Travels – MakeCookGrow.com

Empress Josephine’s Garden

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To the Maritime Museum in Fremantle to see the remarkable ‘Empress Joséphine’s Garden’. This project tells the story of Empress Joséphine from her life as a child in Martinique, where she was known as Rose, through to her time as the most powerful style icon in Europe and further afield.

Empress Joséphine in an empire style gown. She and Napoleon epitomized the Empire style in furniture, clothing, crockery and cutlery and interior decoration. The style was popular throughout Europe and the United Kingdom, where it was known as Regency style.

Botanical illustrations on crockery and fabrics.

Joséphine was betrothed to a French aristocrat Alexandre de Beauhamais in 1779 and after the marriage, returned with him to France. They had a son and a daughter and later separated. They never divorced. She had custody of the daughter, he had custody of the son. Her husband was beheaded in the French revolution, she escaped the same event by a change in the course in French politics. She married Napoleon Bonaparte in March 1796.

Empress Joséphine purchased the rundown estate known of Malmaison in 1799, making it her primary home. She hired a Scots gardener, Alexander Hawatson, to assist with the planning and construction of the garden. Unlike typically formal French gardens of the time, Malmaison’s garden was based on English designs. The garden featured winding paths, bridges, temples, lakes and little cottages, mimicking a grand English garden.

As an amateur botanist, Empress Joséphine sought flora and fauna from all over the World. She was especially fascinated with the newly discovered plants and animals from New Holland. She was determined and competitive about acquiring botanical specimens. She collected Australian specimens from Nicholas Baudin, who explored Australia and the Pacific as well as many other sources.

Empress Joséphine collected exotic specimens from Western Australia taken back to France by Nicholas Baudin, including melaleuca, eucalyptus, plus kangaroos, emus and black swans.

Leaders in all things fashionable, Napoleon Bonaparte and Joséphine were leading figures during the Age of Enlightenment. Along with the exotic plants and animals she coveted, she dressed in light transparent fabrics, which also immediately became fashionable. She created the Empire style of furniture, which reflected symbols of war and victory, such as golden eagles, classical palm leaves and laurels. Symbols of power linked the regime to the glory of the ancient Roman Emperors. This style was widely adopted throughout Europe and the United Kingdom.

Empress Joséphine developed Malmaison, 12 kilometres out of Paris, from a run down estate to the most fashionable destination in France.

Adept at promoting their style and influence, Bonaparte and Josephine dictated the style of everything. They dispersed paintings of themselves in Empire styled clothes and dictated what was fashionable. They entertained lavishly and shamelessly promoted their own style.

Empress Joséphine employed the then unknown botanical artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté to make a record of the plants at Malmaison. His exquisite artworks were acclaimed throughout Europe. Books of his works are still considered the epitome of flora illustration. His paintings and engravings, particularly of roses, are iconic and still appear on address book covers, note book covers and writing paper.

Unable to provide Bonaparte with children he divorced Joséphine and married a younger woman, Marie Louise, who became the second Empress of France. They had four children.

This presentation runs until January. All these images are from the audiovisual presentation.

We went back down the port to a brewery for lunch. It was lovely sitting in the gentle breeze eating squid and chips. The only problem was the Leeuwin, moored along side. Once the magnificent barquentine pictured above, it was hit by an enormous container ship entering port on a stormy night.

The hull. It will be repaired but is a very sad sight now.

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Triangle Families, Farmers and Menu Planning

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triangle families

Have you heard of Triangle Families? Me neither, until I read about it this morning. It was of particular interest as it turns out we are a triangle family, but I have never heard the expression before today. A triangle family is a couple with one child. Apparently Triangle Families have doubled in the past 40 years to the point where 40% of households in the EU with children are Triangle Families. ( here )

The reasons given for the growth of Triangle Families in Australia are complex and individual but include couples living in different circumstances from their parents and previous generations, couples wanting to further their careers and travel more frequently and rising infertility rates. Interestingly, 14% of couples feel they can’t afford to have any children, 9% are delaying having children and 6% have decided not to have children due to rising costs limiting their lifestyle choices.

Image Pixels

The article raises the common stigma attached to only children families. We have an only child, my Father became an only child due to the death of a young sibling, my cousin is an only child and has an only child herself, one of my brothers has one child and one of my nieces has one child, so it’s not uncommon in my family. The reasons are varied and complex and really nobody elses’ business but it was certainly of interest when I was younger with friends having their second, third and fourth babies. Close friends knew why and never commented. ( A friend with five planned children was often asked if they knew what was causing it or didn’t they have a TV!)

Although the article highlighted the apparent stigma surrounding Triangle Families, I’d like to think we are becoming more accepting of a range of situations and becoming a little kinder, too.

farmers

When you see the word ‘farmers’ did you immediately think of a male? Most people do! Can you believe until the 1990s women in agriculture couldn’t list themselves as ‘farmers’ on census forms? Change began with the creation of AWiA, Australian Women in Agriculture in 1994. This group set about changing how women on the land were perceived by the agricultural industry, government and the population generally.

