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jaydeemedia · 1 year ago

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[ad_1] Heythrop Park Hotel is the ultimate spa and golf getaway in the Cotswolds. History, grandeur, and cool country aesthetics combine to create the decadent adults-only escape you deserve. Ad | This guide was produced in partnership with Warner Hotels. Heythrop Park is a grand golf and spa hotel located on the edge of the Cotswolds. A sweeping driveway sets the scene for the Downton Abbey escape of your dreams. Once inside, a beautiful Italian Baroque-style manor house is surrounded by 440 acres of leafy countryside. Modern facilities and a relaxed country ambience create the perfect relaxed getaway. Lounge in grand sitting rooms inspired by the early 1900’s. Join rifle shooting, archery, or one of the many activities offered on the grounds. Indulge in a spa treatment with a glass of prosecco or have a round of golf in a beautiful setting. Here is all you need to know about staying at Heythrop Park, A Warner Hotel. COMMENTS // We do our best to keep the information in this guide up to date, if you notice anything has changed, please leave a comment below. BOOKINGS // Booking your trip via the links in this guide will earn us a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for your support – Paul & Mark. HEYTHROP PARK HOTEL, COTSWOLDS Warner’s Heythrop Park is a luxurious golf and spa hotel in Oxfordshire, on the edge of the Cotswolds. This ultimate country escape is set on 440 acres of rolling countryside containing ancient woods, lakes, rivers, golf course, and hiking trails. At its centre is the Grade II listed Manor House with an imposing sandstone façade supported by 12 columns. Inside, a grand staircase leads from the main reception to a mezzanine floor overlooking an opulent lobby. The period features and quirky modern touches provide a great spot to read a book, or attempt one of the daily quizzes. High tea can be taken in plush surroundings or you can simply stare out the windows at acres of green countryside. Modern additions like the theatre, late lounge, and multiple restaurant spaces mean you are never far away from fun and entertainment on a Heythrop country break. WHERE IS HEYTHROP PARK? Heythrop Park Hotel is located outside the village of Enstone near Chipping Norton (OX7 5UF). The estate is on the northern edge of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in central England. By Car — Heythrop Park is around 1 hour, 30 minute’s drive from London, between junction 9 and 10 of the M40. By Train — The nearest train station to Heythrop is Charlbury which is a 1-hour, 20-minute journey from London Paddington. From Charlbury Station, it’s a 15-minute taxi ride to Heythrop. HEYTHROP PARK HISTORY Charles Talbot, the 1st Duke of Shrewsbury, employed architect Thomas Archer to build Heythrop House. After falling in love with Italy, he requested an Italian Baroque-style residence. The glorious building was completed in 1710. In 1831 the house was severely damaged by fire. Thomas Brassey, a railway magnate, bought the house. Albert, his son, renovated the shell and expanded the estate. The Jesuits purchased the house in 1922, turning it into a college. In 1969, NatWest bought the house and park adding further buildings for staff training. From 1999 the estate was operated as a Crowne Plaza Hotel. In 2018, Warner Hotels took the property, undertaking a massive but sympathetic transformation. Without altering the footprint of the original building, they opened in 2022 and the Heythrop Park Hotel was born AN EXCITING COTSWOLDS GOLF HOTEL Twisting through the 440 acres of leafy, undulating landscaped grounds is a 72 par championship standard golf course with USGA standard greens. With 5 sets of tees which stretch out to an impressive 7,156 yards from the tips, Heythrop Park Golf course is a challenge. Test your mettle on the tight fairways and try to avoid the numerous water features. It’s a tricky course even for the pros. The carefully prepared

course and beautiful Cotswold scenery make for a memorable – if perhaps high scoring – round. Choose from a 1- or 2-night package including breakfast, dinner and golf. Visit warnerleisurehotels.co.uk for more information. A LUXURIOUS COTSWOLDS SPA HOTEL Golf is not the only treat. The Spa & Wellness Club offers a rejuvenating experience in their modern onsite facilities. Treat yourself to a face or body treatment. Heythrop Park Spa uses Temple Spa products, a luxury British skincare brand which is proudly cruelty free. Go for a power breakfast facial and be on your way in 25 minutes or luxuriate with a 115-minute prescriptive facial and massage, designed just for you. If you just want to unwind at your own pace, have a paddle in the 20-metre indoor heated pool or soak in the thermal steam room. We couldn’t resist a glass of prosecco in the hot tubs on the outdoor terrace, and found it hard to leave. ACTIVITIES AT HEYTHROP PARK We had great fun exploring all the activities that are on offer at Heythrop. For many of them, qualified instructors are on hand to get you up to pro level in no time. For others you just turn up and try your hand. Channel Robin Hood in an archery lesson on the grounds. (included) Hire an e-bike to explore the 440 acres at Heythrop. (extra) Get to know your liquor with a Gin Tasting experience. (extra) Try a traditional afternoon tea in a grand room. (extra) Have a shot at rifle shooting on the grounds. (included) Try laser clay or laser pistol shooting. (included) Book yourself into a Pilates class. (included) Have a round on snooker in the elegant Billiards Room. (included) Try your hand at bowls or croquet on the lawn. (included) Have a soak in the pool followed by the hot tub on the outdoor terrace. (included) ENTERTAINMENT AT HEYTHROP Over the three nights we stayed at Heythrop there was no shortage of entertainment. The hotel has two onsite theatres offering a variety of shows every night. The calendar includes artists from all over the country, like comedians, bands, acoustic sets, and DJ’s. The Theatre – Sit back and watch a live performance in The Theatre. It showcases everything from rock bands to pop acts, cinema experiences to musicals. The lush setting with bar tables will make you feel like you’re at the Kit Kat Klub from Cabaret. All performances are included in your package. The Late Lounge – With a bar next door and a dance floor in front of the stage, the Late Lounge is the place to check your inhibitions in at the door. Regular performances include several well-known tribute bands. During our visit we were treated to a star performance by Ami Vaziri. Outside the two main theatres, piano sets swoon while you enjoy a drink in the manor house reception or the Orangery. WHAT TO DO IN THE AREA? Heythrop Park is located on the edge of the Cotswolds, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with charming villages, excellent walking and a host of wonderful attractions. Read more in our guide to the best things to do in the Cotswolds. Here are a few of our favourite Cotswold attractions near Heythrop. Blenheim Palace — Blenheim was the birthplace of Winston Churchill. It’s a stunning palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site set on 200 acres of landscaped parklands. It’s just a 15-minute drive from Heythrop. Stow-on-the-Wold — Stow-on-the-Wold is a charming market village in the Cotswolds with a vibrant antiques scene. The town centres around a large market square surrounded by elegant Cotswolds townhouses. More details are in our best Cotswolds villages guide. Great Tew — Just a 10-minute drive from Heythrop, Great Tew is one of the most atmospheric villages in the country. The cottages with traditional thatched roofs make a great photo stop. Diddly Squat Farm Shop — Located just 10-minutes from Heythrop, it’s worth popping into Jeremy Clarkson’s farm shop, Diddly Squat. It’s open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm Wednesday to Sunday. Oxford — Oxford is around 40 minutes from Heythrop so it’s easy to visit on your way.

You could see most of the main sights with our 1-day Oxford itinerary. If you have time for an overnight stay, read our guide to the best things to do in Oxford for some more ideas. HEYTHROP PARK // DETAILS ROOM TYPES AT HEYTHROP PARK Heythrop Park has 337 rooms with choices to suit different budgets. Cosy – The cosy rooms are designed with solo travellers in mind. These pint-size spaces punch above their weight with all the modern conveniences for an indulgent stay. Standard – Standard rooms at Heythrop are the most economical option for 2 people. The rooms include double beds with stylings of earthy tones and vintage artwork. Deluxe – When you want some extra luxuries to level up your stay, the Deluxe Rooms are a great choice. They have super king-sized beds and armchairs. The style is elegant with wood paneling and heritage colours. Superior – The 13 feet ceilings, ornate fireplaces, roll-top baths and marble bathrooms evoke all the Baroque splendour of the estate. Super king-sized beds and sofas take advantage of the country aspects from the large windows. Search for your perfect room at Heythrop Park. YOUR HEYTHROP EXPERIENCE – WHAT’S INCLUDED? Heythrop Park is a spa hotel in the Cotswolds where you can be as active or idle as you wish. Enjoy the expansive grounds, take part in one of the many activities, or indulge in a therapeutic spa session. All bookings at Heythrop include breakfast and dinner. Kickstart the day with a hearty breakfast then finish up with a variety of options for dinner without the need to leave the property. Many of the activities on offer at Heythrop are also included in the price. Enjoy a live music act, take a yoga class, try your hand at archery or try a curious tea tasting experience, all for free. For more details, visit their website: warnerleisurehotels.co.uk WHERE TO EAT AT HEYTHROP Heythrop Park has a wide selection of food options with both traditional British dishes, and international favourites. Here’s what’s on offer: The Travelling Duke Pub & Kitchen – Named after Charles Talbot, the 1st Duke of Shrewsbury who built the first manor house. It’s a pub-style environment and serves British classics. The space is modern yet cosy with the option to eat outside when the sun is shining. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from 8 am. Market Kitchen – The Market Kitchen is the main restaurant at Heythrop with a bright open feel and plenty of choice. Three-course dinner is included in your package. Order your entree and dessert at the table. The main course involves choosing from the tasty buffet. It’s open from 8 am to 10:30 am for breakfast and 6 to 8:30 pm for dinner. Brasserie32 – If you get the urge to dine like you’re in Downton Abbey, Brasserie32 is the place. The à la carte menu features beautifully presented dishes inspired by ingredients from the 1900s. The food is perfectly matched with the excellent service and elegant setting. It’s open from 8 am for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Brassey Bar – Named after Thomas Brassey who purchased the fire-damaged property in 1831, the Brassey is a lovely bar where you can grab a drink throughout the day. The nearby Snug is a library-like space for a cosy tipple. THANKS FOR VISITING // WHERE NEXT? A BIG THANK YOU We’ve been providing free travel content on Anywhere We Roam since 2017. If you appreciate what we do, here are some ways you can support us. Thank you! Paul & Mark FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM USE OUR RESOURCES PAGE [ad_2] Source link

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aswimmy · 5 years ago

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London, England to Chipping Campden England :: July 30, 2019

After being wide awake for four hours in the middle of the night (thank you jet lag), I woke up at 7:30am and Thomas and I got ready, ate breakfast and made travel preparations for the day.

We checked out of our hotel at 9:15 to catch a bus to Paddington Station. At the train station, we took a train from London, through Oxford, and to Moreton-in-Marsh. It started to rain in London when we got off the bus at the train station and continued the whole train ride. When we got off the train at Moreton-in-Marsh, it was raining hard. Luckily there was a bus stop with a little cover so we could stay dry-ish.

