My Year of Second-hand

Why we should reduce, reuse and recycle

The one thing we ought to know about fashion trends is that everything inevitably repeats itself.

I walked through a shopping centre in Sydney recently, all five floors of consumer driven, capitalising retailers. Shops separated into categories; clothes, jewelry, shoes, more clothes, more jewelry, more shoes. Sale and clearance signs drawing consumers in like moths to streetlights, ready to put another dent in their credit cards.

Looking at this abundance of shops and this abundance of things I started to wonder how much consumption we as human beings could actually go through. When did we forget to draw a line between a want and a need? And when, if ever, would we begin to investigate the impact of our mass consumerism?

A want, by definition, is the desire to possess something; a need, by definition, is to require something because it is essential. With women’s clothing the cheapest that it’s been in 25 years the desire to spoil yourself with a new outfit can be appealing, but the fact is that these desires just result in an endless cycle of keeping up with trends, in order to wear the same garment that tens of thousands of people around the world are wearing.

Our addiction to consumerism is affecting the world we live in. Cotton requires a global average of 11,000 litres of water per kilogram to produce and nearly 20% of the world’s pesticides are sprayed on cotton crops. To add to this, almost 25% of unusable cotton will eventually end up in landfill. Is the desire to follow so called ‘trends’ so great that we are ignorant to its impact?

It is for these reasons, as well as my own curiosity, that this year I have decided to go second hand, reduce my carbon footprint, and support local and international organisations that have a positive impact in the world. This means that all the clothes that I purchase this year (no this does not include underwear) will be secondhand purchases. A majority of the unwanted clothes that result from our mass consumerism are resold at second-hand stores or passed on to charity organisations. Perfectly good, sometimes brand new, ex-impulse buys that once sat unused in our closets, perhaps worn on one or two separate occasions as an example of keeping up with ‘trends’.

A single Smith Family sorting centre in New South Wales sorts 10,000 tonnes of donated clothing each year, which is just a small example of how much unwanted clothes are in our closets. Next time, instead of heading to a retailer to stock your closet full of more new clothes why not consider scouring your local op shop for a unique, trendy garment. In doing so you are reducing your environmental impact as well as supporting these amazing organisations that support so many Australian families in need. After all, what can be trendier than that?

Follow me on Instagram @be_where_you_want_to_be #myyearofsecondhand

#connected

If the hash-tag were a person it would surely have been the unpopular kid in school that no one really took any notice of and then, years later, grow up to become one of the most well known influential people in the world earning thousands of dollars a minute like Bill Gates.  

Where did this phenomenon come from? This symbol that at one point in time was only used as the lazy persons replacement for the word 'number' and barely received any recognition in comparison to it's counterparts 'exclamation mark' and 'ampersand'. All of a sudden, sometime in the new millennium after being around for aeons before that, this once neglected key was now appearing on Twitter feeds, Facebook feeds and Instagram worldwide, launching to fame quicker than Justin Bieber. 

There's probably not a person out there who at one point in time didn't question why, when or where the hash-tag came from. In fact, in the beginning it was not so well received by users and has only now started to gain worldwide momentum seven years after it was first originated. The official use of the hash-tag is to assist in categorising content used on social media. It works by making a connection between the word that proceeds the hash-tag and any other like words posted on any other social media platforms. e.g. a #connect will match any other #connect's in the world wide web.

Using hash-tags for specific topics can become quite useful and save users a lot of time searching through pages and pages of content, however I believe the hash-tag has a more significant meaning - it connects people. 

It is a symbol that represents connection in an era where the world is more connected than it has ever been throughout it's entire existence. One symbol has allowed millions of people around the world to share their stories, gain knowledge of what's important to them, find information on subjects or issues affecting their countries or cities. People have been able to find connections with others, they have been able to understand that they are not suffering alone and that maybe somewhere in this huge world someone out there has been through the same experiences as they have. 

