Brick Lane

Brick Lane in East London was once associated with poor slums and prostitution. It's known as the area where Jack the Ripper (also called 'The Whitechapel Murderer') was up to mischief. Nowadays nothing in this vibrant and colourful neighbourhood reminds you of its old, dark days.
In my opinion Brick Lane stands for street art, galleries, markets and vintage stores. Oh, and it's also called "Banglatown" due to its large Bangladeshi-Sylheti community. If you wanna have a real Indian curry, you should go to Brick Lane.

The first time I became really interested in Brick Lane was when I watched a documentary called "Graffiti Wars" that featured Banksy and Robo - 2 rival Londoner graffiti artists. I found out that Brick Lane is very famous for its graffiti which features artists like Banksy and D*Face. This is one of my favourites:

Graffiti belongs to pop culture and pop culture has always been influenced by popular TV shows such as Sesame Street. For instance, The Simpsons and Family Guy have spoofed Sesame Street. And since Brick Lane is full of pop culture it kind of makes sense to have Sesame St E1 right in the beginning of this street in East London. Brick Lane has also been used in music videos such as "All these things that I have done" by The Killers:

As I've mentioned before, Brick Lane is furthermore famous for its vintage stores and food. Here is a culinary tip (no, no Indian curry): You should go to Brick Lane Beigel Bakery which is a local institution. It's rated by some as the freshest  and most delicious bagel you will ever have and is highly recommended by my friends for a post-clubbing snack.

I couldn't really find something weird or unexptected about Brick Lane to be honest. It just reminded me of Berlin with all its graffitis, street markets, vintage clothes and street artists. The East End felt exactly like Prenzlauer Berg or Kreuzberg (with the Indians replacing the Turks).
There is so much to discover, though! At every street corner you can find something worth seeing:

Trials and Tribulations

When you move to a foreign country, you have to meet some challenges, like finding a room/ apartment, a job, friends, a favourite place, moving all your stuff, changing phone provider etc.
One of my toughest challenges so far has been getting a bank account!

I think I had about 7 or 8 meetings at several British banks. They all requested lots of different documents. But not all documents at one time - no, every time I went there they asked for something else. It already became a running gag at work.
In the end they even gave me a questionnaire that included questions, like "How much money do you spend on clothes per month?", "How much money do you spend on entertainment per month?"

Wow! I had no idea how hard it can be for a foreigner to get a British bank account. All in all it took me 2 months to open up a simple account and when I finally accomplished this mission, I received each document in a separate letter and had another meeting with the bank employee to make sure that everything has arrived!

Culture Clash

I've been to Berlin last week and had quite a hard time to readjust to the German culture. I've discovered a couple of differences I haven't consciously noticed before or have already become used to. 

First of all, I tried to pay with £. I arrived at 6pm and it was still 30°C. We went to a nice German beer garden that night. But in my wallet were only £.

The next morning I had to take the tube and almost missed it, because I was waiting for the doors to open up automatically. But in Berlin you still have to push the button. At least you can use your phone during your journey, because the underground is not as deep as in London.

I really like the concept of standing on the right, walking on the left when using an escalator in Britain. And I know some friends of mine get really angry if tourists stand on the left and block their path. But in Berlin this concept doesn't really exist. Everyone is standing and walking wherever they want.

In most restaurants in London the tip is already included in the bill, so you don't have to bother about tipping your waiter. So, sometimes I just forgot to tip in Berlin and was very embarrassed about it afterwards.
Oh, that reminds me of another British habit I have adapted. When someone passes me, I've started to apologise - even though I didn't even touch them.
Last but not least, if you need to buy groceries or anything else, you should think of it already on Saturday, because unlike in London all shops are closed on Sundays in Germany. 

The day before I left, it rained all day and I was already looking forward to going back to England!

Dating in London

So far my topics have been quite funny, but let's get serious today. Let's talk about DATING.

First of all, I have to admit I'm quite unexperienced in the dating world. In Germany, you meet someone, you exchange numbers, you go out, you spend the night together or at least kiss, and then you're basically a couple (I'm fast-forwarding here). In the UK, things are slightly different and that's why I'm happy about any advice. My lovely flatmate, for example, told me the following:
1. You should always go for a drink on the first date and for dinner on the second - just in case the guy is boring, a weirdo, not your type (which you didn't realise before because you had too many Bellinis that night you met him).
2. Leave the guy's number with your friend - just in case he tries kidnapping you.
3. After a while you have THE talk - until then you're dating non-exclusively, which means you can also go out with other guys.

