Tag Archives: Nature

My Bangkok Nature Challenge by Alex Bannard – Thailand correspondent

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Challenged by a friend on Facebook to photograph something natural and post it everyday for a week turned into a beautiful journey.

Recently I was tagged on Facebook to complete a nature challenge and I was filled with dread. We all know the feeling –   one’s to do list already seems over-burdened  or the challenge seems simply not possible. It’s almost like the 21st century chain-letter – if you don’t forward to 20 people within an hour your life will implode, you will grow an extra nose and you certainly won’t ever attain riches beyond your wildest dreams.

OK so I over-exaggerate a little but this photo challenge involved posting daily for a week a photograph of nature and nominating one of your friends daily to accept the same gauntlet. I balked. And procrastinated and thought ‘But I live in a city’ and dreaded burdening other friends and and and…

My Bangkok Nature Challenge by Alex Bannard - Thailand correspondent1ab
Well, of course I did the ostrich thing for three days and eventually ventured out with the dog for her morning walk around our Moobaan, armed with my phone. I don’t usually take my phone as I believe the walk is more mindful without it. I focus on the bird sounds (the for-real bird, the one who squawks ‘for-real-for-real’) and try to allow my thoughts to drift across my mind like clouds in the blue sky. And all of that dippy hippy stuff.

My Bangkok Nature Challenge by Alex Bannard - Thailand correspondent2ab
It was a revelation: I discovered beautiful flowers hanging from trees, bushes or in potted plants. I absolutely love the frangipani flower which we all regularly see on the ground in Thailand and decorating our plates but this time I noticed some that hadn’t quite opened in the morning sun’s warmth. But the frangipani wasn’t the only one, because I realised that there are  many other spectacularly beautiful flowers if only one looks.

My Bangkok Nature Challenge by Alex Bannard - Thailand correspondent3ab

My friend’s housekeeper later told me that one bloom is collected by the locals to cook in oyster sauce, and that’s obviously what the stout old lady was doing one morning as her maid obediently following behind carrying  handfuls of these flowers.

I looked more closely at the bark of the trees the dog sniffs around every day. I noticed the different textures in the different grasses at our feet. I looked upwards and discovered papayas, pomegranates and bananas hanging off neighbour’s trees.

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I am sure the security and gardeners wondered what that mad Farang was doing, one foot on the dog’s lead, kneeling down with her phone trying to get the perfect shot of a dead flower on the ground. To be honest I didn’t care because I was in that all important flow state where time flies by and nothing else matters other than what you are doing. Kids are naturally in this state and it is somehow conditioned out of us as we grow up but it is so therapeutic and extremely good for you.

But best of all I was totally mindful of my surroundings, seeing things I hadn’t noticed before and appreciating once again how very lucky we are to live in this vibrant, bustling, busy city of Bangkok. You just have to open your eyes and slow down to appreciate its nature and beauty and I realised then I can never have enough of frangipani.

My Bangkok Nature Challenge by Alex Bannard - Thailand correspondent4ab

So thank you for the challenge, and I hope those I nominated also found it to be a time of similar revelation and calm.

And another lesson…if I had allowed my initial reaction to this challenge to dominate I would never have experienced these revelations and therein lies another revelation: don’t judge, stay curious and open because there is so much more to life if you do.

Alex has lived the nomadic life of an expat for over a decad living in the Middle East, Istanbul, Germany and recently settling with her family in Thailand. She teaches yoga in Bangkok and when not on her yoga mat, waxes lyrical about her oversea adventures. Contactable via: masteryoga@elbolivng.com

Eden And Michaela Strachan To Find The Next Nature Filmmakers

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Eden Shorts: Nature Filmmaker of the Year


Michaela Strachan  

Eden, Britain’s leading natural history channel today announced a brand new nationwide and first-ever amateur nature filmmaking competition, Eden Shorts.

 

The aim of the competition is to inspire budding filmmakers to produce one-minute short films, which capture the natural world in all its beauty and wonder. It opens on the 7th July and closes on 27th September 2014. Entrants can find information on how to enter at edentv.co.uk/shorts.

 

The winners will have their work showcased on-air on Eden, as well as some other prizes on offer for one overall winner. These will be picked by an expert judging panel, including wildlife enthusiast and TV presenter, Michaela Strachan.

 

Michaela commented; “’I think Eden Shorts is a fantastic idea and an amazing opportunity for amateur wildlife filmmakers to be creative and show their work. To get the opportunity to showcase your talent on the channel is such an incredible opportunity, it’s like the ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ of the wildlife film making world. The criteria is very open so it’ll be really interesting to see what people come up with. It’s a tough world to get into and this could give untapped talent a perfect platform to show off!’