Thirty minutes later, the bus arrived and we boarded it, asking to be let off at Aston Road in Chipping Campden. Moreton-in-Marsh and Chipping Campden are only about four miles away, but the bus ride took about 45 minutes. The route went past the turn for Chipping Campden, did a loop, and then back to Chipping Campden. It was an unexpected way to see more of the Cotswolds than I thought we would see.

The Cotswolds Hills are an area of England that grew wealthy during the medieval times from the Wool industry. The best Wool on the world came from sheep in this area. The hills are dotted with quaint villages that prospered during the “Wool” times and then met economic disaster during the rise of cotton and the industrial revolution.

Reminders that wool built this town. A wool-stapler is someone who buys the wool fleece from the producer and sorts grades and sells the fleece.

There are also numerous trails through the countryside, and this through farm land. We are planning do to at least one of these walls tomorrow.

Arriving in Chipping Campden, we walked a very short while and arrived at our bed & breakfast, The Bramley House. We have the “garden suite” which is a garage converted into a bedroom, living room and bathroom. It’s really peaceful and over looks a wheat field.

Our host, Jane, met us and got us all settled in. She greeted us with tea, coffee and two slices of delicious cake. It was about 1:30/2pm by this time and we hadn’t had lunch yet, so the cake was more than welcomed!

After having tea and settling in for a few minutes, I took myself out into the rain and headed the half mile into the main street of Chipping Campden. I knew that if I sat around, I would end up falling asleep and then would be awake like last night. Thomas stayed at our b&b to get some r&r. On my way into town, even with a rain jacket I got SOAKED, but I eventually dried out and was just too excited to let the rain stop me. I stopped in the pharmacy and bought an umbrella which helped.

The Main Street is lined with 2-3 story building, most of them residences and some with shops or restaurants on the first floor. All the residences had names like “Saxon House,” “Amberley House,” and so on. So cool to have an official name for your home!

I went to a cafe called Huxleys for a late lunch of salad. After lunch I walked around more, admiring the adorableness of the village and taking in the buildings and my surroundings. I saw the Market Hall, Grevel House and the Silk Mill.

The Market Hall was built in 1627 and was an elegant shopping hall for townsfolk to buy their vegetables. See the old stone floor below.

The Grevel House was built in 1367 by William Grevel, a Wool tycoon. It was the first house in the village to sport chimneys instead of just holes in the roof.

The Silk Mill was powered by a small river since 1790. In 1902 Charles Robert Ashbee brought artisans and their families from London. The plaque above says it all. It seems like there’s been a similar movement recently in response as well.

The British are so polite. Instead of “public toilets” it’s “public convenience.”

I stopped at a small grocery store on my way back to the b&b to buy some snacks for Thomas. When I got back to our b&b, I knitted and worked on the blog. Then we went to The Eight Bells for dinner. It was built in the 14th century to house the stonemasons who built the local Catholic Church. It house the eight bells put into the church, and this where it got its name. It was rebuilt in the 17th century and retains that style currently.

Look how short this door is! I’m on the picture of scale. I’m 5’4” and I just fit. Old buildings means people were small in the 14th century!

Dinner was delicious! Chicken pie for me and fish and chips for Thomas with sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Because Thomas was resting earlier today when I visited the town, I gave him the wick walking tour before we headed back to the b&b.

Hopefully I’ll get some better sleep tonight! And hopefully it stops raining g since we are planning on doing at least one of the walking paths tomorrow.

Good night!

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grandplazakensington · 2 years ago

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Top Attractions in Heathrow Airport and Near it

Everyone is aware of the tourist destinations in greater London—the world-famous landmarks that make the capital such an appealing destination for visitors from all over the world. But it's not just London that has a lot of fun things to do. There are numerous excellent landmarks and areas of interest on the edge of the city waiting to be discovered.

You can also read:

VISITORS GUIDE TO NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL 2022: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Heathrow Airport, located in the far countryside of the capital, is frequently used by international visitors. It is not entirely unusual for newcomers to spend the evening in the airport premises at pay later hotels before transferring to lodgings in central London or for individuals to stay in a Four-Star Hotel such as budget hotel Park City Grand Plaza Kensington in central London. Touring around the many best spots near the airport can be a good idea to start or end a journey to London in style.

Here is a list of tourist spots in western London near Heathrow Airport you can visit when you travel alone or with your loved ones.

1. Hounslow Urban Farm

Hounslow Urban Farm is a gem amid an urban landscape, providing a welcome break from life in the city for those who do not have access to agricultural animals or their habitat.

Kids can use the trampoline to burn energy before savoring a sweet treat and a beverage in the farm cafeteria and shopping in the souvenir shop.

The Piccadilly Line to Hatton Cross is the closest tube station, followed by a 10-minute walk. After passing the Green Man Pub on your left, turn right at the traffic lights, and the farm will be on your right.

2. Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle, one of the most ancient castles in London, if not the country, dates from the 11th century and has served as the mansion for royals such as Elizabeth II, Edward IV, and Henry VIII. The fields surrounding the fort are also breathtaking, and a day out in this Central London is worth a trip out of the city.

Windsor Central Station is the closest tube station to the castle. You can get off the train at Windsor Central Station and walk 3 minutes to the entrance of Windsor Castle.

3. Little India in Southall

Little India in Southall, a short tube ride from Ealing and Heathrow, offers a flavor of UK British-Asian culture. You can try some of the finest Indian food in the city while also learning about the special Asian culture of North West London. You should book your accommodation in central London as it’s near to all the famous museums and attractions in London. For that you can check-in at any budget hotels in Kensington High Street.

4. Legoland Windsor

Legoland Windsor is one of the most family-friendly amusement parks in the Greater London area, bringing a wide variety of attractions and adorable Lego creations to the frontline of an accessible fun park for people of all ages.

Windsor & Eton Central, which is only a half-hour train ride from Paddington, is the closest tube station to LEGOLAND. The Windsor & Riverside, also near the area, has a shuttle service from London Waterloo that takes less than an hour.

Conclusion

Heathrow Airport is one of the world's biggest, with five distinct terminals, each with its system of regulations and travel routes. Before you travel to Central London for tourist attractions or return home, make sure to visit the nearby tourist spots in Heathrow to make your trip worthwhile.

#heathrow #airport #london #londonattractions #attractions #vacation #tour and travel #tripadvisor

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swissmissficrecs · 7 years ago

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Novella-length casefics, Part 2

Part 2 of my rec list for novella-length (ca. 15-50K) casefics. Split due to length.

Part 1 [click]

Part 2 below

The Adventure of Kitty Riley by Ariana (12K, Teen, Johnlock, Sherlock/OFC) Kitty Riley has started using her position as a tabloid journalist to blackmail people. After his return, Sherlock decides to do something about it, embarking on an adventure which amongst other things, involves Sherlock on a date with a girl, and creeping around in the dark with John, holding hands.

The Adventure of the Six Painted Virginsby Saathi1013 (14K, Explicit, Johnlock) Sherlock dons an unusual disguise for a case. John is…conflicted.

The Camford Dares by writerfan2013 (17K, Teen, Johnlock) Sherlock is being mysterious and secretive and John is being particularly stubborn and their annoying case in a well-known university town is not helping anything.

The Case of the Meddling Siblings by destinationtoast (37K, Mature, Johnlock) Mycroft and Harry Watson team up to send John and Sherlock on a case to distract a Sherlock who’s been pining after John. And Harry, at least, is determined to get the boys together.

The Cornish Cottage by flawedamythyst (32K, Teen, Johnlock) In the wake of John's divorce, Sherlock tries to cheer him up with a trip to Cornwall. Adaptation of ACD's The Adventure of the Devil's Foot.

The Halloween Party by XistentialAngst (19K, Mature, Johnlock) Sherlock and John attend a Halloween party on the trail of a vampire killer -- a man who's been seducing his victims and taking all their blood. Sexy costumes, bad puns, hideous danger, frantic sex in hidden places and some Halloween-flavored fluff are all on hand to "treat" you. Boo.

The Killer with the Yellow Wall-Paper by kittlery (27K, Teen, Gen) Sherlock navigates a case - and John - with his usual tact and social grace.

The Last Case of Dr. John Watson by Susan (14K, Explicit, Johnlock) If he really had less than twenty-four hours to live, was it too much to ask that it be sunny? Being poisoned and soaked to the skin on the same day seemed to John a bit of cosmic overkill. Sherlock's only hope of saving John is finding the antidote before it's too late. But where does he start?

The Master of Latham Hall by Kryptaria (47K, Teen, Johnlock) Ten years after meeting Sherlock Holmes, John Watson has successfully kept only one secret from the world's only consulting detective: the most important secret he's ever had.Now, drawn into an impossible web of murders at Latham Hall, John learns the terrible price a man must pay for keeping certain things secret.

The Napoleon by darcylindbergh (25K, Explicit, Johnlock) Halloween, 1989: John and Sherlock both have big plans for the night, but serial killers have the worst possible timing.

The Night Riviera from Paddington to Penzance and Back Again by Iwantthatcoat (13K, Mature, Johnlock) Mrs Hudson has decided her boys need a little vacation together (after the events of S4) away from London and has booked them an inordinantly (per Sherlock) long train ride from Paddinton Station to Penzance.

The Norwood Love Builders by flawedamythyst (47K, Teen, Johnlock) Sherlock and John go undercover to solve the murder of Joanna Oldacre, but things are complicated by the many feelings John has been repressing in the wake of Sherlock's faked death and return.

The Other Man by ampersand_ch (27K, Explicit, Johnlock and John/OMC) Sherlock's been acting strange. John suspects he's after something in particular, but it's not what John wants. Or is it? An adventure full of traps, tricks, and misunderstandings leads the two of them on a rocky and painful road to each other.

The Sacred Bond by ampersand_ch (42K, Explicit, Johnlock) A series of mysterious deaths among priests puts John and Sherlock onto the trail of an ancient, secret brotherhood. Little do they suspect how deeply their own situation is tangled up with the case.

The Semantics of Crop Circle Formation: a case study by Sherlock Holmes [unpublished] by canolacrush (41K, Mature, Johnlock) "Look at these photographs," I said, gesturing to the wall of crop circles. "What do you observe?""Crop circles," John replied."Obvious. What else?""Are...are those intestines surrounding them?""Yes. The majority are bovine and ovine in origin. The farmers who have acquired these crop circles in their fields have also had a tenth of their livestock murdered and arranged thus.""Why?" John said, presumably in a rhetorical fashion.I detest rhetorical questions. "That is what I must find out, John."

