FINALLY, something close to the equivalent of Dollar Tree and the 99 Cents Store

Selection isn't as handy, but its handy. Too bad this would be the $2 USD store.

Angel Street Market

Bloc Party - Free Show

I was literally within feet of the band, nestled in the House and Electro vinyl section of HMV, the UK's super record store, comparable to a 3-story Virgin Records. With 2 on the same block.

Matt Tong really does weird facial expressions as a drummer. Then again the songs from Intimacy that they played looked like the drums would give even the most hulky-looking bloke some serious wrist pain.

So I have no more reason to pay 22 pounds and take a 4 hour bus ride to Manchester (or see that town at all for the matter). And even though they only did a really short 8-song set (had to autograph new albums), it was really cool to see them for free and up close.



The show was really kept low-key; it wasn't on their myspace, homepage, in the news or blogs or any events listings. I stumbled into it on Last.fm and IndieLondon when I was contemplating whether or not to invest in tickets. Nice break.



The thing about the people who came to see the show is that they were all pretty diverse; most of them really showed that they were die-hard fans, dancing, writhing, yelling, clapping and putting up lighters despite the fact we were in a very commercial, bright fluorescent-lit store. But the crowd included a very diverse cornucopia of people; teenie-boppers and gray-haired gents; english-speaking and english-as-a-second-language; hipsters and hippies; just a very eclectic array of skin and style tones.

Biking in London

Samantha (thats her name) all accessorized, cleaned and tuned up. I'm going to be a sad man when I have to sell her off.
biking-casual: had to transform my laptop briefcase into a messenger bag for groceries and whatnot, and its cold and windy riding hence the cap and glasses.

Biking here really has been a very interesting experience, aside from becoming familiar with being on the wrong side of the road, I've gained so much more culturally, personally and FINANCIALLY.

Read this article on how regular Londoners are giving up their cars and Oyster Cards (Prepaid tube/bus plans) so that they can save money on bikes.

So many things I'm getting out of this, I really don't see why more people don't do it:

1. YOU SAVE A LOT OF QUID. On average, you'll spend 24quid per week on transport, thats the cheapest weekly rate for a card. see that over a month, and you're spending easily over 100quid if you're being active, seeing stuff, hanging out, experiencing LIFE. Thats over $200 USD for public transportation for a month.
After fixing, customizing and accessorizing my bike, I've spent a total of 100quid. Thats one month of travel, and no more investments (maybe new tires as mine are cracking and from the 80s). I get to go where I want without having to tread it out, or be concerned about the cash, or be cheap and a loser and stay inside or go straight home everyday.

2. YOU CANT LOOK LIKE A TOURIST. As geeky or awkward as you might look, you're joining a caring club that stands for "hey, I'm here for a while and I'm practical." And even if you get lost, people, even sketchy looking people, aren't going to give you looks, and instead I've gotten much more detailed and helpful directions when I needed it. London has so many tourists, people dont even care where they direct lost people. On a bike, it seems a bit different.

3. ITS FASTER. I can get to where I need to get approximately the same time public transport will get me there, if not faster. You'll spend up to 15 minutes waiting for nightbuses, and about the same time waiting for the Underground. And these things make a lot of stops. And...they cost money..

4. YOU REALLY LEARN AND EXPERIENCE THE CITY ON A RAW LEVEL. You learn the streets, the sidestreets, the directions, the shops, the shortcuts, the roundabouts, the crazy intersections. And you see everything firsthand...even the crazy stuff. On the tube, train or bus, it goes like this: you wait, you get on, you wait, you magically appear at your destination, and thats it. There is a journey, but most of the time the trains and buses are pretty silent. And at night there's shady characters, so just opening your mouth will say "please, target me." Because of my bike, I've been able to see a handful of fights, odd accidents, street art, galleries, shops and bars that I'd never be able to really catch if I wasnt on a bike.

5. ITS EXERCISE. I can eat whatever I want, and I'm sure I'll burn it off. Also I'm hardly ever cold because of the workout. and its pretty fun.

not my video, just one i've found on youtube, but i've just made a necklace for my camera so that i can record my own commute and give you a glimpse of what you're missing out on.

A pasta is only as good as its sauce

just like a chain is as strong as its weakest link, I bought this beacause it was the cheapest price per kg (the same logic behind all my food purchases) and unfortunately, it tastes like canned Spaghetti-O's sauce. I'd rather eat it plain with just beef and onions, and will probably do so tomorrow night.

finally, beef is on the menu

See that sticker? I've found something even cheaper than those fake pork sausages, and it tastes a lot better and more natural too. The bottle on the right is amazing; here they have super-concentrated juices from lemonade to pomegranate; the lemonade here is double-concentrate lemonade for 50p ($1 USD). Its called squash. Basically its just really super concentrated syrup base for all the "5% natural" beverages you'll purchase from the market, restaurants and fast food joints. And its CONCENTRATE, so you can use it potentially for cocktails, blended drinks, and to mix with carbonated water to make a soda. AND ITS CHEAPER. And the beauty of it is that you can mix how much you want so you dont need to have 800% of your daily value of glucose and get early-onset diabetes. Why don't we have stuff like this, America?

