CurrentMedia
Current Media
Current Media is a free, student-run publication for the RMIT Hanoi community
EDITORIAL & DESIGN DAO THU TRANG
NGUYEN LAN CHI
President s3466645@rmit.edu.vn
Lead Designer s3410602@rmit.edu.vn
DAO THU HA
LE GIA HUNG
Chief Editor & Writer s3466645@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3463669@rmit.edu.vn
NGUYEN TUAN PHONG
TRINH CHI TRUNG
Editor & Writer s3461777@rmit.edu.vn
Designer s3461765@rmit.edu.vn
ROBERT CORRIGAN JAMES
NGUYEN PHUONG DIEU
VU TUAN ANH
DIEN HUYEN LINH
Contributor s3410398@rmit.edu.vn
Writer & Designer s3425480@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3394987@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3461798@rmit.edu.vn
NGUYEN THU HIEN
HA THANH LAN
Writer s3446496@rmit.edu.vn
Writer s3461784@rmit.edu.vn
PR/SALES & FINANCE NGUYEN THAI HA
DANG NGHINH XUAN
VIEN HOANG HA
NGO ANH TUAN
PR Executive s3466644@rmit.edu.vn
Lead PR Executive s3466649@rmit.edu.vn
PR Executive s3467273@rmit.edu.vn
PR Executive s3461766@rmit.edu.vn
VU HONG NHUNG
LE TUAN ANH
Treasurer s3426549@rmit.edu.vn
PR Executive s3410597@rmit.edu.vn
NGUYEN THAO PHUONG
NGUYEN MINH NGOC
Secretary s3373443@rmit.edu.vn
PR Executive s3426088@rmit.edu.vn
TRAN QUANG HOANG LONG PR Executive s3466642@rmit.edu.vn
CONTACT US Gmail: currentmedia.rmithn@gmail.com Facebook: Current Media (*) Please note that the views expressed in these pages are the personal views of the writers, and do not necessarily reflect the views of RMIT management.
Contents J
U
N
E
2
0
1
4
05
08 04 Editor’s Letter
17 Tips
05 Entertainment
18 Feature Story
06 Perspective
20 Short Story
08 Cover Story
22 Voices of RMIT
12 Fashion
24 Entertainment
Summer Is Not Yet To End
Music: Rockin’ Summer
The Productive Season
Rediscover Your City
Left It Unspoken
Reverse Bucket List
The Solo Traveller’s Guide To The Galaxy
23
Summer Cocktail
Dear Summer
Movie: Films Around Your Age
26 14 Character of The Month
26 Entertainment
16 Tips
27 Entertainment
50 Years & Still Going Strong
Bucket List
Book: Books for Thought
Game: Games For The Soul
14
06
12
Editor’s Letter T H E U R B A N S U M M E R I S S U E
summer is not yet to end
B
race yourself, summer is ending.
season of the year has passed.
“After finals, I’m gonna rock this summer!” – said everyone, I presume.
bacchanal. Isn’t it an irony, you complained about not being able to afford travelling,
Current Media thinks adventurers create
when thousands of expats has gone great
Summer has always been a hectic time,
experiences instead of waiting for them. A
lengths to come and explore and adore the
full of playing, eating, drinking and even a
lot of stuff could happen in a month, and
city you live every day.
little romance, as if the tropical heat makes
the beginning of the semester does not
everything hotter in both senses. Yet when
necessarily mark the end of the summer
If you are in an unhealthy infatuation with
we enter RMIT, the reality falls flat on our
spirit. So, if you don’t mind getting your skin
your air-conditioner…fine, we offer some
face. In a 3-week break instead of 3-month
tanned a little bit, we offer you a bucket
excellent books, music and game for your
and under the scorching sun of June, most
list, tips to get away from the city on your
food for thought. After all, the time you en-
of us travel from an air-conditioned box to
own, and bikini suggestions to get some
joy wasting is not wasted. But we still want
another and cry in disappointment how fast
eyes burnt. Even when you intend to stay
to shout out to you the famous quote in Up:
yet uneventful the most looking-forward
in, Hanoi offers much more than the typical
“Adventure is out there”!
Dao Thu Ha - Editor in Chief
04 June 2014
ENTERTAINMENT
Rockin’ Summer T
here is just something curious about these young ladies... Maybe it’s their rich, harmonious voices, their piercing innocence or their wonderfully cynical lyrics. Or perhaps it’s just their incorporation of the pedal steel guitar and actual bells and whistles into their music, a mix between folk and country. The second album from the Swedish sisters, Klara and Johanna Soderberg, who perform as The First Aid Kit is full to the brim with charm. Highlights from the
F
rom the British indie rock band The 1975, this self-titled debut album is the summer playlist for all you cool kids out there.
5
The album includes 21 songs, each unique and perfect for your summer. The upbeat bass line from “The City” or “Chocolate” will have you dancing in your room, whilst “Girls” and “Settle Down” will help your throw the grooviest parties in town thanks to their funky 80s sound and Matt Healy’s energetic vocal. Emotional tracks like “Robbers” will then sooth your danced-out feet with its pretty acoustics and yearning vocal.
“She Looks So Perfect” is THE tune of this summer with its guitar driven melody and a chorus so catchy, you’ll be singing along after just one listen. “Don’t Stop” and “Kiss Me Kiss Me” continue to be catchy and energetic, each perfect for your road trips and beach parties. Other tracks like “Heartbreak Girl” are edgier, but all the same catchiness as its predecessor and a hint of pop/rock like the ‘00s Green Day or Blink-182.
Though new to the music scene, their cohesion as a band really shows in this brilliant debut record.
SOS is all about summer, both in name and presence. The record is filled with feel good earworms and summer anthems that are all about being loud, young and fun.
