Hunter Escape

Today I was talking with a friend and she proposed that, together with two guy friends, we go away for a weekend to the Hunter Valley. I couldn't say YES fast enough. I love weekends away, particularly in a place as beautiful as the Hunter Valley.

Where else would you want to be in the middle of winter but tasting wine in picturesque vineyards daily, then returning to a crackling log fire and amazing food in the evening? Not to mention the possibility of time to unwind and to get away from the rush of daily life. To relax in your PJs with good company and good vino. It sounds like the perfect way to spend a weekend!

I am also lucky enough to be going away on a ski trip with Year Nine and Year Ten from the school where I live/ work. We will be doing activities including skiing, cross-country skiing, abseiling, BMX riding, orienteering as well as camping IN THE SNOW. But, fortunately, that is only for one night. I went last year and literally froze. I couldn't sleep the entire night we camped out, but hopefully I'll be better prepared this time around.

At the moment I live for travel. I am so excited about the French ski season I'll be doing at the end of this year, and love love love planning the destinations I'll visit after I finish the season: Italy, France, Spain, Greece, England, Holland... the list continues. I have a feeling that perhaps after thirteen years of schooling and then an extra three years of university, I am well and truly over working and need a break before work begins, bills are to be paid and houses are to be saved-up for.

Photo courtesy of: http://lodging.uptake.com/blog/files/2009/01/wine-glasses-fireplace-inn-above-tide.jpg

Some music to listen to.

I've recently acquired Angus & Julia Stone's latest album, Down The Way and it is incredible. Some of the tracks are perfect for chilled, relaxing listening when you're not wanting anything too heavy. Other tracks are catchy, melodic and easy to sing-along to, such as Big Jet Plane.

Another album I am in love with is Florence + The Machine's Lungs. There is not one song I don't like, but my favourites would be You've Got the Love, My Boy Builds Coffins, Dog Days Are Over and I'm Not Calling You a Liar. Quirky though they might be, the vocal talent is undeniable and the lyrics are certainly not what you might be expecting from a band Dizzee Rascall supported at the 2009 Brit Awards.

I'm also loving Band of Horses' most recent album, called Infinite Arms. It's not the familiar Band of Horses style of Cease to Begin, their previous album, but that doesn't mean it isn't good. I'd say it's slightly more mellow than their previous works, and Compliments is my favourite song on the new album.

What music are you loving at the moment?

Image courtesy of: http://djbonline.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/florence.jpg

To iPhone or to iObject?

I recently discovered a chinese contractor, Foxconn, which is responsible for assembling the iPhone has had eight of its staff make attempts (many of which have been successful) to end their lives over the past year.

According to Fairfax Ltd, "[t]he most notable Foxconn suicide came last July when 25-year-old Sun Danyong jumped from his high-rise apartment after being interrogated over a missing iPhone prototype."

IDG News service reports that Foxconn has asked "Chinese police to investigate a case in which an employee reportedly committed suicide after being pressured over the loss of an iPhone prototype."

The report suggests the Chinese former employee was "roughed up" by a Foxconn security official, and that the incident reveals "management shortcomings" at the company.

Additionally, Apple has admitted to using child labour, with Fairfax reporting "at least eleven 15 year-old children were discovered to be working last year in three factories that supply Apple."

Where I feel torn is that I own a Macbook Pro, an iPod and an iPhone, so am I supporting this practice and thus endorsing unsafe working conditions?

Am I morally or ethically obligated to take a stand and refuse to continue supporting Apple until they demand improved working conditions from their contractors? And would my stand even make a difference to Apple? Unfortunately, I think not.

I'll continue typing on my Apple laptop and calling on my Apple iPhone, but at least I'll be aware of the ethical problems associated with the company and perhaps, by blogging, so might others.

Photo courtesy of: http://dotnetslackers.com/Community/blogs/kaushalparik/apple%20iphone.jpg

Dating and relationships in 2010.

I'll admit I've been watching my fair share of every girl's bible: Sex and the City, recently but I'm still more than confused on dating and relationships.

In this day and age, how do men (or boys, for those guys that haven't really 'grown up' yet) want us to behave? Are girls still expected to take on the traditional roles in a relationship; do the washing, shopping, cooking etc while the guy pays the bill?

I'd like to think we've moved on from this, but what about on a date. Does he pay? Is he still obligated to make sure his date gets home okay? Or is that pandering to an old ideal of how men should behave, which is now completely outdated and irrelevant?

I know that I consider respect from a guy to include looking after me - being courteous, considerate, and hopefully a little bit generous- but that's not to say financially I expect him to foot the bill for our relationship... I think we've moved on from way-back-when.

What I'm grappling with most of all is whether men want us to be 'forward' and tell them we like them, 'make the first move,' if you like, or to hold back and give the guy the chance to be proactive? And what if he doesn't make that move? Then what?

My good friend Alex Ristway, who is a self-proclaimed dating expert, believes it's a matter of assessing each individual situation.

"If you are more uncertain than sure, it's probably best to hang back until you know where you stand," she says.

I tend to over-analyse everything. From the composition of each and every text-message I send, to my shampoo choice in the supermarket. In taking on advice such as that of Alex, I might never make a move, because I might never be sure of where I stand - and what if a friendship is ruined by the mis-reading of the situation?

Perhaps I ought to continue watching Sex and the City until I'm sure where I stand ... or I could take a chance and see where it takes me... or maybe I could just wait 'til the guy makes the first move.

Beautiful Bali

I recently spent ten days travelling around Bali with my beautiful family. It was an amazing experience and I thoroughly enjoyed being exposed to the glorious culture that is Bali. The people I encountered were genuinely pleasant, sweet-natured, good-humoured and although it might be a generalisation, they all seemed very content.

I aspire to reach that inner peace and tranquility - I find that burning incense always helps, oh and the massages (which are the equivalent of AUD $6) certainly don't hurt.

I adored creating wood paintings, visiting a traditional Balinese village up in the hills of Ubud, and visiting gorgeous spice farms near Kintomani Volcano. I was enthralled by the Balinese dancing and enchanted by the xylophone style music played for us each morning by a lovely local blind man in our resort.

An additional bonus of the trip was the incredible shopping opportunities. I bought the most ridiculous amount of "stuff" (read 11kgs of extra weight in my suitcase upon return to Australia): custom-made leather boots, six sun dresses, two pairs of leather thongs, three pairs of sunglasses, a fedora hat, 13 DVDs, batik sarongs, facials, six Bintang singlets for friends, mani and pedicures, as well as silver jewellery. I literally took only $300 and struggled to spend it all. I was doing my duty by supporting the local Balinese retail industry after all.

My favourite beaches, if you get the chance to travel to Bali, are Geger Beach and Pedang Pedang - think turquoise water, white white sand, sun beds, beach umbrellas and you're about halfway to imagining the beauty of these places.

Here is the link to the YouTube video I created from our holiday:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdkr6RcoFyc

I'd thoroughly recommend a holiday to Bali - I know there are reasonably priced airfares to the beautiful Indonesian island at the moment... why not make the most of them?!

Image courtesy of: http://www.fortunatur.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Beach-Club-at-Geger-Beach.jpg