A Northern Getaway.

While all the world's eyes may be on London at the moment, England does offer numerous other enjoyable destinations to visit. If the Olympic crazed capital doesn't appeal to you, then why not head 'Up North' and see one of the most beautiful counties of England: Yorkshire.

With plenty to see scenically and culturally, from the breath-taking Yorkshire Dales to the home of the Brontë family, there's many a reason to discover this part of the world.

Ilkley Moor
The beautiful Ilkley moor sits high above Ilkley town and is a popular tourist attraction for walkers and cyclists alike. However the town itself is enjoyable and pleasant in its own right, full of fine shopping and dining including Michelin starred The Box Tree restaurant, where Marco Pierre White trained. The rural surroundings allow for a large choice of different walks and trails to pick from, one of the most striking views being from the landmark Cow and Calf rocks (named due to their apparent likeness to the animals) which overlook the town.

The Brontë Parsonage
If Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre is a favourite of yours, then The Brontë Parsonage in Haworth will become one of your favourite destinations. The museum showcases many portraits, keepsakes and objects owned by the family however, it is the fact that this museum was once their home which makes it so remarkable. Walking around the house, you are able to see where these authors grew up and lived, for instance the dining room where the three sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne, spent their days writing their classic novels. Moreover, upon exiting the Parsonage you are greeted with the setting that inspired their works: the stunning views of the moors that are Brontë country. It is by being able to see the views and home of these classic authors that makes this museum so fascinating, you are not simply subject to looking at objects behind a glass case, you are able to experience their home, as the Brontë family did.

Malham
If it is more spectacular scenery you are after, head for Malham. Set in the Pennines and the Yorkshire Dales, Malham is a small, but beautiful village. Malham Cove, an enormous curving limestone cliff, has been branded as one of the most impressive sights throughout the entirety of the Yorkshire Dales and I do not disagree. Sat on the Cove, the views are really quite astounding. For someone who lives and is so used to the urban London landscape, to be able to see this glorious scenery of valleys and waterfalls for miles upon miles, it is more than impressive, it is quite humbling. To be able to find somewhere so peaceful and impressive, it is hard not to become mesmerised by the striking panoramic views that surround you. This is not a place that merely attracts hikers either; Malham has also fascinated the arts world, inspiring Charles Kingsley for his novel The Water Babies, as well as painters such as Turner - and I can see why. Malham is so beautiful it is almost crying out to be painted! More recently Malham has seen fame as the set for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, highlighting its combination of a magnificent and magical atmosphere.

Harewood House
For another dose of culture, why not visit the splendid Harewood House and its gorgeous grounds? Home to the Queen Elizabeth II's aunt, Princess Mary the Princess Royal, for four decades, this extraordinary period house exhibits regal interiors and furniture by Thomas Chippendale. The attractions do not stop at the House; your entry pass allows you to visit the kitchen and servants' quarters: Below Stairs, the All Saints' Church and many lovely gardens besides the lake. Children are abundantly provided for too with an extremely well equipped Adventure Playground comprising of a zipwire, climbing nets and more; plus a bird garden with daily penguin feeding! Other than the House itself, of all the attractions, the one not to miss has to be the Himalayan Garden. Described as a 'hidden gem and second to none in the UK' by gardener Alan Titchmarsh, the Himalayan Garden is a natural haven which transports you to the floral world of Asia with its various Oriental plant life. Furthermore, the Harwood Stupa resides here. Built by Bhutan monks, this Buddhist monument is one of its kind in England, further accentuating the unique and exceptional Himalayan feel of this garden.

So why not get away from the rest of the manic world and experience a beautiful and peaceful northern retreat.

SoCal...SoCool. Part 2.

With Huntington Beach and Santa Barbara done, the next leg of my journey was Santa Monica and although it meant another three hour train journey, it was entirely worth it.

