Ceiling
On the last May bank holiday, we went a day trip to Blenheim Palace. One of the grand palaces near Oxford. it was a miserable wet day, but after living in this country for a while you learn not to allow the weather stop you! we have fun regardless of sun or rain!
The palace is enormous with fantastic private gardens. The gardens of course are designed by the famous Capability Brown, who obviously i had no clue about until I visited the place.
Rose
It is very rare that we get a nice bright sunny weather during a long weekend. We were blesses to enjoy 3 days of sun bank holiday Monday. It has always been on the cards, but we finally got to take a boat from Kew all the way to Hampton Court. It was the perfect opportunity to get a decent tan. I had the camera on me, something I haven’t done in ages. I enjoyed taking some shots as we enjoyed the ride. I also learned how to take closer pictures of roses and flowers.
Here are some photos from that day. The last 4 are the ones I am very proud of!
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Tulips
Amsterdam’s beautiful colours… The beauty of having time on your hands and playing with your apps on the iPad! The result = black and white photography and shiny red flowers.. Happy Saturday afternoon!
Amsterdam Architecture
One thing very noticeable about Amsterdam is its architecture. The house are very colourful and display a nice beautiful city portrait no matter which street you walk through. It is also fascinating when you observe and see how the houses look like they are leaning forward or sideway depending on which angel you look at them from the canal. It is a true piece of art that has lived 100s and 100s of years..
But beyond that colourful front, also lies some magnificent pieces. This grand building overlooks the Vondel Park just off the Rijks museum.
The Hall
So I visited Amsterdam for the first time in 2010… Now I come again for 3 full days during the week. The intention is more of culture than party..So week days would be best to avoid any partying temptations!! Once you arrive to Amsterdam Central Station and walk out, I could not help but smile. The city has a very nice atmosphere beyond my capability to describe…
I walked across all the canals until i made it eventually to my hotel which is near the Rijks museum.. Checked in, picked my camera and headed straight to the museum. Last time i was here I went to Van Gogh.. This time I just wanted to see the Rijks… I am not an art connoiseur, but I always enjoy walking around trying to understand the evolution of art… The museum covers the era of 1600, 1700, 1900 and has a special collection as well of porcelain..
The museum layout is bottom up. So the collection starts the oldest on first floor and then as you move up it gets modern. That was a bit annoying for me as I like to start from top and walk down then leave… Anyway, That is what i did. And what a great journey it was… The lower floors i got to the more art became richer, detailed and thorough! It is definitely a must visit if you ever make it to Amsterdam.
I attached few photos not to show you what the museum is about, but to share the difference in art pieces available there..
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Stonehenge
the beauty about living in a country like the UK is that you can enjoy the vast amount of things the history offers without needing to travel outside the country.
The weekend after christmas, a little escape out of London was due… Bath and Stonehenge where the destination. It is worth going to Stonehenge for the day. It is just over an hour drive from London, you can enjoy a nice cultural day, and a nice coffeeshop on premises.
I will post some photos from the magical Bath but here are couple of photos from the beautiful temple that was built 2500BC.
You pay around £15 to enter the exhibition and walk about 15 minute to get closer to the stones. They are said to be a temple to worship the sun. built in a very smart way to capture the sunset and the sunrise through the stones. A true piece of art and intelligence.
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Magical Trees
This year for the first time, Kew Gardens opens the gate after sunset. The gardens had a fantastic mini christmas market with a fun fare for kids which is open to the public until Jan4th. You need to purchase of ticket of £12.50 to walk around the illuminated trail that they organised starting from the Victoria Gate of Kew. The walk is about an hour, and you can enjoy coffee, mulled wine, waffles with a bit of shopping too.
They have done a fantastic job fascinating people with the magical lights and the info you get around the trail. The lights were magical, the music was inspiring and the entire experience is to be repeated. If you are in London, you should not miss this opportunity.
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On a day when the entire country is shut and families and friends gather, the urge to leave the house gets bigger and bigger. So it is the day when one can adore nature and the beauty it offers. I have never been to Bushy Park and thought after a lazy morning followed by a nice home made brunch, a visit to the park with hopes to see some deers would be perfect.
Here are 2 photos from the park… a bit of reflection from the trees and the bridge onto the water and an up-close and personal photo with a dearly deer.
Reflection
Deer
I haven’t blogged in a long time but i always kept my eye on what is happening with the lovely bloggers i follow.
I just wanted to wish everyone a very merry christmas and a fantastic 2014…
From the heart of the beautiful city I live in… Wish you all great holiday season!
Merry Christmas
Stress Free Life
Have you ever had a battle in your own head…
It has been ages since I had to struggle in such a manner… and the battle is taking place in many fields… Thoughts about life, work, family, studies and health all come attacking at once… It is like being in a room full of screens playing different stuff in loud volume and you do not know on which screen to focus. And the worst thing is that, you can exit this room and you can not control the screens or the volume!!
Constant headaches… Insomnia… are all symptoms of stress! Could work have such an impact on my life… I look back and evaluate what I had and what I was looking for! I look and evaluate what I have and What I am looking for, and there lies the problem… It is impossible to have a midlife crisis at my age.. and if I am going through mid life crisis then I refuse to acknowledge it!!
I love my life and my life style but I miss my friends…
I love my job but hate my work environment…
I love my family but they are far away… I don’t think I can manage without my partner!
I study to attain an internationally recognised certificate but struggle to find light end of the tunnel and a shift in career! what shift again? which career? how? I wish I knew.. and at this stage, the journey is no longer fun and I would like to see a bit of a destination!
I believe i am in good health but I fail to maintain a regular work out! If I am stressed at work, which happens every day at this stage, I am too tired to go to gym! If i am stressed, I sleep.. thats how i deal with it! If i am in a good mood, I want to be lost in London… The city always lifts me up even higher!
I do miss a bit of my previous habits.. I spent years complaining of not being able to do nothing but meet in coffee shops with friends.. Now I realise how those meetings helped a lot in managing my stress levels in life… but then again, I did not have much worry at work! Does it make a difference when people believe in you? Yes it does!
But what do you do when you the people that should support you are the people that are causing you stress and standing in your progress plan! Simple … step away, change direction, and pursue a newer start! While on your journey, you stumble upon good people and bad people… Change the path and hopefully better people will come your way… nothing is worth it! Easily said than done! but for the sake of all the loves in one’s life, I think it is worth it!
hotel babble-on 