#49 Travelogue UK: Creative London
Take a stroll (=walk) through London and unless you’re blind, stupid or in a hurry you will stop here and there to take photos or just smile in amazement. Why can London do what other cities can’t?
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
Take a stroll (=walk) through London and unless you’re blind, stupid or in a hurry you will stop here and there to take photos or just smile in amazement. Why can London do what other cities can’t?
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#50 Travelogue UK: Night-seeing in London
People who don’t travel much dream of sightseeing and taking photos in front of famous landmarks. I find it more interesting at night when you don’t have to share with so many tourists. Check out London by night:
• Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
Big Ben is actually only the bell inside the clock tower. The Houses of Parliament is the seat of the British government.
• Westminster Abbey
Britain’s most important church where all the royal weddings are held.
• Buckingham Palace
Where Queen Elizabeth II. lives.
• Trafalgar Square
A busy square full of tourists and pidgeons with a statue of Admiral Nelson who died in a victorious sea battle against France and Spain.
• The London Eye
The big Ferris wheel built for a celebration welcoming the year 2000.
• Piccadilly Circus
A big road junction with iconic illuminated advertising.
• Oxford Street
London’s busiest street for shopping.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
People who don’t travel much dream of sightseeing and taking photos in front of famous landmarks. I find it more interesting at night when you don’t have to share with so many tourists. Check out London by night:
• Big Ben and Houses of Parliament
Big Ben is actually only the bell inside the clock tower. The Houses of Parliament is the seat of the British government.
• Westminster Abbey
Britain’s most important church where all the royal weddings are held.
• Buckingham Palace
Where Queen Elizabeth II. lives.
• Trafalgar Square
A busy square full of tourists and pidgeons with a statue of Admiral Nelson who died in a victorious sea battle against France and Spain.
• The London Eye
The big Ferris wheel built for a celebration welcoming the year 2000.
• Piccadilly Circus
A big road junction with iconic illuminated advertising.
• Oxford Street
London’s busiest street for shopping.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#51 Travelogue UK: Housing in England
In England there are exactly four types of houses to live in:
• Detached house
A house that isn’t attached to another house. While in the countryside this is the most common form of housing it is real luxury in the city.
• Semi-detached house
Basically two households in one building. Semi-detached houses are very common in any city’s outskirts.
• Terraced house
Rows of identical-looking houses. Terraced houses are found in every city, some look fancy and some look shabby.
• Flat
Units within big buildings. There are pricey apartments and horrible tower blocks.
What’s interesting here? Housing is very much about people’s social class. In cities detached houses are for the rich and semi-detached and terraced houses are for the middle class while working-class families usually live in terraced houses or flats.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
In England there are exactly four types of houses to live in:
• Detached house
A house that isn’t attached to another house. While in the countryside this is the most common form of housing it is real luxury in the city.
• Semi-detached house
Basically two households in one building. Semi-detached houses are very common in any city’s outskirts.
• Terraced house
Rows of identical-looking houses. Terraced houses are found in every city, some look fancy and some look shabby.
• Flat
Units within big buildings. There are pricey apartments and horrible tower blocks.
What’s interesting here? Housing is very much about people’s social class. In cities detached houses are for the rich and semi-detached and terraced houses are for the middle class while working-class families usually live in terraced houses or flats.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#52 Travelogue UK: Feminist theatre
Time moves so fast that nowadays movies are becoming a thing of the past – who can spend 1.5 hours away from their smartphone after all? Theatre is even older, and London has a long tradition.
Upon a friend’s recommendation I went to see the play “Paradise”. Let me share some impressions:
The Plot
The story of the play was set on some imaginary island that people couldn’t get away from. This was somehow mixed with Ancient Greek mythology in mysterious ways. Curiously, one of the roles had a Cockney accent.
The Performers
The play was written by a feminist lesbian playwright and performed exclusively by women, including the male roles.
The Audience
Most of the spectators were leftist liberal intellectuals. You could tell by the way they dress and style themselves and by their great respect for covid restrictions.
