February's Best Bits

Holy moley guys! It's been a long while since I've sat down to do a 'Best Bits' post. Actually, it's been a while since I've sat down to do any post period. So its the last day of Summer here in Aus, and ironically its pouring down rain outside. Needless to say, times are a-chanign. I'm back into the full-time swing of things now, which means order and routine (just saying those words aloud is incredibly soothing!). 

I've just started my fifth year of Uni and I can't tell you how great it feels to be sitting on the other side of the hump. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel and its seemed to have kicked me into serious study mode. For the last four years, at the start of each semester I would have a little conversation with myself that went something like this... "Hey Kaish, you know how last semester you were super stressed and fell behind a lot??? Well you can beat that by actually doing your readings and turning up to class!". It was less than motivational, but it would work for the first three weeks or so. But eventually I would start to lose my way. Up until now I've always classed it as some sort of inevitability. And I'm sure a lot of other students would be in the same boat here. So this year I started my classes without the little self-pity pep talk. I walked in like any other student, sat down and worked. Just really worked. Truth is, instead of giving myself the five minute speech like every other year, I used my entire Summer to prepare myself. I had days out with my family, and nights out with my friends. I used my weekends to have some amazing experiences, and midweek to hang out with my boy. Not a single day was wasted. And it had the effect of changing my outlook completely. So now when I am knee deep in essays and research papers, and the entire world looks as if they have more free time than I, I can remember my Summer and say 'Well I've done some really great things too'. I've never started a semester feeling this great. 

Getting back to the topic at hand, here are some of the amazing things I've done this month...

February really kicked off with a bang! Or should I say a roar...? Because at the very start of the month Joel and I were lucky enough to have a sleepover at Sydney's Taronga Zoo at an event they call 'Roar & Snore'. It was one of the most surreal experiences I have ever had to date, and the animal encounters are something I have just not been able to stop talking about all month! I won't go into too much detail, you can read all about it in my post here. Lets just say that Joel and I will be saving our pennies to do the same thing at their sister Zoo in Dubbo later this year.

February seemed to be the month for pushing my own boundaries and challenging myself to new experiences. I conquered my fear of heights by learning how to swing on a Circus Trapeze (read here) and participated in a day long Photography course with one of Sydney's top photographers. Both were incredibly difficult at first, but I think in the end my love for learning came through to save the day and I really enjoyed myself. I was supposed to learn how to make Sushi last weekend just to finish the month off, but sadly I had to miss out on that one. 

Learning shutter speeds at Archibald Fountain...

And aperture settings... 

And taking accidental photos of the ground...

Speaking of pushing boundaries!!! I also had the rare opportunity to help out one of my best friends with one of her Make Up Course assessments. When I initially volunteered myself, I just thought that she would be applying makeup to my face. You know, the regular stuff. Oh boy was I wrong. I quickly learnt that the module she needed me for entailed body paint! Full body paint! I had my reservations at first, but I've long trusted in her skills and creativity and the end result was beyond amazing. I would show you all some photos, but you can understand why I'm not going to. Ha! 

I loved February most for the amount of quality time Joel and I got to spend together. His birthday fell within the first week and I used this as an excuse to take him out to a lovely Japanese restaurant that we had never been to before. We each got dressed up and drove into the city for a lovely meal by the beach. Over the course of two hours, we had ordered a range of absolutely beautiful dishes and went home with two rather full belly's.

Valentines day was exactly a week after Joel's birthday, so we got dressed up and once again headed into the city. I like to describe our date as "a Valentine of a different kind", as we decided to spend the night at an event called Jurassic Lounge held at the Australian Museum. On a regular night you can expect to find a world of different art, music, culture and what knot. But since it was Valentines Day, the people at Jurassic Lounge decided to throw an Anti-Valentines Day party, with various activities to reflect this theme. There was a section for Speed-Hating and another for Anti-Valentines Day card making. We skipped out on those, but even in the four hours we were there we didn't get to see everything! We began our night by sitting in on a lovely set by Fanny Lumsden who set the mood for the evening with her beautiful folksy tunes. After this, we decided to share our date with a bunch of prehistoric creatures. We took photos with Dinosaurs and marvelled at those now extinct. We stood in awe at some of the shots that made this years Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition, and partied in a silent disco. We walked through a hall of skeletons, and listened briefly to Museum Expert Dan Bickel talk about the world of Insects. At the end of the night, we played retro games like Connect-4 and Ping Pong while we listened to a few comedians tell their best break up stories. Overall it was a super exciting night, and its definitely something I would recommend all Sydney-siders check out! Besides, if that isn't the worlds most interesting Valentines date, than I don't know what is!?

