sooo
Im in London, arrived monday night. Its big. Seriously big. And very crowded. I havent done much sightseeing...actually I've done none. Been too busy looking for work (which was a success btw). But in my traveling to and from and around relating to work/interviews/etc I've seen a little bit of London. The Quays are my favorite part and Im surprised to find myself wishing I had a little more time to go for a wander through them properly taking photos. But I'll no doubt be back eventually. Theres alot of nice architecture too, and not just the old fashioned buildings. Theres new and different buildings popping up, ones that challenge the traditional building materials and methods paradigms. For example theres a building thats shaped like an long flower bud that hasnt yet opened, all glass and metal. Would love to see a city full of those kind of buildings.
Big cities really arent my thing, its the crowds, and the perhaps unrational fear of the greater risk to saftey there is in wondering around a bigger and different city to my own. This I am ashamed to say is a big reason why I havent done much sight seeing, either here or in Belfast. That and I find myself oddly uninterested...weird really.
I havnt had a chance to check out the camden markets yet, and the more goth/punk ones are only on a sunday while most of the rest are in some form or another on throughout the week. So I wont be able to make it before I leave for Scotland for work.
Ah work...for the last week Ive been looking forward to just getting a job and getting some money in, cos it really is expensive here and in Ireland. My job is a pretty crap one, housekeeping and hospitality, but its in a little country town in Scotland and the surrounding area looks like there'll be great photo oppurtunities. Plus being a live in job I have no expenses, so it works out almost even, low pay plus no expenses. And anyway, its experience. And I love the scottish accent, even more than the Irish Ive decided.
Thats an interesting thing to note, during the 3 1/2 weeks I spent in Ireland I didnt really hear many thick accents. Even in the little towns. Why is it that we hear the thick Irish accent overseas, but not in their home country?
Highlight of Ireland was... MUSE! By and far it was the best gig Ive been too. I actually wanted to be up dancing with the standing crowd rather than in the seated area. That would be a first. But us seated ones got our chance at the end when they came on for a (what seemed to be staged) encore. We all stood and clapped and cheered and all that carry on, and because it was thousands of people the security guards couldnt tell us to sit down. Highlight of the gig would be when Matt sat down to play the piano for the first time and all the lights went out. On the screen behind the band small lights came on like stars. And with it being so dark, and everyone having their bluescreened camera phones, it looked as though the stars extened out into the crowd. Also towards the end a half dozen big balloon with confettie were thrown out into the crowd to bounce around. People were even squabling over the remains after they burst.
Seriously, if any of you get a chance, go see them when they tour in australia next year.
Hmmm....While in Ireland I did a 10 day all Ireland tour (never go with a paddywagon tour if you happen to go there and think of it, the hostels are really bad) and learned a little about the history of Ireland. The potato blight, the attempted take overs by britain etc. And the continuing animosity between the republic (the free staters) and northern Ireland(part of the UK). I actually felt reluctant to go out in Belfast because there are still murals up celebrating certain 'victories' which are more often than not bloody ones involving murder. Mind you there are some positive ones too, I'll post photos when I get a chance. Theres also a peace wall that we got to sign. Parts of Belfast and other towns including derry/londonderry have fully walled in areas to seperate the catholic from the prodestant, or the Irish from the British.
They also dont seem to like street signs in Ireland. If your lucky there'll be a street sign on a wall of a building. It can be easy to get lost.
Its funny, most of the weather while I was in Ireland was damp and cloudy. But here in Londond where I really expected the weather to be misserable, its actually very good. Just long pants and a jumper. It'll change of course, and I have to make sure I have proper winter clothes for Scotland.
One thing I dont hink I'll get used to, and its really a minor thing I guess. But the sky, on a clear day, is often criss crossed with the contrails of high altitude planes. Its bizzare. I only ever saw them a handful of times at home, now there everywhere and theyre really quite ugly.
Belfast and London are very dirty towns. Dublin was pretty good for a city of its size. Maybe its a UK thing :p
Staying in hostels isnt actually all that bad. There has been an Australian in every room Ive stayed in (not including myself of course) which is kinda funny. I thought I would have a break from sharing a room with 7 other people when i got into london and chose to stay at a 'guesthouse' where I just share the room with one other person. Not something I'll be doing again. I think I would prefer the crowded but interesting dorm rooms. And its a good way to find things out, however random they may be. Thankfully though, where Im working I'll have my own room and bathroom, and tv heh. Plus I now have a laptop with which to do image manip with the photos Ive taken. I only bought it today and am suffering pretty bad from buyers guilt/regret. But it'll be worth it. Im locked into a contract for work for 6 months, so being in a small country town, Im sure I'll get my monies worth.
