Getamungstit - The Travel Edition (September 2017) by Student Guild

THE TRAVEL EDITION

ISSUE 06, VOLUME 03 SEPTEMBER 2017 EDITORIAL TEAM Rebecca Marshallsay - Editor in Chief Fruzsina Gál - Editor Monique Hotchin - Editor Zakary Johnson - Editor Angel Nikijuluw - Editor Hayley Payne - Editor PUBLISHER George Lindley-Jones TALENTED CONTRIBUTORS Cover artwork Kassandra Yore Editorial Jake Anderson - Jessica Brown - Caitlin Erasmus Fruzsina Gál - Monique Hotchin - Zak Johnson Ricky Lam - George Lindley-Jones - Lauren Martin - Hope Nakagawa - Angel Nikijuluw Elleanor O’Connell - Dan Pagotto - Hayley Payne Creative Lauren Berichon - Caitlin Burnett - Erin Campbell Bren Domingo - Megan Malone - Chelsea Misaki Brittany Paull - Mic Smith - Hudson Tesoriero Bridget Thomas - Jedda Winkworth - Katie Wittle Photographic Jessica Brown - Rachel Corbu-Miles Daniel Janeczek - Angel Nikijuluw Rebecca Marshallsay Emiliano Sihua Mazzoni - Zak Johnson DESIGN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

Email us at getamungstit@griffith.edu.au

Griffith University Gold Coast Student Guild acknowledges the people who are the traditional custodians of the land, pays respects to Elders, past and present, and extends that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

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Contents Editorial note

Message from the President

Geta giveaways

Summer with the Geta Editorial Team

Vox pop

Lightweight travel

Soloing in the Grass

Star tourists

Responsible travel

Why solo travel isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t for the faint hearted

Home away from home

The history of Halloween

Travel horror stories

Alone and ignorant

Instagram under the spotlight

Sincerely, Your Editor

Wanderlust on film

Snapped on campus

Summer style

Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s on

Feature artist - Holly Edwards

Online

Entertainment

Being creative

Get the hell outta here

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EDITORIAL NOTE

Although we have a few weeks of study, assignments and exams to go... there is a tantalising ray of hope on the other side and to shamelessly quote High School Musical ‘what time is it? Summertime, it’s our vacation’. Yes, in just a few short weeks it will be that time of year again. Burning your feet on hot sand, slurping dollar frozen drinks and Christmas is just around the corner. For university students, summer break can include a few things: picking up extra shifts over the festive season or maybe sleeping in till noon and binge watching Netflix with the air-con running over time. Unless you’re sticking around for trimester 3 (good luck to you, my friend). Summer break for a university student is also ideal for getting more stamps on your passport and soaking up new places and cultures. I’m confident in saying that the perfect university goer’s summer involves travelling, even if it’s on a strict budget. If you’re anything like me and pretty much obsessed with travelling and anything travel related, this edition of Getamungstit is made for you. Welcome to the Travel Edition and also the last hard copy edition of 2017! This edition of Geta is jam packed like an enthusiastic traveller’s suitcase with various articles on everything travel related. Firstly, Hayley is exploring how one can be ethical and responsible while travelling. And while travelling can be exciting it can also be scary.

So, Hayley is also looking at some travel horror stories. And on that note, Ricky has a piece about how solo travelling isn’t for the faint-hearted. Monique shares a collection of films that encourage wanderlust in this edition’s On film segment and Elleanor explores some summer and travel inspired activities to do on the Gold Coast. There’s no doubt about it, travelling is an amazing experience but sometimes there is simply no place like home. Fruzsi is delving into the psychology of home and also how ‘coming home’ shapes us as people over the course of our lives. On top of our travel related articles, we also have some other interesting pieces. Zak is exploring the intriguing topic of space travel and Monique digs into the history of Halloween. Whether you have great globe-trotting summer plans or something a little more low-key and local, we at Geta wish you all an amazing and safe summer. Thank you to all of our wonderful contributors this year and we can’t wait to see you next year! If you can’t wait for next year, the good news is that we will be moving our operations online... so watch this space (or better still, watch our Facebook page). The Geta Editorial Team

Editorial note

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT “

”

A good traveller has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving - Lao Tzu

Hi everyone, Welcome to the Travel Edition of Geta! Hopefully just in time to help you plan your summer getaway. This is the year’s last edition and also my last. On that note, I want to say a big thank you to the Editorial Team and Liveworm for their consistent and quality work towards the creation of the product you now hold. Now to travel. In my eyes travel is all about expecting the unexpected. So I wanted to share with you two of my favourite stories of travellers who made the best of their pickled plans. The first is the story of Irishman Joseph Griffin. Griffin gained internet notoriety after he got confused operating his son’s GoPro. Instead of capturing his trip to Las Vegas, he managed to film nothing but closeups of his face. When his son found the video he uploaded it to YouTube and an internet legend was born.

The second is the story of Canadian Jordan Axani. Axani booked a dream trip for him and his girlfriend, but he was dumped before they were due to set off. His solution? Find another girl with the same name to take with him. Romance didn’t blossom, but his story has a happy ending. The press coverage led to Marriott International providing them both with rooms for the trip. For me these misadventures represent how important it is to laugh in the face of disaster. So wherever your summer takes you, I hope it takes you with a smile! Once again, thanks for the picking up and supporting your student mag! George Lindley-Jones (hopefully not 2017’s worst president) Student Guild President

GETA GIVEAWAYS Freeeee stuffffff! New edition, new Geta goodies up for grabs. Want to win one of the awesome prizes below? Simply email us at getamungstit@griffith.edu.au with your name, email, mobile, the prize you’d like to win and ‘Give me Geta goodies’ as your subject line.

WIN ME The Uni Store 1 of 3 Griffith T-Shirts Your choice of either red, black, navy or grey RRP $16.95ea TheUniStoreGoldCoast

3. Uni Fitness Merch pack - Unisex muscle tee and hoodie, plus protien shaker! RRP $65.90 gugcstudentguild.com/uni-fitness

Geta giveaways

Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creek Escape 2 night family camping voucher Valid for 2 adults & 2 children murphyscreekescape.com.au

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SUMMER WITH THE GETAMUNGSTIT EDITORIAL TEAM

ANGEL Monique What was your favourite subject this trimester? What was your favourite subject this trimester? Advanced Literature.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? I’m an identical twin.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

How would you describe 2017 in three words?

I live on top of a mountain.

Fast, educating, stressful.

Do you have a summer reading list? Any recommendations? The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher.

How would you describe 2017 in three words? A great time.

Do you have a summer reading list? Any recommendations?

Any interesting plans this summer? Travelling hopefully.

What is/was your favourite thing about being on the Geta editorial team? Being surrounded by a bunch of creative and inspiring people.

My favourite subject would probably be 3029MKT - Self-Marketing. The course basically forces you to analyse yourself (which means not having to include sources in your assignments because you’re writing about yourself!). It’s the best and worst course, because I have to confront all the bad qualities I have...

I don’t read, I’m sorry! I do, however, listen to a whole bunch of music. At the moment, I’m listening to Sacred Hearts Club by Foster the People and Yaeji’s self-titled EP.

Any interesting plans this summer? Depending on what bands are touring, I’m planning to just travel around Australia following music.

What is/was your favourite thing about being on the Geta editorial team? Next year I look forward to improving my photography skills and creating more interesting fashion spreads. I also want to write more feature articles!

Contributor spotlight

HAYLEY Zak What was your favourite subject this trimester? Risk and Crisis Communication was a very exciting course. We were able to work in a hands on environment to understand what it would be like dealing with a real crisis situation.

What was your favourite subject this trimester? I really enjoyed Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes. It presented a lot of complex legal and ethical issues that I found quite thoughtprovoking.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? I try to live a zero-waste lifestyle and take my own bamboo cutlery, reusable containers and straws to takeaway restaurants.

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you? I can balance a fidget spinner on my nose. But I don’t know why anyone would want to know that.

How would you describe 2017 in three words? Change, vegetables, opportunities.

How would you describe 2017 in three words?

Do you have a summer reading list? Any recommendations?

Such little sleep.

Not yet. I will probably head to a few op-shops and stock up on books before the end of the trimester though.

Do you have a summer reading list? Any recommendations? I’m aiming to skim through at least one book per week when things die down, but a couple that I enjoyed recently were Stoner by John Williams and A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.

Any interesting plans this summer? I have three months to chill out for the first time in four years after I graduate in November before I start my grad job. So, I am heading to Port Douglas and then to Hawaii to just relax and do nothing. I am so excited!

Any interesting plans this summer? Probably not, I’ll be one of the five people enrolling in a third trimester this year. Hello darkness...

What is/was your favourite thing about being on the Geta editorial team?

The absolute best thing about being on the Geta editorial team was being a part of something really special. I had the chance to be in a supportive environment where anybody from literally any background was welcome to share their story.

I’ve always loved being able to shove my snobby yet uninformed opinions on film down other people’s throats, so being able to write in this section has been a blast. 9

FRUZSI

What was your favourite subject this trimester?

Any interesting plans this summer?

I really enjoyed Advanced Literary Studies; it was thoroughly interesting and David is an excellent teacher. He can make you excited just about anything – yes, even literature.

I’m going to Bolivia to do an internship there for 2 months – no words shall sufficiently describe how excited I am. I’m looking forward to picking up a bit of Spanish, and hopefully I’ll pursue it further afterwards. Adiós, amigos!

What is something that people would be surprised to know about you?

What is/was your favourite thing about being on the Geta editorial team?

If I like a movie or a book, I’ll come back to it again and again, and it’ll never get boring to me. One year in the lead up to Christmas, I watched Love Actually almost every single day. No regrets.

I loved to be part of something a tiny bit bigger than me. I think we go through life taking everyday commodities for granted, but being a part of Geta made me realise just how much work goes into the tiniest detail if you take pride in something. The magazines and books you read, the clothes you wear, the things you buy – someone worked their butt off for it to exist. I like to be reminded of what we can achieve by working together.

How would you describe 2017 in three words? Busy, challenging, adventurous.

Do you have a summer reading list? Any recommendations? I do, although they are just books I’ve been meaning to pick up over the year but haven’t had the time to. In top position are A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, and The Town by Shaun Prescott.

Want to join the team? With a few of our editors heading off to greener pastures (by way of graduation), Geta is seeking expressions of interest to join the Editorial Team. Follow us on Facebook for all the information on the application process, or email us at getamungstit@griffith.edu.au

Contributor spotlight

VOX POP

If you could eat dinner anywhere in the world tonight, where would it be?

Maybe you are jet setting off on an adventure of a lifetime, or lounging by the pool with a good book, magazine, ok Getamungstit, in hand... or perhaps you are enrolling in the third trimester However you are spending the summer, we wanted to know a little bit more about your travel experiences and to pass on your words of wisdom to our Geta readers.

Jordan, Bachelor of Health Science The Cheesecake Factory in LA. The menu is a dictionary.

Mohammad, Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering Italy.

Christian, Bachelor of Digital Media Fergburger, New Zealand.

Vox pop

Best travel experience in one sentence...

Ghaith, Master of Civil Engineering/Master of Engineering Project Management Food.

Matt, Bachelor of Business Oh jeez. Grand Canyon.

James, Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education Culture and food in Vietnam. 13

What is your must pack item when you travel?

