1593 by TNT Magazine

March 2015 Issue 1591 tntmagazine.com May 2015 Issue 1593 tntmagazine.com

WIN!

AN ANZA TOUR IN C DAY TURKEY DFO OW R TN W LO O!AD

& LOWLA ND FESTIVA S L TICKETS

WHAT’S YOUR SECRET FETISH? Aussie actor Josh Lawson gets kinky

SWISS ALPS IN THE SUMMER The snow has melted but the fun’s here to stay

FROM ARMIDALE TO THE APPRENTICE Mark Wright shows expats how it’s done

BOOBS, BEER & SH*T JUST BRATWURST GOT WEIRD Oktoberfest just This year’s most keeps on giving unusual festivals

P ! I E R E T R D F A R O O R F R E Y DA LIM S HUOM

inge tim uyronpoeth Ea p r d u n o a T – n s a e V r ’s ittu v,en dp dsa-u heepaic d a n r a e s v r li u r u to o g y ailein nsd, gsiv ivpael rtraip stm raobnafeca Go

+ NEW YORK UNDER WEEKENDER MEXICO’S WEST SIDE FESTIVALS £100 SOUTH AMERICA CHEAP SKIING PAMPLONA BULLS A GUIDELOW-SEASON TO ISRAEL BRING IT ON, BRIGHTON

ISSUE 1591/ 1578/ 1593/ £1.95

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EDITORIAL Editor Caroline Garnar EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES 0203 011 1066 SALES/MARKETING/EVENTS Sales Executive Matt Syder PHONE 0207 9890491 EMAIL matt.syder@tntmagazine.com For all general enquiries please call 0207 989 0567 or email sales@tntmagazine.com

FROM THE EDITOR

DESIGN / PRODUCTION Head of design and production Lisa Ferron PHONE 01225 284107 EMAIL lisa.ferron@tntmagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS / DISTRIBUTION Manager Caroline Penn PHONE 01603 559004 EMAIL caroline.penn@tntmagazine.com ACCOUNTS Emma Overton EMAIL emma.overton@tntmagazine.com STARTRACK MEDIA LTD Directors Kevin Ellis, Ken Hurst Stuart Bidgood PUBLISHER Startrack Media Limited DISTRIBUTION Emblem Direct Ltd PRINTED BY Polestar NEWS AAP PICTURES Getty Images, TNT Images, Thinkstock and iStock TNT Magazine Star Track Media Ltd 3rd Floor St. Vedast House St. Vedast Street Norwich NR1 1BT tntmagazine.com

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All thieves of TNT bins will be prosecuted. Editor’s image by photsolutions.me Cover image, top right, courtesy of Samoan Tourism

I’ll admit it: I don’t know everything. I know, I know; it’s hard to believe. But sometimes, someone comes along and imparts a piece of information to me and I cry, ‘Why the bloody hell didn’t I ever think of that?’ On this occasion, it was actually one of our readers who bestowed her wisdom upon me. She had come along to earn a quick buck helping out at the TNT/STA Travel Show and she told me how every summer she would volunteer with a tour company so she got to travel with them for free. Bloody genius. So simple, and yet – now I know about it – it seems so obvious. Just help out with putting tents up and down, cooking, admin, repping, even helping to sell tours, and in way of a salary, you will go on the trip for free. Like I said, bloody genius. For more information, turn to page 16. If you’ve already spent your hard-earned savings on your travel for 2015, then save cash on your UK adventures instead. On page 38 we look at five brilliant UK festivals that come in at less than £100 for a weekend ticket including accommodation. Then on page 42 we see why Brighton is definitely worth at least a weekend escape, and it’s less than an hour away by train. If you’re a last-minute kind of person (or, indeed, a plan-ahead one), you’re in luck as we’re hosting another TNT Travel Show on June 13 (eventbrite.co.uk), so you can still bag some bargains for the summer (or get ahead for winter). For inspiration, turn to page 52 to find out why you should trade the beach for a mountain by spending the season in the Swiss Alps; on page 58 we offer a city break itinerary for Istanbul; page 62 is the place to look if you would like to explore fascinating Israel, or page 66 if you fancy the ultimate adventure across South America. At the end of the day, no matter how much you scrimp and save, remember that money can’t buy you happiness – unless you spend it on travelling.

caroline.garnar@tntmagazine.com P.S. Don’t be so busy booking travel you forget to read my interview with Australian actor Josh Lawson about his directorial debut. Delving into the world of kink, if your fetish is having your funny bone tickled, I think you’ll find his film orgasmic (p22).

Magic Morocco

Edinburgh Fringe

African safaris

TNT Magazine is printed on paper from sustainable forests. There is no business connection between the proprietors of this magazine and TNT Ltd, the worldwide transportation group. Copyright here and abroad of all original materials is held by TNT Magazine. Reproduction in whole or part is forbidden, except with permission of the publishers. Registered as a newspaper at the Post Office.

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THIS MONTH LONDON DIARY 8 LONDON INSIDER

TNT NEWS

FOOD 14 DRINK 15 HOLIDAY FOR FREE! 16 JOSH LAWSON 22 CHATROOM

LOCAL SPORT REPORT

A NATURAL DISASTER

FREE DOWNLOAD FROM MAY 27–31 This book discloses the true reason why natural calamities happen. At this very critical turning point, the world is in unstable and uncertain situation. Actually, we are faced with various crisis, such as economic problems, environmental destructions, religious and racial conflicts and nuclear wars. To solve these problems fundamentally, we need to know and understand what we truly are and why we are here now on earth. The reader will find the answers in this book.

INSPIRATIONAL eBook

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FOR THE NEW ERA Regular price £2.36 is lowered to the special price £0.00! Don't miss this opportunity!

TRAVEL TRAVEL NEWS 36 TOP 5: UK FESTIVALS 38

FEST GUIDE: OKTOBERFEST 48

ON THE COVER HOLIDAY FOR FREE!

EURO TRIP: SWISS ALPS 52

Enjoy the trips of a lifetime and pay nada

WEEKENDER: ISTANBUL

SECRET FETISH?

LATE DEALS 60 HOTSHOTS 61 62

BIG TRIP: SOUTH AMERICA

TRAVEL TIPS

CAREERS: PUB WORK

UK FESTIVALS UNDER £100 38 Field fests that don’t cost the earth

BRING IT ON BRIGHTON

Oktoberfest just keeps on giving

The snow’s gone but the fun’s here to stay

A GUIDE TO ISRAEL

LIVING: TRAVEL SAVING TIPS 78 CLASSIFIEDS 81

SOUTH AMERICA

DESPERATELY SEEKING 82 TNTMAGAZINE.COM

BOOBS, BEER, BRATWURST 48

From the gay scene to Galilee

The British seaside and its finest

SWISS ALPS IN SUMMER

LIFESTYLE

Aussie actor Josh Lawson gets kinky

Get sizzling in this sexy Latino continent

Jocelyn Low

A GUIDE TO: ISRAEL

La Tomatina

UK TRIP: BRIGHTON 42

LS_200x283_TNTmag_Layout 1 22/04/2015 14:43 Page 1

Peter Schaufuss’ Olivier & Evening Standard Award winning production of August Bournonville’s Ballet

Performed by

AUSTRALIA’S Queensland Ballet Presented by PSB ApS and PMB Presentations

★★★★★

‘IRRESISTIBLE... the real meaning of the magic of the theatre DON’T MISS IT’ Jeffery Taylor · Sunday Express - London

★★★★★ ‘STARTLING AND VIBRANT’ Denise Richardson Dance Australia

‘A gem richly detailed precise and authentic...MAGIC’ Olivia Stewart The Courier-Mail Brisbane

Schaufuss

P E T E R BALLET APS UK2

The O The Gua bserver and ‘Rising S rdian - Londo n tar of

Dance 2 ‘Luke S 015’ c h a ufuss sh a beaco o n e n ...dancin over the produ like ction g with s p strength ectacular ’ Peter Pin Whispers ne Stage Australia

Music: Herman von Løvenskjold Performed with a live orchestra Conductor: Andrew Mogrelia

Official media partner of the Queensland Ballet London Season

Suppor ted by the Australian Government, Queensland Government and BG Group.

• P R OD U C T ION S

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR LI CUNXIN

TUESDAY 4 - SATURDAY 8 AUGUST LONDON COLISEUM eno.org 020 7845 9300

LONDONDIARY

@tntmagazine

THIS MONTH’S TOP PICKS BREAKIN’ CONVENTION May 1-4 Hip-hop artists from around the world are coming together for this celebration of hip-hop dance culture. See live DJs, graffiti, workshops, performances and after-parties to end your night – or start your morning.

£5+

Various times Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Rosebery Avenue, EC1R 4TN Camden Town proudcamden.com

HOT TUB CINEMA May 1-12 What’s better than having a few drinks, watching good movies, and kicking back with great friends? Doing exactly that, but in a hot tub. Grab some tickets to London’s most bizarre open air cinema, where your biggest discomfort will be your clothes. £20+

6.30pm Former Shoreditch Underground Station, Pedley Station, E1 6SE Aldgate East hottubcinema.com

THIS MONTH’S MUST-DO SUNDAY IN THE APARTMENT May 17 Join hosts Nick Hardcastle and Dan Fletcher in a showcase of Australian talent. See this partcabaret, part-chat show introduction of some of Australia’s most talented established and emerging artists for an entertaining afternoon show ‘with a twist’. After taking in the show, head to Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen for a special Aussie barbecue (£8.50 adv, hoxtonsquarebar.com)

£25

Someone pull his pants down: An act from last month’s Aussie SITA

2pm

12 Palace Street, SW1E 5JA

MALAYSIA KITCHEN LONDON WONDERGROUND SPRING MARKET May 2-3

May 7-27

THE URBAN CYCLE SHOW 2015 May 8-10

FREE See chefs from all over the UK come together to showcase the very best in Malaysian cuisine. Enjoy cooking demonstrations, meet British and Malaysian chefs, and watch traditional music performances and dances, all over a steaming plate of tasty beef rendang.

VAR The London Wonderground Spiegeltent celebrates its highly anticipated return this May with an exciting line-up of new and familiar faces. Be enticed with its fairground rides, circus shows, live music, cabaret, and its incredible fringe theatre.

From 10am Riverside Walkway, Southbank Waterloo malaysiakitchen.co.uk

Various times Jubilee Gardens, South Bank Waterloo londonwonderground.co.uk

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£10+ This cycling festival

offers something for everyone, whether you’re a novice or an advanced cyclist. There are cycling products for sale, a test track, pro-rider talks and more, all with live music, bars, DJs and street food for a festival vibe. Varies The Sorting Office, 21-31 New Oxford Street, WC1A 1AP Holborn spinldn.com

Victoria

stjamestheatre.co.uk

THE DOLLY SHOW May 9 £10+ Kelly O’Brien takes on

the spirit of Dolly Parton in this fun-loving and silly tribute show. Warble along to beloved favourites like ‘Jolene’, ‘Working 9-5’, and ‘I Will Always Love You’, and afterwards use your ticket to receive entry into Club De Fromage for some (not very) serious after-partying. 7.30pm 02 Academy2, Islington, N1 North Greenwich oldSchoolindie.com

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PRESENTS

THE GRISWOLDS £1.50

FRIDAY DRINKS*

10PM - 11.30PM

BECK’S BOTTLES ARCHERS & MIXER

PLUS

The Penelopes (DJ Set) Friday 22 May / 10pm - 4am

Tickets £5 adv / koko.uk.com / 0844 847 2258 *Valid from 8 May - 22 May / Strictly Over 18s only

KOKOLONDON

@KOKOLONDON

LONDON BURLESQUE FESTIVAL May 15-31

The greatest source of burlesque entertainment you’re likely to find anywhere in the world, the London Burlesque Festival has it all. The festival also includes a big Burlesque Day Out at Conway Hall; a day including a vintage market, plenty of music, and plenty more cocktails. If you crave suspenders, stockings, tassels, whips, glitter, lace, and all that is red-lipped, perky and lavish, this is where you ought to be. FREE

Various locations

londonburlesquefest.com

RUN HACKNEY May 10 £25 One of the newest,

and most favoured, half marathons in the country is returning for its second year. Race, walk, or dance your way past Hackney Empire, Broadway Market, London Fields, and Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. And why not raise money for charity while you’re at it! Times vary ExCeL London, Royal Victoria Dock, E16 1XL Canning Town thelondonbikeshow.co.uk

THAMES PATH MIGRATION May 22-26 The first of its kind, this ambitious 187-mile march from London to Gloucester spans five days and is raising money for work towards saving the Big Five in Africa. Grab your animal onesies and embark on either the five-day migration or one of the single-day stretches. FREE

Sets off 10.30am Starts from Thames Barrier Putney Bridge africachampions.webs.com

WIN TO WIN VIP TICKETS

THE GRISWOLDS LIVE AT KOKO

KOKO and TNT are giving you the chance to win VIP tickets for you and 3 friends to see THE GRISWOLDS headline Club NME on Friday 22 May. Sydney four piece The Griswolds are making a splash with their catchy, Indie-Pop sound. Their debut single “Beware The Dog” charted at #28 in the Triple J Hottest 100 list with over six million worldwide streams, and their debut album “Be Impressive” received the praise of Vice’s Noisey and Paste magazine. The lucky winner and their group will get tickets to the show, priority entrance, access to a VIP area plus a free drink each.

KOKO.uk.com

HOW TO ENTER

Go to tntmagazine.com/competitions. See webpage for terms and conditions. Winners will be selected at random.

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He’s back: See Damian Lewis in American Buffalo

See Aboriginal art at the British Museum

COMEDY NIGHTS

EXHIBITIONS

THEATRE

SPECTACULAR SPECTRUM OF NOW MAY 13 / 7.30PM / £3+ This unique comedy night is constantly changing and this May showcases comedy shorts, live acts, and musical merriment.

INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA: ENDURING CIVILIZATION UNTIL AUGUST 2 / £10 Learn about the culture of Indigenous Australians dating back 60,000 years at the first major exhibition in London.

GOLEM UNTIL MAY 22 / £20-£45 Ingenious exploration of what happens when a manmade creation gets out of control in a quirky mix of animation, music and live performance.

The Star of Kings 126 York Way, Kings Cross, N1 OAX King’s Cross

starofkings.co.uk

British Museum

Whitehall, SW1A 2DY

Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3DG Holborn

britishmuseum.org

CHANNEL 4’S COMEDY GALA MAY 15 / 7.30PM / £40+ Join Michael McIntyre, Alan Carr, Jack Dee, Jonathan Ross, Jason Byrne, and many more of your comedic favourites as they light up the stage of the O2 for Great Ormond St Hospital.

BENEATH THE SURFACE FROM MAY 21 / £6 These 200 rarely displayed works from the V&A Museum take inspiration from the themes of water and London, dating back to the 1850s.

The O2 Arena

Somerset House

North Greenwich

channel4.com/

programmes/channel-4s-comedy-gala

Strand, WC2R 1LA

Trafalgar Studios Charing Cross

19-27.co.uk

AMERICAN BUFFALO UNTIL JUNE 27 / £20-£67.50 After a six-year absence, Homeland’s Damian Lewis returns to the stage as a tough-talking small-time crook in this taut 1975 three-hander. Wyndhams Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DA

Covent Garden

somersethouse.org.uk

Square

Leicester

americanbuffalotheplay.com

DYLAN MORAN – OFF THE HOOK MAY 27-30 / 7PM / £25 Our favourite surly Irish Comic is back in London with this four-day bender. He’s also appearing at the Eventim Apollo.

THE LINE FROM MAY 23 / FREE This public art project unveils a trail of worldclass sculptures linking the O2 to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. Perfect for a sunny day.

THE AUDIENCE UNTIL JULY 25 / £20-£62.50 Kristin Scott Thomas plays the Queen in Peter Morgan’s updated re-imagining of 60 years of private meetings between Her Majesty and the dozen Prime Ministers who have served her.

The Forum

See website for line map

Apollo

9-17 Highgate Rd, NW5 1JY

Kentish Town

ticketmaster.co.uk

TNTMAGAZINE.COM

From North Greenwich to Pudding Mill Lane

Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 7ES

The-line.org

Piccadilly Circus

theaudienceplay.com

Photos: Supplied, iWikkicommoms, Stock

Alan Carr: We love this goofy gay. See him at the Channel 4 Comedy Gala

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CLUB NIGHTS

GIGS

ADRIATIC ODYSSEY MAY 2 / 5.30PM / £15+ As a way of saying goodbye to the final year of the Garden Festival in Croatia, this boat party on the Thames is the last chance to capture some of the festival’s magic. With a Hackney after-party too, this promises to be one memorable send-off.

BELLE & SEBASTIAN MAY 11-12 / 7PM / £28+

Tower Pier Tower Hill

Lower Thames Street, EC3N 4DT residentadvisor.net

WATCH THIS

The Scottish indie musos are back in London on tour for their five-year anticipated album Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. Their usually mellow sound has been invigorated with upbeat tracks. Central Hall Westminster Storey’s Gate, SW1H 9NH Westminster ticketmaster.co.uk

GYPSY

The Griswolds and their sunglasses are coming to London SICK CHRIPSE ALL-DAYER

HEKZ & ANUBIS

MAY 3 / 5PM / £5+ Kick off the night with a rooftop silent disco, Caribbean BBQ, beer pong, and alcoholic ice pops, before all three floors of Queen of Hoxton get lit up with sets by DJ Q, Channel One Sound System, and many more supporting acts at this 10-hour dance party.

MAY 16 / 7PM / £20 Get your heads a-bangin’ as Aussie prog rockers Anubis team up with home-grown risers HeKz for one UK show on their ‘hitch hike across Europe’.

Queen of Hoxton 1 Curtain Road, EC2A 3JX queenofhoxton.com

Old Street

KLOCKWORKS MAY 3 / 6PM / £15+ Strap in to your comfiest shoes as Ben Klock, DVS1 and Trevino come together to celebrate the bank holiday long weekend with a 12-hour dance party. Village Underground 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ High Street

The Dome 2A Dartmouth Park Hill, NW5 1HL Tufnell Park dometufnellpark.co.uk

THE GRISWOLDS MAY 19 / 7PM / Free Bringing a little Aussie sunshine to our shores this spring, The Griswolds are performing their current Album Be Impressive, and they excel at doing just that with their energetic tracks. Also playing Koko May 22 (see p9). The Stillery 18 Kentish Town Rd, NW1 8NX Camden Town

wearethegriswolds.com

Shoreditch

villageunderground.co.uk

ALL NIGHT LONG AT VILLAGE UNDERGROUND MAY 29 / 10PM / £10+ DJs Job Jobse, DJ Tennis and B2B, will be pulling an all-nighter with this candle-lit dance party, bringing you the best of their international sets. Village Underground 54 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3PQ Shoreditch High Street villageunderground.co.uk

STICKY FINGERS MAY 24 / 8PM / £12 Performing sell-out shows in their home of Australia, Sticky fingers are on their first major tour in support of their new album Land of Pleasure. Catch the intimate jam of this genredefying band before you watch them blow up. The Forum

She may be short in stature, but Imelda Staunton is a force to be reckoned with. She’s a dynamic powerhouse as Momma Rose, the mother of all stage mothers, in Jonathan Kent’s assured production of this 1959 musical inspired by her daughter’s memoirs. With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim’s witty lyrics, it follows the fortunes of Momma Rose and her children, Louise and sister June, as she drags them across America in the dying days of vaudeville. It’s a sometimes comic but cautionary tale of blinkered determination to make June and Louise into stars at any cost. From lying about their ages (the girls were still playing kids well into their teens) to stomping on stage midact to sort out scenery and proffer advice, this thrice-married mother will stop at nothing to see her offspring achieve the stardom she once wanted for herself. Peter Davison provides genial support as devoted agent and would-be husband no.4, and Lara Pulver’s Louise emerges into the limelight of burlesque when she finds fame as the stripper Gypsy Rose Lee. But it’s Staunton’s journey from single-minded resolve to lost superfluity which really makes this musical shine.

