I don’t venture out to Harborne that often as I’m on the other side of Birmingham (Sutton Coldfield) but it has always intrigued me. The amount of independents flooding to Harborne like it’s some sort of DisneyWorld for foodies had me a tad jealous the past few months and so I vowed to go there one day in July. Of course, it neared the end of July and I had totally forgotten about it until I visited The Botanical Gardens and searched for places to eat nearby. Sat at the top of my Google search was Estado da India, it was finally time.
Please note that this experience was NOT gifted, and this is my honest opinion.
Located on a busy road it the centre of Harborne, Estado Da India is a Portuguese-Indian restaurant brought to you by the highly successful Lasan Group. Celebrating a union of two cultures, they sell a variety of tapas-style sharing plates bursting with flavour, colour and spices. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and super cosy, my partner and I both admired the artwork and the many dedications to the Portuguese and Indian cultures. Our server was lovely and very helpful, although she was new and couldn’t answer all of our questions, she tried her best to give us as much information and as many recommendations as possible.
James and I opted for the following dishes: Iberian lamb ribs, Morcela Potato, Lemon rice, Chicken Espetada, Duroc Pork Belly, Tomate Naan and Masala Fries. We waited around 10-15 minutes and all dishes came out at the same time. My first impression was that the dishes were a little on the small size, even for tapas. I looked up at my 6 ft 6 chap and thought, he’s going to be starving after this! I was wrong – the dishes are very filling. I struggled in the end to finish the last of the naan but my god, was the food delicious. Like fireworks going off in my mouth. Rich and punchy flavours and waves of spice, and everything just worked so well together.
The lamb ribs were my favourite, garnished with tangy tamarind chutney and the meat was so succulent it just melted in the mouth.Masala fries were crunchy and full of spice. The lemon rice was a refreshing partner to all the spices kicking off in my mouth and the pork belly was also sensational. The chicken espetada was very nice but would have preferred to have two portions instead of just one for £5.25. Now we all have different appetites, some bigger than others so of course, the portion sizes are not going to work well with everyone and especially big groups. As a couple, we didn’t experience this but I can see some diners raising this as an issue as they may not want to spend more money on buying more small dishes. I would suggest around five dishes each, we went for less and it worked but for those who are feeling very hungry, I would recommend five.
The bill came to £41, £20.50 each for dinner is not bad, actually it’s very good! Usually, for tapas I pay around £40-£50 for less than satisfying food so really, Estado Da India was an absolute bargain. Estado Da India ticked all the boxes for me, so much variety on offer here that of course, we will have to go back for a second visit. Many will be spoilt for choice and there were plenty of vegetarian and vegan options which was great to see! When eating out I want a menu to enrapture me and Estado Da India’s menu certainly did that. It’s worth the journey from Sutton Coldfield and it’s worth many more journeys. Estado Da India delivers on so many levels and is one restaurant that should be on everyone’s list to try out this Summer.
Last year I did a post on some of my favourite spots in Birmingham to take my camera, nearly a year has passed and, there is no surprise that there are even more spots in Birmingham to snap! This year I haven’t really been out a lot due to CO-VID ( as the same for every one else!) isolating for two-three months wore my creativity down until I had the green light to go back to work in Birmingham. I spent one day just walking around Birmingham and I couldn’t believe there were so many locations that I have never discovered before… From Digbeth to Chinatown, when it comes to photography, Birmingham is the perfect City to imagine and create. Some spots I found don’t even look like your in Birmingham but, more so you’re in Paris, Japan or maybe even a futuristic Birmingham, Yes Birmingham is a pretty fantastic city for creatives to CREATE and take imagination/creativity to the next level! Here’s just a few new spots that I have found that you may want to check out yourselves AND use them for photo opportunities!
I have mentioned quite a few businesses in this post that are great for photographers (very open to letting photographers in and doing shoots) HOWEVER please ask before you snap AND, don’t just snap and dash! I always ask permission and, I like to give back, buy a drink/some grub and remember to tag them in your photos!
CHINA TOWN/BATH PASSAGE
Located in China Town(right next to China Court takeaway) Bath Passage is full of amazing street art by the talented Gent 48. Bath Passage has become one of my favourite places to do photoshoots in the City! Making my photos POP and stand out!
VICTORIA SQUARE FOUNTAINS
Now covered in lavender blooms making photos pop with gorgeous lilac colours, victoria square over the years seems to be coming along quite nicely! I usually take many of the bloggers here for photoshoots and take photos against the lavender, also the architecture on the Town Hall is pretty cool to shoot against.
THE MAILBOX
The Mailbox is a lovely setting for a photo shoot with beautiful interior and stunning view’s of The Canal and The Cube It’s especially beautiful at Christmas time when they put up all the lights and the Christmas tree, really gets you in the Christmas mood and creates beautiful festive photos!
Looking for somewhere to stop off for coffee? why about stopping off for coffee and tuck into a delicious brunch as well as getting in a few more photos? Located just underneath the bridge from The Cube to The Canals (on way to Brindley Place) you will find Cocoa By Ali. A very popular spot for bloggers to snap with all the beautiful pink interior and blooms but don’t just Snap and Dash, this place has some beautiful and delicious dishes on offer for you try too (definitely recommend the french toast :P)
TOP OF THE CUBE/HOTEL INDIGO
So you can either buy a room with a view for the night or head on up to Marco Pierre White’s restaurant on 25th Floor for a pretty cool panoramic view of Birmingham. Beautiful in the day and beautiful at night, take your pick! The shot is going to be awesome any time of day.
And let’s not forget about the bottom of The Cube where you can get some pretty epic low angle shots of the “uplifted” sculpture. At Christmas time The Cube’s Christmas tree appears and it’s a lovely sight to snap!
