Contrasts!!

We live in a world of contrasts... Within one month, in one moment I found myself in the hustle and bustle of Bangkok with it's endless traffic jams and oppressive Carbon Footprint, multi story shopping malls and polluted river courses and in the next, I was experiencing the serenity and simple life of a small village at the edge of the Great Rift Valley overlooking the Eastern Shore of Lake Malawi.

If I ask myself where I'd prefer to be or more specifically, which lifestyle I would choose to adopt, I'd most definitely have to go with the simpler, more "chilled" of the two, Malawi. Why then, do I find myself in an environment resembling Bangkok more? Why do I allow complicated schedules and deadlines, bank accounts and house bonds to crowd out the simple things in life? I had to ask myself, is it purely economic or is it my "Western mentality", my human need to feel "productive"?

The reason for my visit to Malawi was to film some friends of mine who have committed 12 years of their lives to missions. He had an interesting point, "We can adapt to another culture to the point where we exist within it but we will never loose our own." He is an example in the flesh, a project driven individual who seeks to make life easier and more comfortable and more healthy for the people he works amongst. What he does among the people, piping water into villages, installing sanitary slabs for their toilet pits and building sturdier houses could be perceived as the first steps towards technology... does this make him wrong, introducing Western ideas into a community that has functioned adequately for several millennium? Contrary to that, when a local man turns down the offer for a potential income because his crops were good this year... despite the fact that two years ago he was pleading with the same "westerner" for famine relief because his crop failed, does this make him wrong?

There is a fine line between simplicity and productivity? God will most certainly not reward productivity one day when it was at the expense of sleep and healthy family relationships. By the same token, he will not reward the sluggard who does not work to feed his family and accept his lot in life.

I have to admit, I too would look for projects to inspire, motivate and create if I lived within simplicity and maybe that is why I have chosen the "city way". However, I respect and crave what the simple, less complicated, and lets face it, less materialistic side has to offer. It is this contrast that determines who we are, may we be lead by Christ in our determination to find rest in attaining our purpose.

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.

Keegan

What does the sudden death of a 14 year old boy do to those around him? It's unnatural, it's not supposed to happen, it's not what we expected, it's an unwelcome shock. But who are we mere mortals to question God's timing? It's easy (or easier) when we understand and believe in God's sovereignty, it's even easier when our friend, our brother, or our son is saved by his own confession of his dependence on Christ, by the blood of our saviour Jesus Christ. Is this grief for them, or is it simply our own? Why would we grieve for the death and rebirth of a saint, when we believe he is with our Father in his mansion with en-suite bedroom and a balcony over looking the biggest, most majestic mountain to be climbed and a new wilderness to be discovered? No, this is worthy of celebration, this is worthy of praise! The grief is ours, for our loss, for our emptiness and void and justified it is. The grief reminds us of the importance of that person in their own life time, the grief is proportionate to that individuals impact in other's lives.

The grief I see in those left behind reveals character.
When those who grieve shed a tear, I am aware of love, affection, compassion and an unselfish disposition.
When those who grieve laugh, I am aware of joy, a sense of humour and love for life.
When those who grieve tell stories, I am aware of a life lived with zest, full of experiences, adventure and a passion for living life to it's full potential. I am reminded to live each day to it's full and to enjoy every breath I breathe.
When those who grieve glow with pride, I am aware of accomplishments, perseverance and hard work.
When those who grieve embrace each other, I am aware of family, of support, of loyalty and unconditional love.
When those who grieve are strong, I am aware of "a peace that transcends all understanding", of trust and faith and gratitude.
When those who grieve carry on, I am aware of a life lived for Christ and a life shed with gain, to God's glory.
When those who grieve tremble, I am aware that life is fragile, life is brief and time with loved ones is valuable.
When those who grieve smile, I am aware of tenderness, sensitivity and discernment.
When those who grieve pause, I am aware of intimacy, personal attention, and kindness.

Keegan, I know you better now than ever before because of the mark you left behind in all those who grieve their certain untimely loss.

...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...

Another place, another experience

Just when I thought I had seen it all... The question people ask about lodges in the bush, "what unique selling point does this lodge have?" has been answered again. By the very nature of the word unique, I have no doubt that this question will be answered again numerous times in my life, but this one is definitely worth a mention.


