Artist in Residence: JAPAN -- & -- Moena Moxham solo show: Wellington

July 15, 2015

I am sooooOOOO extremely excited to announce the following news- I have literally had to sit on my hands and tape my mouth shut.....!

Announcing Moena Moxham solo show and selection as Artist in Residence at MeiPAM Gallery, Shodoshima, Japan. TA DA! We have a new exhibition ladies and gentlemen, and this one is packing some extra fire power!

Showcasing new art created between Japan and New Zealand in Wellington from the 10th- 21st of August. On display upstairs at In Good Company, 166A Cuba St and supported on opening night (Thursday 13th), by the musical maestro DJ Takas and the crafty local beerzies at Parrot Dog.

The proceeds are supporting my return to Shodoshima, Japan in September of this year.

While there I will be conducting workshops, facilitating community events and creating another collection of work that will be shown in the gallery of MeiPAM.

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Plus a wee article in the Wairarapa News about my trip to Japan and work currently on display at Aratoi | Wairarapa Museum of Art and History. Artwork is featured until the first week of August.

If you would like to read it online you can do so here- select the week beginning 8th July.

JAPAN I ❤ YOU

May 30, 2015

I am sad to leave Japan, I am normally very ready to get moving; it's a very rare thing that I want to stay somewhere indefinitely. I have fulfilled a dream but I could never have imagined the wonderful intricate and subtle entities I would encounter; and the incredible people I have met and friendships I have formed. I have found what I was searching for and I take this with me forever, but there is so much here to explore, and I've only shared a portion of what I did.

Japan, just like Arnie: I. Will. Be. Back...

⁀⊙﹏☉⁀ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ❤ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ⁀⊙﹏☉⁀

Unwrapping my Hanko...

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The red ink, left and stamp, right..

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The kanji symbol tells you where to put your thumb

Kei-ketsu (chicken blood)- red

Moe-na Mo-ku-sa-mu

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奈良 NARA ❤

Japan's first permanent capital, Nara (奈良) is a most rewarding destination. It is the location of no less than eight Unesco World Heritage Sites, beautiful galleries, and a thriving traditional art scene... and generation old calligraphy and Hanko stamp craftsmen (and women) ;)

Running down left is the unwrapping of my Hanko stamp. Made from extremely rare & antique Parinseki stone which is prized for the shots of red colour through it. This red detailing is called Kei-ketsu meaning 'chicken blood'.

萌名木作夢

Moena Moxham = Crush (as in the manga infatuation), Name, Tree, Make, Dream

Sasakawa Bunrindo- One of the oldest Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy) shops in Japan.

The craftsman who created my stamp used a traditional and very special way of arranging the symbols. Note how the lines cut into the positive red at the top of the signature and 'dribble' out of the bottom of the rectangle. The presentation, experience of creating and final delivery were exceptional- I feel so immensely honoured.

The very special different types of stamp compositions- mine is in the style of the far right

Kei-ketsu - 'Chicken blood' and the type of stone I chose: Parinseki

(̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ❤ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎)

The centrepiece of the Nara temples is the Daibutsu (Great Buddha), which rating wise, rivals Mt Fuji and Kyoto's Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji) as Japan's single most impressive sight. In my opinion it is AMAZING (not 100% sure I agree with 'most impressive' though- there are sooo many things- it really depends what category!).

I loved the Golden Pavillion, but the tourist behaviour spoiled the experience. Nara on the other hand has a very very special feeling. The Great Buddha is housed in Tōdai-ji, a soaring temple that presides over Nara-kōen, a park filled with other fascinating sights that lends itself to relaxed strolling amid greenery and tame deer. Yep- you heard right, Bambi and her buddies are just hangin out around town.. honestly, it's the coolest thing.

☸ ☸ ☸

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Nara is also compact: it's quite possible to pack the highlights into one full day. Many people visit Nara as a side trip from Kyoto, by comfortable express trains in about half an hour, but with an overnight stay (see Ugaya below- such a special guesthouse) you might spend one or two days around the city centre and others seeing the sights out and about from Nara city (I did Asuka and Osaka easily but chilled for 6 nights comfortably).

Chagayu or tea rice porridge with sweet potato (kumera to us Kiwi) and sake pickles

SERIOUSLY good home roasted coffee! Coming from a Wellingtonian, thats a BIG compliment!

I was 11 when I became interested in Buddhism. I would go to Wellington Library and sit for hours reading about the philosophy and studying the artworks and symbology. My childhood next-door neighbours were an Indian family. From when I was tiny I was fascinated with the rituals, smells, food and Hindu deities of my next-door neighbours. On Sundays I would visit my friend and her grandmother would take us into the kitchen and let us sit there and watch as she made Indian delicacies. I would take these to primary school in my lunch alongside super spicy samosa- hence how I was nicknamed 'Hot Lips Hoolihan'- this became even funnier when I got a little older as I thought 'Hawkeye' from M*A*S*H was the beez kneez... ahh blesh!

I came across these stunning carvings of the different hand gestures at the wonderful Nara National Museum which has sculptures and artefacts from years 600. Mind blowing- especially fascinating for me as I have a thing for hands and gestures. The Galleries and Museums in Nara are sensational. For me they are the opitimy of historical arts, crafts and decorative application. The Kokuho-kan Museum has arguable the best examples of Japanese sculpture in the world, and the Todaiji Museum actually blew me away. I permanently looked like a goldfish.

YAKUSHI-JI Temple

Yakushi-ji is GEORGEOUS! It has to be one of my favourite temples as it is super colourful and has exquisite sculptures and artwork on display. It is also very very old- I wish I could show you pics, but well within reason, photos were not allowed (the above details are off the internet). It is a 25 min bus ride away from Nara and is well worth the trip. The grounds are splendid too.

⁀⊙﹏☉⁀ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ❤ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ⁀⊙﹏☉⁀

ASUKA

Asuka is a small region in Nara Prefecture (about 25 kilometers south of Nara City) which had a pivotal role in Japanese history. Lending its name to the Asuka Period (538-710), the Asuka region was the site of Japan's first capitals, from where the early Japanese national character emerged. A few monuments of that period remain, but the area is now mostly fields and rural villages. It is a day trip by train out of Nara and a well worth side trip- get your headphones and a wee snooze on!

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The remnants of the Asuka Period, that remain in Asuka today, are mostly limited to stone monuments and archaeological excavations. Burial tombs such as the Ishibutai Tomb or the Takamatsuzuka Tomb are preserved in their original state. They are colossal, eerie and remarkable- we humans are amazing beings.

Artefacts and recreations are on display at museums like the Asuka Museum or the Complex of Manyo Culture (this is VERY GOOD and had an entire display on the beauty of poetry and a theatre puppet performance. I loved the life size sculpture displays of ancient Japan and incredible scale model architectural models with HOLOGRAPHIC videos onto them!!! Woooo. The glass flowers were inlaid in the passageway ceiling- >=< ) . Scattered among the region's villages and fields are also some of Japan's oldest temples and fantastic rock formations and exceptionally ancient relics- like masssssive turtle years (oh and a huge rock that looks like a turtle too hehe).

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⁀⊙﹏☉⁀ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ❤ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ⁀⊙﹏☉⁀

OSAKA

I have a thing for jellyfish... and a low tolerance for zoo's and extreme heat, being a snow bunny and all.... so Osaka, honey, you fitted the bill that day.

But get THIS- you can PAT THE STING RAY AND TIGER SHARKS. YEP... I hear you squeal- I was on it like white on rice baby.

