No more lies

All I can see these days is all sorts of humanitarian bodies claiming to be the ones really helping the people in the North who are suffering inconceivable pain and emotional trauma. It is such a sickness to show off, these groups whether it be TRO or COHHRT or whatever new name it gives itself - I definitely agree that they are doing some amazing work up there, helping those who need it but if you read their reports you will find a very sickly interjection of how much they are doing. Good samaritans don't call out their own names when doing good for others. Quite vain. In an ugly time.

Of course they have to justify what they do each day to make sure their donors in the Tamil diasphora are satisfied their money is being put to good use. Not to support the lifestyles of those who live abroad, supposedly manning phones and writing more detrimental commentary on the internet.

Why don't these groups realise that we can see through this? Of course, I want someone to be able to help the Tamil people - they are being brutally hurt and they are my people and I want them to be safe, even though GUESS WHAT? I am not Tamil.

It makes me so furiously angry to see these poor people being used as tools for the betterment of a cause that as they face the next shelling, (I bet you) couldn't care less about. How dare political groups like the TRO speak for those people? Were they nominated? Were they asked to? No. Please continue the samaritan work for these people, but stop talking for them - their new "on the spot report" is just another way to poison the minds of the people watching on the sidelines. The fact is, the LTTE is losing this war and they will lose.

This bothers many people, many of those who have supported this war, at any cost. The govt is not at all innocent either - believe me I am as aware as they come. However, they are winning this fight and those 'people' don't want it to happen, and so are using the shield of the innocents to fight in a different way. How sick, sick sick is that? The LTTE are firing upon their own people. The LTTE are not the Tamil people's representatives anymore, they lost the plot Hitler-style many years ago.

My question is, who is really going to step up and save the Tamil people, while their own watch them suffer across the water?

The unoriginals

For some bizarre reason I've noticed a sudden surge in Ghostbuster themed adverts:

Citroen crap

118 118 embarrassing

Seems some ad agencies are really scraping the bottom of the barrel.

Ffffound

Some really cool stuff that people are doing around the world - it's nice to just lose yourself in it. Great photographs of great art, all on http://ffffound.com

telling the truth

In an ever changing world, the truth is harder and harder to get to. We rely so heavily upon the media to tell us the facts, that we forget that the media is governed not by an infinite body of honest people but by those with an agenda. Where we watch movies filled with conspiracies, plots filled with doubt and mistrust, it is not surprising that in real life we discount even the most reliable sources (such as the date inside the frame of a camera that is recording).

We are so influenced by the world cynicism that we can't even allow ourselves to distinguish between the fact that people are being killed in NE Sri Lanka and Gaza - and the reason for it. Irrespective of race and religion. The fact that the BBC won't air the Gaza appeal is a perfect example of an agenda - it shows they are obviously too afraid to anger the Jewish community that sits so silently and forebodingly in the background.

I have been battling internally these past few days with the pictures and words I have seen, and the accounts I have been reading - who do we trust? How do we really win a war? How do we allow people to be freed without risking the evil snake of a rebel group to rearm and cause more destruction? How in the hell did we get into this mess? And why, after 30 years of war can we not just have an honest agenda?

I am sick and tired of not knowing who to believe - who do you trust? Its incredible how often one faces that question in a day in the life of. Do I trust the guy selling me tube ticket on the street? Do I trust the news source on my computer screen? Do I trust the label? Do I trust an acquaintance's efforts to be concerned with my life? I mean when did the world get so distrustful (is that even a word?)?.

I've just finished reading a book on JFK but it cites RFK's struggle post assassination to search for the truth ("Brothers" by David Talbot). It reignited my crazed obsession with the Kennedy's and showed me how the world shifted so sharply towards cynicism and weariness in such a short period of time.

Ok, rant over. I just believe it's time to do something and stop sitting back and taking all the crap that the media and "experts" keep giving us - how and why is it so hard to find something so simple like the truth? So, screw mistrust or distrust (I need a dictionary) - I'm going to clear my head, and start all over again.

The world as you *don't* see it

Found this super data world mapper site, which shows you the world maps according to different subject matter, so for example:

World Poverty:


Territory size shows the proportion of all people living on less than or equal to US$2 in purchasing power parity a day. Absolute poverty is defined as living on the equivalent of US$2 a day or less.