I recently returned from a press trip to the Kafue National Park in Zambia. It's claim to fame, the largest National Park in Africa. We were fortunate enough to visit two lodges situated on the serene Kafue River. Wilderness Safaris' Lufupa tented camp and Hippo lodge. Both lodges offered outstanding hospitality and due to the location on the Kafue River, beautiful views and river based activities.
A Lufupa sunset boat trip treated us to a fresh new vantage point from which to watch a leopard surveying all that flowed by as it caught the last rays of a setting sun.

Of all the leopard I've seen, it may not have been the most up close and personal but given our position relative to his, it has to be labelled a "wow" experience. Unique it was but that brings me to the unique experience that I alluded to earlier.

Right from the word go, a banana boat transfer to Hippo Lodge, there wasn't time to get bored and wonder what next at Hippo. We were spoiled by one activity after the next, game drives, bream fishing & island brunches but the most memorable of all, the unique experience unlike any other I've had in any bushveld location was arriving shortly after sunset directly off a game drive at an "oasis", crystal blue waters enclosed by richly coloured volcanic rocks. The rising bubbles indicating that this was no ordinary pool, this was a hot spring, heat bubbling up from somewhere near the core of the earth to heat these mineral rich waters.
Floating weightless in water the same temperature as our bodies surrounded by 24000 square kilometres of woodland bushveld and nocturnal sounds permeated by the popping of tiny bubbles rising from beneath the water, gazing at the Milky Way overhead is an experience that cannot be justified by words.

Yes, it could be labelled a selling point but I hesitate to publish this in fear of betraying a deeply kept secret. It is an experience that must be shared but such a place, a place as unique should be guarded closely. The "gatekeeper" Hippo lodge is one that I can highly recommend as a unique bush destination and one that will offer you unparalleled experiences.

Looking for more?

Everybody seems to be looking for more... no matter how much they already have. By this I don't only refer to material possessions but seeking the thrill, the adventure, the recognition, the fame... We all "need" more, a constant craving driving us. We search for it in various ways, relationships (or lack thereof), achievements in careers, reputations amongst our peers, chasing dreams that don't matter as much as our ultimate purpose does. Why do we never seem to reach what we're chasing? Why do other's lives always measure up "better" than our own?

Firstly, comparing our lives to others is never going to satisfy our lust for more unless we learn to compare with those who have less than we do rather than those whose lives (or aspects of) we envy and covet. Those we're comparing ourselves to, are ironically comparing their lives with our own too because they're not satisfied either and you can be assured that there are aspects of your life that they would rather have than their own too! It's time that we realise that we all occupy a unique niche', we all have a purpose to fulfil. When we read Ecclesiastes we see how this wise old man considered this late in his life too and he concludes throughout that we will not find it in money, we will not find it in relationships (no matter how intimate), we will not find it in sexual pleasures, not in entertainment or in any measure of recognition or fame or in any of our own accomplishments. No doubt these may bring some temporary measure of satisfaction and even happiness but it's not going to last. Until we find our satisfaction in our source of life and purpose, we will be "chasing after the wind".

It is only through a living saviour, through pure grace and forgiveness of this selfish searching, through Jesus Christ that we will begin to find some sort of lasting fulfilment within all of those secondary attempts at finding true happiness. We are loved, we are significantly important, we do have purpose in this life and a hope to live with every day, we need no more!!

What makes you angry?

"Find somebody who is depressed, tired, exhausted; you get them angry and it's like rocket fuel. I mean, it is unbelievable energy and stimulus. There is power within us when we're angry that can frighten us." - Rob Bell

For those of you who have become familiar with Nooma short films presented by Rob Bell, you will know how powerful his messages are. They'd be impressive standing on their own let alone accompanied by the powerful imagery that has become so recognizable within Nooma films. Today, totally out of impulse I bought another one, called "Store". Why I picked "Store" out of 17 other titles is beyond me, but obviously not beyond the Spirit guiding me because I've just watched it and as I did, I felt like Rob Bell was speaking directly to me, like his eyes were penetrating my mind from inside the television.