Most annoying trait in a travel companion?

Mohamed, Master of Civil Engineering My camera.

Ryan, Bachelor of Science Leaving going to the airport until the last minute.

Sevilay, Bachelor of Primary Education Something to keep my son quiet. Anything.

Tayla, Bachelor of Engineering Snoring.

Alex, Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics Something to knock me out on the plane.

Kathryn, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Business Unorganised.

Vox pop

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LIGHTWEIGHT TRAVEL Hayley Payne

There are two types of people in this world. First, there are those who could travel around the world for months using only a small backpack. Then, there are those who go away for just one weekend with two suitcases, a carry-on, a laptop, neck pillow, large handbag, snacks and more. With the summer break fast approaching, we have compiled a list of the best tips from frequent tourists, the internet and serial backpackers to help ensure that you stick within those baggage limits and have plenty of room leftover for your souvenirs. Multipurpose Early bird

Bring clothing items that can be worn with multiple outfits.

The earlier you start packing the better. This way you can really think about what you’re putting into your bag.

Downsize your wallet Take out all of the unnecessary loyalty cards from your wallet or even downsize to a smaller coin purse – perfect to fit your debit card and some cash.

Write a list Write a list of essentials, then go through that list roughly five times and question whether each item is really something you can’t do without.

Roll clothes Roll your clothes up to fit more in. One of the greatest tips for lightweight travel is to roll up your clothing into balls/sausages.

Lightweight travel

Carry your jewellery Only bring one set of jewellery and wear it during the flight.

Check the weather

Plan outfits

Check the weather and plan around the forecast

Plan your outfits by gauging the likely activities you’ll partake in during your trip.

Don’t roll Don’t roll your clothes. This completely contradicts an earlier point, I know. But if you’re looking to pack lightweight as opposed to just packing small, rolling your clothes will just encourage you to make your bag heavier.

Shop light Shop light. If you’re buying new clothes for your trip, head to places such as Kathmandu to find travel-friendly, lightweight travel items.

Take what you need Only take the makeup items that you need (or go makeup free).

Travel-friendly carry-on Invest in some travel-friendly hygiene products, such as Lush’s shampoo and conditioner bars that will take up much less space in your case, plus you can take them in carry-on.

Pack & repack Pack your bag and then go through it and take half of the stuff back out.

Take less Finally, just simply take less stuff. If worst comes to worst, you can always buy any item that you desperately need while on holiday.

Wear your biggest pair of shoes Wear your biggest pair of shoes on the plane. For example, if you have boots and sandals, wear the boots.

SOLOING IN THE GRASS Zak Johnson Going to a three-day music festival on your own is probably not the most desirable situation, but that’s the exact one I found myself in at this year’s Splendour in the Grass. A combination of poor planning and communication as well as a healthy dose of apathy resulted in me driving down to and up from North Byron Parklands across the weekend of the festival, exhausted of all other options. And to be completely honest, it ultimately wasn’t that bad of an experience.

Hitting up festivals with a group has always been a delicate balancing act. You’ve got to carefully allocate enough room for each of your fellow revellers within your cramped tent. You have to coordinate meeting points with very minimal smartphone coverage. You have to decide collectively on whether you’re going to watch San Cisco or Cut Copy with all the diplomatic sensitivity of the United Nations General Assembly. All of these problems are swiftly thrown out the window when you’re going solo. I was able to check out almost every single set that caught my eye, with no distractions or obstacles to stop me. Plus, powerwalking/jogging/sprinting out of the grounds on my own after the final sets and overtaking thousands in the process certainly helped me get home at a semi-reasonable time, something that wouldn’t have

been possible in the past. Even during the acts themselves, whether it be Queens of the Stone Age or Client Liaison, you never feel isolated within the immense crowds. Regardless of whether you’re there with a small group or individually, these social boundaries are overwhelmed by the sensation that you’re part of a huge mass of people there sharing in the same experience. Even for a misanthrope like me this sense of unity’s pretty overpowering. And you definitely get to meet other people in the process, ones you probably wouldn’t ordinarily when stuck within your own social circle. There was the odd interval between sets when I struggled to occupy myself and definitely felt alone, particularly when I saw groups and couples enjoying each other’s company. But for the most

Soloing in the Grass

part, eating deep-fried foods and drinking heavily watered-down, overly expensive alcohol helped fill that gap when it reared its head. And these moments were few and far between. If I’d decided to camp on the grounds as opposed to driving there at around midday, I imagine I would have felt a whole lot differently. On the whole, though I definitely prefer hitting up festivals and gigs with a few muso friends, going on my own wasn’t as disastrous as I was anticipating. In fact there were many perks to doing it this way. The ability to check out the acts I wanted to see exactly when I wanted to see them and without restriction felt quite liberating. That’s ultimately why I forked out a small fortune for my three-day pass in the first place.

The ability to check out the acts I wanted to see exactly when I wanted to see them and without restriction felt quite liberating.

STAR TOURISTS Zak Johnson

The possibility of widespread, commercially available space travel has almost always exclusively been the domain of sci-fi books and films. With the exception of a few rigorously trained cosmonauts, potential voyages across the final frontier have purely been a fantasy for the rest of us mere Earthlings. However, in recent decades technological advancements and Tony Stark-levels of entrepreneurship have resulted in private companies offering their services to would-be extraterrestrials, for fairly affordable prices1.

Blue Origin Established by the founder of Amazon at the dawn of the millennium, Blue Origin currently proposes to send its customers out of the Earth’s atmosphere in speeds that exceed Mach 3 (making it at least three times the speed of sound) before the rocket’s sixperson capsule detaches and leaves them floating amid the weightlessness of outer space, with some pretty impressive views to boot. Test flights are meant to commence next year, and though there’s no mention of prices yet, you can still register your interest on the company’s official website.

SpaceX Founded in 2002 by genius billionaire playboy philanthropist, Elon Musk, SpaceX has broken numerous records by being the only private company to return a spacecraft from orbit as well as the first to deliver cargo to the International Space Station. One of the company’s end goals is the eventual colonisation of other planets, with Mars being the first on their list. Though there’s still some ways to go before we start setting up condos on the Red Planet, SpaceX announced earlier this year that they were in the process of sending two anonymous passengers on a week-long trip around the Moon. They’re shooting themselves in the foot if they don’t decide to call this the “cosmic gondola”.

Star tourists

Virgin Galactic Apparently not satisfied with forming an immensely successful record label and an international airline amongst countless other ventures, entrepreneur Richard Branson also has his sights set on creating the world’s first commercial spaceline, with approximately 700 people already having paid their deposits for their flights. And you can too, for the dirt-cheap sum of US$250,000. Your trip on SpaceShipTwo will involve soaring through the planet’s atmosphere and experiencing zero-gravity thrills and breathtaking views before blasting back down to the surface.

Space Adventures, Ltd. Space Adventures proudly proclaims on its site that it’s currently the only company providing space tourist and private spaceflight opportunities. In addition to its proposed lunar tours, the company has organised the only trips to the International Space Station for private citizens (with the optional add-on of a stay on-board the ISS plus a spacewalk). Dennis Tito, history’s first space tourist, reportedly paid $20 million for his experience back in 2001. If you don’t have that kind of coin lying around or you’ve seen Gravity too many times, there are always the more grounded options of watching launch tours and engaging in simulated training exercises from terra firma.

1 Note: a very flexible interpretation of “affordable” might be needed here.

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RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL Hayley Payne Ethical and responsible travel have become prominent ideas in the past decade. Each summer more and more Australian tourists are choosing to make a change with their actions and choose accommodation, activities and locations that don’t promote animal cruelty, contribute to environmental destruction or utilise slave labour.

“Bali tourists were being fed dog meat disguised as chicken and lamb by street vendors.”

Just recently an Animals Australia investigation found that Bali tourists were being fed dog meat disguised as chicken and lamb by street vendors. Following the investigation, there was national outrage and swift actions taken, but there are still many other practices going on behind the scenes (that have little spotlight) which tourists should be aware of in order to make ethical travel decisions. When you are deciding on a country to visit, head online and search the country’s name and the words ‘animal cruelty’ to see if there are any prominent issues of cruelty in the country you’re visiting. Another way to avoid activities that may harm animals is to simply choose animal-free activities. Hire a bike as opposed to riding an elephant or visit a

Responsible travel

wildlife sanctuary instead of visiting a touristy zoo. The World Wildlife Fund has a website dedicated to finding animal sanctuaries where you can volunteer or visit. Animals Australia says that one of the easiest steps a traveller can take to avoid cruelty practices is to remain informed and vigilant. “It is important to keep in mind that as a visitor, the cruel practices behind any form of animal attraction are likely to be carefully hidden from your view, as vendors know you won’t buy their product if you witness the reality.” “Sadly, the best warning sign that an activity may involve animal cruelty is simply that it involves an animal. “Travellers’ awareness has grown quickly over the past decade as

terrible cruelty has been exposed behind once-popular practices such as elephant rides and tiger selfies. These have gone the way of bull-fighting, which the vast majority recognise as a horrific and deeply unjust activity.” Another major issue for tourists wanting to travel responsibly is waste. Waste is a rather hot topic lately, but we don’t often think about the amount of waste we produce when travelling. Luckily, there are a few simple things that anybody can do to help reduce their environmental impact as a traveller. One of the main things we do while on holiday is sample an array of new and interesting foods. Often that food is served in a plastic container, with a napkin, a plastic straw, plastic bottle and single-use cutlery. You have the ability to avoid contributing to plastic landfill by simply investing in a reusable bamboo cutlery set with chopsticks, a reusable stainless

steel straw, cloth napkin, glass container, a drink bottle and of course a reusable bag. All of these items are easy to carry and can come in incredibly handy throughout your holiday. Plus, you get to feel good while helping the environment all at once. It’s a win-win. If you don’t want to take your own container to restaurants or can’t take your own drink bottle due to unsafe water, make sure to recycle everything that you possibly can. There are small things that you can do which are as simple as not littering, picking up rubbish you stumble by, eating locally and responsibly sourced foods, and observing signage and fencing that is there to protect natural areas and wildlife (I am looking at you people that I always see climbing the barriers on hikes at Springbrook and Natural Bridge for a good Instagram photo – not cool).

Often there are activities or practices that you wouldn’t even consider were doing harm to the environment without conducting research first. Even just take some time to think about where you’re going and what you’re contributing to. It is people like you making small sustainable decisions that is currently changing the world.

“You have the incredible power to make choices that can shape our world.” A 2009 study on ecotourism by the University of Wollongong explored a shift in the tourism industry from a global tourism market that was dominantly product oriented to a market that is being shaped by tourists demanding that accommodation providers, tour companies and restaurants adopt environmentally sustainable practices. More simply, people are choosing companies with good environmental practices over other points of the service and quality. You have the incredible power to make choices that can shape our world. Being a tourist is a blessing and a privilege. If you want to continue visiting natural wonders in the future, then it’s time to start looking after them now.

