Protestors

So today I saw my first ever peaceful demonstration. Protesters outside The GSK Pharmaceuticals company. Apparently they do research on animals and that was the subject of the protest.
It was all a bit sad really coz even thou the case is a great one, there must've only been about 30 people protesting all in all. Accompanied by a big drum, four mega horns and of course the essential: posters and police. The chants were "SHAME ON YOU" and "NO MORE CRUELTY". I applaud them thou for sticking to their convictions and having the balls to do something about those convictions. Even if it does all just amount to hot air.
The building itself is 20 mins from my house and is stunning. Fully glass and really a wonderful piece of architecture.
I used to be very anti animal cruelty when I was a kid, I'm pretty indifferent now. But above all of that I still think drug tests should be carried out on criminals, not animals. Coz criminals are the real animals. What did a bunny rabbit ever do wrong? I'm actually tempted to go outside and chant with them, but I would be a hypocrite coz if it was GSK's drugs and research that was to save my life, I would buy the drugs.
Long story short - I'm stoked I got to see my first peaceful demonstration, posters and all. Not like back home where ppl just strike and march up the the city hall for more money.

It's awesome to see different things and firsts that you don't think you would see normally had you not traveled. I saw this dude riding on one of those trick bikes when I was on the bus the other day while stopped at a robot. It was hysterical, a grown rather large man riding a trick bike at 11pm at night with bag on back.
London is also the only place, I've seen, where it's acceptable for a business man in a suit to carry a back pack around instead of a briefcase and no body says anything.
Linked to the spring post, woman are starting to wear skirts again, with thin stockings, I mean really ppl, it's still cold outside!!! Plus when I go to bed a 2am most of the time, there are birds chirping, I'm being to wonder if they are just as happy that it's spring as the humans are or if the light pollution is making the city too bright and they think that for like a good 6 hours the sun is rising...

Spring Has Sprung

Today was the first day of ppl cutting their grass in about 4 months. It's so nice to be experiencing this coz back home it's summer and spring all year round.
I've been noticing things for a few weeks now. One of the biggest things that has really impressed me is last week, everyday that I woke and walked to work a new tree had bloomed, having the whole tree covered in flowers.
In partiular I've been keeping an eye on these little pods, growing on a creeper that is cascading over a wall on my work walk route. These little pods started off as what looked like baby acorns. Last week they popped out of their casings and looked like caterpillars all covered in fur. During the week the fur got thicker and whiter and this week I see that there are now pollen heads off of every strand of fur/hair. I can't wait to see what happens next.
I think coming from a country where flowers are so abundant and frequent that you start to over look them and don't ever see the process that the plant goes thru in order to bloom that beautiful flower. I find that I'm paying more and more attention to things now.

As well as the plants changing, the weather is too. There are more sunny days and the wind is starting to pick up more. Also when it rains it's not that soft drizzle any more, the rain is getting heavier and if it does rain it's for the whole day not just in patches. But I've got to say that there are more non-rain days than rainy ones. And by that I mean, cloudy or sunny. And really you can face the cloudy days, at least you don't have to drag an umbrella around. I still haven't even brought one... I just wear my huge big army jacket and get told I look like a man, some ppl really should get their eyes tested!!! The sun is also warm now, meaning you can actually stand in the sun to warm up, not like in winter where it's just as cold as the air is. I can't wait for summer when all the trees have their leaves back and the air is hot.

You really don't think that you'll see some thing as simple as the seasons changing to be a big experience but it has turned into an appreciation for me as well as an eye opener as to how much you really can neglect.

Royal Botanic Gardens / Kew Gardens

I hadn't managed to take any photos for 3 weeks while I was getting used to my new job and time schedules. So I made a point of getting out of bed on one of my days off. I had said to myself that if the sun was out then I'm going to The Royal Botanic Gardens (which I ride past everyday).
Seeing as the sun was out and the clouds weren't building up too fast, I packed my camera, battery, memory cards, put my huge jacket on and walked out the door. I was going to use this trip for a photo project too. Shooting on my 70 - 300mm all the time. I had packed my 18 - 55mm kit lens just in case, you never know when a totally awesome shot is going to jump out and hit you. One doesn't wanna be unprepared.
When I got to the gardens, I've gotta admit that I was a little shocked to see that there was an entry fee. In SA all botanical gardens are free. So I stood by at the entrance wondering if I really wanted to pay £12 out of the £20 that I had left til payday (4 days down the line). I decided to pull my socks up and do it. So I whipped out my £20 to pay and was pleasantly surprised to find that the fee was only £9.50. Yippee, I was feeling good already.