9-17 Highgate Road, Kentish Town, NW5 1JY

By Louise Kingsley

Kentish Town/Tufnell Park

£19.50-69.50

gypsythemusical.uk

Theforumlondon.com

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LONDONINSIDER TRYTHIS

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Agent November challenge What did I get up to this weekend? Oh I just saved London from a nuclear explosion. It was nothing. Actually that’s a lie. It was bloody tricky. Starting in a pub outside Euston Station, we said the secret code to the barman and our mission began. Led to a table, we found walkie talkies and trilbies for each team member. I was a bit worried about looking like a prat roaming around London on a ‘top secret mission’, but as soon as I put my trilby on I didn’t care what people thought; I was suddenly a top agent, here to rescue London from a madman who wanted to blow up the city. Anyone who got in my way would get one serious karate chop. We read the first clues, leading us to find various boxes of evidence around the pub, but all with locks needing keys or codes. To help us, Agent November met us at the pub and explained our mission. He then led us to the area outside where we had to solve the puzzles, riddles and clues to disarm the nuclear device. This was another thing that prevented me from feeling like a prat – it was contained within a small city park, and everyone’s used to seeing people run around a park being a bit weird. Tearing around solving clues, high fiving, laughing, screaming; we all felt like big kids again. And when we

deactivated the bomb with just 41 seconds left on the clock, I felt like James Bond was my bitch. Especially because the challenge only has a 60% success rate. Yeah, we nailed it. I can genuinely say this is one of the most fun things I have ever done in London. It may not be first date material, but this is the perfect date to meet some of his or her friends for the first time (team sizes are from three to six). Although don’t go having a tantrum if you don’t manage it. After all only 60% of teams de-activate the bomb. Did I already mention that? And that we nailed it? Just checking... good luck! By Caroline Garnar £78 per team or £84 on weekends.

agentnovember.co.uk

MYLONDON When I want to chill out I... like to enjoy a glass of wine, take a yoga class or cook for friends and family. The most interesting person I’ve met in London is... Steve Edge. A true Londoner, a complete mad man, a genius, a prophet and someone who has the biggest heart…a real inspiration (see steve-edge.com). My favourite spot to take visitors is... outside Harrods on a nice sunny day during July and August every year. Seeing the parade of ‘blinged and pimped’ illegally parked cars that have been flown over by their owners from the Middle East is a truly ridiculously wonderful spectacle!

My favourite spot in London is... everywhere riding my motorcycle – a Honda Goldwing. My perfect weekend in London would be... dinner somewhere romantic with someone special Friday night, followed by a lazy morning in bed with the papers. An afternoon yoga class with Emily Reed followed by a bit of retail therapy (Rick Owens when I’m feeling flush). Then having friends around for dinner Saturday night with another lazy Sunday morning followed by a roast pub lunch at the Butchers Hook on Fulham Road. Then take in some TV or snooze on the sofa to see out the rest the day. What I love most about London is... the energy that it feeds me everyday, and always waking up excited for another day’s dose of challenges. syb.co.uk

My favourite place for dinner is... Bob Bob Ricard in Soho – they have created an art deco restaurant of wonderful food and decadence that doesn’t leave you with an empty wallet. When you’re hungover in London you can’t beat... a breakfast at the ‘Chelsea Bun’ on Limerston Street SW10.

SIMON MITCHELL ARCHITECT & FOUNDER OF SYBARITE ARCHITECTS 12

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MYLONDON

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SKOL! ABBOTT GULPS DOWN BEER IN SIX SECONDS AT SYDNEY PUB Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has quashed his reputation as a shandy drinker by quaffing a beer in six seconds in front of cheering onlookers. Abbott was egged on by chants of ‘Skol! Skol!’ as he necked the schooner – which holds about three quarters of a pint – before a delighted audience of university footballers at the Royal Oak Hotel, in Sydney. Abbott was greeted by the Aussie rules footballers from the University of Technology when he visited the pub on a Saturday night in April. He accepted their invitation to have a drink with them – and made short work of his beer as he guzzled it down in next to no time. Abbott’s macho stunt has left him open to accusations of hypocrisy after he criticised binge drinking only last year. “Like most Australians I enjoy a drink on social occasions,” he said in January 2014. “However, as a father and as a citizen, I’m appalled by the violent binge-drinking culture that now seems so prevalent, especially at ‘hot spots’ in our big cities.” But Abbott’s beer-swilling feat is likely to restore his reputation in some quarters after he was mercilessly ridiculed during the 2010 election campaign for ordering a ‘shandy lite’ while his thenopponent Julia Gillard opted for a full strength ale. Either way, Abbott still has a long way to go to match the legendary drinking feats of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, who is credited with setting a world record by knocking back two-anda-half pints in 11 seconds.

SWELLING DEMAND: AUSSIE SCIENTISTS DESIGN NEW COMFY CONDOM Australian scientists are developing a new generation of self-lubricating condoms which could make protected sex more pleasurable than a barebacked bonk. The team from the University of Wollongong have been experimenting with hydrogel materials, which can be made to feel and act like human tissue. The new range of biodegradable condoms will have a range of other benefits over traditional latex condoms, including self-lubrication and the ability to deliver small doses of drugs such as Viagra. They’ll also be capable of conducting electricity too – if that’s your bag. The aim of the project is to make safe sex more appealing by removing the stigma currently attached to condom use. Many lovers are adamant that traditional latex sheaths result in decreased pleasure – the common view being that sex when a chap is wearing a condom is about as much fun as eating a sweet with the wrapper on. The New South Wales-based team received one of 52 grants on offer from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which called on scientists to overcome the fact that couples simply don’t like wrapping the rod. It offered initial funding of $100,000 per project for the design of a new, stigmafree condom that could “lead to substantial benefits for global health, both in terms of reducing the incidence of unplanned pregnancies and in prevention of infection with HIV or other STIs.” Materials scientist Robert Gorkin, who heads up the Aussie team, said the new design could potentially encourage more couples to cover the stump before they hump. He told Science Alert: “If you make them so pleasurable that people can’t wait to put them on, then more people will use them, and we can hopefully stop the spread of disease. “It’s as simple as that.”

TNTNEWS RYANAIR STEWARD PUT PASSENGER’S LOST CAMERA FOR SALE ON EBAY Ryanair have sacked a rogue steward who found a passenger’s expensive camera left behind on his seat – and then tried to flog it on Ebay. Flight attendant Fernando Miguel Andrade Viseu, 34, swiped the £499 Nikon camera after primary school teacher Aaron Galloway left it behind as he landed in Prague on a half-term city break. When a despondent Aaron returned home to Brighton three days later he went on Ebay in search of a replacement – and was astonished to see his camera for sale with just 33 minutes left of the auction. He messaged Viseu, who confessed to the theft and admitted he was a Ryanair flight attendant. Police subsequently raided Viseu’s home near Stansted, and he was charged with stealing the camera from Aaron, plus a Kindle from an unknown owner. He admitted the offences when he appeared before Chelmsford magistrates, who ordered him to do 100 hours’ unpaid community work. He was also ordered to attend a drug rehabilitation programme and pay £145 costs. “When I saw it on Ebay I couldn’t believe it,” said Aaron, quoted in The Mirror. “I was angry with Ryanair to be honest. How can they not notice someone just taking things off the seats? He had deleted everything from the camera – photos of Christmas, of a family member who had passed away and my graduation – all wiped. I’d been looking forward to taking lots of photos on my holiday and that was just ruined.” Ryanair have confirmed that Viseu no longer works for the budget airline. Meanwhile, best check you have all your personal belongings and effects before leaving the aircraft, folks...

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Images: iStock. Words: Trevor Burton and Kaye Holland

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SPRING-TIME IS IN THE AIR

BASEMENT SATE

It’s rabbit season and Basement Sate’s sexy cocktail, Jessica Rabbit, will deliver a hop to your step, or perhaps more of a stumble. With gin, golden syrup, elderflower, and carrot juice, you’re almost being healthy... until you let loose on the Kinder Surprise from the accompanying dessert menu. Brownie with milk chocolate and whipped cream, caramelised hazelnuts, praline foam, and caramelia pearls... yes please. basementsate.com

REVEREND JW SIMPSON Here, spring brings with it a palette of new flavours, and they’re all boozy. With an expertly designed spring cocktail menu, Reverend JW Simpson will make you a born-again believer in the Tahiki Punch. A blend of rums, pineapple sherbet, fresh lime, bitters and palm sugar syrup, and topped with kaffir lime leaf foam, it will have you on your back with your feet up and imagining the sun on your face. Before you’re politely asked to leave the venue (not really, we’re sure). revjwsimpson.com

Photos: supplied. Words: Mariah Mathews

69 COLEBROOKE ROW With a new menu of both food and cocktails, spring brings with it a palette of all that’s sweet, warm, and fruity. Two favourites from the drink section include the Smoky Red Amber – smoked roobius tea and honey liqueur topped with champagne – and Death in Venice, which is Campari with grapefruit bitters, topped with prosecco and an orange twist.

MANHATTAN GRILL Top steaks in Canary Wharf for city slickers or those looking to pimp themselves out

There are times in life you simply have to eat a steak. These times are breakfast, lunch and dinner, every day. I wish. The truth is, to get a good piece of steak, you’ve got to wait until pay day or until some sugar daddy or mumma wants to get you into bed. But when it happens, it’s so worth it. A great place to head for said precious slice of steak is Manhattan Grill in Canary Wharf. The head chef has cooked for Barak Obama and the Dali Lama, so I figured he could proudly add TNT to that list. Stepping inside the New York-style restaurant, cream leather chairs, dark woods and an open kitchen look out through floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the water and sparkling glass skyscrapers. The brilliant staff made us feel settled and well looked after within moments of walking through the door – yep, we were in for a treat... THE GRUB Seeing as you’re about to fill up on meat, the starters mainly consist of seafood, so I opted for the popular seared scallops with butternut squash purée and pancetta. The flavour was fab, although mine could have done with a bit longer on the stove to eliminate the vague sliminess often risked with seafood. For the main affair, I usually always order fillet steak, so this time my date and I decided to mix and match a T-bone and rib-eye, with a few dips and sides of chips and mash. The rib-eye was juicy and flavoursome, while the sirloin on the T-bone had a real beefy taste, more akin to a burger. The fillet was still my favourite: perfectly pink and succulent, it melted in the mouth. Teamed with my usuals of mash and peppercorn sauce, some might say I’m boring, but I call it loyal. BEHIND THE BAR: We enjoyed an impromtu wine tasting, where we sampled reds from light to full bodied – compared to the lightness of the fillet to the richness of a rib-eye. We decided on the drinkable Pinot Noir to start, opting for a spicy and peppery Chateau D’Aussieres to accompany the steak. Fancy. BILL PLEASE: Not cheap, naturally, but not over the top either. Starters from £6.50, steaks from £24, other mains from £8, sides from £4. VERDICT: Find yourself a sugar mumma/daddy – just lie back and think of steak. THE SCENE

69colebrookerow.com 22 Herstmere Road, Canary Wharf, E14 4ED

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THE COCKTAIL TRADING CO cash saVers

how You spEnd iT

A new speakeasy off Oxford Street so secret it keeps the tourists at bay

keiSha herBert, 24

Dreams come brew

It’s a little tricky to find this gem of a bar (it is a speakeasy after all, We all know that JoB Market researcher but here’s a clue: it’s in the basement of 22 Great Marlborough Street), but the pounding headache from FroM Leeds beauty of The Cocktail Trading Co is its intimacy. There are only about 10Bethnal tables, Green too much cheap bubbly LiveS sothe if you use your imagination, you could easily be in a secret bar at the height night before. Well ofthis prohibition. an incongruous but enjoyable twist, on Wednesdays pianist year yourFor dream of How do you budget? Jonathan genteelly works his way through some ’90s classics. As formonthly the waking Carr up hangover-free After expenses and can become a reality with adding a bit decor, it’s gloriously unpretentious. Old gramophone horns have been used as to my savings, 50%shades off a and stellar bottle I trythe to walls. set myself a weekly light Cheers-esque caricatures of film and music stars line of champagne. amount. It can be Nothing fancy, butUsually there’s nothing wrong with that. Co-owner Ollyspending ‘Go for OJ’ costingknows £29.75, difficult some weeks Brading hisHeidsieck stuff, and the vibe here is chatty, friendly and fun. Afterwhen getting Top is £15 a pop at of prosecco each, Olly made sure we worked are busier than others, but usBlue in the mood with a glass our way Asda. Or you can opt for a I always try to go with the through as much of the cocktail menu as possible.... bottle of ‘I heart Prosecco’ cheapest options. BEHIND THE BAR The Tu-Whit-Tu-Whoo-Woo is a peppery, peachy concoction made for £9.99 from Budgens, with Stoli, sage, peach,&cranberry syrup and, my favourite, prosecco. Tesco.com, Rhythm DoUrn-Aged you have any tips for Corpse Reviver No.2 comes in a tobacco tin filled with grass, and two ghoulish Booze or Londis. saving money in London? zombie hands strategically placed at either corner. It’s made with Egyptian I try to take my own lunch a Fighting chance intostrong, work but embalming gin and fortified honey wine, but be careful – it’s mighty so I don’t always The origins the they could raise the dead... manage that. A Taste Card there’s a goodof chance term ‘Boxing Day’from are £8.50 to £9.50; bespoke drink prices may vary. BILL PLEASE: Cocktails undecided, but we all VERDICT: A lively slice of boozy heaven away from all the tourists who lurk nearby. know it’s due to the Perfect for a post-shopping tipple. THE SCENE

snap it up Do some celeb stalking at super-star hangout Gilgamesh in Camden. The famous restaurant is offering 50% off its £55 set menu through December. Just try not to tussle with the 3 OF THEpaps BEST professional outside, waiting for a star spot. See lastminute.com DOUGHNUTS

Last big blow-out? I went to a second-hand clothes fair last month. Instead of leaving with a few cheap bargains, I ended up spending a lot more money than I imagined! I spent the last week of that month on a very small budget. What non-essential items do you spend money on? Each month I get something new to refresh my wardrobe. And if there’s a special occasion, that’s another excuse to hit the shops.

how ThEY spEnd iT Oxford Circus

thecocktailtradingco.co.uk

RINKOFFS Croissant pastry fried like a doughnut is a great example of humankind being a superior species. Crodoughs, as Rinkoffs calls them, come in a delectable range of flavours, such as Oreo Cheesecake, S’more, and Toffee Apple Crumble. rinkoffbakery.co.uk Beckham the big spender

Spend it like Beckham

You know when you buy a fancy new toy and don’t know where to keep it? David Beckham faced this conundrum when he bought a Miami football team for £16 million but couldn’t find a stadium for them. So he’s building one...

❚ At least Beckham has earned his ridiculous fortune honestly – his old team, Manchester United, BREAD AHEAD are the most valuable sports We already this place club in theliked world, clocking thanks to its pun-tastic name, in at £1.4 billion. and when we bit into its honeycomb doughnut to find ❚ Nothing can get in the way of business for J-Locream, and exthick salted caramel husband Anthony. like quicklyMarc turned to love.The divorced still co-own Also try itspair sugar doughnut the Miami Dolphins. with blackberry jam. Looks like a sports team is for life, breadahead.com not just for Christmas.

Do more Spend less

❚ Basketball team Chicago Sky never have a problem finding someone to sing the national anthem given YOU DOUGHNUT that former Destiny’s Child These artisan bite-sized member, Michelle Williams, doughnuts are lovingly owns a share of the club. handmade and tossed in sugar and cinnamon. ❚ Former basketballChoose star Magic Johnson was part of from filled bites, or ones that a £1.2billion to buy the you can lather deal up yourself, bankrupt LAwith Dodgers. and embellish nuts, That’s a hefty price for team with marshmallows, anda100s and no money. Sounds like he 1000s. youdoughnut.co.uk may have missed a trick.

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Photos: supplied and Getty. Words: Rachael Getzels

punches that are thrown 22 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7HU as eager shoppers try to get the best deals on the first day of major nationwide sales. Oxford Street will be prime territory with up to 70% off all high street brands. Get ready to rumble.

is really good for getting discounts at restaurants.

Have you been crying into your Cornflakes every morning because you can’t afford to go away this summer? Then cry no more, as you can get your accommodation, meals and more for free, or at one heck of a discount, by volunteering your services (no, not those ones) to tour companies. From helping out at festivals to spreading the word back home to working as a guide, you’ll be joining in all the fun and feeling all the more smug inside as you know everyone else will have empty bank accounts to go home to, while yours, well it will still be empty too, but what’s new? Most tour companies are open to volunteers, but we’ve rounded up a few here to show you the unique opportunities that are out there so you can find something that suits you and your skill set. Of course summer is just around the 16

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corner, so if you’re interested, get in touch ASAP. Or start working on those tent-erecting skills for next year.

BEST FOR… FREE FESTIVALS We all know tour guides – many intimately, ahem – but what about those other guys who spring up from behind the scenes? They’re the magical pixies who put up your tents, and take them down again, cook your food, check you in and generally help everything run smoothly – oh, and they party with you too. These guys don’t get paid, but they’re doing what you’re doing for free – just for a bit of helping out on the side. Stoke Travel (stoketravel.com) offers you the chance to volunteer at any of its festivals in Europe, such as Running of the Bulls, La Tomatina and Oktoberfest, and in return you get free camping accommodation, meals, unlimited beer

and sangria, and festival entry. We talk to some of their current volunteers to find out more… DAN ‘This will be my third year with Stoke Travel. I work for them during the summer festivals – I also work for a restaurant in Portugal during the summer, but my work is flexible so I can take off the time and it works pretty well. ‘For Stoke, I work behind reception to check in guests, give general information, do admin and make sure everyone’s ‘Stoked’ with their stay. ‘Doing this, I’ve had some of the best times in my life so far. I get to meet and work with some of the best, likeminded and crazy cool people. ‘My best memory so far would have to be when I stood up on a table in Oktoberfest and downed my stein of beer in a packed beer hall. After I had

Image courtesy: MedSailors

finished – in 12 seconds, just saying – I was cheered by the whole beer hall, around all my new Stoke mates, like the Hero of the Day! ‘I would 100% without a shadow of a doubt recommend volunteering with Stoke to every and any 20/30-somethingyear-old! Unless you hate beer, sangria, good times, friends, rides, food fights, travelling, puppies, ice cream and smiling. Then don’t bother.’ COLE ‘I’ve worked for Stoke throughout the summers for the last two years after showing up as a guest three years ago. ‘My duties mainly include having the time of my life as it’s the best damn holiday anyone could ask for – but you can do anything from the set up/pack down of tents and camp amenities, bar tending, cooking, reception, welcome team, guide… and in return you get

free accommodation, free food, free beer, and you have the pleasure of spending time with absolute legends. ‘Why do it? Because this is probably the best thing that can happen to you!’ STEPHANIE (Crowned as ‘Bacon’ by Stoke) ‘I was dead broke and living off of twominute noodles in San Sebastian, when I met a couple of weirdos who were working in my hostel who also worked for Stoke. They told me I should join up and they’d take me to Oktoberfest, and there you go – cheers Josh and Jake! ‘I work in the Guru and Merch tent during the festivals, which is basically the info booth as well as where you get all your Stoke goodies. I’m also part of the Art Team, where we get to run wild and make the campsites look fucking sick before guests arrive. Oh yeah, then your main duty after that is to party with the guests!

