Posted by admin on Feb 3, 2012 in
lists,
travel 
So you’ve been to Los Angeles more than once and ticked off everything your Lonely Planet guide suggested would be fun. You can now rules out a Segway tour of Santa Monica, a drum circle on Venice Beach, an adventurous foray into a Venice pharmacy (followed with a quick back away -you’re really going to sell me what!?) and the usual thrills of Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Sign and the Getty Museum. Depending on your age, career and personal inclinations you may also want to add West Hollywood to that list, Westwood ( a mecca for students and fraternities), Rodeo Drive (lovely on the eyes, hard on the wallet) and Griffith Park (pretty, but watch out for snakes).
Now you can happily tell everyone that you’ve ‘done LA’- but wait! There’s so much more to the sunshine state than 24 hour McDonald drive throughs and exploring new food outlets such as Taco Bell and Jack In The Box (written by a UK based person, OK?).
Within the city of Los Angeles there exists a panoply of alternative attractions all which will add a little more joy to your Los Angeles expedition, so I’d suggest you to sit up straight and get your CTRL+C fingers at the ready.
In no particular order I’d like to welcome you to my five unusual hot spots in Los Angeles- where the crazy never ends and all adults can become kids again.
The LAX Firing Range: Tuition
Sure, you’ve played plenty of Gears of War but have you ever held a 9mm semi automatic Glock in your hands? The answer may be yes if you’re from abroad or have visited Vegas, but even then it’s unlikley that you’ve loaded the magazine, taken apart the gun or looked inside the machine and learnt how to aim correctly.
LAX Firing Range offer a 2 hour training session that costs $99 (including tax) and which takes you from a gasping sweating gun fearing Brit into an armed and dangerous ninja. OK, in reality you turn from someone who whimpers at every bang to a competent and calculated shooter, who memorizes the rules of combat. Taught by a straight up speaking ex marine, the first rule was that on a semi automatic, ’The Safety is the trigger button’. Seriously. The next few rules were equally thrilling (for someone with a Die Hard fetish).
To quote, Rule One: Only point at something you are willing to destroy, Rule 2: Only point when you are ready to shoot and Rule 3: Always check if your gun is loaded.
The 2 hour class taught me how to take a gun apart, put it back together, check if the chamber had bullets in it, learn the release and load buttons for the magazine and learn how to disable a gun if the magazine was empty- but a bullet was still in the chamber.
Read more…
Tags: alternative los angeles, LAX Firing range, Maid Cafe
Posted by admin on Nov 1, 2011 in
geekery,
random,
Strange events 
Rock Paper Scissors is a game many people are familiar with. It’s used to solve arguments, make decisions and while away time whilst waiting for the bus. The more talented lucky may argue that there’s a stratgey to performing well at this game, and the lack of any props other than ones own body makes it universally acceptable. This humble game has moved beyond mere decision making and is now celebrated worldwide, with heats held in different countries, where only those with a fist of steel can win the coveted title of Rock Paper Scissors Champion. The UK Rock Paper Scissors Championship took place last week on the 22nd October 2011 and over 200 people gathered to try and gain a UK ranking in this sport. I decided to try my hand at gaining the trophy and this is my tale…
Training
Athletes warm up before games, so I embarked on some serious finger exercises. I practised moving my fingers to my thumb very quickly and used some stress balls to really help release the tension in my hand. I also practised a deadpan stare in the mirror- flat eyes, no smile- you’ll never know what’s coming next…
Strategy
To ensure I had the utmost advantage in my Rock Paper Scissors UK Championship event, I researched the sport thoroughly. I discovered that those in the know call it RPS or Roshambo (slightly less of a mouthful) and that it dates back to the Chinese Dynasty in 206 BCE (well, according to Wiki anyways) and that it has been used in court to settle a case (seriously). In terms of strategy there seemed to be dissenting points however- no one could tell me exactly what combo of rock paper scissors would always win. I learnt that three stones in a row is called an ‘Avalanche’ and this is commonly favoured by men, so I might have an advantage doing this version as a lady. It’s also reported that men traditionally open with stone, whilst women prefer paper- interesting. There’s also the notion of gambits- such as PPSPP which can be used to throw someone off guard. A traditional tournament game consists of two people over a table with a Referee in the middle. They call 1,2,3 and on 3 you open your palm. If you both have the same you repeat- and on and on till there’s a best of three win. Read more…
Tags: Rock Paper Scissors UK Championship
Posted by admin on May 17, 2011 in
travel 
Iceland, land of Fire and Ice, one of the rare parts of the world where you can bathe in hot springs, walk in volcanic ash and dress up like Bjork. That’s what the tourist managers would have you believe, but does it live up to the hype? Till recently Iceland tended to be out of most people’s reach (by this I mean budget) but due to their economic meltdown and huge drive for tourism it is actually quite reasonable now. With this in mind I decide to experience it for myself- and what time of year could be more exciting or busy than New Year’s Eve? Thermal underwear safely packed and long johns bought, I boarded my Iceland Air flight. I was booked for three nights and four days and wanted to make sure I maximized my time in this flying visit.
