I’ve been madly uploading images to the new database still and it’s actually been a wonderful way of reminding myself of where I’ve been and what images I’ve taken!

With that in mind here’s some fantastic images from an overland trip in Mongolia to Khovskol Lake. I’m still familiarizing myself with the gallery setups here. Hopefully the images rotate when you refresh but if not see the whole gallery at this link. We came across a reindeer herder whose little foal had an abscess on her leg. We miraculously had a vet amongst us who performed on the spot surgery – hence a few gory images in this gallery.

Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

I was interviewed by two radio programs recently which I hope has done something to promote the work of Visited Planet, particularly the recent branch out into Cameras for Asia.

The first radio station was YYY, a Catholic radio station in Mitchelton, Brisbane that broadcasts to suburbs in that vicinity. The program that interviewed me was “On Eagles Wings” which allows you to choose a selection of music relevant to your life story / experience and then interviews you about what you do.

I was in good company – before me they’d had a former Gay Queen and an insurance inspector that travels the world after natural disasters inspecting claims. So it’s quite an eclectic mix of people on YYY and it was fun. Thanks Pete and Mike for having me.

You can see a list of programs at the www.yyyfm.org.au website. My program was the week of 6th February and this link should take you direct to it to listen or download: http://dc474.4shared.com/download/g4h7FGq3/Peter_lane_with_On_eagle_wings.mp3

The other program was “The Be Real Radio Program” hosted by Youth for Christ (YFC) on www.tabonline.com.au. This is a national program broadcast around Australia and does not contain betting or racing information!! YFC features people involved in some sort of community development/youth work/etc so it was a great honour to be on there again. I was interviewed by them a few years ago. Thanks Abby for having me.

There are a few links about the show you can check out here but I am yet to find a direct link to our program. I’ll post that when I can:
http://everything.explained.at/Radio_TAB/
http://www.tabonline.com.au/radiotab/radiotab_listen.stm

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

My friend Rudy was cremated today in a simple service after he died last week after a long battle with AIDS. Amazing Grace was played at the crematorium and the speaker drew reference to this particular verse that was especially poignant for Rudy:

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

Visited Planet’s philosophy and creed is about redemption, liberation and freedom. Rudy had found that in his life, the challenge is for the rest of us to do the same and enable others to do so too.

I published a gallery of photographs for Rudy last week, today I just wanted to share one more. This is an image an orphan in Myanmar took during photography lessons I ran there in November/December 2011. A simple white flower, fragile in form, delicate in spirit but bright and verdant with life. Not only does this reflect the journey of the nation Myanmar, the student who took the image but also Rudy – bright in life, filled with hope and living forever in our hearts. RIP.

Delicate flower photographed by a Myanmar orphan.

This photograph is one of the images used in the 2012 Myanmar calendar. These calendars are still available.

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

I’ve been publishing photo galleries regularly on Travel Wire Asia (www.travelwireasia.com) of late.

Here’s the link to a few of these:

In pictures: Burma’s Buddhist monks

In pictures: Burma’s many modes of transport

In pictures: The stunning beauty of New Zealand’s South Island

In pictures: Maluku Islands, Indonesia – Part 2

In pictures: Maluku Islands, Indonesia – Part 1

Alternatively view my profile and all other posts at this page: http://www.travelwireasia.com/author/jolane/

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations. See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

I read “Tuesdays with Morrie” some time ago about a former student visiting his professor who was dying from Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS).

For the last six months I’ve been visiting a friend in hospital dying from AIDS on Saturdays after lunch. It became a routine: bike ride, market, Rudy. There is little that is honourable, decent or dignifying about AIDS and watching the slow deterioration in this friend has been agonising.

Like in the story, I enjoyed immensely the time we had together, even though Rudy was no philosophiser on life. His face would light up when he saw me, he’d whinge and complain about family members to me in confidence and we’d go downstairs in his wheelchair so he could smoke away to his heart’s content. Yes I took him – why should he have been denied a few simple joys in his last months? A nip of Baileys and a good dose of chocolate were our other great shared joys. Read more