 

Filmmaking technology is now far more accessible, making it easier for passionate individuals to obtain beautiful moving images of the natural world. Sir David Attenborough believes that the future of natural history communication mostly rests with dedicated amateurs who will film wildlife around them, he was quoted recently saying people will capture “the mating of a dragonfly on a pond which may be 100 yards from their home and put that on the web.”

 

Emma Boston, General Manager of Eden, added; “Eden Shorts is looking for high quality amateur films, which showcase the wonder of the natural world. This could consist of a time-lapse of a flower opening or the setting sun, a piece to camera about nature or local wildlife projects, a classic wildlife film of a favourite animal or even an animation.

 

More than anything the competition asks entrants to be creative! Eden Shorts is looking for live-action footage of nature, presenters talking to camera, animations, an interview or any other means that help to convey the film’s message.”

 

Eden celebrates the wonder of nature, and features the very best wildlife, science and adventure programming. The channel shows the best of the BBC’s Natural History Unit with Sir David Attenborough, and science programming with Professor Brian Cox, as well as UK premiere acquisitions that explore the world around us and some spectacular adventure and travel programmes.

 

Instructions on how to enter

To enter the competition, each entrant must upload a Short Film lasting no more than 1 minute to their personal YouTube account. Entrants must then submit the relevant URL for their Short Film together with their personal email address via the Competition entry form application located on the Eden website at eden.uktv.co.uk.

 

Heaven Bee Venom Mask Review

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Heaven BEE VENOM face mask reviewWhen I am tired, dehydrated or run down I get these horrible little lines on my forehead. If I drink some water and get some sleep they disappear but I am getting more worried about them becoming permanent. It’s easy to think aging is okay when you are in your early-twenties or teens (Hello 23-year-old Emma Watson) but I am in my late-twenties now and aging is less fun when it is actually happening to you. I have always been told I look younger than my age and I want to keep it that way.

I would never have cosmetic surgery and I promised my other half that I would never have botox (which may turn out to be a regret), so reviewing nature’s alternative to Botulinum Toxin, Deborah Mitchell’s Heaven Bee Venom Mask, was definitely quite exciting. I also met Deborah and had a nice chat with her, she has great skin and is very inspirational.

Heaven Bee Venom Mask is the first product of its kind. This unique product has been specially created using natural and organic ingredients, combined to work in synergy for an instant anti-ageing effect

Containing Manuka Honey, renowned for its soothing and healing properties, it also contains the magic Bee Venom ingredient that works to control the facial muscles for immediate lifting, tightening and firming, whilst getting to work on frown lines and wrinkles

Bee Venom Mask also contains ingredients of softening and calming Shea Butter, Rose and Lavender essential oils.

I reviewed this in two ways: one: I used it as a proper face mask. On for 20 minutes and then rinse off. Two: I put it on top of my moisturiser and leave it on.

After using it as a proper face mask my skin looks great and feels smooth. I also see a difference when putting it on top of my moisturiser. It doesn’t numb the area you put it on or feel weird, it is just like a light moisturiser and smells lovely too.

I have only been using this for a few weeks and will do an update in another few weeks. So far I am impressed. It smooths out the skin and leaves it radiant. It smells great too. So far, I am a fan.

Available from Heaven

 

Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines: Eye Witness Report

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Typhoon Haiyan, phillipines, Aid worker, Sandra Bulling, CARE International, is with CARE’s Emergency Team in the areas affected by the Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

Nov. 11, 2013, 19:00 local time

 

“We arrived by boat at the port in Ormoc City. As soon as we stepped onto the port, we were in the middle of a disaster zone. Everything was destroyed. Tin roofing sheets were hanging off trees like wet blankets.

 

“All the houses along the coast are completely flattened. Everything is destroyed. Further inland, about 80 percent of the houses are roofless. About five percent of the houses are completely collapsed – these are mainly wooden houses. It seems like everyone we’ve seen has a hammer or tools in their hands, trying to repair their houses and their roofs. People are picking up poles and pieces of wood from the street. There are long queues at hardware stores, pharmacies. We waited in line for two hours to get fuel. So far the roads are okay, but it’s taking a long time to get anywhere.

 

“I talked to a shop owner whose shop was destroyed; he lost everything. He’s wondering how he’s going to feed his five children. I also met a little girl, who was trying to dry out her books. Her house was totally destroyed, but there she was, worried about her school books, because she wants to go to school. And it’s the only thing she has left.

 

“We just arrived in Jaro, a small town on the way to Tacloban. It’s dark now, so we can’t go any further. We’re staying in the police station tonight – not sure where we’ll sleep, maybe in the car, or outside. There’s an electricity pole that’s leaning dangerously over the police station, so everyone is trying to steer clear of that. Thank  you to the police for letting us use their toilets! Our plan is to go to Dulag, just south of Tacloban. Our driver just came from there, and says it’s very bad, and they need help.

