Archive for March, 2009
Mega Man Rap
This very cool Mega Man 2 video just rocked my socks. I can see them in the corner of my room. They’ve been rocked the fuck right off my feet. Cold appendages are the bitter side effect of such an awesome video. You have been warned. Fo’ realz.
Take a trip down memory lane, and learn a few 1337 stratz along the way. Keep an eye out for Mega Man putting his baby momma in her place! Oh, and hold onto your socks.
For those who aren’t quite sure how this internets shiznit works yet, the video is embedded after the jump. Just hit that little link down there talking about photos and videos and whatnot to see it. If you don’t see the link, you’ll be seeing the vid, so this point is moot. Moot Point. Moot.
Prime Meridian
In celebration of the UK entering Daylight Savings today I visited Greenwich to see the Prime Meridian. Adventuring to the southern end of London Daff and I climbed the hill to Royal Observatory and joined the masses standing on the line.
The Prime Meridian is the zero point for longitude. On one side time is GMT+11, on the other GMT+0. On one side you are standing on the western hemisphere, the other: the east. While moving from one side to the other achieves nothing in reality (unlike the international date line) it was still fun to see something that means nothing other than “zero”. Although the signage would have you believe you are at “… the center of all time and space!”
Oh and, this post also marks the return of the Odyssey Video Blog. Watch in awe as I take the Prime Meridian and make it my bitch!
Pebbles
Why haven’t I posted an update for a few days? This is something I can’t really answer. I haven’t been doing that much. I’ve had something to do each day though. Wandering around London, checking out parks, museums, galleries. I’ve caught up with old friends. Went partying with Wayno and drinking with Alicia. I’ve slept in parks, enjoying what little sunshine the UK has offer. I’ve moved house, to Kentish town, staying at Michael’s share house. Sunday was an adventure to Brighton to see the pebble beach. Something so surreal I had trouble comprehending it. People lying on the cold gravel just as they would on the warm soft sand of Australian beaches. It seemed ludicrous.
The weathers turned bad. The sun we saw last week has receeded behind rain clouds. Chill winds are whipping down the street, dragging with them freezing drizzle and driving rain. I can see why people in London get depressed this time of year. I planned to go to Madame Tussauds today, but I can’t brace myself for the weather. That, and the hot water is off here which normally isn’t a problem, but cold water here is COLD water. Stinging points of ice that shred the soul. Ain’t no way I am jumping under that shit today.
Here Comes the Sun
Just a little update on where I am at the moment. Having spent nearly a week at Simon’s place in Newington Green I have moved on to stay with Melissa Sorgiovani and her boyfriend Dave in St John’s Wood. A rather cool little place, the flat is located pretty much next door to Abbey Road Studios, meaning I cross the street at the famous cross walk nearly every single day. I arrived here on Monday, after a closed trainline meant I couldn’t head over on Sunday evening. Standing out front I was asked by a tourist if I was recording at the Studios as he spotted my guitar. I just had to laugh. After getting harrassed by the porter of Melissa’s building I got in, dropped my gear and headed out with Mel to do some shopping at Sainsbury’s. Stupidly at the end of the shop I left my Ray Ban’s hanging off the trolley and lost them. The first loss of my adventure.
On Tuesday, mourning the disappearance of my sunnies I stayed in and did my washing. I headed to the highstreet with a bag of damp clothes and read my book in a basement laundrette. Picking up an O2 phone card on the way home I headed into the nearest pub and downed a couple of Guinesses for St Patties Day. That evening I met up with Michael Fuller and Irene Rankin for a pub quiz in East Finchley but, with the early close of pubs in London, I was home by 11.
Wednesday I went on a mission to find a replacement pair of glasses. I hit Oxford Street in the morning, under some glorious sunshine, blew my budget at Selfrigdge’s and then headed to Hyde Park to soak up some rays. At 14 degrees I still had the chills but the Londoners were relishing the sunshine, walking around in tshirts and shorts. I relaxed for a few hours in the sun, then wandered past Buckingham Palace down towards the Embankment where I grabbed myself a late pub lunch. I caught the tube home, had a beer at the Duke and crashed out again on the couch.
