Mooloolaba: Looking For Paradise

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Mooloolaba:

Looking For Paradise

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I went looking for paradise.. Mooloolaba, although beautiful, wasn't quite what I went in search of.. A little too noisey and too much traffic to allow me the mental escape from home, so 'no cigar'. BUT.. the best thing about Mooloolaba was meeting up with one of my dear blog friends.. Ange.. from Signed by Ange.. Yes all the way from France, Ange was here visiting her mum and I was lucky enough to meet up with her and all her wonderful mess-monsters whilst staying in Mooloolaba..

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Just like their mum, Ange's kids are beautiful bubbly bundles of energy. How fabulous it was to meet up with a fellow blogger.. Although I thought it would seem a little surreal, Ange is exactly as she seems on her blog and I felt immediately at ease.. Like meeting up with an old friend. I was also quite spoilt with pressies as I recently won one of Ange's giveaways... So as I write this I realise I haven't taken any shots of my goodies... I'll have to share them with you another time.. I won't however be sharing any photos of Ange and her beautiful family as we made a pact... no photos.. Wouldn't want you all to see my two heads!! Iinstead I'll just give you these shots of the sea in 'almost Paradise'.. The good news is I did find paradise in Noosa a few days later.. I also found lots of antique stores to while away the hours and part with some of my cash.. I don't want to bore you with consecutive sea posts.. so how about antique shopping next?

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Thanks for all the lovely comments on my aerial shots. It was fun to be able to share that experience with you. Have a lovely week.. and next stop: Antique shopping.. near and far!! Not a Mooloolaba in sight!

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IMAGE SOURCE:

Text & Photography by [Being Ruby©]

Location: : Mooloolaba, QLD

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:Come Fly With Me! [Sydney to Sunshine Coast]

Hello Sunshine Coast

Following on from my last post... these gorgeous views are what greeted me upon descent into The Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia. Every bit the beauty I had imagined I would find. One sees images like these in the travel ads and just hopes the reality will live up to the hype.. Sadly I was a bit disappointed in Mooloolaba.. [where my travels plans were taking me: next post]... but... I remedied that error and move onto prettier and more relaxing vistas worthy of my daydreams...

Seeing I'm posting in such quick succession here.. I've left Part I 'Leaving Sydney' at the end of this post for those that may have missed it... I'm sure it would have been smarter to do that in the first place.. but I felt these views above deserved a first billing..

The captain and crew of Ruby Airlines thank you for flying with us today

We trust it has been a pleasant flight ... Next Stop: Mooloolaba

For Images of our ascent out of Sydney.. please see below

IMAGE SOURCE:

Text, Photography & Altered Image Artwork by [Being Ruby©]

Location: : 1-7: Aerial views of descent into The Sunshine Coast, QLD

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Come Fly With Me! [Leaving Sydney]

Goodbye Sydney

[1: Harbour Bridge, 2: Opera House, 3: Centerpoint Tower, 4: Australia Square, 5: Botanical Gardens]

Seems I had to leave Sydney to bring you the best of her... Sydney Harbour by ariel view. Although I have lived here all my life and worked in the city for the majority of that time, I never tire of looking at Sydney Harbour. I've been fortunate that at times during my career I've had magnificent harbour views from my office window... and when not, simply standing at Circular Quay platform in the evening gives the same joy. But.. it was not a train for me this day.. but a plane off to the Sunshine Coast in Queensland.

I love travelling by plane.. and take off and landings bring me the same thrill a small child has flying high into the sky on their magical swings. So as the engines roar you will usually find me with nose pressed to glass in awe of the earth being left behind and the blue blue skies beckoning us forward. I almost forgot to take photos and it was with surprise that I suddenly found the city skyline below... A few quick snaps of the city and harbour and we were on our way leaving the coastline and Manly beach behind us.

