A day's affair in Mclaren Vale

A beautiful day spent at Mclaren Vale recently. We are kind of romantic birds and love to take a flight alone every now and then to absorb nature, sip a cup of coffee together and eat some good food. 

Visitor Centre is the first place to go in any area when you are travelling especially around Australia. This is the beautiful McLaren Vale Visitor Centre also emcompassing a beautiful spacious Art Gallery - The Stump Hill Art Gallery. 

You can easily spend hours in Visitor centre alone, as it has a wine tasting bar, art gallery, shop showcasing local produce and art and crafts and a cafe that sells yummmm Gelato ! 

Our next stop was this cute cafe 'Tin Shed' Cafe - a really cute little cafe in the heart of Mclaren Vale. 

Based in famous Salopian Inn, I have been meaning to come to the Vale Ale brewery ( Mclaren Vale Beer Co.) for a long time. Beautiful venue for lunch although we had some Pizza, cake and coffee and my camera's battery had died by that time (Will never forget to re-charge before taking it with me next time !). 

I believe Vale Ale is SA's 3rd largest brewery now. They offer tasting of 4 different types of beers ranging from clean crisp tasting to American style dark lager. Hmmm....Sniff, swirl, swallow.

We found it to be a perfect spot to watch the day go by...

When one door closes..

When one door closes, many others open up ! Look for the "Possibilities" today.

Bye 2011, Hello 2012

12 Photos, 12 months and a new year around the corner. 


Wish I could sum up and tell you everything that happened in my 2011 in just 12 photos. Not an easy thing, but these photos certainly hold a special meaning in my heart. 


I have no resolutions for the new year. All I know is that I am very proud to be the person I was in 2011 and I know in my heart that I will be just a better 'me' in 2012. 


Just some things, I find myself thinking with the advent of the new year, a new chapter: 


* I will nourish my body, my soul and people around me. 
* I will find ordinary more beautiful. 
* I will hear more stories of success, commitment and strength. 
* I will truly prioritise between the 'real' friends and the 'social' friends. 
* I will look for more ways to be inspired and creative than ever before. 
* I will be a little easy on myself. 
* I will take more chances and laugh at myself more than I do. 
* Something that never changes - I will love more. 
* I will remember “The best answer for a fool is silence.”
* I will start a "Love Series" on this blog. 


At this point my spirit can be defined by one of my all time favourite poems, by Maya Angelou - so fierce and majestic. Grabs me every time I read her work...and more so, she ignites my old love for writing poetry. May be that's also in store for 2012. ;) 


   Still I Rise 
  
  You may write me down in history
  With your bitter, twisted lies,
  You may trod me in the very dirt
  But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.

Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops.
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise
Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise
I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise
Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.
I rise
I rise
I rise.

Wish you all a very Happy New Year. Welcoming the new year is one thing and living it up for next 364 days is another. The latter is the challenge and the excitement that I am looking forward to. 

Welcome 2012, It'll be just awesome to meet you. 

Some moments from Diwali...