NYE with Basement Jaxx

Last year it was Mark Ronson, this year the party is back with Basement Jaxx as the headline act.

Basement Jaxx first came onto the scene with the album Remedy in 1999 to wide acclaim. Their album, Rooty, bought the tracks ‘ Do Your Thing’ ‘Get Me Off’ and perhaps their most well know single to date ‘ Where’s Your Head At,’ establishing them on the world stage. St Martins Lane are thrilled to have them headlining New Year’s Eve this year.

The entire space at St Martins Lane is utilised for this unique event. Asia De Cuba is cleared of its furniture and is set with white leather banquets and a stage on the lower level. The lobby is transformed with a full cocktail bar, funky lighting and state of the art sound. Light Bar is also open serving its extensive cocktails with attentive waitress service.

Raindance, along with good buddies the New Producers Alliance and Stellar Network, are holding a Christmas party on 11 December at Richmix in East London.

I just saw "Being Michael Madsen" at its World Premier at the Raindance Film Festival in London - Madsen gives further straight talk on Inglorious Bastards & you heard it here first - "The Philistine" cometh.

After the screening the cast & crew attended & did a short Q&A afterwards. This is Bold & Ballsy independent film making. The film touches on many themes of celebrity culture whilst being engaging enough to keep you entertained (tongue firmly in cheek).

I'm not entirely sure how to define the film itself e.g. film within a film, contemporary Fellini on a shoe string (think La Dolce Vita), reality film, pseudo documentary - its all in there with a heavy dash of satire.

It is a lot of work but the performances from the cast are rock solid. This is a complete departure from Michael Madsen's usual hit or miss fare. It really shows many facets of the man beyond his Quentin Tarantino screen persona. I hope he gets some decent roles soon that do not involve throwing Segal out of windows :-). On the whole an enjoyable coaster ride but you do have to do some work - this is not just eye candy.

If I had to crit: The final scene (not the climax) may be a little weak - in the context of viewing it at the Raindance Film Festival with the cast & crew doing a Q & A afterwards it was awesome. However I suspect for anyone not watching the film with the live accompaniment may not be swept away by the final scene.

Standout performances by Virginia Madsen, Jason Alan Smith, Doug Tompos, Davis Mikaels & Kathy Searle. Harry Dean Stanton is hilarious.

I had the opportunity to ask the director Michael Mongillo what was next? To paraphrase he said he was keen on doing some action films and that his graphic novel "The Philistine" would be interesting to see on the screen. Now I had not heard of The Philistine previously but after a little net rummage discovered that The The Philistine is a highly rated graphic novel. With similar elements to Batman & The Punisher. After seeing Being Michael Madsen I can't wait to see Mongillo translate a clever caped crusader film to screen.

Naturally I asked Madsen about Inglorious Bastards, (which is listed on IMDB as having production kicked off in 2008). He played in coyly saying something to the effect that it's all in Quentin Tarantino's head/hands at this stage. He also mentioned that Tarantino was meant to be at the Premiere but was in Manila for a Death Proof screening.

Seriously cant you see Madsen in greens with one of those GI helmets (tilted to the side), holding a rifle in one hand and about to throw a pineapple grenade with the other - from behind a bunker while protecting his company?

Wyclef Jean free flows at a secret gig to launch his new album Carnival Vol.2 Memoirs of an immigrant.

This was at the Crystal Club, London. Spotted in the crowd; Jakki Degg, Will.i.am (from the Black Eyed Peas), Westwood and Craig Grobler.

Microsoft's vastly anticipated Halo 3 for the Xbox 360, is about to be launched in the UK at a star-studded Halo 3 Launch Party in London.

The red carpet premiere will be taking place at the BFI IMAX Cinema in Waterloo on the 25th September.

As well as having a chance to play Halo 3 before anyone else in the UK, lucky guests will also be able to witness an epic battle over Xbox Live, with Pharrell Williams hosting and representing the UK against other celebrities based at premieres around Europe.



About Halo 3
The epic saga continues with Halo 3, the hugely anticipated third chapter in the highly successful and critically acclaimed Halo franchise. Master Chief returns to finish the fight, bringing the epic conflict between the Covenant, the Flood, and the entire human race to a dramatic, pulse-pounding climax.

Halo 3 represents the third chapter in the Halo trilogy—an international award-winning action series that grew into a global entertainment phenomenon, selling more than 14.5 million units worldwide, logging more than 650 million hours of multiplayer action on Xbox Live, and spawning action figures, books, a graphic novel, apparel, an upcoming film adaptation, and more.

Transformers Bumblebee Camaro

The 1977 Camaro from the Transformers movie was on display at London Comicon 2007.

