GOODBYE SCOTLAND, BE BACK SOON. XXX

UK ROAD TRIP

LEAVING SCOTLAND

I thought that I had written my last entry here in Scotland, I was wrong. I have one more entry and that is to say goodbye to a most wonderful place, a place I can hardly find the words to describe.



I was talking to a friend about my adventures here and I told him that I have been cooking for the hippies. What he told me was that i became their leader, that if I control their bellies, then I control them. Well I don`t know about controlling them, but I did get a lot of praise about my cooking.



The last night there before I left, I came back to the camp cooked a huge pot of bolognaise and pasta. I shared it all around to everyone sitting at the fire. After that I went to bed as I had to get up early in order to make sure that I get my train. There were a few special people I wanted to say goodbye too, like Joe, French guy from Normandy and a formidable guitar player, Nathan, an American student who came to England for god knows what ending up spending two months at the hippie camp, he will be going back to school at the end of august.



As my train rides along its way from Edinburgh on the coast line, I got caught staring into the ocean just outside my window. Seeing how beautiful the sea was with the sun shining, even trapped in my train compartment I felt free, my spirit was free. I could not help but think of all the people I have met on my travels, they were all amazing people, even more amazing was the woman I met last night at the camp fire.



She was a witch, who practice black magic granted but a witch none the less. I had met witches before and normally I don`t really interact unless there is a good reason to. But this was different.

We sat and we talked about almost everything, including how occult text can twist a readers mind if he or she is not mentally or physically prepared for the knowledge within. I am not one who is attracted to black magic, it’s not a magic that works for me, but it was great talking to her.



After having a joint and some cider, official drink of Bilston glen hippie camp, lol. I went to bed and finally got some sleep, although just before I had a few thoughts and ideas that came to mind, namely, the role of women in today’s society and how they can concretely change the world we live in. I am going to organise a seminar where that is going to be the subject. I am also going to call some friends from the past, great women as speakers. Can`t wait.



I left in the morning saying goodbye to everyone, reluctantly wanting to leave, but knowing I have to go. I had already spent way more money than intended seeing that I stayed for five days instead of just two. I still wanted to do as many cities as I could before going back to London. But seeing how my budget is running down I may have to go home sooner. There is another reason for me going home but that’s another story for another time.



I could go on and keep writing about this but in the end that would only bore you. So I will only say this goodbye Scotland, goodbye land of the fierce and the bold, the proud and hopeful. A place where magic is still alive, where people smile with you instead of being afraid of you. Oh how I will miss you Scotland. I feel like a scot at heart and I will miss your hills where I ran free if only for a day.

Hear me well Scotland, I’ll be back!

This is LUKE JNO CHARLES

On a train to Manchester.

HI HO SILVER, AWAY.

UK ROAD TRIP EDINBURG

UK Road Trip
Edinburgh
Bilston glen

It has been three days since I have been living with the hippies, and I have to be honest. I truly love it. Life could not be more relaxing. Yes it gets a little cold at night, but that’s normal, I am sleeping in the forest in a tree house, of course it’s going to be cold, but then I sleep with all my clothes on so there solution found.

You know some of the guys live in tree houses higher than mines, for some the houses the guys have to climb up to 8 metres into the tree to get to bed, some even higher. A few of the trees can only be climbed by using safety material, you know for rock climbing, harnesses and all that. The only true thing that I have gotten out of seeing those tree houses is that I am still afraid of heights, and that I still think I am one of the lost boys of Peter pan, or Peter pan himself.

But I have to say the best part of being in the group is at night. We all sit around a camp fire, someone plays music, people tell jokes, share their experience, there is no other way to put it, they’re alive. They live with no malice intentions in their heart, its crazy I have only dreamt of people like that, I never thought they truly existed. In a world so cruel I understand that they are outcast, because they are way to different to fit into the conformed world that exist today.

Since I have arrive I have taken it upon myself to cook for them, and oh god do I love the praise I am given. They think that my cooking is brilliant. I have made them, chicken soup, risotto, bolognaise and others. I really love when they come for seconds I can just sit there and just soak it all in all the thanks. It feels so good to be appreciated.
We normally spend the night drinking cider, smoking weed and talking and all that is great fun. But there are serious times to. Don`t forget these guys actually have a mission. On Friday it appeared in the news paper that the headquarters of the bank of Scotland was taken over by protesters against the climate change. Climate camp they called it. Believe it or not we received text messages calling us to rally and that we should support if we can. I was a part of history, granted a very small part but a part none the less. I knew what was going to happen before the news paper did. For once I wasn`t on the train to work reading about it, I was part of it.