DIGBETH/STREET ART/VENUES
Home of the future creatives, an ultimate favourite of mine and I bet it is of soo many other photographers as well! It’s like the upside-down of Birmingham, endless possible shots to take in this colourful area full of talented street artist’s work, with exciting possibilities for all creatives. Everyone knows I love Digbeth, the one reason why I love it so much is it’s always changing, there is always something new around the corner. New artwork, new venue’s, new opportunities for creatives to get stuck in and exhibit their talents. Of course, one of my favourite walls in Digbeth is The NightOwl, retro, cool and just makes a killer backdrop.
Let’s talk about the venues where you can get some awesome shots:
FloodGate Birmingham: Full of Neon, quirky artwork and rammed with photographers. I see photoshoots going on in there all the time so photographers are welcome to create!
NQ64: NQ64 to me is like stepping back in time, into the 80s, Stranger Things style. Glow in the dark, street art and retro gaming, what’s not to love?
Birdies Bar: Tropical vibes, fantastic for those cocktail photos!
Zumhof Biergarten: Quirky and different, Digbeths very only little Glastonbury, take a few photos here and convince your pals your THAT BITCH.
SELFRIDGES CAR PARK: TOP LEVEL
I am always on the hunt for views of the City, on the Selfridges car park I have view’s of Digbeth way and up-close views of the Bullring which is pretty stunning at night!
BRINDLEY PLACE/CANALS
Take a walk amongst the canals towards the Utilita Arena and, you will come across bridges with floral just like the bridges in Amsterdam layered with bikes, Birmingham to Amsterdam and I didn’t have to get the EURO?!…BARGAIN!
The trees in Brindley Place by Ikon are a must in the Spring and Autumn, The beautiful pink blossom is to die for and, then in the Autumn the splash of orange from the Autumn leaves create’s stunning images!
THE BOTANICAL WALLS
These walls make fantastic backdrops for photoshoots and you will find them near Grand Central and Snowhill Station! I use these a lot with my blogger and couple photoshoots and they always make awesome photos!
GRAND CENTRAL TOP LEVEL CAR PARK
The car park for Grand Central is amazing to take photos of The Rotunda and John Lewis (RIP!) Its an open-top car park and its on the top level, and you can grab Grand Central and The Rotunda in one shot!
GREAT WESTERN ARCADE
In my last blog, I hardly touched on the Great Western Arcade and, for most of this year, it has been the number one place for me to do photoshoots. A very popular location for photographers and it’s perfect for a couple’s photoshoot especially engagement/wedding day photoshoot’s in which, the scenery is just simply stunning to capture!
A few new neighbours have arrived since the last blog post including the very vibrant Pineapple Club. Neon, botanical, and just oozing Beverly Hills hotel-style makes it a beautiful place for those blogger/model photos as well of course, for dining and having a cocktail or two with friends.
JEWELLERY QUARTER/ST PAULS CHURCH
Unfortunately due to CO-VID I had to cancel my family shoots in Birmingham, ST Pauls Church in the Jewellery Quarter was going to be the first location as it’s so beautiful especially in Autumn with all the leaves, just look at those beautiful Autumn colours! I always find it such a peaceful location to photograph and there is just so much you can do with it!
MOOR STREET STATION/EPIC SHOTS OF THE BULLRING
Moor Street to me is one of the most beautiful train stations I have ever stepped foot in, every time I am there my mind is flooded with happy childhood memories coming to this station. The beautiful victorian interior, the old school feel you get it almost transports me back to being a child thinking I was going on some amazing holiday (that holiday being just Solihull for Christmas shopping) and the amazing photo opportunities make its quite a fabulous location for photoshoots. I mainly come to Moor Street to catch the train to Leamington Spa(usually platform 3 or 4) but, I also come here to get some fantastic shots of The Bullring too!
EDGBASTON/ THE EDGBASTON HOTEL
The Edgbaston Hotel is well-known for its beautiful Art deco interior design and especially at Christmas, where many call it “The house with the Bow that everyone wants!” Around Christmas time I will often walk past and find people outside taking photos of this gorgeous house, however, it’s even more gorgeous inside! I would 100% recommend to book for Christmas and get into the Christmas spirit and snap some beautiful seasonal photos for the gram!
It’s been a while since I last visited this medieval market Town, my last visit I can recall being smacked in the face by butterflies, smelling what only can be described as “shite” through holes in the wall (in some bizarre Museum) and having to be dragged out of charity shops because I couldn’t stop buying ugly jackets. I haven’t exactly created a perfect picture for Stratford-upon-Avon however this visit is definitely a bit more appealing, I promise! My best friend and I decided to go for a bit of a girly day out, featuring a hell of a lot of banging bites, booze, and bitching…What do you expect? We are Girls…
Oozing history, beautiful architecture, and fabulous independents, and let’s not forget about the generous offering of attractions for families, great boozers for the tired parents, and picturesque parks for those who just want a bit of peace of quiet. Yes, Stratford-upon-Avon is the perfect day out.The Town Centre is just under a 10-minute walk from the station, and a lovely walk it is with medieval architecture, flowers in bloom, and fantastic shops to do a bit of window shopping.
When we arrived we were feeling a little bit peckish so we headed to The Cornish Bakery on Henley Street, a lovely little Bakery that is well presented offering a selection of pastries and hot drinks that you can take away or dine outside in their outdoor seating area (currently no seating inside due to Co-Vid) I went for a Cornish Pastie with sweet potato and feta, god it was beautiful. The coffee tasted great and the staff there are generally very friendly there A great start!
We next went for a little walk around the Town, down some quiet streets full of pretty doors that you would see plastered all over Instagram and Pinterest. The weather was so hot, literally was gasping for a drink every five minutes so we thought…BEER. We headed to The Rose & Crown pub (Part of Greene King pubs) which is a lovely traditional pub with quite the quirky outdoor seating area with a cool-ass barn in the back. very spacious, great drink selection (especially Ales) and a relaxing atmosphere, no old rowdy men here. The pub also serves food which we didn’t order but looked great, its dog-friendly, Table service, and all CO-VID measures are in place, so I felt very safe in there. I went for quite the large Abbott Ale that went down a treat.
