Gouves Beach

Warm ocean breeze, grainy yellow sand and the sun gently caressing your skin. The ideal break from university without breaking the bank too much (maybe a slight crack)

Flight and all inclusive 3* hotel was only £324pp. If that isn't the highlight of a Greek holiday, we also have access to hotel transport for the nearby beach.

Definitely a holiday to consider. The sand feels warm between your toes and the area has such a chilled and laidback atmosphere.
The waves were the perfect size, not ideal for surfing, but fun to catch yourself in on a bright sunny day.

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Greece, baby!

Feel the warm ocean breeze gliding across your skin. The grainy yellow sand tickling between your toes. The welcoming warmth of the holiday sun kissing your cheeks.

Greece has it all, from hospitable locals to bars that feature a  Mediterranean feel that promise a good time. Somewhere you can leave behind the worries of home , work and university.

Upon landing at Herakion airport 1am in the morning on Sunday, I suddenly felt as if I'd just landed in the Philippines. It was clammy and I had dry sticky
skin from the flight. Not a very good first impression. We were so unimpressed by a certain holiday agent (I won't name names, *cough* Jet 2 *cough*) that we had to pay £45 to admit one luggage. So we had to transfer all our "illegal" items to that one luggage and everything admitted as hand carry. -.-

Our transport to the hotel was fairly short but the driver was welcoming. Entering the hotel, Costas, a staff member, was the first to greet us with whole-hearted sincerity. The staff were all very happy, essential in keeping up the spirits of their guests.

For a last-minute holiday booked literally one week before the flight, we had a great hotel room with Garden view!
What a catch!

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Hard Rock Cafe - Glasgow

When we're struck with good ol' Scottish weather, we've kinda got used to the gloomy surroundings and still manage to make a joke of everything. Casual banter is welcomed by all.

This is what Hard Rock Cafe is all about.

Upon arrival, the hefty security makes a front similar to the most exclusive of venues. I was also welcomed with the warmest of welcomes by said security, as well as the staff inside. You never feel alone.

Sporting a stylishly-informal uniform and charismatic attitude, waiters never fail to make the customer feel like they are receiving 'rock-star treatment'. The only downside is the tacky collection of badges adorned on their lanyards. It'd be fine if this was a small town diner, but we are talking about a multi-million pound franchise. There are unwritten limits in place that must be recognised.

Upon first impression, it was easy to suggest that they have simply ripped off TGIF's gimmick, being American bar and diner-themed. However, HRC offers much more than simply that. The glamorous memorabilia and a music playlist of the 'Classics' offers a very chilled atmosphere reminiscent of my visit to Las Vegas.

DoYouEvenStudent Do's and Don'ts:

Do:
- Prepare your best banter for the staff
- Visit the gift shop
- Arrive in a group for a more enjoyable experience
- Order food that will be made quickly ie Burgers and Platters. Avoid going too fancy like Steak and Salmon.
- Take your time to enjoy food, friends and fun

Don't:
- Be rude or ignorant of staff
- Not enjoy your experience
- Expect low low prices

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Millport Visit

Clean air. Colourful history and a small-town feel that you can truly appreciate. Millport has it all for venturing bagpackers and young children who enjoy windy beaches, great for flying kites and windsurfing.

There are also these odd multi-person tandem bikes that never fail to amuse me.

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Food Friday - Crouching Hunger Hidden Popadoms

Upon first glance, this is not the most impressive looking restaurant. Can you spot it?

Hidden away, shadowed by big brand high street stores, the oddly named "New Palace" is an underdog. No doubt, a place anyone would not dare venture in mainly because it looks kinda dodgy.
However, beyond the dull beige tiles is a true Glasgow treasure.

The decor is reminiscent of a 4 star restaurant, far more than the first impression offers. Staying true to Asian pomp and circumstance, New Palace maintains an ornate decor complete with twin golden lions welcoming wide-eyed customers.

As for food, you could get a really good deal on their lunch time special until lunch. I vaguely remember their 2 course meal was in the region of £6.50pp which, for an average lunch time menu, competes with the big dogs of lunch time deal restaurants.

Unfortunately, New Palace is no such big dog that they can offer Gourmet Society or Tastecard deals. However, I urge taste-seekers to review this place themselves (maybe mention me when you make a review on yelp)

Cheers!

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Glasgow 2014: Harbinger of Litter...Awareness

A litter-related game

With CRNS, Clyde1 DJ, Beauty Queen(Deone Robertson) and Vice Lord Provost

With the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games fast approaching, I'd have thought ensuring my empty bag of Doritos would be the least of anyone's worries...

To my surprise, Glasgow City Council have proved that they have a bit more dosh to dish out for litter awareness.