WHY SOLO TRAVEL ISN’T FOR THE FAINT-HEARTED Ricky Lam I was alone. It was just pitchblackness, an empty station platform, and me. In my attempt to catch a train from France to Switzerland, I had found myself stranded in the middle of nowhere… well, somewhere in between Paris and the Swiss border. A series of unfortunate train delays meant that I missed the last connecting train to my destination, which also meant that I was going to spend the night freezing to death on a bench in a deserted train station. To my disbelief, I suddenly spotted headlights approaching in the distance. Was it the cleaner? A taxi? An axe-murderer? Yeah, probably an axe-murderer. The pickup truck stopped right in front of me and the door swung open. “Are you alright mate?” No, it wasn’t an axemurderer. It was an Aussie. Turns out he was there working the ski season. I explained my situation and he offered to take me to a nearby ski town with the promise of food, warmth, a bed, and most importantly, Wi-Fi. Wolf Creek

came to mind, but something about the thrill of stepping into the unknown excited me. I took a leap of faith and climbed into his truck. It was at this moment that I realised, solo travel isn’t for the faint-hearted. Travelling alone is tough. It’s staying awake on long bus rides because you’re fearful of your belongings being stolen (even though you’d much rather stay up and stare out the window anyway). It’s about asking a stranger to take a photo of you and trusting that they won’t run off with your phone. It’s about being scared of commitment and booking one-way tickets. It’s about asking for a table for one and not being embarrassed. That all being said, below are the different types of travellers that I believe are best cut out for solo travelling based on my own experiences. The Wanderer Travelling solo is for the wanderer. A wanderer does not need to compete with anyone about where they want to go, what they want to do, and when they want to do it.

A WANDERER IS A FREE SPIRIT, A MASTER OF IMPROVISATION.

Why solo Article travel isn’t Titlefor the faint-hearted

A wanderer despises guided tours and hates limiting themselves to an itinerary. They take the long way back to the accommodation as time is always on their side. The freedom of doing as you please and just ‘winging it’ is the definition of a wanderer. A wanderer is a free spirit, a master of improvisation. The Introvert Travelling solo is for the introvert. Not introverted as in shy, but introverted in the sense that they don’t seek the alcohol-fuelled nights, the hungover bus rides, and the dorm room mischief you would find on a Contiki tour. Introverted in the sense that they would rather sit in a café and observe how Italians greet each other with a kiss on each cheek. Introverted in the sense that they prefer silence as their imagination runs wild when visiting historical sites like the Great Wall of China. They do not need the company of others, as introverts are their own company. The Local Travelling solo is for the “local traveller”. They want to eat where

the locals eat. The local traveller hires a bike just to experience cycling to the supermarket and buying ingredients to cook in a foreign country. The local traveller attempts to order their food in French even though they are well aware that the waiter understands English. The local traveller jumps on the London tube with their earphones in and throws the leftover coins from their pocket to a busker as they exit the station. The local traveller dresses for comfort, not for appeal. The local traveller is an actor, someone who completely immerses themselves in playing the role of a local. The Thrill Seeker Travelling solo is for the thrill seeker. The thrill seeker is a risk taker. In psychology, we diagnose these people as having sensation deficiency, hence why they are always in search of stimulation.

who chooses to hitchhike over the safety of a public bus. The thrill seeker is a gambler disguised as a traveller. I never did make it to Switzerland. Instead, I decided to stay in the ski town and it was the best decision I had ever made. I spent the next four days snowboarding, paragliding, and hiking in an authentic French town tucked away in the alps. For me, travelling alone opened a brand-new road of discovery to the world, and myself. Being disconnected from home, friends, and family allowed me to completely focus on myself and the details around me. Travelling alone forced me to take risks and go off the beaten track.

The thrill seeker does not fear being lost, as getting lost is part of the plan. They thrive off exploring new places, and seeing unknown faces. The thrill seeker is the one

It taught me independence, and to be comfortable with my own silence. Don’t get me wrong; there are perks of going with a group of friends to watch one of Amsterdam’s infamous sex shows, or having your best friend by your side as your own personal photographer while exploring the City of Lights. But there is something special about the feeling of ‘it’s me against the world’ get when you travel alone. For most, travelling with others is great. But for those of a special breed, going alone is better.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME FRUZSI GÁL Home. One of those few magical words that strikes a chord in almost everyone who reads or hears it – like love, like freedom, like happiness. One of those rare words that, without a need for dictionary definitions, pulls at a different string in each one of us. When you think of home, what comes to mind instinctively – a house, a town, or an ordinary sunset-lit alleyway covered in vines? A specific person, or a group of people that share something primal, something exclusive with you? Memories? Or a state of being? Whatever it may be, the word is merely a vessel – besides what it refers to, it has no function. What makes it so hard to pin it down, to cut open and to explore and understand every tiny fibre of it, is the fact that it is so transparent. So intangible. So abstract. How can we talk of the significance of a word that has so many different meanings to so many different individuals? The idea of a home is universal – but is one understanding better than the other?

it’s about the journey? Whether that is referring to travelling, relationships, or life in general, this argument proves to be a doubleedged sword – while what you learn and what shapes you along the way are undoubtedly important to personal development, it is only by stopping, by arriving, and by looking back that we can really comprehend just what the journey was all about. It is by arriving home that we have time to process it all. But what is home? If you ask a lover, home is in the safety of an embrace, in the

Wherever we go and whoever’s hand we hold, home is within ourselves...

How many times have we heard that it’s not about the destination,

Home away from home

familiarity of sounds and smells and movement, in the curve of a smile and the feel of skin. If you ask a refugee, home is where family is, where safety is, where life is. If you ask an immigrant, home splits into two – home is what you know and home is what you’re trying to know. If you ask a realist, home is made up of walls and doors and structures. If you ask a romantic, home is made up of sunshine spilling on old leather couches and the warm smell of cinnamon on Christmas Eve. Home is where you’re understood and what you understand at the same time. To try and put a finger on the definition of home is meaningless, because we all know what it is, instinctively. So which definition of the word is worth investing in? Partners leave, people come and go, houses can be sold or destroyed. Change, progress, movement are all a very natural part of life, and so emotional investment in these things – while in most cases still very much invaluable – can end unhappily. Once your childhood house has been sold, is it still home? Once you’ve moved to a different country, after how long do you ‘go back’ and not ‘go home’?

To step out of what we know – of what I know – it helps to explore others’ perception of the psychology of homes. While the prevailing Western thought ties the term to physical things (buildings, geographical locations, people), many South Asian communities seem to have a different view. There, home isn’t about where you are, it’s about who you are. As William S. Sax explains in his book about Hindu pilgrimage, that in Western thought, the term is inherently tied with economics both in relation to where and how we live, and thus separates us from the physical representation itself. In contrast, Sax suggests that in South Asian philosophy “people and the places where they reside are engaged in a continuing set of exchanges; they have determinate, mutual effects upon each other”. In other words, not only do they inhabit and possess their understanding of ‘home’, but they are continuously transformed by it. Just as physical locations and concrete walls will always have memories lingering about them, where and exactly of what we think of as home is an integral part of our self-definition. It is curious, perhaps, that we are so liberal with the word as we get older. ‘Going home’ refers to our own place at the end of the night and to our parents’ place when we’re visiting them. It refers to our homecountry on return, but our current place of residence on coming back too. It refers to the comfort of our childhood memories just as much as it refers to the warm embrace of our partner or friends after some time away. And so perhaps South Asian cultures are the ones that have it right – if home is where the heart is, then home is internal. Then home is mobile. Everpresent. Wherever we go and whoever’s hand we hold, home is within ourselves, in our core, a universal understanding of who we are and who we’re trying to be and where exactly our place is in this world. And that, if nothing else, should give us a sense of comfort.

THE HISTORY OF

HALLOWEEN Monique Hotchin

It’s no lie that in Australia, Halloween simply isn’t nearly as fun or glorified as it is in North America (even though Australia is slowly pushing towards an Americanised version of Halloween). And for most people, Halloween is usually one of two things: a night dedicated to trying to watch scary movies but having to hit pause every few minutes to hand out packaged candy to kids in last-minute costumes, and consuming an unhealthy amount of discounted lollies. Or, you’ve actually managed to plan something cool like attending a dress-up party or damaging your lungs while racing through a Fright Night maze. But somewhere along the line of history Halloween transformed from a seemingly pagan ritual to a scary fun night. While it’s commonly believed that Halloween is a satanic or evil night where supernatural creatures lurk in the shadows or a night where lunatics with machetes stalk the streets with bad intentions, that perception of the night is mostly wrong. In fact, Halloween is a holy night, according to Christianity. Although the origins of Halloween vary depending on geographical locations, cultures, and historians, the word Halloween originates from All Hallows’ Eve, which is the eve of All Saints’ Day that falls on 1 November. Both days are part of the Western Christian Triduum of Allhallowtide which is a period of three days (All Saint’s Eve, All Saint’s Day and All Souls’ Day) celebrating or remembering the faithful and dearly departed.

According to Nicholas Rogers’ in Halloween: From Pagan Ritual to Party Night, there are even folklorists that believe the origin of Halloween began with the ancient Roman feast of Pomona, which celebrates the goddess of fruits and seeds. Or more likely Parentalia, which is a festival of the dead. However, Halloween is generally linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain. While Samhain celebrates the end of the summer months and the harvesting period, it also looks to the preparation of winter with stocking up and gathering supplies and the organisation of communities. Samhain, as stressed by Rogers, ‘is also a period of supernatural intensity, when the forces of darkness and decay were said to be abroad’. The Celtic’s Samhain and its legacy and traditions are likely where the spooky side of Halloween came from.

The history of Halloween

Halloween has seen many transformations over the course of history and while it’s heavily commercialised in North America, there are some traditions that bled through time and still influence the scariest night of the year. Many of the traditions that are normal to us now are related to the Celtic celebrations of Samhain.

Swapping scary stories Have you ever swapped scary stories on Halloween with a flashlight under your chin for dramatic effect? Well, the idea of sharing scary stories on Halloween comes from Samhain, where the Celts would gather during the feast and evoke fear through story-telling.

Playing dress up Dressing up in costumes is also believed to have derived from the Celts too. Though they didn’t dress up for fun or as characters from popular culture. They dressed up like the dead to scare away otherworldly spirits that they believed roamed the earth during Samhain.

Carved vegetables I’m not sure how many Aussies actually carve jack-o’-lanterns, but even the iconic American tradition was invented by the Celts. Though, the Celts apparently used turnips instead of pumpkins and used to put candy inside of their carved turnips, which also doubled as lanterns to scare off scary spirits.

Knocking for free candy Even the notion of trick or treating was inspired by those superstitious Celts again. It is believed that the Celts would leave out food or treats for the lost spirits. This tradition also moved into England were the poorer population would dress up and knock on the doors of the wealthy in hopes of getting some free food or even money.

Hayley Payne It is almost guaranteed that anybody who has ever travelled will have a crazy holiday story. They are the stories you hold onto forever and are often shared over campfires where you can safety relive the ordeal. To help get you excited (or nervous) about your next trip, we asked three students to share their holiday horrors with us.

TOM R

HAYLEY P

“I was in Santa Monica with my girlfriend and we chose to stay in a budget hotel. We arrived late at night, took our key from the safe and went upstairs. After we settled in we both left the room to use the shared bathrooms. On our return, we found that our key would no longer open the door, with our phones, passports and bags locked inside.

