The gift of Giving

Just thought I would mention that when choosing presents for your friends and family this Christmas you may want to avoid the busy shopping centres and buy online from an organisation who will put the money from your purchase to a good cause. Oxfam have an online shop selling lots of great stuff you can buy for yourselves and others, or they even have the option of buying gifts for impoverished communities (such as a town well) if you want to buy a really amazing present. the anti-people trafficking website notforsale also have an online store selling some really cool stuff, or you could simply get onto google and browse for free trade websites or eco-friendly products. As consumers every time we buy something we are supporting the industry we purchase from. Why not put your money to a good cause next time you are buying a gift, not only will you be doing something positive for the world but you will also find some really unique gifts that shopping malls don't have. If we really want to change the world the best way to do it is not by trying to 'develop' others, but by changing our own behavior so that it supports the things we believe in. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a happy new year.

Some More On People Trafficking

After recently watching the film THE JAMMED my interest in human trafficking has been growing. Illegal trafficking of humans is a horrific and huge global industry that exists in every continent and most countries. It is a phenomenon that is absolutely unnacteptable and must be put to an end. Below is a list of organisations that are working to stop human trafficking and some statistics on the problem taken from www.stopthetraffik.org. If you are looking for a just cause to become involved in, there is none more crucial then putting an end to people trafficking.

At least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide. Of these 2.4 million are as a result of human trafficking. A global alliance against forced labor, International Labour Organisation, 2005

600,000-800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors. US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2005

Human trafficking is the third largest source of income for organised crime, exceeded only by arms and drugs trafficking. UN office on drugs and crime

It is the fastest growing form of international crime, already generating 7 billion dollars per year in criminal proceeds. There are even reports that some trafficking groups are switching their cargo from drugs to human beings, in a search of high profits at lower risk. UN office on drugs and crime

For more information see www.stopthetraffik.org, www.notforsalecampaign.org, www.catwinternational.org, www.humantrafficking.org, www.ahavakids.org, www.actnow.com.au/Issues/Human_trafficking.aspx, www.humantraffickingsearch.net/, www.humantrafficking.com, http://gvnet.com/humantrafficking/

It's been a big year for Australian music, and this year's all aussie homebake music festival had a line-up that just couldn't be missed. Arriving around three, we started the day with Blue King Brown who, as always, put on an awesome show and had the day off to a good start. Next we caught a bit of The Beautiful Girls, before heading over to chill out for a while and watch Angus and Julia Stone. Then it was back to the big top for a sweaty Midnight Juggernauts session and we followed this up with the days best performance by Goyte. After Gotye we headed to Architecture in Helsinki and I had to call it a day as a day of drinking doubles in the sun had started to take its toll on me and a severe headache had me aiming for bed. All in all, the day was a nice warm up session for January's BIG DAY OUT..

People Trafficking

The illegal trafficking of women for the sex trade industry is a global phenomenon that exists in every country and quite likely in places not to far from where you live. A recent Australian film called THE JAMMED is a shocking and truly essential film about this industry in the city of Melbourne. Based on real life court transcripts THE JAMMED tells the story of three young girls trafficked to Melbourne where they are imprisoned and forced to work in a sleazy brothel. A film that is hugely depressing, it is also a must see for anyone who is unaware of how real and prolific the trafficking industry is, and the unfair way in which trafficked women are treated by national authorities should they manage to escape their captors. If anyone interested in reading more about this topic they should also check out a book by Louise Brown, titled simply SEX SLAVES.

Dreaming Lhasa Fundraiser

Last night CC Supporters of Tibet had their screening of the amazing Tibetan film Dreaming Lhasa as a fundraising event for the Australia Tibet Council. The night was a huge success with over 100 people attending and much funding and awareness being raised. The film itself was excellent and Avoca Beach Picture Theatre provided us with exceptional support. For me personally, the film showed me that with enough work we really can make a difference. All of you out there stay motivated and keep working, my achievement was small, but it was an achievement. We can do this, we can bring Tibet its freedom!

