Sunday 10 July 2016
Q: What would you like me to review on my vlog?
Hi guys. I am about to head on out to do a Vlog piece about a piece very close to my heart: London street food. Now I've talked about this before on my writing for Asia361 and it seems that the vast majority of my vlog pieces are either about languages and I only seem to do the whole travel vlog thing when I am on holiday. The whole intention of my travel vlogs is really to share some of the more amazing sights and sounds I encounter when on holiday - but given that many of my readers/viewers are in Singapore and Malaysia, perhaps you guys are also interested in more London-based travel vlogs? In this vlog piece that I am shooting today, I'm not trying to do a piece to talk about all of London in a few minutes - rather, it is quite the opposite. I am going to one street market, to interview one stall holder about his experience in selling street food in London and seeing that aspect of London through that one specific angle. I like the idea of interviewing people I find fascinating on my vlog. I promise you that it will be a fascinating piece. But what other aspects of London would you like to see me feature in my vlog? I'm talking about specific issues rather than general ones. So, here are some of my previous London based vlog pieces below to inspire you. Thanks for your help!
How about the NHS? I have heard that you could see the Dr in London and end up paying only the cost of prescription even as a tourist. How true is that?
ReplyDeleteHi Choaniki - whilst I'm happy to answer your question, it's hardly a topic that I can address through my vlog nor do I think hospitals will welcome a nosy Youtuber trying to film people who are genuinely sick/injured. The short answer is yes, it's completely true. Such is the NHS. You will have to pay for the prescriptions, but say you are a tourist and you get injured - you can just go into A&E and be seen for free. But you have to pay for any medication you get prescribed later.
DeleteHow about do a video on those bike rental things. I'm sure budget travellers would appreciate how to use them.
DeleteYes and no. Yes it is a good idea of course (and we had fun, didn't we?!) but I had a look on Youtube and there are already plenty of other videos on it. Let me think about it but thanks so much for the good suggestion. If I can find a unique angle, then sure thing. For example, did you know that London has a series of canals criss-crossing the city? They were created back in the day boats were used to transport goods up north, way before trains and motorcars were developed. Today, these canals are used for pleasure boats and I regularly cycle along these canals because they are very pleasant and well maintained - often doubling up as nature parklands. There are often ducks and swans swimming in the canals - so perhaps I could do something about cycling on the canalside paths, rather than teaching people who to use the bike rental thingy.
DeletePrince Harry.
ReplyDeleteAs if I can get close to him!
DeleteBut if you do, kiss him for me.
DeleteHi LIFT, thanks for extending the offer of a view of London at our request, this is PRICELESS!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in secondary school my English teacher made the phrases "soap box" and "Hyde Park" synonymous for us boys. So that was the first place that came to mind upon reading your invitation.
At that time we didnt have Speakers Corner in Singapore; the whole idea of going to a public place to share your views was absolutely fascinating.
Itd be great to hear someone actually make a speech from the top of a soap box and try to understand what motivates them to do that.
But LIFT I understand if its not your cup of tea, or you have no time to go there. Id watch any vlogs you put up, as long as they contain your unique perspectives.
Hi CLT. Hahahaha, yes finally a great suggestion. I have been to Speakers' Corner before and it was disappointing. But to be specific, it has changed over the years. I remember back in the 1990s, it was far more vibrant - ie. you had loads more people speaking up there and it was a bit random because of these people just want to be heard but they are incoherent, uneducated, inarticulate and I remember watching some people just to laugh at what a car-crash their speeches were. A strange form of voluntary public humiliation for amusement. But guess what? Since the age of Youtube and social media, it has killed off Speakers' Corner. Anyone can record a rant on their phone and upload it to Youtube - you don't need to get out of your home to go to Hyde Park, heck you don't even need to get out of bed to do that. The last few times I passed Speakers' Corner, it was totally deserted. Apart from a few disappointed tourists realizing that no one was speaking because Youtube has killed off that phenomena of Speakers' Corner. Maybe back in like 2000, I could have still got a video of Speakers' Corner in full swing, but I think it may disappoint you. Such is the problem of freedom of speech - anyone can speak up, but that means idiots can speak up too and I remember going to Speakers' Corner to laugh at the idiots making terrible speeches. I remember this preacher guy who was preaching Christianity, no one was really listening to him - most people were stopping and staring because he was so emotional and literally on the verge of tears we thought he was slightly mad, but he had no connection with his audience. He just liked the sound of his own voice - he was a TERRIBLE speaker by that token. And I'm afraid most of the speeches made there are of the TERRIBLE variety. Please don't imagine for a second that just because some British people are witty, eloquent and articulate, that all British people can do public speaking.
DeleteMore food posts!!!
ReplyDeleteWell the latest one is on food! Shot it, now need to find time to edit it - that's the hard work. Shooting is usually great fun. Sitting down by my laptop for hours to do post-production is less fun.
DeleteOff the track things that visitors to london can do as locals do?
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. Interesting. Like what kind of off the beaten path things Colleen? Sports? Nature? Culture, Shopping? Food? I was kinda appalled when I had a Singaporean friend stay with me last year and he went to the shops and bought so many things at full price for his friends back home and I'm like, whaaat? Never buy anything full price! One waits for the sales or at least do some research to see if you can get the same thing cheaper online.
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