I must admit that I am pleasantly surprised by my hostel in London. I was somewhat nervous going into this trip wondering how I would handle sleeping and hanging out with a large group of people, especially since I lived in an apartment by myself before this trip. The hostel experience has been great so far. I walked into Palmer’s Lodge Swiss Cottage hostel and almost immediately felt I would like the place. The main lounge is right off the entrance and is one of the coziest common areas I have seen. Couches, loveseats, a few coffee tables, and comfy chairs are placed in about four different sections, with each section forming a square so that the furniture faces each other. A small pool table sits at the back of the room, and a nice LCD television hangs from the wall in the front. Free wi-fi, five computers (free to use) at the front of the common room, and another two computers (also free to use) are situated just outside the common area in the entrance room. Monday night is movie night, so as I was working on a 360 degree panorama Dark Knight was the featured selection. When you bring together a comfy environment, interesting people, and a great movie, it is a formula for success.
There are, of course, things that I need to adjust to when living in this environment. The first is that people are always awake and thus earplugs are essential. No matter what time it is, people are rustling around or talking or in general making noise. When you bring so many people together from so many different places, everyone’s schedule is different. There are the early risers, the late risers, the night owls, the snorers, the heavy dinosaur footsteppers, the excited drunkards, and those that have just arrived from a vastly different time zone. These last unfortunate travelers, of which I count myself as one the day I arrived, don’t know what they should be doing but instead hover in a zombie-like state. Mix these all together and the sum turns out to be a hostel that never sleeps. Earplugs. Are. Required.
I love the bedroom area of this hostel too. My room fits eighteen people, but each bed has a curtain around it, allowing for complete privacy. Each bed has it’s own outlet, meaning I can hop on my laptop and watch a TV show or get some blogging done before bedtime. My bedroom area has a loft and a fireplace. I lucked out being in the loft since that means my bed is only a single bed, and not a bunk bed. I am also in the corner, which means I have a window on each side of me and only face one other bed.
The basement area contains a pub, a restaurant, and laundry area. Need a few drinks? Head down to the pub and meet some interesting fellow travelers. The hostel gives you a 2 pound certificate for your first beer. Guinness on the house, please. Want a quieter atmosphere? Head up to the common area and relax on a nice couch, do a little reading, or do a little internet surfing. Still not quite content? Oh yeah, there is the city of London right outside the door.
All things considered, my hostel experience has gotten off to a great start. I’m sure future posts will have a few horror stories to tell of hostels to come, but for now I am enjoying this one as much as I can.
Very exciting indeed. I have to say that this would be the item that trips me up most but your experience seems to be pretty awesome at Palmer’s. I do like the whole curtain around the bed business.
It was very nice. I think the best thing about hostels is meeting fellow travelers and swapping stories and tips. Advice from somebody who has just been there is the best advice indeed.
Yo Brian
It’s dave your one time dive partner from trawangan “your first sharkdive remember?”.
I’m still at the kedin inn Yo! It’s currently rainning Dogs this afternoon, and not a light rain either, it’s been a constant downpour since I awoke this early morning.
Dammit, I’m jonesing to watch some NFl/NBA action on my p.c. as well.
But I don’t have the slinging setup from my tech buddie going on from backhome.
My techy friend has lots in common with you. He too is sling savy and slings lakers games to his homie in taiwan. And he is a big dave matthews fan and share your same age, aswell as being tech-career oriented like you.
Soon I’m going to pull off a dive trip to amed to dive the WW2 war memorial U.S.S. Liberty and pay my respect to our deceased war 2 veterans.
So knowing that you had done so yourself, my question for you is which dive center would you recommend to dive with? And where would you suggest to stay at while in Amed?
Oh yeah, how was Singapore? N.Y’s eve was utter chaos here in Kuta. Lots of fireworks going off intermittently for 3 days straight and lots of public drunkeness as you could imagine.
I had even witnessed a swedish couple getting robbed by a pickpocketer then mildly beaten up by a mob of the pickpocketers young and aggressive unsavory balinese buddies.
Then some two random tall shirtless swedish guys dressed in apache indian head dress interveined with the robbery and got beaten by the balinese mob as well. Unfortunately the army showed up about 40 seconds too late, and the mob got away I believe.
They had ran like hell and presumeably just blended into the n.y’s eve crowd. Even the swedish guy’s girlfriend who had his hip sack with his wallet and cellphone stolen had received a bloodied nose and shiner, it
was ugly! No exageration, it was both shocking and Ugly!
Nice piece about a typical stay in a hostel. You had encapulated the expierence well!.
Like the excited drunks and other random travelers. But you forgot to mention the off the wall, obscure yankee like me.
I’ll remember to contact you when I make it to the U.K. someday.
I have to go! My english heritage is not very impressive, or any thing to boast of.
Because my english ancestors were peons and debtors.
My last name was taken after the name of the lord of the village
or hamlet that my peasants family members worked for. Although my Mum believed that we have small traces of royalty blood. Probably from those old traditions when the royals would have first birth rites of any newlyed maiden that they selected from their township, Who knows?
I too desire to attain a similar immersion that you had experienced during your semester abroad while there.
It shows that your experience there improved your articulation of the english language and had enhanced your communicaiton skills as well. And I would like to learn more about my peasant ancestry while there.
By learing about my peon heritage, perhaps I’ll learn more about myself?
At age 40, I seek to my improve my own verbal and communication skills.
As you know, there is always room for improvement in any language. And good communication skills are nearly essential for anyone desiring to make progress or to make it in this fast paced world.
When I’m around scholars or members of acadamia types, I feel like a intellectual dwarf!
I truley regret not taking college seriously and dropping out to become a ski bum, although I did complete my general ed.”Big whoppitty-doo eh”.
I suppose this feeling of unaccomplishment is part of my mid life crisis eh, as is my goal to run a
another sub 20 min. 5-k at age 40.this comming late april.
Speaking of goals Bryan, I’ll set the bar for you!
I know that your a fittness runner too, But I dare you
to run a sub 3 hour marathon before age 40!
If you are looking for inspiration, just check out the running career of legendary marathonist Frank Shorter.
His career record will either inspire you, or intimidate you.
Frank’s P.R. for the marathon was 2:10 and his fastest 5-k 12:52. “track I think?”.
Just a couple of his accomplishments other than his other records.
He is also a princeton grad with a business degree and a law degree, plus a
a gold olympian as you probably already knew.
After reading his biography, I feel like a underachieving dwarve Yo!
Well the rain has simmered down enough to grab some lunch.
Please foward me some info on the dive scene in Amed and any other additional info about Thailand that you may had forgotten to mention.
Oh yeah, the High value midrange hotel near Khao san road that I rant and rave about is called the
Rambuttri house inn. I’ll be checking in there 15 nights from now, I can’t wait be
cause it’s better than any holiday inn at 33 usd per night.
Yo Bryan, your a diver now “how does it feel to be a diver?”
Later
Hey Dave!
It’s great to hear from you. I will send you an email at the email address you provided to answer your questions and ask you a few of my own.
–Brian