Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.

-Dale Turner-

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Why women are nuts...

Everyone should read "Why people believe weird things"... its entertaining and bits and pieces are true based on research.

A few weeks ago I picked up a free Cosmo magazine at work.  Usually I like trashy magazines every once in a while.  I would never purchase them unless they are health related but I love to read the crap amature journalists come up with.  To be honest this issue in particular shocked me due to the amount of bollocks in it.  Popcorn is ok because it contains antioxidants that help fight cancer?  Pretty sure popcorn would give you cancer first - especially movie popcorn.  I eat it none the less (just putting it out there) but if you believe that its a better option than the millions of other things with antioxidants (aka tea, berries, fruits etc) perhaps cosmo is going straight to your head.

What I love most are the stories in trashy magazines.  We all know that they definitely happened and theres a full team of men writing in each month exposing petty little incidents and thoughts they have had with/towards women.  They also apparently tell us what they want.  Hmmm.  Sounds a bit like politics.  Seen the poles recently between labor and liberal??  That statistic is based on a selection of only about 300 people so that has got to be seriously inaccurate.  Also just putting it out there that Tony Abbot is an ABSOLUTE WANG.

So the moral of this blog is NEVER EVER take trashy magazines seriously.  Read them purely for their humour and don't think that your boyfriend is cheating on you because he has his hands in his pockets all the time as suggested in this month's issue.


Please help

One person can't fix the mess the world is in but they can try.  There's a girl I used to go to school with who is one of those people trying so please donate and support her (see link under image).  It upsets me to think that this is a huge issue relating to my career in a way - the absence of food.  I will be researching and teaching people that have access to food about how to eat it whilst there are so many out there with virtually nothing that they would never dream of needing someone like me.  And its not even just about food! Its about education.  Its about living standards.  Its about surviving in a world worth surviving for!  I know poverty will not be fixed for a while, if ever, but if we all give a little, those that need it will gain a lot!  The world is a crazy place.  Please help the children of Cambodia on Stephanie's page :)

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The possibilities are endless

Be Just & Fear Not... everything will turn out right if you're heart and soul continue to see the possibilities that are infront of you.

And just because im being all motivational and such I shall spread my happiness and inspire the world (or at least the two people that will read this blog entry... one being me and the other is a possibility).




Yep this is me...

Alas, on the downside...
 


And as much as I hate Maccas, i also secretly love it...even tho her tits are fake...


Monday, July 19, 2010

Detox Box


As far as recent event goes life has been pretty dry since Thailand.  I miss warm nights and so much to do that all you want to do is lie in and watch movies because you're so exhausted from a packed out day.  My tatt has finally healed and is looking pretty good.  I want more but I'm being impulsive and irrational so I'll wait.  Tomorrow I sort out all my uni shit and shall do some baking.  Man I sound exciting right?  I wrote a blog the other night which I shall put in soon.  I'm reading this fantastic book called "Why people believe weird things" and its loosely based around some of the ideas in that.

I bought this "Detox Box" about 6 months ago and tomorrow I am making myself use it.  These holidays I have eaten more shit than I have over the past year and I feel like crap.

1. More Real Food, Less “Food-like Substances”
2. More Fruit and Vegetables, Less Sugar, Wheat and Corn
3. More Organic, Less Toxic
4. More Chewing, Less Eating
5. More Water, Less Sugary crap

Wish me luck.  For some reason it seems far harder this time.

Hopefully my next blog will be far more interesting than reading about my current life events (or more so lack of events).  Peace out kids x

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Stupid little life; I love you.



I used to lay in bed wishing that life would just end without reason, and now that thought scares me beyond words.  I'm not sure if you would call it extreme depression, being a stupid teenager or growing up but I know that I never used to be like I am now.  It feels like in the last few years some things have really clicked in my brain. 