Women have been an integral part of farming forever but were rarely recognised for their contribution. They did the same job as the men. Then the daughters of farmers began going to university and returning with degrees applicable to genetics, economics, diversifying farming practice and general skills used in efficient agricultural businesses.

Image Pixabay.

I frequently use ‘free to use images’ to support what I have written. I entered ‘women farms’ in the search box. There’s 555 pages of related images. I gave up after six pages as the only women in the images wore coolie hats, were up to their knees in water and obviously labouring in developing countries. Two others portrayed a woman draped over a lavender bush and another of a beautifully dressed woman standing amongst sunflowers. Finally found two acceptable images.

It has taken a long time for the work of women to be recognised. This is evident in the paucity of women representing farming on boards, in government and in the news. Women are not just labouring beside their husbands, they are running these businesses themselves. They are adept at using technology and data to make decisions and dictate change.

Image Pixabay.

This year AWiA celebrates 30 years of promoting women in agriculture. So, that’s something to consider as you eat your fruit and vegetables, add milk to your coffee, boil your egg and make your toast. Think about who might be responsible for that chicken breast you’re marinating for dinner, the steak in the fridge next to the bacon and butter. Things change slowly.

menu planning

I was reading a blog this morning I have followed for years. The author is recognised for her money management skills. Today she referred to menu planning, something I have never tried, but she runs a fortnightly list with some variations due to family celebrations or outings and what was well priced in the shops she visits.

The produce at the green grocer influences what I cook, along with time available and what I can pick from the garden. I have several perpetual spinach plants so we have spinach at least once a week, although I was away a while ago and came back to a big pot full of fresh leaves. Made a goats cheese and spinach pie. I always have herbs and lemons and there’s limes on the tree, too. I buy meat, chicken and fish depending on what looks really good.

Image Pixels

When I saw the glossy white to pale green to dark green leeks at the greengrocer I knew I was making Chicken and Leek Pie. It was very good. I often wonder how other people decide what they are making for dinner. Not only do I run out of ideas but the enthusiasm can be pretty low, too. That’s when we have oven roasted salmon in maple syrup and lime or lemon juice with boiled vegetables, because my husband makes one thing and that’s it! In warmer weather he’ll also barbecue some steak if he thinks to thaw it beforehand.

Chicken and leek pie.

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About Bali and Back to Australia

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about bali

Sometimes the skies in Bali are a mass of kites! Apparently June to September are the best times for flying kites. The Balinese fly kites to symbolise the spiritual connection between the Earth and the Heavens. These kites are not childrens’ toys, they are part of the Island’s Hindu customs, thanking the Gods for taking care of the Island and to request good harvests.

Image Pixabay

When we first visited Bali (as a family, I first visited Bali in 1982) the kites were generally made of paper, bamboo and string. Now these family projects are often illuminated and huge, incorporating new technologies. They are very attractive.

street dogs in bali

Image Pixabay

Wandering around laneways near our villa we are often confronted by fiercely barking dogs. Dogs within or around a family compound will bark to scare off intruders. I was surprised to find about 90% of dogs wandering around in Bali actually have homes. Often the dog will have a collar but there’s no real way of knowing if the dog is a stray or a pet. Best to leave them alone!

The dogs seen everywhere are Kintamani dogs with a recorded history as far back as 1400. They have thick fur, strong muscular bodies and a curved tail. They can be any colour, but yellow or tan fur is common. They are many charities in Bali caring for homeless dogs.

offerings

In the centre of every entrance to compounds, cafes, restaurants and every other business, the Balinese place offerings.They adorn household temples and even cars and motor bikes. The small basket shapes are made of woven palm leaves. Typically these offerings contain flowers, food, incense, rice and other symbolic offerings. Daily offerings are an important part of Balinese Hinduism.

Image Pixabay

The offerings are part of the balance that exists between Balinese people and the spiritual and mortal realm of people. These beautiful offerings are made by women. It is important that you don’t step on them nor photograph them.

michelin restaurants

There are no Michelin starred restaurants in Indonesia. This doesn’t mean the food in Bali isn’t wonderful! The idea for rating cafes and restaurants originated in France. Brothers Èdouard and André Michelin came up with the idea in 1899. Producers of tyres, they wanted to encourage people to travel. At the time of conception there were only about 3000 cars in France and most people only traveled short distances.

Their plan included free travel guides with useful information such as maps, directions for changing a tyre, where to buy fuel and information on accommodation and dining. The dining information resonated with the French public as the best restaurants and cafes were awarded a rosette, or two, or three.

Image Pixabay

The popularity of the guides meant the guides were redesigned the focus on food and the rosettes became stars. The Michelin star became the gold standard for culinary excellence. Interestingly, the gold star system is not about opulence, but rather the quality of the food coming from the kitchen. Currently, the guide features over 30 000 establishments in over 30 countries.

growing

When we left Australia it hadn’t rained for months. While we were away the weather changed and we returned to cool days and rain. The garden has really perked up! So have the weeds. The shallots, chives, sweetpeas and perpetual spinach I planted have all germinated. I’ve just planted tulips, too. The roses I pruned before we left have all started to green up. Happy garden.