The Cost
Only £20 – that’s 300,000 soum. A real bargain! 👯♀️
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
Time moves so fast that nowadays movies are becoming a thing of the past – who can spend 1.5 hours away from their smartphone after all? Theatre is even older, and London has a long tradition.
Upon a friend’s recommendation I went to see the play “Paradise”. Let me share some impressions:
The Plot
The story of the play was set on some imaginary island that people couldn’t get away from. This was somehow mixed with Ancient Greek mythology in mysterious ways. Curiously, one of the roles had a Cockney accent.
The Performers
The play was written by a feminist lesbian playwright and performed exclusively by women, including the male roles.
The Audience
Most of the spectators were leftist liberal intellectuals. You could tell by the way they dress and style themselves and by their great respect for covid restrictions.
The Cost
Only £20 – that’s 300,000 soum. A real bargain! 👯♀️
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#53 Travelogue UK: Price policy
In a highly developed, ‘late capitalist’ society the relationship between the value and the price of a product is not so simple. Maybe you thought a bottle of water costs more or less the same wherever and whenever. Not so in the developed world. Prepare to pay some hefty prices when …
... you really need it:
You’re travelling and you’re in a hurry to get a snack? Pay more for that at the airport or train station. Want a small bottle as you travel light? Pay more for the small bottle than the big bottle! Forgot to buy an adapter? Pay over ten times the actual cost to buy it at the airport. Park your car in the city centre? Pay big money or risk a big fine.
... you really want it:
Miniature Big Bens or Eiffel Towers are of course made in China and should be dirt cheap. But buy them in a touristy place because you want to show off or do your loved ones a favour and you’ll be ripped off.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
In a highly developed, ‘late capitalist’ society the relationship between the value and the price of a product is not so simple. Maybe you thought a bottle of water costs more or less the same wherever and whenever. Not so in the developed world. Prepare to pay some hefty prices when …
... you really need it:
You’re travelling and you’re in a hurry to get a snack? Pay more for that at the airport or train station. Want a small bottle as you travel light? Pay more for the small bottle than the big bottle! Forgot to buy an adapter? Pay over ten times the actual cost to buy it at the airport. Park your car in the city centre? Pay big money or risk a big fine.
... you really want it:
Miniature Big Bens or Eiffel Towers are of course made in China and should be dirt cheap. But buy them in a touristy place because you want to show off or do your loved ones a favour and you’ll be ripped off.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#54 Travelogue UK: The London Underground
If you thought metro systems are more or less the same in the world you couldn’t be more wrong. Cities, just like people, have a character of their own, and what you find under the ground says a lot:
London is old
Dating back to 1863, London has the oldest metro system in the world, and that’s also what it feels like. The trains make a lot of noise, there is no mobile phone signal, some stations resemble labyrinths and sometimes there really is quite a gap between the train and the platform.
London is expensive
Ticket prices are steep. Prepare to pay $7 for a single journey, or more if you travel during rush hours. It’s easy to get into the system – just tap your credit card and save the shock for later.
London is weird
Some stations have truly amazing names, like Seven Sisters, Swiss Cottage, Elephant and Castle, Angel, East India, Barking, … Oh and did you know there was a London Underground Mosquito?
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
If you thought metro systems are more or less the same in the world you couldn’t be more wrong. Cities, just like people, have a character of their own, and what you find under the ground says a lot:
London is old
Dating back to 1863, London has the oldest metro system in the world, and that’s also what it feels like. The trains make a lot of noise, there is no mobile phone signal, some stations resemble labyrinths and sometimes there really is quite a gap between the train and the platform.
London is expensive
Ticket prices are steep. Prepare to pay $7 for a single journey, or more if you travel during rush hours. It’s easy to get into the system – just tap your credit card and save the shock for later.
London is weird
Some stations have truly amazing names, like Seven Sisters, Swiss Cottage, Elephant and Castle, Angel, East India, Barking, … Oh and did you know there was a London Underground Mosquito?
