Photo a Day - September...why are you running away so fast!

September seems to be flying by at breakneck speed. 

The days are closing in, the leaves are changing colour and starting to fall, there is a chill to the air.

Change is afoot and preparations for our big move home are in full swing. 

So much to do, so little time...the clock is ticking fast!

Enjoy my days of September in Germany, with a few shots from China thrown in.

The prompt of the day is in red, the photo and description is my take on the prompt.

7

Beauty redefined

A fallen leaf. life at an end but still bringing colour to our world.

8

Point of view

Looking up from the front steps of the Marktkirche, a Neo-Gothic church in Wiesbaden, Germany.

 9

Begins with 'S'

St Goar, a town on the West bank of the Rhine river, 

surrounded by castles and vineyards and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

10

Coffee Break

Had such a hectic week, a wine break was more desirable than a coffee break!

11

Close to my heart

My daily walks in my forest with my dog Ralph are very close to my heart.

Wandering through the forest clears my head and my soul, my faithful friend by my side ...

or at least chasing a ball nearby!

 12

Commute

The daily commute in Shanghai, by foot, taxi, subway or ferry, always busy.

13

 Freedom

My Aussie passport gives me the freedom to travel the world, live in different places

and return home to our beautiful country.

14

Unlikely Hero

Our day on the Great Wall was magical, the girls saw snow for the first time in their lives. 

While other tourists walked the walk, we had a snowball fight and built a snowman.

This kind vendor watched us with a smile, then left his stall to come down and make a 

family photo for us, giving us a precious memory of a fantastic day. Our hero!

15

Consumer

This friend of ours likes to consume a carrot or two after a ride.

One place I cannot get out of my head - Yangshou, China

My little family has had one Summer holiday that ticked all our boxes, 

we had scenery, relaxation, history, adventure, great food and fun all wrapped up in one.

We spent two glorious weeks in Yangshou, China.

We stayed in Aishanmen village, about a 20 minute bike ride from Yangshou. 

So peaceful and quiet, the gentle ways of the village a perfect antidote to the high energy, 

fast paced life in Shanghai. We felt the stresses melt away as we

were driven from the airport in Guilin, through the glorious countryside to our home for two weeks.

This is the view that greeted us on arrival at our guest house, rural and picturesque

amongst rice paddies and Karst mountains.

We walked into the Chinese Moongate of our home for two weeks, the converted farmhouses 

of "The Giggling Tree"

The views were beautiful, embraced by the branches of "The Giggling tree"...this was going 

to be a holiday to remember!

We spent days cycling around local villages, watching local farmers work the fields.

The farmers manned the bamboo rafts for the tourists in the Summer months.

Went about their daily chores...

Taking produce to market!

We meandered along the Li river on a boat, cruised by countless Karst mountains

and marvelled at the scenery.

We did a few cheesy touristy things, held a pole of cormorant fishing birds...

Held a 20RMB note above the mountains on the Li river pictured on the note!

The scenery breathtaking and relaxing.

We cycled by villages, farmlands and markets, had water pistol fights 

as we headed down the Yulong River on bamboo rafts with friends.
We swam in the clean water, ate delicious fresh fish at restaurants on barges
set up in the middle of the river. Glorious summer days!

We stopped to take in the beauty surrounding us.

Floated by areas of outstanding beauty.

We sat back and relaxed, enjoyed the ride as the boatmen steered us down the river.

We went to a cooking school, visited a local wet market and learnt to prepare and cook
five new dishes, then got to sit down with friends, old and new to enjoy our creations. 

We walked through the local villages, discovered a small lotus farm and thoroughly

enjoyed strolling among the beautiful lotus blooms!

There was always a cold beer in beautiful surroundings at the end of every fun filled day.

The Giggling Tree, serves great value Chinese and western meals and is open all day.

We travelled into Guilin for the spectacular Light Show "Impression Liu Sanjie" 

directed by Zhang Yimou, whose work was featured in the opening ceremony 

of the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

A breathtaking performance highlighted by the backdrop of the river and Karst mountain setting.

We went on a boat trip at night to see the fishermen and their cormorants at work, 

I was a little worried at first that it might have been a little cruel as the birds have a 

noose around their necks to prevent them from swallowing the fish that they catch.

After watching the relationship between the bird and it's owner, my fears were allayed.

The fisherman usually hand rears the birds from when they hatch and the bond is strong.

The birds get rewarded with a large fish each at the end of each fishing trip.

There are only a handful of these fishermen and their birds still fishing in this traditional manner.

This is only a sample of the many and diverse things we did and adventures we

went on in our two glorious weeks in Yangshou. 

Yet it was still the most relaxing family holiday we have ever been on, time spent together 

and with friends. So many things to do and a place to chill and refresh at the end of each day.

