June 6th 2008
Rock Am Ring
It was The Misfits 'London Dungeon' I found paused on my MP3 player as the Shuttle Bus pulled away from the 'Ring. This reminded me of exactly how much had transpired in the last month, and how good it felt that summer was here.
Rock Am Ring had been fantastic, 3 days and 3 nights of Rock and Roll, something that is totally absent in the electro/funk/hip-hop pre-disposition of Frankfurt. 100 000+ like minded revelers- in fact walking through the 4kms of tents was like having my ITunes on shuffle, if interspersed with terrible, terrible German pop (terrible).
By Lunchtime Friday the perks of traveling Solo had revealed themselves several times. My single man tent fitted snugly (smugly even?) into a prime position that may have attracted animosity from surrounding campers if I were a loud group of English speaking blow-ins. At the wrist band counter, and the main gate, queue jumping failed to gain any acknowledgment. Pushing through the 60 odd thousand at Incubus to be at the front for Rage Against the Machine would be the real kicker, I left behind my new found friends who just couldn't keep up and were met with resistance while trying to follow me. Even on my own this still took some aggressive maneuvering and the entire Incubus set plus 3 Rage songs!!
If anything could take away from what was about to happen, it would be the huge advertising billboards all around Centre Stage. As the Stage darkened and a huge glowing Red Star was raised into placed all ambiance was totally annihilated by a flashing white signs that revealed the band long before the intro had finished. I was insulted and could/would hope the band felt the same; although after the riff over Zach's political bent and the rest of the guys just wanting to play music this was in doubt. 'Bulls on Parade' started things off and social pondering would be left aside until the mid set rant about how they had been misquoted after last year's Rock Am. The speech went on for quite some time, with a large portion of the crowd taking a seat. Complex Ideologies in Fast Angry English to a predominantly drunk German audience bought on the yawns rapidly. 'Know Your Enemy' and 'Killing in the name of' saved the day. 'Killing in the name of' had a comical ending where the whole crowd (around 60 000) chanted something that loosely translates to 'shit rich people' at the corporate boxes along the side of the stage. The VIPs really should have sipped lattes somewhere else. Exit stage right, and back down to the Alternastage just in time to hear "We're Mötorhead, We play Rock and Rock" -indeed.
Saturday morning would be a chance to see the other camp sites; the ones people had arrived 4 days earlier to procure. Utter Squalor is an understatement. While I was on a tree lined hilltop with a view of Nordschleife's front straight, these people where camped on the gravel remains of the old F1 tracks car park. Concrete had been busted up into fist sized rocks and each 200m square allotment had a 6 foot chain link fence surround. Add to this; burnt/burning tents, endless rubbish, puddles of human waste and, finally, the lowest elevation of the whole area (no wind, no shade, hot days) -the scene could have been any African border camp. Live in excrement for 6 days OR cruise in at lunchtime Friday and walk an extra kilometer, hmmm.
Today would be a Metal Fix with a hint of Aussie Flavour. Checked out Pete Murray first up (just to be patriotic), then Disturbed, followed by Inflames. Inflames where phenomenal leaving no doubt as to why they have been sighted by Metal Hammer as one of the 10 most influential metal acts ever. Made a mad dash to see those Victorian Sheep shearers, Airbourne, only to find out the Tent they were was at capacity, with a huge line up of hopefuls that wanted In. With 5 hours until Metallica you would be forgiven thinking that now would be an OK time to get a good position, Wrong. After Rage last night, Everyone had the same Idea, except today the crowd would be up 30,000. Yes, at least 90,000 people standing around waiting for Metallica, an amazing site. When the Metal Lords finally took the stage it was everything anyone could ask for, finishing the third encore with 'Die My Darling'(when am I ever going to hear 90,000 sing a Misfits song again?), 'Whiplash' and my all time favourite 'Motorbreath'. Emotion ensued.
The Final day would be easy, everyone I wanted to see was on the Alternastage, and hours would be at my disposal to find the perfect spot for Queens of the Stone Age. An endless stream of good old Rock appeared on stage with a few unheard ofs impressing me, namely Disco Ensemble. The Eagles of Death Metal were awesome and very humble- apparently this was the biggest crowd they had played to.
I was fairly interested in seeing HIM, only know they exist thanks to Viva La Bam and they have quite a following; The verdict- Not Bad. Lead singer, Ville Valo is not the most unattractive man in the world, perhaps it is not going to far as to say he is the Bon Jovi of this generation. They Covered Wicked Game and Rebel Yell as well, it was awesome.