Well, but before you can date someone, you have to meet that person you'd like to date. I can't say I have a problem with meeting guys in London (actually every time I go out, at least one guy chats me up - in contrast to Berlin where it's quite hard to meet someone), but my problem is that I don't wanna make use of their telephone numbers then. Please picture the following scenarios: You are standing in a bar and a guy comes up to you and says: "Hi, I'm Christopher and I work at the Apple Store...I think you should give me your number, because I work at the Apple Store....oh, have I mentioned yet that I work at the Apple Store?" - Hi, I'm John, do you wanna dance?"...2  mins later his hands are on your bump and he tries to canoodle with you - "Hi, I'm Roger and I need your advice. There is this girl I really like, but I think she is playing with me and I wanted your advice!" Are you serious, guys? What happened to flirting? At this point I would like to quote my Spanish friend: "What you meet in the club, should stay in the club!"

But where else can you meet "dating material"? Many of my friends in London are using online dating websites. I'm too scared of that to be honest, because people can tell you everything in the anonymous world of cyberspace. But one of these friends just met an author who is writing about relationships. One of his books is about how to meet the right woman (I wonder why he is still using online dating..hmm...) and another one is about mistakes women make. Consequently we were thinking about mistakes men make. Here are our Top 3: 

#1 Young men today don't know what romance is or use it in inappropriate situations

#2 They are hyperchrondics (also known as "men flu")

#3 They lie about the stupidest things

So, here is my advice: Next time you chat up a woman be charming (no daily delivery of red roses or chocolate pralines though), don't say you have the flu when it's only hay fever and don't say you are a non-smoker when you can smell you just smoked! The already mentioned Flirting Tour (http://www.flirtology.co.uk/) might be a good start too! Cheers ;-) 

Nightlife: Roller Disco

♫ I'm so excited and I just can't hide it... - You're the one that I want, ooh ooh ooh... - Take on me, take me home...♫ These are the songs I was listening to last night. Me and my flatmates made a trip back to the 80s and went to the Roller Disco in Vauxhall: http://www.rollerdisco.com/

The best part about going out is dressing up, right? So, we picked the brightest and most 80-like clothes we could find, put on colourful make-up and got the crimping iron out:

When you are dressed up like that, the next hilarious step is leaving your house and walking around like that in public while everyone stares at you - especially on the London Underground:

 

At the Roller Disco, though, we didn't feel weird at all. Everyone was dressed up! There were guys with wigs, sunglasses and very short shorts. There were girls with tutus, legwarmers and super colourful leggings. If you wanna have a laugh with your friends, I highly recommend this place:

Events: World Naked Bike Ride

I witnessed one of the most bizarre events yesterday. I went to Hyde Park with a friend to watch some bike tour. What I didn't know about it, was that:

So, apparently it was the 8th London World Naked Bike Ride. Over 1000 people took part to protest against oil dependency and car culture. They wanted to celebrate the bicycle as well as the power and individuality of the human body. And to show the vulnerability of the cyclist in traffic.  
Some of them painted their bodies (what I preferred):

Some of them attended completely naked:

 

When I saw this guy taking a picture like that, I was wondering: Is this gonna be his new profile pic on facebook?! In the beginning, I thought this event is hilarious. It's like a car crash: you don't really wanna watch, but you just can't take your eyes off. But at some point it got quite awkward. There were so many photographers taking pics of all these naked people and treated them like exotic animal.
Well, but after all it was a celebration and an event you shouldn't take too serious. If you wanna join this bizarre celebration next year, keep this website in mind: http://www.worldnakedbikeride.org/uk/

Oh, and btw: it's not like I only took pictures of men. It's rather that 90% of the attendees were male!

London and its Randomness

One of the things, I like the most about London is its complete randomness.
You don't have any plans tonight? Just walk around Londontown and you'll find plenty of things to do.
The other day, I got off work and was just strolling around in Soho when I saw this amazing little arts exhibition. It was in a nondescript building with free admission and they had some really cool artwork:

Another night, I went out with my Canadian friend. First we went to the National Portrait Gallery where we met by accident a women who offers Flirting Tours across London. Within these tours you learn the "three methods of attack", which are three ways to meet anyone, and practice using them at London institutions such as Galleries, and even supermarkets. If you are interested, here is the link: http://www.flirtology.co.uk/
Later that night, we went to a Canadian Pub in Covent Garden called "The Maple Leaf" (what else?!) and guess who we bumped into:

I know some of my German friends will wonder now, who is this guy?! It's MATTHEW FOX who starred in Party of Five and Lost! You ignoramus! Or is the plural ignorami?