The vehicle has a rebuilt V8 engine with a modified high rise double pump carburetor and modified headers. The Camero has an automatic transmission, power steering, with “Craigers” wheels up front and “American” wheels in the back. The dash has been modified with new gauges, a spruced up interior, and the “Autobots” logo on the steering wheel! The car comes with a title from the State of Oklahoma.

In 2007 the Camaro was sold on eBay for $60,101.00.

Photo taken at London Comicon 2007.

300 is a historically-inspired 1998 comic book limited series (later collected into a single hardcover volume) written and illustrated by Frank Miller with painted colors by Lynn Varley.

The comic is a fictional retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae and the events leading up to it from the perspective of Leonidas of Sparta. 300 was particularly inspired by the 1962 film The 300 Spartans, a movie that Miller watched as a young boy. The work was adapted into a film with 2007's 300.

In 480 BC, King Leonidas of Sparta gathers 300 of his best men to fight the upcoming Persian invasion. In what is likely a suicide mission, they and their allies plan to stop King Xerxes's invasion of Greece at the narrow cliffs of the "Hot Gates" (Thermopylae). The terrain prevents the Greeks from being overwhelmed by Xerxes' superior numbers.

Before the battle starts, Ephialtes, a deformed Spartan, begs Leonidas to let him fight but is rejected due to his hunchbacked form, which prevents him from lifting his shield high enough for the phalanx.

The Spartans and their allies successfully hold off the Persians for two days and nights. During a break in the fighting, Xerxes meets with Leonidas and offers wealth and power in exchange for his surrender. Leonidas declines, and battle continues. In his depression, Ephialtes betrays the Greeks by telling the Persians about the existence of a small pass that allows Xerxes to attack them from behind.

Learning of the Persian maneuvers, the Greeks realize their position is indefensible, but the Spartans and a few others refuse to retreat. Before engaging the Persians for the last time, Leonidas orders one Spartan (Dilios) to leave, so that he might survive to tell their story.

On the third day Xerxes has the Spartans surrounded, their remaining allies (Thespians) already dead. He gives Leonidas one final chance to surrender and kneel to him. After some hesitation, Leonidas finally complies and throws down his arms. This, however, turns out to be a ruse and Leonidas throws his spear at Xerxes, intending to kill. However, he only wounds his face. The Spartans are killed to the last man by arrows.

The story then shifts about a year later and ends as now-Captain Dilios relates the heroic sacrifice of Leonidas and his Spartan comrades to his troops before the Battle of Plataea. Which is rumoured to be the the basis for the cinematic sequel to 300.

Le Chiffre

Le Chiffre is a fictional character and the main antagonist in Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Casino Royale. On screen Le Chiffre has been portrayed by Peter Lorre in the 1954 television adaptation of the novel for CBS's Climax! television series, by Orson Welles in the 1967 spoof of the novel and Bond film series, and by Mads Mikkelsen in the 2006 film version of Fleming's novel.

Le Chiffre
Gender: Male
Occupation: Terrorist banker
Affiliation: SMERSH, Quantum
Status: Deceased
Portrayed by: Peter Lorre (1954), Orson Welles (1967), Mads Mikkelsen (2006)

In French, le chiffre means "the figure" (i.e. "the number") or "the cipher." Fleming based the character on occultist Aleister Crowley.
Le Chiffre, alias "Die Nummer", "Mr. Number", "Herr Ziffer", "Ochiu Spart" and other translations of "The Number" or "The Cipher" in various languages; is the paymaster of the "Syndicat des Ouvriers d'Alsace" (French for "Syndicate of the Alsatian Workmen"), a SMERSH-controlled trade union.

He is first encountered as an inmate of the Dachau displaced persons camp in the U.S. zone of Germany in June 1945 and transferred to Alsace-Lorraine and Strasbourg three months later on a stateless passport. There he adopts the name Le Chiffre because as he claims, he is 'only a number on a passport'. Not much else is really known about Le Chiffre's background or where he comes from, except for educated guesses based on his description.

“ Height 5 ft 8 ins. Weight 18 stones. Complexion very pale. Clean shaven. Hair red-brown, 'en brosse'. Eyes very dark brown with whites showing all round iris. Small, rather feminine mouth. False teeth of expensive quality. Ears small, with large lobes, indicating some Jewish blood. Hands small, well-tended, hirsute. Feet small. Racially, subject is probably a mixture of Prussian or Polish strains. Dresses well and meticulously, generally in dark double-breasted suits.”

Casino Royale, Chapter 2: Dossier for M
He is also fluent in French, English, and German with traces of an Occitan accent.