Such examples include the Pick Up and Party event by CRNS. With backers such Clyde1, The Lottery Fund and Young Scot, it definitely made a notable impression on me.
Though activity was lacking, I had a really great time. By "lacking", I mean the most litter-related things we did was take pictures with a chewing gum and bin mascot and played litter related games.

Another example is the Scottish Government campaign "Dirty Little Secrets" which aims to familiarise the community with characters of a certain "NED"-ish quality - with amusing effects.

The most notable character in this campaign is a red-headed young actress who plays this stereotype with a genuine flair for playing her character. Additionally, I'm Facebook friends with her - before she got the role, I swear!

This all links with the Legacy Themes as a result of the games: Sustainable, Connected, Active and Flourishing.

Video:
Dirty Little Secrets - Girl 

Link:
 http://adirtysecret.com 

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Loch Lomond

"By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
Where me and me true love spent many days
On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond"

- Loch Lomond (Runrig)
Summer. Synonymous with fun, friends and lots of sun. 

Loch Lomond offers all these and more, without sacrificing the stitches of your wallet. 

From the relaxingly silent and few passengers of the 11:55am bus from Glasgow to Cambletown, the arrival at Luss gave the initial impression of a dull and forgotten small-town. Humming to the tune of "The Way" by Ariana Grande, I reminded myself that this little family trip will probably only last just a few hours, then I can get back to staring blankly at YouTube videos in my own dark and dreary work desk.
Dragging myself along the concrete to my mother's constant whimsical nonsense, I kept my new Primark horn-rimmed sunglasses firmly placed on the bridge of my nose as to maintain my own dreary form. It was very sunny, though I just wasn't feeling it.

Closing in to the village main road, the houses dotted around were surprisingly different to the ever similar designs of city council houses. These were a lot more like the ones in children's story books with their picket fences and the blossomed roses vining the stone walls. A small gift shop displayed post cards and placemats with a patriotic Scottish theme...typical. However, they sell the most delectable toffee-flavoured tablet which mother insisted were not tablets but solid toffee due to the packaging label.

A short walk from said gift-shop, we arrived at the loch shore (lake shore, beach, bank...idk). It was 12:30pm and, to my surprise, few people were lounging in the sun creating the idea that everyone else is at Ayr beach and that Loch Lomond was a fairly under appreciated holiday site.

True to the song (see subheading), Loch Lomond is a paradise amongst the famous bonnie glens of Scotland. The sand was not the white grainy type I would've liked, but it was enough to create a decent sandcastle. Water glimmered under the sun in a way that was only truly possible in Special FX bombarded movies. The pier attracted visitors from everywhere to have a go at their speedboat cruises of the dramatically wide loch. Men, women and children were in their beach attire, fully taking advantage of what this place had to offer. A picnic area next to car park was ideal to rest our feet and munch on our Poundland/Sainsburys lunches. I couldn't believe my eyes. How can such a paradise have so little visitors? From now, I will continue to call Loch Lomond a paradise, as it was nothing short of that.

If you explore a little further into Luss, a tiny chapel featured gravestones dotted around its grounds with so many interesting stories of love and death. Seriously, it was so cute!
Further into Luss, you come across a freshwater stream, so clear you could see the bottom. Unfortunately...no fish. The waters in Luss were perfect for skipping stones, an activity Allyssa and I enjoyed about half the time of the whole trip. 

I never ran out of photography inspirations, there were large knocked over tree trunks, monumental monuments and, of course, the famous Scottish green glens. A nightmare for Hayfever victims, so don't forget to pack the Piriteze. Then there was this cute girl working at the local cafe/gift shop (PM me ^_^ !)

Overall, the trip is something every visitor or resident of Scotland should visit. The rest you enjoy from the busy city life and incomparable to anything else, it is almost fantasy.

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Food Fridays - I got my Asian Game ON!

Hello-ha!

It's Food Friday and today I want to showcase the culinary powerhouse, Sapporo Teppanyaki Bar and Grill.

Situated in the ever fanciful Merchant City, this particular restaurant offers a whole new world of "dinner and a show" to the people of Glasgow.

It was my dad's birthday and we remembered how terrific our experience was last time we visited for my sister's birthday. After about an hour of bickering and quarrelling between Merchant Square restaurants and Sapporo, we came to a conclusion (phew!) to visit the one that would be most "cost effective".

The main selling point for me, being uber financially efficient, is the many membership deals they have on offer such as: Hi-flyer, NHS benefits, as well as, Gourmet Society members discount. Diligently, I popped out my Gourmet Society membership card despite being warned that it was supposed to be mentioned in the phone booking (I didn't book our place, my mum did). Fortunately, the staff were more than happy to accept my accreditations.