“It was 2013 and I decided to let my boyfriend choose our next two nights of accommodation in London (the only time he was in charge during an eight-month trip). So, on moving day we jumped on a train and ended up in a really sketchy area of East Ham. We arrived to find a small run down house (it was meant to be a bed and breakfast) where two guys who spoke very little English told us that we were sleeping in a different house down the road (surely this should have been our warning sign). We followed him around the corner to the second house, took our key and went into the room. What followed was a night of horrors.

We spent hours trying to ask people for a phone to call the hotel. Finally, we found a phone to use, but the hotel staff didn’t answer either of their afterhours contact numbers. We tried to gain attention by jumping in front of the security cameras before finally settling in to sleep in the housekeeping closet on a pile of towels and sheets at around 3am. The next morning the hotel owners had to break the door for us to get our stuff. We weren’t even offered a free night for compensation”.

There were police raids looking for possible terror suspects in the area the entire evening, random people somehow burst into our room on two separate occasions during the night (even though the door was locked), someone kept peeking through the small window in shared bathroom while you were in there, and finally I woke up at 2am completely covered in bites from bed bugs. Somehow my boyfriend managed to sleep through the lot and when he woke up the next morning at 6am I had already packed our bags, called a taxi and booked new accommodation in a proper hotel”.

Travel horror stories

LINA F “Last December, I went to India and getting there was a nightmare. We flew from Brisbane to Chennai and had plans to stay the night at a hotel before getting on a train the next morning to Coimbatore a more scenic route than the domestic flight. There had been a cyclone in Chennai where our plane was landing, so it got delayed by a day. Already here our hotel and train bookings were up in the air and we had no way of contacting the hotel to book a room for the next day as the cyclone had taken out all communications. Before the trip, we had tried to buy rupees but couldn’t find it anywhere in Australia. We had been told that once in India, we could pay for things by card - at least in the airport and to get a cab. So, we landed and no one accepted our cards. They didn’t even tell us why. Not at first, but then we understood it was because of the cyclone, the airport was still messy once we arrived and had made their machines useless.

So we’re in India, in the middle of the night where the entire town is blacked out, there’s debris from the cyclone, taxi drivers are shouting at us to drive us, and we have absolutely no money. We can’t call anyone either. All ATMs are out of cash. After hours of waiting and trying to figure out what to do, we befriended a man with the same problem as us who was getting picked up by a friend and they drove us to our hotel. The hotel then said that we didn’t have a booking (since it was for the previous day) and they were full. They kindly drove us back to the airport where we brought the first ticket to Coimbatore, there was no way we were getting on a train. The plane didn’t leave until the morning and it was now around 2am. You couldn’t go inside the airport unless your flight left soon, as guards check your tickets, but they thankfully let us inside (many others spent the night outside) and we ended up sleeping in the airport”.

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ALONE AND IGNORANT Lauren Martin To get off a plane in Bangkok is an experience in itself, but to realise you are now responsible for yourself in a country where you can’t even say ‘hello’ is terrifying. Despite the opinion of some people, travelling is now an opportunity open to anyone from the ignorant 18 year old to the recent retiree. You can’t learn to travel, but what you must quickly train yourself to do is adapt; pretend you’re confident and take on everything in your stride.

insurance? How much is the death payout with your travel insurance? To ease their concern, it was best to compromise, and this included booking a small group tour and constant Facebook updates. On the plane, I met a ThaiAmerican woman who was returning home for a family visit. She was amazed that a woman could travel alone with minimal knowledge of the place she would be exploring.

Things became harder when a transfer to the hotel could not be found, and I had to re-evaluate all available contingency plans. A taxi ride is too dangerous for foreign women in Thailand, and nothing is written in English, therefore public transport was not a viable option. At this moment, anxiety and culture shock took over my bubbly exterior.

On a recent venture to Thailand, many obstacles borne from ignorance were overcome with a smile and pretend confidence. Many family members protested but eventually realised they could not stop a strong-willed adult like myself and began to ask pestering questions: Have you done the smart traveller? Do you have travel

The same attitude has followed me throughout my life as people suggested I can’t move out of home or attend a concert by myself. Society constantly ignores the strength of a young woman and her ability to adapt in favour of her ‘safety’. There was no option to return home therefore I followed the unnamed stranger through the

Two days into the trip I got myself into the worst possible situation one that could have been avoided with some prior research into scamming techniques. When adventuring in Bangkok you should not trust English speaking locals who suggest you see a certain tourist attraction; they will get you a tuk-tuk and negotiate a low

Alone and ignorant

airport, hoping I would learn more about Bangkok.

price but it will take you to a tailor. When you leave, the tuk-tuk will try to take you to another tailor. If you were to buy a tailor-made dress, you would be charged an exorbitant amount and the profits would be shared by the man on the street, the tuk-tuk driver and the tailor, and you would not ever receive the dress. The best thing to do is walk across the road with your ‘strong woman’ face on and take the opportunity to explore this new part of the city. Retrospectively anything could happen to a solo traveller when coerced into a similar situation. As a foreign woman you become more vulnerable, a target who should be wary of all incidents that could occur when in contact with strangers. If you only research one thing before travelling, ensure it is common scams.

If you are concerned about the risks, scams and culture shock of other countries, but still want to travel, you should slowly try to take yourself out of your comfort zone. Travel to a first world English speaking country, possibly somewhere with family, then to a country that knows English as a second language before travelling to a country with a completely different style of living compared to what you are used to. I often reflect on how I would rather be backpacking through Asia, being scammed and lost with only a vague map than writing long-winded essays. The good things make everything worth it, like the panoramic views and the strangers who did not abuse my blind faith. I have changed for the better, in any situation I can hold

my head high and know that I will come out of the other end with more life skills. Stories like this will frighten friends and family and make you question your competence but everything that occurs can be turned around into an enjoyable experience. When returning to Australia, I had learnt new lessons and could now say “hello” and “thank you” in Thai. Experiences like these will build your confidence and will force you to move out of your comfort zone – just like they did with me. Every experience is a different one so don’t take someone else’s story as all there is to different countries. Be confident even when you don’t feel it, and the world will open up for you.

INSTAGRAM UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT Caitlin Erasmus A holiday is the only thing you can buy that makes you richer. And what better way to display our experiences than through Instagram? It is a platform through which we can express ourselves, showcase our passions and connect with like-minded individuals. We define ourselves by tailoring our feed to our interests and passions and by following people who inspire us. Instagram is a virtual portal into hidden gems and amazing holiday destinations around the globe. It can inspire us to travel and explore these locations, and give us an idea of

what to do and where to go if we’re feeling undecided. The best places to dine at, the sights to see and the things you can do in the city you are interested in visiting. Take for example Shay Mitchell’s inspiring and breathtaking Instagram feed – from bathing in the Dead Sea in the glowing twilight, aesthetic shots of the photogenic city of Greece, to riding a camel in Jordan. Every photo being more perfect than the last. Her positivity emanates from these photographs and resonates with us. It really does encourage us to explore the far corners of the world. Furthermore, Instagram can be used by small businesses like local

Instagram under the spotlight

cafes to promote their business through aesthetic, vibrant shots capturing the atmosphere, the food, and satisfied customers who upload photos of their visit. It can also be used by fitness industries or gyms to attract customers by providing a sneak peek into the sort of classes on offer, to celebrate achievements or to promote certain events or social get-togethers. Instagram offers a way for members of a community to connect and stay in touch. For example, CrossFit gyms run upload live videos of their workouts, and celebrate personal bests and achievements happening inside and outside of the gym, creating a tight community of individuals passionate about fitness.

Photos can be shared, saved and displayed to the world on this platform. Instagram has taken photography to a whole new level, with just about everyone these days partaking in it; whether it be landscapes, sunrises, food or wildlife. Professional photographers can use this to make themselves known, to share their work with the world and to earn respect from those who choose to follow them. However, there are always two sides to every coin. Nowadays, we seem live under the motto “if it isn’t caught on camera, then it never happened”. Sure, photos are wonderful in capturing memories – they present a moment in time to look back upon with sadness or affection. But sometimes we are so focused on achieving perfection, we cannot truly enjoy the present moment. We are always seeking

“the perfect shot”. The experiences we acquire through our travels can become diluted if we are viewing them through the virtual portal of our phones rather than by the naked eye. When we find ourselves unable to acquire this perfection that others seem to have, we begin to compare ourselves to others with brighter, more colourful feeds, and we lose sight of what we have. When we see the success of others and compare their successes with our own and find it doesn’t match up, it can make us jealous and bitter. If we find ourselves thinking this way, we just need to remember that Instagram features only the best moments of one’s life. There’s a lot going on behind the scenes that is kept private. Furthermore, everyone has different goals and is at a different stage in their life. 39

Sometimes we need some time away from our phones and the overwhelming world of social media to be fully present and live in the moment. When we look around us instead of through a veil, we pay full attention to our surroundings and can truly appreciate them. This break can help us clear our minds as well as be more open to experiences. Overall, Instagram is a wonderful tool which can inspire us, open our minds to snapshots of the world around us, and allow us to build up a follower base of like-minded, encouraging people. However, it is important that we don’t allow ourselves to become too obsessed with striving for perfection or comparing ourselves with others, and that, while using it, we can continue to live in the present.

Instagram under the spotlight

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Sincerely, Your Editor Caitlin Burnett To: willieshake69@hotmail.com Subject: Welcome to PlayPublishing

Dear William Shakespeare, Just wanted to touch base. We are so glad to have you join our team here at PlayPublishing. I have been informed that you experienced some creative differences with your previous editor and publishing company. I just want to assure you that we will do our utmost to accommodate your creative mind. Please send along any of your work that is ready for editing and we will be in touch promptly. Sincerely, Your New Editor!

Hi William, Can I call you Will? I’ve just read over the first few transcripts you sent me. Some promising material but I noticed a few unusual words. I crossed checked with my dictionary and I couldn’t find any of them. Perhaps you can clarify what you mean by ‘assassin’, ‘disheartened’ and ‘fashionable’. Maybe we can find some suitable alternatives. Regards, Your Editor

Hello Will, I believe congratulations are in order! It seems your first few plays have been quite successful, so let’s keep up the momentum. Only one small problem, it seems that a few of the play companies that took on Macbeth are having some issues with the title. Apparently, it’s become quite bad luck to even mention the name backstage. These actor types are always so delicate. So, I’ve taken it upon myself to think of some viable alternatives. Let me know if any stand out! • The Scottish Play • The Crown •

Game of Thrones

•

The Odd Couple

•

Breaking Bad

•

Bewitched

•

Blood is the New Black

•

Macdonald

The last one would involve renaming of certain main characters. Or perhaps we can just give the play a nickname, like Maccas or Mickey B? I’ll let you decide. PS. It’s a nice idea, but realistically, it’s not within our production budget to make a life-sized lioness costume for ‘As You Like it’. Your sword fighting scenes are always quite popular, maybe work one of those in instead. Awaiting your reply, Your Editor

Sincerely, Your Editor

Re: My Previous email No, we can’t have a real lion on stage. Regards, Your Editor Hi Will, Just responding to your latest draft of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ A great start I must say! I love the humour. However, I am slightly concerned about the scene where Puck pours magical juice onto the eyes of the sleeping boys, to make them fall in love with the first person they see. This juice, is it a form of Rohypnol? I’m not sure if PlayPublishing can be associated with the casual use of date rape drugs. Would you be interested in workshopping this scene? P.S before you ask; no, we cannot have a real donkey on stage. Talk soon, Your Editor

