Adventure at 2000 feet

My Scholarship entry - Seeing the world through other eyes

sam_louiseb — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:36:03 GMT

She sits cradling her dead husband’s body, gently stroking his forehead. "You were such a good husband," she says tenderly "why did you have to leave us?"

The room they are sitting in is bare; a coloured hand spun rug on the floor the only decoration. A solitary bed occupies the space under the window.

An elderly lady adjusts her shawl and rises to sit on the bed. She clasps the man’s hand in her own, "He was a good man my dear" she says, her grief clearly visible. There is a murmur of consent as the women in the room nod, weeping silently. These women; family, friends and neighbours, are here to pay their respects to the man they’ve known for years, but more importantly support his wife during these first difficult hours.

Outside the house word is spreading through the village, work will stop for the day as a sign of respect, and both men and women will gather outside the house in support. Those closest to the family will go inside and sit with them, say goodbye and help share their pain.

The man’s sons are in the yard preparing a rough wooden structure that will be used to wash and prepare his body for burial that same evening. Their time to sit with their father and say goodbye will come later, before all the men in the village will share the task of carrying the body to the graveyard.

As I sat listening, learning about love, loss and grieving in this village, so different from what I know, it made sense to me. I was overcome with how removed my own society is from death. What has happened that makes it wrong to grieve publicly? Why can’t our loved ones see, hold, and talk to us in the hours after death and be actively involved in the burial preparation. Just because a person takes their last breath does not mean they are no longer the person you have loved for so many years. If you cannot grieve you cannot start to heal. How will you say goodbye to the ones you love?

Photos: My Photo scholarship 2011 entry

sam_louiseb — Tue, 8 Nov 2011 05:31:00 GMT

These five photos were taken over a month spent in Wales as the summer tourist season was coming to a close. I wanted to capture the changes taking place in small coastal towns as the seasons changed. Through my photos I wanted to explore what the end of summer means to tourists and locals alike, especially the relationship between the need to welcome tourists and the desire for the town to maintain its original charm. The end of summer brings mixed emotions, for the visiting holiday makers it is a time to reflect over the recent months, no doubt already looking forward to the season's return. For many local businesses, the summer crowds generate the majority of their yearly income, yet you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief as they take a much needed break. I was travelling through many of these towns as the large crowds receded and the trickle of more sedentary tourists merged into the landscape, allowing the locals to reclaim their town. For me photography is incredible because of its versatility. As it is an artistic medium that anyone, anywhere can utilise, it is very powerful. A photo can convey so much; a memory, a story, a fleeting emotion. Through my photos I want to be able to accurately capture a split second in time; whether it be a scene, event or person and evoke in the viewer the same emotions and feelings I have felt whilst taking the photo. To be able to tell a story to others as I have seen it, is what drives me to take better pictures and learn more about photography.

5 things to do in my city: Canberra, Australia

sam_louiseb — Thu, 8 Sep 2011 22:02:00 GMT

"Where are you from?” This question is one of the most common to be asked of you by your fellow traveller. It is usually the conversation starter as you sit next to someone on a bus or get chatting at a hostel. If either of you has been to the others home country or town you usually exchange stories along the lines of "I had a great time there, my favourite place/beach/restaurant/town was....".

I, however, often get a slightly different reaction when I respond with the town I am from. As I say "Canberra" the eyes widen and a slow "ohhhhhh" escapes as they struggle to make sense of my response.

"You live in Canberra...?", they ask (for added confirmation, did I really say Canberra?). The question is said lightly with a slight smile, trying to conceal the judgement that is taking place just below the surface.

"Yes" I confirm.

"Sure, okay, that is great. For work or study?", they ask, but plain as day you can see the unspoken part of their question, "because surely no one would live there out of choice right?".

Sometimes, those who are more polite, try to hide the smirk or the look of pity, but others finish the question with a 'rather you than me mate' expression or chuckle.

At this point I usually launch into my tightly rehearsed spiel about the positives of living in Canberra and how good it is, in an effort to remove that that smirk quick fast. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Unfortunately, the average tourist in Australia has the same attitude towards visiting our Nation’s Capital as Australians around the country do to living there. They would rather not.

I will be the first to admit that Canberra may not have the bustling, fast paced, coastal feel of Sydney feel nor the laid back, artistic, hipster vibe of Melbourne but I urge you not to write it off just yet.

If you have the chance to pay Canberra a visit then here are 5 things to do in my city, and even better they are all free.

1. TAKE A HISTORY LESSON

Get to know Australia.

If you interested in war history then the Australian War Memorial is a must. It has a number of permanent exhibitions, including World War I and World War II as well as rotating exhibits throughout the year. Even if you are not a war history buff, the museum is still worth a visit. Rather than just displaying war memorabilia and facts about Australia's involvement in various wars, the museum showcases the wars from all perspectives and paints a narrative of people’s lives during war. Including the lesser told stories of those still in Australia during wartime.

The National Museum of Australia showcases the land and the people of Australia. The permanent exhibition is free, and will take a full morning or afternoon to explore.

2. TANTALISE YOUR TASTE BUDS

You haven't had a burger until you have eaten at Broadburger.

Being a passionate chef but not having the money to start up his own restaurant, the owner of Broadburger installed a kitchen in his caravan instead, and has been serving up the best hamburgers in Canberra for several years now.

The small red van on the banks of Lake Burley Griffin is one of Canberra most celebrated weekend destinations.