Next, we went on another walk around the town popping into some independents, brought a gorgeous vintage bag from Razzle Dazzle in The Courtyard which is a beautiful quirky little vintage shop with very appealing prices! full of vintage attire, jewellery, and I also spotted a few hideous jackets that I just bloody adore. Stratford-upon-Avon is home to a lot of amazing Bakery independents such as York’s, Daisy blue, and MOR Bakery. I hear the Cruffin’s at MOR Bakery are out of this world so of course, I had to pop in and order one. I wouldn’t say they are out of this world but my god, they are out of this bloody UNIVERSE! Say hello to peanut butter and jelly cruffin. Inside MOR Bakery was pretty busy however they now have a take-out hatch where you can order take out coffee and bakes such as cruffin’s!
For lunch, we decided to go to The Fourteas on Sheep Street which is a beautiful 1940s tea room, if you are a lover of all things vintage you will love it here! Tuck into an afternoon tea surrounded by 1940’s decor accompanied by 40’s music. We sat outside on a beautiful little terrace outside that definitely came in handy in this heat! Feeling quite full from the ale, I decided to go for a light lunch opting for the frittata Zenios with chorizo and feta cheese. A very tasty dish that just did the trick of filling me up and giving me the energy to venture on yet another walk around the Town! I clocked the afternoon tea on the table behind us that looked pretty good so when I next come to Stratford it would be lovely to try it out!
We went for a walk around the River and I have to say as it was such a lovely day it was pretty packed. Full of families, couples, and so on, but all were keeping to social distancing rules. We did want to hire a boat however the queue was just way too big and waiting in this heat was not something I wanted to do. We sat on the bank of the river and admired the beautiful scenery.Most of the museums were shut but it didn’t really matter because there was still plenty to do and plenty of things to try…like more alcoholic beverages?
Onto the next pub, which is the very popular Actors pub called Dirty Duck, known to be popular with some of the theatre’s Actors/Actresses (They have a wall in the pub with all the actor’s pictures who have visited The Dirty Duck) The front was pretty packed out but they had a quiet little beer garden at the back in which we soaked up the sun in sipping on some Pimms! The service was great, the staff were very friendly and kudos to them for creating a safe environment to eat/drink in. Very popular pub so you may want to book a table before you visit!.
On the way back to the train station we popped into a few more independents and quite frankly some bizarre shops such as the all-season Christmas shop. The Harry Potter shop is a must-visit for true Harry Potters fans full packed full of HP merchandise for you to get your hands on even your very own wand! We walked past Shakespeare’s birthplace which was pretty impressive to see but, of course, we couldn’t go in due to Co-vid.
All that was left was a 40-minute train ride back to Birmingham! A day well spent trying out new independents, cooling down with booze, and soaking up the sun looking out on beautiful surroundings. Please see the list of independents/pubs we tried out below and if you would like to know any more information please just comment below!
The last couple of months have been challenging, from no rules to rules, restrictions, and penalties. I have been dreaming about this day for a long while since the start of lockdown I would kick myself daily the number of times I would wake up in the morning and moan about going into Birmingham for work. Now, we can finally see the light at the end of this long and confusing tunnel, sometimes I still think Did it actually happen? restrictions are being lifted, the number of deaths are falling, and it seems, most of us are getting our smiles back. It’s been challenging but now, we are almost at the finish line, but we must stick with our strategy and still be alert. So, I thought as everything is easing up a bit, it was the right time to reunite with Birmingham, to see my cousin, and to roam through our awesome city. Would it feel like Brum? what’s changed? Will it feel normal? Am I safe? All these questions were running through my mind and a lot of you have the same questions too responding to my IG stories last week. So, I thought I would put a post together to answer those questions and give you a little glimpse of the Birmingham we all know and love.
On arriving in Birmingham it wasn’t quite the zombie apocalypse aftermath that I was expecting especially in the City Centre. I was expecting scenes from I am Legend, scrunched up rolling newspapers, empty stores, eagle-like birds patrolling the skies, and silence. What I got instead was the countdown to Christmas shopping scenes, it was like the scene’s out of The Grinch (without the explosion of Christmas decor) where all the who’s in Whoville are rushing to buy Christmas presents and carrying bags that are way too big for them- One lady had eight large bags, possibly smaller than me! People were going about their day and well, it looked like a normal “busy” day in Birmingham. Add in a couple of hand sanitiser stations, floor markings, and queues -(never thought I would see the day of people queuing up for Poundland), but other than that, it was normal until you walk past Primark…
AVOID PRIMARK
There’s me, laughing at all these sad people waiting to get into Primark on the first day of reopening, I said: “Look at all those people lining up for shit Disney merch, fluffy flip flops and face wipes, have they not heard of online shopping?” However, I find myself queueing outside Primark for £2.50 sunglasses, face wipes, and pants…You Tit Amy Langston. However, I came away with ZERO and an almighty headache. What’s social distancing like in Primark? Well, It doesn’t exist Bab. There were floor markings and hand sanitiser stations but social distancing? Out the bloody window on the way to the bloody North Pole! It just does not exist here, someone sees a bargain and another person sees the same bargain and then you find yourself walking past two people who are fighting over the last pair of Disney pants. I couldn’t believe it, I had people brushing past me, and why is it every time you go to Primark there is always someone up your arse?
Take my advice, if you really need your basic bitch wardrobe, just shop on eBay, most of the fashion in there looks like it came out in the 90’s so just hit the charity shops instead. I have to admit I didnt feel that safe in there and I wouldnt recommend to go just yet.
