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"A weed is no more than a flower in disguise,

"Which is seen through at once, if love give a man eyes."

-- James Russell Lowell

ANZAC Day: Lest we forget

"They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.

Lest we forget."

— From the Anzac Day Service

The landing at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey on the dawn of April 25, 1915 by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) started the ANZAC legend. While the combined force managed to "dig in" (hence the term, "Diggers") in the kilometer long trenches and hold out till December 20, 1915, "Australians make heroes of noble failures" such as this failed campaign.

Out of around 20,000 soldiers who initially landed that fateful April 25, and scores more who landed after them; a total of 8,141 gallantly lost their lives; while another 18,000 were wounded and maimed in that campaign. With no civil wars or any war of independence to speak of, this was the start of Australian nationhood.

Today, April 25 "... is a day when Australians reflect on the many different meanings of war." As well as it "became a day on which the lives of all Australians lost in war time were remembered."

"Lest we forget!"

On the Way to Gerry: Our Refloxologist

Look at that sunset!

Since I was driving, I requested my wife to take the photo. We were on the way to our reflexologist, Gerry at his clinic at St Clair.

I was looking forward to have my feet "massaged" by Gerry, but alas I was not in his schedule. Miscommunication with my better half and him, and I was left out hanging.

If not for this sunset, it would be a somewhat dissapointing drive.

I made sure I am scheduled for next time, as Gerry is so busy with patients who needs his golden touch. Reflexology works!

Blackout for an Hour (or two) at Blacktown

"A candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle." Unknown

During Earth Hour 2008 (actually made a booboo and had a "dryrun" Friday, 28 March, or so I justified... anyway doubly good for the Earth's carbon footprint and my electricity bill!); lit a couple of candles. Above is one and took a photo; I was bored... ;D . Obviously we did another Earth Hour the next day, on the actual Earth Hour night. What the...?

It was weird not watching TV, as we are big fans of travel-food-leisure-stand up comedy TV shows on Foxtel. We did managed to get some conversation going after dinner by candlenight, and it was raining. Hang on, this is a deja vu moment: been in this situation before... any flood water coming into the house?

Oh...oh... that was from a past life while living in Olongapo and Cavite in the Philippines. Every rainy and typhoon season, we would have strong winds and rain and before you know it: blackout; no electricity, wind howling, no TV and flood waters starting to creep in the house. Experiences I don't really miss much of my childhood.

Blackout I can tolerate but flood waters in the house is a lot of work. You have to salvage furnitures and anything on the floor or within reach of the flood waters. And cleaning is a bitch afterwards, all those mud!

The only redeeming thing is that you can play water inside the house! That was fun, paper boats and sometimes you can catch a fish or two (I kid you not!) that somehow managed to swim past the door. Cool ha. You can also take a shower in the rain, what bliss.

Going back to the present, with no TV and computer; it was weird but in a good way. You can think and meditate and after that, converse among your housemates. With the proliferation of mobile phones, and other technological gadgets, it seems one is on a 24/7 "on call". One is always "available" whether you like it or not.

Perhaps technology and the advent of electricity has its drawbacks, other than the huge electricity bill and environmental damage we do. Maybe this Earth Hour is a good thing after all. We should do this at least every month, if possible every week or every night.

Exiled in Sydney: MB20 April 2008

Photo courtesy of MB20 USB wristband email.

One of my favorite bands is in town. Managed to get a couple of tickets last Friday, 18 April and watched their performance and listened to their phenomenal music at the Sydney Entertainment Centre.

The band, Rob Thomas, Paul Doucette, Brian Yale and Kyle Cook. (Bilde: Publicity photo)

Matchbox Twenty is one of these "alternative pop rock" bands (if one can call them that, sorry guys for the "label"!), that sing songs that makes sense and at times so emotional and connects with you as a fan and an audience.

For music lovers, you know the experience when a particular song either "grabs" you by the tune or lyrics or both. You then associate it - the song - with a particular experience, phase in your life, or emotion at that particular instance. So whenever you hear The Song, it bring back the memories. I guess much like "comfort foods".

Call me melodramatic, but since I heard them on the radio and got their "yourself or someone like you" album nine years ago (as a gift from my daughter!); I instantly fell in love with the music that Rob Thomas and his band were making.

Above photo, (not mine again, as it is so hard to get a decent picture with a point and shoot digicam while engrossed listening to the music and watching the performance!) is what the concert look like. The technical bits can be compared to when you're playing music in your Windows Media Player with the visualizations turned on.

Martin rigged the lights, and where I downloaded above photo. Some technical details are on their website (click here if you are that interested).

While Benoit Richard aka BenRichards of Millennium Lighting Design, Inc. was the Lighting Designer, Programmer and Video Designer for the tour.

Just downloaded the performance on MP3 format (no videos ;( , am just waiting for my MB20 USB wristband (try searching MB20 on Youtube!).

Yes I know, I know... if you are not a fan, you say what the hell. But you think I am a big fan? When I was trying (I did not brought my receipt with me, email said just bring an ID) to collect my USB band, while waiting in the queue; I had a chat with another couple. They just saw the concert the night before and they were seeing MB20 again and had most of the tickets for their Australian gigs! Now that borders on stalking!

Royal Easter Show in Sydney

Part of the crowd at the Main Arena

To a lot of new migrants and visitors to Sydney, The Royal Easter Show is part Agricultural Show, part Harvest Festival; as in "Fiesta" in most Hispanic countries and part trade show.

It was first started in 1823 in Parramatta, after the formation of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) in 1822. The RAS was formed by a group of Sydney's leading citizens with the aim of "furthering the quality of Australia's primary production by means of contests and competitions".

To date, the RAS showcases various competitions from cake making, decoration and baking, to painting, photography, arts and crafts, stitching, "recylced art", meat and dairy produce, and almost anything to do with primary produce. It awards the coveted "blue ribbons" for the best of the best of the show, and the red and yellow ribbons for the runner up.

Produce Showcase at the Agricultural Pavillion

Ferris Wheel

The atmosphere nowadays is of festival with modern rides (as opposed to the olden horse and buggy rides), food galore and showbags.

What do you say are showbags?

As the Royal Easter Show is a national icon and an annual event, that "celebrates all things Australian from (our) bush heritage to the latest in entertainment"; showbags are what the kids, teenagers and some adults wait for eagerly. In the strictest of sense, it is a bag full of goodies at "discounted" prices; from chocolates and other lollies to mostly toys, magazines, trade samples, etc. There is practically a showbag for everyone. There is even a "review" of the best valued and sought after show bag!

"Showbags Pavillion"

Part of the Crowd at the Show

Of course there are also horse jumping, wood chopping, various animal shows; showcasing the best breeds of cows, chickens, sheeps, horses, etc. Plus showcases of the various agricultural produce, as in vegetables and fruits.

"Wood Chopping Competition"

"Agricultural Showcase"

"Smiling Clowns"

If in Sydney during the Easter break, don't miss the Easter Show. It is an Aussie icon that one can not miss!

Easter Florals

"Gumamela"

"Cuvee' Daisies" Peterson's House

"Santa Maria" Mannering Park Holiday House Garden

I love photographing flowers, it is so easy and the results are always spectacular! Nature provides all the "raw" elements, the wonderful and contrasting colours and hues, the patterns and textures. All you need to do is come closer, pay attention and "smell the roses". Thank God for flowers!

"Easter Sunrise" This reminds me of Easter Sunrise Church Services.

"Blue Moon", A personal favourite