follow your bliss

LIFE is beautiful, magical, dramatic, wonderful, whimsical, exhilarating, offensive, inspiring, challenging, ominous, motivating, intoxicating, tyrannical, overwhelming, exhilarating all at once and all rolled into one. 

We're tiny ants in this great big world, scattering aimlessly or with direction getting by each day in our own way. We co-exist with others or live a castaway life of solitaire. What we have is choice to create who we are, choice of what we say, how we act and react, how we play this game of life. What works for you may not work for me, and that's OK. 
Be who you want to be and let others free to choose their path. We intersect into each others lives for a reason, no meeting great or small happens by fault. It can be a passing look of poverty in the eyes of a child begging, a captivating glance of a stranger passing by, a conversation, relationship, incident that touches you or an accident that collides worlds. 

Every exchange requited or not is an exchange of energy. We give and we receive. Even if the lesson is not clear at the time, like vintage it may take years to appreciate it's true character. If we believe everything in life happens for a reason, the highs and lows won't feel so dramatic. If we believe the universe always provides what we need at the time we would never feel poor or unjust.

“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”

― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. 
Destiny can be created but it's up to us to manifest. Control your own destiny or someone else will. Follow your bliss and you'll always end happy. Stay true to your inner voice and it will lead you to the right place. 

It may take time, pain and grand effort but the rewards are worth more than gold. 
Happiness is the ultimate life. 
Choose happiness over sadness, over depression, over loneliness, over neediness and you may just find yourself content. Whatever life works for you take it. If you enjoy working 24/7 then work, if you want to lay under palm trees all day choose a lifestyle to accommodate that. But don't judge others or try to change people. 

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." - Howard Thurman

It's surprising how many people can go through life without ever recognizing that their feelings toward other people are largely determined by their feelings toward themselves, and if you're not comfortable within yourself, you can't be comfortable with others.

"Only a person deeply unhappy within their self would go out of their way to hurt somebody else, and how a person makes you feel in life is often a reflection of how they feel inside" ~ Themis Eagleson

A calm, natural influence over an aggressive, dominating approach will do wonders in effect and takes less energy than trying to change circumstances or behaviors beyond your control. 

"Tao is like water, flexible, yielding, but relentless. Mysteriously it's essence is fluid like water. And like a stream of water if an obstacle impedes Tao's progress it goes around it. Whether we conceive of Tao in terms of events, people, nature, action or non-action, Tao continues to flow unceasingly, coursing like a river toward an unknown destiny." - Tao 

I currently live in a small town of drugs, booze, binges and hook ups. It's known as one of the biggest party towns in Central America, big statement. There's so much 'noise' that if you tuned in all the time you'd end up raving mad or in rehab. I'll have my fun when I want it and i'll take as much as i want, but my health is wealth and balance comes from being with myself every day. I'll jump in when I want and step out when I need. 
Call it selfish, unsocial, boring, but the best part is not listening to other people. 
I live on my own terms. Yoga, meditation and lifestyle are key to my happiness. India showed me and now I'm living it. 

I don't impede on how others want to live their lives, it's your cup of tea just not my flavor. 

"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself." - Friedrich Nietzsche

I'm still learning to practice what I preach, be non-judgemental and attain non attachment to any thing, person or place. 

“In love, no one can harm anyone else; we are each of us responsible for our own feelings and cannot blame someone else for what we feel. It hurt when I lost each of the various people I fell in love with. Now, though, I am convinced that no one loses anyone, because no one owns anyone. That is the true experience of freedom: having the most important thing in the world without owning it.”

― Paulo Coelho

Travel and living in other countries teaches valuable life lessons, exposes you to other cultures and ways of life that open you up and make you more whole. Small minded people stem from lack of education or worldly experience, sophistication and appreciation. It's not their fault, some people are born into this life dealt a rough hand, but these people are also in life to teach others to be more compassionate, more giving and more appreciative of what we have. I've been fortunate in my travels to experience both sides of the coin to an extent. 
To live like the rich and the poor in one lifetime is the greatest humbling experience one can have.  

‎"A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble." ~Charles H. Spurgeon

To my QUEENS across the globe... ONELOVE!

LISA HAYDON
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Haydon/112247078821021

Yogi Master. Effortless.

My first swim in the Ganges river with Lisa baby, fresh off the foothills of the Himalayas!

