West End but without the hippies

London’s West End feels very familiar, though not quite the same as Brisbane’s West End with all its hippies, more like Fortitude Valley. Arriving early in the morning you can really feel that the area is barely coming to, like the streets themselves have awoken with a hangover. Clearly everything happens here at night. [Edit: A trip here for dinner the following night really drove that fact home with the streets full of theatre goers and drunks, quite the combination.] Im really enjoying wandering run fussing over places all the locals that drift past me take for granted, I keep finding myself spellbound while the locals wander by bemused by my interest in what to them is mundane.

A camera memory card fail hijacked my morning and gave me some actual direction for the day. A trip up to Oxford St to Argos seemed my best bet to get a new card. I arrived at Argo sot find no electrical equipment on show, just a counter that would look more comfortable in a pawn shop plus rows and rows of catalogues. Turns out you find what you want in the catalogue then head over the the counter and trade a slip of paper for your goods. As excited as this seems the prices on the memory cards were not as low as I was promised, so I wandered off and found a bizarre electronics stopper with 5 different counters each manned by a Middle Eastern man and his son. Personal service and much better prices made for an epic win.

With my camera now working I was on the road again and a quick look at the map made me realise I had ended up near the The Britain Museum. Holy shitballs its HUGE! Once inside it feels like half of Ancient Greece is here. Also important to note here, while the Pathenon at the Brassall shops is long gone, a fair chunk of the real Pathenon is in mint condition in this museum. In fact the museum holds a greater percentage of some of the buildings than the museum near their original site in Greece.

From here I wander further on and took a stroll up to the Camden Markets. I soon realised if I didn’t forcibly remove myself I would have no money left and more tee shirts than I could possibly carry home. I also found a lot of the shop keepers to be annoying as one, one guy chased away a guaranteed sale when he pestered me too much.

Having not eaten asian food for nearly a w week I was seriously craving noodles so I stopped at a Thai restaurant for some Singapore noodles, in hindsight possibly wasn’t going to be their speciality or their signature dish, but at least it was on the specials list. The first surprise came when rather than come from the back of the restaurant which I was hungrily watching instead it came from the little sales kiosk by the front door. Turns out they don’t have much room so the kitchen is up stairs and my food came down a little elevator to get to me from the front of the restaurant. The second surprise was the sheer size of the it, my mountain of noodles would have fed a family of 4, I barely ate half. The final surprise was a sad one, it seems when they wrote the menu they embellished slightly , my prawn and pork Singapore Noodles did have pig product though it seems a stretched to call diced bacon pork. Oh and one last foot note, whats with the slice of lemon in my coke? I didn’t ask for that! I get angry enough when my fish and chips get the lemon treatment, this is a new low.

Fed I jumped back on the tube and retraced the start of the morning, retaking my photos from Picadilly Circus and Leister Square I lost with my memory card fail. With the day warming up the streets were now awash with people, Leister Square looked more like Surfers Paradise (without the sand of course) with bodies strewn everywhere soaking up the unexpected rays. Job done I made my way up to Covent Garden and found a more Australian type market, I think mum would think she had died and gone to knick knack heaven if she ever came here. The highlight here was all the entertainment Outside the Punch and Judy hall a street performer entertained a throng some 200 deep, and inside a string quintet was going to town with a rambunctious performance, playing up to the crowd with devilish chagrin. This was punctuated by a rousing rendition of the can can, high kicks and all, never missing a beat… well a string!

Setting off from convent garden I went in search of Trafalgar Square, with in line with my planes day I managed to get distracted not once but twice. First as usual a gorgeous spire caught my eye and drew me in down a long road towards a church in a traffic island. Before I could reach it however I came to an archway which opened up to an enormous court, with a massive lower section covered by water spouts for kids to play in. Returning to the main street I was back on my way to the church. The size of its spire was the first sign it was something special, its location on a traffic island with the world forced to grow around it the next and once inside it didn’t disappoint. Rising guilded domes with gorgeous paintings adorned the roof, the timber and stone at ground level while not as spectacular still shone with a regal elegance.

Next stop was Trafalgar Square, which wasn’t event a compulsory stop on my tri, I just happened to be nearby so I stopped by. Im really glad this worked out as it would have been sad to miss such an phenomenal space. First the massive statue rising up in the sky surrounded the glorious art gallery and an imposing and equally impressive archway and of course the two massive fountains. The weather was an amazing blessing on this trip and Trafalgar was a perfect example. Londoners really embrace the rare sunny days and the square was awash with people bathing in the sun. Oh and on homeless guy bathing in the fountains searching for coins.

Tracking back to the tube for the trip home I passed through St James Park where I had my first squirrel encounter. They really are crazy little critters, who if I believe Skinski are delicious, especially when roasted on an open fire.

Home away from home.

The girls are completely ruining my London Experience Home life with Kristi and Ris feels so normal and comfortable that it really doesn’t feel like Im on the other side of the globe. Sure the shower has a button and not taps, everything in the fridge has strange brands on in the labels and the backyard is apparently terrorised by a fox; but it really feels just like home.

Vegemite on toast for breakfast really seals the deal.

Observations of London

The fox alarm clock is rad. Kristi may have started swearing and stomped on the floor, but what could be cooler than being woken up my a fox scratching at the floorboards? Squirrels could probably top it but despite promises that have been made by the girls I’m yet to see one. Where the fuck are the squirrels!!!

Being polite really shocks people over here; so far giving up my seat on the train for an elderly lady and giving way on the footpath to a woman have both been met with shock and confusion. I know the weather is gloomy over here, but damn people, hug that shit out or something.