DIGBETH
Now Digbeth was a bit of a ghost town, it was 1 pm and no one was about just business owners having their meetings and the one group of builders eating their sorry wife’s lunches. Many businesses in Digbeth are not open, I know this week they will be so there is a lot of meetings taking place implementing safety procedures and so on. It’s so strange because whenever I am in Digbeth it’s absolutely thriving with creatives, you always bump into a street artist, photographer, or a tv crew. However, what’s so nice to see is the street art and some added additions to this colorful urban village. The blue NHS heart sign, the Hope artwork, and the massive Co-vid wall art, all are very impressive. Businesses such as Birdies, Ghetto Golf, The Night Owl and so on are all closed still, but I still couldn’t hold my excitement of walking past these once lively places and reminiscing of my drunken times there “Oh look that’s where I found a Marks and Spencer’s sandwich!” They may be closed for now but boy, the memories are still alive and well
Digbeth felt very safe, even walking past people they were keeping their distance. Also, we walked past a few venues that had builders inside so I am guessing there are going to be a few new neighbors moving into Digbeth!!
We decided to walk through China Town and the Gay Quarter which was pretty quiet, no one was about even checking out some of the street art in which, you would see one or two photographers there but it was deserted. I got to check out Bath passage in which you might have seen on social media as it had a new lick of paint…as in a lot of lick of paint! The artwork is incredible and what an amazing background for a photoshoot! If you want to check this out and not too sure where about it is, it’s off Ladywell Walk, right next door to the Cantonese Restaurant.
COFFEE SHOPS
A couple of coffee shops we walked past in Brum had queues outside such as Faculty and Java, Everyone was keeping their distance and I saw one or two employees standing outside making sure people were too., We headed to 200 Degrees which was completely empty, so weird, this place is always packed out! Social distancing procedures have been put in place in 200 Degree (floor markings, sanatizer stations) and I felt very safe in there ordering my drink. Instead of opting for the coffee I went for their summer drinks range and opted for a summer berry smoothie which was mighty refreshing as it was bloody hot as hell day! And do you know whats nice to see? smiles, Its’ nice to see that the impact of the virus hasn’t broken employees’ spirits, There are still smiles a bout.
FOOD
I know a couple of café/restaurants were open for collection, so we just decided to download the UberEATS app instead of going on the hunt for food (best option if you still feel a bit on edge) We ordered from a much loved Brummie favourite-Bonehead. “It’s not going to be the same” well you can shove that comment down your pie hole because it was just as good as eating in their restaurant! fried to perfection chicken dipped into a smoky mayonnaise sauce with waffle fries, SENSATIONAL. Ordered and ready to be collected within 20 minutes, now that some serious service in a pandemic! We decided to head to the Mailbox and chill out by the canal. It was bizarre, I am uset to seeing this place so full of life, it was quiet, really quiet. I have to say it was so lovely to sit on the canals and eat our food, it took me back to my time in Amsterdam the sun was blaring down on us, the food was delicious and the sound of water splashing against the canal walls was someway therapeutic. I think that was the most chilled out I’ve been in the last four months
KIDSARE BLOODY EVERYWHERE
Walking from The Cube towards the Birmingham Library it was starting to get a little bit busier, the tram was running, the fountains outside the library were surrounded by kids and families and sunbathers all huddled around each other. It was like anaimals gathering round the watering hole on a hot day, it was packed out! Another negative and I am sorry parents but its children. I understand that some kids can be little bastards sometimes I know, I uset to be one BUT we are in a pandemic if your kid runs up to a random kid and licks their face don’t just ignore it, DISCIPLINE YOUR CHILD. I’m pretty sure if that was me going up to some random and licking their face I am most likely to get a well-deserved punch or end up in a cell for the night. The kids were knocking into all kinds of people, god knows what the parents fed them that day but it’s a worrying sight to see because of course, they are putting themselves and others in danger. Now, that doesnt apply to all children,I also saw some good eggs on that day sitting quietly or just playing with their Mothers but the Scallys need to be told.
New buildings, new businesses are popping up near the Birmingham Museum, The Dishroom terrace was something new and I could see new signage for restaurants opening soon to Birmingham where Paradise Forum once was. It’s good to know that we are still heading for the future here in Brum.
A lot quieter by the big Mama statue, few people around but all spaced out reading books, drinking their Starbucks, and sunbathing. Walking towards the Bullring/Grand Central was where it started to get very busy again, queues for the apple store, music blaring, and performers still performing..
I understand we are still learning and adapting but there are some players that don’t want to abide by the rules. Like it or not, we are a team at the moment, we are all in this together. Birmingham is on its way back returning to full glory, the businesses are cooperating but the public…not so much. Did I feel safe? yes in some areas of Brum, the shopping centres not so much. There were gang’s of kids and families of eight or more shopping near the Bullring without a care in the world if they brush past you. If your really worried about Co-vid I would advise to just avoid the shopping centres in Birmingham for a bit as I was really taken back at how selfish some shoppers are, It honestly felt like I was invisible to them.
I am not going to lie, I am quite worried about the re-opening of pubs today, I do think it will be absolute carnage. There are a lot of selfish people out there who only care about themselves and how much booze is in their liver. They are not going to like being told what they can or can not do, and If you are one of those people, just get pissed at home save someone the headache that’s working their ass off to pay bills to look after a chump like you. If you are heading out this weekend and thinking that it’s going to be “a mad night on the town with the lads” then you are sadly mistaken. Have a laugh, have a drink, bloody smile of course, but don’t just go out to get completely rat arsed because you can easily just do that at home? These independent businesses have struggled in the last couple of months, many business owners have woken up daily wondering if they are going to survive, some businesses owners are excited yet absolutely terrified for this weekend so please, understand. Be sensitive, and be kind. Remember, we are nearly at the finish line, focus, and we will succeed.