Queens of the Stone Age came on to Finish the Festival -put simply- they really rocked.
Felt fantastic to go away for a long weekend after having had to actually work for the last few weeks. This is going to be a great summer my friends.
Here is Metallica's final encore on Saturday night!!!!
(if this vid isn't loaded, press refresh)
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Frankensteiner Platz
May 2008
Frankfurt, the promise land.
A new Job and a new attitude, it's Frankfurt where I hang my hat these days.
The financial capital of the EU, with a day time population of almost 4 mil that drops to 667,598 by evening thanks to a surrounding 'Sound of Music' villages where the Bankers and Stock Traders retreat after a hard day globalising. It stands to reason that Friday nights in the city are a bit more lively than Saturday. On Sunday Everything is closed except Free standing alcohol kiosks and the multitude of brothels... some hobbies will be needed. Enjoy a few pics of my street that Starts in trendy Westend, serves as a border between the financial and redlight districts, and finishes at the river.
Frankfurt, the promise land.
A new Job and a new attitude, it's Frankfurt where I hang my hat these days.
The financial capital of the EU, with a day time population of almost 4 mil that drops to 667,598 by evening thanks to a surrounding 'Sound of Music' villages where the Bankers and Stock Traders retreat after a hard day globalising. It stands to reason that Friday nights in the city are a bit more lively than Saturday. On Sunday Everything is closed except Free standing alcohol kiosks and the multitude of brothels... some hobbies will be needed. Enjoy a few pics of my street that Starts in trendy Westend, serves as a border between the financial and redlight districts, and finishes at the river.
Jager chased with Goulash
March ? 2008
Mayrhofen, Austria
It's been a while and this post has been a long time coming so details are vague. I will try and keep it short.
Snowboarding in Mayrhofen. 6 days of REAL powder, a few nights of hard drinking and a deep sense of satisfaction. Photos are scant as most of the time Hewy and myself were too busy boarding.
Vienna, Austria
After posing as Argentinian playboys for a week it was onto the Austrian Capital. Home of many influential figures over the last few centuries (including Gustav Klimt, Freud and Mozart) The lack of things to do possible harboured their creativity and propelled them onto the world stage. Nice looking city, not a hive of activity.
Budapest, Hungary
This is a place with a great vibe, an intangible quantity that cant be described. Like it a lot. Hungarian Food is excellent and cheap, the people are friendly and speak all the useful languages. Great City with heaps to do and see. Recommendations?- Stay at The Loft backpackers, eat at The Hungarian restaurant with the life size fiberglass waiter outside, find this in the side street of the big food market near the river- sounds like vague directions, easy to find. Have a few hours at the Turkish Baths, pick any of them they all seem about the same. And visit the House of Terror, the museum is the former headquarters for the secret police of both the Nazi and Communist governments. More photos of me than usually thanks to traveling with Hewy.
Mayrhofen, Austria
It's been a while and this post has been a long time coming so details are vague. I will try and keep it short.
Snowboarding in Mayrhofen. 6 days of REAL powder, a few nights of hard drinking and a deep sense of satisfaction. Photos are scant as most of the time Hewy and myself were too busy boarding.
Vienna, Austria
After posing as Argentinian playboys for a week it was onto the Austrian Capital. Home of many influential figures over the last few centuries (including Gustav Klimt, Freud and Mozart) The lack of things to do possible harboured their creativity and propelled them onto the world stage. Nice looking city, not a hive of activity.
Budapest, Hungary
This is a place with a great vibe, an intangible quantity that cant be described. Like it a lot. Hungarian Food is excellent and cheap, the people are friendly and speak all the useful languages. Great City with heaps to do and see. Recommendations?- Stay at The Loft backpackers, eat at The Hungarian restaurant with the life size fiberglass waiter outside, find this in the side street of the big food market near the river- sounds like vague directions, easy to find. Have a few hours at the Turkish Baths, pick any of them they all seem about the same. And visit the House of Terror, the museum is the former headquarters for the secret police of both the Nazi and Communist governments. More photos of me than usually thanks to traveling with Hewy.
Tuesday, 26 February 2008
Belgian Waffles
Brussels: Done and Dusted in 2 hours flat
The Eurostar is undoubtedly the best way to travel. From St Pancras station to Brussels in 1hr 50min. Getting through customs is about as complicated as hopping on the tube and when you disembark at the other end you simply walk out of the station, no unnecessary lines, forms or waiting around for a a chance to land.
