My New Year’s Resolution

January 4, 2009

Hello, and welcome to 2009! I hope you had a happy and safe Christmas and New Year’s period. It was great to get back home, even if it were for just a two week taste of home. It’s funny how being home with family often brings clarity and time to think about what’s really important and what’s worth dwelling on. Weirdest thing however is whenever I go back home, I was feel anxious and uncertain of my place to the point of a mild case of agoraphobia and travel reluctance once there, which I barely ever experience in Korea where I travel freely and feel comfortable almost anywhere I go. It’s odd to say the least.  I put it down to either reverted back to former pre-Korea self and/or reverse culture shock, both of which I’m sure will dissipate the longer I stay in Australia once settled.

I’m always astonished by the natural beauty, space and clean air of my homeland. It makes me really appreciate what I took for granted for the first 25 years or so of my life. That said, I think age also helps in making you fully appreciate the beauty of nature and natural environments – you often just don’t fully appreciate it when you’re young.

That said, it’s not really surprising that Australia’s surrounded by clear skies, natural beauty and few people considering it’s the sixth largest nation on Earth, has one of the lowest population densities  and only has 21 million inhabitants – there’s bound to clean air, lots of space and beautiful places at least somewhere in the country!

Which brings me to my New Year’s Resolution which is getting back home to Australia sometime this year for good, or at least for an extended period. Korea’s given me a lot in the past five and a half years, I’ve done things I’d never imagine, experienced thousands of wonderful experiences, overcome many fears and anxieties, and learnt many lessons through many trials and tribulations. But, I always believe that you know when it’s time to move on, and 2009 is definitely time for me to move on from Korea. Actually, 2008 may well have been but it was good for me to stay in Korea in 2008 in the end. It’s time for me to start that next chapter of life back home in the island continent and go forward from there. In the meantime, I hope to complete my contract and make enough money to have one more hurrah – a, hopefully extended, vacation overseas before I head back home.

1 Comment | Australia, Musings, The Ben | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by elcanguro76

Gurrumul – the most beautiful voice from a beautiful man

January 4, 2009

Just arrived back in Korea and I thought I’d direct you to Gurrumul. My sister played his CD in her car whilst I was back home and he has the most beautiful voice. He also performed during the Sydney New Year’s Eve concert. Gurrumul’s  full name is Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu and is an Indigenous Australian of the Gumatj clan of the Yolngu people of Arnhem Land in the top end of the Northern Territory. Gurrumul was born blind, never taught to read braille and walks unaided by guide dog or walking stick. He’s from a prominent family of musicians, social activists and Indigenous leaders – his uncle is former Australian of the Year, Mandawuy Yunupingu.

Below are two of his songs, ‘Bapa’ and ‘I was Born Blind’ otherwise known as ‘Gurrumul History’.

‘Bapa’

‘I was Born Blind’

4 Comments | Australia, Australian culture, Music, Videos | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by elcanguro76