Justin Morgan's Blog, page 2

The Dogs of Chernobyl – Real life heroes

The Dogs of Chernobyl – Real life heroes

You may be familiar with the fictional world of The Dogs of Chernobyl, but let’s take a moment to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of today – the real dogs that roam the haunting landscape of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. These remarkable creatures, much like the characters in the novel, embody the spirit of survival against all odds.  

Guardians of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

In the shadow of the abandoned structures and decayi...

The Real Dogs of Chernobyl – Unsung Heroes

The Real Dogs of Chernobyl – Unsung Heroes

You may be familiar with the fictional world of The Dogs of Chernobyl, but let’s take a moment to shine a spotlight on the unsung heroes of today – the real dogs that roam the haunting landscape of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. These remarkable creatures, much like the characters in the novel, embody the spirit of survival against all odds.  

Guardians of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone

In the shadow of the abandoned structures and deca...

Southeast Asian Myths and Folklore: A Rich and Diverse Tapestry

Southeast Asian Myths and Folklore: A Rich and Diverse Tapestry A Deep Well of Inspiration

Southeast Asia is a region with a rich and diverse culture, and its myths and folklore are no exception. From the ancient tales of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism and Buddhism to more recent tales of local spirits and heroes, Southeast Asian myths and folklore encompass a dizzying range of characters and themes. They’re a fascinating subject to explore and a deep wellspring of inspira...

Mulu National Park: Untold Stories from the Heart of Borneo

Mulu National Park: Untold Stories from the Heart of BorneoNostalgia and Uncertainty – was returning to Mulu National Park even possible?

One of the worst things about the COVID pandemic, beyond the fear of loved ones dying, the economy collapsing and a billion people losing their livelihoods, was the uncertainty of whether the globe-trotting life I’d been used to had now become a thing of the past. 

Since my first trip with a backpack – two months around Europe on a shoest...

30 Years of Jurassic Park – How Michael Crichton’s World Changed Mine

30 Years of Jurassic Park – How Michael Crichton’s World Changed Mine

To mark the 30th anniversary of its release, Jurassic Park recently returned to cinema screens, conjuring up some very lovely memories. 

The Anticipation of a Lifetime

I was thirteen when Jurassic Park was released, and had been aboard the hype train long before the film actually came out, since seeing a trailer for it while in my seat for Disney’s Aladdin some months earlier. I was dinosaur mad as a kid, ...

Fukushima’s Radioactive Water

Fukushima’s Radioactive Water –
A Delicate Balance of Safety and EcologyReleasing Radioactive Water – A Difficult Decision

After much delay and a considerable amount of regional anxiety, Japan finally began releasing treated radioactive water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant into the Pacific Ocean on August 24, 2023. The decision to release the water has been – and will continue to be – controversial, with some experts and environmental groups expressing...

You Write Your Own Stories

You Write Your Own Stories An Alien Encounter

The immense island of Borneo is probably the place on Earth dearest to my heart, but before we went to live there for a five year stint, my wife and I first visited as tourists.

On a trip into forest an hour out of the Sarawak city of Kuching, we trek in excruciatingly hot conditions to catch a glimpse of the rare Rafflesia — the world’s biggest flower — whose reputation does not disappoint.

With its malodorous perfume irre...

The 1997 Peat Megafire: Extreme Haze, Extreme Consequences

The 1997 Peat Megafire: Extreme Haze, Extreme Consequences What is a Megafire?

There’s no agreed upon scientific definition of a megafire, but they’re pretty much what you’d expect them to be – massive, dangerous and out of control. I think we can all agree, they’re not anything we ever want to experience.

During my time living in Brunei, I did experience forest fires. Driving up the highway with flames licking both sides of the road next to you and helicopters whirring overh...

Guitars I’ve Known & Loved

Guitars I’ve Known & LovedHumble Beginnings

Like a lot of kids who grew up in the 90s, the grunge rock of Nirvana whipped me like a rope made of pure lightning, and suddenly the only thing that mattered in the world was being able to do what that splendid Kurt fella was doing.

My guitar journey began with an old flamenco model, given to me by my dear aunty Susan. I literally had to hammer a nail into the fretboard to keep the low E string on, yet as far as playing the chucka-ch...