Iceland is surprisingly small, with a population of 320,000, most of them populating the capital city of Reykjavik. The land mass is 103,000 km2, but much of the terrain is uninhabitable due to glaciers and sand fields. The climate is tempestuous, with volcanoes, geysers and changeable temperatures making it a wonderfully wild place to visit- and fairly volatile to inhabit.
Iceland is a place I’ve always dreamed of going to, partly due to the fame it got in the early 90′s (I blame Bjork) and also due to the fact that all images of it portray it as an ethereal looking Narnia style land… with booze. I was pretty scared of visiting a place where the dress code consisted of thermal underwear, so decided the best time to go would be for New Year’s Eve, as I’d be guaranteed some pretty dress action.
Iceland holds a special allure; it’s the 18th largest island in the world, and its mix of settlers- dating back to the Norse era- and young professionals give it an ancient quality with modern influences… (Hey, I’m a hardboiled fantasy fan, OK?)
Research indicated that the Icelandic like to celebrate New Year’s Eve in serious style, so it seemed like the ideal time to go. Here’s my guide to a whistlestop Reykjavik New Year’s Eve adventure. Read more…
Tags: Blue Lagoon, Iceland New Year's Eve, iceland top tips, Reyjavik, reykjavik
Posted by admin on Mar 14, 2011 in
random,
travel 
The Little Mermaid was one of my two favourite Disney films as a child (the other was Aladdin, which is why Al made it onto my childhood crush list). I adored Princess Ariel; I loved her long red locks, her drive for exploration and life, and really enjoyed how she teed off her parents (though in retrospect, they were just looking out for her). I thought her costume was great (if not ideal for adolescents) and that all the songs were incredibly catchy and engaging. I can still sing the first few verses she sang as she swam around her treasure cave;
‘Look at this stuff, isn’t it neat?
Wouldn’t you think my collection’s complete?
Wouldn’t you think I’m the girl
The girl who has everything?
Look at this trove, treasures untold
How many wonders can one cavern hold?
Looking around here, you’d think
Sure, she’s got everything
I’ve got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty
I’ve got who’s-its and what’s-its galore
You want thing-a-mabobs?
I’ve got twenty
But who cares? No big deal. I want more’. (You’re humming this in your head now, aren’t you?)
I grew up slightly terrified of octopi and Sea Witches (inevitably related) and have been known to google ‘mermaid costume’ on eBay in my spare time (they tend to all look like porno outfits).
However, I didn’t hit puberty and think, ‘Wow, y’know that lifelong dream of becoming a real life mermaid? Well here’s my chance…’ and go on to pose in revealing outfits, sporting a tail to delight dinner guests.
How do you make the jump from paddling pool to a full of tail flouncing and pouting? Is it a slow transition, ‘Yes, my Zara, she did always love to tie her legs together and pretend she was a fish’, or ‘Yes, that girl was a big fan of posing on rocks and it kinda went from there. Just look at her aquarium…’
Some people, somehow, globally, all made the same mermaid life decision at kinda the same time, as this year the first ever WORLD Mermaid Awards are being held in Las Vegas. It’s no whimsy or flight of fancy- tickets are a whopping $35- $195, which shows real dedication. The full price tickets gets you two days at the convention, the awards, and access to the pool party.
So what exactly is the World Mermaid Awards- how do you qualify, what do you need to do, and is there a winner? Read more…
Tags: Hannah Mermmaid, Little Mermaid, Princess Ariel, World Mermaid Awards
Posted by admin on Nov 23, 2010 in
travel 
Prior to my first cruise, my impressions of cruising were a little hazy. I imagined it as a cross between a carry on film, and a venue filled with young up for it people. A little more research made me anticipate that the up for it people might be in their 6th decade, but it still sounded like a place full of wonder. Seven bars! An all night casino! Unlimited food! What could possibly be bad about that?
