Done and Dusted

This last seven days has been hectic but by far the best week of the year so far. After I found out I had made the Top 10 of the STA World Traveller Internship much to mine and a few not so gracious contestants amazement, I got to work on my final video.

So the theme of my final video was to show how lush and delightfully English my little village of Headingley is. Once I established this I had a party. After that I take you to Cafe Lento aka pure bliss. I concentrated on the cafe for two reasons; firstly it is the only real place you ought to go if you are passing by and because Richard the gent who runs the place is a true legend and a star.

The video highlights my new found love of editing film and how cool my music taste is despite what other blog post's may have said.

The videos are 80% up, only my fellow Leeds Met student Chris and dark horse Tiffany to go. The Top 10 videos are all great and in so many different ways. The theme of most are quite similar and leaves me pondering whether my main concentration on Lento is a downfall. Having said that, I think my video is a roaring success and something that shows off my ability to tell a story and a good attempt of inspiring you all to come visit the quaint village of Headingley. Even if I do say so myself!

Gd Luck to you all!

Next week I shall be blogging about my work abroad so look out for that.

Peace! x x x

Oh and here is the video....Durr!!

Trailer Trash

So during my filming today I thought why not quickly bash up a brief trailer for my final STA WTI?

So here it is......

Taken from the scene 'Wat U Sayin.....' it exposes a glimpse of what the final video might be like.

Hope you enjoy it.

Love Paddy

x

My head hurts.

Thursday 22nd - found out I made the top 10 sta wti.

Friday 23rd - receive email saying we have until Wednesday 28th to make our video. Work 12 hour shift at Smokestack.

Saturday 24th - Work 12 hour shift and Sandanista's.

Sunday 25th - Go to rugby - 12 hour stint at uni.

Monday 26th - Film @ Lento. 10 hour stint at uni.

Tuesday 27th - Uni all day. Evening make film.

Wednesday 28th - Upload video. Curl into a ball and die.

Plan of action sorted......

Im going to need one of these by the end of the week..........




Love it really! xx

Back @ Ya!

Yo yo yo!! Thanks to all those who tweeted & emailed saying 'hey paddy, where's you new blog post at?' Well here it is.

Apologies ladies and gents I have been mentally busy with uni work. Bloody deadlines and being a mere man I can only do a few things at once. So whats new in the life of Paddy?

Well if you care then check this little mo fo out!



So whats the good news? Well I made it to the final 10!

Who is joining me?

Well thankfully Rusja got through, I think I would have contacted suicide watch if she didn't get through, damn that girl is super hyped for this job. Hazza made it through, respect to you sir. Chris Cuzzy came through strong, let's here it 'Leeds Met! Leeds Met!' I think we could get some PR with this, Leeds Met representing big time. My girl Sparky made it through, enough said. Everyone else, I don't really know you that well yet, but congratulations and good luck for the next round.

Speaking of which. We have 5 days to make STA video 'gold'. All I can and will do is just do my best. I have no 'tricks' up ones sleeve but I have a new HD camera and bags of creative ideas. My distinct advantage is that I live in the north. Where the people are the best and that's a fact.

Been to the 'set' of my new video and talked all things jazz with Richard;




All I need now is a day off to film the bloody thing.

Peace! x x x

New Camera................Sweet

Can't wait to start shooting again.

Understanding Taste

When it comes to music, what is - having good taste? Because I think I have none.




Lets look at my most played songs on my iPod and YouTube favorites.

Top 10 in order of plays.

1. Oasis - (songs like Songbird (live version), Cast No Shadow (live version) and Who Feels Love (again live, this time at the old wembley)

2. Pink Floyd - Echoes (the greatest hits)

3. Lady GaGa - The Fame Monster

4. Beyonce - Being Sacha Fierce

5. The Beatles - (mostly The White Album)

6. Kings of Leon - (Because of the Times)

7. ABBA - Gold

8. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (which is weird because its not my favourite album)

9. The Strokes - Is this it

10. The Presets - (just one track 'This boys in love', live version, awesome performance and the crowd vibe of it so well)

So what does this mean? Well Oasis and Pink Floyd are up top which is respectable, but GaGa and Beyonce above The Beatles! Surely I should be shot. Abba higher than RHCP and The Strokes! This can be explained by me obsession with pop. I was rasied on pop, when my mates were listening to The Smiths and Limp Bizcuit, I was blasting the Destiny's Child and Ace of Base.

