Byron Bay & Geography

Posted on 6 March 2016 by Elsa

ByronBay

Quickly quickly.. because *singing in unison* I am super busy:
This is very old drawing. At least… 5 or 6 months !!! wouhou.

I said “very old” because things are rapidly changing here in Australia and there around the world, that 6 months can be a long long time.

I said “here in Australia” because obviously, being in exchange is not quite the same as living at home. Here, I am constantly watching the landscape, the vegetation, the people (I know it is not polite, but hey! people are fascinating). I perceive so many new things that I always want to give my own interpretation of these through my drawings. When you are away, you see everyday life with new eyes. Like.. what seems to be ordinary for local people might actually be very curious for me. I strongly feel that way, even in a western culture such as Australia which apparently seems much alike France or Swiss’ culture. I think that is partly why my drawing skill is changing everyday, because my creativity is fed by such novelty. Even when I am asleep, or while I am studying, or while I am talking I feel like the way I draw evolves. It is also because the act of drawing is related to the right side of the brain (I read something about that, it is a riveting topic by the way!) blabla.

Anyway, let us come back to the topic: The changing nature of things

I spoke about changing things “around the world” because this semester, Geography and I have decided to make peace after 4 years of love-hate relationship. I am proud to say that I took the first step in this endeavour by taking “Geographies of Global Change” class. And guess what? Geography has seemed to feel the same way so far ♥. I am absolutely delighted! The teacher is so good, interesting and it is really refreshing to study a “well-known” subject from such a different perspective, especially when she talks about France or Europe (she hasn’t mention Switzerland …..yet). I put “well-known subject” between commas (that’s irony-) because I feel that, even though I have gained knowledge about Geography during my 3 years study in Switzerland (hell yeah! Sometimes with pleasure for human geography and sometimes unwillingly when it was about geomorphology), I always felt like I couldn’t really, deeply understand the purpose of my studies and why geography matters so much. BUT NOW I GET IT!! Explaining now the secret would take too much time. J’ai déjà explosé mon forfait msn et blog du jour. Puréé je suis en forme aujourd’hui.

So quickly quickly, to give you a small explanation of the drawing: this is a picture of Byron Bay that I did start during our road trip in September and that I have just finished (procrastination hello).
Byron Bay is such a cool place. Cool place for cool kids. If I was cool and if I was a surfer, I would definitely live in Byron Bay. (East Coast Baby!)
Since I am not cool (apparently to be uncool is the new cool haha) but above all I do not surf, I just don’t. If I ever move there, I am not sure that I would fit in.
Yet, I still really enjoyed our stay in Byron Bay, especially at the Arts Factory – Backpackers Lodge (bon là on atteint le sommet de la coolitude les gars!).

It is all for today.

Abruptly & joyfully ♪ ♫

Fifty Shades of Sydney – Chapter 13 + Galaxtree

Posted on 28 February 2016 by Elsa

Fitfty

Hoy,

Just some little words to say that everything is okay but, with all this master applications and with the beginning of the second semester, I do not really find the time to write long piece of text here.

My trip to the Blue Mountains was really nice, especially the hike to Wentworth Waterfalls. The landscapes are breathtaking and despite the heat (more than 36°) and a tricky part where you have to climb ladders, the view is well worth the effort!! I will post something exclusively on this area.

Today, you can see that I am still obsessed with the idea of drawing the galaxy and tree. Voilà voilà

Sorry for dashing off this post 😀

Bisousousou

galaxtree

Random Access Memories – Last beat

Posted on 22 February 2016 by Elsa

Hello,

In order to complete the collection of drawings from Bali, I am happy to share with you these last two drawings as well as the story and picture(s) that go with each. Ready?

THE GHOST HOTEL

owner

The story takes place in Bedugul, it was just after visiting the Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple. We were sitting in the middle of the lake and I let you imagine how much the fog gave a special atmosphere to the lake: a kind of mystic or magic air somehow, especially if you have a vivid imagination. I remember that, after taking the picture, we walked for a while on the shore. It was already dusk, we were hungry, we had seen some lights far away and we had guessed that it was a restaurant. At some point, we couldn’t apparently go any further because there were big stones and heavy vegetation blocking the way. Since we were very close to the lights (and starving) we decided to climb the stones anyway with help of our flashlight’s phones because it was getting very dark. C’était casse-gueule mais bon. After climbing the rocks, we found a little Iron Gate leading to a stone stairway. We climbed the stairs and arrived into a very curious and quite disturbing temple.