It feels like I should be feeling fucked right now.  My future is on hold for another year or so uni has told me.  Something in my mind just won't take no for an answer.  I don't think I have really believed it yet.  I'm not feeding off false hope, I have just dealt with my "situation" and by being alright with it and wanting something else so badly I have discovered millions of possibilities.  It wasn't all sunshine and rainbows mind you - I did cry... on the phone..... to my "other" and he had a lot of reassuring to do.  My biggest problem is that I don't want to get left behind in a heap, waiting for life to start when others are off seeing magical lands and coming home to their high paying jobs.

I have come to really realize the beauty of life, the beauty of things in general.  It really does feel like I'm Lester Burnham - no kidding.. except that I'm young.  I know I'm young and that I have time but I can't help but feel that that time is going to slip right through my fingers in the blink of an eye and tomorrow I will wake up and be 87.. and everything will be over.  But in actuality and with a rational mind set I know that I will soon have a career that will last longer than the time I have already lived.  I will have a family, a house, maybe some more tattoos and a cute little clinic.  Perhaps I'll be working in a children's hospital somewhere in the world or with pregnant women.  Who knows... i dont... but it will come sooner or later.

Tonight I meditated.  My ultimate meditation begins with music, dim lights, incence and layig on the floor.  I stay flat for about 5 minutes before stretching my entire body.  I usually end with yoga and then either read motivational books, books with scientific theories or look at photographs.  Its such a simple pleasure. 

Its late.  I keep getting hungry and my tattoo is itchy due to peeling. 
Goodnight world....

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Unfortunate events

Life's really not fair sometimes... but sadly I guess we have to start building another fucking bridge right?

In the scheme of things this is a small hurdle.  Its an unfortunate one but there's nothing I can do about it but get over... or keep trying to get over it.  I've got to stop being scared of what's going to happen and to just do what I can at the time.  In a way, maybe this will help me in the long run.  Its just hard to hear criticism.


Friday, July 09, 2010

Ink: Forever is not a very long time


So I did it and if I end up hating it by the time in 35 or it goes into a wrinkly blob one day then so be it.  Things change so fast, we don't live long so why not?  Why the words you say... well here goes my explaining.

The quote comes from Shakespeare's play "King Henry the VIII".  Its meaning is to be strong, be fair and do not be afraid of what life throws.  Obviously that is a shallow summary. 

I started getting into Shakespeare's poetry and plays when I was in year 9.  At that point I wanted to be a writer and he facinated me to the point where I would sit and analyse a piece for ages and try to somehow soak in all its beauty and the feelings in which he was describing as an expression of himself or something else.  You also may or may not know that my name is in fact Shakespearian:

Miranda was created by Shakespeare for his play "The Tempest" from the feminine form of the Latin gerundive 'mirandus' (admirable, lovely), from the verb 'mirari' (to wonder at, to admire). This gives the meaning "she who must be admired".

"Be just and fear not" is the type of quote that I find an easy reassurance to any terrible situation.  It is somehow always significant and there is strength, wisdom and compassion in its wording. 

So there you go.  It may seem like just words to you and it may even seem like just words to me in 10 or 20 years but who cares.  Live without regrets.  I know its there forever but after all- forever is NOT a very long time.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Mysterious man, Pirates and Barrel Rolls.

All I want to do is write and rant so heres some random stuff from the space in my brain...

For you.