Hello Will, I’ve noticed you’ve been using some fake words again. Looks like that’s a bad habit we will have to kick! In the meantime, I’ve mailed you a copy of the latest, up to date English dictionary and thesaurus. If you’re ever unsure of a word, or need a good synonym, please consult the book first. Kind regards, Your Editor Hey Will, I’m a bit speechless. I’m not sure what could have provoked you to write ‘The Taming of the Shrew’, but whoever she was, she must have done a quite number on you. I’d hate to see what you have in store for the future Mrs Shakespeare. Overall, I think it’s a concept that we can work with but we must strive to make it more believable. For instance, I’m not sure how positively audiences will respond to Kate’s speech at the end of the play. She refers to a husband as ‘thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, thy head, thy sovereign’ and then encourages her women to be pretty and obedient? A little fanciful don’t you think? I would suggest some practical field work before we proceed with this one. I’ve attached some tickets to a feminist conference in your area, next Wednesday night. Take a pen and paper, it might be an eye-opening experience. Yours expectantly, Your Editor

Re: My previous email My deepest apologies Will. I had no idea you were married. I’m sure Anne is a very lucky lady. Hope to seem some more work from you soon, Your Editor Dear Will, I’ve just finished reading ‘The Winter’s Tale’. What a truly moving story of unjust separation and subsequent reunion… But, don’t think I didn’t notice ‘Exit, pursued by a bear’. We’ve been through this, no live animals! PETA would have an absolute field day. PS. Can you please clarify what you mean by ‘Dildo’? in Act IV. Scene III. Regards, Your Editor

Re: My previous email Very Funny. Add Dildos to my veto list. Your Editor

Morning Will, Just a quick word of advice. Maybe you could consider limiting your use of extended metaphors and symbolism. Sometimes it’s better to just say exactly what you mean. Then there will be less room for misinterpretation. I would also recommend using the thesaurus I sent you to find some alternative pronouns to ‘thou’ and ‘thy’. To be blunt, it’s far too flowery for the type of audience you will be attracting. Sincerely, Your Editor Shakespeare, It’s called constructive criticism. There is no need to call me ruttish idle-headed canker-blossom…Whatever that means. Kindly, Your Editor

Sincerely, Your Editor

Dear Will, Well, it seems like the feminist conference has been somewhat beneficial in your writing. But I’m still concerned with some of the ethics. In your latest draft, is Juliet actually thirteen? Or was that an error. Not sure if we can sign off on pre-marital teen sex. Also, Romeo seems to have questionable motives. Maybe consider removing his initial love interest, Rosaline? Otherwise Juliet just comes across as her replacement. Just a thought. Kindly, Your Editor

William, I see you have sent me 3 more historical tragedies. Don’t get me wrong, they are certainly interesting…But maybe consider branching out? History isn’t going anywhere; you can get back to it later. Thoughtfully, Your Editor

William, Hobnob is not a word. Try again. Your Editor. Dear William, I say this with the upmost respect. Please stop using flowers as metaphorical and symbolic motifs. And birds. And the sun and moon, if we’re being open. Consider my advice, Your Editor

I’m serious Shakespeare, Stop using made up words! This is just getting ridiculous. Use the bloody dictionary! It’s not that hard. Your Editor Dear William Shakespeare, Your current editor has decided to make use of her extended long service leave and has yet to submit a return date. Sorry for the inconvenience. I will be taking over as your editor from here on in. I look forward to working with you. Sincerely, Your New Editor.

For more work from the Masters and Slaves Collection, head to our Being creative section.

WANDERLUST ON FILM This collection of films is all about travel both interstate and international. From foreign and enchanting global trips that leave you in complete awe to simpler and more down-to-earth road trips that inspire spontaneity and awesome playlists for those long hauls. These films will either encourage you to see the world or make you insanely jealousy and stir-crazy.

Monique Hotchin

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) Truly an adventure in search of freedom, The Motorcycle Diaries is a film inspired by the true events of Che Guevara (Gael García Bernal), a medical student in his last year, and his friend Alberto Granado (Rodrigo De la Serna). The pair travels from Brazil to Peru by motorcycle and experience eye-opening and heartchanging truths about poverty and the exploitation of labour by wealthy industrialists that occur in South America. This stunning and inspiring film has a little something for everyone and explores what it means to be alive.

Thelma and Louise (1991)

Little Miss Sunshine(2006)

The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

Directed by Ridley Scott, Thelma and Louise is about two best friends escaping their dull lives and the cops that are hot on their trail as they road trip it across the American Southwest. Thelma (Geena Davis), a docile housewife and her carefree friend Louise (Susan Sarandon) take a simple and spontaneous trip that becomes a getaway when Louise shoots and kills a man. The pair decides to flee to Mexico but fate has other plans for the two rebellious hearts. While the movie ends rather tragically, it features one dynamic duo, a road trip to remember and some of American’s most amazing landscapes.

Little Miss Sunshine puts most, if not all, family road trip movies to shame. The Hoover family is dysfunctional, odd and humorous but completely caring and supportive. Even to the extent that they pile into a van and drive across states to support the dream of ugly duckling Olive (Abigail Breslin) to be crowned at a beauty pageant. The cast is star-studded with the likes of Steve Carell, Toni Colette and Greg Kinnear. Little Miss Sunshine is a treat that’s overflowing with character and charm.

The Darjeeling Limited is a heartfelt comedy about three distant brothers travelling through India together on a spiritual journey of self-discovery after the death of their father. Francis (Owen Wilson), Peter (Adrien Brody) and Jack (Jason Schwartzman) reunite on a train called The Darjeeling Limited. Over the course of days and amidst misshapen adventures and neardeath experiences that take them across India’s beautiful landscapes, the three brothers mend their hearts and find peace and strength in their brotherhood. This film is an emotional train ride that truly inspires family trips.

Wanderlust on film

Tracks (2013)

Paper Towns (2015)

Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008)

Within this film comes another inspiring true story of freedom and self-discovery through travel. Robyn Davidson (Mia Wasikowska) ventured across 2000 miles of the Australian desert with only the company of four camels and her faithful dog. The trip took about six months of walking through some of the world’s harshest but most beautiful landscapes. Davidson defied everyone’s expectations and doubts about her ability and strength when she travelled from Alice Springs to the Indian Ocean, a task that was labelled impossible. Tracks is a rich cinematic story that embraces the search and craving for freedom like no other film does.

Based on a book by the bestselling author John Green, Paper Towns follows a group of mixed and matched teenagers as they go on a road trip to find the popular girl surrounded in mystery. Quentin (Nat Wolff) got his heart stolen by Margo (Cara Delevingne) at an early age but the two never really interact until the night before she disappears. Following the clues left by Margo, the group travel across states to find the manic and mysterious girl wrapped in an enigma in a delightful coming-ofage movie.

Another wonder from Woody Allen, Vicky Christina Barcelona starts as a simple vacation to Spain for two best friends Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson) but quickly becomes something darker when the women meet a captivating and seductive Spanish painter in an art gallery. Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) invites the two back to his place for a weekend like no other. The film explores Spain’s stunning locations, complicated relationships and even features a psychotic ex-wife played by Penélope Cruz.

The Fundamentals of Caring (2016)

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013)

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994)

Undoubtedly one of the best films of 2016, The Fundamentals of Caring is a charming and heartwarming gift that features a road trip to American’s lamest roadside attractions. Ben (Paul Rudd) is a troubled retired writer who takes on the demanding job as a carer to a disabled teenage boy with a sardonic sense of humour named Trevor (Craig Roberts). Along the way, the unlikely pair picks up a few hitchhikers including the edgy and cool Dot (Selena Gomez). The trip becomes life-changing and gives all involved much more than they bargained for.

From the ordinary to the extraordinary Ben Stiller’s Walter Mitty is a daydreamer like no other. Adapted from a short story by James Thurber, Walter fashions up fantastic scenarios to escape the daily-grind of his life working at Life magazine. Apart from working in the photography department, Walter is hopelessly in love with his co-worker, Cheryl (Kristen Wiig) but is too shy to ask her out on a real date. Life throws Walter an unexpected adventure when a famous global-trotting photographer’s photo negative goes missing. The search takes Walter Mitty across the world and allows him to live out his wanderlust fantasies firsthand.

This quirky Australian cult-classic film is one of a kind and showcases a group of travelling drag queens in all their sparkly glory. The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert joins together two drag queens Anthony Belrose/Mitzi Del Bra (Hugo Weaving) and Adam Whitely/Felicia Jollygoodfellow (Guy Pearce) and transgender woman Bernadette Bassinger (Terence Stamp). The three journey from Sydney to Alice Springs in a big silver tour bus. Along the way, they encounter a range of unique individuals in the Australian Outback, and discover themselves in an unconventional way.

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SUMMER STYLE Angel Nikijuluw

Paris? Tokyo? Santorini? San Francisco? The top of Mount Kilimanjaro? What are your travel plans these holidays? Because the Earth is massive and has two hemispheres (I know, shocking), travelling to the other side of the world may require you to trade in your denim shorts and sundress for a faux fur coat and boots. Or if you’re staying this side of the equator, you are all set to pack your go-to had-these-since-I-was-14 pair of City Beach thongs (or, umm, ‘flip flops’). No matter where you’re travelling these holidays, these two stylish students might inspire you to develop your own signature style this summer. 55

Shirt: Afterlife City Beach, $30 Overalls: Afends/thrifted, $25 Shoes: Converse Pride collection, $140

Aleisha, Bachelor of Public

Relations and Communications

‘My fashion is a big part of my self-expression. Being able to express part of myself through my clothing is rad. My favourite season is summer and summer fashion to me is bright, fun and easy. All my favourite colours are that of a perfect summer sky (blue, pink, purple) and of course bright yellow like the sun. I really dig vintage aesthetics, mainly the 70s and 90s. The bright pops of colour, comfortable fit, and of course that beautiful blend of femininity and masculinity. Mixing super feminine and predominately male garments is something I do a lot, like wearing a male over shirt with a dress or overalls with a crop top. The shoes are a bit more personal. I’m a big supporter of equal rights so when I saw converse was bringing out a range of pride shoes with proceeds going back to the LGBT+ community, I had to get them. And who doesn’t love the rainbow?’ top. I’ve never travelled abroad in this outfit but these overalls have been on many adventures with me. Having been on countless road trips, waterfall hunts and three Splendours, the overalls are definitely seasoned pros when it comes to travel.

Summer style

I really dig vintage aesthetics, mainly the 70s and 90s. The bright pops of colour, comfortable fit, and of course that beautiful blend of femininity and masculinity.

Jacket: Thrifted (Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco), $50 T-shirt: Thrifted (America), $30 11 Paris jeans: Thrifted (Paris), $80 ST&RD dark brown boots: General Pants, $180 Vintage Gucci sunglasses: Thrifted at Bondi Markets, $120

Thomas, Bachelor of Film ‘I enjoy collecting retro/vintage clothing when I travel because it helps me to be more unique in the way I dress. I have had the great privilege of travelling to many places around the world in my time – such as Europe, America, and Asia. Whenever I travel, I love to hit up the niche vintage stores in the area - you can find some really awesome pieces in the strangest of places, and you can get a feel for the communities that live in the area through some of the vintage items you find in these stores.

