Creative garden photography…

Gorgeous gardens are everywhere, all around us. A beautiful guide to garden & flower photography by the noted photographer, Harold Davis. An easy, expansive brush of techniques ranging from photographing vast formal gardens to the fabulous flowers in our own home garden. Whether we’re photographing tiny flowers or grand landscapes, wandering in a garden or bringing the garden indoors is a great creative pursuit. Creative Garden Photography offers an incredible range of simple photographic styles. “My goal as a photography teacher is to inspire, to help you become the most creative photographer & image-maker that you can be.”

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Gamelan…

Gamelan – traditional ensemble music of the Javanese, Sundanese & Balinese people of Indonesia, made up predominantly of percussive instruments. The most common instruments used are metallophones played by mallets & a set of hand-played drums called kendhang, which register the beat. The kemanak (a banana-shaped idiophone) & gangsa are commonly used gamelan instruments in Bali.

Metallophones, xylophones, flutes, gongs, voices, bowed & plucked strings. We can hear the great Gamelan music at the traditional ceremonies in Indonesia. Played at religious rituals, ceremonies, dances, drama, wayang puppets theatre, concerts, festivals & exhibitions. Gamelan is an integral part of Indonesian culture. Absolutely soulful & serene music.

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Bolivia…

South America, a wonder continent. A panorama of Bolivia’s finest – Lake Titicaca to Uyuni Salt Flats, flamingos to other-worldly pentagons of crystalline salt. Casually meander through the local villages & markets to absorb the region’s fascinating history.

Taste the water of the Sacred Fountain for eternal happiness. Explore Uyuni, the largest salt flat on earth with stunning pentagons of crystalline salt. Visit the House of Liberty in Sucre where Simon Bolivar signed Bolivia’s Declaration of Independence.

Meet the Limachi family, ship builders of the Thor Heyerdahl’s RA II & Tigris that made epic expeditions across the Atlantic, led by the famed adventurer Thor Heyerdahl. Spend time with the Kallawaya & Bolivian mystic natural healers to learn the value of sacred coca leaves.

Pentagons of crystalline salt are set against a backdrop of lovely lagoons, flora & boundless skies. Visit the Isla Pescado (Incahuasi), an oasis with algae & fossil formations. See 1000’s of giant columnar cacti, over a 100 years old. 

Cruising on Lake Titicaca, surreal. Visit the Moon Island, Iñak Uyu (Sun Virgin Temple) or the Andean Roots Eco-Village, Altiplano Museum, Mud Igloos & the mortuary towers of Urus Chipayas. Meet the vicuñas, llamas & alpacas. Chill out on the shores of Lake Titicaca, under the starry constellations of a spectacular night sky. 

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Brazil…

Brazil’s relentlessness, beauty & diversity make it South America’s go-to destination. Rio’s world-famous Copacabana & Ipanema are most beautiful beaches. Costa Verde, where the jungle meets the sea is home to equally stunning stretches of sand to explore. Sao Paolo’s hectic streets offer an insight into Brazil’s rapid development while historic Salvador, with it’s colourful architecture showcases the country’s beautiful past. There’s the Amazon & it’s rainforest, a vast natural world of rare species & indigenous tribes just waiting to be explored. Simply special.

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Toast & travel…

The South America Wine Guide is a great source about the wonderful wine regions, producers & wines of South America. Wine expert & award-winning wine writer Amanda Barnes leads wine lovers through the myriad of grape varieties & wine traditions, bringing to life the diverse wine regions of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, Bolivia & Peru that are just beginning their foray into the world of wines. With 40 wine region maps, beautiful photography & a personal introductions to the best winemakers, a quintessential guide to South American wines. A wonderful read for wine lovers & those wanting to discover un-explored wine routes.

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Argentina…

The plains of Patagonia. Soaring peaks of the Andes. Majestic boulevards of Buenos Aires. Argentina is an incredibly vast & beautiful country with varied landscapes & charming cities. A great outdoors which few places in the world can match with unrivalled climbing, hiking from Tierra del Fuego in the south to Salta in the north.

For foodies, the best steak in the world raised on spectacular ranches, cooked on simple parrillas (grills), washed down with the finest Malbec from Mendoza. For culture fiends, a capital teeming with the best theatre, tango dance & local art in South America.

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