The Straw Man Fallacy by Vulgarweed (40K, Explicit, Johnlock) “Mr Holmes, I'm not in the habit of approaching . . . consultants. But you are correct. I have great faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And until recently, I also had faith in the rule of law. Only the second one has wavered. Three years ago my fiancé, Sgt. Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, went to investigate an anonymous report of a missing child in a remote place called Summerisle. He never communicated with me while he was there, and he never returned.”Summerisle is not a welcoming place to visitors, but it shows its best face at May Day. For ulterior motives.

Torn Stitches by AggressiveWhenStartled (35K, Explicit, Johnlock) The trick to being with Sherlock Holmes, John mused, was to always keep in mind that he wouldn’t actually murder you and wear your skin as a suit. “I can see the appeal,” Sherlock was murmuring to him over the peeled body, much to the horror of any yarders in earshot. “I often find it surprisingly difficult to get inside your head. It might be cathartic to do in a more literal sense.”John snorted. “With your curls? Our killer didn’t even clean this poor bugger out properly, just pulled him on gore and all. You’d be picking bits of me out of your hair for weeks afterwards.”

Traitor’s Gate by roane (17K, Explicit, Johnlock) John and Sherlock go undercover at a top secret government lab to find out who is selling research. John is back in uniform and Sherlock is back in a laboratory, but they have to pose as strangers. Sherlock thinks he'll have an easy time of it, but John has his doubts. It's up to them to find out who is responsible for putting a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands, and try to keep their hands off each other at the same time.

26 Pieces by Lanning (28K, Explicit, Johnlock) Mycroft gives Sherlock the apparently simple task of solving a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip. It isn't simple.

Under the Downs by Evenlodes_Friend (16K, Explicit, Johnlock) Five years after they first meet, a case in rural Sussex changes John and Sherlock's life forever.

Undercover by standbygo (15K, Explicit, Johnlock) John goes undercover to unravel a crime network.

Underground Rescue by khorazir (48K, Mature, Johnlock) All kinds of danger lurk in the disused stations of the London Underground. When Sherlock goes missing, John has to play detective to find him, while Sherlock faces demons both present and past.

What You’re Missing by kedgeree (16K, Mature, Johnlock) Sherlock always has it all figured out, but his wilful refusal to factor the influence of love into his calculations on a case makes John want to show him what he's missing.

Without a Clue by naughtyspirit (34K, Explicit, Johnlock and Mollstrade) Sherlock accepts an invitation to attend a murder mystery weekend at a hotel with John, Mycroft, Greg Lestrade, Mrs Hudson and Molly in close attendance. The theme is Cluedo and John's already worried about his costume.John's happy enough to go, but given that he's struggling through a definite desire for his flatmate, perhaps taking the room next to him wasn't wise.But pretty, definitely pretty.

Writing on the Wall by ScopesMonkey (45K, Mature, Johnlock and Mollstrade) Having returned from Wales with John injured and a betrayal looming in the background, Sherlock is refusing cases, until both John and a baffling double murder get the better of him.

#rec list #casefic

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markwatkinsconsumerguide · 4 years ago

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Consumer Guide / No.105 / Platinum selling composer, Stephen Hillier , talking Dubstar and more with Mark Watkins.

MW : How old were you when you first dabbled at song writing, and what did you “compose"?

SH : There was a piano in my parents’ house in Welling, South London. I took some lessons, loved playing but wasn’t interested in reading music. So I would make up little tunes so I had something to play. I was ten. Despite having taught songwriting at Universities since 2004 I still don’t like reading music. I get by, just don’t ask me to direct a light opera.

MW : When did you decide you could make song writing / playing keyboards a career?

SH : That was an accident. I started writing songs as opposed to “tunes” around the age of twelve. I heard David Sylvian say that he’d simply ‘given it a go one day’ and discovered he could do it. I thought that sounded cool, I’ll try it. I found it easy, so I just started writing and wrote loads. I haven’t stopped since. I didn’t think much about songwriting until many years later. I assumed everyone wrote songs, because everyone I knew did!

When I met Chris (Wilkie) in Newcastle at the end of 1991, I was looking for a bass player to accompany me singing my songs. And I intended to use my songs simply so the new act would have something to play. That approach went on for a while, but… it turned out that Chris was a much better guitarist than me so I stopped playing, and when I found Sarah in 1993 I realised she was a much better singer than me. So I stopped singing. That left writing, so I focussed on that. And have done so ever since.

MW : How were Dubstar formed, and why did you leave the group in 2013?

SH : I met Chris in Walker’s nightclub in Newcastle towards the end of 1991. That was where I wrote ‘Anywhere’, and it’s closure in early 1992 inspired ‘Stars’. I was looking for a bass player to form a band with, he played guitar so that wasn’t going to work. But we got on well, and loved the same music (Cocteau Twins, The Smiths, Durutti Column).

When we started out it was the two of us on guitar. Different guitars though. Otherwise that could have been awkward. I discovered Sarah in the summer of 1993 when her boyfriend, who was someone I knew on the Newcastle music scene, accidentally left a tape he had made of his “girlfriend” at my flat in Jesmond. That was Sarah singing his songs. I was stunned by how beautiful her voice was. She had an effortless purity that really moved me. I’m not sure her boyfriend was keen on us meeting, but I persisted. We got on well.

After that I got sidetracked by something else and forgot about Sarah until she rang me up reminding me that I said we should do something. I was a bit embarrassed to have been so flaky, so we got to work immediately. And that was that, Dubstar was born, although we were called The Joans at the time. I finished working with Chris and Sarah in January 2014. I’d written and recorded two as yet unreleased albums

https://www.dubstar.com/unitedstatesofbeing

https://www.dubstar.com/unitedstatesofbeing2

and felt that by that point the act had run its course. As I wasn’t interested in playing the nostalgia circuits, I decided to move on. The 25th anniversary of the release of Disgraceful is a good time to revisit some of the memories though, which I've done largely by accident. I discuss it here:

https://www.stevehillier.net/dubstar-25/2020/10/9/dubstar-lost-and-foundland

MW : Pick one track each from Disgraceful, Goodbye and Make It Better and share some memories of the making of...

SH : My strongest memory of making the Disgraceful album was hearing the mix of ‘Anywhere’ come back through the speakers at RAK Studios with Stephen Hague. It sounded INCREDIBLE, like a hit. I loved it. That was the first time I’d heard one of my songs properly recorded and produced. You can’t go back to working on a four track after that

In terms of Goodbye, I remember the process of rediscovering ‘No More Talk’. It was a song I’d written at school, and although we already had more than enough songs for the second album, I felt I should include it, at least propose it. It was a freezing cold January in Newcastle in our studio at the Arts Centre, with me all alone, hunched over this tiny hard disk recorder putting together an arrangement for a song I’d written ten years earlier. That’s show biz!

Make It Better was made in a very different way from the other two Dubstar albums, largely because we were living in different cities by that point. Me in Brighton, Sarah in Manchester and Chris in Gateshead. But there are so many stories about the making of that album.

My favourite was that when I was in the middle of doing the first load of demos, I got a call from the record company. Apparently The Corrs were interested in doing a cover of ‘Stars’ and do I fancy meeting them at their Brighton show next week? I thought…yes. So I met the act, who were lovely as you would imagine. We had dinner together and when I dropped into the Brighton Centre to catch their sound check they stopped playing their song and broke into ‘Stars’, it was quite something. My song never sounded better than in that moment. The Corrs didn’t cover ‘Stars’ in the end.

There’s more to this story, a LOT more… you can read the stories behind the writing of every Dubstar song at

https://www.dubstar.com/

MW : What projects are you currently involved with?

SH : Coming up, there will be a second DUBSTAR: Lost and Foundland collection released in December 2020. I’m finishing that off now. I also have a collection of Christmas piano pieces out 4th December, 2020. Then there is the second Dubstar Preludes collection in January, 2021. Currently, Dunstar Preludes, Vol.1 is available now : .

https://open.spotify.com/album/7B7yeG9FRjBNssvUGUSrhd?si=3SpaeFADSyOnMXnTCiUJwg

And then I’m launching an entirely new act in late January 2021. More details to follow, but what I can say is that it’s a return to songs with proper singing on them, rather than the instrumental piano pieces I’ve been releasing during this past year. I’m very excited about this, and was intending to launch it this year except for the pandemic. It’s the first time I’ve started a new act since Dubstar! I’m working with an artist from 4AD records on their new album too, which is VERY exciting. You will be able to find details of all of these project here :

https://www.stevehillier.net/

MW : You live in Brighton, what do you enjoy seeing and doing in the City?

SH : I moved here in 1997, it was a choice of London for my career or Brighton for my state of mind. I chose the latter and have never regretted it, not for a moment. I don’t think I could live anywhere else in the UK, certainly not in England.

When we had nightlife (!), Brighton was the best city of anywhere I’ve lived. I love the architecture. Brighton has extraordinary contrasts, Georgian Crescents next to newly built student accommodation, Victorian Squares opposite modern structures such as the i360.

You can spot the history in this city from the buildings. The corruption of the 1960s and 70s developments, the Pavilion of course. The new development on the Level. Even the road I live on has mad history… the developers ran out of money as they built the road, so the houses get smaller as you go up the street. That was in 1895.

MW : Tell me about your experiences on the last bus ride, taxi ride and train journey you had?

SH : The last bus ride I had was from our office in the centre of Brighton back home. Tried to scan the bus’s computer network using the USB socket they provide on every seat. I discovered… nothing.

The last taxi ride was one weekend in November (2020). The Uber drivers ‘round here have a habit of taking your job, getting to pick you up but taking someone else off the street… then stating to Uber that they declined your fare because you didn’t have a face covering. We flagged a regular cab and spent the ten minute ride home exchanging anecdotes about how bad Uber is. For the record, I really like Uber.

My last train journey was returning from Bath to Brighton after a gig last February (2020). It was mad, there was a storm. The train was packed, every service into Paddington was cancelled, so we had to get off at Didcot Parkway… four hundred people on a platform in the rain and wind wondering what the hell they were going to do. I realised we were going to be stuck here on the platform for hours so got back on the original train and returned to Bath. I was thinking I’d stay in a hotel for the night, but I was on a promise of Thai meal that night so decided to hire a car and drive instead. I made it to the Red Snapper in Brighton in time. Apparently the rest of the passengers were stuck at Didcot Parkway for three hours in the rain. Some are still there now.

MW : Coronavirus - do you feel the government should give financial assistance as well as moral support to the music industry?

