Le Fotografie: Radio Silence

Even though the title of this blog is Radio Silence, I have to say, I'm going to try and put a stop to it!

Life has just become a bit hectic this week, and unfortunately blogging has taken the back foot. I've picked up a lot more hours at work, uni is starting to get down to business - research essays need to be thought of and other assignments are already due - and then I injured myself yesterday, tried to sleep it off and when that didn't work, spent more than a few hours in hospital which has meant that for most of today I have somewhat resembled a zombie.

Still, all is good! I'm on crutches for a few days and my brain is rather addled, but it was a new experience for me to be taken seriously - something that I'm hoping to explain on this space more within the next week or two, because it's bound to pop up every now and then.

I have a newfound love for these sandals.
They are very easy to get on, despite being unable to move my leg :P

In the meantime, and as I attempt to write up some of my Do What You Love dreams without giving too much away, I shall revert to my usual 'le fotografie' posts :P

Jacob's Ladder.
Unless you're super fit, I'd advise you avoid this very large set of stairs.
 I was puffing less than halfway up :P 

One of the University's resident peacocks.

Birthday celebrations that started with a run through the pouring rain :D

How great is Nageena's skirt??

Really, I should name these 'iPhonography', because that's what they are, but I am hoping to get my first roll of film developed this week after I screwed the last roll up, so then the name will be more suited!

Wish me luck, and I hope you all have a great week! :)

Over and out.
Rhi :) xx

The Lowdown: June 6

A few weeks ago, Mark from Lowdown officially asked me to be their unofficial photographer. I think it's rather entertaining because, although I love the idea, I'm not a photographer - just another kid with an iphone and a few photo editing apps. I suppose that works for the purpose though :P

And then this morning, I realised I haven't actually taken any photos, so I decided to give it a go. I'm learning though that my phone really doesn't like to focus well on bright red things, specifically flowers... Any tips?

Oh and there's also a photo of shoes, because it seemed cool at the time...

Piccolo Flat White.
Nageena potentially took this one.
I swear I took the rest though! :P

See what I mean about focussing on red?
Or maybe it's just bright colours in general...

"The Lowdown" might possibly turn into a semi-regular feature. We'll see how it goes :)

Over and out.

Rhi xx

Pomegranates and the Winter Time

Winter is officially here guys. You know how I can tell? The leaves on our pomegranate tree magically turned yellow. Around the 1st of June every year, we'll look outside and wonder what happened to the pomegranate leaves. It's pretty impressive really, but I don't like winter!

It's been getting dark too early, so here's yet another over exposed photo :D

Another photo of some pomegranates at Lowdown, just for good measure.

I know that comparative to most of the world, Australia's winters really aren't that bad, except for the part where nothing here is built to cope with the cold! I remember being at the airport picking my brother up last year, when a British guy walked out of the arrivals area, and yelled to his friend 'I thought it didn't get cold here! This is worse than it gets at home!'. It made me laugh a little.

Anyhow, I've decided to not really do a 'now' post like I said I would, because, well... If you want to see photos from the now, you can just scroll through my past blogs! Or you can just keep reading this entry! ;)

Last Friday I organised with some friends to go kayaking on the river, and then to head out to a brewery in Fremantle afterwards. Unfortunately no photos of the kayaking, because nobody was stupid enough to take their cameras out on the water. With the guys I was with, everyone knew that even if we didn't tip the kayak accidentally, somebody would willingly help us out :P There is a photo of our rather large amount of beer/cider glasses from Little Creatures, plus a few photos of the other things I've been up to :)

Hope you've all had a grand start to the week :) Rhi xx

See the guy in the photo above wearing the brown sweater?
This is his dog, Cosi. I think I might take her home with me one day, cause she is kinda rad :P

Doodling at work. Can't wait until my shoulder is working well enough to play my cello again!

Nageena taking photos of me studying hard in the common room...

The guys playing MBA Jam on an old SNES. It's pretty rad.
Ahhh uni life :)

PS. Stay tuned. There's more on Jim and Sam (some creative writing) coming up soon :)

Le fotografie: a fairly pointless blog about my spectacular day.