My old man stepped in at the age of 15, I think he was worried I may be batting for the other team.



Maybe he was too late? Hahaha (fancy dress party btw!)

He sat me down and played me Pink Floyd's Echoes and explained to me why it was so good. Anyone who has that collection will understand this too.

I love weird stuff too. I like Justin Bieber. I love the SugarBabes (old stuff, the new album....what are you doing guys???) I like Girls Aloud. I like Soul, Blues and Jazz. I go to a Jazz night once a month. I DJ the bar I work in early doors and thus need to know plenty about Northern Soul and Motown. So why the hell do I have such a wide pallet of musical taste.




Most people say they like most stuff, but I think I actually seem to have literally nothing I don't like. Except Drum & Base, Techno and that *&%^$. These types of music are above and beyond my capability of mind power. I'm sure the idea of listening to Usher's new tune would be the sound of hell to most people, but hey I like it.

What's my favorite tune right now I hear you ask. Well I stumbled across this. Check it out. Spanish covers ROCK!





Rant over. What do you think? Am I like you? Am I condemning my children to a life of hell? Should I jump off the nearest building for even mentioning Justin Beiber in a blog post?

Its Buisness Time

After a day to take everything in, I think I can finally say, WAHOO!!

Now that Ive got that out my system I ought to say a few words. Firstly to those who have been tweeting, blogging, posting videos and pictures over the last month who didn't make it through, commiserations.

The biggest surprises for me that did not make it through were Amanda Jenkins and Sophie Collard, both great contestants who I thought had done enough to make it through. This begs the question, what the ruddy hell are STA looking for?

It was nice to see some inspiring words from some of the fallen, my favorite was from Elle, who has now responded by going on her own mission to travel the world regardless, this will no doubt help her no end if she fancies reapplying next year. Some guys took it personally and I saw someone delete their twitter accounts to go back to their 'real friends'. Good luck with that one.

For those of us who made it thought to the top 20, well done! Mixed bunch overall I feel. The male-female numbers seems to have been evened out which is nice to see. Certainly twitter followers, YouTube channel subscribers and the application forms have shown themselves to be an aiding factor to get us through to this point. As for the next round, the dreaded phone interview. I am actually quite looking forward to it. We get to talk to the STA guys for the first time, get a feel about who they are and what they have to say. I am currently knee deep in writing my dissertation, but as soon as that has been put to bed I shall get myself nicely prepared for next weeks antics.

I want to say thanks to all the other applicants throughout the process who have shown their support to me via blogs etc. It means a lot to see those comments, but to be honest this is business time, so good luck to all and let the best man and woman get the job.

If your looking for a laugh in these testing times -

Reviewing the Stuff

Here is a review of this week's 'Stuff of the World'.

Day 1- Who said gardening wasn't cool?

Day 2 - BT men in Laos

Day 3 - Ever wondered what its like to bike the coast of Vietnam?

Day 4 - Got an infection in Saigon?

Day 5 - Ever been to Cambodia?

Day 6 - Wildlife of Malaysia? sure!

Day 7 - What's the best beach in S.East Asia?

What did y'all think?

Stuff of the World

Day 7 -

What's the best beach in S.East Asia?

Answer. This place.




Forget Maya Bay (aka the set of 'The Beach') off the coast of Koh Phi Phi, tourism and sadly the tsunami have tainted this otherwise stunning beach. For me there is only one place you ought to see if your on the lookout for the best beach in the S.E Asia, if not the world. Here is the view from a top a rock on the east side, shot by my good friend Justin.






With no official name, the locals call it 'Romantic Beach' or 'Paradise Beach', which as you can see is not a bad attempt.. Accessible by taxi boat or canoe, this beach offers the chance to chill out in awe of the teal seas and the thick jungle.





To get here head to the Perhentains on the north east coast of Malaysia, and ask a local to take you here. You will be met by hovering eagles, and the odd snorkeler taking a well deserved rest. Go here at least once in your life, I order you to !