Whenever I travel, I love to hit up the niche vintage stores in the area - you can find some really awesome pieces in the strangest of places,...

I decided to wear an outfit that is almost entirely made of the finds from my trips. My jacket is an awesome find from Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco – it’s probably one of my favourite items I’ve ever found, and it keeps me warm in the colder climates’.

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Feature artist – Holly Edwards Fruzsi Gál

As information about the production and effects of certain commodities is becoming more readily available, so do we get more of a say in what we support and what we don’t. With climate change and various other environmental issues becoming increasingly pressing matters, it is time we as consumers take things into our own hands. Luckily, there are also more and more ecofriendly products entering the market in almost all industries. Holly Edwards is one of those people who not only believe in change, but take matters into their own hands – and Semille Plant Based is the result.

Tell us a bit about Semille Plant Based. What exactly is it? Semille creates minimal, plant-based accessories from environmentally sustainable materials. The name Semille is a take on the Spanish word for seed, semilla. The products are designed to be unisex and high-quality, with a timeless style, so that they can be used again and again, as opposed to the disposable nature of fast fashion. Semille’s first collection was a range of watches and cases made from cork leather.

I understand that this started out as a graphic design project at uni. How did you come up with the idea? Yes, Semille was my major studio project for my Graphic Design major. I thought of Semille out of necessity – I always found it near impossible to

Feature artist

find fashionable watches and cases that weren’t made from animal leather, so I decided to create them! The production of animal leather leaves a lot to be desired, contributing to climate change, hazardous waste pollution and animal cruelty. Whilst there are ‘faux’ options available, plastic leathers emit harmful toxins during production and are generally not biodegradable. Then I found cork! Cork leather is made from the bark of Mediterranean cork oak trees, which is stripped every nine years without cutting down or damaging the tree. It is silky-soft, durable, and water resistant.

Is the project still up and running? I’ve seen on your website that almost everything is sold out, which is great! Are you bringing in any more products?

Not exactly, as I just graduated my double degree and spent a couple of months travelling to celebrate! Since it’s a one-woman project, I had to shut down the operation whilst I was away. The initial prototypes got snapped up by friends and family, so before I import more supplies, I need to assess whether Semille is a viable business venture to take forward. If there is enough interest, I am considering opening a market stall in addition to the online platform. However, before that day there will be many challenges, such as business registration, perfecting the prototypes, sourcing new suppliers and finding new technical service providers now that I don’t have access to university facilities.

Hopefully it works out, we most definitely need some alternatives to leather, and your designs are not only that, they also look

amazing! I know that you’ve partnered with the World Wildlife Fund for this winter as well. Can you tell us a bit about that? I chose to donate 50% of revenues from Semille’s Winter Range prototypes to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), as Semille strongly identifies with the WWF’s mission to “stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature”. The WWF identifies cork oak trees as priority species, that is, one of the most ecologically, economically and/or culturally important species on earth. Yet, these forests are increasingly being abandoned and demolished due to a drop in demand for cork products (largely wine stoppers) in recent times. These forests cover vast areas of the Mediterranean and are home to many endangered species, such as the Iberian eagle and lynx. The sustainable cork

trade provides jobs for local people and ensures the forests are maintained and preserved.

Do you find that people are likely to stand behind a business if the business stands behind a good cause? Yes, I do, particularly young people. Personally, my peers and I are concerned about the way the world is headed, and are constantly seeking ways to make a small difference in our daily life. If this can be through the purchase of something we already want or need? Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great. Now that we have so much information at our fingertips, consumers have the knowledge and power to support businesses that are doing good, and to boycott those that arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t measuring up.

Is the eco-friendly community large scale? Do you know of any businesses like yours which are progressive both environmentally and morally? What are some of your favourites? Yes, and it is only growing. With more and more information available about climate change and the damaging effects of mass consumerism, people are increasingly seeking sustainable alternatives. Research backs this up, and highlights that millennials are the most eco-conscious generation to date. Oh, there are so many great ones! Most people know Thank You, who donate 100% of profits to end global poverty. Flora & Fauna do beautiful ethical cosmetics. Who Gives a Crap sell recycled tissue to fund hygiene projects. There are also

Bachelor of Business (Marketing) / Bachelor of Digital Media (Graphic Design)

Feature artist

other things to think about, such as what clothes you buy and who you bank with. An app called Good on You has ratings on most fashion retailers. There are a handful of banks that don’t fund negative projects, such as fossil fuels and logging, and instead invest in renewables. One such bank, Bank Australia, even has a branch on campus!

term, I would love to be stocked in boutiques or large online retailers.

If you had to sum up the motto of Semille in one sentence, what would it be?

The message that I would like to get across is that you don’t have to change your life too drastically to have a positive impact – there are solutions out there. Before you buy, research what you are buying, and think about the industries that your money is supporting. If it doesn’t sit well with you morally, then don’t turn a blind eye. Although you may feel powerless as an individual, ultimately, collective consumer demand is the only thing supporting these industries. The more people that make a change, the sooner destructive industries will fall away.

Stylish accessories that benefit the earth!

Do you have plans to expand Semille? What are some of your long-term goals? If I was to continue with Semille, I would consider expanding the product range to include other products, such as handbags, and new textiles, such as pineapple and mushroom leather. In the long-

@semilleplantbased

What message do you hope to get across with your products? Or do you have a message for those of us who are reluctant to change?

semille.com

@semilleplantbased

Online Zak Johnson

MENTAL FLOSS

SOFAR

Website

There’s a fine line between worthwhile information and trivia, and Mental Floss walks finely along it. Featuring bizarre quizzes on zoo animals, extended thoughtpieces on classic Russian authors and lists of the most extreme junk foods ever created, Mental Floss is prime procrastinating material with a humorous yet intellectual edge.

Sofar is essentially an online network centred on connecting musicians, bands and sonic aficionados via the organisation of exclusive and intimate concerts and performances. Members can either host events, perform at them or simply attend, with locations and line-ups not being announced until 24 hours before the show starts. Sofar is active in over 350 cities, with the Gold Coast recently being included. sofarsounds.com/gold-coast

mentalfloss.com

EMERGENCY + App Billed as the “app that could save your life”, Emergency + helps its users to contact the relevant emergency service, as well as assisting with nonemergency calls to other similar lines. Also, the app shows you your exact GPS coordinates in order to provide call-takers with your location, which would certainly help when you inevitably get lost during your misguided attempts to revitalise your physical fitness via going on prolonged hikes through the hinterland. Or maybe that’s just me.

Online

BLACKBOX App Winner of a 2017 Apple Designer Award, this free puzzle game is both engaging and infuriating in that it provides you with very few hints (or very few hints that don’t cost money). Each uniquely crafted level is driven by the same fundamental goal – to light up a cube, or a number of them. However, the manner in which this is achieved differs drastically from stage to stage, and often can’t be accomplished by touching your smartphone’s screen, a tactic that definitely shifts your brain into high gear.

GOING ZERO WASTE Website Going Zero Waste is a site dedicated to minimising dependency on landfills through an emphasis on reducing wastage and reusing recyclable goods. On top of the obvious environmental benefits, many of the site’s articles provide money-saving tips, which obviously is relevant for anyone living on a student’s budget. Some blog entries include recipes that even incorporate stale bread as well as how to make your own shampoo, which are innovative to say the least. goingzerowaste.com

Entertainment

The Big Sick 2017 124 minutes Romantic comedy Director: Michael Showalter

Zak Johnson As geographical boundaries loosen and migration rates rise in our increasingly globalised world, the likelihood of your future significant other being from a different racial or cultural background also increases; a concept explored in all its awkward glory in The Big Sick, the latest romantic comedy to be written by a comedian turned writer/actor after the likes of Trainwreck and Top Five. Kumail (played by Kumail Nanjiani) juggles his slowly burgeoning stand-up comedy career with his job as an Uber driver as well as his Pakistani Muslim family’s strict expectations (including arranged marriage), a delicate balancing act that is further destabilised by his blossoming relationship with Emily (Zoe Kazan), whose existence he hides from his parents. When Emily becomes seriously ill (hence the title), Kumail is forced to evaluate where his loyalties lie, particularly when he comes face to face with Emily’s own family. It’s interesting categorising The Big Sick as a romantic comedy, considering that Kumail’s love interest spends a large percentage of her screen-time in a medically induced coma. But that doesn’t take any impact away from their relationship, one that’s still

portrayed with a solid mix of genuine tenderness as well as an at times cringe-inducing level of honesty that often doesn’t get included in many of its cinematic peers. It certainly helps that the screenplay was written by Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, whose reallife coupling formed the basis for the film. The gap left by Emily’s absence is quickly filled by her unconventionally presented parents (played by Oscar-winner Holly Hunter and sitcom god Ray Romano). Rather than being the typical hate-everything-abouttheir-daughter’s-boyfriend sort that often dominate the genre and its related television shows, Beth and Terry come across as instantly likeable through the odd quirks and personality traits, with their gradually strengthening bond with Kumail, at many points overtaking his bond with Emily in terms of its watchability. While the dynamic between the characters is commendable in its own right, it’s Kumail’s exploration of his own identity as a ‘minority’ that really helps The Big Sick shine. From dealing with racist hecklers to coping with his domineering mother’s attempts to set him up with a Pakistani wife, all with the

Entertainment

same consistent degree of humour that dominates many of the character-driven scenes, Kumail’s experiences are in many ways reminiscent of Aziz Ansari’s in the equally excellent Netflix series Master of None, through the film’s mature yet comical exploration of timely issues and cultural struggles. “It’s interesting, categorising The Big Sick as a romantic comedy, considering that Kumail’s love interest spends a large percentage of her screen-time in a medically induced coma. But that doesn’t take any impact away from their relationship...” Transcending the traditional limitations of the genre, The Big Sick proves to be a stand-out through its unblinking coverage of life as a minority in modern America, as well as its sincere, hilarious and heartfelt exploration of family dynamics. If you’re gonna watch one rom-com this year, make it this one.

Baby Driver 2017 112 minutes Action, comedy, musical Director: Edgar Wright Jake Anderson Part Ferris Bueller, part The Italian Job with a dash of modern grindhouse glory without the excess, Baby Driver comes out swinging with one of the more intense choreographed drive scenes since the Mad Max remake; showing that director, Edgar Wright, has moved into an echelon above his cult favourite films such as Shaun of the Dead and Scott Pilgrim vs The World. After a young wheelman gets in deep with a crime boss, his life, love, and freedom are all on the line as heist after heist proves riskier than the one preceding it. Ansel Elgort is Baby, a partially hearing-impaired getaway specialist with a heart in the right place, at the wrong time. Surrounded by psychopaths, sociopaths, lunatics and mobsters, Baby needs a way out. However,

blocking his light at the end of the tunnel is a freight train - set on a collision course for one of the many sets of wheels he brandishes in the film’s 112 minutes. Stylistically, Baby Driver is a mash-up of 90s action and grimy 70s crime. Its soundtrack is perfectly in sync with the action and the performances are pure Shaft-esque cheese at times, yet thankfully unapologetically so. Everything from the film score to the transitions are purposeful and meticulously selected to evoke a smooth and stylistic impression within the viewer. It is hard to define, as certain elements are very old-hat, yet still manage to ooze originality and send the familiar down a path less travelled. It isn’t a violent film until it is, and it isn’t funny until it wants to be. Baby Driver is many things and yet it is rarely the same thing twice. The flow of events is a tumultuous ride that will knock you down with personal tragedy, build you up with the promise of love, and then throw you back into your seat with another wild rush of wheels.