The album may not be a formula designed for critical acclaim or longevity, but pop music has always been exactly like this. And love them or hate them, these boys is already taking the world by storm.
written by Spike Spiegel
album include the title track “The Lion’s Roar”, their second single “Emmylou” and “In the Hearts of Men”. Their music in general is a reminiscence of 60s folk scene, all dreamy, haunting yet authentic. Their music videos are also worth checking out mostly for its visual artistry. These are the kind of girls who wear colorful kaftan with messy long hair and wander barefooted through dark forests. If this sounds like something you’d like to do this summer, give this one a listen.
T
he Black Key’s latest album, Turn Blue, impresses because it does what all great bands do: it captures the band stretching their abilities while still sounding like themselves. The album is more mature, more polished but more colorful as well. “Weight of Love” starts the record with a lush, soulful sound. The momentum builds up through the heavy rhythms and catchy hooks of the feet-tapping “10 Lovers” and “Gotta Get Away”. Finally, this quietly adventurous album ends on an intense note with “Bullet in the Brain” and the psychedelic “Fever”. For those looking for a bit of colors to their otherwise introspective summer, this is for you. June 2014 05
PERSPECTIVE
© Illustration by J. R. R. Tolkien
“The world is not in your books and maps. It’s out there.”
_Gandalf in The Hobbit_
06 June 2014
Ah
summer! For us college stu-
from the thankful villagers.
dents, it’s the single thing we
activities with them all day, and ultimately learned a lot myself. Sometimes
most look forward to while suffering
Did you know that you’re most prone
I’d even get to wear costumes to enter-
through every coffee-guzzling all-
to headaches at the beginning of the
tain them! So all in all, it wasn’t a bad
nighter and what fuels every gruelling
school year? Yeah, you’ve literally been
gig. There are countless public services
step to class as you carry 20 pounds of
melting your brain over the break with
in need of volunteers in Hanoi every
books in your hands. Now is your time
those reality shows. You’ve fallen out of
summer if you’d only be bothered to
to relax and finally have some fun.
the loop on studying and consciously
look them up. Or you know, you could
Don’t worry, you deserve it!
trying to retain information. Mix that
help build schoolhouses in Congo,
with the stress of maintaining the best
good for you Hương!
There are only about four summers in
hair in class, I promise you your head
our lives when we’re grown-up enough
will feels like a battlefield.
to experience the freedoms of adult-
Finally, get a job; every parent’s famous words. Who says a job can’t be fun,
hood, but not so grown-up that we’re
Doing something to keep you active
though? If you’re the kind of person
burdened by responsibility, old enough
and on your toes over the summer
that hates being broke (like me), there
to drive, but not so old that you’re do-
could prevent such studying migraines,
are plenty of summer positions that’ll
ing taxes.
as well as the great perks of earning
keep you happy. Some basic choices
your own cash and getting a head start
such as tutoring, distributing fliers or
These are precious moments in time,
on building a resume for the ominous-
waiting tables are always available for
ripe for adventures and romances,
ly approaching real world. But, who’s to
the less creative people (again, like
or at the least:
say you can’t be productive AND have
me). However, find out what your
fun in the meantime?
friends are doing, look up the hottest
doing something productive.
part-time trends if you’re aiming for But what are you most likely to be
Take a class. I know, I know, you just
more exciting work. Work with friends
doing instead? Sleep? TV shows
wrapped up a whole school year, but
to create summer memories while you
marathon? Playing video games and
hear me out before you yell at me.
gain extra cash!
browsing the internet all day? I know
Because God forbid you can finally
that feeling. But your parents and, now
take a class that you enjoy and isn’t
So you see, summer more than any
your quickly growing adult mindset,
an institutionally mandated subject.
other seasons, is the time for you to
tell you that spending every day in
Google search skill classes and you’ll
be productive. So many chances to
front of the computer will rattle your
find most are pretty inexpensive. Take
improve and/or reinvent yourself into
brain into mush and instead to do
up photography, yoga or even martial
the person you’ve always wanted to be.
something productive.
arts; who knows when you might need
Now the question is whether you’re
to punch someone?
willing to create the best summer in
Ugh, productivity. The ghost that
your life or are you happy with idling
weighs on your shoulder each extra
Not your cup of tea? How about vol-
your youth away in front of the com-
hour you sleep in or during every re-
unteering? It is a rewarding activity
puter being mediocre? The hardest
run of “Game of Thrones” you absorb
that’ll not only fill your heart with
part is telling yourself you could do it
as you sit zombie-faced with a box of
purpose, but is also a great way to
then walk out the door and actually do
ice cream on your belly. I’ll do some-
kick-start your experience in working
it. But I know you can do it, and I also
thing tomorrow, you tell yourself. I’ll
with others. I volunteered at the SOS
know that you will be happier for the
find a job tomorrow. What’s the rush?
Children’s village during one summer.
trouble.
Then you get back to school and find
For me, it was just a weekly escape to
that over the summer, that one Hương
goof around while also being able to
in your class built schoolhouses in
contribute. I got to talk to little kids
Congo and learned how to hunt bears
about cool stuffs and take part in fun
Now go exploring!
June 2014 07
COVER STORY
REDISCOVER written by Ha Dao -
YOUR CITY
Look yonder all the noise and congestion and weather-beaten buildings. The chaotic Hanoi is just too beautiful to pass up.
H
anoi Hanoi. A thousand-year-old young metropolis. Shaking off the cold old faรงade of winter, Hanoi rejuvenates herself in summertime, turning into a graceful yet unpredictable mademoiselle. Like many Hanoi-born youngsters when coming of age, I sometimes get tired of the city. I want to seek a bluer sky, somewhere with more trees and less dust. Being a practicing photographer, the thirst for daily inspiration gets my feet itchy and drives me to the disappointment how small this city is and how all the activities revolve around eating, drinking and going to the cinema; as though getting material to make art in here was like squeezing juices from a rotten orange.
