Tapping away, hope to get some Singapore posts on soon,  but while you're waiting, here's another little teaser, this time the Colour splashes of Little India, Singapore.  

Ok, while I fight off my writers doubt and tap dance across the keyboard, and get my posts up to speed on our latest fling to Singapore. . .  I can't stop staring at the photos and wistfully wishing I was back there - and I've only been home 24hours . . .   I've made a little video of beautiful Haji Lane to tease, not just you, but me.  I can never get enough of this edgy, eclectic little  hot-spot of the 'Little Red Dot'.

This morning I changed my regular morning-walk route which takes me past massive fig trees and under bursting poincianas in my tiny plateau village to an amble through the quiet back lanes of my area's major regional town of Lismore.

It's been a while since I popped into the 'Wok'  as downtown Lismore is (un)affectionally named but I wanted to get in some last minute xmas shopping before both the temperature and the pressie buying stress heated up, and as such it had also been quite some time since I last viewed the murals of Lismore's very muched loved (but still a little unknown)  "Back Alley Gallery" in Eggins Lane.

It never ceases to amaze me the talent, vibrancy, passion and the very weird thoughts that swirl through the veins of artists and burst out from them to dazzle, delight and perplex our minds as we take in their creations and swim through the emotions they evoke in us. 

Winners of the   "Facebook- Like, Share and Follow" draw for 3 Double Packs of Buddhas, Bombs and the Babu  were drawn today - Saturday 10th December.

The winners are -

YAY!!!  Congratulations to them all. 

Each have won a double pack of the book
Buddhas, Bombs and the Babu
a Donna Sharam Card - Tusita Heaven
BBB Postcards and Bookmarks and Bag.

Thank you to everyone who entered and liked, shared and followed my facebook page.

To be in the running to win a Buddhas, Bombs and the Babu pack for you and a friend just in time for Christmas and the holiday reading season

Pack includes a copy of Buddhas, Bombs and the Babu, a Donna Sharam Art Gallery card of Tusita Heaven, BBB postcards and bookmarks and a cute little bag.

Winners will be picked in a very scientific and scrutinised way - drawn from a hat by two very serious (and adorable) judgettes - my too cute grandbubbas.

There are 3 Double Packs to win.

I need to say thank you to a turkey for reminding me of something very important - celebrating my book's birthday; it was 1 year old this month.

What has a turkey got to do with my book you may ask?  afterall, I'm not American, nor do I follow the Thanksgiving  tradition and my book is about stumbling around Nepal, not running away from someone wielding an axe or tips on the best turkey basting recipes.

for something that might seem small and insignificant, like being loaned a book or for a great cup of coffee, to me such activities remind me to be grateful not just for the generosity of others, but also appreciating the work done by others; even if they are being paid to do it. (there are some jobs I never want to do, and  I’m always grateful for good coffee - especially as I'm a hopeless at it. ) 

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 "I've never liked housework.  I get by doing little chores when I feel like them, in between paintings. Who wants to chase dust all their life? You can spend your whole lifetime cleaning the house. I like watching the patina grow. If the house looks dirty, buy another bunch of flowers, is my advice."

                                                                 Margaret Olley.  "Far From a Still Life" by Meg Stewart.

Very excited today to see an article I wrote is now in the wonderful (and very beautiful) on-line travel magazine "Inside Himalayas".   
                                                                                                         Please, enjoy the read.

Shafts of soft light filter into the dusky inner sanctum, illuminating unfurling incense tendrils, their haze slightly obscuring the fading dharmachakra images and murals imprinted across the temple’s ancient walls. Dropping ngultrum notes into the bowl, I bow my head with hands in contemplation pose, waiting for the wang (blessing) to be bestowed upon me; one that I’m fervently praying will never come true at my age. The monk raises his hand and lightly ‘bops’ me on the head. I have been fertility-blessed by a boned phallus.
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Last week, I had the absolute pleasure to  sit down and chat with Australian Artist - Donna Sharam at her studio in the historical NSW North Coast village of Clunes,  about the inspiration behind the stunning image she painted for the cover of my book - Buddhas, Bombs and the Babu.  

Sitting on her verandah, overlooking lush valleys and surrounded by vibrant artworks -and the occasional cluck of chickens- Donna shared with me how her passion for trees and colour imbued perfectly with the essence of the Bodhi tree and Nepal's rich vitality for life.  Her interpretation of my memories of Nepal,  and how she expresses them so vividly in the form of this most sacred of trees, the Bodhi, was indeed a humbling  experience for me.

 I have always loved her vibrant artworks - images that have always filled my soul with immense joy when I see them -  and I could not believe how  lucky I was, and privileged,  to have my publisher, Brolga Publishing Australia approach Donna Sharam to create the image - Tusita Heaven.   

As I wrote in my acknowledgements : I am overwhelmed beyond breath by the beautiful Bodhi tree image . . .  representative of awakening, strength and family roots, its swirl of vitality, colour and joy carries me back to the essence of Nepal. 
                                                                                                                Thank you Donna.