alightinteh

Adelaide (South Australia)

2007-07-03T11:00:00.000+08:00

So, I'm in Adelaide now. Been here for two, now looking for a job. Nothing yet.

Me and Mum

Still On Rottnest

2007-05-02T22:06:00.000+08:00

We had a party for Dave and Ciara's last day at the Lodge. Posted here are some selected pictures from the party. It was a good night, funneling beers, Julie (Frenchy) was off her face, and laughs all around.

Dave the Porter... He requested that I cut and paste his face, from this picture, over a the face of some porn star engaged in a raging orgy. Sorry Dave, didn't have the time.

Julie and Brady.

Me, Jimbo, Brady and Jun.

2007-03-05T11:48:00.000+09:00

The Crew

A thunderstorm near Perth

(View from Rottnest)

2007-02-20T09:36:00.000+09:00

2007-02-14T14:09:00.000+09:00

2007-02-14T13:33:00.000+09:00

Perth, Fremantle and The Guinness Book of World Records.

2007-01-10T11:36:00.000+09:00

Perth City
Mathew Henshaw, featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding a 20.1 kg bag of potatoes by the handle of a 40.5 cm sword which he swallowed. Just a few weeks aggo I was in Fremantle browsing the Markets when I happened to notice a seemingly half drunk street perfomer yelling and ranting and putting on quite a good show. I managed to get a video of him swallowing a 4 ft long sausage shaped balloon. The balloon was completely swallowed, and it remained in his gut for the duration of his show. As he ran around yelling and joking, balancing at the top of a dodgie platform swallowing a burning sword, I couldnt help but wonder what happened to the balloon?

Island Oasis

2007-01-10T11:20:00.000+09:00

Kitchenhand

2006-12-29T11:40:00.000+09:00

A Quokka

I am currently working as a kitchenhand at Rottnest Lodge on Rottnest Island. The work is very busy and at times extremely hot and humid, but because of the fast pace and endless stacks of of dirty plates, trays, pots and pans, the time flies by quite swiftly. I am rarely checking the clock, waiting for the lunch bell, or eagerly wanting to escape. I am staying on the Island in the staff dongers. It's quite comfortable. I have my own room, and I am provided three meals a day as part of the weekly $1oo rent. So far so good. This Island is beautiful. I have two days off, yesterday was my first after 7 days hard work. I went for a bike ride, hoping to reach the west end of the island. But due to the hot sun and a lack of physical fitness I made it about 4 kms out and decided that was enough, so I turned around and headed home. Now with sunburnt shoulders and some time to kill I'm in Fremantle at an internet cafe'. Until next time...

Parliament, P FUNK, Funkadelic.

2006-12-21T17:06:00.000+09:00

"Don't worry about being right, just be real!" - George Clinton

Perth & Rottnest

2006-12-16T15:54:00.000+09:00

Well, I'm back in Perth again. I'm renting a room for $80 per week in a share house in Kardinya which is 25 minutes from the city by bus. I am hoping to work in the area for up 6 months. With the money saved I plan to get certified to teach English so I can travel and work in Japan in 2008. This thursday I'll be starting a job at a resort on Rottnest Island which is about 30 minutes by boat from Fremantle. Accomodation is at the resort, $100 a week. Rottnest is really amazing! Such a beautiful place rich in wildlife, clean beaches and surrounded by crystal clear water. I will be working from 5am - 1 pm, 5 days a week. So in the afternoon and evening I'm free to wander aimlessly, swim, relax, whatever... I reckon it'll be bonza!

Tomo and I. Please excuse the rude gestures.
Cute Babies (Fremantle)
Rottnest!

Donnybrook

2006-12-05T11:41:00.000+09:00

This Dry Apple Wine was made on sight at Old Goldfields Cider farm where I was working.
My good friend Kenichiro!
It's Hot, taking a much needed break.
A resident frog. I was surprised to learn how most Japanese people, if not all, despise frogs.
Work Mates! Good Memories. From Left: Yuka,Hiroyuki,Miki,Katsumi,Yoshimi,Kate,Hyeji,Hirokazu...

