On my recent holiday to Europe I stopped in France, Scotland, England and then on the way back I had a couple of hours in Abu Dhabi. I had some great experiences and some odd experiences, so here's my guide to Europe;
1. Go into every giftshop you can, by all means go into the actual museum or exhibit but the giftshop always have cool gadgets and nick nacks, particularly pens and rubber ducks.
2. Go to wherever you really want to, if there is somewhere, just one place you are desperate to go that you can manage. On my trip I went to Teignmouth, the town where Muse grew up and also to a guitar shop in Exceter, it may have taken a total of eight hours driving but it was a fantastic experience.
3. Try Irn Bru, it is probably the best drink ever made. It is made in Scotland and as the slogan says "it's made from girders". Irn Bru is a fantastic drink that can be found in almost all shops in Scotland and can be found in supermarkets and some shops in England.
4. Go to Pret A Manger, this very healthy fast food option is a fantastic way to eat healthy and eat cheap. Pret specialises in food cooked in the Pret Kitchens, I reccomend the Hot Swedish Meatball Rap, it is really tasty and nice for cold British weather.
5. When in France I can only reccomend living off only croissants, baguettes and cheese for a few days. Crispy croissants from a local bakery are good in the morning with jam or without. There is a great variation of cheese in France and I must admit that my family bought a bit to much cheese and we ended up taking some back to England. Baguettes are a beautiful french food and they are much more than just simple bread, baguettes have a lot of flavour and can work for breakfast with jam, for lunch with cold meat and for dinner with some nice bruschetta or bbq chicken.
Word of the Day
Pseudonym: Noun, an assumed name adopted by an author to assume his or her identity. (syoohdunim).
Sorry about not posting in a while but I've been away on a trip to Europe where I must say I have been inspired by the culture but also the music I listened to on the way, it was a great experience.
Music
Music should play an important role in everyones lives, it should be something to relax to, something to start an uprising to, something to sing with friends and something to let out every emotion you've got in you. For me music is there to compliment every side of my life and any mood I'm in, my top 5 are:
1. Exogenisis Symphony II, Muse -
I always listen to this song, I would say it is the song I always go to on my iPod, I can't not listen to it everytime I get on the train or in the car for a long trip. Once on a letter box drop for the local school I started listening to Exogenisis Symphony II and in about the middle of the section with lyrics I look around hesitantly and then punched the air triumphantly before realising that there was a man looking out of his car at me, a very embarassing moment I must say.
2. Na Na Na (na na na na na na), My Chemical Romance -
I love to listen to this song whenever I can particularly chased by Bulletproof Heart which is also by My Chemical Romance. They are a great band and this song is the perfect song for any party, with it's steady beat and easy to remember chorus. Also may I add that Gerard Way has possibly the coolest hair in the world and their video clips are fantastic, if you are interested also check out the video clip for "Sing" also by My Chemical Romance, it is truly fantastic.
3. Firework, Katy Perry -
I believe this song is truly inspiring, everytime I listen to Firework it makes me feel like I can do anything in the world. The strong beat and triumphant voice of Katy Perry makes this song easy to listen to and to and perfect to relax to. When I listen to this song I think of everything I have ever lost and everything I could ever gain and makes the world fall into perspective, the world belongs to those who are different!
4. Unintended, Muse -
As you can probably tell Muse is my favourite band, they inspire me always. This song is fantastic and I love it, it is so romantic and sweet and everytime I hear it makes me tingle with excitement and embarassingly I always sing along really loudly because it's so great. It is definetley the song to listen to when you are in a good mood.
5. Viva La Gloria, Green Day -
Always a great song to listen to, on my travels through Europe we only had a Muse CD, a Green Day CD and a Katy Perry CD so you can see where some of the favourites have their roots. Viva La Gloria, I have always believed is strong, maybe I'm getting the wrong message but I always think it is about how love can last wars and jump barriers.
Movies
I don't watch many movies and when I do they are often repeats of favourites. Movies are a great form of inspiration and they can also be escapism. My top five are:
1. Ferris Bueller's Day Off -
I'm not sure about the quality of this clip but it ought to be okay. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is a true classic, poignant yet hilariously funny and brilliantly witty. It tells the tale of Ferris Bueller who desperatley wants a day off school and pulls an epic sicky which lands him on a marvelous adventure through chicago with his friend Cameron. A must see for all fans of true and proper comedy.
2. Howl's Moving Castle -
This great movie by Japanese director Hayao Miyazaki is about a young girl, Sophie who works at a millinery is suddenly transformed into an old lady and begins an adventure of a life time with a mysterious boy, Howl who lives in a moving castle. This magical and unique movie is a must see for anybody.
3. St. Trinians -
A fantastic movie set in my favourite country of all, England. St. Trinians is a fantastic movie full of adventure and really funny. The two lead actresses, Talulah Riley and Gemma Arterton compliment each other perfectly and the movie really shoes that any girl can be a bit wild. The movie follows perfect Annabelle Fritton to her Aunt's school, St, Trinians which she considers to be a barbaric place but as she survives the girls pranks and learns the ways of St. Trinians she becomes one of the gang. St. Trinians needs money and a quiz show can give St. Trinians the key to the money they need. A fabulous movie that lets everyone enjoy the adventure and fanstasicly funny.
