“To me, making a tape is like writing a letter - there’s a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again. A good compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do. You’ve got to kick off with a corker, to hold the attention ….and then you’ve got to up it a notch, or cool it a notch, and you can’t have white music and black music together, unless the white music sounds like black music, and you can’t have two tracks by the same artist side by side, unless you’ve done the whole thing in pairs and…oh, there are loads of rules.”
In High Fidelity, John Cusack’s character Rob expresses much of his feelings through collating Top Five lists and mix tapes. Labouring over each song and its placement, Continue reading ‘ode to the mix tape’
I had high hopes for the week in Bali. I’d heard therapeutic-sounding tales of the island’s virtues; a place perfect for relaxation, massages and downtime. This was my main aim for the week; an island getaway.
Only two hours by plane from Darwin, the temperature was similar to the Top End; a little humid and barely dropping below 27 degrees. After being picked up from the airport by my driver, Yeoman, we whizzed through narrow streets lined with a blur of wooden furniture shops, stone statues of ancient gods, and colourful flags. We were on our way to my haven-from-the-world for the week, a ‘cultural village’ called Desa Seni.
The village is about 30 minutes from the airport in Denpasar, so Yeoman and I had time to chat on the way. He told me that after the bomb attacks at Jimbaran and Kuta in 2005, many tourists stopped coming to Bali. Now, slowly they have started to come back. Through the city streets we sped, while Yeoman pointed out some key points of interest on the way, Continue reading ‘a balinese blessing’
We’re on our way to an annual open day; the day the people of Oenpelli; or by its Aboriginal name, Gunbalanya; welcome curious visitors onto their traditional land, to share their culture and raise funds for the community. Gunbalanya is a community located about 300km east of Darwin in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Its open day is the one day of the year that members of the public are able to visit without a Northern Land Council permit. We arrive at Cahill’s Crossing, which borders Arnhem Land and Kakadu, and is the point where Kakadu ends and Arnhem Land begins. From here on in, visitors would usually require a permit.
Continue reading ‘a day trip of a lifetime’
Living in a new place is bloody exciting. New town, new territory, new job, new house, new friends, new car; barely a trace of normalcy remains in this stimulating dawn. The first few months form a whimsical honeymoon period; a time of wide-eyed discovery and exploration, when you can relish being a tourist in your new hometown. Every day is a chance to meet new people, visit a new café or walk down an unfamiliar street. There is such excitement in getting blissfully lost on your walk home from work; driving in a new direction to see what you find; and eagerly noting the must-dos for newcomers from friendly locals. Instead of spending weekends in the usual pursuits of reading, writing or reflecting; they become time to get a sense of the lay of the land, or simply find a new vantage point to contemplate your new aesthetically-pleasing surrounds from. Continue reading ‘top end magic’
“That’s why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they’d call them something else.” Sixteen Candles.
She sees him across the room at a party. Her pulse quickens and she urgently tries to look nonchalant. He walks over. She blushes obviously, stumbling on her words. She searches over his shoulder, afraid to look at his eyes, of revealing the clandestine truth; the bittersweet yet indisputable gaze of fallen-in-loved-ness; the Crush. Given its squashy-sounding name, a crush is generally viewed as a constricting rather than liberating affliction. Like a red-coloured elastic band growing tighter across your torso as the condition deepens, a gaping crimson chest wound, only to be healed by the confirmation of requital from the object of your admiration. Is a crush a joyous or dismal experience? Let’s deconstruct the lingo. Continue reading ‘i’m crushing on you’
I approached this festive season armed with a firm, virtuous, anti-consumer resolution to give experiences as gifts for Christmas. I mostly succeeded. For the parents, my sisters and I pooled our resources and bought tickets to The Outback Spectacular. For my sisters and brother-in-law, in a bid to aid family bonding, I gave vouchers for us all to embark on a tobogganing safari on our annual family holiday at Moreton Island. Tangalooma Resort is a hive of activity at this time of the year; even with the recent bad weather moving across the coast, inciting rainy, grey days. Continue reading ‘a happy, sandy Christmas present’
At a time such as Christmas, you may be able to relate to the sense of coming home, visiting family and old friends, and reconciling your old and new lives. These themes are present in Julie Delpy’s quirky new film, ‘2 Days in Paris’, due for release on Boxing Day. Being a Delpy fan, I went along to see an advanced screening and loved the film’s pace, its repartee, and its characters. If you are new to Julie Delpy’s work, this is a perfect showcase of the many strings to her bow; she wrote, directed, scored and acted in ‘2 Days in Paris’, and her whimsical songs are also featured. She also co-wrote the wonderful ‘Before Sunset’ with Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater; and its witty and insightful dialogue continues in ‘2 Days in Paris’. Continue reading ‘2 days in paris’
What is that fundamental force that informs people’s decisions in life; why one person chooses one path and the other follows another? Like a strong undercurrent pulling a swimmer outside of the flags, and then further out to sea; or the driving force pushing the dreamer to follow that rainbow in search of the elusive pot of gold. For Dan Lethbridge, this pot of gold was a successful music career, and he chose Melbourne as the place to do it.
