TravelStream™ news feed for member binni on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/binni en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:33:50 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1244260800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1244260800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1244260800/tpod.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:33:50 -0400 The Big One

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London, England, United Kingdom

I was approached one day (I like to think of it as being head hunted ;)) whilst chugging about a job going as a promotions person, good money, cash in hand, so after I handed in my notice so to speak, I thought, why not. Something different. This is all about the experiences after all.

On arriving at the public house, at about nine pm I was introduced to Sonya*, a twenty something year old from northern Ireland, living in east London and working a 9-5 job in an employment agency. Unfortunately a few years of spending beyond her means meant that she had managed to rack up a considerable credit card debt, so working with pamphlets on weekends was a good way to earn a bit of extra cash to decrease it ever so slightly.

It was rather a miserable London evening, rain aplenty, and Sonya and I made our way to the tube station, armed with brolleys, postcard sized pamphlets in hand. So, the work started.

"Free entry with this card."
"Two for one entry with this card."
"Would you like a look at this."
"Hi there, are you looking for somewhere to go tonight? Free entry?"

Some take it out of politeness or pity, some stop and think that the pamphlet is a free ticket to hit on you, some smile and say no thanks, most ignore you. So you try to think of more creative ways to pull their interest. Or learn to pick your target audience. Old lady with cardigan and Waitrose bag, no, middle aged man in suit, no, twenty something boys in skinny legs "bingo!"

The camaraderie amongst the other pamphlet handerouterers is interesting. Within a few hours, I had met about half a dozen of them, experiencing the life story of one of them, a 31 year old Somali girl who had made promotions a full time job and was in the middle of a painful breakup. Around midnight, Sonya thought it best to start wandering the streets, in order to find the people who are leaving the places closing at midnight and potentially seeking other places to go, so I said a sad farewell to my new friends and called out to Miss Somali "Say strong, don't go back there, he's not worth it, remember, it's called a break up because it's broken!"

Wandered the now waterlogged streets, looking and feeling little damp ourselves. The rain appeared to be a bit of a deterrent, the streets were mostly quiet. A call from the boss sounded a bit on the urgent side, "It's dead guys, we need you two to drum up some custom!!" Kept wandering, found a few more people, mostly dead though and soon enough, it was 3am, time for shift over and to get into the dry, woo hoo!

Wandering those wet streets, feebly handing out the odd soggy postcard to mostly disinterested fellow waterlogged meanderers, polluted london rain seeping through the holes in my volleys to my socks, I kinda had the revelation that this job wasn't so much for me because of two main reasons - bit of cognitive dissonance if you will. (A) I never say yes to pamphlets because I do rather passionately believe that they're a waste of paper and therefore trees and (b) I'm not really a huge fan of nightclubs to be fair; something rather surreal I suppose about trying to convince people to go into a place that I feel can be at times unhelpful and unhealthy.

The night did go fairly quickly to be fair, so it wasn't too long before it was time to go back to the bar; I recognised several people, which was nice, had forty quid subtly slipped into my pocket by the boss and with that, I was more than happy to make my way to my bed, and said goodbye to my new friend Sonya, whose night of promotions had only just begun.

*Name changed to ensure confidentiality
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252149945/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252149945/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252149945/tpod.html Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:49:22 -0400 The Big One

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Nottingham, England, United Kingdom

Gen and I awoke early to catch the National Express bus to Nottinham. We arrived around 11ish, and caught a taxi straight to Booth's birthplace in Sneiton.

We were met by the manager of the centre, which is a community centre and aged care facility and museum all in one, really nice bloke. He opened the museum up for us so we could have a little explore at our own pace.

the museum was really interesting and i was more than a little pleased to be in the actual room where where william booth was born! wow! there was actually something rather surreal about that actually, in all seriousness. we had the museum to ourselves and i had finished with the previous room quickly and so was in this room alone for a bit, and i was just thinking "wow. i am standing alone in the very room that william booth, the guy who started the salvos, who has, through God, influenced church history, shaken up society and changed many, many lives, including my own, was probably born. something rather cool about that.

we then went to a little chapel service and were shown around the aged care facility, at my request. i actually had a twinge of "oh i miss old people." felt just like weeroona really to be honest. i sat and chatted to some of the employees, my colleagues ;) and some of the old ladies, who i managed somehow to make instant friendships with. hehe. some people can talk to animals, i can talk to old people. :)

then the manager drove us to the centre of nottingham where we went to an open air, done by booth memorial corps. it was a beautiful, hot sunny summers day and they drew a bit of a crowd which was nice.


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Bristol, England, United Kingdom

Big day of driving today! Saw heaps! Started from Pembrokeshire and drove to Bath, through Wiltshire, stopped at Avebury and Stonehenge and then through to Salisbury before stopping for the evening in Bristol. Doesn't sound like that much, but it felt rather full at the time! Wonderful day!