I had a day off today. Like an actual sleep-in and do whatever I like kind of day off. No work, no uni, no obligations. It was incredible! I don't think this has happened since my last shoulder reconstruction in November 2011, and that was only because I couldn't get out of bed for more than 10 minutes without needing a nap.

I took my time eating breakfast. I went to the gym (to fend off dislocato girl and make sure there are no more pesky surgeries). I did some Italian study and had a bit of a snooze. I played Mario Bros on the wii! Can you believe it? I had time to play Mario!! I'm still a little in shock.

I baked anzac biscuits with my dear older brother, Rohan, and then I caught up with Nageena to chill out, drink coffee and - the best part - steal my little brother's longboard and skate around the park near my house. I'm so chilled out right now it's ridiculous.

Hope you all had (or have) an absolutely lovely day :) Rhi xx

If you like, I might be able to talk Rohan into guest posting his anzac recipe?
They're pretty tasty!!

Climbing up arbours.
Life is better when you're somewhere off the ground.

The only way to wear vans - minus the laces :D

How have your days been? Regale me with your stories! Good? Bad? Meh? I want to know!

Also, if you're a regular reader who hasn't done so already, please follow the blog!! Just keep scrolling and you'll find a "Join this site" button. Click it and follow the links!! Thanks all you rad people :)

Knowing what to do with $10 million...

Using all my skills, I've managed to tailor yet another research essay to the subject of global inequality and it's kind of got me thinking about something somebody asked me not so long ago. I've decided to write it down so that the thoughts will stop interrupting my brilliant essay-related ideas, and publish it here because, well, it's always good to keep this space at least a little updated :P Or, for those that can't be bothered reading, I've been good and posted a few recent snaps as well :)


Somebody asked me the other day what I'd buy if I won $10 million on the proviso that I spent it selfishly. I spent a long time trying to convince them that if I was acting entirely selfishly, I'd have to take into account the feeling of guilt that I know I wouldn't be able to shake if I spent $10 million on a house overlooking the river, a fancy car, a designer wardrobe, or a lifelong supply of coffee. If you accept that, then I should be allowed to use a vast majority of the money to help in decreasing social and economic inequality, and pay off my parent's mortgage, because these are the things that would make me happy. They didn't buy into it, and so I was at a loss.

source

What the hell would anyone do with $10 million, all for themselves? House, car, designer wardrobe, travel, private jet - the possibilities seemed endless but I didn't particularly like any of them.

I supposed I'd buy a small apartment or house in Freo, and maybe a little holiday house or two - nothing fancy cause simple and a little rustic is much more my style - perhaps a beach shack in Yallingup and a little shed that I'd renovate in Exmouth? I'd get a ticket to travel the world, and I'd go back to India. They said I couldn't go to India because they knew I'd use my time and money there to try and help everyone else. They were right, and so I thought about it some more.

India, from The India Project

"Are you sure I can't at least pay off my parent's mortgage? What if the only reason I'm paying it off is because when they're stressed, I'm stressed, and so paying it off is selfish because I only want to increase my own happiness?"
"Except I know you care about your parents happiness, thus that reason would be a lie. So, no."

Oh my... Is it even possible to spend $10 million on travel? I'd really like to travel. I suppose I wouldn't be able to resist buying some clothes and little trinkets, a surfboard and a longboard. I'd buy a lot of books, some new CDs and a watch or two. I really like watches.

I'd also throw an epic party, with great food that I cooked with my Mum and little brother, and with good friends and rad cocktails.

"Do you think I've spent $10 million yet?"
"You're way off."
"Oh."

I just physically cannot comprehend how one person could spend $10 million entirely on themselves. It's a completely absurd amount of money.

What would you do if you had that amount? And you couldn't just leave it to sit in a high interest bank account unless the money you earned from that was also spent entirely selfishly?

I genuinely can't think of anything...

