The Real Bali, Indonesia

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Australian tourists have long loved Bali. A tropical island paradise only a stone's throw away from the isolated land down under. Unlike other Australians, Bali has not been on the top of my travel list. Rather I've been avoiding it like the plague. Its the long history of debauchery, sex, alcohol and drug tourism for which Australians have been famous for in Bali. The common question "Where are you from?" is always answered with "Australia. And I am sorry for what Australians have done to … [Read more...]

Flores, Indonesia

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Flores is one of the larger islands in the Indonesian province of East Nusa Tenggara (Bahasa Indonesian = Nusa Tenggara Timur). Its name, meaning flowers in Portuguese, pays homage to its history as a former portuguese colony in the 16th century before becoming part of the Dutch East Indies. Flores is more than double the size of Bali with only half the inhabitants. Its population density sits at 135 per square kilometre - compared to almost 10 times the amount in Java (1,121 per square … [Read more...]

LCPS – Noise On Earth Vol. 4 Singapore

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A project from my other half. NOISE ON EARTH Vol​.​4 龠 SINGAPORE by Les Cartes Postales Sonores Noise on Earth is a collection of field recordings classified by countries. Recorded by Julien Hairon September 2015. Listen here. … [Read more...]

LCPS – Noise On Earth Vol. 3 Thailand

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A project from my other half. NOISE ON EARTH Vol​.​3 ๘ THAILAND by Les Cartes Postales Sonores Noise on Earth is a collection of field recordings classified by countries. Recorded by Julien Hairon September - November 2015. Listen here. … [Read more...]

LCPS – Noise On Earth Vol. 2 Bangladesh

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A project from my other half. NOISE ON EARTH Vol​.​2 ট BANGLADESH by Les Cartes Postales Sonores Noise on Earth is a collection of field recordings classified by countries. Recorded by Julien Hairon March - October 2015. Listen here. … [Read more...]

LCPS – Noise On Earth Vol. 1 Cambodia

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A project from my other half. NOISE ON EARTH Vol​.​1 ៚ CAMBODIA by Les Cartes Postales Sonores Noise on Earth is a collection of field recordings classified by countries. Recorded by Julien Hairon August 2013, June & November 2015. Listen here. … [Read more...]

Her Yerde Sanat – Art Anywhere, Mardin, Turkey

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A little further East from Sanliurfa, we traversed through scenes of armoured vehicles, military tanks, tyre fires and abandoned shops. The curfew left streets deserted. The dolmus continued steadily toward Mardin. We were nervous to be in such tense and hostile lands, but a kind soul had reassured us to come and promised that we would live an unforgettable moment if we came. As we drove towards Old Mardin, the incredible stone architecture stood with such beauty, that we were glad to have made … [Read more...]

South East Turkey

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After a little taste of space exploration (aka Cappadocia), the next stop was time travel. The direction: South-East. We headed towards the gateway of ancient Mesopotamia, along part of the historic trade route of the Silk Road. The world slowly began to metamorphose. The architecture once grey now sand, with only mosques towering over the horizon. The road there was littered with agricultural fields: wheat, corn, cotton. A modern-day testament to the historical fertile crescent, a fertile … [Read more...]

Hitch-hiking Turkey

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Hitch-hiking is not only a cheap way of getting around (you don't really get much cheaper than free), but it is also a great way to meet locals and practice your handle on the local language. So far, in Turkey, most people want to know how old you are and whether you are married or not. For a female, it is always safer to say yes. If you are travelling with a male, pretend you are married or engaged, even if you're only friends. And always sit in the back or closest to the door. Never sit … [Read more...]

Eid al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice)

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Eid al-Adha is the second largest holiday in Turkey, only second to Eid al-Fitr (the holiday which marks the end of Ramadan). Eid al-Adha, also known as the feast of the sacrifice, refers to the story of Abraham offering his only son to God only to replace it with a sacrificial lamb at the last moment. This holiday is celebrated over 4 days throughout the whole of Turkey and families travel great distances to be together. It all sounds fantastic, until the tradition of every family butchering … [Read more...]