Attention: Volunteering Opportunites

Hello! I am receiving many inquiries into volunteering in Ladakh this year and thank you for writing to us!

At the moment we are busy planning and fundraising for some reading rooms in other areas of the Himalayan region. It looks like we’ll require some talented people with art and language skills September onwards.

So if you are interested, please email avalokitesvaratrust@avalokitesvaratrust.org with the subject: Volunteer 2016 and I shall send you a volunteer form if we are interested in taking it further. It’s difficult to reply to each individual, so please understand that we shall be in touch on a suitability and availability basis.

We also may require volunteers with a design or architectural background. More news on that soon.

Thank you!

P.S. The best and preferred way to be in touch is via email

LITTLE BUDDHAS IN THE WOODS

Little Buddhas in the woods

Little Buddhas in the woods

On a magical sunny day, in the month of August (2015), we decided to spend a day with the young monks of  the Chemdey Monastery in the village of Sakti. Our friends, artist, Abhishek Singh, musician and drum-jammer Kumi Masunaga and her lovely daughter Aya, came with us to share their talents, their skills and to spread joy! We were also accompanied by my little daughter Samira, my husband, our Ladakhi friends and Sushil, a Mumbai-based photographer who captured some glorious moments!

IMG_0459

Assembling hula hoops

The young monks from Chemdey Gonpa school participated in ice-breaking musical activities that Kumi had designed for them. Abhishek introduced them to a few art activities, took them through the process of creating their group artwork and showed them stunning visuals from his comic book. Aya demonstrated how to ‘hula-hoop’! We also set up a book corner in the school.

The young monks were keen to learn and listened carefully to the process, enjoyed drawing and colouring, asked questions and at the end, proudly exhibited their artwork in the woods!

Kumi is a Japanese percussionist and a drum circle facilitator who lives in Hong Kong with over fifteen years of performing, teaching, and facilitating experience. She has worked with a range of ages and cultural backgrounds, designing, planning and executing programmes. For more- www.drum-jam.com

Aya is natural performer. She sings, dances and has lead her “Circle Game” playshop for groups of children at events. She has acted in youth musicals, theatre play and some TV commercials in Hong Kong. She speaks English, Japanese and basic Cantonese and Mandarin. Here engagement with the children we visited, has been both endearing very valuable!

Abhishek Singh is artist,animation film-maker and graphic novelist who currently lives between his studios in Brooklyn, New York and Mumbai. Whenever possible he retreats for a meditation trek in the Himalayas. For more – www.abhishekartstore.com

Photo courtesy, Sushil, Kumi and Abhigya

In the slideshow you will see- Chemdey Gonpa, the village of Sakti,  the monks at play and at work, receiving their Ladakhi copies of ‘Chuskit Goes to School’ , a group photo and more.

Avalokitesvara Trust creates reading rooms for children so for International Book Giving Day , we decided to start a book-collection drive. We received an incredible response from all over India. Books were carefully chosen, ordered and shipped to Dharamsala for the young readers of Norling Creche & Kindergarten. We are happy to have enhanced their little library with good quality books. To have played a role in encouraging the joy of reading and bringing smiles to their faces!

We got together to open packages of delightful books and celebrate International Book Giving Day at the Norling creche and kindergarten. A group of 15 volunteers, aged 8 to 10 years were very eager to create a new library upstairs. They happily carried all the old books and categorised them into small, medium and large books. We had a little contest to see which group ( red, green, yellow, blue, white colours of the prayer flags) could count the most books in the least time. It was chao tic and so much fun!! And they finished counting the books in 9 minutes (they’d decided on 15 minutes as the target) After this exercise, they realised that their existing books needed to be categorised into levels and broader subjects. So we created colour codes for levels of reading, for Tibetan, science and for teacher reading material. After four hours of activity we finally displayed all the new additions on to the empty shelves.

The next day, we played a few games. An improvisation of ‘Simon says’, became ‘Norbu says, Sangmo says..’ and the library room was filled with laughter! To calm everyone down, we sat in a circle and concentrated on our breathing. This wasn’t any easy task as a few of them were curious to know what was to follow but we managed to bring back our focus and recollect the activities of the previous session and the task at hand. Setting up a library is no small job and the children once again, tidied up the piles of old books. After all this work, they had a tea break and then finally, chose a book each and sat in a corner or lay on their tummies to immerse themselves in their new book collection. It was very satisfying to see them enjoying the books with quiet rapture. We added a few finishing touches and called it a day by taking a group of books for the little ones downstairs to create a small toddler library. Now that we’re ready, we’ll be inviting ALL the children from ALL the classes to their new reading rooms. We can’t wait!!

Blackjack Card Counting Myths Australian Players Should Know

Blackjack card counting has become one of gambling’s most persistent legends. Films portray a player who memorises every card, signals a team, and steadily defeats the house. In reality, the technique is mathematical, demanding and far less dramatic than popular culture suggests.

For Australian readers comparing online casino information, the distinction between a genuine advantage-play concept and casino marketing matters. A guide such as jackpot-jill-real-money-login-au.com can help explain access, registration, payments and current terms, but visitors still need to check whether a service is available and lawful for their location.

That caution is especially important for readers who value clear, educational information. Avalokiteśvara Trust supports literacy and learning for children and young monks in Himalayan communities, and the same respect for reliable information applies when adults assess gambling claims, bonuses and financial risk.

Why card counting myths remain popular

The most common myth is that counting cards means remembering every card in a shoe. A traditional counting system usually assigns simple values to exposed cards and keeps a running count. The player then estimates whether the remaining cards may favour the player or the dealer. It is a probability exercise, not photographic memory.

