Rashidun Caliphate took the city from the Byzantines in the 7th century CE and restored its ancient Semitic name of Amman.

In the ruins on the Amman Citadel, Jordan.

In the Ruins
A large part of the Citadel has not been excavated; ruins scatter the ground and the unfinished Roman Temple of Hercules sits at the height.

Ruins of the Temple of Hercules, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Temple of Hercules
According to an inscription, this temple was built some time between 162 and 166 CE. Archaeologists believe it was not finished, and that it suffered later earthquake damage.

Amman

The Roman Theatre
Where you had Romans, you had a theatre! The city has grown around this 6,000-seat, 2nd-century theatre, which sits on a hill opposite the Amman Citadel.

Pillars at the Roman Temple of Hercules, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Pillars at the Roman Temple of Hercules

Gateway of the Umayyad Palace, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Gateway of the Umayyad Palace
The palace here was built between 661 and 750 CE, during the second caliphate after the death of the prophet Muhammad. Much of the palace is in ruins, but the domed entrance, known as the “kiosk” or the “monumental gateway”, has been restored.

Carved walls inside the Umayyad Palace, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Patterns in the Ancient Walls

Amman from inside the ruins of the Umayyad Palace, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

City from the Ruins
Looking out from where the 8th century palace once was, you can see where the new and vibrant city rises.

Gateway of the Umayyad Palace, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Gateway from inside the Umayyad Palace

Pillars at the Roman Temple of Hercules, Amman Citadel, Jordan.

Columns and Walls
The layers of age and human history here are mind boggling.

Man preparing a bread roll for customers, Hashem Restaurant Amman, Jordan

“Fast Food”
One of the joys of travel is taste-testing the local foods.

Mezze plates, Amman Jordan

At the Hashem Restaurant
A Jordanian favourite is Levantine mezze, so it is only appropriate that we enjoy that for our last supper.

Yellow and white taxi, Amman, Jordan

Colourful Cab
One of the things that distinguishes cities from each other is the colour and make of their local taxis.

Queen Alia International Airport, Amman Jordan

Queen Alia International Airport
The airport rolls across the landscape like the waves of sand in the desert. (iPhone6S)

And just like that, the beauty, diversity, and historic richness of this little country in the desert disappears through the airplane window.

I’d love to go back!

Photos: 13-20October2019

Vegetables in the Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Colours in the Market
Even in the very early hours of morning, there is colour and movement everywhere you look in the Goubert Market in Old Pondicherry, India.

Any visitor to these pages knows I love markets.

I love the insight they give into the lives of the locals: What foods do they eat? How do they barter or trade? How do they engage with (or not!) the foreigner in their midst? How do they interact with each other? I love the apparent chaos: the cacophony of colours and smells; the crowded aisles and alleys; the constant motion; the noise …

Of course, it is only chaos to the outsider. When I stand back and watch, is is quite apparent that the locals all know what they are doing and where they should be. I am the one at risk of getting in the way.

I always marvel at how welcoming (and patient) stall holders are with this outsider trying to make pictures in the gloom, or under horrible fluorescent lights; I struggle with my heavy old cameras, trying to frame shots in impossible spaces and stay out of the way of shoppers and porters at the same time.

I’m never completely happy with the results, but I always hope to at least catch some of the essence of the experience.

Early one morning in January, I had the opportunity to spend some time in the historic Goubert Market in Heritage Town, Puducherry. I was staying nearby, in a beautiful colonial building in the heart of the French Quarter of what was, until 2006, known as Pondicherry. We had arrived the evening before from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, after stopping to explore the historic stone monuments at Mahabalipuram (see: Stories in Stone).

Originally called the Grand Bazaar, the market was established in 1826 under the French at the edge of the French Quarter. It was renamed for Édouard Goubert, who – in the early 1960s – was the mayor and first chief minister of Pondicherry. Popularly known as Periya Kadai (பெரிய கடை), which is Tamil for ‘big store’, it is one of the oldest markets in the city. Reputedly busy all day, almost everything you can think of is on offer, but it is especially known for its fresh fish from the Bay of Bengal.

We arrived early, and it was already bustling with activity.

Dark street, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Pondicherry Market
The sun is not yet up when we arrive before 7am at the already-bustling Goubert Market in Old Pondicherry.

Butchers, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Butcher
It is dark – very dark – inside. One report I read suggested that crumbling infrastructure was causing problems for the traders and customers alike (The Hindu). These butchers are working in rather questionable conditions.

Hessian bags of produce, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Onions in the Market
Every space is filled: big bags of fresh produce line the aisles.

