I found this little home-made cartoon on youtube, and I thought I would share it. Being of mixed cultures myself, I thought the director had some great observations on how the general public interact with us... Enjoy!
Life as a half-breed
Friday, July 27, 2007
11:51 AM
Posted by
javagold
Political Posters and Stickers
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
10:18 PM
Posted by
javagold
While on Sydney's less than stellar rail system, (hey at least they have one, *coughSeattlecough*) I happened across this AWESOME political sticker plastered to the door near the exit. It reminded me of another political outburst I came across in Europe and I thought I would share them both with you.
John Howard is of course Australia's Prime Minister... and unlike our Republican reaction to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the folks downunder don't have the protection of the two-term rule. There are a lot of reasons for Aussies to hate their PM, but you'll have to ask them. =)
This political poster however, I felt was absolutely brilliant. I saw it in a ski/snowboard shop in Praha. Additionally, I saw an awesome 1.20.09 is a shirt I'd love to get - subtle yet gets the point across. (It's inauguration day, Bush's last day in power.) Check that out if you have the time.
I'd love to engage in more political commentary, but I do believe Agen does a much better job on his blog, Cracks in the Facade.
Riani, over and out.
John Howard is of course Australia's Prime Minister... and unlike our Republican reaction to Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the folks downunder don't have the protection of the two-term rule. There are a lot of reasons for Aussies to hate their PM, but you'll have to ask them. =)
This political poster however, I felt was absolutely brilliant. I saw it in a ski/snowboard shop in Praha. Additionally, I saw an awesome 1.20.09 is a shirt I'd love to get - subtle yet gets the point across. (It's inauguration day, Bush's last day in power.) Check that out if you have the time.I'd love to engage in more political commentary, but I do believe Agen does a much better job on his blog, Cracks in the Facade.
Riani, over and out.
Strawberry Ice Cream Yumminess
Sunday, July 22, 2007
3:20 PM
Posted by
javagold
Call me old-fashioned or childish, but there is nothing better than ice cream on a warm(ish) day (or to stuff your face with when you're blue). While on the Gold Coast in Australia, I visited a strawberry farm - which had homemade ice cream with fresh berries layered through it. I felt like I was five, stuffing my face with the berry goodness!
But I'm back in Sydney now, which has sideways rain, high winds and plummeting temperatures. I'm wearing my leather jacket, two sweaters and my pashmina and STILL freezing! If I wanted this weather, I would have stayed in Seattle.
So please enjoy summer for me. If you're in Seattle, check out my old digs, The Mix and get a "Home Sweet Home" [which consists of sweet cream ice cream (NOT THE YOGURT) with strawberries and graham cracker]. Ooooh, how delightful it is!
Eat some ice cream for me. Please.
But I'm back in Sydney now, which has sideways rain, high winds and plummeting temperatures. I'm wearing my leather jacket, two sweaters and my pashmina and STILL freezing! If I wanted this weather, I would have stayed in Seattle.
So please enjoy summer for me. If you're in Seattle, check out my old digs, The Mix and get a "Home Sweet Home" [which consists of sweet cream ice cream (NOT THE YOGURT) with strawberries and graham cracker]. Ooooh, how delightful it is!
Eat some ice cream for me. Please.
Bondi Beach Baby!
3:05 PM
Posted by
javagold
Ahhh, the legendary Bondi Beach; home of great surfing, relaxed Aussie culture and the infamous deep fried mars bar with powdered sugar. One of the must-see destinations on my to-do list, Bondi is knowing for its fantastic sunsets, white powdery sand and lack of parking.
Although public transport was available to us, my friend Simon (who I met in a post office line) and I decided to walk to the beach. From the city. We're crazy. But with warm skies and charming boutiques to entertain us along the way, we easily wiled away the hours... (although in the end, we broke down and took the bus at the end - only because we were losing daylight.)
