Cheap accommodation, hostels and mixed dorms in London

mixed dorm people sleeping

I love backpacking and one of the cheapest accommodation options you can have in London is living in a hostel. I stayed at Westminster at a place called The White Ferry House. It’s just a 5 minute walk from Victoria Station which was one of the major considerations I had – get near a major Underground tube station and you’re set to go anywhere.

It was also a plus point that a 15 minute brisk walk would bring me to the two major West End theatres in Westminster – Victoria Palace Theatre (showing Billy Elliot the Musical) and Apollo Victoria Theatre (showing Wicked the Musical).

When you don’t have enough time to find a CouchSurfing or BeWelcome place to crash in – hostels are the way to go. I’ve met lots of interesting people there. My favorite hostel in the world would be The Flying Pig (Downtown) in Amsterdam – it’s smack dab in the middle of the red light district and has a smoking room and coffeeshop.

hostel westminster

However, in London, I usually find myself at The White Ferry. It’s actually a pub that has accommodations upstairs. You get a free drinks voucher upon checking in (which can get you a pint of beer) and there’s free Wi-Fi in the pub downstairs too. Breakfast is provided as well and if you book early, it’s about 15 (30 on weekends) British pounds or so per night, which is cheap by London standards.

The local draft beer is really good and cheap too – there’s always specials with pints going for under 1 pound. The interesting thing about beer in the UK is that it’s not served icy cold like over here but just slightly chilled (a little above room temperature).

mixed dorm hostel london

The White Ferry only has mixed dorms (males and females bunking together) – I try and get in the 15 bed ones coz the 21 bed dorms can get a bit crowded. I’ve met some awesome people while staying there, including a French group who kindly shared their liquor with me. It’s fun to meet fellow travelers and set out together the next day to visit someplace – strangers into travel companions, an experience you will not get in a hotel.

shannon london

…and that’s why I love staying at hostels – it’s not only affordable but a great way to meet like-minded people and hear about their home country over a few drinks. 🙂

Short mention:


More at my YouTube channel

Here’s my submission for Samsung Global Blogger auditions – it’s a wee bit long…okay, it’s three times as long as it’s supposed to be, but it’s one take, just like life and I want to keep it that way.

Anyway, if you want to have a shot at winning a trip to London, just click on the link above and submit your very own 30 second video. The contest closes 29th April, so hurry. 🙂

What I would do if I lived in the Olympics Village

Have I ever dreamt about being a world class athlete in the Olympics? Of course.

olympics village rooms

However, for me the experience is not about winning medals and breaking records (although all that is good and well). It’s about living in the Olympics Village and meeting all these people from different countries and cultures.

There will be 204 estimated nations participating in the 2012 London Olympics!

olympics village

I’ll love to pop over to a different country’s living quarters every day – talk to them, eat what they eat, hear stories about life in their home country.

I don’t know if that’s against the rules (it probably is) but wouldn’t it be interesting to hear what they have to say and see what a gymnast eats vs say, a weight lifter?

olympics cultures

That’s what I’ll do if I’m in the Olympics Village – spend some time in each nation’s quarters so I’ll get to know their culture better. I reckon it’ll be the best part and imagine the stuff I’ll be able to write about…

…or make videos about. 😀

Remember the Samsung Global Blogger contest I blogged about?

It’s closing soon on the 29th April and here’s what they will be looking for in your video audition:

  • Confidence and energy in front of the camera
  • A passion for your subject matter
  • Imagination and originality
  • A good sense of humor
  • A social butterfly – do you use Twitter? Or talk to the world on your own blog?
  • The ability to tell a story well through video and the written word

Here’s Jamie Oliver expounding a bit on it. You might also want to see their tips on making a great video.

I’ll love to be one of the chosen ones. It’ll be so much fun to be able to go there and represent Malaysia in covering the London 2012 Olympics from my own point of view, getting all the interesting bits about this penultimate sports event and the festivities surrounding it.

If you’re interested to apply, get on over to the Samsung Global Blogger contest to find out how you can get a chance to win a trip to London during the Olympics! It’s not too late.

You’ll be in the thick of all the action!

My video is coming up soon…wish me luck! 🙂

I wanna go for the London Olympics!

Dominique Moceanu

I’ve always wanted to go to the Olympics. My first experience with the Olympics was when I was 14 and watched every artistic gymnastics event to see if Dominique Moceanu was performing during the 1996 Atlanta Games. It was just on television but I had a *huge* crush on her.

I taped her feats and cheered when she won. I watched and re-watched her floor exercise – the one that she did with the background song The Devil Came Down to Georgia. I even joined her fan club. I was a card holding t-shirt wearing Dominique Moceanu fan!

I’m mildly embarrassed to admit this now, but I even wrote her letters.

