Qype: Na Zdrowie Polish Bar in London

London – Pubs & Bars – Bars

This place provides an interesting alternative in the london bar scene. If you google Polish bars in London (which I did recently) you might be surprised to find how few there are, considering the Polish population.
Na Zdrovia bar is tucked away down a short snickelway not far from the Holborn tube entrance.
It’s quite a classy and minimalist space with high stools and tables and lots of standing room that naturally flow’s onto the street.
Unfortunately the food had finished by the time we arrived, I think it stop’s at about 9 or 10 on a friday (don’t trust me on that). The menu though looked really authentic and I’ll be coming back to taste it.
The drinking is really all about vodka. They have many different kinds, different ways of serving it and different things to put in it.
I thought that the prices were quite reasonable – cheap in fact for a dedicated vodka bar.
The ambiance was a little lacking on the evening we visited and I feel that maybe we came a little late. Probably around 7 until 10 would be the prime time for this venue.
Anyway makes a good little stop on the way into town on a Friday night.
(Oh! I think that the place may have actually changed it’s name too – to THE POLISH BAR I remember asking about this and they said that they thought English people had trouble with the word Na Zdrovie – which is like "Cheers!" to the uninitiated.)

Check out my review of Na Zdrowie Polish Bar – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Noam Chomsky on Post Modernism

“	There are lots of things I don’t understand — say, the latest debates over whether neutrinos have mass or the way that Fermat’s last theorem was (apparently) proven recently. But from 50 years in this game, I have learned two things: (1) I can ask friends who work in these areas to explain it to me at a level that I can understand, and they can do so, without particular difficulty; (2) if I’m interested, I can proceed to learn more so that I will come to understand it. Now Derrida, Lacan, Lyotard, Kristeva, etc. — even Foucault, whom I knew and liked, and who was somewhat different from the rest — write things that I also don’t understand, but (1) and (2) don’t hold: no one who says they do understand can explain it to me and I haven’t a clue as to how to proceed to overcome my failures. That leaves one of two possibilities: (a) some new advance in intellectual life has been made, perhaps some sudden genetic mutation, which has created a form of “theory” that is beyond quantum theory, topology, etc., in depth and profundity; or (b) … I won’t spell it out.	”
—Noam Chomsky

Qype: The Grand Hotel in La Paz

La Paz

(This hotel is in Sucre – not La Paz because Qype only recognises the town of La Paz in the country of Bolivia)

This is an absoloute colonial gem, right in the heart of Sucre. It’s real old world splendour on a budget with the bonus of cable T.V.
The rooms are centered around a three level central courtyard with flowing trees, water features and lots of little private area’s with tables and benches.

The room we had was huge – more like a suite and furnished very tastefully. Everything worked too – even the hot water!

It’s popular both with backpackers, Bolivian families and buisnessmen so it’s a good idea to try and book ahead.

The location really is central, which lets you take advantage of all the groovy bars, clubs and restarants that are springing up. As well as all the local shopping, cultural events and whatever else is going on in this very interesting part of the world.

Check out my review of The Grand Hotel – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: Porn Bungalows in bangkok

This place is not in Bangok at all – it is on the island of Koh Chang – about four hours to the East. Qype wouldn’t recognise the island as an address or the closest town of Trat, so I stuck it in Bangkok.
Better get the name thing out of the way first! Porn Bungalows has nothing to do with the sex industry. Porn is the name of the owner and apparantly also means a beatiful or sacred place in the Thai language. (I’m willing to be corrected on this)

The island of Koh Chang is just another gorgeous Thai island. It has it all, the beautiful beach, the cheap and excellent food, the friendly people, the dving and swimming, the night life. But it is much less developed than the southern islands like Phuket (although it’s getting there) and is only a four hour bus ride from Bankok.

Porn Bungalows are an excellent low to middle budget option for accomodation on the island. They are in the middle of Kai Bae beach, a little away from the bigger and more expensive resorts closer to the town.

The bungalow I rented was set 30 or so meters back from the sand in a nice grassy area. It had a little verandah, a double bed and an adequate private bathroom. It didn’t have air con but only cost about £7 a night.

You can get one further along the coast for about half that price but the beach here is much nicer.

Other than the beach, the best thing about Porn Bungalow’s is the restaurant. It’s a really funky sprawling wooden tree house of a place with lots of cushions and low tables. There are also tables on the sand with more English style chairs.

The food is fresh, local and varied. The nightly fish BBQ’s being the highlight.

For 8 nights I sat here with a cold beer and a thai dish and watched the sun set over the islands.

There is a bit of a scene – quite a few young travellers playing pool and partying. (There is a pool table on the beach)

But there is also a lot of familes and older people. It’s not one of those places dominated by hippies and full moon revelers. They tend to gravitate further down the beach.

Porn Bungalow’s is a mellow and beautiful place. And I think Koh Chang is a very good alternative to the Souther Islands of Thailand.

Check out my review of Porn Bungalows – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: the dublin castle in London

London – Pubs & Bars – Pubs

I love the Dublin Castle. This is a really honest – no frills – rock music venue with a great history in the London Music scene.
It does get a bit crowded but that’s all part of the atmosphere.
I feel that many of the bar, clubs and restaurants in Camden are a little bit a victim of their own success. Maybe a little bit too scene orientated or pretentious. But the Dublin Castle cuts right through the hype. Just a good english pub with a huge mix of people and rock music at a reasonable price.
Sure some of the bands can be a bit average – but normally at least one act is exciting. I personally love this pot luck approach to live music.
One of the best and certainly one of the cheapest nights out in Camden.

Check out my review of the dublin castle – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: Carling Academy in London

London – Arts & Entertainment – Theatres

I really don’t know how to write this review – mostly because I’m confused about what I’m reviewing.