World population:

World carbon emissions:

The world fuel consumption (this includes gas, coal, oil, nuclear, wood, and other materials):

Makes you think. You can enter any data subject and it could show you a world map in relation: www.worldmapper.org

musings

Some great stuff I've found lately. The world is full of insanely amazing personalities and ideas:

http://www.postsecret.blogspot.com/

http://www.guerrilla-gorilla.blogspot.com/

M.I.A.'s sister's jewelry brand in UK: http://www.superfertile.com/

moments of change

I haven't felt this optimistic in months when it comes to the world political stage. I battle with sounding like a cheesy commentator from a typical American film, but the fact is - anyone who wants to be cynical or roll their eyes, step back away from me. I am thrilled beyond comprehension about today - the day that Barack Obama takes his oath. Because today, we are all a part of history and nothing will change that. A black man who is talking about peace and unilateral attitudes. Yes!

It is ironic because who knows, a few months from now everyone will be moaning and erring that Obama is just the same as the others. All I will say to that is we all have to come to terms with the fact that he won't be able to snap his fingers and change the world. But that its him stepping up on to that stage and not the old, half man half bionic mess of a guy McCain, is a huge step in the right direction. I feel that people are going to be a little more open to letting this guy try and do his job.
He is going to struggle with oil barons, tobacco lobbyists and drug company bastards who want to stop healthcare reform but at the same time, he will have peace mongers the world over, stepping up to help him. So who's to say?

In this moment of blissful perfection, where anything is possible and the world is united in celebration (well, almost everyone in some way or form) - I am damn happy to be alive to jump up and down with a flag in my hand and say, hell yes we can.

Basil issues

So I popped down to my favourite luncherie Oishi - "pan-Asian" cuisine you know. The Vietnamese guy I often chat to about the world and how to put it to right informed me that there wasn't any basil in my delicious chicken Viet Salad. I questioned as to why, and he said it was because of the problems in Thailand.

Eh?

It dawned on me - thanks to the protester fiasco in Bangkok with the airports and such, we have no basil because they haven't been able to fly much out. How crazy is that? The world is truly a small place where a little Vietnamese joint in Clerkenwell can be affected by a justice-driven protest all the way across the world.

The Spaghetti Pony Wedding

Absolutely breathtaking and emotional from start to finish - Glyn and Ella's wedding, the official pictures taken by the talented Mere. It was a beautiful day, starting at Hackney Town Hall and moving on to the St John Smithsfield Restaurant for a blow out party... Old friends got together after ages and new friends were made that day. The ceremony moved me to tears and made me feel so very grateful to be a part of such a close group of friends, and to be able to witness two people so very meant for each other.

Plus Helena had the most amazing sailor outfit with awesome hair-do. Go figure.

The sweet American miracle

Thank God the Americans woke up that day and picked Barack Obama - I can't believe he is the U.S. President. These are important times and there is hope yet.

Change

I cannot believe how lucky I am to live in these times. Of course things are tough and war plagues us as does the ever mutating financial crisis. But we are living in a time where a big change could be on it's way - in the form of America's first black presidential candidate and the mere possibility that he could win.

I grew up with history books talking about Martin Luther King and how that fight just couldn't be won. This time, it's not about black and white which is amazing to think - have we hopefully on some level moved on from that?

And of course no one is saying that Obama is perfect but what he is - is DIFFERENT.

I feel like it's my country that was voting. Thank God George Bush is on his way out, because maybe we might find a way to put things back on track towards right.

Come on Obama! Though he makes me say cheesy things - I'll let that slide.

New Yoik

What a rocking city. Amazing, incredible, fantastic. I love adjectives. I had strange expectations of the city that never sleeps, and I was also expecting it to be a bit rubbish. So it was exciting to set off on a trip there.

One problem is going to a city on holiday - Lee would rather go out into the country, I often have stars in my eyes with romantic notions of a city I've read about, seen films in and generally want to visit. Its the same about the countryside, just different.

My parents were visiting with us in London for a month which was so wonderful, I loved having them in the next room when I woke up - it was so good for the soul to hang out with them.

So Lucas Stauffer was getting married (blast from the past) and they had invited us to their intimate wedding in New York City. So we went for 5 glorious sun-filled days. NYC has a vibe of its' own. It is massive, the buildings are massive, the food portions, the cars, the signboards - everything is flipping massive. But there is a buzz that you just can't put your finger on and you just can't beat. Thankfully it was not "American" in the negative way, it was more like "Goodfellas" most of the time which was super. Especially at the wedding, Nanoonie!






