Trip Ideas - Hitching in South America 4
April 30, 2007
The joys of Guayaquil, much like a siren’s song kept us there against our will. We were determined not to get a bus and wandered away from the gaggle of people that formed a stop and started the now familiar process of trying to get a lift. It seemed that our luck with the military police had run out…
Hour after hour passed and the realisation dawned that we would once again have to stay in this city. Handily there was a hostel near where we were trying to hitch from and they actually had a room for us. The walls may have been made of cardboard and the locks not especially secure but at least there were not the the sounds of ‘working girls’ and their clients in neighbouring rooms.
We happily spent the evening streamlining our travelling operation. When I was packing for South America I realised that I could pack everything I needed into a 35litre rucksack and have a little daypack for planes and buses. I rather stupidly then decided to bring a 70litre. Just in case I needed the space. Obviously I filled it with all sorts of things that I did not need - and so now was the time to cull. In practice this meant only being able to get rid of medical supplies that actually looked like they should have been dumped many moons before. Hopefully you will soon be able to see Rob disposing of a medical glove in a manner not necessarily orginal but assuredly amusing nonetheless.
Morning came and once more we tried to leave Guayaquil…
This Week, London Top 10: 25 April - 2 May
April 26, 2007
This week’s list, something to think about…
- Emirates Airline London Rugby Sevens Tournament - www.rfu.com
Twickenham Stadium, 26/27 May, £10-£25 (per day)
Twickenham plays host to the IRB Sevens World Series. Rugby Sevens is the quintessential ball game, a twenty minute emotional rollercoaster in which mistakes happen and the best team doesn’t always win. The competition is hotting up, with only one tournament after Twickenham, series leaders Fiji will try to increase their lead over Samoa, who are currently in second place ahead of New Zealand. Whilst England and France struggle at the bottom of the table. Surely a great day out and definitely not worth missing.
- BBC Proms Guide - www.bbc.co.uk/proms
The Proms is 111 years old and still holds to its original aim: “to present the widest possible range of music, performed to the highest standards, to large audiences.” Tickets for the World’s Greatest Classical Music Festival are hard to get hold of. The Proms Guide has everything you will need, who is playing when and how to apply for tickets.
- Meet Samuel Pepys - www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org
28 April, Old Royal Naval College, College Approach, SE10 9LW
The famous diarist Samuel Pepys (1633 - 1703) who lived and wrote his diary through the Plague, the Great Fire of London and the second Anglo-Dutch war speaks about his life both private and public. Pepys worked as a Naval Administrator and rose to the post of Secretary of the Admiralty, as such the event is being held in the Painted Hall of the Naval College. Insights into the great events, lifestyle of the middle class and the medical practices of the time are bound to be had at this fun event for all the family…
- Banana Cabaret - www.bananacabaret.co.uk
27/28 April, The Bedford, Balham SW12, Friday £12, Saturday £15, Doors open at 7:30pm
Banana Cabaret, one of South London’s most established comedy clubs, brings high class talent to a ruthless arena in which a poor performance will end prematurely with heckling. The comical genius of Adam Bloom and Andy Askins are performing this weekend, but will they be brave and try new material or fall back on old reliable jokes. Although doors open at 7:30, I recommend getting in the queue at least 30 minutes earlier to guarantee a seat. Don’t forget your dancing shoes because the pub turns into a club so you can dance the night away.
- City of London Festival - www.colf.org
22 June - 12 July 2007
This year’s theme, ‘Trading Places’, connects The City of London with all things French. The three week festival is packed with Classical Concerts, Opera, Jazz, World Music, Lectures, Film, Exhibitions, Walks and Architectural tours. With many events being free, or taking place in London greatest buildings such as St Paul’s, it’s worth looking into even if you are a bit culture-o-phobic. Bookings now open.
- Farrago London Slam!
28 April, £5-7, George Bernard Shaw Theatre, Malet Street
John Paul O’Neill takes charge as the emcee for the London Heat of BBC Radio 4’s Poetry Slam. Pop along to listen to aspiring poets, trying to gain a place in the semi-final of the competition.
- A New World: England’s first view of America - www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk
The watercolours produced by John White in the 1580s allowed the Elizabethan world to see the mysterious and exciting New World. Alongside the paintings, there are other pieces which further serve to encapsulate this era of exploration.
- Backstage Tours at the National Theatre - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
15 March – 17 June, £7
National Theatre, Monday to Saturday, up to 5 times a day, £5
A National Theatre Tour is a enlightening experience into how a concept is transformed into a theatrical brilliance. The tour lasts 1hr 15mins and takes you behind the scenes into three auditoriums, scenic workshops and backstage areas.