Santa Monica
Santa Monica seems to have it all: the chilled, fun beach culture, and the lively atmosphere of a trendy city. This blend of vibes means Santa Monica is a place for everyone! Families, couples and friends - it'd be hard for someone to not like Santa Monica. The pier offers its own amusement park for children (and adults if you like), plus shops and eateries with plenty of tourist novelties thrown in. Santa Monica also plays host to the original Muscle Beach. While the more recent one down at nearby Venice Beach is well worth a look, besides the beach itself with the skateboarders, gym fanatics and general bizarre and eccentric characters, Santa Monica's muscle beach is a toned down version. Though people are surely still here to be seen like the Venice Beach gym, the family tone present at Santa Monica's gym creates a more relaxed feel. Other close attractions include Disneyland, Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles so there's always plenty to get up to! Furthermore, Downtown Santa Monica is where you will find the 3rd Street Promenade: 'an alfresco shopping experience'. Wide streets with trendy shops and restaurants will greet you here, but what adds that something special is the talented buskers dotted along the boulevard. Here you will not be hassled by annoying, money grabbing types you may find in other cities. Instead, you are presented with college students, retirees - anyone you can imagine and what's more, they're pretty good! The mixture of city and beach life forms something quite magical in Santa Monica. That relaxed setting of the beach travels into Downtown creating a relaxed city feel, making it a fun, friendly, must-see place to stay.

LA and Hollywood

If you don't have a car, public transport will get you around the LA area with buses and metro services travelling into Hollywood - the known tourist attraction to visit. People fill the streets of Hollywood Boulevard, Melrose Avenue and the Sunset Strip with their digital cameras posing left, right and centre. Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Walk of Fame, and seeing the Hollywood sign are just a few things to do while you're here and while it does feel like an exciting place, there is also a very strong sense of superficiality with the countless amount of tourist shops and promoters. For this reasons I would suggest that Hollywood is good for a day visit, to see, but no longer is needed. On the other hand, Los Angeles is a sprawling city with many different neighbourhoods to keep you entertained, including the authentic Chinatown and Koreatown. Simply walking around will keep you busy as there are plenty of incredible sights to see; the architecture being the most startling aspect. Skyscrapers and towers soar into the sky; from financial offices to cultural buildings, LA's skyline is most impressive. Just as lots of business takes place in LA, cultural and artistic events are also always happening. The Walt Disney Concert Hall plus many galleries, including Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), reside in this bustling city, whilst shopping is taken care of at The Grove mall with all the main brands covered. Yet even with all this action, Los Angeles is not a hyperactive city like New York. In LA a bus driver will pull over mid journey to grab himself a snack - a deed which would cause turmoil with Londoners, but in LA, no-one bats an eyelid. The cosmopolitan city of Los Angeles doesn't lose that calm feel of Southern California, it embraces it.

Southern California really does have so much to offer. Whether it's for family fun, a romantic holiday or a break with friends, this part of the world caters for everyone. That's what is so brilliant about a Californian vacation - the place is very much user friendly; everything can be done with ease and enjoyment. This alongside the 300+ days of sunshine a year guarantees you will love that cool and laidback SoCal vibe.

SoCal...SoCool. Part 1.

The US is a country filled with must-see sights and attractions, from the Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon; there is so much to visit that I can almost understand why some Americans do not own a passport. But the award to the coolest place in the States has to go to Southern California, or SoCal as it is otherwise known. The laidback surfer/skateboarder atmosphere, alongside the sunny beaches makes it a place you feel you could stay forever - and that was precisely how I felt while I was last there.


My stay included visits to Orange County's relaxed Huntington Beach, the beautiful Santa Barbara, trendy and friendly Santa Monica and the vibrant Los Angeles. Though all encompass that lovely Southern California atmosphere, each place boasts its own personality and attractions to draw you in.

Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach is Surf City USA. Walking along the boardwalk you're guaranteed to bump into a surfer, skateboarder, cyclist, jogger, dog walker - the list goes on - you'll never be bored of people watching here. This is a place bubbling with activity and sport, yet there is also a sense of the mellow, easy-going lifestyle that the residents happily inhabit here and it is this combination that makes Huntington Beach such an enjoyable place to stay. Main and 5th Street comprise all the different style of shops you could ask for. From tons of surfing and skating stores, to the high street chains of Forever 21 and ANGL, to the designer brands of Guess, with even some vintage shops thrown in too, there is something for everyone. You won't go hungry either, with a vast choice of restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from. My pick for a bite would have to be Ruby's Diner. Set at the end of the Huntington Beach Pier, Ruby's brings you back to the swing era of the 1940's American diners. With surfboards, vintage photos, retro clad staff and wonderful views overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Ruby's is a lively spot with huge portions for not so huge prices! The air of pretension that may prevail in other areas of Orange County does not exist here. Though there are plenty of beautiful cars and people to gawk at, the overriding mood is definitely of effortless ease and cool.

Santa Barbara
Out of all the places visited on this trip, I think Santa Barbara impressed me the most. Perhaps that's because this was the place I had done the least homework on and so was merely happily surprised with what I was greeted with when the train pulled into Santa Barbara station. Nevertheless, it is simple one of the most stunning places I have ever been. The three hour Amtrak journey (which really isn't as bad as many American drivers make out - it's just public transport that's all) takes you along the Pacific coast, with Californian Mountains for one view and lovely beaches aside the aqua blue ocean for the other. These views do not end at Santa Barbara either. They become more impressive. Standing on Stearn's Wharf, the picturesque harbour to your side, the palm tree filled beach to your other and the spectacular mountains behind you, it is hard to not simply stand and stare. Other than the gorgeous scenery, what also makes Santa Barbara stand out is its Mediterranean style architecture. Lining the streets are buildings that evoke a Spanish atmosphere; courtyards, white walls and terracotta roofs all serve to accentuate that already established relaxed SoCal attitude. One of such streets is State Street which treats you to miles of shopping, dining and culture - a definite hotspot, just like the city itself! Whether it's the great weather or the lovely surroundings, the people in Santa Barbara just seem incredibly happy (and I don't blame them). While there, that happiness will undoubtedly rub off on you and ensure you have a fantastic stay.

Part two coming soon.

'Tis the Season to be Stressed

May 2012: The date which marks the completion of my undergraduate degree. The presentations have been given, exams have been sat and essays written. It is now time for that blissful feeling of freedom. The stress is over!! It is finally over!

No longer will the library be my second home. Those long, long days - and nights - are done with. Lying awake in bed, worrying if the amount of work I've done is enough, can be forgotten.

These symptoms may sound fairly familiar to the average student faced with exams; whether it is at degree level, or any other qualification. The assessment system of education can be an overbearing, demanding and draining force.

As deadlines become more threatening, the importance of all other aspects of life seems to evaporate into thin air. We become social hermits, only interacting with those brave enough to come near the crazed, irritable specimens we become. The mere notion of three regular meals a day is vanished and in its place we depend on copious amounts of snacks: energy drinks, biscuits and toast all become part of the normal eating regime. Sleep is deemed a luxury as it is forsaken for either further study, or thoughts of panic and depression, keeping you up all night.

In some cases, students react so badly to this "exam season" that they become physically ill. The pressure that is put on and felt by many people is, in my opinion, unfair.

Many of my friends are currently finishing their finals, cramming last minute revision at this very moment and it is clear that pressure and stress is at an all-time high. Students should not be getting ill as a result of exams, while it is good to feel motivated and endeavour for academic success, one's health should not be harmed as a part of the process. They say that "the fear" (the panic that sets in when you realise how much work there is to do but so little time to do it in) is a catalyst for motivation. Yet if this "fear" that kicks us all into action, also sends us all into despair, surely it cannot be effective.