Image Pixabay

I cut the stems of three moth ( Phalaenopsis ) orchids back to the second node on each stem after they bloomed last year and fed them. I am so pleased to see they are sending out new stems with flower buds. The blooms last for ages.

Tomorrow is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. Enjoy!

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Beautiful Bali

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Bali

Regular readers know our favourite holiday destination is Bali. Bali holds a special place in the hearts of many Australians. We like to spend a few weeks here every year. This means we can do day trips to learn more about the Balinese and how they live plus spend time enjoying the countryside. We have always stayed at the same villa in Seminyak. Delightful staff, comfortable villa and a great pool in a pretty garden. Close to cafes and restaurants, spas offering reflexology and pedicures and lots of opportunities to admire decorator items I don’t need but really like.

Greeted by beautiful flowers. So lovely!

Arrangements of flowers are everywhere. Frangipani blossoms decorate hairstyles, tables, uniforms and our pool, until the cleaners come and remove them. I gather them and place then in a line to record how many laps of the pool I’ve done. Works well until there is a gust of wind and they blow away!

A favourite lunch restaurant has divine green crockery, vases and even wash basins. The floral arrangements in Bali are so beautiful!

Bali is all about relaxing. Our other holidays involve long lists of things we must do, places we must visit and things we must see. Bali is very beautiful and has a fascinating history and unique culture which can be learnt about slowly and bit by bit. It also has beautiful accommodation often in lush green tropical gardens and fabulous cafes and restaurants.

Time to read.

Before Covid, Bali was a bit frenetic once you stepped out of your accommodation but those levels of crowding and rushing haven’t returned. We like the more relaxed pace of life here. There’s time to read and swim and wander about. I find the architecture really interesting, from traditional Balinese styles to very modern buildings. I’m always peeping at lush gardens when we’re walking around.

I spend a lot of time in the pool. The weather is warm to hot and the pool is lovely day and night. I start the day in the pool and often end the day in there, too, with a few swims in between. I burn easily as a fully paid up member of the melanoma family so I wear a rashie ( a long sleeve shirt designed to limit sun exposure) and unless I’m doing laps, I wear a large, floppy hat. Lots of frequently applied sun screen, too.

We have breakfast delivered in the morning and enjoy sitting at the table planning where we’re going for lunch. Sometimes our son is here, too, so we collect ideas before we even come to Bali and then refine our plans once we are here. The food scene is Bali remarkable. There are so many choices from simple, fresh cafe meals to sophisticated and wonderful restaurants. We like to check out the new restaurants and also go to a few we’ve been going to for years. Food delivery services seem to arrive with your order very quickly, too, if you don’t want to go out. There’s also many supermarkets where you can buy the basics and some things you might not recognize!

Post pool peckish? The hardest part is deciding what to eat! Delivered quickly.

Delicious treats after we’d decided not to have dinner because we’d had a big lunch! It was a good plan until we were feeling hungry later in the evening.

There’s a lot of places providing good massages. A habit developed when we lived in China is regular reflexology. Not just a nice foot and leg rub, but a really good session of reflexology. Our favourite practitioner has gone! Her shop is now a hair dresser and no one knows where she’s gone. Shame. But there are plenty of other options and we quickly found a great place.

There are many personal services, too, such as pedicures and manicures, facials and a whole array of age defying treatments. I’ve heard people come here on holiday and have dental work done very economically and today I saw a sign outside a clinic offering teeth whitening and treatments. We often come to Bali when it is cold at home and I’ve been wearing boots, so a pedicure is something I seek soon after arriving. The other booming business is tattoos.

I enjoy looking in the decorator shops, the jewellery shops and less often, the clothing shops. I’ve had boots made and know people who have clothes made, too. I like the woven, lined rattan baskets with drawstring tops and a zippered pocket, too, but shouldn’t buy any more.

Strong, light and so useful, but I don’t need any more!

I’ve spent a lovely morning at a perfume making workshop and my son and I did a Balinese cooking class. Wonderful morning, learnt so much about preparing Balinese produce and flavours and also about Balinese celebrations and village life.

Went with our dear Balinese friends to their favourite restaurant, Mr Bob’s in Nusa Dua. Lovely dinner of seafood curry, brownies and icecream. Then Mr Bob arrived and wanted us to have a traditional Balinese dessert in his Balinese restaurant. So pretty, so good.

Each little treat could be dipped into the palm sugar syrup. Looked lovely, tasted lovely.

So Bali is our idea of a restful holiday with no pressure to do anything but relax and enjoy!

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Darwin

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Darwin

Have you been to Darwin? I have been to every capital city in Australia except Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. The rest of my family have come here over the years because of work commitments but despite traveling through a lot of northern Australia, I hadn’t been to Darwin. About 53% of the population of the Northern Territory live in the capital.