P.s- those jellyfish I kept wondering about when I went swimming- yes, HIGHLY poisonous and with a very bad sting- god knows how I slipped around that one- and thank goodness my instincts were right when they thought the brighter the colour- the more venomous. Someone was helping me dodge raindrops. For the record: they are in the waters around Naoshima ;)

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My little (Totoro) cotton socks got blessed on the mooch back to Osaka station with a window display by Tokyo artist Tomoko Konoike, representing the natural flora and fauna of japan on Japanese materials and leather. Hellz bellz mega-babein.

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If you want to be challenged, engaged, inspired, plunged in, learn how to tune out, find your spirit, immerse yourself in nature, relax, crank up, become wise, remember to play and be silly... then Japan is the place for you. If you come with an open mind and want to discard your preconceptions, you will be rewarded in every way you can imagine.

JAPAN I ❤ YOU

⁀⊙﹏☉⁀ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ❤ (̃⊙.o ⊙.◎) ⁀⊙﹏☉⁀

Himeji, Mt Shosha, Aminohashidate... & a FARKIN rad Photographer by the name of SEAN AICKIN

May 27, 2015

Move over Kyoto and Osaka, this blog is dedicated to the bright stars of the central and lower third of Honshu.... and one burning bright with the flash ON in Wellington, NZ.

For a map of my travels click HERE. A fraction is taged, but it's still an interesting geez- growing up with a Da who has instilled in me the beauty, functionality and wonder of maps- it's nice to know where you have been and where you are going- better get on and tag past the moon then too hehe

¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° ≥^.^≤ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

HIMEJI CASTLE & Mt SHOSHA- 円教寺, Engyōji Temples

Himeji Castle is a UNESCO World heritage site and has only just reopened on the 27th of March 2015 after extensive reconstruction. What was especially remarkable about this is that this was done using completely traditional methods. It is the largest castle in Japan and is featured in many films and movies. It is truly spectacular to visit and I was fascinated by the displays and information regarding the constructions and conservation- there are even videos you can watch on your iPhone when you go past certain media sites!

The grounds are amazing. The stonework walls, roofing tiles and landscaping are marvels- the attention to detail is mind boggling.

It's a helluva track up inside her with very steep staircases! Get that fan out and your nike free's on!

Often in Japan you find old sites or building have 'burnt' down and been reconstructed. The Japanese are meticulous in their assemblies and methodology, and in some ways this re-birth fits the Japanese mentality perfectly. This is the Land of reinvention yet protection. Like with ancient artefacts- associations, names and ideas are added or carefully assigned after long consideration and research- makes me giggle a bit if we have that toothpick as a priceless hairpin though...

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The castle is surrounded by stunning Japanese Gardens (rebuild 1992) where you can take tea and sweets in a traditional Japanese tea house without feeling like you are fighting with Time and the masses.

Making Himeji Castle Anko (red bean paste) sweets. Check out this machine! Recipe for paste is HERE. You can sandwich between pikelets for a tasty Eastern twist ;)

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Himeji City Museum of Art- currently superb Marc Chagall

Himeji as a city is eaaaasy going, has fantastic food and great creative sites to see in the city and surrounding area. I went up into the surrounding hills for a day to feed my love for getting out of the hustle and bustle and had a stunning experience at the Engyoji Temples where you can wander around the over 1000 year old places of worship with the birds, the talking trees and the stones that listen.

Amazing examples of Oshi-e or Kurumie (padded and layered pictures)

At the bottom of the ropeway at Mt Shosha is an INCREDIBLE (can I highlight this even further?!) museum called 'Shosha-no-sato Art and Craft Center' at the foot of the mountain. You will find artwork done by Kosho Shimizu who was born in Himeji and became the chief priest at the Todaiji Temple in Nara. His work is diverse, expressive, colourful and across many mediums (ceramic, paint, embossings and calligraphy- GO DUDE- & he had a wicked sense of humour).

You can also observe or participate in making traditional Himeji crafts such as leather products, spinning tops, masks, Kurumie and Himeyama dolls.

Shimizu's fantastic whimsical figurative pottery- love love LOVE, their facial expressions are priceless >-<

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¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º° ≥^.^≤ °º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸

AMINOHASHIDATE - Singing Sands Beach

Like a little Venice and Noosa wrapped into one with Oysters the specialty (BIG ones- like the SIZE OF MY FIST AND CUT INTO 5!!) and Fugu, the super poisonous Japanese puffer fish.

The water was warm, the sun hot, the sand sings(!), the food tasty and the vibe super chill- I could live here easily. You get a special travel ticket when you change onto the last train to get here that gives you free access around the area for two or so days too- boom! But trust me, as soon as you step off the train, it just smells and feels right- you are not going to be a rushin' :)

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(⊙.⊙(☉_☉)⊙.⊙) - ⊙ ☉ ☉ ⊙ - (⊙.⊙(☉_☉)⊙.⊙)

One of my closest buddies, and phenomenal photographer Sean Aickin has just got his website up and for the world to see! FIND HIM...and buy him a beer when you do ;) x

His BLOG is here too (which for the record is seanaikinsux - he don't - he's megga un-sux-ing lol)

モンスター!! : MONSTAaa's in Shodoshima... & Moxham at Aratoi!

May 18, 2015

TRAVEL: Different Strokes for Different Folks- but here's how I paint my adventures. Number 1 piece of advice: Travel sloooooowwww. People ask how I get into doing the crazy cool things I see and am involved in and I reckon it's because I travel SLOW. I initially do two nights usually when I get somewhere, and I often use one spot as a base and then travel from there. I go back roads, by instinct and am not afraid to decline an option and move onto the next if it doesn't feel right. Go down alleys and get out of the 'hub'; it's a tourist trap and it's going to cost like one too.

I read the map- keep it in the back of the brain until I need it, then go where feels best... and don't pull on it until I REALLY need it. I get 'lost' all the time and love it; 'lost' is someone else's home. Be nosey- investigate; enter with a smile, apologise and withdraw politely if the line has been overstepped. Talk to people. Listen to others stories but make your own on your own terms. Go for it like you die tomorrow but try spend like you live to 120. No-one has your personal energy or way that you will deal with a situation- trust in this, it will be why your experience can and will NEVER mirror someone else's. Fuck the guidebook- don't worry about missing the bus... actually I'm encouraging you TO miss the bus.

Worry about what YOU are doing and not others opinion of it. Buy cosmetics in squeegee bottles/ sachets (Thank you Aesop you little beauty), Get rid of anything that comes under a header of 'rigid'- that includes ideas. Pack: take out 2/3's (think you can't live off this?!) and wish 1 month later you took 1/2 less again, wear comfortable shoes and laugh. For god sakes don't forget the last one- ever.

P.S: Check out how big the collections have grown on this post!

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Moena Moxham Art is on display and for sale at the world class ARATOI Gallery Wairarapa- YEEoow!! Bronze, glass, embossings and prints are all available to view and purchase.

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SHODOSHIMA - Bangin Art and Island Life = Purrfect

MeiPAM Gallery 4- there are two levels and 6 ROOMS! ^+^

Moving on from Naoshima Islands back across to Shodoshima Island in the direction of Hijime I came across THE COOLEST collection of galleries in Tonosho, Shodo-Island. MeiPAM have four locations around the village for you to find and explore... and one is a museum dedicated completely to MOSTERS! (EEeeeeeEEEIIIIIieieiei!!-- O.M.G- soo bloody cool!)

