Lady Elliot Island and more

Just returned from a mini-holiday in Queensland.

3 days on Lady Elliot Island and 2 days on Fraser Island, with bits inbetween in Hervey Bay.

Last Friday morning we flew from Hervey Bay to Lady Elliot Island on a 12(ish) seater single-propeller plane, landing on Lady Elliot Island. A tiny island (35 minutes to walk around it) with an airstrip the length of the centre of it, Lady Elliot Island is the southern-most tip of the Great Barrier Reef and a half-hour flight from Hervey Bay. It can only really be accessed by plane, as it is surrounded by coral reef and largely inaccessible by boat. As we flew low over the blue ocean, the tiny island emerged from the sea surrounded by coral and with an airstrip right through the middle.

The island consists of one basic and small resort. There are varying levels of accommodation, but it seems fair to say that none of it is luxurious. We stayed in an 'eco-cabin' - a permanent tent. Better than expected, though still fairly basic.

Note that the entire island is full of birds (including one that flew into my head) and stinks of bird shit. A walk around the island takes about 30-35 minutes over sand and coral and is a lot more fun at low tide than at high tide.

The highlight was snorkelling - we could wade in from the sand to the reef just offshore - lots of hard coral, some soft coral, lots of sea-life - many many different types of fish, turtles (including some huge hundred year old turtles), and we even saw a 4 foot white-tipped reef shark. I didn't see the manta rays, but apparently there are plenty. Better snorkelling on the side of the island away from the resort, but easy snorkelling on the resort side at high-tide (at low-tide, you could walk out over hundreds of metres of coral). The turtles, when so minded, were very relaxed with human company and would allow you to touch them as they swam along. A drift snorkel from Coral Gardens to the Lighhouse was fantastic.

Other than snorkelling, very little to do. Reading, sunning, relaxing. A bush tucker tour. A trip out in a boat for more snorkelling. Sunset on the beach. Absolutely nothing to do at night. School-camp-quality food.

Fraser Island was also beautiful - particularly Rainbow Gorge. It's all been said before so I won't repeat it.

A great short break. Photos may follow.

Funny Games remake

Well the English-language remake of Haneke's Funny Games (1997) is now out in the US (and presumably soonish to follow in Australia.

Funny Games was the first Haneke film that I saw (at the Melbourne Film Festival) and it has continued to leave an impression on me. I've previously blogged about it here and here.

My favourite Haneke probably remains Time of the Wolf - but the original Funny Games is unlike anything I've seen before or since in its exploration of violence, the intersection between violence and entertainment and the complicity of the audience. The fact that (materially) all violence occurs off-screen is both maddening and a relief. And the (1997) film has the courage not to blink (which I've always admired); it ends exactly as you always knew it would. Not a fun watch but a must-see.


Obviously I have no idea how Haneke's remake of his own film has turned out - but at present it's scoring 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. AO Scott in the NY Times, a reviewer I always enjoy but don't always agree with, provides an interesting review of the new film - but it's hard to tell if he liked it or not.



One aspect Scott picks up on is the (unarguable) pretentiousness and self-consciousness of Haneke's filmmaking. Haneke is at least as much cultural theorist as filmmaker (though he is a brilliant film stylist) and Funny Games is a prime example of his film-as-social-theory style.

I'm looking forward to seeing it for myself and comparing it with my (burned-in) mental image of the original film.

Ms Ashley Dupre AKA Kristen - follow-up

You have to feel for Ashley Dupre. She has been the subject of an immense wave of publicity over the past few days - and I can feel the second wave building.

For example:

How many miles does Ashley Dupre got on her engine? (sic) and
If you had to compare Ashley Dupre to car tires, how much thread does it have left?
- both courtesy of the wacky jokesters at answers.yahoo.com

The recent wave of 'is Ashley Dupre 32?' articles (shock! horror! aspiring singer / model / callgirl may have lied about her age)

The media-whores out there shopping their 'friendship' with Ashley and of course those fabulous friends attesting to her heavy drug use.

and of course the 'friends' posting heartfelt messages on Ashley's myspace profile (see the example below with intensely innovative use of capitalisation):

Hi Love,
the Best thing is to take All this Media Attention and Remind the Public there is a War Going On. There are Important Elections, and Many Women Around the World who are Struggling to Survive and Need Help.
....You are a Beautiful Human Being.... with the Power to Use Your Voice, Your Music and Your Light...to Make a Positive Difference. I Know it is Within you.
....You are a Beautiful Human Being...
Take good care of your Self

and last but not least, uninteresting videos shot by mobile phone have started showing up.