It is known for its multicultural population with about 70 groups of different ethnic backgrounds calling Darwin home. This reflects the history of the Northern Territory and Darwin in particular and has resulted in famous street markets, featuring food from every corner of the World.

The warm climate and coastal position promotes a relaxed feeling. The surrounding coastline is very beautiful but you need to be mindful of crocodiles anywhere near water.

Only had five days to see everything so planned carefully. We had intended to spend six days, but Virgin canceled our flight after we had checked in and we couldn’t go until the next morning!

My first real memories of Darwin are from Christmas Day, 1972, when Cyclone Tracy devastated 80% of the City, killing 71 people and injuring hundreds more. Before the anemometer was smashed by the cyclone, wind gusts reached 217km/h, 255mm of rainfall fell in twelve hours and at least 70% of the houses suffered serious structural failure.

More than 36 000 people left Darwin, filling every plane arriving with supplies, equipment and specialist personnel. Government intervention resulted in the Darwin Reconstruction Commission and most of the City was rebuilt within three years. The degree of destruction led to the introduction of improved building codes across Australia.

The ferocity, the timing and the loss of so many people remains embedded in the memory of many people, myself included. It was a sombre Christmas Day.

I have discovered modern Darwin is a vibrant and diverse City. We started our break with a list of museums. The Military Museum included a lot of information about the bombing of Darwin. Really well presented with interactive opportunities. The film about the Japanese bombing the town was compelling viewing but also really awful. Lots of interesting artifacts.

Lunch, overlooking the water, was a nice break between museum.

Next was the Darwin Aviation Museum. My father was in the Air Force so I found the second World War information really interesting. Lots of aeroplanes and helicopters on display. Really surprised by the size of the B52 Bomber.

So many different food vans and the market smelt wonderful!

Later that day we went to the Mindil Beach Markets. Pity we’d had a great lunch because the food stalls were all enticing. Settled on a leg rub instead. The three other ladies having massages when my husband and I arrived were also tourists. They came from Busselton, just south of where we live in Perth. Small world.

I’d been really looking forward to the Museum and Art Gallery. We’d enjoyed a lovely breakfast of bacon and eggs at a cafe in Cullen Bay. The hotel buffet breakfast was a bit sad. So, great coffee and nice food, off to the Museum and Art Gallery overlooking the water.

The first exhibition, 52 ACTIONS was a collection of works ‘addressing the themes impacting the World today.’ These were the works of contemporary artists reflecting on the role of art as a political motivator, resulting in a change of perspective. I read all the descriptors and liked some of the artworks but some of them left me puzzled.

Another exhibition was about Cyclone Tracy. The deaths and devastation was shocking. This was a really interesting gallery but very sad, too. Next was the exhibition of Year 12 Practical Arts Students. I like to go to our local gallery in Perth to see the work of the graduating students and marvel at the materials now available in schools.

There is a huge shift from drawing, painting and using materials to make objects to digitally enhanced photos. Interestingly, many of the students wrote about their ethnic group and traditions and customs along side their works. These were very introspective pieces.

We wandered through the museum, admiring Sweetheart, a huge crocodile, and other creatures, painted, pinned and photographed. Ended up in the shop. I love the shops in art galleries and museums. I’ve bought scarfs, books, cards and fridge magnets. Traveling light, so no shopping this time.

We could hear birdsong everywhere around Darwin. I enjoyed the displays in the museum as I could identify a few of the birds we’d seen.

We visited the Chinese Temple and Chinese Museum. The Chinese Temple is a rebuild on the original temple site, built in 1887. The existing temple was built on the same site after Cyclone Tracy destroyed the previous temple, rebuilt after the Japanese bombing of Darwin in 1942. Unusually, Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are all practiced in this temple.

Many Chinese came to Australia seeking gold. Most of the Chinese in Darwin were shop keepers or fruit and vegetable growers. The artifacts in the museum tell the stories and traditions of Chinese families in Darwin.

Glad we went to Darwin. I realised I only had a fairly sketchy knowledge of the Japanese raids on the area, I heard and read personal stories of people who were in Darwin when Cyclone Tracy hit and read histories of the various ethnic groups who called Darwin home. There’s every sort of cuisine available and lots of opportunities to acquire Aboriginal art.

Really liked the masses of street art.

I found the heat tiring but locals kept telling us we were there at the best time as it is awful during ‘the wet.’

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Busselton Beach Break

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We’ve just enjoyed a break in Busselton. The past few months have been difficult and sad and very tiring for both of us and we really needed to just sit and recharge. The weather was still unusually hot so a gorgeous unit with ocean views was the answer.

Preparing to go away is actually hard work. Although we have someone to come and collect the mail and water the plants it’s other things that take time and effort. I really don’t want to throw away food, so the leftover vegetables were turned into soup with some stock and a sachet of instant soup nobody would drink. It’s very hot to be making soup, and hot to be ironing all the same old summer clothing.