Inrō 印籠 with Netsuke 根付 — **Inrō** 印籠 with **Netsuke** 根付

My family collected Japanese antiques, artefacts and especially hanko stamps and Netsuke 根付 which are the small sculptures that hang with the Inrō 印籠 (which is a small multi-layered lacquered box) off the kimono. The are fantastically intricate, made and carved out of the most beautiful materials, and often depicted nature, animals or stories and deities.

These little sculptures are the precursors to the modern danglies we see hanging off cellphones and bags everywhere :)

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Wandering around the windy streets takes you to the four locales- you have a swipe card to enter and take your time through the exhibits. This relaxed atmosphere really adds to the whole experience. I loved chilling at the one below watching the video in the rocking chair ^=^

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There is lots to do in Shodoshima, The Olive Park and Marukin Soy Sauce Museum were superb, the Onsen at the Oliven a winner overlooking the islands and beaches from the hills- the only challenge at the moment if you are not bilingual is that everything is in Japanese. SO not quite as easy to navigate as the other islands which have had more time and money invested into their infrastructure. This is changing though- I stayed with Mitsu and her boys, whose new contract is to implement just this thing... and the friendliness, relaxed atmosphere and great things to do by far outweigh this blip.

The Setouchi Art Festival (Trienniale) coming in 2016 covers all the islands in this area and from what I have seen will be a must do! This coming theme is INDIA! WOOP!

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& to knock it off, a wee bit o' Moena Moxham Poetry....

EXEMPLARY: Teshima, Inujima, Naoshima and orbit changing art

May 14, 2015

The islands of Teshima, Inujima and Naoshima have changed my orbit. It's an experience that in no ways can be given justice in any other expression than just being here. Get on a plane and come; if it's the only thing you do; the only 'galleries' you ever visit.. do these- especially Teshima Art Museum.

For 16 years I have been searching for the pieces I have found here.

The photos below are such a fraction of the happenings- the feeling, the presence and the pace can't be captured and shared, but I can enthusiastically encourage you to come by sharing some of the background on these works by clicking the pictures. Naoshima was my base and then I travelled around from there. Inujima is the lesser known of the islands, but I implore you to strike your own path and make the trip ;)

TESHIMA

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Teshima Art Museum is the creative visions of Artist Rei Naito and architect Ryue Nishizawa and has slotted in by far clearing the line as my ultimo favourite artwork and masterpiece. NUMBER 1. It is the most exquisite execution of Art...

"Les Archives du Cœur", by Christian Boltanski needs special mention as well. 'The Heart Room' is an installation of a collection of heartbeats. Boltanski has collected these from around the world. You can even add your own to the artwork. Incredibly moving, and sensationally evocative, it is situated in the most idilic of environments in a picture perfect beach and bay.

....o0O°°O0o..o00OO°'°OO00o...o0O°O0o....o00OO°'°OO00o..o0O°°O0o....

NAOSHIMA ISLAND

Below: Yayoi Kusama's infamous spotted pumpkins

Dormitory Kowloon, Naoshima- this accommodation is SUPERB- cheap, kitted out with the basics, but comfy and attracts a super duper cool crowd. Just head straight ahead next to the karaoke bar from the ferry terminal toooo ^^

There is a wonderful page about Lee Ufan and his work at the Artsy page HERE

Time for a dip!

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Bruce Nauman, '100 Live and Die', 1984- Benesse House, Naoshima

Below: I♥湯 - Naoshima Bath, ohhh soooo gooood!

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INUJIMA

Inujima Seirensho Art Museum is a museum that preserves and reuses the remains of a copper refinery on the island. Based on the concept of using the existing to create the yet-to-be, the project brings together architecture by Hiroshi Sambuichi, which makes use of the existing smokestacks and karami bricks from the refinery and uses solar, geothermal, and other natural energies to reduce the burden on the environment, and art by Yukinori Yanagi, which uses Yukio Mishima, who sounded warnings over aspects of Japan's modernization, as a motif. The building also employs a sophisticated water purification system that makes use of the power of plants. The project truly embraces the concept of a recycling-based society as a model for a new type of regional revitalization through industrial heritage, architecture, art, and the environment.

In combination with this are other installations and Art House projects around the island.

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....o0O°°O0o..o00OO°'°OO00o...o0O°O0o....o00OO°'°OO00o..o0O°°O0o....

Check out these incredible stories (below) from other adventurous souls. A phenomenal Indian Babette surfer changing the way women are doing things in India. Creativity and how it all works though the eyes of creative people themselves, a motorcyclist and adventurer on a path to discover the new, unusual and challenging with soul and class, and just some hilarious and well funny outrageousness from the boys who brought us This Is The End and Pineapple Express..

....o0O°°O0o..o00OO°'°OO00o...o0O°O0o....o00OO°'°OO00o..o0O°°O0o....

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TOKYO ROADTRIP! Rental819, Amagiso Ryokan and the Izu Skyline- KaapOOW!

April 27, 2015

An adventure of a lifetime... (ok, until next week)! Two days, one hot ass Ducati Monster 698, gung-ho attitude & experience and a road (and some off road lol). Ohh yeeeeeeaaaahh baby! Riding a motorbike around Japan was a driving force of me getting onto bikes in the first place, so this achievement has left me grinning like a little fluffy furball.

Starting off with the best motorbike rental outlet in JAPAN- with over 100 shops, and English speaking staff, I rated them the best equipped and well suited to me as an English speaking foreigner wanting a two wheeled adventure. With super slick, new, high performance machines, competitive pricing and comprehensive insurance, lets have a big drum roll for the superstars at RENTAL819!!

My route- Day one: straight out west to Fuji and then down to the Amagiso Onsen nestled right under a corkscrew highwayDay two: down along the coast to Shimoda, up- to Mount Omuro, along the famous Izu & Hakone Skyline roads and then North and b… — My route- Day one: straight out west to Fuji and then down to the Amagiso Onsen nestled right under a corkscrew highway
Day two: down along the coast to Shimoda, up- to Mount Omuro, along the famous Izu & Hakone Skyline roads and then North and back to Tokyo + amazing stops along the way

HANDS DOWN SUPERB TO DEAL WITH. Special mention going out to Adrian, Yosuke & Kohsuke at Ikebukuro and the mechanic from Hatogaya who setup the GPS and Ducati :) They helped me put together a route on Garmin navigation, sort out the highway toll charges, get kitted out in spunky Dianese moto-gear, book a Ryokan and Onsen AND get a brand new 2015 Ducati Monster 698.

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I tossed up between the new Yamaha MT-09 and the new Ducati's, but settled on the Duke for a few reasons. Experience had taught me about getting into all sorts of little situations can be more cooly navigated when you are not having to fight your machine. On motorbike trips there are always adventures inside the adventure!! Gravelly side roads, multiple short notice u-turns, possible inclement weather, steep inclines and the fact that I was doing this solo, were all thoughts that helped me on my decision. Plus I was keen to try out the new Ducati's engineering.

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Best place in the world to stop on a moto-afternoon tea

Weather in April in Tokyo is a mixed bag. One day sunny and 23 deg, the next, 3 and snowing! I checked to see when the full moon was (I bet $$ on this trick and always book my snow or fishing adventures around this date as it brings clear skys and reliably settled weather) but alas it was a new moon. SO I stuck my finger in the air, waved it around a bit, missed the weekend and landed on the 23rd/ 24th.... and ca-boOOM- I was blessed with THE BEST you could get. Warm, sunny and ab-so-lutely-bloody-purrrrfect.

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English castle in the middle of Japan- why not?!

One loooong tunnel... long enough to stop and take a break and a photo!!