Love.  We say it so much, we think it so much but are we ever right?  Sadly half the time all of the stories and stupid cliche`s prove themselves wrong.  However I do believe that you know when you are meant to be with someone.  You really do know but it takes a lot of time, more than when you first think it a possibility.  It won't take one or two years... it will take more for sure.  It may take a whole damn lot longer.  Today  I think I really do know.  I don't really blog aboutt this stuff too often but now I feel the need.  I know for a fact that being young and having experiences is very important.  I also pursue my strong feelings/argument against marrying young.  But there comes a time when you look at someone and your heart and mind take a step back for a moment and you think "shit.  I could never imagine being here; I would never want to be here with anyone but you.  I need you to be here with me, nobody else".  And you think - I would travel the world with you, write a song for you, give you a kidney... among other things.  You also realise that although sometimes you hate doing them, you LOVE doing what you do for the person you admire.  I love that I'm sitting on a place with a boy's head on my lap and his body stretched out over the remaining row.  I love that he reads magazines o the toilet, steals all the water when I shower and always seems to fart at the most inconvenient times.  I love that he gets shy at the video store asking the guy where a movie is, hates returning products to stores because he dislikes being inconvenient, wears shorts in the middle of winter, gets awkward around people of authority to the point where he has to even ask me whether he has been to Africa in the last 6 days before he fills out the customs form; like the form is a trick and really is asking "are you african or have association with africa".  But aside from what may seem like silly things there are other things I love.  His stubble, his ring collectiong, that his face always smells amazing, that he plays guitar to me and rants about type faces and cars and internet sites.  I love that he holds the door open for me, gives me the umbrella when it rains, when we rub noses, when he plays with my hair, makes me pizza and grabs my bum on staircases.  He makes me coffee, tells me I look pretty, accompanies me to family events and appointments and can sit and chat to me for hours.   That to me is love.  That is all part of love but ONLY part.  Thats where people get caught up and confused and think more of things than they are. 

Despite how the song goes "Love is only a feeling", I think they are wrong (sorry The Darkness). Its far more technical than that so do not be mistaken.  We do not constantly think about and feel out love for someone, it is just there.  We experience whatever else life throws and we live and enjoy but love just stays - rising and falling; constantly fluctuating and half the time we are virtually oblivious to it.  You accept someone for who they are but you do not settle for less than you deserve.  It is an equal task love.  Also it is a chemical thing.  We build dependance and it changes us chemically to "need" someone. 

So to all you "love sick" people out there that are young and want to go get married and have a million kids right away and miss out building the real chemical nature of love; I hope you realise you may be jumping to conclusions and you wait that little bit longer to experience the actual reality of it.


Dreaming of Asia

We never did go to Rawai and feast on Don's pancakes.  To be honest we had had enough of the place.  I want to go back to Thailand and move around.  Karon beach and the rest of dear Phuket became too much of a good thing and so I am leaving on this plane, the poor student that I am... even poorer.  I haven't seen much of Asia but I would like to.  My family have always chosen Europe, the UK and Australia as holiday destinations.  Vietnam, Cambodia, Northern Thailand - thats where I want to travel with my clothes, backpack and camera to feast off the local market food and engage with the people.  I have no desire to visit furthur tourist destinations such as Patong or Bali.  I simply want to "feel" the different soils beneath my feet.  India is also high on the list.  I know its weird not to want to be in places like London and Paris but I am not that much of a fan.  I love the Medditterranean and shopping in the USA and i will get back to those places someday soon.  Yt I feel that in the near future poorer countries with rich culture are waiting for me to come and explore them.  I have always loved Australia and I always will but I am sick and tired of the entertainment (or the lack of).  I learnt on my travels that the thing with Australia is the sugar coated Nazi strictness system makes is safe and beautiful but it limits us.  It makes me sad that places as beautiful as Thailand have not been so "system fortunate", however if they were like us, I think i wouldn't enjoy them quite so much and not so much of the culture would have been preserved.  The weather is perfect for my inner lizad self.  The trees and the greenery brings me to tears.  The scent of jasmine flowers and cheap asian stalls is so amazing and the people here make this place!  They are something else really. 

So if you get the chance and the funds - go to Asia.  Stay away from Bali and Phuket's main beaches.  Soak in the beauty, wash in brown water, get sick from the food, feel the earth beneath your feet.  Sip from a coconut and you will never feel better!

Thailand: Last night

7/7/10

Sitting on the balcony in the perfect night air.  Its our last night in Karon and as usual the streets are alive with the sounds of 90's Karaoke.  Our favourite guard has gone home from his shift and we are sipping on vodka and cranberry.  The city never sleeps.  I love the people, I love the warm.  I'm sad to leave but somewhat looking forward to going home and resting.  We've met some rad people - my favourite receptionist and house keeping lady, the guard that speaks to us, shirt man in patong, our elephant rider, Uum; our friend from an island near Khoh Samui.  Its a beautiful night.  Goodbye summer.


