oh my giddy aunt.

I feel compelled to post here - instead of lurking like I usually do.

My dial-up and I have just spent hours going through this post, and the mild yearning I had to get another tattoo, has just exploded into full-blown desire. At the moment I just have the Japanese kanji for 'rabbit' on my waist, above my right hip. And it's not because I do it like a bunny, nor is it my chinese birth year - Usagi (that is, rabbit) is the first name of Sailormoon, my all time favourite cartoon character.

I've had plans for ages - either one around my forearm, or one on the inside of my wrists. Nothing large, I like them little, black, and symbolic.

Earlier tonight, I was reading a book on Maori culture, and saw a most incredible photo of traditional Maori tattoo work - I wish I could post an image but 1) copyright laws, and 2) I'm sans scanner. Basically the tattoo emanated from the belly button, flowed down over the mons, and up around the hips.

It did stir a question though, and one that I don't think has been tackled yet in this thread - is it right to appropriate cultural designs? I've had an idea for years and years and years to get a tattoo written in hanacaraka (and for all of you going 'huh?', here's an example - http://www.christusrex.org/www1/pater/JPN-javanese-huruf.html )

I just worry a little about appropriating someone else's culture - the country and the people mean a great deal to me, and I wouldn't want to permanently offend them. Plus as it's such an unfamiliar script, I doubt that I'd ever find a tattoo artist who could do it properly - any suggestions about good tattoo places in Melbourne, Victoria??