I’m here at my hostel in Dublin! It’s called the Litton Lane Hostel. It use to be a recording studio for acts like U2, The Cranberries, Van Morrison etc..etc.. There is a lot of art work around the hotel I’m going to take photos of later. The place is also in a great location! And they weren’t joking when they say the Irish were friendly. I got lost trying to find the place (what’s new?) so I asked 2 of these ladies about to cross a street. What they do is they even called the place up for me to double check where the hostel was located…. When I got to the Litton Lane Hostel – I was greeted by the very friendly receptionist guy Anthony… My room however is on the top floor (4 flights of stairs!)…and they put me on the top bunk! But still, it’s a nice quaint hostel with FREE WIFI! How refreshing is that? I’m actually in the common room now, it smells a little funny bu its really quite comfy….did I already mention they have FREE WIFI? I am a little more mobile now because during my arrival from Denmark and waiting to fly to Dublin – I bought myself a NEW phone…tax free! I got a K800i phone with a 3.2 megapixel camera. It’s on the Vodaphone network so call / sms rates are kind of high and I Will eventually have to unlock the phone to use the phone for other mobile networks – but a phone is a phone and you can pretty much unlock a phone by yourself these days.

I don’t know how to start with Dublin. It looks like a beautiful city with lots to do. I have 3 nights here. I may spend all of tomorrow on the Dart train going from place to place… Now I have 2 cameras! The crappy part right now is I know Aunt Flow is visiting. Actually I think she’s already here – I’m too afraid to check though :-/

I made it through the Roskilde Festival in one piece! It was an amazing experience despite losing my phone. I think the experience would have been greater if I had gone with a group of friends though but I did meet some interesting characters here and there. All the festival volunteers, Roskilde media centre people were very nice and helpful.  Before I left the festival site on Sunday morning back to Copenhagen – the last thing someone at the media centre said to me was “See you next year!” and I told him “I hope so!” I’m so happy the weather was great this year. Last year it rained and it was muddy everyone. Aziza told me that people from places like Norway & Sweden who made the trek to the fest left after a day or two because it was just unbearable, cold, and 3 feet in mud. Every year is a gamble I guess but if the opportunity arises again I’ll be there.

I didn’t stay the last day so I missed acts like Cat Power, At the Gates, Slayer and Jay Z but I think I saw more than my memory capacity could handle for 2-3 days! I managed to catch Clutch, Radiohead, Santogold, Grinderman, My Bloody Valentine, LIARS, Judas Priest, Gnarls Barkley, Neil Young, Tings Tings, Chemical Brothers and a couple more… I did the camping experience, setting up tent, being cooked alive in the tent in the hot sun, waking up to cold temperatures in the morning, taking “open” showers – but I think I had a rather sheltered experience considering the media village was my “comfort zone” away from the mad max world. My restricted camp site looked like the Shangrila compared to the camp site regular festival goers stayed at. Plus the toilets in the media village were exceptionally clean most of the time. I don’t mind roughing it out next time – as long as I am with somebody else. Strength in numbers I guess.

My final night in Copenhagen I spent with Aziza and her family. I cooked rendang for them which turned out wonderful! Who knew “just add beef” would work so well! I brought a long with me a couple packets of Brahim’s Rendang mix with me and the package says “add beef and 250ml of water and leave to simmer for 20 minutes”….in actuality, it took nearly an hour to get the beef tender enough and 250 ml is a little too much water for one packet. I used only 250 ml of water for TWO packets…. Being in Denmark has settled my chocolate and sweet intake for the rest of the year though! Surprisingly, no danish pastries – just a variety of chocolate, fresh cream X 3….

Having my last floderboller with Aziza....

And now I am at the Stansted Airport again waiting for the check in to open for Ryan Air so I can hop on a plane to Dublin. I hear it’s cold and rainy there! You know, I have no idea what to do there. But my stay wouldn’t be complete without going to the Guiness factory and having a pint. I hear Dublin is like a replica of Fells Point in Baltimore…or rather, Fells Point is like a replica of Dublin. Here I go again ….

11:51 a.m. – At the Stansted Airport in London waiting to board my flight to Denmark. I’ve either been eating Kebabs or sandwiches at PRET since I’ve been here. Despite my first impression of food in England being tasteless or whatever, I’ve been quite happy with my selection of culinary survival this time around. I am still waiting to try the Fish & Chips here – served in newspaper dripping with fishy goodness. Maybe when I come back en route back to Malaysia.

Yesterday I met with my sister’s dear friend Hash here. In the many years they’ve been friends and the many times I’ve gone to see her in New York, never once did I meet Hash. So finally we met up and had a drink at the Cittie of York – a bar with AIR CONDITIONING. I learned having airconditioning whether in your house or working establishment is a luxury in London. It was exceptionally hot yesterday but still quite acceptable and pleasant. The bar is located in “Holborn” and I assumed it was walking distance from the Holborn tube station. I walked ridiculously far to get there, and this wasn’t including the wrong turn I took before. When I finally did get there – turns out there’s another tube station only a block away.