*toumtoumtoum* ♪

At that moment, we began to feel that it was obviously not the gateway and that it was perhaps not a good idea to be there. Anyway, we managed to get out of the temple and… arrived into a huge and completely empty hotel. There were hundreds of tables on a terrace facing the lake (that must have been the lights that we had seen before). Not only that, there were like a giant ballroom, dining room, breakfast room with red curtains and fancy chandeliers hanging from the ceiling.. like in Titanic or something!!

And yet, we did not see any living soul.

Quite frankly, I felt more like in Shining than Titanic.

Eventually, we bumped into a woman –a waitress—. It was funny to see that we were more surprised than she was even though we had entered by the back and that we were alone in the hotel; she gave us the menu, took our orders with a straight face. Later, when I went to restroom, I had to cross the ball room (I saw two rats on my way) and spotted a very old lady, who was sitting on the middle of the piece and watching a completely- fucked-up- Indonesian-reality-show. THIS WHOLE SITUATION WAS SO WEIRD.

Anyway, we ate all right and left by the front door this time, but in the complete darkness. There were no lights on the front of the hotel…

We thought that we were far away from our own hotel with all we had to walk along the lake but actually less than 5 minutes later, we came across our hotel! That was a bit disturbing as well. (Voilà pour l’anecdote. Non, il n’y a pas d’autres chute).

IMG_20151211_173530

THE APE EMPIRES

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For this one: In Ubud (big up to all the members of Eat Prey Love’s Fan Club) we went to the Sacred Monkey Forest. One of the first things that have happened is that a monkey robbed one of my earrings. Goodness me! It was fortunate that I was not wearing my diamonds that day! (LOL)

Then, another damned monkey stole the cup that I used to use for painting. As its name suggests, the monkeys (or forest I am not sure) are, well, sacred. So needless to say that there was no way that I could bring my properties back in this ape world.

I felt dispossessed. 😀

On another matter, I go back to school in less than one week. It I can’t believe that the summer is almost over: the three months have gone sooo fast! Melbourne was amazing and I am going to blue mountains tomorrow for three days so that means that I see you very soon for other adventures !

Travelling in Slow Motion

Posted on 14 February 2016 by Elsa

Fantasy

I left for Melbourne last Tuesday. I am going on holiday after these intense weeks of English class.

I decided to go by train because I prefer travelling in slow motion when I have the time. That way, I can really feel the distance and the movement is also part of the journey.

I think that rail is my favourite mode of transport because I don’t get sick when I read on the train or when I look at the landscapes. Besides, trains have often been a thematic in my drawings. I love this thematic perhaps because of the film “Spirited Away” by Hayao Miyazaki and especially the moment where Chihiro walks on the sea and catches a train in middle of the water. In think this is one of the most inspiring scenes in a film that I have ever seen.

Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki

Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki

Tiphaine and me, the 26th of Mars 2013 (almost 3 years ago!!) “I love taking the train with Titi. I love taking the train actually, especially the trip “Geneva-Lausanne”, on the morning, on the seat next to the widow, with the view on the lake and if possible, in the direction to travel”

My interpretation of the movie, the 29th of January 2014 (two years ago!)

I am taking a night train and for sure, it won’t be like my drawing at the beginning of the article at all because, first, l’Ayers Rock is not on the way between Sydney and Melbourne. Second, one of my friend has just told me that even though it is during the night, there is no beds in this train (et merde). Third, I am in Economy class so I think that I can forget the idea of space and comfort. I don’t care, I mean.. I am on holiday !!!!

One day, I would love to go either on the Orient Express or the Trans-Siberian Railway. I am sure Nina would be up for it.

orient-express-pullman-cabin1

Flowers in the hair, flowers in the air

Posted on 9 February 2016 by Elsa

cerise

the draft

I love when people wear flowers in their hair. It always remains me Aung San Suu Kyi, who is a woman who has fought for the democracy in Burma and who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991.

the final.

Aung San Suu Kyi

Wearing flowers in my hair remains me my mother as well. ♥

Aung San Suu Kyi

For the anecdote:

Last week, on the way between the post office and home, I picked some flowers which have fallen on the ground. When I came home, I asked one of my housemate to help me with taking an artistic picture. My original idea was just to take a picture of the flowers resting in my hands, as you can see below. By the way, my glittering nail polish is an intended part of the artistic installation. The golden glitters represent the stars and the Universe and the eternity while we can say that the flowers symbolise the ephemeral aspect of the life…

I am kidding of course. There was a bargain on bad taste nail polish at Big W. 😀

2016-01-03 20.51.59

Anyway, when I asked my housemate, he told me “yeah sure. Do you want me to take a picture of you while you are throwing the flowers in the air?” Regarding my initial idea and the fact that he is like.. the engineer of the house who is not really interested on Arts, I was really surprised that he came out with this idea. Actually I couldn’t stop laughing, because I was picturing the scene in my head.