08 June 2014
It was not until I met a German friend right at the familiar beer street Ta Hien that I began to change my view. He was an avid photographer crazily in love with Hanoi, enthralled by the random movement of the traffic flow, the youthful energy radiated from trading activities taking place on the street, on the sidewalk or along the alley; and all the fascinating mixes of the old and the new in this rich time of change. Overall, it is the raw and quirky elegance of Hanoi that we have missed. One day, you, just like me, will start your own journey to explore your city with a fresh eye. And you will eventually discover places that will make Hanoi yours.
Ha Dao @RMIT Photography club
1. Start simple. Personally I feel no need to be at the expensive gym full of people when Hanoi is a city blessed with lakes. A morning walk, a lungful of fresh air, the sounds of
birds chirping all missed by your routine can bring you in a much better frame of mind. You may even catch an adorable sight of old lovebirds holding hand walking together.
June 2014 09
2. Visit the local market and do mom a favor. Knowing the price of beef and carrots and tomatoes can turn out as a survival skill when you live away from home at some point in your life. And
talk to people unfamiliar with the concept of the Internet too – they may be much more interesting than you expect.
3. Have breakfast, even though you are not used to it. Try an unnamed food store not listed in The Lonely planet or a street vendor you normally pass by. The meal will be healthy and filling, though not beautiful enough to feature on Instagram. Enjoy your breakfast on a quiet sidewalk when the city has not yet woken up.
4. The habit of morning coffee is common in Europe, but no where can you see a busting yet strangely peaceful atmosphere like in Hanoi. Forget all that up-market so-called ice-blended coffee. A tiny cup of strong, authentic coffee will give you a much better adrenaline rush. For me I prefer a quirky coffee shop named Xi Nghiep, nostalgic for the subsidy period in Vietnam pre 1986. Simply because they serve the best strong black coffee in town at 15000 VND. Place: Xi nghiep caphe, A60 TT1, Van Quan Ha Dong
5. Go to the pagoda in a normal day. Your choice doesn’t need to be a famous tourist attraction with fancy architecture. You don’t need to feel awkward to go alone or have a special goal
in mind to pray for. There is another Hanoi you haven’t known where life passes slowly and without worries; we just want you to experience that.
6. If you prefer silence like me, go to the park. It may have been years since you last visited a park and saw the monkeys with your parents, but the park hasn’t changed much. It is still full of trees and sometimes annoyed by laughing couples, but you will manage to find a place of your own. Bring your sketch book and some good music. It only costs you 4000 VND for a workplace studio outdoor.
7. No 5 Dinh Le is a perfect getaway right at the heart of the city. You can quietly browse the stacks, smell the books and let yourself get lost in time. If hungry for foreign books, try The Bookworm at 44 Chau Long street, or RMIT library at semester breaks when it’s not full of noisy kids.
10 June 2014
8. L’espace 24 Trang Tien is a lovely place with cultural events held almost weekly. You can come for photography/paintings exhibitions free of charge, music shows and movie screenings at a very affordable price. Also a quiet place to work or enjoy a
good read. Another suggestion: Goethe Institut 46 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Madake 81 Xuan Dieu
9. If cafes have become way too mainstream, try a tea house. Have a sip of real English tea poetically named (eg: Thé blanc passion de fleurs) and let yourself drift away with the jazzy voice of Norah Jones. If praising too much it will feel like a PR article, but I simply love it here. Like a special hiding spot. Place: Rue des chats salon de thé, no 2 Co Tan street
10. Who wouldn’t love cheap stuff and live music? There are flea markets almost weekly during summer. A perfect place to hang out with your friends and get some exotic products at a surprisingly good price. I find the heat makes the atmosphere more exciting rather than uncomfortable.
11. Staffed by genuine lovers of the 7th art, Hanoi cinematheque at 22A Hai Ba Trung will satisfy your thirst for superb cinematography. Located at the end of the alley illuminated by lanterns at night, with an Italian-style cafeteria outside and a small audi-
torium inside, this independent film club just makes you feel… different. It will solve the ultimate dilemma of people who love movies but hate the cinema, which, I assume, is always crowded and not always polite.
12. In summer nights when the heat cools down, you may be in the mood to swing and tap your feet. But you hate common bars because nothing ruins your mood as fast as badly remixed EDM and a shy rich-looking crowd. Then come to Hanoi rock city for live underground music. For years HRC has been sup-
porting local as well as foreign emerging artists, offering the most vibrant music scene in Hanoi. Grab a beer, cheers with the band and dance to your own beat, because it’s fun! Another suggestion: Cama 73A Mai Hac De, Madake 81 Xuan Dieu
June 2014 11
S
ummer is one of the most eagerly anticipated time of the year. But for some of us it is also the most dreaded, in terms of wardrobe choices. Looking for the perfect swimsuit can feel like a treasure hunt when you
sort through endless amounts of nylon offerings that simply don’t do the trick.
“
Don’t choose the “trendy” silhouette if it doesn’t fit you well. Great style begins with a great fit, so it’s more important to find the swimsuit that flatters your figure.”
But Current Media can give you a few tips on how to compose a bikini that is both sexy and classy. Read the expert’s opinion— and you will never hate swimsuit shopping again.
1
Choose the smaller size if you are unsure. Swimsuits expand when they’re
wet.
2
Don’t choose the “trendy” silhouette if it doesn’t fit you well. Great style begins with a great fit, so it’s more important to find the swimsuit that flatters your figure.
12 June 2014
3
Use ties and adjustable straps to fit the swimsuit onto your body. Make it tight! Once tied, lean forward and adjust until your bust is covered and stays put.
4
Try on different suits. Style changes all the time, so look outside of your comfort zone and you may find your new favorite silhouette.
