Mehrangarh

A poem written by Duncan Filer. Dedicated to the wonderful day we met in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India and explored the magic and majesty of this royal region.

 

Thank you for a wonderful day and for this beautiful memory Duncan.

 

Mehrangarh

As ever on the wings of a butterfly my heart is carried to you,

 

Lifted from the highest mountain top in a single beat of life,

 

Soaring high and free above my ancient fortress walls,

 

Plucked from the burning sands of the world,

 

To rise on warming thermals, lifted ever heavenwards,

 

Endless time held steady in your company,

 

So wholly blotted by the everythingness of your being

 

Lovelly…

By Duncan Filer

 

 

 

 

An Officer and a Gentleman and a Hotel

A fabulous production and a fabulous hotel group. Make sure you get to see this production and book your accommodation at one of the great Vibe Hotels today.

Love lifts Vibe into a relationship with An Officer and a Gentleman

Vibe Hotels named ‘Official Accommodation Partner – apartment hotel, & three and four star accommodation’ of stage adaptation of An Officer and a Gentleman

February 2012: Vibe Hotels have been named the ‘Official Accommodation Partner – apartment hotel, & three and four star accommodation’ for the stage adaptation of the 1982 romantic silver screen hit, An Officer and a Gentleman, set to arrive in Sydney soon.

 

There are three Vibe Hotels in Sydney: Vibe Hotel Sydney, Vibe Hotel Rushcutters and Vibe Hotel North Sydney. Known for being hotels with personality, each Vibe Hotel has been designed to match the lifestyle of Vibe’s guests at excellent value, so there is a location to suit everyone. This is the perfect opportunity for guests to make a night of it with a romantic weekend away or a stay-cation.

To celebrate this partnership, Sydney based Vibe Hotels are offering guests special ‘Stay and See’ packages in conjunction with Showbiz. Packages are also available across selected Sydney Travelodge Hotels, Medina Apartment Hotels and Adina Apartment Hotels.

Rachel Argaman, CEO of Toga Hospitality, said: “Vibe Hotels is delighted to announce a new partnership with the musical version of An Officer and a Gentleman as the ‘Official Accommodation Partner – apartment hotel, & three and four star accommodation’. The demand for tickets for this musical proves that romance never goes out of style. Vibe’s ‘Stay and See’ packages have been designed so that everyone can feel the love for a night, a weekend or even longer.”

Vibe Hotels is also to play host to the cast and crew of the production throughout the show’s season.

Based on the hugely successful Academy Award-winning film, the new production of An Officer and a Gentleman has been adapted for the stage by the original screen writer Douglas Day Stewart and co-writer Sharleen Cooper Cohen, with music and lyrics by Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner. It will be produced by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and John Frost, and directed by Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical). The talented cast that will bring this timeless story to life will be led by Ben Mingay (as Zack Mayo), currently starring as Tommy De Vito in Jersey Boys, and Amanda Harrison (Paula Pokrifki), star of the blockbuster musical WICKED.

Let love lift you up where you belong when Sydney hosts the World Premiere of An Officer And a Gentleman at the Lyric Theatre, Star City on May 24, 2012.

For more information about Vibe Hotels, visit: vibehotels.com.au

For the ‘Stay and See’ package please book online at www.showbiz.com.au

 

- ENDS-

 

about Vibe Hotels

Hotels with Personality

 

Looking for a fresh alternative to traditional hotels? Vibe Hotels are your ultimate chillout destination. Cue vibe-rant colours, stylish rooms, great locations, relaxed atmospheres and fresh dining and cocktails to kick start the fun. Hotels with personality, each Vibe has been designed to match your lifestyle at great value. Vibe Hotels are part of their local environment, giving you the chance to absorb the essence of your chosen getaway destination. There are seven Vibe Hotels located across Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Darwin. vibehotels.com.au

Traveller Profile: Craig Lawton

Introducing Craig Lawton. Talented writer. Global Traveller. Well versed in Australian travel and culture. And funny down to earth guy.

Hear what he has to say about Melbourne, his home city, and Australia, the land he calls home.

1. Name  Craig Lawton

2. Occupation  Infrastructure Architect Telstra Pty Ltd.

3. Country of Residence Australia

4. Country of Origin Australia

5. email/contact/ website

www.anacoluthia.net

6. Why do you love Travel?

I have a difficult relationship with travel. Dave Graney song is my reference. Mt Gambia. Gave his memoirs.

