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Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
EASILY DISTRACTED... MAÑANA MAÑANA
Looks like I decided to go for a coffee break in between writing this.
J u l y 2 0 1 4 - So I have been very lazy with updating my blog... The stress of living a jobless life in London is getting to me. Seems like I am just applying for just any vacant job position and that every agent knows that I am doing that too. But needless to say I have found time to take myself to Spain for a couple of weeks.
Well what an interesting, fun trip and a huge learning curb it has been for me.
Firstly this was the first time I travelled by myself and also the first time I booked all my own tickets accommodation and transport... and the stress got to me just because I hate making mistakes (it's just not natural lol) well what a rude shock I will be in for.
The night before leaving I did not sleep first of all because I was packing my bag, then unpacking, then re-packing, Secondly because I had to be at Liverpool Street station to catch my bus at 3.45am and thirdly I am a deep sleeper I would have probably slept through my alarm. I decided not to sleep that night... So after triple checking that I had everything in my bag I decided to check it one more time but this time I moved some things around just so it is easier for me to reach when I got to the airport, it then turns out my good idea backfired when I forgot to put it back in my bag... I realised this when I got to the airport and all my belongings were scattered across Stansted airport, everything except all of my boarding passes, bookings and address directions....
I try to remain calm and walk over to the computer kiosk with a bit of pace and put in a few pounds to print out my boarding pass, the machine rejects my money, after a few attempts I use my credit card instead. This computer happily takes my money but refuses to work you can't type, can't move the mouse properly and pretty much doesn't do anything you need it to do. I then asked the girl who is sitting next to me if her computer is working, only to notice her eyes are filled up with tears, she too is trying to print her boarding pass.
I am now getting fired up as steam starts shooting out of my ear this is outrageous that this kiosk is till operating and stealing peoples money. I wanted to do something about it but had no time and ran over to an information kiosk and asked the girl there if I can print out my boarding pass and she happily obliged for a small price of £10.00, I also inquired about the computer kiosk and the girl tells me that it has been an issue for sometime now but Stansted airport has not done anything about it and also kindly gave me a point of contact to put through a formal complaint. I then thanked her profusely and then charged through customs and to my boarding gate.
Yes, I am flying with Ryanair again... do you blame me? I have no job and the flight to Madrid was only £34.00!!! And of course the flight was delayed for 25minutes, but I was at peace with the fact I made it on to my flight on time and am in no rush now.
I get to Madrid and check into my hostel, this is the first time I have ever stayed in a hostel and I was expecting the worst like dingy lighting leaking pipes bad odours and all the rest. I was in for a complete shock, the hostel was anything but that, it was nice and clean and bright with modern lighting fixtures and faux lawn in the common areas with rope swings mounted from the high ceiling....
A p r i l 2 0 1 5 - Long story short, Hostels aren't as bad as they sound and airlines are as bad if not worst! Spain is beautiful and I can't wait to go back especially to Barcelona!
Kids count your change cause chances are you'll be short changed EUR 80.00 by the cab driver who stops mid journey to whistle down a girl in short shorts and also watch your pockets because in Bilbao you might get pick pocket and lose all your money, credit card and driver's license but the show must go on and you continue with your trip and run with the bulls where locals come up to you to and wish well and give you the down low of how to run and just walk away not saying anything to any of the other thousands of people there - like they knew something was going to happen to you! Make sure you get to the bus station super early to catch your bus back to the airport for your 13:40 flight because it is going to be really busy and the bus isn't going to be parked it the right bay and you might miss your bus and flight, which could cost you EUR 280.00, that you don't have... because your wallet was stolen a few days earlier!
Don't forget to have fun, eat your heart out, enjoy the sun (or rain) and smile because there is no reason not to!
V
J u l y 2 0 1 4 - So I have been very lazy with updating my blog... The stress of living a jobless life in London is getting to me. Seems like I am just applying for just any vacant job position and that every agent knows that I am doing that too. But needless to say I have found time to take myself to Spain for a couple of weeks.
Well what an interesting, fun trip and a huge learning curb it has been for me.
Firstly this was the first time I travelled by myself and also the first time I booked all my own tickets accommodation and transport... and the stress got to me just because I hate making mistakes (it's just not natural lol) well what a rude shock I will be in for.
The night before leaving I did not sleep first of all because I was packing my bag, then unpacking, then re-packing, Secondly because I had to be at Liverpool Street station to catch my bus at 3.45am and thirdly I am a deep sleeper I would have probably slept through my alarm. I decided not to sleep that night... So after triple checking that I had everything in my bag I decided to check it one more time but this time I moved some things around just so it is easier for me to reach when I got to the airport, it then turns out my good idea backfired when I forgot to put it back in my bag... I realised this when I got to the airport and all my belongings were scattered across Stansted airport, everything except all of my boarding passes, bookings and address directions....
I try to remain calm and walk over to the computer kiosk with a bit of pace and put in a few pounds to print out my boarding pass, the machine rejects my money, after a few attempts I use my credit card instead. This computer happily takes my money but refuses to work you can't type, can't move the mouse properly and pretty much doesn't do anything you need it to do. I then asked the girl who is sitting next to me if her computer is working, only to notice her eyes are filled up with tears, she too is trying to print her boarding pass.