DIY Bike Lock

So...somewhat heavy bike locks here will literally run you around 39.99 pounds....thats $80 for a bike lock, and these are the smaller, less-heavy duty ones.

So I asked for a hardware store recommendation and picked up the following:

6.95 5-pound Steel Lock (Bigger than the palm of my hand, can seriously hurt something)
10.55 1.5metres of 6x38mm Anondized Steel Chain
1.50 Black duct tape (to cover chain so it doesnt scratch my bike, also so the chain doesnt move too much)

Maybe Noam Chomsky is Right?

Was revisiting some speeches and audiobooks on my ipod, and to me the papers, especially here in London, have all been screaming "panic, please, desperation please. Now, buy stuff, indulge and purge later."
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=O_uXGCZenwY&feature=related

Farringdon Plaza

Went to pick up some brakes at a bike shop, and i noticed the entire building was evacuated in the courtyard plaza. Seems like they've been there a while, a lot of the employees with sandwiches and coffee. Havent seen anything in the news, but false bomb threat or fire alarm?

On another note, this completely reminds me of the Underground Station corridors in the morning and at 5pm, when flocks of black broadcloth jacketed sheep pour out. This looks like that, but I was able to spot some charcoals, grays and herringbones.

Up and around Shoreditch

These places don't look nearly as shady as my post-production manipulation has done. But just wanted to show how bustling and full of creative energy East End truly is. Free shows, gigs, screenings, workshops, classes, festivals, and a lot of groups, clubs and organizations. I'm actually taking some free drawing classes at The Foundry, and actually hope to post up some screenprints before the end of the year as they offer FREE wallspace - unheard of, really, unheard of. Also, theres always live music around every corner, and the clubs, basements, and bars here all play GOOD music. Decent drum and bass, no top 40s, good indie, good electronica and most of all GREAT A/V (audio-visual) sets. If there was a place that thrived with the most diverse, passionate and active creativity, this would be it.

surfing in london? no, but a surf shop in london?

Thought it was really someone's board....even though we're literally hours away from an ocean with ridable swells. Cool sign though, very guerrilla and very natural, surprised no one has taken or done more vandalizing.

My street, West India Dock

My apt is right across the Limehouse Police Station. and I have a bus stop literally on my doorstep, the Westferry Rail Station on the corner, Canary Wharf Shopping megaplaza, International Corporate Superheadquarters and Underground station a 2min bike, and Shoreditch/Brick Lane 10 minutes by bike.

A ride home

My pockets are at least a pound heavier

Some things hard to discern will probably my compass (streets begin, terminate, and continue in a very unsystematic manner), my coin pouch (imagine if dollar bills didn't exist, and everything $2 and smaller was in coins.....rattle rattle), and my sketch pad. Arsenal not included.

a little bit of street art off shoreditch high st.

To visit, send care packages, sustenance, or high-fives in an envelope:

33 Compass Point
5 Grenade St.
London, E14 8HL


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Canary Wharf nightride

Now, I'm getting a real Londonist Experience

South Wimbledon to Canary Wharf:
11.3 Miles

But well worth it.




That thing is a beauty. A little old, one-speed (but manually adjustable on the frame), and no shocks, but its very nimble, fun and efficient. I've always wanted an old racer bike back in Socal and now it's a way to save money, and even time, while getting a really good workout.



I had to sit and observe for a while about how bicyclists here handle traffic, while this was a little different than what I was used to on right side of the wide streets of Orange County. However, it was worth the trip there and back, as well as the 60 pounds to cover the bike. Which, Ironically, would cover 4-5 weeks of very frugal travel expenses, and it's something I'll be able to sell back, not have to wait (or pay for), and take me on really fast journeys to the tube if need be.

Bicycling is indeed different here, but it's really widespread, and being a bicyclist is like joining a huge club. There are signals for bikes on traffic lights, in addition to the pedestrian and regular green lights. There's a bike section as to where to stop, and there's always jaggedy lines denoting where bicyclists are supposed to be.

Oddly enough however, I do look like I've been here, or just really desperate, because some lads approached me when I was unlocking my bike at Canary Wharf and asked, candidly and seriously, if I was stealing the bike. I was a little befuddled but I showcased my uncut bike lock and key that I had so that i could leave promptly.

Chancery Lane

The View from my Welcome Mat when the sun goes down

So I'm literally right next to Westferry Station and even have a Bus stop right on my doorstep - very convenient, but the trains do run into the night. I'm liking the quality of the place and its location, luckily I'm a heavy sleeper.