Cars roll in, a queue forms and people chat excitedly long before the shutters even go up at midday on Saturday and Sunday. There are only 6 options of burger; Beef, Double Beef, Chicken, Fish, Vegetarian and Bacon and Egg. Don't be mistaken though, this is no fast food hamburger joint, as they say good food takes time, but don't worry it is worth the wait. All burgers come in a freshly cooked bun with salad, homemade tomato relish, homemade aioli and your choice of cheese. Orders and taken in batches, once you have placed yours you are given a number. Head down and spread out your picnic blanket and wait in the sunshine.

In recent months the council has been trying to shut Broadburger down as they don't comply with the image of Canberra being a planned city (basically everything in its place and a place for everything). This has caused much outcry from local Canberrians, so while you are there make sure you sign the petition to allow them to keep serving up these gastromonical delights.

For a more fine dining experience head to 'Italian and Sons' in Braddon, where authentic Italian food is served up in the cosy dining room. This restaurant, which has been voted as one of the country’s top, rotates the main dishes throughout the week and there is only one main on offer each evening. But not matter which day you go, you can be assured that it will be sensational. Aside from the main of the day you can also order fresh wood fired pizzas and traditional Italian antipasti dishes.

For free food experiences, take a wander through some of the local markets:

Thursday to Sunday: Fyshwick fresh food markets have everything from fruit and vegetables to fish, meat, liquor, cheese, game, nuts and a number of bakeries and cafes if you are feeling peckish.

Saturday morning: fresh produce at the farmers market at EPIC (Exhibition Park in Canberra, Northbourne Avenue).

Sunday: Head to Kingston markets for food stalls and fresh produce as well as local arts and crafts.

3. PERK UP

Many might think Melbourne has Australia's best coffee but Canberra packs a punch well above its weight when it comes to brewing up a good coffee. In the city head to Lonsdale Roasters (Lonsdale street, Braddon) for more types of coffee that you can poke a spoon at or Tonic on Mort Street. South of the city, in Kingston and Manuka you can take your pick from one of the many gorgeous cafes and roasters, many with award winning baristas.

4. BECOME AN ART CRITIC

A visit to the National Portrait Gallery will have you viewing some of the stars of today and yesteryear in a whole new light. The collection features some incredible portraits in a range of mediums including those of; Barry Humphries, Heath Ledger, Cate Blanchett, Germaine Greer, Michael Hutchence and Mick Jagger.

The National Art Gallery hosts an amazing collection on national and international artworks. You can practice your art appraisal skills on the many permanent and visiting collections.

Some notable works not to miss include:

"Aboriginal Memorial" of 200 painted tree trunks commemorating Indigenous people who dies defending their land from European invaders.

A selection of paintings by famous Australian artists including; Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Sidney Nolan.

"Water lilies" by Claude Monet.

"Blue Poles" by Jason Pollack, was purchased by the then Australian Prime Minister in 1973. At the time it was the highest amount ever paid for a modern painting which caused media outrage and a political scandal.

5. STRETCH YOUR LEGS

Take a walk up Mount Ainslie which casts it shadow over the northern side of the city. At the top you can admire the spectacular views all the way to the Brindabella ranges. To get to Mount Ainslie, park at the back of the War Memorial and head up to the start of the track at the back of the park. There are water bubblers at the bottom and the top and on the weekend there is a cold drink and ice cream vendor at the top to reward you after the hot climb.

Other good walks in the city include; the Botanical Gardens, Black Mountain, and Red Hill.

If walking is not your thing, then don't sweat, Canberrians also LOVE to cycle, so why not rent a bike and join the crowds for a pleasant cycle around Lake Burley Griffin. If you want to venture further afield there are many bike paths as well as mountain bike trails in and around Canberra.

My Travel Writing Scholarship 2011 entry - My Big Adventure

sam_louiseb — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 23:45:39 GMT

“Is everyone ready for takeoff?” the pilots voice comes crackling through my headphones. I nod enthusiastically until I realise there is a microphone under my chin, “Sure am” I shout and give a thumbs up from the back seat as the other passengers turn to grin at me. The engine starts and for a few minutes we sway from side to side, shaking and shuddering as we hover about one metre above the ground. I briefly wonder if I will be scared of heights a few hundred metres above the ground sitting in something hardly larger than my car that currently feels like a washing machine approaching spin cycle.

A few seconds later however, after one last lurch, we rise gracefully in the air and start to glide over the landscape so smoothly it is almost surreal. “Welcome to Albany” our pilot, Dave, says as our scenic flight begins and he starts to point out landmarks that I have known for as long as I can remember.

I take in the scenery out one side of the helicopter where in the calm water of the harbour a tug starts its slow journey away from the wharf to meet an incoming cargo ship. I turn my head to the front and see the two mountain ranges that carve majestically through the landscape, their foothills surrounded by farmland.

I glance in the other direction and gasp as I take in the rugged landscape that stretches out before my eyes. All year round the Southern Ocean surges and crashes into the rugged beaches and sheer cliffs that are an iconic part of the local landscape, and when you see it so often you can forget what an incredible force of nature is on display each and every day. Viewing it from the air and witnessing the power of the waves as they break endlessly over the rocks absolutely takes my breath away. We swing out seaward and turn to face the cliffs where we can see the waves rushing with tremendous ferocity under the Natural Bridge and creating a huge spray as they fight for space in the Gap, two of Albany’s well known tourist attractions that would normally be reached by foot.

We continue down the coastline, and in the distance can see Torbay Head, the most southern point in Western Australia. As we turn to fly back we pass over the harbor and take in the beaches and islands on the other side of the peninsula which lay in stark contrast to the coastline we have just seen.

As we disembark, our adrenaline pumping, we make plans to go further explore some of the places we have seen from the air.

When longing for adventure my thoughts nearly always turn to my next overseas trip. But when returning home over Christmas to show my partner around my home state I saw it through their eyes and was reminded me how much there is to explore within our own surroundings.