Wednesday, November 23, 2011

52 Suburbs Around the World is imminent!



Apologies for the break in transmission. It has been full-on around here ever since a few weeks ago when
the Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for 52 Suburbs Around the World successfully reached its goal.
The funds played a vital role in getting the project over the line - which meant I was suddenly very 
busy doing all the stuff you have to do when you exit your life in one country and prepare to start new lives
in a number of other countries.

So first things first, my heartfelt thanks to everyone who supported the Kickstarter campaign, either by

making a pledge or just spreading the word. Many many thanks. I love yous all.

Next on the agenda is to let you know of a few changes to the itinerary of the project. We were all going

to be nosing around the suburbs of Shanghai and Tokyo first, until I discovered that Shanghai's icy
winter can be debilitating for wandering photographers (let alone the eight year old 'assistant'), 
and Tokyo, well, Tokyo is just a little too iffy for my liking in terms of the radiation factor (and my budget
doesn't extend to buying imported food when we're there). So, after much mind-swirling, I settled on the
following for the first three months of 2012: January, Hong Kong; February, New Delhi; March, Istanbul.

I know it's a little disappointing not to be going to Tokyo in particular (I've never been but hear it's amazing).

But I reckon the new choices are going to be pretty amazing too. And they're all cities that received a lot
of votes from followers of this blog when I put the question of where to visit some time ago - so I hope you
approve.

Then after March, it stays the same as it was: Paris, Berlin, Rome and ending in New York. All famous, 

over-photographed cities that I hope to be able to show another less famous side of - and in an imaginative
way, care of my diptych, double-image obsession.

Lastly, the new blog is moments away from being ready to show you - so hopefully next time I post, 

it will be on the new blog. Very exciting.

Well, that's all for now. I am knee-deep in lists and packing boxes, and Coco is busy ticking off the days on

the calendar - we leave Sydney on December 30, precisely 37 days away.

Before I go, can I just say that, of course, I'm totally stoked about this upcoming adventure. Thrilled at the 

same time as being a little sick in the guts with excitement and nerves.

Yet despite all this, Sydney has never seemed more appealing, with purple carpets everywhere, fair-minded
people strolling about and until these last few cold and rainy days, a particular type of blue sky and quality
of light that I adore, especially around the 'golden hour' of 7-8pm. As if I needed any more convincing 
after exploring the place for a year and finding so much to be proud of. But really, what a city. 



the purple carpets of Sydney




I'd love to hear your thoughts on the new cities by the way (and of course anything else you care to share). 
Good, bad, indifferent?

32 comments:

  1. All great news. Congratulations. I look forward to watching your new adventure with great interest. No doubt you will post here about your new blog's address as I am keen to add it to my blog roll.

    The best of luck to you!!!!

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  2. That purple carpet looks mighty stunning from the window of a jet I can tell you that!

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  3. Great news Louise. I guess with a project like yours you must feel like being a diner choosing from a menu 100 pages long.

    I've just got back from 8 weeks driving across the USA (Las Vegas-Santa Fe-Austin-New Orleans-Savannah-New York), and I think the Treme district in New Orleans could be worth a look, but all of New Orleans is. (If you like above-ground graveyards, New Orleans is tops!). Either go there during Mardi Gras (late Feb) or the weeks leading up to Halloween (late October).

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  4. I am a big fan of Hong Kong, and there will definitely be lots to photograph there. Can't wait to see it.

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  5. OH Louise! I am so excited and nostalgic for you!!! I almost want to cry with anticipation! Congratulations on such an exciting adventure and getting all the funding :)

    I can't wait to see all your adventures - I have been to quite a few of the cities on your agenda and can't wait to see them from your new perspective!

    I hope you and Coco have a lovely time, and will be supporting you every step of the way!!!

    Vanessa :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations! So excited for you. Can't wait to see the world through your eyes.

    In Hong Kong, don't miss the flower market in Mong Kok and make sure you go to the fishing village on the island of Cheung Chau.

    From an admirer in Waverley, NSW.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Tokyo has the best food in the world, Louise, so I'm sorry but I don't understand why you'd be buying imported food. I love your work and I'm sure 52 Suburbs around the World will be great, but not including Tokyo would be an unfortunate omission. Maybe later in the itinerary?

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  8. So excited you're now covering Hong Kong! I move there next week and can't wait to start to learn the place, and then see it anew through your eyes!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Desire Empire - Thanks so much and yep, will post a link on this blog.

    ozFinn - Ha!

    Pierre - Merci.

    Jamie - Oh wow, what a great road trip! I drove across the US when I was 25, ten of the best days of my life (it was a Drive-away car thing, you had to get across in 10 days). Don't think I'll have time to get to New Orleans but thanks for the tip.

    Belinda - Yes, I'm looking forward to it!

    Vanessa - Aww, that's lovely. Thanks so much.

    Anon, Waverley - Great tips but remember, I'm going to try and do the unexplored stuff (although I do like to break my own rules).

