What a Wonderful World…….Oooohhhhh YEAH!

Posted on May 25, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

Entries from the 25th Annual National Geographic Traveller Photo Contest

A fennec fox walks against the wind in Morocco. The fennec, or desert fox, is a small nocturnal fox found in the Sahara Desert in North Africa. (© Francisco Mingorance/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A raging sea dwarfs Seaham Lighthouse in County Durham in England, with 100 ft waves after a cold front moved down from the north bringing freezing temperatures to the North of England. (© Owen Humphreys/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A Sadu pilgrim from Varanasi, India. (© Craig Stevenson/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Crater lake Segara Anak located in Mount Rinjani, Lombok, Indonesia. (© Dodi Sandradi/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A group of 12-14 hyenas were chasing a herd of 7-8 elephants. The elephant herd included 2 adult females, a few teenagers, and a baby that was a few days old (belonging to one of the adult females). The hyenas were trying to get at the baby. In this picture, the mother is kicking at the hyenas. (© Jayesh Mehta/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Sunset on top of Lao Zhai mountain at the bank of Li River, Xingping, Guangxi, China. (© James Bian/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

The late morning fall air was just cool enough that the sap weeping from the trees would solidify in mid flight… creating beautiful marbles of amber falling to the ground. Kingston Mills Water Locks – Kingston, Ontario, Canada. (© Jay Foulds/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Masters of disguise. The Eastern Screech Owl is seen here doing what they do best. You better have a sharp eye to spot these little birds of prey. (© Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

This tabular iceberg floats majestically in the Southern Ocean a few miles from South Georgia Island. Formerly a whaling station, the island is now an Antarctic research center. It was the ultimate destination of Ernest Shackelton’s desperate rescue voyage in 1916. (© Sue Volek/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

I have been traveling around the world and parts of Asia for the last six months and this is a shot I took at Tiger Palace in Bangkok, this is one of just a few tiger sanctuaries in Thailand that do not drug the animals, and because of this they sometimes get incredibly playful, here the tigers are having a play fight in some water. What was truly amazing was the speed at which they move, one minute they are 200 yards away, the next, they are right next to you staring down like they are deciding how you taste! (© Daniel Sakal/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A very hungry humming bird drinking from the mouth of a person in Wyoming during an extreme drought in 2012. (© Sundell Larsen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

This picture is not a photo of painting, landscape nor I have used any Photoshop except minor cropping, rotation and converting from raw to jpeg. It is colored threads/wool hanging from the wall in an amazing way with a nail head coming out in between. I tried to create a feeling of moon and sea. (© Aditya Vardhan Tibrewala/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

King of the Hill: An American Bison on the National Bison Range, Moiese, Montana. (© Mark Mesenko/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

The view from our hotel room in the San Blas district of Cusco. This area of town overlooked the rest of the city and gave us a breathtaking view as the sun and rain mixed one evening. (© Blake Burton/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

I have seen alligators and turtles together in ponds before, but never like this! I was at Bluebill Pond in Harris Neck NWR when I saw what I thought was an alligator sunning itself on a stump. As I got closer I realized that it was actually perched on the back of a turtle! I wish I had been there to witness how this surprising esprit de corps had came to pass! (© Mary Ellen Urbanski/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Imagine yourself as this lone tree, standing in the snow waves. Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. (© Victor Liu/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Living in Seattle I am spoiled by its beautiful skyline and the iconic Space Needle. This was not my first attempt capturing the moon with the Space Needle. After one failed attempt, I went back the next day for a second attempt and was treated with perfect conditions. As the moon rose above the horizon I was in disbelief as to how big it was, dwarfing the entire Space Needle observation deck. (© Hai Nguyen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

This picture was taken at the majestic Iguazu Falls, Misiones, Argentina. The flight of this flock of swifts across the huge waterfalls portrays the sense of freedom and wildness that belongs to this fantastic world wonder. (© Francesco Filippo Pellegrini/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Tearing down a super tanker on a shoe-string budget. A gas torch, a tow line and human labor force, Sitakunda, Chittagong, Bangladesh. (© Lee Chong Kuang/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

While on safari in Kruger National Park we watched a coalition of four male cheetahs crossing the plain. This one got distracted and fell behind. Once he noticed the others were gone, he sprinted to catch up. I caught him nicely with a slow shutter pan. (© Douglas Croft/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Shooting New Taipei City night scene, in the distance, a huge, strange cloud, from time to time issuing a strange flash reflection like a a beautiful watercolor painting. (© ?? ?/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Long necked Padaung tribe woman wearing neck rings on Inle Lake, Myanmar. They come down from the mountains to sell their handmade jewelry and woven bags to tourists. (© Cynthia MacDonald/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Kauai is a wild and magical place. It invokes a sense of freedom, appreciation, and love. At this particular beach waves rebound and crash off of lava rocks and cliffs forming into interesting shapes. (© Lace Andersen/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A young bat and his mother in flight in Pardes Hanna-Karkur, Israel. (© Gilad Guy/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Bonobos…the unknown Ape. Most people do not even know what Bonobos are. I have been documenting their behavior for over 4 years now at the Jacksonville Zoo here in Florida and all I can say is this: “Minutes turn to hours when I am photographing Bonobos. I love to watch their mannerisms and interactions with each other. They are without a doubt our closest relative. It is my dream to one day get a chance to photograph them in the wild in their own world in the DRC.” (© Graham McGeorge/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