SH : This is not a simple question to answer. I do think the music industry in the country should be supported through the pandemic because it’s a source of employment for thousands, and a valuable export for the UK. I think the industry should be supported better in general, but not in the way it’s being done now. I think this country should take a leaf out of the approach that the Scandinavians have, on just about everything frankly, including taxes and fiscal policy! Free higher education including in the Arts, and proper ongoing support for arts venues. I’m talking grants, in order that their crucial role in forming communities is recognised and bolstered. And yes, that means spending money on music and arts projects that aren’t otherwise financially viable.

MW : How have you fared personally during Lockdown? What have you learned about your own character? Other people/s?

SH : Lockdown has been… interesting. The biggest change for me was not travelling (I’ve spent the last twenty years living between Spain and Brighton). So I had a lot more time on my hands. That was initially daunting, a bit scary, then incredibly liberating. It led to a fabulous creative period for me. I wrote ‘Inside Outlines’ over a matter of three days. I‘d seen people doing gigs in their kitchen and thought I’d give that a go… and quickly realised it wasn’t going to be interesting enough for even me to watch. So I wrote, and wrote and wrote. And started releasing music under my own name for the first time. Also, I started working on the piano versions of my old Dubstar songs during the last days of the lockdown. Someone had contacted me on Twitter to remind me that Stars had been released twenty five years ago on that day. I’d entirely forgotten about the anniversary, so quickly put together a piano version and wrote the story behind the song so I could mark the event in some way. My wife told me that was a great idea, why not do another twenty five, one for each year. She meant, “story behind the song”, I thought she meant to record another twenty five piano pieces so went off to my studio and stayed there for a month. That was how DUBSTAR: Lost and Foundland began. I’m currently working on volume three.

https://open.spotify.com/album/18DQiZMPfIvb7HqRtukpA9?si=mgSnZK3URe--KcSSxFTP4Q

What I have learned about myself is I have benefitted greatly by staying in one place for more than a couple of weeks. I haven’t done that since 1995.

MW : What are you looking forward to doing this Christmas, regardless of Lockdown?

SH : We would normally spend the latter part of December in Copenhagen, which is the cosiest city I know. I lost a Danish friend to breast cancer in 2018 and it hit me hard, very hard. I make going back to Christianhavn and Christiania a kind of pilgrimage to her memory. That doesn’t look like it’s going to be possible this year. So instead, I’m going to get a big Xmas tree and put it up in November. I normally have the tree up until Easter, which isn’t mad at all if you think about it, so this year it goes up early and stays up until the pandemic is over.

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bigtinyworldtravel · 5 years ago

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We spent five days in London and could see quite a few things in that time. However, there were plenty of things we didn’t get to do while we were there. Some were because they were too expensive while a few others we didn’t even know about. It is such a large city, so it is impossible to do it all. London is a perfect blend of old architecture and vibrant culture. With a few days, you can get a good feel for the city and see many of its highlights.

We took a bus to London from Belgium and went through the channel tunnel which was an exciting adventure. The bus was loaded on a train and then we rode through the tunnel under the water. That was awesome! Once we arrived in London, the bustling city greeted us with double-decker buses and rain. The rain didn’t stop us from getting out to see as much as we could, but we still couldn’t do everything because the city has so much to offer. Here are 6 things we didn’t get to do while in London and what we did instead.

Tower Bridge

The iconic Tower Bridge is well known around the world. With my love for bridges, I had to see it and cross over it. The bridge was fairly crowded as 40,000 people cross it daily. We walked over the lower deck and made a loop back over the Millennium Bridge, which was wonderful. We found out later that the upper deck of Tower Bridge is accessible with a ticket. The upper deck is an exhibition that features a glass floor where you can look down at the tiny cars below. Eek! Maybe next time we can splurge and go to the top. Before our walk, we found that the best views of the bridge are near the Tower of London on the west side of the bridge.

Tower Exhibition Ticket Cost: £27.50 ($36 USD) per adult (see website for current prices)

London Eye

On the south bank of the River Thames is the London Eye. I named it this because you are able to see 25 miles in all directions with a full view of the city. As we are budget travelers, this was another that was too expensive for us to do. We ate some frozen yogurt on top of a converted double-decker bus instead, which was much more affordable. On our next trip, we will find a way to get a discount so we can enjoy the expansive views of the city. It was worth looking at it from the opposite side of the river just to see how large it really is. Perhaps next time.

London Eye Ticket Cost: £40 ($52 USD) per adult (see website for current prices)

Big Ben

On our trip, this was a bust as Big Ben was scaffolded. Apparently, this is a large renovation project that started in 2017, but is expected to be completed by 2021. The clock tower is the main feature, and it contains a bell that weighs 13.5 tons. You can climb to the top by walking up the 334 steps but only if you are a UK citizen. Citizens can contact their MP in writing to make arrangements to climb the tower for free. Since we are overseas visitors, there is no chance we can get in, unfortunately. We have seen similar bells in many European cathedrals so it isn’t a big deal. We care more about the outside and next time we are in London we will want to see this beautifully lit up at night.

Globe Theatre

The original Globe Theatre is where William Shakespeare performed his plays and it was famous for its special effects by having several trap doors. The current version is a replica that was built in 1997 as the previous versions were burned or shut down. We stopped by the Globe Theatre but did not go inside as Brianna had already been there years ago. We wanted to see a performance there, but we went to Greenwich instead.

Globe Theatre Tour Cost: £17 ($22 USD) per adult (see website for current prices)

Royal Greenwich Observatory

The zero-degree longitude is called the Prime Meridian, and it is the divider of the two hemispheres. It is an imaginary line that a group of astronomers agreed upon in the late 1800s. It could have been placed anywhere. We went there, but we did not go into the Royal Greenwich Observatory as we didn’t want to pay for it and it was closed when we arrived. Instead, we had fun trying to get our phone compass to read 0 longitudes without success. Maybe next time.

Royal Observatory Greenwich £16 ($21 USD) per adult (see website for current prices)

The Shard

The Shard is a 95-story building that has 11,000 panels of glass which cover 56,000 square meters. It is a pointy building with an observatory and stands at 1,016 feet high (310 meters), making it the tallest building in the UK. It has an entry fee with several packages that you can book online. We opted to not go there but pleasantly found two other places that didn’t cost money to enjoy the view. One was the Garden at 120 which is free to enter and has a lovely garden on top. The other was the Sky Garden which you need to book in advance but it is also free to enter. We do not regret these choices but if we can visit the Shard at a reasonable price, we will next time.

The Shard Tickets: £25-39 depending on the package ($32-50 USD) per adult (see website for current prices)

Free Things We Did Instead

Changing of the Guard

The changing of the guard is one of those quintessentially British ceremonies to watch. We knew it would be very crowded with spectators, so we sought ways to see them without the people. We opted to watch them set up instead of the full ceremony. This was good enough for us and a way to get our fill of fuzzy hats and even enjoy a few songs as they practiced.

Shoreditch

If you want to see some of the best street art in the city, then Shoreditch is the place to be. We enjoyed walking the streets and seeing the colorful artwork. It was well worth spending a morning just wandering around enjoying the murals. There are also many trendy restaurants and coffee shops in the area.

Leadenhall Market

Known for its many shops, restaurants, and even a filming location in Harry Potter, Leadenhall Market was fun to visit. It is a beautiful indoor market that was built in the 14th century. If you catch yourself on a rainy day in London, this makes for a great stop. We ate at a wonderful fish ‘n’ chips restaurant as it is one of my favorite dishes. The rest of the time there we were photographing the place and looking for the entrance to Diagon Alley.

Platform 9 and 3/4

Speaking of Harry Potter, there is a touristy Platform 9 3/4 at the Kings Cross station. There, you can wait in line to have your picture taken with a luggage cart that appears to be halfway through the wall. The photos will cost you, but they do allow you to take a picture with your own camera. You are handed a scarf for your choice of house and then they fling the scarf up in the air to provide the illusion that you are going through. It was a fun place for a quick photo and to geek out on Harry Potter.

St. Dunstan in the East

This was an off-the-beaten-trail thing to do where we met one of our native London followers who had never heard of this place. St. Dunstan in the East was formerly a church that was demolished in WWII. The remaining ruins are now a free park and garden. The garden is definitely more off the tourist path and a great place to relax, take photos, or meet friends.

Day Trips

Windsor Castle, Leeds Castle, and White Cliffs of Dover

If you have extra time in London, there are many day-trips you can do. Some that we missed include Windsor Castle, Leeds Castle, and the White Cliffs of Dover. These three will be priorities for our next visit.

With a simple one-hour train ride, Windsor castle is the easiest to get to from Paddington Station. Brianna had been there before so it wasn’t a high priority.

Next time we will go to Leeds Castle and the White Cliffs of Dover in one day. This trip would be best by car as it is about an hour and a half drive to Leeds Castle and then another 30 minutes to get to the Cliffs of Dover. It is possible to do this with trains and buses, but at that point, you might as well stay closer to them.

Stonehenge and Bath

While we missed a few possible day-trips, we did manage to go to Stonehenge and Bath, which can be visited from London as well. These were both fantastic places to go to.

Stonehenge is best by car with a two-hour drive, but taking a train is just slightly longer at two and a half-hours.

Bath is best by train as it takes only an hour twenty minutes from Paddington Station.

Final Thoughts

Even though we were there for 5 days, we could not possibly see it all in that time. We are not disappointed in what we did not do, and this allows us to go visit a second time. We seem to run into this all the time as you can’t possibly see everything.

What places did you miss in your last trip that are worthy of a revisit?

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We spent five days in #London and did our best to see all of the #highlights. There were many things we didn't get to with the limited time that are worth a #revisit. Check it out! #bigtinyworld #longtermtravel #travelcouple We spent five days in London and could see quite a few things in that time. However, there were plenty of things we didn't get to do while we were there.

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livinglondon · 7 years ago

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My Final Days In London

It has officially been a month since I waved goodbye to London in a plane over Heathrow Airport and I’ve missed it every single day. During this month London was the target of another terror attack killing eight people, at least 58 people lost their lives in an high-rise apartment fire last week and another incident is currently unfolding on Seven Sisters Road. These events struck me harder than I could have ever imagined. Even though London was only my home for four months, I took these losses personally because a place I associated with comfort and joy was attacked and repeatedly beaten down. However, I think I would have felt similarly if Philadelphia or Syracuse were struck with similar tragedies, because no matter where home is when something disrupts the positivity you associate with that place it simply sucks. It hurt to leave London and it hurts even more to not be there now, but I am beyond grateful that I had the opportunity in the first place to fall so deeply in love with this city.

My final blog post about my study abroad experience is going to be all about what I did during my final week in London - the week my family visited and I got to show them everything I loved about it. The places I’ve discovered on my countless adventures cannot be captured or explained by any amount of photos or words, but I hope you enjoy.

