CATCHING UP WITH LOCALS: (EVENT) "BOXING DAY ROAST" // MY FIRST TRAVEL MISTAKE

Location: The Argyle
Date: 26th Dec, Boxing Day


DISCLAIMER: So alot has happened since I originally wrote this post, and alot has gone wrong in regards to this post. So let me just go back to the beginning...I had spent all night drinking and dancing with my Aussie's, and met some awesome people, exchanging business cards/e-mails all night. I had left all my business cards with the contact info of the artists that I had briefly interviewed in my purse and these were essential to my post, however I left purse back at our place in Sydney and I only realised 50 minutes before my flight whilst trying to buy some last minute gifts at the airport. So basically, long story short, apart from flying without any money/credit card until arriving in Abu Dhabi where I met up with my dad who was also travelling, I also came back home with no contact info for this post. But I thought, it's okay, I'll just postpone it further, I'll get Maddi who is back in Sydney to send me the content of my purse! So I did so, and a few days later, an envelope arrived, with some cash, a credit card, my ID...and no info cards. I messaged Maddi about it and well, she had thrown them away. Accidentally ofcourse. So, moral of my dragged on story, don't leave your purse at home when you leave for the airport! My first travel mistake, ever. 

NOW: I'm just going to try and sum up the whole night with the very little information that I have, and huge apologies to those of you who I spoke to that night, I know I said this post would be up a month ago, and that I would have all this detailed information. But since I have no one's e-mail, I can't provide that information for anyone. However I will continue to do this post! 
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I hope you all had an awesome Christmas and Boxing day. I spent mine with some welcoming rain, cheap booze and Aussies.  I'm always grateful that I get to meet artistic and culture oriented individuals all around the world, and I recently had the chance of meeting some dudes and dudettes from Sydney. Although I got quite a Brick-Lane (blukku, blukku) feel from all of it, I'm a little convinced that Sydney may have the arts and culture thing down way better than we do back home.

FASHION & STYLE

An urban fashion enthusiast, he works for Primo Magazine  and damn do these dudes have style. Although the crowd was very mixed at this event, the majority of guys were under the urban/skater look influence. (You know, reverse 90's cap, loose, graphic tee) I guess you could say that's the look in (slightly underground) fashion right now for males amongst most Western countries today (I'm certain it's popular in France, US, UK, and Australia rn). But ofcourse, depending on the crowd. If you go to a skate park in London, you will always find guys dressed like this, but defiantly not in the mainstream fashion of London. So even though most of the Sydney dudes rock the bleach blonde mid shoulder length, beach look, they also got the fresh as, major city look going on too, and they pull it off. 

ART 

I think most of us can agree that street art culture is very much alive in Sydney, and I was very inspired and impressed when I encountered this lovely lady's art at the Argyle. (Who's name I didn't even get!)  Had the honour to meet her and exchange info, however, you can guess what went wrong. Unfortunately I can't provide contact details but her art is 100% worth sharing! What I really liked was that she had only half way started this piece when we had arrived, and this photograph was taken when completed, so we watched her work in progress, cool as. 

MUSIC 

Sydney's music scene is beautifully broad and varied. But what I love is how much they love our music! These guys have a huge love and respect for UK garage, grime, d&b, and dubstep. Being in Sydney made me appreciate music that originated from us more than actually living in the UK. The night was occupied by a couple of D&B Dj's, who I didn't encounter. And apparently the guys from Garage Pressure  a Sydney based radio that hosts garage music and more UK based music. (Check them out!)
 I ended up chilling and talking to the dudes from Corner Store Superheroes, check them out on soundcloud here. At first when I heard one of them rapping, I genuinely thought they were from the UK. However, when I spoke to them, I learned that that was not the case at all, and that sometimes a "UK accent just comes out". Check them out! 

I apologies again for any disappointment, if you have some info, contact me me via twitter. 

[photos by yung gurl]

FLYING OVER AMSTERDAM DURING SUNSET: FOR THOSE WITH A LOVE FOR TRAVELLING.

I've been away for a month, and in a blink of an eye I find myself back somewhere familiar. Back to the place which marks the significance of my travels. Like all other transits, Abu Dhabi International Airport tells the story that I have made it half way between my home and where I was only yesterday.  Except this time I'm not going to Sydney, India, or Tokyo. I'm going home. But just being here, amongst you strangers with homes, memories, and potential futures makes me feel somehow alright to be done with my travels early, because I know I'll be back, half way, in transit, once more. Travelling is what makes me feel human, real. Travelling makes me feel like a citizen of the world, rather than one of a city or town. I am not fixed to any society, I am just a part of the world.