From Left: Hirokazu, Kenichiro, Miki, Unyoung, Yuka, Mazz, Natsu

Yuka,Me and Miki. Great friends. Many lovely memories.
Lively Men!
Miki, Hirokazu, Katsumi(incognito)...

My time in Donnybrook was really great. The work was hard, but I couldnt imaging a nicer group of people to share my time with, both at work and at home. A few of the people that I worked with also lived in the same house in Donnybrook. Together in the struggle, perservering through heat and sweat, swarms of flies, hot sandwiches... after a long day unwinding with a shared dinner in front of the TV enjoying a pirated DVD (usually Japanese Anime, "not Otaku), wine, sunsets, laughs, beautiful hearts, kind faces. I am so glad to have had so many nice experiences, sharing most of my time and thoughts with such nice people. Lot's of Love to you all. Yuka and Miki, Kenichiro and Kazu, Hiroshi, Natsu, Shinobu, Eunyoung, Hiroyuki and Yoshimi, Mazz, Molly... Thank You! Ki o tsukete きおつけて　Take Care!

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

2006-10-20T12:59:00.000+08:00

Philip K. Dick's "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" (aka Blade Runner) is one my most recommended Science-Fiction books. I'm not much of a Sci-Fi nut, I like to read all genres, really it's the author's talent for creation and imaginative realism which makes fiction such a joy to read, this is especially true for science fiction. I was lucky enough to find a free copy of Blade Runner in Perth. This is my second time reading it, and I am loving it!

The atmosphere of life on earth is thick with dust and the sunless sky is dark and grey. Life on earth is rare outside of the limited human world which remains, most of which has emigrated to Mars following the new hope and seeking refuge from the radiation and ghostly fallout which plagues the Earth. The mood of the book is infectious, immediately the feeling is dark, malignant, yet strangely hopeful. Their is a mysterious man-made virtual spiritual realm known as "Mercerism" which almost all life is following, that is, only those who are capable of having empathy for other life forms. The human brain, shortly before the war, had made evolutionary steps toward subtle higher functions. Man has created artificial life of all types, on earth and on mars. Since real animals are practically non-existant, many people own the artificial replacement. The simulation or emulation of real life has become so real, too real to distinguish from the natural. And that is where Rick Deckard comes in, a bounty hunter, stalking the escaped humanoids who kill their owners to escape the slave life on mars.

I would recommend this book for anyone who has never read any science fiction, anyone who doubts the genre will find this book readable. It's short and interesting, and it's far-reaching imagination didnt leave me feeling clueless and uninterested.

2006-10-20T00:10:00.000+08:00

Frankland River Cont'd

2006-10-19T10:26:00.000+08:00

Frankland River Winery

2006-10-19T09:52:00.000+08:00

About five days ago I finished working at a winery in Frankland. The task was simple, shoot thinning, basically we were using our hands to snap off any new shoots that would prevent the minimal one shoot for every width of a hand. Any shoots on the bottom of the vine get knocked of, any on the trunk and any doubles also get the cut. At times this was an easy task and one could finish around 1200 vines a day at a rate of 12-15 cents per vine. But other times there was just too many shoots and the pace would crawl at a slow 600 vines a day, but usually we can get 17-23 cents for these more "full" vines. All in all it was an easy job, but it proved to be a burden for me and all but one of the other workers. We started a new block of vines and they were very difficult, they were paying us 17 cents per vine, even the fastest worker couldnt move fast enough to make minimum wage. People lost their motivation and all but one left the job. Also the farm was too far to walk to town for food, no one had any service on their mobile, usually I would say that isolation can be beneficial at intervals but not this time. I stayed for one week, went back up to Perth for a week, and went back to Frankland for another week before deciding "that's enough." I hang my head in defeat. And this might be the first time you will catch me saying "I'd rather be in the city." So here I am, back in Perth, again. And it's good. I'm here with two work mates from Frankland at Brittania Backpackers, sharing a triple since not one of us enjoys shared dorms.
I'm looking for work at the moment, hopefully leaving no sooner than this Sunday. and no later than next Monday.