I found Bondi to be charming, but a joke beachwise - considering I lived in Florida for a few years. Still, I did enjoy the amazing views, the cool breeze and dipping my feet in the (COLD) water.
Simon's grand idea of a photograph... Although I must admit it's one of my fave's from my trip so far. Something about jumping up and down, feels so... free.
Here's a view of the beach using my nifty panorama viewy thingy on my camera!
With the sun setting, you could see the houses on the cliffs light up...
It was beautiful to watch the clouds roll in and the sun turn the sky a myriad of colors.
My partner in crime, the honorable Welshman from Denbighshire, Simon Grant.
Here's a great video I took while at the beach, enjoy!
So, if you're heading to Sydney and want to check out the beach, I would suggest you:
1. Go in the summer or late spring. Winter sucks. I promise.
2. Eat a deep fried mars bar. It's insanely good, although you'll get chocolate and powered sugar everywhere.
3. Go for the cliff walk (if you're facing the ocean, it's to the right). It's a long walk, but totally worth it.
4. Take public transportation, as there will be no parking (in the summertime... although as I was there in the winter, it wasn't such a big deal).
5. Don't forget to Slip Slop Slap - Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world!
Although public transport was available to us, my friend Simon (who I met in a post office line) and I decided to walk to the beach. From the city. We're crazy. But with warm skies and charming boutiques to entertain us along the way, we easily wiled away the hours... (although in the end, we broke down and took the bus at the end - only because we were losing daylight.)
I found Bondi to be charming, but a joke beachwise - considering I lived in Florida for a few years. Still, I did enjoy the amazing views, the cool breeze and dipping my feet in the (COLD) water.
Simon's grand idea of a photograph... Although I must admit it's one of my fave's from my trip so far. Something about jumping up and down, feels so... free.
Here's a view of the beach using my nifty panorama viewy thingy on my camera!
With the sun setting, you could see the houses on the cliffs light up...It was beautiful to watch the clouds roll in and the sun turn the sky a myriad of colors.
My partner in crime, the honorable Welshman from Denbighshire, Simon Grant.Here's a great video I took while at the beach, enjoy!
So, if you're heading to Sydney and want to check out the beach, I would suggest you:
1. Go in the summer or late spring. Winter sucks. I promise.
2. Eat a deep fried mars bar. It's insanely good, although you'll get chocolate and powered sugar everywhere.
3. Go for the cliff walk (if you're facing the ocean, it's to the right). It's a long walk, but totally worth it.
4. Take public transportation, as there will be no parking (in the summertime... although as I was there in the winter, it wasn't such a big deal).
5. Don't forget to Slip Slop Slap - Australia has one of the highest skin cancer rates in the world!
über awesome world leader
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
3:41 PM
Posted by
javagold
I know. I'm a bad blogger. I've kept you in suspense and haven't been reporting my findings on the forgotten island of Australia. Honestly, I haven't been inspired to, which is more a reflection on me, than on the great land down under.
It's been an interesting leg of my trip so far, and a tough one personally. I'm fighting those little voices in my head that keep asking me, "what the hell are you doing?" (The answer is, "Jumping off the deep end, that's where the pearls are.") I'm trying to stay positive and enjoy the people and places that I visit, knowing that I'm trading in time and dollars to do this... So while I look out the window watching the world go by, I'm also formulating plans for world domination. I'll report more on that as appropriate.
But enough of that self-reflection crap, on to my post!
OK. Imagine you're me, randomly walking through a cold and rainy day - murmuring to yourself about how you could have stayed in Seattle for this type of weather. You trudge along and barely notice the line of Clydesdales standing at attention, or the brightly colored flags that encircle the domain.
But try as you might, you can't get past the business men with their smart umbrellas, or the couple with dreadlocks snuggled close to each other. You notice people from all walks of life: the Prada wearing women with tailored silk-blended wool coats, the back packers and their ripped jeans and loafers, the old man with his 1950's hat and tweed jacket... Everyone seems to be represented here. The question though, is what on earth would possess them to stand out in the cold and brave the rain?
