Random Trips

A friend once said "We live like teletubbies here in Brighton." Coming from a big city where daily life is a struggle, I believe that is an accurate statement for Brighton where no one feels like a foreigner; being eco-friendly, vegetarian and retro are glorified, and "marginal" groups are never marginalised. Brighton (and Hove) is a small city with a population around 270.000 people, just in the south of London, can be reached with a 50 minute train ride from the Victoria Station. Though it is not worth a visit during the storms,  when you cannot even reach the seaside because of the crazy ocean winds, it is heaven when it's sunny, and everyone is trying to reach the beaches from the hills of the city, like newborn caretta carettas. As the saying goes for all Britain, Brighton as well, "does not have a climate, it has weather, and if you don't like it just wait for a few minutes."  Thus, you have to be prepa...

Great news for Londoners! You do not have to stuck in to the pubs anymore for full priced drinks and old fashioned decors! Dirty Martini, hidden in Covent Garden, is a total gem with its greatest speciality martinis. Half priced martinis and bottled wines are waiting for you till 10 pm every weekdays! Not only you will find martinis (not everyone cool enough like James Bond to enjoy martinis) but there are also plenty of beers to select in happy hour ( Ashai rocks and only 2.95!). How to get there? It is not easy to spot the Dirty Martini, if you are walking around like you look for a regular enterance. In this case, you most likely skip the place. It is close to the London Transport Museum. Imagine like you were out of the London metro Covent Garden Station and make your way towards the Royal Opera House. When you arrive the entrance of the Opera House, turn your face to the right towards the London Transport Museum and keep walk...

I do accept that there is something called British food culture. But it is no further than tea times (afternoon tea at 4pm and high tea at 6 pm accompanied with scones and other sorts of pastries), greasy fish and chips and full English breakfast. If you are in England for touristic purposes and short term, these stuff might be cheerful enough. But still, there are plenty to choose from the World cuisine. Best part of London is the theaters and theatre menus offered by many restaurants close to the theatre area. This time we decided to give a try to Palm Court, a Parisian-style Brasserie. I should admit they actually stole my heart with the “baked wedge of brie in filo pastry with cranberry chutney”. Reading this caused saliva overproduction which is not good if you are not around with good friends. However I was lucky enough to go there with my best friend who had a funny argument with the waiter to how to pronounce Nicoise. The ...