Stumbled across these untouched shots this morning while I couldn’t sleep at 3.50am (kill me) and naturally decided to edit them until 7.30am.
They were taken last year in Essaouira, Morocco with my photographer friend Ms Dom Cherry of DEC Creatives. Enjoy.
xx
Had a lovely morning strolling through the desert today and happened to stumble on some pretty wildflowers that I wanted to share.
Hope you like. x
Just returned home from a whirlwind trip over to Geraldton, which is on the Western Australia coast north of Perth. From my initial understanding, this was only supposed to be a quick little 3 hour drive but was soon corrected. The trip is 6 hours each way, which only emphasises how remote Karalundi (my new home) really is. We went for a day and half for the sole purpose of a caffeine pursuit with a few little extra chores here and there.
Jes and Ben had talked up the most amazing café/restaurant place for brunch the morning after we had arrived and as we arrived up to the front door of Salt Dish we noticed a little sign that said ‘closed for the holidays’ – needless to say we were more than let down. Especially considering the next best place for breakfast was McDonalds. No joke. Although given how far away Karalundi is that’s sort of a treat as well.
I managed to buy a quite a few things for my little abode back in the desert. Just a few things to make it more homely and that night we had dinner at a really nice place call The Provincial. I would definitely recommend it to any visitors passing through.
We stayed at a caravan park by Sunset Beach where I got some beautiful shots of the sunset. They still don’t quite capture how amazing it really was though.
We’re back home now and kids arrive here on Monday and Tuesday. The staff (me included) have to take the buses out to the bush to pick them up for the term so that should be happening in the next couple of days.
Not feeling all that prepared for teaching but nothing like being thrown in the deep end! Will blog about that sometime next week if I get a chance and I’ve survived.
Bye for now x
So it has now been seven days since I arrived in the West. And it really is the wild wild west.
The outback has lived up to everything stereotypical and although it has only been a week, flying into Newman, Western Australia feels like centuries ago. I remember as we were circling into land, looking out each of the windows to the sides of me and seeing the almost fluorescent red of the earth on one side and the bright, cloudless as always, blue sky on the other. No matter how many times you see the colours you can never actually recall the vividness.
Since launching, we’ve seen Instagram spread from our headquarters in the Bay Area to every corner of the globe. In this series we’ll highlight top users from countries and cities with thriving Instagram communities.
This week’s spotlight takes us to the City of Light, one of the most…
Venezia.
An amazing photographer captures the true essence of this indescribable city.
Check out the rest of her shots here.
My beautiful friend, Ms Brooke Tually, is leaving me for three months to teach English in Italy for the Summer.
I am so excited for the amazing adventure ahead of her but the explorer and discoverer within is screaming, “take me with you!”
Love you Brookey. See you when you get back. xx
The photos of Italy above are not my own.
Humidity
Mugginess
Aromas (Good & Bad)
Dirty Streets
Busyness
Traffic
These are all things that make Thailand what it is and I have to say, I love it.
I have just returned from a holiday that brought me back to life. I felt like my life was slowly drying up with assignments and drama but the two weeks with no phone, limited internet connectivity and nothing else to distract me helped to revive my soul.
Thailand, and most of South East Asia for that matter, has such a strong sense of community. Everyone eats out on the streets and is in no rush to get anywhere or do anything. The country is busy with the amount of people there are, however, they are all so laid back and chilled. I believe it must have something to do with their Buddhist beliefs.
While I was there this year, the Thai New Year came in. They call this the Songkran Festival and it was an experience that I will never forget. Apart from being on the back of a scooter that my best friend was driving that hit a minimum of 3 people, we had an amazing day. The purpose of Songkran is to wash away last year and bring in the new clean year. They do this by absolutely drenching you with water and then talcum powdering you up. Unfortunately, usually the talcum powder was actually Prickly Heat which did just that - prickled and the water was coloured with dye that stained your skin. If you happen to be anywhere in Thailand during this festive period you are guaranteed to be drenched head to toe. Our motto was, ‘If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em!’ and the day was much more enjoyable because of it.
I’m now home and back into college and work. It’s the same old life but with a new perspective and a rested mind. I can’t be sure whether it was the time away or the complete and utter drenching of Songkran that washed me and made me new again but it really is amazing how much of a difference two weeks in a foreign land with an old friend can make.
I’m seriously in paradise. It’s exactly what the doctor ordered. This is my poolside bungalow in my Thai Oasis, Phuket.
Finally made it after being diverted to Penang, Malaysia due to a tsunami warning! Safe and sound now and loving life.