“You want to go there, but you don’t want up travel.”

When you’re moving it’s not stressful, but it’s the planning and the preparation and thought of it that daunts me.

To go to places that you don’t know anything about can be scary and exciting. Act of travel is stressful. Not knowing where you’ll sleep? Not knowing layout of city?

I like going to places that friends don’t know. Something different.

The Trans Siberian is def one.

7. Favourite place in your home country and why?

Stretch of coast from Cairns to Cooktown. There is a trail up there. Only bout 1000m or something but it’s laid back and reminds me of being on the frontier. Cooktown is great. Looking out over Endeavour River, can see the country going all the way North from there like it could go forever. It’s like going wild, back to the wilderness. You get the sense up there that you can imagine what it used to be like.

Giant fishes in the water. Very chilled out. I just keep going back.

You gotta go for the drive, it’s one of the great drives!

8. Best place for tourists to visit in your country?

People come so far and travel so long to get here it’s a shame if they don’t explore. In Victoria visitors must go to Wilsons prom, it’s totally under appreciated.

South West of WA is also a little undiscovered but beautiful. Pemberton and Margaret River.

9. What other country would you live in if you had to leave your country?

Have lived in England for a couple of years. And I would choose that. Great location. History. Friends there. Easy to travel to virtually anywhere from there including Asia, Europe and the Americas. First-world country so easier with kids and a family.

10. Best travelling experience anecdote in your own country?

Time at Wilson’s prom, on windy saddle a few hours into this walk, all the travellers sitting, elderly couple sitting on other side of the Grassy clearing, head of brown snake came out from behind a man, and then behind the woman. Sat there watching and just went in slow motion. The snake went right around them and then went back into the bush and they were none the wiser.

Another story,

In eastern Kimberley on my honeymoon at Emma Gorge. Semi luxury tents, El Cuestro , hotel cabin, tent roof, en-suite. Wife wanted to go for walk , something wrong with toilet, went to use shared ones. I stood around looking dazed in the sun. Heard a scream but was off in the distance….. my wife, who had screamed, then laughed, waited for aftermath, then she started laughing.

Wife picked a toilet. And frog jumped up and out into the air then felll back in and slid down the toilet bowl.

11. Favourite activity when around your city?

In city everyday for work but I love walking through the city through the lane ways. Trekking through city and never going on main roads. State library is a must see and jus to enjoy the reading rooms.

Explorer!!  City safari man!

12. Do you feel you know your country well, or is more exploring of your homeland needed?

I know the country and it’s people. I think on one level we’re quite shallow so not so hard to understand. Local peculiarities you forget when you’re away.

In terms of the whole country, you could travel your whole life and still not see the whole thing. Open spaces. Nothingness. Because we don’t know what’s there?

Something terrifying and haunting about the Australian interior. Memories of Lindy chamberlain, Falconio.

Aboriginals history.

Dark side of it.

Sense of the country that would be hard to understand now, the aboriginal side,

Maybe do a tour like that and learn more about the indigenous heritage.

13. Any warnings for travellers visiting in your country?

Don’t go to the interior. Who knows what’s there?

Shit stirring stories just for fun i.e. Drop bears, spiders, then brown snakes

Seriously – around the coast, beware of the water. If we put up warnings, we mean it!!

Snake stories. Ran straight over a red belly black snake once. Just another day in Oz.

14. Must see movie featuring your country and Why?

The hunter

William de foe

Tassie wilderness, myth of Tassie tiger

Lantana – captures Sydney suburban without the trite.

Mature and honest look into suburban Sydney and Australian life.

15. The best book to read before visiting your country?

Dirt music. By tim Whitton.

For Melbourne – photo book.

16. The must eat dish or delicacy of your country?

I wouldn’t say anything. All exciting stuff is blend of Asian and European.

Come to Melbourne. Go to Vic market and get fresh produce.

17. The top three sayings to make travellers stay in your country easier? E.g. How much? Too expensive or Hello.

- How ya goin mate?

- No worries

- Get ya hand off it.

- Ya dickhead

I reckon I’m less passionate about Australia then I am about Melbourne.

Love being Sarcastic

18. Best time of year to visit?

Melbourne. Autumn. Or spring. The changing seasons.