5
Don’t assume a larger size or more fabric will give you more body’s coverage. Many purchase swimsuits that are too large, and as a result, the fabric gaps don’t support properly. If you want more coverage, find a style that offers more coverage.
FASHION
left it unspoken
- written by Than Quang -
Grace’s Sweet Bikini (8 Hàng Vai St) Ha May (16 Quang Trung St) Charlott Shop - 112B D5, lane 4B Dang Van Ngu St Photos by Ha Dao Make-up by Heidi Vien
June 2014 13
Phan Trong Nhan @RMIT Photography club
CHARACTER OF THE MONTH written by Ha Dao
“
50 years and still going strong”. This sounds like a tagline for Japanese electric devices or a caption for photos of parents’ die-hard romance people share on Facebook. Yet I think it is perfect to put into words my impression on Brenda Mattick, a never-aging soul despite countless wrinkles in her eyes.
14 June 2014
CHARACTER OF THE MONTH
L
ooking at her recognition for being a full time lecturer in RMIT, various freelance jobs overseas, active membership at The Hanoi Bicycle Collective and most noticeable of all, an always-on big smile, no one could have guessed Brenda started out as a poor student living in the aboriginal part of Australia. In the immortal words of Forrest Gump, “life is like a box of chocolate. You never know what you’re gonna get”.
Surprises and possibilities – the perks of being a traveller We met in an afternoon in the Givral cafe near the campus. She circled her Dilmah tea and in a moment mused over her early life spent in the plain countryside. “We were kids living in the bush, poor and far from the city. I remembered once my parents talk about a beautiful island and got a brochure of it....I couldn’t help dreaming about it and got so excited, only to find out in the end they couldn’t afford it” – she told us about her childhood heartbreak, laughing out loud at the unhappy ending. That disappointment did not bother the young and optimistic Brenda much, yet instead kindled her true calling to explore. Looking out of the window, occasionally stopping to recall the incident or find the right word to describe her emotions, she took us to her first abroad 30 years ago when she was a university student. It was on an exchange program and the budget was her savings from a part-time job during the semester. Her memory of Papua New Guinea now was squeezed in a few sentences, but you can tell from the fire in her voice how amazing it was to get your eyes opened for the first time. “It was a very isolated village where you travelled by a little plane and people took you in a long boat made out of trees...where I was the only white person there, a place with fresh fish and mangoes as big as a football...where there was no bed and people only slept on mats.”
Challenges and separations “Stepping out of your comfort zone” is a cliché we see all over on tabloids, self-help magazines and hashtags on Instagram. Yet how many of us have really considered what it takes to know the world outside and the self inside still left undiscovered? To Brenda, travelling was not all sunshine and butterflies. Hitch-hiking is the main way Alex Supertramp roamed from America to Alaska* and it seems an ideal chance to meet a great friend. But to her it was just a terrible experience compressed into a 3-word advice: “Just. Don’t. Hitchhike”. Even when she wanted to believe in the best about people, she still encountered being taken advantage of and ripped off. Also, accidents along the road don’t elude anyone. In 2000, excited to mark the beginning of the new millennium, she came to
Kenya to climb the highest mountain Kilimanjaro, only to step on a sliding rock and twisted her knee. Yet physical injuries are nothing compared to heart aches. One problem faced by all frequent fliers is the loss of friends. The longer you stay, the more memories you have with one another, the more poignant the parting becomes. Brenda shared about her separation with four close friends last May, each person went to a different continent. “And it’s not like you need 20 other friends”. There was a point when she was sick of losing friends to the point that that she did not bother making new ones anymore. “It is a challenge, yes, but still a downside”, she said, “and the worst part of it is missing the children terribly”.
Not all those who wander are lost Seeing herself as a traveller rather than a tourist, Brenda is utterly against the resort life. She once shared a story about two Australians she met in an Asian restaurant who complained about not having forks when the food was to eat with chopsticks. “Too many people get stuck in their suburban routine and narrow down their world view, but I felt like I’ve got a much bigger vision”. And what if you feel lonely in your long journey? “Some people choose to sit at the bar, but it doesn’t help much if you want to know the culture”. During her time in Vietnam, Brenda has made efforts to immerse in the culture by working for an NGO, making friends with many Vietnamese and even visiting their families. However, getting your mind broadened sometimes associates with having your values challenged. She was once confronted by her landlord, who said at this age she should be staying at home to look after her grandchildren instead of being on her own thousands miles away. She was a bit angry at first, having used to Western individualism and the freedom to pursue one’s own interests. But she eventually came to tolerate with her, saying “It doesn’t mean she’s backward or close-minded”, simply because the woman is from a totally different background where women for centuries are constrained to their domestic role. If you think of a foreign culture as a new friend, it is not just about getting to know, but to accept the differences and respect. In her words, it is not travelling with your eyes shut.
A few last words Speaking of the negative, the optimistic Brenda always concluded on a hopeful note. That sometimes the worst experience becomes the best since you can write a story about it. Or eventually you’ve got the chance to meet wonderful people. So, we asked, “Will you ever get tired of travelling”? Maybe, because of physical injuries. Or ”I wouldn’t say I’d get too old, but that could happen!” – She laughed out loud. (*) Alex Supertramp: the main character in Into The Wild movie. June 2014 15
TIPS
B U C K ET L IS T 2 0 14 rittS enU byMTuaMn ER Anh (Jack Jack)_ _w
nce going around Hanoi
Draw the map of Hanoi by your own experie Go fishing alone and then eat the fish
)
KISS A STRANGER (the consequences are on you Sing and dance in the rain Write a letter to your future self. again 5 Hide the letter somewhere and read it
years later. llenges you might face
“Yes, man” Day, when you say yes to every cha
ke an an im ati on out of it ma to, nt wa you ing yth an of s Ta ke ph oto
Throw a costume party
“L AZ Y DA Y” thing joy the miracle feeling of doi ng no en d an lay , sit t jus , g in th no wh en you do Dress up like superheroes
and go help people in need
IPL E TIM ES Sc rea m out PE NI S in pub lic MU LT
lion VND and your motorbike,
n 1 mil Travel anywhere you want with no more tha
you can go see how far
around and light a cigarette Go on top of Kaengnam, take a look (or eat chips if you don’t smoke)
Become a vegan for 5 days, no meat
at all cost
vie theater
Go to a midnight showing at the mo
16 June 2014
Bucket lists are great (see previous page). But with so much pressure to enjoy yourself in Summer nowadays, they’re starting to seem like burdens. In life, there are only a few things you HAVE to do: Eat. Sleep. Breathe. Be nice. Don’t commit murder. That’s it.