Bomb Harvest

Over 35 years ago, during the Vietnam War, American bombs rained down on Laos in the 'Secret War', leaving it the most bombed country in history. The deadly legacy of this destruction continues today, with the country still scattered with unexploded ordinance. Bomb Harvest is a documentary film about one volunteer Australian and a team of Lao Trainees working to disarm and destroy the endless bombs still embedded in Laos soil. A film that transports the viewer to another place, a place of both hardship and joy, Bomb Harvest is a highly emotional film that is a must see. I checked it out today and was left feeling touched by the lives of the Lao people, and the children who unwantingly uncover dangerous bombs while "digging for crickets to eat".

Bob Dylan Completed

Just finished the next in my recent collection of musicians. Bob Dylan has just been finished and (hopefully) sold to a buyer of one of the Hendrix works. Not sure what i will work on now, possibly have to do another Hendris for a lady but if not i'd like to do something different... you will just have to wait and see I guess

A Night of Burlesque

Going for a night out at Sydney's 34B burlesque club has been on my 'things i should probably check out one day' list for quite a long time now, and I finally managed to make it down on Saturday for the Belladonnas de lux performance. A mix of acting and striptease, the night was far more humorous than erotic, but that was what we had in mind anyway. I wouldn't say that the show was amazing, but it was definitely entertaining and well worth the measly $15 entry fee. I'm not sure that i will be returning for another night of burlesque anytime soon, but I think i'll have to stick around at the Great Escape music festival next year and catch some of the performers on there...

PARKLIFE

10:am- Crack first beer - drive to train station
11:am- Crack first bourbon- get on train
12:30am- Finish last bourbon- hit first pub on the way to centennial
1:30pm- Settle into last pub to hit up some more drinks and form the full sized crew
2:30pm- Head in to centennial, get loose. lose mates, find mates, lose them again.
3:30- Scratch Perverts, jump around, lose some mates and find some others.
5:00- The Herd. watch half the show then head to MSTRKRFT half way through, running into mate who jumped the fence on the way.
7:00- Digitalism. show of the day.
7:50- Busy P. - pretty average so leave to check out Derrick Carter. slightly better but down to 2 mates. good mates tho.
8:45- Justice. - Could have been alot better, too many people pushing in and out.
10:45 leave. head to pub for schooner before train, meet up with mates at pub...
Day Over. No photos sorry, didn't feel like posing or snapping so it will all have to remain as fuzzy memories. Damn good fuzzy memories.

Hendrix Reborn

My Second Hendrix piece has just been completed and sold. And all in time for extra Parklife spending money. I've been commisioned now to do a Bob Dylan portrait in similar style to the Hendrix work so stay tuned for images of that piece...

Lunar Eclipses, Fire Twirlers, and Bongo Beats

I'm sure a Lunar eclipse is not as exciting now as it would have been in Pagan or neolithic times when it probably would have signified the dawning of a new era, the fury of the gods, or the prescence of great evil, but it was still a pretty amazing thing to see. I headed down to a local coastal spot with my brother and some friends to watch it all take place and we enjoyed some fire twirling and a little bongo playing. Couldn't manage to get any good photos of the moon, but i did manage to get a few cool ones of the fire twirlers...

Keep Fighting

Whenever we read about the conditions of the South, the East, or the Third World, the literature is filled with depressing statistics and figures on infant mortality rates, levels of inequality, starvation, corruption, and so on. And indeed the South is suffering tragically and undeservingly every day. However, for those who are fighting for a better world I thought it would be nice to read some information on some positive changes. According to Wiarda, over the past 40 years "Per-Capita income in the developing world have nearly quadrupled between 1960 and 2000, going from approximately $300 per person per year in 1960 to nearlyy $1,200 today. Life expectancy has risen from forty-six to seventy-three years, while infant mortality has dropped from 150 per one thousand births to about fifty. Primary school enrollments are the highest they have ever been in the developing world, and literacy rates worldwide have jumped from 25 percent to over 50 percent. World food production has risen dramatically; populous Chine and India, both of which faced mass starvation in the 1970's, have seen food quadruple and have become self-sufficient in foodstuffs" (2004, 162-163)
Of course, development is far more complex and far more diverse then the general indicators mentioned by Wiarda, and the need for dedication to development by all the world is still an enormous issue. However, what can be said of Wiarda's findings is this; Development workers are slowly making progress in this difficult battle. While much stills needs to be, much has also already been achieved and development workers of any form should hold their head high, be proud, and keep pushing to create a better world!