Of course flying gets a little boring then with nothing but clouds and occasional glimpses of sea below... but this was a short flight and It wasn't long before a new coastline greeted me... again.. a quick grab for the camera and a few moments mesmerized by the swirling blues and greens popping out from the beneath the clouds... then... time for descent.. and some too short glimpses of the beautiful pristine waters of the Sunshine Coast... but that is the next post...

Wishing my USA friends a wonderful Thanksgiving

I for one am thankful for the beautiful sights in this fabulous country called 'Australia'

I'm also grateful to all the lovely bloggers who leave me sweet comments

I will catch up with you all soon [still working my way through]

.... So ....

Please Remain Seated With Your Belt Firmly Clasped

The next leg of the flight will be our descent into The Sunshine Coast

I trust you will enjoy the rest of the journey

IMAGE SOURCE:

Text, Photography & Altered Image Artwork by [Being Ruby©]

Location: 1-6: Aerial views of Sydney Skyline & Harbour

:To The Moon Alice: Nov 2010

To The Moon Alice

Nov 2010

I'm Back From Paradise

Hi Everyone!!! Did you miss me? Well I'm back from my mini vacation. Back in body.. but not in spirit!! and almost back in the blogging saddle, but considering last night was a full moon I thought I'd just sneak in November Moon post.

November's moon 'almost' comes to you from Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast... Ironic ... as it rained most of the week, however that did not distract from the beauty of Noosa's coastlines, the relaxation of her riverside walks and the dramatic night skies lit by a naughty naughty November moon. So here she is hiding behind the clouds and palm trees. It felt like old times hanging off the balcony in the pouring rain trying to catch a shot of her beauty. She was sneaky and hesitant and kept her veil tightly drawn... but her light and presence could still be felt. She saved the best for last.. On descent into Sydney airport we flew over Sydney Harbour ... alit by a brilliant full moon. It was a magical fairytale sighting. The tight cluster of city skycrapers dwarfed by my arial view gave the impression of a table centre piece shimmering white and silver, the Harbour Bridge a twinkling candelabra and the outstretched city .. an embroidery of silver lace, threaded with golden ribbons of highways and thoroughfares. And the masterpiece a chandelier moon glowing above!!!

I tried to get you photos.. Truly!!! But all I could capture was the reflection from the window.. So I'll leave it to your imagination... The city of Sydney and her beautiful harbour,...a magical fairy tale of gold and silver. A more beautiful sight I can barely recall !!! It almost made up for having to leave Noosa behind.

I hope you have all had a wonderful week whilst I was missing

Will catch up with you soon .. after a few zzzzzz's

Moon Notes

The Moon Was Full: Monday 22 November, 3:29am [Sydney Time]

Moon Names: White Moon, Beaver Moon, Trading Moon

IMAGE SOURCE:

Text, Photography & Altered Image Artwork by [Being Ruby©]

Location: Noosa Heads, Queensland

BLOG PAUSE - Off To The Beach

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Hope To Meet Up With Some Of

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These Guys

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And These Guys

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Also Hope To Meet Up With

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???

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CAN YOU GUESS

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When I first starting blogging.. I'd often see the title 'BLOG PAUSE' floating around the Scandinavian blogs... I've just been waiting for the opportunity to say that myself!! Yes I'm off on a trip.. Just a short one.. but I do have a history of extending my breaks whilst away... so you never know.. For now, I hope you like my shots of the beach here at home.. Hopefully I will come back with shots from sunny Queensland..

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With a little luck will also meet up with someone who is a friend to many a blogger...

I'll let you ruminate on that one!!!

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I know I've been a slack blogger this week.. A touch of flu and severe electrical storms have kept me offline.. So I've missed catching up with you all.. Will try and make some rounds before I head off in the next couple of days..

