Every picture tells a story: Spectacular sunset over Okahu Bay, Auckland

I am writing this post on the 5th of January and all going well, we will leave our current home and be residing somewhere else by the publishing date of this post at the end of March/April 2019. Back to the future indeed. Time passes so quickly and I’ve seen many sunsets on this planetContinue reading “Every picture tells a story: Spectacular sunset over Okahu Bay, Auckland”

Wild woman quote: Give it all

One of the few things I know about writing is this: spend it all, shoot it, play it, lose it, all, right away, every time. Do not hoard what seems good for a later place in the book, or for another book; give it, give it all, give it now. Something more will arise forContinue reading “Wild woman quote: Give it all”

Travel: The sensitive faces of animals in Warsaw Zoo

Something unexpected happened to me in Warsaw Zoo today. Instead of enjoying myself seeing all the animals I felt really sad. Why? Because they came across through my camera lens as being full of emotion, sensitivity and immense intelligence. I connected with them and their pain in the same way I would if I lookedContinue reading “Travel: The sensitive faces of animals in Warsaw Zoo”

Every picture tells a story: Rainbow neon street scene in Asakusa

Here’s another photo I took strolling around at night in Asakusa in Tokyo. In these little alleys, there is an air of intimate and cosy homeliness, I guess this is thanks to the locals. On a micro scale, these alleys had a really neighbourly and friendly vibe, this is completely contrary to what I thoughtContinue reading “Every picture tells a story: Rainbow neon street scene in Asakusa”

Every picture tells a story: Cutsey pancake van in Shinjuku

Like most things in Tokyo, I had only a vague notion of what the hell was going on here. It looks like a pancake van on cute steroids. Apparently to sell anything the best way to do it is to go over level 9000 on cuteness, sexiness or sexy cuteness. Anything less is totally pointless.Continue reading “Every picture tells a story: Cutsey pancake van in Shinjuku”

Book Review: In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park

Yeonmi Park has to be the bravest girl/woman in the world. She was born in the North Korean city of Hyesan which is separated by a river to the Chinese border and at the age of 13, she boldly and bravely managed to escape from there and gain her freedom. Yeonmi Park’s autobiography written at theContinue reading “Book Review: In Order to Live by Yeonmi Park”

Mushrooming in New Zealand: a cautionary tale

This evening we went walking on Mount Kaukau and found some mushrooms. Although in New Zealand there isn’t much of a mushrooming culture here compared to Europe. In the past, foreigners have died as a result of poisonous mushrooms in NZ. So many local people just leave mushrooms well alone here, scared away by timesContinue reading “Mushrooming in New Zealand: a cautionary tale”

Every picture tells a story: In every neon alley, a world

In every dark alleyway there’s a new world to discover in Tokyo filled with tiny izakayas, strangely named bars and vending machines. It’s possible to never go down the same street twice or ever become bored of new and interesting things to see and do. The hidden danger is that when you leave, it willContinue reading “Every picture tells a story: In every neon alley, a world”