Bubble Heads

Mauritius, another one of those iconic island destinations we hear of so often and only dream of getting to, definitely lives up to it's reputation. What struck me most about this beautiful island apart from the azure waters, palm trees and beaches, was the adventure that it breathes. I have not yet experienced an island with such a vast diversity of activities to indulge in. From water skiing, to sailing, pedalboats and scuba diving, and that was just at the resort where I was staying.

Having said all that, it's the unique experience that I am after and despite the fact that my most recent attempt at water skiing while I was in Mauritius was definitely a far more positive experience than the last time I tried... because I actually got up and achieved a straight run without bouncing multiple times on the water, the experience I'd like to share is one unlike most others I've ever had.

On first impression it reminded me of Jules Verne's classic novel "20000 Leagues under the sea" (or at least, the cover pictures of that novel). More like something from Star wars than an aquatic past time. I still have no clue as to what the official name is but I know first hand that it involves a plastic/ perspex bubble (bell) being placed over your head, (with a winch and pulley I may add), a heavy wait belt around your waist, a deafening, continuous blast of air into the same bell your head shares, a yawn or two and cud chewing action of the jaw to compensate for the pressure you feel around your head, (at this point I imagined my head being nuked in a microwave) and then a nudge from behind to encourage the walk of faith into a blue abyss (okay so maybe it was only four or five meters of water) but it felt like a major separation from the elements above water that I am so familiar with.



My mission was to film the Tropika Island of Treasure contestants participating in their underwater challenge. It took a few minutes to acclimatize to this noisy, awkward bubble on my head and to orientate myself in unfamiliar surroundings, but being comfortable underwater, within a short time I was recording this strange, almost historical event, fish swimming in the hundreds around me as I did so. I'm not sure it's the most practical method of underwater exploration, with pipes following you wherever you venture, it certainly is not the most eco-friendly means as it involves stomping around on the ocean floor but I will say that breathing normally in a bubble of air with an ability to literally talk to yourself underwater as you walk the ocean floor is an experience that I will not soon forget.

...The Real Island Life

And so... from Singapore it was off to Phuket. A destination that I have since realised leaves mixed responses and opinions in the minds and on the tongues of those who have set foot on its shores. Something owing I believe to the type of personality combined with the particular location the visitor has chosen as their holiday spot.

If a particular person is not akin to the hustle & bustle of 3rd world "chaos", ladies of the night propositioning from street corners, and neon lights inviting people in for some of the local brew & a ring side seat for a Thai Boxing match, Patong is not the place for them. If they do find themselves staying in Patong, they may be left with a bitter taste in their mouths and a negative impression of a place.

What they didn't know is had they bothered to venture only 10km's South on the island, they would have discovered a far tamer and more tranquil Phuket in the form of Karon Beach. Karon is a beautiful, white beach that stretches for miles. Karon Village is a shoppers paradise, from the market place, offering bargains an Indian would be proud of to little boutiques that the Queen of England would enjoy. It is gentle on the nerves but not without a great vibe at night and a bit of entertainment on offer.


If however, a quiet getaway with absolutely no interruptions, unspoilt beaches and moonlit swims in the ocean is what this travelers ideal holiday is (this sounds like an informercial), then they should have climbed in a tuktuk and headed even further South to Kata, Kata Noi (Litte Kata) or Nai Harn.


We stayed in Kata which really was ideally situated. Good cheap, t-shirts a few kilometers North in Karon and tranquil beaches and sunset views just South of us. The best thing about the island is that where we went and when we went there was our choice because we had our very own wheels... 125cc of pure two stroke grunt (except on the steep hills where Jenn decided this was a little too much for the poor scooter and vacated the back seat to walk instead). Down the winding mountain hills was a different story, where Jenn was convinced she maintained control of the scooter by twisting my hips in the direction she felt we should head. Parking didn't pose a problem either and even if it did, the locals relocate any scooter whenever the need arises, so take note of which scooter is yours because it may not be where you left it when you get back to it after your authentic, incredibly delicious Thai Green Curry. On your way home, it is a prerequisite to stop at a sidewalk vendor to buy the trademark of Phuket snacks... Banana Pancakes smothered in chocolate sauce.

Where Phuket is a far more family orientated destination with lovely beaches and well priced food, Phiphi Island is more for the backpacker, adventure seeker also looking for... well priced food. As we headed across the ocean sharing the front deck of a ferry with some interesting travellers,chunks of rock began jutting out of the horizon... what we didn't realise is that these chunks of rock were where we'd be spending the next two days. They're incredible spectacles, prehistoric in form and uninhabitable to the eye but offering the most spectacular photographic opportunities and an adrenaline junkies best dream... offering kayaking, climbing, snorkeling and diving and exotic beaches that you only find "in the movies". "The Beach" (where the movie was shot) is a good reason to visit Phiphi, a hidden bay called Maya Bay with turquoise waters and shadowed by towering buttresses really is a mystical place to be and when you're fortunate enough to be there when the crowds aren't, you truly can imagine being a Robinson Crusoe stranded on an inhospitable yet breathtaking island. I for one would not mind being "stranded" for a week or two on Phi phi Island.

City Island Life

As always, I'm writing a seriously back dated account and I'm sure if anyone was in fact following this blog, they gave up on me a long time ago. Nonetheless it's time I shared some experiences with the great 'cyber void" out there again so here goes...

December's are always bitter sweet times for me because although they're the best time to go away from an industry point of view, they're also the time where I'm least inclined to spend too much money. Fortunately I learnt a long time ago that life is too short to think that way and when we're blessed financially, so long as we feel we've given back sufficiently, we sometimes need to bite the bullet and experience life a little...

With that in mind, it was off to Singapore, Phuket and Perth for the December holidays. It is of course easier to justify such a trip when there is family in two of the three places to be visited. Singapore would never be an option if it weren't for a free bed and meals, not to mention a car and personal tour guide (in the person of my sister). It's a city that like many other cosmopolitans is difficult to define particularly with obvious influences from both the Western and Eastern Worlds.


What impressed me most, apart from the Singapore Slings at the famous Raffles Hotel Long Bar and the cityscapes at night from the river side,


were the vast green belts that surround and exist within Singapore.


As I photographed monkeys in the Mc Richies Reservoir Forest, and strolled along kilometers of paths through the Botanical Gardens, I was so completely enveloped by the natural surroundings that I forgot I was "within city limits". This island city is the epitome of organisation and without compromising the need that people have to escape into natural environments. Singapore Zoo embraces this ethos, particularly the nocturnal Zoo & is something not to miss even for those who have an aversion to Zoos. It was an education for me to catch but a glimpse of the diversity of wildlife in South East Asia. I was truly humbled by my lack of knowledge, in fact, complete ignorance of the animal kingdom within this part of the world... Africa is apparently NOT the only continent with wild and interesting creatures, although even they can be found on exhibit in the bird park offering me my first sightings of the elusive Shoebill which occurs in only two places on the African continent.
I'd like to say one day that my photographs of a Shoebill are taken in the birds natural environment, but for now, these will do. After exploring this "city island" it was time for real island life...