I talk about being in a world where we are more connected than ever, however ironically, in this same world we are more disconnected than ever. We are in a world where our digital connection outshines our physical one. We are so tied to routine and driven by the hands of time that the only physical connections we maintain are in our immediate social circles. We often put the effort to explore outside these social circles in the 'too difficult' basket. We look at the people outside these circles like weird strangers with a hidden agenda. Little do we know that out there in this world full of individuals just like us there are people who can add value to our lives in many ways, we just need to let them in.

Fundamentally all humans value connection which is why the hash-tag is such an important symbol in today's era. It's time to open up to the world around us, speak to a person you usually wouldn't speak to, follow a hash-tag connection, create a hash-tag connection and network with like minded individuals, for it's within the connection of individuals that real social change can happen. 

It's time to get #connected. 

Cambodia - Part 1

The search to make a difference

In my short youthful time on this earth I have come to learn that I possess the mindset of a dreamer, or as some may say 'has her head in the clouds'. I love being a dreamer. I wouldn't want to be anything else, because it is through these abundance of dreams, perhaps too many dreams, that I have created a path for myself which has led me to many wonderful, cultural places all over the world. Places that I would have never thought possible to see nor had I thought possible to exist. Places that have opened my eyes, stolen my heart and left me with hope, bewilderment, unforgettable memories and amazing friends. I have met inspiring and encouraging people that have unknowingly changed my life and helped me to achieve things that I never knew possible and now my whimsical dream of changing the world has bought me here, to the kingdom of Cambodia. An ancient, mysterious, tropical destination in the middle of South East Asia, bordered by Vietnam, Thailand, Laos and the South China Sea.

Cambodia is a country that is still in 'developing' status due to it's dark and violent history as well as significantly high levels of corruption. With recent statistics showing that Cambodia is, in fact, the most corrupt of all countries in Asia (www.transparency.org). These factors play a crucial part in slowing the process of growth and progression for Cambodia, from a 'developing' to a 'developed' country.

When you hear about the dark and violent history of Cambodia you can truly understand why the country has only recently began to show growth. From 1970 to 1974 Cambodia wore the brunt of the Vietnam war becoming a battlefield for the US and Vietnam soldiers. During the war American Bombers were dropped on Cambodian soil and took the lives of many innocent people while fuelling rage amongst the citizens which would later influence them to join the Khmer Rouge guerrilla movement, one of the worst genocides in recent history. From 1975 - 1978 nearly 25% of the Cambodian population were killed under the reign of Pol Pot. He was an admirer of communism and envisioned a country that would be removed of all western innovations, where everyone would be converted to peasants and where capitalism would be obsolete. This meant that all during his reign all educated people, Buddhists, Monks, Engineers, Teachers and anyone who lived in the cities would be sentenced to death. In these short three years the country witnessed what one would describe as horrific genocide and it wasn't until January of 1979 that the reign was overpowered. With the first democratic elections held in 1993, it was only from then on that the people of Cambodia could live in peace. 

With the country in 'developing' status it has become a well known ground for NGO's. Many large organisations have set up here to combat the common issues that developing countries face such as malaria, poverty and hunger, with some big names such as Angelina Jolie and Bill Gates putting Cambodia in the spotlight. Amongst these larger organisations there are also hundreds of smaller organisations here to help the people of Cambodia grow and achieve self sustainability. They provide all sorts of services, from training and development, to medical and education. Many of the organisations are founded by ex-pats who came here with the same mindset as I had come here for, to make a difference. Now their organisations provide many jobs and services and contribute to this growing economy. During my stay I make it a priority to dine at the abundance of restaurants and cafes run by NGO's. They are relatively easy to come across through Trip Advisor or word of mouth and each time I set myself down in one of the countless NGO run businesses I indulge in a great meal or a great experience while knowing I'm contributing to something greater. 

I call Siem Reap home for the next 10 days. I have chosen Siem Reap, as opposed to Phnom Penh (the capitol), simply because of the fact that it is a less developed city. For example, there are no high rises and a lot less traffic congestion however it still has a high tourism presence and holds many characteristics unique to a popular tourist destination, such as vast varieties of restaurants and cuisines, many hotels and guest houses ranging from 5 to 1 star, markets for the hagglers and of course the dozens of tuk-tuks and motorbikes that line the streets waiting to pounce on the next tourist wandering curiously through the city. It is, after all, the gateway to the ancient Angkor Wat temples and many people come here to witness the beauty of this ancient wonder of the world. 