Belated Post for my Mother

2006-10-18T09:40:00.000+08:00

Around a month and a half ago I spent a week with my Mum in WA. We went to Dunsburrough for a few days, it was realy nice to see her as we don't have frequent visits. It seems that lately though our visits have been closer tohether which is nice. Mum (Carol) is a great mother and an inspiration to me. When she was a young lady she travelled quite a bit, also in Australia, actually she never seemed to stop travelling, she's still on the road. Wherever she goes, whoever she meets, she seems to have a talent for lightening the day and putting smiles on peoples faces.

To you Mum, I love you.

Chenrezig (cont'd)

2006-10-18T09:29:00.000+08:00

Here are a few more pictures from Chenrezig Buddhist Institute, continuing from my last post.

My hut, small but perfectly comfortable.

Wisdom of the Land

2006-09-23T14:00:00.000+08:00

There were a few phrases wich I remember, one liners, from my time working on a farm in Harvey. These words were not intended to spark any insight into life itself, just quick advice given to me that was specifically directed at the task at hand:
"Don't dig a hole to fill a hole." "When walking in the mud, it's easier to follow and walk in someone else's footsteps."

Chenrezig Buddhist Institue (Queensland)

2006-08-05T13:23:00.000+08:00

I just received an email from my friend Jin. Attached to this email was a group of pictures which I had taken about 3 months ago, using Jin's camera, while I was volunteering at a Buddhist Institute in Queensland. Since I dont have much time now, to write about my time there at Chenrezig, here are some of the pictures.

King's Park

2006-07-17T12:38:00.000+08:00

A Tree...
A Hut...
A Tree and a strange fella...
Ayako and I, well.... our shadows.
Kazuki and I, Botanical Gardens, King's Park.
A view of the City from park.
A big Tree...
It was that kind of day, green, warm, nice...

It was a beauriful day in King's Park. Bright sun, warm grass, Ayako and I together eating sandwiches and rice balls. Kazuki met us in the park, and ended up being late for work. I think he would agree that it was worth being late. Not much else to do in our situation, when the sun is shining and friends are around, get together and enjoy the moments.

A Walk in the Park

2006-07-10T12:47:00.000+08:00

Kazukisan and Chrissie, contemplating about the future........ Kazuki asked me not to publish this picture, sorry Kazuzki. I like this one.
Perth Baby!
This Kangaroo is lost, but happened to find a waterhole. Quench!
A beautiful windy day at South Park.
Skippy and young Joey.
The Man of the Family.

Perth Ahoy!

2006-07-10T09:35:00.000+08:00

From Left: Dahn, Chrissie, Ayumi, Kiko, Ayako, Kazuki. Outside of Restaraunt.
Kazuki and I, with full stomachs.

Perth, in the centre of it all. Today I am looking for a job with my good friend Ayako. We are both looking for farm work outside of Perth, thr further north the better. Yesterday we went to an Indian restaraunt by the river, a very unique place because of the price.... well let me put it this way.... if you are completely broke you can eat there for free! They encourage a donation, which we do, whatever you can give is appreciatted. Seriousely good food, spicy and tasty. That's all for now.

Leaving Albany

2006-07-07T09:51:00.000+08:00

John & Pat
10:00 am, Colin is picking me up from the Backpackers. Going up to Perth, going for an interview for a job on a farm. I have really enjoyed my time here in Albany. The people were great, Pat and John (the Managers of Alb. Backpckrs) are like an extended family to me now. Really nice hosts, cooking raosts for us all, keeping us busy with jobs here and there around the place. The other guests, Nick, James, Michael, Matt, Liam, Tom, Shane, Jerry, Michelle, Katie, Stephen, and one or two others that stayed here shortly in bewteen have made my stay here really valuable, Ginny from Scotland who left quite an impression, good luck to you all, you beautiful people. Lot's of Love.