But I’ll tell you where my dream came true. You see ever since I was a child I grew up watching the movie Hair, singing the songs and recently the show was playing on stage in London. So my friends and I went to see it of course. It was so much fun, and we got to go on stage in the end, how cool is that right?

Well last night while we were all around the fire, smoking weed drinking, I started singing, the Age of Aquarius, and everyone took it up in chorus, which for me was breathtaking, I felt like I was dreaming, like I was right there in hair. If you have no idea what I am talking about check out this link from YouTube:

http://ping.fm/jz5se

Personally my time spent here was really great, and even though I spend a bit more money than I expected it was all worth it.

The city of Edinburg, is so breathtaking, I mean come on. The castles walls at the edge of the hillside, the grandeur of the monuments, the buildings, I can barely find words to describe.
I was walking down the street and the only thing that came to mind as I saw the structure of the city was this:

(You have to imagine this in a Scottish accent
Here we stand proudly, the walls of Edinburgh
Come ye who dare to defy us. We brave the wind our hearts full of courage
You shall not pass. You will never breach the sanctuary of this city
Our feet firmly planted to the grounds, our hearts reaching for the sky by the grace of god
We are Scotsmen and we are proud.)

The little time that I have spent in Glasgow and in Edinburgh, I can`t help but think of my friend mark elder, the only thing is to me he is nothing of a Scott. There is this simplicity and pride I see and feel in the people of Scotland. They walk tall. They are strong in spirit. I`m sorry I don`t see those qualities in mark and he is the only person in London I have as a reference to the Scots. That does not mean i don`t love him. Mark i love you. But man those Scots, wow.

There is so much to talk about but I can only put in so much in a blog. My time here is at an end. Tomorrow I take the train to Manchester, where there is a new city to discover.

This is Luke Jno Charles

Saying remember,
‘War is the white man, sending the black man, to kill the yellow man, to defend land they stole from the red man.’
See you in Manchester.

HIPPIES & HEROES EdINBURGH

Hippies are heroes
UK ROAD TRIP
EDINGBURGH
So I left Glasgow and arrived in Edinburgh, it took like one hour or so by bus cost me 6.50, quite cheap. When I arrive the streets were filled with people the place is crawling, everyone wants to be a part of the fringe festival. Which by the way I didn`t know existed until I tried getting a couch to sleep, with no luck at that. The town was over booked hostel prices were jacked up and all couch surfers had guest already.
This brings me to where I am sleeping while in Edinburgh. I am sleeping in a tree house in the forest with a bunch of hippies. Crazy right? I say so cool.
Ok , ok, let me not get ahead of myself. Wednesday afternoon I am on the bus to Edinburgh, no idea where I am going to sleep so, obviously slight panic comes over me, but I don`t make a big deal out of it. I remember reading on couch surfing about this place you can just show up and its cool, so I thought why the hell not but to be on the safe side, I decided to send them a message, which I did.
Two minutes later a reply came back no problems just come. So I said that’s cool should I ask for someone?
-well my name is Dave and anybody will show you around, just bring beer, that was my response.
Now to get to the place is simple but if you are not told how you will never find it. These are the directions I got.
more info... http://ping.fm/wvvqg

DIRECTIONS:
by bus (it costs £1.20 and takes half an hour from the
city centre) - take the 37, 47 or X47 from Edinburgh
(Bridges/Clerk street/Nicholson street or Princes
Street towards Penicuik, get off at the 1st bus stop
in Bilston opposite a VW garage, there's a metal gate
right next to the bus stop... go through the gate &
down the path till you come to the bridge & you'll see
us there.