GCSE and A level students, moreover, should not be intimidated by tense teachers who threaten that 'these exams are the most important ones you will ever sit!' School students are put under such a high pressure at such young ages. I remember when choosing which subjects to study at GCSE, at the tender age of 13, being told that these subjects will determine what I was to do for the rest of my life. Even though a friend who chose mainly humanities based subjects is now studying medicine...so, somehow I think that concept may have been flawed.

Not only are University students carrying the worry of academia, it is also the fear of the unfavourable prospective job market. Though we may be graduating with good degrees, the chances of attaining a job soon after are pretty slim. With the economic climate adding a further anxiety to the list, more and more students are being prescribed medication for depression and stress.

Though I am a thorough believer that hard work pays off, I find the effect of examinations and assessments worrying. Students should not have to feel as though they are undergoing an ordeal. While advice may be given, sometimes it simply does not cut it.

I am glad to say I have completed my undergraduate degree and that I can relax...well, for a little while at least.

How to Beat the Travel Logistic Blues.

Our world we live in today has become so small that travelling is now taken for granted. Once upon a time the idea of going to Morocco would be a far-off dream, but nowadays we are simply required to save some pennies to realise our travel fantasies.

For me, travel is one of the best ways to spend life. While I'll always love my home town, there is nothing I'd rather do than explore the various pockets of the world and learn about different cultures and lifestyles.

However, in order to get to this inspiring destination, there is one little thing you must do: organise it.

Usually, planning and booking a holiday is not exceptionally difficult, but when there are seven people involved logistics can get a little trickier.
At the moment, my friends and I are trying to book a week's holiday for a few months' time and it doesn't help that we don't all know each other, never mind the fact that we don't all currently live in the same country. All of these ingredients add up to a difference in ideas and commitments which doesn't make for easy organisation.

We know that as soon as we arrive at our sunny destination, the hard work will have been worth it. But, after trawling through page upon page of holiday rental websites, sat in rainy England, a hint of discouragement can be heard in people's voices, seen in their expressions. It becomes all too easy to give up and say you'll look again later. And then when you do, those perfect flights have gone up fifty pound in price! Or, sometimes, the opposite effect can occur. You become so sick of investigative work that you book the first hotel you find, but, on arrival, you don't find it. The worst happens and you realise you've been scammed.

In order to beat the stresses of organising travel adventures take a look at the following tips:

• Book early: there is nothing worse than realising you're only a couple of weeks away from your holiday and the flights have become astronomical in price. Generally speaking, the earlier you book the better prices you'll get.

• One-way or return: sometimes it can be cheaper to travel with two one-way fares rather than a round-tip return.

• Do the work...: it's always important to know that your bookings are legitimate. If you find something you like, research it. Don't take unknown company websites for face value, read the terms and conditions, make sure you are paying securely and find reviews from other websites. Check information on location and amenities to ensure you're not setting yourself up for a con.

• ...but don't exhaust yourself: if you feel like you're becoming demotivated, which can happen very easily with the vast internet, take a short break. You don't want to lose that holiday excitement.

• Think flexibly: an easy way to cut costs is to check out other dates. Different timings and locations can help you save on travel so you have more money to splash when you arrive.

• Try to haggle: with some accommodation you'll be able to haggle, so why not give it a go?

• Get everyone up-to-date: if there is a large group of you going together, set up an email or page where everyone can talk, share ideas and be aware of decisions being made.

• Insurance!: The one thing you don't want to forget is travel insurance. You never know when it could help you out, but if it is needed, you'll be thanking your lucky stars you have it.

• Keep the buzz: there is a lot to think about and remember when planning a holiday but remember, you're going on holiday! Keep that excitement flowing and motivation will carry you through to your departure date.

The Power of Social Networks

Communication: a way to keep in touch with your close ones, to feel more connected to them and to maintain those important relationships. Right? Maybe not.

While a catch up over the phone, or constant emailing are definite ways to keep in contact with friends and family, the mode of communication that the Western World now regards as second nature, social media, can almost have the opposite effect.