Triumph v Ducati

Miss Piggy, as I affectionately nicknamed her was one fun ride- as long as you kept moving! The Monster is nimble, light, grunty, LOUD (Oh this was SOOO FUN in quiet Japan), looks super sexy and had a never ending petrol tank. Interesting notes: down changing (esp 1st) was like slamming a hammer, no matter how sleekly you attempt and the HEAT from the engine was UNBELIEVABLE. I swear to God, I had to check multiple times my jeans hadn't burnt right off- to the point on the return trip, where I had entered this crazy 16km long, winding underground tunnel beneath Tokyo at 40 deg air temp, that I couldn't bear idling in the traffic jam so resorted to tearing up the left (never a good option) side emergency lane (under a meter wide) to get out of the damn thing. I found out later the Pannigale is even hotter?!- their slogan should be "Ducati- just keep 'em moving"...

If the bikes were girls on a night out- the Triumph would be a sleek, well groomed, sassy lady oozing sex appeal on just the right notes, where as the Ducati would be leopard print naughty fun, with a skirt just a little too short, a husky smokers voice, whisky on the rocks and the lady with the tricks at 4am. Both a bit of awesome; dynamo team- but for me TRIUMPH all the way.

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Arriving in the dark after a couple of hours of night switchback corners- which was ridiculously good, boot scraping fun to the most beautiful traditional Japanese hotel; Amagiso Ryokan. Three levels high, it snuggly wound it's way down the valley to a spectacular waterfall and hot springs.

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Outdoor onsen with waterfall? YES PLEASE!

Riding in Japan is magnificent. The road charges are expensive, and I advise you carry lots of change in a handy to access pocket- because your going to need it at the toll routes. Most windy runs have mirrors on the corners, which is pretty neat. The highways are superb, well policed and there are speed cameras (that shoot from the front... ^=^ ......)... but with your wits about you and good decision making, you can have a blast!

I pulled on all my skills and resources, absolutely can't even put in words how much fun I had, and HIGHLY recommend you come and play RIGHT HERE. ^=^

二次会+ .. .: - " . + ; ' ' ' : +- " . +

April 21, 2015

Let's Paar-tayyy!!!

So failing mime, sound effects and interpretive dance- here's day-night-day photo party action Tokyo Moxie style. Partying in Tokyo is n.e.x.t l.e.v.e.l… and boy, can I tell some stories.. but for now, here’s the visuals on what happens when you leave the house Saturday morning (Mega thanks to Kengo Kojima & Rental819 (more coming on them next post eeeiiioow!) too)::::

Zigzaggin Tokyo covering epic distance, my transport Tokyo styling, sorting out Ducati at Rental819 Hatogaya, Harajuku/ Yoyogi Park and Meiji Jingu Inner Garden shrine, Rene Magritte @ The Contemporary Art Gallery Tokyo (WOOOO!!!!), Roppongi Midtown- Toraya Karyo Japanese sweets & afternoon tea, Pink Cow Cali/Mex dinner and Art, What the Dickens for the Mootekkis, NoMad for recharge, EPIC electro/house with Bulgarian maestro Kink at Air, WOOOO hell yeees!! (Deep breath and omg wtf?! Clean shoes after all that?! God Bless Japan)… Zigzaggin Tokyo covering mad milage, feed/ change/ screw on new legs, Ghibli Museum Mitaka, ANNNNNND…..Magic Mushrooms in Koenji. And like that we have popped a new seal onto Tokyo- & expanded brain and body in 15 directions and moved and grooved through 36hrs of non-stop awesomeness ^=^

<a href="http://themootekkis.bandcamp.com/album/heckling-the-dawn">Heckling the Dawn by The Mootekkis</a>

Funny Bumps and Travel Tips for Tokyo (+ a little domesticity)

April 17, 2015

I am a little in LOVE with Tokyo- it's kinda sneaked up on me, very quietly like, and then all of a sudden, I fully recognised how much I very much adore where I am. Cheeeeeeky!!

This blog post is about hitting travel in Tokyo and shares some of my tips for ironing out little road bumps to make things easy like ;)

First a funny wee story about crossing the road... No-one j-walks here- you do it once or twice, and then the feeling of a million eyes on you makes you tap into line pretty quick- although, sometimes it's nice to do it, just to remind yourself you can step out of line hehe. SO: Each time I would come to a crossing I would be waiting patiently for the red man to change to green. As it would flick over I, with my fellow crossing camaraderie, would take a step to move forwards. DOOF! I would nearly walk over the person in front of me! "Gomenasai!! Sorry, Sorry" I would say, thinking- what the hell?! I left plenty of space?! Finally it dawned on me, I was taking a good 5'9" sized step, but my fellow crossers were only 1/2 my height, so weren't travelling as far!

It's the funniest stuff that hit's you sideways here :))

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GETTIN' MOVIN! The tips you need in ONE place to get around Tokyo & Japan

Suica- your best friend for travel in and around Tokyo!

This is a re-chargable (most convenience stores and at all rail/ subway stations), pay as you go card for JR trains, Metro subway, buses and even buying stuff where the pass is displayed. BOOM easy!

Psst- between these, 100Yen shops and Lawson's, you are set for life... seriously.

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Cash Passport- it means you can load multiple currencies and not have to carry wads of cash on you. You can get cash out (without charges at ATM's located at 7/11 convenience stores (logo left)- which are located everywhere in Japan. (They are the only ATM's I have found though that lets you do this). You can pay for goods where credit cards are accepted and it works as a debit card by doing this. Reloading takes three days as you do a bill payment from your NZ account. Super convenient and stress-free, and they even provide you with two cards incase something happens to one of them! Heads up though- Japan runs on cash, so you need cachinga on you- especially for paying for accommodation.

The best app ever developed in my opinion for budget travellers! It GPS tracks you without having WIFI and allows you to download detailed maps of where you are, when you do have a connection. Without WIFI, you can search for all sorts of things lik… — The best app ever developed in my opinion for budget travellers! It GPS tracks you without having WIFI and allows you to download detailed maps of where you are, when you do have a connection. Without WIFI, you can search for all sorts of things like museums, post offices, atm's, resteraunts and clubs etc. This wee puppy has been A LIFE SAVER!

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HULA-JAMMIES and BADMINTON BAGS

So THE COOLEST thang a 7 & 11 year old can have in Japan right now is custom bags for your gear. There's this chick that likes makin stuff- so she's thinking- what better way to put those skills to use right?- cos little girls (just like grown up ones) need pretty things to make life cool ;)

Plus, who can resist sewing a cover for a hula hoop that is called a 'Hula-Jammie' ?! HEHEHE

Feel free to holla if you'd like patterns or pointers ;D

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"KUCHIKASEYA MOIRA" is Japanese Photographer. Fetish & Nard...

I went to an eye poppingly cool presentation by this Babette. Check out her photos HERE

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I love making things for others which remind me of home (click to enlarge) ^=^

CITRUS FUDGE

STRAWBERRY SHORT-KOOK

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Particle Fever is a 2013 documentary film tracking the first round of experiments at the Large Hadron Collider near Geneva, Switzerland. Geneva, Switzerland. The film follows the experimental physicists at CERN who run the experiments, as well as the theoretical physicists who attempt to provide a conceptual framework for the LHC's results. The film begins in 2008 with the first firing of the LHC and concludes in 2012 with the successful identification of the Higgs boson. I see strong parallels in Art, creativity and dynamic thought. I enjoy the way this movie illustrates Human curiosity about our world and why it is made the way it is. Science is fascinating, thought provoking and super cool. I love this stuff ^^

The art in using chopsticks... (check out the hand position and the finger placement) I thought I had it down, until a kind Otoosan (Pop's) gave me a few pointers to look a little more Eastern ^=^

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'Modern Knights' 1500 x 600mm, Mixed Media, 2012

Art in Translation..