Definitely my favourite photo of the night!!! 

Tomorrow is a new month and a new season, and I really doubt that its going to be able to live up to the amazing February I've just had. But you know what, I really don't mind if it doesn't.

These guys have just become my new best friends!

What did you love most about February?

Did you have any crazy new experiences? 

Oh Valentine

via

I've just finished putting together the gift I'm going to give Joel for Valentines Day tomorrow and it has inspired me to do a little Valentines related post. Now, I'm kind of a fence sitter when it comes to V Day. On one hand, I like to think that I am against the Hallmark holiday all together, saying things like 'it's a lame consumerist holiday' and 'who does society think they are telling me which day I am supposed to express my love for whomever with gifts'... But on the other, much sweeter hand, my heart turns to absolute mush seeing all the beautiful flowers and reading sappy Valentines sentiments.

This time last year, Joel and I shared our very first Valentines. Not knowing my thoughts on the day, Joel gave me a beautiful yellow chrysanthemum and wrote me a lovely card signed by his dog Bronx. And these are the kind of Valentines Day sentiments I have come to love. The out of the ordinary, completely alternative Valentine. Not the, 'oh you're my girlfriend/boyfriend so I better pick you up some roses on my way home' Valentine. Is the age old tradition of buying your partner a dozen overpriced red roses really romantic? A symbol of love that is only going to die in three days time? Or what about those horrible oversized Teddy bears with the 'I WUV U' written across their stomach? I'm sorry, but since when is incorrect spelling and grammar ever cute!? Maybe if there were to be some witty pun involved? Okay enough of the cynical me...

Anyway, for this Valentines Day I've decided to keep with our slightly askew Valentines tradition by selecting a not so typical gift and arranging for us both to enjoy a not so typical evening. You'll have to check back later in the week to see!

In the meantime, I've browsed through my iTunes and selected some of the loveliest songs that I feel are very V Day appropriate. Especially Best Coast, because now I'm all giddy inside! 

I hope everyone enjoys their day tomorrow, be it Valentines Day or just your regular Tuesday.

Roar & Snore

Joel and I had the most amazing experience last Thursday night! Joel's Mum did some searching and gifted him a voucher for Christmas which meant that we were lucky enough to camp out overnight at Sydney's Taronga Zoo for an event they call 'Roar and Snore'. For two animal lovers, a visit to the zoo doesn't get much better than this! 

It's been such horrible weather here in Sydney for the past month or so, so we had our reservations about actually attending the Roar and Snore on our specified date. In the end though, Joel and I decided that the rain was only going to be a problem for us if we let it. That didn't stop us from stacking up on raincoats, hats, boots and umbrellas! 

I think these Asian Elephants were the only ones enjoying the rain!

Some of the others were clearly upset with the dismal weather!

We arrived at the Zoo at 5.30pm (wayyy too early) and waited with a few other campers for our hosts to greet us. Once we got to the communal tent, we were shown to our personal sleeping quarters - fully decked out tents with lights and electricity!! We were served beer and wine and fantastic welcome platters of carrot sticks and celery. It was here that we were introduced to our first lot of animal friends. Friends of the scaly kind. Each of the four keepers bought out a native Australian animal for us to meet. We felt the smooth skin of a Diamond Python and Shingleback Lizard (you know the one that looks as if its tail could be a second head), and got to see a little long neck Turtle poke his head out of his shell. Growing up having Lizards, Snakes and Turtles as pets, I was happy to take a step back and watch all the kids in the group ask fascinating questions. Besides, I was probably too busy enjoying my wine and gazing at the breath taking Harbour views anyway.  

Following this, we had a fantastic dinner and set off on our guided Night Safari tour of the zoo. Now this wasn't my first time to Taronga, but it was my first time walking around with a torch and playing hide & seek with the animals. It was interesting to see how some were definitely more active at dusk, while others were more than happy to find a warm dry spot to snuggle up for the night. I think this part of the experience would have been a thousand times better but for the rain. But it didn't matter, we still had the chance to hear some great stories about where each of the animals had come from, who they were breeding with, and where they were going to go next. As well as some tales of their individual personality quirks! Unfortunately we were unable to take any photos at this stage (we can't blind them!). 

We arrived back our tents around 11pm and it was time for bed. Joel insisted that we sleep with our door open and make the most of the fresh Harbour air. While he was asleep within minutes, I sat there wide eyed listening to all the animal noises around me. I barely slept that night, and I know I didn't because I kept checking the time on my phone. I must have slept a little though, because I remember having a dream about how the keepers decided to set Joel and I up to sleep in the Sea Bear exhibit, but forgot to take the bear out!!! I managed to escape unscathed though. 