My other important preparations were some library books, a small collection of decorator magazines, plus three tubes of coffee capsules and some chocolates. My husband had made a list of the bakeries he needed to visit early in the morning for breakfast treats and the restaurants and cafes we’ll visit for lunch. We ticked nearly all of them off the list. Ate way too much food.

Different breakfast treats, different days. Balcony breakfasts were lovely. The treats lasted all day!

Dinner was ‘bed picnics’ like the picnics we had on hotel beds when our son was little. We’d settle to cheeses, cherry tomatoes, crackers, strawberries and cold meats. We still eat much the same if we’ve been out for lunch plus leftover bakery treats from breakfast. Then I’d go for a long walk along the ocean or in the ocean. So very beautiful at sunset.

So, why go to Busselton? Busselton is a coastal city ‘down south.’ People from Perth love to go down south all year round. Founded in 1832 Busselton has a wooden jetty which is 1.8km long and has an underwater aquarium at the end. The beaches along Geographe Bay are all amazing. Although the area was initially known for it’s dairying industry, fruit and vegetables and general farming, visitors flock there now for the beaches, the restaurants and cafes, the vineyards and breweries, the historical buildings and parks and gardens.

The jetty is a mile or 1.800 metres long. There’s a small train to take you to the end where you can visit the underwater aquarium.

Once a sleepy town sought after by retirees, Busselton hums with activities now. A huge arts development is being built, there’s a new airport with flights from Sydney and Melbourne and there’s every shop imaginable. Amazing food markets and lovely gift shops add to the attraction. Also some of the best bakeries we’ve ever visited in Australia.

I grew up near the ocean and at the northern end of an estuary. I really like listening to waves crashing and knowing there is water nearby. I like to smell the ocean! A few years ago we arrived in Brittany after flying from Perth to London then on to Paris and then two different trains and a taxi ride before we arrived at our hotel. We’d been traveling for about 40 hours and I was beyond tired. I couldn’t sleep. Eventually, my husband got up and opened the balcony doors and I could hear and smell the ocean. I went to sleep. Slept really well for the entire stay.

Thought that might happen on this trip but we kept the windows and sliding doors shut and the air con on most of the time. So hot, no rain. The usually green and lush looking farmlands and bush around here are dry and brown.

This trip was all about enjoying the ocean. And eating. My husband had located all the bakeries recommended to us and a new one, too, and we made the most of their early opening hours and visited some for lunch. Often we eat at breweries and vineyards south of Dunsborough, but this time we focussed mostly on cafes and restaurants around Busselton. Dinner tended to be much more modest, eaten overlooking the ocean or watching television. One night we had fish and chips from a shop recommended by a friend. Wonderful.

Lunch at Maison Lassiaille, Metricup one day. From the coffee to the quiche then the exquisite, surprising desserts, everything was delicious.

Returning from lunch in Metricup we stopped at a roadside stall with honesty box for just picked potatoes.

Really good fish and chips eaten on the balcony at night.

Books, magazines and newspapers plus on demand television programs meant we stayed at the unit most nights. This break was really about recovery after a difficult time. The ocean was restorative, I spent time in the pool, the view was wonderful and we ate some great food. Mostly, we relaxed and made plans.

Evening on the balcony of our last night. Sad to leave.

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Pesto, Foreign Exchange and Food Waste

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classic pesto

I grow a lot of basil. It’s an easy herb to grow, smells and tastes wonderful and is easy to maintain. I add it to so many summer dishes. You can grow basil in a pot or garden bed where it will get good sunlight and regular water. To keep your basil growing, remove the flowers when they appear, before they turn to seed. I leave the seeds on the soil in the pot and some will germinate again next year.

Pesto, traditionally made from basil, can be used as a dip, a spread, a sauce stirred through pasta or stirred into soups or casseroles. Using only basil leaves, extra virgin olive oil, pine nuts, garlic and a strong cheese, this is a quick and delicious spread. I use a sheeps’ pecorino from the Italian deli for its strong and delicious flavour. Also, too much cows’ milk doesn’t really sit well with me.

Gather the ingredients and a blender. Purists insist on pounding the ingredients by hand in a mortar and pestle but I can’t taste the difference between pounded or blended pesto. You choose! Make sure you have a clean, sterilised jar and lid ready for bottling the pesto. I use recycled jam jars. The ingredients I’ve listed make about one jam jar of pesto and sufficient to stir through pasta that night.

Ingredients;

50 gm of fresh pine nuts

80 gm basil leaves, no stems

50 gm of parmesan or other strong cheese of your choice, grated roughly

2 garlic cloves or 2 teaspoons of minced garlic

75 ml extra virgin olive oil

Rinse the basil leaves and pat dry. Then heat a small frying pan over low heat and gently toss the pine nuts in a little extra oil until they are golden. Be careful not to let them burn as they will taste bitter.You can substitute almonds, pistachios or walnuts if you don’t have pine nuts

Tip the pine nuts, basil leaves, garlic and grated cheese into the blender and blitz until they are roughly chopped. Run the motor and slowly pour in the oil. When it is well mixed but still has shape use a spatula to transfer the pesto into a jar. I used a 370gm recycled jam jars with a tight fitting lids. The pesto will keep for about 10 days in the fridge, if you can leave it alone for that long!