- Chris Minh Doky - www.doky.com
28th April, Ray’s Jazz, Foyles Bookshop, 113-119 Charing Cross Road
Chris Minh Doky is a master of the upright bass. He has blended influences of American Jazz and funk with his lyrical Scandinavian roots. His passionate delivery and unique style will guarantee his a place on the international scene for many years to come.
- Wildlife Garden - www.nhm.ac.uk
Free, Daily 12pm-5pm (weather permitting), until end of October.
The wildlife Gardens at the National history museum have just opened for the summer. The Bee tree, a bee hive designed to “give visitors a bees’-eye view of the honeybee hive” has just been opened by Bill Oddie as well, to help the dwindling Bee population in Britain. Maintained by volunteers they are a great place to explore or just chill out.
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If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote
This Week, London Top 10: 18 April - 25 April
April 18, 2007
This week’s list, something to think about…
- Watch the London Marathon - www.london-marathon.co.uk
Starting 9:00am, 22nd April, Greenwich to Hyde Park
If the idea of running 26.2 miles around the streets of London is going to wait till next year, you can still enjoy the Marathon this year. Along the course there are around 80 pubs, so enjoy your Sunday morning with a cold pint and some pub grub as the runners keep on passing by. If drinking beer whilst watching Mr Blobby, Chewbacca and a Dalek struggle by isn’t temptation enough, you can listen to live music from one of the 60 bands playing on route.
- The Metro Weekender - www.metroweekender.com
Bank Holiday Weekend, 25-26 August 2007 , £35
The summer is still a few months away, but festival tickets are appearing and disappearing fast. The Metro Weekender brings together awesome talent: Sasha, Pete Tong, Judge Jules and Eric Prydz. These are just a few of the world-class DJs spinning their wheels in the summer sun of South London. The Metro Weekender provides the convenience of location without the less desirable possibility of bathing mud for a weekend.
- Kew Bridge Steam Museum - www.kbsm.org
11:00-5:00, Tues-Sun & Bank Holidays, £5 Weekdays, £8 Weekend
Marvel at London’s Kew Bridge Steam Museum. Built in the 19th centre to supply London with water the museum is recognised as the most important historic site of the water supply industry in Britain. With the world’s largest collection of STEAM pumping engines, STEAM power comes alive. You can take a ride on London’s only STEAM railway every Sunday from March to November, watch the engines as they whirr around (the Steam Hall rotative engines are in STEAM on Saturdays and Sundays), or sign up as a volunteer at this little know gem of the capital.
- The Globe - www.shakespeares-globe.org
Summer Season, £5-£32
Shakespeare’s Globe on the south bank of the river Thames has opened bookings for it’s 2007 season “Renaissance and Revolution”. There are three of Shakespeare’s plays on offer Othello, The Merchant of Venice and Love’s Labour’s Lost, each of which examines the “promise and problems” of the late Renaissance.
For a modern flava: In Extremis, a huge success last summer, returns to the Globe, Holding Fire a play specially written for the Globe by Jack Shepard and We The People, the story of the creation of the American constitution.
- Rota & Brazilian Love Affair - www.nottinghillartsclub.com
Saturday 21st April - RoTa Free 4pm-8pm, Brazilian Love Affair £6/£8 8pm-2am
» RoTa with Victory Garden Recs - brings together performances from One More Grain, The Colonies and Team Brick in an avant garde showcase of electronic art.
» Brazilian Love Affair - “sidesteps the samba clichés to forge a real musical bridge between London and Rio as the temptation of thunderous batucadas, bossanova and dirty Brazilian funk continues to seduce and ignite the sensual crowd.”
- Thames Path Walks - www.thames-path.org.uk
This unofficial website is a guide to The Thames Path covering 290km of walks along the banks of the river stretching from the Thames Barrier in Woolwich to Kemble in Gloucestershire. The first stretch of the river (7km) takes you from the imposing Barrier that protects London from flooding (a site and museum all Londoners should see) past the Millennium Dome, Canary Wharf and onto Greenwich and the home of GMT, the Cutty Sark, The Royal Observatory and The National Maritime Museum.
- Señora Carrar’s Rifles & How Much Is Your Iron? - www.youngvic.org
20 April - 5 May 2007, £9.50 (under 26s), £15.50-18.50
The Young Vic puts on a international double bill of culture.
» Señora Carrar’s Rifles (Translation by Biyi Bandele) - “Carrar must choose: protect her sons or back the resistance. A pocket political thriller.”