To roam airports and cities all alone, to see people of all kinds from all over this little planet gives me the most beautiful, sonderous feeling combined with desperate and continuous wanderlust. For every flight there is a Veronica I got to know in ten hours, she has been to Thailand, Bali. There is a Michael who is constantly travelling to Poland to visit his family from Sydney, who I got to know in fourteen. For every hour spent in a strange and foreign airport I learn something new about myself.

So if you are filled with wanderlust and you're young, wise beyond your years, had a little taste of the world and now only craving to see more of it like me, keep finding ways to travel no matter what, and never give up.

2014

LEAVING SYDNEY

 8.15 am

Disclaimer- This is a sad post. 

I haven't slept well all night, I woke up around 4 am and started packing my things in advance, I leave for the airport around 1 pm today. I was determined to finally write up an essay which is already over-due by a day but I have now concluded that I'm too tired to actually do anything substantial with it. I packed my things to the sounds of strange bird-calls, cool air coming through floor no.10 in the apartment I'm staying in the North Shore. I'm tired, and a little bit hungover, and it is then when I realise that actually, half of my trip I have been either drunk, stoned, or exhausted. And although I have been in awe so many, many times during this whole month, (beautiful vivid stars camping up north, swimming in a waterfall, kangaroos..) I still feel as though I never took a moment just to, well, be. You know, to take a breather and let a simple moment just sink in and stick. I guess that's what happens when you have a busy schedule and can't even fit in all the things you want to do. But alas, I am more than grateful that I even experienced Australia. (Even if I didn't go to Bondi or see a Koala) 

But how do I feel about leaving? I'll tell you. Terrible. I don't know if it's being irresponsible and bitter towards reality, education and work, or if it's simply not being bothered to endure the London winter ahead, but I don't feel homesick one bit. I must admit, at the start of my trip, I was a little homesick, but now that I've gotten so used to Sydney and met so many new, beautiful people, all I want to do is stay. I've gotten to know people, made friends, found appreciation and love for electronic music again, fallen in-love with the city, and now I have to leave, back to the other side of the world. Plus I'm leaving cheap sushi, the guy I have a crush on, and all the potential I had there behind. What do I have in London? What is there for me apart from my bestfriend, mum and my dog? I don't want to make this a rant about how much I hate London, so I'll just say that I'm genuinely going to miss Sydney and all of Australia greatly. 

 There is never enough time for any traveller to see everything and finish without untied strings, but what what the traveller can do is try his or her best to experience to the fullest. 

BEACH TALK #4: MANLY BEACH

"Manly Beach is a beach situated among the Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia. From north to south, the three main sections are Queenscliff, North Steyne, and South Steyne"

Following up my intensely rushed "things to do before I leave" list, we decided to take a visit to Manly beach. It was my aunt who suggested we go to Manly, just to see not only the beach but also the suburb. So we took a ferry out to the suburb of Manly on a sunny day, the journey itself was a great for a tourist such as myself as you get to see alot of the sights such as the famous Sydney opera house to the Harbour bridge from a great point of view. -----> 

The journey was about half an hour, until we were greeted by Manly. The suburb itself was quite busy, as it is a good place for tourists, the high street was occupied by tourist, clothing, food shops and everything in between. I also noticed there were alot of long-borders/skateboarders, (and female ones, yay!) which is something I like to see. After shopping at Cole's for a picnic, we made our way to the beach where we relaxed and ate before heading into the sand. Finding a spot in the sand was a little bit hard as there was so many people. There was also "safety announcements" being held that day, it was quite annoying as it was only safe in the tiniest section of the water between the flags, but rather safe than sorry! I couldn't keep up with the waves in the beach, either falling over each time a wave hit or having to worry about my bikini top. It was quite the opposite of a relaxing day at the beach. As much as I wanted to have fun and spend some time in the water I couldn't really even take a second to breathe, although it was quite fun. 
The rest of the day we just hung around on the sand, tanning and what-not. It was quite the day.   All in all, Manly seems like a tourist-friendly town with alot of family-friendly attractions. 


[photos by yung gurl] 

CATCHING UP WITH THE LOCALS: KOMECHI KYOHOI

Komechi Kyohoi, 25, is a self-taught Japanese artist from Hokaido, Japan. For about two years he has been travelling around Australia. From Melbourne to Sydney to Byron Bay, he has been selling his artworks on the streets and in the tube stations. He currently sells his work for only $5, however he once made a total of $355 in one day. His aspirations are to create more original drawings and to travel to London. Kyohoi never studied art in university or professionally, and only started it as a hobby.

We met Komechi whilst coming back from Oxford St, Sydney. We were welcomed by his shy yet friendly presence, and ended up conversing with him for hours. Unfortunately, Komechi does not have a website at the moment, however he promised he would work on it. 

[Photos by Yung Gurl - Art by Komechi Kyohoi]