The traditional recipe for pesto uses basil, but there’s many variations depending on what is growing in your garden or what herbs you have on hand to use up. You can add mint or parsley, too. Wonderful stirred through pasta or gnocchi, under a poached egg on toast, on a pizza, stirred into soup or drizzled on a tomato salad.

foreign money

Once we used to go to the bank and organise some foreign currency to take overseas. Then that changed and we have to go into the city to specific branches of the bank to get money. We’d have to order it then wait a few days before we could make the trek into the city and collect the money. Now there is only one branch where we could collect foreign currency.

Searched online for an easier alternative and found one, an online currency exchanger. We ordered the currency and denominations we wanted and made a bank transfer to pay. Two days later the money arrived at our local post office. It was in a plastic pouch in a cardboard box. This entire transaction cost us AU$14, a better exchange rate compared to the bank. It was very easy to complete.

The money was the denominations we selected wrapped with a receipt showing the value and the number of each bank note. It took minutes to order and was easy to pick up later. So much easier than dealing with the bank. When you try and organise this with the bank they would prefer to supply a foreign currency credit card which is very profitable for them. Their deal also includes a charge incorporated in the exchange rate to pay for their time.

food waste

I don’t like wasting food! I see frightening figures quoting the amount of food first World countries send to landfill. Sometimes it takes a lot of work and planning to use everything we’ve bought. Bread is a big problem in this house. I make sourdough for myself and eat it all. Two days before the whole loaf is gone I feed the starter and 12 hours later I mix the dough and leave it for another twelve hours. Then I bake it. It’s a routine I’m used to and not difficult. Besides, the bread is wonderful!

My husband like artisan loaves he buys from two preferred bakeries. He never finishes a loaf. I can make bread and butter puddings but not in the middle of summer. I can make panzanella salads. But mostly I make breadcrumbs. I simply cut the remnant bread to fit easily in the processer and blitz the chunks until they are fine bread crumbs. I use them mostly to make meatballs, chicken balls and sometimes coated chicken. No waste.

Chop into small pieces.

Blitz.

Using a high tech funnel store the breadcrumbs in a jar.

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Melaka

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When we were planning our trip to Maleka I saw it written as Malacca, Melaca and Melakka so I decided to wait until I was there before I gave this blog a title. Most of the signs coming into town and all the hotel signage spells it Maleka, but even here there is some variation in spelling! Apparently, Malacca has now officially become Maleka.

I wanted to go to Maleka for years. The Arabs, the Spaniards, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English have all left their mark on this once thriving shipping port. Originally a small fishing village, it was discovered and claimed by Iskander Sha around 1402. He was attracted by the good port and its location on the narrowest point of the Malacca Straits.

The original Dutch Church became the Church of England Church.

Interior of the Church.

Maleca quickly became a thriving trading port connecting the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea, enabling trade from India, Persia and the Arabian Peninsula. It was recognised for its safe and secure warehouses.

Modern temple.

Following the 1481 Papal Bull which was later called the Treaty of Tordesillas, Spain and Portugal agreed to divide the World into two spheres of expansion, the Portuguese settled in the Cape of Good Hope, India and parts of Asia as remote as Japan. They quickly conquered Melaka. They were trading in spices. Then in 1641 the Dutch claimed the area but later the British arrived and overpowered the Dutch. In 1824 the English negotiated control of the region. The Dutch had withdrawn by 1825.

This mix of nationalities has left a diverse array of buildings, maritime monuments, culture, religions and ethnic groups. Inter marriage of so many ethnic groups has created a unique cuisine called Baba-Nyonya or Peranakan. The City became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008.

Old fort and Church.

Many of the older buildings are concentrated in one part of town near the river. Most are in use as shops, some are cafes, museums or galleries, some are neglected and falling apart and there are some signs of modern but sympathetic renovations.

Old shop fronts in Jonkers Street and traffic jam.

I like to view new places from the water, if possible. I like a river cruise, whether it’s on the Oxford River, the Rhine, in Saigon, a ferry taxi from our hotel in Bangkok, on the Hong Kong Harbour or on the river in Melaka.

Older buildings along the river.

Older, restored houses on the river contrasting with a modern tower block behind.

Old painted godowns along the river.

Setting off from the quay we were surprised to see unidentifiable animals in the water, swimming fast. (Later we discovered they were monitor lizards, . They live on the river banks and in the river and grow up to 3m (9 foot) in length. They have adapted to living in the water.) Many older buildings are on the edge of the river. A lot feature street art. So many places to eat! The river is crossed by several foot bridges.

We wanted to see more of the older buildings, so we organized a car and driver to take us to places of interest. It was very hot during the day, places we wanted to see were between the river and the sea, so covering a large area. We found the driver well informed. I was able to jump out and take photos and read the signage. It was really interesting seeing new apartments and shopping malls, too, plus the museums and art galleries.

