About Vanessa Pike-Russell
Vanessa Pike-Russell is an author, teacher and website designer. Born in Wollongong, NSW Australia and currently residing in Brisbane, QLD Australia.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Education in 1999, Vanessa specialised in Information Technology and Communication.
Vanessa has been writing blogs for over 20 years and has written books on land hermit crabs as pets and currently writing an autobiography.
Featured Posts
Chung Tian Buddhist Temple, Priestdale QLD Australia
Chung Tian Temple, which means “Middle Heaven”, was constructed in 1992 using…
Best Christmas present ever
The most amazing present I ever received was my first computer…
Book Review – The Family Frying Pan by Bryce Courtenay
In 2009 I won a Bryce Courtenay Fan Page Facebook competition, one…
Klare Music
Blessed by Klare KuOlga
Chung Tian Buddhist Temple, Priestdale QLD Australia
Chung Tian Temple, which means “Middle Heaven”, was constructed in 1992 using traditional Chinese Buddhist architecture – it…
Best Christmas present ever
The most amazing present I ever received was my first computer when I was 16. I begged…
Back to School
I’m officially enrolled in a Masters of Education in 2021!!! I was approved to study at the University…
Book Review – The Family Frying Pan by Bryce Courtenay
In 2009 I won a Bryce Courtenay Fan Page Facebook competition, one of eight (8) fans from NSW…
Three good friends
Three good friends went for a swim. The one who was fat wished she was thin. The…
Chung Tian Buddhist Temple, Priestdale QLD Australia
Chung Tian Temple, which means “Middle Heaven”, was constructed in 1992 using traditional Chinese Buddhist architecture – it is situated between Brisbane and Logan, Queensland. Surrounded by nature, the Temple provides a peaceful and culturally beautiful venue for the community to celebrate its multicultural diversity and multi-faith harmony through Humanistic Buddhism. TEMPLE PAGODA SCULPTURE GARDEN…
Best Christmas present ever
The most amazing present I ever received was my first computer when I was 16. I begged for one all year. One day in December I went into my mum’s room to borrow one of my mum’s jackets up in the top of the wardrobe and saw a present 🎁 I carefully lowered it…
Back to School
I’m officially enrolled in a Masters of Education in 2021!!! I was approved to study at the University of Wollongong in 2021 with a specialisation in Information and Communication Technology. It’s so exciting and yet I’m nervous at the same time. It’s been 17 years since I have studied. I had specialised in Information Technology…
Book Review – The Family Frying Pan by Bryce Courtenay
In 2009 I won a Bryce Courtenay Fan Page Facebook competition, one of eight (8) fans from NSW to be invited to the book launch of the ‘The Story of Danny Dunn’. At the luncheon, Bryce talked emotively about the Family Frying Pan and the story behind the book. The tears in Bryce’s eyes as…
Three good friends
Three good friends went for a swim. The one who was fat wished she was thin. The one who was curvy wished she was clever. The one who was clever wished she swam better. The really great swimmer wished she was witty. The one who was witty wished she was pretty. All three friends…
CHUNG TIAN BUDDHIST TEMPLE
Mandy took me to Chung Tian Buddhist Temple in Priestdale, Queensland. Such a lovely temple and sculpture garden plus tasty food in the cafe. A lovely day 🌷🦋 Chung Tian Temple is a Chan Buddhist temple located at 1034 Underwood Road, Priestdale, Queensland. The temple is part of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastic order.…
Paris Trip, 2017
In August 2017 my friends, my husband and I visited Paris for a two night, three day visit. Our friends drove us from Folkestone (near Dover) England to Calais, France in the Eurotunnel or Channel Tunnel. It was very close quarters and I found it difficult to relax, knowing that some parts of the journey…
Doctor Who Experience
In August, 2017 we visited Cardiff for the Doctor Who Experience. It was an amazing, live-changing experience. There were props from all the seasons and at one point I was able to pull down one of the instruments of the tardis! I couldn’t believe it! I took so many photos and we took part in…
Stonehenge 2017
Stonehenge August 5th, 2017 Today I visited Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England. It was an amazing experience and a highlight of our trip around England, Scotland, Wales and Paris. It was a surreal feeling being so close to the magnificent stone structure. It was an overcast day and very cold day so I was rugged up.…
Buckingham Palace Royal Mews, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the Lion King, 2017
