Europe

When I head to London one of the first places I head to is The Generator Hostel near Russell Square. Right near the Tube line which takes you straight out to Heathrow, and near enough to everything you want to see and do in London, it is really is an easy place to stay with an [...]

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As the electric doors slide open I let out an audible sigh of frustration – another wall of people blocked me and my fellow passengers from entering the train. I was in London and it was peak-hour; I should have expected the crush of people from previous trips but living near the end of the Northern Line [...]

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I was confused. Perhaps I was back in Hong Kong with the crowds a mix Cantonese, Mandarin, and British accent, the air filled with the smell of fried rice and thousands of Chinese people filling the square. But I knew I was in London; Admiral Nelson was sitting high on the pillar above overlooking the celebration and [...]

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Popping into the Painting Pottery Cafe in Brighton

February 25, 2012
Thumbnail image for Popping into the Painting Pottery Cafe in Brighton

The faint wafting of BBC’s classical music channel could be heard throughout the store on Brighton‘s North Road but my mind was entirely focused on painting. Each stroke gentle, trying to stay between the lines; three coats of paint, so much to remember. Step 1. Trace your pattern onto the mug As I traced my design onto the mug [...]

Why the Only Photos of Belfast I have are of the Hotel Room

February 16, 2012
Photo of the electronic sign on the train signalling that we had arrived at Belfast Central station in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Please note, content in this post may be considered sensitive by some readers. I was locked out. No amount of banging or phone calls was going to change the fact that there was no way I could get into the hostel and that meant one thing – I was once again faced with the prospect [...]

Being Greeted with a Smile in Brighton

January 31, 2012
Brighton, Hove, Greeter tour, city walk, UK, United Kingdom, Brighton's Greeters Scheme

Trains were late, the weather was drizzling – something I had imagined was only isolated to London – but as the salt air came in off the ocean and filled my lungs everything seemed better, it began to feel like home. This ‘home’ I speak of is Brighton, the seaside town famous for its Pier [...]

Being an Australian in a Sea of Thousands of Irish – International Rules

November 9, 2011
Australians at Half Time in Limerick, Ireland for the Australian v Ireland International Rules Game 2010

After quitting my job in London I had… no, I needed to get out of the city to gather myself after making the decision to return to Australia. I hated London and didn’t want to be in such a grey miserable city for a minute longer, but that left me in a predicament about where I could [...]

Black Taxi Tour of Belfast

November 4, 2011
Belfast Black taxi tour peace wall dividing protestants and catholics shankill road west belfast

The Berlin walls fell over 20-years ago yet it still remains one of the most popular attractions for the city, but there are more than one set of walls in Europe and this one is still standing strong. Covering over a 20km stretch, many people of my generation probably don’t even know where Belfast is [...]

What is J-Dag? – A Celebration in Copenhagen

November 3, 2011
J Dag Christmas Beer Jule

Merry people bounding down the streets sporting blue Santa hats, bars are full of happy customers and the streets are lined with… foam? This was the scene that we were met with soon after leaving Nørrebro Bryghus in the trendy suburb of Nørrebro; and it appeared the closer to the city centre we walked the [...]