The story is that, like a bunch of other people with tight wallets and too much time on the internet, I "won" two tickets from Time Out to go and see a gig at the Carling Academy in Islington.

The venue itself is OK. I love live music, I don’t mind Carling and Islington is quite local so the place has a few good things going for it.

Inside was very dark, but this created a good buzz for an early starting gig. It’s relatively small, so the experience with the band is pretty intimate. There are hardly any seats either so the experience is very much about standing and dancing.

The prices were a bit steep – 3.50 for a pint – but the tickets were free so that’s not too bad I guess.

The first two bands were OK. Sort of garage bands of the type you get at the Dublin Castle in Camden.

The main act though was a band called Plastic Little – a hip hop outfit from Philadelphia.

The difference in quality between them and the other acts was very stark. Like having your auntie who plays the piano a bit opening for AC/DC!

Plastic Little were great. Really great – even if you are not that into hip hop – they put on a very entertaining show.

The funny thing was the audience. Here was this uber cool international band – who’s demographic I imagine would be young, quite likey black, or hispanic – certainly very trendy and hip hop savvy – yet they were playing to a bunch of white 30 somethings, mostly male – who looked like they had learnt to dance via a free internet course (I don’t exlude myself from this description)

Anyway it was a top night – especially for midweek.

So the venue is OK. Time out free tickets are worth chasing, and if you get a chance – see Plastic Little.

Check out my review of Carling Academy – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: Clissold Park in London

London – Arts & Entertainment – Landmarks

Where is a bad park? I mean sure, some parks ARE better than others on many measurable scales. They can be bigger – have more trees – a nice cafe – great facilities. But if you live in a big city instead of somewhere out in the bush, anywhere set aside for green land has got to get five stars, I reckon.
Clissold park though is not just any old park.
This really is a park amongst parks. An example of how a green space can be very well developed for the whole community.
Ravers, dope heads, Carribean food connoisseurs and half naked tatooed people had a great time at the recent Stoke Fest.
Fitness freaks have the running track, the football pitch and the tennis courts. People scared of dogs and their excrement have their own area. There is a cafe, a little zoo, a wading pool and a little water way. There is boundless space with grass, lakes and chairs. There are ducks and other animals.
It’s truely a top spot.
My favourite part of it is that if you are walking towards Manor House tube from church st – then she shortest way is through the park. On top everything else, it gives us a short cut as well.

Check out my review of Clissold Park – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Jane McGrath, Peter Brock, Steve Irwin and the weird thing Andrew Denton did.

I make a real point of not getting attached to the misfortunes of celebrities because I always feel there is something insincere about developing deep emotions towards someone you’ve never met or really know at all.

When I saw the smiling picture of Jane McGrath on the Age website with the news that she had died, I was very moved. I felt like someone I really liked was gone. I felt like I had had a significant loss.

I felt so strongly because I had seen her interviewed on the Australian ABC show Enough Rope, by the extraordinary Andrew Denton.

Like Peter Brock and Steve Irwin before her, Jane had opened up her heart to the Australian nation on Denton’s program and then gone on to die tragically.

These three deaths are a horrible coincidence and it’s an issue that should not be sensationalised.

To understand how affecting these deaths were for your average Australian though, particularly i think Jane McGrath’s, you need to understand the nature of the program “Enough Rope”.

For the last three years or so they were the highlight of my viewing week, whether watched live in Australia or on pod cast overseas. It was something that nearly everyone you spoke to had seen. Even right wing politicians and National Broadcast loathers appeared on and discussed it.

Andrew is a comedian, and a very funny and successful one.  He used that wit along with his undoubted intelligence and compassion, to inspire his guests to share their very intimate stories with him on camera. Often these people were very famous but then often they were quite ordinary. Their stories never were though. Guests regularly cried or were similarly affected. Of course they laughed a lot too.

Looking back to the moment that Jane McGrath disclosed she had secondary tumours is one of the starkest examples.

I feel that this form of television, the humorous and therapeutic show he presented during that period, brought us a little closer to caring for each other.

It’s very sad that I realise this now, through the death of Jane McGrath.

I never met you Jane, but I thought you were amazing.

 

Qype: Bruce Castle Museum in London

London – Arts & Entertainment – Museums

This is an excellent museum on many levels. I like just wandering in their occasionally and poking around the different artifacts.
The history spans from Roman times up to the present day with excellent pictorial and recreative displays of the history of Haringey and Tottenham.
I’ve taken groups of kids here and they were facinated with the artifacts and information that was presented to them.
I like best that there is still an oral tradition in the community, many children had told me about it, of a lady ghost who leaps off the tower every halloween.

Check out my review of Bruce Castle Museum – I am gotiges7 – on Qype

Qype: White Hart Lane Football Ground in London

London – Sport – Football

This is the only place that I’ve been to watch the premier league. I lived around the corner so it was a natural choice.
I was actually supporting Middlesborough, because they had our Australian captain and goal keeper playing for them at the time.
The atmosphere was a bit grim. You couldn’t have a beer with you whilst watching the game. I felt that the people around me weren’t really all that happy.
I cheared when my team got an equaliser, really quietly I thought, but the security guard came over and warned me to be quiet. I guess my bright red jacket i the Tottenham area (which seemed to be almost the whole stadium) wasn’t helping me much. The home team won anyway and I wasn’t molested at all on the way out.
It was pretty exciting I suppose but I’m used to Australian football or even the cricket, where you can shout and drink as much as you want and no one gets too upset.
I recommend it if you can get reasonably priced tickets.

Check out my review of White Hart Lane Football Ground – I am gotiges7 – on Qype