It has been a while since I last wrote a blog and I’ve started to receive requests for the next instalment of my travels. Actually that is a lie but people have asked me what I've been up to, so either they don't read my blog or they really want to know what happens next in my worldly adventures. I’ve been typing my stories since May but have to date been too lazy to actually get them online. UNTIL NOW!!
May 20008
On the 18th, Drew (1 of 9 occupants of the house which I was dossing) celebrated his birthday and we went to a bar called Mill Inn for a night of Karaoke!!! I was lucky enough to hear renditions, both good and AWESOME, of Billy Joel, Elvis Presley, Grease, Barry White, Queen and many more. I couldn't help myself and after a few drinks (not that the drinks wer
e needed to get me singing), I got up for my first performance of the Jackson 5 hit, I want you Back. It was a great way to practice my "oo-ka cha-oo's", "heee-hee's" and "shamone's", and burn up the dance floor. I really couldn't help myself and got up for my second song about an hour later and tried my hand at the classic by the Four Seasons, Oh What a Night. It was a great night for all and I tried not to butcher the songs but if I did, for all those who were there, you know who to blame it on. If you don't, just ask little Michael. The night was topped off by Drew singing "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes, which had everyone joining in for the ANZAC remix I shall coin, "Wassup!!"
On Sunday Andrew, my brother, and his work mate Ian arrived in London for the start of their 2 w
eek work-holiday trip. We met up in the city and I showed them some of the sights from Piccadilly Circus down to Westminster Abbey, trying my best to re-hash the information I received from my tour guide only a month earlier. We decided to go into Westminster Abbey, something I had not done, to see the many tombs and monuments which paid tribute to the famous English people of centuries gone by. A large number of the English monarchy are buried here including people which have shaped English history in some way; people such as Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Jane Austin, and Charles Darwin. We were all quite in awe with this magnificent structure, which in varying forms has stood since the 11th century.
On Wednesday morning I met David Orr (an old GE friend) at a Walkabout Inn and we watched the State of Origin at 10 am. That evening, Andrew, Ian and I went out to a pub in Islington to watch the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea which Man U won on penalty kicks. While we were there we caught up with a friend from back home, Alana, who has been staying in London for the past 6 months studying.
Andrew and Ian left for Cyprus on Thursday morning for four days and that weekend Jenna arrived in London on her 2 year Working-Holiday visa. Being the seasoned London tourist I took her round many of the city sights, many of which were the fore-mentioned with Ian and Andrew. On Sunday night Kurt, Jenna and I went to see a stage show called “Stomp” in Leicester Square. It was quite an entertaining show, featuring rhythmical beats on kitchen sinks, rubbish bins and matchstick boxes, which at times was extremely loud and somehow I managed to fall asleep at one point. I’ve had a history of falling asleep in front of the TV, while at the cinema, but never did I think I’d fall asleep during a musical whose main purpose is “stomping”.
On Wednesday the 28th I went on an “Old London” walking tour which ventured along the Thames, passed London Tower and Tower Bridge, London Bridge, the sight of Medieval London where the Great Fire started, down the narrow cobblestone pathways to the oldest pub in London, through the financial district with the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England, and passed Temple where the Knights Templar were based. Along the way we were told about the many stories of old London from the ridiculous laws of the time which still stand today, the demise of London Bridge 1, 2,3 and 4 and the many feeble attempts to rob the Bank of England. It is a great way to see this city and learn about its history for just a small tip.
That afternoon, Jenna
and I went to London Dungeon. London Dungeon is a walk through themed attraction which highlights the darker events in London’s history. It takes you through the Black Plague, the time of Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper, the Great Fire of London, and finishes with a simulated hanging for your crimes. The hanging is a “Giant Drop” type ride where you are taken up about 5 metres to the nooses and then dropped suddenly. As you are dropped, a photo is taken for you to buy. Well I lost contact with the seat as we fell, resulting in a photo capturing a moment of utter fear.
On Thursday, Andrew and I caught up with Georgia, a friend from school, and along with Jenna and Ian we went out to the Southbank region in London and had a few drinks at a bar called Tempasa, which is located in the famous Oxo building.
Friday was Andrew’s last night in London, and just to keep the trend going of meeting friends and consuming alcohol, myself, Andrew and Kurt met Alana out in Islington and had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant. The dinner was great but i thought I’d tell you something cooler!! Get excited people... Now when I arrived in London I was very impressed with the Tube system, but more impressing was the HUGE escalators which brought you back above ground. Well, we had to get off at Angel Station to meet Alana, and it is here that you will find the biggest escalator of them all...wait for it....27 METRES!!!