Anyway. London is a great place to just walk around not expecting anything and meeting the most interesting people and finding strange places. 

Events: Bacanal Party

In Berlin, daytime parties aren't a curiosity. In fact, you don't go out before 1am and you certainly don't go to the really hip clubs, like Berghain which was ranked as the world's best techno club in 2009, before 3am. I have to admit, I quite enjoy going out earlier in London. It's nice to go for a drink on a Fridaynight right after work, when the sun is still shining and then be able to get up quite early the following day.
So, I was a bit surprised when my Spanish friend invited me to a daytime party in London. But the Bacanal Parties are not just regular parties, they are rather events.

Last time, I stroked a snake!

The theme was animal prints. So everyone (except for us of course, since we didn't know the theme as usual) was wearing leoprints and safari looks, and the girl with the snake was running around at the party as well as some African-Brits in animal print costumes who played on drums and gave the feeling of rather being somewhere in Africa than in South Kensington, London.
If you wanna check it out, the next Bacanal Party is on Saturday and I even reveal the theme:

Restaurants & Bars: Sketch

"One day a man walked into a place...the air warm, the scent sweet."
That's the first sentence of a story about a man who enters a marvellous place and a voice tells him about the wide range of offers at this particular place. The man is fascinated by all these opportunities and asks "What is this place?" "All I wish," said the voice, "is that you arrive with an open mind and imagine, if you will, a painting that never dries." That's the sketch story! Not sketch as in comedy sketch, but sketch as in idea.

The idea of launching a centre, a “lieu” or destination place, for food, art and music has been realised by Mourad “Momo” Mazouz and his team of chefs and designers over two expansive floors of a converted 18th century building in Conduit Street, Mayfair, London. It has attracted unprecedented media reaction for its myriad food, drink and entertainment styles since it opened in December 2002.

sketch is the creation of one man’s dream “to do the impossible”
To stimulate your senses in a very special way,
In an environment to surpass all others,
To evolve these experiences into a way of life for London

Okay, okay, but let's face it! The reason why my flatmate and I wanted to go there were the facilities = toilets.
Have you ever peed inside of an egg? At sketch it's possible. Especially when you had a couple of Bellinis before, it's great fun:

The rumour is that Willl & Kate went to sketch after their wedding reception. I don't actually believe that, but I'm sure they have been to sketch at several other occassions.
Oh, and regarding my last post, I just want to mention that sketch offers a "Flower Menu" till 3rd of June to honour the Chelsea Flower Show. They serve dishes using Hibiscus Syrup, Nasturium Flowers, Poppy Vinegar, Garlic Flower and Safron. Sounds great, but maybe we should bring our inhalers along?

If you want to know more about sketch, visit their website: http://www.sketch.uk.com/

Events: Chelsea Flower Show

Beginning of last week, I decided to check out the world famous Chelsea Flower Show. I thought it's right on time since it took place from 24 - 28 May. Then my colleague said I should have bought tickets like half a year ago, because they are very fast sold out. Well, when I checked the prices I decided it's too expensive anyway. £47.00 to see some flowers?!
I went to Regent's Park instead:

Maybe I'll go to the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show in July (tickets are only £14,50) and thanks to these brilliant tips from the Chelsea Flower Show website I'll be very well prepared:

• Wear sensible shoes - you will be much more comfortable than tottering around in 4-inch+ heels - even if they do look good!
  
• Arrive early,visit those stands you really want to see first. If your feet are tired, or one garden/stand doesn't interest you, don't feel guilty for giving it a miss.
• Take a notebook and collect website and e-mail addresses so you can later make purchases at your leisure and have the plants delivered to your door.
  
• When making notes in your notebook, make a note of where you saw it as well as what you saw (eg stand number etc).
  
• Grab a show catalogue - the map is essential and it will have details of all those nurseries you want to order from.
• Take a digital camera to take pictures of plants and their labels; scribbled notes are good, photos are much, much better better.
  
• Charge the battery of your camera and take an extra memory card.
• A mobile phone or two per group is useful when you lose each other or want to meet up.
• If you suffer from hayfever or asthma, don't forget your inhaler. Apart from all the plants in the show contributing to the pollen count, London's plane trees will also be in flower

http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show/2011