April 6, 2015

I painted ‘Modern Knights’ two years ago at the end of an extremely stressful period where I had been pushed right out of the comfort zone, and subsequently right on the cusp of me changing media and direction with my work. Both this previous work and ‘It’s Recyclable’ are large scale, expressive and much more loose than my normal styles, and utilise found materials. They feel to me like idea spill overs before a regrouping... And with the thoughts I have for my next works, I think they are like visual gateways before another passage.

They are a bit of expressive, not so intense and been really fun to put together.

'It's Recyclable' 1000 x 1000mm, Mixed Media, 2015

'It's Recyclable' is about putting the pieces together- both visually and literally. The Japanese text written amongst the leaves are phrases I use daily to apologise, explain myself or express my misunderstanding or comprehension. 'Tarting up' the mundane fits Japan's intense desire for beauty in all things, and I like the irony in a way that I have knitted the net package of the box back together and yet it wouldn't fold up to hold anything because the pattern has been offset. The loose drawing style is overlayed with hundreds of hand painted dots, multi- layered with paint; an investment of time and precision onto an otherwise ordinary surface. The Sakura or Cherry Blossom tree is an internationally recognisable symbol of transition, new beginnings and growth.

萌名木作夢 :

Today I had my Japanese 'hanko' stamp kanji selected for me for Moena Moxham and remarkably it translates to 'Crush-Name | Tree-Make-Dream'.

Mokusam 木作夢 (Moxham) tree-make-dream having significance to me with a funny story I shared with the girls. 'ki' (tree) being the crux of the fun :) How appropriate seeing I just painted a Sakura Tree?!

I am an obsessive clocker of patterns, groups and systems. Mentally categorising things is how my brain filing system keeps things allocated. I had a EUREKA! moment today regarding the next step in my artwork- putting merit to my theory about my creative process.

Interestingly I thought: When you stop searching and growing you start dying, and so in some ways the collections of thoughts and ideas; gathered in a blog, are a documentation of death and the process towards this (although when you tip over into degrading rather than progressing is the interesting marker)... kinda macabre, kind of wonderful too. It was the comma on a conversation up at The New York Bar (The Park Hyatt Shinjuku- the bar from Lost in Translation) where a Canadian and I talked about people who worry about trip distance, versus people who see the time as an opportunity for adventure within itself- like travel Babushka dolls... ^=^ Thoughts?

I love how the photography of the work and process is it's own dimension. The work as 'discarded' material under the Sakura tree, the people in transit, the conversations I had with people who stopped and were interested, the help from Kurena and Minami; the unrepeatable time bubble it was made in versus the ease with which it can be folded up and packed away... process v. outcome?

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Hitting Harajuku to see the girls dressed up, I was a day too early for the traditional get together, but on my wanderings was stopped by a wonderful photographer for a wee impromptu photoshoot. His name is Ukawa Dai and here are photos of his work and a link to his tumblr- not only talented, but super duper cool and kind to match. Check him OUT! ;D

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LOST IN TRANSLATION

Park Hyatt Shinjuku: All I can say is it's WORTH going to the New York Bar to view the skyline and the other visitors hehe, ironically there are Bob's and Charlotte's hanging out everywhere, mixed with slick aristocrats and Translation fans. The view is to dye for, the staff are Devine and the food just glorious.

If ya haven't seen the flick- it's a damn fine goodie- Bill Murray (legend) + Scarlett Johansson (pocket rocket) plus a dash of Sofia Coppola (Directior); what's not to love?

The movie really IS Japan with all it's beautiful quirks :)

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Life, F.U.N & The 42nd Tokyo Motorcycle Show- Start Your Engines!

April 2, 2015

I was a bit squished out of shape in Tokyo. But I couldn’t put my finger exactly on why I was so anxious and feeling seriously flighty. Japan (through my eyes) has a strong sense of conformity and regiment. Alongside my love for order and method, I crave interaction and playfulness- but am a walking, talking contradiction and combination of juxtapositions- just like my current surroundings. I suppose I am finding things about my identity reflected more so here than at home and this includes the good bad and in-between.

Big city life is about fitting in, becoming part of a chain, going with the flow and being part of an ever moving, heaving layering. The well oiled machine doesn’t work so well if one kog pops a spot, or wants to be bigger, more slippery or fit in the opposite way. Japan’s structure and rules seem to condense in feeling with the parallel in architecture; Tokyo is very different to Hokkaido.

I love being switched on, plugged in and stimulated. A trait you might think would suit an environment like Tokyo- but it's counterpoint is I take everything a little too personally, invert situations and am not particularly slick at the opposite: turning off. Tokyo has an interesting balance of tuning out. People's schedules make sense here when you see how the power naps, rest times and abilities to 'clock out' in crowded situations are facilitated.

Here, you are not secular- you are the group. It's not personal, it's just business time. This sounds really clean cut and logical, but when your travelling by yourself, with lots of balls in the air, without a consistent companion to bat some humour and steam off, subtle changes can get big effects.

I have an opportunity of a lifetime and I had my head in the wrong cloud for a day there. Looking after children is a role I adore, although I underestimated the challenge of this with an added bonus parcel of a little language barrier. (Although I studied Japanese, I can read and understand more than I can speak; It's a damn fast way to get your conversational language skills lubricated) So, my time, behaviour and interaction had very much come down to actions dominating words. In the big scheme, so little from me but meaning SOOO much to them. Made me think of the extreme, uncompromising love and commitment and generosity my Mum & Dad and Grandparents gave to me; the childhood I had where I was encouraged to try ANYTHING, play with EVERYTHING and have opportunity of diverse thought, actions and emotion. Where expression and being heard were qualities that were actively encouraged. What a rich upbringing. The realisation and reality of how very much it is a selfless act to properly look after a child. And how selfish I was being with my world, my needs, my curiosity for opportunities, my endeavours; snip snapping; searching and pushing upstream. Major game changer: Chill OUT and learn the new groove...

Because it had nothing to do with Tokyo and everything to do with me being a complicated dick.

SO! The 42 Tokyo Motorcycle Show was shiny, well oiled and so spick and span, it was like a sales pitch on steroids. Held at the Tokyo Big Sight it contained many interesting stalls, including a fantastic setup by my favourite: Triumph ^=^

Ducati Scrambler

BMW Juggernaut- I would totally own this!

MV Augusta- L.O.V.E

MV Brutale Corsa... my next baby?!

Suzuki Katana!

Unicorn Japan- tricked out Suzuki's

Triumph Street Triple- I MISS YOU my gurl!!

Royal Enfield- classy classic

A lot of my enjoyment came from watching the other attendees and the bikes come to and from the event + the monorail trip to get from downtown to the Tokyo Wharf area of Koto is a yummy sightseeing tour too as it emerges from underground to curl around over the bridge and onto the island.

Sign me up for the Japanese Police Force!

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After all the bogans and bikes, it was culture time with a PHENOMENAL exhibition current running at The Ueno Royal Museum of up and coming contemporary Japanese artists (sorry no photos on this one guys as it was on lockdown ^.^ but check out the following artists who have seriously inspired me!)