Today the sun is out again, something I am told doesn’t happen much in these parts so I am off to go soak it up in Regents Park. Well I think I am pretty much up to date! Keep on checking in for updates and keep in touch. For those who want to call or message my new number is: +447518 906 273 (or 07518 906 273 in the UK)
Going nowhere, fast
What is this strange attitude that runs through the British population? A twine that binds each citizen with a sense of unfounded urgency. Strangers trotting about town, frowning at their shoes, shoulders broad, pushing through the crowds alone among many. Grimacing faces rushing up and down escalators. Where are you going so fast? I’ll see you at the tube platform when I eventually get there. Your rushing achieved nothing. Do you have somewhere to be? Is it somewhere important? Do you search for a life just out of reach but fail to enjoy the one within your grasp? Why go through existence in this haste, with this frustration? Breathe. Let go. Find solace in now. You’ve missed that tube, but another rumbles but moments behind it. Do you not feel the bitter air that precedes it, blowing at your back. Stop a moment. Why push your way to be first onto the train and then frown like you don’t want to be there? Does the fluorescent flicker of the lighting gnaw at your soul, or is your anger feeding a cancer to do the job? The shine on your shoes shows a smile on your face, but it is merely a fun house mirror of leather and wax. Quick! Jump up to the doors; they will open any moment. Mind the gap. Bump past elbows as you power up the moving stairway only to wait in line at the exit. I stand behind you, patient, and watch. Your Oyster card itches to beep you through the gates. Hands. Thick, purple veins. Your stride pushes you forward. Outside now. The sky is brilliant blue, the sun shines down with glory, but you don’t see it. Your next step is all that is on your mind. Step forward and stride. Stride, stride, stride. Cheap plastic souls beating the pavement. Where are you going to? I stop and watch and gather the sun you’ve forgotten and left sparkling behind you. Do you have somewhere to be? I’ve found where that place is. It lays tossed in the wake of the life that you’re rushing through, going nowhere.
Arsenal
On Saturday Simon and his boss Tim took me to my first english football match. Arsenal versus some other lot. I think it was Blackburn. We had seats right up close to the match, not that it helped me understand what was going on at all. An early goal was the highlight of the first half, but from there the match slowed down. It wasn’t until the second half that things got exciting with Arsenal winning the match with 4 goals.
The intensity of the crowd was pretty astounding and the roar in the stadium with each goal was worth the price of admission. I didn’t have to resort to my football quotes to fit in which was handy, because I probably would have had my head smashed in if I tried any of them on. I mean really: What was Wenger thinking bringing Walcott on so early?
British Museum
The spoils of an empire, plundered from the well thumbed pages of history. That is what you’ll find at the British Museum. The massive building houses what looks like millions of artifacts that the British empire has “procured” over the course of its rule. Pieces from all over the globe are shown here. Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, The Incas, Central America, The Far East. Everything beautifully displayed and deftly stolen, sometimes under the guise of ‘preservation’ but most of the time just gotten in gains most ill.
I don’t condone the British Empires looting of the worlds riches but damn does it make for an interesting day out. Walking through the Library with its display cabinets full of ancient tidbits makes one feel like they are in an Indiana Jones film. Huge statues tower overhead, their mere size prompting the question: how did they get them here? Friezes that once surrounded the Parthenon now hang for tourists to ogle over, lit by spotlight and protected with nought but a thin velvet rope. Treasures from the Orient that once sat pride of place in a Japanese Palace now glitter behind finger print smudged glass cabinets. The dry and contorted body of an ancient Egyptian lays naked in an excavated grave, a bare body once hidden from the world, awaiting passage into the afterlife, now surrounded by dozens of clicking cameras, each xenon flash furthering the search for eternal life. I smiled at skulls and they smiled back at me, my reflection overlaying the cracked features; there but a few thousand years go I.
I traveled the ancient world that Friday afternoon and was home in time for a beer down at the Shakespear’s Head. Cheers to you British treasure hunters, grave robbers and tomb raiders of old. Such a fine museum you’ve made.
Cabinet War Rooms
One of the most interesting things I have seen so far in London is the Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill museum. The Museum opened in 2005, and the War Rooms in 1983 making the exhibits reasonably new. The technically brilliant and interactive museum is a delight for Churchill fans and those interested in World War II history.