It’s safe to say that I definitely don’t want to go home.
You’re Invited.
I will have these invitations for my (make-believe Pinterest) wedding.
Read more here.
Europe.
It’s been too long and I’m feeling the tug.
These photos were taken by DEC Creatives on my last trip - they did an amazing job.
Journal Envy.
Would love to have my travel journals all looking like this piece of art.
Definitely something to work towards instead of clear sheet protectors stuffed with ticket butts and bus passes.
Not to mention the fabulous idea of creating picture frames around your old souvenirs.
Wonderful.
So today I was fired – actually I quit… to be honest, I don’t know what it actually was but bottom line is – now I’m unemployed… again. As most of you know, when I arrived in Paris I was desperate to find work and this lovely Finnish family came along with three gorgeous children, an amazing apartment in the 16eme and a cute little pug dog and ‘swept me off my feet’. However, I was unaware that their rate of pay was so dismally bad that not even Willie Lopez from down on the corner would get off his stoop for it. When I pointed out that I was being paid below minimum wage, the family (or the Parents really) were not too happy and showed me their other side. All in all I’m happy to be out of there despite the feeling of not having a job or a future or money.
On the up side – today I had my first photography job in Paris. I was hired by this lovely couple from New York who wanted some nice photos of them in Paris. I hope they are happy with what I did for them. It would be great if I could do that full time but I just don’t know how to advertise for this sort of thing. Ideas anyone? I’m not selling myself as a professional photographer, just someone that can take nice photos and capture the moments from their holiday. Plus I consider myself to know Paris fairly well now and can take them to those places that aren’t packed with tourists. It was really good and the pay for those few hours was about 1/3 of what the Finnish family paid me for the week. So it worked out really well!
While I was waiting for my clients today at the Metro station, I saw these young girls hanging around. Normally you wouldn’t notice them if you were walking through the station but because I was standing still watching people it seemed strange that they were just ‘hanging’ at such a boring place for children their age. They looked about 13. The first thing I thought when I saw them was, ‘they must be freezing’ as their midriffs were hanging out over their jeans like most tarty girls their age who ride on the metro (generalisation?). I brushed off the weirdness and continued to look for my clients. After a bit an older man came up to me and said ‘attention! Those girls are pickpockets, watch out for your things’ I was a little shocked because when I was 13 I was hanging out at Mulbring oval eating blocks of chocolate with the money that we knicked out of Poppa’s work pants (haha) – so innocent in comparison to these girls. Anyway, I continued to watch them (Oh My Goodness! It wasn’t until typing up to here that I realised that Stef and I were doing the same thing but just to her grandfather!!! Haha – it was different though). As I was watching them, there was one girl who was the boss, she would scout out people and either nod or shake her head to the two other girls, if she nodded them they would all follow up the escalator or down the stairs where there would be a lot of people bunched together. I watched one girl thieve off an old lady up an escalator. I was so furious that I yelled out to them and they started pulling faces at me through the Perspex. I actually started crying tears of anger and thought, if I could abuse you in French quickly then I absolutely would. I went and ‘dobbed’ on them but there was nothing that they could do of course. The girls came up to me later and asked me what was wrong. I said ‘rien, c’est bon’ (nothing, it’s good/OK) because I got a bit scared like they were going to bash me but then they asked if I had a light (probably so when I opened my bag they could steal whatever was in it), I said I didn’t smoke and then I asked them why they were doing it and told them to stop. They couldn’t have given two hoots – no joke – they literally said ‘you are beautiful’ (I think to keep me on side) and then said au revoir, gave each other the nod and chased after this other poor, unknowing Asian tourist – NO SHAME! I even called out to them and everything… What is this world coming to? I literally just watched them try to get people over and over again. I can at least be happy that when I hear the pickpocket announcements I know what to look for. I previously had an image of an older, swift, little man – for some reason I never assumed it would be children, but apparently it’s all the rage in Paris. Especially in the tourist packed areas such as Bir-Hakeim Metro Stop (right by the Eiffel Tower).
So my day was pretty full today with working this morning until 12pm, getting fired, dealing with Parisienne criminals, being a photographer, blogging and tonight I go to the Hillsong Sisterhood conference which I’m really looking forward to.
Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Will blog more soon – I have much to say – as per usual xx
Bonjour mes amis!
It is time for an update on my next segment of my Paris Adventure.
Firstly and most importantly, I have finally found a job!!! I am a nanny for a Finnish Family (yes, this is bad for my French) but I was getting so desperate that I needed a job ASAP. They are a lovely family who live in the 16th arrondissement which is a really nice area of Paris near the parks etc. The house is HUGE… actually it’s rather small but by Paris standards it’s big! Like maybe the size of my bottom storey at my house in Martinsville.