Mariane Maiko Matsuo's work (click below for enlargements) was sublime. She is a Brazilian Artist of Japanese decent who works in Osaka. I am in love of her large scale, feminine and extremely intricate artworks. Murata Mineki's artwork called 'Breakthrough Drawing Ball Point on Plywood' was incredible. Mineki is a performance and predominantly 3D based Artist- so his selection for the exhibition was interesting as it was plywood that had literally been hacked and scraped through to make a bark like texture through the ball point pen markings. It was incredibly powerful- maybe more so to my eyes as I felt the time, pressure of application and intensity that had gone into the work through my own experience.

Screwing on a new pair of legs it was a bee-line to The National Museum of Western Art for the Guercino exhibition which blew my socks off, followed by their Matsukata Permanent Collection.

Guercino (1591-1666) was one of the major painters of the Italian Baroque period who further developed the Baroque aesthetics begun by painters Caravaggio and Carracci. Conversely, he was also a painter whose style helped form later academic painting methods, and in the past has numbered amongst the most famous painters in the history of Italian art. Around the mid 19th century, when the art world began to express new values and views, Guercino was dismissed and forgotten, only to be the subject of rediscovery from the mid 20th century onwards.

David Teniers, the Younger's "Temptation of St Anthony" completely captured me- see the detail in the flying monsters below- pictures 6 & 7.

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Seibuen Yuenchi: the play-land of Hello Kitty (no question I was a fizzing furball, if not more excited than the kiddies as we screamed off to the Viking boat for first ride). It's located a wee way out of Tokyo- but has a genuine air of actual fun. Proving that the expensive is not the best and that time and experience is best thing there is- and yen can't buy quality time!

One of my favorite artists (above), Camille Rose Garcia referrs to Disneyland as being the 'saddest place on earth’- as is often the way; the fun, laughter and real joys are not in the places where they are advertised. Do I still need to visit Tokyo Disney? Nope- can't replicate today- plus I went up the best 'Tokyo Tower’ ever on the Ferris wheel with 4 adorable monkeys ^=^

A bit of NZ baking- 'lolly cake Japan style'

Lolly Cake: A New Zealand favourite with a Japanese twist. No 'Eskimo' Lollies so we had marshmallows with blueberry jelly centers instead- and damn! they did the trick!

路上観察 - Japanese Manhole Cover Collection

March 29, 2015

The metal manhole covers in each city and districts are different- soooooo cool!! I just found out that there is actually a word for someone like me who likes these anomalies, it is Rojo-kansatsu (路上観察) meaning observation of the road. I ♥ snapping and collecting them :)

The Sunflower Ferry from Tomokomai to Oarai ^=^

Sunflowers to TOKYO

March 29, 2015

HOKAY! For anyone wanting to travel the route lesser known to get to Honshu, there is a ferry from Tomakomai to Oarai outside Tokyo called MOL Ferry Co. It's not the cheapest option at ¥9050, but if you take into account that's your accommodation for the night too it's not too shabby. AND, in my opinion, it's all about the travel and the destination is an added bonus.

An added woohoo is the ONBOARD ONSEN with ocean view. Yep thats right, you can steam, bathe and relax while gazing sleepily out the window at the waves cruising by. Sailing cattle class like a boss. If that wasn't cool enough, I went a little notch higher to heaven when I found the free washing machine and dryer- meaning you can soak, while washing your bits and bobs to jump fresh and so clean into them after chill-axing. Japan: you rock my world.

There is an onboard dining hall where upon entry you buy your ticket by vending machine for lunch, dinner or breakfast, or a combination. Then you present this little piece of paper to the lady standing right next to the machine and proceed on in to try all sorts of Japanese delights to the backing soundtrack of Disney's greatest hits on piano.

After arriving in Oarai, I continued my hitch-hiking excursions and met a man who took me to meet his brother in Ibaraki, the airforce capital of Japan; Super spoilt & treated to local delights like Ibaraki yoghurt and taken to see the local shops and cool sites- I am overwhelmed by peoples generosity. From Ibaraki it was ¥1000 to Tokyo on a super comfy bus from Ibaraki airport where we spent an hour watching the fighter jets take off and land -YAY!! Planes!. With the grand Tokyo Station up for challenge as the next destination, this more comfortable option got the tick.

Travel Buddies:

My fantastic, artistic 73 (omg- what DO they put in the water over here?!) cool as travel buddy for the voyage

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TOKYO!: Immersed in Japanese life with Mai and her two beautiful daughters Kurena and Minami

Where I am staying in Higashimurayama City. Only an easy hour on train to Tokyo :)

The Tokyo subway is seriously efficient and super easy to navigate, once you've got the basics sorted! LOL. With a change needed at Kokumbunji from JR lines to local, a bit of interpretive dance was needed with the ticket masters to navigate a complicated wee diagram and local ticket purchase machine- but I got there. Thank god for laughter- and knowing how to apologise in 日本語.. they must have thought- bloody Gaijin eeesshh!..

Below are photos of the phenomenal art exhibits I have attended and the beauty in the everyday. I was in awe of the Jakuchu and Buson's haiku and literati paintings from the 1700's, exhibited at the Suntory Museum of Art in Roppongi; thrilled to catch the Gabriel Orozco exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Koto and visit 21_21 DESIGN SIGHT which has an exhibit on at the moment about measurement. This is organised by the THE MIYAKE ISSEY FOUNDATION and was a delight in presentation as well as content.

21_21 DESIGN SIGHT. I loved this- it was the 'weight' of words ^=^

The local haberdashery shop with the kindest most patient gentleman owner... that's with dealing with me- not Ku-Chan and Mi-Chan!!

A fantastic Japanese Hanko/ Inkan shop- スタンプHanko date back to 5500 B.C., when people in the Middle East began engraving their personal symbols on stones, shells and clay and leaving impressions to identify property as their own. Hanko use first spr… — A fantastic Japanese Hanko/ Inkan shop- スタンプ
Hanko date back to 5500 B.C., when people in the Middle East began engraving their personal symbols on stones, shells and clay and leaving impressions to identify property as their own. Hanko use first spread to Europe, and then Asia.
Hanko have been employed by high officials and samurai for most of Japan's recorded history and were already common among merchants and farmers by the Edo Period (1603-1868).
This was a fantastic find, as it is the background to why my artworks are stamped with the reflected knuckle 'MM' of Moena Moxham and my drawings have a seal hidden inside them.

It was Kurena's Birthday the day I arrived- I super excited and honoured to whip up a cake. The Usagi ウサギ (bunny) is me- the girls have donned me this mascot for my love of rabbits and the ウサギ in my tattoo... the resemblance is really quite striking don't you agree?!

This egg cartoon is THE SNIZ- soooOOO farking funny! Called 'Gudetama' aka Lazy Egg hahahaha!

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Down to one Freitag for 2 & 1/2 months travel. Thank you motorbiking for teaching me the art of ruck-sacking!

Today SNOW, Tomorrow cherry blossom...

March 23, 2015

I am learning fast the Art of backpacking and really finding the craft in living off next to nothing, but having maximum fun! Actually so much fun, I can't figure out why the hell I haven't been doing this the whole time.. The house in which I stayed after the yogies- in a room I affectionately nicknamed "The Chopstick", plonked me within a diverse group of travellers who were mega cool. Named Australia House- ironically there wasn't an Aussie in sight, but one of every other jelly bean.