In the novel, he makes a major investment in a string of brothels with money belonging to SMERSH. The investment fails after a bill is signed into law banning prostitution. Le Chiffre then goes to the casino Royale-les-Eaux in an attempt to recover all of his lost funds. There however, Bond bankrupts him in a series of games in Chemin de Fer. Le Chiffre kidnaps Bond's assistant, Vesper Lynd, to lure him into a trap and get his money back. The trap works, and Le Chiffre tortures Bond by striking his testicles with a 3-foot long carpet beater to force him to reveal where he has hidden the money. Upon determining, however, that Bond will not give in to torture, Le Chiffre produces a knife with the implied purpose of castrating Bond. He is interrupted by a SMERSH agent, however, who shoots him between the eyes as punishment for losing the money. The torture Bond suffers at the hands of Le Chiffre briefly upsets 007's confidence in his profession, and he toys with the idea of leaving the service until the novel's conclusion, when a new threat emerges.

Le Chiffre's death is seen by the Soviet government as an embarrassment, which in addition to the death and defeat of Mr. Big in Live and Let Die, leads to the events of From Russia with Love. In the novel SMERSH attempts to get revenge by killing Bond in an elaborate plot that would embarrass the British Secret Service within the intelligence community.

On Sunday 9 September, the Becks pod will be transformed into a high-tech stage to host a landmark Beck's Fusions event: The Chemical Brothers and UVA unite for a spectacular and original multimedia performance which will be performed live to 9,000 people.

Opening this special event is rising Scottish star Calvin Harris, who will present his unique Fusion with artists Novak 3D Disco. Renowned DJ Erol Alkan will also perform a set to the Trafalgar Square crowds as part of this one-off live event.

Nitin Sawhney and his band, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, perform at the Trafalgar Square screening of the BFI's digitally-restored version of the Indian silent classic, A Throw Of A Dice.

The British Film Institute is collaborating with Nitin Sawhney and the London Symphony Orchestra to present a live accompaniment to a very rare silent film film called A Throw of Dice in Trafalgar Square on Thursday 30th August.

The film has been restored by the BFI. It is a splendid epic of love and loss where a woman's fate relies on A Throw of Dice.



Directed by Franz Osten, a German, it was filmed in India and is a very rare example of an early film made in India. Based on the pivotal gambling episode from the Mahabharata 'A Throw of Dice' is a lovely story that tells the story of Ranjit and nefarious Sohan, two kings with a passion for gambling and the same woman, Sunita.

It is also hugely entertaining and Nitin Sawhney's score (soon to be released on CD) makes for a very special experience.

William Gibson - live in London, August 28th BLACKWELL and SCI-FI-LONDON present a series of talks and lectures by some of the leading lights in science fiction, fantasy and cutting-edge literature.

You are invited to an "Evening with William Gibson" at the Congress Centre, Great Russell Street, London.

To celebrate the publication of Spook Country, William will be in talking about his new novel, taking questions from the audience and signing copies of Spook Country. Chairperson tbc.



William Gibson is the revered pundit of post-industrialism and creator of cyberspace. It has been several years since Gibson has been to the UK, don't miss this chance to listen to this visionary author.

Hi all,

Wyclef Jean is hosting the launch party for his new album 'The Carnival II – Memoirs Of An Immigrant' next Tuesday 4th Sept at

Entrance is via guest-list only.

A face to face show of classic drawings and paintings by Andy Warhol set against the infamous graffiti work of Banksy.

The Hospital Gallery is delighted to present Warhol Vs Banksy; the first exhibition anywhere by the world’s two hottest artists today. Campbell’s or Tesco? Grace Kelly, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Mick Jagger, Queen Elizabeth, The Beatles, Smiley Man police statue, Andy Warhol himself and others make for a potent cocktail of celebrity, satire and voyeurism. Upon contact opposing pictures are explosive for their contrast, even of the same subject.

Pollock Fine Art in association with The Hospital present the first exhibition anywhere, of over 40 mixed media works by Banksy and Andy Warhol.

Banksy is a well-known pseudo-anonymous British graffiti artist. He is believed to be a native of Yate, South Gloucestershire, near Bristol and to have been born in 1974,but there is substantial public uncertainty about his identity and personal and biographical details. According to Tristan Manco, Banksy "was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England. The son of a photocopier engineer, he trained as a butcher but became involved in graffiti during the great Bristol aerosol boom of the late 1980s." His artworks are often-satirical pieces of art on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics. His street art, which combines graffiti writing with a distinctive stencilling technique, is similar to Blek le Rat, who began to work with stencils in 1981 in Paris and members of the anarcho-punk band Crass who maintained a graffiti stencil campaign on the London Tube System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His art has appeared in cities around the world.Banksy's work was born out of the Bristol underground scene which involved collaborations between artists and musicians.

Banksy does not sell photos of street graffiti or mount exhibitions of screenprints in commercial galleries. Art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal in the hands of the winning bidder.

A face to face show of classic drawings and paintings by Andy Warhol set against the infamous graffiti work of Banksy.