‘Between Stoke festivals last year I was working in a bar and hostel in Lagos in Portugal. They see loads of travellers come through so are always fine with you leaving for a few weeks. I’ve now come back to Australia for the summer and am working full time in a cafe, but they don’t know I’m about to escape and head overseas again soon! ‘My best memory? Honestly the whole five weeks of Oktoberfest 2014 was the best time of my life! Or maybe the three-day bender of La Tomatina, or even the time a newbie got so drunk each day he shat himself four days in a row. That was great. ‘I’ve already talked the ears off everyone I’ve met over the past two years about how they should join up. I couldn’t ever recommend it enough. ‘Thanks Stoke for the best times I could have ever have imagined you putrid humans.’ ›› TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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KARL COLE BEST FOR… GETTING SERIOUS BUCKS OFF WORLDWIDE TRAVEL There are a lot of travel companies out there, and it’s tough to pick who to spend your money with, so a lot of companies need to have innovative ways of marketing themselves, as well as relying on good-old word of mouth. This is why Free & Easy Traveler (FNEZ, freeandeasytraveler.com) offers discounted travel to people who are willing to help spread the good word about its trips. If they sell a trip, the rep gets commission – how much is dependent on the length of the trip sold. The commission is stored as ‘Travel Bucks’ in the rep’s account and can be used for their future trips with Free & Easy. Many of the reps end up travelling for free, or close to it. Pretty clever, hey? These guys have been earning a discount and saving hundreds – even thousands – and appear to be feeling pretty happy about it… ERICA ‘I have been working with Free & Easy since September 2013 after my lifechanging experience on their Thailand trip. Ever since then I have been helping run tables, events and postering the 18

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DAN walls of my school back home. ‘I am currently planning a 10-day Costa Rica to Panama trip, and I’ve been able to reduce the price by more than $600 (£400) due to the amount of trip sign ups and table hours I’ve accumulated. ‘There have been so many perks to this job. I have not only met amazing, like-minded individuals, but I have been able to support my travelling addiction without too much of the stress a regular job would bring. They have worked around my crazy schedule at school and allowed me to be in charge of my own hours, while still saving for a trip.’ KARL ‘I became a rep for Free & Easy in January 2012 and a few months after that I went on my first trip with them. I decided on the 40-day Greece & Turkey trip, which turned out to be the most incredible 40 days of my life! ‘How much effort you put in to earn Travel Bucks is really up to you, which is great because I have a full-time job but I have the flexibility to do poster missions when it’s convenient for me. I also help run fresher events and host pub nights at university and college campuses in the area. ‘I have been to Nicaragua, Thailand

and Vietnam with FNEZ and have the Croatia yacht trip lined up for this summer. Needless to say, I’m hooked!’ NICOLE ‘Social Media and postering around town has been my biggest pay off. In less than a year of repping for Free & Easy I have accumulated about 20 sign-ups! ‘Knowing that I am responsible for persuading somebody to go on a trip makes me happy because I know that they are going to come home and spread the FNEZ name everywhere they go. And the fact that it also benefits me makes me even happier! ‘We are essentially getting to go on these trips almost for free by telling the world just how awesome they are. The past eight months have been incredible and I don’t plan on ending my journey with Free & Easy anytime soon.’ MEGAN ‘From the moment I first touched down in Bangkok, I knew I had to be a part of this family. Since then, I have returned to Thailand, toured Laos, Cambodia and, most recently, Nicaragua. ‘While repping for FNEZ, I’ve participated in wild fresher weeks, awesome festivals, college pub nights,

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NICOLE FRANKIE countless hours at info tables inspiring people to take the leap, and everything in between. ‘The rep program is a well-oiled machine and allows all of us aspiring globetrotters the opportunity to make their dreams reality. I personally have redeemed thousands of pounds from years of dedicated repping and I continue to spread the love with anyone who will listen!’

BEST FOR… WATER BABIES Anyone who’s anyone is going on a sailing trip this year, but they don’t come cheap. So why not work as part of the crew and get your holiday for free? This year, MedSailors has introduced a new volunteer role to its seasonal staff. The Crew Representatives take on the traditional holiday rep aspect of the trips, ensuring guests are on top of the best activities, places to go and what to do throughout their trip. This role is ideal if you are fun and outgoing. It also means, rather than just making yourself useful where needed, you are actually gaining valuable skills and experience. Frankie and Connie are both taking a few months out this year to help MedSailors’ guests have the best time

possible as they sail around Croatia and Greece... it’s a tough life. FRANKIE ‘My initial placement with MedSailors was only a few weeks long at the end of last summer, but this year I will be away working with them for more than three months. ‘They have been very understanding of my prior commitments to university and my studies, and have allowed me to begin the season slightly later than most other employees. ‘I will work as a Crew Rep, assisting the Guest Manager with their weekly duties and ensuring that the guests have as enjoyable a holiday as possible. ‘I will be on hand to help with any queries, as well as showing the guests around the islands, taking them to the best bars and restaurants in the evenings and making sure that everyone is catered for. ‘In return I get three months on a beautiful boat in my favourite part of the world, surrounded by like-minded, enthusiastic young people. ‘I am most looking forward to meeting some fantastic new people, both among the guests and the other staff that I will be working alongside,

as in my opinion that’s really what the whole thing is about. ‘I also can’t wait to be out in the sunshine and learn a bit more about sailing, see the beautiful Greek islands where I will be working, and generally have a brilliant summer.’ CONNIE ‘This year I’ll be in Croatia from midJune until the end of August. I didn’t get to choose dates but I was given the chance to offer an idea of which dates would be most suitable for me. ‘I’m actually going to quit my job to work for MedSailors. It seems drastic, but when you enjoy working seasons, everything is temporary and uncertain. I find it exciting. ‘There will be a variety of jobs to keep me busy. From sourcing fresh bread every morning to organising guest transfers, showing guests the local hotspots, updating all social media platforms for marketing purposes, plus some finance and admin work. ‘For this I get a summer in Croatia! It’s a good deal. With jobs like this, I don’t take them with the intention of saving money. It’s all about the experiences you gain and the people you meet along the way.’ TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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BEST FOR… SOMETHING A LITTLE DEEPER If you want something a bit more meaningful than sun, sex and sangria, then there are other ways to travel for free, or on very little. Australian Ciaran Elsworthy relied on the kindness of strangers as he hitchhiked his way from Bucharest to Madrid, travelling through the Middle East and North Africa. Although there was more than the opportunity for a cheap trip on his mind. “The Middle East and Africa always intrigued me, what with their diverse landscapes, thousands of years of history and spiritual significance,” the 21-yearold told TNT.“It therefore saddened me that these beautiful places were being ravaged by Western media with tales of extremists and political unrest deterring tourists from visiting. By hitchhiking through this region, I had a self-imposed mission to show people that this fear was misplaced.” Indeed, he found the strangers he encountered to be more than generous, offering him lifts, a bed for the night, money… a man named Armin whom he met in Cyprus even paid for one of his flights. “The people I met during my journey are easily the most kind and generous people I have ever encountered,” tells Ciaran. “On a daily basis I was offered a ride in their car or truck, to share in their food, and even to sleep in their homes. “It didn’t matter that my skin was a different colour, that I didn’t share the same religious beliefs, or that I didn’t speak 20

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the same language. To those people, I was just another human being in need. You don’t find that anywhere else.” Of course there is an element of danger putting that much trust in strangers. Hitchhiking in particular has a bad rep. Did Ciaran ever feel at risk? “I never truly felt in danger, no. Uneasy? Sure, sometimes. You always need to be wary about the people who pick you up, but for the most part I was very comfortable.” He tells us, in fact, it’s when you’re on the side of the road with your thumb out that you feel most alone. “Hitching a ride is generally simple, though you can be waiting for several hours. The challenging part is keeping yourself in high spirits, focusing on the task at hand, and forgetting about the loneliness that can creep up on you. I hitchhiked the entire distance by myself, and, while I did meet incredible people and had some inspiring conversations, I would suggest going with another person.” When it came to places to rest his head, he would stay with people he met on the street, or a driver who had picked him up, but generally he organised couchsurfing in advance. “The fantastic thing about couchsurfing is not the free bed, it’s the local people you get to meet and the opportunity to experience the real culture of a place.” But if all else failed? “I had a tent and sleeping bag with me, so in the rare instances that I had nowhere to go, I would simply set up camp on the side of the road or on the beach and that would be that.” He also did the volunteer thing, but rather than for tour

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groups, he worked in hostels in Romania, on a farm in Turkey and a Bedouin desert camp in Jordan, all in return for somewhere to stay plus food and drink. In total, Ciaran spent AU$1500 (approx £785) on four-anda-half months of travel, and that was just on visas and flights when borders were closed, or the cheaper option of a boat was unavailable. Although Ciaran’s money bank may have remained healthy, it’s his memory bank that is fit to bursting. The most memorable experience of a stranger’s generosity, he tells us, is when he had passed through the checkpoint into Palestine and was walking to the Church of Nativity in the centre of Bethlehem. In the distance he could hear shots, which he soon found out were military personnel firing canisters of tear gas at people throwing rocks. This is a semi-regular occurrence due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, though people are rarely injured. So while it wasn’t incredibly dangerous, it was still advisable to avoid it. Having taken a wrong turn close to this conflict, he found himself enclosed on three sides by the giant concrete wall that cuts through the city. It was at that point he was greeted by a woman named Claire Anastas. “She immediately showed concern, and upon learning that I had no money on me, insisted that I take a portion of the little she had in order to catch a taxi and avoid the conflict,”

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tells Ciaran. “Initially I was taken back. I was but a stranger to her, and yet she didn’t even hesitate to help me. “I soon learned of her story; how the wall has ruined her business and engulfed her home in darkness, of how the military prevent her from using the roads, even when her children are home alone. But, above it all, she believes in helping those in need. “I’ll never forget that moment.” CIARAN’S MONEY-SAVING TIPS Accommodation: Couchsurf and consider travelling with a tent and sleeping bag to avoid spending any money on accommodation. I was homeless for a year abroad and rarely paid to sleep in a hostel. Food: Eat cheap. Go to the supermarket and talk to locals about good prices. Transport: All you need is your thumb and a smile and you can hitch across the world. TNT warning: Hitch hike at your own risk. We would advise you never do it alone, trust your instincts and whenever you can, get cheap public transport instead. Miscellaneous (activities and souvenirs): This is up to you, but you can find a lot of things for free or cheaper by doing some research. And try to leave the tourist tat behind. To read more about Ciaran’s adventures, visit crowd-funding travel website trevolta.com, and type his name into the search engine TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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CELEBINTERVIEW

‘I find fetishes fascinating’ Josh Lawson’s directorial debut, A Funny Kind of Love, delves into the world of kink Down Under, and teaches us the sign language for ‘spit on my dick until it’s slippery’. We loved it. INTERVIEW BY CAROLINE GARNAR

Cast your minds back to 1997. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery was groovying up our cinema screens, with Mike Myers the undoubted star of the show. But there was another face in that film that caught our eye, and it looked a lot like Will Ferrell. Hold the fez, it was Will Ferrell! Of course back then, we didn’t know who the mighty Will was, as he had only appeared in a couple of TV series. Now, he is the comic legend whom actors would give their right funny bone to work with. The reason I am mentioning this, in case you are wondering, is that I have a feeling we will be saying the same thing about Josh Lawson in a few years. In Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Will Ferrell himself holds the spotlight, but there’s a memorable appearance from Kench Allenby, the Australian no one can understand. Played by real-life Aussie Josh Lawson, the actor is little known outside of his character in US drama House of Lies, but that could all be about to change as he flexes his talents in rough-andready rom com, A Funny Kind of Love. As writer, director and one of the stars, Lawson’s A Funny Kind of Love tells the stories of four loosely interwoven couples in Australia, with appearances from the friendly neighbourhood sex offender and a deaf translator who is forced to sign for a sex line caller with brilliantly hilarious consequences. The film looks at what can happen when people give in to their fetishes; from a man who has an affair with his wife without her even realising, to a woman who gets off on making her partner cry, it’s an honest, dry and often surprisingly touching film, which has plenty of slap and tickle for your funny bone too. We had a chat with Lawson from his current base in LA ahead of the film’s release in the UK on May 8. Here’s how it went… Josh, you’ve worked with Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in Anchorman 2 and The Campaign; what was that like? Quite honestly it’s much the same as when you work with anyone else. After the flash of standing in front of your idol goes away – and it does, really quickly, because you’ve all got a job to do – it honestly feels like any other job. You do feel like you’re working with one of the greats, though, when you work with someone like Will Ferrell. You can understand

why he’s so successful – well at least I could anyway. He really does have something very special, that can’t be denied. He’s very talented, but above all he’s such a lovely man; he really is a generous actor. He doesn’t make you feel like you’re standing in front of a titan at all, he make you feel like you’re standing in front of a colleague. I think that’s why so many people do their best work with Will, because he really allows the atmosphere to foster that. Is he always cracking jokes or is he ever the professional? He’s a bit of both. He’s nothing but professional, but as he’s making a comedy, being a professional also means he’s a laugh a minute, so it’s not one or the other. He has an off switch though if that’s what you mean. You can have a real conversation with him; he’s not always cracking gags. He just feels like a good friend, I don’t know how else to describe it. A Funny Kind of Love is your first feature film as a director; what made you decide to branch into filmmaking? I’ve always been a writer – I wrote for theatre and I write for TV back in Australia, and I had written this screenplay and I loved it. I felt so close to this story – this collection of stories – and TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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I just felt like I didn’t want anyone else to make it. I was too close to it. So it was out of selfishness really. But now I’ve got the taste for it, because I really did enjoy the process; although it’s a real grind. Filmmaking is not what you would call fun, but it’s so wonderfully challenging that I can’t wait to do it again and again and challenge myself in new and exciting ways.

of yours’; it’s saying that no matter what your predilection, we’re all a little frightened about revealing who we are sexually, so you’re not alone; but perhaps the method is honesty and communication, and if you can do that with your partner then I think you stand a good chance of having a healthy relationship.

Is it difficult to direct something and act in it at the same time? Is it a case of running from behind the camera, to in front of it, to behind it, to in front of it… (Laughs) Yeah, it is. We were on a really tight schedule, so we didn’t have time for playback – when you play back what you’ve just recorded on a monitor – so it was a bit of a leap of faith. I had a great crew who I trusted, I had a script supervisor who I could check with and say ‘did you pick up anything?’ and my other actors and producers. [When I was acting] I had to look at them and go ‘Guys I have to trust you at this point’. I set up the shot with a stand-in, who also happened to be one of our producers – that was the kind of job it was, a team effort (laughs). Once I had run through the shot a couple of times with the crew, they knew what it was that I was chasing, then I would step in front of the camera and they replicated that. It’s not the most ideal situation, to jump between the two, but it is challenging and I do enjoy a challenge.

The couples who were honest with each other are the ones it ends well for, so was that the message you wanted to get across? Honesty is the best policy… Completely. It’s not a revelation, I’m not saying anything we don’t know, but they’re little parables I suppose in a way. It’s not to say there aren’t problems with being honest – for example the woman who has the rape fantasy, there are obviously hurdles to overcome, but in the end love conquers all, yeah (laughs).

Where did the idea for the film come from? Is it based on couples you know? Yeah, there were a couple of conversations I had with friends over a few bottles of wine, and I just found the subject of fetishes… I think fetish is the wrong word… kinks really, I found it fascinating. It’s interesting how frightened people are of revealing their fetishes. But also we were discussing at what stage in a relationship do you decide it’s time to say, ‘Hey, by the way I’m into this, please don’t judge me’. It doesn’t have to be extreme – in fact so many of my friends’ stories were not extreme at all, but I don’t think that really matters. That is why this is such a real film. It’s not saying, ‘These fetishes are super common and I’m sure this is one 24

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How much research did you do for the film, and what kind of research did you do…? Yeah I did quite a lot of research. I’d actually been trying to make the film for about seven years before it went into production, so there was a lot of time to refine the script, and in that time I did plenty of research, not the least of which was talking with fetishists themselves and going to fetish clubs, doing a lot of reading and finding case studies. I also went to the phone service, which has pride of place in the film, and talked to the deaf translators about their experiences. And were there any fetishisms you discovered where you thought, ‘I can’t cover that, that’s just freaky’? No, if they didn’t make the cut it wasn’t because I thought it was too freaky; I never judged anyone on their fetishisms, and I don’t in the film. I don’t think anyone’s weird or abnormal for having a fetish, providing it’s not illegal and people are consenting. So I wasn’t like ‘what a bunch of weirdos I’m not gonna cover that’, I just couldn’t cover them all. I hope one day I can do a sequel because there were just too many to include.

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Were people open and honest with you about their fetishes? Absolutely – the people I talked to were very comfortable with their feelings, plus they were anonymous, so there was no fear of me exposing their secrets. I think in a lot of ways they were happy to talk about it.

Would you move over here? Would I, oh my God yeah. If they’d have me. No word of a lie, I’ve always dreamed about working in London, I’ve always wanted the opportunity to do that, not just as a filmmaker or writer, but in any capacity.

What’s the response been like to the film in Australia? It’s been fantastic. I really tried to make a film for the audience, and a film that I hadn’t seen before. I think it was a talked-about film in Australia and I was very happy I was able to make it there and with a lot of my friends.

So what’s stopped you so far? It’s hard to do everything, to spin every plate. I had the US in my sights as well from a young age, and that dragged me over here – I shouldn’t say ‘dragged’, that sounds like they were begging me to come (laughs) – I came over to the States and then worked really hard to build a career here. That’s still in the works. As much as I want to go over and do England as well, I thought that was maybe spreading myself a bit thin, so I am trying to focus on one country at a time. But don’t you worry, England’s still in my sights…

Do you think it will be as well received over here? I certainly don’t think I made a film that has a – quote, unquote – Australian sense of humour about it. There’s nothing necessarily Australian about the film – I think it’s just very human. I think there’s a reason why it’s been sold to so many countries internationally; because relationships, love and sex – they’re such human things, and I don’t think the way I approached the comedy was quintessentially Australian. I tried to make it a very universal story. It’s not all sequins and drama and strong accents… Certainly not, and that’s mainly because that’s not the Australia I grew up in. I know the films you are talking about, and some of them are great, and I connect with some of them, but I felt like I wanted to make a film about Australia that felt very truthful to me – and that doesn’t necessarily involve crocodiles or koalas (laughs). There is another part of Australia that I don’t think is often represented in film, which is the middle class, and it’s just as vibrant and rich and complicated as any other parts, so I thought it might be time to do a comedy set in that world. Do you do much travelling? Have you been over to London? Yeah absolutely, I’m a huge traveller, I’ve been over to London many times. I absolutely love it. I have so many friends in London I try to get over as much as I can.

So what are you working on currently, and what can we expect from you in the future? I’m still doing House of Lies, which is a show that I do here in the States about management consultancy, so the fourth season’s on air at the moment and fingers crossed we’re going for a fifth later this year. So that’s as an actor. As a director I’ve got a couple of features in development; there’s a TV series I’m working on as well, so obviously I’ve not solved the problem of spreading myself too thin (laughs) – it seems to be getting worse. But I do love writing and I just hope that I can make lots of different projects for TV, film and even theatre – I hope to go back and do some more of that. So I can safely say you can expect something completely different next time, and I hope that I can keep surprising people. And maybe A Funny Kind of Love Part II…? You never know. If it’s a hit in London then why not!

A Funny Kind of Love is out in cinemas nationwide from May 8 TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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Pete Evans

We talk to the Aussie chef of 25 years about living the Paleo lifestyle, debunking its reputation as the ‘caveman diet’, and how it helps not just you, but the planet... INTERVIEW CAROLINE GARNAR

What’s the theory behind Paleo? At its essence, living a Paleo lifestyle is about taking the most natural dietary approach possible to support optimal physical and emotional health so that we can all live our best lives. Sure, it might take cues from our ancestors, but it’s also mixed with the most upto-date nutritional research. What can and can’t you eat? It’s really important to understand that Paleo isn’t about thinking of what you can and can’t eat. Paleo is a celebration of fresh, organic, local, seasonal vegetables combined with moderate good-quality protein sources from land and sea and good-quality fats, such as coconut oil, avocados and olives. The reason you eliminate grains, dairy and

refined sugars and carbohydrates is because all of these contribute to inflammation throughout the body and, as so many studies have proven, it is this inflammation that is at the root of the Western world’s alarming rates of obesity and chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer and type-2 diabetes. Also, the way food is manufactured in the modern world is almost unrecognisable from what our ancestors once consumed. With the rise of toxins and genetic modification, a lot of food we find on supermarket shelves isn’t conducive to good health.

easy it is to shop, cook and prepare meals. This isn’t about making life complicated – it’s as simple as preparing foods, putting time aside and really understanding the impact using different ingredients can have on our overall wellbeing.

I understand not eating processed food – but what’s wrong with farmed food, such as dairy – if it’s organic? For those who have an allergenic response, dairy can cause issues with everything from congestion to bloating, wind and other digestion issues. Also, humans are the only ones who migrate from consuming our own species’ milk as babies to suddenly switching to that of another species, whose milk is designed for their young. With the growth of fastproduction dairy, it doesn’t do any good for the cow’s welfare either.

If we don’t want to go the whole hog, what small changes should we make? Ditch all processed food, refined sugars and carbohydrates and start to listen to your body and how it feels after you’ve eaten different foods. Also support your locals by heading to the farmers’ market to stock up on veggies, or visit your fishmonger or butcher to select a cut you may never have tried before.

