Vampires: Not for the Twi-hearted

Published: Trespass Magazine

Our modern day understanding of vampires is slightly warped from the true history of the species, or myth. Eastern Europe is known as having the largest amount of folklore associated with these monsters, dating as far back to the 9^th and 10^th centuries. Back then, one could be a vampire simply from being born on a certain day, or born out of wedlock, or a person who had died an unnatural death. Of course, being bitten by a vampire can also lead to the transformation of one.

Identifying a vampire is also different nowadays. Traditionally, vampires had fangs, or tails and contrary to common belief, were bloated-looking creatures with a darkish complexion. They were also the least likely candidates to have intimate relations with humans, especially in regards to the romance we often see in contemporary television. 

Flying Trapeze Class at Circus Oz

Published: Trespass Magazine

It is essential that I preface this write-up by stating that I am afraid of heights. Hence, perhaps it was a little illogical that I decided to participate in the art of Trapeze, since it requires me to be above ground level. However, when the offer came up to be a part of the Beginner’s Flying Trapeze Classin Melbourne’s Circus Oz, how could I say no?

Circus Oz was founded in Melbourne in 1977 and has since toured nationally and internationally in over 25 countries. They are also a company with a high social conscience, and often arrange events to raise money for different social justice issues and the community. From September to December, Circus Oz has opened their doors to provide public classes for adults and children covering a multitude of different circus disciplines. 

Don’t Rain On My Parade

Published: Trespass Mag: Opinion

The house I grew up in in Malaysia had a large forest just behind our backyard. In essence, our home was quite like a zoo; but only one animal, our dearly beloved Labrador (now deceased), Leo, was actually welcome there.

We had a good sized garden – it housed a bunch of tropical flowers and a swimming pool, as well as a basketball ring. In the mornings, especially on weekends, we’d have breakfast on our patio and was always greeted by a sunbathing Iguana my shockingly amazing creative mind named, Mr. Iguana. He was quite large and very still, and sat on our garden wall in the sun all day long. Watching him was like watching paint dry, or a round of golf.  

Where’s your happy place?

Published: Onya Mag: Opinion

In times of stress, WikiHow tells you to relax, breathe, close your eyes and then find your happy place. That’s all great advice except sometimes people make you so mad you feel like pelting the nearest object to you in their face. Whenever I feel like that, dreaming of frolicking in a field catching butterflies just won’t do. Instead, I clench my fists, shut my eyes and imagine said people are piñatas, and I’m beating them over their heads with an ugly stick – and that does the trick in washing over fried nerves like a cooling balm.

In all seriousness, taking time away from reality is allegedly essential in keeping one’s sanity in tack. Ironically, inability to remain in reality means self has gone nuts. But it’s true, we all need to get away from time to time, and despite the incessant rise of ‘budget’ airlines, it’s not always plausible to jump on a plane and end up in Johnny Depp’s bed – I mean – secluded island, unfortunately.  

Love: Sweet & Cheesy

Published: Trespass Magazine

Beneath my cool, calm, steely exterior is a gaping hole where a soft spot lies for a mushy thing called…love poetry. Back in my more youthful days when my memory wasn’t as poor as it is today, I used to memorise my favourite poems, and then recite them to nobody – although, they may or may not have made an appearance in a love letter or two. So, because it is love week at Trespass (and if you can’t get sentimental during love week, when can you?), I would like to discuss some things pertaining to romantic love - and let it by no means jeopardise my cool, calm, steely exterior.

Poetry has always been my first love. Well before I wanted to be a writer, I wrote poetry; poems, I might add, which will never see the light of day, and that is my one gift to the world.  

How To Prepare & Live Through Festivals

Published: FUCM: Feature Piece

First published in FUCM

Summertime is just around the corner, which means cut-off jean shorts and music festivals galore. Whilst Bermuda pants should never be worn, there are plenty of events of the musical kind to bounce along to. If you’re in Oz, there’s Big Day Out (good luck trying to get tickets to that), Soundwave, Good Vibrations, Stereosonic and many more. Whichever you decide to go to, bear in mind the following precautions to ensure a safe and fun time.

Little Big Things

Published: Trespass Mag: Column

On the way home, the clouds looked like pink cotton candy.  They were stretched whimsically across the sky as if some child was in the midst of pulling at them, creating a fleeting horizon with luminous pink fibres that glowed bolder than the stooping sun.  I remembered thinking the sky looked good enough to eat.

My ‘stop and stare’ moment probably lasted a good half a minute, which is a long time considering I can’t sit still.  I suppose my contemplative, Emo-esque moment was brought on by this week’s bundle of not-so-desirable events.  

What’s the Difference Between Me & You?

Published: Onya Mag: Column

Some dream of one day getting married, others hope that they will be allowed to, and then there are those who loathe the idea entirely.

For same-sex couples dreaming is one thing, reality is another.

To date, same-sex marriage is banned in Australia. You would think that the word, ‘ban’ commonly prescribes to criminal acts that undermine the moral integrity of a nation, or is at least harmful to its people. I, like many others, fail to see how the union of two people who love each other can possibly have a detrimental effect on society. On the contrary, rendering gay marriage as illegal has a more negative effect on our nation than it does a positive one.

How to Get On Tv

Published: Trespass Mag: Column

The ‘Balloon Boy’ spectacle would probably top my ‘ridiculous things people do to get on TV’ list. Not only did Richard Heene con an entire nation and beyond, he also wasted the valuable time of rescue workers. Furthermore, and even more grotesquely, he exploited his own children for fame and profit and now, his son will forever be known as Balloon Boy – that is a lot of otherness to put on a child.

In a world where bad behaviour gets media attention and money, it is of no surprise the Heenes fabricated such an extravagant hoax. After all, the perfect example of being applauded for such witless actions can be found here, in Australia, in the form of Clare Werbeloff and Corey Worthington.  

Ah, First Love

Published: Onya Magazine

My first love brought me to the moon and back. At times, the ecstasy of that relationship made me feel like we were frolicking in space, uninhibited, whilst being blissfully unaware of the existence of anyone but ourselves. We were a pair, seemingly indestructible. But alas, like most first relationships, our intergalactic journey inevitably came to an end on planet Uranus.

In the ominously titled article, Why We Can Never Recover From First Love, Amelia Hill from the Observer shits on the parade of hopeful lovers. Thanks Amelia. More specifically, Hill outlines the research found in the book, Changing Relationships, edited by Dr Malcolm Brynin, which claims that passionate first relationships have quite the detrimental effect on future relationships. Since first love is often extraordinary, those overwhelming emotions become the benchmark for our later relationships, which are ‘never’ quite as explosive as our first. Thus, by having a passionate first relationship, we ultimately set ourselves up to be disappointed in our later affairs.