Tropics – June / June

19. The 4 words that best describe your country:

Young, clean, open, conservative

Make sure to check out Craigs blog: www.anacoluthia.net

Photos by http://www.steveweller.net/

Miss Representation Screening

Reblogged from theleagueofextraordinarywomen:

We are so excited to announce the upcoming screening of the award winning documentary Miss Representation. To find out more about this fantastic event to be held on Friday 22nd June, click on the link above.

Early bird tickets are only $35 so get in fast, before they all sell out.

This event also marks the launch of our charity partnership with…

Read more… 21 more words

This incredible event from the League of Extraodinary Women will highlight the Miss Representation of women in Media. We need to change how we view ourselves in order to change how the media and the world view us. I'm so interested to see this film.

Continue reading

The Canning Cup 2012

Thrilled to share with you a great event for a wonderful cause up at Mt Hotham this year. The Canning Cup is an annual Football game held at Omeo to raise money for the research of Motor Neurone disease and the Omeo Hospital.

Check out details on Facebook or below.

For all those who love the snow, this is a weekend not to be missed.

Friday, 27 July 2012

15:30

• The Canning Cup will have its much anticipated return on Friday the 27th of July! This year will be bigger and better than last years event with an evening of comedy on & off the field, fundraising, past footy greats, live music, (not so) light refreshments and a bunch of ”has beens” chasing a ball around a freezing omeo football ground. This event is for a cause that means so much to the people of Omeo, Hotham and Dinner Plain. We are raising as much as we can collectively give for the research of Motor Neurone disease and the Omeo Hospital. Although the girls did a great job running lots of drinks and supporting the team last year, WE WANT YOU! If you are interested in playing in the 1st netball match between the Omeo Netball Team and the Mountin’ Women, contact Lauren Anstey {Netball player manager}. Boys, I know it was hard going down by a few points last year, but with a game and a few extra kgs under the belt, we’ll win back the cup! I have a feeling that we could probably have 2nds this year but because we should all be in the 2nds, not everyone will get a start. An extensive bench is a must for a match of this significance. If you’re interested in playing contact Josh Thomas {DPs Ricky Nixon- Football player manager} A player registration fee of $50 {which is entirely donated to the cause} will get you a seat on the bus, your jumper or bib for the evening, a spot on the team, a dvd of last years match and the cherished medal for your trophy cabinet. DVDs are will also be available for purchase at the match. Anyone that feels like getting involved with sponsorship, donations or promotion of this event will be greatly appreciated. Remember this is an evening of fun, games, comedy, community spirit and it doesn’t matter who wins… As long as we win! https://www.facebook.com/events/167076516751732/

Aussie Storm Chasers

My mate Justin could possibly crazier, more adventurous and more outgoing than I am. He is a Storm Chaser.

A crazy storm heading for St Kilda, Victoria, Australia

Aussie Storm Chasers currently has a Facebook page full of storm chasing videos/pictures from Australia and the USA.  There are currently 5 of the guys involved on the page, covering places such as Perth, Sydney, North-East NSW and South-East Queensland.

Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/AussieStormChasers

 

They are looking to expand our admins to Victoria, SA and the Norther Territory in the near future too.  They have 3 photographers/chasers, one meteorolgist and Justin the chaser.

“We document these storms and if the fall into the severe category we report them to the BoM. ” Says Justin.

 

Would love it if you could share it with anyone and everyone who is keen on Storm watching.

 

The website is in the process of being made where they can live stream a chase, a store to purchase calanders and season highlights etc will then be available!  www.aussiestormchasers.com

 

Happy Chasing!

Beneath the Faded Word

This is a beautiful poem written by my friends father. He posted it on Anzac Day this year however it was written some years back. A stunningly presented personal history of a War that affected so many.

Beneath the Faded Word 

By Peter Thomas, Tambo Upper, Vic.
It sat out in the shearing shed for 30 years or more,
With cobwebs, dust and binder twine, and sheep dung on the floor.
An old and rusted Lockwood kept its secrets from my eyes,

A cabin trunk of leather, there since 1945.
I asked my dad, who owned it and what we kept it for,
He replied, “It’s Uncle Basil’s, that he brought back from the war.
So don’t you bloody touch it, or I’ll tan your bloody hide!”
But that only made me more intrigued to see what was inside.
I wondered at its mysteries and the secrets that it hid,
Beneath the faded word “Tobruk” stencilled on the lid.

Near Wilcannia, where only hardy cattlemen will go,
Uncle Basil had a station, Baden Park, near Ivanhoe.
A strong and gentle man, who once rode the Birdsville Track
Just to prove he wasn’t hampered by the shrapnel in his back.