Before I had left Australia, I had emailed a few schools and orphanages to see if my newly founded NGO could provide assistance. It's not easy coming to a foreign place and trusting a complete stranger but I felt as though if I was going to go ahead with my good will I may have to jump in the deep end just this once and hope for the best. What made it especially difficult is the unfortunate set up of 'fake' orphanages for generating profits from tourists. I had to be wary of the people I spoke to in order not to be scammed. It was a sad reminder of the kind of corruption and exploitation that goes on in this part of the world and how some will resort to terrible measures in order to make money.

My jumping in the deep end landed me at a small orphanage on the outskirts of Siem Reap. The tuk-tuk drove me from my guest house along the one main road through Siem Reap, a two lane tarmac road shared by motorbikes, cars, trucks, bicycles and tuk tuks, each one beeping to notify the other that they are going to overtake. I don't think road rules exist in this part of the world but everyone seems to manage to successfully avoid collision, setting up their own set of road rules that consist of beeping horns and flashing lights. We turn off down a dirt track towards the local villages to a place where fifty+ children call home. The Sok Cambodia Orphanage. 

Mr Sok, who was orphaned as a young child, had been running the orphanage for the last 9 years with the help of friends in countries such as Australia, America and Austria. In 2013 he pursued his passion and opened a free school for the children in under privileged villages outside of town, housing volunteer English and Japanese teachers who pass through on vacation or gap years. Many of the children in the villages outside of Siem Reap come from very poor families and to have a school to go to where food and education is provided is a blessing for them. I quickly become fond of the work Mr Sok is doing as well as all the children living in the orphanage and decide to spend my days finding more about what life is like for them.

The children come from various villages outside Siem Reap. Some have lost both parents, some only one. Some have had their parents leave for Thailand in order to find work due to the limited industries in Siem Reap, especially when their main income comes from rice which is only harvested six months of the year in the rainy season.  For the parents of these children, if they are not harvesting out in the fields in the scorching hot sun, some spend their days drinking rice wine, mustering up what they can sell for money. Fruits, crickets, insects and dogs are some of the things that they will sell in order to provide for their families. Those that have found work in the city often take a two hour bicycle ride there and back. It is a hard life for some of these families in the villages but the fact is that 70% of Cambodians live in villages like these. They live with the bare essentials, no electricity, limited access to wholesome foods and medical treatment. It's a life so different from our own. It's a vision of the past for us.

What I find to be most humbling though, is that no matter what background the children come from, they are so eager to learn. I see it in their faces when I watch them at the school and when I had the privilege of teaching my own class. Even though they have basic resources, they still ride their bikes, or even walk to the school just to watch and listen and learn. Unfortunately there are not enough volunteer teachers so the classes are usually at mixed levels but even still, the younger children sit at the back, eyes and ears wide open writing what they can in their books, some knowing as much as year six maths and some barely knowing their ABC. It is here where I see the importance of education and where I see the future of Cambodia. Through the eyes of these innocent, curious, eager children I see the new generation of Cambodia, a generation without the harsh obstacles those have faced in previous decades. 

I feel a connection to this country, this wondrous place with so much hope for the future and with so much support from the world and now from me. I want to be a part of their journey, I want to see the beautiful people grow and thrive through education and innovation so that one day, when these hopeful children grow to become teachers, and doctors and entrepreneurs, I can look back at this journey and simply smile. 

If you want to find out more about my organisation and what we do please follow us at www.facebook.com/fromauswlove or visit our website www.fromauswithlove.com.au

Borneo

Discovering Borneo's secrets

You know you've ventured closer to the equator when you walk out of the aeroplane doors and feel the hot air hit your face like you've just opened the oven after cooking a roast dinner. I get the same feeling every time I travel this part of the world, and I love it a little bit more each time. Hello again Asia, you beautiful, cultural, unique, humid continent. Nice to see you again...