So, this is the part of the holiday where it gets a little bit out of control…I mean like almost dying on speedboats in the middle of nowhere and seeing certain objects that should never be taken out or even associated with a vagina, out of control.
If your reading this then I am guessing you enjoyed part 1 of the madness Jessica and I experienced in Thailand, but it doesn’t stop there at Chiang Mai, I mean, have you not heard what happens in Phuket? Trust me it’s not all madness, but I don’t think we actually prepared ourselves for the madness that Phuket had to offer. So here goes part two, again I have put together a blog post with lots of photos, hilarious stories and recommendations. We travelled from Chiang Mai to Phuket and some of the Islands. If there is anything that has caught your eye and wants to know more about just send me a comment and I’ll be happy to give you more information! Other than that, I hope I don’t disgust you too much.
THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE PHUKET…HOLD ON TO YA KNICKERS!
After a very tight and sweaty flight from Chiang Mai, we finally arrived in Phuket and jumped into the nearest taxi we could find. The taxi guy proceeded to get more and more people into the taxi with us, it was like a bloody school trip, but we met a couple of them and decided to go out in Phuket. After an hour in a sweaty taxi, we finally arrived at the hotel which was a 4-star spa resort called Deevana Patong where we had a cute little bungalow to ourselves and was completely surrounded by lots of BUSH. It was around 8 pm and we headed to the famous strip in Phuket-Patong Beach. Now if you haven’t heard of Patong Beach, just imagine the strip in Malia but on a larger scale, more wild with half-naked women dancing to The Weekend, lights flashing so much they could give anyone an epilepsy fit, theatrical grand entrances to clubs and signs smacking of your face offering half-price sex shows and of course, a good time. The weirdest thing about this strip was that families were walking up and down carrying pushchairs and holding on to their clueless little kids who would just point at the bright lights. So innocent, what they don’t know is that the bright light that they are pointing at actually belongs to a strip club. As Jess and I were walking up the strip we noticed the two lads we met in the taxi, they took everyone’s numbers and mentioned that they couldn’t get in touch with the other two girls…hmmm. Anyway, we thought let’s give this Patong Beach a bloody go! So, we ordered in the shots, we ordered in the buckets and we pretty much ordered whatever the hell we wanted because it’s so dirt cheap out here, it was like getting pissed royally. The drinks started to kick in and we were all, how can I say it…. completely twatted. So, what do you do when you are so drunk and have lost respect for yourself?
You go see a ping pong show of course!
PING PONG SHOWS: “I HAVE NEVER PLAYED PING PONG WITH A VAGINA BEFORE”
So, the strip in Patong beach is just packed full of men and women holding up signs for ping pong shows, you simply can’t miss them because you will most likely walk into about four of them in one minute. We approached one of the guys who was holding up a sign for the show, we told him we were interested, and he said “follow me” then proceeded to take us down one of the side alleys of the strip. I was pretty drunk, but I remember at the time thinking “Oh balls, this would be scary if I was sober right now” From the outside, it was honestly like a scene from Grand Theft Auto Vice City where your about to rob a hooker house. It was a house, a very big American-like house like X-men but of course, on a small scale. We walked in and entered this massive room with a stage with two naked women performing and Drake on blast.
You have to buy a drink, and they cost about £20 for one bottle of Corona but that’s your entrance, show, and drink fee, BUT YOU HAVE TO BUY ONE if not, your gone and especially if you get your phone out. Looking around you have a right mixture from old men to couples of all ages just watching the show with smiles and all. To be honest with you, strip clubs are not my thing, I went to Legs11 once and it just wasn’t my cup of tea, but the free chicken wings were, so that is the only positive I have to say about strip clubs. I don’t know if it’s because they all look miserable but I mean, come on, there is nothing to feel all hot and excited about when you are performing in front of a bunch of 60-year-old men dribbling over you and can’t even “make it rain” on your ass.
But Thai girls, they love it. They genuinely look like they love their job even if it does involve shoving a goldfish up their fanny. When we entered the club, the show seemed to get a little bit more exciting probably because the young lads we were with and me and Jessica were cheering them on. We also, “got involved” with the girls and what I mean by “getting involved” is quite literally getting involved in playing tennis with their vaginas… At one point watching Jessica go head to head with a vagina, You could have told me I was at Wimbledon watching a Tennis match, I would most likely believe you as I was that drunk…Next thing I know I was on all fours on the floor trying to figure out how they shove a Budgie bird up there and a string of razor blades?!! I think the girls were loving our side of the room as they kept trying to get us all to interact with them, how it didn’t end up in a full-blown orgy I will never know.
MEETING THE PING PONG GIRLS
So, with all the drink, I consumed…a girl gotta pee. So, I headed to the bathroom whilst everyone was waiting outside for me and I noticed two of the “Ping Pong” girls in there. They asked me if I enjoyed the show and of course, I asked them the million-dollar question ‘Where the hell do these objects go in your vagina?” of course they said something in Thai and I didn’t have a clue what it means but she made a hand gesture of almost like a vacuum cleaner up the Vag. God knows what that means, but they shook hands with me and walked out of the bathroom. I was on my way out of the club with the others and then I realised “Fuck, I just shook hands with them, and they had their hands up to their vaginas all night”
ISLAND HOPPING: TAKE A PILL, HOLD AND PRAY
So, Jessica and I grabbed a boat to get to some of the Islands in Phuket. We hopped on board a small speedboat with an open deck with seats, when we were about to set off the driver said, “Whoa no one is leaving without taking an anti-sickness tablet” Yes, the Andaman Sea is not full of treasure, it’s full of puke.
We went on the top deck of the boat…what a mistake because we took off and everyone on the top deck was thrown like rag dolls, Jess and I were holding on for dear life and some people, well were just completely out of it…
This was a complete stranger falling asleep on Jess’s shoulder….