In July and August 2017 I travelled with my husband and friends around England, Scotland, Wales, Paris and back to England. It was an amazing trip of over two weeks. By the end we were weary but boy was it worth it! Below is a journal entry of visits to Royal Mews, Buckingham Palace, Shakespeare’s…
Memoirs of a Geisha Makeover
On April 3rd, 2017 my husband and I were in Japan and I took part in a Geisha and Samurai makeover. I was very excited as I had been looking forward to it since my trip the year before that when I had to cancel my geisha makeover on my birthday. I decided that I…
Occipital Neuralgia
If you know me well you have most probably heard me talk about my sometimes debilitating neck pain and migraines. What you may not know is that I was in two accidents as a child that damaged my neck. The first was when I fell down stairs and woke up two days later with a…
Every Year
From Philip Russell on our 20th wedding Anniversary: Every Year Every year that I’m with you Has been better than before; It’s hard for me to even think How I could love you more. Every year you’ve graced my life Has been full of happiness; I love your caring face, your voice, Your tender,…
Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, Japan
On October 16th, 2020 I visited the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto, Japan with my husband Philip. Also known as the ‘Fox shrine’. Fushimi Inari Shrine (伏見稲荷大社, Fushimi Inari Taisha) is an important Shinto shrine in southern Kyoto. It is famous for its thousands of vermilion torii gates, which straddle a network of trails behind its main buildings.…
My Mother’s Death
I found out today that my Mum died in her sleep and was found on Thursday, the day after I left for Japan. I wasn’t told until now because my family didn’t want to spoil my trip but I had a bad feeling when I kept calling my Mother and she wasn’t answering. I called…
Lark Distillery, Hobart Tasmania
Lark Distillery: Tasmania’s First Single Malt Whisky since 1839. Lark Distillery was the first licensed distillery in Tasmania since 1839. It was established in 1992 to produce Australian malt whisky, rich in character with a big finish using the best Tasmanian ingredients. Lark Distillery is proudly a boutique Tasmanian owned distillery dedicated to maintaining its…
Wrest Point Casino, Hobart Tasmania
PHOTO BY TRIPADVISOR On December 14th, 2015 we stayed at Wrest Point Casino for our 19th anniversary. Such a beautiful morning! The view from our room in the Wrest a Point Casino, Hobart is amazing although there is a lot of cloud cover
Teppanyaki Bar, Raby Bay QLD
On December 14th, 2014 Philip and I enjoyed an anniversary meal at Teppanyaki Bar, Raby Bay Cleveland QLD. We chose a set meal FIRST COURSE Miso soup Salad entree Fried rice and Sir fry vegetables Moreton Bay Bug Teriyaki Snapper Teriyaki Beef Green tea icecream to finish the teppanyaki at Teppanyaki Bar
Port Vila, Vanuatu 2012
On our Pacific Dawn cruise from Brisbane to Fiji we visited Port Vila, Vanuatu. It was a beautiful location and I want to go back. There were many market stalls and I had my passport stamped. A couple on the Pacific Dawn that I photographed. We visited Warwick Le Lagon Resort & Spa…
Suva, Fiji 2012
On October 22nd, 2012 we sailed into Suva, FIji on the P&O Pacific Dawn. Suva is the capital of Fiji and highly populated. It is also the economic and cultural capital of the South Pacific, hosting the majority of regional headquarters of major corporations, as well as international agencies and diplomatic missions in the region.…
Port Denaru, Fiji
Port Denaru Fijian warriors A quick visit to the Hard Rock Cafe, Port Denaru Indigo Restaurant, Port Denarau, Fiji Philio and Vanessa with local beer and a Long Island Tea from Indigo Restaurant, Port Denarau, Fiji Mixed Seafood Curry from Indigo Restaurant, Port Denarau, Fiji Fish and chips from Indigo, Port Denarau,…
Mystery Island, 2012
Mystery Island, also known as Aneityum Island, is a small island in Vanuatu. It is an uninhabited island surrounded with crystal blue waters, filled with turtles, fish and beautiful coral. The locals from the neighbouring island caome across and set up market stalls selling cold drinks, coconuts and local handicrafts. It was a hot day…
Lifou, New Caledonia
Lifou was our first shore tour and I was amazed at the colour of the water and how friendly everyone was. The amazing Mary-Ellen of Lifou, New Caledonia. I shared her blanket and we sat and enjoyed the Coconut Crab I purchased for $34 from the market. I asked her if she would like some…
Nan Tien Buddhist Temple
On September 30th, 2008 I was a freelance photographer for Wollongong & Northern Leader and they sent me on assignment to the Nan Tien Buddhist Temple in Berkeley, Wollongong New South Wales, Australia. Nan Tien Temple, literally means “paradise of the south” in English, is the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. This…