Bilston Site Phone: 07753280009

So the bus driver was kind enough to remember me after what was like 45 minutes to call on me when we got to the stop. I got off the bus and followed the directions. The path kept taking me further and further into the forest, I thought that I was going the wrong way till I ended up under a bridge and followed some make shift stairs down towards a stream. Crossed a wooden clearly make shift bridge and entered an area with several structures made out of clutter that was found. There was Dave and before he said anything I lift my Sainsbury bag fill with beers in the air saying, I come bearing gifts.
That surly put a smile on the three guys faces. I sat down with them around a fire and put my bags down on the ground. To be honest it was a cultural shock. As much as I know that somewhere deep inside of me is a hippie screaming to come out, in my mind the first thoughts that I have was whether or not I could ever live like this, that the place was dirty, the chairs were dirty, everything was dirty.
The truth of the matter is this, nothing was really dirty it was the forest it wasn`t the city and I was not in London anymore. Some other people came and introduce themselves, there was José from the canaries but apparently if I take his word for it has been living in Ireland for ages. Dave who seems to be the constant member on site showed me around and told me why they were occupying the spot.
He told me that the government wants to build a road through this forest and they thought that there is no extra need for roads and that the money that is going to the road can be used for something else, like furthering the agenda of finding a way to reduce our carbon foot print.
It was a pretty large structure, with several tree houses, very high up in the trees in order to see if the police are every coming to get them evicted, they also had lots of camping ground. Areas were cleared to make a small garden, toilets. I was even told that there are tunnels just in case the cops arrive. They can hid in the tunnels if need be with food and water. It cost the police 100,000 pounds a day to evict groups like these because of the location. And that the longer they stay the more it will cost the police. So it comes down to the question as to whether or not it is worth the money and the trouble just to have one more road built. He told me of his friend on another site that stayed in a tunnel for 45 days, which adds up to 4500,000 pounds money I am sure that can be used for so much more in a community.
I understand why they are doing what they do, and even though there are people who think that they are a nuisance, they are actually doing this for everyone not just for themselves. In my opinion it’s a noble thing to fight for something you believe in, something that the community is in great need of, defenders. Because I see no one else is doing it. Everyone else is just rolling over and accepting.
So yes when you see a hippie on the street and he smells, he does not look like he fits in, ask yourself why, what has he been through and why does he do it.
I said it was noble to fight but it’s a greater nobility to fight for people who thinks you`re less, who thinks you`re the scum of society. These guys are heroes, and I am not only saying that. If you read any classic literature and look up the things that define a hero you will see those same qualities in these guys.
This Luke Jno CHARLES
From Edinburgh Hippie camp Bilston glen

Cocktails & Sleep(the Kindness of Strangers)