After a diabetes inducing breakfast of authentic waffles and triple choc hot chocolate it was time to see what Brussels had to offer, it was 9am by this stage, the city must be buzzing, surely? it is the capital of the European Union afterall...
WRONG!
Adam quickly pointed out upon leaving the station that although I had not yet been to Eastern Europe, this was as close that it made no difference. We crossed onto the aptly named Stalingrad Drive and realised the scale of the town was substantially smaller than you would think from perusing the tourist map, today's adventure would be swift!
Within 2hours we had seen the Grote Markt (the center of any Belgium city), taken photos in front of the famous Manakin Pis (the orginal 'little boy urinating' staue) and walked the breadth of the city into the new district. Ieper, we will see you for lunch!
Advancing on the Menin gate
Iper/Ypres pronounced eep-air is an eerie town in the middle of a 10 sq mile area where roughly 1000 000 people died over the course of both World Wars. The soil is incredibly fertile with Maize being the crop of choice. This is what bought Mooney and myself to Belgium, a tour around the battlefeilds of the Ieper Salient.
The town itself was destroy totally in the Great War, then subsequently rebuilt at great cost to the German government. This rebuilding of continental europe,paid for by the Germans of course, encourage the climate which led to WW2.
There are so many directions to head in while pondering the signifigance of Ieper that I am not going to attempt to get into detail. To quickly breeze through a few things of note-
The official remeberance poem 'Flanders Fields' was written by John Mcrae here and inturn lead the Poppy to be the flower of remeberance.
38,000 (yes thirty eight thousand) Australians died here during the battle for Passchendaele.
Hitler was injured and commended for his bravery here a few short years before entering into politics.
There are 176 cemetaries in the Ieper Salient region
Ieper was bitterly cold, Im glad we were not knee deep in mud.
Brugge
With the futlility of war behind us, we headed east for the coast. This city comprises twin rings of canals to aid fortifiaction, a Michaelangelo scultpure and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where a vile of christ's blood has been protected since the crusades. Food and Beer, here, was easy to come by.
Antwerp
Diamonds, Beer, quite, possibly save it for the weekend...
The Eurostar is undoubtedly the best way to travel. From St Pancras station to Brussels in 1hr 50min. Getting through customs is about as complicated as hopping on the tube and when you disembark at the other end you simply walk out of the station, no unnecessary lines, forms or waiting around for a a chance to land.
After a diabetes inducing breakfast of authentic waffles and triple choc hot chocolate it was time to see what Brussels had to offer, it was 9am by this stage, the city must be buzzing, surely? it is the capital of the European Union afterall...
WRONG!
Adam quickly pointed out upon leaving the station that although I had not yet been to Eastern Europe, this was as close that it made no difference. We crossed onto the aptly named Stalingrad Drive and realised the scale of the town was substantially smaller than you would think from perusing the tourist map, today's adventure would be swift!
Within 2hours we had seen the Grote Markt (the center of any Belgium city), taken photos in front of the famous Manakin Pis (the orginal 'little boy urinating' staue) and walked the breadth of the city into the new district. Ieper, we will see you for lunch!
Advancing on the Menin gateIper/Ypres pronounced eep-air is an eerie town in the middle of a 10 sq mile area where roughly 1000 000 people died over the course of both World Wars. The soil is incredibly fertile with Maize being the crop of choice. This is what bought Mooney and myself to Belgium, a tour around the battlefeilds of the Ieper Salient.
The town itself was destroy totally in the Great War, then subsequently rebuilt at great cost to the German government. This rebuilding of continental europe,paid for by the Germans of course, encourage the climate which led to WW2.
There are so many directions to head in while pondering the signifigance of Ieper that I am not going to attempt to get into detail. To quickly breeze through a few things of note-
The official remeberance poem 'Flanders Fields' was written by John Mcrae here and inturn lead the Poppy to be the flower of remeberance.
38,000 (yes thirty eight thousand) Australians died here during the battle for Passchendaele.
Hitler was injured and commended for his bravery here a few short years before entering into politics.
There are 176 cemetaries in the Ieper Salient region
Ieper was bitterly cold, Im glad we were not knee deep in mud.
Brugge
With the futlility of war behind us, we headed east for the coast. This city comprises twin rings of canals to aid fortifiaction, a Michaelangelo scultpure and the Basilica of the Holy Blood, where a vile of christ's blood has been protected since the crusades. Food and Beer, here, was easy to come by.
Antwerp
Diamonds, Beer, quite, possibly save it for the weekend...
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