We visited Central Park on the first day, walked around taking all the large buildings and roadways in. You could easily just stand on a street corner and take it all in for an hour. We met up with Af - it was weird seeing him in this new city, calling it his own, telling me which block he was staying on etc. But it suited him and he was happy, so that is most important.



Day 2 - Lee, Tash and I walked from our hotel off Broadway all the way down to Greenwich Village for lunch where we met Cindy Stauffer after 10 years which was amazing. Then Lee and I walked down to the Hudson River and took in the sights. We missed the last ferry to Stanton Island which we didn't mind, it was actually cooler seeing it from afar. It was also September 11th and we were right by Ground Zero which really fascinated me. I'm such a news and current affairs junkie since my journalist days and being at the centre of where the modern world changed - well it was moving. We had just missed Obama and McCain's visit to the site to lay flowers.

That night we met Lucas and his bride to be Martha - what a hottie. They had all been through some rough times so it felt extremely special to all be together after so long and celebrate something happy.

The next few days went by in a blur - Lee and I visited Cunning New York, had lunch with Mark and Floyd - what a cool bunch they are. It was hard not to say "so do you need another team member?" their offices were slap bang in the middle of Soho - they had windows! Good vibe there.

It poured with rain that afternoon, Lee and I bought a $5 umbrella, which was more like a $1 one - it was crap. But we had fun exploring Soho in the rain, running into shops and photo galleries. We then all went to dinner with Af at the Buddha Bar in the meatpacking district which was awesome. But oh one two many sake's which hurt the next day.

Been too long

What the hell men? Its been 3 months, again. So much has happened.

I've cut off all my hair for start, but I don't have a good picture of it yet. It was one of those things which just had to be done, not to sound all girly but it really is a part of you - or so you think. But when my trusty old hair dresser said "the ends of your hair are probably quite a few years old" i thought - hmm time to trim.

So i've got a new do. And its fun. If you want to see pics, I've been told there are some on facebook but i wouldn't know since I don't have an account on it.

Did you know that M16 are now actually recruiting on facebook? Should one be scared when they poke you? I'm not sure. Shudder shudder. I wonder if you're good at persistently requesting friendship after being ignored gets you higher points?

A Cunning picnic

So a few weeks ago, my agency Cunning threw us a lovely picnic in Regents Park where I proceeded to be very silly (as did the rest of them) while frolicking the gorgeous sunshine surrounded by great food, delicious drinks and many cool folk.

Hot but knackering

It is so warm outside - "milk was a bad choice" comes to mind. Am pretty exhausted this week thanks to long work hours, find myself quite useless come 10pm. But then I suppose thats what sometimes happens in the grand scheme of things.

Lee is playing a gig tonight at the Ginglik - where we first met! Why are girls so dreamy and reminiscent, while men are so practical?

Legacy of love

I have been contemplating our existence here on earth. Yes, a fairly heavy Friday morning I suppose. But not in a morbid way, just in a sort of - so what are we achieving at the moment? I can't believe the things I hear about this so-called recession (anyone recall the theory of mass hysteria/wag the dog?).

Then there are the realities of knife crime, the Gaza strip and Israel, Iran and the world, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka, the American election... what the hell is going on? And then there's the question of what I, as an individual am achieving, what is my impact on the world around me? Honestly, when I am gone one day - what have I left behind? I recall books I used to read with my grandfather and we used to talk about "all my worldly possessions" as a phrase which used to come up often. What are they? They are not clothes, belts, shoes, books or cars. They are people we have had in our lives and how we treated them, how we loved them, how we made them feel and that legacy of love is what we leave behind.

This train of thought has nothing to do with the wonderful classical music I am listening to on Radio 4's Desert island discs.

Hoo-flipping-ray for faith and sunshine

So, many people are gawking at the fact that yes, Glasto was sunny, warm and dry. Those who gave it a miss - well you should have had more faith. Not gloating no, just beaming.

It was better than I could have hoped and for those who are sick of reading the joyfulness of my entry can leave - or wait a little bit and check out some super photos below.

Basically the first night we were treated to a typical Glastonbury fest weather greeting: spitting rain, cloudy and well a pretty drenched walk across the field to the Greenfields where Bobby was waiting for us in his cosy caravan. We set the tent up in the rain which really wasn't very fun, a fair amount of our gear and clothes were damp and everyone was a little like "oh come on, really?"