We ordered the following:

Dad : Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Mum: Deep Fried Tofu w/ seaweed
Allyssa: Chicken Gyoza
Me! : Black Pepper Tuna (Medium Rare)

Black Pepper Tuna

Deep Fried Tofu w/ Sea Weed

Vegetarian Spring Rolls

To my understanding, these were considered appetisers *cue puzzled look* O_o

Surprisingly, these were very filling for starters and we found ourselves barely able to finish our main course - Barre dad who clearly enjoyed his meal with gusto!

No need to emphasise, the main course was the highlight of our visit. A trained Asian chef swaggered into his station and showcased a dazzling talent for spatula acrobatics. The entertainment was top notch and the performances were clearly well rehearsed. Not only that, but the chef was so friendly and welcomed communication despite the apparent language barrier, this was easily overcome through laughter and skillfully sharp entertainment. I would definitely visit again had it not been for the high price. With the gourmet society discount we payed £93.75 instead of £116. Steep price, but justified from a 4-star restaurant offering decadent entertainment and a dynamic ambience that will leave you feeling revitalised and well-fed.

I urge people living and visiting in Glasgow to book a table, especially at night as this place is in high demand.

Discounts:

Gourmet Society members : 2 for 1 (2 courses)
Hi-flyer members : 2 for 1 (2 courses)
NHS Benefits : 20% off total bill

Peter Panto and The Incredible Stinkerbell. Need I say more?

Poster for Tron Theatre Company "Peter Panto
and the Incredible Stinkerbell" (2013)
 illustrated by Jamie MacDonald

If you're still reading, then I obviously do need to say more...


The cold winter welcomes a breath of "fresh air" (err..should that be "stale air"?) to Glasgow's reputable Theatre Culture. Amongst the highfalutin legends, such as the Royal Theatre and The King's Theatre, TTC stands out with this this whimsical, comical and slightly strange twist to the eponymous classic 'Peter Pan'.

"Peter Panto and The Incredible Stinkerbell" is a very clever and dazzling masterpiece of  both the comedy and fantasy genre which likes to include the audience in just about every feat of buzz and laughter. The ingenious juvenile take on a much-loved classic is just what the theatre industry needs. Featuring comical insights in all things Glasgow - the West End, The Fish and Chips shops, Glaswegian Accents and social culture - it captures a side of the city that cannot be unseen when you step back out from the panto-verse to reality.

The fantastical atmosphere was already captured upon entering the front door of the building. My sister and I gasped with wonder at our first treat to the Tron Theate. Whilst the tickets were being purchased, we waltzed over to the stalls offering sweet treats and wearable costume souvenirs to take into the theatre with us. Always useful for assimilating oneself into a child-like state that would otherwise be strongly discouraged in the non-panto-verse. As typical show goers, we brought our own sweets by the bagful, maybe two or three more (hello, rotten teeth!) carefully handpicked from the Christmas selection boxes from whence they came.

Taking our seats in the auditorium, housing a decent number of audiences, the intimate size of the room allowed for pretty much everyone to have a sense of inclusion into the play. As the lights slowly dimmed, a haunting music played in the background. Suddenly, an introductory fart blared from the surrounding speakers. Out she comes from hiding, the infamous Stinkerbell! Complete with an accompanying smell familiar of an egg bomb that one can purchase from a passing ice cream van, supposing they still sell them. Speaking in rhyme, she instantly captures the hearts of the audience as a flawed but perfect representation of what a comedic Glaswegian would probably be like - I've lived here almost all my life, I should know!

All the characters featured the familiar Glaswegian dialect which undoubtedly is probably one of the funniest around! This makes for an instant rip-roaringly hilarious experience.
The characters are well-developed and props and costumes both dazzling and well-maintained. The production uses the bare minimum of special effects yet still manage to knit together an interestingly unorthodox panto that holds the audience in their bated breath until the next pun - like marmite, you either love it or hate it.

I would recommend "Peter Panto and the Incredible Stinkerbell" to anyone looking for a simple play reminiscent of a badly made stand up comedy. Basically, the cheesier the better. But then again, that's what Pantos are all about!

"All children grow up – except one. 
Peter. 

You see he’s not like the others.  He can fly.  He has a sworn enemy in the evil Captain New Look, who has one hand and one cheesy-pineapple-on a stick for the other.  Peter also has a best friend, Stinkerbell.  She’s a fairy but she’s no fool.  She’s got magic flatulence and powerful rifts that she’s willing to turn on full force to any girl that comes between her and her love Peter.

Enter Wendy.  Wet West End Wendy.  She’s falling for Peter, but Stinkerbell would rather she fell off a cliff. 

Will Stinkerbell get her man?  Will Captain New Look swap his hook for a Dyson attachment?  And how will we manage to fly anyone when there’s no flying rig?

With Darren Brownlie, Helen McAlpine, Louise McCarthy, Sally Reid, Anita Vettesse and Laura Szelecki."

- Tron Theatre Info