Day 9

The first stop when my family got here - my flat. I remember my third day in London, pulling up in a taxi to this flat and instantly falling in love. The street of white row homes was quintessentially London. For the last time, I closed the gate to the old rickety elevator and said goodbye to my tiny flat.

Once we were settled into the hotel I brought my parents and my brother to two of my favorite places in London - Camden Market and Primrose Hill. The easiest way to get there was via big red bus and my family found it extremely funny that they were actually riding on the top of a red double decker. Once in Camden, my brother and dad got lunch from the Mac Factory (the best mac&cheese EVER) while my mom and I got my favorite dish of Columbian food from a stall that I never remember the name - oops. After indulging in some more food we relaxed and enjoyed a fantastic view of the city from Primrose Hill.

That evening we did the most touristy thing ever and took a nightside open bus tour of the city. Although touristy, I loved every second of it. We got to see every major landmark of the city from Big Ben to the Victoria & Albert Museum, drove over Tower Bridge, saw Harrods all lit up and more. Every street and place we went I was able to connect to a memory from earlier in the semester. From the top of that bus I fell in love with the city all over again and realized it was possible to miss a place that you hadn’t even left yet.

Day 8 & 7

The next two days were pleasantly filled with firsts for me. We visited the Maritime Museum, Cutty Sark, the Royal Observatory and Greenwich Park in the South of London where I learned about an aspect of the city’s history that I knew little about. We saw the changing of the guard at Buckingham palace, toured Westminster Abbey and spent hours in the Churchill war rooms. Of course, one evening we went up in the London eye where I got to take in the spectacular view of the city one last time. All day, I hopped on and off the tube with joy and an extra pep in my step. As I reflect on my time here, I realized just how blissfully happy I’ve been these past for months.

Day 6

The following day was an exciting one for me because I was FINALLY going to the Harry Potter studios - every wizard fan’s dream. While there we got to tour several sets from the movies, examine the fine details of the thousands of props used, and admire the breathtaking model of Hogwarts. After leaving one room I truly didn’t think anything else on the tour would compare to what I just saw, but I was continually impressed and enjoyed every second of it. Every wand, costume and set I saw was picture worthy. I must have taken at least 200 photos.

That evening ended with more fun and laughs at the Prince of Whales Theatre where we saw The Book of Mormon. I also took my family to my favorite pub for dinner, O’Neills. They found it hilarious that an Irish pub was located in Chinatown.

Day 5

This day we slept in and spent the afternoon wandering around my favorite spots in London. I first took my family to my school and my favorite coffee shop across the street, Second Cup, where I had my last coffee EVER from there. It actually pained me to say goodbye to the baristas who had memorized my order and had become a regular part of my day. From there we visited the Sir John Soane museum, Denmark Street, and the National Gallery. The weather was so nice that we ended up sitting on the ledge of the fountains and watching all of the street artists. This was another one of those ‘pinch-me’ moments because I didn’t know it was possible to be so genuinely happy and at peace with my life. This feeling lasted well into the evening when we ate at the Italian place around the corner of my flat, Bizzaros, grabbed ice cream from the corner store and watched the sun set while walking through Hyde Park. I realized that this was the last time I would get to go on a casual evening walk through the park and was overwhelmed with emotion. We weren’t doing anything tourists do, we were simply walking around and enjoying the mundane. I imagined spending my summer doing just this and felt a pang of sadness. I felt so comfortable and at home in this city and knew I would never be ready to say goodbye.

Day 4

Today we did two things that I had been longing to do during my entire time in London. First, we had breakfast on the 38th floor at the Duck & Waffle where I watched the sun rise and fog lift over London while eating peanut butter for the first time in four months! The meal was rich and sweet but a perfect way to start the day. From there we moved onto the Tower of London where we spent hours learning about the early history of London and admiring the Crown Jewels. Afterwards, we visited Saint Paul’s Cathedral, one of my favorite places in London simply because of its captivating beauty. Following the busy afternoon, we took a relaxing stroll along the Thames and I noticed buildings, people and my surroundings more than ever. We sat down at a pub in front of Tate Modern and admired the view over a pint. I was like a sponge trying to soak up every detail of London I possibly could. The relaxing evening allowed me to take in my surroundings and really appreciate everything.

Day 3

With a train station nearby it would have been a sin for my family to spend all of their time in England just in the center of London so we took a day to visit Edinburgh, Scotland. I fell in love with this historic and homey city. We spent the day walking up hills, drinking scotch and exploring the old castle on the hill. The Harry Potter nerd inside of me was further satisfied when we had lunch at The Elephant House, where J.K. Rowling wrote her first few novels. The bathroom was a massive appreciation letter to Rowling with messages and quotes from the book written all over the walls. It was a busy and long day but I was so glad that I was able to fit in one more adventure before heading back to the States. It was bittersweet pulling into Victoria station after a trip for the last time because it was the last time that “going home” meant going to London.

Day 2

My last full day in London was absolute bliss from beginning to end. I’m not exaggerating when I say the weather was absolute perfection. Sunglasses were out and jackets were taken off. First, my family and I hopped on the tube to Westminster and took a tour of parliament. As a political science major I thoroughly enjoyed learning the insides and outs of the U.K.’s political system. I had no idea why Charles I was beheaded, when the monarchy became symbolic or when women gained the right to vote (after the USA!). Beyond all the knowledge I gained, the Westminster Palace was an architectural masterpiece and every room was captivating.

I said my final farewell to Big Ben and headed to Paddington. I just had to fit in one more walk from my flat through Hyde Park and it was an emotional one. From there we toured Kensington Palace, admired Princess Diana’s dresses and visited my favorite London museum, the Victoria & Albert. I visited the V&A 7 times during my semester (I KNOW CRAZY) so I was under a lot of pressure to show my family the highlights in just a single afternoon. It was surreal that I would never be able to spend a free afternoon exploring an exhibition followed by afternoon tea around the corner at Paul. I was once again grateful for the small life I had built in this city. I had my final glass of wine at a small cafe with dinner along Oxford Street where I made sure I had a seat facing the street so I could take in the hustle and bustle of the city one last time.

Day 1

This morning I did a final packing of my things and took my final tube ride to Paddington Station which was honestly the only fitting place for me to say my final farewells to my favorite city in the world. Thank you London for inspiring me, teaching me and opening my eyes to a whole new world. I am forever grateful.

Cheers,

Sara

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stellxuk · 5 years ago

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Day 1 - Kensington Gardens/ Buckingham Palace/ Westminister Bridge/ Checking in/ The Fish House

London, 7am. I got on the Heathrow Express for a straight train ride to Paddington station before transiting to High Street Kensington, where I’ll be dropping off my luggage at my Airbnb hosts’ office. It was already quite a navigational process to find the Heathrow Express platform just ‘cause I wasn’t used to needing to take a monorail to another terminal to get to customs and head out of Terminal 5. I remember queueing even with others to get my passport stamped, only to have the customs officer firmly tell me that I could’ve gone through the e-gate. Already embarrassed I walked through the lane and as my mom had always reminded me, check and make sure your passport’s stamped. There was no stamp. So I approached another customs officer and he looked at me, eyebrows furrowed, physically it didn’t make sense, yet I was asking a rather outdated question.

“You don’t need a stamp anymore.” Ah.

High Street Kensington felt familiar, with my first pret-a-manger in sight – a place that would’ve served me very well to buffer time and grab quick bites in the following days.

At my Airbnb hosts’ office, conveniently just across the road, the receptionist (French 20-something who thinks she’s superior with her bob and straight bangs) rudely brushed me off by saying nobody’s in the office yet so I’d just have to wait. I was too tired to argue and had no reason to be equally sassy so I waited, it was by then 8am in the morning anyway so I was ahead of schedule. However, sitting in the lobby watching other office-workers and executive members walk in an out, eyeballing me and giving subtle looks, I got increasingly uncomfortable and wondered if the lady was going to ignore me perpetually. Thank goodness she approached right on cue then with a nicer tone, asking to follow her to the office.

It was a quick straight walk down to Kensington Gardens, and with the morning light the barren trees gave off sepia hues in the cool winter. The grass, however, thrived in luscious green and abundance. There were so many dog walkers, but all rather aloof to my smiles at their pups, who also trotted along and paid no heel. I started snapping away – of William and Kate’s abode (the Kensington Palace), of a lone man walking down a narrow path separating two large grass fields, of the pond inhabited by swans that swam so close to the edge you could see them eye to eye. I r e a l l y loved the pond at Kensington Gardens, circular and central to the park, I didn’t care that I looked like some greenhorn who’d never seen anything so typical of a park as others just jogged past with their ears plugged. I live just opposite a reservoir, yet this pond – its serenity in the cold, the swans’ majestically floating, ducks pruning their feathers by the edges – was a sight to behold. It overwritten all the rough encounters I had earlier in the morning.

Walking further down to Hyde Park I was headed to Buckingham Palace for their changeover at 10am. Crossing the road to enter Buckingham Palace Green, I saw that my phone was soon dying. But shit. I had left my portable charger in my carry-on that had been left at the office. My first onset panic mode. I was contemplating whether to take the walk back, albeit far but still manageable, to grab my portable charger and re-walk the whole route to hopefully make it in time for the changeover at the Palace. Or should I just keep going, since after the palace I just wanted to walk around the city for a bit and head back in a couple of hours in time to check in to the Airbnb. While my head battled the options on the outside I was calmly making my way further and further from the office, and so I guessed my feet had made the decision for me. We walk on and hope I won’t be crippled without access to Google Maps.

Buckingham Palace! There was already a crowd lined up, flagging themselves to the gates and looking through the thin steel railings to see the guards marching to and fro intermittently. I found a spot to squeeze in between 2 families and took it all in. At one point the Royal Mail van drove in, and a couple of luxury cars were also taking their exit. People were also seated around (and on) the Victoria Memorial just opposite.

I checked the time – 9.30am, I didn’t think there’d be much to do for 30 minutes, plus we were on a time crunch cause my battery was at 10%. So I decided to forgo the ceremony and continued walking.

Making a turn down to birdcage walk I chanced upon this area (?) called the Victoria Nova/ The Nova Building. Thinking maybe I can grab a proper bite, the only thing that attracted me was a standalone push cart called the Chai Guys. You guessed it, they were selling coffee but more importantly, chai. I got my first cuppa and their design was so cute I had to take that typical arm-extended-against-cityscape shot:

Looking at the underground sign at the entrance of Victoria station I contemplated yet again to take the train back to High Street Kensington to grab my portable charger before getting back on my itinerary (you can see how ensuring my phone stays alive has killed some fun and ability of being in the moment). But the thought of needing to explain myself to the rude French receptionist and trouble her to escort me up and down again deterred me entirely. Instead, I circled back again to Buckingham Palace to see if the changeover had started.

