Exploring the World

La Tomatina

kbradnock — Sun, 9 Sep 2012 22:17:00 GMT

10 days in Spain, beautiful sunshine, wonderful people and a massive stinky tomato food fight...what could be better!

I was incredibly lucky to work as crew for a tour company at a campsite with 500 people. Totally in my element!

The trip started horrendously though, day 1 getting to Valencia goes like this....
1. 4:30 am bus late2. Missed connecting bus3. 20 minute run to tube station with big bag4. Train to Gatwick breaks down5. Easy Jet lose my bag

But eventually I got there and everyone was incredibly welcoming. Just a really good bunch of genuinely nice people (majority Aussies!) and the next few days were great. Staying up late playing drinking games at night and spending the days pitching tents and swimming in the great Spanish sun. I’m browner now then I have ever been, finally looking like a Maori....well a little.

All of the clients arrived on the Wednesday after we’d spent a few days prepping everything and check in day was a big big day. I spent the day greeting people as they arrived and putting on their wrist bands, after doing 500 bands my thumbs were screwed and I’m still recovering. That night I had to get one of the girls to do up my shorts that's how bad it was! But I loved it, totally in my element chatting away to people so time just flew.

La Tomatina itself is just absolute madness. You have to get there at like 8am to be able to get a good spot before the other 45,000 people turn up and cram into this tiny little area. In the lead up to the actual tomato fight all the ‘Men’ try climb this 10 metre pole covered in pig fat with a ham at the top. It smells so bad and everyone’s sweaty, covered in pig fat and so stinky...then they walk past you and it gets all over you because everyone’s so crammed in! After waiting around for a couple of hours drinking bourbon and coke with 4 crazy Italians the tomato fight finally starts! And it is crazy. These trucks slowly roll in jammed pack with tomato’s and its all on!!! They biff these tomatoes out at everyone, then as the truck moves forward everyone rushes into the middle scoops up tomato goop off the ground and biffs it at everyone. You can’t think to much about what you’re doing, as in the fact your picking up street dirt, tomatoes and probably a bit of urine and throwing it at each other getting it all in your hair, you just have to embrace it and get amongst it. So for an hour there is this massive food fight in the heat. Then afterwards you wander the streets trying to find water to not only wash off with but cool down. A friend and I found this little kid on a 3^rd storey balcony throwing buckets of water so used that.

I was absolutely exhausted after this event....but partied for a bit that night before sleeping outside under the stars, it was too hot in the tent, and listening to live music. Enjoying the good things in life.

Overall, Tomatina was one heck of an experience. I definitely think its a once in a lifetime event for me but would highly recommend it to anyone who likes a bit of madness.

Next festival is Oktoberfest....oh dear.

Till then...KB xxx

Life in General

kbradnock — Sun, 9 Sep 2012 22:16:00 GMT

Life has been manic! So I’ve now been here for over a month and time has just flown by. I realise now how quickly the next 8 months will go!! So I’ve decided to embrace this trip with both hands. Over the last month I have lived in two flats (just couch surfing), visited the palace, brought my first cheap flights, been to Spain, got a job, worked at La Tomatina and made friends! It’s been a busy month and I’m glad to report I’m no longer Nigel no mates over here in London.

Work is good, doing pretty much the same thing as I was doing back home in NZ so it’s easy to slip back into it. I got my first UK paycheck and treated myself to a new handbag and a bit of make up to hide the bags under my eyes. Next thing I brought with my pay was my flights to Oktoberfest! I’ve been really lucky with work and managed to get a contract to work around the travel I want to do so I’m really pleased.

It’s a bit of a laugh working in an office with a bunch of Brits, I’m the one who says funny things and has an accent. Every so often I get this, “whhhattt are you saying!?” and other times I’m sitting there going “I have no idea what you’re asking me for!” all in all I love it. I’ve been hanging out with heaps of Aussies too and they’re just ripping me apart for my accent. Making me say Six, Chips etc.

The flat I’m living in at the moment is brilliant; the flatties are great and have really made me feel welcomed. Inviting me out with them and everything so I feel like part of the family. We’ve just decided that we’ll all have an ‘Orphans’ Christmas together so that’ll be good. Christmas in London, albeit cold, is meant to be beautiful so that's exciting.

Overall, living over here is an absolute roller coaster. One minute you love it, the next minute you hate it, then you want to travel everywhere and next you want to go home. But now that I’ve got friends I’m feeling a lot better and enjoying things a bit more. I’ve realised time’s going to go by too fast to not enjoy every moment.

I’m really maximising the travel options too...

September/October – Munich Oktoberfest
November – Following the All Blacks so Rome, Edinburgh, Cardiff
December – Egypt, Prague
January – Morrocco, Poland
February – Vegas, South America

I’ll be coming home absolutely stone broke but that's fine!....Mum will have to feed me when I get back =)

Anyway, now I’m off to a friend’s farewell but will not be drinking as I still feel like death from last night!!