But then, I thought that the idea of falling flowers was poetic somehow. So we tried to take a picture of this and it has been, I think we can say it, an epic fail. 😀

20160103_120109 Hahaha.

I think the worse is that we can see his feet on the right and a little bit of my foot on the bottom.

Fifty Shades of Sydney – Chapter 11 & 12

Posted on 31 January 2016 by Elsa

blue_city brown

If you really want it, but only if you really want to, I can post my research paper in which I discuss how the introduction of social media has changed the face of communication today. I read sooo many papers from both sceptical and (over) optimistic scientists that I don’t know what to think anymore.

One thing is sure, I can’t stop thinking about one article in particular: “Is google making us stupid ?” written by Nicholas Carr.

*Mini quote from my research paper*

“In addition, it seems that surfing the Internet has affected our capacity of deep reading which is directly related to our capacity of thinking (Carr 2008, p.94)”

As you might guess, he thinks that we all become drongo because of internet. (If you are wondering right now what drongo is,naah, it is just some Australian slang.. let me at least try to be cool). I let you read and make your mind, or I should say I let you scan it. LOL. That was so funny. Now you have to read it for real to understand my joke!!

Anyway, you have to read and decide whether the Internet has made you smarter than you were or… not.

I, for certain, think that my general knowledge has improved like hell thanks to Wikipedia… Déjà, j’ai appris pleins de trucs rien que pour gagner des paris (j’arrivais à traduire cette phrase). Who has never bet that Naypyidaw was indeed the capital of Burma ?

For sure, my general knowledge has improved but sometimes for the worse… especially when I ended up reading something about Freemasonry at 4 on the morning… (I am kidding Papa Maman I am never awake after 9 p.m)

I am not sure that I have improved in all area though. On paper (and even on computer you might quip) the way I write is disastrous especially when it comes to spelling task. BUT it is not like I have ever been good at dictation or grammar. 😀

Right, she’ll be! as would say my dear Aussies.

There is not much to say about the Fifty Shades of the week. Expect that I am seriously thinking about changing the concept of “50 shades of Sydney” into “20 shades of Sydney”. Haha…

In one week, I will finish this INTENSE English lecture. Amen !!!

Küsse

Random Access Memories

Posted on 24 January 2016 by Elsa

My dears,

This Sunday, my computer and I would like to unload the majority of the drawings that I made in Bali.

Most of them have been drawn “on the back of an envelope” while I was chatting in a café, or in the taxi while we were driving surrounded by mountains or even when I was walking in the busy streets of Denpasar (that is not a good idea by the way).

That’s why those ones are generally less complex and elaborate than usually. This is part of the charm of a real travel diary. nan ? 😀

Let’s start with the day zero :

SKM_454e16012215150_0001

Scandal at Virgin Airline: they had no TV in the plane !!! Fortunately I was well armed with my craft & art stuff.

Ahh, I really want to comment each of these drawings but I have a research paper to finish for tomorrow.

So I’ll leave you to look at the images and to imagine the trip 🙂

IMG_20151203_231614

Super Mum in the capital

IMG_20151211_173706

Failed Selfie at Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple

Waterfall Hike, Back of the Russian Girl

Before the Heavy Rain

Waterfall Hike

The Beautiful Owner of Our Hotel in Amed

Illegal Taxi (we were not super comfortable)

GOOD MORNING BALI

GUIDE

Restaurant in Ubud

GOOD GIRLS (and good grades 😉

My Delicate Handwriting (LOL)

Another Restaurant

Sunrise in Mount Batur

Room With a View

Room With a View

First Day

I think it is enough for today but I still have some drawings/pictures left.

Love From the Royal Botanic Gardens

Posted on 17 January 2016 by Elsa

Lower Gardens

This drawing has been made 2 months ago. I remember, I was just finishing my *hardcore* midterms. I was SO relieve but ABSOLUTELY exhausted as well.