This years adventure has bought me to a place which, unlike it's neighbouring Asian countries such as The Philippines or Thailand, is relatively juvenile to the tourism industry and is still quite a unique, unknown destination to much of the western world. In fact it wasn't until I booked this trip that I learned Borneo is an island, not it's own country, who's area covers three separate countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei. Over recent years tourism has increased and Borneo has started to become a place people are talking about. It's exposure is partly due to the increased awareness of the unique wildlife that inhabits the island and the island's dense rainforests and beautiful mountains. However this thriving natural island surrounded by four seas also has a dark side, having attracted unwanted attention for it's devastating deforestation and pollution of the habitat of it's wildlife for Palm Oil exportation.

So I am here, as an adventurous and curious tourist, to witness the unique wildlife and beautiful rainforests of Borneo, and also shed some light on the truths about Borneo's dark side. What better way to do so then to visit a Turtle conservation centre, an Orang-utan and Sun Bear rehabilitation centre and the Kinabatangan wildlife sanctuary, an area of 8000 hectares of protected rainforest.  

We arrive in Sandakan, a medium size, developing city on the Eastern coast of Borneo. I stare out the window of the 30 ringett ($10) taxi ride to the main city, taking in my new surroundings and wondering what kind of experiences this part of Malaysia has to offer me. The scenery is a mixture of incomplete buildings, mostly pastel yellows and blues, as well as housing estates and the occasional advertising billboard. Small areas of tropical forests surround the buildings and construction sites and there is debris on the sides of the roads from the developments. You can see that a lot of emphasis has been put into the upgrade of this harbour side city of Sandakan, which will be our main gateway to the next destinations.The first destination being Selingan Island Turtle conservation centre.

Leaving the Sim Sim jetty, off the harbour of Sandakan, I was exposed to the all too familiar sight of pollution. Plastic bottles, chip packets and plastic bags floated in the water as we made our way out into the open Sulu Sea and towards the Turtle conservation centre. The pollution most likely made its way there from the bustling harbour side city or the countless traditional stilt houses that line the coast of Sandakan. It's a sight that I have seen before, especially in cities along the coast of Asia and it's never easy to understand how it's possible for our species to show such lack of consideration for the environment we live in. Never the less, we head further out to sea, the ocean gets deeper, the water gets cleaner and I can see Selingan Island in the not too far distance. Ironically, only a 45 minute boat ride from the polluted harbour, there lies an area of government protected ocean. An area of ocean that prohibits any kind of fishing and only allows a certain number of tourists and boats through each day, a sanctuary for the Green Sea Turtle. 

We come to this part of Borneo to witness first hand one of the miracles of mother nature. The sea surrounding these three small islands is one of the passageways of the Green Sea Turtle, a majestic creature who has been known to have been around since prehistoric times and is known to have a life expectancy exceeding 100 years. For reasons unknown they have used these three small islands as a nesting ground to lay their eggs and the islands have now become a safe sanctuary for these prehistoric creatures. 

As night time falls, the mother turtles make the tedious journey from the safe seas up onto the shore and inland to find a place to lay their eggs. Using their front flippers they shovel sand to make a hole for their eggs and drift off into a trance while bringing young life into the world. We only disturb one mother on the night and follow the regulations of the centre. It's a truly amazing sight to witness as the mother lays a total of 57 eggs. On any given night thousands of eggs can be laid on the shores of the islands and on the same night thousands of baby hatchlings can be released. The conservation centre gathers the eggs each night and moves them to a safe sanctuary to ensure the highest possibilities of survival, keeping them away from predators such as water dragons and birds. The highlight of the night is when we are able to witness the release of the baby hatchlings back into the wild. Hundreds of little turtles, no bigger than the palm on my small hands, make their way back into the ocean for the dangerous journey ahead. From here on in their chance of survival is minimal, but with the help of the centre the turtles get the opportunity for life and the chance to grow into adults, spend years roaming the oceans of the earth and eventually return to this safe sanctuary to lay eggs of their own and continue the existence of their kind. 

