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Posts in : News
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Aug11
Whale Sharks
by Stinkyposted in News
Ok so the last post I mentioned that I went to the aquarium in Osaka to see whale sharks. Wow, just thinking about them now just makes me filled with all sorts of happy stuff. So you might be wondering ‘where were all the photos hey?’ I have to scrounge around and find the best ones to post because taking clear photos through 30cm perspex is kind of hard. Here are the best ones we could find!
Whale sharks weren’t the only form on sea life in the aquarium though. Stinky took a photo in front of a creepy looking king crab. It almost looks as though he went on holidays to another planet. The sad thing about the whole experience was knowing that many forms of sea life are dwindling in numbers due to over fishing and reckless forms of fishing such as dredging and the use of explosives. Some people would even tell you that the health of the oceans is a reflection of the health of the land. Having said all this, I’m not even sure how we can contribute toward keeping the oceans thriving. Maybe this is something I need to read up on and learn more about.
So that is all for this week. Stay tuned for an interesting story in next week’s post. Take care!
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Aug07
Japan
by Stinkyposted in News
Ok guys. Let me start out with my sincerest of apologies. I know I haven’t posted anything in the last two weeks. But I do have a very good reason… well if it is not good then it is a reason nonetheless. When I landed in Japan, I was hit with a barrage of sicknesses and body pains that rendered me unable to do much of anything. First it was a cold or flu… I can never tell the difference but I did have the worst sore throat I have ever experienced. Swallowing saliva was one of the toughest challenges I have ever faced. And if you think I am exaggerating and over reacting I reassure you that I am not. I barely ate and could hardly drink because of the swallowing issue. Next was the sore body and neck. I couldn’t turn my head properly and the few hours that I was able to fall asleep was extremely uncomfortable. If this wasn’t bad enough, toward the last couple of days of the trip in Japan my gout flared up on my right foot and rendered me unable to walk for an entire day. I’m fully aware that my attempt to redeem myself seems like I am throwing excuses left right and center. And to an extent they are, but it is my way of minimising my own guilt for not doing work. I’m sorry!
So let us get into the crux of this story and speak more about Taiwan and Japan. So the last time I wrote to you I was in Taiwan. Let me say again how much I truly adore the country. Spent the days simply walking the streets, learning what the locals do and where they go. I went shopping, eating, night markets and some of the night spots that really drew a crowd. It was exciting! Taiwan is a place where it is hardly ever quiet and even though places are crowded with people, everyone seems to be well mannered and acceptably courteous. It is a place that is rich in culture as it is in diversity. A country that is more than high tech yet holds on to the traditional aspects that make the country such a joy to visit. Like I said before, I will in this life time, live for some time in Taiwan. So the time there soon ended and that was when I packed my bags once again and darted off to Osaka, Japan.
In total I spent 6 full days in Japan. Arriving in Osaka, I was glad to land once again in the land of the rising sun. This would be the third time there and each time has been as pleasant and the time prior. The people are too nice and too well-mannered that it feels as though you warped to another realm and ended up in Pleasantville. It’s almost hard to fathom if you haven’t experienced it for yourself. So I encourage each and every one of you to put Japan on your list of places to visit. To be completely honest, I didn’t do much in Japan this time. It was mainly due to my sicknesses but regardless, the time spent there was still magical. Oh and guess who I bumped into in Japan? Stinky! What a coincidence hey!
Since I was kind of handicapped, I didn’t get much time to spend with Stinky. The one place we were able to go together was the Kaiyukan. What is this you ask? It’s the Osaka Aquarium! You must think that we love aquariums or something because last time we visited the one in Melbourne. Well to answer you, yes we do love them. Sea life is amazing but this time it was extra special. All my life I had wanted to see a whale shark and this time my childhood dream would come true. Not only did I get to see a whale shark but we saw two! It is the largest fish in the ocean and what a spectacular sight it was. I’m not sure how I can put into words how great an experience it was. Maybe you should visit and tell me how much it blew you away. But sometimes, words aren’t enough when it comes to describing dreams and fulfillment and happiness.