So I went for the first time to the Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney 2 months ago. First time in 4 months, shame on meee I knowww!! But in my defence, we tried to go once before that, but they didn’t let us in because we were on rollerblades. Indeed, any roll skate, skate, bikes, drones, jetpack etc. are prohibited into the Gardens. Aussies are super relaxed in general but paradoxically, they have sometimes some really strict rules. Some of them are even stricter than in Switzerland. I never would have thought that possible (speaking among democratic countries of course) (I love you Switzerland, but I know you know it is true..). For example, if you usually smoke, in Australia, you can say bye-bye to your cigarette after lunch in terrace, or at the bus stop or even on campus (plus the fact that one packet costs 20 bucks).. Another rules is that in some parks you can’t do skateboard. Finally a legend urban says that you won’t be accepted you into a nightclub if you’re wearing Nike (but Adidas seem okay). Somebody told me that it was like a tacit rule. Not sure if my source is reliable though 😉 I have probably been naïve enough to believe rubbish. AGAIN.

Anyway, this time I went to the Royal National Garden, armed with my pair of converse, my watercolour kit and my brush.

“The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is a major botanical garden located in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Opened in 1816, the garden is the oldest scientific institution in Australia and one of the most important historic botanical institutions in the world. It is open every day of the year and access is free. Its stunning position on Sydney Harbour and immediately adjacent to the Sydney CBD, the Sydney Opera House and the large public parklands of The Domain ensure it is one of the most visited attractions in Sydney.” (Wikipedia)

To no one’s surprise, I have been delighted. That’s why I have been back to the Royal Garden several times since. Now, it has no more secrets for me.

Or maybe not any secrets at all, but let’s say fewer secrets than before.

This park is so big: more than 30 hectares into the city center! After the Australian Times Square, we have our local Central Park 😉 The vegetation is incredibly lush and diversified. So green, so living and so wild somehow. There so many things to do. As a good tourist guide (LOL) I am willing to give you some ideas (if you decide to visit me one day) (After consideration, please don’t come, I am busy) (no, I am kidding, I would love you to come but.. not 2 months) (two weeks would be perfect! )

ANYWAY, IF ONE DAY YOU COME:

You and I could take a break and observe the fish swimming in the pond. I swear that some of them are able to fly. Mariiiine tell them that is it true!!
Then we could walk slowly through the Palace Gardens, especially through the Rainforest Walk and the Rose Garden and smell the flowers (how romantic).
Or you could play guitar (if you can play) near the Oriental Garden and I would listen to it, and try to sing. Especially if you play Celine Dion. Nana come!
Or we could run along the ocean, into the Lower Gardens. We could run with the view on the Opera house and listen to some soundtrack of our life. (and try to imagine that our life is an American movie. or not).
We could take a nap under the shade of a centenary and comforting tree. And then we could give it a hug and thank it (it is the Schneider’s touch 😉
We could sit on a bench in front of the red tree and have chitchat. Actually, that was kind of my first meeting with a red tree, before Bali.

Or… we can lie down on the grass and draw for hours in the sun without cap and forget to hydrate ourselves because we are into the flow and finally get an insolation. \0/
That sounds great! I am sure that you are dying to visit me now! I am proud to say that it is virtually what happened to me. More than getting sunburn, I felt super dizzy until the day after. But I really like this drawing, for some reasons so don’t regret anything. (tough girl)

Ahh..hard life for un artiste du dimanche (or you could say “for a spare-time painter” but is it funnier in French).

I hope you enjoyed my professional guided tour!

Have a lovely Sunday. ♪♫

Elsa

PS : Today, it is been exactly 6 months that I left my beautiful France and my beautiful Switzerland! And I am still alive! Amen!

Have you paid attention to my feet, at the bottom of the drawing?(I think I did it well haha) You can click on the picture if you want to see details. 😉

Have you paid attention to the “5arbores” label which is actually in front of 5 trees?
To the 4 trees of my life: Love from the Royal Botanic Garden ♥

Bookshop & Big City Life & Time

Posted on 10 January 2016 by Elsa

Sofia & National Geographic – Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore

Today, with a great deal of pleasure (fancy, I know..), I’d like to introduce to you my second favourite district in Sydney (after the Rocks ) which is… toum toum..

Paddington !

Oulala!
Between the cute handicraft shops, art galleries or nice places where you can share a drink, you will undoubtedly find something to please yourself.
Paddington is an inner-district: in terms of distance it is very close from the skyscrapers and from the “Australian Times Square” (yeah man, we have our own shopping sanctuary here). However when you are walking around Paddington, you don’t feel the hustle and bustle of daily life in Sydney. There are not that many cars, building height is quite low and you won’t find giant shopping mall. In short, it is like a remote village within a global city.

What this kind of place tells me is that I could live into a big city (and it is probably going to be the case because at some point, urban sprawl won’t be a possible scenario at all. This was engaged geography minute)

…I could live in provided that it doesn’t look like a big city. This is where green infrastructure and others ways which try to make big-city-life better, come in.

