The rainy city...

I have awayed for two short days to the beautiful, rainy city of Melboune. I have been resting my bones and filling my mouth with amazing - and sort of the nearest to Europe - food you can taste while still in the land of L'Australie!

I have strolled the city arcades, browsed best of designer, vintage, and kooky haunts...

I have loved/and lived all the many ways one can lounge in coffee shops, and scribble poetic phrases into ones jotter...

I have marveled at the architecture...

As my budget was a little blown before I even arrived in the city - I was to content myself with tea shops and my own photography, with dreams of returning soon with money for a dress {or perhaps two!}

But I did procure this cunning little crocheted necklace for $19 in an alley way boutique!

I suspect I will yearn for breakfasts as good as I have had, and shops as interesting and plentiful, for time spent in quiet contemplation of the world, for special moments with my dear Mumma and sisters in law, for quite some time to come!

Shell xx

Antique inspiration...

Just a quick post to tell you that I am a sucker for a cute antique shop! We went to my favourite music shop to get a "popper stopper" for my little Sharp Frog Studio not more than a day ago, and upon returning to the car I spotted an antique shop across the road {which I had been in before but somehow forgotten was there until this moment!} I was powerless to deny myself from a hunter/gathering opportunity, so we made for the door!

Not more than twenty minutes later we emerged with this adorable footstool! Ain't it pretty?!

Set me back only $25 which I thought a small price to pay for such an adorable addition to my modest but steadily growing collection of collectable beauties from antiquey emporiums!

And Delilah the cat, liked it too.

I'm off to put my feet up and plan another visit soon!

Shell xx

Another few flavoursome food reviews...

(More Singapore..!)

We tried to see everything during our four days in Singapore.  But one of my favourite things was walking down Orchard Road with Clare and picking up a Curry-O from Old Chang Kee - a sort of street-vending, spring-roll-frying, flavour-fantastic Asian food chain which seemed to pop up at every other street corner just when we were feeling peckish...

For $1.10 you can buy the best version of a curry puff I have ever tasted.  Made with real spices, and unbelievable pastry!  There is even sliced boiled egg in there!  Then for $1 you can have fresh lime juice to wash it down.  We could not believe how well and cheaply you could feed and water your self while shopping down town!

We had also been given the big tip that the bast Laksa on the face of the planet was located in Singapore...  So for lunch on Friday we cabbed it over there for a taste test!

It was this tiny little, badly lit, but buzzing place that smelled of chilli and had the promise of awesome food!  Apparently, celebrities from all over the world have been photographed and endorsing the Laksa here.  The walls were covered with pictures of famous Western chefs and newspaper clippings with rave reviews, and some sort of local restaurant award.  Praise indeed.

(This just made me smile).

So I have to say the Laksa was amazing!  A perfect, creamy, spicy nectar from heaven!  That's my review - I will definitely go back!

To walk off all of this good food, we so enjoyed our shopping/exploring.  I became very bold in asking everyone if I could photograph their beautiful treasures on sale for this blog.  I am reliving the enjoyment while sharing it here with you.

I hung my camera out the window at more than one set of lights to capture things I would not ever see in Canberra, or perhaps anywhere!

I was completely, and thoroughly immersed and inspired!

More yet to come...

Shell xx

Day Seven - Melbourne!

Early on Monday morning we checked out of our Ballarat B&B and were bound for the beautiful city of Melbourne.  This was the first morning glimpse of the city skyline which I snapped from inside the car! 

Upon arriving we had two different directions - Jamie, Emma and (for some of the day) Campbell were going to the Australian Open tennis, to meet up with fellow tennis loving Tullys!  Sean, Tara and I were meeting up with my wonderful mother in law for a spot of Melbourne's great shopping!

And this was some of what we saw, just wandering around like happy little Canberrans on holiday!

Mine and Campbell's feet on the beautiful mosaic floor in one of Melbourne's many gorgeous arcades.  

Shell xx