Enter über cool spiritual leader with easy smile and infectious laugh. The Dalai Lama stands a mere 100 feet away from you, and you almost missed him. His Holiness was in Sydney on his Australia tour, and began by thanking the organizers for their time and their money. (Gracious and humorous!) There were many poetic and inspiring ideas and philosophies he shared- but here are a couple that stood out.
(These bullet points were taken from his Holiness's website - since I didn't write anything down while seeing him... I was too memorized.)
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also spoke of peace on that cold rainy day. He preached that peace cannot be seasonal, fashionable or even defined as the lack of violence. Peace is the acceptance and love for yourself and those around you.
To all of you that I can friend, to all of you that I adore... May there be peace in your lives, and may your days be full of laughter and love. I've been selfish these last few months, thinking mostly about myself - happiness comes mostly from what you give, not what you get. Please tell me how I can enrich your life and how I can make you smile.
With affection from Australia,
Riani
It's been an interesting leg of my trip so far, and a tough one personally. I'm fighting those little voices in my head that keep asking me, "what the hell are you doing?" (The answer is, "Jumping off the deep end, that's where the pearls are.") I'm trying to stay positive and enjoy the people and places that I visit, knowing that I'm trading in time and dollars to do this... So while I look out the window watching the world go by, I'm also formulating plans for world domination. I'll report more on that as appropriate.
But enough of that self-reflection crap, on to my post!
OK. Imagine you're me, randomly walking through a cold and rainy day - murmuring to yourself about how you could have stayed in Seattle for this type of weather. You trudge along and barely notice the line of Clydesdales standing at attention, or the brightly colored flags that encircle the domain.
But try as you might, you can't get past the business men with their smart umbrellas, or the couple with dreadlocks snuggled close to each other. You notice people from all walks of life: the Prada wearing women with tailored silk-blended wool coats, the back packers and their ripped jeans and loafers, the old man with his 1950's hat and tweed jacket... Everyone seems to be represented here. The question though, is what on earth would possess them to stand out in the cold and brave the rain?
Enter über cool spiritual leader with easy smile and infectious laugh. The Dalai Lama stands a mere 100 feet away from you, and you almost missed him. His Holiness was in Sydney on his Australia tour, and began by thanking the organizers for their time and their money. (Gracious and humorous!) There were many poetic and inspiring ideas and philosophies he shared- but here are a couple that stood out.
- The Dalai Lama told people that inner values counted most for humans.
"Inner values, sense of community, sense of responsibility, sense of affection, sense of concern for the rest of society," His Holiness said.
"Human compassion brings us together."
- Compassionate minds were more balanced minds and helped people live healthier lives with stronger immune systems.
"Some scientists even say hatred is eating our immune systems,'' the Dalai Lama said.
"Wherever I go I'm always telling people that in order to be happy; happy person, happy family, peaceful society - that they should pay more attention to inner values.''
- His Holiness endorsed religious harmony through understanding.
"All of the major traditions have some potential to help humanity become more compassionate, with more loving kindness, so there is common ground,'' he said."Therefore it is very important to think of differences in the philosophical field.''
- Many faiths were different but with the same aim. Like medicine they suited different purposes for different people and during his journey of the past few decades he had acknowledged and embraced them.
"Some Christians consider me a good Christian,'' he said.
"Some Muslims consider me a good Muslim.''
His Holiness the Dalai Lama also spoke of peace on that cold rainy day. He preached that peace cannot be seasonal, fashionable or even defined as the lack of violence. Peace is the acceptance and love for yourself and those around you.
To all of you that I can friend, to all of you that I adore... May there be peace in your lives, and may your days be full of laughter and love. I've been selfish these last few months, thinking mostly about myself - happiness comes mostly from what you give, not what you get. Please tell me how I can enrich your life and how I can make you smile.
With affection from Australia,
Riani
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