These are a few of my favourite things.

Favourite Things. 

I have always had a fondness for nice things around the house and in particular items with an Asian influence. I love nothing better than arranging and then rearranging ornaments as I collect them and when I do the dusting. I have collected many pieces myself from antique bazaars ,op shops, gift shops and received many as gifts from family and friends. I have a mouse collection and a monkey collection. However, my favourite is my Asian collection, which includes vases, boxes and figures. I have also saved the lovely things that my daughter has given me for Mother's Day as a child and they sit proudly on my chest of drawers. I have some great jewellery pieces too, which I will share at a later date. For now please enjoy a look at my favourite collection.

My Asian Collection

This is the dancing Cambodian figurine that my daughter brought back from her trip to Cambodia. She sits on top of my chest of drawers in the bedroom.

My other figurine is of a Chinese lady that was also given to me by my daughter and she too sits in my bedroom. I have written a story about her and called her Weng Lai. 

Two silver boxes from Cambodia that my  daughter also brought back with her. The rectangle one I keep my three chain bracelets in and the hexagonal one has a perfumed candle inside that I have not burnt yet.

My two lotus T light candle holders that my friend no longer wanted. Love them.They look great lighted.

Two incense burners and an oil burner. Great for fragrances.

Black ceramic Buddha with T light lotus candle holder in front that looks lovely when illuminated.

Got this one in Bali a few years ago. Glows a beautiful red when lit from behind.

Chinese man candle holder.Very impressive in his robes and hat.

This one is actually a candle that I have never had the heart to light. I like it too much.

Silver banana leaf dish. Bought in Bali.

Silver Buddha sitting in black pebbles in black dish. Sits on my coffee table.

A girlfriend gave me this dish with cover for a birthday.

Green ceramic fish candle holder bought at Asian store.

Wooden box for holding incense which it does. Kept on coffee table.

Tibetan metal tube for holding scrolls. What a find at the op shop. 

Chinese figurine given to me when I left a job. 

Another op shop find of a Japanese tea ceremony

Ceramic Asian style horse. Had it for years and don't know where I got it from.

Love my seated Buddhas, I find them so calming. Bought in a gift shop.

Another calming influence are my two meditation ladies. 

Metal seated Indian girl meditating. Looks lovely with a candle in front of her.

My shrine. Bought in Springvale in a Veitnamese shop. Stands in the hallway on a small table.

Balinese puppet bought on holiday there.

Two bamboo candle holders and my fish one.

My black Buddha sits on my stereo between  Balinese candle holder in red and a Chinese wooden jewellery box.

Chinese doll in her blue garb found in a shop in Hong Kong.

These belonged to my mother and when she died I inherited them. 

Balinese lady bought on holiday there. Carved in wood.

Buddha

Japanese girl given to me by a friend who went to Japan.

Little gold Buddha.

Three vases in blue.

Small incense burner.

White moon vase.

Green faux jade [plastic] given to me by my mother.

Blue jar. Ceramic.

Three ginger jars.

Blue oriental plate. 

Two terracotta warriors from Xian China.

Ganesh found in a gift shop.

Ganesh in black.

Painted rock with gold Buddha.

Picture of the Buddha.

Buddha head. Ceramic.

Flinders. A Quiet Little Treasure on the Peninsula.

Our next trip was to a tranquil sleepy village called Flinders, on the Mornington Peninsula, about an hour and a half from Melbourne on Western Port Bay. We are lucky as it is only a twenty five minute drive from our house and is a real treasure. From the car park  you get a wonderful view of the pier and out over Philip Island and specifically the Nobbies [where all the seals rest].

Walking down the beach here is interesting as there are cliffs above. Around the pier are fishing boats and yachts. There is always something to hold your interest.

Things to do in Flinders.

The Flinders Hotel is one place to eat but there are cafes and a bakery. Of course fish and chips always go down well in this sort of setting. The area also has many vineyards and wineries that you can visit. 

Gift and speciality stores are on offer in Flinders to browse around. If you are feeling more active there is a golf course with stunning views out over the back beach. Fishing is another occupation if you are interested or perhaps you could take a bush walk. If photography is an interest there are wild ocean coast lines to capture from the lookout at the back of Flinders.

 We spent our time driving around checking out the different views and looking at the holiday houses in he area. It is such a quaint little seaside resort. Unfortunately time ran out and we had to go back to Balnarring for an appointment, so decided to have lunch there. This is another little gem of a town with a great little shopping strip.

 We ate at the local bakery and their pies were delicious. After lunch we ended our day at a friends house in Bittern. She had come with us on our little adventure and we had a great day out. We had a cup of tea at her place and showed her our scrapbooks that we had made of our recent trip to Europe.