Bath was really interesting, really did have a roman feel to it. We didn't go for a bath - I've seen 'em in Rome and Turkey and Neil's done 'em.

Wiltshire was pretty, I told this lady from there who I chatted to while charity fundraising that I would def take a trip out there and I did. Just an interesting side note - I asked her if that was where the cutlery is made and she had no idea what I was talking about. Must be kind of like the "Aussie" hair products they flog over here.

Avebury, so exciting. Big rocks, similar story to Stonehenge, huge, there for some unknown reason. Sheep grazed amongst 'em, really picturesque area. Not so many tourists. Open all day and night.

Stonehenge was quite cool, we were too late for entry, shame but we still saw it and, yes, became the critisised tourists who peer in from outside the infamous wire gates. But only out of necessity, not because we were too tight for the entry fee.

Salisbury - lovely town, lots of Tudor architecture and of course, the Salisbury Cathedral, tallest in the UK. And also home of the Magna Carta. Quite impressive.

And now Bristol! Yay!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252151178/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252151178/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252151178/tpod.html Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:59:01 -0400 The Big One

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Stafford, England, United Kingdom

V festival was wonderful - Neily and I had such a good time. I love music festivals - five years is definitely too long between drinks. V was unreal - so so many of my faves were there, James Morrison, definitely the highlight, though The Script, Lily Allen, Fat Boy Slim, Pete Murray, Natalie Imbrulia, Snow Patrol, Oasis & The Killers definetly make the highlight list. UK solo guy Ben's Brother needs to be checked out too.

The UK really do music festivals well, it really was great, a real carnival atmosphere; rides, stalls, seedy food everywhere. The weather was actually really good too, always a bonus. Neil and I were NOT prepared for bad weather, we just went along as if it was in Sydney, and when it poured buckets when we arrived we were a little nervous, but that ended up being the extent of it thank goodness, all those people were wellied up in vain. Must be said that there were some lovely wellies being worn though, kind of made me tempted to take up a farm life, just so that I could wear wellies like that. Lovely, so many different patterns.

Top weekend!
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Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Left London Victoria late last night on a Megabus and arrived early this morning in Edinburgh.

Wandered around for a bit in town, checked out the botanical gardens, which are absolutely beautiful and went on one of those pseudo free tours this afternoon. I did one of these in Berlin and it was good, so I thought, why not. The tour took us around Edinburgh; along the Royal Mile (a bit over a mile to be fair - goes from Holy-rood - the Queen's Scottish residence to the spectacular Edinburgh Castle), to Grey Friar's Cemetery, the Grass Market, where people were hung. Met a nice bloke from the US, also in a committed long distance relationship, so we stuck together and had a bit of a wander around Edinburgh and commiserated over Haggis - mine was vegetarian - at a really old pub on the Grass Market street where people reportedly had their last drink before they were hung. Hate the idea of people hanging other people by the way, so inhumane and primitive sounding. Awful.

Edinburgh - yay! I love this city; it's beautiful. Rather a pleasant surprise to be fair - I was totally expecting another London but it's completely different. I love that the UK is so amazingly diverse.

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Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom

We left my place late tonight (after finding what seems to be a lovely new housemate, yay!) and drove straight to Cardiff. Can't believe how close it is to London - so strange to think it's a different country. More a different state where they speak funny. :)
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Trefin, Wales, United Kingdom

Woke up to blue skies after a beautiful sleep of about 12 hours this morning.

We hit the Pembrokeshire coastal path first thing - we were both in awe of how beautiful it was - God is such an amazing artist. I think too, when you're cramped in the city for a long time, you appreciate it all the more. So yeah, it was beautiful, where we started was this mill that had been in operation for five hundred odd years before becoming obselete 100 years ago due to the production of cheap flour from other sources. The path continued, a frequently muddy, narrow path wrapped around high, rugged cliffs overlooking waves crashing on jagged rocks below, beautiful. Felt very Welsh.

The little town, Trefin, where we're staying is so beautiful. Really small - too small for a supermarket even. A pub, a cafe, a post office and that's about it. Neil and I were saying tonight that they can't have done too much planning, the roads just seem to go anywhere, and the old stone houses are right on the road, and I mean right on. You know how you shouldn't put your arm out of the car window for fear of it being chopped off by an oncoming car - the same goes for the poor Trefin children in the front bedrooms.

The nearest town is St. Davids, of Patron Saint fame, which is actually not a town at all, but the smallest city in the UK, due to the "if you've a cathedral, you're officially a city law." It's also beautiful. Tonight, Neil and I chanced upon Evensong, which was a pleasant surprise. The roof is unusually all made of wood; Neil was concerned about termites.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252149113/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252149113/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/binni/4/1252149113/tpod.html Sat, 05 Sep 2009 07:22:04 -0400 The Big One

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St. Andrews, Scotland, United Kingdom

It was highly recommended to me that I should pay St. Andrews a visit, so i thought why not, and off I went.

