Xmas

Hi everyone
Well Xmas is over
We had a quiet lunch at home with James our youngest son and for dinner (tea) we had our other son Ben and his wife Sarah over with us - it was the first time for many years that we were together as a family. It was a low key Xmas but very special. This year the boys were both in Adelaide.

Holly and flowers from our garden

Our first Xmas dinner in our  new outside area - not quite finished but great for those breakfasts

James and Ben our sons on Boxing Day - first time in years that we were together at Xmas

XMAS

MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY !!!!

Aldinga Beach - a visit

Aldinga Beach - Not open - bad luck - couldn't spend any money

Hi - I am back. I have been so busy over the last year that I fell
in a heap (blog wise) since I finished work last week. I have been
 spending time with my youngest son, James who has moved in
with us for a short period of time until he moves into his new
home in late Jan/early Feb - we hope!!!! Those who have bought
 a house know how stressful it is getting every thing organised etc
and I have spent time with James helping him - it all takes time
but I am back no .

I am on holidays for the next five weeks and am trying to do my
 own Art work each day but unfortunately I cannot share it with
you yet.

Today we went for a drive - of course with a purpose to Aldinga
Beach about 65km from Adelaide. We visited a second-hand
caravan place to look at of course caravans - we may buy one
later next year for tripping around Australia.
Above and below are some photos of the beach etc...

Details at Angkor Wat

Here are some details shots taken at the Angkor Wat complex - carvings, windows, elephant terrace etc....

Angkor WAt - Cambodia

We visited Angkor Wat which was totally amazing - it was a dull and very hot day and the complex is huge!! You do not have any idea of the large scale of the complex before visiting it.

Angkor meas literary "Capital City"or "Holy City". It is a Hindu temple complex built for  King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and the capital city.
It is architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a massive three tiered pyramid crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 metres from the ground level. This is only one of the temples in the complex.
The moat surrounding the Angkor Wat is 1300 metres X 1500 metres. The temple itself is 1km square.

We also found a sculpturor - a very old man who had survived the war - one of the few artistians who  survived the war and he had made a full miniature  of the complex - it was so fascinating and not many tourists visit this place - even the tuk-tuk driver did not know where it was and we had difficulty finding it but what a place. It was great to see the complex in a small size and as a whole and as it is SO big you cannot take photos of the whole only bits. This was excellent to view before going to the complex.

The miniature of Angkor Wat - a great way to see it from up above

Our tuk-tuk driver who got us very lost but we found it in the end
Entrance to the sculptor's house and display

More of the miniature - beautifully carved to scale

Part of the real Angkor Wat

More of Cambodia

Photos of the "religious' aspects of Cambodia.