We leave the Selingan Island Turtle conservation centre to visit the Sepilok Orang-utan rehabilitation centre and it gets me pondering the relationship between conservation and the destruction of habitat that has been putting Borneo in the media spotlight. I think about the numerous articles I have seen about Palm Oil and the outing of companies that are using the substance in their products. Visiting Sepilok only feeds my curious mind and makes me want to explore the other side of the story and find answers to my many questions, but before I get too caught up in the politics I take advantage of the opportunity to see these cheeky, solitary, human-like apes in their natural habitat. After all, they are the face of Borneo.

Feeding time is at 10am and again at 3pm. The apes are quite punctual and arrive right on time for the tropical fruit buffet, swinging from the ropes attached to the surrounding trees. They swing like a child presenting a gymnastics performance, first hanging off one hand, then two, then perhaps upside-down with their feet gripping the rope. It's an entertaining performance to say the least. They eventually make their way to the feeding platform, all the while playing and swinging, not at all fazed by the man handing out the fruits. The cheeky Macaques try to sneak some of the food however the overpowering Orang-utans show them who's in charge and they scatter off waiting for the leftover scraps. 

I stare at their childlike eyes, round faces and reddish brown coloured hair and I try to get some good snap shots while they are temporarily still, peeling Bananas and figs and sucking the juices of the oranges while leaving the peel behind. They have been bought here from other forests around Borneo, perhaps from injury or loss of habitat, so that they are able to thrive in the area of protected forest and one day be released back to where they came from. I think of how they came to be at the centre and how anyone could ever want to hurt such a beautiful creature. It brings me back to the relationship between conservation, destruction of habitat and the role we play as humans. 

Across from Sepilok there is another area of forest, home to the protected native Bear of Borneo, the Sun Bear. These cute creatures, one of the smallest known bears, have been rescued from being orphaned or captive and are bought here for care and rehabilitation. Unfortunately some of these Bears were found being used as pets or being sold on the black market so I am happy to find that they have set up such a place where they can be taken care of and eventually be released to the wild. It's feeding time and the small bears come out to rummage through the scattered food scraps. The area of forest is very big to ensure they have as close experience to the wild as possible and from the viewing platform you can see them in their truest form. Some sitting on the hind legs, tending to an itch with their long claws. So long in fact, that they can climb to the tops of the tallest trees. Others playfully wrestle with each other and as they raise their heads you can see the circular beige patch of hair under their necks resembling the round sun, hence the name 'Sun Bear'. 

It's nice to see that there are places like these who are providing care and conservation to the beautiful species that inhabit this world. The harsh realities are the reasons why we need places like these in the first place. As a dominant species in this world we exploit resources for our own reproduction and survival. This has been going on for years and most likely for years to come. In order for our species to thrive and reproduce we use up the earth's resources and resort to destructive measures in order to do so, creating a continual cycle of destruction and conservation. The good news is that through education and awareness, conservation has become an integral part of the economy especially for areas such as Borneo, where conservation brings in jobs, tourism, and ongoing revenues. 

I can only voice my opinion based on the short time I have spent in this beautiful part of the world. I know the media makes us believe what it wants us to believe, whether or not it is the exact truth, or the truth exaggerated. I know that Palm Oil deforestation in Borneo is real. I know that Nigeria, The Philippines and Honduras have deforestation rates that highly exceed the rates of Borneo. If we look at these countries and their socio-economic status we start to see that perhaps their need for deforestation is purely a means of survival and growth. Not to say that this is excusable however it is another factor to be considered. There is over 7 million hectares of protected rainforest and wildlife sanctuaries in Borneo. So the silver lining is that the issue is being acknowledged and through continued education, awareness and conservation perhaps one day in the near future we can learn to utilise the earth's resources not only for the survival of our own species but for the survival of every species. 