So I stood alone and weighed it up; which would I decide,
Should I leave the memories undisturbed, or take a look inside?
I knew I had to take a look to see what it’d hold.
Medals? Spoils from the war – silver, jewels or gold?

The old man went off fishin’ of a Sunday with Bob Gray,
So if I was gonna do it – that would have to be the day.
I started out determined – I was done by ten past two.
With half a broken hacksaw blade, I cut the padlock through,
But even as I opened it, the truth was plain and clear,
The old trunk held no gold or jewels, there was no treasure here .
A pile of letters tied with string, an old moth eaten flag,
A rusty metal helmet and mouldy webbing bag,
A cup made from a jam tin, an emu feathered hat,
And a newspaper clipping with the title “Desert Rat”,
Some photos of the pyramids – a rusty bayonet,
An IOU – Jack Carmody – two quid (a two-up debt).

I folded out a faded map as the day began to wane,
Foreign places like Benghazi, Tobruk, El Alamein.
Then I came upon a satchel and a little leather book
And a photo of some young blokes – so I took a closer look.
It was 20 young recruits, their faces tanned and worn
From places like Cohuna, Moama and Bamawm.
Farmers, shearers, stockmen off to fight a noble war,
For the empire in a foreign land they’d never seen before.
And scrawled across the bottom, in writing rough and coarse,
Twenty names below the words, the Echuca Boys – Light Horse.

I turned the photo over, and there upon the back
Were words that sent a chill through me, and made my mouth go slack.
A solemn list of 20 – the fate of each the same.
Every one but Uncle Basil had a date beside their name,
Some said April ’43, some said June /July.
A record from our history, the date that each had died.
I turned back to the photo and looked in every face,
And written over each one was a month, a year, a place.
A grinning, sun-bronzed soldier’s face, each now with a name
Like November 1943 – the words El Alamein.

I wonder did they think, as they sailed across the foam,
That amongst them only one – Uncle Basil – would come home?
Recorded in that little book – I remember to this day –
A record of their actions and how each had passed away,

A mortar shell out on patrol; a sniper in the night;
A landmine took one’s legs off – he died before first light.
The death of each was brutal, the reality was stark.
Forty pages written there, I finished just on dark.

I slowly closed that record of the men who kept us free
And turned to see my father, standing silently.
He didn’t do his block as I expected that he would,
He just said, “Come on pack it up, I reckon that we should.”
So with loving care we packed away the treasures from the past,
When I came upon the photograph – it was put aside ‘till last –
And with new respect and love, I recorded there his fate.
Next to Uncle Basil I wrote April ’68.
Yeah, Dad and I we packed it up and put it back again
And wrapped it in a bit of tarp, to keep it from the rain.
We never spoke about it or discussed what I had read.
I reckon that was his way, to respect those men long dead.

There’s a statue of a digger in most every country town,
And a list of names of locals, who fought with great renown.
And now, when I go by, I remember what I read,
Sitting on the floor out there, in our old shearing shed.
And I think of Uncle Gordon, lost somewhere on Ambon,
Uncle Jack on the Kokoda and, in England, Uncle John.
I remember still that photo, with sadness and remorse,
That mob of grinning faces, the Echuca Boys – Light Horse.
In a cemetery near Ivanhoe lies a bloke who’s left his mark,
Basil Thomas, of Echuca, Tobruk and Baden park.

Image from here

Madurai Tour Leader and Guide

I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs Malar, a dear friend of my friend Vijay whilst in India recently. Mrs Malar lives in Madurai in Tamil Nadu, South India and she took time out from her busy tour schedule to spend with me and show me around the incredible Meenakshi Temple in Madurai.

Mrs Malar was helpful and informative and made me feel very welcome. She was extremely knowledgable about the temple and the history of the Hindu religion.We were lucky to also be there the night before Shivaratri, Lord Shiva festival.

 

Meenakshi Temple - North Gate

The temple was alive with colours, people, music and rituals. I got to learn so much about this special day for the Hindus and see some incredible architecture. I was really blown away by the stunning colours and the warmth inside this beautiful place.

 

 

 

 

Mrs Malar is a tour guide for South India and she is based in Madurai, Tamil Nadu.

