Monday, 12 September 2011

Kent - Hong Kong - Home





1st August 2011

Scott was in Sydney celebrating his 40th Birthday as we sped across Normandy and through the Chunnel to Ashford in Kent.

Speeding through Kent


We were welcomed in West Malling  by Ben's great friends, Pete and Jen.

Welcome in Kent




With so few days there we made the most of the time.



2nd August 2011

Train to London


The next day we went to London by train.

Where's the flying Pig?


Then took a London cab to Her Majesty's Theatre for a Matinee.

Crossing to Her Majesty's Theatre

Can you guess the show?

Wrapped Chandelier from the Opera

Later we walked through St James Park near Buckingham Palace,

St James Park


Is the Queen at Home?




...before dinner with the family, Jen's not the Queen's!


3rd August 2011,

Then we were off to Leeds Castle, which is not in Leeds as you may think, but down the road, just 5 miles out of Maidstone in Kent.

Preening

Complete with a moat

A strong defence


with wall and moat

and a thatched cottage!!

Pete, well defended

A castle with an illustrious history
Jen in the castle gardens


With the sun still high as we drove home, we called in for a drink by the river.

Little pub on the canal


Watching eskimo-rolls was an inspiration. These students of kayaking spent more time under the water than above. I'll stick to sailing!

Eskimo rolls


4th August 2011

This was the day I first went to Canterbury, which is also in Kent. What an amazing city. Try this sometime.

Walking on water



And in the Cathedral, what a feeling to be on the stones where Beckett's blood was spilt over 700 years ago.

Canterbury Cathedral

No Catholic Martyrs for King Henry


That night was Jazz night and we crowded into a tiny pub to hear a great band and enjoy the happy atmosphere.

Graham, Ben and Jen


The Band



5th August 2011

All too soon it was time to fly south, like the birds, to warmer climes....

Much warmer!


Back to wonderful Lamma Island, Hong Kong, for a brief stop-over....

Off to catch the ferry


....to enjoy again, its easy happy lifestyle and friendly people.



7th August 2011

We had lunch by the Harbour in Stanley with Lili and James.

Happy time with good friends


And came back to Lamma on the Aberdeen Ferry.



Aberdeen, getting taller every day





9th August 2011

We took off at night and flew over the lights of Hong Kong.



China's Jewell



10th August 2011

The next morning early, we were looking down at my childhood home, Cronulla, Sydney, Australia.


Port Hacking River.

Draw a line across the river mouth, from Jibbon Point in the foreground, to Cronulla, the next peninsula.





Ben had several more hours by air and by bus to meet his family in Hamilton New Zealand.


It was an incredible trip for us both and oh, so good to be home.


Thank you for sharing it with us.




Wednesday, 7 September 2011

Paris - Part 2

Friday 22nd July 2011

Chartres

Chartres




Chartres Cathedral




I have been fascinated by Chartres Cathedral for many years, its architecture and labyrinth. Ben and I walked part of the Labyrinth. Our guide in the Cathedral was a very British gentleman who has been doing two tours a day for 53 years. He truly loves his job.

Walking the Labyrinth






Walking the perimeter




Gazing at the carvings


Then we found a free trike with a charming French guide to show us the town.

Tour Trike


Cobblestones and charm


Wonderful open spaces and bowl gardens

Our Guide



Saturday 24th July 2011


Exploring La Défence

There is a special book just for the artists of La Défence. This mosiac column was one of our favourite pieces of civic art.

Mosaic Column





















and the Thumb.

Big Thumb


We found a Shopping Mall, perhaps inspired by a cathedral,

Shopping Cathedral


and walked along The Axis, the path which marks the link between the new and the old, between the Grande Arche of La Défence and l'Arc de Triomph.


La Défence Grande Arche


The Axis eventually becomes the Champs Elysée. It is paved and landscaped to the Seine, then becomes busy roads.

l'Arc de Triomph in the distance


Tuesday 26th July 2011

History Musem

Garden of the History Museum


Ben wanted to know more about how Paris came to be, so we found the perfect place, where the history of Paris is presented in the art of the time, In two fabulous 19th century 'Hotels', furnished from an endowed collection.

19th Century perfection



                                                                                             

Come buy






 I really liked the old wrought iron shop signs.










Set us Free





Ben liked the Storming of the Bastille in 1789,





Grand gathering in Le Champ de Mars















and the celebration a year later, when King Louis XVI ratified the new constitution. Marie Antoinette holds the Dauphin in her arms. (click on it to see)









Napoleon as King








It was not long after that Napoleon crowned himself King. This portrait of King Napoleon I, was painted in 1809. So much for destroying the monarchy.