Is it easy to live the Paleo lifestyle? I’ve discovered a whole well of recipes which use ingredients that nourish the body and mind and taste great, so I want to inspire others by sharing these and to show how

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Do you not ever just want to stick your head in a big vat of chocolate? Once I tuned my body, any sugar cravings evaporated, and as a chef I’ve found ways of re-creating some of my favourite meals in a Paleo way, like pizza using a cauliflower crust. As a result, I really don’t get cravings.

What affect has the Paleo lifestyle had on your life? Because I feel well and have lots of energy, I have lots more time for my family and I can surf for four or five hours now without even feeling it. At 41, I’m in the best shape physically and mentally that I’ve ever been in. My mind is sharp and I have real focus, drive and determination for what I want to achieve.

Visit thepaleoway.com for more info. Pete’s book, Paleo Every Day is available to buy now, published by Pan Macmillan

Photos: supplied

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WIN TICKETS TO DOWNLOAD – EUROPE’S BIGGEST ROCK FESTIVAL With a deluge of talent flooding the almighty Donington Park this year, Europe’s biggest rock and metal festival, Download, will once again host some of this summer’s most electrifying live music – and you can be there you lucky buggers because TNT has teamed up with Download to give away two weekend tickets that even include camping! Metal heavyweights Slipknot will storm the stage in all their masked glory, alongside stadium rock giants Muse who will make their Donington debut on the Saturday. Closing the show, Kiss will reignite their long-standing love affair with Donington, with the likes of Judas Priest, Motley Crue, Faith No More, Marilyn Manson and many others providing a breathtaking line-up. Check out downloadfestival.co.uk for line-up updates and more info on the festival. Enter at tntmagazine.com/competitions downloadfestival.co.uk

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TICKETS TO LOWLANDS FESTIVAL, NETHERLANDS 57 TICKETS TO SEE LET IT BE AT THE GARRICK THEATRE 74

Tuesday 16th - Saturday 20th June 2015

RACING LIKE NOWHERE ELS E Secure your place at this one of a kind event by booking your tickets at ascot.co.uk Tickets £21 - £80 per person Fine Dining from £250 per person +VAT

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LOCALROUND-UP

Local sport report TNT gets the lowdown on what’s happening at London’s AFL clubs...

WEST LONDON WILDCATS

WIMBLEDON HAWKS

AFL Europe Champions League 2015: the winners! March 21 saw West London Wildcats participate in the Inaugural Champions League tournament, which brought 10 teams from across Europe to Amsterdam to face off for the title. At the end of the round robin-style tournament the Wildcats finished top of pool A, meaning a match up against the Belfast Redbacks in the semi final. In a tense contest the Belfast Redbacks were ahead by two points with under a minute to go. Fortunately a free kick 40m from goal gave Joey Ferguson Lane of the Wildcats the opportunity to put the Wildcats through to the final – which he did. In the other semi final, the Rheinland Lions and Amsterdam Devils kept the crowd on their feet by drawing at the final siren. In a nail biter, the game went into overtime (first score wins) and saw the Lions steal a quick goal to seal their place in the final. In the Wildcats vs Lions final, it was the Wildcats’ Kiwi, Welsh and English players leading the charge, helping us to win the inaugural AFL Europe Champions League title! West London Wildcats Aussie Rules Football Club is based in south west London, but with playing members from all across the city. We have three teams that play during the summer months, and likewise our netball team, the Wildkittens, have a number of grades available for girls keen to get involved. Both Wildcats and Wildkittens are recruiting for new players from all countries and backgrounds. If you would like to get involved please contact Nathan on 07800 694 273 or via email (westlondonwildcats@londonfooty.com) or send a message via West London Wildcats Facebook page.

Winners in the pub if not in the field… It’s been a fantastic pre-season for the Wimbledon Hawks so far in 2015! There’s always a great social atmosphere at the Hawks just before the season starts, and this year has been no exception. The Hawks Ladies have had two road trips already this year to play against Oxford Uni and Birmingham Uni. The men’s team travelled to Sheffield for their annual pre-season footie trip. After a big night out in Sheffield the Hawks took on Sheffield Thunder in a nine-a-side match. A narrow one point loss to Sheffield didn’t dampen our spirits and the Hawks were out on the town again on Saturday night before returning to London on Sunday evening. Round 1 of the AFL London season began on Saturday April 25, The Hawks playing at our home ground “The Nest” in Motspur Park. (This was after TNT went to press, see next month for details.) Regular training sessions are held every Tuesday and Thursday night, 6.30pm on the North-West corner of Clapham Common. We are still always needing new male and female players, so if you’ve been missing your footie join us, or even if you’ve never seen the game and want to try a new sport, then feel free to check out the Wimbledon Hawks. We welcome all players of ability and experience in Aussie Rules. To find out more about the Wimbledon Hawks and to get involved, check out our website wimbledonhawks.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To get in touch with someone at the club directly, email club@ wimbledonhawks.com

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LOCALROUND-UP 2015 Heritage guernsey WANDSWORTH DEMONS 25 years on and still going strong Two Australians living in Clapham in 1990, Sean Angle and Craig Stephens, sourced a list of names in the local area and held the first ever training session on February 14. The Wandsworth Demons were born, making us the oldest club in London AFL. Later that year, we won the inaugural AFL London final against Earls Court. Ten premierships and 25 years later, the Demons now have three male teams and have once again been part of history by entering a women’s team in the inaugural AFL London women’s comp. In celebration of these 25 years, we have revamped our logo and will be playing the 2015 season in our heritage jersey – the original Melbourne Demons strip. There is a lot of excitement in the Demons camp this year as we see an influx of new Australians, as well as a strong contingent of UK and rest-of-the-world players. After a very successful club launch on Saturday April 11, it’s with pleasure that we announce our head coach, Conor Wilson, who will be leading the premiership charge in 2015. Conor will be supported by our two club captains, Australian representative, Trent ‘Tractor’ Georgiou and UK/ROW representative Eoin ‘Murph’ O’Murchu. They will be backed up by Adam ‘Jeffers’ Jeffery, as he fills the vice captain role. Our women’s team will be fighting for their first premiership

flag, headed up by women’s captain Kate ‘Crabs’ Grabowski, who will be supported by vice captain Emma ‘Nips’ Dillon. On the back of a fun-filled social preseason and with a great feeling in the air at the Demons, we now focus our energy on the task at hand – footy. Come down and check us out at training on Clapham Common every Tuesday and Thursday night (from 6.30pm) and see what we’re all about. The Demons are set to be #killingit in 2015! #getaroundus. Wandsworthdemons.com

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NORTH LONDON LIONS

SOUTH EAST LONDON GIANTS

Practice makes perfect Pre-season is drawing to a close and it’s been a busy few months at North London. Having changed leadership at the club, we decided upon a different approach in preparation for the season, with more practice matches to build game fitness, but more importantly to begin developing team spirit. And we’re absolutely delighted with the progress. In all three games, Australian, EU and non-EU players took part reflecting the three parts of the AFL London quota system. Our first match in Cambridge saw a North London side made up of mostly new faces take on Cambridge University mixed with some older Lions. Played at a hectic pace and in a great spirit, both sides battled hard to gain the upper hand with the game remaining a close-run contest throughout, but North London came out on top as eventual winners. Our visit to Birmingham saw our ladies’ teams in action for the very first time and it was a wonderful experience for the girls coming up against a very tough team made up of England internationals. With help from the Wimbledon Hawks in making up numbers, the girls gave a great account of themselves coming out on top in the premiership quarter. The men had a point to prove following the nail biter against Cambridge. We came out of the blocks firing and maintained the upper hand throughout but not before the uni lads put up a great fight, keeping within a couple of goals for all but the last quarter and a half. Finally, our visit to Germany was the perfect finish to our pre-season preparations with a large group of experienced and new Lions making the journey across to face the German Champions and Champions League Runners-Up, Rheinland Lions. Continuing the progress seen in Birmingham, the boys burst out of the blocks gaining a stranglehold of the game which they never let go, ending in a comprehensive victory against a tough and physical side. Off the field, our sponsorship team has worked very hard to gain three fantastic new sponsors who will join our already existing group. For anybody interested in joining North London men’s or ladies’ teams please contact info@aussierules.co.uk or visit www.aussierules.co.uk. To keep up with all the latest goings on at the club follow us on facebook or Instagram @northlondonlions

Making history, plus a little ooh la la On March 21, the South East London Giants Ladies team made history by playing its first ever AFL match in London with a friendly against neighbouring team Wandsworth Demons on Peckham Rye Common. It was a hard-fought battle with Demons scoring the first three goals of the match. The Giants fought back keeping the Demons scoreless in the next two quarters. However, this wasn’t enough to keep them at bay with the Demons running out winners 5.5.35 to 1.3.9. On April 11 the Giants played a mini tournament against French teams Bordeaux and Toulouse, with the women playing two short games against the French national team. The day was great fun with both teams playing well in all matches. Toulouse came out winners in the men’s competition and, although the French team proved too strong for the ladies, they made up for it by winning the boat race! April 16 was an exciting day for the Giants with the unveiling of new jumpers for the season at the Club’s jumper presentation night at sponsor pub White Horse in Peckham. The season kicked off on April 18 with the Shea Sports Cup, a preseason tournament hosted by the giants which features seven men’s teams and four women’s teams. An update will be provided in next month’s issue. With the sun shining (finally) in London, trainings are on Tuesday (Victoria Park, Bethnal Green) and Thursday (Peckham Rye Common) commencing at 6.30pm. If you fancy trying something different and giving AFL a go, or if you are an expat and miss playing the game, you can contact the club through its Facebook page, Twitter (@londongiants) and for the ladies via Marianna Graham (womensfootball@londongiants.com).

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TRAVEL

Image: Dan Medhurst

THE BUILD UP TO BILBAO BBK LIVE 2015... Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just a couple more months to go until one of our favourite European music festivals, Bilbao BBK. Celebrating its 10th anniversary with a bang, the lineup includes Muse, Mumford & Sons, Alt-J, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Disclosure, Ben Harper, Future Islands, Counting Crows, The Cat Empire, Sheppard and Of Monsters and Men. Held July 9-11 on a beautiful hillside setting in the northern Spanish city, be there or be a big loser. bilbaobbklive.com/2015/en

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NEW AT THORPE PARK: I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here maze

Get a slice of Oz in England at this attraction full of creepy crawlies – and that’s just Ant and Dec...

roller coasters though, with the awesome Stealth catapulting you from 0-80mph in two seconds, the chance to ride Hive backwards, Saw, which has more twists and turns than a soap opera, and Colossus, which is the closest you will ever come to being in a tumble drier, in case you ever wanted to be in one. Just a 30-minute train ride out of London (closest station is Staines), make Thorpe Park your next day trip out of the city, and you won’t be yelling ‘Get me out of here!’ thorpepark.com

Photos: supplied and iStock. Words: Trevor Burton and Kaye Holland

Greeted by enthusiastic camp mates at each step of the way, find gold stars in dark holes – grabbing the odd mystery furry, spiky and squidgy object – answer I’m a Celebrity questions, and if you get them wrong, you might be showered with a slippery or slimy surprise; and climb up a slope against ‘cyclone’ winds to get a gold star. Suitable for kids, in truth the anticipation is a lot worse than the reality, so if you’re scared of all creatures great and small, you’ll still leave with clean pants. I can’t promise that if you go on any of their big

‘Don’t bring a blow pipe home,’ warns Aussie customs Australian Customs and Border Protection Service (ACBPS) is reminding Aussies heading home about the risks of bringing back illegal souvenirs. ACBPS Regional Commander NSW, Tim Fitzgerald, said many travellers didn’t realise items they buy while on holidays are prohibited in Australia, such as laser pointers and electronic shock devices. “I encourage travellers to check the recently launched ‘Can I bring it back?’ web page (customs. gov.au/canibringitback) before they head home. It was launched to help educate travellers on what to avoid buying overseas. The guide features more than 40 prohibited or restricted items routinely

taken from travellers when they return to Australia, including a range of items commonly bought in South East Asia and South Pacific tourist hot spots. “Some items that are legal in other countries can’t be brought back into Australia,” Fitzgerald pointed out. “Some travellers assume that items such as blow pipes, martial arts weapons, and BB guns are relatively harmless and make interesting, cheap souvenirs. However, they can cause serious injury and should not be brought back.”

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LIFESTYLEMONEY TRAVELNEWS

The world’s top travel destinations for 2015 How many of the world’s most popular cities have you ticked off your list?

Menara gardens, Marrakech

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Mosques and the Bosphorus in Istanbul

Hanoi street life, Vietnam

The folk at TripAdvisor decided they wanted to find out the ultimate destinations for travellers this year – like they do every year – and this is what they discovered: Marrakech claimed the number one spot for the first time, while Siem Reap in Cambodia jumped up to second in the rankings. Istanbul, Hanoi and Prague completed the world top five list. Rome, named runner up in the awards last year, dropped five places to seventh, while New York, the best-rated US destination, failed to make the top 10 for the second year running. London slipped down from third to sixth place, although the UK capital does have the

honour of being one of only three destinations to have retained a top 10 ranking in the awards five years in a row. Of the top 10, Hanoi offers the cheapest hotel value with average summer room rates at less than £30 a night – one sixth of the price of an average room over the same period in London (£162.25). The full top 10 are: 1. Marrakech 2. Siem Reap 3. Istanbul 4. Hanoi 5. Prague 6. London 7. Rome 8. Buenos Aires 9. Paris 10. Cape Town

The awards also revealed the UK’s rated destinations. It was a great year for smaller UK destinations with Llandudno, Torquay, Blackpool and Keswick all named in the top 10. Llandudno and Torquay placed in the UK’s top five taking third and fourth place respectively, beating Liverpool, Belfast and York. Keswick, a market town in the Lake District, is a newcomer to the top 10 this year and ranks ninth place, beating Glasgow. Among the top 10 UK destinations, Blackpool offers the cheapest hotel rooms with £76.21 as the average summer rate – less than half the price of a comparable hotel room in London.

The Top 10 UK destinations are: 1. London 2. Edinburgh 3. Llandudno 4. Torquay 5. Liverpool 6. Blackpool 7. Belfast 8. York 9. Keswick 10. Glasgow

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TOPFIVE

UK MUSIC FESTS UNDER £100

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TOP 5

UK MUSIC FESTIVALS

Words: Caroline Garnar. Photo credits: Field Day Festival, Truck Festival, Reload and Y Not Festival

UNDER £100!

Photo: Brownstock Festival

Spending your weekend in a muddy field, perma-drunk and singing at the top of your voice comes at a price, believe it or not. And an increasingly big one. Monster festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading and Leeds, Isle of Wight and V Festival are must dos – but thanks to their price tags of a couple of hundred pounds, they are turning into once-in-a-lifetimers. If you can’t bear to miss out on your festival fix this summer but your bank account is emptier than your fridge pre-pay day, then try one of these smaller festivals, which come in at under £100 including accommodation. You will still see some of the big names, will be able to get closer to the front, won’t miss out on songs as you head from one stage to another getting distracted by hugging strangers on the way, and you won’t come away thinking. ‘That was amazing, but was it worth the price of a holiday in Europe? Probably not.’ With that in mind, here are our top budget festivals to try... 38 00

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BROWNSTOCK FESTIVAL, ESSEX Just a 45-minute train journey from London Liverpool Street, getting here will only cost you £15, and weekend camping tickets are a mere £83. You can even go VIP for half the price of a standard weekend elsewhere, with queue jump, VIP camping with luxury loos and showers, access to the VIP pit at the front with its own bar, two spa treatments and access to the after parties, all for £140. The line-up doesn’t reflect the price either, with Basement Jaxx, Example + DJ Wire, DJ Fresh, The Darkness, Hoosiers, Sub Focus, Lethal Bizzle and more all taking to the stage. There’s an intimate feel to the festival too, with personal touches like a Treehouse stage, complete with birds nests, a saloon bar, an open mic stage and circus performances. Food and drink is locally sourced, with beef for the burgers fresh from the farm it’s held in. £83 weekend incl. camping; July 10-12. brownstock.co.uk

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UK MUSIC FESTS UNDER £100

FIELD DAY, LONDON

Y NOT FESTIVAL, DERBYSHIRE

Okay we’re cheating a bit here as camping’s not included in the price, but seeing as it’s in London, you can stay in the comfort of your own bed! You’ll save on travel too, which all means you can spend more on the quality of acts themselves, with Rudimental, Snoop Dog, Annie Mac, Cypress Hill, Hot Chip, Mark Ronson, Groove Armada and more playing at LoveBox festival. £93.50 weekend (early bird); July 17-18. loveboxfestival.com. If you’re a hippy at heart Field Day will be more up your street, with a relaxed ‘village fete’ vibe, with games, eating competitions and a brass band competing with the likes of Caribou and Ride for attention. £83 weekend; June 6-7. fielddayfestivals.com

This festival only loses points due to the travel expense of getting there. Based in Derbyshire you are looking at over £80 for a train to Matlock or Buxton, with shuttle buses taking you to the festival from there. You will be rewarded for your efforts, though, with Snoop Dog, Basement Jaxx (they are working overtime this sumer), Primal Scream, Ocean Colour Scene, Johnny Marr and more in the line-up. Plus the Peak District is stunning. Surrounded by gorgeous countryside and tucking into local produce and cider, you’ll feel like you’ve had a mini-holiday for your money. £94 weekend incl. camping; July 31-August 2. ynotfestivals.co.uk

Photo: © Ross Silcocks

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TRUCK FESTIVAL, OXFORD

RELOAD FESTIVAL, NORFOLK

Luckily not an event for sweaty-vested truckers, this festival in the gorgeous county of Oxfordshire was £3 a pop when it first started back in 1998. It’s not quite that cheap anymore, but it’s still very reasonable, and your £83.50 weekend ticket will cover camping and the chance to see Basement Jaxx (yep, again), The Charlatans, Augustines, Don Broco and many more. Priding itself on being the ‘anti major festival’ festival, Truck even refrains from ripping you off once you’re in the gates, as it allows you to bring your own food and drink (alcohol included) into the arena. If you do buy from the food and drink stands inside, the money goes to the local Rotary Club charity. £83.50 weekend incl. camping; July 17-18. truckfestival.com

This festival is either a dream come true, or your worst nightmare, primarily depending on when you were born and if you have any taste in music. TNT’s editor is proud to admit she doesn’t, and had a brilliant time last year dancing like a loon and knowing all the words to classics by Jason Donovan, Rick Astley and Human League. Don’t judge until you’ve tried it, ’kay? This year (some of) UB40, Billy Ocean, M People, Boomtown Rats, Level 42, Rick Astley, Jimmy Somerville, Katrina (of ‘and The Waves’), Bucks Fizz and more will be dusting off their mics and sequins to play to the somewhat older crowd. Sure, it’s not cool, but who gives a crap? £99 weekend incl. camping; September 11-13. reloadfestival.co.uk TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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THE TOP 10 EVENTS IN IBIZA THIS SUMMER The road to the Ibiza 2015 season is well under way, so Andrew Darwin, editor of uneekibiza.com, takes a look at the big events not to miss…

CAFÉ MAMBO OPENING PARTY No Ibiza trip is complete without watching the famous sunset at Café Mambo. As well as their opening party on May 15, look out for various superstar DJs playing through the summer on an almost nightly basis.

IMS IBIZA IMS Ibiza, held on May 2022 is an array of talks and events held at Hard Rock Café in Playa den Bossa, before continuing into the nights at the beautiful Dalt Vila. With the likes of Rudimental, MK, Pete Tong, Solomun and Sven Väth playing this year, it will be a party and conference not to be missed!

THE CLUB OPENING PARTIES As a series of events, Ibiza’s club opening parties are simply legendary. Ushuaia opens on May 30, and is 21st-century outside clubbing at its absolute finest. Set in beautiful surroundings, a hands in the air unbeatable atmosphere, lasers, fire, lights, aeroplanes flying in overhead, cold air cannons and a massive cinematic screen pumping out visuals. As well as Ushuaia, ones not to miss are Space (May 31) and Amnesia (May 30).

