Eileann Donan Castle is near the Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland. I went there once in winter and once at the end of autumn. This place is steeped in ancient mystery, wonder and a sense of the densely lived past. When … Continue reading Travel: A visit to Eileann Donan Castle
On a recent trip to Japan I noticed that the Japanese love to pay homage to different cultures, their foods and aesthetics. This is really great and impressive because they have such a rich culture of their own. And yet … Continue reading Nordic and Japanese Design Fusion: Fuglen in Asakusa, Tokyo
When the ancient blue-walled city falls into the dusk the city turns from azure to deep purple. I took this photo in 2009 as the surrounding hills were burning with marijuana and the calls to prayer were echoing over the … Continue reading Every Picture Tells a Story: Chefchaoen at Dusk
“One of the most calming and powerful actions you can do to intervene in a stormy world is to stand up and show your soul.” Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Women Who Run with the Wolves. Continue reading Wild woman quote: show your soul
“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and … Continue reading Wild woman quote: A Door
Clarissa Pinkola Estes is a Jungian analyst and a Doctor of Ethno-clinical psychology. Her book Women Who Run with the Wolves is a dense and fascinating foray into the myths and wonders of oral storytelling throughout history. It’s a book … Continue reading Wild woman quote: Strength
Thanks Tish for your wonderful reminder the other day of the legendary writer Clarissa Pinkola-Estes. In case you don’t know of her, Clarissa wrote the book Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of The Wild Woman Archetype, … Continue reading Wild woman quote: Love
On a recent trip to Japan I took mountains of footage. Advertising is totally out of this world and so I created this homage to Japanese ads, on trains, JR stations, the streets and so on. I created these gifs … Continue reading Travel: Weird subway ads in Japan
Another film that featured at the New Zealand International Film Festival was The Distant Barking of Dogs. It’s the story of a young boy and his family who live on the Ukrainian and Russian border, on a slice of disputed … Continue reading Film Review: The Distant Barking of Dogs
I saw this film at the recent New Zealand International Film Festival. The festival has grown and developed over the years and has become quite a magical event. I thoroughly recommend it if you are in Auckland. Ancient Woods is … Continue reading Film Review: Ancient Woods
Full disclosure, I find all of my books second hand in a charity shop which is particularly full of a lot of good quality books that are at least decade old. Thus I came upon this little gem which was … Continue reading Book Review: The Tender Bar by JR Moehringer
Cycling alongside calming bodies of water is one thing in life that I adore. In the past I’ve cycled along the Odra in Wroclaw, Poland, Tamaki Drive in Auckland and along the Water of Leith in Edinburgh, along with many other places. … Continue reading Travel: Cycling adventures along the Kamo river, Kyoto
When I was younger I lived in Berlin for a while and it was a place of many shades and moods. Like most of mainland Europe there are four very distinct seasons which lend a lot of atmosphere and fervour … Continue reading Travel: Summertime Karaoke in Mauerpark, Berlin
Back in 2010 during a particularly sweltering summer, I visited Andalucia and soaked in the beautiful architecture in Sevilla. The best way to see all of the charming neighbourhoods and historic monuments was going the tourist routes with an open-top … Continue reading Travel: The Beautiful Terrace Windows of Triana, Sevilla
When I was hiking in Ireland in Glendalough I saw some magical landscapes. Ireland has a beautiful soft light in the summer. The diffused sunlight is speckled with clouds that pass over the vast valleys and mountain-sides. It’s possible to … Continue reading Travel: Among the Irish Faeries and Norse Gods
The narrator of this novel is an elderly Eileen who looks back on her mis-spent youth in 1964. This book is the blackest kind of noir, but does away with the usual noir narrative tropes. It tells the story of … Continue reading Book Review: Eileen by Otessa Moshfegh
Dorothy Grebenak was born in Nebraska in 1913 and was a self-taught rug maker who originally made rugs stocked in a Brooklyn museum. Although these weren’t … Continue reading Forgotten Pop Art Pioneer Dorothy Grebenak’s Rugs Are Awesome
Chrysalism The strange and cosy combination of tranquillity and protectedness experienced when safely indoors as a thunderstorm breaks overhead. The sensation of warmth and well-being induced by listening to waves of rain pattering onto the roof. Originally coined by the … Continue reading Ancient Word of the Day: Chrysalism
Recently Lee Lin Chin bowed out as SBS World News’ most loved news anchor for the past 30 years. She is well-known in Australia for her graceful presence, avante-garde fashion sense, acid tongue and a strangely monotone way of delivering … Continue reading Badass Bitch and Fashionista Lee Lin Chin
Kawaakari (Japanese) The glow of a river or stream in darkness or dusk, the gleaming surface of a shadowed river (Japanese 川明かり). Kawaakari can refer to the reflection of the moonlight off flowing water, or the gleam of late sun … Continue reading Ancient Word of the Day: Kawaakari