The cinematography is badass and melds with the score to create an immersive experience. The back log of acting talent is fantastically dealt with by ensuring every single word, sentence or phrase uttered has absolute purpose and surety in congruence with the film’s progression. This further develops and illustrates just who the characters are, their intentions, and sets their position within the story. I can’t describe how refreshing it is to watch a movie where the world isn’t at stake and is defined by the constraints the film sets as it moves you through the plot. This is how you balance a film, especially an action-thriller. My only gripe is that it should have ended possibly 30 minutes sooner, however, on a second playthrough I was more at peace with the somewhat cliché close that is in reverence to the early cinematic stylings that the movie bases its fundamentals on. Verdict: Either way, Baby Driver is a must see.

Melodrama Lorde Dan Pagotto A little under four years since the release of Pure Heroine, Lorde has returned with her latest album, Melodrama. With the help of producers such as Jack Antenoff and Flume, the Kiwi pop star has managed to deliver a shamelessly cathartic tone on the album, both lyrically and melodically. On her debut, Pure Heroine, Lorde ridiculed pop music, while revelling in it. Now she’s taken it by the balls with Melodrama.

Foster the People Sacred Hearts Club Angel Nikijuluw

Singles ‘Green Light’ and ‘Liability’ exhibit just how far Lorde has come as an artist, displaying diversity and contrast. Even in regards to Pure Heroine, Melodrama is a hell of a lot more complex in terms of its composition. Simple synths and breezy percussion have made way for shape-shifting layers – no doubt the work of Jack Antenoff’s maximalist style.

Lorde is a once-in-a-generation artist, and it’s safe to say we’re glad she’s back.

This album is a masterful representation of what it’s like post break-up, with sadness, drama and a huge house party serving as a thematic undertone to many of the lyrics. It’s not enough to say that

Foster the People have come a long way since they first entered the scene in 2011 with the muffled vocals and heavy bassline of ‘Pumped Up Kicks’. Now on their third studio album, Foster the People have produced a 42-minute record that is reminiscent of its predecessors but also, somehow, sounds far from them. With its abrasive drums and glittery synth beats, combined with dreamy psychedelic motifs and strands of EDM, Sacred Hearts Club is the band’s most experimental record yet, adding layer upon layer of angelic falsettos and hip-hop influences.

“Sacred Hearts Club... signals the beginning of an exuberant future sound.” Upon its release in July, front man Mark Foster mentioned that this record was made in

Entertainment

defiance of ‘racism, sexism, classism, homophobia, and religious persecution [that are] more rampant than ever’. In saying this, Foster’s lyricism and heartcatching analogies never fail to impress (“I’ve been running from the devil / But the devil’s on my back” [‘Loyal Like Sid & Nancy’] and, “The deaf man heard what the mute man said / Then they all followed where the blind man led” [‘Pay the Man’]), which are masked by the fun, electric-fuelled beats the band never stray far from. Despite these musical feats, Foster the People are yet to find their golden defining record. Sacred Hearts Club, however, signals the beginning of an exuberant future sound. Stay tuned.

Entertainment

Deep South: Four Seasons on Back Roads Paul Theroux with photos by Steve McCurry Hope Nakagawa

Revered travel writer Paul Theroux has covered the ultimate road trip of the 21st Century in his newest book, Deep South. Theroux launched his travel writing career in 1972 after deciding to embark on a journey by train from London to Tokyo and back again, which he chronicled in The Great Railway Bazaar. His preference for overland adventure is showcased in Deep South, with his ability to observe the smallest of details and attribute them to a larger cultural difference the deeper into the North American south he travels.

This book grants the reader a comprehensive view of the southern states of America without defining them by the gun-loving, church-going, hick people encountered and yet it does not shy away from the area’s despicable history of slavery, racism and violence.

Deep South rounds out a collected bibliography that rarely touched on the country that Theroux calls home. It stands as a testament to his ability to draw strangers so completely, fill them with colour and allow them to shine so much so that Deep South is less about landscape and more about the people who fill it.

Overall, it’s worth a read if you’re over the exhausting amount of people filling your Instagram feed with photos of their campervan on the Sunshine Coast.

“This book grants the reader a comprehensive view of the southern states of America without defining them by the gun-loving, church-going, hick people encountered...”

Are you a film nerd, music geek, book worm or online aficionado? Would you like to tell us what you think? Getamungstit is always looking for talented contributors and reviewers.

If this sounds like you, please drop us a line at getamungstit@griffith.edu.au and your work could be featured in our next edition.

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Being creative Each year, students have the opportunity to take on any literary figure, living or dead, in the form of creative writing. Whether it is long-lost love letters, ruthless take-downs, or flattering odes, the annual Masters and Slaves event is a platform for writers to address an author of their choice, and to settle once and for all – who are the literary masters, and who are the slaves? Here we have five of the eight finalists of the event, each making us see storytelling in a fresh light.

DAMN YOU, D’LACEY Lauren Berichon Your book’s got dragons But they’re different from the rest Hello d’Lacey

You’ve got a good trick Peril followed by intrigue Smart move d’Lacey

I can’t put it down You have pinned me to the tale Awesome d’Lacey

I am reluctant Admitting this is hard but You win d’Lacey

No don’t do that Dave now you are under her spell Thank you d’Lacey

Chris D’Lacey

Between love and hate These pages are my shackles Uh-oh d’Lacey Now you’ve done it Chris you sacrificed David Damn you d’Lacey I’ll read something else Something away from dragons Goodbye d’Lacey Oh, look at this book With the mystery and twists Oh great, d’Lacey He’s always writing I keep coming back for more Fuck you d’Lacey

Being creative

HER NAME WAS Jedda Winkworth The housewife woke and The girl was there She thinks her name was Sally but It could have been Vita, Or Clarissa Maybe it was Virginia

loved women. Her best friend wore braces and She wondered what they tasted like. She wanted A pressing and a rendering, An imbibing, An Enlightening But The walls of her community were Too small Too narrow For a feeling so large. She thinks her best friend’s name was Sally but It might have been Natalie, Maybe it was Trinity, Maybe, Emily.

The housewife broke When the girl was there, In her world of Electrolux And big-screen TV’s And Kettles and dryers Linoleum floors, Dinner on the table, 6pm. She knows She’s not right, The housewife, Knows it in that Inside place Where Women crowd The edges of her mind, Their bodies brown and white Smudged With pink. She wants to Be buried in them, Nurtured and, Soothed In their sweetness and sweat But She can tell no one and She will be nothing For as long as she has to.

So, the housewife breaks when The girl is there. She reaches out In a multiplicity of feeling and Smashes to bits against her. They Tumble Into each other’s bodies Parts alike in That heat of sameness, They kiss, They drink They taste. The housewife woke and The girl wasn’t there but She knows Her name was Sally She knows It was Vita She knows It was Clarissa But maybe, It was Virginia.

The housewife woke, When the girl was there and She knew this Shattering and ripping This cracking and bursting, It was real because When she was a girl The housewife

Virginia Woolf

Being creative

HOMECOMING: AN ODE TO FRANK STANFORD Bridget Thomas My father and I drive out to central Queensland, to stay at my grandad’s cattle farm over Christmas. His property is huge and the vastness of it makes me believe it’s haunted each time we cross the threshold of the cattle grid onto the 6k long dirt driveway. My grandad stands tall and imposing on the veranda, waiting for us. His new wife, Betty, nurses a small pig on her lap. The runt. She tells me not to give it a name and I don’t.

My bedroom window looks out to the shed serving as my Grandfather’s on-site abattoir. With me I have my collection of Frank Stanford’s poetry to remedy my loneliness amongst family ties weakened over time. I admire Stanford’s tenacity and sincerity within his writing as much as his handsome features in photographs of him reclining under the shade of an oak tree. He worked as a land surveyor in Arkansas before his suicide in the late 70’s. Three gun shots straight to the heart. Reading his surreal and violent Southern gothic style poetry here seems appropriate during the wet season, where metaphors expand outward like ants sprawling to run in circles when you step on their nests. During the day my family would walk down to the dam and retrieve crab-pots with the moon trapped inside, the bait half eaten. Stanford’s moon is ever-present, changing disguises. His moon as ice at the bottom of an esky. As an abscessed foot. As time itself, reflecting from the deepest crevices of our imagined realities wherein lies dormant our capacity for emotional resilience. Humans conjuring magic against death.

Christmas Eve. We’re on the veranda listening to the rain pelt on the roof, sipping hot Milo. Hair clings to our perspiring foreheads. My grandad looks at his full mug before the steam rises to his face, sinking into the deep lines around his mouth. One of his hands only has three fingers. An accident while playing guitar, he tells me, noticing me staring at his stumps. Strummed me guitar so hard at a B & S ball thirty years ago that

I snapped all the strings, slicing me fingers right off. Then I buried them in an empty matchbox by the abattoir. He swallows the rest of his Milo and turns on the large electric mosquito zapper hanging from the ceiling before our lull in conversation is replaced with the static of frying insects. I become anxious at the mention of the abattoir. As a child I was accidentally locked in there and the memory of hanging carcasses stripped bare resurface like a bloated corpse in the flood of bad dreams. The place where wide-eyed cleaver wielding men reside to antagonise people upon their wakeful fright from lived experience.

Perhaps the only connection my grandad and I have is through music. Whenever he sings he makes no effort to conceal the warmth and love from his heart. He likes jazz. Miles Davis. John and Alice Coltrane. Theolonius Monk. His failed career as a jazz guitarist stays time capsuled on the living room wall. When it storms out here it sounds like a guitar thrown from a roof, the hollow body splitting open and the strings writhing and moaning in the humid air. Slide guitar accompanying the rain. Dad in his middle age still is desperate to seek approval from his father despite growing up in the shadow of the self-mythologising musical legend spurred by my grandad. Stanford was never above doing the same, mystifying his early life as an orphan in a monastery, training in various martial arts and mapping with precision his environment during his day job. Francis with the maps in the temple of the tin shack. My grandfather on stage. Me in my own solipsistic world. Imagination replacing memory. I sense that my presence brings discomfort around them as I share the face and introversion of my departed grandmother. She once killed a red bellied black snake with her bare hands when she was 82 years old. My grandad assured me that he thought she was the stupidest fucking woman to have ever lived for doing that. She would just shrug and go about as if nothing happened. Though his hopeless and grotesque characters are reminiscent of those in a Faulkner novel, they are nevertheless endearing. Stanford wrote of a hospitable “man and his daughter”

Being creative

THIS IS JUST TO SAY

who arrive at a homestead to ensure that death would not infiltrate the family home in the poem titled “Living with Death”. Visiting with my father on our strictly annual homecomings felt like we undertook the role of those characters, as guardians for the pervasive first person voice longing for the company and comfort of others. I wonder how my grandparents survive out here by themselves. Sitting around my family makes me ruminate upon my own mortality in the most raw and emotional ways more so than in my times of selfisolation. I often think of the line “sadness and whisky cost more than friends/I visit prisons, orphanages, joints, hoping to see them again” from Stanford’s poem “Instead”. Poignant, considering Frank took his life in a house full of family and friends. Painful sincerity on the poem’s journey. Travelling into the far reaches of his memory into the liminal space beyond the veil of life, always on the pathway lit by a moon of his own design. Maybe that’s what drives my feeling of obligation toward our annual visits, masking the fear of losing family with indifference. The levees breaking in my heart.