UK Road Trip
Glasgow
The Kindness of Strangers
Well here I am folks no need to remind you that I am on a road trip. So today is 18/08/2010 and I have made it through one night safe and sound, thanks to a very friendly couple. But before I get to that lets start from where I last left off, shall we?
When I last left I was in search of a cocktail bar. Anybody who pretends to know me knows about my love for cocktail. In fact if you pretend to know me you should know what I consider the three most important things in life, which are:
A love for food, alcohol and sex.
and while I’m at it I should probably include this about alcohol, I don’t want to be accused of encouraging binge drinking, I have already been accused of that enough in my job. The thing is this when you drink alcohol, no matter how slow or fast your consumption is you are going to get drunk, the whole point of the invention of alcohol was to drink get drunk and be merry. Most people believe that it’s the invention of bread that made nomads settle down into towns and cities because they had to grow the wheat to make the flour etc....
Bullshit what forced people to settle was the invention of alcohol, the fermentation of beet that’s what forced them to settle. But in discovering the fermentation of beer they discovered how to make better bread. Suffices to say alcohol is not a bad thing you just have to enjoy it without abusing of it. Know your limits and don’t push yourself over that limit, you have nothing to prove. That said seeing that you going to get drunk anyway you might as well enjoy the ride, right? So for my love of alcohol it’s mostly cocktails for me.
So I went i9n search of a cocktail bar here in Glasgow, and I heard that Moda is one of the best. If you ever come to Glasgow here is the address:
Moda
58 Virginia Street
Merchant city
Glasgow city centre
G1 1TX
Anyway I went searching for Moda, but when I got there it was closed, it seems that they only open much later in the evening because they are a club as well as a bar. But never fear right next to Moda was a bar that was open called Delmonico, Dels for the regulars.
So Delmonico is a chick young and hip bar catering for a young crowd in their 20s, up to the 30s. The crowd is pretty divers as well, straights, gays, lesbians, and let’s not forget the metros, my favourites loll heheheh. Lots of sofa seats small upper deck with tables and chairs, this place could easily fit 150 people when it gets busy. There is a very nice DJ booth at the back of the bar that kind of makes the DJ the star of the place, I thought that was cool. There were a few TV screens on the wall as well as a massive projector showing pictures of the patrons.
First surprise about the place, how cheap the drinks are; the most expensive cocktail is 3.95 and the most expensive shot is 2.50. Cheapest cocktail 1.95 but that’s for a non-alcoholic drink.
I was surprise to see the French kiss on the menu, and god knows how much protection I gave my recipe, I knew I should have copy write it. Of cause there version of the French kiss has all the wrong ingredients, lol. I guess that’s what happens when you don`t get the original recipe.
I tried 2 cocktails and 1 shot, the forbidden fruit, really come on, with a name like that you know that I am going to try it for god sake. Then I tried the pink passion and finish with a shot called Alice in wonderland. Which by the way I am going to steal. If they can take one of my shots I sure as hell can take one of theirs. Because of the music playing the place reminded me of the G.A.Y bar on old Compton street Soho London, except it was not as lively, but that’s only because I got there really early, I suspect that Delmonico get pretty hot in the night and could rival almost any London bar. In my expert opinions the staff needs a little training in cocktail making but they are friendly and if you have some company with you, then you have all the setting for a good time.
By 7:30pm I left Delmonico’s with a little buzz. Headed off to queen station where I bought a ticket to Stirling, a Scottish town that’s like 30 to 50minuts from Glasgow by train. A gay couple had decided to put me up for the night. They are both from Spain and have been working and living there for ages. Now we all know my love for the Spanish, but I wasn`t about to try anything after all this was a couple and they were kind enough to put me up for a night. Between nodding off and forcing to keep my eyes open because of the alcohol that I had consumed, my trip to Stirling left me dreaming for more adventures. I mean all I could see from the train’s windows was open plains of green fields, farm houses that are miles away from each other. I could have died. My soul ached, I felt the calling for packing my bags and telling the world go fuck itself while I wonder the earth in search for that holy grail of illusion one only finds at the end of a quest realising it was in him all along. I wanted it bad, I felt my body rejuvenating, and I was coming back to life. Come what may adventure straight ahead.
Anyway I got to Stirling and found the guys with some help from the kinds hanging about. A young boy about 10 asked if I was a girl or a boy, I thought it was funny, I told him I like to think that I am a bit of both. And he and the other kids laughed. At the guys place we had long conversation I stayed up talking to them until I finally decided to have a shower. When I came out of the shower I was just in my towel and let’s just say me who was thinking of being on my best behaviour, well they had something else in mind. I`ll just say this, VIVA ESPAGNA. Lol
After all the excitement they left me their bed and they both slept in an air mattress in the front room, I was surprise that they had given up their bed to me, they were so kind, I could have never gotten a bitter sleep. The next day when I work up took the train back to Glasgow. In all I must have spent no more than 60 pounds so far for my stay here in this city and that was for food taxi, train, and cocktails. Next stop Edinburgh. I had planned on going latter in the evening but there is the fringe festival going on right now and that is why I have not found a couch, everyone is booked the hostels are booked or the prices are jacked up. I heard there is a hippie camp not far from the city centre that welcomes people so I think I’ll try to stay there for the next two days before I leave.
So as I leave for Edinburgh I can here old Wendy from the movie hook saying, `so your adventures in wonder land is over boy?` and as peter pan replied to her, `to live...to live is a much greater adventure.`
So saying good bye to Glasgow
This is Luke Jno Charles
See you in Edinburgh.

Still in Glasgow: doctor who and cathedrals

UK tour
Glasgow
Ok well it is now 15:37 I am back at what I have decided to be my head quarters here, star bucks. The only real reason is that I can get internet and have my laptop plugged in and can stay as long as I like.
Anyway the day has been fruitful, I did not find that spare that I was looking for so have not had a shower as yet, but it’s cool I’m not dirty I took a shower just before I took the bus last night so I can hold on a little more.
So let’s see, so far I have walked around the centre of Glasgow, seen some wicked street art, visit a cathedral and a graveyard met a hot Scotsman and saw something that is representative of my favourite British TV show. Holly shit.
So after my last update I left star bucks and walked down south of west Nile street where I then proceed to take a right on argyle street(weird name, right?), took a left on, wait for it, Jamaica street man, touch me...... now who would have thought I would find a street named after a Caribbean island like Jamaica in Glasgow, I wouldn’t have guessed but I quickly learnt by walking around that Glasgow was once a very rich Scottish town and that mainly because of its business in the colonies, weather the west indies or India itself. Mostly all the statues raised are about merchants.
Anyway past history have very little interest to me, I was too busy admiring the street art of a lady at sea surrounded by sea monsters and dragon yet still does not in any way show fear. After that done I went to Merchant Square with its clock tower, really nice, the architecture of this area is clearly out of time or should I say timeless.
Next stop Glasgow cathedral, but before I could reach the cathedral, going up the high street I came across something that made me smile, in some way it made my day. The people who are fan of this should be able to guess by this quote:
‘Amy: There's someone missing. Someone important, someone so, so important. Sorry everyone, but when I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend, the Raggedy Doctor, my Raggedy Doctor. But he wasn't imaginary, he was real. [Shouting] I remember you! I remember! I brought the others back; I can bring you home too! Raggedy man, I remember you and you are late for my wedding!
[As Amy remembers, the Doctor and the TARDIS starts to materialize in the room]
Amy: I found you; I found you in words just like you knew I would; that's why you told me the story, the brand new, ancient blue box. Oh clever, oh very clever.
Rory: Amy, what is it?
Amy: Something old. Something new. Something borrowed. Something blue.
[To triumphant music, the TARDIS returns to the Universe. Amy runs to it and knocks on the door]’

