What’s with the rubbish in Bali?
Wondering where all the rubbish comes from, I stumble across amazing people making a difference.
I’ve wandered down to Berawa beach for a late afternoon stroll. I love the beach, and I especially love it in the late afternoon when locals come down to cool off after work — watching people surf, kids splash, princesses tiptoe down to the water and burnt tourists sleeping on their sun lounger with Bintang beside them. But today I’m distracted. The beach is lined with driftwood and in between it all… tonnes of rubbish. Literally. For as far as my eye can see.
I start to take photos of it, intrigued (and horrified) as to how much there is. I wonder where it had all come from. I’d heard that the current at this time of year brings it here from around the world, but I do wonder. So many lolly wrappers, straws and small toiletry containers. And lots of thongs.
As I wander further, I notice people with gloves and big white bags. They are picking up rubbish and sorting it into recyclables and not recyclables. The rubbish then goes to Suwung landfill in their hired truck. The driver sends his location and photos as evidence.
I start chatting and learn that most of them are expats that are volunteering to keep the beach clean. They come down every Sunday. The beach clean is organised by Ocean Mimic - two scuba divers, Emma and Chelsea. I go up to talk to Emma, and find myself asking for a bag and glove. I wander the beach, picking up rubbish and chatting with the others for over half an hour. There is so much, I could stay all night, but have plans.
I love what they are doing and hope it replicates along more beaches. For the environment, for the beauty and the health of our animals. It would also mean not surfing in plastic while in Bali - a bonus for me.
If you are heading over to Bali, go check it out (more details below). Do your part. Meet at the steps by Finns Beach Club 5 pm every Sunday.
Also find them on Facebook here.
"Ocean Mimic is run by two scuba divers - Emma and Chelsea. We pursued this dream because we felt compelled to protect the ocean we both fell in love with. We met on an island in Malaysia in 2017 and saw first hand the trash wash up onto the usually spotless beaches. We created Ocean Mimic because we had no choice but to act.
We started out on this journey because we felt an urgent need to protect our oceans and our planet. We accepted that as individuals we have power. We took a leap of faith to take responsibility to do everything possible to inspire others and lead courageously by example. Mimic was our answer. A platform to inspire the public to act.
Our story is only just beginning … we need your support to make this a reality!
It all starts with you!
Thanks to everyone who joins us.
Emma & Chelsea"
500km, 5 days, $5000 - and your chance to WIN!
Fundraising and prizes! Lots of good vibes.
Why the raffle?
Because it’s a fun way of raising money! Read below to find out why I’m fundraising…
About what I'm doing...
I'm going to ride 500km in 5 days through Thailand to raise money for the New Life project in Kanchanaburi, located near the Thai-Burma border in western Thailand. More than 50 children call Kanchanaburi home.
Children at Kanchanaburi have come from difficult situations: sexual abuse, substance addictions, or they have no family to care for them. Others have been used as exploited labour.
I need to fundraise $5,000: 100% of donations go directly to the children in Thailand. Yes, that’s right - no admin, marketing or whatever is taken out of your donation.
Hands Group is an Australian social enterprise that gives at-risk Thai children and their communities a helping hand through our charity Hands Across The Water.
You can purchase your raffle tix by donating via my fundraising page (click on image above). I’ll then send you your raffle tix. OR you can buy them at La Bomba dance studio in Adelaide OR from me direct.
Every dollar counts. Every dollar helps these beautiful children - so please consider buying a ticket (or more ;))
THANK YOU!
Wave House Surf Camp, Bali - time for me to improve!
Wave House Surf School and Surf Camp, Bali. Why should you go? My thoughts.
When you love something and want to get better at something - what do you do? Practice, practice, practice. And then what happens? You get better!
I've been surfing for a few years now but not progressing in my ability. I know that daily practice is what benefits the most, but I have only been going out sporadically. Sometimes three times a week, most times once every week or three. I was getting frustrated, so I decided to carve out the time to make improvement happen.