Andrew left on Saturday and it capped off an eventful two weeks which saw me spend a lot of money, but that’s what a holiday is all about and I got to do it with friends and family!
May 20008
On the 18th, Drew (1 of 9 occupants of the house which I was dossing) celebrated his birthday and we went to a bar called Mill Inn for a night of Karaoke!!! I was lucky enough to hear renditions, both good and AWESOME, of Billy Joel, Elvis Presley, Grease, Barry White, Queen and many more. I couldn't help myself and after a few drinks (not that the drinks wer
e needed to get me singing), I got up for my first performance of the Jackson 5 hit, I want you Back. It was a great way to practice my "oo-ka cha-oo's", "heee-hee's" and "shamone's", and burn up the dance floor. I really couldn't help myself and got up for my second song about an hour later and tried my hand at the classic by the Four Seasons, Oh What a Night. It was a great night for all and I tried not to butcher the songs but if I did, for all those who were there, you know who to blame it on. If you don't, just ask little Michael. The night was topped off by Drew singing "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes, which had everyone joining in for the ANZAC remix I shall coin, "Wassup!!"On Sunday Andrew, my brother, and his work mate Ian arrived in London for the start of their 2 w
eek work-holiday trip. We met up in the city and I showed them some of the sights from Piccadilly Circus down to Westminster Abbey, trying my best to re-hash the information I received from my tour guide only a month earlier. We decided to go into Westminster Abbey, something I had not done, to see the many tombs and monuments which paid tribute to the famous English people of centuries gone by. A large number of the English monarchy are buried here including people which have shaped English history in some way; people such as Winston Churchill, William Shakespeare, Jane Austin, and Charles Darwin. We were all quite in awe with this magnificent structure, which in varying forms has stood since the 11th century.On Wednesday morning I met David Orr (an old GE friend) at a Walkabout Inn and we watched the State of Origin at 10 am. That evening, Andrew, Ian and I went out to a pub in Islington to watch the Champions League final between Manchester United and Chelsea which Man U won on penalty kicks. While we were there we caught up with a friend from back home, Alana, who has been staying in London for the past 6 months studying.
Andrew and Ian left for Cyprus on Thursday morning for four days and that weekend Jenna arrived in London on her 2 year Working-Holiday visa. Being the seasoned London tourist I took her round many of the city sights, many of which were the fore-mentioned with Ian and Andrew. On Sunday night Kurt, Jenna and I went to see a stage show called “Stomp” in Leicester Square. It was quite an entertaining show, featuring rhythmical beats on kitchen sinks, rubbish bins and matchstick boxes, which at times was extremely loud and somehow I managed to fall asleep at one point. I’ve had a history of falling asleep in front of the TV, while at the cinema, but never did I think I’d fall asleep during a musical whose main purpose is “stomping”.
On Wednesday the 28th I went on an “Old London” walking tour which ventured along the Thames, passed London Tower and Tower Bridge, London Bridge, the sight of Medieval London where the Great Fire started, down the narrow cobblestone pathways to the oldest pub in London, through the financial district with the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England, and passed Temple where the Knights Templar were based. Along the way we were told about the many stories of old London from the ridiculous laws of the time which still stand today, the demise of London Bridge 1, 2,3 and 4 and the many feeble attempts to rob the Bank of England. It is a great way to see this city and learn about its history for just a small tip.
That afternoon, Jenna
and I went to London Dungeon. London Dungeon is a walk through themed attraction which highlights the darker events in London’s history. It takes you through the Black Plague, the time of Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper, the Great Fire of London, and finishes with a simulated hanging for your crimes. The hanging is a “Giant Drop” type ride where you are taken up about 5 metres to the nooses and then dropped suddenly. As you are dropped, a photo is taken for you to buy. Well I lost contact with the seat as we fell, resulting in a photo capturing a moment of utter fear.On Thursday, Andrew and I caught up with Georgia, a friend from school, and along with Jenna and Ian we went out to the Southbank region in London and had a few drinks at a bar called Tempasa, which is located in the famous Oxo building.
Friday was Andrew’s last night in London, and just to keep the trend going of meeting friends and consuming alcohol, myself, Andrew and Kurt met Alana out in Islington and had a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant. The dinner was great but i thought I’d tell you something cooler!! Get excited people... Now when I arrived in London I was very impressed with the Tube system, but more impressing was the HUGE escalators which brought you back above ground. Well, we had to get off at Angel Station to meet Alana, and it is here that you will find the biggest escalator of them all...wait for it....27 METRES!!!
Andrew left on Saturday and it capped off an eventful two weeks which saw me spend a lot of money, but that’s what a holiday is all about and I got to do it with friends and family!
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