Two weeks was not enough to fit it all in that the area has to offer. 

We cannot get it out of our head, even four years later...plans are afoot to return in 2016.

The Giggling Tree now has a pool...watch this space!

Photo a Day - September, a change of seasons is on the way

September has arrived, the girls are back at school, the days are getting shorter, 

there is a chill to the air and the colours of the forest are changing.

Quite symbolic as our own lives subtly change and we get ready to move on.

Enjoy my first days of September, the prompt of the day is in red, the photo and 

description is my take on the prompt!

1

Walk on

Ralph the dog and I walk on, into our forest every day, follow the path, 

breathe the fresh air, watch the subtle changes every day....and throw balls!

2

The Human Body

The Human Body has limitations, the Human Spirit is boundless - Dean Karnazes

3

Something Turquoise

The stunning Turquoise waters of Cavtat Bay, Croatia.

Of course Ralph has a Turquoise ball!

 4

The Rooftop

The rooftops of Dubrovnik, Croatia, looking down Stradun. 

George Bernard Shaw said "Those who seek paradise on earth should come to Dubrovnik"

....he was right!

5

My Country

I am Australian, I love my country but for the last 20 months, Germany has been my home. 

It is a beautiful country, full of forests and castles, friendly people and incredible history. 

I am so proud of my host country and their welcome of the displaced people of Syria. 

Germany has taken in and given refuge to over 800 000 of these people trying 

to find a safe haven from a life of terror.

A huge showing of humanity, something this world of ours needs more of.

Well done Germany.

My Country, Fremantle, Western Australia!

6

Modern Father

My Dad worked away long before 'fly in - fly out' ever became a term. 

He would head out to sea in all weather, protecting the shores of Western Australia. 

Dad would home with plenty of fresh fish for us to eat.

He was a legend up and down the coast of WA, 

knew the sea like the back of his hand, the tides, the currents, 

where the best fishing spots were!

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Photo a Day - August, gone in a blink of the eye

With the end of August comes the end of Summer in Germany, 

school begins and we move full steam ahead into preparations into our move home to Australia. 

Life is now a jumble of shipping quotes, 

schooling decisions, import permits and an adventure or two thrown in.

Enjoy my last days of August...with a few trips down memory lane thrown in.

The prompt of the day is in red, the photo and description is my take on the prompt!

24

Intricate

The buildings of Brussels have such intricate detail.

25

Wheel

Bicycle wheel in Utrecht

26

Exploring new ground

My girls haven't had any experience with horses.

Today we went to visit a friend and her three horses.

The girls explored new ground, grooming and riding.

They loved it so and were naturals...another date with the horses has been set!

27

Blink and it's gone

I blinked...Summer is gone.

Autumn leaves collected today, my girls back at school on Monday.

28

Skyline

One of my favourite skyline's, the West side of Shanghai, my old neighbourhood, Puxi!

29

Happiness

A Frankfurt Festival, a hot Summer day and a cold local beer with my husband

......Happiness

30

Photo Re-enactment

I spent ages with my teenage girls doing a re-enactment of a photo taken when they were small, but they didn't like any, so here is Ralph..three years ago and today...still loves his apples!

31

My unique style

I like street photography. In China, people sleep anywhere, any time...

my style was to snap them. Friends would point them out to me.

Once I left Shanghai, friends sent me photos of nappers, when they see a napper they think of me.

I 'may' have 100's of photos of nappers!

August...done and dusted!

Photo a Day - August, more holiday snaps!

Our summer holiday is nearly over, we are back in Frankfurt preparing for the new school year

and it will be full steam ahead getting prepared for the big move home in just four months.

Hope to fit in lots of adventures in between sorting, ditching and packing.

So much to do...so little time! Enjoy my recent adventure to England!

The prompt of the day is in red, the photo and description is my take on the prompt.

18

Earth

The earth provides us with a bounty of produce.

Seasonal produce in England is exceptional!

Borough Market, London

19

Cliche'

Between a rock and a hard place.

Our trip to the UK has put us between a rock and a hard place. 

The girls desperately want to move back to England...but we are moving home to Australia!

The Valley of Rocks, North Devon.

20

I hear

Seagulls squawking, children playing, families laughing.

Summer day at Woolacombe beach, North Devon.

21

Experimentation

I like a little experimentation with local foods when I travel.

Peking Duck in Beijing, Pad Thai on the beach in Thailand...

a Cream Tea in Devonshire.

Do you put clotted cream and then jam..or jam then clotted cream??

22

Fence

Fence with a view over Lynton, North Devon

23

Perspective

A wall of red Chinese lanterns at Hutong, The Shard, London