Bali flights were going cheap so suddenly I was logging in and hitting 'purchase'. Then came the task of finding somewhere to stay. I looked at hotels, AirBnB's and surf camps. I decided a surf camp would be best because, heck, how many times was I going to get out and surf a new break on my own? I knew... not many.
Wave House stood out as a great place because of it's location to the beach (a 3-minute walk away), Seminyak (with the salsa places I was keen to check out), the beautiful grounds and being inclusive of surf lessons each day. I've been to a few surf camps around Bali so knew that I'd be surrounded by like-minded people that were chilled but exciting. What I didn't know was that I would be one of the only native speaking English guests there! That doesn't happen often.
Other guests were mainly Russian, but thankfully, their English is fantastic. We chatted at breakfast and on the surf trips, but other than that, I was normally by the pool listening to Gabrielle Bernstein's 'The Universe Has Your Back', journalling or taking trip notes. The camp was so quiet, I often wondered if I was the only one there. However, I knew otherwise, that there were quite a few guests tucked away in their rooms working. It made me smile - knowing that people are here living their life the way they want. Combining their passion for surf, travel and work. Now, that's my type of person.
Surf lessons were at different surf breaks, depending on tide, wind and swell. It was 'off' season for surf in Bali but we found some great waves and clean (as in wind, definitely not always clean water) conditions. We surfed Old Mans, Padma and Kedungu - all located within a 30-minute drive of camp. We surfed with meet up times from 5.30am to 11 am. Small groups, one instructor and a couple of guides. It worked really well. Guests are split up into ability from beginner upwards. I was in Intermediate 4 and it worked well with everyone being a similar ability. We got feedback in the water and when we got tired, our guides helped push us onto the waves. How's that for pampering! Seriously, the instructors and guides at Wave House are the friendliest and most helpful I've experienced in Bali.
After our surf lesson, unpacking the boards and grabbing food (if it was an early surf) we met in the yoga pavilion for the second part of our lesson. Photo feedback. Eek! This scared me the first time. I hate seeing photos of myself - and I've seen myself surfing before. I described it as 'taking a poo while holding my nose from all stink'. Thankfully, I'm not 'that' bad anymore so seeing myself wasn't too bad. And the feedback was helpful. Picking up on things like hip rotation, pop up technique and working the wave.
Other bonuses of staying at Wave House? Surf skills lesson in the pool, a training area to practice, a cute resident cat and the occasional visit by the most gorgeous little pup (owned by the Aussie surf instructor). Staff are also super helpful - getting me about on the Gojek service (think Uber for mopeds), organising massages and being there for a chat.
So, after five days... would I do it again? Heck yeah. I relaxed, met some awesome people and learnt new surf skills. I conquered my fear of lefts and overcome trauma I had from previous experience at Old Mans. Growth all around. While having fun. The best surf camp I have stayed at yet.
Check it out at https://wavehousebali.com/surfcamp/
CLIENT: Fleurieu Living, Summer 2018-19
Some fabulous people and stories of the Fleurieu Peninsula.
My first photo featured in Fleurieu Living was in their second issue, Spring 2012. All I can say is... it was colourful. :) Check it out on the right.
Now I do photos for Fleurieu Living every issue. I love the work I do, and the people I meet. It also provides me with a great opportunity to see how wonderful the Fleurieu Peninsula is. There is so much here that I'm very grateful for. From wineries, quirky function venues to the down to earth, casual and easygoing nature of people. The diversity of talent and passions in the area - it's bubbling with possibility for anyone.
In this issue, I photographed Jessica and Surahn Sidhu on their almond orchard where there is no mechanical harvesting or sprays. And near Myponga I met siblings Sam and Yasmin Whitehead of Gut Feeling who does fabulous things with cabbage. I also photographed the bubbly artist Henry Jock Walker for an ultra quick shoot mid lunch break at Port Noarlunga.