And once you have had enough of the idyllic surroundings, just head down and have a deserved rest.




The beach at dusk. Guess the tune playing on our ipod dock and win a prise!

Stuff of the World

Day 6 -

Wildlife of Malaysia? sure!

Firstly, like any place hot and far away from home, yes there are spiders. Lots of them!






However these little devils don't linger round all day especially if you head towards to the beach. At which point you might be greeted by one of these bad boys living under your beach hut.



You will be occasionally treated to some unforgettable wildlife that won't have you running to the hills. Firstly, I saw a whale shark this year whilst diving the in the Perhentians. I also got to know Eddie the eagle quite well, a friendly 4 foot tall sea eagle with claws the size of pincher's. The poor blighter had lost the ability to fly, and the locals fed him rats and fish. He became very tame and I found great humor in walking up to tourists taking photos of the beastly looking bird from afar, strike up conversation about how stunning and wild the bird looked, only to waltz over and practically give Eddie a kiss on the beak, much to one American tourists complete amazement....... 'dude your crazy!'

If your lucky you also might get to meet one of these little guys.





Although don't try to eat them, apparently this is very naughty!





And one final tip if your lucky enough to stumble across one of these miniature works of art, they are very difficult to keep still.

Stuff of the World

Day 5 -

Ever been to Cambodia?






Forget the temples, beaches, and the jungle. The people of Cambodia are the highlight!

After at $50 taxi from the boarder to Siem Reap, me and my buddy Dave were invited by our tuk tuk driver to his house party. With little rest and no real motivation to do anything else but sleep, we decided 'hey, whens the next time a friendly Cambodian guy is gonna invite you to his house party?'

So we headed off into the dark, hot Cambodian night. An hour through the jungle clinging for our lives to a moped welded with two extra forks of steal as make shift seats, we arrived at a his house, or should I say hut.




We drank the local brew for hours, feasting on chicken feet and deep fried beetles and sang endless amounts of Cambodian karaoke (which by the way is HILARIOUS). As you can see I had a great time with these guys.



And if you ever get yourself over there, make sure you hook up with the locals, there are super friendly and by far the most hospitable humans you could wish to meet. And hey, if you must go to the temples, get yourself down to Angkor Wat, my mate Dave can rustle you up some great cocktails.

Stuff of the World

Day 4 -

Got an infection in Saigon?


Firstly don't panic.



Find a local who doesn't speak English but understands you need to get to hospital pronto!





Bring a trusty friend and jump aboard.





Wait in the holding area surrounded by injured locals and think about how great the NHS is.





Fancy a fag in the hospital? No problem.





Get four or five not so skilled hands to fix you up.




And then get back to business.




Want to see our short journey to the hospital?

Stuff of the World

Day 3 -

Ever wondered what its like to bike the coast of Vietnam?




There are some amazing roads.




If you break down, there are worse places to do so.



And you just look damn cool. Nothing better than riding into a new town as a troop, on looking backpackers who took the train or bus staring in awe! The best feeling in the world!

Stuff of the World

Day 2 -

BT men in Laos.


Woke up in Vientiane to this lovely gentleman outside my hotel room tweaking the phone lines. Looks safe.

Stuff of the World

Inspired by Lindsay's photo of the day posts, I thought I'd start a series of photo's of people, places and things Ive seen along my travels that I love and admire.

Day 1.

Who said gardening wasn't cool?


This guy is 67 years old, cuts grass and picks up rubbish on the smaller island of the Perhentians (Kecil) in Malaysia. I met him every night for a month in 2008, and on my return in June 2009 he welcomed me back and although unable to speak a word of English, made it very clear he was grateful I returned to his patch. What a character.

One Last Push!

With five or so days until the deadline for the STA WTI hopefuls to finish their application forms, I sat and pondered.

2,500 or so people applied and now we are left with 50 great potential world travelers.

I was surprised to see the form to be so short. I suppose STA at this point are looking for any reason to scrap 30 of us. Lack of PC software experience, travel history and alike all huge obstacles for us to tackle. How can I stand out?

After pondering this question for about an hour over a few martini's in Skippy's, I came up with an idea.

A CV to support my application. 50 down to 20. Desperate measures.

x x