Thinking I’ll keep walking instead of stopping to watch the whole thing, in order to get back on track and head towards the city, I managed to catch them just walking in to the palace. The crowd grew bigger and there were security personnels warning people to carry their backpacks on their fronts because there’re pickpocketed lurking in this area. That all the more made me want to keep walking.

Another 5-10 minutes and I found the famous red telephone booth. I didn’t trust want someone to help take a picture for me so I wanted just the memory of a lone telephone booth. I eventually had to wait a minute for it because couples, mother-daughter duos and tween groups were all taking turns to enter the booth and take their signature interactive poses. From the aloof locals, to how easily my space could be “invaded” and presence kinda looked over, London was starting to make me feel a little transparent and for a split second it hit me that I was really alone.

What happened next didn’t help to soothe my soul in any way. After the telephone booths, past Westminister Abbey, was of course the Westminister bridge that would lead me into the city centre of London. It was a very very very busy bridge – everyone was almost passing through shoulder-to-shoulder and I had my eye on a pop up store selling souvenirs when suddenly a lady stopped me and started shoving a clipboard and a pen against my torso.

“For the deaf and blind. Please sign.” She chanted, refusing my refusals and letting me walk ahead. Soon another guy and woman on her team cornered me and continued pressurising me to sign it. I knew what this was – one of those petitions where after you “harmlessly” sign you’d have to make a mandatory donation, something I was already warned about by my colleague. So I kept saying “No”, zig-zagging to pass them but they locked me down and met me even when I pushed through the crowd to get to the other side of the bridge. Finally as I was saying my 100th no, this time also physically pushing away her clipboard, the lady interrupted me with a mumble in a foreign language before dropping everything and walking away. It was instant. Like an off-switch was activated inside of her. I was slightly perturbed as to why she’d suddenly give up, and what exactly she was mumbling about, when an instinct kicked in to look down and check my bag. My heart dropped when I saw my fanny pack zipped open, my camera (which took up the bulk of the space) in plain sight.

I rushed to a quieter corner at the end of the bridge and rummaged through my things. Passport, wallet, oyster card, they were all intact. But I couldn’t believe my eyes. Was there something more valuable I was forgetting that should’ve been inside? I hurried again, almost deliriously, to someplace I could properly sit down, catch my breath, slow my heart rate, and be sure that I wasn’t just pickpocketed.

Finally I saw there was a Starbucks and I took a sit outside among pigeons nibbling on leftovers and families feeding their children in prams to take out my things and account for each one. Nothing was lost, seriously. I didn’t know how to find relief, a part of me wanted to just retreat and go back to the unwelcoming office lobby. But I’d have to find a way that didn’t involve passing that damn Westminister bridge again. Throughout the entire trip I’d never revisited that bridge.

“Just keep going, Estella. Don’t let this ruin the day.” And so I did. I walked along Southbank, took that quintessential tourist picture of the London Eye, of the National Theatre, and ended up at Gabriel’s Wharf. Thinking I’ll finally (finally) have my first meal at this fish and chips restaurant, I walked away because of the crowd and the price for a simple Dory’s fish and chips.

I ended up at OXO Tower Wharf, which seemed like a Design Orchard equivalent with cubic spaces across two floors that showcase the works of up and coming designers and artists. Walking into a quirky design store, I thought I’d be able to find a portable charger but alas, there were Frida Kahlo lip balms and kids schoolbags in the shape of a space rocket, but absolutely z e r o portable chargers. I was at 2%, and Blackfriars bridge was where I threw in the white flag. I was supposed to make it all the way to Borough market, but I clearly had underestimated the walk, and it was enough risking (and turn of events) for the day.

I settled for a chicken salad from LEON and sat by the window, people watching as friends met up at the entrance of High Street Kensington station, grandmas got ready to head out with their daughters and grandchildren, mature couples stepping in to Marks and Spencers for their daily shopping. Even though my phone was dying, I was struggling with time because it was 1pm, an odd time to be heading to the office and waiting to check in until 3pm. But there wasn’t enough time to grab my portable charger and head out again. So I just sat at LEON, in slight disbelief of the sights and sounds I had encountered in a mere 5+ hours. London, baby.

We were inching to 2pm when I could no longer hog the seat at LEON, so I took a stroll into the famous Boots store just adjacent to the station, and took a look at Zara Home just opposite. Oh yes, I’d also forgotten to bring my glasses on the trip, so I walked into a prescription store along the street as well but soon realised it was a dumb move because frames alone were minimally 50 pounds (and those were ugly). My astigmatism isn’t dreadful enough for me to spend money on a pair of glasses that would be deemed useless once I got back to Singapore.

Finally, finally, after a little more waiting in the lobby (the French receptionist had ended her shift and now a nice 20-something male Londoner helmed the desk) I could finally check in to my Airbnb. I took a quick 2-stop bus ride down to Notting Hill Gate and arrived at the bright pink door. Lugging my suitcase up the 4 flights of stairs was THE WORST, and I soon came face-to-face with the small cubic loft that, in the following days, would’ve risen my anxiety levels with its misleading paper thin walls that made me purvy to when every neighbour was coming home, opening their doors (which often sounded like they were trying to barge through mine), stepping into showers, and when the garbage collector came on Wednesday morning and made such a ruckus I thought a fight broke out along the street.

After taking a video tour of the place and sending it to Mom, I settled in, changed and freshened up for dinner. It was at a nearby fish and chips place called the Fish House. No more adventurous trails and exploring for me. The restaurant was in a quaint shophouse with a very tiny shopfront where you could order takeaways. To get a seat, you’d then have to take another 2 narrow flights of stairs up to their topmost floor. When I arrived a family had just finished their dinner so by the time I ordered I had the whole place to myself (which I thought was quite iffy cause Google shown great reviews). The fish and chips was alright, along with the cup of hot tea, and after an hour or so I made my leave and called it a night.

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jessicakehoe · 5 years ago

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Everything Coming to Netflix Canada and Crave in August 2019

Here’s a monthly breakdown of all the movies and TV series we can’t wait to stream.

Everything Coming to Netflix

GLOW Season 3 We last saw the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling weighing an offer to take their show on the road—to Las Vegas. This season, we see the gang going for it, heading from LA to Sin City, where the stakes are higher, the risks are bigger, and the power struggles are more complicated than ever. Bonus: Geena Davis as a casino owner! Available August 9.

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Mindhunter Season 2 The ten chilling episodes of Season 1 revolved around the early development of the FBI’s Behavioural Science Unit in 1977, when criminal psychology and serial killers were barely understood. Season 2 fast forwards a few years, taking the show’s leads to Atlanta, Georgia to investigate a disturbing series of real-life murders. Available August 16.

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Otherhood Felicity Huffman, Angela Bassett and Patricia Arquette play three suburban moms who decide to pay their fully-grown—and very distant—sons in New York an impromptu visit on Mother’s Day. Available August 2.

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And here’s the complete list of everything coming to Netflix this month:

Available August 1 Bad Teacher Battle: Los Angeles Catch and Release Journey 2: The Mysterious Island Jungle Kidnap Logan Lucky The Chef’s Line: Season 1 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Mummy The Smurfs Training Day

Available August 2 Ask the StoryBots: Season 3 — NETFLIX FAMILY Basketball or Nothing — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Dear White People: Volume 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Derry Girls: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Otherhood — NETFLIX FILM Overlord She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: Season 3 — NETFLIX FAMILY

Available August 4 Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj: Volume 4 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 5 Enter the Anime — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The LEGO Ninjago Movie No Good Nick: Part 2 — NETFLIX FAMILY

Available August 7 About Time Apollo 13 Marvel Studios Avengers: Age of Ultron Being John Malkovich Blue Crush Friday Night Lights In Good Company Ray Take Me Home Tonight The Wizard

Available August 8 Dollar — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Naked Director — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Wu Assassins — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 9 Cable Girls: Season 4 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Family — NETFLIX ORIGINAL GLOW: Season 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The InBESTigators — NETFLIX FAMILY Rocko’s Modern Life: Static Cling — NETFLIX FAMILY Sintonia — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Spirit Riding Free: Pony Tales — NETFLIX FAMILY Tiny House Nation: Volume 1

Available August 10 Bon Cop Bad Cop 2

Available August 12 Dunkirk

Available August 13 Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 15 Bridget Jones’s Diary Cannon Busters — NETFLIX ANIME My Sister’s Keeper Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

Available August 16 45 rpm — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Apache: La vida de Carlos Tevez — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Better Than Us — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Diagnosis — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Frontera verde — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Instant Family Invader Zim: Enter the Florpus — NETFLIX FAMILY The Little Switzerland– NETFLIX FILM MINDHUNTER: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL QB1: Beyond the Lights: Season 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Sextuplets — NETFLIX FILM Super Monsters Back to School — NETFLIX FAMILY Victim Number 8 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 20 Here Comes the Boom Simon Amstell: Set Free — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Sinner: Julian

Available August 21 American Factory — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Hyperdrive — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 22 How to Get Away with Murder: Season 5 Love Alarm — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 23 El Pepe: Una vida suprema — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Girl with All the Gifts HERO MASK: Part II — NETFLIX ANIME

Available August 26 Blade Runner 2049

Available August 27 Million Pound Menu: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Trolls: The Beat Goes On!: Season 7 — NETFLIX FAMILY

Available August 29 Falling Inn Love — NETFLIX FILM Kardec — NETFLIX FILM

Available August 28 Droppin’ Cash: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 30 The A List — NETFLIX ORIGINAL CAROLE & TUESDAY — NETFLIX ANIME The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance — NETFLIX ORIGINAL The Glass Castle La Grande Classe — NETFLIX FILM Mighty Little Bheem: Season 2 — NETFLIX FAMILY Join Bheem for another season of playful antics and superpowered feats as he cheerfully dodges danger and makes friends in unlikely places. Styling Hollywood — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Un bandido honrado — NETFLIX ORIGINAL Vis a Vis: Season 3 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Available August 31 Flatliners

Availability TBD Sacred Games: Season 2 — NETFLIX ORIGINAL

Everything Coming to Crave

A Black Lady Sketch Show This new HBO show stars Robin Thede and boasts a power-packed cast of guest actors including Issa Rae, Angela Bassett, Lena Waithe, Laverne Cox, Patti LaBelle and Kelly Rowland. The half-hour narrative series of hilarious sketches is “set in a limitless magical reality” and according to The Hollywood Reporter, is the first sketch series with a cast and writers’ room entirely made up of black women. Available August 2.

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Succession Season 2 This Emmy-nominated HBO series by veteran British writer Jesse Armstrong (whose past credits include Peep Show and The Thick Of It) follows a cutthroat family of billionaires, whose media empire in New York City is the object of everyone’s machinations. Available August 11.