Crowded market aisle, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Shopping in the Market
Shoppers jostle with vendors in the narrow laneways.

Baskets of produce, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Splashes of Colour
The saris are as colourful as the fruits and vegetables.

Betel shop, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Betel Shop
I’m always amazed at how everywhere you look in India, you see men reading the newspaper. The betel leaves for sale here are used to wrap paan or gutkha: a mixture of areca nut, herbs, spices, and often tobacco, for chewing.

Fresh silver fish, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Fresh Fish
We are on the Bay of Bengal, so the market features a variety of freshly-caught fish.

Woman in a green sari, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Woman in Green
Historically, it is the men who do the fishing here and the women who take care of the sales.

Two women seated at wooden cutting blocks, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Fish Vendors
Everyone has their posters or shrines to their favourite Gods decorated with fresh flowers.

Woman cutting fish, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Cutting Fish
That knife is serious business!

Woman peeling prawns, Goubert Market, Puducherry, Indi

Peeling Prawns
There is plenty to do, even when there are no immediate customers.

Seated fish vendors, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Women at the Fish Market

Woman selling prawns, Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

More Prawns – More Fish

Two women in saris seated in a crowded parking area outside Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Tea Break
Outside the covered market, a couple of women take a break.

Men with a tanker truck outside Goubert Market, Puducherry, India.

Water Truck?
I have no idea what is going on here, but I loved the look of these vehicles.

Man seated on the ground with hats for sale, Puducherry, India.

Selling Hats, Etc.
In the streets outside the market, more vendors attempt to make sales.

Man pouring coffee from a height, Puducherry, India.

Chai Wallah
Actually, the wallah here is making coffee, not tea, but the process is the same. I love watching how they pour the hot drinks from a height; it is meant to add froth and cool the milky liquid a bit.

Man with a cart laden with oranges, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

Selling Oranges
Fresh fruit and vegetables are everywhere in the old streets.

Truck full of watermelon, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

Watermelon Truck

Worn buildings, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

Textured Buildings
We were meant to be admiring the Franco-Tamil architecture and the UNESCO-endorsed restorations in Vysial Street, but many more of the buildings were in need of a lot of work. I did love the textures and colours, though.

Cauliflower for sale, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

Cauliflower for Sale
More fresh vegetables! Notice the QR code on the tree: you can pay by phone!

Parked shiny new scooters, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

Candy-Coloured Scooters

Fruit and vegetables store, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

Corner Market
I love how the shops all spill onto the road!

Fruit and vegetable store, Heritage Town, Puducherry India

More Colour and Activity

Fish in coriander sauce, Palais de Mahe, Puducherry India

Fish in Coriander Sauce
After seeing all that fresh food on offer, it was only right that later on, our lunch was tasty fresh fish pieces in a fragrant and colourful coriander sauce.

Text: Bon Appétit

Until next time,

Bon appétit!

Pictures: 22January2023

View across False Creek from Fairview, Vancouver BC Canada

False Creek
With its numerous waterways, tall waterfront buildings, and a snow-dusted mountain backdrop, Vancouver is beautiful any time of year. But, cherry blossoms and fresh growth make spring special.

I was so grateful!

Vancouver is a beautiful city. and it has always had a magical place in my childhood, adolescent, and young-adult memories. For much of my young life I either lived nearby, or visited often.

Last year, I went back for the first time in many many years. And, although it was as special as I remembered, it was wet – even by coastal BC standards – and much of the time I was struggling with sodden shoes and an inside-out umbrella (see: A Wet Spring in Vancouver).

This year, however, the weather was beautiful!

I had jet-lag and a cold, but even so, I got out every day and felt happy as I wandered the nearby streets, taking pleasure in the many outdoor spaces on offer.

On a photographic note: I made the decision not to unpack the cameras until I had a car. Looking back on the photos now, I notice two things in particular: 1) because I generally take iPhone shots with the purpose of uploading onto iNstagram in square format (see: Ursula_in_Aus), I ‘see’ things differently with the phone than I do with the cameras. So, the photos often don’t translate terribly well to the 2×3 format that I prefer for the blog. And 2), as good as iPhone photos look on the device, when I’m processing them later in Lightroom, they don’t have the same depth and richness that DSLR camera photos have.

Still, wandering the streets in the sunshine made me smile – and I hope you do too!

Traffic on Cambie Street, Vancouver BC Canada

Cambie Street
Even on a nice spring day, there can be a fair bit of cloud obscuring those mountains to the north. 

Lawn Daisies, Vancouver BC Canada

Lawn Daisies – Bellis Perennis
As a child, I loved trying to make daisy chains with these tiny flowers. Although I have seen them in other parts of the world, they always say Vancouver to me. 

