Snippets of Fremantle

Well here we are - back in Perth! Gonna "stay" in Perth for now, and then we'll be "jumping" back to Singapore for a bit - as I've got some tulip pics to share soon! 

Anyway - today's post is on some of the nitty gritty details of Fremantle that I've somehow managed to miss despite going there almost weekly. This time, however, I was more observant, and managed to capture some of these details! I've compiled them here!

First up - there was an annual Chilli Festival (hosted by Araluen Botanic Gardens) going on in Fremantle in March...and I spotted this poster right outside my favourite paella stall! I really wanted to go, but when I found out that it was expensive, I had to abandon that option altogether...and went on a photo-taking rampage instead! Had a good time taking pics of Fremantle - it's always beautiful no matter what...

One of the previously dilapidated buildings has had a makeover! Now there're gorgeous murals on the empty spaces, and it's become even more popular amongst couples taking wedding pics :)

According to the Chinese zodiac - it's the year of the Horse! And it just happens to be MY year (since I'm born in the year of the Horse)! I was particularly delighted when I saw this beautiful stallion on top of a roof...since I've constantly been reminding myself to live life like a horse! Empowerment indeed!

Found this yellow and blue building - this was previously Sadlier's Warehouse/Customs Agency and was built between 1881 and 1885. It's currently a residential building. This building serves as a good backdrop for photoshoots, and I've seen some models posing here before...

The intricate details on one of the buildings - now belonging to Notre Dame University. I like the little mermaid figurines on the window ledge! And of course - I'm really impressed by the beautiful details! Ever since I came back from Vienna, I've been looking out for such details...

Unfortunately I missed the Fremantle Street Arts Festival as I went back to Singapore for the Easter break, but before I left, I spotted this busker on the streets...and it looks like she is a tad too early for the Street Arts festival! She was really cute - she blew a kiss at me and posed when I tried taking pics of her!

Second hand bookshops are definitely my favourite hangout spots! Firstly - they're cosy. Secondly - they always have rare books which I usually can't find in bookstores or online. And of course, some of 'em have got interesting concepts and artefacts...

For example - Elizabeth's Bookstores along the Cappuccino Strip has this idea in which classic novels are wrapped up in brown paper, and some clues of the novels are written on the brown paper...this way, readers have to guess the title of the novel, and it also serves as a surprise for them! Of course - other cool stuff include a vintage typewriter...and a quote for people to enjoy (as seen in the 3rd pic below). The quote changes every so often, and I'm always on a lookout for a new quote!

I usually go to Elizabeth's to have a look every now and then. Another bookstore which I often visit is Campbell's Bookstores along High Street. This is a small second-hand bookstore tucked away in one of the corners of High Street, and it contains lots of rare titles of different genres. This is the place where I bought my Julie Andrews autobiography, as well as some other books.

I really enjoy the ambience of Campbell's - and of course, I love being surrounded by books! I'm now on the lookout for more books - and I'll definitely go back to Campbell's soon! Anyway - just to prove how awesome Campbell's is (in my opinion), I've included some pics of its interior here. I can stay in here for ages! Browsing through all the books of course, and enjoying the ambience...

I often see people taking wedding photos - but this is the first time I've seen these two Volkswagon bridal vans together! They look almost alike (apart for the colour of course)...and they have got HEART SHAPED exhaust pipes!! I didn't know about this - until one of the drivers told me so. I was so thankful to him for pointing it out to me!

Meet Zoe - a four-year-old pooch - belonging to one of the artists in Fremantle. Zoe was found as a timid, skinny stray, but right now she looks so healthy and gorgeous, thanks to her owner's tender loving care. She loves lying in the sun...and she was also more than happy to pose for me :) I'd love to take more pics of her. I particularly love the one where she looks into my camera with her beautiful brown eyes...

Art is everywhere in Fremantle! I spotted this cute table decoration after taking pics of Zoe...

And managed to take some pics of the Bather's Beach summer markets before it wrapped up for the year. I focused mainly on the macaron stall as I was particularly intrigued by the beautiful colour combinations and all. Love pastel shades! And the food! The stall owner is French - and is from Murdoch too! :) Hope to see him again in next year's summer markets!

I usually end my trips to Fremantle by watching the sunset at Bather's Beach - personally I think this is one of the best spots to watch sunsets...because I get a wide-angled view of the sunset! This is mainly in spring though!

Right now, the sun's position has shifted to behind the North Mole/South Mole lighthouses...so I guess I may have to shift positions soon!

Captured these sunset pics on a separate occasion - I reckon this was one of my first trips back to Fremantle after returning to Perth for PhD. I needed a chillax session - so I went to the beach as usual!

I'll be on a lookout for more Fremantle snippets of course! Meanwhile - in our next post, I'll be posting some pics of beautiful tulips, from the recent Tulipmania in Singapore! Do stay tuned!

Sculptures by the Sea Part 2

Here's Part 2 of my Sculptures by the Sea trips! More sculptures featured of course!

First up - "Cycles" by Benjamin Storch from Victoria. This sculpture formed a circular pattern - and I used it to frame one of the family picnics I spotted during my trip there.

"Sculpture by the Sea" by Koichi Ishino from Japan.