Sean Wrong

Theres a link on the side of my page under good people called Sean Wrong. It'll take you to the blog of a friend of mine who happens to be pumping out some top notch music mixes that you could probably call 'dance', (although thats a far too generalized term). The mixes are downloadable from his blog and are some of the best non-commercial stuff you will find. The man has talent, check it out!

RALPH magazine discovers model Amie Thompson.

RALPH magazine recently shot its hottest photo shoot ever in its May 07' issue, of Australian model Miss Amie Thompson. A woman who is perfect in every way, miss Thompson has the looks to be the next big thing in Australian modelling. At only 21 Amie has already featured in RALPH magazines 2007 'Girls of RALPH' booklet, and one can expect to see much more of this gorgeous blonde goddess in future years. To contact Amie Thompson's manager email thompson_management@hotmail.com

Hendrix Sells out..

Thanks to Avoca Beach restaurant Funky Kitchen allowing me to display my Artwork of Jimi Hendrix, I have just made my first sale of an artwork, and have been commisioned to paint another work. Jimi Hendrix will no longer be gracing the walls of Funky Kitchen, however I will be working hard to put another musical great in his place.

Bouddi National Park.

Took the digital camera out for a bit of a test run this weekend in the beautiful Bouddi national park. Spent about 1 1/2 hours taking a few shots and got some pleasing results... Looking forward to spending some time exploring the rest of the park for some photo opportunities. This post has since been updated with new photos as I spend more time in the park...

ATC Market stall

The Central Coast Supporters of Tibet held their Australia Tibet Council market stall for the second time today at Terrigal Gourmet Food and Art Markets. Though a quiet day at the markets, we still managed to hand out lots of stickers and information pamphlets, and to raise some money for the Australia Tibet Council by selling Buddhist greeting cards and taking donations. Looking forward to next month and our upcoming screening of Dreaming Lhasa at Avoca Beach Theatre!

Farewell my Angel

My beautiful girlfriend has just taken off for 6 months of travelling through Asia. I'm going to miss her so much, but i'm also so happy that she has been lucky enough to go on such an amazing trip. Have a great time Amie. xxxxx

Into Great Silence..

Into Great Silence is a film about solitude, meditation, and beautiful scenery. Watching the film is a meditation in itself as the absence of dialogue creates a sense of awareness and alertness that induces a stilling of the mind. An excellent film that is far too long, Into Great Silence goes for almost three hours! Two hours would have certainly been enough, but if you do check it out you have to see it through to catch one of the final scenes involving the old monks taking time out to slide down the snowy mountainside.

ATC market stand

This Saturday began CC supporters of Tibet's not for profit stand at the Terrigal Gourmet Food and Art markets, and considering it was our first time at the markets everything went reasonably well. We managed to sell some raffle tickets, take in some donations, and hand out plenty of free Tibet stickers for people to put on their cars. We also managed to meet some great people who showed an interest in the Tibetan crisis. Screening the Tibetan photo projects films proved to be a bit difficult due to power problems though we did manage to play Voices in exile once before the power cut out, and to pass on this film to a Tibetan activist. Hopefully we will be holding this stall every second Saturday of the month from now onwards, selling artworks, promoting awareness, and meeting new people, so come down and check out our stall and the rest of the markets.

Contemporary art & Beautiful Girls

Friday the 13th didn't hold any superstitious bad luck for me and my mates when we headed to the Metro to watch the Beautiful Girls. I started the day with my beautiful girl, and headed to the museum of contemporary art to check out the Latin American exhibition. The gallery was a mix of some really interesting stuff and a lot of boring stuff. Worth a look for sure (but certainly no lifetime experience), after an hour or two it was time to meet up with the others for some dinner in chinatown and pre-show drinks...
Although it wasn't the Beautiful Girls best performance, with the help of much drinking and some good company we all ended up having a pretty awesome night. Our usual pre-metro drink spot the Star bar kick started us all off, and with the help of some back stage contacts (possibly), we managed to hear the songs we wanted to be played. The only thing that hurt was the 3:30am get home, as the next day I had to run a Tibetan stall at the local markets...