Cherry blossoms, Vancouver BC Canada

Cherry Blossoms
A Vancouver spring means pink blossoms on the 40,000-or-so cherry trees around the city.

Looking north over False Creek, Vancouver BC Canada

View over False Creek
Even with a typical low-hanging cloud, the high rises on the other side of False Creek stand out, and you get a sense of the mountains behind them. 

Cherry blossoms, Vancouver BC Canada

More Cherry Blossoms 

Canada geese and goslings, Vancouver BC Canada

Canada Geese and Goslings
What says spring like baby chicks? But a warning: a Canada goose (Branta canadensis) can be extremely aggressive if you get too close!

Burrard Street Bridge over False Creek, Vancouver BC Canada

Burrard Street Bridge
Built in the 1030s, this Art Deco style bridge is part of my memory landscape.

Fresh red and yellow capsicum, Granville Island Public Market, Vancouver BC Canada

Capsicum (or Red Pepper)
The Granville Island Public Market is a great place for lunch and coffee, for fresh foods, and for interesting art.

New maple leaves and flowers, Vancouver BC Canada

New Maple
Winters in Canada – even on the reasonably temperate West Coast – can be long; …

New conifer buds, Vancouver BC Canada

New Fir (or Spruce?)
… that is one of the reasons spring is such a joy.

View north from Little Mountain, Vancouver BC Canada.

Vancouver Harbour and North Vancouver
I made a point of visiting Little Mountain. Even though it sits at only 125 m (410 ft), you get great views over the rest of the city.

View over Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver BC Canada.

Queen Elizabeth Park
The gardens on Little Mountain are always a treat. I was especially pleased to recognise this location when I was watching the 1986 movie ‘The Boy Who Could Fly’ with my children in Australia.

Metal sculpture covered in locks, Vancouver BC Canada.

Love in the Rain (2016)
These quirky metal people by Bruce Voyce are billed as Vancouver Park Board’s first love lock sculpture.”

Entry to the VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Entry to the VanDusen Gardens
Even though this botanical garden opened in 1975, it was my first visit to the space. The beautiful wood and glass entry point and Visitor Centre was opened in 2011.

A pot of tulips, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Tulips
After a long walk to get there, I enjoyed a coffee, a baguette, and some people-watching before taking on the 22 hectare (55 acre) park.

Orange and Yellow tulips, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Orange and Yellow Tulips
I love spring bulbs – and these are gorgeous.

Fountain, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Fountain
With plenty of water features, the gardens are a delight to explore – especially on such a sunny, blue-sky day.

Sculpture of two stylised people, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Confidence (2012) by Michael Dennis
The gardens feature a number of sculptures; this beautiful work in red cedar was one of my favourites. Trails run off in all directions.

Pacific dogwood blossoms, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Pacific Dogwood
The blossom of western flowering dogwood (Cornus nuttallii) is the floral emblem of British Columbia – and another sign of spring.

Tulips and trees, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Tulips and Trees

Red tulips, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Red Tulips

Wooden owl next to a pathway, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Wooden Owl
Although this charming owl is frequently photographed, I couldn’t learn anything about its provenance.

Gitksan Totem Poles, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Gitksan Totem Poles
The Gitksan Totem Poles, on the other hand, have an explanatory sign next to them. These story poles are by Gitxsan Nation master-carvers. The Mosquito People (1986) on the left, is by Earl and Brian Muldoe and tells the origin story of mosquitoes.

Al of the Gispudwada (1976)
This story pole by Arthur Sterritt describes, in complex detail, the origin of the Black Bear Crest of the Orca Clan.

Waterfall, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Waterfall

Maidenhair and wood anemone, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Shaded Spaces
Maidenhair and wood anemone find a shaded spot beneath the trees, …

Wooden bench on a pathway, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Wooden Bench
… and dappled light plays across a wooden bench.

Green grass aside a small stream, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Stream and Garden

Giant red wooden chairs, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Red Chairs

Pink bleeding heart flowers, VanDusen Gardens, Vancouver BC Canada.

Bleeding Heart – Dicentra Spectabilis
This is one of those plants that lends itself to flights of imagination!

Cars driving north on Lions Gate bridge, Vancouver BC Canada.

Lions Gate Bridge
Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay in the city forever. Heading north over the Lions Gate always signals that I am leaving Vancouver behind.

Text: Keep smiling

Blue skies (mostly), sunshine, and spring flowers in the beautiful city of Vancouver – it doesn’t get much better, and it certainly had me filled with gratitude …

And Smiling!

Photos: 09-12May2023