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#58 Travelogue UK: The future of shopping
Perhaps you thought self-checkout was pretty futuristic. But check out this “Just Walk Out” shop, opened in London by Amazon in 2021. Here’s how it works:
1. Getting inside
You have the Amazon app installed on your phone and scan a QR code at the entrance. As you enter the cameras keep an eye on you.
2. Grabbing stuff
Take anything, place it anywhere in your bag or pocket. Take similar products, put something back onto the shelf, grab a coffee – the cameras can detect anything you do. It works even without facial recognition, just cameras and sensors on the ceiling.
3. Time to pay
You just walk out with that strange feeling, like it’s your first time shoplifting. But sure enough, minutes later you check your app and it’s all there.
To what end? Tell me what you buy and I’ll tell you who you are. Amazon will know you better than you know yourself. Still a good deal?
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
Perhaps you thought self-checkout was pretty futuristic. But check out this “Just Walk Out” shop, opened in London by Amazon in 2021. Here’s how it works:
1. Getting inside
You have the Amazon app installed on your phone and scan a QR code at the entrance. As you enter the cameras keep an eye on you.
2. Grabbing stuff
Take anything, place it anywhere in your bag or pocket. Take similar products, put something back onto the shelf, grab a coffee – the cameras can detect anything you do. It works even without facial recognition, just cameras and sensors on the ceiling.
3. Time to pay
You just walk out with that strange feeling, like it’s your first time shoplifting. But sure enough, minutes later you check your app and it’s all there.
To what end? Tell me what you buy and I’ll tell you who you are. Amazon will know you better than you know yourself. Still a good deal?
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#60 Travelogue UK: Fun Compilation
#1 Happy hens
A great case of added value – free-range eggs are healthy, and who would disagree? ☺️
#2 Piggy pigeons
Vandalism can also be funny. Pigeons are an absolute nuisance in many cities but some people still feed them. But pigs are even worse of course! 🥴
#3 Special spray
You’re a very important person (“V.I.P.”) and don’t want to leave any smell behind as you finish your business? Use the V.I.Poo toilet spray! 😏
#4 Rude restaurant
Sometimes we can discover familiar words in strange-looking Vietnamese! 😎
#5 Peeved pedestrian
Someone was seriously upset by a pedestrian-unfriendly traffic light and decided to complain. 😡
#6 Naughty newspaper
Boris Johnson is once again criticised for breaking promises. That’s political satire. 😖
#7 Poor pizza
Ouch! How did that pizza land upside-down on the pavement? If it amuses you then at least it wasn’t a total waste! 🤪
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#1 Happy hens
A great case of added value – free-range eggs are healthy, and who would disagree? ☺️
#2 Piggy pigeons
Vandalism can also be funny. Pigeons are an absolute nuisance in many cities but some people still feed them. But pigs are even worse of course! 🥴
#3 Special spray
You’re a very important person (“V.I.P.”) and don’t want to leave any smell behind as you finish your business? Use the V.I.Poo toilet spray! 😏
#4 Rude restaurant
Sometimes we can discover familiar words in strange-looking Vietnamese! 😎
#5 Peeved pedestrian
Someone was seriously upset by a pedestrian-unfriendly traffic light and decided to complain. 😡
#6 Naughty newspaper
Boris Johnson is once again criticised for breaking promises. That’s political satire. 😖
#7 Poor pizza
Ouch! How did that pizza land upside-down on the pavement? If it amuses you then at least it wasn’t a total waste! 🤪
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#64 Travelogue UK: London’s dark sides
London, the place you dream of going. Yes, it is all those things we know and love about but it also has its dark sides:
1. Welfare lines
It can be hard to make ends meet. Volunteers distribute free food stuffs from supermarkets – usually beyond the best before date but still safe to eat.
2. Sleaze
The iconic red telephone boxes are not in high demand today. Unfortunately some of them are peppered with postcard-sized ads of prostitutes.
3. Homelessness
Even the richest cities in the world have homeless people. Governments do help but with conditions that some people just don’t want to accept.
4. Filth
There are corners of the city that are not so well-kept, where rubbish piles up and no one quite cares. These are usually in areas dominated by immigrants.