On the way to Ergaki, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia. Twilight away the lights of one of the bases. (© Alexander Nerozya/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A fascinating and breathtaking view of the Cappadocia morning breeze, in Turkey. (© Reynaldi Herdinanto/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Located in the heart of Siberian Russia, Lake Baikal freezes over ever year. Walking around on the ice at sunset, I got down low to the ground and took this shot of some ice with the beautiful sunset in the background. (© Edward Graham/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A child, captured by surprise, during shooting of a part of the old city (Sun City) of Jodhpur, India. (© Bruno Tamiozzo/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Eruption of the Cordon Caulle, Chile. This was taken from Antillanca mountain. However despite the distance, the sound was awesome and was the most incredible experiences of my life with my uncle, who accompanied me that night. (© Rival Gustavo/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

I took this photograph near the spillway of Jordan lake dam shortly after the Osprey returned to my area for the 2013 season. Early in the spring, you can find them fishing at the base of the dam. I love photographing wildlife, but have a special place in my heart for any type of raptor. (© Brad Lenear/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A scientist climbs out of an ice cave formed by volcanic vents near the summit of Mt. Erebus, Antarctica. (© Alasdair Turner/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

An impending storm moving in over a beautifully lit field in the evening in Montana. (© James Lam/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

A one-horned gazelle looks up at just the right moment in the Maasai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. (© Kellie Reifstenzel/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

“The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft; and gathering swallows twitter in the skies.” (John Keats). The Duke of Westminster’s Drive, in Chester, England. (© Robert Reginald Williams/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Cowboy, the real deal. Photo taken near J Bar L Ranch in Montana. This gentleman and his friends were riding across the state using only the real deal old school equipment. (© Jesper Anhede/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Pergamon was an ancient Greek city in Aeolis, today located 16 miles (26 km) from the Aegean Sea on a promontory on the north side of the river Caicus. Some ancient authors regarded it as a colony of the Arcadians, but the various origin stories all belong to legend. (© Mehmet Fatih Yaldiz/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Taken during the Belle Fouche prescribed burn at Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming. (© Drew Gilmour/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

This great white shark struck directly from below with such force that it leapt entirely clear of the water. Gansbaai, South Africa, where this image was taken, is one of the only places in the world where the sharks exhibit this behavior. (© Thomas Pepper/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

This image is shot in Kampung Pulo in East Jakarta. This village is unique with their various colors and plenty and maze like alleyways. I waited for a perfect moment on this dark alley when a child went out of his home and ran through the alley to meet his friends to play. (© Michael Ken/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

This church was built about 200 years ago on the banks of Hemavathi River near Hassan, India. About 25 years before, Gorur Dam was built, and every year the monsoons fill up the reservoir and flood the church, submerging it. Every Cycle takes away part of this holy place until nothing will remain. Hopefully this picture would provide a view of what man makes and how nature takes it away. (© Gurdyal Singh/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

Spring arrives in Sweden and the ice finally starts to melt on Lake Vättern. What started out as this year’s first stand-up paddle trip with my best friend ended up as a weird photo shoot, in Hjo, Sweden. (© Jesper Anhede/National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest)

About the Contest

The 25th annual National Geographic Traveler Photo Contest is now accepting submissions. Harness the power of photography and share your stunning travel experiences from around the globe with us. Entertoday for a chance to win a National Geographic Expedition to the Galápagos and have your photo published in National Geographic Traveler magazine.

How to Enter

To begin the entry process, go to the Enter page, where you’ll be prompted to sign-in and setup an account. Upload your photograph and complete an entry form, including the following required information: name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and photo caption. Entries are $15 and you may submit as many entries as you wish. For more information, please read the Rules.

Categories

Submit in any of the following categories:

Travel Portraits: Locals working, playing, celebrating
Outdoor Scenes: Landscapes, aerials, wildlife, waterscapes
Sense of Place: Pictures that evoke the essence of a place
Spontaneous Moments: Fun, quirky, surprising, and unrehearsed moments

Prizes

First Prize: A 10-day Galápagos National Geographic Expedition for two

Second Prize: A 7-day National Geographic Photography Workshop

Third Prize: A 6-day cruise on a Maine windjammer schooner for two

7 Merit Prizes: $200 gift certificates to B&H Photo and a matted and framed print of your entry

Posted in Art, Education, Environment, Historical, Media, Photography, Social Commentary, Travel | Tagged Competition, Earth, Images, National Geographic, Photo Contest, Photography, Photos, Travel, Traveler, Traveller, World | 1 Comment

This is ART!!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

The Incredible Power Of Concentration and the Weight of a Feather

By Japanese Performance Artist Miyoko Shida Rigolo

Posted in Art, Japan | Tagged Art, Concentration, Dance, Feather, Japan, Miyoko Shida Rigolo, Performance, Spain | 1 Comment

Karamea Kaos: UFO Seekers Flock to West Coast NZ Town

Posted on May 11, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

By Rongolian Star Raving Reporter CamcoH Kazakov

Alarmed residents of Karamea, on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, reported witnessing a large bright elliptical metallic sphere hovering over Flagstaff Beach, Karamea at 1935 hours on Saturday May 11, 2013.

