Ireland: Dublin - Take 1

Ireland, home to leprechauns, shamrocks and the infamous Guinness brew. Eager to explore beyond the cliches and stereotypes associated with the nation, i was quietly excited to be setting off for a short international trip.

I present to you; Dublin.


It's always the small details that one can overlook and subsequently results in drastic consequences.

Having arrived early at Gatwick airport to mitigate against travel delays and overzealous security( note to others; don't bother with any personal items over 100mL - Pat lost hair gel, deodorant and creams) Pat, Kaan and I were on-time to fit in a hearty meal. Turns out that our flight had been delayed by 30 min. Not a problem! Lets pass the time by indulging in a game of air hockey.

The time arrives when the boarding gate open and passengers are called to embark. Boarding passes out and we are only a couple of hours out from wrapping our lips on some glorious Guinness. Passengers shuffle towards the boarding gate, it's looking to be a packed plane for the last flight for the evening.
"Hold up," says the boarding lady, "I'm sorry, but you haven't gone through the Visa Check."
"What! What Visa Check?" geninuely astonished i reply, "I'm an Aussie! Everyone will let us in".
"I'm sorry sir, but you have to go back to the departures and validate this boarding pass, it's company policy".
Shocked and confused, we hurry towards the Customs and security gate. They have no idea what this validation of visa is required. "Speak to the RyanAir service desk".
Just our luck that the RyanAir service desk is now closed. The attendant servicing passengers traveling on Aer Lingus is in though. She however, has heard of no such policy where visa checks are required. Panicking, we plead for assistance.
"Surely, there is a stamp that you could give us?", "I don't have a stamp to give you i'm afraid" was the reply. Instead, she offers to take us down to Border Control and see what they are able to make of it. At this point, it becomes obvious we are not alone in our plight to board flight FR119. Two Americans and a fellow Aussie join us in the confusion.

We weave through the labyrinth that is an international airport and soon arrive at Border Control. They too are perplexed in terms of what Visa check is required and are unable to provide us a stamp. Next stop, the airport booking desk. More corridors and back passages. Time is ticking! Arriving, at the service counter, agitated and flustered we proceed again to tell of our misadventure. No joy. He states there is nothing he can do as the check-in is now closed. The Americans ain't happy. Phonecalls are being made to friends onboard the plane. The flight attendants are apparently trying to hold the flight. Pleading now turns to an authoritative demand. "We need to get on this flight!"
The service desk attendant makes a call then leisurely strolls around the corner. Success! Apparently a check-in desk is still open. We rush on over. Passports are inspected, boarding passes are exchanged. "Run, don't walk! I can't guarantee they will hold the gate for much longer." We bolt.
Bags are thrown through the X-Ray machines for the second time. Pat struggles to get his belt back on. He won't be able to run if that belt doesn't hold his pants up. Kaan had already disappeared on his own accord earlier. He was nowhere to be seen. I tie up my laces. I am cheetah! I am faster than Usain Bolt! I run. 50m, 100m, sidestepping sleepy passengers in waiting. I hurdle over baggage and trolleys - I'm going to catch this flight! The finishing line is close, but wait, what is this? People walking back from the departure gate.

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

The gate is closed. Our fellow comrades, the Aussie and two Americans are walking with the boarding gate attendant. We lost the battle. Pat, huffing and wheezing joins the party. His furious, his not built for running. Dejected, we are lead through the back passages to exit of the airport. RyanAir won't be refunding our flight and the next flight is at 10am the next day where we would have to buy a whole new ticket - 120 GBP. Home is the next destination.
Lessons learned: Read the small print; Americans are great at being forceful; Red underwear does not make you run faster.

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{10-52} - Leaking like a tap

WARNING! - Strong descriptive language regarding bodily fluids after the link

So for the past week, I've had this darn head cold which has proven to be rather troublesome. You know the one with the symptoms of a stuffy head, hot and cold flushes and a nose that just doesn't stop dripping! You just can't stop the drip because there is no handle to switch it off. I've resolved to sticking tissues up both nostrils, most effective and a sight to behold!
The part i dislike the most is the buildup of mucus though. I mean, i could hock up a glass and a half of mucusy goodness for you on demand. Forget Cadburys or Tooheys, try The Bopperleaner Brew!

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UK: Bath and Stonehenge

So what better to do on a weekend than to escape the buzzing hive of activity of London and to head out to the countryside. You are greeted with lush green rolling hills with the livestock leisurely grazing at the grass. It's far removed to the concrete jungle that London has evolved to be. Our journey, would see us head to both Bath and Stonehenge.

The City of Bath is famed for its Roman remains and Georgian architecture is situated 120 miles west of London. It's a charming and quaint city filled with laneways of history and stories of the past. The Romans conceptualized and built a bathing establishment known throughout Europe, the Saxons and Normans erected monasteries and cathedrals and finally with the pre-modern age, Georgian architecture constructed to complete the ecelectic mix.