Our hotel had been suggested to us by our nephew. We had a river view room with a balcony with chairs, a table and candles, lit at night. The hotel was so luxurious and comfortable. Our bathroom had sliding opaque windows allowing views of the river from the bath. It was so roomy and lovely after the last hotel we were in. The cafe and grill served meals throughout the day, there was a library with a coffee machine and snacks and a gym. I know, it’s crazy to still count minutes ‘in the zone’ when you’re on holidays, but I do, so I spent time in the gyms of the three hotels we’ve stayed in while we have been in Singapore and Melaka. I really like a good hotel gym.

View of our hotel from the river.

Hotel enfilade, with painted ceiling, one of many at our hotel.

Our balcony overlooked the river, one of the few cool places in the evening. Melakka was very hot!

Despite its rich history, many historical indicators have not been maintained, been built over or simply neglected. We were surprised at how few buildings remain. Do your own research before you go to Melaka if you’re interested in the history as information and maps are sketchy.

Melaka is a UNESCO World Heritage site. There are some interesting things to see and read, numerous places to eat, plenty of opportunities to buy mementos and also modern shopping malls with all the usual brands and some particular to Malaysia. We took a car from Singapore for the three and a half hour drive and went on the river trip that afternoon after a wander down famous Jonker Street. The next day we arranged a car and driver to show us the historical sites and looked in local galleries and museums. I think we could have done every thing we wanted in two days and nights but we spent the third day wandering around and resting. Early the fourth day we took the car and driver back to Singapore.

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Singapore

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Singapore is less than six hours flying time from Perth. It is a very modern, clean and bustling city but still maintains some unique characteristics of ‘old Singapore’. Although I’ve been to Gardens on the Bay, an amazing botanical wonderland, twice before, I’d never really explored the surrounding parklands. That was my plan for this visit as I wanted to see The Planet sculpture, aka the Floating Baby.

This enormous artwork by British artist Mark Quinn is made of painted bronze and steel. The sculpture is of the artist’s 7 month old sleeping son. The baby seems to hover peacefully in the air, surrounded by green gardens. The artwork divided the masses; either you love it or you hate it! I love it and enjoyed walking around it a few times, seeing different details each time.

The gardens were green and beautiful but the late afternoon heat was stifling. We walked across to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and went straight up to the top for the sea breeze, coffee and a big bottle of sparkling water. Calm and cool but very misty over the water. Followed later by a relaxing hour of reflexology then yum cha. A lovely day.

Restoratives.

The heat and humidity was stifling and misty at times.

Great yum cha.

One of the other attractions of Singapore is the food! Singaporeans take food seriously and you can buy amazing food for a few dollars at a street stall or spend lots and eat in beautifully designed restaurants with carefully presented food. We ate at both and some places in between. We hadn’t had high tea at The Raffles for years nor been there since the major renovation was completed so we went there, too. It was lovely.

Scones, sandwiches, beautifully presented cakes and little chocolate treats….we enjoyed them all!

Since living in China over twenty years ago, we have sought out massages, particularly reflexology or foot massages. Although the cost in Singapore is similar to an hour long session in Perth we have never found a really good reflexologist. We’ve had lovely foot and leg rubs and very half hearted massages but nothing like the systematic reflexology we’ve had in China, in Vietnam, in Thailand and Singapore. Bali can be a bit hit and miss, too! So, several visits to the spa for reflexology for us.

Airy, colourful entrance, in glass roofed foyer created by joining the two buildings.

The National Gallery of Singapore is an amalgamation of the former Supreme Court and the original City Hall connected by a modern glass and steel structure. (There’s lots of information about the transformation from early planning and funding to constructing and utilizing the building available on Level 4, plus a daily walk and talk you can join and be shown around. Ask at the desk for daily times) The amalgamation works really well and has created a wonderful National Gallery of Singapore. It is always worth a visit. We skipped the regular exhibitions and went upstairs to the third floor for Living Pictures: Photography in South East Asia and fourth floor for Liu Kuo Sung: Experimentation As Method, both new, temporary exhibitions.

Sunlight pours in through the steel and glass middle section.

Followed by cold drinks and a snack in the cafe before a serious look around the gallery shop. Beautiful things but very expensive. A great range of art books, too.

Carefully restored former Supreme Court.

Enjoyed a wander through the National Design Museum, too, a bit different from the usual displays Really enjoyed walking around Chinatown again but got caught in a monsoonal downpour. Had a lovely chat with the shop owner until the rain stopped. Chinatown has so many wall murals designed for interaction. One difficult thing was the tour groups on bikes who really seemed unaware of the pedestrians they were running into. We visited on the weekend, so the temples were busy and loud. Chinatown is vibrant and interesting. Look out for the old shopfronts still up and down many streets.

Grand old buildings.

Interactive street art in Chinatown.

You’ve been warned.