I am now getting fired up as steam starts shooting out of my ear this is outrageous that this kiosk is till operating and stealing peoples money. I wanted to do something about it but had no time and ran over to an information kiosk and asked the girl there if I can print out my boarding pass and she happily obliged for a small price of £10.00, I also inquired about the computer kiosk and the girl tells me that it has been an issue for sometime now but Stansted airport has not done anything about it and also kindly gave me a point of contact to put through a formal complaint. I then thanked her profusely and then charged through customs and to my boarding gate.
Yes, I am flying with Ryanair again... do you blame me? I have no job and the flight to Madrid was only £34.00!!! And of course the flight was delayed for 25minutes, but I was at peace with the fact I made it on to my flight on time and am in no rush now.
I get to Madrid and check into my hostel, this is the first time I have ever stayed in a hostel and I was expecting the worst like dingy lighting leaking pipes bad odours and all the rest. I was in for a complete shock, the hostel was anything but that, it was nice and clean and bright with modern lighting fixtures and faux lawn in the common areas with rope swings mounted from the high ceiling....
A p r i l 2 0 1 5 - Long story short, Hostels aren't as bad as they sound and airlines are as bad if not worst! Spain is beautiful and I can't wait to go back especially to Barcelona!
Kids count your change cause chances are you'll be short changed EUR 80.00 by the cab driver who stops mid journey to whistle down a girl in short shorts and also watch your pockets because in Bilbao you might get pick pocket and lose all your money, credit card and driver's license but the show must go on and you continue with your trip and run with the bulls where locals come up to you to and wish well and give you the down low of how to run and just walk away not saying anything to any of the other thousands of people there - like they knew something was going to happen to you! Make sure you get to the bus station super early to catch your bus back to the airport for your 13:40 flight because it is going to be really busy and the bus isn't going to be parked it the right bay and you might miss your bus and flight, which could cost you EUR 280.00, that you don't have... because your wallet was stolen a few days earlier!
Don't forget to have fun, eat your heart out, enjoy the sun (or rain) and smile because there is no reason not to!
V
Thursday, June 5, 2014
OLÁ FROM OPORTO, PORTUGAL.
Oporto is truly one of the few destinations I have been to that has not been ruined by tourism. The streets are clean and the locals are friendly and the spirit is light, everyone is up for a chat and willing to help where help is needed, to me this felt foreign. I think I have been ruined by my upbringing in a society where price could be put on the air you breath and the carbon you exhale, where a helping hand is no longer a favour but a service that is paid for and driven by an ulterior motive.
On our first night in Porto I was a little frightened, only because I wasn't use to having people wondering and lounging on path ways of the ambient lit streets. In the shadows of the dimly lit church silently stood students from an all girls college dressed up in what appears to be Quidditch uniform from Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School of Magic and holding paddles… unusual and frightening to the foreigner... I was quite intrigued but I thought I would be best to not ask and move along.
Porto’s city centre is filled with grand architecture stemming from the medieval ages, Roman and Renaissance era and so forth… It is breathtakingly beautiful especially when you are standing atop the Dom Luís Bridge at sunset and seeing the cascade of rays over the terracotta roofs of the town – Also a great place to make friends, who ever said the French were an angry bunch didn’t meet the same people I did. The city is tiled with murals and decorative porcelain tiles ranging from cobalt blue ink paintings on tiles that decorate the churches and monasteries of the town to Goyard like prints that cover the residential buildings
If the key to your heart is food and wine then be prepared to surrender your heart. There are two things Oporto is famous for and that is port wine and the francesinha!
Francesinha, otherwise interpreted as little Frenchie or Frenchie. She is meaty (steak, ham, sausage similiar to chipolata, chorizo, eggs), saucy (tomato, beer, port, bacon and peri-peri) and will make you melt like cheese under the grill (loads of cheese). Served with a side of fries, for those who have had or will have the pleasure of meeting her you would either love her or hate her. Personally for me I couldn’t get enough of her, over my 2 nights stay in Oporto we were to meet again 4 times!
I will try not let my obsession with Francesinha overshadow the amazing port wine that comes from this region! I am no wine connoisseur but the subtle, sweet, fruity and full bodied taste of the local port could be enjoyed at room temperature, chilled or my favorite over a fresh slice of pineapple!
All in all there isn’t enough that I can say about Porto that will do it justice, if you don’t believe me you will just have to go see it yourself.
All images are subject to copyright. Images may not be used in any way shape or form with out written permission from Vincent Phan. Images are NOT permitted to be saved, printed or uploaded. Violation of copyright laws are punishable by law.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
RYANAIR TO PORTUGAL!
For those of you who are familiar with RYANAIR here's something for you to laugh at... Ryanair so far is leading the score board my worst flight experience.... EVER.
Not because the staff was rude or abrupt, they were pleasant to say the least. I understand Ryanair is a budget airline and probably has a minimalist approach but seriously... the lack of communication and punctuality by the airline and let's face it their clientele (You don't see the Queen flying Ryanair now do you?) and we have a disaster just waiting to happen.