"Store" deals with people's anger, the unnecessary anger that people carry around with them every day, the anger that causes a man to tailgate us on the highway, that causes arguments in parking lots and that causes people to launch attacks on unsuspecting family members just because they're the closest target. It speaks of what powerful energy anger is and the power with which it yields control over us so that we begin not to like ourselves. It addresses another angle on anger too, a passion that is fuelled, a proactive response to anger, harnessing the energy to make a difference in this world.

Recently I've been experiencing both of these responses to anger. Knowing myself to be a "chilled out" individual who is not phased out by much in this life, I find it difficult to deal with those feelings of irritation and anger when they do surface and I begin to dislike the person I am becoming inside. I have been questioning the source of this anger and asking myself if I am justified in feeling this way? What Rob Bell has taught me though is how important our outward response is to this powerful emotion. Are we going to allow this potential explosion within us fuel a negative or a positive expression? If we know within our hearts that our response has been one that has been acted out of integrity, out of love for those looked down upon, out of a passion for protecting God's creation, we need not feel guilty for feeling and acting upon those feelings, were they not after all given to us by the creator of all things in the first place. As Rob Bell says, "We need to listen to our anger because God may be using it to get our attention".

The question is, "Why am I angered? because that anger is going to lead somewhere." We live in a world where people get angry about things that DO NOT matter, while at the same time people don’t get angry about things that DO matter. It's all about the selfish attitude, "how does this affect me?" We should rather be asking, "What is it that affects others?" There are things worth getting angry about, the injustice in this world, the way people are treated unfairly because of their social status, the way the environment is destroyed for selfish gain because it has no voice. There are a multitude of good reasons to be angry, reasons worth making a noise over.

Rob Bell ends off by saying "May you become aware of your anger. May you learn to channel it, to focus it, direct it into something beautiful. And may it fuel sacred acts of healing and restoration". I don't know about you, but the reason I share this with you is because it is a challenge to each one of us to use something so powerful that is in every one of us to make a difference in the right direction...

What makes you angry? What fuels your passion? What are YOU going to do about it? Does your anger make the world a better place?

I've found the pot of gold

My apologies, it's been an entire month since I last posted anything. A clear indication however of how busy I've managed to find myself again. For the third year in a row, I have to admit that I landed my proverbial butt in the butter for my birthday. Two years ago, it was in Lower Zambezi at Chongwe River camp, last year at Vuyatela in Djuma game reserve and this year I was privileged to be staying at Lion Sands River Camp on my birthday. The experience was truly a personal one... the staff sang to me at dinner time, brought me an enormous chocolate cake and stencilled out "Happy Birthday Paul" in green twigs on my bed. As if that wasn't all enough, they included a pair of binoculars as a gift on my bed... at this point I feel it is only fitting to give Lion Sands a little bit of a punt.

This was not the pot of gold however... A few weeks later having travelled to Cape Town for a week already, an assignment took me off to Zambia, truly one of the most exquisite countries on this continent. We spent four days in and around Lusaka, an experience in itself as previously I've only really driven through this buzzing city. Apart from typical African Beaurocracy, it proved to be an okay city (as African cities go) & our presenter, Chilu managed to "paint it red" one night as we hopped from one nightspot to the next. It was our next port of call however that impressed on me the most in the past month.

Livingstone, or more simply... Vic Falls, is a destination that I would encourage everyone of you to visit at least once in your life. Despite the fact that it was my second visit, the place still impacted on me. We stayed in Songwe Village, a cultural experience without the exception of luxury. Once again (it seems to be becoming a habit) I found myself dancing to a drumbeat around a fire with local inhabitants. This time even wearing a "Chitenga", their traditional cloth that they sling over their shoulder. It never ceases to amaze me what liberty it is to let all inhibition go and to just go ahead and "dance like nobody is watching". (In Chilu's case however, all "Africa Within" viewers will get a glimpse into his evening).

The true pot of gold however, was found at Vic Falls itself. The spectacle, the thunder, the wet spray in your hair, the sheer vastness are reason enough to go back, and so we did... Having visited it once already to get some links with our presenter, we decided to go back late one afternoon to capture some more magic... and magic it was! They speak of the "pot of gold" at the end of a rainbow, I found that pot of gold. I struggled at first mind you because finding the end of a rainbow that completes a full circle is quite a challenge. After a few moments however, I realised that with the sun towards your back, the mighty Vic Falls below you and the "smoke that thunders" surrounding you, when you're truly getting soaked, the rainbow is the most intense rainbow you can imagine. Every colour is distinctly visible and the rainbow ascends out of the gorge, into the sky and arks all the way over the ridge, plunging into the surrounding rainforest. Spectacular!! For others standing a little way off, provided I was deep in the spray, it would appear that I was standing in the rainbow and let me tell you, I found the pot of gold! More valuable than any tangible amount of money or possessions was that sense of hope, of exhilaration, of Joy and of the presence of our creator and a realisation that we exist only to give glory!!