Young, ambitious and inspiring.
Fleurieu Living Magazine Summer shoot with Elise, Domenic and Scout...
Photographing Scout the van, Domenic and Elise Cook on a windy beach day at Sellicks… but we got pretty pics!
Sounded like a great idea. A fashion shoot on at Sellicks Beach, surrounded by the red-orange rocks, then a couple of pics up near the massive cactus on top of the cliffs.
Somebody forgot to tell the wind what we were doing. Trying to marry up the wind and sun to be in the right direction was a bit of fun...
But. We had fun. And we got some really great shots. I loved working with Elise and Domenic (and their van Scout). They know how to pose in front of the camera and they are also really awesome, chilled people. Check them out on Instagram here. https://www.instagram.com/elisecook/
Check out the pics used in Fleurieu Living Magazine by picking up a copy yourself! It's a great read and very pretty. :)
2019 - big things!
500km bike ride in 5 days. Insanity! But that’s what I’m doing.
Happy 2019!
I'm so excited about projects waiting for me this year. One of them is a crazy ride through Thailand. I’ve been told my new best friends will be those fancy bike shorts and butt cream!
About what I'm doing...
I'm going to ride 500km in 5 days through Thailand to raise money for the New Life project in Kanchanaburi, located near the Thai-Burma border in western Thailand. More than 50 children call Kanchanaburi home.
Children at Kanchanaburi have come from difficult situations: sexual abuse, substance addictions, or they have no family to care for them. Others have been used as exploited labour.
I need to fundraise $5,000: 100% of donations go directly to the children in Thailand. It's a lot but I believe we can get more!
How am I going to do it?
Raising money by… Special photo sessions, artwork sale, asking for donations and… an auction or raffle. I already have some amazing donations which I’m very grateful for but need a few more. If you would like to help, here is how.
Training… getting by bum saddle ready is already slightly painful. Also getting used to hills. If anyone wants to come riding with me, let me know! I’ve already started and did my first 50km ride the other day.
How you can help:
Anything would be helpful. If you could donate something, please get in touch. I hope to do the auction in late January/February when everyone is recovered from the summer holidays. :)
And in return (apart from the feel-good factor of helping me raise this money for the kids) I will smother your logo/tag name all over everything in the promo for it. I'll also mention on social media and in a blog post that goes out to an email list of nearly 1000.
I can also give you a hug. Who doesn't love a hug?
So where will the money be going? Here's a bit about Hands Group...
“Hands Group is an Australian, New Zealand and Thai social enterprise that gives at-risk Thai children and their communities a helping hand through our charity Hands Across The Water.
Hands Across The Water was originally formed after countless Thai children were left alone and homeless by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.
This charity was unlike many others, it was nimble, entrepreneurial and strived for goals that many thought were unattainable. Just over 12 years later, Hands has raised more than $20 million for the children and communities in Thailand and now cares for more than 350 children throughout the country.
The reason for the charity’s success is two-fold. Firstly, we don’t rely purely on donations. Instead, we create meaningful shared experiences for everyone involved with hands – experiences that truly provide food for the soul. Secondly, we believe in charity in the true sense of the word. This means:
Our care comes without conditions
We don’t seek to impose a religion or belief system upon those we support
We give children the chance to grow according to their own beliefs and traditions
Plus, 100% of donations go to the kids and their communities. No donors’ money goes to administration in Australia. Or staff costs. Or marketing. Or fundraising. “
Here’s a link to the project so you can check it out, and donate if you want to... all donations are tax deductible.
"the world isn’t perfect but it’s beautiful in its imperfection”
Waiting for perfection? Don’t. Nothing is perfect.
I was looking through my Evernote notes (a complete shamble) today and found this quote from Christina Force said to me during one of our discussions.
I love it. It is the way I photograph. And it is the way life is. I am not perfect. You are not perfect. Nothing is perfect. As soon as we learn to accept that, things become a bit easier.