Rolling green hills overlooking the city


Pulteney Bridge - Built for William Pulteney by Robert Adams, the bridge was an attempt to connect central Bath to land on the other bank of the River Avon and make Pulteney's fortune.


The Royal Crescent was built between 1767 and 1775 to the design of John Wood the Younger, and forms a semi-ellipse of thirty Grade I listed houses arranged around a great Lawn.


Begun in 1499, Bath Abbey is the last of the great medieval churches of England.
More images can be found here

Stonehenge
For the uninitiated allow me to post an extract from Wikipedia:
"Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument located in the English county of Wiltshire, about 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) west of Amesbury and 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and sits at the centre of the densest complex of Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments in England, including several hundred burial mounds.[1] Archaeologists had believed that the iconic stone monument was erected around 2500 BC

I present to you in colour - Stonehenge.


And something a little more edgier!


To be honest, it's rather difficult to be overly enthused by what is essentially a set of rocks piled together, but nevertheless the mystery of its function and the reason for the construction is one of interest.
If anything, i guess i can tick it off the "list of things to see that i can say i have seen".

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{9-52} - My Office

{9-52} - My Office, originally uploaded by Mr Bopperleaner.

So for the past couple of weeks i have established an established in the heart of the household - the kitchen.
As a full-time job hunter, my duties include; surfing the online job classifieds, cold calling recruiters, updating of the C.V and brewing/consuming copious amounts of tea.

It's rather daunting not being employed having worked since the age of 16. The freedom of getting up when i wish and wearing just pajamas for an attire does have it's perks, but in the end, income is a necessity.

To all those who are unemployed as well, i can only wish you the best of luck with your endeavors. Have faith and be persistent, it's what I'm clinging on to.

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Archway - Home #2

I guess some of you maybe curious as to the condition of the abode that i am residing in. Be curious no more. I present to you - 61 Bachelor Place .

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Eating out: London - Inamo

Having heard rumors that there existed a restaurant that integrated both a nerd's love for technology and food, i myself was quietly thrilled. Inamo, located in the diners district of Soho, London serves up a pan-Asian cuisine drawing from Japanese/Thai/Vietnamese/Chinese influences. Nothing to out of the ordinary, but the major draw card to this restaurant is the unique virtual interactive dining experience that has generated all the buzz.





The interior styling of the restaurant is futuristic-digital, with Oriental themes underlying the modern decor. For most part, the venue is dim and moody but gleaming with red/green/blue hues from the radiating tables. The tables serve as a interactive screen, where the diner conducts the various functions of ordering food and drink and settling of the final bill. But it's the other additional components of changing your virtual tablecloth, previewing the menu selection and playing a game of battleship with your fellow diner that add that to the interactive experience. Not content, you can even eye the chefs activities through "Chef Cam"!



So does all this technical wizardry detract from the food quality served? In a way yes! The menu does not really consist of anything profoundly innovative and consists of slightly tweaked traditional dishes from the Asian influences. Quantities are minute and often laden with oil based sauces. I'm not a major food connoisseur but the dishes we ordered failed to excite the palate. This included chicken betel leaf, tuna tataki, seafood gyoza and salmon and avocado cerviche. All this plus drinks wounds upward of 30 pounds - not exactly a cheap meal.

All in all, it was a fun experience and is a novel concept to your regular dining. The inner geek is surely to be entertained especially if your accompanied with a like minded troupe. Now if only they could arrange for Jolt cola to be added to the menu.

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Architecture in London

So after i was freed from the G20, i took some time out to wander more of the streets of London.
Not really knowing much about the cityscape and landmarks, it was a great opportunity to explore and acquaint myself with the geography of the city.

There is a great contrast in the architecture between that of the modern and that of the historic. Dispersed amongst modern buildings, there are monuments that have withstood the countless generations and societies that have come and gone. St Paul's Cathedral is one example of this. There has been a Cathedral on this site for 1,400 years and the present Cathedral designed by Sir Christopher Wren is now fast approaching the 300th anniversary of its completion.





Tower of London


On the more modern end you have the Swiss Re building - affectionately known as the "erotic gherkin". There are just somethings you don't question.



Definitely looking forward to expanding this portfolio of architecture images.

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G20 Protest

I don't profess to know much about world politics, but what i do know is that there are a large group of passionate and vocal people who want their thoughts to be heard concerning the current state of affairs. News reports state about 35000 showed up around the banking district of Moorgate / Old Street and supporters no doubt made their presence felt. With anti-capitalists calling for reform, greenies demanding for climate change to be addressed and those calling for bankers' heads, there was little doubt most had an issue of contention on their mind.









More can be seen in my London set here

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