I was greeted by a most amazing sight, a green floor peeping thru in patches, between a whole stack of purple and white flowers, Crocuses. I was truly in awe, I've never actually thought of spring as a season until now. Of course I took pics of those and the pigeons that were walking about. I tell you what the pigeons are huge here!!! They are the size of a baby chicken the you pay R90 for in a restaurant.
I received a nice little map with my receipt of entry so proceeded to read it and find out where I was to go first. Off to the glasshouses that I see everyday on the way to work and so desperately what to go into. I was side tracked on the way how ever, by The Palm House and the beautiful gardens surrounding it, not to mention the statues of animals representing different countries. click click click and click .
Seagulls were flying about and my attempts to capture them in flight were terrible so those were deleted.
Going into The Palm House is a whole nother experience! It's sunny outside, yet still unbelievable cold and inside it's hot humid and just like home. I seriously wanted to whip out my bikini and just enjoy the heat. My camera didn't enjoy it too much thou, from being at about 8 or 10 deg C outside to being instantly warmed to about 30 excluding humidity was, well a wet experience for my camera. My glasses, the lens, viewfinder and LCD screen were all misted up. I didn't wanna risk damaging my cam so I went outside in a split second.
Now to find my glasshouse... But again I was distracted, I saw this view point atop a hill, it was so secluded and peaceful that I had to go and see what pics it would yield. The Temple of Aeolus was it's name, it was beautifully placed, I really enjoyed sitting there and looking around, just smiling to myself while taping my foot to my music. I reckon I looked like a right nutter...
Finally, to the Princess of Wales Conservatory. This place was awesome. As you walked in you could unzip your jacket and stop chattering your teeth as th first climate you hit was a semi-arid one. Filled with cacti and plants that live in those conditions I spent a good 20 mins taking pics of just that section. And the sunlight was streaming in making for a photographers dream with backlight plants and sun streaming onto prickly surfaces. I found myself again, just smiling and enjoying every moment of this experience, my £9.50 seemed to be paying itself off already.

Hunger was starting to set in so I went to a converted manor built in 1791 to get something to warm me up. Sitting on the bench outside, enjoying the sun a seagull flew up and stood in front of me talking, asking for some muffin... At £1.50 a muffin, there's no ways I'm going to give him any. I even drank my latte with no sugar coz I totally forgot. It was organic coffee thou so it tasted very good never the less. After taking some pics of Kew Palace I wondered off to the Temperate House.
This is the largest, oldest still free standing Victorian glasshouse today. it's realy pretty big and the outside is just wonderful. There is a whole wing dedicated to plants in South Africa. Do you know that SA holds 6 or the 8 different climates that plants can grow in and we have the largest amount of different species at 22000 different kinds!!! Amazing, no wonder we keep on winning the International Flower Show at Chelsea (32 years running now). So we can't play rugby but we can grow flowers...
I then stopped of in the Evolution House. This building is dedicated to showing the evolution of plants from 300 million years ago. It was then off to the Japanese section of the gardens but not before stopping off at the Pavilion Restaurant to see what snacks they had. The Japanese section has a huge Pagoda and this giant sized zen garden hosting display to the Japanese Gateway which is part of a gift to the Japanese from one of the kings in the 1400s. The gateway is made out of two of the original doors to replicate the original gateway built. The original gateway is 5 times the size of this replica.

I was walking towards the river walk when I spotted these stunning birds eating under a tree. The were brilliant red with fan like tails and feathers that they lifted to spread around their beaks. I snuck past them to get a good place to photograph them, I felt like a spy. Once I had my 300mm lens back on cam I was focusing and the birds were attracted to the noise. They started to surround me 7 - 10 males. I honestly at one point think they thought I was food and were going to attack, so I stopped and just admired. The day was turning out to be so brilliant.
While I was waiting for the sun to set I walked to Queens Chorlotte's Cottage which was built late 1700s as a place for the Queen to take her guests to picnic and have tea, what a life. It was then off to the Badger Sett and Minka House to see how badgers and Japanese ppl live and how their houses are constructed respectively.
After walking thru the Bamboo Gardens I then went to the Palm House again and sat down on some stairs waiting for the sun to set. Low and behold , what should happen? nothing other than a swan swims up to me and talks, asking for food. I opened my hand to show that there was nothing in it and he starts pecking at my fingers. It was really soft, I was so shocked and he stayed by me for about 10 mins just to make sure I wasn't holding out on him.
Unfortunately I didn't get to see the sun set as the gardens closed at 17.30 and the sun was only due to set at 17.40.
All in all thou, I filled both of my memory cards and had a better time than I expected for 6 hours. I would say photo project and great day out complete. I was really surprised as to just how many ppl there were and how many ppl had really great cameras, lots of like minded ppl here. The best thing when you're lying on a bench to get shot, no one looks at you funny, they just acknowledge and don't think you're wierd.