St. Andrews is a beatiful little town. It's well known for its university, its golf course and the beach - which actually featured in the opening scenes of Chariots of Fire. And it actually had a beach that I would easily call 'beautiful.' I can't think of another beach outside Aus, NZ or I suppose Samoa that I would call beautiful. Oh Tel Aviv. But no, not many.

Visited St. Andrew's cathedral - I got a little surprise, when I heard the word cathedral, I was thinking, dimly lit, hushed tones, candles, you know the drill. But no, it's actually an old, well, cathedral that was in operation hundreds of years ago, but is now virtually in ruins. In place of musty air, you've fresh sea air, in place of mosaic tiles covering the floor, it's blanketed with long, thick green grass. There's no stained glass windows, instead you can look straight out to the sea. Beautiful. My kind of church. Provididng the weather remains typically un-British I suppose.

St Andrews used to be a walled town, and as I walked to find myself a home made icecream (it was amazing), I followed these walls and exited through one of the only original entrance/exit points and there was a plaque dating it to the 13th century. Something uncanny about walking through man made things that old. Love it.

Loved St. Andrews. I can totally see what drew Wills to it.
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Jerusalem, Israel

Yesterday started with an awakening to the prayers of Allah, which was rather lovely. What a way to start the day.

We left to go to the Garden Tomb, which is where some people think that Jesus may have been crucified and buried. It was actually really nice, quiet and peaceful and the gardens were beautiful.

Quite different was the church of the Holy Sepulcre which is another spot where archeologists think Jesus died and was buried. Quite similar to yesterday's catholic church adventure.

We sat for a little while on the mount of Olives. It was quite an emotive place as it is where Jesus sweated drops of blood and Ian, our guide pointed to some city gates, which Jesus would have seen the people come through with torches to arrest him.

We went down the Via Delorosa which is where the stages of the cross are traditionally taken. Just happened to walk past Mary's birth house. Had a look at Solomon's quarry, this was quite interesting.Visited the Jaffa Gate and had a little look at some of the shops.

Today, we went out to the desert. We went out to a place called Masada where 900 rebel jews were virtually forced to kill each other, so arabic people wouldn't. Husbands killing wives and children, before killing themselves. Horrible. We took a cable car up this huge cliff. We also stopped at this place called En Gedi, not to be confused with the baby photographer. We went on a rather lovely walk to a waterfall and had a little lunch. Mmm...'yellow cheese' sandwhich. Nothing like a bit of yellow cheese, really hits the spot.

Then - the moment we were all waiting for, the dead sea! Really fun! I was a bit scared strangely. Note to self two things: Don't lick the water, and don't shave your legs within about two days prior - neither are pleasant experiences. I'd take Bondi anyday!

Daniel, Reyka and I went to the markets before tea. Reyka and I bought matching Winnie the Jew t-shirts - so suss!!
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London, England, United Kingdom

Commemorating the end of my time in Dover Castle (for now), I thought I'd complile a little list of memorable moments:

1. The first time I entered the room, saying a cheery "hello" and receiving (at best!) grunts from other guests in the room. Thinking that one of those was the most openly hostile person I had ever met when some poor soul knocked on the door a few minutes later and she bellowed f*** off to him or her.

2. A few hours later, breaking the ice with this openly hostile woman with Turkish Delight. Becoming rather good friends with this woman, who ended up being a rather interesting character; Australian, had an Army upbringing, a Uni lecturer and qualified psychologist. She gave me all sorts of good job hunting, travel, London tips as well as support and a friendly encouraging listening ear when going to and from job interviews, house hunting and the like. I was a little concerned about whether I'd be liked when I went to meet my new clapham mates and she was like "what's not to like, I've loved watching you interact with people."

3. Returning from being in Berlin and Israel and being greeted by one of the guys I knew from the Hostel on the street on the way and thinking, "I feel like I'm returning home - is this a nice thought or a depressing thought."

4. Going to the Laundromat with Matt and sitting in front of the driers, warming ourselves up...Matt was a lovely fellah who showed me round and gave me heaps of support over the first couple of weeks...helped me with settling in, opening bank accounts and NI numbers, showing me the Laundromat and the like.

5. Sleeping fully clothed (think jeans and hoody!) for the entire stay due to feeling uncomforable with wearing pyjamas infront of strange boys.

6. The water saving showers that require you to press the tap literally every fifteen seconds.

7. On my third last night, talking to a rough looking, tattooed, skin headed bloke in the next bed from me, and him telling me the he had just gotten out of prison.

8. Hearing a bloke's story; he'd just been deported 7 days ago for overstaying a visa in the US and his fiancé had just passed away within this time! Horrible.

9. A free...uhhh...show...'till 4am one morning, and considerately, 2am the next. And seeing 360 degrees of a completely naked, rather large Aboriginal girl.

10. Having an eighties singalong/dance-along with some of the residents on my last night. So complimentary about my singing voice.

Not at all sad about moving to Clapham though, so so excited!!
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