Megan Malone I have seduced the woman that you called your lover and who you were probably intending to marry Forgive me she was beautiful so sweet and so warm

The rain pours on the roof above and the humidity wakes me in the night, stirring up the remnants of my dream, and it fades away like ripples upon the dam: slowing to a lull during the recollection of distant memory, dispersing throughout the wind.

William Carlos Williams

Frank Stanford

Being creative

Photographer: Bren Domingo Bachelor of Industrial Design â&#x20AC;&#x153;Impromptu moments with a pinch of ecstasy and excitement is what I look forward to every day. The streets, the air, the people, every inch of the place I travel to inspires me.â&#x20AC;? brendomingo.com

Being creative

Photographer: Brittany Paull Bachelor of Business (Japanese major) â&#x20AC;&#x153;Japan is a unique and exciting country that I have been fortunate enough to explore a few times now. These photos from my most recent trip are important to me as they demonstrate just how naturally and culturally diverse this small nation is, and remind me how beautiful travel can be.â&#x20AC;? @brittanypaull 79

Photographer: Chelsea Misaki Bachelor of Digital Media â&#x20AC;&#x153;Travelling to me is walking into the unknown and getting this feeling of growth and absolute freedom. Discovering fresh finds, creative cultures and beautiful environments. I love it, I adore it and I am addictedâ&#x20AC;?. @chelseamisaki

Being creative

Artist: Erin Campbell Bachelor of Digital Media â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fluidity of my artwork is apparent in the context of travel - from the beginning of the practice to the end I am constantly throwing the paint around and watching it travel through the air. This uncontrollable action helps to construct my nature inspired pieces. The organic flow and the colours all have unifying themes of environmental issues and portray a visual language that mimics the currents of the ocean and natural formations of the earth.â&#x20AC;? erinmayartistry.com @erinmayartistry

Photographer: Katie Wittle Bachelor of Graphic Design “I’ve heard that people photograph what they don’t wish to forget, so when I see pain and hurt in the world, I can’t help but find the beauty in what’s left. And what’s left, is humanity.”

Being creative

Being creative COMIC Mic Smith

Do you want to see your work in print? Getamungstit is seeking high quality submissions of short fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, art, photography, illustrations and other genres for our creative section. Email us at getamungstit@griffith.edu.au for more information.

SUPERHEROES VS VILLAINS PARTY

FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER | FROM 7PM AT UNI BAR FREE BUSES TO OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY AT SINCITY FROM 11.30PM

TICKETS $5 + BF* AVAILABLE FROM THE STUDENT GUILD (G07) OR GUGCSTUDENTGUILD.COM.AU $10 ON THE DOOR IF AVAILABLE TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 11 SEPTEMBER | 18+ ONLY EVENT | *BOOKING FEE ONLY CHARGED FOR ONLINE TICKETS

Get the hell outta here Stay the hell in your budget this summer

Elleanor O’Connell Guys! Summer is just around the corner! And we’ve dedicated 1500 words to making sure you have an amazing time no matter your budget. We’ve got day trips, escapes to the mountains and to the sea. We’ve got trips for the perfect romantic getaway, or for a wild and adventurous escape with mates. So, ready the esky and pack the sunscreen for some epic summer getaways that won’t bust your budget.

BUDGET TRIPS $15-$70 per person Kayak and picnic trip $15-$25 per person As Gold Coasters, we are incredibly lucky to have an amazing variety of activities right on our doorstep. Pack yourself a delicious picnic and plenty of water and take a trip up Currumbin Creek. Just $15 will buy you an hour with the kayak (or $25 for two hours), giving you plenty of time to bask in the sun and enjoy a dip in the creek when it gets a little toasty. Just because it’s hot, that doesn’t mean you can’t be active, and racing up the Currumbin Creek with your besties makes for a hell of a good time. When you’re all paddled out, kick back on the creek bank and enjoy a well-deserved rest in the sun. Take your favourite outdoorsy friend, or your entire squad for a budget friendly day out.

Murphy’s Creek camping escape $30-$70 per person There are few things better than camping with a group of mates and enjoying the best that summer has to offer. When camping also includes archery, high ropes and mountain bike trails, it’s the perfect outdoor adventure. At Murphy’s Creek Escape, just 30 minutes out of Toowoomba, you can pack your giant inflatable flamingo and sit back to enjoy the cool, refreshing waters of Murphy’s Creek. Follow it up with an evening spent around the campfire with some super vibey tunes, plus an esky full of beers, and you’ll have yourself one hell of a summer vacay. If you’re looking to go with a large group of friends (more Get the hell outta here

than four groups of three), book out a group site for $26 a night (per two people) or $36 (per two people) a night for a powered site. Set yourselves up with a group living area that has plenty of space to stretch out in. Grab yourself a cheeky beverage (to instil a false sense of confidence in your sporting prowess), a soccer ball and some badminton gear (though Geta cannot be held responsible for any injuries that ensue) for a fantastic time. Trips away don’t have to cost vital organs on the black market, and camping always gives you the best memories to look back on. Hot tip: The best Spotify playlist to listen to around the campfire: College Music - Rise and Shine

MID-LUXURY TRIPS $50-$200 per person Byron Bay day trip $50-$100 per person Since you’re already awake early because it’s SO DAMN HOT, why not make your way to Byron Bay for some dolphin spotting? Try and get to the lighthouse for 7am to beat the crowds, and enjoy a peaceful trek to the lookout. Once you’ve had a good sweat out after climbing back to the lighthouse, head to Manna Haven, a vegetarian restaurant that won’t break the bank. Their breakfast menu is absolutely to die for, including house made waffles with berry coulis, cashew cream, maple syrup, fresh strawberries and mint for those with a sweeter tooth. Or for those wanting something savoury, tuck into slices of grilled sourdough with Boston baked beans, garlic mushrooms, fried tomato, haloumi and open range eggs your way. After filling your belly, head to the beach to 87

kick back and enjoy some much deserved rays. Pack yourself a picnic with plenty of ice blocks to save your dollars for evening cocktails at the Balcony Bar.

Free-spirited Nimbin escape If you’re looking to get a little more in touch with your inner zen this summer, or maybe want to mix up your usual summer holiday plans, we recommend heading to Nimbin. Known as the marijuana capital of Australia, Nimbin has been known as a free spirited and individualistic town since 1973. The stunning (if not a little bumpy) drive through the hinterlands from the Gold Coast will you put you in the perfect frame of mind of exploration and freedom. When in Nimbin, there’s plenty to see with the rainbow painted

buildings and curious culture. Smiling faces glow from every shop corner, and the vegan culture of the town will have you experiencing some incredible flavours and meals. We recommend stopping by the Phoenix Rising Café for some sustainable and locally grown food. Before making the trip, check out their website to see what events they’re holding, which include live music, movie nights, and workshops. Plan your trip around the 4th or 5th Sunday of the month to experience the magic of the Nimbin markets. The locals bring beautiful hand grown, hand made and fair trade produce that will treat your taste buds or soothe your skin. We recommend picking up a jar (or 5) of the local Nimbin honey; the bees are just happier in Nimbin for some reason… The Gold Coast has its fair share of awesome markets, but none are quite as eclectic and colourful as the one in Nimbin. Stalls include hand made and locally produced soaps, wool sculptures, and a variety of healers for whatever ails you. Grab some delicious and international treats to savour whilst you wander around,

and check out the main stage for some live music while you’re at it. After checking out the colourful town, make your way to Hanging Rock Falls. The large swimming hole is the perfect escape on a hot day, and there’s a rope swing and plenty of rocks to clamber over. Even better, grab some local fruit and take it with you to really get the best of the Nimbin experience. Accommodation on Airbnb ranges from colourful and quirky cottages to large, six bedroom Queenslanders with private waterfalls. We recommend taking the trip with a group of friends to get the most out of this wonderful town. Hot tip: The best Spotify playlist to listen to at the swimming hole: Spotify – Young and Free

Get the hell outta here

SPLURGE TRIPS $129-$400 per person Seal swim day trip $129 - $200 per person Fancy taking a dive with some of Underwater World’s most entertaining residents? Head up to Mooloolaba for the day and pop into the famous aquarium for a hands-on experience with Sea Life’s seals. The experience includes the chance to swim and play with the seals, as well as a backstage pass into how the caretakers keep the seals as happy as can be. The cost of the experience ($129) also includes entry into the aquarium, so after your encounter you can spend the day exploring the wonders of the deep. When your stomach starts rumbling, make your way down the wharf to find The Edge. Perched on the water’s edge, The Edge is known for its beautiful seafood and steaks (and some damn good chips).

Mooloolaba pamper escape $300-$400 per person After a year of stressing about GPAs, assignments and all the crap in between, you deserve to treat yourself. If you fancy a trip with your BFF that will wash away all of the leftover anxiety from the end of the uni year, we recommend heading to Mooloolaba. The beachside town known for it’s shopping and incredible restaurants also boasts an amazing spa scene. After a day soaking up the sun on the beach, find your way to Waterfall Day Spa. The beautifully designed spa sets a relaxing tone as soon as you step through the door. Ranked as one of the best spas on the Sunshine Coast, Waterfall Day Spa offers an amazing range of pampering treatments. Packages start at 1.5hrs and $205, which includes a 30 minute waterfall nature massage, a 30 minute facial, and a 30 minute foot therapy session. After melting into your most relaxed state, head to Spice Bar to indulge in the beautifully

paired flavours of orange and star anise duck, or fennel salt and pepper tofu. Spice Bar will have your tongue lolling out of your mouth in desire as you stare at the magnificently crafted meals. And since you’re spoiling yourself, why not take a gander at their amazing cocktail menu too? If the scorching summer sun is getting a little too hot to handle, make your way into the rainforest behind Mooloolaba and take a dip in Serenity Falls, which is just a short 15 minutes drive from the Mooloolaba esplanade. For the best deals on accommodation to perfectly suit your holiday needs, check out Airbnb. Whether you’re looking for an apartment that covers your basic needs of sleeping and bathing, or something a little more luxurious with a swimming pool and a deck to drink mimosas on, there’s something for every budget and style. Hot tip: The best Spotify playlist to listen to whilst getting ready for cocktails: 72HoursIn – 72 Hours in Monaco

G E TA M UNG ST IT

WANT MORE GETAMUNGSTIT THIS SUMMER? Check out our exclusive Geta Online pieces. gugcstudentguild.com.au/getamungstit/online Getamungstit We are always seeking submissions of short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, reviews, feature articles, opinion pieces, news features, photography, illustrations, reviews and more!

Drop us a line at getamungstit@griffith.edu.au and your work could be featured in the next edition or Geta Online.

18-22 SEPTEMBER Take a break before exams hit and put your health and happiness first. The Guild is bringing you free workshops, yoga, ice cream, and a jam packed stress less schedule. Find out more at gugcstudentguild.com.au |

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