We had an early start the next day. After a quick breakfast and three cups of coffee (because of my lack of sleep) we headed out for our first behind the scenes tour. We trekked around the zoo until we reached the Giraffe exhibit. Here, we were greeted by a lovely keeper man who opened the gate and ushered us in. He taught us a lot about the Giraffes, including their prevalence in the wild, their breeding habits and their specific dietary needs. Then we were lucky enough to feed them! After each having a turn feeding them with our hands, there were some carrots left over and Joel thought it wise to feed one with his mouth. I'm kicking myself now that I was unable to take a photo quick enough, but then I did as well. Just to prove our story!

Following this the group was led to a classroom where we were able to get up close and personal with some of Australia's furriest friends. We met a sleepy little Possum, a Quokka and a quirky Koala. The keepers gave a talk about the importance of preserving the environment for these guys, and it was so great to hear that the kids in the group had all the right answers when it came to being environmentally responsible.

Our next behind the scenes experience took us to the Seal Show arena. Here we were introduced to a lovely male New Zealand Fur Seal named Mav. He was such a charming young seal and was quick to show us just how smart he really is. Mav was treated to a tasty fish breakfast and let us all give him a pat! 

The entire experience was also a great way to learn about Conservation. Joel and I are already pretty strong anti Palm Oil advocates, and have long since cut the horrid substance from our regular diets. But we learnt about other things we can do to play our small part, like recycling your mobile phone to relieve the pressure on Gorilla habitats by mining for Coltan, and buying only ethically sourced fish to avoid the mass killing of wildlife that get swept up in trawling nets.

At the end of the Roar and Snore we were free to spend the rest of the day at the Zoo and re-visit some of our favourites. It was so wonderful to be wandering around before the public opening time and seeing some of the animals at their most active. This was especially the case for the Sumatran Tiger and her three cubs. Overall it was an amazing experience I will never forget. Hell, I'll probably go again! Giant thanks goes to my boy Joel for choosing me to Roar & Snore with!

For anyone in Sydney or anywhere else really who is interested in finding out more about Taronga Zoo's Roar and Snore click HERE!

Also, this probably goes without saying, but all photos are Copyrighted to me and this blog 'Far From The Mocking World' and are not for commercial use. Feel free to use them personally, where credited! 

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Oh my! I can't believe we're a week into February already! 2012 has one month under her belt, and it feels as if time just isn't going to stop for anyone. Now I know in my last post I promised to keep this little blog of mine up to date, but the truth is, I've been one great big busy bee! But the great kind of busy! Work has slowed right down for both jobs, and I'm still on Uni holidays until the end of the month, so I decided to fill up my weekends with fun! And you won't believe the things I've been doing!!! Im not going to give it all away in one post though (besides, there are way too many photos). 

Joel and I have collected a bunch of those 'experience' type vouchers from various birthdays and we decided that it was about time to cash them in. Since I had a Circus themed 21st Birthday last year, I was lucky enough to be gifted a voucher for two people to learn how to Circus Trapeze. Fantastic gift right!? Wrong! I am absolutely petrified of heights. I always have been. But one couldn't really turn down an experience like this. So I took Joel along with me, for moral support and also so I would have to overcome my fears and impress him. It worked!

I climbed up the ladder for my very first go, trembling with fear of course, and when the lady yelled 'Go' I remained stuck to the platform. No surprise really, I knew it would happen. So the man beside me gave me a little tap of encouragement behind the knees and that was it, I was flying. It was such a surreal feeling to be able to let go like that. In a matter of seconds I had overcome a huge fear of heights, and surprised myself by being able to complete the trick. By the end of the lesson, I had flown through the air a number of times, holding on with my hands and then only by my knees. I had learnt how to do a backflip on my own, and then for the final trick I let go and was caught by a man on another trapeze and swung freely below him. So I think all of that is significant enough to cross off the "Do something extreme" prompt on my 101/1001 list! 

Joel was so good at all of them... gosh he amazes me. If only I knew how to upload videos I could show you guys! Here are a few photos anyway... I think you can tell from my body language that I was super uncomfortable on that platform! Ha! 

February has been crazy fun already... And there is just so much more to come! You'll have to check back in the next few days to see just what I've been up to. Unless of course you follow me on Instagram, then the secrets are already spoiled! 

Now I'm off to get ready for a lovely dinner with my boy. It's his birthday today and we're celebrating tonight by delving into some Japanese amazingness! Have a wonderful week!