The Rooftop Stage in Kolkata (Calcutta)

Photos from the performance of 'Two Love Letters' on a rooftop in Kolkata, India.

 With thanks to League of Shadows for hosting me.

Pictured: Priyam Chaterjee

'Bashed in Caboolture' told walking the streets of Kolkata

'Bashed in Caboolture' told walking the streets of Kolkata from Richard Pettifer on Vimeo.

How much shit is in the atmosphere because of me

Tally of Emissions

All measurements in Tonnes.

Via direct flight, total emissions would be 2.664

melb-bris = 0.1 (shared car, 3 people)
bris-townsville = .08 (shared car, 3 people)
townsville - darwin = .225 (shared car, 2 people)
darwin - bali = .267 (FLIGHT)
bali - surabaya = .01 (Ferry, bus)
surabaya - yogya = .01 (Train)
yogyakarta - jakarta = .01 (Train)
jakarta - batam = .02 (Ferry)
batam - singapore = .001 (Ferry)
singapore - kuala lumpur = .02 (Train)
kl - bangkok = .09 (Bus)
bangkok - kolkata = .233 (FLIGHT)
kolkata - delhi = .09* (Train)
delhi - lahore = .07* (Train)
lahore - quetta = .03* (Train)
quetta - zahedan = .02* (Bus)
zahedan - bandar-abbas = .01* (Bus)
bandar-abbas - tehran = .02* (Train)
tehran - van = .02* (Train)
van - sirince = .05* (Train/Ferry)
sirince - kavala = .005* (Bus/Ferry)
kavala - bucharest = .02* (Train)
bucharest - berlin = .11* (Train)

*projected

total = 1.511


---end---

HYPOTHETICALS

(after the jump)

The Imaginary Boat

Although it is only a stretch of 500km, there is no boat between Phuket Island, Thailand and the Andaman Islands, India.

To get between them without flying, you have to hitch a ride on a sailing yacht.

Once you reach the Andamans, you can continue to India on one of its thrice-weekly ships.

Sections of the journey to Europe which cannot be done by land, and why

From Kolkata, India
6.11pm

During my six months of research for this project, I struck two sections on my desired route which are uncrossable by land. Interestingly, although I am passing through India, Pakistan and Iran, supposedly the least receptive areas of the world (if you listen to the media), these countries are actually fine to pass through by land. And when I say 'fine', I mean there are certainly risks, but they are not as high as you might think.

No, the two sections which prevent overland travel between Europe and Australia are:

- Myanmar. This country has been under the rule of a military government for a long time, and as a result still suffers from a high degree of lawlessness, especially in the Eastern region, where there are disputes with the native Rohingya people, who are Islamic (unlike the Buddhist majority). As a result, whilst it is periodically possible to enter into Myanmar from Thailand, you cannot exit to India or Bangladesh.*

- Australia. Australia is a first world country which will protect its borders at all costs from foreigners fleeing from war-torn countries. As a result, you can only travel to Indonesia by air. There are boats, but it is not possible to get on them.

Which of these seems rational? A war-torn country with various post-colonial problems and an oppressed minority seeking their freedom? Or a country which tries to prevent foreigners from entering it because... why? Maybe they will seek asylum and suck our horrible social services system dry? 

Maybe we just don't care.

There are many ironies here. I speak some Indonesian, the reason being that I studied it when I was in Primary and later High school. I studied it for 7 years. During that time, I never had any idea why I was studying it. In a country school in Victoria, it was the only language option. Something about 'improving relations' or 'economic ties'.

However, in a country that is inherently xenophobic and navel-gazing, just because you speak someone's language apparently does not equate to letting them into your country.

*Note: you can still cross into India via private yacht from Phuket to the Andaman Islands, a distance of 500km. This is possible from Phuket, if you stalk the marinas for long enough. I tried for a week. Next time.