    Anon - I'm sure the food is fabulous. It's the possibility of it being affected by radiation that isn't so great - it's a real concern at the moment with many people only imported food. This is what I've read and been told by many.

    Kate - What a coincidence! That's great.

    Louise

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  10. Hi Louise,
    I too am disappointed about Tokyo. Radiation levels have been shown to be OK there and Somehow I don't think they have been feeding their own population radiated food. It is an amazing city and I was so looking forward to seeing it through different eyes. While I am happy to have donated to the cause, it was Tokyo's inclusion that really motivated me.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Annie - I'm so sorry you're disappointed. But I can't in all conscience take a child there if there is any risk of radiation. Unlike the Japanese who live there, I can't read the language - makes it tricky to see where fruit and vegies have come from. Please feel free to contact me by email and I'll happily refund your pledge. Thanks Annie.
    Louise

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  12. Very excited you're covering Istanbul, it's somewhere I've always wanted to go and imagine it to be one of the most vibrant, colourful cities in the world. Can't wait to see your images...
    Loving the purple carpets of Sydney too :-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks so much for your reply, Louise. I respect your concerns, but I'm sorry to say you've been misinformed. Food products from the area around the Fukushima plant are currently unavailable, and nobody in Tokyo or anywhere else in Japan is importing food any more than is usual, and then, only for reasons of quality. Again, hopefully you'll be able to include Tokyo later in your itinerary.

    ReplyDelete
  14. can you post one mroe post on here berfor you go that post i want to be your link to your new blog so i can follow you in there have fun

    ReplyDelete
  15. So looking forward to seeing all these places through your eyes.
    As someone who changed travel plans back in the 80s because of Chernobyl, I understand the pros & cons you've had to weigh up and totally support your decision not to visit Tokyo at this time, beautiful and exciting though it is. Granted, I may have made the wrong the choice, but 25 odd years on I'm not regretting my decision and have subsequently visited those Eastern European countries that were struck of the list in the 80s. Much nicer to visit without any niggling concerns I reckon.
    Have a great trip!
    Anna

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm also disappointed you're dropping Tokyo - it was the city on your planned itinerary that I was most looking forward to seeing. I still plan to follow your blog, but frankly, Hong Kong, Istanbul and Paris just don't provide the same attraction for me.

    I went to Japan for two weeks last year (spending roughly half of that time in Tokyo) and I've been wanting to go back very much. I was even pondering how hard it'd be for me to talk you into bringing me along as an interpreter... or a wannabe interpreter... or maybe just a hanger-on. =P

    As the Anonymous three posts above said, you've been misinformed - the situation in Tokyo is nothing close to what popular media (or popular rumour) would have you believe. The accident at Fukushima poses about as much a threat to Tokyo as the Lucas Heights reactor poses to Sydney.

    With the amount of planning required for such a round-the-world voyage, I can understand there might not be much of a chance of being able to talk you into reconsidering again, but I can hope, right? I suggest you talk to the Japan National Tourism Organisation, as they can allay your fears - and, considering the hit that foreign tourism has suffered in Japan, they might even offer you some incentive for the free publicity. =)

    Still, if all else fails, might I suggest Osaka or Kyoto as alternatives? While they're not quite the global city that Tokyo is, they're still places worth visiting - Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over a thousand years. Next to Sydney, which has barely been here for two hundred, you'll almost certainly be able to find plenty to photograph.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm likewise disillusioned you're dropping Tokyo - it was the city on your arranged schedule that I was generally anticipating seeing. I actually plan to follow your blog, yet to be perfectly honest, Hong Kong, Istanbul and Paris simply don't give a similar appreciation for me.

      I went to Japan for about fourteen days a year ago (investing generally 50% of that energy in Tokyo) and I've been needing to return without a doubt. I was in any event, contemplating how hard it'd be for me to convince you to bring me along as a mediator... or on the other hand a wannabe translator... or on the other hand perhaps a holder on. =P

      As the Anonymous three posts above stated, you've been misled - the circumstance in Tokyo isn't anything near what well known media (or mainstream talk) would have you accept. The mishap at Fukushima acts about like a lot of a danger to Tokyo as the Lucas Heights reactor postures to Sydney.

      With the measure of arranging needed for such a round-the-world journey, I can comprehend there probably won't be a very remarkable possibility of having the option to convince you to reexamine once more, yet I can trust, correct? I propose you converse with the Japan National Tourism Organization, as they can ease your apprehensions - and, considering the hit that unfamiliar the travel industry has endured in Japan, they may significantly offer you some motivator for the free exposure. =)

      In any case, when in doubt, may I propose Osaka or Kyoto as options? While they're not exactly the worldwide city that Tokyo is, they're actually puts worth visiting - Kyoto was the capital of Japan for over 1,000 years. Close to Sydney, which has scarcely been here for 200, you'll more likely than not have the option to discover bounty to photo.
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