Talk soon....KB xxx

A novel approach to the London Tube

kbradnock — Wed, 8 Aug 2012 04:27:00 GMT

While the world I used to know sleeps I sit in a Starbucks (I know it’s sacrilege but I’m desperate!) sipping, no sculling, a cappuccino. Thought I was over my jetlag but today is definitely trying to prove me wrong.

Day 2 at work and its all going well, same stuff I was doing at home so a nice gig to get! On the 22^nd I’ll finish up then the next day I’ll fly out to Valencia for Tomatina for just over a week, plan on extending for a couple of nights after the event and just relaxing in the sun a bit, working on the tan and exploring some of spain.

Possibly the reason for me being so tired today is the fact that it took me an hour and a half to get to work this morning (compared to the 40 minutes the other day!). This morning I came across my first tube delay, according to the locals they happen all the time. I now realise how important it is for me to wander around this area and find an alternative route to work in case of ‘emergency’ I think.

Its been interesting catching the tube to work for the last couple of days, rush hour is simply chaotic and I’ve been told this is nothing! In the evening it takes me on average an hour to get home but its a good opportunity to just chill, read a book, listen to music etc. Like a forced relaxation period every day which for me isn’t such a bad thing. However, one thing I have become acutely aware of is my height. I don’t mind being so small normally, but here my height is the exact level of every middle aged mans sweaty, stinky armpit. All of whom squeeze into an area far too small for them and then reach up and hold the bar above my head!! I am just waiting for the day the tube stops suddenly and my nose ends up firmly planted in an armpit!

Apart from working I’ve just been taking it easy for the last few days, no hurry...I live here now! I’ve seen a few foxes wandering around, squirrels in the parks and Crows which are all still a bit of a novelty. Along with recieving 2p change from 90p, so many coins.

Until something interesting happens, stay safe!

The end of week one

kbradnock — Sun, 5 Aug 2012 22:11:00 GMT

I can’t believe I’ve been in this big city for a whole week already. It’s been a really fun week playing tourist capped off with an Olympic themed boat party! What a blast.

Friday was a brilliant day spent with the lovely Kate heading out to Greenwich Arena for the Mens Trampolining event of the London Olympics 2012. It was so esxciting to be a part of it and just soak it all up, must say I'm now quiet a fan of mens trampolining. The emotion that the athletes go through on the day of their event is just monumental and irrespective of what country they are everyone seems to really invest and wants all competitors to do well, it was such a cool atmosphere. Olympics...tick.

There is just always something happening and Friday night was testament to that, Kate and I ended up having a few ciders in this really funky little carnival, going on rides and capped the night off with the most bizzare cabaret show...all spur of the moment but so much fun!

Last night Candice, Henry & I joined around a hundred other Kiwis, Aussies and Brits on board a boat cruising on the River Thames for four hours with copious amounts of booze.Turns out the world isn't so big though, I bumped into a friend from Primary school on board, crazy! It still blows my mind when I look up and suddenly there’s the Big Ben or the London Tower! Photos to come. After consuming far more than one should on any given night we headed back to Candice’s in one of those black cabs you see on the TV...another thing to tick off the list.

One thing I have noticed is that due to all the travel time on the tube I’m getting mal de debarquement syndrome a little – where you feel like you’re moving even though you aren’t. To give you an idea, it takes me an hour to get to Candice’s, 45 minutes to get to work, 40 minutes to the centre of town so all up I spend a lot of my life on the tube. I need to invest in a seriously good book I think. And I now completely understand how people can fall asleep at the end of the night and go right to the last stop...watch this space it’ll happen one day I’m sure.

Yesterday was the first time I’ve been around shops while I’ve been here, Candice and I had to go costume shopping and wow have I found some great shops! Primark – the super cheap version of Glassons, Poundland (no it’s not dirty!) – where everything is £1 and they have everything from house ware, children’s toys, brand name beauty products and more. These are my two new faves! Once I get a big of coin in my pocket I’ll be back there!

In the meantime I’m off to the supermarket to play the fun game of how cheap can I make my foodbill! I love buying things less then £1, you feel like such a good budgeter...and until I start working properly I need to play this game a lot. Also need to invest in an umbrella quickly, weather here changes every 2 minutes and its extremes. This morning for example, rain/thunder/lightning by the time I got home it was sunny and freaking hot!

I’ve uploaded a few more photos and will add some of the costume party once I nab them.

Stay safe!

KB.

A Very Royal Affair Indeed

kbradnock — Fri, 3 Aug 2012 17:07:00 GMT

Well, what a few days I’ve had! I have finally managed to do basic things like get a UK Sim card, set up my bank account, begin the process for my NIN number as well as find a job and so much more!

