International Pillow Fight Day

If you want to smile and have fun, then just don’t miss International Pillow fight day which is held on Saturday 6^th April at Trafalgar Square in London. Thousands of people battered each other until feathers flew in Trafalgar Square from 3.00pm to 5.00pm. Bring all your friends because this is going to become a wonderful memory for you that you’ll cherish for the rest of your life.

 

The fight starts at 3.00 pm and goes until your arms are too exhausted to continue. It is great fun and joy that you can have on a city square .It happens in hundreds of cities around the world and London is just one of more than 100 cities around the world to take part in this event. It is a great way to have fun and relieve your stress.

There are only two rules to be followed to take part in this event.

• Don’t hit anyone with a camera
• Don’t hit anyone without a Pillow

So come and take part in this unique event and its thrill.

Don’t hit anyone with a camera and don’t hit anyone without a pillow…

London was just one of more than 100 cities around the world to take part in the event.

Planning Your Move To London

For many foreign people moving into a new flat in the midst of bustling London can be something of a challenge, if all the usual complexities and stresses of moving house were not enough, potential language barriers can make things even more complicated. For international students moving into private accommodation after a year in university halls the task will be slightly easier as a year’s experience of London will always be helpful when deciding where and how to move.

Planning for the day of the move is the first part of the decision and using a reputable man and van company can reduce the stress.  Deciding whether to move to Central London or the outskirts will effect your experience of London, with the main consideration being the length of the daily commute vs. house rental (or sale) prices.  The Transport for London website has a useful guide to how to get around in London after you’ve arrived.

Quite often many people arriving in London will find themselves in the situation of having to move a fair distance across the city, whether moving into cheaper accommodation as the years progress, or looking for their first time flat, whether having previously lived in university halls or having moved to London from somewhere else. Even for those who may have friends or family already in the area to lend a hand with moving, supplying packing materials, storage space or even a van it is not easy; for overseas students who do not have this local support the task can seem even more daunting. Moving without the help of a van and man is very difficult; the Tube underground network is usually far too crowded for vast amounts of luggage and dragging it all to and from Tube stations is not an easy task in itself.  Perhaps the most lightly-packed of first-year students may be able to move all their stuff by multiple Tube trips but this would still be difficult.

As an overseas student it is likely that you will have originally moved over to London without too much in the way of luggage or household items, as airline baggage restrictions make bringing everything with you unfeasible. If you are moving out of halls for the first time then you aren’t likely to have much stuff to bring with you, so packing it all up should not be too much of a problem, however if you are short of boxes or packing materials some removals companies will point you in the direction of suppliers who sell these things or even sell materials to you themselves. If you are moving flats or do have lots of things that need moving then you would be best using a man and van removals service anyway, but if you do not have time to pack up all your stuff then many of these local white van man companies will do all the packing and unpacking too at a small cost.

The main point to remember when moving around London without the support of local family is to plan well ahead, see exactly where your new flat is and work out how difficult it is to get to; if it looks complicated then using a local company is probably best as they have the required knowledge and experience.

Allison Carmichael recommends Van Man in London, a friendly removals company covering London and Hertfordshire.  She enjoys reading in any genre and the beautiful art and social scene that London offers.

Allison also wrote a series of poems and biographies about famous van men that you can read about by clicking the link above.

Essential ingredients for an exciting London visit

The world’s top tourist destination can offer you a once in a lifetime experience, if you are prepared well to relish the things we discuss below.

London’s Royal Attractions:

The city’s historic sites provide you a distinct medieval flavor with their rich architecture and cultural heritage. At Windsor Castle, you can see the magnificent fortifications, gatehouses, tower structures artistic interiors, furnishings and an exquisitely designed palace.

The splendorous Birmingham Palace’s summer openings are a great delight to the tourists. The entertainment shows conducted in the state rooms allow the visitor to be transported to an actualized medieval world. The music room, green drawing room, throne room and the Queen’s garden are some of the places never to be missed.

If you are a person who wonders about the early medieval life in a castle then you should go for a visit to the famous Tower of London. Numerous enclosures and towers which served as arms depots, Prisons, confession camps and water gates recreate the times of Richard the Lionheart.