Funky hangs Hendrix

Local restaurant Funky Kitchen is a cool little place that sits just across the road from the beautiful Avoca Beach. Already serving up amazing food and a cruisy atmosphere, Funky Kitchen just got even better by hanging my Jimi Hendrix artwork on its walls... So head on in for some fine dining, some cool music, and the opportunity to buy some local artwork, both by myself and by another local photographer who has some incredible panoramic images on display.

Letter of the Month

Check out this month's RALPH magazine to see my letter of the month winning entry. I managed to get my drawing of my Beautiful girlfriends photo shoot published, and scored myself a $500 Russel Athletic clothing pack! Happy times.

Homegrown

Local beaches pumped out some awesome swell last week and surfers and photographers alike made the most of the perfect conditions. The photo pictured was taken at our local beach by my cousin Chris, and the image and another photo taken by him can be found on www.tracksmag.com's homegrown section. Top shot mate!

Parties, People, and Past Times

These photos are a collection of images from past parties, music gigs, etc. They are a collection of good times had with good people.

Vietnam.

In Vietnam I was lucky enough to travel with my three best mates for a month and the result was a trip that could never be repeated!Heading south from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh we visited, Hoi-an, Hue, & Nha Trang. We visited the Cu Chi war Tunnels, Halong Bay, and rode moto's to empty beaches for Seafood Lunches. We rode cyclo's in Saigon, and did a 10m jump off into an isolated waterfall. Most of our time in Vietnam was spent at night however, where we hit the pubs & clubs for some serious pool comps, some jenga with the locals, & on one night a 3am birthday dinner celebration with a large group of Vietnamese. This trip through Viet was a once in a lifetime adventure that will never be forgotton. Sean, kimbo, and Robbo, thanks for the good times.

China 2004

In March 2004 I set out on my first solo overseas adventure, traveling from Hong Kong to Beijing. This trip was an absolutely amazing experience for me that helped to open my eyes to the diversity in the world. I visited the great wall, the world's biggest Buddha statue, and a Giant Panda conservation reserve. I stayed in a 2000 year old monastery, explored Yangshou's limestone Karsts, and saw a live performance of the Shaolin monks. The best part of traveling in China however was the people I met and the simple act of being on the road. If i have anything to recommend to people traveling to China it is to get amongst the local transport, shopping centres, etc, and to visit monkey jane's hotel in Yangshou! Jane's is a really cool little guest house/hotel and if you want to see the best that Yangshou has to offer, Jane is definitely your girl...
China, Jane, I will be back!

ItinerArt

The above pieces are by my father and I. Works by myself contain the symbol * after the title, while pieces by my father contain the title only. For information on purchasing please leave details and questions by clicking the COMMENTS link below this text. Artwork Sizes (in cm): Female Perfection, Chinese Minority Tribe 60x50, Madonna's Dream 45x36, Birds of Paradise 60x55, Lady of the Lake & 2 Crickets 76x51, Lady of Shallot 90x60, Stewie Griffin 35x28, Untitled 120x80, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Intolerance, Blue Guitar 60x42, Evil Monkey, Jimi Hendrix,

Dalai Lama does public appearance in Sydney

On Friday the 15th & Saturday the 16th of June, the Dalai Lama presented two public talks at the Domain in Sydney. It was a very wet & cold weekend, and the weather did put a bit of the dent in the crowds. I attended the Friday session to hear the Dalai Lama discuss achieving outer peace through inner peace. In the morning I handed out pamphlets for the Australia Tibet council & we got through about 12 000 pamphlets which was a good result considering the weather. Seeing the Dalai Lama was an inspirational event, however the highlight of the day would have to have been knowing that I was making a personal attempt to help the Tibetan people.