Acceptance with no prejudgment.

On Anon - Piccadilly Circus

My brain as only just recovered from last night. I was graciously invited to MissCass' BDay celebrations.
So I finally got to meet some BO people.
Piccadilly was cram packed with ppl. Tourists fighting for the best picture taking spots and Londoners pushing and shoving just to get to where they are partying for the night. After meeting ppl in Burger King, we then joined the queue for On Anon. I had looked on their website a few days before had. Being me, I made sure that I memorised the map that they provided on their site. Which way the roads ran and all the road names. Pity I didn't learn to do that when I was still in school... I might actually have a real job by now... BUT, beeg but, I wouldn't be living and traveling in the greatest city in the world - yawn - how boring would that be? So we entered On Anon after a picture of the Queen was handed over totaling £10. CRAZY ARSE PPL CHARGING SO MUCH TO GET IN!!! So was is worth it? Well the night was, not too sure about the club thou. This Durbanite is used to space and freedom to dance how ever. Being England and every where is pressed for space, we were fighting the whole night, dishing out elbows and getting them back in return. But the more you drink the less the pain becomes. And it doesn't hurt to be out with a little pack of dynamite that lights up and steps into the action to protect you when ever she sees shit is about to start or you're not getting as good a time for your 10 Queens that you should've *wink*
I actually thought the layout of the club was pretty cool.
Basement - toilets and cloakroom, £1 per item... I say "WHAT THE FUCK?!?!" you charge me 10 to get in and 1 per coat, if only I knew how to box, now you can see why my £6.50 per hour doesn't go anywhere!!! Never the less.
1st Floor - lounge area, a bar and tv's with flickering flames on them. Very mellow, a place I know a few friends would start off for like 3 hours before hand, have some muchies... *whistles* You know who you are...
2nd Floor - the real BO place, buzzing bar, chairs and tables in lounges off a teeny tiny dance floor, I reckon it only held 50 ppl. Hip Hop, pop and commercial music. As well as the spot for the night.
3rd Floor - another bar and dance floor. The floor to be if you are looking to get a work out and burn some calories with house, club, dance and electro music.

Our spot for the night was a spot next to the DJ's booth with a table for drinks, a table for empty glasses and a few chairs. As with all nights when you stay in one place, you make friends with your neighbours, which is what all good BO's should do... And we did. The tequilas came and went down and water was a no no drink after 1pm when the BDay girl showed up 3 hours late... *shakes head* 3 extra hours in a hotel room, I can only think what was going down...
We danced, drank and rested in between, sharing the one chair that wasn't taken. Now the whole time you're looking at your watch, knowing the club is closing at 3am. WHAT THE HELL?!?! And I thought London was supposed to know how to party. Ag shame the staff need to sleep... Stuff that! you work in a club, you sleep during the day damnit!!!
So how do they get you out of the club? Start by switching the lights on so that you can see what that girl really looks like that you've been perving over all night, I reckon that gets rid of a lotta guys pretty fast. Then stop the music so you can hear just how drunk that guy is that you've been perving over all night is, and bang a whole lotta chicks leave. Then close the bars so that the groups that where there just for themselves and a good time leave. But wait there are still ppl like us left, trying to figure out the next plan of action and if it's viable. How do you get rid of us? Send the bouncers to shout "Alright, that's it, lets all make our way downstairs time to leave". Does that work? To a certain degree, coz we got a BDay girl who choons - we'll be there just now. Eish *laughs* 15 mins in the queue to get your coat - if you didn't leave it in the car that is *wink* and next thing you know it we're in the street, looking for cabs, bus stops and giving goodbyes.
All in all a wicked first night out in London doing the full party on thing. Tx ladies, much obliged, nah wrong word - the pleasure was all mine, and a few guys too I'm sure *wink*
I was really shocked at how many ppl there were at the bus stop, it's like all the clubs simply empty and viola the buses are loaded...

It's something else thou, crossing the roads in Piccadilly Circus and knowing that this city is your home, it's beautiful. The building are inspirational. You've just gotta stop and take it in, thinking about the villages that were here before the buildings, the first cars that drove on cobble stone roads and the wars that nearly crumbled everything. The history just washes over you, filling you with this feeling of ... WOW.
I'm sure the experience is different for every person that first moves into London and what they are there/here for, for me I feel privileged.

Simply that.