Lucy, when I come back, we will be able to sing right. I finally looked up the real lyrics, not the one we used to sing in yahourt:
“Big City Life, try forget by
Pressure nah ease up no matter how hard me try
Big City Life, my heart have no base
And right now Babylon deep on me case
People in a show, all lined in a row
We just push on by, it’s funny, how hard we try
Take a moment to relax, before you do anything rash”

But let’s get back to our subject. Paddington.

We went to the “Ampersand Cafe & Bookstore” located on Oxford street.
“This sophisticated venue is a wine bar, cafe & bookstore all rolled in to one. It reveals a hidden library upstairs, with book lined walls. Wooden tables and Bentwood chairs give the venue the feel of a chic living room. Ardent readers can enjoy browsing the titles on the shelves as they swap notes with their friends. All, of course, whilst enjoying a glass of wine or cocktail (Elsa’s Note : Or a cup of tea chaï) in hand”

Books + Tea + Wood+ Friend + Food = I was overjoyed!

Speaking about books, I currently am reading “The Power of Slow : 101 Ways to Save Time in our 24/7 World” written by Christine Louise Hohlbaum. It is interesting. Not everything but many things. For example, she challenges the idea that “Time in money” (big up Papa) or she busters “the Myth of Multitasking”. Eventually, the way she defines the notion of Time has made me think a lot.

“Have you ever tried to fight the wind? If you were a fisherman, you would know it is not possible to combat a force much larger than yourself. You have to go with it, not against it, to maintain your own equilibrium. You can certainly harness the wind’s power with turbines and windmills; you can utilize its energy to propel yourself forward with sails and fibreglass. Despite all the things you can do with wind, it remains a juggernaut you cannot really control (…)

Time, my friend, is no different.” (p. 15)

She argues that we can actually save time by slowing down. It is cool. It has worked for me so far.

Also, I’d really recommend that all chronic procrastinators read it. 🙂 (Nana)

Okay it’s time to stop, I am hungry. I just want to say that now, I will post one article per week instead of one every 5 days. I am quite sure you would have noticed if I haven’t told you but I felt like I had to tell you (what a honest person!) It is just that now that I write more (wouhou), I need more time. And 5 days it is complicated to integrate into my routine.

If I feel brave, I will post more, but for the moment let’s say that Sunday will be my publication day. ♪♫

See you in 7 days.

Red Trees & Stuff

Posted on 5 January 2016 by Elsa

RED TREE : MICROCOSM

I told you that I have been really inspired by flowers in Bali.

Actually, the flower that I am holding, it is kind of the micro view of one of this gorgeous red tree:

And the picture taken at Uluwatu Temple which has inspired the drawing above : RED TREE : MACROCOSM (?)

Even if I studied Geography (Hell yeah!) I still get confused with macro or micro view concept. The same with small scale versus large scale. Back in University of Lausanne, I used to remember that what they is called the small scale was actually the reverse of what I thought (which I guessed being as the common sense ). But remembering that the right answer is the exact opposite of what I think, is not a very pleasant way of learning. Therefore, I had to to go back to the roots of the problem.

“In other words, they show large areas of land on a small space. They are called small scale because the representative fraction is relatively small. Large scale maps show smaller areas in more detail, such as county maps or town plans might.” (wiki)

Is it any clearer now ?

In a nutshell, I wanted to explain that the red flower was the foundation of the giant red tree. If you like, the red flower could be for the tree what the cell is for the body. The microcosm and macrocosm…. ANYWAY, you understand why I needed the idea of macrocosm and microcosm for. I read this article but I am not still one hundred per cent sure that I understood. Some help from sociologists/physicians would be welcome ! 😀

RED TREE : MACROCOSM

Changing the subject, on the first drawing, tied around my wrist you can see a red bracelet. A friend of mine told me that, according a popular belief in China, the year you are supposed to turn 24, either something very good or very bad can happen to you. She also told me that throughout this famous year, in order to protect you and to give you luck, you’re always supposed to wear something red.

I decided that the notion of wearing red for luck didn’t have to be only for my 24th spring (since it is not planned not for 2016.. a priori though 😉

What is cool with the mix of cultures is that you can inspire you from other cultures, you can pick, borrow and adapt what you like and leave the rest. Eventually, by meeting other people from other culture, you can create and embody your own home-made culture and belief and value system.

I did not intend to speak about that today but *sigh* what can I say.. life ?

(my brain hurts now)

A kind of travel diary

Author Archives: Elsa