Photo taken by German backpacker Gunther Muller.

This UFO appearance follows on from a prolific series of sightings in the Opapara Basin, Arapito, Flagstaff Beach and Kongahu areas of the Karamea District in July. Sources close to the New Zealand Air Force have confirmed the radar tracking of an as yet unidentified space craft making a rapid vertical descent from over 100,000 feet at 1934 hrs on Saturday May 11, 2013.

Other reported sightings of extra-terrestial activities in the Karamea district include the sighting of mysterious purple glowing lights and humanoid like creatures on the Fenian Track at 0630 hrs on Monday 6^th May 2013 and the discovery on the Heaphy Track of an area of scorched earth in a large elliptical circle strongly indicating the likelihood of the landing of an alien space craft also on Monday May 6^th at 0730 hrs by Australian visitor Roson Sewell.

Identikit sketch from eye witness account of humanoid seen on Fenian Track

Scientists examining the Fenian Track and Heaphy Track using geiger counters reported no significant levels of radiation, however dramatic levels of neurostatic energy were encountered around the alien craft landing site.

Posted in Art, Buller District Council, Education, Environment, Funny, Heaphy Track, Historical, Humor, Humour, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, Media, New Zealand, Parody, Photography, Satire, Social Commentary, Travel, Weird, West Coast | Tagged Alien, Aliens, Extra terrestrial, Heaphy Track, Hoax, Kahurangi National Park, karamea, Media, New Zealand, Oparara, Parody, Satire, South Island, UFO, UFO sightings, Unidentified Flying Object, West Coast | 9 Comments

Can International Travel Be Sustainable?

Posted on May 11, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

Off the Top of My Head

By Paul Murray

(The LivinginPeace Project aims to combine Art/Travel/Permaculture and Education into a Sustainable Business)

The LivinginPeace Project in Karamea at the top of the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand is striving to mitigate the environmental cost of international travel to make it a sustainable activity. Given the carbon cost of jet travel, the challenge is no small one.

The LivinginPeace Project offers accommodation to travellers from all over the world at Rongo Backpackers & Gallery and Karamea Farm Baches in the belief that international travel is the best form of self-education available, but not at the expense of the environment.

Since it was founded in 2004, the LivinginPeace Project has initiated a series of innovative ideas to tack the challenge and has made significant progress toward the goal of being a sustainable business. The first step was to purchase an 31-hectare (80-acre) property as a carbon sink. The bush block had been logged for in the 1960s and many of the largest rimu (red pine) trees were milled for timber. The removal of large trees opened up the forest canopy allowing light to penetrate and this initiated the growth of thousands of new trees.

The Karamea climate is ideal for the rapid growth of trees, there is plentiful sunshine, a high rainfall and the region has deep rich alluvial soil that makes for an excellent growing medium. The forest is regenerating very quickly and each new tree absorbs carbon dioxide, combines it with sunlight to produce wood, locking up the carbon and removing it from the atmosphere.

The forest block is a carbon sink that is utilised by the LivnginPeace Project to offset the carbon emissions produced in the service of the business side of the venture, including taking into account that many guests have travelled to Karamea––which is a remote town in a distant country––from the Northern Hemisphere. The LivinginPeace Project strives to be an environmentally responsible business, which means taking account of every aspect of the business and every environmental impact in an attempt to defray the carbon cost of the venture.

Other initiatives include a permaculture farm, which produces food locally that is then turned into freshly harvested, healthy meals for guests. This minimises the food-mile cost of feeding guests while they are staying in Karamea and presents high-quality meals to LivinginPeace Project customers at a reasonable price. The project is able to produce food at a lower economic cost as well given that there is no transport cost to producing the food, which is grown organically and fertilised with compost also made locally.

Making compost on the LivinginPeace Project permaculture farm

LivinginPeace Project Permaculture Farm Manager Dave Tailby tends the spuds

Australian Wwoofer Matthew Ridgeway weeds the garlic

From a business perspective, this also makes sense (cents) as the food grown on the farm is value added by turning it into meals and taking it directly to the consumer and avoiding traditional wholesale/retail marketing costs. For example, a pumpkin could be sold at a farmer’s market for $5 (less transport and marketing costs), but the LivinginPeace Project uses the pumpkin to make 10 bowls of soup and sells it for $5 per bowl making $50 from the pumpkin (less cooking costs!) and presents guests with a healthy, wholesome and delicious meal for a reasonable price.

Communal meals also enhance the quality of the travel experience by encouraging people to have conversations, share experiences, engage in cross-cultural communication, discuss travel plans etc over the course of the meal. Many a great friendship has developed over dinner at the LivinginPeace Project.

The LivinginPeace Project also offers farm internships in organic food production and presents a Permaculture Design Course every year to share food-production knowledge and organic gardening techniques. Internships on the LivinginPeace Project permaculture farm enable students to apply the theoretical knowledge obtained on the course in a practical way. This provides travellers with an opportunity to learn valuable skills that can be applied to their lives on return to their respective countries of origin. Students from Germany, Canada, France, Japan, the United States and Australia have studied permaculture at the LivinginPeace Project and many of them have returned home to instigate similar projects of their own.