Photos: iStock

IBIZA ROCKS 10th BIRTHDAY WITH THE LIBERTINES The Libertines, one of Britain’s most iconic bands are set to rock Ibiza Rocks 10th Birthday on July 22. Ibiza Rocks gigs have so much energy in the lush open air setting with a festival-like atmosphere and a great crowd always ready for a good old sing along.

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This is a gig that will be talked about on the island for years to come.

CLOCKWORK ORANGE 21ST BIRTHDAY Clockwork Orange has a weekend of events planned for its 21st anniversary with parties at Es Paradis on July 24 and Sands on July 26. If these are anywhere near as good as last year’s 20th birthday shenanigans, then these are not to be missed!

CREAM 21ST BIRTHDAY The longest-running UK club night celebrates its 21st birthday in Ibiza on July 30. Cream is easily one of the best parties on the island and complete with one of the best up-for-it crowds, this party at the height of the summer season will be large – don’t miss it!

BBC RADIO 1 IBIZA WEEKEND

CARL COX AT SPACE CLOSING PARTY

Radio 1 Ibiza weekend, usually on the first weekend in August, is one of the biggest weekends of the year with parties including massive line ups full of the world’s best DJs, all broadcast live on BBC Radio 1. This year Radio 1 celebrates 20 years in Ibiza, so expect them to pull out all the stops for a brilliant weekend of events.

Mr Ibiza himself, Carl Cox will be running his parties at Space and this year’s theme is ‘Music Is Revolution – The Next Phase’. Get yourself to the closing party on September 22 to witness a DJ master class that will send the crowd into raptures!

ES PARADIS 40TH BIRTHDAY Es Paradis, San Antonio’s beautiful Roman-like super club celebrates its 40th birthday on August 7. Famed for their Fiesta Del Agua water parties, Es Paradis’ 40th anniversary celebrations look set to be massive.

THE CLUB CLOSING PARTIES Similar to the opening parties, Ibiza’s closing parties are the stuff of legend. Among others, ones not to miss are Space on October 4 and Circo Loco at DC10 on October 5 as they close their doors after another season of breathtaking parties. See uneekibiza.com for more

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Bring it on, Brighton 42

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UKTRIP It’s quickly kissed its kiss-mequick rep goodbye, with great nightlife, vintage stores galore and a booming music scene. Summer’s here – let’s go!... As the days start to get a little longer, the countdown is well and truly on until we get to sit back and relax on some tropical (or not so tropical) beach, party to the sound of our favourite bands in an unknown field in the middle of nowhere, or adventure around a hidden gem of a town during our summer explorations. One of our favourite things to do on a summer’s day, though, is take a spontaneous trip to Brighton, less than an hour’s train journey from London. A stroll along the pebbly beach, a few goes on a pier ride and a fish and chip supper later, and we’re set. Of course, you can make a weekend of it and stay the night in one of the reasonably priced seafront B&Bs – after all it would be a shame to miss out on the nightlife – famous for its hen and stag parties and gay bars, but lesser known for its cool and trendy spots in the back streets, which there are plenty of worth checking out. Whether you’re there for a day or a long weekend, here are the top five places to dance, eat, drink, shop and relax… DANCE: Patterns club This month sees brand-new club space Patterns open its doors for the first time on Brighton’s Marine Parade. Under the curation of East London’s Mothership Group – the team behind Queen of Hoxton and The Book Club – the club will boast a state-of-the-art sound system and heavyweight party line ups that include some of the most respected DJs and live acts the world over. Promising to become the new home for Brighton’s thriving music scene, Patterns fresh bar and club spaces provide the perfect hang-out for local music lovers, creatives and cool kids as well as day-tripping visitors. A home for eating, drinking, dancing and thinking, Patterns also offers playful seasonal cocktails to be enjoyed on their sea-view terrace, as well as craft beers and ales for any booze experts. Patterns is opening with a huge launch party on May 13. Find out more at patternsbrighton.co.uk EAT: Burger Brothers vs Food For Friends Brighton isn’t just about fish and chips – although they are hard to resist. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants, pop ups and pubs to satisfy all your needs. One for the meat lovers, our first tip is the renowned Burger Brothers takeaway, pushing the very best meaty adventures in Brighton. With wood flooring, high stools and chalkboard specials, this joint is a fast-paced, lively spot for those who want an instant yet fulfilling food fix. On the other end of the spectrum is Food For Friends, a high-end vegetarian restaurant with a vast food menu and an even more expansive wine offering. facebook.com/burgerbrothersbrighton; foodforfriends.com TNTMAGAZINE.COM

We do like to be beside the seaside SHOP: Brighton Lanes Intricate winding lanes are an integral part of Brighton town’s history. Filled to the brim with the quaintest of coffee shops, record stores, cool boutiques and bric-a-brac, the lanes are a must-see for any Brighton visitor. Get lost for hours in the twists and turns of Brighton’s back alleys through a treasure trove of retail heaven. visitbrighton.com/shopping/the-lanes DRINK: The White Rabbit

Shop in The Lanes

After all that shopping you’ll need some refreshment – so it’s time to hit the pub. The White Rabbit is noted by locals as Brighton’s premiere drinking hole, residing in the vibrant North Laine area. The pub itself represents Brighton’s freespirited, quirky culture that the town is renowned for, and has a fab beer garden open until 8pm for those long summer warm(ish) evenings. facebook.com/whiterabbit.brighton RELAX: Beach Brighton’s beach might not be famous for its blissful white sands or humid temperatures but, hey, we still love it. You can check out all the fun of the fair up at the pier, or if you just want to laze for the day, why not pull up a deckchair, get a 99 flake and prepare to paddle, because the Great British seaside doesn’t get any better. visitbrighton.com/things-to-do/beach-life

WHERE TO STAY

The Grapevine hostels are the perfect base for backpackers – one venue is near the beach and the other near the Lanes. Dorm beds from £7.99. grapevinewebsite.co.uk

GETTING THERE

Brighton rocks...

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Take the train from London Victoria, Blackfriars, St Pancras or London Bridge to Brighton with Southern Railways. Tickets average at £26.70 return, but the earlier you book, the cheaper the ticket. southernrailway.com

Words: Dresden Leitner. Photos: iStock and supplied

Rest up at boutique guesthouse Snooze and have an amazing slap-up breakfast in the morning. Rooms from £75 per night. snoozebrighton.com

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h s i n a p S n Lear EEKS or French 5 W for just £85

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Last month’s attacks in Paris and Belgium are sobering reminders to Kiwis to register your travel with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. New Zealanders who register at www.safetravel.govt.nz receive up-to-date Travel Advice and are contacted first to confirm well-being if there is a major incident involving foreign nationals. If you don’t register, we have no way of locating or contacting you. Travellers are also strongly encouraged to purchase comprehensive travel insurance.

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Finding that ‘je ne sais quoi’ Liz Stoneman enjoys more than just a free bed for the night in Uzès, France...

Pont du Gard Zaza Guarch’s three-storey, fivebedroom country house just outside the town of Uzès is a dream for the nosy explorer. Thirty years’ worth of curiosities fill every corner of her home. A Pinocchio marionette shares ceiling space with a disco ball hanging in front of a pigment mural of medieval Uzès on one wall. A multitude of staircases lead to unexpected doors that proffer to be quietly pushed open. Off the massive loft hangs a sunroom spanning the whole length, complete with cane furniture basking in sunbeams illuminated by the dust. Lulu, the gregarious three-legged German shepherd, sleeps at the foot of Zaza’s bed at night, while one of two cats keeps you company in your creaking second-floor room. You’ll fall asleep with her nestled behind your head as the sounds of a few horses neighing and the gentle groan of the evening wind enter through two small windows in the deep stone wall. A buddha statue in the corner watches in silence as you

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meditate on your plans for the next day. Chez Guarch will resume as a gîtes, a relaxed version of a bed-and-breakfast, this summer. At the moment, Zaza welcomes guests predominantly through workaway.info and helpx.net, where she offers accommodation of up to three weeks in exchange for a fixed amount of help around the house and garden. On your day off, Uzès is a 25-minute stroll from Chez Guarch, down a long tree-lined dirt driveway followed by a road couched by fields made greener by spring’s crystal clear blue skies. Be there for the Saturday markets when the history of Uzès as a centre for trade comes alive in the Place aux Herbes. Accept the offers to sample the figfilled nougat dripping in caramel, the squishy nuggets of local goats cheese, and the semi-dried tomatoes bathed in garlic and basil, until it’s time for lunch. For fans of Haribo gummy bears, the Haribo museum and shop fulfills your desire to embrace all things gummy. The busy four-storey museum takes you through the history of the original Haribo ‘goldbear’ and the formidable

multinational’s successes to date. Your ¤7 entry fee includes enough freebies to stop your visit to the shop from getting out of control, too. For the historians, the UNESCO World Heritage site Pont du Gard, the remains of a Roman aquaduct, are located a 25-minute drive from Uzès. You’ll spend hours circling the massive first-century structure’s surrounding paths on foot, or hire kayaks on the river below. You can then get your history on in the expansive interactive museum that offers you a glimpse into the famous extravagances of the Romans and their enormous bathhouses. Upon your return to Chez Guarch in the evening, you might be lucky enough to share a meal and a stiff rum and juice with the wonderful character that is Zaza, remarkable for her nononsense approach to life, her rich personal history, and, ultimately, her generous hospitality. Easyjet flies from Gatwick to Montpellier, from which you take a 25-minute train to Nîmes and a onehour bus to Uzès.

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OKTOBERFEST

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WHEN? SEPTEMBER 19-OCTOBER 4, 2015

FESTIVAL GUIDE

OKTOBERFEST You’ve probably had a few warm-up sessions – nights of overdoing it at the pub or maybe even a beer festival where you worked your way through all the taps. But there’s nothing that can prepare you for the boozy bender that is Oktoberfest, a time when the world agrees it’s okay to chug as much amber nectar as you possibly can, all in the name of German culture. We’ll drink to that. Unsurprisingly, many of Oktoberfest’s fans say their memories of the festival are a little, shall we say, hazy? But Australian-British Haley Langtree, 23, won’t forget her first time: “I went camping with Topdeck and had an amazing time. Steins larger then your head, beer tents, dirndl and lederhosen as far as the eye can see, onesies, German drinking songs, someone forced to skull every couple of minutes, after-parties at the campsite, 'Hey Baby' sung repeatedly late at night and early in the mornings, collapsing tents, exhaustion, and many other awkward/ funny/great stories and moments." 00 48

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TNT reader Alastair Brown has both feet planted firmly in the hazy camp, but this is what he shared with us: “Been there twice but can’t remember too much about it apart from the gorgeous beer, tasty chicken, snogging a serving wench and someone breaking into the campsite’s supply shop. Oh, and something about a bicycle getting thrown into the river below the weir.” Clea Marshall, 28, from New Zealand, had an Oktoberfest experience that sounds like a surreal dream. “On my visit the following things happened: a randy horse that was trained to nuzzle ladies’ cleavages totally nibbled my boobs! At the Hippodrom tent my boyfriend and I met an elderly German couple called Renata and Martin and promised to meet them for lunch, same day, same place, same time this year. “We went on the rollercoaster late at night, but my other half was so smashed he doesn’t remember it at all. I also ate a chocolate covered banana and got it all over my face.” Perhaps it was time to head home then, Clea?

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OKTOBERFEST

XXXXXX FESTIVALGUIDE TOP FIVE

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

WHAT TO EAT & DRINK

Oktoberfest has been running since 1810, when Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese and the National Guard organised a large horse race by way of public celebration. A good time was had by one and all, so they decided to throw a party the same time the following year. And so on. Nowadays, it’s grown into an absolute behemoth of a beer festival – 2015’s fest will be the 182nd edition. No less than 14 tents are set up in Munich, serving slopping, frothy steins of beer and platefuls of heavy Bavarian grub. There are also yodelling performances (naturally), oompah bands and a fairground complete with Ferris wheel and roller coasters. To summarise, it's a giant party, by anyone’s standards.

All the beers are regional, and adhere to the strict 1516 Bavarian Purity Requirements, which means only water, hops and barley can be used to brew them. Pick your favourite brewer's tent and grab a seat as close to 9am as possible, as they fill up fast – and yes, you can drink at that time. Favourite dishes at Oktoberfest are hendl (roast chicken), schweinshaxe (pork knuckle) and Bavarian sausages, but some of the tents do more specialist grub. At the Wildstuben tent, you can get roast wild boar and venison dishes, while at the Schuetzen-Festzelt tent, suckling pig prepared in an authentic Bavarian malt beer sauce is served. Carbing up by snacking on giant pretzels is also a winner.

Munich Oktoberfest Join the OKTOBERFEST EXPERTS in Munich PP Travel covers the entire Oktoberfest • Central Hotels within a short walk of the Oktoberfest • Accommodation Packages at the famous Camping Thalkirchen (3 stops from the Oktoberfest) • Coach Tours from London • Austrian Chalet Tour

pptravel.com 020 7930 9999

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THE TOURS

WITHOUT TRANSPORT Camping: Four days £185 or six days £255 with Contiki; Pay as you go £70 or four days £129 with Topdeck; four days £179 with Busabout. Hostel: Five days £325 or six days £375 with Contiki; four days £339 with Busabout; four days £209 with Topdeck; four days middle week dorm £229, twin £269, or four days opening week dorm £211.65, twin £237.15 with Travel Talk. Hotel/apartments: Five days £465 or six days £535 with Contiki; five days with a day exploring Munich £799 with G Adventures.

This article is from the TNT archives. Original copy by Helen Elfer

WITH COACH TRANSPORT FROM LONDON (TWO DAYS' TRAVEL INCLUDED) Camping: Five days £265, six days £295 or seven days £325 with Topdeck. Five days £295, or seven days £369 with Contiki. Six days £329 with Busabout. Hostel: Six days £529 or seven days £485 with Contiki. Hotel: Six days £545 with Contiki. Visit tnttoursearch.com for more info and to book.

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WHAT TO WEAR

WHAT ELSE?

Half the fun of Oktoberfest is getting kitted out in traditional German outfits. For lads, this means a red checkered or white shirt with lederhosen (long leather shorts) and braces. Ladies, a full dirndl includes a bodice, blouse (the boobier the better), full skirt and apron. As for those felt alpine hats with a feather... sure, why not? These outfits are available all over Munich, but the more authentic ones can be quite pricey, upwards of £150. Lots of Oktoberfesters cut costs by going second-hand, or even making their own. Department store C&A stocks cheap versions and there are a few branches in Munich. Buying the overly skimpy outfits available online or from sex shops is a big no-no, as Munichers don’t approve.

Too much booze? Take a breather and see some of Munich’s sights. You can get a great view of the skyline from the 290m-high Olympic Tower at Munich’s Olympia park (olympiapark.de). For petrol-heads, BMW’s HQ and the museum next to it is a must-see (bmw-welt.com). Get your culture fix at the 17thcentury baroque Nymphenburg Palace (schloss-nymphenburg.de), which has pavilions open to the public filled with grand period furniture and paintings. Just don't vom over any. If you need a break from the crowds, head to the sprawling English Garden (Englischer Garten), which is one of Europe's largest city parks. Watch out for naked sunbathers – it’s a thing here.

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For the last 30 years TNT Magazine has brought travel advice and news to a growing audience of travellers. 18 to 35 year olds from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have been using TNT as their guide to living and working in the UK. With a growing audience comes growing demand and over quarter of a million users are now demanding travel offers and information for tours across the globe from their base in the UK. Here at TNT we have listened to the demands of our readers and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re excited to launch TNT Tour Search. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for a weekend in Dublin, a group tour across North Africa, or a ten day epic adventure in South America, the TNT Tour Search facility is here to meet your travel wishes. With tours being added on a daily basis and reviews to give you peace of mind, TNT Tour Search will become your primary destination when looking to travel anywhere around the globe and you know the process will be as good as you can get anywhere else, if not better.

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EUROBREAK

Cool summer Trade a sunbake for fresh air, a beach for a mountain, sweet shots for quality beer, and all-night raving for all-day exhilaration. This year, take your summer holiday in the Swiss Alps… WORDS: CAROLINE GARNAR

The Swiss Alps are a bit like an Autobot from Transformers. Bear with me here. In winter, they’re the sports car. Fun, fast, and sexy (who hasn’t done it with a ski instructor?). In summer, they transform into a friendly giant; still exciting and fun, but with a gentler quietness and sense of tradition. Okay, it’s a tenuous analogy, but I’m sticking with it. At any time of year, the Alps are stunningly beautiful. The snow melts away to reveal a luscious green blanket of green grass, reaching up to feed the mouths of hungry, fat, caramelcoloured cows. The mountains that are so high their summits have a year-round cap of icing look even more impressive as they watch over the others transforming below, standing strong in their refusal to let the seasons change them. Nowhere is this picture-perfectness more apparent than Interlaken in The Jungfrau Region. Sandwiched between two lakes (hence the name), this also means you have the stunning addition of shimmering turquoise waters to its already rich colour palette. And this is how I spend my summer trip in Jungfrau. Unashamedly ogling the landscape, be it from a bike, a train or a parachute. Like a top model, it responds by striking a new pose as the light changes, and it looks incredible from all angles. I start by enjoying the view in the best way possible: with a frosted beer in hand. After climbing 1,322m above sea level – well, the cable car did most of the work – I alight at Harder Klum, Interlaken’s local mountain. Possibly the best position for a bar and restaurant ever, we take a seat al-fresco and soak up the surroundings. The Swiss are great at brewing top-quality beer, and they’re even better at serving it. I glug down my frosted mug of frothy stuff and get stuck into a platter of local cheese and meats before heading out to the footbridge, which juts over the mountain’s edge, to watch the sun sink, and the landscape work it. As a bit of an adrenalin junkie, being on a ledge that high and not being able to jump off it is frustrating (attached to something of course, I’m not confessing to being suicidal). So when I spy a handful of paragliders floating with the clouds, I sign up with Skywings straight away (skywings.ch, from CHF170 – £120 – for a 20-minute flight). The next day I find myself bumping my way up the mountainside in a van before we pull up and carry our ’chutes to the slope we’re set to launch ourselves off.

Strapped up to my instructor, I am simply told to run until I can no longer feel the ground beneath my feet. So that’s what I do, and we swoop off like a bird taking flight, our parachute going from a limp piece of material to billowing wings. Despite the other gliders just ahead of us, it feels like we’re the only people in the world up here. It’s utterly peaceful and you feel like you are going at no speed at all, although the ground beneath you tells you otherwise. After a few minutes, I’m ready to crank things up, and my instructor obliges, sending us into spins and turns. Hearing the wind roar in response, and the ground spin below, this is the rush I was after. Coming into land, I feel the ground beneath my feet once more. And immediately want to go for round two. Instead, though, I settle for my second favourite rush inducer: chocolate. But not just any chocolate. Rather than head into any one of the shops in town that sells the smooth and sweet Swiss stuff, I set my sights on the Lindt shop, which happens to be 3,454 metres above sea level. ››

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for rent, so the group can stick together no matter your level. (I’ll freely admit to opting for the e-bike. I’m on holiday, not at boot camp.) I thought that the views couldn’t get much better, but on ground level you can stop right at the water’s edge and meander past swaying fields of corn, zooming in on the panoramic vistas I’d so far been enjoying. We stop off at a farm, where I stroke calves, squeal when a cow slobbers on me, and realise I’d totally forgotten how huge horses are close up. I must get out of the city more. And it’s this that makes me realise why this is such an awesome summer holiday. Usually I come back from my beach-and-booze trips feeling like I need another holiday to recover, but after this trip I feel revitalised by the stunning scenery, fresh air and awesome activities. I return to the city feeling like I’ve been away for a month, and healthier than I have in a long time. I guess you might say this holiday has made me feel like I’m in my (optimus) prime. No? Come on, I tried… Visit jungfrau.ch for more information on the area. For a ticket to cover unlimited travel on the entire Jungfrau Railways network including one trip to the Top of Europe, go for the VIP Pass, which costs CHF 245 (approx £171). shop.jungfrau.ch/en/tickets/bergbahn/pass-vip

WHEN TO VISIT To get a true taste of Swiss tradition, holiday across August 1, which is Swiss National Day. By day, watch the cows as they’re led down through the town, and parades of elaborate costumes and floats telling the story of Swiss folklore and tradition. Grab a beer in one of the pretty gardens, and meander around to the small town squares for performances from traditional dancers and horn blowers. By night the crowds gather to watch fireworks, drink and dance in a big street party.