While you are super welcome to try reading Moby Dick or going sky diving, sometimes it’s liberating to know that you’re living your life for YOU and not just doing what people tell you to by not doing any of those things. And that’s okay.
Here’s a life-affirming list of 10 things you could do, but you never HAVE to do.
Reverse Bucket List _Written by Monty_
1. Sky dive
Someone somewhe re decided everyone HAS to try this highly da ngerous activity on ce in their lives as this is on every single buck et lists. Who is this pe rson and are they still alive?
2. Travel to exotic
pl
aces Maybe you don’t lik e extreme vacationi ng. Maybe you just wa nt to go to the be ac h and stay in a nice hote l. Or maybe you jus t want to sit home and watc h a marathon of T rẻ Em Luôn Đúng. You are free to travel or not travel without judgm ent.
3. Drive across the country
Kane” 5. Watch “Citizen atest movie
That’s a lot of gas. 4. Keep a diary
You don’t have much to say to yourself? Fine!
the gre So it’s like saying, But like I’m . e im t ll a of ee it. Oh, e HAS to s n o y r ve e t no cinema g a modern in k a t e ’r u yo In either go see it. n e h T ? s s cla explode orld won’t w e h t , e s a c ay, it was . By the w ’t n o d u o y if don’t w you really o N . d le s is h e it. have to se
6. Train your pet
e floor for crumbs Just let your dog lick th u for it. and sleep. He’ll thank yo
7. Ge t ma rr ie d
pe cia lly Ma rr iag e is gr ea t — es ar ou nd no w th at mo re pe op le do it. th e wo rld ar e all ow ed to life fill ed Bu t yo u ca n als o liv e a wi th ou t wi th lov e an d ro ma nc e e it. ge tti ng a lic en se to pr ov Ma yb e th is is ag ain st at ev er . tr ad itio ns , bu t lik e… wh
8 . H a v e K id s Again, most people feel the pressure to ha ve kids, but not everyone w ants to. And you should know we’re covered, populationwise.
9. Go see an opera, orchestra or ballet
Not mandatory unless you’re actually royalty!
10. Make Bucket Lists You also don’t have to watch The Bucket List either, but come on, Jack Nicholson? Morgan Freeman? A funny skydiving scene?
It will change your life.
June 2014 17
TIPS
FREE WRITTEN BY DIEU NGUYEN
“
No one wants to come with me, it’s better to stay at home.” “It’s too dangerous to go alone.” “I won’t have fun.”
E
THE SOLO TRAVELLER’S
GUIDE
TO THE
GALAXY
ver use any of these cop-outs when you decide not to do that super-fun-awesome thing you’ve wanted to do for days? Months? Well, don’t! These are classic travelling myths we tell ourselves in order to wallow in the routine and mundane comfort of the familiar. We unsuspectingly close ourselves off to the outside world in the daunted notion that swinging solo is just not. an. option. And also, it’s just plainly uncool. Well let me tell you, travelling alone can be an incredibly satisfying experience with just a hint of danger to spice things up. However if you are like me and have trouble gathering your lethargic limbs out of the house this summer, here some reasons why going stag is cooler than you might think:
It’s a challenge Safe is not always better. Challenge yourself to do something outside the box.
It’s your world There is no need to compromise. The Solo Traveler sets their own terms and this can make traveling a much more personal and deep experience.
It’s an unforgettable journey One that can be life-changing, eyeopening, sometimes lonesome and sometimes difficult, but if you allow yourself to engage in the experience of the unfamiliar, traveling solo is very, very rarely boring.
18 June 2014
DOM
“
The Solo Traveler sets their own terms and this can make traveling a much more personal and deep experience.”
N
ow, if you feel like going out and about alone, keep in mind that even with the positive, travelling alone is not simple. Like anything, danger could lurk around the unseen bend, but hey, Hitchhikers got their own guide for interstellar travel and so should you. Here are a few tips for the burgeoning solo traveler.
Don’t Be Scared, Be Educated. Common sense is key. Before departing, consider all aspects of your trip and make sure to double-triple check essentials like your wallet, phone, or a handy book to read. Theft, injury, or even getting lost can dampen what could be an amazing experience. If you are going to the megamall, make sure you know the swiftest route to avoid hours of peeling off burnt skin. Or maybe you are planning a trip somewhere overseas? Read hotel reviews, research locations, know the culture, and have a translation book or app downloaded and you’ll be fine.
Independence is Sexy As a solo adventurer journeying through unknown territory, you are undeniably sexy. You might meet other solo travelers who will greet you or those in groups who will want you to join them. Whether its love, friendship, or a quick chat with an acquaintance, one of the greatest experiences in traveling alone is the experiences with other people. No matter your culture, age, status, or otherwise, all we travelers want the same thing: a great time. Don’t be shy and go approach that cute girl sitting alone. Socialize!