The rest of the time in Japan I got the chance to travel on the Shinkansen (bullet train) to Tokyo for a couple of days. Thing in Tokyo seem very much unchanged since the last time I was there. It is still a place where organized chaos rules with people busily rushing from point A to point B. We visited some local attractions but it was not as exciting as I hoped. My sickness sort of diluted the fun on just about everything. We sped back down to Osaka to spend the last couple of days and then headed home. On the way back we stopped over for a night in Singapore. We were able to have a couple of good meals as my throat was giving way and watched a couple of recent movies which was pleasant and relaxing.
Since coming back home I am really feeling the effects of holiday withdrawals. I was sitting in the doctor’s office the other day and was thinking how much I miss my time overseas. It seems kind of impossible to just drop everything and go, but there are stories of people doing it all the time. Why can’t that be me? Well I will think on this and let you know in the near future what I decide. Until then, please enjoy some of the cool photos that we were able to take on the trip. Take care!
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Jul20
Time Abroad
by Stinkyposted in News
Hey guys. It has been exactly one week since departing from Sydney so let us recap on some of the places I have been so far. First stop was Singapore. I know what you’re all thinking. You must be saying ‘again?’ so my answer in response to your question (that I made up) is ‘why not?’ Answering a question with a question is probably the most distasteful thing to do but it’s the best I have so please excuse my lack of creativity. It was hot as usual but not as hot as it was when I was there in April. I didn’t really do much other than walk around. When I travel I like to immerse myself into the local culture so I try my utmost to blend in. I don’t carry around a camera, I don’t walk around with a bag and most importantly I do not do what 90% of the other tourists do. I only spent a couple of days there because I tried my best to squeeze in a shop stopover in Hong Kong prior returning to my home away from home (well that’s what it feels like anyway).
Hong Kong was humid and hot and rainy. It was a good excuse to go around town shopping. But much to my dismay, I didn’t find a single thing I wanted to buy. It was kind of disappointing given that fact that my sole purpose in HK was to shop. But nonetheless, I still had a good time going head to head with the local rudeness, shooing away the salespeople trying to tailor make me a suit and making the most of my Octopus Card. So after a quick 2 days I was on my way to my favourite place in the universe. It was only a short 1.5 hour flight but as we ascended into the storm ridden clouds, I experienced the worst turbulence of my life. I literally held onto my seat and tightened my usually loose seatbelt. Fifteen minutes later, the turbulence subsided and I continued to live life without fearing death (lol).
I’m in Taipei at the moment but I did get the opportunity the other day to go down south and visit a couple of friends of mine. This time I did not give them any warning and surprised them at their shop. But the spontaneity of this sort of died when I arrived and they were out to lunch. I sat like a homeless man (albeit with good shoes) in front of their shop on one of the main roads and waited. They eventually arrived and we had a good time catching up. Coming back to this country really makes me realise how much I connect with everything here. I keep telling myself that one time during my life, I need to move here and live here and learn more about this place I have fell in love with. I know it’s not Sydney – some streets smell, the weather is terrible, no blue skies, traffic is chaotic but there is a unique beauty in all of these aspects. I don’t want to go home…
I will leave it here for now and will write more about my time in Taiwan next week. For now, please take care.
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Jul13
Bon voyage
by Stinkyposted in News
I stand at the edge looking out at a sky stained with spots of white and blue and a mixture of the two. The land is vast and flocks of birds grace the grounds in orderly beauty. People crowd nearby to accompany me to gaze at the horizon – the kids pointing and shouting ‘look look’ whilst the adults succumb to their wishes and simply look. Everyone standing and waiting for their turn to go out amongst the birds and… board them?
Yes I’m at the airport again. And yes I’m referring to planes. I apologise for my poor attempt at trickery. But it is fun nonetheless. So I’ve calmed down after my moment of joy. You guys know what I’m talking about right? The moment you pass customs and the thorough security check, the sight before you opens up into a fluorescent wonderland of duty free shopping. Elation.
It’s a privilege I am not yet sick of and an experience I am happy to play on endless repeat. Sitting at the gate gives you a good opportunity to spot your fellow travelers. I eagerly look out for crying babies and the hordes of tourists with their passports hung around their necks.
They just made an announcement to say that they will commence boarding in ten minutes. They also said not to stand or line up. So what does everyone do? They stand and line up much to the dismay of the airline staff. I live for this because I sit and watch and laugh to no one in particular. So I’ll leave it here for now since I will be boarding soon. I wish myself a safe flight and will let you know when I meet up with Stinky.