Actually! I've thought of one more thing! I'd get myself an old datsun ute, and fix it up so it's all new, shiny and wonderfully efficient on the inside, but old and crappy looking on the outside, because I'm cool like that :P

Still don't think that would get me to $10 million though...

PS. Sorry for my absence! I've had so much on with uni, and still do! I'll do my best to post more regularly, reply to your lovely comments and read your wonderful posts, but it might take me a little while. With love from my study desk, Rhi :P xx


PPS. If you happened upon this blog via my facebook (or via any other link for that matter), and have a google account, can you be awesome and follow the blog through google please? If you avert your eyes, and scroll to the top of this window, there should be a little button that says 'follow'. Just click it, and do what it tells you to! If that doesn't work, scroll to the bottom and click the link that says 'Join this site.' Grazie mille :)

UWA Arts Union Charity Gala.
With Mike & Nageena.

With Chloe and Nageena.

Running through the rain.
It's kinda a little bit fun...except I think I should get some gumboots :P

@ Grill'd.

Dinner with the ever-wonderful Lauren and Nageena (she's behind the camera) :P

Highway.

Some of you might remember the last post I wrote about Jim and Sam. Well, I realised it's been a long time since I've shared any of their story, and so I decided to give you the next paragraph of the last tidbit - a chapter which I have since entitled 'Highway'.


The heat of the bitumen scorched Jim's feet as he walked down the highway, his gait slow and hinting towards the feeling of pointlessness that had engulfed him. The overcast grey sky and the muted green, grey and brown of the native shrubs that shrouded the edges of the highway suited his mood, if only that sunlit patch of cloud would disappear.

As he stared down the cloud, he began to walk faster, willing it to disappear, to leave him alone. And as he walked faster, his mood changed. Jim began to see red - he was furious. It built up slowly, his parents, the mirror, his school, Sam, although how he came into it Jim wasn't quite sure. From one part of his life to another and there seemed to be something wrong with all of it, until he couldn't avoid it any more. The one thing that was really pissing him off, that made him walk out of his house and somehow end up on this highway which smelt a little of the exhaust left behind by speeding cars, and a little of the pungent trees that lined it...

*   *   *   *   *   *

I'm always nervous posting these little bits of writing online. Or showing anyone at all, actually. Even though I've never run down a highway, it is still very personal. In this post, I mentioned that my words are my sanity, and even though I'm not finding the times so tough right now, this still holds true. I want to put more of it on, but I have to wait for it to be right and often I'm never quite sure if it's ready yet. It's so conflicting!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it :) I will post the rest of it soon I hope, I just need to fix up the next little bit, because it doesn't sound quite right yet.

And now just for fun, here are some photos of my day, which has really been quite rad :)

Some of the raddest people out, not to mention they make the best coffee in Perth.
Read my review of their coffee here.

Letting me pretend I'm a barista.

A note from a great friend.

Helping my cousin with his homework,
and re-remembering the horrors of the English language.

Being nerdy and getting overexcited about politics books.

Anyhow, it is almost 1am, and I need to be up at 6.30, so with that, I am going to ignore the insomniac within and attempt to sleep. Hope you're all having a grand day/night. 

Over and out

Rhi xx

The India Project: Days 1 & 2

Well I'm back, and I didn't post any blogs while I was in India which is terrible! Unfortunately though, internet is quite rare and my attempts to set up roaming failed miserably so there you go. To make up for it though, I do have a few posts ready to go that I wrote while I was over there so I'll be posting them over the next few days along with a few photos :) Hope you're all well!


April 12, 2012

It's unbelievably hot down on the plains. I get in the shower, eager to cool off. Feel better, and then the moment I step out of the bathroom I feel sticky again, but that's ok.

I'm not quite sure what I've gotten myself into. India is home to a very patriarchal society. There's separate security checks for men and women, and while it's safe for my cousins to go out and roam around, I always need somebody with me. I understand why, it just feels very strange to me.

There's people and lights and cars everywhere! Power lines are just one big mass of wires and cables, there's only one road rule that anyone cares about and I am, apparently, a rare commodity to be openly stared at. Everyone told me that this is how it would be, but it's not something you understand until it's been experienced. I've had men shoving cameras in my face and others just gaping at me as they walk past. It's a little confronting to say the least.

