Willow Christmas Meme

Where have I been? What has kept me away for so long? I am not sure. How is it possible I worked full time at a very busy and demanding job and was sick and still found time to blog every week? What is my excuse? I am not sure where time goes. I find it melts away quickly when I am on the computer, so I sometimes avoid putting it on. I am missing Shanghai and the unusual sites, so maybe home is a little too vanilla 😉 to blog about. The daily grind is not as interesting here that is for sure. Besides being home I can easily call and text friends, which was a main reason I blogged. I could quickly communicate with everyone. That isn’t fair to my on line blog friends and followers though. I have taken to twitter also. It is quick and a different platform, so you can always see what I am up to there. From the blog on the right sidebar is my most recent tweets. I don’t think you need an account to view the links, so click away.

So to FINALLY get back to the funny picture of Willow at Christmas. (Better late than never???) I posted this pic and asked for some ideas of what Willow was saying. Thanks for all who sent along ideas. They are great. I just couldn’t decide on one, so I have posted most of them below. Which one do you like best? Thanks John, Quiall, Lucid Gypsy, Lavendar Ladi, Carrissa Hickling, Amy,  and Kate for sharing your ideas of What Willow is saying.

What is Willow saying ? Pick your favourite from the list below.

1. You’re never gonna believe what I got you for Christmas. Go check the litter box!
2. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Buurrrppp!
3. I SAID FOIL WRAPPING PAPER!!!
4. I hope you’re not planning to send my catnip to someone else?
5. Why are there no lines on the paper? How do I cut a straight line?
6. Back off and let me shred this pretty paper!
7. What???? You didn’t get me a gift?
8. You didn’t wrap it right!
9. and a new one I just thought of….. “Eeeooowwwch! The tape is stuck to my fur!

Pick your favourite and post it in the link below.

If you want to see the original post click on the link https://canadiantravelbugs.wordpress.com/2015/12/17/willow-wrapping-presents/

 

Take care and stay tuned. I promise it won’t take me as long to post next time!

 

Proud Treasures: Photo Challenges

This week word press has asked us to show a treasure; something special and dear to our heart. Maybe it is a simple item and others would  think of it as meaningless, but to yourself it is priceless. Bastet has asked us to show photos we like and are especially proud of the way they turned out. To me my photos are treasures that showcase my world travels and bring back memories of places, people and events. Each is special and unique. To have had the opportunity to travel, especially so much in the last 4 years, that has been a wonderful gift. To be able to see places most  people have only heard about, seen in books, or on TV is amazing. I will treasure my photos long after we leave. These below are some I am most proud of and one day they may grace the walls of our home.

I have loved taking photos for a long time and I am trying hard to learn more. Someone once told me look for the shot no one else will have. Although I find a good photo sometimes is a lucky shot, a fleeting moment you happen to capture, a chance encounter that you might be in the right place at the right time, or when all elements just come together. Other times it takes  a careful eye and planning. The following are the shots I am most proud of. Enjoy my treasures….

Intricate carvings – Angkor Wat. The lighting was perfect for this capture of the bas reliefs along the temple walls.

I love this photo. It caught my breath and I almost couldn’t believe it was I who took it. Cambodia was an amazing place and this photo was my favourite from Angkor Wat. Everything came together perfectly.

Speaking of lighting be just right…..

Rome, Italy – Sun or Heavenly Rays in St. Peter’s Basilica?

I saw the sun rays and hoped it turned out. It was much later I realised how this looked and I was really happy with the result.

This next one reminded me of an eerie old B&W film. The sepia tones in the hazy, humid sky after an earlier downpour played with the lights. Everyone takes the horizontal shot of the parliament buildings, so I looked for an alternate angle. I was happy how it was different and the atmosphere and feeling it has.

The Peace Tower at Night

I liked the shadows of the palms to frame the view we had on the beach while we were in the Philippines. More than just another shot of the beautiful blue water.

What a view!

I also took this shot in the Philippines. I kept moving around to get the right angle, light and detail I wanted. I am really happy with the result. I like how the palm is in the background to give it an extra dimension. It is my new favourite. What do you think?

What do you treasure? What photo are you most happy with? Check out the links above to see more posts, or find out how post your own.  No photos? Then tell us about it in the comment section below.

Like this blog? Want to help me move onto round two of the Canadian Blog Awards? Then please click on the Canadian Blog Awards 2013 picture/button on the right sidebar to take you to the webpage if you would like to vote. Round one closes Feb. 21. I am Canadian Travel Bugs in the Travel and Expat category. CAREFUL you only get 1 vote! Not sure what it is all about? Then read my post that explains in more detail here.

