Travel and culture
If it isn't already, the village of Santa Ana will soon be absorbed into Mexico City. It overlooks the metropolis from a hillside above what by night becomes a terrestrial galaxy pooled on the floor of the Valle de Mexico, lapping at the foothills around the patches of darkness that betray the high places. Agustín Melo lives… Continue reading Agustín, The Migrant Who Returned
The road east into San Luis de la Paz, Guanajuato does not give a good first impression. Dust wreathes Highway 57 to the west as it rumbles towards Mexico City and tattered plastic adorns the cacti. A ditch by the road into town snags tumbleweeds as they bounce their way across the desert floor and it's… Continue reading Luis the Cycling Patriarch of San Luis de la Paz
Brisbane literary figures have expressed support for the Man Booker Prize’s decision to open the competition to any novel written in English and published in the United Kingdom. The prize had previously been open only to authors from the British Commonwealth, and some literary figures in the United Kingdom have expressed concern that American writers… Continue reading The Man Booker Prize open to American authors – Now what happens?
Nate Thayer is an American freelance journalist who has worked all over the world and, in recent years, has focused more on North Korea. In March he wrote an article about basketball diplomacy in the country, following Dennis Rodham's visit to Kim Jong Un for the website nknews.org. After the article was published, Thayer received… Continue reading Nate Thayer is a Legend
This article and photos was first published in the December 2012 issue of Phoebella Magazine as 'Life as an Exchange Student". We’ve just noticed them building Colombia’s biggest Christmas tree in Plaza Simon Bolivar when my housemate grabs my shoulder – “Firewood!” We’re walking home through the obnoxious, polluted rush that is central Bogota in the… Continue reading ‘Studying’ in Bogota
It did what it said on the tin - jazz in a park. Last weekend saw the 17th incarnation of Bogota's 'Jazz al Parque', a jazz festival held both down south in Plaza Ferial de 20 de Julio and up north in leafy Parque Metropolitano El Country. As it was my week as staff photographer… Continue reading 17th Jazz al Parque, Bogotá
"Quien es usted?" ("Who are you?") "Soy estudiante!" … Continue reading Robocops vs Mohawks – Round 2
She's way out of my league and I know it. I need an angle, a way to bluff her and sustain the illusion that I'm somehow interesting for an entire evening. With the hustle of Fortitude Valley at our backs, we trundle down Brunswick Street into New Farm and find "P!ntxo Spanish Taperia & Tapas… Continue reading P!ntxos makes Pintxos?
An Australian-born son of Palestinian refugees in Melbourne has said he “can’t understand why the Australian government wouldn’t support the Palestinian statehood bid at the UN”. Moammar Mashni, co-founder and manager of Australians for Palestine, said the Labor Party’s national platform supported a two-state solution. “As the democratically elected government of this country … when… Continue reading Israel/Palestine and the view from Australia
Bob Irwin, father of conservationist Steve Irwin said “being nice and politically correct hasn’t worked” for opponents of coal seam gas mining at a Brisbane rally yesterday*. However Irwin refused to say what he had in mind, saying he didn't "want to get you all into trouble," winning applause from the crowd. Representatives from the… Continue reading Coal Seam Gas – radicalised opponents, staunch supporters and a disappearing middle ground