Hirafu, Kutchan, The three snow resorts: An'nupuri, Grand Hirafu and Hanazono, and snow life :)

Chalet Murasaki

Boyoso Hutt

Nosh time on Grand Hirafu

Hirafu Village

Grand Hirafu

Looking back to Mt Yotei from Grand Hirafu

..and the super safe top single chair

Flame bar @ Hilton Niseko

Summit Mt Niseko- An'nupuri

Summit Mt An'nupuri Niseko

The Hutt on the summit buried in snow ***

Teppenyaki!

Mt Yotei

Mt Niseko- An'nupuri

Hardware!

Mt Grandad Gibby would have been in his element. Finally all the components we were EVER looking for...!

Grand Hirafu with Mt Yotei

Sitting so pretty in the cloud

Hanazono

The best office in the world..

I had a blast learning from other travellers; watching anime, snowboarding, finding the hidden gem foodies and bars and getting the ins and outs of 'how to's with $0 output' + nifty life hacks... oh and doing design work for one of Niseko's biggest entrepreneurs- check out the designs in DIGITAL

Working and relaxing with others, some who speak English, some who don't; some who speak Japanese, some who don't, really makes you up your game of interesting techniques for communication ;P You are all there because you want to be which brings an infectious energy to the environment- I feel like I have slipped out of orbit into a track that runs at whole different organic interesting flow. My new friends have similar backgrounds, interesting stories and are all curious, adventurous intriguing souls.

...but the VIEW! Yotei in the morning ^+^

An interesting conversation developed the other night about how you reach a point where you have grown up within yourself to travel with no fixed plan and no tight bookings. You realise you have collected the skills and tools to work with, and have got to a point where the anxiety about using them to effect has toned back a notch to just trust in your instincts and decisions. It followed on to thoughts about positivity and why the opposite is more prevalent in society today. Here's me delivering a bit of tongue in cheek logic lol..

Lance, Rebecca and Nigel and Barbara were cave-men and ladies back a few hundred thousand years. They decided to go out on a group date one night as ya do. Take-outs were closed, the nectar bars run dry and they had missed the boat a bit with dinner so got their hunt on. They had wandered into unfamiliar territory but Lance and Rebecca being the 'cow hide up' kinda peps went charging into a cave looking for a tiger to hunt. It was all good- they had their tiger catching skills down pat from hunting back in their neck of the woods. Nigel and Barbara weren’t so sure, they hid outside the cave- there were too many obstacles, it was dark, there was a hike to get in there, there were all sorts of other creepies and crawlies!

Unfortunately for Lance and Rebecca, they hadn’t expected the Brown Bear that had made the cave his home, and who unfortunately wasn’t too keen on being woken up. He didn’t mean to eat them, mornings and surprises weren’t his forte. Nigel and Barbara freaked, flipped and ran. “Of CORSE the others were going to get eaten they said!”. The story became a fable to the next generations- passed down from Nigel and Barabara’s children, an on to the children who followed.

Who was that dude who ate the poisonous berry so we know not to? -Lance’s Grandpa eh?! Makes you think of all the different components that make each individual experience so different and varied too... thoughts?

Yesterday I decided it was time to get on the road again and make my way down the island. Robert and Dan from Aussie House were road tripping around Hokkaido, and it worked out that I joined them with a friend to hit some amazing spots before hitch-hiking on further around the coast of Hokkaido. Starting off in Kutchan at the ¥100 Shop ($1 for ya'll in Kiwi) to dress up the car: "The Dominator- Delica" we then travelled on Route 66 (yeehhaaaa!) to Lake Toya- an incredibly idillic spot with an active volcano and an island in the middle of the lake. We visited a mental institution that collapsed in an eruption and stopped for a pic-nic/ snooze in the sun with homemade quiche (GO SAM!!) on the lakefront.

Phenominal stone sculpture at Toyakochoakebono Park- each stone was individually numbered

I parted ways at Date and hitchhiked around the coast to Tomakomai, where I was shown exceptional kindness & Japanese hospitality and taken for sushi train express for dinner. Domo Arigato Gozaimasu! Today was a travelling adventure to the Ferry Terminal to catch an overnight MOL Sunflower Ferry from Tomakomai to Oarai outside Tokyo.

Today Hokkaido, tomorrow Honshu! Looking forwards to sea legs for 12 hours and to what I come across next!

My hitchhiking companions ^=^

Lake Toya, Tomakomai...

'The Dominator Delica' & ¥100 Shop

Dan, Robert, Sam and I getting on the road Hokkaido

Lookout over Lake Toya

Lake Toya

Amazing concrete fencing

Buried mental institution after eruption in 1977

Idillic Lake Toya

Queenstown would be your sister ;)

Osho, Getting nervous on it and NO SNOW... It's serious stuff.

March 14, 2015

So with expanding new horizons, ideas, square breathing, riding moguls, powder, off piste/ on piste/ back/ in/ out/ dig/ slip, slide and shake--- Dipping, talking, giggling and streeeeetching- this beaver is now off working doing design work for Kabuki, Wabi-Sabi and Australia House.

So getting your focus on now:

Chandra Mohan Jain, also known as Acharya Rajneesh from the 1960s onwards, as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh during the 1970s and 1980s, and as Osho from 1989, was an Indian mystic, guru and spiritual teacher. He is going to impart some seriously wise stuff to ya'll folks.

Geezin these interesting tidbits out eh!:

Our hearts give off an electromagnetic field 60 times more powerful than our brain
The Enteric Nervous System aka "the Gut", contains 100 million neurons, more than the spinal cord
The 'Vagus Nerve' which is rooted in the Brain, goes all the way to your Gut and touches your Heart and all major organs on the way down, carries fibres of which 90% carry information from the gut to the brain, and not the other way around. This is where Gut feeling comes from.

“The real truths of life are never entirely new to you or to anybody because there is a level deep down within you where you already know all the things, all those spiritual truths that you read or hear, and then recognize them. I say ‘recognize’ because you’re not... it’s not new.”

— Eckhart Tolle

SQUARE BREATHING (It's bigger than getting your inner Geek on). Looking for a simple way to soothe away tension during a stressful work day? Need a break to refocus your attention? Have a green Tea Kit Kat.. hehehe seriously... Square breathing is a simple, easy, and effective way to calm yourself and enjoy a few minutes of tranquility.

Though, you can practice this mindful breathing exercise anytime, anywhere – if you’re in your office, I suggest sitting tall in your chair, both feet on the floor. Then, it’s just four simple breath segments done to a count of four.

Inhale 2 3 4
Hold 2 3 4
Exhale 2 3 4
Hold 2 3 4

Then start increasing the count. Try not 'Closing off' your lungs when you hold (it feels like sealing the back of your throat) and instead keep your lungs open during this period.

Now go get that Kit Kat ;)

雪の天- Snow Heaven

March 10, 2015

Hokkaido: NISEKO

Mt Yōtei (the "Mt. Fuji of Hokkaido")- looking at hiking the summit of him weather permitting!

Nothing about Japan is cold. Paradoxes and parodies abound with Formality and Tradition the big brothers to the young mischievous ruckus of Kawaii Super Cute and Neon Love.

Night boarding at Grand Hirafu- like a boss- board in board out Boom !

A part of my soul has come home. Japan is sublime. From the moment I boarded the flight from Auckland to Tokyo, an experience filled with juxtaposition, contradictions and an unflustered air began. NZ95 must be the well pressed trooper of the fleet- from a beige & more formal past time. It was service with a smile, comfort with rugs and pillows and coloured by beige and chocolate brown interior highlights. As NZ slipped away, a very gentle calm descended.

Check out Flowstate by clicking above...