DID I DIE AND WAKE UP FAMOUS?!
After an hour on the bumpiest ride of my life, we finally managed to check out a couple of the Islands. We saw Maya Bay and waved to Leonardo DiCaprio, jumped into paddle boats and went through the sea caves of Koh Talu, sunbathed in Koh Bon and went scuba diving! We also went to Khao Phing Kan known as “James Bond Island” now, I have been doing some research on this and still don’t know the reason why we had multiple people coming up to me and Jessica asking for selfies. I was just minding my own business taking a photo of that weirdly shaped rock and I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder, I turned around and it was a group of guys asking if they could have a picture of me. I was so confused but agreed to do it as they seemed really innocent, but then after that, another guy came up to me with his WIFE?! Asking for a photo. I was thinking has something happened back home that I don’t know about. Am I millionaire walking round like I don’t have a bloody clue or are they getting mixed up with someone else? Weirdly enough Jess came over to me and was experiencing the same thing. We were only on the island for an hour, but it was the most bizarre hour of my life. I don’t have a clue what they have done with those photos, I might be on some Thai wife for sale website for all I know, that would explain the weird “Guywithhugedick wants to send you a message” emails I keep getting ever since.
THE ISLAND FULL OF CATS AND BIRDS
Another bizarre Island was Ko Panyi which is amazingly built on stilts! You might recognise this Village if you have watched “Jack Whitehall’s travels with my father” with the floating football pitch which was pretty cool to see. As we were walking around it had like these dingy little areas which we had to question ourselves if we were actually allowed to go down as it was part of people’s houses. Cats were roaming everywhere, never seen so many cats in my life and there were hundreds of these little birds in cages hanging up. They have a school, police station, health center and mosque on that tiny island which is bizarre because people are going about their day and then you just see tourists taking pictures of them, a very bizarre experience, not too sure I would like experience again.
The one thing I will say is Thailand’s strippers are so friendly, they want to include you in the fun and to be honest this one stripper that was dancing, I don’t think she even cared about the money because she just demanded girls to get up and dance with her. I was drunk but I wasn’t “lets dance with my tits out” drunk yet so I was just her little cheerleader on the side but fair play to Jess she got up there, although it kind of reminded me of a constipated hamster on a pole…Sorry, Jess haha but no one cared, it was fun! We got to play snooker with even more randoms, share these buckets that took me back to the sharing jugs in Weatherspoons and we all just let our hair down whatever problems we had back at home they were gone for this night. Even bashing a nail on the head with a hammer was fun? Yes, it’s a drinking game over in Thailand that could but luckily didn’t end up nasty, even the bartenders were getting involved and throwing drinks at us, and some for free.
That night Jess and I got separated from each other. I found myself jumping into a rooftop pool at 2 am in the morning and sharing a kiss with one of the guys who we met on the way to Phuket. Although it maybe wasn’t the best time to get close to someone as I split up with my boyfriend of 7 years and was completely clueless if I was okay to do this sort of thing (me being a stupid girl) I’m glad I did, it could have gone further but it didn’t because I’m just not that girl who has one night stands and moves on so quickly plus I was still thinking about him. I was so lucky that night because I could have found myself in a situation where the lad could have turned around and said “no, you are not leaving and we are going to have sex” but he fully understood I was so confused and hurt by the situation back home. We chilled out, talked and then he helped me get home.
DON’T EAT SALADS
After all the junk food we consumed, I just wanted something nice and refreshing like a salad. We found this lovely little restaurant in the town and although I got my salad, I also got a little something extra as well…The shits. Oh my goodness, I have never run so fast for the toilet in my life, luckily we got back and I was outside, Jess was inside sleeping and I just remember thinking “I do not feel good” and running for the toilet, good lord I think the whole of Thailand came out of me that night. Whatever you do in Thailand, just make sure you don’t eat a salad over there.
It was finally time to say goodbye to Thailand and I remember staring at the sunset in Phuket airport waiting to catch our flight home. I remember thinking I don’t want to go home; I knew what was facing me and I just didn’t want to be an adult and deal with it yet. The grieving process of a relationship ending, a job that I am not fussed about, and really, reality. So many hilarious and amazing memories with my cousin on that holiday, memories that make great stories to tell those who are feeling down and will guarantee to get some giggles. I miss the Thai coffee that gave us the shits, the beautiful and the not so beautiful scenery we would wake up to, the unwelcomed visitors (Lizards) that at the time was terrifying but looking back comedy gold and just living the best life with my best friend Jess. I think Thailand was the start of learning to love myself and I was starting to figure out what I wanted in life, and it will always be a holiday that opened my eyes and finally realising what I want in life. A big thank you to Jess for coming with me, she knew I was down, and she knew I needed it so much and it did help, Thailand I’ll never forget you and your bloody mad ways!
Not the best start to 2020 as I am currently suffering from the flu and then my asthma decided to come back being bitchy and all with me, so I am 99% rotting right now. So what do you do when your ill and feeling sorry for yourself? You get yourself on booking.com and book yourself a getaway, Christmas in Amsterdam here I come! Okay so I got a long time to wait but its something to be excited about as last year I went to Amsterdam for the very first time and fell in love. Real love, the kind of love you would give your last beer battered chip and miss an episode of Love Island for. Sorry lads but my heart belongs to Vegan Junk Food Bar in Amsterdam. Blue unicorn bread, rainbow coloured hot dogs and burgers that look and taste like well, burgers? It is the best vegan food I have ever had and of course, I would book a trip to the Dam just for that baby. Not only is it amazing for food but Amsterdam has a lot to offer, culture, architecture, the people, the art…I could literally go on all day but I thought I would post a photo diary of my trip to Amsterdam last year instead for you all to understand why me and my camera fell in love with this beautiful City.
