"There's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away."

Australian landscape

The man with the van or power of perspective...

We see final post images...
The story behind and the complexity are left hidden.
What kind of mood I am on while capturing the moment?
What I am actually trying to say...

The power of perspective is about the angle of my camera,my proxomity to the subject and what I included in the frame.

I like to play with human imagination,eye and sometimes sense of humour.

Photography is a love affair with life

I can not even recall the exact moment when I fell in love...with photography.
I started seeing and creating a world as it is.
The golden moments that we miss as we pass without seeing.

I also noticied that it is not taking the photo, it is  making it what I want it to be and not necesseraly what it was.
It is an art that a I can personalise.
On the funny note it is the only hobby that you can shoot people and cut their heads off without going to jail:)

I am far away from being good,but I believe in myself and photography is like a good wine ,they get better with age and of course practise.

My goal is to be better than I was yesterday ...
I compete with no one but myself...
This is my journey and I have full intention of enjoying the ride.

This is my life and I am the driver...
Lets see where it will take me.

Best Sourdough Bread in Melbourne

The bread had been part of human diet for thirty thousand years.
Prehistoric man was making gruel from water and grains and baking it on heated rocks.
This bread was dense and not very appetizing however it was easy to carry on, and it would keep for days.
Ancient Egyptians took it much further and created first yeast.They discovered that crushed grain and water will produce bubbles if left in a warm and moist atmosphere.
I would like to share with you the love to sourdough bread and where to buy it in Melbourne.
I guess each of us have their idea of what good bread is.For me, it is about high quality ingredients, time, traditional methods, expertise, and dedication.

Best places to buy sourdough bread that always tastes amazing.

1) Woodfrog Bakery
108 Barkly Street,St Kilda
http://www.woodfrogbakery.com.au
2)Il Fornaio
2 Acland Street,St Kilda
http://www.ilfornaio.com.au
3)Firebrand
69 Glen Eira Road, Ripponlea
4) Phillippa Bakery
608 Hampton Street,Brighton
http://www.phillippas.com.au
5)Baker D.Chirico
149 Fitzroy Street,St Kilda
http://www.broadsheet.com.au/melbourne/food-and-drink/directory/cafe/baker-d-chrico
6) Burnham Bakery
1 Sherbrook Road,Sherbrook
http://piggerycafe.com.au

autumn

Witnessing Melbourne summer days were getting cooler and leaves changing their colour gradually from green to yellow I knew that autumn was knocking on our door. Well–deserved two weeks holidays approached slowly in sync with the change of cooler wind.
Our (two girls and two dogs)  journey began at Victorian high country only 3- hour drive away from Melbourne; nevertheless it felt like we stepped back in time. It is said that if Ned Kelly rode into Beechworth today, he would still recognise the town because in the main town historical precinct little has changed. Strolling around we as usually ended up in the bookshop where I found a useful book of 20 walks around Beechworth.

                                                                

 

Plenty to do and with a little time to spare we headed to get some caffeine into our system and were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the coffee. Melbourne considered to be a great coffee capital, on the other hand, this place could put to shame a lot of baristas.
It was a rainy day and hugging each other under one umbrella we marvelled at aboriginal art at the Yeddonba site in Mt Pilot National Park. In one of the caves is a drawing of the Tasmanian tiger that once inhibited Australian land. It is all faded and believed to be about 2000 years old. It takes a few moments for the eye to see this art on the wall. I am struck with the feeling of connection to the land and its inhabitants. They welcomed us to their sacred site and shared with us their beliefs. When the rain intensified, we found a shelter under huge rocks.
We stayed in Chiltern historical house called Linesman’s Cottage that was built in 1950s and was the work base for the Post Master General’s department.  Today the indoors area is renovated and used as holiday’s accommodation. While the outside of the house still rustic and looks like it belongs to a different era.
Dogs were happy in their fully fenced environment. Zorro managed to find a gap in the fence and almost had a "walk about". Luckily, he was too scared or give him the credit, too smart to live the place.

The drives in this region include views of pastures with cows that will stop their daily route of grazing and stare at you with their bored expression. The Farmland that may sell their small goods like fresh vegetables and fruits on the side of the road. Of course, the driver needs to keep an eye on a wildlife that tend to cross the road without checking left and right.
From this gem, we head to Wilson Promontory. We visited it before and still this time around we truly appreciate everything on offer.