Another initiative is to minimise the environmental cost of operating an accommodation business. By offering every 4th night free guests are encouraged to stay longer and be travellers instead of tourists. By staying four nights in the same bed, the environmental cost of cleaning the room is significantly reduced. The use of cleaning products, labour, laundry water use, laundry drying cost, wear and tear on the laundry equipment etc is reduced by 75% when compared with a one-night stay. The LivinginPeace Project is happy to return a 25% discount to guests who stay four nights and to encourage people to stay longer. It is also a better experience for both the accommodation provider and hopefully the traveller as each gets to know the other a little and better conversations or more substance than “What’s your name?” “Where are you from?” “What do you do?” “Goodbye” interactions with people who only stay one night.

The LivinginPeace Project also offers art classes in conjunction with the project’s artist–in-residency programme. Resident artists have conducted life-drawing, wood-block printing, paper-making, felting, photography and flax-weaving courses. By offering educational opportunities, travellers are provided with a reason to stay four nights and learn new skills during their stay. The educational side of the LivinginPeace Project meshes well with the 4th Night Free policy by encouraging people to stay longer, providing an opportunity to learn new skills and express their creativity and defraying cost of their travel in the process.

2009 Resident Artist Ponzi from New York (www.artistponzi.com)

2011 Resident Artist Shota Kawahara from Japan (www.shotakawahara.com)

2012 Resident Artist Tzook Marcel Har-Paz from Israel

The LivinginPeace Project has been a Wwoof (World-Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, or Willing Workers on Organic Farms (an international volunteer organisation)) host since 2005 and has hosted volunteers from all over the world during that time. Wwoofing is a great means of assisting travellers by offering them a chance to stay longer in one place and to learn new skills by helping out on the farm in return for free accommodation.

Wooofers (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms)

Wwoofers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms)

Wwoofer Yumi from Japan

The LivinginPeace Project also offers a language exchange programme that enables students of English to practice conversing in natural situations. Helping out on the farm and speaking English is an excellent way to practice and build confidence in using the language effectively and improving comprehension. Many Japanese students have taken the opportunity to stay at the LivinginPeace project for a month to improve their English conversation ability.

Making international travel a sustainable activity is a challenge that the LivinginPeace Project has taken head on and is making significant progress toward achieving. The business has been rated as “Carbon Neutral” since 2009 in an independent audit by Christchurch-based company Carbon South and the venture will continue in its quest for sustainability in business.

Green Businesses Leading by Example

By Sam Marquit

As the world becomes more environmentally conscious, various industries are adopting green building techniques and sustainable practices for the greater good. Being a commercial contractor has put me in a position to see this type of progress first-hand. However, what I find really interesting is meeting the people who care enough to do this kind of work, how they are going green, and what sort of positive impact these changes are making.

Various schools across the world are adopting sustainable practices from reusing to gardening to not only improve their carbon footprint, but to also encourage civic engagement and interest in STEM subjects. The Green Ribbon Award from the U.S. Department of Education goes to schools that have eco-friendly standards. Some community centers are doing the same thing with their community members by coming together and forming groups specifically dedicated to environmental initiatives. One example of this is Green America, which has been operating since 1982.

One area where I keep seeing a lot of change is in the hotel industry and it could not have come sooner. Roughly 40,000,000 people travel to Las Vegas alone every year. With hotels everywhere in the city, the amount of waste and emissions this city must put out is overwhelming and that is only the tip of the tourism industry. Thankfully, hotels in Las Vegas and elsewhere are doing what they can to help.

In Las Vegas, the Palazzo is reusing its waste and implementing other green practices. In New York, the ink48 Hotel is modeling its entire business on green practices, though the Palazzo takes the cake as “The Most Eco-Friendly Hotel in America.” Throughout the Marriott hotel chain, visitors will soon start seeing entry cards that are made with corn by-products. The hotel chain purchased 24 million of these cards, which are biodegradable and recyclable. With that one purchase, the chain kept 66 tons of plastic out of landfills.

The Palazzo, Las Vegas

Thanks to these hotels and those like them, awards are being offered for environmentally friendly service. In Asia, “The Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Awards” offer awards to businesses that conserve resources, get involved in their neighborhoods and help protect animal habitats. The “People & Planet Awards” are for businesses that demonstrate eco-friendly practices.

The awards and recognition that come with going green as a business may not be enough to get more businesses on the right track. However, with some industries leading the by example and with social awareness to green causes, both may help bring about a significant increase in green business. I am happy to see businesses doing the right thing and look forward to seeing more.

More from Sam Marquit here: http://fmarquitv.tumblr.com

Permaculture eco-tourism

By Sebastian von Holstein

Travel broadens the mind, but comes with a carbon footprint. Sebastian visits an eco-retreat in Goa, India and finds a place that combines simple living, upcycling and green technologies with peace and beauty.

Think Goa and long-haired hippy trance parties on the beach may well come to mind, but the stunning grounds here couldn’t take you further away from the noisy bustle of this westernised area of India. This small parcel of paradise, where a rainbow of colours, sided with handmade cob paths and wooden bridges, is the stage for various exotic birds and butterflies to carry out their dance with the surrounding flora, leaving any viewer in a very different form of trance, to that of the local raves.

