so six years ago I’m sat in er in a hotel in a small resort in Austria in
hotel in a small resort in Austria in
hotel in a small resort in Austria in the mountains and working as a ski rep
the mountains and working as a ski rep
the mountains and working as a ski rep two weeks before I’d applied for a
two weeks before I’d applied for a
two weeks before I’d applied for a position in Hong Kong I was eagerly
position in Hong Kong I was eagerly
position in Hong Kong I was eagerly waiting for a response from my agent
waiting for a response from my agent
waiting for a response from my agent that morning I woke up to an email
that morning I woke up to an email
that morning I woke up to an email saying that my application had been
saying that my application had been
saying that my application had been successful I was over the moon I called
successful I was over the moon I called
successful I was over the moon I called my agent excitedly she said there’s just
my agent excitedly she said there’s just
my agent excitedly she said there’s just one thing the employer wants to meet you
one thing the employer wants to meet you
one thing the employer wants to meet you in person I explained that this move to
in person I explained that this move to
in person I explained that this move to Hong Kong I was doing alone and I didn’t
Hong Kong I was doing alone and I didn’t
Hong Kong I was doing alone and I didn’t want to arrive without a position
want to arrive without a position
want to arrive without a position already secured I explained that I was
already secured I explained that I was
already secured I explained that I was in a small village in the middle of the
in a small village in the middle of the
in a small village in the middle of the Austrian Alps
Austrian Alps
Austrian Alps she replied excitedly that the employer
she replied excitedly that the employer
she replied excitedly that the employer was also in Austria at that time we
was also in Austria at that time we
was also in Austria at that time we found out that the employer was only 20
found out that the employer was only 20
found out that the employer was only 20 minutes away from where I was staying
minutes away from where I was staying
minutes away from where I was staying staying so the next day I drove over had
staying so the next day I drove over had
staying so the next day I drove over had the interview in the Alps and that was
the interview in the Alps and that was
the interview in the Alps and that was where my Asian adventure began in those
where my Asian adventure began in those
where my Asian adventure began in those our early days had no idea about Hong
our early days had no idea about Hong
our early days had no idea about Hong Kong about the city and what to expect
Kong about the city and what to expect
Kong about the city and what to expect this job seemed to appear in my path
this job seemed to appear in my path
this job seemed to appear in my path from nowhere and it seemed almost like
from nowhere and it seemed almost like
from nowhere and it seemed almost like it was fate for me to come here I took a
it was fate for me to come here I took a
it was fate for me to come here I took a leap of faith and I followed my heart my
leap of faith and I followed my heart my
leap of faith and I followed my heart my instinct with the little guidance from
instinct with the little guidance from
instinct with the little guidance from my higher self arriving in this
my higher self arriving in this
my higher self arriving in this exhilarating and breathtaking City
exhilarating and breathtaking City
exhilarating and breathtaking City energy with such energy was incredible
energy with such energy was incredible
energy with such energy was incredible but naturally every time I arrived in a
but naturally every time I arrived in a
but naturally every time I arrived in a new city the first thing I look into is
new city the first thing I look into is
new city the first thing I look into is the night scene it’s the culture the
the night scene it’s the culture the
the night scene it’s the culture the music and what there is to do I was
music and what there is to do I was
music and what there is to do I was bewildered to find that the majority of
bewildered to find that the majority of
bewildered to find that the majority of people were hanging out in bars that
people were hanging out in bars that
people were hanging out in bars that were abused booze booze filled with
were abused booze booze filled with
were abused booze booze filled with commercial music and there was a big
commercial music and there was a big
commercial music and there was a big social culture around
social culture around
social culture around sporting events there were a few small
sporting events there were a few small
sporting events there were a few small collectives forging the way for the
collectives forging the way for the
collectives forging the way for the underground scene and there was one
underground scene and there was one
underground scene and there was one music festival who was bringing bringing
music festival who was bringing bringing
music festival who was bringing bringing in international acts for Hong Kong
in international acts for Hong Kong
in international acts for Hong Kong community but I was at a loss to mainly
community but I was at a loss to mainly