5. Drugs
These days laughing gas is all the rage. People get it in small metal bulbs, release the gas into a balloon and then inhale it. Some places are scattered with empty bulbs.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
London, the place you dream of going. Yes, it is all those things we know and love about but it also has its dark sides:
1. Welfare lines
It can be hard to make ends meet. Volunteers distribute free food stuffs from supermarkets – usually beyond the best before date but still safe to eat.
2. Sleaze
The iconic red telephone boxes are not in high demand today. Unfortunately some of them are peppered with postcard-sized ads of prostitutes.
3. Homelessness
Even the richest cities in the world have homeless people. Governments do help but with conditions that some people just don’t want to accept.
4. Filth
There are corners of the city that are not so well-kept, where rubbish piles up and no one quite cares. These are usually in areas dominated by immigrants.
5. Drugs
These days laughing gas is all the rage. People get it in small metal bulbs, release the gas into a balloon and then inhale it. Some places are scattered with empty bulbs.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#67 Travelogue UK: Inside UK houses
Old nations have their own standards in everything, even about small things in the house. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a house really British inside:
Fire doors
Buildings often have fire doors in them – heavy wooden doors without handle that you push open and, heavy as they are, they shut themselves. This is to prevent fire from spreading.
Windows
In older houses you don’t open a window by pulling a handle but you slide it up actually.
Bathrooms
First of all they usually have a carpet, so you shouldn’t splash too much water around. The light is switched on and off by pulling a string.
Toilets
You flush a toilet by pushing down a handle. Little pressure releases little water, a hard push the whole tank.
Sinks
Hot and cold water are provided separately, from two different taps.
Plugs
The UK plug has 3 pins, not 2. The third pin is long and helps stabilise the plug in the socket.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
Old nations have their own standards in everything, even about small things in the house. Let’s take a closer look at what makes a house really British inside:
Fire doors
Buildings often have fire doors in them – heavy wooden doors without handle that you push open and, heavy as they are, they shut themselves. This is to prevent fire from spreading.
Windows
In older houses you don’t open a window by pulling a handle but you slide it up actually.
Bathrooms
First of all they usually have a carpet, so you shouldn’t splash too much water around. The light is switched on and off by pulling a string.
Toilets
You flush a toilet by pushing down a handle. Little pressure releases little water, a hard push the whole tank.
Sinks
Hot and cold water are provided separately, from two different taps.
Plugs
The UK plug has 3 pins, not 2. The third pin is long and helps stabilise the plug in the socket.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
#70 Travelogue UK: Anti-Vaxxers
Vaccine pros and cons are fiercely debated around the planet, and the UK is no exception. Let’s hear what anti-vaxxers have to say:
Blood clots
Western vaccines, especially AstraZeneca developed in Oxford, come with a number of possible side effects. The biggest worry are blood clots that can give you a stroke or heart attack. Hence the word game “National Clottery”.
Brainwash
The main point here: Switch off your TV and look around you – there is no pandemic. The media is exaggerating the dangers of the virus while not telling us enough about the risks of the vaccines.
It’s not cool
Some people argue that getting vaccinated is just not cool. A multiracial bunch of Londoners wrote a catchy rap song “Dont Tek Di Vaccine”. They play it outside a tube station while handing out flyers. Check out the song on YouTube.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk
Vaccine pros and cons are fiercely debated around the planet, and the UK is no exception. Let’s hear what anti-vaxxers have to say:
Blood clots
Western vaccines, especially AstraZeneca developed in Oxford, come with a number of possible side effects. The biggest worry are blood clots that can give you a stroke or heart attack. Hence the word game “National Clottery”.
Brainwash
The main point here: Switch off your TV and look around you – there is no pandemic. The media is exaggerating the dangers of the virus while not telling us enough about the risks of the vaccines.
It’s not cool
Some people argue that getting vaccinated is just not cool. A multiracial bunch of Londoners wrote a catchy rap song “Dont Tek Di Vaccine”. They play it outside a tube station while handing out flyers. Check out the song on YouTube.
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #uk