Selfless v Selfish

 5th July 2010

I don't understand every human being I meet; nobody does.  Some are luckier than others and some have the potential be lucky and prosperous but deny the chance.  How can people just sit and let themselves go to waste when others would give almost everything to have the same opportunities and experiences.  Yes, there is a level of understanding and human empathy that I must give but it both angers and saddens me just how ignorant and careless people are.  There are people back home that are so self centred, that will never be empathetic, that lay blame down on everyone and everything so that they look like victims.  Yet somehow the lady cooking my buffet breakfast and homeless people lying in the streets smile and greet me like i am super human.  They seem to sit and make things; sing, express themselves like its the best day of their lives.  The poorer Thais with the local street market stalls are the same.  They are always warm, always genuine, always happy.  Sometimes they drive a hard bargain or put up a fight with you as you barter but in the end they bow their heads in thanks - "Kapunka"

Lights, Booze, Music and Tuk Tuks

5/7/10

Patong.  The place is so intense you can't even think straight when you're standing on the street.  Everything is in your face, everything is open until 4am.  There is a buzz of noise and lights everywhere.  Tuk-Tuks line the road sides, clubs pump until sun rise and people will almost force you to buy their rip off shit! 

An update on our outings - we've seen elephants, been to the world's biggest jewellery store, seen monkeys, buffalo, ridden in world war 2 vehicles, been to big buddha, shopped at markets and discount outlets, had $3 cocktails on the side of the road, bartered, been swimming, stood on the look out, experienced the butterfly sanctury etc.




Thailand: Cultural experiences

3rd July 2010

There are people here, old couples, families and even young people that come and enjoy the resort.  They never leave... they arrive in a car, stay a few days and then leave.  We see them dine at the hotel and not leave the pool, then go to happy hour upstairs on get drunk at the pool bars and challenge the bar people at connect four!  Sure this place is amazingly luxurious but why would you want to miss the cultural experience?  I don't et it.  For me thats the best part!


Thailand: Balcony thoughts

2nd July 2010

The world is so Westernized and ruled by such Western practices.  Its like that we Westerners almost forget that other cultures exist and we are tricked into believing that we are superior beings.  These people here live such simple lives with the help of the land.  Everything is done by hand and for that I almost feel guilty buying something that takes 5 hrs to make and costs me $3 AUD.  Its crazy to think how radical and intense the place where I come from is.  Why cant we all be as wonderfully satisfied as these people and express ourselves as simply?  I do not deny that this place is held up by the Western world through tourism and without it quality of life would be much more minimal.  I just deeply admire the Thai for their resourcefulness.  The land is rich in sun and rain; plants and soil.  It is beautiful in its own way.  The air is warmer, the grass is greener..... here... on the other side of the world.

The fruit is DIVINE - almost as divine as the people, so hospitable.  I feel I could sit in this warm wind on our balcony and stare out at the divine dense jungle.  Magic land of luxury is the way I will remember this land.  If i ever return i would very much like to visit poorer, less touristy parts - see the children, see what they cook, how they live.  I wonder what the hotel workers go home to?  Do they get paid well enough to live well or do they just serve us in our luxurious rooms and then go home to their shack?  Some of the elephant trainers live in small jungle huts along the trecking trail, amongst the spiders and the trees.  They seem perfectly content with that.  Why are we Western folk far less content with things although we have more?  Perhaps we have less really.  Perhaps nature is what makes for the  happiest, most fullfilling life...


Passports and Airplanes

Travel time.
Airports.  So similar, yet so different. I have decided that those who design airports and passports are remarkable people.  Think about the planning, the problem solving and the intricacy that is needed for them! Forgive me for pointless ranting but I am on an aeroplane on my way to the land of the Thais!

Sunday, July 04, 2010

Paradise Part 2: Islands of Phuket

Today I found my absolute dream place, the ultimate happy place, the most amazingly beautiful wonderful place in the world!  As I sat on a small island (less than 500 square metres), sipping on a pina colada from a coconut, I realised this is what people only dream of after seeing such scenes in movies.

To be continued

Paradise Part 1: Land of Thai

To be continued...