Take care and Bon voyage.
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Jul06
Travels
by Stinkyposted in News
Hey guys. It’s been a while since Stinky has traveled the world and there could be a high possibility that he finds himself on yet another plane to another distant land. But this time we might keep it tight lipped and let it be secretive a little while longer. To be honest, when I was a little kid, I would dream about taking off on a plane – regardless of the destination. Travelling was quite expensive and we had the hard task of surviving ten to twelve hour bus trips just to get to another state. Now that we live in a world of budget airlines and competition, we the consumer, are the ultimate beneficiaries of low prices. It really does put a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘The world’s the limit’.
But we are still mindful that there are also those that do not have the luxury of travelling, let alone having any time off. They strive to provide for their loved ones to the best of their ability and in turn sacrifice all self-indulgence. To all those hard workers out there, we just want to say ‘thanks’. We’ll leave it here for now. In the meantime stay safe and be well!
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Jun29
A little bit of Hope
by Stinkyposted in News
So if you haven’t already noticed, we have been posting a lot of content recently in relation to hope. It’s not a new concept, nor a new hot topic. It’s just one that we think is important, whether we help remind you it exists or we impart a little spark of it to you, we truly and sincerely believe it helps. Speaking about hope is a little daunting though, because regardless of where you are in the world, it is one of the hardest things to speak about when the person you are talking to is experiencing pain or loss or disorientation.
So we came up with an idea recently that we thought was quite cool. It might not reach out to everyone, but maybe a few of you might find it useful to yourself or even someone in your life that might be going through some difficulties. It may be a little corny, but the meaning behind it is genuine. Introducing the stinkythepig Hope Series.
The text on the card reads as follows:
HOPE
There are times in life where you are challenged with things that you once thought unfathomable. Where do you look for the thing that helps you find the courage to eventually move on? When trouble has found its way into your life, look inside yourself for HOPE (see center of the frame).
There will be times where you think that all HOPE is gone. But no matter what may come, it never leaves your side. It may be small but it never goes away. It is not until you see situations through a different perspective (see magnifying glass) that you actually realise that your HOPE begins to grow.
This is but a simple reminder of something that you already know. Nevertheless, I hope that it fills your heart with a little warmth and love.
Click here to support us and purchase one of these limited edition frames.
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Jun02
Charity
by Stinkyposted in News
By definition, charity means the voluntary giving of help. It comes in all shapes and sizes. You walk down the street and see people giving their time to fund raise for a particular charity. You hear stories of the ones who have remarkable skill in certain areas of expertise lending their know-how to charitable organisations. You also hear stories of unknown heroes who share their hard earned money with the less fortunate. All these acts are relative to what each individual has to offer. So whether the contribution is big or small, every little bit counts!
But the act of charity is nothing without those who care enough to want to form an organization whose sole focus is to help the needy. To those special people who organise, plan and sacrifice what they have to do this we salute you. Recently we let you guys know about a charity event the team at stinkythepig participated in. We donated some of our wonderfully cute plush toys toward a silent auction. The proceeds of the auction would go toward an organisation called charity:water. They specialise in providing sustainable drinking water solutions to developing countries.
We have heard back from the organisers of the event and have been told that they managed to raise over $2000 for this charity. There were even stories of people fighting over the stinkythepig plush toys because they were such a big hit. We as a team are so proud to have the opportunity to be a part of something worthwhile and extremely rewarding. It is always a good feeling knowing you have contributed toward a good cause.
Speaking of good, we recently completed another product and will look to post it on the website for everyone to see! We will post it next week so stay tuned because we look forward to sharing it with you!
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May25
Tasmania
by Stinkyposted in News
I would like to express my sincerest apologies for not posting anything last week. It was my birthday so I decided to take a short break and visit Hobart – The Land that the rest of Australia had forgotten. I was quite excited to visit the place despite all the warnings I received from other people. They warned me that I should be prepared for the worst. And by worst they meant that the place was a sleepy town, a cold town, an extremely boring town. So it wasn’t much of a surprise when the place lived up to its reputation.