My number One Soul Sister, Celebrity/ Actress/ Supermodel Miss Lisa Haydon.
We met on Bondi Beach in 2007 while she was waitressing at one of the hippest restaurants on the beach. Later that evening she read my tarot cards by candle light. I was in awe. 'Who IS this Goddess?!' 
It was love at first sight! She IS the reason I'm living my dream today.
A model/waitress/hippy/uber beach babe this girl was always gonna make it fly. 
I was producing photo shoots at the time, my career spanning across 10 years working on every photographic production from boutique design agency turned international factory Moon Design to Saatchi & Saatchi to ACP the largest publishing house in Australia.
 http://yasminshima.blogspot.com/. 
I'd worked for every brand, magazine title, photographer, creative director I could have possibly dreamed of. Part of my role as producer was to set castings for all kinds of shoots and briefs, but I could never cast Lisa in anything other than swimwear fittings for her flawless body. As beautifully exotic and breathtaking as she is, sadly the industry in Australia did not embrace mixed cultures in the campaigns and editorials I worked across. Now onto her 3rd film and voted one of the 50 most beautiful people in India by PEOPLE MAGAZINE, Lisa has well and truly made her mark. 
Born to Indian father and Australian mother, returning to India turned out to be the turning point for her International career. She's shot covers for every magazine and prestige brand, from Swiss Air to Kingfisher Calendar, akin to the Pirelli Calendar. After 3 years of leaving Australia I decided to meet her in India for Christmas, little did I know that would be the beginning of the rest of my life. 
As I packed my Sampsonite I called to ask what I should pack. "Honey, just bring your raving boots, bikini and COME.' 
I arrived in Mumbai with a stand-out hand written sign blazing stars and glitter and a 'WELCOME TO INDIA YAZZY!!' So Lisa. I knew I was home. 
Personal driver Ravi collected me and drove in air conned luxury through the heroin junkyard slums, my mouth dropped as I watched the grime drip from walls and kids and dogs eat dirt off the streets. We finally came into Lisa's home she shares with boyfriend Karan, born of Indian royalty. Their social network includes Madonna, Jade Jagger and Gregory David Roberts, the contrasts of India I well and truly have lived. 
Two blocks from Cafe Leopold made famous by Shantaram and a block form the Taj Palace in Colabra, one of the most affluent suburbs in Mumbai. She came running down the staircase wearing a white maxi dress, looking the ever pure Goddess I always remembered. 
mumbai magic post here!
We spent Christmas together as one big Bolly family, and flew to Goa together for NYE where Karan headlines at Sunburn Festival, a 3 day electronic dance music festival. Enter raving boots. 
DJ friends from across the globe from Israel to Ibiza come stay in their lakeside mansion, cooks tending to our every culinary wish. Coconuts, cappuccinos, and the ever famous Goan fish curry, enough to make you never want to leave this dreamy paradise.
Goan groove post here!
From the moment I landed in India my life changed, but even more dramatically when I was involved in a motorbike accident 2 weeks after much raving and blasting. 10 hours, electric blue foot cast and pain in the armpit crutches later I was released from the dingiest hospital (aka jail) I have ever seen. 
This incident basically shift gear into the next chapter.

THE ELECTROVERTS 

aka MALIKA VENKAT and NINA SHAH
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Electroverts/154199291274923?ref=ts

Stunning sister of Lisa, Malika and family friend Nina aka The Electroverts, hottest all girl DJ twin-set Bombay has to offer! These girls are SMOKIN' hot and throw down a solid trance set, getting the (mostly) male crowd pumped in every way. 
Born to Australian (Malika) and British (Nina) mothers and Indian fathers. Their obsession with electronic music and partying lead them to find their passion producing music and djing. Their  on stage presence is electrifuckingfying! Wearing black capes onto stage then tearing it up with killer beats this too hot to touch duo gather influences from Tiesto, David Guetta, Eric Morrillo, Ace Ventura and Liquid Soul to name a few.
I was with Malibu while she was putting her set together at her boyfriends palace resort in Goa, he'd just been in a motorbike accident and broken his leg in various places. Bed ridden and unable to walk for several months he showed me his x-rays to which I consoled with deep sympathy, little did I know I'd be the one bearing X-rays within a few hours! 
Most popular mode of transport aside of rickshaws includes blazing through dusky roads on Royal Enfields, not uncommon to hear of motorcycle accidents.
It was this night at one of their gigs in Candolim that the evening took a turn of events. I was on a bike with Nina's brother, whom came out worse than I. We had to wrap my pashmina around his foot to stop the blood, I thought I just sprained my ankle so hopped onto the back of another bike back to the club to tell the girls. I limped onto stage with bloody knee, trance blasting, batting off a swarm of Indian men and yelling over the speakers to inform the girls of our misfortune. 3 hours later they arrive in hospital with full set gear, hysterical and freaking out like a bunch of girls. 
A comedic moment if ever there was one, and I wasn't even on the hard drugs yet. 