Hash was there with another friend of his who was spending his last night in London before flying back to the US. He left a couple minutes after I got there but not after recommending I try the Samuel Smith lager – good choice too cause I found it very tasty and smooth!

After the Cittie of York pit stop we made our way to Aldgate where we walked to Brick Lane aka Bangla City!

We hit up a few places before settling at Vibe. They were having some street style hip hop launching or other so we went and sat outside and talked.

The night ended with more kebabs and a 10 pound taxi ride back to the Clink.

I would totally go back to that Brick Lane area. It’s also where Rough Trade is located and according to Hash, that area is the “real London” – a place bordering Zone 1 and 2. No visible tourists and a whole big melting pot of everything… Wonderful!

8:09 pm in Denmark now. Metro from the Kastrup Copenhagen airport broke down for nearly 45 minutes but it’s all good now and I’m at Aziza’s awesome pad a stones throw away from the Forum eating heavenly dip and chips and these flodeboler pastry things and they are just so …heavenly. Denmark, is just so…heavenly. If only I could speak Danish I would so live here.

Eating the floderboller thingies

Aziza with the waiter dude at Sushi & Sticks (OMG so good)

And last but not least – Denmark’s national bird  - The Swan

The sun sets at 10 p.m. during the summer time in Denmark. Beautiful innit? 

12:51 a.m. – I’m off to the Roskilde Music Festival tomorrow. The amount of luggage I am bringing (equipped with tent, sleeping bag and foam mattress) is not heavenly however.

More updates from the festival site! Radiohead will be performing tomorrow at 10 p.m. Ahh, it’s nearly been 15 years since I missed seeing them in Mexico. Long story but kids, don’t drink underage and act stupid. Cheers!

Estimated time: 11:25 a.m. – My theme for London so far has been “in search for FREE wireless internet”…. I didn’t bring a lap top so I could use a desktop at some cafe or something. SIGH. I know for a fact I don’t know where to look – so much so I’ve even asked Ben to look for me online.

I know I said I wouldn’t go shopping but I’ve already made a couple purchases. My RM29 sunglasses from KL broke (I’ve only had them a week!) so I bought a pair at M&S here for 5 quid. I also bought a light weather proof sling pouch for 8 quid and a pair of shoes to wear at my sister’s wedding. I could do the geeky thing and take photos of my purchases but I’ll spare you (and me!)

The weather here has been wonderful so far! The sun is out and it’s cool sweater weather. Feels like spring! The English find it quite warm but as the English say, “Bollocks!” This is perfect walking weather. unfortunately I spend half the time looking for free wifi and I also have no inkling to where I am going or where I want to go. I’ve been here before and I did all the tourist like things then. This is basically my transit point for Denmark, Ireland and France.

This just in, London crackhead just stopped by to ask for a light. Dropped some change in an empt starbucks cup next to me. Then asks me for some money for him to buy food (or crack?)… oh bless his cracked heart.

Estimated time now 12:40 p.m. – Finally got internet access. I am at Nero’s Cafe in Covent Garden. Am paying for the internet though through BT Openzone. Unnecessary splurging but my feet are tired and I’m hungry. Ben did sms me a couple “Free wifi hotspots” in the area – all of which I was unsuccessfuly in finding. Note to first time visitors to the UK who plan to bring laptops with them. Make sure you have a list of places that offer free wifi of be prepared to pay through your nose.

Since there are no photos of me on this blog yet – here is one of me looking how I do best – Lost. (I love this laptop – it’s got a built in webcam!)

Well I’ve made it! I’m in London right now and I’m staying at the Clink Hostel It took me forever to find the place though. Heathrow Airport isn’t exactly walk-friendly (ie – you walk alot!!) Clink Hostel use to be a courthouse where the Clash supposedly went on trial. You can also supposedly sleep in a real police cell (honeymoon ideas perhaps?) Well I’m in a 12 bed dorm. They are set in pod beds which can be quite claustrophobic but it gives you more privacy. There are suppose to be lights but it doesn’t work. Also, a lot of “youngins” here. In their teens perhaps. A good way to say “hey you’re almost 30, you should have an awesome job with your University degree – one that pays you well enough to afford your own room in a fancy hotel. Dorm rooms like these are an interesting concept – you get a sushi bar assortment of different body odours and good organizational practice in tight places… Well I will only be here for 2 nights and then I’m off for the 2nd best thing about this trip – the ROSKILDE FESTIVAL. In case you are wondering what the number one thing is – well it’s my sister’s wedding of course!

I am posting some pictures to sum up my last 24 hours…

 What’s a Ham & Cheese RETRO sandwich? Does it mean it’s expired?

 
Now boarding to London. All aboard Thai Airways flight 0916. Enjoy the turbulence.

Wings over Britain

Welcome to Britain. Be prepared to walk your feet off.

The 12 bed dorm. That’s one of my roomates Doria from Maryland posing for me.

My pod

Some young folks outside the Clink

My view from my pod. Towel for extra privacy