You can check the tour operators to book a trip to these places here http://www.britainexpress.com/great_british_sites/tour-ops-london.htm

West End Theatres:

One of the ways to participate in the lively English culture and tradition is to enter the world of theatres. West End theatre represents the highest level of theatrical discipline. These theatres conduct shows pertaining to different genres such as Musicals, Plays, Comedy, Dance and Classical Opera. Long running Musicals and Plays are attended by thousands of visitors from all over the world.

Image Credit:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/yourpaldave/

Websites like london-theatreland.co.uk and http://www.londontheatre.co.uk provide you all the information you require for booking tickets.

Museums of Great Britain:

Best Museums in London are visited by millions of visitors. One can spend a quality time in observing and allowing themselves to marvel and ponder about the exhibits. Many of these Museums have an in-house expert team with whom you and your children can discuss and understand about the collections.

British Museum and Natural History Museum are one of the top Museums in London. For a list of Museums in London, visit here http://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/tourist-attraction/museum/major-museums

Image credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/earthtraveler

Winding up for the day

London offers a wide range of accommodation options to the tourists. From Luxury Hotels to Serviced Self-catering Apartments where you have homely atmosphere with hotel like services and from Bread & Breakfast centers to Hostels and Camping destinations, the visitor can choose appropriate accommodation type depending on the desired budget and their liking.

Wine and dine

Touring London is not complete if you do not enjoy myriad delicacies from around the world. London is truly a city housing first class restaurants and hotels representing cuisines from different cultures. From Gourmet meals to Fast food, one can relish the English Fish and Chips, French Croissant, Spanish Tortilla, Italian Sausage Egg bake, American Mashed Potato Cakes, Mysore Masala Dosa and so on.

London also features wide range of Pubs and Bars. Whether you are out for a vibrant evening with friends or for a relaxed drink with your partner, Pubs are Bars matching your expectations are always available.

For a list of traveler recommended restaurants in London visit here http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurants-g186338-London_England.html

About author

I am Suresh Subramaniam, CEO of LondonShortLettingApartments, a well known web page for City base accommodation provider in London. I like to travel a lot and more passionate about developing innovative services for the tourism and hospitality industries in UK. Add to circle me on G+

Vietnam’s Tourism Industry – Should it be left to the kids?

Here is an article I wrote for a website. heres a sneak peak…

The full un-diluted version of Vietnam blog is on it’s way too!

Vietnam.

“Start in Hanoi, then work your way to Saigon. You’ll see a difference in the south” – A simple piece of advice given to me before becoming a tourist of this country.

Hanoi Airport – August 2013 – My first time in Vietnam. Like most travellers my first priority was getting to the hotel. ‘This taxi drivers great!’ I thought – we’d been exchanging stories, it was a 40 minutes ride into town – so a little conversation goes a long way! Then conversation turned sour…

“Pay – You pay!” Insisting the toll booth we went through cost over ten times more than it did. He became visibly angry – raised his voice. The English he’d been chatting to me with had all been ‘forgotten’ and he became more animated in his demand.

Now, I’m aware he must see hundreds of tourists a week – and, sadly, I have no doubt he thought by shouting i’d give in and pay. What took me by surprise was – this tact became a frequent occurrence – when dealing with anyone in trave

Employee’s of the tourism industry seem to have been given this handbook on dealing with us tourists.

• When ‘pointing’ and ‘one-syllable-directions’ fail – try raising your voice.

• If the offender still isn’t doing what you expect – become more aggressive with your gestures.

• Be as defensive as possible when challenged on any of your demands and Remember – when in doubt, just refuse to speak English.

In total, i rode five 12 hour ‘sleeper’ buses, and what i noticed was rather shocking. No matter when you got on, or where, it was a case of western people are at the back – natives are at the front. When sitting in a seat deemed ‘wrong’ (i.e too far forward) a staff member would repeat the steps from the guidebook i mentioned above.