community but I was at a loss to mainly see commercial creations there was very
see commercial creations there was very
see commercial creations there was very little in the way that set of
little in the way that set of
little in the way that set of celebrating diversity and connection for
celebrating diversity and connection for
celebrating diversity and connection for the Hong Kong people were right here
the Hong Kong people were right here
the Hong Kong people were right here right now so why should we all be here
right now so why should we all be here
right now so why should we all be here alone when we can all be here together
alone when we can all be here together
alone when we can all be here together I’m here to talk to you about what I’ve
I’m here to talk to you about what I’ve
I’m here to talk to you about what I’ve learned while hosting community events
learned while hosting community events
learned while hosting community events in Hong Kong I’ll talk about dedicating
in Hong Kong I’ll talk about dedicating
in Hong Kong I’ll talk about dedicating the last decade to bringing bringing
the last decade to bringing bringing
the last decade to bringing bringing events to Hong Kong and inspiring people
events to Hong Kong and inspiring people
events to Hong Kong and inspiring people through shared experience I’ll tell you
through shared experience I’ll tell you
through shared experience I’ll tell you about a festival on a secret island
about a festival on a secret island
about a festival on a secret island where where we forged the power of the
where where we forged the power of the
where where we forged the power of the collective through simply being joy
collective through simply being joy
collective through simply being joy bringing joy cadet connectedness and
bringing joy cadet connectedness and
bringing joy cadet connectedness and togetherness firstly I’ll talk I would
togetherness firstly I’ll talk I would
togetherness firstly I’ll talk I would like to share with you my experience of
like to share with you my experience of
like to share with you my experience of hosting events in Hong Kong share with
hosting events in Hong Kong share with
hosting events in Hong Kong share with you the challenges the highs and the
you the challenges the highs and the
you the challenges the highs and the lows and the power of passion and also
lows and the power of passion and also
lows and the power of passion and also the value of a supportive Network
the value of a supportive Network
the value of a supportive Network secondly I’d like to share with you how
secondly I’d like to share with you how
secondly I’d like to share with you how I feel
I feel
I feel shared experiences can enhance our life
shared experiences can enhance our life
shared experiences can enhance our life on it and connect people on a deeper
on it and connect people on a deeper
on it and connect people on a deeper level this brings more meaning to life
level this brings more meaning to life
level this brings more meaning to life but I think than material possessions
but I think than material possessions
but I think than material possessions I’m also going to discuss how globally
I’m also going to discuss how globally
I’m also going to discuss how globally conscious festivals have and continue to
conscious festivals have and continue to
conscious festivals have and continue to bring about positive change and how
bring about positive change and how
bring about positive change and how together we should all be participating
together we should all be participating
together we should all be participating in this to bring a more connected
in this to bring a more connected
in this to bring a more connected fulfilled and joyous Society so it
fulfilled and joyous Society so it
fulfilled and joyous Society so it didn’t take me long before I began
didn’t take me long before I began
didn’t take me long before I began hatching plans to bring to celebrate the
hatching plans to bring to celebrate the
hatching plans to bring to celebrate the diversity and the people of Hong Kong in
diversity and the people of Hong Kong in
diversity and the people of Hong Kong in these moments I realized that I must
these moments I realized that I must
these moments I realized that I must create something that brought all of
create something that brought all of
create something that brought all of these people together
these people together
these people together a community focused and social social
a community focused and social social
a community focused and social social and cultural event for this diversity
and cultural event for this diversity
and cultural event for this diversity upon this realized realization I started
upon this realized realization I started
upon this realized realization I started to gather some of the local party makers
to gather some of the local party makers
to gather some of the local party makers organizers musicians artists and friends
organizers musicians artists and friends
organizers musicians artists and friends we created a concept which which was
we created a concept which which was
we created a concept which which was community focused our aim was to bring
community focused our aim was to bring
community focused our aim was to bring everybody together with music and art