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On Becoming a God in Central Florida Starring Kirsten Dunst and Alexander Skarsgard, and executive produced by George Clooney, this 10-episode dark comedy on Showtime tells the story of a pyramid scheme that drives a family to financial ruin. Dunst plays a water park employee who gets embroiled in a cultish, multibillion-dollar pyramid scheme in pursuit of the elusive American Dream. Available August 25.

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And here’s the complete list of everything coming to Crave this month:

Available August 1 New Homeland (Crave + Movies + HBO)

Available August 2 Boy Erased (Crave + Movies + HBO) Mortal Engines (Crave + Movies + HBO) The House With The Clock In Its Walls (Crave + Movies + HBO) So I Married An Axe Murderer (STARZ Programming) The Whistleblower (STARZ Programming) Die Hard (STARZ Programming) Die Hard 2 (STARZ Programming) Die Hard: With A Vengeance (STARZ Programming) Die Hard 4 (Live Free or Die Hard) (STARZ Programming) Good Day To Die Hard (STARZ Programming) The Company Men (STARZ Programming) Sex Tape (STARZ Programming) Nanny McPhee (STARZ Programming) My Girl (STARZ Programming) Ape Escapes (Crave)

Available August 8 Love Jacked (Crave + Movies + HBO) PUNK — Season 1 (Crave)

Available August 9 David Bowie: Finding Fame (Crave) Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Crave + Movies + HBO) Blast From The Past (August 9) Foxcatcher (STARZ Programming) Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (STARZ Programming) You’ve Got Mail (STARZ Programming) Definitely Maybe (STARZ Programming) Deliver Us From Evil (STARZ Programming) Vicky Cristina Barcelona (STARZ Programming) Paddington’s Birthday Bonanza (Crave)

Available August 10 Aquaman (Crave + Movies + HBO)

Available August 12 Our Boys (Crave + Movies + HBO)

Available August 15 The Wrong Patient (Crave + Movies + HBO)

Available August 16 Miss Bala (Crave + Movies + HBO) Take Me Home Tonight (STARZ Programming) Life As We Know It (STARZ Programming) Bridesmaids (STARZ Programming) The Wedding Planner (STARZ Programming) The Town (STARZ Programming) Sniper: Legacy (STARZ Programming) Body Heat (STARZ Programming) Single White Female (STARZ Programming)

Available August 17 Creed II (Crave + Movies + HBO)

Available August 22 Thicker Than Water (Crave + Movies + HBO)

Available August 23 I am Patrick Swayze (Crave + Movies + HBO) 22 Jump Street (STARZ Programming) Role Models (STARZ Programming) The Perfect Storm (STARZ Programming) Snatch (STARZ Programming) Woman in Gold (STARZ Programming) Om Nom Stories (Crave)

Available August 24 The Mule (Crave + Movies + HBO) Hitsville: The Making of Motown (Crave)

Available August 25 The Affair — Season 5 (Crave) On Becoming a God in Central Florida (Crave) Power — Season 6 (STARZ Programming)

Available August 30 Backdraft 2 (Crave + Movies + HBO) How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Crave + Movies + HBO) Escape Room (Crave + Movies + HBO) Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (Crave + Movies + HBO) 40-Year-Old Virgin (STARZ Programming) Unforgiven (STARZ Programming) Killer Joe (STARZ Programming) The Big Lebowski (STARZ Programming) The Family Man (STARZ Programming) The Adventures of Super Mario Bros 3 (Crave)

The post Everything Coming to Netflix Canada and Crave in August 2019 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Everything Coming to Netflix Canada and Crave in August 2019 published first on https://borboletabags.tumblr.com/

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joshuamshea84 · 6 years ago

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My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney

Updated: 10/28/2018 | October 28th, 2018

The first time I was in Sydney (all the way back in 2007), I spent most of my days sitting in the botanical gardens, reading a book and looking at the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. For so long I had heard about how wonderful and beautiful Sydney was, and there I was experiencing it!

Over the years, I’ve been to the city a handful of times, exploring it more and more and getting a local taste through all my wonderful friends there. I’ve been everywhere, I’ve done all the major attractions, the smaller attractions, and everything in between.

If you are wondering what the best things to see in Sydney are, wonder no more!

Today, I want to share my favorite things to do and see in this laid-back, warm, sunny, and gregarious city so you can better plan your trip and make the most out of your visit!

The Best Things to See in Sydney

1. Explore The Rocks The Rocks is the oldest part of Sydney. With its narrow lanes, fine colonial buildings, sandstone churches, and Australia’s oldest pubs, this neighborhood is where Sydney started when the British first landed. It was almost torn down in the 1970s for modern high rises, but, luckily, citizen action got it preserved instead. The Rocks’ weekend markets, art museums, street entertainment, delicious (and sometimes overpriced) restaurants, and beautiful views of the harbor, Opera House, and bridge make this is one of the coolest areas of the city. I love heading up to the Sydney Observatory Hill Park for a good view of the city, wandering the harbor promenade, and hitting the bars at night.

2. Hang out at the beach Sydney is synonymous with its beaches, and the area is also especially famous for having world-class surfing. Since it’s warm and sunny most of the year, the city has a strong beach culture, and on the weekends (and many weekdays for that matter), locals flock to the seashore. From Palm Beach and Manly in the north to the famous Bondi and Coogee in the south, Sydney has a beach for everyone. All the beaches are easy to get to via public transportation or car and there are tons of restaurants and surf shops around, too! My favorite beaches are Manly (wide and beautiful) and Bronte (small and quiet)

3. Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens and Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair You’ll find Australia’s first vegetable garden and a treasure trove of trees, ferns, flowers, and gardens at the Royal Botanic Gardens. On a sunny day, you’ll find locals sprawled out all over the lawns soaking up the sun. You can also see Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, a seat carved into a stone cliff, where you can sit and gaze out at the harbor. There are also free one-hour volunteer-guided tours of the garden, too!

4. Take the ferry to Manly Beach The ferry ride to Manly ($12.40 AUD round-trip, $2.50 AUD on Sundays) offers sweeping views of the harbor, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the world-famous Opera House. It’s a picturesque 30-minute ride each way that puts you in one of the coolest parts of the north end of the city. Manly is famous for its wide beach, giant waves, surfing, and kick-ass nightlife.

5. Walk the Sydney Harbour Bridge The bridge was built in 1932 as a government employment project during the Great Depression. Its steel frame has become an iconic symbol of the city. While tours that climb the bridge are expensive ($158 AUD), it is free to walk or bike across it for panoramic views of the harbor and Opera House.

6. Marvel at the Sydney Opera House Just as iconic as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Opera House is famous for its white-shelled roof. As an architectural delight and feat of engineering (getting the roof to stay up took the creation of a complex support system), guided tours ($37 AUD) give you a whole new appreciation for just how challenging the building was to design and erect. Tickets for a show in the Opera House are surprisingly affordable ($43 AUD), so try to take one in if you can.

7. Visit the Blue Mountains Over the millennia, the ancient sandstone of this national park has been weathered into gorges lined by steep cliffs and separated by narrow ridges. Some activities in Blue Mountains National Park include seeing the magnificent rock formation of the Three Sisters (particularly stunning at sunset and under evening floodlights) or hiking along the paths that offer excellent views of the valley, sheer rock walls, tumbling waterfalls, and magnificent forests. The park is free to visit and you can get there by train from Sydney, which takes 90 minutes. If you want to hike further afield, it’s best to stay overnight!

8. See all the museums Like most cities, Sydney has a wide variety of museums. There’s free entry to the Art Gallery of New South Wales (modern art), the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia at The Rocks, the Nicholson Museum (antiquities), and the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbor. I also suggest visiting the White Rabbit Gallery (contemporary Chinese art; it also has a teahouse) and The Rocks Discovery Museum (local history); both are also free. However, my favorite museum of all is the Hyde Park Barracks. Set in the old convict barracks, it does an amazing and detailed job of chronicling colonial life in the city, with lots of stories of the early settlers, and it’s well worth the $10 AUD entrance fee. If you only pay for one museum, make it this one!

9. Learn to surf Sydney is often the place travelers bite the bullet and learn the art of Australia’s famous national pastime. There are many companies here that offer lessons. While Bondi is the most popular beach, Manly on the north shore of Sydney has better waves (though you can find good waves up and down the coast!).

10. Wine Tasting in the Hunter Valley North of town is one of Australia’s premier wine regions. The Hunter Valley is home to amazing wineries that produce luscious reds. While it’s not as easy on the budget, it is an excuse to get out of the city and see the countryside. Day tours are offered from Sydney, but they are expensive ($150-200 AUD) and you spend a lot of time in the bus. Want even more fun? Try a bike tour. Grapemobile and Hunter Valley Cycling offer one-day bicycle rentals starting at $35 AUD. It’s best to stay for at least a night to get the full experience.

11. Take the Sydney Tower Skywalk As tall as the Eiffel Tower and twice as high as the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Tower offers amazing panoramic views of the city from its Skywalk at the top. At $50 AUD, it’s cheaper and easier than climbing the bridge itself, and the views are actually far better. Also included with your purchase of a Skywalk ticket is access to the “4-D” cinema experience, which includes in-theatre effects like wind and fire.

12. Walk one of the coastal walks There are a number of stunning coastal walks that allow you to take in the breathtaking natural beauty of Sydney Harbor. While tons of people follow the two-hour Coogee-to-Bondi walk (skip the weekends when it’s overly crowded), I found both the shorter walk in Watson’s Bay and the Split-to-Manly walk quieter and more breathtaking.

13. Explore the markets Sydney has many amazing markets to walk through. At Paddington Markets (Oxford Street; open Saturdays after 10am), the fish market (Bank Street and Pyrmont Bridge Road), Bondi Farmers Market (Campbell Parade on Bondi Beach), the flower market (Parramatta Road), and a whole lot more seasonal markets, it’s really easy to spend a lot of time wandering and shopping. I love Paddington Markets and the farmers market the best — they draw an eclectic crowd, and the farmers market makes me want to cook nonstop.

14. Attend a cultural event Since Sydney has a complex about Melbourne being called the culture capital of Australia, it tries to outdo its rival by hosting over 30 official festivals and events each year. It offers art gallery nights, concerts, festivals, and much more. Most of them are free and can be found on the Sydney tourism website.

15. Party in King’s Cross If you’re looking to go out and get wild on the cheap, then go to King’s Cross. This is where the beer is inexpensive and the backpackers (and locals) party late. The famous World Bar is where most of the action happens (cheap drinks and a large dance floor). For a less traveler-centric time, head to Manly, The Rocks, or the CBD (central business district) where there are more locals and less travelers (but more expensive cocktails and beers).