Become a New You As your quest for self-enjoyment continues, you might feel the need to constantly check up on how things are back home, or you might begin to stumble back into old habits like eating convenience store junk food or checking Facebook every hour. Stop! To truly immerse yourself in the journey of solo travel, you must begin to leave your old self behind. Leave your fancy Aldo shoes at home. Wear sunscreen instead of foundation. Don’t brush your teeth (okay... not really). As a solo traveller, you are a tourist even in your own city, so buy a NorthStar backpack, hike up those jeans and become a new you.
Eat Weird For me, nothing is quite as exciting or delicious as the devouring of new cuisines from different cultures. As a solo traveler, you are free to eat whatever you wish, but don’t be intimidated by the fear of eating alone. Sitting at the bar of a restaurant is a great way to meet others, or if prefer the quiet peace of a small café, you might consider bringing a novel to keep you company, and the time will fly by.
Before eating out, check the type of restaurant and the cuisine served. Peruse menus carefully and look or ask for an ingredients list to avoid any unsavory aftermaths. But really, the most fun comes when you stretch your limits and try something weird and completely out of the box.
Get Lost When travelling stag, nothing is familiar, everything is a new and exciting experience to brag about later. Don’t be confined in one place and explore things you’ve never considered before. Go into that gothic antique shop with the creepy plastic dolls, taste seasoned honey bee larvae (and proceed to vomit), fall in love while zip wiring in Chiang Mai. Or even attempt to get lost without any way to get home. You’ll be surprised about how many interesting places you’ll go to and nice people you’ll meet trying to find the way back.
Be a Cautious Man Bill Horton was a cautious man of the road, and you should be too. The solo traveler can’t help but be admirable, and with that can come unwanted attention. Be confident and be prepared to say no. Take precautions. But most importantly, don’t let anything ruin your time. • Arrive in the daytime • Avoid dark places/alleys • Keep a handy lie in store • Always carrying essentials: phone, wallet, passport, etc...
Avoid the Social Media Plague Being connected is crucial. There are many great apps to download such as translators, travel guides, and even Skype, which will allow you to connect to your friends and family for free. But don’t be too connected. Don’t be afraid to turn off everything once in a while. Block Facebook for a day or two and enjoy the fresh air. Because remember, whatever is on there can finished later, but you only have limited time in solidarity. June 2014 19
Summer Cocktail - written by Grey -
“
She would remember this summer’s taste of salty tears inside, the sight of orange sun bleeding into the horizon and the feeling of being with him; the summer cocktail of wind, beach, sun-sparked sand with her dad.”
20 June 2014
SHORT STORY
T
he sound of a sudden torrential rain pattering on the old wooden panes signaled the coming of another season. Summer chased away the humidity, the feeling of mold from the damp in the air extinguished all the enthusiasm to inch outside; but the scorching heat exhausted daytime weaving through tides of motorcycles. Summer just peeped in the window. The drum of raindrops intermingled with frantic tapping of keyboards in days cloaked in darkness. Summer tasted like melted chocolate with the frostings of sweat when the murdering fireball blazed down. A tide of reminiscence flooded through the room in disorder; the blurry haze of high school memories passed in front of her eyes. The memories of a summer that was a mixed cocktail of tears, laughs and naïve friendship sprang up savagely. Then her childlike enthusiasm left and sank into the stressfulness of maturity, of financial concern and the disease decaying her beloved father. These malignant tumors were growing inside his body, her family and her life. Late May, rays of sunlight glimmering through ill fitting shutters in her cramped house informed her that it was midday. She dragged herself out of the bed and noticed the message from her mom. ‘Sweet heart, prepare for your coming trip with dad’. ‘Thank, Mom. I will take care of him’, she tried to reassure her mother that he would come back intact. Next day, their train shuddered to a halt when the orange, late afternoon sun skimmed over. ‘The beach is here’, she thought. Lying on the beach, they marveled at the vista of the wind and tide biting into the earth and the amber-tinted sunset coating soft clouds roaming the fading sky.
‘Are you okay?’ ‘Sure. Don’t worry. Go swimming. I want to go for a walk alone’. He needed to be alone sometimes. She understood, yet can’t hide the anxiety beating inside her. She drifted off in the sea, looking down at the sea floor where the fish was flicking its tail and swimming through sea grass and broken shells. Lights pulsed through the water; the wave was moving softly across her skin. A surge of relief stirred in her; she was conscious of what she craved for in the scattering days of the past. She craved for hope. ‘Buy me beer and seafood?’, he asked. ‘Mom will … Okay, milk and medicine before, deal?’ ‘Deal!’, he smiled. The night swirled behind them. She took a deep breath. It was vacation after all, before another treatment at the hospital. She spotted him smoking and drinking sometimes. Maybe that was the only way to relieve the physical pain and found some random laughs with his mates. The silence stretched between them; she avoided shattering it, shuddering at the thought of another conversation revolving around cancer. Clusters of young blue stars and faint, old, and yellow stars scattered in the vastness of galaxy. She looked up and wondered which star he was. The old faint one? She turned to her dad. Years of worries and fear had shaped his countenance; now his skin was like a crumpled piece of paper. She sighed. In the sky, the dim light of the old, faint star flickered then faded. Next day they woke up early and strolled along the beach. Clouds tore up to reveal the first sunbeams, shimmering and col-
liding, the orb of sun loomed oppressively, and gentle waves flowed over rocks. People dotted the beach, swooning to the peaceful sight when no dust and roaring vehicle roiled the air. They left the island and wandered around the local market when the boiling sunbeams seared down from above. They blended in with the rhythm of people spilling on to the market, swarms of motorcycles whipping by, and the cacophony of clamor and the kaleidoscope of goods. ‘I want to buy something for our family’, he said. ‘Okay, make sure you are not exhausted’, she answered. In the market, the air was thick with the pungent smell of food vendors and fish mongers. He squinted at the embroider textiles in a craft booth, inspecting carefully. She walked after him from booth to booth, carrying plenty of shopping bags. They took a tour boat in the bay before going home. In the silhouette of limestone islands adorned with thick jungle flora rising in conical peaks, she captured the precious moments with her dad. ‘Dad, smile!’ she shouted to him. Looking at the photos of her dad, she noticed his creaked smile and his wrinkled forehead; the suffering and pain that casted their shadow over him. ‘Don’t give up, dad…’ she murmured. The future was shrouded in mystery, in the hesitant diagnosis of doctors after each treatment. All these moments were embedded in a chamber of her heart. She would remember this summer’s taste of salty tears inside, the sight of orange sun bleeding into the horizon and the feeling of being with him; the summer cocktail of wind, beach, sun-sparked sand with her dad.