Moceanu

Funny story, there was this feature going on at The Star at the same time asking teenagers to submit what they think of the Olympics and I did. The editor cut out most of my putting-her-on-a-pedestal stuff but some of it got in and I received RM 50 for my efforts.

I didn’t even know they had a prize if you get published. It was, in effect, my first paid writing assignment.

Anyway, as I grew up, I was more interested in track and field but I still watch gymnastics and the best part for me was always the opening ceremony.

archer

When I was 24, I was mesmerized by the archer shooting a flaming arrow to light up the Olympics flame in the opening ceremony when the Games returned to Athens, Greece. I swore I’ll be in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics. I went to Guilin two years later instead. I promised myself I’ll make it for the London 2012 Olympics and this time I did go to Londontwice!

I went in 2010 and 2011. 😡

london

Alas, it looks like I’ll have to wait another 4 years before I can attend the Olympics in person since it’s so late in the game (pun intended) that all the tickets and accommodations for the Olympics would be all sold out. T_T

…and then I received this tasty morsel of news.

Samsung is running a contest where you can win a trip to London during the Olympic Games. All you need to do is to submit a 30 second video in English of you telling them why you would be great at hunting out all the best stories London has to tell during the Olympics.

There’s a list of criteria that they’re looking for and the contest ends on 29th April but I’m here to proclaim that:

It is not too late!!!

Read about the Samsung Global Blogger contest for more details and go grab your digicams everyone! I’ll be doing one too. 😀

Wicked the Musical in London

wicked the musical

Wicked the Musical is one of the best musicals I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. It’s currently showing at Apollo Victoria Theatre in London. Yup, I caught the West End cast in this award winning production! 🙂

wicked

Wicked is actually based on the first of a trilogy of books by Gregory Maguire called Wicked – The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Most of you would have watched or read The Wizard of Oz at some point in your childhood. It’s a good movie but ultimately suffers from being based on a children’s book – it’s all black and white, good versus evil.

wicked book

As you grow older, such concepts are foreign, nay, an insult to your intelligence, in a world you know has no such absolutes. It’s all shades of gray and Wicked will appeal to the older audience. The book and the musical adaptation has quite a few differences though – the book is darker and Dorothy does not make an appearance in the written word.

wicked glinda

However, I love the musical coz it weaves everything together and portrays Elphaba (the name of the Wicked Witch of the West) as a revolutionary who fights for the rights of Animals. She is ultimately a very misunderstood character and you can’t help but feel sorry for her.

wicked ticket

I managed to get reasonably good seats for 62.50 pounds (about RM 300) – it’s the very front row in the middle of the Dress Circle. I was impressed by the props on stage as well – the animatronic bird (?) hovering over the stage like a large pterodactyl that comes alive when the Wizard of Oz makes his speeches is awe inspiring!

apollo victoria wicked

The orchestra playing in front of the stage is so good that I went and bought the CD + program for 20 pounds. Wicked the Musical is probably best known for the song “Defying Gravity” which also appeared in an episode of Glee (the one with the wheelchairs in Season One).

wicked program cd

I won’t spoil the story for you but basically the musical is about Glinda (The Good Witch of the South), Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) and Nessa (The Wicked Witch of the East) during their days in school.

orchestra

The witches weren’t known as such then (Glinda is such a selfish airhead) and the incredibly sad and touching series of events which culminated in the death of Nessa (damn Madame Morrible) and the vilification of poor Elphaba will bring a tear to even the most stone hearted man.

elphaba

The production runs for about 3 hours, including an intermission between Act I and Act II and I cannot recommend it strongly enough for those with an interest in theatre (and even those without). If you only watch one musical in your lifetime, let it be Wicked. I got so angry at Galinda and felt so sorry for Elphaba even though it’s just great acting.

I can relate so much to Elphaba. T_T

No one mourns the wicked. 🙁

Mulled wine

british mulled wine

I’ve never tried British mulled wine before and I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. It seems rather hard to find, despite it being winter when I was there but I finally managed to track it down.

mulled wine

Mulled wine is red wine with spices like cinnamon added and served warm. It comes out of a pot – the glass of wine is filled by ladling the hot mulled wine into it.

mullet wine

The taste is quite extraordinary – the warm drink makes it perfect for sipping and the sugar and cinnamon tones makes it very palatable indeed…even for non-drinkers. It’s awesomeness in a glass during the cold days of winter! 🙂

Updates from London

london 2011

Greetings from London! Yes, I am still here, hanging around and catching several theatre shows I’ve wanted to see. I’ll be heading to Tsibili, Georgia the day after (Friday) for my primary destination, although it seems like I’ve spent more time in London than anywhere. -_-”

Georgia has been in the news quite a bit lately (on BBC anyway) and it seems like it’s going to be an interesting trip!