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Until Then

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IMAGE SOURCE:

Text, Photography & Altered Image Artwork by [Being Ruby©]

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:SEA The World: Thailand

SEA of LOVE

PART II

I've been planning a Sea of Love Part II for some time.. but for one reason or another it just hasn't eventuated... In fact I think most of my Part II's have not eventuated... I wonder if it is as I use my favourite images in the Part I or that somehow the enthusiasm gets lost after the first attempt.. I read somewhere once that you should never verbalize what you intend to create as it takes the momentum out of the doing so.. as if all one's creative energy is lost in the telling.. Well not sure about that however I do seem to have had a mental block with this Part II.. Partly due to indecision what to write about.. I always have a few mishaps during my travels.. Which are annoying at the time.. but make for interesting stories back home.. So today I think I'll tell you about my fews crazy hours at Bangkok airport .. waiting to return home..

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE AIRPORT

We'd just flown in from Phuket and were making our way to the International flight to Sydney.. Now when I say 'We' I mean 'Me' and other passengers who just happened to be on the same flight.. In the slow slow line waiting to be checked by customs, I struck up a conversation with another aussie... When it was his turn to be checked the customs officer got into a bit of a flap as I went through separately... 'Your Wife' .. 'Your Wife' they kept yelling.. 'Your Wife .. Come Back' !!! Thankfully the guy explained he didn't know me.. and I was let go.. phew.. wonder what he did to cause such ruckus!!

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Well the shoe was on the other foot a little bit later... You see in my boredom of the two hour wait.. I had found myself at an Oxygen Massage Bar.. Ever experienced one of these?? Well it is a seated neck and shoulder thai massage.. but.. with pure oxygen pumped through your nasal cavity during the process.. Well!!! I was off like a kite !!! Felt like I was deliriously drunk.. Skipping [I mean walking] around the airport smiling and giggling to myself.. and yes that was getting me a bit of attention.. At some point I ran into that aussie guy from customs.. attempted to find out what all the hoo ha was about.. but in my oxygen altered state he was pretty keen to steer clear of me.. haha I don't blame him ... Bangkok airport really is somewhere one should at least try and act normal.

SMUGGLING CONTRABAND

Not long after it was time to go through yet another check point before boarding the flight to Sydney .. This time they were checking passengers with one of those electronic monitoring wand thingies ... The official asked me to stand on a box so she could scan me for anything naughty .. I did .. Next minute in front of anyone who happened to be watching.. [just a few hundred people].. She grabs me on the stomach,... shakes it around a bit and asks in a thunderous voice .. "WHAT IS THIS?' .. Uhhhmm .. I reply just as thunderously.. "MY FAT'!! hahahaha.. .It took giving her a visual of said fat to satisfy her I was not smuggling anything onboard... Once again.. in front of anyone who cared to be watching!!! I'd like to say people weren't snickering during the nine hour flight home!! hahaha Happily I made it home safely... with a slight oxygen hangover.. The moral: Beware of Oxygen Bars and Flaunting Your Fat.

[click on the icon for more SEA The World posts]

[For more Phuket shots .. click here]

So I am a little behind in visiting and emails.. I've been feeling a bit fluey.. Nothing a bit of oxygen wouldn't fix.. And last night we had a huge electrical storm... It knocked out 'MAC in the box' once and I wasn't game to try for a second time.. Apparently we are under threat of severe storm warnings for tonight also!!! Crazy spring weather..

'Have A Fabulous Week Everyone'

IMAGE SOURCE:

Text, Photography & Altered Image Artwork by Being Ruby©

Location: Phuket: 'Palm Trees': View from Evason Resort & Spa

'Others': Day trip on Pang Nga Bay

EMBRACING IMPERFECTION

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This was going to be a post about my little Penguins!! Penguin Books that is.. but as you can see the roses took over... I don't mind their imperfect, slightly mangled look.. they still smell just as sweet, so I have decided to embrace their imperfection.. The irony is ... I couldn't decide which imperfect image of imperfect roses to post.. So I posted them all!!

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I'll bring you more of these book covers in a later post.. but for now.. as it is Sunday [and the noisy neighbours are making me bonkers!!! AGAIN!!! ] and the sun is finally shining in old Sydney Town.. I'm going to go out to smell the roses!!

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IMAGE SOURCE:

Text & Photography by Being Ruby©

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