 

 

 We fell in love with this place from the very first walk in Wilsons Promontory National Park. The walks vary from short one to multiple days. We opt for a day walks of 15 to 20 km under our belt each day and very proud of our physical stamina. It is almost impossible to describe the beauty that this place offers. Morning crisp air was stinging the gentle skin of my face.  Strong winds from the ocean blow tiny drops of salt water that I lick off my dry lips when hiking. The Autumn sun that climbs high into the sky and the process of peeling off the layers like cabbage begins and, of course, the vistas.
Most of the hikes include views of blue pristine water, crashing waves and horizons of green mountains.
On one of the days, we walk the Sandy point beach for hours on end on a very windy day, and it felt like we are in a desert with the developing sand storm. It is a bizarre feeling considering we could witness the ocean.

 

After a long day walk, the evenings usually spent cooking, reading, sipping wine and talking.
We found an amazing café in Fish Creek that produces delicious soy cappuccino and seduces everybody with their variety of pastry.
After reading the information brochure, we decided to do a wildlife short walk and the location was advertised by two emus walking around on the green grass and drinking and washing themselves in a puddle. We followed them around and found an abundance of kangaroo and a wombat. This teddy bear animal was seriously engrossed in his grass nibbling and ignored us completely. It gave us plenty of time to marvel at him and the surrounding area.

What can I say? Life is a wonderful and beautiful, no doubt about it.
To come back to Mallacoota is like to come home. We are familiar with the area and even the accommodation. The weather could be better, and the abundance of rain brought with it muddy water that badly affected any possibility of fishing.

Despite all that we took whatever the nature provided and at the evenings relaxed by the fire with some homemade food and good wine.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade and in our case when life gives you cold weather make a cuppa.

"Listen, Do you want to know a secret?"

"Listen, Do you want to know a secret?" My friend David asked me when stroking and massaging my Pomeranians Buddy and Zorro. I smirked "Do I need to promise not to tell?"

David hesitated and said: "It is an Australian best-kept secret." He got my attention even if deep down I knew it was too good to be true. "You may not believe it," he continued, "Till you try it". Will you leave such a comment to fade into the sunset? Exploring the network for hours and skipping two meals we end up with sailing tickets and general information to this spot at the edge of the world.

We are living on a small island, underneath bigger island, at the edge of the world. The populace of the island is about 550 people that almost doubles during peak summer holidays. If you appreciate tranquility, unspoiled hikes, and good food this place is heaven on earth.

We start our paddock to plate journey at Dennes Point in Jetty cafe and art gallery with its breathtaking vistas. Next destination is Berry farm when you can "pick your own" fruit or purchase their sensational berry cake, as well as pancakes filled with strawberries and raspberries. The local favourites are the little gemstone-like berries in sparkling champagne jelly. The recipe of berries kindly borrowed from Jill Mure and Richard Bennett book of Bruny Island.

Place one bottle of champagne and two cups of sugar into a saucepan and bring to boil stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and wait until just warm. Mix six leaves or two tablespoons of gelatin with half a cup of boiling water and stir until dissolved. Add the gelatin to Champagne syrup then add six cups of fruit like blueberries, raspberries and strawberries. Pour into glasses. Fill eighty percent allowing room for cream on top.(One cup of runny cream.) Refrigerate to set. Serves six.

Next we head to Bruny Island Cheese Co. The owner  Nick fell in love with the island when visited here as a tourist, bought a place and started laying the foundation for a new genre of artisan cheese. His range of nine cheeses is heaven to the palate. He is an only one in Australia that makes cloth covered cheese from unpasteurised milk in traditional wooden hoops. My favorite cheese called Saint, and it is soft, oozy, and "creamy" best eaten with sourdough baguette directly from their wood fired oven. If you unable to visit the place in the nearest future, you can become their Cheese Club member and purchase the produce online.

Wine and cheese are ageless companions, like aspirin and aches. That is why we find ourselves asking directions to Bruny Island Premium Wines. Here Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes enjoy warm summers and long sunlit but crisp autumn days. The slow ripening of the fruit adds to the flavor of the wine as well as oak cask in which the wine matured.

   “Either give me more wine or leave me alone.” said Rumi.

We bought wine that goes well with oysters and "Getshucked" oyster farm is our lunch destination. "Contrary to popular belief, oysters and wine are not always a natural combo. When they are good together, however, they can be very, very good, letting you slip into that glowing envelope of happiness created by great food and wine moments." Rowan Jacobsen.

On this farm, oysters fed and bathed in pristine waters of the Southern Ocean in one of the cleanest environments on earth.

I buy natural and Vietnamese inspired, and I am hooked until the rest of my life. Today was a sensational feast to the senses.

Luckily businesses close at five, and we head to a deserted beach for a peaceful stroll. Views of emerald water with towering above cliffs are incredible. I sing and echo of the waves sweeping my words with them. At night, falling asleep to the sound of whispering trees and arising from sunlight brushing my cheek is more that one can ask.

Landing on Bruny Island was an incredible journey that reminded of how fascinating life is.