Nature absolutely co-created this place. YogaMagic, a yoga retreat centre, are serious about doing sustainability properly and this marvellous plot lives up to, and surpasses every expectation in this regard. There is no eco-greenwash here.

Practising permaculture from a tourism perspective

The retreat demonstrates a host of applied permaculture principles. The architecture is a mish-mash of reclaimed Indian antiquity and more recent vernacular design. All structures, whether permanent or seasonal, fit perfectly in their surroundings both in style and in the choice of materials. Other pieces of furniture and furnishings have also been handcrafted locally or reclaimed in the nearby bazaars.

Solar showers are fed from the clean local water supply and all grey water, including urine is redirected towards banana and other exotic fruit trees. There is even a fully functioning humanure waste management system on site, reducing vehicle traffic and the irresponsible disposal of waste that so haunts other parts of Goa’s beaches.

The entire outdoor social area is built around a handmade water tower with traditional motifs and pointed windows. The warming presence of a Buddha statue evokes peace to the scene and provides a distraction from the magnificent sloping roof, layered in dried out palm leaves.

On ground level, cob contours mould different levels of seating areas, gently elevated to provide clean views over the untouched local landscape. From here, you mingle the visual feast of the surrounding landscape with the marvellous food on your plate at mealtimes. Everything here is made fresh and totally from scratch, using only the best ingredients.

Traditional Indian mixed with sustainable design

This is low-impact living at its finest. Seven genuine Rhajastani tents dot the landscape, each with a unique block painted pattern and colour scheme (one for each chakra). These are perfectly suited to the climate and prove cool in the day heat and just perfect for a good night’s sleep.

An attached dressing room with a day bed nests within the mud cobbled walls and thatched roof. During the day, these become the creative spaces for song writing, guitar sessions and reading. Then we have the Gaudi-esque outdoor bathrooms, where terracotta pots are filled daily from the local water source. One feeds the tap and the other is used for hand bathing using a jug, saving goliath amounts of water and simultaneously freeing up the above view: clusters of eagles flying just 30 metres above.

The star of the show however is the compost toilet. Perhaps a strange thing to get excited about, but unlike the semi-functional examples you might come across elsewhere, these open air composting systems prove immaculate and completely odour free, owing partly to a natural organism spray.

Organic, local, with a respect for ingredients

It is one thing to use high quality ingredients, and quite another to cook up a delectable feast, yet recurring conversations at YogaMagic generally revolve around mealtimes. Guests are frequently reluctant to eat out in the event they might miss out on another splendid meal. Lemon rice, Panneer (home-made curdled cheese) curries, cumin carrots and sweet and sour chutneys are but a taster of the constantly rotating menu.

The cooks know and appreciate each ingredient through and through, with the respect for flavours you might only see in some of London’s top restaurants. Fresh herbs, fruit and vegetables are either grown here or kept as natural as possible. Hearty vegetarian meals are phenomenally well balanced and always satisfy.

Desserts are just as mouth-watering, with a varying selection including pineapple turnover, lemon posset and ‘Middle-Eastern’ cake topped with pomegranate. As I hinted, deciding to leave for dinner outside YogaMagic can sometimes be a heartbreaking experience.

Hand-built cow dung yoga temple

Yoga here is not a compulsory part of the daily schedule, however it is near impossible to turn down a session in the aptly named ‘yoga temple’. This impressive structure is made from mud, clay and cow dung. The roof is constructed from fallen coconut trees and ‘tiled’ with rows of palm leaves to keep the worst of the weather out.

While safe from the elements, the intimate connection with nature never fades. During morning meditation, the warm air rustles through your hair and the sweet fragrance of Indian flowers settles in your nasal passages, bringing you effortlessly to a state of bliss.

The location is a different world from the usual air-conditioned yoga studio’s you might frequent back at home. Not only this, YogaMagic is also recognized as one of Goa’s best yoga retreats due to its ceaseless attempt to bring in the very best yoga teachers, while giving a wide berth to new-age yoga fads.

Permaculture-Designed Travel

Every element has been taken care of. The entire retreat is impeccably clean, the staff always helpful, flowers bloom and fruit grows all around. This is living proof that sustainability can be stylish, healthy and delicious all in one. Ever wondered what permaculture-designed travel looks like? Look no further…

For more information on YogaMagic eco retreat, visit www.yogamagic.net

Sebastian von Holstein is currently travelling through India by train for six months, exploring this amazing sub continent as slowly as possible.

Posted in Agriculture, Art, Business, Economics, Education, Environment, Kahurangi National Park, Karamea, LivinginPeace Project, Money, New Zealand, Peace, Permaculture, Photography, Social Commentary, Sustainablity, Travel, Uncategorized, West Coast | Tagged Art, Business, Carbon, Carbon Neutral, education, Energy, Environment, Goa, Green America, Green Business, India, Innovation, International Travel, karamea, Las Vegas, LivinginPeace Project, New Zealand, Paul Murray, Permaculture, Permaculture Design Course, Sam Marquit, Sebastian von Holstein, South Island, Sustainability, Travel, West Coast, YogaMagic | Leave a comment

An Open Letter to Facebook by Jackie Nickerson

Posted on May 3, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

From: MotherWiseEvidence-Based Parenting, Whole Life Health

First I would like to start off by thanking you for creating a wonderful social networking site that brings people together with family, friends, and their community. It helps small businesses grow, and lets us create communities that suit our personal interests. We can spend time relaxing and talking with friends, or sit back and play some mindless games with all the apps you have for us. We have found truly supportive, loving communities of kindred spirits all over the world through your creation.