Due to current health constraints that prevent me from flying, the cruise I selected was a 7 day tour of Europe, which started at Southampton, and featured four stops along the way. Here I will look at the good, the bad, and the big surprises of my voyage. Before you click away, I just want to stress that CRUISES are AFFORDABLE. Really, I’m not particularly flush, and my week away cost me £649. Not cheap, I’ll grant you, but I’d been imagining prices in the thousands. This included ALL food, and all onboard entertainment as well.
First Impressions
The ship was huge. Like, the size of a whale, can barely comprehend it huge. It towered above the port like a giant behemoth, regal and white, with flags flying. As we strolled around the ship, the size started to recede, as it was far longer than it was wide. We navigated around the many pools, down the elegant staircase into the Atrium, and sipped the welcome champgane flute.
Ventura pool
Everywhere was very glossy and polished- the boat was a mere 2 years old and it felt very glamorous. There seemed an endless amount of things to do, and we wanted to eat everywhere, drink everywhere, swim everywhere- with four pools, six jacuzzis, 8 places to eat and multiple bars, this seemed a doable if challenging feat. There were1546 cabins available ( to give you an idea of the amount of people on board) and though we asked for an upgrade, we were told that the ship was full. The air was full of excitement and adventure, and though loads of people were moving into their rooms, it didn’t feel chaotic at all.
Read on for more- and be warned, there are a LOT of pictures. Read more…
Tags: cruise holiday, first time cruise, freedom dining, P&O Ventura, Ventura cruise ship
Posted by admin on Mar 2, 2010 in
beauty,
lists,
travel Thailand is fondly referred to as the land of smiles, and three weeks travelling through its sunlit shores was enough to convince me that the smiles are genuine. Whenever you travel abroad there are always going to be areas set up for tourists, with people pushing to sell you their wares and persuade you that their shop/bar/museum is the best, but in Thailand they tend to take refusals with good grace and smiling faces.
I was a complete newbie to the East and though I arrived armed with a Lonely Planet and heaps of advice from some great sources, till you experience it for yourself, everything else is just words on a piece of paper. Here are my top ten unmissable experiences that I strongly suggest you add to your itinerary.
Co Van Kessel Cycling Tour in Bangkok
Chinatown is a weird winding mess of crazy side streets, narrow alleys and men frying fish whilst juggling cans of condensed milk. It’s crammed to the rafters with all sorts of visitors, from locals doing their weekly shops to tourists trying to barter over jewellery. Add the sounds of motorbikes, mandolins and distant temple bells and you have a cacophony of colour and confusion. This was what I had to cycle through, manoeuvring my road bike in and out of people’s shopping bags, and the random escaped menageries that adorned the narrow paths. Bright colours, strange scents, it was strange to be whizzing past this vital thriving community on a bike, but my guide was insistent and we passed though this chaos to start exploring the hidden backstreets. Some roads were so narrow that both shoulders grazed the wall, whilst other paths meant near-fatal collisions with accelerating mopeds. Every forty minutes or so we stopped for water (provided) and there were many stops for pictures, which were happily taken by our guide. The tour of Bangkok involved two boat trips (depending which tour you opted for) and we took a ferry across the waterways to western Bangkok and spent an hour cycling through lush shrubbery.
It was humbling to view the variety of housing people lived in, from ramshackle shanty style buildings to palatial European marble houses, and seeing them built next to each other spoke volumes about the structure of society in Thailand. Lunch was held aboard a floating restaurant, a delicious mixture of rice with a variety of dishes, and there was fresh fruit for dessert. You couldn’t help but admire the guides dedication, as she spoke flawless English and had a huge wealth of knowledge on the surrounding area. ‘I did a degree in health and tourism’, she told us. ‘This is how I save for my training’. Read more…
Tags: Cycling in Bangkok, Damnoen Saduak, fish pedicure, Floating market Thailand, Gara Rufa, Renting mopeds in Thailand, Thailand, Tiger Temple, travelling
Posted by admin on Sep 15, 2009 in
random,
style,
travel 
Have been meaning to post this for a while, and a wet and windy evening is the perfect excuse. I recently found this comparison of stewardess uniforms over the years , and isn’t it amazing? Can you believe the uniforms they had to wear? I’m not sure which I find funnier- the 60′s flower power air hostess or the 70′s style cheap looking mini dress! I just wish they’d included some 80′s power dressing- but I found you a pic anyways… Read more…
Tags: air hostess, airline, trolley dolley