Tibetan Buddhism

The Tibetan people are some of the most spiritual people in the world. This short video is a tribute to Tibetan Buddhism made by the Tibetan Photo Project. For more images, videos, and information on Tibet, check out www.thetibetanphotoproject.com
The beauty of this organisations' work is that much of their footage has been filmed by exiled Tibetans, and therefore provides us with an insider perspective of Tibetan culture. For other tibetanphotoproject videos on youtube, see the following links,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTlRXnCUzMI, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3umTc3twP6M, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-de3Qz0pzU, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PgcDOHH1lE, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cL3KL2yNpow, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yAmHfhyvBs, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDy_at_ouQg, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58KRnJk1DzU

Peru

So far Peru is the only South American nation I have visited (aside from 8hours at Santiago airport), but it definitely made me want to see what the rest of the continent has to offer. Peru is place of great diversity. On one side of the you have the heights of the Peruvian Andes, the Inca trail, and Machu Picchu, while on the other side you have the lowlands of the Amazon jungle.
In 2004 I spent a month traveling through Peru with a couple of cool English lads and lasses, and a slightly annoying American couple. Beginning in Lima we headed to Pisco where we took a boat trip to the Ballestas Islands to see some Sea lions and more birds then you will see in a BBC documentary. From here we traveled out to Nazca to see the famous Nazca lines, which I personally found more amazing as photographs than when you see them up close. Next stop was Arequipa where we visited the Santa Catalina monastery and dined on the traditional Peruvian meal of the Guinea Pig! After chilling out in picturesque Arequipa we headed to Lake Titicaca where we visited the reed islands of the Uros people and did an overnight homestay with some very short Peruvians. The night on lake Titicaca was one of the coldest nights I've ever experienced, and although it was a beautiful place it was good to be heading on to the famous city of Cuzco.
Originally built in the shape of a Puma, Cuzco is the starting and finishing point for the Inca trail, and is one of the coolest city's in the world. The nightlife in this little gem is some of the best you will find in the world, not because the pubs are anything special but because the vibe is so positive. We would be back to Cuzco in a few days, but for now we were off to do the Inca trail.
Day one of the trail was relatively easy and was mostly spent admiring the amazing scenery of the Andes. On day two of the Inca trail it snowed down heavily on us all morning and we were told it was the first time it had snowed in this part of Peru in fifteen years. At lunch we were also told that if the snow didn't lighten up we might have to abort the trek, but luckily for us the rest of the day was cold and dry. Day three of the trek was for me the most enjoyable, and i managed to spend most of the day walking with no one in sight in front or behind me. Day four is the big one, Machu Picchu. Starting out at 5am I ran the entire the distance of the days trek in the dark. My hope was to make it to the sun gate before the sun had risen, but to this effect I failed. I did manage to be the first of the trail to see Machu Picchu however, and to see this amazing place completely empty of tourists. After spending the rest of the day exploring the ruins and climbing Wanu picchu, it was time to head back to Cuzco...
We arrived back in Cuzco just in time for Inti Rami, the festival of the sun, we we drank corn beer, played soccer amongst Incan ruins, and saw some locals with an anaconda skin. I thin we all could have happily stayed in Cuzco for a few more days, were we not on our way to the Amazon Jungle.
The first thing that must be said about the Amazon is that it is exactly like you see in all the documentaries. There are animals everywhere! From Caimans, to Macaws, to Tarantula's and monkey's we saw it all. My only regret for the Amazon was that we couldn't stay longer... it's a place I simply must return to. Unfortunately, the end of my time in the Amazon also meant the end of my time in Peru, and after a day or two in Lima I was on a flight a home.

Thailand 06.

Thailand is one of those places you can never get tired of. The people are some of the friendliest in the world, the beaches are just paradise, and you can travel on a pretty cheap budget. I have been to Thailand three times now, but my time there in February 06' was probably the most fun i've ever had. Traveling with two of my best mates and my amazing girlfriend, we spent a month cruising around the southern end of this awesome country.