AKIRA GARTON aka STARDUST
http://no327x.blogspot.com/

Akira Garton, fashionista/ stylist/ creative love bubble/ fallen angel. We met last year in Bali. 
I was on a vacation from my life with Liesel (smouldering brunette above) whom I'd also just met within the last month but as we discovered over brunch one sunny Sunday I'd scouted her younger sister on Bondi Beach, spotting a young Megan Gale. A few conversations and major soul connection later, I booked my ticket to Bail a week before leaving. Lili a seasoned Indo traveller met me in Legion arms flailing in the air screaming my name from the back of her motorbike chaffeured ride. I hopped on and we whizzed through the streets of Seminyak to arrive at Miss Akira Garton's villa. I walked in to be greeted by a hot little blonde pocket bombshell, in an open villa space that could have teleported me to Morocco. 
with love from Bali here!
Effortlessly chic with hair thrown up in loose bun and way too shorty shorts, she was living the dream in paradise crafting trinkets, lovebead bracelets and designing clothing, shipping through e-bay and online store worldwide. I was mesmerised. How is it possible to live this life? Beauty, talent and tranquility casually thrown together. So chic.
We later connected in Sydney, as she left Bali after a year of living her dream in Paradise. 
Her next inspiration was India. Hey, my best friend wants me to visit her in India, why don't we travel together? So for the next 3 months she kept me inspired and on course, dreaming and drifting through 9-5 life, awaiting my turn for that taste of paradise. 
I call her my Angel because she's the one who cared for me while I was in crutches. Serving me papaya pineapple and ginger tea, she saved my sanity and kept me inspired. 
To this day she's kept me true to my dreams and my on ground Sydney contact for WANDERLUST, birthed organically in the desert of Rajashtan. 
Inspiring, insanely chaotic, charming, explosively creative, classically comical and ethereal, she embodies girly girl charm and womanly soul in one complete beautyFULL blonde package. She's just been incarnated into a tee. The next step would be to enter heaven's gates.

KATIE STONE
http://thefreebobo.blogspot.com/

Effortlessly smouldering and sultry, Miss K knows how to turn it on. 

NYC born and raised she moved to California to escape Big City life. After a stint living amongst the chics and freaks of Cali she decided it wasn't enough and uprooted herself to Thailand, where she took a sea change and started teaching kids English. 

After 6 months she moved yet again, landing herself in Bali. Bali was also the birthing of our meeting, but not until she came to meet Akira and I in India did we discover we are soul sisters for life! 
Insanely gifted, gorgeous and intelligent and still residing in Bali, Katie has progressed from part time model to tv presenter, street art and top fashion model for South East Asia region.

So here we are, all girl A-team living in Arambol, Goa. Collaborating creatively infusing in so much inspiration from these bohemian Goddesses!

see bohemian warriors post here!
It was these women that gave me the inspiration to create my own business. I had no idea what it would be at the time, but just as they both assured me it would come, and surely it did!

From Goa to the Desert in Rajasthan, we travelled North the day I was released from crutches. From here our true adventures began. 

into the desert we go

ZOE STEWART aka MIRACLE

Zbear, Zboo, miracle, my baby sister, Zoe grew up with Lisa & The Electroverts in India. we met in Sydney and til the day we parted she's been my lil side kick sister, rockin' it samba style across the sands in Bondi. Living in the Penthouse overlooking the beach we lived a precious life together! This girl knows how to work her hot little bod, a fool for love she finally found it for keeps and relocated her life to be with her One true love in London. 
My baby sis imitated in art, from Green Hornet to Beatrix Kiddo from Kill Bill she is one smokin' hot screen siren! 


JUDITH CAINGAT
http://www.addnoise.net/

Woman of the world, fiercely talented, exotic, dashingly courageous and fun, ZenJu is the modern day Guru. 
She left her successful independent business ADDNOISE as photo retoucher in Sydney 2 years ago to live la vita in Rome. Trading long hours, endless nights, and a high end Eastern suburbs lifestyle working for some of Australia's top Fashion and advertising Photographers, Ju packed it all in for life in la piazza. 
Gelato, fresh mozzarella and a new Napoli lover became the new Ju. After roaming through Rome and scoring retouching campaigns in Germany, Italy and Spain, we first reunited in Barcelona 2009. Living in a dark, woody pensione together we shared space and laughs in true Vicki Cristina Barcelona style. Attempting go sees as Producer/Retoucher collaboration scored us no job offers but countless dinner outings and endless random adventures. 
Fast forward 2 years later and she'd again relocated to London where life took a turn. In true Hollywood style she decided to embark on her Eat.Pray.Love journey. 
Here we are now, at the Pray. Reunited in Dharamsala, India, she came to meet me 2 weeks before I had to flee the country for visa's sake. I introduced her to India which turned into Bali then Thailand for diving (slight diversion from storyline) now based back in Bronte, Sydney. Like a true cat she always lands on her feet, residing in a beautiful beachside home and picking up work with some of the finest, yet again.