priscilla musical

Anyway, I should be heading around but have been tempted with getting a dose of culture in the city. I’ve seen Wicked (awesome), Billy Elliot (not my thing), Oliver! (nice, and a good thing I catched it before it finishes its run) and my favorite – Chicago! =D

All theatre tickets kindly paid for by the betting centers around here. 😉 I’m totally serious, I go out everyday and hit the Roulette machines after breakfast and won EVERY FUCKING SINGLE DAY.

bet and win

Nothing big, mind, about 100 pounds per day average, was satisfied with 50 pounds once but it’s 100 pounds is my target. It’s been paying for my expenses, so what the hell. smirk

I’ve also found this place which serves awesome fish and chips. Fish anyway. I have never thought that there would be huge differences in fish and chips, it being a simple dish and all, but there is. The chips are nothing to write home about, but their beer batter fried cod is to die for – crispy on the outside and the tender flesh just about melts in your mouth.

cod and chips

Delicious!

Anyway, I haven’t figured out where to go after I come back from Georgia yet, but I’ll need one last day here to go shopping for clothes.

It’s the post-festive season now so there are discounts galore. VAT is going to increase to 20% from 17.5% in 2011 and that’s another factor outlets are having insane sales too. I’m going to pick up a couple of pieces of attire – Chinese New Year is coming up (yeah, am old skool that way :p) and designer brands here are surprisingly cheap.

jesus ultrasound

It’ll have to be on the very last day though coz I don’t want to be lugging bags of clothes around, slowing me down. It’s pretty rainy right about now, and I saw some fluffy snow flakes falling down a couple of days ago and the forecast says it’s going to snow on Friday.

Anyway, till next time…Huai Bin, signing off. =D

Posted: 12:53 London time (GMT +0)

Happy 2011 from 35,000 feet in the air

happy new year 2011

I must admit, I have been slightly depressed – worrying about everything – health, finances, work. I don’t even know if I can make my money last for this sojourn to Europe.

Hell, I’m not even sure I can put a roof over my head during this entire trip, which is driving me to financial ruin. I was starting to think it’s a bad idea after all.

I haven’t been looking forward to this trip, to be honest. I was on the verge of saying “Fuck it” and crawled back home.

However, when the flight took off and the pilot told us to look to the right for the New Year 2011 celebrations, I felt…something.

Looking down at the fireworks from 35,000 feet in the air, it really hit me – this is a NEW YEAR.

It’s a time for new beginnings, a fresh start, and hell, I am going to ENJOY my Europe vacation!

So here I propose a toast – to new beginnings! 🙂

ALL HAIL 2011!
P/S – The nicely scented pen plucked from the bosum of the AirAsiaX flight attendant’s uniform I’m using to write this on a scrap of paper might have contributed to the general uplift in mood. 😉

Posted: 10:09 am London time (GMT +0)

Off to Europe again!

london again

Hello everyone! I’m spending my New Year’s Eve on a plane to London. =D

I’ll be flying tonight to London, staying a day before heading (most likely) to Amsterdam. My itinerary is pretty fluid at the moment, nothing set in stone yet, since I’m going to be spending a month here.

However, I will be visiting Georgia (dubbed “the crazy post Soviet country” by SulphurSouls) for at least 7 days! I can’t wait to go there, it’s not a place most people visit and Tbilisi sounds like a great place to explore. 🙂

Stonehenge Rock Cake

stonehenge me

I made it a point to go to Stonehenge during my trip to England. My only regret was that Stonehenge is not located in Amsterdam. I think I would have gotten much more out of it if it were there. 😉

rock cake stonehenge

Anyway, I have lots of photos and videos of Stonehenge so I’ll do a full writeup of this place soon. I read in Wikitravel that I should not miss the Stonehenge rock cake after immersing myself in the mysteries of Stonehenge.

stonehenge rock cake

I don’t know who wrote that but I can tell you that I’ve eaten better rock cakes. It’s 1.99 pounds (about RM 10) and it’s nothing more than a marketing gimmick. Go to Stonehenge to see the rocks, avoid the rock cakes. 😉

Jacket potatoes in England

jacket potatoes

Jacket potatoes are probably the closest thing to street food in England. These are hot spuds with toppings of your choice. The potatoes are huge – it’s more than a size of a man’s fist and rather filling, with all the carbs inside.

jacket potatoes stall

I had one during a particularly chilly day in autumn. There are a lot of fillings to choose from – I went with bacon and cheese.

jacket potatoes topping

The cost of your jacket potato depends on what you want on it, but usually costs about 4-5 pounds or so (about RM 20+).

jacket potatos

The jacket potatoes is put into an oven and toasted to melt the cheese and although it may be a simple dish, it’s comfort food – perfect for the cold weather. 🙂

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...