Starting in the energetic Khao San road (in Bangkok), we took the overnight bus to phuket. In phuket we partied on Sang Som and the girls hit the beach for some parasailing. Phuket was a cool place but the crowd was a bit old and as far as Thailand goes accommodation was a little expensive. From here we headed to Phi Phi island, where we chilled on the beach for a week, visited beautiful Maya Bay, and got legless on buckets filled with half a bottle of Thai whiskey. We could have easily spent the whole month on Phi Phi but there was just so much more to see. Next stop was Krabi but although it was really cheap there, we were only stopping over on our way to Khao Sok national park where we swam in rainforest waterfalls, payed $5AUD for our accommodation, and trekked to see the biggest flower in the world. Spending some time away from the coast was a cool experience, and it was here that we went elephant trekking and had the best fruit shakes of the whole trip. After Khao sok, Me and the Girls headed to Koh tao for some snorkelling and some putt putt, while my best mate headed to Koh Samui to catch up with some friends from a previous trip. On Koh Tao we had a bungalow probably 10 metres from the waters edge, and the beach was for resort guests only. In Koh Tao we snorkelled with reef sharks, tucked into banana pancakes, and the girls went diving. Koh Tao was probably my favorite part of Thailand, and after spending a week relaxing here we headed to Koh Phangan for the full moon party. After meeting back up with our other mate we hit the beach in Koh Phangan (with about 10 000 other tourists) for the 3rd biggest party in the world. Food poisoning limited my drinking a bit but we all had an awesome time and we even stumbled on some mates from school amongst the massive crowd. Sadly, Koh Phangan meant the end of our trip so we headed back to Bangkok for a few final days of drinking, and some shopping...

Thailand 06' was an great trip with some great mates. It has to be done again.

Travelling Australia

Luckily for me, I don't need to go anywhere near a plane to travel in the best country in the world. Of all the places i've been, there is still nothing better then going camping with mates somewhere on the Australian coast. The photos in the slide show are of a few trips up the Aussie east coast to Seal Rocks, Byron Bay, and as far north as Cape tribulation and the Daintree Rainforest. These trips were a mix of BBQ's, beer, surfing, trekking, and sitting around the campfire.
Aussie Summers. Unbeatable.

Kathmandu and Everest Base Camp

Not exactly new news, but still worth posting I think. I went to Nepal in January 2006, and it is a truly amazing place. Flying into Kathmandu is in itself an experience, especially if you're on the way to Everest base camp, and if you keep your eye on the planes flight details you can get an idea of just how high the summit is by looking out your window when the plane is at 8, 848m. Trekking the Base Camp region in the middle of winter did mean -20 degrees temperatures, but it also meant seeing the mountains at their quietest, and with excellent visibility. To stand and look at the highest point on the planet is an experience that could only be outdone by those who who have actually stood on top of this awe-inspiring giant. After 12 days of trekking in this literally breath-taking terrain, it was back to all the energy of Kathmandu...

In Kathmandu I visited the amazing Boudhanath and Swayambunath Stupa's which are home to Tibetan exiles, had a car crash in which neither driver even bothered stopping, visited a school for the children of prisoners (Nepal has one of the highest unexplained imprisonment rates in the world), and was trapped in my hotel on 22 hour curfew because Maoist rebels blew up Kathmandu police station. Unfortunately, time and the dangerous political situation meant I had to leave Nepal before I got to explore the rest of this amazing country, but I shall return!

Fighting for Tibet

The Tibetan plateau lies in the south-western corner of China, bordering India, Nepal and Bhutan. For centuries an autonomous region, Tibet was invaded by China shortly after World War 2. Since this invasion China has continued to occupy Tibet and has committed huge human rights abuses against the Tibetan people such as murdering monks and nuns, and destroying Tibetan cultural sites.

Led by the Dalai Lama, the Tibetans response to this human and cultural genocide has been of non-violent attempts at diplomacy with the Chinese, and an appeal to the International Community for support. While the International response has been far from adequate, and while human, cultural, and environmental degradation continue to occur in Tibet on a large scale, there are many groups around the world attempting to seek justice for Tibetans.

These groups range from international organisations to small scale grass root operations that exist all around the globe, and becoming involved in helping Tibet is something all of us should do. For anyone who believes in justice, in human rights, in environmental conservation, and in peace, Tibet should be of interest.

Taking action can be something as simple as showing your support for an existing organisation, or even taking your own measures to promote awareness in your local area. Below is a link to a 'myspace' web page that a friend and I created which has more information on Tibet and a list of existing organisations in support of Tibet.

Tibet is one of the most unique places on this earth, and the loss of its people and their culture would be a loss to all humankind.

Myspace page: www.myspace.com/fightingfortibet.