Deni Bluesfest

Easter is that time of year where normal “working families” (as Julia would describe them) get an extended break and the opportunity to travel to far flung locations in search of entertainment, nature or solitude, among other things..

While I don’t fit the description of a working family (much to my chagrin, when will the votes of single, moderately dysfunctional, non conforming individuals be sought with policy initiatives?) I still decided to take the opportunity presented our editor to attend the Inaugural Deni Blues and Roots Festival http://www.denibluesfestival.com/, a sister event to the long running and successful ron Bay Bluesfest http://www.bluesfest.com.au/ The plan seemed solid, utilise the Deni ute muster site with its vast camping areas, reliable weather, permanent stages and existing infrastructure to provide another venue for many of the ron line-up to perform. The drive up was uneventful, (one small town copper deciding it was appropriate to conduct random breat...

Image Chi King via Flick

GET TO THOSE IN NEED

I first visited Cambodia in 2004, a nightmare bus ride on the road from to Aranyaprathet in Thailand to Siem Reap was a harsh introduction, i was immediately reminded of the corruption endemic in S E Asia, the road apparently left unsealed and in a very poor state of repair so that tourists would fly on the airline which had a monopoly on the Bangkok to Siem Reap route, rather than take the much less expensive overland option.

I was "delivered" to a guest house which obviously had an arrangement with the bus company to "welcome" new arrivals, normally i would seek my own accomodation but the guest house was located away from the main areas and priced reasonably, so one night wouldn't hurt.

The next day i found a place near the old market, a wonderful example of the culture and lifestyle that you can encounter in this part of the world. I found a driver with a tuk tuk who would

...