Not because the staff was rude or abrupt, they were pleasant to say the least. I understand Ryanair is a budget airline and probably has a minimalist approach but seriously... the lack of communication and punctuality by the airline and let's face it their clientele (You don't see the Queen flying Ryanair now do you?) and we have a disaster just waiting to happen.
My journey began on Thursday evening after a
stressful day sleeping on the couch I made my way out to Liverpool street
station, where I had agreed earlier to meet up with my friends to head to
Stansted airport.
Upon arrival to the airport we scurried along to check in as we were flying with Ryanair (reliable for making a buck from anything as my friend Dave found out the hard way on an earlier trip) we had arrived 40minutes earlier than the required check-in time, only to find out our flight was conveniently delayed.
Upon arrival to the airport we scurried along to check in as we were flying with Ryanair (reliable for making a buck from anything as my friend Dave found out the hard way on an earlier trip) we had arrived 40minutes earlier than the required check-in time, only to find out our flight was conveniently delayed.
Fast forward 1.5 hours and we are now finally
lined up like a heard of cattle to board our flight it took us 30minutes before we
actually started moving to get on the aircraft, at this stage you could hear
the annoyance of our fellow passengers, not verbally but from the heaving, panting and sighs
coming from along the line.
Once we were all on board and our luggage was
all stowed away safely above our head, nothing happened... For 35minutes we were
expected to sit in a cabin with no air-conditioning, no water and severely
humidity and the worst part was not one word was said from the captain.... It
was only after a very fiery passenger started hollering abuse at the flight attendants and then turning on fellow passengers -
probably from delirium triggered by the lack of oxygen on board the aircraft -
that the captain finally made an announcement to inform us that aircraft was
struck by lightning on an earlier fight and assured us the flight will commence shortly. The flight did not commence shortly even after several other promises. But lets just say we arrived safely in Porto
( or Oporto to the locals) at 12.40 am when we were suppose to
have been there at 8.20pm!
Overall Ryanair from my experience is very consistent, consistently late and our flight home from Lisboa to Stansted was so late that we ended up walking home from Liverpool station at 3.30am... for an airline that is meant to be saving us money it is not doing a very good job because our time wasted wast worth more than the actual flight itself.
Just Kidding, but it was a very long wait...
Wednesday, May 21, 2014
ELLO FROM LONDON
It has been exactly one week since I landed on this God loving, beer drinking, mind blowing creative hub and I think I love it!
London has been very kind and welcoming of me with generous sunshine and warm weather, but no matter where I go I am reminded by the local Londoners that the weather is not usually this magnificent and not to expect it to stay... Misleading? I don't mind.
From first impressions London seems to be ever so similar to Sydney, but on a massive scale! This may be due to the large population of expats now calling Australia home (God love you Stephen) or vice versa.
From first impressions London seems to be ever so similar to Sydney, but on a massive scale! This may be due to the large population of expats now calling Australia home (God love you Stephen) or vice versa.
London is extremely busy and there is always something going on, let it be food stalls that fills the cobble stoned streets with wild aromas of cuisines from all over the world, to fashion music video shoots on the streets of Brick Lane or masses of trash and treasure antiques that is to be rummaged through at the markets!
There is so much happening here and there is still loads more to take in... The city is beautiful and charming and no matter where you look there is a reminder of the history that lays within this city, the architecture is grand and I could not help my self but to think that at some point of it's existence these buildings could have very well hosted a momentous point in the history of this nation or even the world, so it feels to me anyway.
So far the few places I have managed to check out is Oxford Street, Brick lane Market, London's Gherkin and Covent Garden... and don't let the name fool you, there is no garden there as I found out (awkward!).
Well I'm off to Portugal tomorrow for 4 days, I better sign off and start packing!
All images are subject to copyright. Images may not be used in any way shape or form with out written permission from Vincent Phan. Images are NOT permitted to be saved, printed or uploaded. Violation of copyright laws are punishable by law.
Thursday, April 24, 2014
THE GUY DOWN UNDER for THE BLACK AND WHITE BOARD & FLIGHT FROM VENUS
We have been talking about doing a photo shoot for many moons now but the planets have never allowed us time to make it happen, well today it happened and the results speak for it self.
You can follow Jennifer's blog for all things fashion and beauty @ http://theblackandwhiteboard.com/
On today's shoot I was fortunate enough to get my hand on 11 pieces of beautifully hand crafted natural crystal jewellery by Flight From Venus. When I saw these I knew I had to have these for the photo shoot as there is nothing else on the market that looks quite like them... These hand crafted pieces has a real high street appeal definitely for the fashion conscious modern woman or man... that doesn't want to conform to commercialisation. These are all standout statement pieces that can be worn alone or layered and Jen sure knows how to work them into her style!
You can find Jewellery featured in today's photo shoot @ http://www.flightfromvenus.com/
All images are subject to copyright. Images may not be used in any way shape or form with out written permission from Vincent Phan. Images are NOT permitted to be saved, printed or uploaded. Violation of copyright laws are punishable by law.
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