Photos: Caroline Garnar, Topdeck and iStock

I catch the Jungfrau Railway, which climbs up to the highest railway station in Europe (tickets start from CHF60 return, approx £42). Travelling at such a steep gradient is a little disorienting, and I feel borderline claustrophobic travelling through the long, dark tunnels. However, the cold, fresh air when I reach the top is enough to right any ailments. This might be summer, but you will need to pack your woollies for this trip, as it’s like you’ve travelled in time back to the ice age. I walk through ice caves full of glistening carvings – complete with a frozen Scrat, the squirrelly thing from Ice Age – and out onto the viewing platform where the clouds roll past, enveloping me in foggy dew before rushing past again, allowing me a glimpse over the edge to see fierce, ragged rocks pasted with thick snow. This must be Jungfrau’s Blue Steel pose. Taking a slightly surreal tour of random models, photographs and statues that have something to do with Switzerland, though I’m not sure what, I would have gone for a sledge and zip line in the Snow Park, but it was closed due to the bad weather. The final port of call is the highest Lindt chocolate shop in the world, where I buy a sphere of every flavour. Well, I didn’t come all this way for nothing… I may not have been too keen on the journey up here, but trains are the main mode of transport as they’re the best way to climb up and pass through the mountains. One of the more pleasant journeys is on the Schynige Platte cog railway. Its maiden trip took place on June 14 1893, replacing horse and mule transport and slashing the price of the journey by half. The red and beige carriages with wooden benches rattle seven kilometres up the mountainside for 50 minutes, offering a nostalgic journey, and one, of course, with incredible views of the landscape. Pulling into Schynige Platte Station, I spend the night at the hotel up the hill (hotelschynigeplatte.ch) for great food, even better wine, astounding views, and a cosy room full of character with a comfy bed to rest my head. All that fresh mountain air sure took it out of me. After a great night’s sleep, I’m ready to get active again, so I trundle back down the railway to Interlaken Ost Station, where just round the corner there is Flying Wheels (flyingwheels.ch), where you can rent mountain bikes and go on a guided tour around the lakes and fields for CHF45 (approx £30). As you may have picked up by now, the region is mountainous and so there are a few steep slopes to climb. If you’re not a strong cyclist, Flying Wheels also has e-bikes

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EUROBREAK The insider's guide to Switzerland

WHERE TO STAY The rooms at Hotel Regina in Wengen offer a fantastic view over the mountains. Prices start from CHF1,200 (£845) for a double room for seven nights on a B&B basis. hotelregina.ch/eng/ The Hotel Schynige Platte offers a great location for a night spent at altitude with magnificent views of the Wiger, Monch and Jungfrau. Prices start at CHF230 (£162) per room per night on a half board basis hotelschynigeplatte.ch The Hostel Backpackers Villa in Interlaken has won several awards worldwide and can offer spectacular views of Jungfrau mountain. Prices start at CHF34.50 (£25) per person per night on a B&B basis. villa.ch/ The Interlaken Youth Hostel opened recently and is modern and spacious. Prices start from CHF37.30 (£26) per person per night on a B&B basis. youthhostel.ch The Happy Inn is sweet and charming and located in the centre of Interlaken, just a five-minute walk from Interlaken West train station, with Brasserie 17 just below. Prices start from CHF22 (£15.50) per person per night with optional breakfast or half-board (not included in price).

Meet Leisha, one of Topdeck’s esteemed crew, who hails from the land of the long white cloud aka Aotearoa aka N.Z aka New Zealand. She has spent the past few years living the life of a nomad (in style), trekking across Europe, Africa and the Middle East, collecting awesome experiences and friendships along the way. In other words, she’s been there, done that, jumped, sailed, ran, kayaked her way through life. Jealous? We are. Here For vulture arethe herculture top tips for the Swiss Alps. For those who like to ›› Wander. The word immerse themselves inis actually Germanic, meaning to hike and to roam, and cultural experiences whileit’s about 1,000 years old. One of the most epic places tode wander is in Switzerland. The travelling, the Hammam part? You don’t is need labest Mosquee du Paris an a map, your phone or a buddy for that matter, just a good pair of shoes and a sense of ideal destination. Visitors adventure. Best of all, free. My favourite? The trek can respectfully spend it’s time from Lauterbrunnen to Murren. So leave technology in the mosque and book a behind and be at one with nature. massage in the hammam for Enjoy the ›› after. Jump out of a plane, or better yet, a helicopter. wonderful architecture Nothing beats the rushof of a sky dive. That feeling of the the mosque, Salon wind in yourand facethe when those doors open up is awesome. de Thè, which serves honey drenched in snow? Now that Hovering above a mountain pastries North African will takeand your breath away. All you need is the courage to tea. la-mosquee.com/ take that jump... htmlfr/hammamfr.htm ›› EAT – everything at that. The recipes from the

Swiss Alps date back centuries; it is living tradition embodied in food. They are proud of it, still eat it, and so should you. ›› Get up Jungfrau. One of the tallest points in the country, it’s considered the ‘top of Europe’. On a clear day, you can see Italy and Germany from its peak. You won’t want to miss it. ›› Don’t go chasing waterfalls? You’ll want to in Switzerland. In some valleys, dozens of waterfalls dot the landscape. Many can be explored up close. Be sure to check out Trummelbach Falls, the only glacier waterfalls accessible in the world to visitors.

To go on one of Topdeck’s global trips, visit topdeck.travel

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TOP 3 UNIQUE DESTINATIONS IN EUROPE Planning a trip to Europe? Consider some of the continent’s more unusual destinations says Paul Wojnicki.

ICELAND Iceland is one of the most interesting countries in the world, let alone Europe. With unique food, drink, culture, landscapes and wildlife, you’ll be spoilt for choice of what to do while here.

Why is it unique?

It’s unique in dozens of ways, not least in having Europe’s only active geyser field – indeed the Great Geysir in Iceland actually gave rise to the word ‘geyser’. And that’s just the beginning: there are few places on earth where geology is so important in human activity and tourism. Iceland owes its very existence to a volcanic hot spot sitting on a midoceanic ridge. The setting is so unique that you can actually see and walk around the place where North America meets Europe. Then of course there’s the food – where else on earth would you eat putrefied shark? And if that sounds revolting then there’s the traditional beverage used to wash it down: Brennivin is a spirit so pungent that even the locals only drink it to prove their Icelandic-ness. Iceland also has to be the only country in the world in which road construction has known to be halted so as not to disturb land in which elves are believed to live – a survey in 1998 showed that 54.4% of Icelanders believe that elves exist. But then after a few shots of Brennivin and a week or so in the Middle Earth-like landscape and you might even start to believe in them yourself. If all that’s not enough reason to visit then there’s the largest waterfalls in Europe, the Northern Lights (in Winter), the midnight sun and whales (in summer), Viking heritage, pint-sized Icelandic Horses and swimming in geothermal springs such as the famous Blue Lagoon – where the temperature is as warm as a hot bath – or Nauthólsvík

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beach where the air temperature can be below zero while the sea is warmed by thermal springs to a balmy 20°. Return flights from London Luton can be found to Reykjavik for under £90 with Easyjet. For more information on Iceland visit visiticeland.com

during World War II, when Gibraltar was used as the command centre for Operation Torch. Return flights from London Luton to Gibraltar with Monarch for less than £85. For more information on Gibraltar visit visitgibraltar.gi

GIBRALTAR

VENICE

Gibraltar is a ferociously loyal British colony, with a population smaller than many university campus’s it has been disproportionally involved in modern European history.

Why is it unique?

Italy is teeming with beautiful cities, but there are surely none more unique than Venice. From the moment you step out of the train or bus station onto the Grand Canal, you’ll be blown away by the sheer majesty of this city

First off is the wildlife – it’s the only place in Europe where you’ll find wild native primates. With a population of around 300 Barbary Macaques – who love nothing better than to beg, borrow and steal food from unwitting tourists. Secondly is the undisputed British-ness of the place. In 2002 a referendum on whether to remain British ended with an astonishing 98.48% voting yes. All this results in a unique Iberian atmosphere where English is as widely spoken as Spanish and red post boxes can be seen with North Africa looming in the distance. The airport is fairly unique too: you don’t get many opportunities to walk across a functioning runway but the one at Gibraltar airport also acts as the border between Gibraltar and neighbouring Spain. Another reason to visit “The Rock” is of course the rock itself, a 426-metrehigh limestone promontory with views of Africa across the straights and a strategic position that has seen more history per square inch than most countries in the world. The famous siege tunnels helped to hold off four years of Spanish and French attacks during the American war of Independence and were instrumental in winning the battle in north Africa

For a start Venice is the world’s only pedestrian city, where the equivalent of London’s Underground is the Vaporetto water bus and even the garbage is removed by boats. Secondly Venice, according to some sources, has more art per square mile than any other city in the world. The Galleria Accademia for instance has a massive collection of masterpieces as does the Peggy Guggenheim – which boasts works by Pollock, Dali and Picasso to name a few. But these world famous works of art aren’t just restricted to major art galleries; even the smallest buildings in Venice house works by some of the world’s most famous artists. If that’s not enough for you then there’s the city’s unique Venetian Gothic architecture, the narrowest street in Europe – the Calle Varisco (which is 53cm wide at chest level), the bizarre numbering system for buildings and of course the Venetian gondolas and gondoliers which won’t be found anywhere else in the world, and don’t let Las Vegas tell you otherwise! Flights from London to Venice can be found on Ryanair for under £50 return. For more information on Venice visit venice-tourism.com

Why is it unique?

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48HOURS

ISTANBUL

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YOUR WEEKEND IN

Words: Kaye Holland. Photos: iStock

ISTANBUL

Built on seven hills, Turkey’s premier metropolis – the only city in the world to straddle two continents – is unlike anywhere you’ve ever been. Book a weekend break (although non workaholics would do well to throw a sickie either side) and see for yourself where east really does meet west...

DAY ONE MORNING Most of Istanbul’s big blockbuster sights are situated in the Sultanahmet, over on the European side. As a first port of call, make a beeline for the breathtaking Byzantine Emperor of Hagia Sofia (the former Orthodox cathedral turned mosque, that is now a museum) and the Blue Mosque – so called owing to the colour of its handmade Iznik tiles. Don’t forget to dress appropriately: it’s mandatory for men to wear trousers (no matter how hot it is) while women should cover their head and shoulders. When hunger pangs kick in, seek out the world famous Pudding Shop (puddingshop.com) over on Divan Yolu. 58 00

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Run by the Colpan brothers, this was the gathering point for travellers heading overland to India back in the Sixties. AFTERNOON Once you’ve ticked off Hagia Sofia and the Blue Mosque, seek out Topkapi Palace, which was built by Mehmet 11 in 1459 as a retreat for Ottoman sultans. Feeling a tad exhausted after all that sightseeing? It’s time to try a Turkish hammam. Cleansing takes place in a chamber: expect an invigorating scrub followed by lots of slathering. Not one for shy types! For an insight into Ottoman era Istanbul, TNT recommends Gedikpasa Hamami (gedikpasahamami.com). EVENING Wondering where to spend your first night in town? It’s got to be the Galata quarter which was, for a short time back in the 13th century, a colony of Genoa. Dominated by the famous Galata Tower, the always buzzing neighbourhood is home to an excellent array of cafes and rooftop terraces – we

love 360Istanbul (360istanbul.com/eng). This award-winning bar is the perfect place to try raki, the aniseed flavoured spirit that’s wildly popular with locals.

DAY 2 MORNING Make for the 15th-century Grand Bazaar – home to a staggering 4,000 (and counting) shops and stalls. Temptation abounds and, if you’re anything like TNT, you’ll stagger back to your room laden with knock-off leather jackets, jewellery, Aladdin-esque curly slippers and cushion covers. Even if shopping is your idea of hell, the Grand Bazaar is a great place to order a refreshing mint tea or ayran (a ridiculously popular salty yoghurt drink) and enjoy the prime people watching. For a post-shopping sugar hit, head to the atmospheric Spice Bazaar (sometimes referred to as the Egyptian Bazaar) where you’ll find stalls selling colourful cubes of lokum – aka Turkish delight. After something more savoury? For lunch on the run, the freshly baked

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sesame-seed coated bread sold from wheelbarrows outside the Spice Bazaar taste divine. Even better? They’ll only cost you a couple of lira. AFTERNOON If you’re still in the mood to shop, cross the Galata Bridge and hit Istiklal Caddessi, a pedestrianised shopping street that’s lined with both boutiques selling trinkets to remind you of your visit and all the big name international chains. Then take a cruise down the Bosphorus – the 30km straight connecting the Black Sea with the world and dividing the continents of Europe and Asia – for Instagram-worthy views of Istanbul’s amazing skyline.

Ceiling of the Blue Mosque

EVENING Feast alongside the locals on traditional Turkish and Ottoman delights at a meyahne (tavern) for peanuts prices. Be sure to save room for the sweet baklava – pastry soaked in honey that is worth piling on the pounds for. However if you want to hang out with the Istanbul crowd, Ortaköy – on the banks of the Bosphorus – is where it’s at. This trendy waterfront destination boasts a cornucopia of hip bars, but the hottest ticket in town is arguably Angelique (anjelique. com.tr). The stunning rooftop terrace is the perfect spot to sip a well crafted cocktail, and start planning your return…

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR BITE-SIZE BREAK ISTANBUL Experience an in-depth insight into Istanbul’s vibrant local cuisine on this short but sweet food exploration of this ancient city. Explore the aromatic Spice Bazaar, visit the ancient Aya Sofia, sail down the Bosphorus and wander the streets of this great city all the while tasting its diverse and delectable food treats. Make it happen at tnttoursearch.com/tours/bite-size-break-istanbul

Grand Bazaar

ISTANBUL LOCAL HOME FOODIE TOUR Spend an evening dining with a modern-day Turkish family whose genuine sense of hospitality is known world-wide. Walk through the historical Sultanahmet streets among picturesque wooden-houses and call in on a Turkish tea house where you can play backgammon and smoke Nargile (Turkish water pipe) with the locals. For the full low-down, visit tnttoursearch.com/tours/istanbullocal-home-foodie-tour-urban

INTO ISTANBUL WAYS Travel from Vienna, Austria all the way to the colourful city of Istanbul, Turkey on an incredible Eastern European adventure crossing through the countries of Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. See Dracula’s Castle, have breakfast in Sofia at local cafes, see Vienna by bike and live Plovdiv alongside locals. Take three weeks to complete your trip or stay longer and enjoy your time in these beautiful countries! Find out more at tnttoursearch.

Busy Istanbul Street and Galata Tower TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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< £250 ARGASI, ZAKYNTHOS Seven nights selfcatering accommodation at the 4-star Porto Iliessa in Argasi from £231pp. With great access to the beach and town centre the Porto Iliessa is a prime location for a stay on Zakynthos. Includes return flights from london Gatwick, departs May 27th icelolly.com BOLOGNA, ITALY Three nights roomonly accommodation at the 4-star Grand Hotel Elite in Bologna from £146.12pp. Close to the Porta San Felice, the hotel is just outside the city centre but with attractions within walking distance. Includes return flights from London Gatwick, departing May 31. easyjet.com/en/holidays FELUCCA ODYSSEY Nine days to uncover the jewels on the Nile on this Felucca Odyssey tour from £199pp. Kick back and relax as you take in the stunning sights along the Nile and experience what the Nubian life was like. Hunt for lost treasures in the Cairo markets and relish in all the wonders that Egypt’s many temples have to offer.Does not include external flights, departs Cairo June 13th. traveltalktours.com

£250-500 OLU DENIZ, TURKEY Seven nights B&B at the 4-star Perdikia Beach Hotel in Olu Deniz from £269pp. Set on Turkey’s Aegean coast The Perdikia Beach Hotel offers outdoor pool indoor pool, sun terraces, finess centre and sauna along with easy access to outdoor watersports. Includes return flights from London Gatwick & London Stansted, departs various dates from May 5th to June 24th. traveltalktours.com BALKAN TREK Five days travelling from Athens to Split from £329pp. Greece and Croatia united under a sunny blast of beach culture, through Albania’s unspoilt beauty, Montenegro’s national parks all the way to the stunning Adriatic Coast. Does not include external flights, departs Athens June 9th tnttoursearch.com THAI ISLAND HOPPER EAST Nine days spent travelling around the Thai Islands including Koh Samui, Koh Tao, & Koh Pha Ngan from £463pp. With multiple nights on each island, you can sit back on island time. Does not include external flights, departs Koh Samui May 30th. contiki.com

DAILY TRAVEL DEALS GO TO tntmagazine.com/travel/latedeals for more new travel deals. Also sign up for TNT’s weekly Tour Search and Travel newsletters, which will be emailed to you every Monday and Wednesday with deals, prizes, news and destinations. Sign up at tntmagazine.com. To see hundreds of package tours in one place, visit and book through TNT’s Tour Search at tnttoursearch.com

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You’ll be walking like an Egyptian with 20% off select Egypt trips when booked during May. Trace Pharaohs’ Footsteps (MXEGCC departing 9 June) or experience Ultimate Egypt (MXEUCC departing 9 June). From £376 per person, plus local payment. topdeck.travel/tnt-deals

> £500 THAI TWIN-CENTRE BANGKOK & KOH SAMUI Eleven night luxury twin centre holiday from £929pp. Three nights bed & breakfast accommodation at the 5-star Anantara Bangkok Sathorn and eight nights bed & breakfast accommodation at the 5-star Banbury Resort & Spa in Koh Samui. Includes return flights from London Heathrow departing various dates from May 1st to October 30th. travelinteraction.co.uk ASHGABAT TO ISTANBUL (44 DAYS) Visit Turkmenistan, Iran & Turkey on this 44-day adventure from from £1,276pp + local payment. Join this fascinating journey along ancient Middle East trading routes. Discover some of the oldest cities in the world steeped in history and legend from Troy in Turkey to Esfahan in Iran. You start your journey in the bizarre city of Ashgabat, before a fascinating journey through Iran and Turkey unfolds. Does not include external flights, departs Ashgabat September 24 must be booked by May 31st. tnttoursearch.com

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WINNER WINNER BETWEEN LEIDEN AND DEN HELDER, NETHERLANDS Maaike van de Schoot, 30, Netherlands Driving the Bloemen Route (or Flower Route) from Amsterdam is a highlight of any trip home for me. I grew up here but now live in the UK and I miss this patchwork rainbow.

RUNNER-UP ST MICHAELS MOUNT AND CAUSEWAY CORNWALL Isobel Franks, 23, Australia Loved the adventurous feeling of walking out here at low tide. I was hoping we might get stuck on the island over night – it would have been very Enid Blyton!

A THREE-DAY TOUR OF SCOTLAND OR A PHOTOGRAPHY COURSE VOUCHER! To be in with a chance of winning one of these fantastic prizes, simply upload your images to tntmagazine.com/hotshots to be put into a regular prize draw. First prize is a three-day tour of Scotland for two worth £258 from Haggis Adventures (does not include accommodation, haggisadventures.com). The runner-up wins a £60 photography course voucher from Nigel Wilson Photography (photographycourses.org.uk).

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It may be a tiny sliver of land, but Israel’s got a lot going on. Here’s the low-down on a few of our favourite Israeli adventures… WORDS KAYE HOLLAND

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A guide to

Israel

Best for beaches: Tel Aviv In search of perfect beaches (and bronzed bodies), only a four-hour flight away from the UK? Tel Aviv – which means ‘Hill of the Spring’ – ticks both boxes. There’s a beach for every occasion and character: one to party, play sports, one for families (Metzitzim Beach), a religious beach (Nordau Beach where men and women are segregated) and another for the LGBT brigade (hello Hilton Beach). However, Alma Beach, near the Charles Clore Park, is arguably where you go for the swankiest sand. This is the spot to stretch out your beach towel and enjoy the fabulous people-watching opportunities, rest, relax and read that book that’s been sitting on your bedside table since Christmas.