However, a few things have been bothering me lately. I don’t know who is running things over there at Facebook headquarters, but to me it seems like a bunch of men who enjoy women, but only on their own terms. There seems to be a bit of hypocrisy and misogyny all rolled into one, and I do not understand the inconsistent approach you are taking when implementing rules. Let me direct you to your own policy on pornography:

“Facebook has a strict policy against the sharing of pornographic content and any explicitly sexual content where a minor is involved. We also impose limitations on the display of nudity. We aspire to respect people’s right to share content of personal importance, whether those are photos of a sculpture like Michelangelo’s David or family photos of a child breastfeeding.”

Now, I do agree with the need to censor pornographic material from a social site that children will see, but here is where the inconsistencies come into play. Below are some screenshots of just a few Facebook pages that you can easily find with a click of a button. As we can see, it seems like the men of Facebook love to celebrate women when it is in a sexual manner that is visually appealing to them.

These pages have hundreds of thousands of likes and have been up for months. If you scroll through the photo galleries you will find pictures of women completely exposed, pictures of unconsenting women on camera phones that bitter ex-boyfriends send into the page to “Expose These Sluts,” and countless other pictures that clearly violate the terms, but are never removed.

I am a co-owner of a Facebook page that is directed towards moms. We are advocates, and we enjoy what we do. We have a fan base of around 14,000 people right now– it is a place for women to come to get support with breastfeeding, parenting issues, birthing options, and just have a place to connect with like-minded mothers. Today I posted an anatomical drawing of a vulva; something that looks like a page out of an anatomy textbook. It was posted for educational purposes to help women get to know their bodies, learn the proper terms, as a learning tool for their children if need be. Within 3 hours, the photo was removed and my account that is linked to our page was banned for 30 days.

Here is the so-called “pornographic” image.

“Porn.”

I am wondering why pictures of women stay up if it is visually stimulating to men, but a cartoon drawing that will help women empower themselves and gain knowledge is considered pornographic, and gets removed? I am asking you to please remove the ban from my profile. I do not feel that it violated any terms, and frankly I think you are being completely unreasonable and hypocritical. You should also consider some consistency in your ban policies. Our community is very familiar with mothers getting banned for posting breastfeeding photos, which you also claim are not against your terms. It’s another example of sexualized women being acceptable, but women’s anatomical/biological bodies being shamed and censored. At the very least, follow your own rules. Thank you for taking the time to hear me out on this matter.

AUTHOR:Jackie

I am a radical peace preaching hippie, who questions authority, and loves to go against the grain. Compassion, empathy, understanding, and forgiveness are things I feel that are lacking a great deal in most people. Peace and equality is something I am huge on, making the world a better place. Racism, bigotry, and sexism, are a few things I am firmly against. I am a student of health, wellness, and life. I am an advocate for social justice, and peace in all forms. I am a lover of art, music, writing, and all things inspiring. I am a activist by nature (lactavist & Intactivist) In the past 3 years I have done a lot of personal growth, and I am very comfortable and loving the person I have become–I think self love is a big thing that more people should embrace, and I am not a fan of shaming of anyone for any reason. Equality, and compassion are things I love to see in people.

Posted in Children, Education, Erotica, Media, Photography, Product review, Sex, Social Commentary, United States | Tagged Breast feeding, Censorship, Children, Erotica, FaceBook, Fathers, Media, Morality, Mothers, Parents, Porn, Social Commnetary, Social Media | Leave a comment

Karamea Ministry of Red Tape # 21

Posted on May 2, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

A New Zealand Government Department authorised by a covertly suspicious and deliberately rhetorical Act of Parliament and compounded by a tacitly implied Royal Approval to receive Official Complaints.

Office Manager: Red Scarlett

Senior Complaints Officer: Andrea Bjornstrand

Office Receptionist: Miss Sweden

Junior Office Bimbo: Miss Venezuela

Tea Trollop: Mimi La Chocolat

Office Sheep: Baa Baa

Karamea Ministry of Red Tape Office

Market Cross, Karamea

Monday May 6^th 1030hrs!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Welcome to the Karamea Ministry of Red Tape good sir!

Sir Richardhead: Aaa aaa greetings humble wench!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Pardon me but you appear a little out of breath!

Sir Richardhead: Indeed I got completely yogenberrried on Saturday prior to a jousing fest!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: It may be an optical illusion but you appear to have no head between your shoulders!

Sir Richardhead: Sir Roberto the Magnificent decapitated my good self in a sword fight!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: And you have been running around like a headless chook since???

Sir Richardhead: On the contrary generous breasted maid!! Went to matins at chapel on Sunday morn!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Was the congregation surprised???