It was now time to visit one of the many protected wildlife sanctuaries that I had been so inquisitive about, the lower Kinabatangan River Wildlife Sanctuary. The river is a stretch of 560km that connects the Sulu Sea to the mountains of Sabah, making it the second longest river in Malaysia. As we enter the estuary of the river the water becomes murky brown and to each side of us lies kilometres of dense rainforest. Only a few small villages inhabit this part of the world, with a minimal population of around 200 people per village. We stay in the Abai Jungle Lodge, traditional cabins across the river from the Abai village, set up by a local tour company. In the afternoon we get the opportunity to plant trees in the open clearing of Forest. I dig a small hole and place a young sapling in the ground. In 8 years time this young sapling will grow into a fruit bearing tree to feed the next generation if inhabitants. It may seem like a long time but each tourist that comes here gets the chance to plant a tree and ensure the conservation of this environment. Even our tour guide informs me he has planted over two hundred trees in his career. 

After our contribution to the forest, we embark on a cruise up the river in a small open-top river boat. As afternoon falls, the temperature starts to get cooler and many of the forest's inhabitants migrate to the waters edge which allows for some great wildlife spotting in this untouched wilderness. A place where the wild Bornean Elephants roam, Proboscis monkeys jump from tree-top to tree-top, Crocodiles lay still under the mangroves, the solitary Orang-utans make their nests and the Kingfishers and Hornbills watch over the forest with the best views of all.

As the sun sets over the mangroves, the sky paints colours of purple and pink and the sounds of cicadas take over. The trees become still as the forest goes to sleep and the only lights to be seen are from the fireflies who take refuge in the trees by the banks of the river, flickering exquisitely like hundreds of small Christmas lights. We sit in our boat in complete darkness listening to the sounds of the jungle and in this serene moment I look up into the sky and see the natural shimmer of thousands of stars. It's these precise moments that feed my love of travel. Borneo you are truly amazing. 

Special thanks to S.I. Tours who provided such a great experience for us. I highly recommend them if you are interested in travelling to Borneo.

http://sitoursborneo.com/borneo/

The world of Couchsurfing

Once upon a time the idea of letting a complete stranger into your home was uncanny. Let alone letting a complete stranger into your home, sleep on your couch, have a beer with you and sit down at the dinner table with you exchanging stories of foreign places and teaching each other different languages.

Couchsurfing began in 1999 when a traveler named Casey Fenton was traveling to Iceland and needed a place to stay. He emailed 1,500 students in Reykjavik asking for a place to crash--even on someone's couch. The result of this was a network of friends who offered to show Casey what it was like to ‘live like the locals’ and immerse him in the Reykjavik culture. Couchsurfing has now grown into a worldwide network of over five million like-minded adventurous travelers and continues to grow.

The Couchsurfing website, as with any other social networks, allows members to create events and meet-ups and connect with people from around the world. It allows surfers and hosts to create profiles, friend others, join groups and list references in order to leave an online trail of integrity. Every month the hosts and surfers create a local social event to meet and greet the people that could potentially be hosting their homes to these adventurous, worldly strangers. I was lucky enough to recently attend one of these events in my hometown of Sydney.  

I walked up the stairs of one of Sydney’s famous local pubs and headed to the rooftop terrace. I bypassed a sign ‘Reserved for Couch Surfers’ thinking “Now there’s something you don’t see every day”. As I got closer to the roof I could hear the profusion of voices and the affluence of different accents from all over the world. In my first 5 minutes I meet a Graphic Designer from California, a builder from Edinburgh and an Accountant from Columbia.

We share tales of life abroad, strange and exotic destinations, dreams and aspirations and the challenges and perks of becoming an expat. In one night my imagination is captivated by wanderlust, my network of friends expands from national to international and we are already busy planning the next gathering which entails visiting parts of my own city that I cease to acknowledge due to the fact they have become too familiar to me.

The idea of Couchsurfing is not only to help people find a place to stay but rather to create a community of friends and networks which can come in handy for when you are visiting a foreign country. Those who have traveled know the uncertainty of visiting a new and foreign place, especially when you’re going alone. It certainly has its challenges and it is communities like these that allow us to use the resources available to us to connect with one another.  The Internet is a tool for social change and connection and I think that the Couchsurfing community is a prime example of this.

Whether you are looking to get outside the walls of commonality and travel abroad, learn another language, immerse yourself in new culture or just looking to expend your network of friends then take advantage of some of the many tools available in order to do so.

Carpe diem!

www.couchsurfing.org