Dan is a writer, musician and performer who played in a band in Brisbane before moving to Melbourne. His love of music started early thanks to his parents who introduced it to him at a young age, living in country Queensland. He listened to music throughout his childhood and learnt to play the guitar at the ripe old age of ten.
“I have my Dad to thank for that. He took me to a communal garage sale one day and we spotted an old nylon-string acoustic. We bought the guitar and a beginner’s chord book and I went home and started learning Kris Kristofferson songs,” Dan says. Continue reading ‘dreamers of the world unite’
If you didn’t already have an excuse to eat out during the looming festive season, then StreetSmart Australia may provide you with a more meaningful motivation. From now until 24 December, dining out at selected Brisbane and Sunshine Coast restaurants gives you the chance to help people affected by homelessness in Australia.Through donating $2 when you pay your bill, 100% of your contribution will help StreetSmart to fund educational and arts programs, provide accommodation and resources for homeless people. Past projects have included the establishment of homeless choirs, young mothers’ groups, art therapy for young children affected by domestic violence, refurbishment of accommodation and computer resources for a women’s refuge. Nearly $115,000 was raised in 2006. To find participating restaurants, visit the website.
While horse riding schools, horse racing groups and general lovers of the steed throughout
Australia are reeling from the recent bout of equine flu, it’s heartening to know that a string of these gentle giants are happy and healthy in some parts of the state. With many schools and groups closed down during this time of epidemic, Clip Clop Treks at Lake
Weyba are still operating, albeit not at maximum capacity. Strict regulations have been imposed upon horse businesses by the Department of Primary Industries. When we booked the ride, we were asked to give our guides a call so they could meet us at the gate and spray our car tyres with disinfectant. We weren’t allowed to take our own riding boots to avoid the disease spreading.
Owner, Lyn tells me (yelling over her shoulder) that business has been slow since the outbreak. Continue reading ‘a horse lover’s haven’
Brisbane seems to be the word on the lips of film and play buffs during October. Playwrights and movie makers are using our sunny capital as their inspiration in productions on show this month. All my friends are leaving Brisbane explores themes which may resonate to a 20-something Brisbaneite and potentially with this age group universally; being single, friends moving on, hating your job and finding your place in the world. Do I move to London? Or do I tread the well-worn path to Sydney? Why is everyone leaving Brisbane? The film was showcased at this year’s Brisbane International Film Festival, written by Stephen Vagg (who also plays a part in the film) and directed by Louise Alston. Set in Brisbane, the film is a celebration of our town with the soundtrack including local acts Giants of Science and Dave McCormack. Onstage, Perfect Ten offers a group of ten Brisbane playwrights the chance to present ten plays with just ten minutes each to tell their Brisbane-centric tales. The plays provide sketches of different threads of life in Brisbane including public transport, the State of Origin, living in a small town and homelessness. Perfect Ten will be performed at the Judith Wright Centre from 23 to 25 October and you can book online or by phoning the box office on 3872 9000.