Not too far from "Cycles" - another favourite sculpture of mine - used to frame other sculptures. From here, I spotted some of the other sculptures. This one here is known as "Headrest" by Michael Le Grand from ACT. It DOES look like some kind of headrest when I zoom out!

Beetles in love? Well this installation is called "Insectopia" - and its by Maria Hildrick. This one was really cute. The artist even included a love heart somewhere amongst the beetles!

"Backyards" by Martin Rowney from ACT. This consisted of a number of poles, with different textures towards the top. Some of the materials included sago seeds (well the red seeds looked like sago seeds to me!), Lego bricks, toy soldiers, stones and so on. Really good use of texture here!

"Migration" by Alex Goad from Victoria. This looked like a giant music note, to be honest!

Looking through the reflective sculpture - "Passage Secret" by Sylvia Tuccimei from Italy.

"French Knitting" by Mia Hamilton from New Zealand. This one was pretty interesting - it featured an intricately weaved green cord wrapped around tree branches in a strategic manner.

"The Green Dream" by Kathy Allam - transparent sculptures suspended on tree branches.

"Primordial" by Marcus Tatton from Tasmania. This installation featured three spirals with a brick-like texture.

"Family" by Ron Gomboc. This sculpture looked like some kind of makeshift couple bending towards each other. Really pretty against the clear skies!!

The orange and black sculpture is known as "Bob Reclining" by Stephen Tepper from Western Australia. Definitely an excellent candidate for framing pics!

"Adam and Eve" by Peter Lundberg. Really interesting installation - and yes - good for framing too!

One of the sculptures I used to frame other sculptures! And when I first came here - my friend photobombed me when I was trying to take the spiral shape of the sculpture. Anyway - during my second visit - I came alone, so no photobombs! This sculpture is known as "Signature" by Johannes Pannekoek. It DOES look like a signature indeed!

Giant goon sack on the beach? This sculpture is called "Bulk Carrier" by Western Australian sculptor Norton Flavel. Well - bulk carrying of goon I guess?! This one was really distinct.

"Offshore trading" of sand? Perhaps! This installation is made of giant bags of sand lined neatly on a wall - and is conceptualised by Flossie Peitsch of New South Wales.

"Organism" by Seung-Hwan Kim. This looked like a wavy pencil shaving to me, but was pretty intriguing too.

Along the jetty - if you look closely enough, you'll see pairs of feet in different positions. This was part of the "Once Removed" installation by Robert Barnstone.

Cloudmaker? Maybe not. Although the clouds seemed to be strategically positioned that day. This sculpture is known as "Like a Flower Swaying in the Wind", and its by Japanese sculptor Hiroyuki Kita. This sculpture actually features revolving bendy poles turning round and round. In here - the poles are "frozen" thanks to the fast shutter speed of the camera.

Spot the doggies! This installation is known as "Fetch" by the Winged Collective from Victoria.

"Windsong" by Barclay Bailey. This consisted of many upturned "bells" with strings attached. When the wind blew, the strings vibrated and we could hear pretty interesting "tunes"! At one point I managed to capture a pic of a cloud that appeared to rise out of the "bell" - hence the term "strategic cloud formation"! This installation was arranged neatly by the sea.

"Red Centre" by Bari Billingsley. This giant installation was made of many red and yellow flags. And if you look from afar - it DOES have a red centre!

Rhino on the loose? Well maybe not. This sculpture is known as "Gift of the Rhinoceros" by Mikaela Castledine of Western Australia.

"Rescheduling Permanence" by Helen Seiver, hailing from Western Australia. This beautiful house-shaped sculpture was made entirely of plastic bags, tied strategically to form lovely patterns! So colourful and intricate! Everyone was intrigued by this work of art, I swear.

"Der Traum (The Dream)" by German sculptor Wolfgang Friz. This cute little thinking cloud lights up at night, and is tied between 2 Norfolk pines. I love this one very much...it's just so adorable!!

"Surf in Fantasia" by Tata Akiho from Japan. This installation featured three shell-shaped sculptures that had regular red, yellow and blue patterns. Pretty intriguing!

"The Figure in the Landscape" by John Petrie from New South Wales. This interesting stacked sculpture was situated on the jetty, and I spotted it when walking towards the end...

Right at the end of the jetty - the one and only "There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip" by Ken Unsworth AM from New South Wales. This sculpture was one of my favourites, and it featured a skeleton riding a bike upwards, with a stone on its back. It reminds me of "Stairway to Heaven" for some reason - and I can't figure out why. Anyway - when I was taking pics of this sculpture, some random fisherman decided to pose under it...and that was how I got one of the pics below!

Last but not least - a girly sculpture. "Solar Jayne" by Geoffrey Drake-Brockman from Western Australia. Press a button and the ballerina twirls around, perfectly poised. The head and body were synchronised such that it appeared as if she was doing perfect turns. This was one of my favourites as well.

Ending off with a couple of pics of the sunset! I watched the sunset the first time I was there at the event! It was quite a pretty one as the cloud formation was absolutely gorgeous.

Hope you've enjoyed viewing these sculptures - I certainly did! Hope to go for more of such art exhibitions in the near future!