Anyway so they pay is not great but I need to just get past it and realise that I am not here to make money, I am here to learn French so I need to not worry.
So I am looking forward to having a bit of routine and a reason for existing here. I was getting so sick of being a tourist. I may sound like a brat but there are only so many things you can see and so much walking you can do here in Paris. I am so grateful for my time here, however, there are times where it would be very easy for me to say (especially in the last few days) that I just want to go home and back to what I know.
The fact that the man at the Ice Cream Shop served my ice cream in the WRONG way and not how New Zealand Natural at Tuggerah/Cold Rock would do it, should not bring someone to tears but I guess this is the joy of living away from everyone and everything you love. I knew it would be difficult especially at first but I know that if I don’t stick it out and push on then I will look back and regret it.
In saying that, I have also had some great days. I have made quite a few friends and have joined lots of ‘groups’. I have never known myself to be so extroverted but I’m sure this is just because I am in unfamiliar territory. You sort of have to put yourself out there when you know no one! None of my friends are French, which is terrible for my French but they are just damn rude. haha… They aren’t rude in the way that everyone says they are, the ones I have had encounters with lovely people (such as the grocer at my local ‘epicerie’) who are exceptionally helpful and love helping me out with my french but when it comes to making friends with girls my own age then that is a different story. They don’t have time for foreigners such as myself and won’t even give me the time of day when I try to start up conversation. Yes I admit, I wouldn’t want to have a conversation with an Asian with terrible English on City Rail either but it has made me see these people in a whole new light now I am one of them!
I have also made an oath with myself to be nice as pie to visitors when i return home and go to Regen or church. Actually anywhere really, I will be including people left, right and centre. There is nothing worse than being that person in the room who knows no one yet no one will come and chat or even attempt to make you feel included. Stef and I know this feeling as “Mr Cellophane” and that has been my middle name at a lot of social events here in Paris. Usually, it turns out alright as I will go and interrupt someone’s conversation before I throw myself overboard (I have mainly socialised on boats on the Seine which is quite convenient for this awkward times). For anyone who has read the book ‘Almost French’ by Sarah Turnbull, I can confirm that the majority of that book is accurate for an Australian living in Paris. I am by no means a ‘big drinker’, however, in comparison to the French I’m an alcoholic. Although, where the French lack in their drinking they make up for in their smoking. It is absolutely terrible. You see a girl who looks to be like a ‘good girl’ and she pulls out her packet of Marlboros and starts chuffing away while she sips on her espresso. Who under the age of 50 even drinks espresso’s anyway??? It’s like they just all conform to what is ‘cool’ or whatever which I suppose is true in all cultures. I’m sure us Australians have our own cliché type cultural conformities.
The weather in Paris is quite stifling at the moment. I absolutely love it hot but feel ripped off that there is no beach to go and cool off. Not sure if I have mentioned or if any of you know about “Paris Plage”, but it is not a substantial substitute! When I first arrived in Paris I thought it was a cool little novelty, now after my time here and after becoming Australia’s number one advocate I think of it as very superficial and silly. For those that don’t know, “plage” means beach and this is where there is sand placed on the banks of the Seine with umbrellas and deck chairs and people lay out and pretend they are lying on Cathos or Lakes. You would think that the tourist would flock to this cause its a quaint idea but actually it’s the Parisians that are actually sucked into this novelty which I find quite weird. Not to mention that you can’t even swim in the filthy Seine anyway so you just get that horrible feeling of sweat and sand after ‘laying out’ (Hawaiian girls talking the lingo).
I have slowly learnt to love the place where I am living and I’m sure after a few months I feel more and more at home and will learn to stop comparing everything single detail to Australia. Yes I am biased but it truly is the best place in the world to live. I feel like one of those patriotic Americans but I now know what it feels like to love your country. Speaking of my country, when do I get to find out who is leading us? I went out of my way to visit the embassy here to make my vote count but apparently Parliament is ‘hung’ whatever that means!
Anyway much love to you all from your ‘correspondant parisienne’
Miranda Kerr
Lady-Creature
Low down earthy
Couch and timber all cosy and blonde
This chick is selling my work on Etsy. Claiming it has her own! UGH!
I hate people like that!
Emily Senko in ELIE SAAB Fall 2012-13 Ready-to-Wear shot by Rafael Stahelin and styled by Carmen Borgonovo for the September issue of Harper’s...
Wall-a-licious
