Qype: Battersea Power Station in London

London – Public Services – Infrastructure – Electric & Waterworks

Arriving in London for the first time I found this building the most recognisable for me. More than Big Ben – Tower Bridge or Buckingham Palace. I have always referred to it as The Pink Floyd building. It is an extroadinary structure. It’s equally beautiful and ugly; powerful and useless. It’s a wonderful modernist sculputre which accompanies the Tate Modern down the river and provides contrasting relief from the neo gothic and neo classic monsters on the north bank. Buildings of the people rather than the gentry.
I hope they develop it tastefully.

Check out my review of Battersea Power Station – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: Brown Brothers Vineyard in Melbourne

Melbourne – Food & Drink – Wine, Beer & Spirits – Vineyards

The King Valley is probably one of the most spectacular places in the world. A thin road tracks the king river down between often snow clad peaks as it weaves through farm land that is increasingly changing from beef and dairy production to viticulture.
Towards it’s end where it spreads and the King and Ovens valleys run together, is the township of Milawa. It’s a trendy little town, full of hippies and hip farmers, selling everything from honey to chakra alignments.
Wineries are plentiful but the biggest by far is Brown Brothers.
Normally I would always vote for the little guy. Reccommend the botique outlet over the dominant player – but Brown Brothers has created something of an institution. It’s this giant beautiful rustic garden of a place with a cool restaurant and a giant dark wood barn of a tasting room. Their varieties are seemingly endless as is there patience with continued free samplings.
They sell wine as well.

Check out my review of Brown Brothers Vineyard – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: Antarctica in Melbourne

Melbourne

Every new years eve Qantas have a special flight that leaves Melbourne and flies down to, and around Antarctica, returning about 12 hrs later.
I know all about this because last new years eve my octagarian grandmother went on this journey accompanied by her five children and their partners.
When in Australia recently I was treated to a viewing of the many resultant video’s – which went for nearly as long as the trip itself.
Being new years eve – there is a lot of celebrating and general festivities that go along with the journey. Champaigne is plenitful and there is a live band that perform.
During the flight, scientists and adventurers provide first hand accounts of their experiences in Antarctica and decribe what can be seen out the windows of the plane.
There is a seat rotation system that accounts for the different views, although being an airline – there is obviously still a first class and a place for the rest of us.
This is the very definition of armchair adventure. Why sit at home watching it on the telly, when you can have it wizz by outside whilst being served champaigne and nibbly’s?
Look it’s not something for me – but for Grandma and the rest of the ageing wrinklies in my family – I think it was a great idea.

Check out my review of Antarctica – I am gotiges7 – on Qype