everybody together with music and art
everybody together with music and art and camping culture at its core we
and camping culture at its core we
and camping culture at its core we whisked away a few hundred people in
whisked away a few hundred people in
whisked away a few hundred people in that first event to camp on a secret
that first event to camp on a secret
that first event to camp on a secret island where music and art and nature
island where music and art and nature
island where music and art and nature the environment led the way for the
the environment led the way for the
the environment led the way for the participants to connect on a deeper
participants to connect on a deeper
participants to connect on a deeper level with the very community around us
level with the very community around us
level with the very community around us locals and expats students and visitors
locals and expats students and visitors
locals and expats students and visitors all together in those early days the
all together in those early days the
all together in those early days the first the first challenge that we
first the first challenge that we
first the first challenge that we encountered what we anticipated that we
encountered what we anticipated that we
encountered what we anticipated that we would encounter was convincing people to
would encounter was convincing people to
would encounter was convincing people to follow us this was the original team we
follow us this was the original team we
follow us this was the original team we didn’t really know very many people back
didn’t really know very many people back
didn’t really know very many people back in those days so we thought that we
in those days so we thought that we
in those days so we thought that we would ask people to come to what we were
would ask people to come to what we were
would ask people to come to what we were creating but nobody would follow we were
creating but nobody would follow we were
creating but nobody would follow we were wrong the first event sorrows sorrows
wrong the first event sorrows sorrows
wrong the first event sorrows sorrows attract around 400 people it didn’t take
attract around 400 people it didn’t take
attract around 400 people it didn’t take that much convincing it really seemed
that much convincing it really seemed
that much convincing it really seemed that Hongkong was ready for authentic
that Hongkong was ready for authentic
that Hongkong was ready for authentic connections we did however struggle with
connections we did however struggle with
connections we did however struggle with some some issues the logistics of
some some issues the logistics of
some some issues the logistics of hosting an event on a secret remote
hosting an event on a secret remote
hosting an event on a secret remote island was somewhat challenging this is
island was somewhat challenging this is
island was somewhat challenging this is this is the first-ever event where we
this is the first-ever event where we
this is the first-ever event where we had 400 people over the years we’ve had
had 400 people over the years we’ve had
had 400 people over the years we’ve had many supportive followers who dedicated
many supportive followers who dedicated
many supportive followers who dedicated their energy and time to the vision
their energy and time to the vision
their energy and time to the vision organizers followers and and staff have
organizers followers and and staff have
organizers followers and and staff have equally made this such a special
equally made this such a special
equally made this such a special community everyone contributing
community everyone contributing
community everyone contributing willingly and in their own way whether
willingly and in their own way whether
willingly and in their own way whether it was pushing trollies
it was pushing trollies
it was pushing trollies this is some of the people involved
this is some of the people involved
this is some of the people involved whether it was pushing trollies through
whether it was pushing trollies through
whether it was pushing trollies through the rain during typhoons and downpours
the rain during typhoons and downpours
the rain during typhoons and downpours whether it was helping us to load the
whether it was helping us to load the
whether it was helping us to load the big shipping shipping container ships
big shipping shipping container ships
big shipping shipping container ships that took all of the equipment to the
that took all of the equipment to the
that took all of the equipment to the island or whether it was simply gifting
island or whether it was simply gifting
island or whether it was simply gifting us with their presence
some people climb trees to hang light
some people climb trees to hang light some people even swam out to the ocean
some people even swam out to the ocean
some people even swam out to the ocean to save tents during a spontaneous
to save tents during a spontaneous
to save tents during a spontaneous typhoon it was incredible to see this
typhoon it was incredible to see this
typhoon it was incredible to see this community farming this last year was in
community farming this last year was in
community farming this last year was in a very special time there was that as we
a very special time there was that as we
