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| South bank funfair |
You know those days where time just flies by and you don't really feel like you've accomplished anything? You go from lying in bed, to having breakfast to dawdling around the kitchen or the sitting room. Nothing really gets done and before you know it it's 6pm and the light's dimming. Yesterday was one of those days. But to be fair, we did enjoy it happily blazed sitting in deck chairs under a tree on the patio. A few days earlier I was browsing the web and a pop-up for 'Carnaval del Pueblo' popped up on my screen, a huge latin carnival with authentic musicians, salsa dancing and latino's galore in a big 3 story theatre in Elephant and Castle. We woke up out of our daze, I slapped on a bit of colour and we caught the tube to the carnival. We sat there as the heat swelled in a blur, people were all having conversations around me and I'd catch snippets of each one but not really focus in on anything inparticular. The half an hour rushed by in suit with how time had been running up until that point.
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| I spot an eye |
Elephant and Castle is south london, as we walked up to the theatre I really got a taste of what it entailed - hoods up, bling out, street. It was so raw to be out of the scene of buzzing central london surrounded by non-stop consumerists with, money. We walked into the club, a grimy energy running through us as we spotted the metal detectors preventing any weaponry going down inside. There were about 100 replica's of the hulk storming around with a serious look on their face.
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| Projections at the tate |
Walking into the club all you could see were hips. Amazing latina dancers on and off stage - the heat hit us in a literal wave and we merged into the energy. Coming up to latin instrumentals and stunning dancers made the tingles spread. When that moment of not caring who's around you or what you're doing and surrendering to the music just makes the most sense?
Culture shock hit me again when I realized smoking inside wasn't allowed - it was such a change seeing smoke in the room because of the condensation and not because of the countless cigarettes in the room - that's all I've really been used to having grown up clubbing in Asia. Going outside was relieving though, a pause from the movement and a calm-down period without needing to talk or socialize it was literally a breath of fresh air.
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| Camden town |
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| Camden town |
The carnival finished early, giving us the rest of a long Saturday night in London to look forward to. We sped through southbank, stopping for chats along the Thames and lying on multi-coloured beds under huge pop-up projecters showing the classics. We were led to Trafalgar sqaure, and mid-conversation leaning against one of the giant lions, we were approached by a 'rude-boy'. Everyone's talk turned to hushed tones and he asked me for a lighter. Everyone's eyes reflected their state, wide, red, small, normal. He sparked the ight and the conversation burst into flame - 5 minutes later we'd literally heard his whole life story:
. Mum and dad alcoholics
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| Carnaval del pueblo |
. Grew up in Social Care
. Earns money through drugs
. Got stabbed with a screw-driver
. Did a year for atempted murder
. Wants to turn his life around when he's 18
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| The trio |
The thing is, it didn't instill fear in us to talk about this with him, it was more sympathy and pain. He smiled as he spoke through his mouth of half missing teeth. His nervousness evident as he took on and off his hat as he talked and continuously shrugged his hood over his shoulders. The hardest thing to hear was when he told us it was his 15th birthday and he was celebrating by spending his birthday present from his mum (15 pounds) for a cheap bottle of champagne. The prospect of his older brother leaving that life and becoming a business man - wealthy, was like his light at the end of the tunnel "it's so hard to get out of this once you're in it".. Though I couldn't relate to that extent, I listened and gave him the time and attention he needed. The night went on and the mood lulled. We sat spaced out for a meaningless period on a night bus to Kilburn, trying to keep our eyes open for the longest five minutes of our lives. The joint lit just as the sky was brightening and dreams took over.
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| We spun |
It's funny the people you meet at night, the wanderers of London - the more fearful side you see in strangers and they rush to their destination with all alarms at the ready. What I love about it, is the diversity in class. You start off asking an older rich woman for directions, turn the corner to the Indian man that owns the corner shop. dodging through groups of skinheads with their hoods up and then round a family as they walk towards their car. It's such an eclectic bunch you're a whole different category in yourself. You're no longer that expat, that cultural divide fades as there are too many to afford to have that type of separation..
After non-stop work and various thought-provoking encounters, the clock's struck twelve and flower girl's off to bed, with a whole new appreciation for everything.
Recipe of the day: Amazing lemon meringue pie
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