Music Sydney Town Hall Grand Organ English company William Hill & Son manufactured the organ in 1890, at the time, the largest organ in the world. Read the history of the organ with its 5 keyboards, the numerous pedals as well as the 2 panels of stops.
India Incredible India - Mumbai Mumbai, formally known as Bombay, had a very different vibe to Delhi and the other Indian cities we’d visited - cosmopolitan, affluent with a greater mix of cultures, especially from the Middle East due to its location on the coast of the Arabian Sea.
India Incredible India - The White City of Udaipur Udaipur, the Venice of the East, is located around a series of lakes framed by mountains, forts and palaces; it’s also known as the White City - the palaces and buildings hugging the lake made of white marble.
India Incredible India - Ranakpur The Jain Temple of Ranakpur is built entirely in white marble, around the 14th century - known for its magnificent architecture. There are 29 pillared halls, 80 domes and 1444 intricately carved pillars - each unique, decorated in a different way.
Travel Photographer of the Year - 2023 Travel Photographer of the Year 2023 awards show us the highs and lows of life on this planet, captured through the lenses of enormously talented photographers of all ages from around the globe.
India Incredible India - The Blue City of Jodhpur Jodhpur stands at the edge of the Thar desert and was the Citadel of the ancient Marwar Kingdom. This bustling desert city is the second largest in Rajasthan after Jaipur. It was founded by Rao Jodha, the leader of the Rathore clan in 1459.
India Incredible India - the Pink City of Jaipur Jaipur is named after its founder Jai Singh II who came to power at the age of 11. Its northern India’s first planned city built from 1727. In 1876 Maharajah Ram Singh had the entire old city painted pink - the colour of hospitality - to welcome the Prince of Wales -later King Edward VII.
India Incredible India - Remarkable Rajasthan We spent a day travelling through part of Rajasthan - which translates to Land of the Kings - this state is home to maharajas, mighty forts and marvellous palaces.
India Incredible India - Agra At the end of a long narrow glistening water course, surrounded by ornamental gardens, the Taj Mahal floats majestically on its raised marble plinth - said to be the most beautiful building in the world.
India Incredible India - Delhi Delhi, the capital of India, is a cacophony of colourful chaos - cars, rickshaws, tuk-tuks, buses and carts - drawn by horses or people. They all vie for position at traffic lights, spilling through the streets and laneways, people living in cramped quarters in every available space.
Celebration Happy Valentine's Day 2024 Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine Day for 2024 from the AnArt4Life team.
Travel A brief visit to Oman Oman is one of the few countries in the world where there is no terrorism. The men wear kumar hats and dress in pristine white almost-floor-length gowns known as dishdasha - it defines the country’s identity, so much so, the government has standardised the design to preserve Omani culture.
John Pickup In Memory of John Pickup OAM Today is the first anniversary of the death of our dear friend and member of the AnArt4Life blog team John Pickup OAM. We bring you a summary of our past posts on this remarkable man and artist.
Causcasus The Caucasus - Armenia - Part 3 - Yerevan Yerevan is the capital of Armenia and one of the oldest capitals in the world, even older than Rome! These days it is alive with bustling cafes and restaurants, locals relaxing in parks, bars and coffee shops.
Causcasus The Caucasus - Armenia - Part 2 We continue exploring Armenian – at Garni we marvelling at the Symphony of Stones and its pagan temple, Geghard Monastery partly carved into the sheer rock face, Khor Virap – one of Armenia’s most sacred sites and learn how the local women made lavash – the national bread.
Causcasus The Caucasus - Armenia - Part 1 Monasteries and churches abound in Armenia, all located on atop steep hills and mountainsides. Join me as we visit Haghpat Monastery, Sevanavank Monastery overlooking Sevan Lake, known as the Emerald of Armenia, Noravank Monastery and Selim Caravanserai.
Causcasus The Caucasus - Georgia - Part 3 - Tbilisi Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, rises up along the banks of the Mtkvari River. In the old town where I stayed, houses crowd along higgledy-piggledy alleyways, ornate balconies jump out from all angles, ancient churches, mosques, synagogues jostle with the domed 17th century baths.
Causcasus The Caucasus - Georgia - Part 2 Georgia has a population of only 3 million people - today 1/3rd live in Tbilisi, the capital. Fought over by Persia, the Ottomans and by the 19th century annexed to Russia. Now an independent state. The Georgians have always found strength from their religion – the Georgian Orthodox Church.
Causcasus The Caucasus - Georgia - Part 1 The picturesque Kakheti region of Georgia is dotted with churches atop hills and wineries nestled in valleys against a backdrop of the majestic Caucasus Mountains. Its known for its ancient wine making traditions, fermented for 4-6 weeks in Qvevri - giant clay pots, buried in the ground.
Central Asia The Caucasus - Azerbaijan - Part 3 Once a whistle stop on the Great Silk Road, connecting East and West, Sheki is an attractive town, with an atmospheric caravanserai. Here also the Khans’ Summer Palace, built in 1752-1762, the façade richly painted with drawings displaying intricate geometrical and plant patterns.
Central Asia The Caucasus - Azerbaijan - Part 2 - Baku Baku's old town is a UNESCO site, a complex of cobbled laneways, winding up to the Shirvan Shah Palace, while the Heydar Aliyev Centre is a modern masterpiece designed by the well-respected Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid.
Central Asia The Caucasus - Azerbaijan - Part 1 There are 700 volcanoes in the world - half of them in Azerbaijan - the Land of Fire. The Persian word Azer means fire, referring to extensive petroleum deposits, known since ancient times, and as a former centre of the Zoroastrian faith (who worshipped fire).
Central Asia From Central Asia to The Caucasus The Caucasus were also part of the USSR which existed from 1922 to 1991. Like the other 12 provinces, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia also broke away to each become independent states. They are all quite different.
Central Asia Central Asia - Tajikistan Things are looking up for Tajikistan currently one of the world's poorest countries -with enormous growth potential of water, hydropower, agriculture and food processing, mineral resources such as gold and silver and a budding tourism industry.
Central Asia Central Asia - Turkmenistan - Koneurgench We spent our final day in Turkmenistan on a 3 hour return trip to Koneurgench, capital of the region in the 10th and 11th centuries - a center of Islamic culture and an important stop on the famous Silk Road.