a very special time there was that as we were setting up for the event it takes
were setting up for the event it takes
were setting up for the event it takes approximately a week to set up this
approximately a week to set up this
approximately a week to set up this event we heard news that a typhoon was
event we heard news that a typhoon was
event we heard news that a typhoon was on its way to the island the owner of
on its way to the island the owner of
on its way to the island the owner of the land pulled me to one side she told
the land pulled me to one side she told
the land pulled me to one side she told me to follow her she took me to this
me to follow her she took me to this
me to follow her she took me to this temple in the local village she said
temple in the local village she said
temple in the local village she said that every day we must pray to the
that every day we must pray to the
that every day we must pray to the Chinese gods pray for no typhoon so
Chinese gods pray for no typhoon so
Chinese gods pray for no typhoon so every day we took an offering we lit
every day we took an offering we lit
every day we took an offering we lit incense and we prayed that no typhoon
incense and we prayed that no typhoon
incense and we prayed that no typhoon would hit luckily we were blessed and
would hit luckily we were blessed and
would hit luckily we were blessed and the typhoon diverted across and away
the typhoon diverted across and away
the typhoon diverted across and away from our Island
from our Island
from our Island on the final day of the festival when we
on the final day of the festival when we
on the final day of the festival when we were breaking everything down and the
were breaking everything down and the
were breaking everything down and the participants had left we said we joined
participants had left we said we joined
participants had left we said we joined so the the community of the of the
so the the community of the of the
so the the community of the of the village and the organizers of the event
village and the organizers of the event
village and the organizers of the event all joined together and we we gave
all joined together and we we gave
all joined together and we we gave thanks to the Chinese gods this was a
thanks to the Chinese gods this was a
thanks to the Chinese gods this was a very special time for me it was a time
very special time for me it was a time
very special time for me it was a time when I realized that we had become one
when I realized that we had become one
when I realized that we had become one with we had crossed boundaries and we
with we had crossed boundaries and we
with we had crossed boundaries and we were all in this vision together we all
were all in this vision together we all
were all in this vision together we all wanted the same thing from no matter
wanted the same thing from no matter
wanted the same thing from no matter from which background or which reason so
from which background or which reason so
from which background or which reason so in this moment of gratitude
in this moment of gratitude
in this moment of gratitude it was incredibly special this is the
it was incredibly special this is the
it was incredibly special this is the owner of the land who has now become one
owner of the land who has now become one
owner of the land who has now become one of my dear friends Shirley
so the biggest hurdle that I encountered
so the biggest hurdle that I encountered throughout my time creating community
throughout my time creating community
throughout my time creating community driven experiences here in Hong Kong
driven experiences here in Hong Kong
driven experiences here in Hong Kong is the thing that you see when you first
is the thing that you see when you first
is the thing that you see when you first arrive is the big hot sky Rises it’s the
arrive is the big hot sky Rises it’s the
arrive is the big hot sky Rises it’s the flashy hotels
flashy hotels
flashy hotels the big banks its money financing these
the big banks its money financing these
the big banks its money financing these events wasn’t a breeze I realized after
events wasn’t a breeze I realized after
events wasn’t a breeze I realized after some time that financial backing is
some time that financial backing is
some time that financial backing is necessary but this was never my goal we
necessary but this was never my goal we
necessary but this was never my goal we all know that living in Hong Kong isn’t
all know that living in Hong Kong isn’t
all know that living in Hong Kong isn’t cheap with high rental costs and
cheap with high rental costs and
cheap with high rental costs and staffing and production costs it
staffing and production costs it
staffing and production costs it required a lot of guts and drive and a
required a lot of guts and drive and a
required a lot of guts and drive and a hell of a lot of risk-taking I took
hell of a lot of risk-taking I took
hell of a lot of risk-taking I took those risks
those risks
those risks I had Drive in my gut and direction in
I had Drive in my gut and direction in
I had Drive in my gut and direction in my heart and while sometimes this isn’t
my heart and while sometimes this isn’t
my heart and while sometimes this isn’t enough without the chance of failure
enough without the chance of failure
enough without the chance of failure innovation cannot be born if you have