Another misconception is that a successful counter wins every hand. Even a favourable situation produces short-term losses, pushes and ordinary losing sessions. Variance remains powerful in blackjack, so a player can use correct decisions and still lose money over many rounds.

Movies also exaggerate the scale of the advantage. A skilled counter may seek a narrow statistical edge under suitable rules, bet variation and bankroll conditions. That edge is fragile. Poor table rules, frequent shuffling, mistakes or betting beyond one’s bankroll can remove it quickly.

What a counting system actually does

Card counting is based on composition-dependent probabilities. If many low cards have already appeared, some remaining blackjack combinations may become more likely. A higher concentration of tens and aces can improve the player’s chances of receiving a natural blackjack and can affect doubling and splitting decisions.

The count does not predict the next card. It does not tell a player that a ten is “due”, and it cannot turn a random sequence into a guaranteed result. This separates counting from the gambler’s fallacy, which assumes that previous outcomes force a particular future outcome.

The system also requires accurate basic strategy. Counting while making poor decisions is like using a speedometer on a car with no steering. Players must understand the table’s rules, including blackjack payout, dealer hitting or standing on soft 17, doubling restrictions, surrender options and the number of decks.

Why online blackjack changes the equation

A live casino table may use a physical shoe, but many online blackjack games use a random number generator. If the game reshuffles or generates each round independently, previously exposed cards provide no useful information about the next result. A running count in that setting is simply irrelevant.

Live-dealer games require a closer examination of the dealing procedure. Even then, the player must know whether cards are dealt from a shoe, when the shoe is replaced, whether penetration is sufficient and whether the rules resemble those that make counting theoretically meaningful. A live video feed alone does not create a countable opportunity.

Software, browser extensions and “guaranteed counting systems” cannot manufacture an edge. They may display statistics or record results, but past outcomes do not alter an independent random-number sequence. Claims about secret algorithms or automatic wins should be treated as promotional language rather than evidence.

Australian rules and practical checks

Australian players face a distinct regulatory environment. The Interactive Gambling Act 2001 restricts the provision of certain online casino services to people in Australia, while the Australian Communications and Media Authority works against illegal offshore offerings. A website being accessible from Sydney, Perth or Melbourne does not establish that it is authorised to provide casino gambling there.

Payment rules have also changed. Since 11 June 2024, Australian credit cards, including those linked to digital wallets, have been prohibited for online gambling payments. Debit cards and other methods may be treated differently, but the current payment option, identity checks and withdrawal conditions should be verified before a deposit.

State and territory rules can add complexity, and Australian dollars, local banking delays and identity requirements may affect the practical experience. A player in Brisbane should apply the same caution as someone in Hobart: confirm the operator’s legal position, read the terms, and avoid assuming that offshore access equals Australian approval.

Comparing information available to Australian players

The brands below should be compared through verifiable details rather than claims about card counting. Public information, availability, ownership, licence status, payment options and terms can change, so each operator’s current website and relevant Australian guidance remain the proper reference points.

Brand or guide What can be checked Card-counting relevance Sensible Australian due diligence
Jackpot Jill Real Money Login Au Access information, registration, reported games, bonuses, payment methods and support details Counting generally does not apply to RNG games; live-game rules must be checked separately Verify offshore status, legality, current terms, age checks and withdrawal rules
Joe Fortune Published casino access, game catalogue, bonus conditions and account procedures No counting advantage should be assumed without confirmed physical-shoe rules Check operator identity, licensing information, payment restrictions and Australian availability
RocketPlay Current site terms, registration process, promotions and listed payment methods Online game mathematics and shuffle procedures determine whether counting is relevant Confirm jurisdictional access, wagering requirements, verification and dispute channels
Fair Go Casino Publicly stated games, promotions, responsible-gambling information and account conditions A bonus or brand name does not change the probabilities of an RNG blackjack game Review legal availability, deposit limits, withdrawal terms and privacy practices
Ozwin Casino Current game listings, bonus terms, support channels and payment information Any advantage depends on the exact game format and rules, not the label Check current terms, identity checks, payment compatibility and operator disclosures

No comparison can turn a risky activity into a reliable income source. A brand’s bonus may also carry wagering requirements that make the headline offer less valuable than it first appears. Australian users should record the exact terms shown at registration, especially when a promotion is time-limited.

Practical ways to evaluate gambling claims

A responsible reader can separate probability from sales language by checking specific details before accepting any promise:

  • Identify whether the blackjack game uses a random-number generator or a physical shoe.
  • Read the rules for blackjack payouts, deck count, dealer actions, doubling and splitting.
  • Confirm the operator’s legal position, ownership information and current licensing disclosures.
  • Check Australian payment restrictions, identity verification and withdrawal requirements.
  • Treat “guaranteed profit”, prediction software and secret counting systems as warning signs.
  • Set a fixed entertainment budget and never use credit or borrowed money to continue playing.
  • Use available deposit, loss or session limits and keep gambling separate from household essentials.

These checks are more valuable than memorising a dramatic casino story. They also help readers identify the difference between a review that reports observable features and an advertisement that implies certainty without evidence.

The facts worth remembering

Card counting is a legitimate mathematical concept, but it is not a magic formula. It depends on favourable rules, disciplined basic strategy, sufficient bankroll, accurate tracking and conditions that may not exist in an online game. A casino can also restrict or refuse service to a player it believes is counting, even when the activity is not treated as a criminal offence.

For Australians, the first question should be whether the service is legally available and transparent, not whether a promotional page promises an advantage. The Interactive Gambling Act, the credit-card prohibition and changing offshore access rules make current verification essential.

The central point is simple: counting cards estimates probabilities; it does not predict cards or guarantee profit. Online game technology, operator terms and Australian regulation matter just as much as blackjack theory, and readers should remember that informed caution is the strongest advantage available.