In the spirit of slowing down and living a calmer life, ex-editor of The Big Issue magazine, Martin Hughes has recently released the first edition of The Slow Guides, books dedicated to being unhurried and living a less fretful life. The Slow Guide to Melbourne and The Slow Guide to
Sydney were produced to “…celebrate all that’s local, natural, traditional, sensory and most of all gratifying about living in Sydney and Melbourne.” The goal is to slow down and live up. A good way to put this ethos into practice pronto is to partake in Walk to Work Day on Friday 5 October. The national event aims to get people walking; whether you walk all or part of the way to work, or alight early from the bus; just walk in some way. The benefits are countless; improved mental and physical health, better air quality, less CO2 emissions and less reliance on cars. I am looking forward to seeing a Slow Guide to Brisbane sometime soon.
Today, at a glorious Friday forum of like-minded souls sharing tales and support, I heard many stories of how young Australian scribes, illustrators, bloggers and editors have arrived at their current place in life. The tale of an individual’s journey in the world has always fascinated me; where someone came from, where have they been, what have they learnt; how they ended up where are they now. Especially when I aspire to similar heights.
This is a mere snapshot of two of the many people who inspired me today. Continue reading ‘inspiration is everywhere’
After inhaling Penelope Green’s first literary offering within 24 hours, I was chuffed to discover that she has written another tale, See Naples and Die. Penelope moved from Sydney to Rome five years ago and her best-selling When in Rome captured her baby-steps in the country beautifully; learning the language, understanding the culture, making friends and fighting bureaucratic visa requirements. In her second story, See Naples and Die, Penelope has been in Italy for three years and has been offered a job in her chosen career as a journalist in Naples, a city famed for its crime and social problems.
Through her job, she meets a varied and eclectic mix of Neapolitans, in a bid to understand the city she now calls home. As Penelope peppers their stories throughout the second book, a greater historical and social side of Italy is uncovered. Both books were inspirational chronicles of the life and adventures of a tenacious and curious expat working out that perennial question we all sometimes grapple with: Where is my place in the world?
Today marks the International Day of Peace, set aside by the United Nations as a global tap-on-the-shoulder about the importance of peace throughout the world. As part of a United Nations Resolution, all countries within the UN uphold that September 21 will be observed as a day of peace throughout the world, including a Global Ceasefire. Apart from maintaining a generally peaceful, loving air and avoiding conflict on an individual level; there are many other proactive ways of being involved in International Peace Day, including having a Peace Day party or planning a local event.
As part of the international event, the Global Mala Project uses the peaceful practise of yoga to celebrate the event, through a collective session of 108 Sun Salutations. A group of yoga teachers will be leading a practise at Yen Yoga Studio on Saturday 22 September, with all proceeds going towards the worthwhile community organisation Rosie’s Van which provides food for Brisbane’s homeless. Namaste.
The Pasha Bulker has gone, but Newcastle is bracing itself for a new ‘media circus’ to wash up on its shores. A swag of young writers, bloggers, artists, publishers and general creative-types will descend on the seaside city for five days of workshops, boot camps, debates and maybe some major epiphanies at the Young Writer’s Festival. The event is a chance for young fledglings to be scouted by publishers, chat to other like-minded souls or just learn about the ways of writers across various genres and media. But it’s also interactive. Organisers tout it as ‘a DIY, hands-on conversation between equals.’
The *free* event includes Australia’s largest Zine and Independent Press Fair on the Sunday at the park. The Young Writer’s Festival is held from 27 September to 1 October and is part of the This Is Not Art (TiNA) festival, which attracts “…independent musicians, journalists, artists, performers, activists, nerds and lovers-of-ginger-beer” along also. The collaboration of such a crew in one place can only mean Fun with a capital F. A lot of chat, writing, ideas, creativity and chaos are predicted. And with Virgin Blue now offering a direct service to Newcastle from Brisbane, my flights are booked already.