innovation cannot be born if you have
innovation cannot be born if you have passion vision and energy you can defeat
passion vision and energy you can defeat
passion vision and energy you can defeat financial strains and if you don’t then
financial strains and if you don’t then
financial strains and if you don’t then you have defeated self-doubt in trying
you can only become you can only become
you can only become you can only become truly accomplished at something you love
truly accomplished at something you love
truly accomplished at something you love don’t make money your goal instead
don’t make money your goal instead
don’t make money your goal instead pursue the things you love and do them
pursue the things you love and do them
pursue the things you love and do them so well that people cannot take their
so well that people cannot take their
so well that people cannot take their eyes off you
introducing this concept which is now
introducing this concept which is now known as secret island party was of
known as secret island party was of
known as secret island party was of course amazing rewarding and but at
course amazing rewarding and but at
course amazing rewarding and but at times it manifested itself as some of
times it manifested itself as some of
times it manifested itself as some of the most exhausting and stressful times
the most exhausting and stressful times
the most exhausting and stressful times of my life but every hurdle passion and
of my life but every hurdle passion and
of my life but every hurdle passion and belief that I had of creating community
belief that I had of creating community
belief that I had of creating community liveliness and connection I knew it was
liveliness and connection I knew it was
liveliness and connection I knew it was the right thing and this was what got me
the right thing and this was what got me
the right thing and this was what got me through it’s everything that I do and
through it’s everything that I do and
through it’s everything that I do and it’s everything that I believe in and
it’s everything that I believe in and
it’s everything that I believe in and it’s everything that I will continue to
it’s everything that I will continue to
it’s everything that I will continue to do in the future
do in the future
do in the future we are urged to follow our passions as
we are urged to follow our passions as
we are urged to follow our passions as humans Nelson Mandela’s passion for
humans Nelson Mandela’s passion for
humans Nelson Mandela’s passion for equality kept him going for 27 years
equality kept him going for 27 years
equality kept him going for 27 years imprisonment there is no passion to be
imprisonment there is no passion to be
imprisonment there is no passion to be found playing small and settling for a
found playing small and settling for a
found playing small and settling for a life less than the one you are capable
life less than the one you are capable
life less than the one you are capable of so let us live big when I’m in a
of so let us live big when I’m in a
of so let us live big when I’m in a crowd of people my heart lifts and joy
crowd of people my heart lifts and joy
crowd of people my heart lifts and joy spills out of me it’s in these moments
spills out of me it’s in these moments
spills out of me it’s in these moments that I feel the most alive on the 7th of
that I feel the most alive on the 7th of
that I feel the most alive on the 7th of November my parents got married after 30
November my parents got married after 30
November my parents got married after 30 strong years of love together this is
strong years of love together this is
strong years of love together this is them the happiest I’ve ever seen them at
them the happiest I’ve ever seen them at
them the happiest I’ve ever seen them at this time our whole family joined
this time our whole family joined
this time our whole family joined together for the first time in over six
together for the first time in over six
together for the first time in over six years I flew from Hong Kong my sister
years I flew from Hong Kong my sister
years I flew from Hong Kong my sister flew from Australia which is share this
flew from Australia which is share this
flew from Australia which is share this one day together the experience of this
one day together the experience of this
one day together the experience of this coming together the celebration of
coming together the celebration of
coming together the celebration of sharing love will stay with us forever
sharing love will stay with us forever
sharing love will stay with us forever birthday parties leaving parties even
birthday parties leaving parties even
birthday parties leaving parties even funerals these moments of shared time
funerals these moments of shared time
funerals these moments of shared time are what we remember when we look back
are what we remember when we look back
are what we remember when we look back on our existence facilitating moments
on our existence facilitating moments
on our existence facilitating moments where this personal connection can
where this personal connection can
where this personal connection can happen in a beautiful environment with
happen in a beautiful environment with
happen in a beautiful environment with great music good nature and moments of