Kristen AKA Ashley Dupre: Eliot Spitzer's close personal friend

Where would we be without myspace........
see Ashley / Kristen's page at: http://www.myspace.com/ninavenetta

'what destroys me, strengthens me'

From Ashley/Kristen's myspace page:

About Ashley Alexandra Dupré
I am all about my music, and my music is all about me… It flows from what I’ve been through, what I’ve seen and how I feel. I live in New York and am on top of the world. Been here since 2004 and I love this city, I love my life here. But, my path has not been easy. When I was 17, I left home. It was my decision and I’ve never looked back. Left my hometown. Left a broken family. Left abuse. Left an older brother who had already split. Left and learned what it was like to have everything, and lose it, again and again. Learned what it was like to wake up one day and have the people you care about most gone. I have been alone. I have abused drugs. I have been broke and homeless. But, I survived, on my own. I am here, in NY because of my music. It started when I moved in with a musician during my odyssey to New York. One day, I was in the shower singing “respect.” He and his lead guitarist burst in, had me repeat it and it started. We wrote, rehearsed and toured. After recording a bit with them, I decided to move to Manhattan to pursue my music career. I spent the first two years getting to know the music scene, networking in clubs and connecting with the industry. Now, it’s all about my music. It’s all about expressing me. I can sit here now, and knowingly tell you that life’s hard sometimes. But, I made it. I’m still here and I love who I am. If I never went through the hard times, I would not be able to appreciate the good ones. Cliché, yes, but I know it’s true. I have experienced just how hard it can be. I can honestly tell you to never dwell on the past, but build from it and keep moving forward. Don’t let anyone hold you back or tell you that you can’t…because you can. I didn’t and here I am, just listen to it…. What we Want is my latest track. It’s really about trust, something my past has made very difficult for me to feel. This one was inspired by a guy, who taught me not to confuse my dreams with the sounds of the city…I hope you like it.

And a Kristen / Ashley blogpost of 30 August, 2007:

positive energy will attract positive energy: Law of Attraction
Current mood: determined

Hello Everyone!! how are you?? This Blog i am going to just talk about my feelings on relationships...from a boyfriend/girlfriend, to closest friends, to family and business relationships...they are all the same to me...

The past few months have been a roller coaster with so called friends, lovers, and family...but its something you have to deal with and confront in order to move on...

I stepped away from each situation that happened and asked myself...

1) What is this person doing to make my life better? (financial, intel, drive, networking etc.)

2) How does this person make me feel? (happy, sad, motivated, depressed, constantly doubting, drama, etc.)

3) How is this person a positive influence in my life? (do they share the same interests, same dreams, does that person make me better when i am with them, or when they are in my life...i would be the same person if they werent in my life, but its just better with them in it...is my best interest always number one in their head AND heart, etc.)

from all this, i mean...

*Does that person make you feel good?

*Does that person drive you to be better?

*Is that person right there behind you when things arent that good, or even if they are??

*Will that person be an asset to your life...(will that person have value): doesn’t have to be financial, i am talking respect, courage, and umm RESPECT.

If you are in a relationship, and it is "doing absolutly nothing" for you, makes you feel bad about yourself or situations, just causing unessesary drama, and ruining things that you may actually care about...why would you want that in your life?? you need to surround yourself with the people that make you feel good, and that will help you get to that next step in your life. that is what a relationship is all about...growing and moving forward.

Surround yourself around people that are making moves, and doing what "they want and love" with their lives, positive energy...thats what life is all about...living. Because if you dont, misery loves company, they will only try to bring you down with them...but the question is, are you strong enough, to not let that happen?

Its hard to see if you let it get to that point...

...and then from all those answers you have to decide if that person is worthy of being a part of "your" life....because it is your life, your show...you decide who you want the characters to be...not the other way around. Every person is different, every person has their voice...can you recognize your voice, listen to it, and stick up for it??


Bless,

much love...aad

Rachel: it's been way too long

I miss the OC. Even though it never really recovered from its season 2 slide. I miss aspects of it anyway. I miss Rachel.