Wednesday 27th July 2011

Monet's Garden Giverny

In Monet's Graden


Finally we went to Giverny by train and the rain held off long enough for us to stroll around the famous garden in the steps of the Master.

Wild and colour blended

with busy workers



Monet's House

The famous bridge, Lily pond and willows


He painted the light, not of high Summer

but here, the soft light of early Spring














'Musée Impressionismes'

The village of Giverny is charming. He must have enjoyed living here.

Giverny Village


We walked to the Impressionism Museum where a collection of breathtaking paintings was being shown. No cameras of course. But we could photograph the garden, which was colour co-ordinated like Monet's, but just as tamed as his is wild.

Ordered gardens

Pinks


Yellows



Friday 29th July 2011

Sacre Coeur

Last time Ben and I were in Paris we stayed near Montmartre and spent lots of time climbing the hill along the back streets. We went back to revisit these happy discoveries.

Climbing Montmartre


This time we found a little artshop and the artist. We bought two of his drawings and chatted for a while. What a charming man.

Art studio and shop

We played in the Fountain...

Ben taking a dive


....walked around Sacre Coeur.

Around Sacre Coeur Church

On top of Montmartre



...gazed across the hazey view...

Evening haze over the Paris skyline


.... sent happy thoughts to the young lovers old and new...

Hullo young lovers


...... and took the long leafy way down...

Choice of cable car or steps



...to a very Montmartre little restaurant for dinner.

Seafood, salad and wine on the footpath



Luxembourg Gardens

Luxembourg Gardens


We nearly missed this delightful pleasure by arriving too late. We only had 20 minutes before the man with the bell requested us all to leave,  several hundreds of us.

Glowing petunias

The gardens are attached to a Palace.

Luxembourg Palace


Most people were sitting facing the West, anticipating the sunset, maybe taking a walk before dinner, maybe relaxing after a long day at work.

Watching the sunset

At last the sun went down at about 9.15pm and the crowd slowly walked away to enjoy the twilight.

Responding to the man with the bell and the big voice


Saturday 30th July 2011

Versailles Palace - Son et Lumière

Versailles Palace Gardens


Every Saturday evening in Summer, the Palace of Versailles opens its gardens. We are invited to enjoy the many fountains dancing to Renaissance music illuminated by shimmering lights.

Shadow and reflection


We spent an hour walking in the gardens as the sun slowly dropped

Maidens and Cherubim abound

Golden light

and shade over lawns and fruit trees in pots in l'Orangerie

Capricious fountain


Then we moved down the central path to the largest fountain, which was backlit by the setting sun.


Walking to the West

Telemann, dancing fountain and natural light

Darkness comes

There are gardens set among the hedges, completely hidden as you walk along the narrow paths. Suddenly we came to a small fountain, throwing up mist and smoke into a green laser beam. It was ringed by a marble collonade. The music came from all around. I had to search to find the large speakers hidden in the hedges.

Clouds dance in a green Laser

The most subtle display for me was a small fountain, again hidden until we nearly fell into it, which I doubt King Louis XIV could have conceived. It had fine outlets by the hundreds, pointing in many directions, all no doubt contrlled by computer. They were lit by a complex array of LED lights in many colours. This beautiful little fountain was able to dance to the music with exact precision, producing fans, and flowers as well as fine vertical and diagonal designs. The still camera can't do it justice

Subtle and exciting water and sound play


On finding our way back to the main path, we discovered the central lawn filled with fire. Gas flames were shootng up in time with the strong rhythm of a 17th century Sarabande.

The 'whoosh' of the flames accentuated the beat

At 11pm, when we (all 3,000 of us) felt like sitting down with a nice cup of coffee, they lit up the sky with a fireworks display also designed to dance with the music. We nearly missed the last train but who cares. I would have walked rather than miss this amazing spectacle.


Sunday 31st July 2011

Farewell to Paris


Paris bus







We took another bus ride, thanks to the tickets left for us by Vassili, our host.















l'Arc de Triomphe









Around l'Arc de Triomphe where twelve roads meet.....















Notre Dame Cathedral




     


           past Notre Dame.......










The Seine








....to the bank of the Seine,













a beach!!!
which we found had become a beach.


There were lots of things to do there....

Fairy Tale Castle








build castles....














Save a Life






               learn CPR....














Booksellers along the Left Bank





but for us Antipodeans, browsing the book stalls was the great delight.













Choose a title



Home of Gucci






Back on the bus, to glimpse the haut couture of the Champs Elysée, then home.
















We enjoyed sitting one last time on Vassili's balcony,


















....and set off by Eurostar under the Channel to Kent.