Sir Richardhead: No they were of the opinion that I am the second coming of John the Baptist!! Still had a dreadful hangover!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Mmmm!! Perhaps you should join Alcoholics Anonymous and make a vow to quit drinking while you are a head!!!

Sir Richardhead: Sacrilege!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: So you got legless and and headless in short order!!!

Sir Richardhead: A foul imposter in the interests of equanimity then decided to shove my head up my rectum!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Ouch!!!

Sir Richardhead: Indeed!!! I did not know that I had such appalling haemorrhoids!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Mmm!! Sounds like you should consult a doctor!!!

Miss Sweden: Excuse me but I could not help noticing that your cockpit is wide open and you appear to have been completely castrated!!

Sir Richardhead: Sir Galahad!!! The recalcitrant!!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Another jousting foe!!!

Sir Richardhead: No!!! My bank manager!!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: So you here to make a complaint???

Sir Richardhead: Perchance regarding what???

Andrea Bjornstrand: The weather today cause for complaint???

Sir Richardhead: Yes why not???

Andrea Bjornstrand: An official complaint???

Sir Richardhead: Yes of course!!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Mmmm!!! Let me consult the Office Manual. Here we go!! Karamea Ministry of Red Tape Official Complaint 911 “ Completely headless knight wishes to record extremely serious complaint regarding Karamea’s weather!!!!” The exact nature of your complaint???

Sir Richardhead: Well aaaaghh aaaghhh???

Andrea Bjornstrand: That dark shaped ominous cloud up there??? The one shaped like the Grim Reaper!!!

Sir Richardhead: Yes by gad!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: How would you describe yon cloud??? Provocative???

Sir Richardhead: No!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Seductive????

Sir Richardhead: Yes!!! By gad yes!!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: Excellent!!!! Let me find an official complaint form!!!

Sir Richardhead: Fee my good mistress???

Andrea Bjornstrand: One thousand gold crowns including Imperial War Tax!!!

Sir Richardhead: Can I record a debt on the strength of my knightly honour and valour??

Andrea Bjornstrand: Normal departmental policy is small denomination unmarked bills with no sequential serial numbers???

Sir Richardhead: Do I get an official receipt???

Andrea Bjornstrand: Are you serious????

Sir Richardhead: Aaaaghhh!!! I’m getting a phantom migraine!!!

Andrea Bjornstrand: I’ll get Miss Venezuela our junior office bimbo to give you a full medical!!!

Sir Richardhead: Is she a trained nurse????

Andrea Bjornstrand: Of course she is an expert and experienced body the rapist!!!

Miss Venezuela: You look awful!!!

Sir Richardhead: But I feel great!!!

Miss Venezuela: Mmmm!!! Let me consult my nursing manual!!! Mmmm 7a Look good, feel good..no… 7b Look awful… feel awful…no… ah… here we go …. 7e Look awful …feel great… you… you’re ..a.. vagina!!!

Sir Richardhead : Can I get a second opinion????

Baa Baa: Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KABOOM!!!

Mimi La Chocolat!!!: Great shot boss!!! Right through the right ventricle , dissected the aorta and neatly severed his spinal column!!! A new departmental record!!!

Sir Richardhead: Excuse me!!!!

Red Scarlett: I beg your pardon but you are supposed to be dead!!!!

Sir Richardhead: Many apologies but I didn’t realise!!!! Aaaaaghh……………

Red Scarlett: Pull yourself together my good man, a valiant knight dies like a hero!!!!

Sir Richardhead: Aaaa aaaaaa………….

Red Scarlett: Any last requests???

Sir Richardhead: ..a… a…a….

Mimi La Chocolat: A cup of tea????

Posted in Art, Business, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Karamea, New Zealand, Parody, Photography, Politics, Satire, Sex, Social Commentary, Weird | Tagged Angelina Jolie, Bureaucracy, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, karamea, Karamea Ministry of Red Tape, Parody, Photography, Politics, Richard Branson, Satire, Sex | Leave a comment

The Rongolian Star Quiz No. 3

Posted on April 29, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

Question 1

Who was without question Australia’s greatest cricketing batsman?

Clue : He was known as “The Don”

a. Don Corleone

b. Don Juan

c. Don Trump

d. Don Duck

Question 2

Kim Dotcom was German champion of which athletic sport in 2010?

a. Pole dancing

b. Irish sky diving
c. Hacky sacky

d. Twister

Question 3

You are out fishing on your new cruiser when your vituperous mother in law accidentally trips over your quickly extended right foot and falls overboard. She is unfortunately, immediately chomped by a great white shark. Do you:

a. Pour your self the best tasting beer of your entire life?

b. Wish you had been wearing your 3-D contact lenses?
c. Quickly clip on your snazziest shark lure and frantically cast into the burley?
d. Throw the wife in to save her?

Question 4

Who is Australia’s greatest sporting hero of all time?

a. Hayden Haitana

b. John Hopoate

c. Phar Lap

d.Trevor Chappell

Clue : Born and bred in New Zealand, deported to Australia and was heavily involved in the racing industry.

