Wednesday 31 October 2007

Item 7: Vegemite Tales (and the Neighbours Stars That Were)

Location: The Venue Theatre, Leicester Place, London

Yes alright, Blair was one of my favourites during the first season that aired of Big Brother in Australia.

The “Vegemite Tales” news was all over Monday’s free weekly TNT magazine. The final curtain was closing on the play, and I jumped at the chance to get close to some home-grown action. Not only was I going to see Blair McDonough but also the guy who played Tad (Jonathon Dutton), in Neighbours in London!

At a play that was scripted to draw on the very experience of a working holiday in a busy London share-house, the audience was a crowd of Aussies coming together for a dose of home (and away).

Filled with the typical stories all too familiar to a young settler, not to mention the Aussie colloquialisms intertwined with the British jargon we tend to adopt throughout our extended stay, there were laughs galore during the show. It was a lovely cause, giving our Neighbours stars headline names on the bill.

Lest it be said, had the scenes not pulled the backpacker heart-strings and resonated so closely with my temporary relocation to London, this experience would have been a little less fulfilling. In the end, it’s good to know that at least our stars can go home and tell Rove or Bert, back in Oz, they made it big in a West End Pantomime.


Item 7: Vegemite Tales?
Check!

Monday 29 October 2007

Item 6: Churros con Chocolate..... Mmmm

Location: Chocolateria San Ginés, Pasadizo de San Ginés 11, Madrid, (Spain)

I've been warned about the "Heathrow Injection," the extra kilos that start unfavourably culminating around the waistline, purely as a result of living in London. Consequently, being abroad for a weekend trip to Madrid was a perfect excuse for a little culinary indulgence.

Hidden away on a side street, just off Sol - the centre of Madrid, is Chocolateria San
Ginés. As we approached the cafe, it was obvious the Lonely Planet had once again kindly spilled the beans regarding this little chocolate haven. Tourists, amongst the locals, sat in anticipation for their gourmet orders to arrive, escorted by a waiter in his refined white shirt and bow-tie.

Pleasantly we sat under ornate street lights, in prime people-watching position at the age-old institution. We ordered the traditional cups of thick, smooth and delicately warmed chocolate, with churros cooked to light and fluffy perfection, as highlighted by their delicate sight in the shape of a perfect swirl when they are pulled out of the fryer.

For a Sunday late-morning wake-up, there was nothing to compete with this quality moment.

Item 6: Churros con Chocolate? Check!

Friday 12 October 2007

Item 5: Spanish Bullfight

Location: La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas, Madrid, (Spain)

One of the reasons so many antipodeans come to London is to be a stone's throw from mainland Europe. Thus keeping true to this Working Holiday my first weekend getaway was to Madrid, Spain, with the added bonus of catching up with a mate from home.

All consideration for the warning that Bullfighting is quite a gruesome sport to behold, we approached the spectacular La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas with little reluctance. We were going to watch the bullfights.

Having chosen our tickets wisely, we raced up the stairs of the stadium to locate our padded seats in the upper rows, shaded from Madrid's afternoon sun. Tensely I watched as the brass band played for the first bull to come running into the stadium.

All up, there were six fights, each broken into three stages as announced by a trumpet. Through each, we we watched as the bulls were first tested for their agility and endurance by picadores on horseback and banderillero, (both carrying their weapons of choice), before the bull came face-to-face with the artful matadors and encountered their final moments.

Having only seen "when things go wrong" images on TV, the tradition and skill embodied in the stages of the fight was displayed amongst the action. We saw a bull charge at the horse, dismounting the picadore and worried more for the horse than it's rider. And as the matador's confidence beamed out towards our seats, their ability to turn their back to the aggravated bull proved much more of a trained art than we could imagine.

After the more skillful fights, the underlying culture of the sport surrounded us in the packed stadium, as spectators stood to wave white handkerchiefs of approval.

Item 5: Spanish Bullfight? Check!

Thursday 4 October 2007

Item 4: Tiger Tiger - The London Meat Market


Location: Tiger Tiger: 29 The Haymarket, London

It wasn't our intention, but it's where we ended up.

We had a name on the door list to Chinawhite, nightclub of the rich and famous, where Paris Hilton, Prince William and all the other A-List stars hang out. We were walking there from Bond Street station. Our mate who was the regular had never walked, he'd always taken the taxi. We got lost. We asked random people on the way for directions. It was so exclusive, and so well hidden, no one knew where it was exactly. We asked a girl who was waiting at Oxford Circus, and thought, "We should be close by now". She also didn't know the way but she was lovely. We invited her along. Finally, the rickshaw cyclists pointed us in the right direction. Crisis over.