I found out a day before I left Australia, that I'm eligible for a uk and/or Irish ancestry Visa. Something Im going to look at a little later down the line as Id like to come back (not necessarily to england) to study. Or even just work.
This has turned out a little longer than I had intended. But aint no one forcing you to read. Its a nice chance to just type stuff rather than cramping up my hand writing in my journal.
well... I hope your all doing ok If you want postcards, email me your address and I'll send some along when I get a chance :p
Big cities really arent my thing, its the crowds, and the perhaps unrational fear of the greater risk to saftey there is in wondering around a bigger and different city to my own. This I am ashamed to say is a big reason why I havent done much sight seeing, either here or in Belfast. That and I find myself oddly uninterested...weird really.
I havnt had a chance to check out the camden markets yet, and the more goth/punk ones are only on a sunday while most of the rest are in some form or another on throughout the week. So I wont be able to make it before I leave for Scotland for work.
Ah work...for the last week Ive been looking forward to just getting a job and getting some money in, cos it really is expensive here and in Ireland. My job is a pretty crap one, housekeeping and hospitality, but its in a little country town in Scotland and the surrounding area looks like there'll be great photo oppurtunities. Plus being a live in job I have no expenses, so it works out almost even, low pay plus no expenses. And anyway, its experience. And I love the scottish accent, even more than the Irish Ive decided.
Thats an interesting thing to note, during the 3 1/2 weeks I spent in Ireland I didnt really hear many thick accents. Even in the little towns. Why is it that we hear the thick Irish accent overseas, but not in their home country?
Highlight of Ireland was... MUSE! By and far it was the best gig Ive been too. I actually wanted to be up dancing with the standing crowd rather than in the seated area. That would be a first. But us seated ones got our chance at the end when they came on for a (what seemed to be staged) encore. We all stood and clapped and cheered and all that carry on, and because it was thousands of people the security guards couldnt tell us to sit down. Highlight of the gig would be when Matt sat down to play the piano for the first time and all the lights went out. On the screen behind the band small lights came on like stars. And with it being so dark, and everyone having their bluescreened camera phones, it looked as though the stars extened out into the crowd. Also towards the end a half dozen big balloon with confettie were thrown out into the crowd to bounce around. People were even squabling over the remains after they burst.
Seriously, if any of you get a chance, go see them when they tour in australia next year.
Hmmm....While in Ireland I did a 10 day all Ireland tour (never go with a paddywagon tour if you happen to go there and think of it, the hostels are really bad) and learned a little about the history of Ireland. The potato blight, the attempted take overs by britain etc. And the continuing animosity between the republic (the free staters) and northern Ireland(part of the UK). I actually felt reluctant to go out in Belfast because there are still murals up celebrating certain 'victories' which are more often than not bloody ones involving murder. Mind you there are some positive ones too, I'll post photos when I get a chance. Theres also a peace wall that we got to sign. Parts of Belfast and other towns including derry/londonderry have fully walled in areas to seperate the catholic from the prodestant, or the Irish from the British.
They also dont seem to like street signs in Ireland. If your lucky there'll be a street sign on a wall of a building. It can be easy to get lost.
Its funny, most of the weather while I was in Ireland was damp and cloudy. But here in Londond where I really expected the weather to be misserable, its actually very good. Just long pants and a jumper. It'll change of course, and I have to make sure I have proper winter clothes for Scotland.
One thing I dont hink I'll get used to, and its really a minor thing I guess. But the sky, on a clear day, is often criss crossed with the contrails of high altitude planes. Its bizzare. I only ever saw them a handful of times at home, now there everywhere and theyre really quite ugly.
Belfast and London are very dirty towns. Dublin was pretty good for a city of its size. Maybe its a UK thing :p
Staying in hostels isnt actually all that bad. There has been an Australian in every room Ive stayed in (not including myself of course) which is kinda funny. I thought I would have a break from sharing a room with 7 other people when i got into london and chose to stay at a 'guesthouse' where I just share the room with one other person. Not something I'll be doing again. I think I would prefer the crowded but interesting dorm rooms. And its a good way to find things out, however random they may be. Thankfully though, where Im working I'll have my own room and bathroom, and tv heh. Plus I now have a laptop with which to do image manip with the photos Ive taken. I only bought it today and am suffering pretty bad from buyers guilt/regret. But it'll be worth it. Im locked into a contract for work for 6 months, so being in a small country town, Im sure I'll get my monies worth.
I found out a day before I left Australia, that I'm eligible for a uk and/or Irish ancestry Visa. Something Im going to look at a little later down the line as Id like to come back (not necessarily to england) to study. Or even just work.
This has turned out a little longer than I had intended. But aint no one forcing you to read. Its a nice chance to just type stuff rather than cramping up my hand writing in my journal.
well... I hope your all doing ok If you want postcards, email me your address and I'll send some along when I get a chance :p