» How Much Is Your Iron? (Translation by Enda Walsh) - “A mixture of cabaret and morality tale, a corrosive satire on the international arms trade.”
There are only a few tickets left on a limited number of dates, so book soon or miss out.
- River Boat Lunch & Jazz - www.bateauxlondon.com
Arround £40, Waterloo or Embankment Pier
Sundays can sometimes drag on. Why not pop down to the river, tuck in to a three course lunch and enjoy a jazz accompaniment whilst taking in London’s outstanding vistas.
- Chelsea Physic Garden - www.chelseaphysicgarden.co.uk
Opening Times Vary, £7.00, 66 Royal Hospital Road, SW3 4HS
The gardens are situated in the heart of London and they are a centre of relaxation, education and beauty. “Founded in 1673 by the Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, it continues to research the properties, origins and conservation of over 5000 species.” An afternoon in the gardens lets you escape the bustling world of London and find inner peace…
- Fallen Angel - www.politicalcartoon.co.uk
22 March - 28th April, £1, 9.30-5.30pm Monday to Friday (11.30-5.30pm Saturday)
The exhibition looks at anti-capitalist political cartoonist ‘Gabriel’ (Jimmy Friell 1912-1997) and his satirical examination of capitalism and imperialism from his works printed in the “Daily Worker” (a Communist newspaper).
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Dinner/Jazz Boat Cruise
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If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote
Trip Ideas - Hitching in South America 3
April 18, 2007
Sorry it has been so long since the last installment things have been very busy here at the Unearth Travel HQ. Enough of that, back to my account…
Pleased as we were with the fact that people would pick us up, there were many occasions that we had to walk 10km with all of our possessions on our back just to get to the appropriate road out of town. This would frequently be followed by waiting for hours on end for one of the aforementioned kind people to help us on our way. There would sometimes be those that did not seem to understand that we were trying to hitch for free - if we had money then we would have got one of the multitude of buses that passed us at tiny intervals. Funds being so low we realised that we simply had to sit and wait taking it in turns to stand by the edge of the road with thumb out. We had heard that in some countries this is considered a rude gesture and we hoped that this would not be the case in Ecuador otherwise we would have had many problems.
The next main stop on our journey was Guayaquil, which turned out to be as unpleasant as we had been led to expect. Clutching our trusty guidebook (unearthtravel was not even a gleam in your heroes’ eyes) we picked what should have been the cheapest option for somewhere to stay as we had reached the city at night. The entry way should have given us some clues as well as the fact that there seemed to be hourly rates advertised. Certainly not ideal but tired as we were we tried to get a room - a shared one to further save our meagre supply of cash. This did not seem possible and drew some surprised looks, so we made our way to our respective rooms and really did not like what we found…
If you have not guessed already it was indeed a ‘love hotel’ complete with tiles around the bed, a music button and plastic mattress and pillow. Rather disturbed by all this, but realising that we did not have much choice, we dumped our things and headed out into downtown Guayaquil with a not small amount of trepidation. We were determined to spend as little time in that horrid building as possible. So taking the plunge we had some rather yummy junk food and went to the cinema. I have not been understating how little cash we had, but sometimes these problems have to be overlooked.
Finally we gave in and returned to the hotel where I certainly had a fitful night’s sleep partly due to feeling uncomfortable…obviously I slept in a sleeping bag and in the past I am sure I have slept on a bloodstained mattress but that is nothing compared to the sounds of a working girl and her client having too much fun in the next door room.
Very early the following morning…at about 6 we started to make our way to the edge of town. The day before we had taken a bus the wrong way which was part of the reason we had to stay. This and the correcting bus were the only paid for transport that we took in the 3000km and cost about 50p. The problem facing us was that Guayaquil is an enormous city - how were we going to escape?
Healthy young chaps as we were we thought walking would be the best way…several km later and getting a little lost we asked a member of the military police how we could get to the edge of town. He seemed rather concerned although we could not really understand why. We hopped into his vehicle and he very kindly took us through the shanty town that seemed to be the cause of his distress for us. Looking back we were very lucky not to have walked though there…there was not a particularly large police presence and it would have been a while until anybody noticed we were not where we were meant to be. If you do decide to hitchhike please take a lot of care. The policeman dropped us off at the bus stop at the edge of town (he really did not understand our aversion) and left us to try once more to get out of Guayaquil…
This Week, London Top 10: 11 April - 18 April
April 11, 2007
This week’s list, is it the best so far?
- Abseil in Canary Wharf - www.crukcity.org.uk
12/13th May, 20 Cabot Square, Raise £200 for Cancer Research UK.