I fucking love accents. I swear I spent more time looking at faces and listening to accents at the Tate Moden (like GOMA) than I did looking at the art. This is a people watching Mecca.

St Paul’s Cathedral

Trying to take in the majesty of St Paul’s cathedral is completely overwhelming. It’s glorious dome rising above the rabble of the city has been calling to me and drawing me in all day, as my photo’s will attest. But now once inside where camera’s aren’t allowed my eyes are all I have to gaze upon the marvel at the original and most important monument to my Anglican faith.

The overwhelming size, the growing space that rises forever, every inch and detail greater than the last. This really is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. And as moving as the sight of this great building is nothing can touch the emotion of joining in the recital of the Lords Prayer with their hourly prayer.

Its criminal that I cant share everything I have seen and love through photograhos, but I dare say thats part of the glorious mystery of it all.

Dude, where’s my cab???

I trekked from St Paul’s to the Museum of London and was completely underwhelmed. Lots of bits of old stuff that don’t look like much and lots of “artists impression” type models of stuff. 

They even made the the Great Fire of London look dull!

The only excitement came after I left I and came to realise I had walked miles in the wrong direction! In fact I’m now writing this in the back of a London cab spending a fortune to get back to where I should have been ages ago. Oops!

Tube master, TUBE FASTER!

Twenty four hours in London and Im completely owning the tubes. Sure I got lost looking for a station once, but now Im right on top of it.

For the folks playing at home if you were ever embarrassed to be catching the Ipswich train, it could be worse. I’m currently on the Cockfosters train. (Pause, fall down laughing) Yep thats right, its COCKFOSTERS.

Everyone on the train looks quite serious, but all I can do is giggle.

Shane 1- Jet lag 0

I was feeling slightly travel weary when I arrived, and was struggling to talk properly as the night wore on but I seem to have avoided jet lag completely today.

I snapped awake like I was coming to at the hypnotist at the sound of the fox this morning, and while my legs burn and ache I really feel completely fine. 

Fingers crossed it holds up!

Not every Virgin is the same…

Virgin Atlantic is no VAustralia thats for sure. Everything about the Aussie carrier is just that bit better, from the entertainment system to the toothbrush. Glad I kept my VAustralia goodie bag now!

The only thing Virgin Atlantic trumps VAustralia with is their English accents, though this is ruined by their overuse of fake gay male hostess and the equal opportunity hire that is so stocky her hips touch both sides of the isle as she walks down. Clearly an upgrade in planes is required for everyones sake.

I have completely lost track of space and time. I really have no idea what the time and date is or even was. The US stop really threw me for a loop. I’ve tried to focus on UK time to convince my brain thats what we are on, but sadly my brains not having it. Worst comes to worse I will just have to get drunk and neck a sleeping tablet tonight.

Flying into yesterday

First things first, its always a little sad to be flying out of my sleepy little metropolis Brisbane. Being an inner city resident makes it especially poignant as we bank and I get one last look at what when inside feels like big city living, knowing after this trip its going to feel a whole lot smaller. 

So I say goodbye to the Story Bridge, my symbol of making it to the big city na d soar above for a gorgeous cloud framed red sunset enroute to London via LA via Sydney. 

It feels awful strange to be heading off knowing the next time Im on land its going to be the same day as when I first lifted off.

Checkpoint: TIME EXTENDED!

The first checkpoint is reached with little fuss, though I feel regret for not getting the second cheese and cracker thingy I wanted the second the hostie walked away. God bless Premium Economy and everything being free, though Im left feeling like I possibly didn’t take full advantage of it.

A couple of notes from customs: #1 Wireless internet dongles clearly look like bomb components on Xray. #2 Customs officers care not for how neatly you packed your backpack, they will tear it all out and just jam it back in.

A late pushoff from Brisbane played out perfectly making the Sydney stopever super quick. An empty seat beside me is a lovely treat, sparkling wine knecked and now my only decisions are the chicken or the beef (Hi Ash!) and weather I plan on getting wasted on Vodka or Baileys. Oh and its going to be the chicken… Herb chicken with mushroom cream sauce mash potatos, carrot and brocoli is epic win. NOM NOM NOM!

Was not disappointed by the food it was all brilliant, tiredness meant I didn’t get as drunk as I hoped but I guess that isn’t such a bad thing. The only bad thing on the Sydney LA leg was when the cat lady the other side of my empty seat decided to make me get up rather than walk down her own aisle, and then proceded to knock over the orange juice I’d just gone to get. Thanks cat lady! (Not sure if she actually has cats, but she sure looks like she does.)

TIME EXTENDED!

Coming in for landing and my first glimpse of American soil and my first impression was that Americans must love rulers and set squares. LA is so perfectly laid out in perfect squares that it was almost a little creepy, I miss my random urban sprawl of home already. The only thing I actually recognised as we came in was the old Forum, the former home of the LA Lakers, which of course was where the Lakers home floor when the Knicks rolled through them for our only championships in ‘70 and ‘72.

It only took 2 minutes of being in LA before I was heckled for my Knicks jacket, I probably should have seen that coming. Considering the size of LAX, it would appear that Virgin uses the ghetto terminals, they were pretty much empty, with crap shops and most importantly no showers!!! WTF! Air New Zealand offered to let me use their shower for just $55. Fricken Kiwi’s!

In another piece of unplanned genius there is an NBA game live on television timed perfectly with my flight. As soon as the game is over I board. Wolfgang Puck my have the most gaudy tiles and ridiculously fattening sandwiches, but NBA on TV is pretty win. Though as I write this  we seem to have been switched over to Ice Hockey which is less than optimal. Though with 13 minutes till I board and a growing desire for one of those wacky travel pillows its probably time to get moving anyhow.

Next stop London!