When hunger pangs kick in, make for Rothschild Boulevard – an elegant avenue lined with imported oak trees and named after the famed Jewish family of financiers – that’s brimming with cafes and restaurants. The waterfront eateries at the Old Port (which was given a makeover in the early 2000s by the Tel Aviv municipality) also reward a visit. And the historic Old Railway Station (often referred to as HaTachna) is home to to a whole host of fashionable dining venues including Vicky Cristina – an outdoor tapas and wine bar named after the Woody Allen film – that’s currently the hottest ticket in town. What else: Buzzing beach aside, Tel Aviv is all about Bauhaus architecture (think curved corners, horizontal lines and an absence of ornamentation). So much so that the city’s TNTMAGAZINE.COM

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beautiful white Bauhaus buildings (there are more than 400 in total) were declared a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2003. Two of the best examples of Bauhaus-style buildings include the charming Cinema Hotel (Dizengoff Square) and Soshkin House (12 Lillenblum Street). Best for history: Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem

Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

Jerusalem – which has been seducing travellers and pilgrims since time immemorial – is another must do Israeli destination. Nothing prepares you for a visit to the Old City where pilgrims mix with holy men and tourists with locals selling food and crafts. Every turn offers something new: another spicy food aroma, another colourful character jangling trinkets. First up, follow the trail of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion walk, ending up on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to see the spot widely believed to have been where Christ was nailed to his cross and then later laid to rest in a nearby tomb. Expect to see Christians quietly praying in anticipation of their messiah returning, while tourists snap pictures of the impressive Ottoman baroque architecture. Next wander to the Wailing Wall – the remnants of the ancient wall that surrounded the Jewish Temple, God’s supposed footstool on Earth and one of the most holy sites in Judaism. Other blockbuster sights include Islam’s third most important mosque, the Dome of the Rock, and Christianity’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Once you’ve got the Old City out of the way, make a beeline for Bethlehem, five miles south of Jerusalem. Wind your way through Bethlehem’s busy streets to the Church of Nativity, the site claimed by Christians to house the birthplace of Christ. What else: Make sure you visit Yad Vashem, the world’s leading museum dedicated to the memory of the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. This impressive museum combines video testimony, letters and objects to bring a human dimension to one of history’s most evil chapters. Best for R&R: The Dead Sea

Xxxx WORDS RACHEAL GETZELS

Rock in tombs in Dalyan Dead calm the Dead Sea 64

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You don’t truly understand the Dead Sea until you’ve been there. The lowest place on Earth isn’t actually a sea, but a massive salt lake whose shores are the lowest place on earth. The saltiness accounts for it’s incredible buoyancy (just don’t mistakenly stick your head under – salt stings!) and its high mineral content (water and mud) is celebrated for its healthgiving properties. Entering it is like being in one of those floatation tanks that were popular back in the Eighties, but without the feeling of claustrophobia. To float here is to obtain a sense of tranquility; it’s quiet, just a gentle hub-bub and splish-splash as people wash off the healing black mud they’ve slapped upon themselves. Lying on your back, arms outstretched, as the black gloop melts away, all conflict is forgotten and a feeling of peace reigns supreme. What else: Combine your excursion to the Dead Sea with a trip to the astounding fortress of Masada, which has become one of the Jewish people’s most important symbols. Masada is an isolated sheer-sided rock plateau into which Roman ruler Herod the Great built a small city in order to serve as fortress in times of trouble. But in 66AD a group of Jewish rebels

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The view from Masada overlooking the Dead Sea towards Jordan captured Masada from the Romans and managed to resist a two-year siege by Roman forces. This group took the decision to commit mass suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. What’s left at Masada today is an astounding series of ruins that point to this extraordinary chapter in history. Best for nature: The Galilee Accounting for the northern third of Israel, the Galilee is generally considered the lush, green part of the country, thanks to its higher-than-average rainfall and lower (but not by that much) temperatures. It’s a diverse area that includes some unique flora and fauna and is a great place for bush walks. The Galilee is also home to Lake Kinneret, sometimes called the Sea of Galilee, aka Israel’s largest fresh water reservoir that’s also the country’s largest and most important source of drinking water. All winter long, the most important part of the news report for Israelis is not the dollar-shekel exchange rate or the level of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange index, but rather the water level in Lake Kineret! The Galilee is also where Jesus was born (Nazareth) and he spent at least 30 years of his life ministering in the area. Other highlights here are the town of Safed – an ancient centre of Jewish mysticism – and Akko – a coastal town with a strong Ottoman, Arab and Jewish heritage. What else: Galilee also serves as the gateway to nature reserves such as Jordan Park, the Beit Tsida Nature Reserve, Khamat Gader and Naharayim and The Golan Heights, Israel’s mountainous northern region that’s nicknamed the Israeli Texas owing to its impressive size.

GUIDETOISRAEL

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR CLASSIC ISRAEL A comprehensive eight-day tour with Encounters Travel that explores the Mediterranean coast, Nazareth and the Golan Heights as well as the Dead Sea, Masada and Old Jerusalem.

FANTASTIC ISRAEL This eight-day tour with Encounters Travel spends time in Tel Aviv, Tiberias and Jerusalem in addition to travelling to the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee.

JEWELS OF ISRAEL A one-week tour with Topdeck that starts and ends in Tel Aviv and visits Israel’s most essential travel destinations, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada, Jericho and Golan Heights.

REAL FOOD ADVENTURE Celebrate classic dishes and delectable delights on this Real Food Adventure through Israel and the Palestinian Territories with Intrepid.

DISCOVER EGYPT, JORDAN AND ISRAEL Myth, religion and wonder come together on Intrepid’s adventure holiday across the timeless terrain of Egypt, Jordan and Israel. To find out more and to book, visit tnttoursearch.com

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Sizzling South America Feel the heat in the air (and in your burninâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; loins) in this intoxicating Latino continent WORDS: KAYE HOLLAND

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BIGTRIP South America may be more of a faff to get to than other travel destinations, but it’s worth the haul. This is a continent of spell-binding scenery (think rainforests, red rock canyons, deserts, glaciers and soft white sands), hip-shaking beats, sultry summer sun, cosmopolitan cities of cool, ridiculously good looking locals and loud and proud Latin culture that’s sure to exceed your expectations. Here, we give you a rundown of the countries that simply have to be on your hit list, and how you can go about making them happen… Argentina Ah… Argentina. The world’s eighth largest country is truly a traveller’s paradise. There is beautiful wilderness in Argentina when you get down to the pristine and untouched icebergs of Patagonia and then there’s also pulsing nightlife and culture with parties that rival Ibiza’s. And don’t forget that steak... Spend your first few days exploring the Paris of the South – as Buenos Aires is affectionately known. Recoleta Cemetery will give you a sense of the city’s old-style pomp and grandeur. Elsewhere the arty street markets in San Telmo and the glitzy clubs in Palermo will give you a sense of the city’s split personality. Presuming you desire to leave Buenos Aires at some point (and many don’t), make for Mendoza – Argentina’s gorgeous wine region where you can cycle through vineyards and sample the lush dark red wine that is Malbec. Ultimate adventure can be found in the south of the country where glaciers make up Patagonia. It’s also the furthest point on earth before you reach the Antarctic, and the surreal launchpad town of Ushuaia truly feels like the final frontier. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: REAL FOOD ADVENTURE With a pronounced cultural appreciation for the finer things in life and generations of migrant cuisine to draw on, Argentina has evolved into a mecca for foodies. With dishes like asado (slow-cooked grills that infuse beef cuts and sausages with a delicious smoky flavour), fresh and zesty salads, rich pasta dishes and scrumptious desserts, there is an array of fine foods that will cater to any appetite. And with more than 1,500 wineries, myriad food-growing regions and a culture with a deep love of food and the ceremony that comes with it, a Food Adventure in Argentina will not disappoint. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/real-food-adventureargentina Bolivia Bolivia is beguiling with its natural beauty and colonial cities – worn down on the surface, but rich and alive with culture and history at their core. It’s not an effortless destination – the roads are bad, the buses are old and the thin air will have you gasping for breath at every step – but there’s adventure at every corner and the diversity of the land will blow you away. Start in La Paz – one of the highest capitals in the world whose cobbled roads that dramatically spill down into the valley below are crammed full of crumbling old world buildings and lively street stalls. From La Paz, head to Lake TNTMAGAZINE.COM

Lake Titicaca, where real men knit... Titicaca. Bolivia’s highest mountains are set against this shimmering blue lake with small islands dotted on the surface. The terrain here is rugged and the towns are rough around the edges: a combination of cocaine smugglers who hide out in the vast cliff sides, indigenous communities who live, eat and sleep on tiny reed islands, and villages that throw a fiesta like you would not believe, drinking Chicha (incredibly strong handcrafted beer) and telling stories deep into the night. Then circle down to the Salt Flats: miles and miles of crystal clear, reflective white salt that has hardened in place of an old lake. Finish your Bolivian adventure in UNESCO world heritage listed Sucre: Bolivia’s most beautiful city.

Photo: Annalisa Westbrook

Salt Flats, Bolivia

DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: BOLIVIAN HIGHLIGHTS ADVENTURE See Bolivia’s main highlights on this amazing 12-day adventure that will leave you with awesome memories. Discover La Paz on a city tour, take funny pictures at the famous Uyuni Salt Flats, awe at moon-like landscapes, visit traditional cities like Potosi and Sucre, and learn about the Bolivian way of life. Highlights: Visit beautiful Bolivian cities with colonial architecture, travel to the Uyuni Salt Flats through surreal deserts, explore market places and get in touch with the locals. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/bolivia-highlightsadventure-12d11n Brazil Brazilians have longed claimed that ‘God is Brazilian’ – how else to account for the country’s embarrassment of riches? – and now it seems as though the rest of the world, has finally woken up to this fact. Case in point? The Olympic Flame will be arriving in Brazil next summer, helping Brazil brush off the old jibe that it is a country of the future – and always will be. For many people, their abiding image of Brazil is the statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooking the sprawling city and bay of Rio de Janeiro, with its surrounding lush forests and wonderful beaches. This buzzing city, with its beautiful sands, riotous carnival and unique spirit is on most travellers itineraries – and rightly so. But Salvador – the heart of African Brazil – is also worth seeking out, as is Brazil’s Amazonian region which includes steamy tropical jungle cut by red-brown rivers, forests and savannas pierced by tabletop mountains, and white sandy beaches lining blue rivers. Then there’s Iguaçu – a collection of almost 275 waterfalls that range from elegant cascades to brutal chocolate-coloured torrents that plunge into angry cauldrons of white water, making it one of the wonders of the natural world. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: THE BEST OF BRAZIL From the heat of Rio’s nightlife to the chilled-out atmosphere of Ilha Grande, discover the treasures of Brazil

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BIGTRIP on this comfortable week-long adventure. You’ll wander the colonial streets of Paraty – it’s a UNESCO heritage site and quite possibly the prettiest spot on the planet – and savour seafood and life without cars on the island of Ilha Grande. Stand in awe of awesome Iguassu Falls deep in the interior, then marvel at it from Argentina’s side. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/the-best-of-brazil-2015 Chile

SOUTH AMERICA UNCOVERED Are you 18-35? Get off the beaten track with Tucan’s Budget Expedition tours through The Guianas. Explore the magical countries hidden in a pocket of South America as you immerse yourself in the colourful cultures of Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana enveloped beneath the leafy tropics of the rainforest. BOOK IT: tucantravel.com

Cities, glaciers, geysers, the driest desert in the world, forests, fjords, first class wine regions and laid back surfing spots: spindly Chile has the lot. Spend a day or so exploring Santiago, Chile’s unexpectedly charming capital that’s becoming more than just a stop-off on to other destinations. Don’t miss museums including the Museum of Memory & Human Rights, which exposes the shocking human rights violations that occurred between 1973 and 1990, and the striking Centro Gabriela Mistral centre. The latter is named after the Chilean poet, Gabriela Mistral, who was the first Latin American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. Then push on to the endearing port city of Valparaiso whose elegant colonial buildings have a dignified, if faded, grandeur. Be sure to ride the old-style funiculars up to the heights overlooking the port. From Valpo, you’ll need to decide whether to go north to San Pedro de Atacama – aka the world’s oldest, driest and highest desert where you can climb mountains of salt, sand-

Choroni Palomino Cabimas Beach Cartagena Caracas Cataumbo Ciudad Bolivar Los COLOMBIA Mérida Georgetown Llanos San Gil

Paramaribo VENEZUELA Villa de Leyva Zona Cafetera Salto Cayenne Surama Bogotá Tierradentro FRENCH GUIANA Tatacoa Desert Karma Popayán GUYANA SURINAME San Agustin Otavalo Macapá

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BIGTRIP

Otavalo markets, Ecuador

board on ancient dunes or marvel at the nearby El Tatio geysers (the highest geyser field in the world) – or venture south to see the Fjords or escape to Easter Island. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: INTO CHILE WAYS Hop-On Hop-Off passes around Chile are a flexible and independent way to travel on different types of transport (public buses, shuttle vans, ferries, trains and planes) to exciting destinations with daily departures and the flexibility of unlimited changes to your departure dates anytime. Enjoy tonnes of experiences encompassing a variety of adventure, cultural, historical and natural activities. There are no tour leaders and no accommodation included. The decisions are left up to you. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/into-chile-ways Colombia Salsa-loving Colombia is swapping its troubles for tourism, and it’s about time as the country is an intoxicating mix of South America allure and Caribbean charm that will warm any traveller’s heart. Bogota – a big, chaotic, vibrant city that’s home to around seven million or so Colombians – serves as the gateway to the country. There’s plenty to see and do, from galleries and theatres to bars and clubs and cafes, to artsy districts to ritzy neighbourhoods. But when the hustle and bustle gets too much, escape the tourist hordes and get back to nature on Colombia’s unspoilt Pacific coastline where whale watching, surfing and scuba diving opportunities abound. Alternatively you can just laze in a hammock at one of the many eco-lodges dotted along the shoreline. Whatever you do though, check out Cartagena – a World Heritage listed city on the Caribbean coast where Gabriel Garca Marquez set the evocative Love in the Time of Cholera. Medellin – Colombia’s second-biggest city that’s set in a deep valley ringed by lush hills – is another must. Once home to the Medellin Cartel headed by the infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, it’s now thriving. International flights arrive here, so 70

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Friendly locals, with cool hats

it serves as a slightly more relaxed introduction to the country than Bogota. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: COLOMBIA HIGHLIGHTS From one enticing town to the next, this two-week tour of Colombia’s most beautiful places will leave you never wanting to leave. Wander through the streets of Cartegena, sway on hammocks in Tayrona NP and meet some of the friendliest people in South America. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/colombia-highlights Ecuador It’s small, but there’s no shortage of things to see in this Andean nation, from snow-covered mountains to Amazonian rainforest and incredible wildlife. Begin your trip in Quito – a clash of colonial, indigenous and rampant capitalism. While most visitors stay in the new town, the Unesco World Heritage-listed old town is a wonderful collection of colonial mansions, churches, monasteries and cobbled streets. Then head north east to Otavalo, home to one of South America’s biggest open air markets. Here you can pick up everything from a hammock to a pig, alongside leather jackets and hand-woven textiles. Next it’s time to get up close and personal with nature in the Amazon; Ecuador is home to 1,600 species of birds, 4,500 species of butterfly and more than 3,500 species of orchid. For more wildlife watching, fly out to the Galapagos. Nominally part of Ecuador, but virtually a world on its own, the Galapagos offers a wildlife experience like nowhere else on earth. Island-hopping tours showcase seabirds, iguanas, tortoises and seals that are completely unafraid of humans. In the water, the snorkelling and diving is equally good. Alternatively chill out on the beach in a surf-loving town such as Salinas, Canoa, Montañita and Atacames. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: ECUADOR ON A SHOESTRING Get an insight into the wonderful South American country of Ecuador on this week-long journey. Discover the culture

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Machu Picchu photobomb

and charisma of the famed Otavalo markets, explore the incredible Amazon while guests of a local family, relax in the laidback town of Banos and soak in the charm of Quito, one of South America’s most beguiling capitals. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/ecuador-on-a-shoestring Peru Encompassing white sandy deserts on the southern coast, breath-taking highlands in the Altiplano, and lush jungles in the interior – not to mention the famous Inca City of Machu Picchu – Peru is a land of extremes. It’s a cliché, we know, but there truly is something for everyone. Little wonder then that Peru is a top pick for travellers. The big blockbuster attraction is of course the Inca Trail. Few who have walked it would deny that this remains deservedly one of the world’s greatest treks. Yet while Machu Picchu may steal the show in Peru, don’t miss Manu Park – described as the jewel in the Amazon crown. It is one of the most pristine, yet easily accessible, regions of the Amazon basin. Even in this incredible natural region, Manu is unequaled in its number of resident species. In south Peru, you can fly over the dry land to see the amazing Nazcar Lines, large intricate symbols of animal figures and geometric shapes. Elsewhere Peru’s Pacific coast generates some top waves for surfers. It may seem barren compared to the jungles and mountain regions, but the laid back vibe and long stretches of sand are a must if you’re into boarding. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: PERU AMAZON WAYS This enthralling jungle adventure allows total immersion into the wild beauty of the Amazon in Peru. Walk through abundant rainforest, cruise along murky waterways, spot exotic wildlife and learn about the healing properties of native plants. This tour is an excellent introduction to the friendly people and amazing creatures of the Amazon. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/peru-amazon-4-days

Angel Falls, Venezuela

Venezuela Despite its outstanding natural beauty, Venezuela doesn’t receive many tourists owing to its high crime rate and lack of hotels and domestic flights. But Venezuela, whose tourism minister is on a mission to put the country on the travel map, isn’t lacking when it comes to stunning attractions. This is a country of Caribbean coastline, Andean peaks, Amazon adventures and cascading waterfalls most of which are within easy (for South America, anyway) distance of each other. Go now, before the crowds catch on. Spend a few days on the Caribbean coast, perhaps at Parque Nacional Henri Pittier. If you really fancy stretching out in your hammock between snorkel trips, catch a flight to the Las Roques islands, but beware, you might never want to leave! But leave you must, because it would be criminal to leave Venezuela without visiting Merida and exploring the country’s Andean landscapes. Finally, Angel Falls – aka the highest waterfall in the world – is Venezuela’s other must-see attraction. This silver ribbon of water tumbles 979m off a flat-topped mountain into jungle below. To fly over the falls is to be dazzled by one of the wonders of the natural world, while a boat trip to the base will bring home the sheer scale of them. DO SOMETHING SIMILAR: VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA OVERLAND Start your journey deep in the Amazon jungle and travel past the flat topped Tepuis mountains of the Grand Savannah to Angel Falls. Explore Caribbean beaches and the wildlife filled wetlands of the Llanos, before taking in a few adrenaline activities in Merida. Enjoy the cobbled streets and colonial architecture of Cartagena and the vibrant nightlife of Bogota, travelling south down the back of the Andes through coffee plantations to the colourful markets of Otavalo and our final destination of Quito – the gateway to the Galapagos. BOOK IT: tnttoursearch.com/tours/manaus-to-quito-50-days TNTMAGAZINE.COM

TRAVELTIPS

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Emma Sparks Blessed with secluded coves, vast dunes and beautiful bays, Britain’s coastline is remarkable. This summer, why not step foot in sands a little closer to home? What you find might just surprise you, says Lonely Planet’s Emma Sparks.

Kynance Cove Beach in Cornwall

WHEN TO GO If good weather is your priority, July and August are the obvious months – but even then sunshine is not guaranteed, and the summer holiday crowds will be out in force. Try June or early September; beaches won’t be so busy and you’re still in with a chance of catching some rays. If you’re in a position to take a last-minute getaway, you could wait for a fluke heatwave to prompt your blue sky beach break. WHERE TO GO CORNWALL This corner of England is famous for its many varied and breathtaking beaches. Surfers should head to Fistral Beach in Newquay, while prudent paddlers will prefer the calm waters of Carbis Bay beach in St Ives. PEMBROKESHIRE Pembrokeshire is home to more Blue Flag beaches than any other county in the UK – and Barafundle Bay is one of the region’s most beautiful. Pitch your 72

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YORKSHIRE Whitby is a quintessential seaside town. Explore the quaint, hilly streets and ancient Whitby Abbey before getting stuck into the sand with your bucket and spade. Reward yourself with fish and chips and an ice-cream cone for the classic British beach experience.