June 2014 21
VOICES OF RMIT
Dear Summer - written by Nguyen Thu Hien & Grey -
From RMITERs with love, Here comes a day in May with the color of flaming bronze and the brewing air from the burning sun like a warm iron. Summer is like each of us, sometimes stubborn and impulsive like the stinking hot sunbeams, sometimes naïve and passionate like the crystal fall of showers. The height of summer is like the middle of youth, enthusiastic yet transitory. Summer offers the souvenir of escaping the treadmill of dizzying deadlines, when we can finally cherish the symphony of summer tides slopping noisily on the stones and fleeting moments of being carefree. Each of us has different feelings and messages for the season. Let’s listen to the feelings and messages that some RMITers harbor in this summer.
22 June 2014
‘Oh, I actually don’t have any plan. But I love Da Nang, where the air is pure and the people are friendly and trustworthy. I remember when I left my handbag in a public bathroom and it was still there when I came back the next day. The summer souvenir that means the most to me is a bead necklace my husband bought there. If I have a chance, I want to live in Da Nang with my family...But I have to make sure every family member can get a job there first’ (Mrs Tu, a RMIT librarian). ‘Summer to me is wearing a kaleidoscope shirt and the glorious feeling of crossing a winding mountain pass in Tam Dao. Actually, I plan for a trip to Ba Vi National Park this summer. Every summer memory resonates with me. I think they can’t be described in a few words’. (Hong Anh, Accountancy student). ‘Me? I love ice cream. This summer? Well, I look forward most to the bonding trip with SIFE. And compared to Saigon summer, Hanoi summer is not that bad, you know.’ (Thanh, Eco-Finance student) ‘I am waiting for the result of my application for campus transfer to Saigon. And honestly, this summer will be the most awesome summer ever. I plan to travel around the country with my family. As for my favorite place in Hanoi, I love Loft Stop Café on Bao Khanh Street.’ (Thu, Marketing student) ‘A present in summer? I think it is the violin that my father gave me in the summer I turned 8. This summer, the present I want most is a slim body. And of all trips I’ve had, Canada is the most memorable destination for me. Niagara Falls is so amazing!’ (Min Soohyun, Eco & Finance student) Enjoy your summer!
June 2014 23
ENTERTAINMENT
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tudent life isn’t all about deadlines and timetables; for an escape from your desk and the coming city heat, here are some movies that came out when you did.
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or many, graduation looms and as a result, the spectre of job-seeking rears like an ugly shadow. You may be able to relate to Reality Bites, in which Winona Ryder plays Leilana, a young adult trying to find her place in the real world without really having to work too hard. Also starring Ethan Hawke and Ben Stiller as almost two opposite sides of a male scale; one a laid-back “slacker” and the other a hyper-success oriented “achiever”, this film contains some darkly funny moments to highlight angst felt by young adults struggling with the confronting truths of independence.
24 June 2014
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ooking for an adventure? Turn off your brain to watch Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels in Dumb & Dumber. This film shows the bumbling antics of best friends Lloyd and Harry across the countryside as they try to return a briefcase to its attractive owner - with whom Lloyd has become smitten. Including a car shaped like a dog, a policeman who drinks pee, and a hilarious scene involving “frozen tongue”, this movie is very silly, but creates a lot of laughs.
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f you need something more serious, can handle some swearing and killing AND especially if you have never seen it - Pulp Fiction. A non-linear story told in four parts, it follows a few individuals over the same couple of days, loosely tied together by a major crime boss and his secret package that must be recovered. It launched Samuel L. Jackson into mainstream with his unforgettable performance as the calmly calculating, bible-quoting hitman, Jules; partnered by the comparatively reckless and passionate Vincent (John Travolta). Uma Thurman looks sultry as the boss’ wife, and Bruce Willis has an unforgettable few moments with a hammer, baseball bat, chainsaw and… ahh I don’t want to spoil it
June 2014 25
ENTERTAINMENT 1Q84 by HARUKI MURAKAMI
As you stare dully at the TV against a cracked gray wall, you feel strange. Unruly, like something isn’t right. The tinted glass screen By Phong Nguyen & Dieu Nguyen
three-part novel expands on Orwellian authoritarianism in a dystopian world where ‘Big Brother’ is constantly watching you. But don’t let this thousand-page behemoth scare you, because at its core, 1Q84 is derived from the most hopeful of love stories. We begin with Aomame, a thirty year old woman who is thrust through the looking-glass and into a parallel world, where things are not what they appear to be. Her new profession is now that of an assassin, but she has never forgotten the boy she met as a child, Tengo. Mysteries lead to more mysteries as a wealthy woman conspires war, a cult plots dastardly, and Tengo and Aomame yearn to find each other again in a caustic world that grows more unbalanced by the day.
Can true love really conquer all? Despite being rather long-winded, Murakami’s newest venture doesn’t disappoint. The poetic quality of Murakami’s writing stands out and the smallest exchanges are filled with hidden complexities. Oh, and more literary mentions than a high-school reading class! This is one love story that will challenge your head as well as your heart.