To cope with the strain of a stressful day, some people choose to return to their homes, implant themselves firmly in the couch to relax and unwind. Some prefer a long run or yoga class to release the pent up tension and clear their minds. Yesterday, after a particularly trying day, I sought refuge in the calming company of my dog, Saffy Shannon. The hysterically excited greeting with which she welcomes me, the way she lies on the carpet to scratch her tummy, the way she ‘talks’ when trying to contribute to a human conversation; I immediately relax and all is well with the world. The Botox-like benefits of a trip to Nudgee Beach with Saf are palpable; I return refreshed with flushed cheeks, seemingly lighter shoulders and the forehead crease which was a firm fixture during the day, now difficult to discern.
Continue reading ‘various remedies for dog days’
On the surface, the process of planning a trip to Buenos Aires is a sweet one. The name of the Argentinean capital conjures up a mix of eclectic images: tango, street art, warm and welcoming portenos and Evita Peron. But on closer inspection and a bit of digging, the vibrant exterior of the city dubbed the ‘Paris of the South’, veils a not-so-shiny truth. In 2001, Argentina declared the largest debt default in modern history, causing a period of unprecedented poverty, crime and unemployment. It doesn’t take much scratching of the surface to discover signs of this still exist today. It’s reported that 40% of the population of Argentina lives below the poverty line. On the streets of Buenos Aires today, a common sight is that of the ‘cartoneros’ or ‘cardboard men’ who scavenge through people’s rubbish for paper, cardboard, glass and plastic to sell for recycling. They’re extremely poor, and often foreign. However, many of these people are formerly skilled workers who have been forced to scour the streets for a living due to the unemployment rate in the country which has been as high as 25%. The cartoneros earn a meagre living, competing with rubbish-collection companies hired by the Buenos Aires city government, which collect 4,500 to 5,000 tons of rubbish every day and transport it to dumps on the outskirts of the city. Continue reading ‘the cardboard men in the paris of the south’
I consider myself to be environmentally aware. I try as hard as the next person to watch every drop, turn off lights, disregard my car and use green bags at Coles. I recently gave myself a stern talking-to when discovering that a train within spitting distance from my house travelled straight to my work train station on the other side of town, and I had been needlessly driving to work every day for the last six months.
But lately the nay saying, doomsday prophecies of the looming climate change issue have been a heavy burden to bear. Some days it seems that all I hear is bad news on climate change with the apparently endless gloomy predictions forecasting our unavoidable collision course with a climate cataclysm….But I am refreshingly buoyed by the organisations and groups which are bantering positive word about, particularly regarding the practical, achievable things we, as individuals, can be doing now to help, and help considerably. The state government has been promoting Change a Light Bulb Day, which is this weekend and touts the good news that if every household in Queensland replaces just one light bulb in their home, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would be the same as taking more than 42,000 vehicles off the road. I thought that was a fairly amazing forecast. Continue reading ‘note to self: change one light bulb this saturday’
Aspiring to develop your career behind the lens? Embracing the increasing power of citizen journalism and the beauty of kismet, a UK-based website is giving exposure to the work of talented fledgling news photographers throughout the world. Scoopt enables would-be photographers (or anyone with a camera and a savvy eye for newsworthy vistas) to sell their work through various media, gain an income and increase their profile. Rookie photographers simply register their details online, ensure a camera or camera phone is firmly strapped to their person at all times, then wait for the photo ops to happen. Scoopt accepts photos with news currency and interest and a lot of the photos seem to be taken by people simply at the right place at the right time: their mantra is ‘Be prepared!’ Some categories in which photos are grouped include Breaking News, Famous People, Natural Disaster and Protests and Demonstrations. Once photographers submit their images to Scoopt, Scoopt act as an agent, marketing and trying to sell the images through a worldwide network of media contacts. If the work sells, the photographer receives 40% of the gross sale price after taxes. The site also has a pretty interesting blog in which ‘Scoopters’ swap tips and generally wax photographical.
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