Some Asian-Australian bits and pieces

Asians in the Australian modelling industry
'Bucknall makes a point of signing ethnic models to FRM but is constantly frustrated, he says, and even shocked at some reactions. "On numerous occasions when I'm sending a group of models in for castings I've been told, "We don't use blacks or Asians, so don't send them."

Matthew Anderson, director of Chadwick models, says his agency, which currently has only one Asian-Australian model signed, reflects the commercial reality of supply and demand, which in turn reflects a culture stuck on one concept of fashionable beauty.'


Poh's Family Garden
Malaysians are terminally obsessed with food and eating, and this segment of Gardening Australia shows another part of the cycle. TV chef Poh Ling Yeow takes the show to visit her uncle and auntie and their garden in Adelaide, where they cultivate kangkung, bok choy, snow peas and other Asian vegetable goodies.

Natalie Tran's travel video blog at Lonely Planet
I've somehow remained largely oblivious to the Natalie Tran phenomenon, but the 24-year-old Sydney v-logger is an international internet celebrity whose humorous observations have led to her being the 6th-most-subscribed director of all time on Youtube. She's now landed herself a gig as a guest video blogger for Lonely Planet, detailing her travels around the world. It's worth checking out.

Indian student tells of Melbourne stabbing
"An Indian cookery student in Melbourne has recalled the night he was stabbed in the stomach by two men after he finished work in a South Yarra bar. The 31-year-old man, who wants to remain anonymous, now bears a 26-stitch scar where doctors performed emergency surgery on his punctured bowel after the attack on November 5."