Short members-queue and a new friend, excellent. That was until we got to the door and the bouncer rejected us as one of our party had had a little too much. What?? No superstars tonight? First night out in London and we get rejected?

Fine. We got over the missed opportunity to hang with the big name celebs and switched to Plan B: Jewel. Not a problem. And conveniently located just around the corner from Club Exclusive. First pair our group in and then, um "Sorry guys, your friend has had too much tonight". Wow, Chinawhite really didn't just reject us for our good looks. Strike two.

It was meant to be a big night, we weren't going to stand down. What was Plan C again? Tiger Tiger: meat market of the London club scene. (Tiger Tiger: terrorist attack target June 2007). Located just off Piccadilly Circus, convenient for those guys and girls have come up short after cruising the streets for a piece of London talent. But hey, a short line, £10 cover charge and they let us in.

The markets were open for the night, the male dominated crowd was not shy, all going in with the early bids. Boys, you need to watch, to see how the market reacts before you make your next offer. Sorry, no sale here. Overall as the commercial hits played and our feet surprisingly didn't stick to the floor as we danced, it ended up being a pretty fun night out.

Item 4: Tiger Tiger? Check.... and DELETE!

Wednesday 3 October 2007

Item 3: Camden Market - To Market, To Market

Location: Camden Markets, London

The Great Britain Lonely Planet states "London has more than 350 markets". At the top of my "List of Markets" to see was Camden Market.

Arriving at Camden Town by bus, tube or Silverlink, there is a sudden confusion as to which part actually constitutes the "market". Navigating our way, our first stop was Camden Lock Market to look at the gifts, jewellery and homewares alongside the standard imports from India and China that come as standard in many markets today. To refuel, the choice of international cuisine on offer was quality and came with a festival feel, rather than the food court ambiance that we later found at the neighbouring markets.

After a decent browse in the flagship
Cyberdog store, for techno-funk fluro-coloured Lycra wear on top of some heavy beats, we seamlessly made our way from the Lock market to the Camden Stables, a former horse hospital that now houses antiques.

Third stop was the Canal Market, a much subdued smaller market to precede the experience up Camden High Street. The street on weekends is bustling with people, Punk Vs Tourist. The face of the buildings are reminicient of days when Doc Martens were the "in" thing and punks walked the streets with an aura of cool. How do they get their hair to stand up so spikey?


Item 3: Camden Market? Check!

Tuesday 2 October 2007

Item 2: London Galleries (For Free)

Location: London City

Finances only stretch so far before the home currency stops looking so sturdy, as you glimpse at the diminishing bottom line of your bank balance, when setting up in London. Luckily my extremely generous friend offered me more than a couch - half of her double bed and her home - as I took to the task in search of a new job and flat as soon as I arrived in town. (Note: Dossing rates may apply).

In the mornings, I've hopped on to the Internet job sites to send my CV off to the half-interesting roles I can actually do, followed with some calls to a few agencies (one of whom would continuously remind me to come to the company's drinks evening), and have then been free for a regular dose of daytime TV.

But before I jump right back into the rat-race, I've also found plenty of free things to see in London. Still wearing my tourist shoes, the museums and galleries with FREE admission are plentiful throughout the city. Moreover, the collections housed are so amazingly grand you're likely to spend an afternoon there only to exit with the need to see more.

The first place I walked into was the British Museum, immediately thinking the English had the whole of Egypt transported across the seas and reassembled it inside the building. The Tate Modern brings another contrast to the art world and one which I will be surely revisiting, especially with the changing temporary exhibitions in the gallery's Turbine Hall. For the classical art appreciators, the National Gallery is sure to be a winner, whilst the Victoria and Albert Museum is a hotch-potch of the classic and contemporary all mixed up in one. There's so much more in this realm that I have yet to see and explore, but what's that I hear? Do I hear the mighty Pound Sterling calling my name?

Item 2: London Galleries? Check!

Item 1: London Calling

Location: Home (Melbourne, Australia)

The list starts here. Passport? Check. Visa? Check. Ticket? Check. Buy some travel insurance, resign from my comfortable job, complete some final paperwork, say my final farewells, pack my bags and the next thing I know I'm through the gates at the airport on a one-way ticket to London.

Upon arrival, Heathrow's lovely immigration officers welcome you with open arms. You stand in a queue labelled "Visa holders", with the thousand or more other people who have arrived in London with you from Thailand, Inida, Dubai and wherever else, just waiting.

Officer, "You're on a Working Holiday?"

OMG, I think to myself. "Yes I am." How awesome!!

Item 1: London Calling? Check!