Thanks in advance. 🙂

Stay tuned…

Getting Ready for the Holidays

I am not a poet, but I sometimes have inspiration to write and scribble a few words down. Nothing to share or post since I am not happy with the rhythm or rhyme I come up with. This week I decided to give it a go and stretch and challenge myself for Pixelventures challenge. The challenge was to post a holiday inspired photo and add some text in a short story (150 words or less) or poem.

We went to see some lovely holiday lights last night and the glow and sparkle drew me in and had me feel  the Christmas spirit. This year not going home has left me feeling like I am missing the spirit and Christmas. I haven’t been shopping for gifts and warmer temperatures and lack of Christmas in China has left me feeling like Christmas is still a long way off. The lights last night brought the awe and wonder back and inspired me to write a few words. I hope you enjoy it.

If you want to join in follow the link to find out more. Also if you want to see more of the lights check out my earlier post here.

Stay tuned…

 

Tourist in Your Own Town: Holidays #2

Last spring I started to post on Tourist in Your Own Town and encouraged others to join in. A few months ago as a suggestion to make it more regular I started to set a theme as a monthly challenge, which I will post the first weekend of each new month. The month of December I posted on Holidays and asked you to share what celebrations look like where you live. I posted a unique crystal christmas tree at  a local hotel here in Shanghai. Last night we went out and around to see some lights along Century Avenue. A few weeks ago the twinkling bright blue and white lights caught my attention and I knew I needed to get up close. Around the JingMao Tower, World Financial Tower (or Bottle Opener as it is referred to here), and Shanghai Tower, which is still under construction, we captured these lights.

View from Above

Today at the Kerry Parkside in Pudong I spotted this Polar Express display. A super huge mountain of ‘snow’ and train. Each season they seem to out-do themselves with some sort of seasonal splendor.

It is not too late to join in the challenge. Here are the details if you want to share a post and be a Tourist in Your Own Town.

All Aboard

The rules …

• post a picture(s) for this month’s theme: HOLIDAYS
• link to my post Holidays: Tourist in Your Own Town (or this one #2)
  
• add a link to your post in the comment section below (so others can find you too )
• add the tag TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN to your post
• use TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN in the title of your post
• have fun clicking examples of the holidays

Next weekend we are off to Cambodia for Christmas, so stayed tuned for more adventures and travels around Asia.

Holidays: Tourist in Your Own Town

The holiday decorations are up and carols are starting to play non-stop at the malls. Christmas parades with the jolly old elf Santa himself have started in different cities all around the world. The cheesy photo booth is probably operating a regular schedule by now, so you can get your photos with Santa. The holiday concerts and parties have sent the invitations and we may have even added a few holiday pounds by now. Looks like the  holidays are in full swing, even here in China.

In Shanghai we don’t usually see the Christmas decorations until about 1 month before December 25th. Just enough time to enjoy and not get tired of the carols and blinking lights. The Chinese do not celebrate Christmas, but over the past four years here more and more western Christmas decorations have emerged on the scene. This past Monday the local hotel was setting up their beautiful tree made of glass crystals. Friday night was the tree lighting with carols and crowds. Everyone squeezed in for the big moment with cameras, phones and iPads all at the ready waiting for the big moment. I waited until the crowds left to snap a photo of the deserted tree sparkling and shining bright.

Oh Christmas Tree – waiting to be brought to life

Bright dazzling Christmas Tree lights

Even the nutcracker came for the tree lighting

Last spring I started to post on the theme Tourist in Your Town to show things around where I live here in Shanghai, China and back home in Ontario, Canada. Then I asked you to post on something to share from where you live. A quick holiday to another part of the world without all the hassle of travel 😉  It has become a monthly theme and I try to post it the first weekend of each new month. Have you guessed this month’s theme yet? It is HOLIDAYS. With Word Press reaching so many people around the world it would be interesting to see examples of how you and your town celebrate the holidays. Maybe you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah or Kwanza… whatever the holiday post an example to show holidays where you live. Post the busy mall, tacky decorations, a parade or a town display.

The rules 😉 …

• post a picture of this month’s theme: HOLIDAYS
• link to my post Holidays: Tourist in Your Own Town
• add a link to your post in the comment section below (so others can find you too 😉 )
• add the tag TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN to your post
• use TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN in the title of your post
• have fun clicking examples of the holidays

No hurry… a new theme won’t be posted until January.

Stay tuned….