Please ask away if something has caught your eye and you want to know more! I would 100% recommend Amsterdam it’s a city where you simply can not run out of things to do and is beautiful any time throughout the year. There is still so much that I havent done in Amsterdam so I cant wait to go back and tick them off my to do list!
MY AMSTERDAM PHOTO DIARY
Along the Canals
Amsterdam Canal Central
You’ll find the famous Fault in our Stars bench here.
If you know…you know.
A Swanky stay in The Tyre Hotel
With a cute coffee bar right on our doorstep.
Overload on sugar is essential here in Amsterdam.
Peace & quiet- PLUK Amsterdam
For all you healthy & happy people out there- PLUK Amsterdam
I will be combining my two loves in my life in this blog post: Photography and Birmingham Both have given me so much in my life, Photography gives me excitement and it gives me a platform to express my creativity and it helps people to understand me as a person more. I am a dreamer, I am always dreaming and using my imagination 24/7. Birmingham also gives me a platform to showcase my passion, a community that accepts creativity/dreamers and often the subject in my photographs. Birmingham is full of fantastic creatives, so many undiscovered photographers with never-ending imaginations and talents that can generate instant emotion when looking at their photographs. After the last Best of Birmingham photography post did so well I thought it would be a great idea to carry it on! Showcasing Birmingham/Midlands photographers that are talented and have created amazing imagery of our city, please show these fantastic photographers some love on their social media pages. The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more so its important to credit our creatives as they really do open our eyes to see how bloody beautiful and great our city Birmingham is.
Please respect the copyright, if you would like to use the imagery please contact the photographers via social media pages.
JOSH GATES
A spellbinding photo of the Birmingham wheel using a mirror ball, creativity at its best from the talented Josh Gates
I will be combining my two loves in my life in this blog post: Photography and Birmingham Both have given me so much in my life, Photography gives me excitement and it gives me a platform to express my creativity and it helps people to understand me as a person more. I am a dreamer, I am always dreaming and using my imagination 24/7. Birmingham also gives me a platform to showcase my passion, a community that accepts creativity/dreamers and often the subject in my photographs. Birmingham is full of fantastic creatives, so many undiscovered photographers with never-ending imaginations and talents that can generate instant emotion when looking at their photographs. I want to start a monthly blog post showcasing Birmingham/Midlands photographers that are talented and have created amazing imagery of our city, please show these fantastic photographers some love on their social media pages. The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more so its important to credit our creatives as they really do open our eyes to see how bloody beautiful and great our city Birmingham is.
Please respect the copyright, if you would like to use the imagery please contact the photographers via social media pages.
If you like to be featured in Decembers photography picks make sure you tag your photos #bababouttownfeature
AESHA NISAR
A Spellbinding photograph of the Big Wheel in Birmingham by the talented Aesha Nisar.
The wonderful world of dating now controlled by a variety of online dating apps such as Tinder and Bumble. Gone are the days where couples say “we met on a night out” or at a “friends gathering” because finding someone for whatever purpose you may have is now made pretty easy for us. One flick on an app and a date is set up or if its Tinder a “Wham bam thank you ma’am” is set up. From my experience, the one question I always get is “Have you got the dodgy Birmingham accent?” I am born and raised in Birmingham, of course, I’ve got the accent Bab but now thanks to Peaky Blinders, the accent now appears to many as “sexy” There is more to dating Brummie’s than just the accent and here are a few things in what to expect when you date a Brummie.
WE LOVE OUR CITY
Brummies are very friendly and always up for a laugh, Possibly the friendliest people you will meet on this planet. The conversations I have had on the train, in pubs, and in the toilets with fellow Brummies from not knowing each other to sharing shitty burger van burgers and helping to unzip each other’s dresses down. We have great humour, a great city we call home and we don’t really give a shite what you think of us.
FANCY A BREW BAB?
Now, this is a term you will hear in many Brummie households. Us Brummies love a cuppa now and again, especially with a chip butty. I think my parents drink around 6 cups of tea maybe even more, and any time a guest comes around that’s the first thing they will say. Fancy a brew seems to be the answer to everything, split up with your boyfriend? Time of the month? Brexit is delayed again? One boob is longer than the other? It will be okay come in and have a cuppa!
There’s a brew for every problem.
BRACE YOURSELF FOR THE SNOBS STORIES
RIP snobs, you will be forever in our hearts. Every Brummie has a Snob story, You will hear Snobs a lot when you come to Brum “Do you remember the old Snobs? Pints were £1 and you can never remember how you got thrown out?” We will entertain you with many stories about the “Old Snobs” The story’s, the people and the crappy food that we had after Snobs finished in the little takeaway shop next door-I wish I could remember the name. We will talk about the sticky floor, the lack of light, the trips to hospitals after slipping all over the joint and the whole room going crazy singing to The Killers-Mr Brightside. To many, it was a shithole, but it was our shithole that we absolutely adored.
MEETING UP IN BRUM
There was a time when McDonald’s on the ramp was an alright place to meet but nowadays it is Grand Central (to us Brummies it’s still New Street) or the Bull- just don’t expect us to take a selfie in front of it. For me, It’s Grand Central Station meeting outside Pret a Manger so as I come out of the ticket barriers usually, I can see my date waiting for me then its decision time-Should I stay, or should I go? I wonder if anyone else does this?
FOOTBALL
Maybe refrain from asking the family what football team they support. Its Aston Villa or Birmingham City…choose carefully, a proper Brummie is an Aston Villa supporter…Sorry, not Sorry. This is one of the first questions my dad will ask potential boyfriends. I always give them a warning “Say you support Aston Villa or no one” thankfully my dad hasn’t used the garden hose on anyone yet…
AVOIDING BROAD STREET LIKE THE BLOODY PLAGUE
Now, this may not apply to all Brummies, but for me, I can’t stand the bloody place. On a Saturday night, you will see all kinds of things from legless creatures to sad-looking dildos lying in the street, it’s a very long and wide version of the strip in Malia that is one to avoid on first dates. Dont ever suggest Broad Street as a first date, we wont be impressed unless its a stay in The Hyatt…meaning the 3rd or 4th date, God! who do you think I am?!