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Sydney is a remarkable city. While some cities scream “run around and see stuff” (cough, NYC, cough), Sydney’s message to visitors is always “relax, go outside, and enjoy the beautiful weather.” Sure, there’s plenty to do, but I find the best way to enjoy the city is to take it slow, see a few attractions, and mostly lay outside on the beach or in a park… or relax at a nice happy hour at a bar overlooking the harbor! Sydney has it all!

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner or Momondo. They are my two favorite search engines because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned.

Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay elsewhere, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. I use them all the time.

Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. I’ve been using World Nomads for ten years. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Looking for the best companies to save money with? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! I list all the ones I use to save money when I travel – and I think will help you too!

Want More Information on Australia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!

Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

The post My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-things-sydney/

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melissagarcia8 · 6 years ago

Text

My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney

Updated: 10/28/2018 | October 28th, 2018

If you are wondering what the best things to see in Sydney are, wonder no more!

Today, I want to share my favorite things to do and see in this laid-back, warm, sunny, and gregarious city so you can better plan your trip and make the most out of your visit!

The Best Things to See in Sydney

****

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Want More Information on Australia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!

Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

The post My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

from Traveling News https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-things-sydney/

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travelguy4444 · 6 years ago

Text

My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney

Updated: 10/28/2018 | October 28th, 2018

If you are wondering what the best things to see in Sydney are, wonder no more!

Today, I want to share my favorite things to do and see in this laid-back, warm, sunny, and gregarious city so you can better plan your trip and make the most out of your visit!

The Best Things to See in Sydney

****

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Want More Information on Australia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!

Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

The post My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

source https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-blogs/best-things-sydney/

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vidovicart · 6 years ago

Text

My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney

Updated: 10/28/2018 | October 28th, 2018

If you are wondering what the best things to see in Sydney are, wonder no more!

Today, I want to share my favorite things to do and see in this laid-back, warm, sunny, and gregarious city so you can better plan your trip and make the most out of your visit!

The Best Things to See in Sydney

****

Book Your Trip to Australia: Logistical Tips and Tricks

World Nomads (for everyone below 70)

Insure My Trip (for those over 70)

Want More Information on Australia? Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Australia for even more planning tips!

Photo credit: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

The post My 15 Favorite Things to Do in Sydney appeared first on Nomadic Matt's Travel Site.

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andthereshegoess · 8 years ago

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Jet-setting February 2013

February 2013,

It’s a lifetime experience that I will never forget.

My trip started at the end of January, 30th. I went to Xiamen, China for Syafiq’s Graduation. I have never been to China and it’s a very different experience.

One of the different thing would be; as soon as the plane landed on the ground, everyone unbuckle their belts and already trying to take their luggage from the overhead compartment. I was a bit mind-fuck because the stewardess had to use her back to hold the passenger and told them to get back to their seat.

Other than the language and the things that I expect.

I thought most of them could at least speak simple basic english but they don’t. they don’t even understand my sign language. In which made me regret for not finishing my Mandarin class and I realized that I suck at sign language. I can’t even tell the sales person where do I look for a towel.

I also expect for them to have small squinty eyes but no, their eyes were as huge and round as mine.

They drive on the left side of the car and they don’t have road rules. They just avoid whatever comes their way, so I guess the drivers are quite alert and you just got to be careful as to not get hit.

That Chinese food are just awesome because it’s halal so I can eat it. I don’t remember the name of the place but TAECO brought all of us there for the graduation dinner with everyone that was involve with the ceremony.

Things like Zara, Pull&bear, Bershka and so on is damn cheaper compare to the ones in Malaysia and there’s more variety too. So, I think shopping in Xiamen is better if you don’t think about the language barrier but if you speak Mandarin then, there’s nothing to stop you from going.

I went to Gulangyu Island. It’s a huge island that I didn’t get to discover all around but there were so many souvenir shop throughout the island. Most of them sell the same thing at the same price.

I expect myself to be back and to explore the island smartly the next time.

On the 5th Feb, my parents and I flew back to K.L but I only transit in K.L to get on my flight to London. Other than going back to Perth alone, flying to London would be my first trip overseas alone. Then again, there was a friend of mine waiting for me at the airport.

I was exhausted when I arrived on the 6th February, but when I saw my friend (abang) from afar, I was happy! and I got too nervous, I ran to the toilet and vomit. I stayed in London for a couple of hours, to sleep and waited for my friend to get his visa to the States. After lunch with his cousin, we hung out for a little while before heading to Portsmouth about 4.30pm.

We headed to Paddington train station, with the thought that the line would connect us to Portsmouth but we were wrong, we actually hadto go to Waterloo station to get to Portsmouth and it was during peak hours to Waterloo station using the underground line. It was an amazing experience but I was exhausted but I was trying hard not to be.

It was probably about 5pm when we reached Waterloo station and the train departed for about 6pm. At least I get to sit down for about 2 hours, talking to Abang along the way was quite hilarious too and sometimes I wonder why the hell am I here but at the same time, it was relaxing because it felt easy. Now, I don’t even think we could talk for more than 1 minute.

Before I left, I wanted to eat everything there is in the U.K. but when I was there, I don’t even know what happened to my appetite but I didn’t eat anything much. I know I had the dessert at Wharf Quay, and it was delicious.

In Portsmouth, we stayed over at Meera’s house and she actually waited for us since afternoon. We followed her to rehearsal, it was quite nice actually and to watch her dor the real event but I didn’t get to. We had Ken’s Fried Chicken for dinner, it was too salty and the trick of Towards the end of the day, I don’t really care about anything anymore. All I want to do was sleep for hours and hours and hours.

The next day, we went to town or city center and I sat at the fountain thinking about nothing and how exhausted I still am but I tried not to let it get to me because it was supposed to be a trip of exploring parts of England! While I was there, I learned to play pool too and I don’t think I like it because I actually don’t like the fact that my boobs touches the pool table every time I leaned over to take a shot. Haihs.

I spent two night in Portsmouth and the last day, we had lunch with Meera’s friend named Jon at a Seafood place. It was nice! and there was a bit of sightseeing of the ocean. I was damn cold. I do not want to be in Europe for winter again. I highly dislike it besides I love to hibernate during winter.

Anyways, we took the train and went to London. I got even more tired when we reached London. I honestly don’t know why I made this kind of trip. At first it was for this crazy life experience that I’ve always wanted to know how it’ll feel like. How does it feel to fly over from one continent to another. Well, I really did get what I wanted and it’s damn exhausting.

London was nice, we took a taxi from Waterloo Station to the hotel and I get to do a bit of sightseeing along the way. The hotel we stayed was 5 minutes from the Paddington Station and I was amazed that everything was actually so near. We walked everywhere and we had Noodle Oodle for dinner, it was delicious! I like the roasted duck. yums! I found my favourite place…. BOOTS! haha. Then, we walked to the hotel after dinner.

The next day, we went to British Museum and it was huge! I didn’t get to cover the whole area but that’s just another reason for me to go again the next time. There’s a list of things that I am going to do the next time. After the museum, we walked to Oxford street and Abang stopped to asked a lady for direction but Primark was just opposite the street. I wanted to laugh so bad that time but I was tired. hahaha. But somehow towards the end of the day, I turned moody and I was in no mood to talk to anyone. I realized that it made things awkward but I was too tired to care. I really am sorry for my behavior and I shouldn’t do that to people. Especially Nisya and Pedot because they took a couple of hours bus ride to get to London.

The last day in London, the only thing plan was check out and move to another hotel and the Chinese New Year Fireworks at Trafalgar Square. It was freezing! and the stupidest thing I did was to wear three layer of clothes and I didn’t wear my thermal wear. I guess now I know how the homeless feels, frozen to death. My jacket was wet because I wore the wrong one and I was stupid enough to not buy a new one when I was at Oxford Street.

The fireworks didn’t go long as expected and I guess because of the rain. It was devastating and I pity Jon because he was excited about it too, I guess he should come to Kuching for Chinese New Year. The fireworks would be more awesome! but just suffer the consequences of the haze after!

Well, after the firework, we did a bit of speed touring like walked to get to the train station which passed by the London Eye, Big Ben and The Parliament *The Parliament house is where we can talk* I did took a few photos but I don’t have it with me right now and I don’t know when will I ever have it. Maybe just maybe, I am not going to have it and I’ll go to London to re-write this trip. By that time, I’ll post an even awesome trip.

After dinner, there was a bit of snow and I was soaking for my jacket is useless. I wanted to experience the snow so much and when I get it, I don’t like it! not even one bit! We sent Pedot to the Bus Station because she could only stay for a night. But I’m thankful for her to visit me even it was for a night and I was being a moody bitch. I am so very sorry dot. Nisya stayed for another night and the three of us slept together and when she sleeps its kinda cute because she hides under the blanket.

Oh the second hotel overlooked the Hyde Park and I wanted to walked around there but with the weather being too cold for me to handle I would rather stay in bed or indoors but I didn’t do that much either. Oh, I fell in the tub and I called it Hyde Park!

The morning that I left, I was sad because I wanted so much to stay and really enjoy my trip, discover more places and eat all those desserts. It was such a rush trip and all I could feel was my exhaustion.

I arrived K.L on the 12th February morning and had teatime with Niessa at Bimmers, eating rojak ayam. Man! food never taste delicious as I didn’t eat the whole flight from London – Kul – Kch. My flight leaves to Kch at 8pm of the same day and I am so glad that I get to nap.

I slept through the entire flight from Kul – Perth. I arrived in Perth on 13th February at 5am and was glad that Nora pick me up. I stayed over Nora’s house for a couple of days, then to Deska’s and then to Waterford. I slept through the first 3 days that I was there. So there’s nothing much that I did there but to meet up with my movie partner, Denah, Dayah and Jas. I met up with Jas in London and we both met up in Perth too. At least I get to eat the few things that I’ve been wanting to eat for the past 2 years.

Did a bit of cleaning at Waterford with Azri and it was kind of funny as a bug flew up my nose when I was cleaning the pantry.

I did a bit of shopping at Carousel, Harbor Town and City but I didn’t get to do anything else.

I was also in town for Fringe World Event. It was nice. Nora and I walked through Northbridge to take a look around, passing by Metros made me miss those days when everything was fun.

I left Perth on the 18th february 2013 and I was sad to be leaving Perth. It was home, it was a place where I sort of grew up. Well, I was raised and grew up in Kuching but a place where I explore life was in Perth and it’ll always be home.

To sum up the trip, it was awesome! I went from Asia to Europe to Australiasia. It was pretty damn exhausting but some time in the future, I’ll probably tell someone to never travel like how I did in February 2013. You could at least spent 1 week plus in one place and really enjoy the place, the people and explore!

#shetravels #china australia england

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