Once and only once did i attempt a Rosa-Parks-esque stand off. Refusing to move to the back of the bus. He became furious and told me to get off.

Im sure there are many reasons why in these particular cases – its just-so-happened – to be this way. But surely better people-skills are required. Surely better training could be given. Surely no-one deserves a verbal onslaught from a angry bus driver.

Funny, i thought, that in every other aspect Vietnam had proven to be exceptional. Hotel workers were some of the best i’d encountered. Street sellers were polite and easy-going. Restaurant staff were as good as the food (which in vietnam is very good indeed!).

Why then had the travel trade been left so far behind? Are us tourists really that bad? I needed to know, and strangely an answer came to me from an unlikely source.

Saigon’s Parks are a breath of fresh air. You can see people learning to dance, outdoor martial artists giving lessons, dozens of children skating and students. Students of english – this generation of academics gave me hope for Vietnam’s tourism industry. What seems like the whole school – are out in the parks simply going up and talking to people. they are practising english.

My most enjoyable night was spent talking in the park. We talked about everything. We debated politics. We chatted about english traditions. We discussed patriotism. When i asked them how long they’d been doing this one lad they said that every night for over a year he’d been coming to talk to foreigners. when i asked why he did it he said…

“If i learn English it means i can get a better job, i can go to university or even get a scholarship somewhere. i practise everyday because i want to get better, because i  learn new things and because i make new friends everyday.”
The advice i got about ‘people changing’ as i travel through vietnam – was true. I saw an attitude change. I saw a generation change but mostly I saw a thirst for knowledge – and a spark of passion in young people that i fail to see back in England. So if you ask me ‘what do you think of tourism in Vietnam?’ I’d say go, dive in and get to know the people behind the job description.

But be wary of Airport taxis!

http://mark-lewis.blogspot.in/2013/09/vietnams-tourism-should-it-be-left-to.html

Modern Monuments: Essential Industrial Revolution Sites to See in the UK

Amongst Britain’s rich history, one of the most triumphant episodes is the Industrial Revolution. During this period, figures such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel forged a new, modern vision of the country, helping to transform major cities such as London and Liverpool into bold landscapes of the future.

SALTAIRE NEW MILL, PART OF A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN WEST YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND. (PHOTO CREDIT: WIKIPEDIA)

Today, monuments and landmarks relating to the Industrial Revolution dot the cities of Britain. Paying visits to these areas and tracing the history of the Industrial Revolution and the impact which it had on the country can make for a truly fascinating holiday experience across Britain.

A good way to start your trip is by beginning with the birthplace of Brunel himself. This is located not in London or any other major city, but on the small island of Portsea – a reminder that great moments in history often have their origins in small, easy-to-forget places.

No mention of the Industrial Revolution would be complete without the city of London. The capital boomed during the industrial period, the city a mecca for trade, new industries and new ideas. If you want to stay in old, industrial London, visit areas around the Thames docklands and take advantage of the great deals on London hotels which are available if you look in the right places.

One of the best options which can be taken during a trip to the Industrial Revolution landmarks of Britain is to visit London’s Key Bridge Steam Museum. Home of the only working steam locomotive in the capital, along with many other attractions relating to the age of steam, this will make you feel as though you really are walking through England in the midst of the Industrial Revolution.

Historians agree that the true heart of the Industrial Revolution lies in Birmingham, and so this city will be a must-visit location for anybody who wishes to explore this era in history. Amongst the attractions is Old Iron Bridge, a monument whose name does it a disservice – it is actually the oldest iron bridge, the first of its kind in the world and still standing since the day of Brunel.

Finally, head to Liverpool, a city that became famous throughout the world for its trading and ship-building during the Industrial Revolution. The town became the leading port in the British Empire and home to the first intercity rail-link, which linked Liverpool and Manchester in 1830. If you plan to visit Liverpool, stay in a hotel near Liverpool Port. This will give you access to a range of great sights around the river Mersey, and in addition, the port itself is a premiere monument to the Industrial Revolution. Of course, there are many more sites to this fascinating historical period, but part of the joy of any journey is the process of discovering these wonderful things for yourself.