Have you ever wanted to leap down skyscrapers and make the world a better place but have absolutely no idea where to start? Why not join the 7th Annual Canary Wharf Abseil and get your thrill seeking fix as you look out over London from 70m in the air (approximately 15 floors up). The event is open to everyone who is over 16 and willing to raise £200 for charity.
- Travelex £10 Tickets - www.nationaltheatre.org.uk
The theatre is seen by many people as an extravagant expense, something for special occasions or when foreign friends are in town. The Travelex season throws this idea to the lions with two-thirds of the tickets (1725 Seats) in the Olivier theatre costing only £10 (not far off the price of a mohito). Upcoming shows: Attempts on her Life (8 March - 10 May), The Rose Tatto (from 19th March) and A Matter of Life or Death (3 May to 21 June 2007).
- Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day - www.benjerry.co.uk
17th April 2007, Free Ice Cream, yummy!!!
“It all began in 1978. Ben & Jerry scooped up free ice cream all day to thank the community for supporting them in their first year. Now it’s an annual event for Ben & Jerry’s worldwide with ice cream galore given away each year.” There are four shops where you can pick up your scoop, 369 Oxford Street, Cutty Sark Complex (Greenwich) , Empire Leicester Square and Tower Place.
- 24:2007 - www.ssrobin.com
Until 15 April, SS Robin, West India Quay, Free
The SS Robin is one of East London’s most significant maritime landmark, it is the world’s oldest complete steamship and forms part of the National Historic Ship Register’s Core Collection. The SS Robin Trust is an arts and heritage organisation which displays exhibitions of participatory photography projects. The annual 24:2007 exhibition examines the first 24 hours of the year through the lenses of 24 Central Saint Martins Art College photographers.
- Chinese State Circus - www.chinesestatecircus.com
Until 15th April, Alexandra Palace, ~£20, Two shows per day
The Chinese State Circus has a 2000 year tradition of entertainment, daring and unsurpassed skill. Be amazed by The Chinese Lion Dance, perplexed by the Shaolin Wu-Shu Warriors leaping and fighting amongst the trees, intrigued by the illusive Dancing Shadows and staggered by Bow Bending and Pole Jumping. There are not too many tickets left, so book today.
- Task Force Falklands - www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/
National Army Museum, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, Free
In commemoration of 25 years since the Falklands War, the National Army Museum tells the illuminating tale of the Falklands War from the perspective of those who lived and fought through it. The war was the last conflict that Britain fought alone and the victory changed the outlook of a nation and its international standing.
- All That Jazz! - www.sohorevuebar.com
Sunday 15th, 22nd and 29th April, Soho Revue Bar, Soho, Doors 6:30, Tickets priced £10 in advance, £12 on the door
“Ladies and Gentlemen – book your seats now for the greatest show on earth.” All That Jazz promises sensational Cabaret from the comic genius of Paul L Martin, the “vixinish vocalist The Blonde Baumer!” as well as performances from Sarah Louise and Dusty Limits.
- Nine Hills One Valley - www.barbican.org.uk
17 - 21 April 2007, 19:45, £7-26, Barbican
Highly acclaimed director Ratam Thiyam displays the powerful traditions of his homeland Manipur in this “meticulously crafted production, feasting the senses with a rich and colourful tapestry of movement, music and narrative”. Nine Hills One Valley breaks down cultural and geographic barriers asking the question “How do we sustain ourselves when our cultural traditions are lost?”.
- China: The Yangtze River of Tears - www.borisbaggs.com
Borris Baggs Gallery, Weds-Fri: 12-6pm and Sat: 11-4pm
The Boris Baggs Gallery plays host to a number of photographs by Barry Cawston with each available for sale as a 20″x16″ print. Perusing the gallery gives an insight into the fast changing world of China, see the country’s dramatic strive for success at the expense of social wellbeing. The photos cover a huge range of topics from flamboyant Shanghai hotels to disabled beggars and Tibetan brothels.
- Fruits of Developement
City Hall, 19th April. For details contact truda@colmangetty.co.uk
“How can we balance the needs of African farmers with our concerns for the environment? Which matters more: regulating food miles or support for sustainable agriculture from developing countries?” “‘Fruits of Development’ - a panel discussion chaired by leading economist and academic Frances Cairncross CBE - will explore some of the most pressing issues facing West African farmers, the UK food industry and anyone concerned with development issues and the environment.”