Vinales, Cuba. Where the tobacco grows.
Vinales. A place of tobacco. The farmland of Cuba. A day trip here…
Vinales is a town in western Cuba. Around two hours drive from Havana.
We get up early one morning to head out there for the day. Having been out dancing the night before, it's hard to keep my eyes open. I normally love to watch the scenery change and see where I am. But today my eyes keep shutting. When I do pull them apart, I'm spoilt and will myself to stay awake a bit longer. Havana and its residential sprawl is gradually replaced with farmland, farmers riding on their ploughs and tobacco drying houses bigger than their houses.
The houses are cute. Colourfully painted, simple and small, nearly always with porch and rocking chair. The drying houses are big and wooden. With all the tobacco lined up neatly inside.
As we travel further, limestone monoliths 'mogotes' erupt out of the greenery. We visit Vinales Mural de la Prehistoria that has been painted over many years by an artist, Leovigildo Gonzalez Morillo. Although the mural itself is often labelled as overhyped, the lush Vinales Valley was given status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 and is very worthy of a visit.
Also, It is here I have my first 'top up to your liking' pina colada. Mmm, I'll just say 'happy mornings, la la la...' Another reason to go and visit the mural.
Of course, being in Vinales, a visit to a tobacco farm to see inside one of the drying houses is required. We not only see inside, smelling all the tobacco at various drying stages, but the farmer also shows us how he makes the cigars. We then we get to try. I don't smoke so have no idea what to do, but I give a little puff without inhaling. I realise the taste isn't as bad as I thought - much better than the smell of cigarette and I don't cough. Much.
There is a lot to do in Vinales but we are only here for a day. We visit a lookout to see the unusual landscape of green and monoliths popping up, the tobacco farm, caves and of course drink rum. I'd love to stay a bit longer but a concert is calling us. We grab another snooze opportunity while driving back to Havana and before we know it, are hit with the intoxicating smell of fumes from cars and buses spluttering everything out as the clatter along the streets. Bless Havana and her cars.
CLIENT: South Australian Escapes
Want to have a holiday by the beach? Just steps from the Middleton surf is this beautiful home…
A couple of weekends ago I went to photograph a brand spanking new holiday rental for a client in Middleton. I had no idea what to expect. But there were just a few wows as I went through. I'd love to stay here... and will (when I can trust my kids not to damage anything ;))
My client wanted the photos to put up on her website so she could get guests booked in for the Christmas period - all before she leaves on her own holiday in a week or so. So, it was a quick turnaround shoot. Retouching was kept natural and pics uploaded in web and print sizes for her.
About a week later, when I saw her next, she said she had it booked out to two different people already over that period.
WOW! Now that's how photos can work for you. I know it's busy season, but without photos, the chance of booking is much less. And good photos that show the space properly makes a massive impact on people and their decision to book or not.
Here are the pics... house pics shoot was about an hour then some time for some stock pics of the local area (plus a couple I had already taken over time).
Beerenberg... who doesn't know it?
Mmm… want recipes to make your mouth water. And that are easy? Even I’m sold on these!!!
I loved photographing this recipe book. The food is easy and delicious. Perfect for me. ;)
Ok, so I have heard the name for years, and years, and years. But it was only this year when I landed a commission with Beerenberg did I finally learn how to pronounce it properly. Forever, I have been saying 'Beer-en-berg' only to be told it is pronounced 'Bear-en-berg'. Do you know how hard it is to get 38 years of conditioning out of you? It's hard.
Anyway... after we get the formalities out of the way. We shoot. Lots. 100 recipes to be sure. 19 days of photos. Lots of food. Lots of tasting. Lots of laughs.
I loved working with Beerenberg, Newstyle Media and Pen and Palate. Together, we created some great photographs. And an awesome recipe book. And lots of laughs while working. With the odd knock-off gin or two.
What else could you ask for?
Here are some of the pics from our 19 days together...
And if you want the full recipe book, head here.