To get just a sense of this place (and other magnificent places), watch Africa Within on Friday's at 18:00 on SABC Africa Channel 53.

"What is man...?"

It's been a while & it's time I share something that had a fair impact on me a few weeks ago. As a child I clearly remember family holidays on the South Coast or on any beach for that matter. It was a time of fun spent with cousins, uncles, aunts, siblings and... no responsibility. Hours and hours spent in the waves and sun, building sand castles and burying one another neck deep in sand. This year things changed, not the sun, not the beach and not the kick back and relax attitude but the family... suddenly I am no longer the kid, no longer the cousin, but now the uncle, and an uncle of five nephews and nieces to top it off. It was the first holiday spent with family in possibly 12 years and it was an absolute blessing. We were spoilt rotten with our accommodation, a beautiful double story home literally across the road from the beach with a wooden deck overlooking the waves. The whole family collected outside on the deck, binoculars in hand when the Humpback Whales did their daily rounds, spraying and breaching regularly just because they can. It instilled in me a sense of belonging, more importantly, a sense of identity. Family is our foundation for who we are, and the acceptance they show us allows us to believe in ourselves.
I don't believe there was any co-incidence in the fact that in a church service that I attended with a good friend on the last evening of the holiday, the pastor preached on a scripture that has since become very significant and meaningful to me, one we've all heard before but one I challenge everyone to read again... Psalm 8, specifically verse 4, "what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?" WOW!!! And that WOW, as highlighted by our pastor that evening stands for "What Outstanding Workmanship"! I speak of family as being our source of identity, but here I want to take it one step further, our Father, our everlasting father... no matter who we are, where we are or what our earthly family circumstances are, we can all call Him, Our Father...
Psalm 8 sets the scene for us, as we consider the heavens (and this is thought can be reserved for a totally separate blog entry), how vast they are, how absolutely magnificent they are, as we consider everything around us on this "Blue Planet", as we gaze on the waves of the ocean crashing continually, rhythmically onto the beach, as we consider mountains, the Himalayas, the Alps or even the Drakensberg, as we consider the detail on a Butterfly's wing, we exclaim...WOW, What Outstanding Workmanship! Why then, when we look in a mirror, or when we consider our own lives, do we not exclaim the same WOW? Why do we complain about any mundane, trivial issue we can find to complain about, why do we beat others down, criticize and hurt to make ourselves feel better, why do we take it on ourselves to "own" others, to try and control? Why do we compare ourselves to others continually wishing we had what they have while they wish they had what we have? Why do we worry to the point of paranoia and sickness about what others may think?? Do we not realise that the same God, the same Father who created all those wonders we marvel over created us too? Is it not time that we realise that not only did He create us but He also created us specifically as a HOME, a TEMPLE for Himself to reside in? Why would He make a mistake in the creation of His very own dwelling place?? How arrogant of us to claim that He made a mistake with us!! To quote the pastor for the service I was attending, "Every time we look to the ocean and we say, Wow... He looks at us and He says, Wow... Every time we look at the snow capped mountains and we say, Wow... He looks down on us and He says, Wow... Every time we hold a unique snowflake in the palm of our hand, and we say Wow... He looks at our unique character and He says... WOW, "What Outstanding Workmanship". What is man??... We are His "Outstanding Workmanship". It's time that we stop looking at others and wishing we were them, worrying about what people may say, blaming others for our shortcomings and trying to take care of others when we have more to take care of in ourselves... It's time we look at our Father and listen to Him who knows us better than we know ourselves.
I am so grateful to have the wonderful family I have, I am blessed beyond measure to have them, but even more importantly, I am in debt for life to my God, my Father and my Saviour Jesus Christ who has provided access to Him that I may know with certainty who I am.