I strongly recommend contacting her to arrange your trip in this beautiful part of India:

Email: vizhimalar6@gmail.com

Mobile nos:

+91 956 6695 461

+91 98 651 41 000

+91 95 666 95 462

She is a cultural promotee and can show guests:

• Saree demonstration about Tamil culture for ladies
• meegandhi doing (henna)
• South Indian cuisine – Demo class, lunch and dinner
• Classical dance – Bharatha natiyam
• Classical karnatic, folk dance and music
• Religious explanation class
• Transport, food, accomodation and anything else you need can be arranged.

 

I hope you get the chance to meet Mrs Malar and enjoy the beauty and difference of South Indian culture.

My Summer Photo Shoot

Photo shoots are a lot of fun and in the promotions and marketing industry which I’m in, they are essential to getting more work and more notice for your brand.
This was my Summer shoot with the lovely and talented Sarah Churcher of Sarah Churcher Photography.

Sarah and I had some ideas for a summer photoshoot and with our powers combined, we came up with some great stuff.

These are Sarah’s favourites that she has chosen of me and as the professional, I take her word.

 

 

 

Choosing location, style and theme can be hard, so with a talented professional by your side, it makes things a whole lot easier. She also sees things in a way I never would have.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m so happy with this particular part of the shoot through the long grass as it was Sarah’s idea. The soft light, the grass as a feature and me getting to show off my writing prowess. It all worked so well in the moment.

 

 

 

 

We did this shoot at Port Melbourne which has a great range of backdrops and scenes for a photoshoot and with the wind up that day, we were lucky to create some magic.

 

 

 

 

For more information or to view Sarah’s great work. Visit her Website - http://www.sarahchurcher.com

Or like her Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Churcher-Photography/236651589691660

You can also connect with Sarah on Twitter @photosbysc

 

 

 

 

World Read Aloud Day Celebrations – Dharamsala, India

March 7th is World Read Aloud Day! I was honoured to be invited to take part and read aloud to children whilst I travelled. It just so happened I was in the beautiful city of Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India.

The lovely bookshop where I picked up my books

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This beautiful backdrop is also home to some very sweet and very eager young children. I managed to find two places where I would be able to read to them.

Yong LLng Kindergarten

I was approached by the great people at Pratham books who I met through Twitter and saw one of their great stalls at the Kala Ghoda Festival in Mumbai. When I tweeted saying i’d seen them and I was in India, they invited me to take part in this great day and of course, I jumped at the chance.

Generally the lovely team at Pratham Books would send you a book that you could read on the day. Of course mine would have to be in English as my hindi is very basic and Tibetan is most certainly a foreign language to me. Unfortunately due to my constant moving around the place in India we couldn’t arrange to get the book to me. No dramas though. I found a lovely little book shop and found two great books, one about Australia and one about animals. Both with lots of pictures and not too many words.

I had no introductions there in Dharamsala so it was just trying to find a place there were children, or any age people, who wanted to read aloud with me. Obviously kids would appreciate it more so that was the best option. I was informed there was the Yong LLang Kindergarten and the Tibetan Childrens Village. So off I went.

Yong Llang Tibetan Kindergarten was beautiful. I asked the office if I could read to the children and they quickly organised for approcimately 40 bright and smiling little faces to come into a room so I could read to them. They were aged 3-5 and they sat patiently waiting for me to start my story. I read the Lion and the mouse as it was easy to translate and understand. There assistant teacher helped me and we had a super fun time making animal noises together. Rah for the lion and squeak squeak for the mouse. They got so into the story and loved reading along. They all clapped and cheered when I finished and it warmed my heart.

She broke my heart, so cute and she just loved holding this book!

As I thought we were over the assistant teacher said to me “They’re asking for another one.” So I read them the second book. It took longer to translate but they still enjoyed it and liked having me and the teacher tell them what was happening. The teacher said to me at the end that they really had fun and enjoyed it. The kids grasping on to my clothes and not letting me walk out the door was a testatment to this. They just loved looking at the books and trying to read it for themselves.

Don't go!!!

I then went on to the Tibetan Childrens Village and loved seeing again all the children in this great learning environment. The school has a policy of not interrupting the childrens schooling and program so I wasn’t able to read to them. I think this a great policy and I completely respect their focus on the children and their future. We did visit the library and got to see some of the children in a lesson which was lovely. I donated the 2 books to the library so that many children can enjoy reading them for many years to come.

I’m so thankful to Pratham Books for asking me to be a part of this wonderful day and for giving me the opportunity to have this experience with the children. I look forward to taking part again next year – no matter where in the world I will be.