BOOKS FOR seems peculiar as it stares back at you. It must be nothing… right? It’s fascinating sometimes when a book affects you more than it should. A book shouldn’t seep into your daily life the same way paranoia seeps into Aomame’s and a book shouldn’t cause you to break out in sweat at random times. 1Q84 did that to me. Based off of George Orwell’s literary classic 1984, Murakami’s newest
THE WAY OF KINGS (THE STORMLIGHT ARCHIVE #1) by BRANDON SANDERSON You never know what you’ll get when you dive into a new fantasy novel. Many times the prose is lacking, or the plot spawns clichés like lackluster Tolkien impersonators. I wasn’t expecting much when
GAMES FO
won’t let you put the book down. But the flight can’t last forever, and soon they’re in London, where Hadley has to go to the wedding and Oliver’s off to his destination. Will they find each other again? And, if they do, will it ever be like it was on the plane? Can they find a way to love each other even when real life is in the way? Stop asking me so many rhetorical questions!
26 June 2014
ANTICHAMBER
JOURNEY
Use this game as an example when people want to argue that video game isn’t art. Journey is a gorgeous, breathtaking experience perfectly summarized by the game’s title. On the surface, it is the story of a lone figure making its way across harsh yet beautiful landscape towards distant mountain. What it also is, is staggeringly beautiful. Sand moves fluently under your character’s nimble feet, sunlight streams in and sets environments ablaze, and glorious horizons seem to stretch out forever. Wordless and cryptic, interpretations of Journey will be as numerous as people who play the
the game, but a definitive answer is unimportant. You’ll decide for yourself what it represents, and that’s the only interpretation that matters. It’s also a game that absolutely won’t be for everyone. But it’s one of the most perfect gaming experiences I can remember, created with care, packed with creativity, and topped with an irresistible ambiguity that makes every person’s Journey unique. The game is also notable for having the first video game soundtrack to ever be nominated for a Grammy.
Antichamber is a mind-bending psychological exploration. This is a game that will mess with your mind and defy all your pre-built conceptions and everything you’ve ever learned playing video games. The concept is deceivingly simple: you’re wandering through a maze. Yet it is much more than that. Think of it as Portal but in a maze designed by M.C Escher with impossible landscapes. No game has made me gasp in pure surprise and delight as this game has. If you are into design, it is a must-play because of all the systems at work and how this game can surprise you without being random. This game has logic; it’s just not a logic that we are used to.
I delved into The Way of Kings. Spanning thousands of years, multiple countries, six viewpoint characters, and close to a hundred chapters, The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, first in an anticipated ten book series, gives meaning to the term ‘epic’. The world of Roshar, plagued by deadly magical storms, is immense, and the descriptions and mythos are never-ending as we follow our three main heroes; Kaladin, Shallin, and Dallinar; all of whom have their own separate stories. As I jumped from character to character and story to story, the world began to feel overwhelming and I wondered, does this ever get interesting? About half of the way in, the ‘interesting’ hit me like a freight train. World building became grossly immersive. Histories,
religions, and even the ecology Sanderson creates is as detailed as it is large. Random passages started to make sense and connections between characters who are countries or even millennia apart began to form like strands of a spider web in my mind. And this is when I realized Sanderson’s ingenuity. There is no mysterious plot-device magic system in the background or cliché attempts at genre-bending twists. Sanderson’s strength lies in the details; the more carefully you read it, the more you’ll enjoy it. Religion, love, magical weapons and armor, intelligible magic, man-eating crustaceans: Real story-telling requires substance and The Way of Kings has that in spades. However, like most fantasy epics, this book is
not for everyone. You will need a bit of patience, a knack for deciphering vast world-building, and a love for re-re-reading to tackle this series. This is pure classic fantasy, done to epic proportions. (If you like this book, check out the latest Stormlight Archive, Words of Radiance)
Okay, so the first two are things I do in an airport, but the third is what happens in Jennifer E. Smith’s The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Hadley is making the unhappy flight to London, where her father’s getting married to a woman Hadley’s never met. It’s in the airport that she meets nice, handsome and British guy Oliver. Oh and they sit next to each other on the long flight over the ocean. I think a good romance is sort of like a good horror movie–they both rely on suspense, a gradual build. I’m way more terrified by say, The Shining, than any gory slasher films. The long and I mean LONG conversation between Oliver and Hadley involves almost no physical contact, yet it’s still the sort of romantic exchange that grabs your attention and
R THOUGHT THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT by JENNIFER E. SMITH As romantic fantasies go, meeting the love of your life in an airport is a pretty good one. Think about it— you’re stuck in one building for an extended period of time. I mean, what else is there to do besides eat overpriced food, read trashy novels and fall in love with a total stranger?
OR THE SOUL TRANSISTOR From the creator of the critical acclaimed Bastion, Transistor is a smart action-RPG that places all of its trust into your intelligence. Nothing from its sci-fi story rife with mysteries to its deep combat that encourages experimentation, is ever spelled out for you. The highlight of the game however is the combination of its gorgeous visuals and powerful music to convey the narrative and tone, driving the story forward. You are a Red, a nightclub singer at the lowest point in her life.
You are given a big sword and your adventure slowly unfolds through the cyberpunk city of Cloudbank. In the end, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system. But it is the beautiful details that make it more than that, they make it a game with a soul.
PAPERS PLEASE Papers Please is a puzzle game that focuses on the emotional toll of working as an immigration officer, deciding who to let in and who to exclude from entering the fictional dystopian country of Arstotzka. If you want a game truly about choices, look no further than this one. There is nothing video-gamey about these moral choices, as there is no A = good and B = evil binaries. Instead, it merely asks questions and lets you answer them according to your own morals. I have learned things about myself from this game. The design is tight, fast-paced, intense, stressful, and somehow fun all at one time.
June 2014 27