7 Essentials | Travel

Over the years I’ve developed a small list of absolute essentials for when I’m travelling. They’re the kind of things that are easy to forget but have been a must for me to not only survive but actually enjoy the travelling experience. So without further ado here they are :)

Papaw cream
Papaw cream is by far the best thing I have ever used for dry and chapped lips. When travelling I find that my lips dry out easily due to the changing conditions and often also not drinking enough water. In Australia the Lucas’ Papaw Ointment is extremely popular and works really well. It also works well on other things like cuts and burns, and stops mosquito bites from itching. Definite must have.

Tissues
There’s nothing worse than when your nose starts running and you have nowhere to wipe it.

Water
Pretty self explanatory, it’s important to keep ourselves hydrated and very easy to forget while travelling. And can also help to prevent the dry and cracked lips from occurring.

Jumper (Sweater)
For those cold days and nights, or when it gets a little windy.

Panadol (or equivalent)
Painkillers or Cold and Flu tablets to help with sickness or headaches.

Socks
I love socks and have always sort of disliked feet, so I like to cover them up. Plus they help when it gets a bit colder or you don't feel like walking around a hotel room with bare feet.

Underwear
You can never have enough underwear. And forgetting underwear is often a rather uncomfortable experience when you are unable to get to the shops for some new pairs.

So what are your travelling essentials?

September Wishlist

An obsession I have had lately has been online window shopping. I've spent hours exploring the many beautiful items on sites like ASOS, adding said coveted items to my shopping cart, then exiting out of the window without buying any of it. Or if I'm really kinda serious about something, adding it to my bookmarks for me to look at and try to get myself to buy later. I'm literally addicted. I do actually buy things occasionally, but only after a long amount time trying to talk myself into it. I like pretty clothes, but I also like savings. It's a dilemma.

So here are some of my favourites hidden away under my 'To Buy' bookmark:

Navy Jumper - ASOS

A-Line Denim Skirt - ASOS

Scarf - ASOS

Ankle Boots - ASOS

Mermaid Sweatshirt - ASOS

Moisturiser - Clinique

Panda Cushion - Edited

1984 by George Orwell - Wordery

2015 Diary - Kikki K

3D Animation

Disney's Animated Film Frozen (x)

Most of the time when I tell people what I'm studying next year they don't understand what it is, which has always surprised me. Next year I'm studying 3D Animation for films at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE), but I may change to focusing on animation for gaming (I haven't completely decided yet). This is the kind of animation that Pixar does for their movies like UP and Finding Nemo, but people often initially think it's like cartooning, illustration or the original Disney films.

It was way back in 2012 that I initially had a passing thought about doing animation specifically, but had always thought it was something that I just wouldn't be able to do. Whether because of the lack of the industry in Australia, or the thought that it just wasn't something I'd realistically be able to do and make money from. Then somehow we randomly found out about AIE and went to one of their open days last year. It was amazing! Even the whole atmosphere of the place and the personalities of the teachers were awesome. It was then I decided I wanted to go for it 100%.

Earlier this year during my gap year I did the short Animation Foundations course AIE runs online, just to get a feel for it and see if I would actually enjoy it. And I really did! It was amazing, and I definitely recommend it to any of you who are even vaguely interested in 3D animation to give it a go. You can do the course online from anywhere in the world (Link to the course >>here<<)

I'd always dreamed of being involved in the making of movies, whether it be acting, set design, producing, directing, director of photography, animation or editing (all of which have crossed my mind over the years). I never really properly knew what I wanted to do 'when I grew up' but jobs to do with movie making were always high on my list of dream jobs. I think it would be amazing to someday somehow work for Pixar. That would be my ultimate goal in this career choice I suppose. If you haven't already, you should totally google the 'Pixar Studio's offices'. They're so adorable and would be so much fun to work in, so much creativity! They also have a cereal bar (I know! it's actually a thing)

Pixar Animation Studios' "Cereal Bar" (x)

         John Lasseter's Office at Pixar (x)

Pixar Animation Studios' Offices (x)

Pixar's movie UP (x)

I understand now that the vulnerability I've always felt is the greatest strength a person can have. You can't experience life without feeling life. What I've learned is that being vulnerable to somebody you love is not a weakness, it's a strength.

- Elizabeth Shue

Frozen Frames | Mental Instability

For my HSC art body of work last year I created a series of photographs exploring the theme of mental instability and the world inside the mind. I'm really interested in psychology (and hope to study it someday) and how common mental illness really is in our society today, particularly in youth. Yet despite how common it is there are still so many misconceptions and strong stigmas about it.

I wanted the images to evoke emotions in the viewers, helping them to hopefully identify with and better understand the way in which the world looks through mental illness.

*A set of photos from my HSC art body of work entitled 'Frozen Frames'

The series explores the theme of mental instability and the world inside the mind.