great music good nature and moments of
great music good nature and moments of joy the energy felt in the crowd of
joy the energy felt in the crowd of
joy the energy felt in the crowd of happy faces is what keeps me doing what
happy faces is what keeps me doing what
happy faces is what keeps me doing what I love
globally there has been movements of
globally there has been movements of conscious festivals bringing about the
conscious festivals bringing about the
conscious festivals bringing about the power of collective freedom across
power of collective freedom across
power of collective freedom across Europe in Australia and the Americas in
Europe in Australia and the Americas in
Europe in Australia and the Americas in history right now these events bring
history right now these events bring
history right now these events bring about transformation aiding communal
about transformation aiding communal
about transformation aiding communal progression happiness and the journey to
progression happiness and the journey to
progression happiness and the journey to the authentic self people express
the authentic self people express
the authentic self people express themselves freely immerse themselves in
themselves freely immerse themselves in
themselves freely immerse themselves in the arts exchange ideas and interact
the arts exchange ideas and interact
the arts exchange ideas and interact with others building a collective force
with others building a collective force
with others building a collective force within these environments possibilities
within these environments possibilities
within these environments possibilities can be discovered and made real
participation is what creates these
participation is what creates these communities and what to make what makes
communities and what to make what makes
communities and what to make what makes the entire experience come to life
the entire experience come to life
the entire experience come to life recently I was supporting a festival in
recently I was supporting a festival in
recently I was supporting a festival in Thailand this sat in line with the
Thailand this sat in line with the
Thailand this sat in line with the values that we were we were create
values that we were we were create
values that we were we were create creating in Hong Kong not only was this
creating in Hong Kong not only was this
creating in Hong Kong not only was this festival supporting the community of the
festival supporting the community of the
festival supporting the community of the people attending it but it had
people attending it but it had
people attending it but it had sustainability at its core investing in
sustainability at its core investing in
sustainability at its core investing in the land we saw them encouraging local
the land we saw them encouraging local
the land we saw them encouraging local community and they created a stage
community and they created a stage
community and they created a stage entirely from rice this was rice from
entirely from rice this was rice from
entirely from rice this was rice from the local farmers yields hosting talks
the local farmers yields hosting talks
the local farmers yields hosting talks and seminars from local heroes whom came
and seminars from local heroes whom came
and seminars from local heroes whom came from the local regions they were using
from the local regions they were using
from the local regions they were using this experience and the community to
this experience and the community to
this experience and the community to catalyze positive change for the people
catalyze positive change for the people
catalyze positive change for the people and the planet demonstrating the power
and the planet demonstrating the power
and the planet demonstrating the power of the collective in a phenomenal way
leading me to my summary Hong Kong and
leading me to my summary Hong Kong and Asia are now beginning to place value on
Asia are now beginning to place value on
Asia are now beginning to place value on experiences and experience led events
experiences and experience led events
experiences and experience led events understanding the power of connection
understanding the power of connection
understanding the power of connection and community and embracing the
and community and embracing the
and community and embracing the collective these experiences can be a
collective these experiences can be a
collective these experiences can be a catalyst for change a breeding ground
catalyst for change a breeding ground
catalyst for change a breeding ground creativity passion and compassion so
creativity passion and compassion so
creativity passion and compassion so support your local connector attend the
support your local connector attend the
support your local connector attend the events facilitate and aid in the
events facilitate and aid in the
events facilitate and aid in the bringing together of people attend the
bringing together of people attend the
bringing together of people attend the group’s the sessions the events and
group’s the sessions the events and
group’s the sessions the events and experience life happiness is within you
experience life happiness is within you
experience life happiness is within you and together we share it
”
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