YUKI HONJO ARCHER

Half Japanese half English, snow white Yuki-chan became my half Japanese sister the moment we met in the East Village, New York. What transpired from a meeting over sushi one evening became a 3 month adventure, living together in a pimped out SoHo apartment. 
Like little twins we frolicked and played up a storm in the city, while I worked at Drive In Studios in Chelsea and she collaborated on a series of creative pursuits involving fashion design. I left after my 3 month stint and we reunited 2007 to relive the dream. A short 2 week speed date with NYC along with Judith, we lived it up VIP style, her then boyfriend part owner of The Box , La Esquina & 212, circuit for our stay. Since then Yuki moved to Montreal to pursue her fashion design career as costume designer for Cirque Du Soleil. On the rise her career expanded and after 3 years of working her dream job she's just relocated back to New York to pursue an other world of creative endeavors. 

MEGAN MUTRIE

Canadian beauty and all round awesome chick, Megan is the web that holds together The Naked Tiger Hostel in San Juan del Sur. She came to San Juan off the back of a different journey and found herself positioned as family member/ go to girl/ shuttle driver/ surf photographer/ in house hottie. She's the blonde bombshell pulling the guys into line.
The beauty and brains behind the sometimes tired brains. Owners Ryan Spiegel and Jeffro Anderlite have a built an empire, within a few months this place is literally spoken of all across Central America. The most (in)famous hostel located just outside of San Juan del Sur with shuttle access from town every 2 hours, Naked is one place you must stay, hang poolside, get amongst the daily beach runs, relax or just get freakin crazy. Boasting one of the most epic sunsets San Juan has to offer daily, it's your escape from San juan until you need another escape!
All rounder Megan will always be there to greet you with a smile, no matter how large the turning of events take place. A true warrior, beauty and possibly the coolest girl in town.

ALEXANDERA COLLARES ENOS

Radiant Brazilian beauty, Alexander left Sao Paolo several years ago pursuing her modelling career in the South East Asia region where she met husband Jeff, an ex model/MTV presenter. 
A woman of greatest strength, beauty, compassion and endless words of wisdom, Alex instantly became another worldly sister of mine. She's been through some of life's tougher times and come through shining. She's one of those women who drawn you in, engaging with words and beauty. Always wearing a huge smile and laughing at any given opportunity, this lady love knows how to live life in cruise control. 
Having lived in Gigante for a couple of years is not unlike living in the jungle. True hard Nica life laws of the land, no security, no policia, just pure machete territory. Husband Jeff is crazier than the locals, excellent protection. 
Welcome to Pirate land!
A few too many tequila shots and crazytalk later we could have all been road trippin' Nicaragua to Brazil. Stories just flow from this couple, who have just managed to leave Nicaragua for a life back in Brazil. Not without it's share of border robbing and violation, with a few odd hours spent in jail. It just wouldn't be interesting without it. 
Now safely back in the loving, buzzing arms and high rises of Sao Paolo, Alex is my Aphrodite Goddess of inspiration showing me the colours and rhythm of life in Brazil.

LAURA REGIMBAL

Hailing from Seattle this American beauty left her US life for Costa Rica. Upon a visa border run she met Leandro, her Nicaraguan worldly travelled other. Deciding to throw in the restaurant job for Amor she left Costa permanently to reside in San Juan at Leandro's family run beachfront Hotel Ana Mar. Running an empire requires dedication and direction, and little miss Queen fluent in Spanish with excellent co-worker and dog wrangling skills is perfectly suited to lady of the house. 
Without any previous modeling experience I asked if she'd shoot for my brand WANDERLUST. Without hesitation she morphed into a mini Giselle Bündchen, tuning right into character gaining much respect from the camera. I'm pretty sure she's been doing this for years, just keeping it low profile. We've since shot for 2 separate ranges, the next soon to come! 
behind the scenes love here!
Natural beauty, sassy and wise beyond her years Miss Regimbal is dynamite. Rockin' sister! 

ROSALYN KAYO BALL, ANTHEA ROSE & OKAASAN

Three generations of women in my life, mother, sister and niece. 
My mother left her home, family and culture in Japan to pursue a Western life. Arriving in Australia at 28, she was outcast going against the grain of the traditional Japanese way. While studying English in Sydney she met my Austrian father. They couldn't speak the same language, came from completely different cultural backgrounds, and to this day still married.
Beautiful, strong, intelligent and heart of gold sister who just had her first born last year. 
Little Japanese/Austrian/Australian/New Zealand sweet beloved Anthea Rosebud, I only had the joy of meeting once before my journey to India. She's wise beyond her years and possibly the cutest baby on earth. 
The only thing I miss about Australia is the chance to watch her grow up and overwhelm her with overbearing Aunty Shima affection!


There's something in all my soul sisters and family I admire, and the reason they're entrenched in my life and heart forever.


We're worlds away but always together in heart!
I love you ALL, my QUEENS!
XXX