Are you interested in the Barbie movie? I was a huge fan of Barbie when I was 10 and my Father brought me a Barbie from America with bendable legs and arms. She was followed by Ken and her little sister, Skipper. I loved my dolls and built and decorated houses for them and sewed clothes. My father made me perfect tiny wire hangers so I could organize their wardrobes. I’ve still got them. Still interested in houses, interior decoration and clothes but mention all of this because Barbie and the movie are BIG in Singapore.

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Confronted by a Barbie photo opportunity display in a shopping centre. Not only were there males and females from babies to about eighty dressed in pink having their photos taken clutching bunches of pink balloons amongst the Barbie paraphernalia, there was the Barbie jingle, ‘I’m a Barbie girl in a Barbie world’ warbling on repeat, very loudly. A quick look at the Sunday paper when we returned informed me Perth is going Barbie mad, too. So much pink! Plus a World record singalong attempt of Barbie World!

Next week’s blog will be about our visit to Melaka

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Shopping in Bali and Good Books

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After two weeks in Bali we are back in Perth and back to our old routines. We left Bali on a sunny 30C° day and arrived back in Perth to overcast skies and 20°C. So getting all the washing dry has been challenging. The garden has obviously enjoyed the rain and will need attention later.

I’ve been asked about shopping in Bali. There’s everything from open fronted stalls to grand new malls. We went back to a shopping centre in Kuta where my husband bought quality boat shoes four years ago and were pleased to find they still have that brand, so he bought another pair! He wears size 46 (12) shoes and they had his size.

A bit squashed straight from the suitcase.

Wandered around the same department store and found cashmere scarves. Obviously not big sellers in Bali, they were being offered at 50% off the original price. We have two new scarves. We have found unexpected things to buy in Bali each visit.

Cashmere scarves found in Bali.

The next day we went to one of the newer, big shopping malls. I don’t normally shop at H&M and there isn’t one close to us in Perth but there was one at this shopping mall. I have a new shirt. The tag says it is made from 95% organic cotton and it replaces a very old striped T-shirt I have worn for many, many years. There were a few other clothing shops, lots of optical shops, Watsons pharmacy, tech shops and so many food outlets. (The entrance to many new shopping centres is off the main road. You’ll probably need to ask the person at the valet parking desk at the entrance to phone for a taxi unless someone is dropped off in one and you can grab it)

The price and information tags are attached by cotton threads, not strips of plastic.

So many shops everywhere selling clothes in every price range, shoes, too, and lots of decor shops but the most surprising thing was the number of tattoo shops! So many. Lots of lovely woven baskets with and without linings but I have so many baskets already. Some gorgeous jewelry, too, and other small items.

Food to prepare at your villa or room is available at various shops. Although we buy crackers and cheese, icecream and punnets of strawberries I haven’t bought things to cook or prepare. If we are hungry we order in or wander down the road. I cook all the time here but not in Bali. I am on holidays!

READING

We are keen readers and take books when we travel we’ll both read. The Ann Cleeves thriller The Heron’s Cry was in this category. Cleeves is probably best known for her Vera and Shetland detective series. Interestingly, Ann Cleeves’ first name is actually VERA. This book is one of her new Two Rivers series featuring Detective Matthew Venn and is the second one I’ve read.

Cleeves weaves clever tales with many twists and turns. This is a story about current issues in society, such as struggling small towns in the UK, suicide and the inability of health services to provide necessary services and the impact on families when one member is involved in a long running and complex murder enquiry.

It’s a great thriller and we both enjoyed it. We leave the books we have finished in the office for other guests to read. I like to borrow books from the library when we’re not traveling as we have so many, already, but take paperbacks on holidays.

Are you a fan of Redoutè’s gorgeous floral engravings and paintings? You’ll recognize his paintings everywhere, especially on gift cards, notebooks and address books because they are so beautiful. A lovely Mother’s Day gift, I am reading Pierre Joseph Redouté The Book of Flowers published by Taschen. Redouté, is referred to as the ‘Raphael of flowers’ for his exquisite, naturalistic paintings and engravings. This book features engravings from his Roses, Selection of the Most Beautiful Flowers and Lilies collections.

The works featured in this 500 page book are all amazingly accurate and very beautiful but just as interesting is the historical information about the time and the focus on gardens, herbariums and horticulture generally. The advancement in printing the engravings and watercolours, plus the developments in mass publications are all addressed, too.

Included is Redoutè original index of plants, plus a modern index reflecting reclassifications. A hefty tome, overflowing with glorious paintings and masses of information. An excellent reference book for gardeners, artists and historians. Redouté paintings feature on my address book, a notebook , an old diary I’ve kept for the beautiful pictures and several postcards so a very welcome gift!

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Lucky Bay, a West Australian Beach at Esperance, named by the explorer Matthew Flinders, is named the Most Beautiful Beach In The World.

So as the Southern hemisphere heads into winter the Northern Hemisphere heads into summer. Enjoy the special aspects of each seasons where ever you are in the World!

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