MCDONALDS ON THE RAMP AFTER A NIGHT OUT?
it’s just the last stop before home to try and sober ourselves up. It’s the only place in Brum that is open 24 hours and is quite appealing after a sweaty night out in Be at one.
OMG YOU’RE FROM BIRRRRMINGHAAAAAAM, DO YOU WATCH PEAKY BLINDERS?
Don’t try and attempt the accent, we won’t be impressed. We get a lot of stick for our accents but thanks to Peaky Blinders, those days are gone. The Birmingham accent is officially sexy, thank you, Mr Cillian Murphy.
THE BULLRING
Of course, if you have never been to Birmingham before you will be thinking about taking a trip up to the Bullring. Now for me, it’s okay February-September but then come October it gets manic and especially at Christmas, if I was to take a crap on the floor, no one would notice because everyone is in their own little world rushing around like blue arsed flies.
November in Birmingham…AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS.
Its that time again fellow Brummies get ready to get stuck behind peoples backs for half an hour, touched up by random peoples shoulders and even wrestle with yourself as to the reason why you even came. If you’re dating a Brummie at Christmas time, sure enough, you will be dragged to the famous German market. Yes, it very festive, you have loved up couples being all cute and all but to most of us Brummies, it’s a bloody pain in the arse. It goes on for bloody miles now it’s like the river Nile for christ sake and every turn you take theres those great big whopping sausages taking your eye out, do people not know that most of the food/drink from the German Market can be brought for cheaper at your local Lidl?
So, I thought I would introduce you all to my photography business Amy Eliza Photography. I set my business up about a year ago now and I want to give you all a bit of an insight into my journey so far and why I chose to be a photographer.
WHEN DID YOU FIRST START GETTING INTO PHOTOGRAPHY?
I remember around the age of 13, I came across my mom’s video camera and I although the quality was not perfect (dad kept having his thumb over the lens) I thought it was so lovely to watch back, I couldn’t remember singing “Tale as old as time” on the toilet when I was 4 years old but thankfully my mom had footage of it to remind me that I was a funny little thing back then and still am now. From then I became interested in film/photography, I asked for a Canon cyber shot camera then attended college studying Media Production in which I also studied photography, however I hardly attended ( 9am class, I had to get two buses and I just couldn’t be arsed sometimes!) I did attend the one day, we were all sent out to Birmingham City Centre to take photos of the public, I came back developed my pictures and proceeded with the rest of the day. It was thanks to my photography teacher who gave me the wakeup call that I needed and to get my arse into gear, when she saw my photos she decided to give me a bollocking for not attending but then the conversation ended with ” Your photos reminded me of Sally Mann’s work, they are bloody good, what the hell are you doing?” Say no more, I got my arse into gear and started getting out there with my camera.
WHATS THE BEST THING ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY?
Being able to freeze time, look back at moments, and to share with others.
WHATS ARE THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF PHOTOGRAPHY YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE SO FAR?
Highs- I would say the support, Birmingham is a great community to live in as a creative you are supported from every angle in this great city.
Lows– I am a perfectionist, so it does get a bit stressful in the editing process, if I feel it’s not working, I will take myself way, cool off and watch a movie, it usually does the trick and sparks some creativity! Cost of equipment is a pain however its really all about the person behind the camera, you don’t just press the button and take the picture, you make the picture
HOW DID AMY ELIZA PHOTOGRAPHY COME ABOUT?
At the time I was pretty unhappy, and going out with my camera taking photos brought a lot of joy to me, Although I was “in a relationship” I found myself alone a lot of the time, it was only when my relationship at the time was starting to go downhill I decided to organise and set up Amy Eliza Photography. It was new, it was exciting, it was a long time coming and It was a great cover up to keep my mind of the break up. I started advertising free photoshoots for kids & family’s, even though I was offering my services for free, I had it in my mind I wasn’t going to get a lot of response but bloody hell, I was so wrong. My phone kept pinging, email after email and I felt the excitement and the confidence building inside of me. From then the reviews came flooding in, the more photos I posted the more recognition and the more bookings I was getting. It’s a shame because that was a time in my life where I finally felt I was going somewhere in life but then behind the scenes I knew I was going to lose someone I had in my life for nearly 7 years so it’s was a bittersweet time for me.
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR?
BE YOU! plain and simple really.
Passion is essential in this game, the more passion I have for photography, the more I learn, the more I create, and gives me strength to make the impossible, possible.
Networking, networking is essential in photography, communicating with local photographers, businesses and other creatives has really helped my business take off. The more you network, the more you are investing in your business and creating more opportunities for your business.
The more you post, the more people will know your business! Never apologise for shoving it in people’s faces, the world needs to know you are serious and they need to know your name.
It’s not all about the camera. You could have the best camera in the world and still produce rubbish photographs. I have a lot of people asking what equipment do I use? The most valuable equipment I have is my eyes and my creative mind.
WHAT IS THE FUTURE FOR AMY ELIZA PHOTOGRAPHY?
There is still so much to be done with my business. I am currently specialising in Portrait/lifestyle and event photography, I would like to explore a bit more! I would love to combine blogging and photography; travel photography would be an absolute dream, but I really want to focus on taking on photography full time and to influence others to follow their dreams. Too many people worry what other people think these days and shoot down their dreams because of them, haters are your confirmation that you are doing something right.
If you like to know more about my photography, then please ask away! I will be sharing more from my photography business- behind the scenes footage, tutorials and more!
