My book of the year

People on Country: Vital Landscapes, Indigenous Futures , edited by Jon Altman and Sean Kerins.

1.     A must-read antidote to the oft-repeated neoliberal “solutions” to Aboriginal disadvantage, and a plea for Traditional Owners to be front-and-centre of conservation programs, particularly in the country’s fragile north. 

The book combines perspectives of Western researchers and their Aboriginal colleagues involved in Caring for Country programs. It celebrates the groundbreaking work of such programs, which have enabled Aboriginal people to incorporate Western employment and scientific knowledge with centuries-old cultural and land-management obligations.

But these programs, like the fragile ecosystems in which they operate, are under threat, as employment policies change and governments push to centralise remote populations, potentially leaving country uncared for.

People on Country offers an insightful and refreshing look at alternative models of economic development, education and employment – models that recognise the intersection of culture and country and the vital role scattered, remote Aboriginal populations can play in protecting biodiversity and mitigating climate change.

Pushkar camel fair

When I was in  Pushkar, Rajasthan, about a month ago, there was a great sense of anticipation as  people got ready for the approaching camel fair.

I didn't really think much of it until I saw these fab photos of the Pushkar Ka Mela on ABC today - now I'd wish stayed!

Dumb ways to die

This is mostly a "we're not dead" post for our US friends.

The following is a Metro campaign to stop people song stupid things at train stations:



The following is a very clever extension of it to our refugee policy:

Photos from Pushkar, India

Apparently the Laughing Buddha is recommended by lonely people :)

Pushkar is a beautiful small and ancient town in the desert in Rajastan. It is based around a lake,  so all the buildings around the water open onto ghats - which I guess are steps/esplenades that lead into the water. The ghats are where people bathe, wash clothes, perform  religious ceremonies etc.

We were woken early each morning (i.e. pre-dawn) by chanting emanating from the various temples around the ghats. Indeed, night-time noise of one description or another was an ongoing issue in India.... one night there even seemed to be a circular saw below Killa's window, competing with the chanting.

Meals on trains in India

Long bus journeys on the subcontinent can be quite harrowing, but I discovered train rides are great! We caught the early morning train from Delhi to Haridwar, and were very impressed with the fabulously dinky complimentary breakfast.

We'd only just got over the excitement of getting a whole thermos of tea each when the conductor brought around lunch!

Turns out one can enjoy India

After a rather lengthy absence from the blog (absence, indeed, from many things but that's another story), here I am, back to tell you I have just been in India.

I have been to India before, and had quite  traumatic experiences. Indeed I was more surprised than anybody when I decided to head back to the subcontinent this year to celebrate a friend's 60th birthday - India is pretty much his second home these days, so he decided to celebrate the event Indian-style, and invite a few of his Australian friends along.

Off I went, slightly trepidatious but willing to give it a go, knowing I'd be with lots of "grown-ups" this time (last time I was a slightly naive 19 year old who insisted on learning everything the hard way).

It certainly  is different travelling with a man in India - for all the wrong reasons, I suppose, as it does say something about the position of women in India. But I have to say being totally utterly ignored by men, who would automatically speak only to my father, was a slight improvement on the sorts of attention I got from men last time I was there.

Enough said on that topic, methinks.

The point is, I discovered beautiful things about the county. Even, dare I say it, peace and calm - quite a departure more the chaotic madness that is Delhi and other large cities I've visited there in the past.

Some photos are in the next post. More will come, especially if someone can tell me a  quick way to post many photos online at once.... :)

Some pics from India

tjilari_emma's photostream on Flickr.

More to come... I became impatient with the slow photo uploading process...