This is taken from the page wiki quote, it’s text from the series Doctor Who.

Yes folks on my way up the high street towards the Glasgow cathedral I come smack across a blue police box, and everybody knows that’s what the tardis is. That big blue police box. I suggest if anyone wants to see the clip that I am talking about they should have a look at this link: http://ping.fm/9w8qi
Could you imagine my reaction when I saw it?
Anyway enough about the Tardis, I left it behind and went to the cathedral of Glasgow. Which I find kind of weird. You see for me, even though I don’t go to church a cathedral is still a place of worship, its where you leave all your sins behind and see yourself in the presence of god, right?
Well when I entered the cathedral all the seals and shrines were for soldiers who lost their lives in battle, the cathedral itself if the only one that survived the protestant reform. Civilians and merchants fought to the death to protect it.
Of course there is also the statue of saint mungo, who is suppose to be a doctor and started the university. But besides that I think this church history is to bloody it’s like it is used to celebrate death instead of life. And in my opinion the house of god that holds is spirits should be a place of joy, am I wrong. When I think about it, it kind of reflects today’s world and how things have not evolve that much. Anyway moving on.
Next thing I did was meet this Scottish man, huba huba. The accent alone sent me crazy, won`t go into details on this one. This has to remain PG. When I am done writing this I will be off on my next adventure in Glasgow which would involve alcohol and drinking.
All in all people
This is Luke Jno Charles
Signing off for now
UK tour fist leg: Glasgow

UK Road Trip

UK road trip

First stop Glasgow.
So that’s it, I’m off didn`t plan anything don`t know where I am going to sleep, have no idea what I’m going to see. I`m off anyway. I took the bus at 23:45 from the Victoria coach station London, only cost me 25 pounds, and next stop Glasgow. Oh I have always dreamt of coming here to Scotland. I mean what’s not to love? The strange accent the kilts, god I want a kilt. And the people are kind of friendly.
I have to say though the bus ride was long, thank god I met Helen. She is a Scottish girl came down to London to see her sister who lives there now. There was no way to get any sleep on the coach the sits were so uncomfortable. Half way through our trip the bus stop to gave us a chance to stretch our legs, there she was. It wasn`t so much her that got my attention, she was standing there in the cold her plump body with a head of dyed red hair. It was what she was smoking. In her hand was a huge joint of marijuana.
Normally I would not ask someone I don`t know to smoke on their joint, but what the fuck I needed something to put me out so I could sleep. So I go up to her and ask, and by god she was more than willing to share. That’s the thing I’ve always said about weed, if you`re not abusing of it. Then smoking can be a very social thing and brings world together that you would think can never coexist together.
Anyway that got me well high and I only had like three puffs on it. I mean come on I don`t smoke that much. Went back to the bus, funny thing though for at list what seem to me like forty minutes to an hour, I was too high to sleep. Then it kicked, the smoothness, the calm and the euphoria, so good. There was a moment where there was complete calm on the bus; no one was talking, moving, zit. It was like as if everyone was in this meditative trance. I had to strain my ear to hear the wheels of the bus moving on the streets below us. And the rest was history.
The next time I opened my eye I was in Glasgow. Went to the star buck got a mocha, sent a few messages to see if anyone from couch surfing want to hang out. Looked up a few address on the internet. Namely a spa. It only cost like ten pounds, but I get a hot shower Jacuzzi and I can rest for a while before heating the streets again. And let’s face it that’s all I need right now, so I am not worrying much about a hotel room or where I am going to sleep. I`m sure I can deal with that when the moment arrives.
This is Luke jno Charles
First leg of the UK tour. See you guys soon.