Writing this is hard- where the hell to start- it is all epic?! Currently I am in the most Northern island of Japan- Hokkaido, and a couple of hours south of Sapporo in Niseko. I am here for a relatively medium sized length of string (I never have plans set in stone); the next week is with an international group of adventurers for a gathering of likeminded individuals who are exploring new concepts of how creativity effects the neuroplasicity of the brain. Mindfulness and Flow are high productivity techniques that are achieved through self awareness, structured goal setting and by pushing ourselves out of the comfort zone. How activity, movement (mediation and yoga) and risk management (aka adventure sports) effect our process to hit the sweet spot of performance, how to nurture and care for ourselves after passing through this stage and ultimately, how to reach our full potential. HARRO!

The day I arrived I blew in with an ENORMOUS and unsuspected dump of snow- EEEeeoooW!!

In three days I have snowboarded in day and night, three fields- An’nupuri, Grand Hirafu and Hanazono. I have hiked the summit Mt Niseko An’nupuri, trekked, meditated, Chi Gong'ed (Japanese Tai Chi), yogi'ed, noshed amazing food- geeked out on incredible packaging (which is packaged in another package, within a package- you should see the recycling regime!!), met amazing locals and people from further abroad and fallen in love with Onsen.

“All the things that truly matter- beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace- all of these arise from more than the thinking world”

— Eckhart Tolle

A few things I have loved and of note so far:

Onsen (hot-pools) are communal group bathing pools with a custom and ceremony which I have found instantly addictive. Women and men are split and bathing is done nude, yet a graceful and considerate respect is between all participants. Relaxing and taking care of yourself at the end of the day is a beautiful reflection time without rush or distraction.

The Western world could do with dipping her toes into this concept. I enjoy observing how this arrangement facilitates a time for women to gather and relax together without self conscious and concerned with image. This custom and many other examples in Japanese culture have made me realise how very young new New Zealand’s culture really is. Which is rather intriguing really, because we have geothermal pools and history and heritage in enjoying them- but it's a very different energy and protocol. We are but the gravel starting to seal at the beginning of a road paved in time.

Green Tea.. flavoured anything. OMG. Picture says a thousand words.

Simmering subtext... it's all just under the surface bubbling away ;)

I like being Gaijin. I like opening my eyes and ears to unfamiliar surroundings and observing other traditions to assimilate into my new surroundings. Anonymity and my curiosity are a well suited pair to my adventurous spirit which is allowing me to find, seek and explore new physical, mental and conceptual platforms.

HEATED TOILET SEATS. Nuff said- revolutionary. I need one good reason why this aint global?

The countryside is picturesque and strangely familiar as it really is like the woodblocks and ink works I have admired and studied over the years. The images of my dreams are reality and lead into my sense of familiarity. Even though I have a knowledge of Japan- I was conscious to put aside expectations and arrive without assumptions- there are surprises everywhere^=^

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive. Because what the world needs is more people who have come alive”

— Howard Thurman

..::'''++***

March 1, 2015

THIS. IS. IT. xx

“Even daylight curls herself in night’s embrace
The laughing lady must have a darkness in her smile,
Not dusky, more like midnight,
Inky undulating pillows of ideas emanating from the
Inside
Out
Embellished with apertures framing opportunity.

Refracting snapshots build an image
The echo of a past production
Yet familiar in consistency and familiarity; the bass notes with resonance and sound
Dynamic adaption to change
quiet, subtle but conscious evolution
Reflection. Growths breaking apart and reforming in
New
Better.
Stronger
Function over form.”

— Moena Moxham

“The day the mountains move has come.
Or so I say, though no one will believe me.
The mountains were merely asleep for a while.
But in ages past, they had moved, as if they were on fire.
If you don’t believe me, thats fine with me.
All I ask is that you believe this and only this,
That at this very moment, women are awakening from their slumber.

If I could write entirely in the first person,
I, who am a woman.
If I could write entirely in the first person,
I, I.”

— Yosano Akiko, the first few lines from 'Sozorogoto'

NZ Life and Leisure Magazine

February 28, 2015

Guess who's featured in the 'Motoring' section of NZ Life and Leisure?! This Jan/ Feb 2015 edition

Photography: Nicola Edmonds

Right: My Great, Great Grandmother, Celia Anne Coombe and her 1913 Triumph 3 1/2 hp that was bought for her 21st Birthday by her Father. She went on to street race Bugatti cars...! ^=^

Above: 1913 Triumph 3/12 hp

There is still time to grab your tent, snatch the 'kini or the budgie smugglers and get on the road! .... better add that Care Bear Onsie in too ;D

Upcoming Awesome Events- Splore and Flowstate

February 16, 2015

**There are art installations, workshops, performances and moooooreee!!......**

**EPIC line up- click the image to go see what other amazing acts are coming!**

Miss Kara-Leah Grant from theyogalunchbox.co.nz is taking two workshop not to miss too! — **Miss Kara-Leah Grant** **from** theyogalunchbox.co.nz is taking two workshop not to miss too!

POST SPLORE: Verdict: THE BEST FESTIVAL I Hhave been to to date- Hands down. Absolutely wonderfully chilled and fun- with a capital F. The venue, the facilities, the vibe and the ethos- sustainable, leaving no trace and an experience I will treasure. I haven't EVER been as relaxed or enjoyed a camping music festival like I have the last three days. It is truly a family friendly festival and completely unique. This biennial event has now gone annual- If you are in NZ, I would lock and load now for next year!

I am now eyeing up these two phenomenons- CLICK on the images to go have a peek *=^

Mind + Body + Adventure....   +++   ^=^ — Mind + Body + Adventure.... +++ ^=^

I don't think I can quite express how excited I am to be joining these guys for the week... well, put it this way- I am SO excited I am q u i e t .... (and if you know me- you will truly understand the significance of that statement!)

Get thee to their site and check out the other events and adventures they have coming up!!

Ok- this is breaking my heart- but I'm selling A3TZC    ;( — **Ok- this is breaking my heart- but I'm selling A3TZC ;(**

2014 Triumph Street Triple- FOR SALE!

February 14, 2015

2014 Triumph Street Triple $12,999
7578 km's on the clock
Still covered by Manufactures' Warranty
Heated Grips
Triumph specific crash protection
Triumph S-Triple Paddock Stand (gloss black) and bike fitted with bobbins
Triumph extra cushion seat.
Rego and WOF'd (History kept with Motorad Wellington)
1 phenomenal lady owner who has lovingly run in engine from new and maintained machine.

THE FACTS

Triumph Street Triple- 6 speed, manual transmission, Pirelli Diablo Tyres.

Power/torque: 105bhp @ 11,850rpm/50lb ft @ 9,750rpm

Top speed: 201 km

Fuel tank/range: 17.3L /290km

You don’t have to look twice to know that it’s a Triumph Street Triple. With minimalistic design, pure muscle, no unnecessary plastic panels and a pair of conservative tank scoops, it stands out.

The engine is bare and is a vital part of the overall design. The twin headlights resemble eyes which have just popped out, as if the Triple had just spotted Steve McQueen ride by on his Bonnie! The novel headlight design is unique only to Triumphs. You either love it or... well LOVE it.

Everything on the Triumph Street Triple resonates top-notch quality and exceptional finish - right from the soft-touch palm grips, easy to reach control switches, to the neatly laid out instrument console.

The twin trip computer throws information like time, fuel economy, range and lap timer information. There’s even a smart gear-change LED indicator on the console which can be programmed to one’s riding style.

This is a dream to ride- simply fan-fucking-tastic.