 

“People are becoming quite desperate. Some officials just came and told us that there has been looting in the area, people trying to get rice for their families. People haven’t had food for three days, and they’re trying to feed their families. That’s why it’s so important to get food and emergency supplies in to these areas as soon as possible. In Ormoc, there was food; we could buy chicken and rice. But there were big queues at the food stalls and shops. We’re in an urban area now, and I don’t even want to think what it’s like the rural areas. We’ll start moving again at first light. I don’t think anyone is going to get any sleep tonight.”

 

Chasing Ice Review: One of The Most Important Documentary’s of Our Time?

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chasingiceClimate Change seems like an endless debate. With evidence coming from both sides of the divide. It is not hard to get confused and just want some straight facts. I have read James Delingpole’s Watermelons book which had some good, hard facts in it, helped massively by the scandal involving scientists and their hacked emails. Climategate certainly did global warming no favours.

But now climate change has a new big hitter on its side: National Geographic photographer James Balog. After all, seeing is believing and James Balog’s photography of melting icebergs cannot be dismissed. In fact, after telling a friend about the documentary he told me of a friend who had trained for two years to go to the North Pole and then could not because the ice had all melted and it was not possible to get there on foot. Worrying stuff.

Now to the documentary. First thing is first: wow. The documentary is beautiful. Balog’s photography is just striking and perfect. His photography ends up on the front cover of the National Geographic. It is fair to say that he might be the best nature photographer working today. However, this is not the only point of Chasing Ice. The point of Chasing Ice is the melting icebergs. Despite knee operations and health problems Balog kept returning to the Arctic and launched the EIS: Extreme Ice Survey. In the eight years since he started the project- in 2005- the icebergs had severely melted, if not disappeared altogether.

Chasing Ice was shortlisted for an Oscar and grossed over $75,000 at the box office in the UK alone. This is all with good reason, Chasing Ice is a brilliant documentary. A must see for everyone and possibly the most important documentary of out time.

Chasing Ice is out now . Join the EIS: Extreme Ice Survey if you would like to help.

 

 

The Storm of Oklahoma by Tyler Shields

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Tyler Shields Drives From LA to Oklahoma to Shoot the Storm for the Red Cross
Tyler Shields said:

“Took a drive from Los Angeles to Moore Oklahoma and met some of the most incredible people I have ever met. Their spirit was so up lifting it really makes you realize the things you own do not own you, life is about living not about possessions I did not meet one person who complained only people happy to be alive. I met this women who told me the story of how her father build a storm shelter for her 30 years ago she never liked it and had never used it until this Tornado came she gathered her whole family into the small shelter and it saved all of their lives it was amazing to hear her tell the story about how she hated this thing and now the small slab of concrete will for ever be remembered at the savior of the family!

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I will be auctioning these photos and all the proceeds will be going to the families of Moore Oklahoma if you want to purchase a photo please email info@tylershields.com”

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TV Preview: The Seasons with Alan Titchmarsh; Autumn

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I love a good wildlife documentary, If they’re done right they can be relaxing and informative at the same time. Frost Magazine were allowed a preview of ITV’s current offering ‘The Seasons’ so we can tell you all about it.
In ‘The Seasons’; gardening zen master Alan at-one-with-nature Titchmarsh takes us through the seasons and how we’re intrinsicly linked with nature.
This time round it’s Autumn. Mixing time lapse sequences and beautiful photography, The Seasons shows us something about our home country that we’ve forgotten about. As we increasingly move and expand our urban jungles, we’re actively trying to recapture our link to nature. Farmers markets and organic food are booming and we guilt trip ourselves and others into shunning advances in food technology. We’re increasingly seeking a more natural and simplistic way of life. It’s little wonder then that glorious early morning mists in seemingly mystical forests seem so appealing.
Titchmarsh walks us through Autumn explaining why we have seasons by using an electric globe and an orange ball and answering questions like why do leaves turn orange? and why do berries taste bitter after michaelmas?
He also talks about animal behaviour; covering hibernation, migration and how animals prepare for winter; which gives lots of opportunities to show us shots of adorable small mammals and woodland creatures as well as some less adorable insects and a snail in its very own stasis.
The Seasons doesn’t stop at animals and plants, it looks into how humans relation to nature, from Harvest to allotments to sustainable oyster fishing.
It’s a lot of information to cover in one hour long program which means that The Seasons touch upon a great deal of information but doesn’t go into any real depth. Still, it has some great photography. The episode concludes on visions of frosty fields and snowy countrysides which gives you a taste iof what will follow.

The Seasons: Autumn is on ITV1 on 23rd May at 7pm