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Ben and Jerry’s: Free Cone Day
Chinese State Circus
National Army Museum
Nine Hills One Valley
SS Robin
Travelex Tickets
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If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote
This Week, London Top 10: 4 April - 11 April
April 4, 2007
This week’s list, a bit of this, a bit of that…
- The Boat Race - www.theboatrace.org
7th April, Main Race 4:30pm, Putney to Chiswick
This weekend, the 153rd Boat Race is set to take place. Oxford has won four of the last five races, including a win over Cambridge by five lengths last year. However, Cambridge are favourites and riding high after an impressive win in the Head of the River Race last weekend. It looks set to be a great race, so place a bet, get a group of mates together and get to the river early.
- Gorilla Kingdom - www.zsl.org
10am until 5.30pm, £15
Over the last 18 months, work has been going on at London Zoo…
In preparation for the arrival of a colony of majestic western lowland gorillas a brand new £5.3m enclosure has been built, Gorilla kingdom, giving you the chance to get closer to one of the world’s most captivating animals. If the gorillas are not incentive enough, London Zoo has untold animal treasures to discover, the world famous penguin pool, a new mammalian super-tree, the Guylian “Seahorses of the World” photo exhibition and the amazing insect house. Now is a great time to go.
- Cybersonica (Late at Tate) - www.tate.org.uk
Tate Britain, April 6th, 18:00-22:00, Free
Cybersonica is London’s annual multimedia festival, showcasing an evening of progressive electronic music, audiovisual performances and accessible sonic art. Let the Illustrious Company immerse you in their 3D audioscapes, listen to the soundclash between the mighty Trojan Sound System and Haywire DJ Shelly Paker or watch a screening from the newly released book VJ: audio-visual art and vj culture. This month, Late at Tate, will open your eyes and ears to the emotional ebbs and flows of sound.
- Jump - www.sadlerswells.com
Until Apr 14, Peacock Theatre, Portugal Street, £10-£34
“The show centres on a typical, but spectacularly agile, Korean family - from the draconian grandfather and drunken uncle to karate-chopping mother. Each is a martial arts hotshot, all possessing championship level Tae-kwon-do and gymnastic skills, who enjoy nothing more than challenging each other to martial arts showdowns.” Jump is a fast pace display of martial arts, gymnastics and acrobatics crossed with a sitcom, it is sure to amuse.
- Surreal Things - www.vam.ac.uk
10:00-17:45, 29 March - 22 July, Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, £10.40
“Surreal Things is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see 300 of the most extraordinary objects ever created, in a spectacular theatrical setting. This exhibition is the first to explore the influence of Surrealism on the worlds of fashion, design, theatre, interiors, film, architecture and advertising. It shows how artists engaged with design and how designers were inspired by Surrealism.”
- Renoir Landscapes 1865-1883 - www.nationalgallery.org.uk
21 February - 20 May 2007, National Gallery, £12 (Wednesdays 6-9pm £6)
The first two decades of Renoir’s long career were instrumental in his developement as an artist and the impact he would subsequently have on the world of art. This exhibition brings together 70 of his early landscpaes and examines the period in which he indulged in experimentation, exploring composition, colour and pictorial structure in new and innovative ways.
- Comedy 99 Club - www.the99club.co.uk
7th April, Doors 7:00, 99 Club, Storm, Leicester Square, £10 (Includes Free Entry to the nightclub)
Saturday Night plays host to:
- Scott Capurro (”The most fearless and technically perfect stand up on the circuit” - The Guardian)
- Addy Van Der Borgh (”An excellent stand-up with intelligence and wit” - The Guardian)
- Milton Jones (Star of Radio 4, Time Out Award Winner, “King of the surreal one liners” - The Times)
- Have a paddle on the Serpentine
Hire a pedalo or a boat and have a paddle around. Why not give it a go this Easter, it looks like fun!
- BBC Television Centre Tour - www.bbc.co.uk/tours
£8.95, BBC Television Centre, White City
“A tour of the most famous television centre in the world lasts up to 2 hours. You’ll see into the studios, visit BBC News, play in our interactive studio and be shown around by well-informed, entertaining guides.”
- Visit a City Farm - www.farmgarden.org.uk
It’s Easter weekend and spring is in the air. Taking a trip to the countryside is appealing but often, the cost, time and effort involved becomes too much of a hassle to organise. However, there are 17 city farms in London, which provide a few of the smells of agriculture and where you can get close to cows, sheep and chickens.
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Gorilla Kingdom
BBC Tours
Renoir Landscapes
The Boat Race
City Farm
Jump
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If you have ideas for next week, or want to have your say, leave a comment or send me an email (info@unearthtravel.com) Jeremy Boote