Just your average power lines.

By the same token, there have been parts that have just been absolutely incredible.

We went to see silk weaving yesterday, which was done in a cottage industries style. Basically, men work in rooms with these old looms, they also live there with their families with bathrooms and kitchens close by. My uncle reminded me that as Westerners, we would usually be calling these sweat shops, but actually, it's standard living in India. It's a good stable job, the provision of food, and a house for these men and their families to live in which is really something.

The silk loom

It's encouraged me a lot in what I went to India this time to achieve, although I'm still in a bit of culture shock I think. I'm also tired. Would be so nice to get a decent sleep...

The cottage industries also showed me how much Indians value education which is great to know. One of the men higher up in the business was showing us the looms, when he suddenly got very excited and took us to meet a young girl, the daughter of the man in the photos with the loom, who'd done extremely well in her exams (488/500) and had also won a talent contest. It was great to know she had that support around her :)

Then we went to Kings and Queens School, a boarding school where most of the kids are from really poor families. It was fun talking to the kids, and seeing their faces light up when I went to take a photo. At one stage, all these boys just poured out of their dorm when they realised I was getting my camera out.

Kings and Queens School
These are the boys that rushed out of the dorm :D

And then there's the joy of the Indian Premier League (i.e. the cricket) which is just a whole new thing in itself. The excitement and the noise and the cheering and the dancing is bizarre! It's utterly fantastic though :D I don't really know how to describe the experience except to say, if you get the chance, go. Even if you hate cricket it's an experience not to be missed, especially when there's guys dancing bollywood style in the seats in front of you (see the shoddy quality video for more) :P

Anyhow, I'm off to catch a casual midnight train that we'll be on for 8 hours or so.

Even though I only left a couple of days ago I am missing everyone at home ever so much. Looking forward to seeing you all again! Much love from India :) xx

Buona Pasqua // Only 2 days to go!!

Me and Ben
pre-costume

Blue hair and eyeliner, anyone? :P
post-costume.

Thursday, April 6: Post-Prosh Report
Wake up at 7, can't figure out if it's 7am or 7pm. Spend 10 minutes pondering how I came to be in my bed. I remember sitting on the couch and watching 30 seconds of a movie, but my computer tells me I watched 55 minutes. That's odd. Remember having crazy dreams about tandem surfing with a complete stranger. We got sharks to go on a surfboard attached to our board, and they surfed with us. We convinced four sharks all up, and they all really enjoyed themselves. We also discovered a dinosaur that had been preserved almost perfectly (except for it's face) and it was really quite scary. Have a really long shower, eat some food. Discover text books under my bed. Wonder how I got here again. Realise it was 7am when I woke up, not pm. I just missed my bus for uni and thus my Italian test. Shit.

This was the sort of beginning to my insane week - prosh, where the students of UWA pull an all-nighter, dress up in ridiculous costumes, then run around in an exhausted, drunken stupor and harass the people of Perth until they buy our satirical newspapers for charity. It's been a highlight of my year since grade 10 when I started at a school where prosh is always sold, but wow it hit me hard this year. My theory is that it was the crazy lack of sleep combined with a scary amount of caffeine :P

Late night trains, attractive faces and
 entertaining photobombs :P 

Tav times.

Apart from prosh I've been procrastinating from the many assignments I need to finish/start before I leave, being the most social I think I've been this year, and madly planning and packing for India! It's strange to think that in 48 hours I'll be somewhere over South East Asia, well and truly on my way. It's so exciting!!

I've installed the Blogger app on my phone, and I've discovered the joys of international roaming, so I'll be trying my best to post at least 1 photo and a short update onto the blog every day that I'm away. Woohoo!! :D

Until then though, Happy Easter! I hope everyone is enjoying a long weekend spent with family and friends :)

Much love! Rhi xx

Holly and Scotty.

James.

Easter surprise :)

My beautiful Madre :)

Easter surprise - take two.

Padre dearest.