Clockenflap Festival - November 2009

(Talk about leaving things till the last moment! Ooops) ChooChooTV is covering the Clockenflap festival in Hong Kong this weekend - Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th November 2009 at Cyberport from 12pm - 11pm.

This is a very cool festival for international and local artists to showcase their talent. ChooChooTV will be posting highlights of the event over the next couple of days. So if you're interested in what is happening in the music, arts and the film scene in Hong Kong and around the world, check it out.

Also make sure you take a look at the promos, they are very clever and very funny. Clockenflap: Episode Three

ChooChooTV - online entertainment

ChooChooTV is an Online TV network based in Hong Kong. The network has been operating for nearly a year and I have been fortunate to be involved with it since its inception in July 2008.

I absolutely love being part of a vision that involves showcasing creative talent from around the world. It is so exciting to discover so many talented individuals. ChooChooTV aims to present a cross section of entertainers and artists to a young online audience. From new unsigned music bands through to professional well known artists specialising in painting, sculpture, photography, installation and mixed-media.   ChooChooTV is interested in filling a gap and providing an interactive professional platform for artists that have a lot to contribute but have limited resources to promote themselves on their own.

Currently the network operates with teams in Hong Kong and Sydney. Everyone involved is passionate about ChooChooTV and we've managed to stay buoyant in one of the toughest years in recent times.

During our first year operating as a network we have produced comedy, music and art channels. We've focused on one region - Hong Kong, with mostly Cantonese speaking presenters. It has been a great learning curve, especially for myself as I do not speak Cantonese. However I have found that with video, I have been able to understand the essence of what people have been talking about. And it has also served as a prompt -   that is learning a second language would be very helpful.

This year we introduced an English speaking channel (HK Live!) and we would like to branch out further afield over the next eighteen months. If you know absolutely nothing about Hong Kong artists, you must visit ChooChooTV. Art Attack has english subtitles and features some amazing artists. And, even if you don't understand Cantonese you will enjoy BobKay Pedia. Because laughter is truly universal and you'll understand what I'm talking about once you hear Bob laugh.

ChooChooTV is not a huge conglomerate. Rather it is a group of like-minded individuals who have set out on an online adventure. The network does have a lot to offer and the team intend to keep focusing on what we love doing. If you are looking to be a part of an adventure, drop by ChooChooTV and join the Choomunity.

I'll be updating this blog on a more regular basis, and promoting different channels from time to time. So stay tuned and leave a comment.

Cheers Marie

Busy Bee Loves Spring Blossoms

Spring in Sydney is a joyous occasion. I love to see plenty of bees buzzing around, pollinating all the amazing Sydney flowers. To me, bees are well meaning, hard working, productive members of our community. They have an important job to do and they do it to the best of their abilities. They're also an indication that all is well in the environment we live in. So where are all the bees these days???

Ships Sailing On Lavender

Sydney's Botanic Gardens is a great place to just "be" with nature. My favourite place is the herb gardens in the morning. The aromas - lavender, geranium, lemon balm and other amazing herbs. The sights and sounds of Australian birds and bats (flying foxes) flying through the trees. A perfect way to start my day.

The Bamboo ships you see sailing on Lavender are a tribute to the First Fleet - eleven ships that sailed to Australia from England in 1787, arriving in Sydney January 1788. The ships were full of marines and convicts who are acknowledged as the Founders of Australia. However the real founders are of course the indigenous people of Australia, the Aborigines.