Question 5

A flaming asteroid half the size of your mother in laws jaw bone is travelling at Mach 23 towards Karamea. ETA about 5 minutes!!!! Do you:

a. Run to pub?

b. Run from pub in a moment of blind panic when you realise it is your shout?

c. Run back to pub when you realise you were drinking alone?

d. You are a confirmed teetotaller so you pour yourself a large schooner of tea, shaken not stirred, what the heck make it a double, a slice of lemon, couple of ice cubes, put in your char one of those silly cocktail umbrellas, splash of dry ginger ale and scull!!! Burp!! Didn’t touch the sides and so you…KABOOM!

Posted in Education, Funny, Hilarious, Historical, Humor, Humour, Karamea, New Zealand, Parody, Satire, Social Commentary, Sport, West Coast | Tagged Australia, Funny, Humor, Humour, karamea, New Zealand, Quiz | Leave a comment

What if Wordsmiths had SmartPhones and Tweeted….

Posted on April 27, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

Ten Famous Autocorrected Quotes

(From the DimWit Diary: http://thedimwitdiary.com)

Suppose a young man with a wild imagination and too much time on his hands went to a greasy spoon diner one evening at 3 AM. Suppose the same young man grew tired of all the belligerent drunks and lot lizards that usually frequent a greasy spoon diner late at night, so he began to surf the interwebs on his smart phone to occupy his time until his gyro omelette and rye toast were ready to be served.

Suppose that while killing time surfing the interwebs, the young man came across some famous quotes and later stumbled upon the humorous website, Damn You Autocorrect. Now suppose the imaginative young man with too much time on his hands got to thinking:

“What if all the famous authors, poets, artists, philosophers, and great leaders of history had to use a smart phone to type their inspiring quotes? Would their quotes sound any less smart? Would they be any less inspiring? What would the quotes read like if these great historical figures had to put down their pen and paper, and use the same means of communication that we use today – texting, tweeting, emailing, and other forms of social media? What if the famous quotes were subject to autocorrect?”

Suppose the young man’s thoughts were to materialize. I suppose you would get something like this. Ten famous quotes given the autocorrect treatment.

My God. What have we done. Modern devices and social media are destroying our love shaft. Our language! Destroying r language!

What are some of your favorite famous quotes? Leave them in the comments section below (140 characters or less, JK). I’m a big fan of paying homage to the greats and I would love to hear them if you wouldn’t mind sharing. Much obliged.

Posted in Art, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Media, Quotes, Social Commentary | Tagged Autocorrect, Blogs, DimWit Diary, FaceBook, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Quotations, Quotes, SmartPhones, Social Media, Technology, Twitter | Leave a comment

Globalisation: A Practical Definition

Posted on April 26, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

What is Globalisation?

Example:
Princess Diana’s death

An
English princess
with an
Egyptian boyfriend

crashes
in a French tunnel,
riding in a

German
car

with a
Dutch engine,

driven
by a Belgian

who was
drunk

on
Scottish whisky,

followed closely by

Italian Paparazzi,

on
Japanese motorcycles,

treated
by an American doctor,
using

Brazilian medicines.

This blog is by

an Australian living in

New Zealand

using

American
Bill Gates’ technology,

and
you’re probably reading
this on your computer,

that
uses Taiwanese chips,
and

a Korean monitor, assembled

Bangladeshi workers

in a Singapore plant,

transported by Indian truck drivers…..

Posted in Art, Australia, Banking, Business, Economics, Education, Environment, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Japan, Media, Money, New Zealand, Parody, Photography, Satire, Social Commentary, West Coast | Tagged Economics, education, Globalisation, Globalization, Humor, Princess Diana, Social Commentary, Trade | Leave a comment

Martha Stewart Talks Gardening with Tom Waits

Posted on April 26, 2013 by LivinginPeaceProject

STEWART: Tom, it’s a delight to visit you in your garden. Let’s have a look at your—wait, what’s that sound?

WAITS: My old mutt Sullivan. Other week he drank some funny creek water downstream of the hydrofrack. Been breathin’ like a box bellows ever since. Don’t pay him no mind.

STEWART: Oh, the poor thing. Now, let’s have a look at your sunflowers. They’ve … not done well.

WAITS: Sunflowers don’t grow right in this sun. At least mine didn’t—came up and fell down, like a dray mule with rickets.

STEWART: And all your hydrangeas are dead.

WAITS: I’m the killer, Martha, but you’re the one who’s done time.

STEWART: Oh, but I put that time to such good use, Tom! Making comfy shawls and a gorgeous Nativity crèche with just the materials I had at hand! It’s a lot like the wonderful music you make with your junkyard instruments.

WAITS: Did your cell have one of those floor drains? Peeing against perforated metal is its own kinda music.

STEWART: [ignoring him]: Now, Tom, you need to put in some trellises here. Your sweet peas are getting away from you.

WAITS: Shoot, Martha, my sweet pea got away from me in ’68. At the bowling lanes on the borderline where Chula Vista becomes National City. [Mournfully] She was only 16 and smelled of damp crinoline and cheeseburger fumes.

From Vanity Fair: www.vanityfair.com

Posted in Agriculture, Art, Education, Environment, Funny, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Media, Social Commentary, United States | Tagged Funny, Gardening, Hilarious, Humor, Humour, Interview, Martha Stewart, Tom Waits | Leave a comment

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Permaculture eco-tourism

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Karamea Ministry of Red Tape Office

Market Cross, Karamea

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