Whitby in Yorkshire tent at a nearby campsite to fall asleep to the sound of the ocean. DEVON Blackpool Sands, near Dartmouth, sits in a secluded bay sheltered by green hills and pine trees. Award-winning facilities and watersports make this a good spot for an active, all-day adventure.

SCOTLAND They may be remote, but beaches in the Scottish Highlands are definitely worth the extra effort. A four-mile walk from the nearest road in Blairmore, stunning Sandwood Bay features an impressive rock column, and the milelong stretch of golden sand backs onto secluded dunes. WHAT TO PACK Sun cream. (Let’s try to be optimistic!) Extra clothing and blankets so you can stay snuggly, should the weather take a turn. A picnic. Of course no trip to the British seaside would be complete without a few sandy sandwiches.

Photos: iStock

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WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO LET International sensation LET IT BE is now playing at London’s Garrick Theatre and we’ve got five pairs of tickets to giveaway! Seen by more than one million people worldwide, LET IT BE is packed with over 40 of The Beatles’ greatest hits.

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Relive The Beatles’ meteoric rise from their humble beginnings in Liverpool’s Cavern Club, through the heights of Beatlemania, to their later studio masterpieces, with live performances of early tracks including ‘Twist and Shout’, ‘She Loves You’ and ‘Drive My Car’, as well as global mega-hits ‘Yesterday’, ‘Hey Jude’, ‘Come Together’ and, of course, ‘Let It Be’. Travel back to the magical Sixties when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends! Garrick Theatre, Box Office: 0844 482 9673 Until September 27, 2015 Enter at tntmagazine.com/competitions letitbelive.com

‘THE BEATLES SHOW YOU NEVER GOT TO SEE’ Smooth Radio Paul Phear ‘BEATLEMANIA IS BACK!’ Capital Gold Tony Dibbin ‘A NON-STOP PARADE OF HITS’ Charles Spencer, Daily Telegraph

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LIFESTYLE CAREERS | LIVING | CLASSIFIEDS | DESPERATELY SEEKING

JOIN THE THAMES PATH MIGRATION We’ve all got an animal onesie tucked away somewhere, so why not put it to good use by taking part in a ‘mass migration’ from London to Gloucester to help raise money for Africa’s Big Five. Kicking off from the Thames Barrier on May 22, you can go hardcore and do the full five-day, 187-mile walk/run/cycle ending in Kemble, Gloucestershire, or just join in for a day. Fun, themed camping is provided so you can rest your paws, and 100% of the money raised will support wildlife vets in Limpopo, Africa. See AfricanChampions.webs.com to get involved.

LIFESTYLECAREERS

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In the kitchen: Roxanne Allen

Say cheers... Work in the hospitality industry and you’ll trade an office for the pub – we’ll drink to that! Spend most of your time down the pub? You may as well work there! Seriously... Working in the hospitality industry is exciting, fun and sociable. The best thing about this industry, though, is that it’s an ideal job for an expat with travel lust. If you find you have a talent for pulling a pint or sizzling a steak, opportunities abound. Pubs and restaurants are a global business – you can take your skills nearly anywhere in the world. No experience and just looking for beer money? Start at the bottom and you’ll quickly work your way up. “I went from a glass collector to a general manager of a thriving and successful business,“ says Sam, the GM of The White Horse in Richmond, who has aspirations to own his own pub, bar or restaurant one day. 76

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Sam’s just one of the people working in the hospitality industry who appears on the #thiscouldbeyou blog on the British Beer and Pub Association’s website, pubandbarcareers.com. Seeing as you probably haven’t set your sights on general manager just yet, here are a few other case studies to whet your pub and bar industry appetite.

In the kitchen Roxanne Allen, 19, is the Demi Chef de Partie at The Anthologist on Gresham Street. She has a Level 2 NVQ in Professional Cookery, and Level 3 VQR Professional Cookery. Hailing from Essex, Roxanne makes an hour-long journey into the City of London to get into the kitchen for 8am. A typical day involves replenishing the previous night’s stock before prepping for a 12.30pm lunch service on her

designated section – starters, salads and her personal favourite – desserts. “I used to struggle with patience, but after learning about the delicate nature of pastries, I now love taking time to create each little masterpiece. They require a lot of skill and can be very time consuming due to the intricate details, but you get a real sense of accomplishment.” A short break after lunch service finishes at 2pm, and Roxanne is back to prepping for the evening. “Being a chef is not a glamorous job. We work long hours and are on our feet all day, but it’s worth it.” Roxanne started young, working as a silver service waitress at a local golf club from age 14 and then part time in a bar while studying for her professional cookery qualifications at college.

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them and satisfying our guests with five-star service from the moment they walk in the door to the moment they leave. Every day is different, I come across a huge range of requests, which you have to try your best to carry out to please the guest.” Jamie highlights the opportunity to travel, meeting new people and the day-to-day variety as reasons why young people should join the industry. He also believes there are opportunities for career progression. “I have seen myself in five years going from just starting out to working in the World’s Best Bar. The industry has massive room for progression and it can happen quickly. If you do your job properly and are open minded then when the opportunity arises you will have the chance to step up.”

Working behind a bar is seriously sociable

Words: Caroline Garnar and pubandbarcareers.com. Photos: iStock.and pubandbarcareers.com

On the floor

It was through her bar job that Roxanne met the Head Chef of the Anthologist and consequently landed her first kitchen role. Seven months in and she loves every second of it. “You can progress quickly as long as you put the work in,” says Roxanne, who has moved up from Commis Chef to Demi Chef de Partie in just six months. “I’ve learnt more in the last six months on the job than I did at college, but my qualifications have ensured that I pick things up much faster and have prepared me for the fast-paced life in the kitchen.” As a young kitchen team of many different nationalities, Roxanne loves the fact that she can learn from other cultures. “Everyone has been taught different cooking styles and I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up new tricks from the other chefs. In the future, I hope to be able to work in restaurants overseas, using the transferable skills that I’ve gained. There’s always a mouth to feed, wherever you are in the world and everyone speaks the same language in food!”

Behind the bar Jamie Rhind, 22, is a bar waiter at Artesian Bar in Marylebone’s Langham Hotel, recently named Best Bar in the World at the annual Spirited Awards, his team also scooped the World’s Best International Bar Team award. Jamie joined Artesian having fallen into the industry during his final few years at school. When he was 18 he had the chance to go to The London Bar School for a month to learn all about cocktails. “After finishing top of my class, it showed me that I could actually forge a career in the industry,” he says. “I got offered the job as supervisor at the bar I was working in Ipswich, and stayed there for a few months, but I had a burning desire to move to London so I quit my job and started applying for jobs in the capital.” Within a month Artesian came calling and two-and-a-half years later Jamie is still there, and feeling right at home. “I love having the opportunity to make someone’s day by giving great service and great drinks,” he says. “It’s all about creating an experience for

Zoe Harbour, 24, has worked her way up from the back of house to restaurant floor manager at Missoula Bar & Grill, gaining six promotions in no time at all. “This is the sector that recognises and rewards hard work, promotes career progression and above all else is a lot of fun,” says Zoe. Despite graduating with a BA History degree in 2010, a waitressing stint changed her whole career path. She then took a back-of-house role at The Living Room (now Missoula) in York. “This was the best thing that I could have done – by glass collecting, refilling stock and cleaning I learnt all of the basic skills. I gained respect from all members of staff by mucking in too. “After then bar-tending for six months, I was promoted to an in-store trainer position. I became mother hen, looking after the new members of staff. That was my first taste of real responsibility.” With her eyes open to the prosperous career on the horizon, Zoe made the most of the experienced team around her and cross-trained to become a waitress, and is now floor manager. “I know it is cliché – but in the hospitality industry you really do have the opportunity to make so many friends and live an amazing lifestyle. I wouldn’t change it and I would recommend it to anyone.” TNTMAGAZINE.COM

LIFESTYLELIVING BATH TIME!

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Tip No.1: Don’t drop your wallet

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Top tricks to save money on public transport... The cost of travel is a bitch. Unless you are happy to risk your life before breakfast my cycling on London’s roads (we’re sure it’s not that bad really), we have little choice other than to face the underground, overground (Wombling free... sorry.... distracted), or rail services, and pay a premium for the privilege. When the service is late, cancelled, or looks like it’s just hosted an all-night rave, complete with vomit and drugs paraphernalia, the price we pay can be even harder to swallow. There are ways, though, that you can save pennies or even pounds every day, and this quickly adds up to a tidy saving, which can contribute towards the kind of travel you are more than happy to spend money on. Here are our top transport-saving tips...

Go contactless Pimp out your bathroom... With this wild bath mat. amara.com

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We all know that Oyster cards offer you cheaper pay-as-you-go travel than buying individual tickets, but how many times have you missed your train because you heard the dreaded double beep when you swiped and

had to run to the machine to top up? Time is money, as they say, especially if you keep being late for work and get fired. So you can save both – and potentially your job – by using contactless. Using your credit or debit card in exactly the same way as you would your Oyster, you still benefit from capped fares, and there’s never a need to top up. The option is available for travel throughout London on the tube, buses, trams, the DLR, the overground, as well as most National Rail services in London. Your credit or debit card does need to have the contactless symbol (four curved lines increasing in size, like the symbol for sound). If it doesn’t, you can request a new one from your bank. Under the fares for 2015, customers using contactless or Oyster on pay-as-you-go will benefit from the all-day cap for Zones 1-2 being cut by £2 from £8.40 to £6.40; and for Zones 1-6 by more than £4 from £15.80 to £11.70. The potential savings for workers on flexi-time are considerable. For example

Photos: iStock and PRshots.com

amara.com

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LIFESTYLELIVING HOME ON DEMAND

Join the Commuter Club Get an annual season ticket discount, but pay monthly with commuterclub.co.uk

You can make serious savings on your daily travel if you swap your monthly or weekly travelcard for an annual one, but it does mean you have to stump up a lump sum. Until now... CommuterClub allows you to spread the cost, so you get the cheaper travel, without the upfront spend. The site makes annuals affordable through a safe and simple low-cost payment plan. It allows you to enjoy the big discounts and extra benefits of an annual ticket, but maintain all the flexibility of buying monthly. In fact, you pay for it over 11 months, so month 12 is free. There are no hidden fees and it’s easy to cancel. It’s a convenient

when a three-days-a-week customer travels between Zones 1-5, they will pay a maximum of £10.90 a day, rather than the current maximum of £15.80, saving £4.90 a day, or £14.70 a week. Over a year (for example, 45 working weeks) the savings could be up to £600.

Split your journey up Rail passengers are going mad for a moneysaving website that digs out cut-price fares hidden by the operators. TrainSplit.com works by breaking journeys down into smaller chunks. Buying separate tickets for different legs of your journey often works out cheaper than buying a single ticket, and there’s no requirement to

way to spread the cost and you never have to queue to buy a ticket or remember to top up again. You do pay interest on the re-payments, but you could still save yourself more than £173 a year compared to monthlies (zones 1-4) and even more versus weeklies. Plus, you avoid any fare price inflations throughout the year. Here’s an example of what you would pay: A Zone 1-4 Annual Travelcard costs £1800. You will pay 11 monthly payments of £172.80, totalling £1901.11, which means you’ve paid £101 in interest (14.3% APR. Interest rate: 5.6% pa fixed). Visit commuterclub.co.uk to start saving!

keeping getting on and off. As long as your train stops at the stations where one ticket ends and another starts then it’s all perfectly legal and above board. The founders of TrainSplit reckon rail companies overcharge passengers on 42% of all tickets sold, and believe their neat trick can help passengers save an average 22% on each journey. They offer the example of a return ticket between Manchester and London, which can be slashed from £270 to £179.50 by splitting the journey into five separate legs – a juicy saving of £90.50. Splityourticket.co.uk offers a similar service, as does personal finance guru Martin Lewis on moneysavingexpert.com.

WATCH MOVIES, TV AND MORE FROM BACK HOME WITH SCATZY Along with friends, family and food, one of the things we miss the most about home is the TV and movies. We’re bored of the genuinely good English TV, and crave the so-bad-it’sgood programmes we used to so enjoy on a Sunday, where you could tune in and switch off your brain for hours while your hangover eased itself away. Portals like Netflix and LoveFilm are bursting with American series and English flicks, but, shock horror, the wonders of Oz, New Zealand and South Africa are often overlooked. That’s where Scatzy comes in. This video on demand platform will have all your favourite shows from the southern hemisphere, as well as some new ones and the latest cinema releases. In fact, it even had South African film Strikdas available for download on the same day it was out in cinemas. Scatzy has initially launched with South African movies only, but will soon expand to offer movies from New Zealand and Australia as well, and also expand their services to include TV shows, documentaries, music downloads, e-books and other entertainment. Forget that super-expensive flight. All you need to visit home now is Scatzy and your sofa. Sweet!

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RECRUITMENT

Opportunities available: • Retail sales assistants • Warehouse assistants

What we offer:

• Investment in your future • The chance to develop a successful career • An enjoyable, friendly atmosphere

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• Passion for Customer Service • Hunger for success • Excellent communication skills

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DEE COOPER

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22/04/2015 19:19:34

live-in jobs

Dee Cooper Live In Jobs has heaps of new available hotel and pub vacancies for live in couples and singles across the UK including Lake District, Scottish Highlands, Surrey, Berkshire and Cornwall. Call Dee on 01764 670001 or email deecooperjobs@gmail.com for details of how to apply for these immediate positions. Bar waiting and general asst positions plus some chefing vacancies available now.

Dee @ dee cooper live in jobs

SUMMERL SPECIA E 13th

We are looking for fit, motivated individuals who have a passion to work in events and are excellent team players. We offer flexible part time hours at great rates, allowing you to earn some extra money and get a great sense of achievement from working alongside other crewmen. If that sounds like you - then apply today and join our team.

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13TH JUNE 2015 IBIS HOTEL EARLS COURT

IBIS HO

EVENTS WORK | FLEXIBLE HOURS | EXCELLENT RATES Email: info@crewsaders.com Call: 0845 094 4884

www.crewsaders.com 80

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RECRUITMENT

To advertise call 020 7989 0567 or sales@tntmagazine.com

AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR SUMMER JOBS WITH A DIFFERENCE Get out the office, hit the streets and fundraise for household name charities. Immediate start, Hourly rates from £8 – 12 per hour, Regular socials (funded by us)! To make this summer your best yet call us on 0207 089 2644 / 0161 641 0005 to APPLY NOW for an IMMEDIATE START We have vacancies from Glasgow to London

We are looking for experienced kitchen staff for our busy café in the heart of downtown Reykjavik, Iceland. This is one of the hot spots in the Reykjavik cafe scene and we are looking for hard working, honest staff to be a part of our international kitchen team. w ww

.t h e

lau

nd r

.co

and in all major cities in between

CHEFS WANTED

Please send CV and a cover letter to

glennmoyle@gmail.com or give us a ring at 00354 8658188 :)

EVENT CREW GALLOWGLASS CREWING is looking to bolster its labour force for some exciting large projects in Live Events, Sports Events and Fit Outs. Are you friendly, enthusiastic, physically very fit with excellent spoken English and a “can do attitude” - then you should be working for Europe’s largest crewing company. The work will be in London and you must live within easy commuting distance of central London. Our work is 24/7 so be prepared for anti-social hours but you will be with a great team! We are looking for full time (starting from £8.80) and part time (starting from £8.00) with the potential to earn up to £15.00 per hour. Higher rates for plant operators. Send your CV to hr@gallowglass.com or better still complete the on-line form at www.gallowglass.com We are also looking for event technicians to add to our database – please send in your CV.

If you enjoy being out and about, meeting people, and providing excellent customer service this job could be for you! One of London’s largest corporate serviced apartment providers is seeking an enthusiastic go getter, for a challenging but varied Arrival Coordinator Role. Responsibilities range from welcoming guests & minor maintenance to general concierge duties.

Looking for work? Harvest workers, experienced milkers, fencers, tractor drivers and all farm staff.

Interested? Email us at: careers@Portlandbrown.com

F/T SHOP ASSISTANT PERFECT PEACHES FOR A PERFECT PEACHY MASSAGE PROFESSION As a Luxury English led Erotic Massage Business we are seeking new, fresh and alluring, physically fit masseuses. More particularly, fun and friendly Aussies, English and South African young ladies. If you’re in ship shape, passionate and stylish, please send your recent photos and a small spiel about yourself to Emily and Angela at: peachyempire@gmail.com Tel: 07956682266.

Live a Peachy Life and join our terrific team.

REQUIRED BY BEATLES SHOP ON BAKER ST.

F/t Shop AssistantF/t Sh

Please email/post CV to: required by Beatles shop on Bakerrequired St. by B

LONDONPlease BEATLES email/post STORE CV to:

Pleas London 231-233 Baker St, London London NW1 Beatles 6XE Store, 231/233Beatles BAKERStore, STREET LONDON NW1 6XE

sgtpepper@beatlesstorelondon.co.uksgtpepper@b

sgtpepper@beatlesstorelondon.co.uk TNTMAGAZINE.COM

DESPERATELYSEEKING

@tntmagazine

Are you desperately seeking someone or something? Email caroline.garnar@tntmagazine.com with your message

SAY WHAT?! ‘why can’t I eat it?’ ‘Because it’s a bowl.’

i wAs with a guy for a year before i realised he was circumcised.

Be happy: Dear Londoners, I fail to understand when you live in such an awesome city how you can all be so fucking miserable. Cheer the hell up. Thanks, Luke. Food for thought: I really love food. Like, REALLY love food. It turns me on. I would like to meet

a wing mirror, which spends most of its time digging you in the groin. I also have a habit of aiming at cars rather than avoiding them. I really want to get to grips with it now the weather is getting better. Anyone got a spare day to teach me in Victoria Park please?

THINGS THE QUEEN SHOULD DO BEFORE SHE DIES

Why would you drink champagne out of your shoe? then you’re just left with a wet shoe.

‘he totally dawson creeked me’ ‘what’s that?’ ‘when they hold your face when you kiss.’ ‘oh i thought you meant he climbed through your window.’

‘i thought you just said, i’m gonna cook up my pet cat.’ ‘i did’ ‘oh.’

that guy was so hot he made my flaps twitch.

i can’t that night sorry, i already have plans to dress up as a russian sex witch.

I picked up the nickname ‘The Molester’ after an unfortunate incident with our ski instructor as I got on the chairlift.

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Skull a pint at Oktoberfest in full dirndl – sehr sexy ma’am.

someone who is happy for me to cook delicious meals and then they can eat it off my body. For dessert, you can have me. Any takers? I want to ride my bicycle: How does everyone make cycling look so easy? You’re on two wheels and sitting on something the size of

Foxy lady: You had fiery red hair in a white headband and green eyes; come to think of it you looked a bit like a fox. I wonder if you make sex noises like one. Can I find out? STguy: My name’s Simon Potts and I’ve got chlamydia. Rather than

call up all the girls I’ve slept with in the last few months, I thought I’d do a post here. Job done. Just say no to H2O: I had no idea you could die from water poisoning. I used to drink loads of it every day, and now I’m scared I’m going to die. Please help me. I’m really thirsty. Moral dilemma: Do men mind if their wife or girlfriend has a lesbian affair? I really fancy this woman I work with, but she’s married. I’ve never been with a woman before and I don’t want to ruin her marriage, but reckon he wouldn’t mind as we’re both pretty hot – maybe if we film it...? Call me: I overheard you arguing with your girlfriend on the phone. I hope you broke up with her as you are so hot and I’d be happy to be next in line. I was sat next to you on the 108 to Stratford. Get in touch if you want a new girl who will treat you better. RESPONSES TO LAST MONTH’S DS: Dear Geordie Sore, you have to keep us fully informed of your escapades, the back page of TNT is here for a reason! And also tell us which positions you ended up in to give you such discomfort? You’ve hit the lottery – what’s there to be scared about? Every time you sit down must bring back pleasant memories. You may have a knack of attracting big peckers, this could be the start for you my girl. We want to hear more over the next few weeks, and finally, give the front a rest and try the back door for variety – sitting down will have a brand new meaning for you. To April showers, forget the amber nectar, amber rain is much better. You can’t beat a spot of watersports; a woman gets great delight pissing on a man – there’s a control factor there. Finally this Aussie bird at work asked me recently if I was a cavalier or roundhead... that’s my next topic for the back page. Keep looking and reading. Mr.E.P.D.

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