First lot of big news...a job! I’ve been offered a fantastic opportunity for a couple of weeks work over here doing a very similar role to what I was doing at home. Starting on Monday out in Wimbledon I’ll be there until the 22^nd before heading to Valencia on the 23^rd for the La Tomatina Festival. I’m stoked, I couldn’t have planned it any better!

This week I’ve been playing tourist with Kate & Chelsey (2 friends from home).A double decker bus, Big Ben, the London Eye, Parliament and so on. Yesterday we had a truly Royal Day starting with watching the Changing of the guard – what a spectacle that is! – Before actually going inside Buckingham Palace. As the Queens away on holiday at the moment you can get in there for only £18. We then had scones at the Palace, ok so it was in the little cafe they set up and a scone was £6 but hey, I had tea and scones with the queen...sort of!

I’ve also done a lot of exploring on my own and familiarised myself with things like the tube, the area I live in, cool areas in town etc. The other day I just chilled at Trafalgar Square for a bit, just casually. Although I must admit walking around and looking at street names you do start to feel like a game piece in a real life version of Monopoly!

The other night I had a fantastic dinner with Candice & Henry who have promised to teach me the ropes and help me understand some of the lingo when I get really talking to locals. Candice has been over here for just over a year so knows it like the back of her hand. Which works out perfectly that she’s coming with me on Saturday to my first dress up party here in London, a boat party Olympic themed!

Must go, need to make phone calls to sort out a few more little things. Oh and all of that needs to happen before I head to the Olympics today with Kate....

More to come, watch this space.

KB.

Photos: Adventures Part One

kbradnock — Wed, 1 Aug 2012 02:43:00 GMT

Highlight photos of my adventures in Lodon

The first steps always the hardest...

kbradnock — Wed, 1 Aug 2012 02:26:00 GMT

Hey All!

Sorry its taken a few days to get onto this, but as you can imagine travelling for 36 hours (managing 5 hours sleep) I was in no state to whip up my first entry when i landed. In saying that I now have far more interesting comments anyway having explored London a little.

Firstly, customs...amazing Hi-5 to Heathrow on that one. Took me longer to walk from the plane to customs then it did to actually get through! And the guy was so lovely, he gave me directions to where i’m staying...i didn’t have the heart to tell him i already knew so just thanked him, chatted and carried on. I sat next to this gorgeous wee elderly couple on the plane who became my best buddies. I think they also loved me because i showed them how to use the inflight entertainment; poor souls did nothing for the first few hours as i was sleeping!

I’m staying in a place called Acton, funnily enough Kate & Chelsey are staying merely minutes down the road so perfect location. Given that i didn’t know the address for my couch until i was in customs its all worked out exceptionally well. Its a great area, i’m sitting in a local park typing this up enjoying the greenery, and somewhere i wouldn’t mind flatting in the long run. So far, so good.

I wandered down to the supermarket this morning, Morrissons, and was absolutely blown away by how many great things you can get for a pound! Blueblerries, strawberries, rock melon, tooth brushes (good ones!), Salad greens, milk the list just goes on! Although as it’s a 20 minute walk from my place i’m living on muesli, fruit and yoghurt for the next week – not a bad diet! It made me realise how much we pay for things in NZ even though they’re local, this place was as cheap as the Sunday Markets...I’m in love!

Walking throughout London (I’ve been walking since about 10am this morning, now it’s 5!) has been great. I’m just cruising not too concerned with going anywhere in particular and then ended up outside Buckingham Palace...just casually! I’d wandered from a meeting in Piccadilly, down towards Hyde Park (unknowingly) stopping off to visit a little market (these things are just everywhere) and found myself then looking at the Palace. Not too shabby to end up there, even if I did get caught in a downpour...its Buckingham Palace, rain is nothing!

It still doesn’t feel like i’m in London, not sure if its due to all the travel I’m so accustomed to or because i know i can easily get home if i really had to, but living over here isn’t really that crazy to me – not yet i guess at least. I have had some of the most bizarre things happening to me including a guy taking a photo of me on his Iphone as we were on the escalator in a tube station...so weird, i just looked away and boosted when I got to the top!

So many other wonderful and weird things have happened but i don’t want to make this too long and bore you all! Will try to write every couple of days if not more to keep you up to date and keep the entries shorter! I’ll be using this as my version of a travel journey to keep you all up to date and to also look back on in the future, so bear with me if some of the entries aren’t too amazing for you. Promise tokeep you in the loop with all the crazy situations I manage to get myself into (we all know they’re coming!!) but for now I must go, off to dinner with Kate n Chelsey. Can’t be a late night though, Job interview tomorrow morning!! Will keep you posted.

Oh one other thing, I do quiet enjoy seeing double decker buses & tube station signs everywhere...that's how I know I’m in the UK!

KB Over and Out.