The Cabinet War Rooms is a series of bunkers, originally covering nearly 3 acres, built secretly under Whitehall. Covered with a massive slab of concrete the bunkers were used as a base for all of Churchill’s wartime operations between 1938 and 1945. It included communications systems with a direct, scrambled line to the US, typing pools, sleeping quarters and kitchens supplying nurshiment for the crew stationed down in the bunker around the clock. Much of the bunker was left as it was when VE was declared.
After picking up a complimentary audio guide the tour begins with the Cabinet Conference Room where Churchill brought together his War Cabinet based on leaders from all the political parties of the time. Those working there, got up, turned off the lights and left, leaving the space as is. Continuing through the tour you see the sleeping quarters of high ranking officers and assistants to the prime minister, communications rooms, the secret room containing the direct line to the US (which was made to look like an occupied toilet) and the kitchen.
In the middle of the tour you come across the Churchill museum. Cataloguing Churchill’s life from young man to his death this in depth and very entertaining museum presents its wealth of information in the form of multimedia presentations, movies, audio, interactive exhibits and memorabilia.
The last part of the self guided tour takes you through the working areas of the bunkers. The typing pools and offices are on display giving a glimpse of what life was like in the bunker. Perhaps the most interesting room was the map room, where all the movements and details of units and advances were tracked. Again, left as it was when everyone left this room is an amazing look at wartime history.
I spent hours wandering the museum and warrooms, and for around 16 quid, including a guide book, it was a great, cheap day out.
London – innit!
For those keeping track, I’ve been in London a few days now, but I’ve been too busy and too sick to put up a post.
The flight here was fairly uneventful, apart from getting lost on the trains in Tokyo on the way to Narita and I arrived at about 5pm London time. I met my mate Simon at Covent Garden where I stupidly decided to take the stairs up from the underground. We’re talking nearly 200 steps, in spiral staircase fashion, and by the end of my power climb I felt like puking.
Simon and I had dinner at a local turkish seafood place, and back at his place I passed out on the air matress he had for me in the lounge. The next morning feeling refreshed I headed out to see London.
I walked a lot on Wednesday. Basically circling the center of London twice I took in the London Eye, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, Trafalga Square, the National Gallery, the Thames, the Tower of London, the Tower Bridge, the Gherkin, St Paul’s Cathedral and everything in between. It was a packed day. Thursday saw me stay in sick with the flu.
I am liking London. It’s a pretty cool place from what I have seen so far. So much history. Beautiful Architecture. The next few weeks will see if it really works its charms on me.
One for All
Probably the most common misconception of Japanese by westerners that have never been to the country is that the people are a collection of unthinking, working robots with no personalities or individuality. I guess the idea of a country working as one to the betterment of their society is seen as socialist and evil in western eyes. In reality Japanese society is something completely different.
I see Japan as almost a utopia. Sure it has its social problems, and Japanese tend to hide what they are actually thinking but the Japanese society is wonderful. This is a group of people who care for the whole, always putting themselves last. The old adage of “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” fits pretty well here. Everyone is conscious of how they are acting and if they may be offending, annoying or disturbing the people around them. Phones are OFF on the trains. People don’t STEAL. There’s no litter. People are polite in the street. This is not because LAW says they can’t do or say certain things. It’s just that they know that it’s not a good thing for the whole. It the way people should act. I don’t think a billion people can live so well in such a small space without thinking about how one persons actions affect the rest. Someone tried to explain to me that the reason that there isn’t much stealing, or anti social behaviour, why you can leave your wallet on the train and expect to get it back with all your cash is that ones actions are considered based on how that person would be perceived “in the public eye”.
Western Society seems to think that “free speech” or even “freedom” means being able to do what ever you want, when ever you want, which I think is absurd. It gets taken completely out of context. Like someone being a lout, yelling at people and causing trouble in the street. Sure you’re allowed to do this but really: is it good for the whole? I believe everyone should come to Japan and experience their mentality. It really opens your eyes to how good life could be if everyone just considered their actions and put others first.
Enough ranting. I’ve done heaps around Japan, too much to write up individual posts for, so instead please enjoy this collection of photos from around beautiful Tokyo. Area’s photographed include the hostel, Harajuku, Asakusa, Tokyo, Asakasubashi, Shibuya and Ginza.