Fishing

2006-07-06T18:01:00.000+08:00

Mates out Fishing, cought a few, Leatherback, Cod, Whiting.

Matt, Nick and Me!

Matt, Jerry and Nick waiting for a bite.

Friends, Albany

2006-07-04T19:53:00.000+08:00

Nick cooking Aussie style beer can chicken, for recipe follow link to "Stephie's Space".
Nick Painting outside the White Horse Pub

Tom and Shane. Also working at the White Horse, renovations.
Albany Backpackers, and the ever so little Mount Clarence behind.
From left: Me, Nick, Shane, Pat, Jerry, Tom, Liam, Katie.
NIck and James watching the football (soccer)
Liam lounging
Stephie, Pat, and unkown girl. Stephie and Pat run the show here at Albany Backpackers. Great friends.

2006-07-03T18:01:00.000+08:00

Wind Farm, Albany.

Murals

2006-07-03T16:29:00.000+08:00

There are many paintings on the walls throughout Albany Backpackers.

These were all painted by different artist, all of which were guests here.

Pay My Way

2006-07-03T11:37:00.000+08:00

Albany Backpackers. In return for two hours work, either cleaning the kitchen or making the beds/vacuming, I am able to stay here rent free and use the internet for one hour. This is now my daily routine: wake up 7:00am, free brekkie 8:00, start cleaning 9:30-10:00, finish cleaning 11:30-12:00. After that.... whatever I wish. Usually a leasurely wlk around to Middleton Beach. Twice I have been fortunate enough to spot a whale, around 100-200 mtrs from the beach.

It is said that this area is a common birthing spot for the darling Mother Whales (Humpbacks & Southern Right Whales) with a belly full of life, who calmly enter the safety of the Bay to give birth. This is also the same spot that she will leave her young calf. She abandons her calf here at an early stage (about 12 months), leaving the babe to learn how to be a whale on its own. The mother returns promptlly to the wide open sea to mate, and the process is repeated.

Along the walk which takes one from the centre of the 'city' to Middleton Beach there are a few lookout points. One of them, just up and along the point, a few minutes from the Beach, has a few information boards. There is a small amount of information about the whales that come into the Bay. One point that seems to stay in mind, is the one telling the hopeful whale watcher about the cruelty of the Mother whale who leads her calf into these waters, abandoning them shortly after. To me this doesnt sound cruel, it seems to be just another occassion where the actions of animal has been personified for dramatic affect. Relating another species' behavior to that of our own. In the "human world" of course this would be a terribly cruel thing to do to a child. But as a whale I'm sure there is minimal stress put on the calf, being alone might not even be a recognizable state of mind or being for a whale. Since this pattern has no doubt been repeated time and time again throughout history, there must be a genetic predisposition for the solo life of the growing whale. Maybe the only thing a young whale might notice at first would be that the food it is eating is in new areas and obtained in different ways, no longer suckling from its mother. I don't doubt that whales are intellegent creatures, with much different minds than that of a human. All in all, content with eating copepods and krill, these creatures are undeniably magnificant.

Albany, WA

2006-07-02T18:30:00.000+08:00

At the moment I am in Albany, Western Australia. A beautiful place rich in natural beauty. It is called a called a 'city', but it is more like a large country town. Surrounded by small mountains, on the mouth of a large bay, a few islands and resident whales. A few kilometers south around the western side of the bay, facing the Southern Ocean, are age-old cliffs and a granite rock coast-line. There aren't any high-rise buildings, the bay is clean and the environment still owns itself. Man has yet to exploit the area with flashy attractions and tourist traps which rob places like this of its vitality and color. Still natural, quiet, and absolutely enjoyable.

One

2006-07-02T14:04:00.000+08:00

Stephie, a friend, told me about this blog thing going round. Sitting here trying to get it going. So..... in time..... the wheel of moments, in fractions of nows, the constructs appear in yellow and lime.