4. Never Let Me Go -
A remarkable movie adapted from the book by Kazuo Ishiguro. This movie tells the tale of a young student at Hailsham school which hides a dark secret. As she grows up and learns Hailsham's secret she and her friends discover who they are and what they can never be, it's a touching movie that makes every emotion that you've got in you burst but always rememeber to have a box of tissues handy.
5. The Lion King -
When I was off school one day sick I went to the library and picked up The Lion King 2 from the shelves and watched it and from that day I can savely say that I have watched it hundreds of more times but I discovered not longer after that day that there was a movie before that. The Lion King is a greet movie, not just for children but adults can enjoy as an inspiring movie about getting over the loss of a loved one, coming to terms with power and making new friends. A must see for absolutely everyone.
Books
Books should be something for everyone to enjoy, if you don't read try picking up one of these books. All the books I have chosen have really had a part in my life, I love them and I think everybook has a lesson to teach us.
1. The Evernight Series, Claudia Gray -
Starting with Evernight, then Stargazer, followed by Hourglass and then rapping up with Afterlife this series of books is a fantastic tale of how love overcomes boundaries. It tells the story of Bianca Olivier who has recently moved to the eery Evernight Academy and her lover, Lucas as they overcome everything life and death throw at them. I believe that it teaches us that love overcomes everything and that to be with the person you love you have to except everything about them. I reccomend them to anybody with an interest for a page turning read and a thirst for vampire knowledge.
2. Vicky Angel, Jacqueline Wilson -
Even though I grew out of this book when I was about ten I still returned to it whenever I could because everything in it seemed so sad and I think I just liked the story. It tells that tale of a girl who has an arguement with her best friend and then sees her run over by a car as she runs across the street, the girl is weighed down by guilt but she soon realises that Vicky wasn't that greater friend after all. I think this teaches us that sometimes losing people can make us know more about them.
3. Twilight, Stephanie Meyer -
I know what you are think 'turn of the computer now, there's no point, she's just another twilight fan' but here's where I will prove you wrong. People say Twilight is poorly written and sure... the grammars not perfect, she could use better language but the story itself is brilliant and evokes so much emotion whether good or bad, love or hate that it is truly a masterpeice in that sense. Twilight has inspired millions of teens to read, without this book many teens would still be able to say that they had never finished a book in their life, think about all the people this book has inspired and all the books born out of the vampire fad which we all love, this is the modern core of them.
4.The Infinite Wisdom of Harriet Rose, Dianna Janney -
This fantastic tale of dealing with superstardowm while being a school-going teenager and a philosopher shows that you can't be everything but you can be everything you want to be. It takes us through an interesting snippet of the life of teenage prodigy, Harriet Rose who recently got her book of meditations published by her adoring mother and grandmother as a birthday surprise. As a way of dealing with the death of her beloved father she starts to right a book of meditation which will change her life forever but in a good way or a bad way? A must read for all who have a passion for a great story of success and how to deal with it.
5. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins -
This story evokes every kind of emotion as it leads us through the story of Katniss Everdeen, a girl from district 12. who's sister is put forward to take part in a brutal battle of the districts called the Hunger Games, when Katniss steps forward to take her place she wonders if she will ever see life in the same way again and about how tommorow will be. A triumphant tale for anyone and everyone who enjoys a pageturning book that will keep you wanting more.
TV Series
Ah TV, always there for us when we need some down time. TV is a great way to take a break from reality and enjoys someone elses for a change, my favourites are:
1. Doctor Who -
Who (get it) could go past this brilliantly writtten classic British Sci-fi show without dropping into the TARDIS. It is pure brilliance, every episode a new and marvelous thing with some reocurring characters but mostly new ones everyweek. Doctor Who is about the life of a Timelord, The Doctor who is the last of his kind but is having fun floating through time and space with a new companion every few years. Don't miss this fantastic new series. Also to add, R.I.P. Elisabeth Sladen, Sarah-Jane Smith from Doctor Who and the Sarah-Jane adventures, you will be missed.
2. Raising Hope -
This great new show about a young man who goes out to buy ice cream one night and ends up with the daughter of a serial killer nine months later is a great tale of how sometimes the people who seem less happy have the most fun.
3. Modern Family -
This show is phenomanally succesful, it takes us into the life of Jay, Gloria and Manny who haven't been together very long, Phil, Clare, Hailey, Alex and Luke who are a typical family with real personality and Cameron, Mitch and Lilly who are a different yet really chararcterful family. This show is not to be missed.
4.The IT Crowd -
The IT Crowd is a hilarious comedy about the IT department at Reynholm Industries. Moss is extremely nerdy and partnered with Roy who is his good friend who also works in the IT department, Jenn has just become the head of IT department and is coming to turns with her new job.
5.Frasier -
Even though this show is long finished and the actors have moved on to new roles I still think that it is one of best shows I have ever seen. I watch it every morning and I just finished watching it then, it follows the life of Frasier Crane, a radio psychiatrist and his family. You can by it at most DVD stores and it's one late at night on some foxtel channels.
