London #3

If I am a fan of grime, I am definitely also a fan of unnecessary glam. Waxy O'Connors, an Irish pub in central London, is modeled on a medieval castle and definitely falls in the category of show-offy interior design.

London #4

I'm a sucker for grime and inefficient service in restraunts with wooden furniture. Freud, the underground gastropub in Shaftesbury Avenue fits the bill.

Yet more stupid and dangerous activities

This is what my guidebook to Snowdonia had to say about Bristly Ridge, "Bristly Ridge is one of Snowdonia's most feared ridges and once you've done it you'll have ever been scared senseless on its knife edge pinnacles and difficult climbs..."

The guide then goes on to reasonably advise that "If you decide you cannot handle the ridge due to inexperience, fear or bad weather then simply cross the stile and turn right up a steep but clear path that will lead to the summit plateau of Glyder Fach."

Of course me and my walking partner, Jha, wouldn't be caught dead pulling out of anything due to fear or inexperience (although we'd never been rock climbing before) especially when we'd seen others attempting it. So we went ahead and attempted to climb the ridge. We soon realised that we would face major disadvantages compared to our climbing companians- namely, the lack of ropes, helmets or any sort of climbing gear, having our full camping gear on our backs and the absence of climbing shoes (we helpfully had big, stiff walking boots). However, by this time there was no turning back and the subsequent 90 minute climb took me within half an inch of death (literally, I lost my footing and all that connected me to the rock was 3 fingers in a gravelly crevice), had me paralysed with fear and admitting my shortcomings (those who know me will attest to how rarely this happens).

I came home and described the experience to my flatmate who simply asked, "Why do people do these things man?" The answer's simple really, "to feel human".

Photographs here.

London #5

I know most European cities have their fair share of outdoor cafes and street musicians but London is deprived of them by a cruel combination of bad weather and a low demand for any beverage that doesn't contain enough alcohol to make you want to take off your clothes and hug strangers. Covent Garden market is the exception to this rule - it brings together coffee lovers and musicians and gives people a place to sit, do nothing and hear live music for free.

A note regarding the photograph: I did look for a picture which would have both a cafe and a singer (and even ambitiously attempted to take one myself) but I am a sucker for black and white pictures and there was no way I was letting go of this one I found on the net (just imagine the cafe to the left of the picture) - I especially like the way the kid is running towards the singer as if to hug him.

Of stupid, dangerous and illegal activities

I came across this great bit of advice about hitchiking recently that I have fallen in love with -

"We are all aware that hitch hiking is a stupid, dangerous, illegal thing to do. Interestingly, the only people who advocate it are the people who have tried it. Those who don't advocate it haven't done it. Perhaps these things are related and perhaps they're not, but if fear were a driving force in your life you probably wouldn't be traveling at all. Or reading this."

On a related note, I think Couchsurfing.org is a fantastic website. It connects travelers from around the world by offering its members the opportunity to host a tourist in one's home, or request to be hosted by another member. I think this is a fantastic (and cheap) way for people from different regions and cultures to interact and experience a country/city/town in a non-touristy way. Like with hitch hiking, you of course run the minor risk of bumping into a serial killer along the way. But that's the beauty of it: the fact that I have not heard of one person who has had a bad experience couchsurfing just goes to show that the world is not a B-grade Hollywood movie (or the evening news) and this realisation encourages one to try more stuff that you never thought you would do.

Do sign up (it's free) and give it a go. I promise to host you in London/Brussels if you quote this post in your request.

London # 6

The Fourth Plinth at Trafalgar square does not have a permanent art installation and it usually hosts different statutes for short periods. Currently, sculptor Antony Gormley has installed a living monument on the plinth whereby there is a different person on the plinth, doing whatever he or she wants, every hour for a hundred days. Its a good place to land up after drunken Friday/Saturday night to watch some live music (or some person throwing a ball about).