Although Facebook, Twitter and Google+ all set out to create platforms where we can be constantly connected with each other, do they really create that warm, positive feeling we get after we’ve just had a long and lively phone call with an old friend?

I think everyone can honestly admit to using Facebook as more than just a way to talk to friends. Let’s face it, we stalk. No-one should try to hide away from the fact either, we all do it. Whether you log in every day or just a few times in a month, it’s very hard to resist the urge to have a little explore around your news feed. It’s almost as though it’s become a natural facet of Facebook: the stalking element.

So when you’re having a snoop around your “friend’s” latest album, where they went on that amazing trip with all their beautiful friends, going to the hippest places and having the greatest time; does this make you happy? Yes, we may feel glad – particularly if it is someone you genuinely like – that they have enjoyed themselves, but does it not provoke a slight tinge of jealousy? Does it not simply make us question whether we are having as good a time as those joyful people in the photos?

Perhaps I’m just too cynical, but it is easy to see how social networks have the power to force a feeling of comparison upon their users. Status updates and profile pictures can be manipulated to become merely ways for us to compete with each other; devices used to try to portray our own lives as more exciting and inspiring than others.

Now I know there are people who couldn’t care less about what crops up on their news feeds. They have their account for singular purposes such as to keep in contact with long distance family and friends and to me, that's admirable. But, it does seem as though the more and more addicted we become to social media, the more it engulfs our lives.

I am one of those social media victims, yet I can still see the absurdity of it all. Although I may check my Facebook and my Twitter as often as Apple releases a new product, I am still fully aware that this constant need to always be in contact with your hundreds of friends is really quite pointless.

While I do believe that the internet can be a great way to keep up to date with your true close ones, it’s ridiculous to think that over the years I have collected such a multitude of so-called ‘Facebook friends’, that I can now hardly remember some of their surnames. 

If I really wanted to know about a friend’s latest escapade, I think I’d get hold of my phone, not the Facebook homepage. 

Jazz and Fusion with Charlotte Glasson at the National Portrait Gallery

After arriving in London on an early Friday evening, I decided to try out one of the National Portrait Gallery’s free Late Shift events. My pick was an hour of live music by Charlotte Glasson and her band. I went along with little knowledge of the artist and low expectations for the evening and so was pleasantly surprised with the experience I was greeted with.

Buried among the stunning galleries on the second floor, the session took place in a room which you would not have thought was the largest one of the floor. With the walls covered in political portraiture and the room packed with music lovers, the atmosphere was one of excited anticipation for the hour to come.

Glasson opened with Blues, moving onto Jazz and many other types of world music, with even a few Tango numbers thrown in. Each song was played beautifully with charismatic comments here and there between songs - enough to keep engaged without overstepping the mark. Talent was not aligned purely to Glasson either, each member of her band enjoyed spots of the limelight as all four were shown recognition for their playing.

A wide variety of instruments were used, ranging from a saxophone to a flute to the penny whistle. Glasson's assortment of musical instruments is so extensive in fact, that she even brought along a saw to play upon. Using a bow, she played the saw and produced a surprisingly charming tune.

As the audience grew throughout the hour, their captivation remained, with many dancing in their seats. Perhaps that's the only thing that this session could have done with - somewhere to dance. But personally, I think the packed in effect of the overflowing audience added to the intense passion of the music, creating an enlivened feel. 

These Late Shift evenings are not limited to music performances either. Every Thursday and Friday, from 6pm-9pm the National Portrait Gallery acts host to lectures, documentaries and film and art sessions, ensuring that there is something for everyone. For this performance to be free of charge, at one of the most fantastic galleries in London, I'm glad to say I experienced it and recommend the Late Shift sessions to all.



Charlotte Glasson: http://www.charlotteglasson.com/
NPG'S Late Shift: http://www.npg.org.uk/whatson/lateshift/late_shift_home.php