Tuesday 30 July 2013

NEW BRIGHTON - CHRISTCHURCH, NEW-ZEALAND

- A sandy beach (with good surfing!) stretching 18 KM from the Waimakariri River mouth in the North, to the spit in the South
- Restaurants and art/craft-related shops in growing numbers
- The New Brighton beach counts two surfclubs called North Beach Surfclub to the North, and South Beach Surfclub (how original) to the South
- Home of the first Surf Live-Saving club in New-Zealand, established in 1910
- The Maori name for the area is O-ruapaeroa which means an East wind blowing along the shore

Let's start exploring a very special place I visited on my trip Down-Under last year (2012). I would like you to explore New Brighton, which is a suburb of Christchurch. This city in New-Zealand is well known worldwide due to the 2010 earthquakes, and the 2011 earthquakes with their incredibly destroying aftershocks. In only 10 seconds 185 People were killed, making this the second-deadliest natural disaster of New-Zealand. We are living in the year 2013 now and the city still isn't rebuild. The first sight a visitor will get of Christchurch are the many collapsed buildings, which are still in te same place waiting to be recoverd. It is just terrifying.

Talking about New Brighton, a visitor will see destroyed, collapsed and wiped buildings as well, but not with the same feeling of sadness. In this alternative suburb of Christchurch, people joined forces and used their creativity to perk up their environment a bit. The hippie/surf-spirit really floats around in the streets of New Brighton. In between the waifs and strays, you will find several spots to mosey along. Not only youth makes use of this incredibly cheerful places, eldery people enjoy the atmosphere of their 'refurbished' environment as well! Let me show you some pictures I took weil wandering around New Brighton.


Copying? Please refer to BOEF
Graffiti is an art which is often seen and they really have some experts working in New Brighton!


Copying? Please refer to BOEF
This is one of the places were used to stand a building before the earthquakes. Some picnic tables and self-made art is placed and a pleasant atmosphere created. It looks much better than the waifs and strays that lay here before!

 
This incredible spot, also created by locals, offers the possibility to plug in your own music in boxes that were put down!
 
Another amazing thing not to miss are the New Brighton sunsets, which are probably the most beautiful sunsets on the whole Southern Island of New Zealand!



The beautiful 300 meters pier of New Brighton was opened in November1997 and luckily survived the earthquakes! It seems to bring you to the other side of the oceans.

NOTE: I'm struggeling with getting some pictures in a larger size, they are of the same format though... Somebody knows how to handle this problem?!

Monday 29 July 2013

 
FIRST TATTOO
 
I would like to share something very personal with you guys! I am not sure where to post this picture of my recent tattoo, whether it is kind of a lifestyle and I think it's fashion as well... I decided to post this picture in 'Drawing' since I designed it myself. Tattooing is a kind of art I am very interested in, so be prepared on more tattoo-related drawings an posts! ;) Maybe it is an idea to change the topic to 'Draw-inks' instead of 'Drawings'...
 
Let me give you some more information about the design. My tattoo can be described in 1 sentence:  'Have dreams no expectations, 'cause life is a journey with so many destinations.' The anchor stays for the journey of life, but at the same time for being the captain of your own soul. Don't be afraid to be yourself anytime, anyway. The lightning is a symbol for power and masculinity. All my passions (soccer, snowboarding, surfing, skating, beer drinking:P - and the whole lifestyle around) are kinda masculin and my environment made me feel uncertain to have hobbies this masulin and actually show it off. But the most important message of my tattoo maybe is the combination of the anchor and the lightning; which tells that the journey of life is not a straight line. You can reach the same goals by taking another way sometimes!
 
 
Oh and... yes, it does hurt like hell! :)
 
 
Copying? Please refer to BOEF

Sunday 28 July 2013

Finally, I'm starting with a blog about 'Surf, Ride and Rock 'n Roll' ! It's a lifestyle, it's fashion, it's exploring... The best is to have some good food and drinks with it, and most of the time creativity bumps in as well. What about some good music?!





I would love to share of all this with YOU! Come on in; it's a way of life!