But like a red velvet cabaret show curtain being pulled to reveal the act, the rain ceased. For the rest of the festival. So we donned some fresh clothes, got the drinks flowing and headed off to explore the first night at Glastonbury. We saw some amazing unsigned bands that night and were treated to some awesome sights within the different fields like Trash City and the new Shangri-la. The vibe was incredible.

The next day, the sky was cloudy but calm and we had a wonderful day - exploring the circus fields, eating delicious food and wandering around. We met Ru and Lucy who have a superb dressing up stall and such cool people, I scoured the hats and shawls and had to resist buying everything.

Oh the toilets - the stench still lingers in my mind - not on my boots in case you were wondering. But that is about the only thing that would put me off, but once you get through it, you feel vindicated.

It was such a great experience and treat to be camping in the Greenpeace field because it was calm, well taken care of and was on a slight hill so you had a view of the festival. They were strict about who came in and out and also how we treated the field so it made such a difference. Not to mention the sweeeet solar powered showers that Bobby and Chris built.

Vampire Weekend, The Gossip, Estelle, Jimmy Cliff on Friday. Vampire Weekend, Black Kids, Leonard Cohen, Amy Winehouse, Jay-Z, Ethiopique on Saturday. Manu Chao on Sunday.

Summer of festivals

So since we're not travelling around South America this year, though damn how much I wish we could again - we will return... we're going festival hopping this summer. I am not too set on about racing around the country but I am SO excited and thrilled to be going to Glastonbury tonight.

I have wanted to go since I was 15 when I first heard about how people of all varying backgrounds, colours, personalities etc congregate in a massive field for 4 days and listen to some inspiring music. Ok so 13 years on, I know that there are also stories of queues for the toilet, rain, mud, drunken stupours and general calamities of chaos. But I seriously could not care less - I am just so excited about being able to be outdoors, listen to music, dress up, jump up and down screaming for the band playing and general merriment.

We take the train tonight - Bobby's been there for 2 weeks already and says its looking pretty awesome. WHOO HOOOOOOO!

Wedding's - not ours

So the few days before Aush and Ero's wedding was fairly jam packed with catching up with friends plus sprucing ourselves up for the big day. The bridesmaids sari's looked awesome and I was excited.

They had a big party 2 days before the wedding, which was a blast - managed to catch up with all the people I had hoped to see. Lee and I also managed to spend loads of quality time with my parents which was so wonderful - as you grow up the relationships just change so dramatically without many noticing.

Two days later, the usual crammed excitement and crazed activity of a wedding began. Unfortunately it was raining quite alot and Aush had planned it all to happen on the beautiful terrace of The Galle Face Hotel, Colombo's oldest colonial-esque hotel. But right as were almost ready and the bride was being dressed in her sari - the drizzle ceased, the sun broke through the clouds, the sea stopped roaring and voila - as if God just waved his hand over us it was just breathtakingly beautiful.

It was a wonderful wedding. And we were so happy to be a part of it.

Flying visits

So a month has passed since my last blog entry - where did time go? We have just got back from a beautiful trip to Sri Lanka. We were there for just under 2 weeks and it was superbly relaxing but at the same time ignited my attachment to my home further. How is it possible to love a place so much and yet not feel right with it? It will always be my home, where I have some of the best memories, where I identify with the most and mainly - where my parents live.

The country is in pain, dire pain. While we were there, I witnessed some of the worst city bombs in quite a while - 4 bombs within 10 days. All within Welawatte, Dehiwela, Mount Lavinia and Fort, targeting trains and buses - the LTTE is trying to show they have little mercy but they didn't need to do this to send that message. We've known for much longer that they are barbarians, but so is our government, so I am not sure which is the lesser evil.

The one that hurts more innocent people I suppose. The tension was very apparent on the streets, when you pulled up next to a bus or just saw someone who looked suspicious. It made the contrast of the joyous living we were experiencing more difficult to contemplate. I think once you're away for a while the conflict becomes clearer.

Other than that (I could write for hours on that topic), we had a beautiful 3 days by the sea in Koggala staying at The Fortress Hotel which is the new boutique joint in the area. Soo luxurious but zen if thats possible - the setting was right by a stunning untouched beach with a coral reef forming several natural pools.

We had the pleasure of having lunch at the world famour Count De Mournaay's Island (otherwise known as Taprobane Island in Weligama) thanks to Af pulling a few strings. It was incredible to wade across to this island with a colonial styled villa built into it lush with tropical plants and stunning 360' views.

3 days of swimming, drinking, relaxing, browning and general merriment - we headed back to Colombo for Aushi's wedding festivities to begin.