My biggest regret was not bringing Stinky along for the ride. It would have been an amazing place to take some memorable photos with him. But sometimes you just have to go and experience things for yourself. Ok so it’s a town that is quiet with not much to do any time of the day. But once you get used to this fact it was quite a lovely place to be. Yes it was cold and yes it did rain but it was like relaxation had come along and had given you a big warm embrace. It was a great place to relax, a place where you can get away with doing absolutely nothing and a place where you could enjoy what Mother Nature was kind enough to offer.
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May11
Water changes everything
by Stinkyposted in News
It’s amazing to think that some people around the world would trade whatever treasures they possess for some clean drinking water. But for most of us, the thought of not having drinking water readily available would be almost too farfetched to fathom. We even go as far as paying $4 for a bottle of water that most possibly originated from the same tap we use to water our gardens. Fact of the matter is, there are people who are starving and people who have never tasted a drop of non-polluted water – this is a reality that we believe is unacceptable and one that needs to change.
As people, when we stare into the face of a problem so wide spread and ginormous in scale most would tend to shy away and say that these problems are above them. Imagine if we put all of these people on a plane and told them to give one bottle of water to each thirst-stricken mother, father or child; the problem would almost not exist. And that is what the great people at charity:water are doing. They are facing the problem and saying that they can make a difference and they can be the pioneers and catalyst to change world for the better.
So how is the team at stinkythepig involved? And what are we doing about it? We have donated some of our merchandise to the cause. A friend of ours is hosting an event where our merchandise will be auctioned off with all of the proceeds going to this worthy cause. We look forward to attending the event and showing you more of what took place. In the meantime, please take the time to visit the webpage of charity:water and see what they have been up to.
Please visit www.charitywater.org
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by Stinkyposted in News
Good – it’s a word we hear every single day. But do we ever stop to think about what it really means? If you were to ask me what I thought it meant, I would most probably need to pause and think really hard – almost as hard as though I were asked how to square root a number that cannot be square rooted. All silly comparisons aside, have you ever stopped and wondered whether you were a good person?Yesterday something weird happened to me. I have this ritual every Saturday morning where I take my mother out to the local shops to buy groceries. I usually drop her off first so that I can drive my car in endless loops hoping upon hope that I will find a parking spot. My mother is quite elderly so naturally she does not believe in mobile phones (nor would she know how to use one if she did believe in them) which makes finding her all the more enjoyable. But it is a system we have had in place for years upon years and funnily enough I always seem to be able to find her. So in my quest to find her something happened that made me question my qualities as a ‘good’ person. I’m walking and trying my utmost to pinpoint my target (my mother). If there were such a thing as an eagle walking through a crowd trying its best to find its mother then that was probably what I looked like. This lady walks past me and then trips over. She turned to me with hate in her eyes. She wanted to blame me and curse me and possibly throttle me with her bag filled with exotic spiky fruits (ouch). I looked back and all I could muster was a measly ‘I didn’t even touch you lady’. Well, ok, I won’t lie. I only said it in my head. What I did do was tuck my tail between my legs and walked faster and further away. So the question I keep asking myself now is why I did not turn around and help her up. I feel so bad. So to the unknown lady who tripped over, I want to tell you I am sorry!
What makes it even weirder is that when I returned home a friend of mine sent me a link to watch a short clip on Facebook. I click on the link and see some Russian words on the screen so I start to think that maybe it’s one of them candid camera type comedy skits. Music starts playing and all of a sudden I start to feel some type of energy. The video rolls and the first scene is a man stopping his car in the middle of the road to get out and help an old lady cross the road. My first impression was a big ‘WOW’. Next you see strangers helping strangers in all sorts of way – bogged cars, towing, helping stranded animals and the like. So as the video goes on, you witness kind act after kind act and it almost brings a tear to your eye. Humanity can be saved through the kind actions of strangers. I think back to the lady that fell and the many eyes who had witnessed me walking away without even lifting a finger to help. I am shameful. I will learn from this and improve upon myself to ensure that this does not happen again.
So how do I finish off this post? I guess I will firstly like to say that I have a long way to go to even come close to being a good person. But I do think that it is a journey with no end because being a good person is a process rather than an outcome. It is something that you need to continually strive for because the moment you give up trying, then that is when the world loses hope. Another thing I would like to add is that although we may often see ourselves as the perfect role model, things happen around us to remind us to remain humble. So don’t shelter yourself and open up to the feedback that the world is trying to provide. Take it on board and make a change for the better. I know I will!
Mar 18, 2015