The Hospital Gallery is delighted to present Warhol Vs Banksy; the first exhibition anywhere by the world’s two hottest artists today. Campbell’s or Tesco? Grace Kelly, Muhammad Ali, Winston Churchill, Mick Jagger, Queen Elizabeth, The Beatles, Smiley Man police statue, Andy Warhol himself and others make for a potent cocktail of celebrity, satire and voyeurism. Upon contact opposing pictures are explosive for their contrast, even of the same subject.

Pollock Fine Art in association with The Hospital present the first exhibition anywhere, of over 40 mixed media works by Banksy and Andy Warhol.

Banksy is a well-known pseudo-anonymous British graffiti artist. He is believed to be a native of Yate, South Gloucestershire, near Bristol and to have been born in 1974,but there is substantial public uncertainty about his identity and personal and biographical details. According to Tristan Manco, Banksy "was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England. The son of a photocopier engineer, he trained as a butcher but became involved in graffiti during the great Bristol aerosol boom of the late 1980s." His artworks are often-satirical pieces of art on topics such as politics, culture, and ethics. His street art, which combines graffiti writing with a distinctive stencilling technique, is similar to Blek le Rat, who began to work with stencils in 1981 in Paris and members of the anarcho-punk band Crass who maintained a graffiti stencil campaign on the London Tube System in the late 1970s and early 1980s. His art has appeared in cities around the world.Banksy's work was born out of the Bristol underground scene which involved collaborations between artists and musicians.

Banksy does not sell photos of street graffiti or mount exhibitions of screenprints in commercial galleries. Art auctioneers have been known to attempt to sell his street art on location and leave the problem of its removal in the hands of the winning bidder.

Edinburgh's West End Fair is Scotland's largest contemporary art, craft and design fair.

Situated in the heart of the historic festival city of Edinburgh and set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, the West End Fair brings together some of the finest contemporary arts, crafts and designs from across the UK in one glorious open air venue.

With over 100 makers, the fair is full of unique stalls selling products you won't find on any high street. Enjoy a few hours browsing: you'll find stunning jewellery, furniture, tempting fashion, accessories and homewares beautifully crafted in glass, wood, metal, textiles as well as art, photography and much more.

After much speculation Led Zeppelin have announced they are to reform to perform at a one off concert at The O2 on 26th November. The concert will be a celebration of the life and work of Ahmet Ertegun, founder of Atlantic Records and much missed mentor to some of the greatest names in music.

Line up:
Led Zeppelin
Pete Townshend
Bill Wyman
Rhythm Kings
Foreigner
Paolo Nutini

Profits from this amazing show will go to the Ahmet Ertegun Education Fund which provides students with annual scholarships to universities in the UK, USA and Turkey. In addition, a music scholarship open to all will be established at Ravensbourne College in the UK.

The incomparable Led Zeppelin will headline the tribute to the man who founded Atlantic Records in 1947. Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones will be joined by Jason Bonham, the son of their late drummer John Bonham.

In addition, Pete Townshend, Bill Wyman and the Rhythm Kings, Foreigner and Paolo Nutini, all touched by Ertegun’s guiding hand over the years, will play on the night. Paolo was the final British artist that Ahmet mentored.

Due to the anticipated overwhelming demand for this concert, tickets will be available by ballot only. All tickets are priced at £125.

Ian Brown will embark on his largest UK tour for some time this autumn in support of his new album which will be released to coincide with the shows.

Fri 30 Nov: Carling Academy Brixton
Ian Brown (Late show)

Over 18's only - ID Required

8pm-2am

The Hospital presents the first ever exhibition showcasing the work of Warhol and Banksy side by side. It's a chance to view the work of these two iconic artists and explore the relationship between their works. An exhibition of either artist would be an exciting prospect so this show is a must-see.

The exhibition is showing over 40 works of mixed media by the two artists. It will show Warhol's classic drawings and paintings side by side with the ground-breaking graffiti art of Banksy.

Sci-Fi-London (The London International Festival of Science Fiction and Fantastic Film) and Blackwell booksellers present this forthcoming Spook Country promotional event: An Evening with William Gibson at the Congress Centre, Great Russell Street, London.

To celebrate the publication of Spook Country, William will be in talking about his new novel, taking questions from the audience and signing copies of Spook Country.

William Gibson is the revered pundit of post-industrialism and creator of cyberspace. It has been several years since Gibson has been to the UK, don't miss this chance to listen to this visionary author.

This venue, in the basement of the Trades Union Congress headquarters building is the same one at which William Gibson gave a reading from, and signed copies of Pattern Recognition in 2003.

Hi all,

Ok, so we are cooking with gas now. Loose arrangements for tomorrow evening are as follows:

Apéritif - Kemia Tea Bar - 7ish (take your time it’s Saturday – relax. Hopefully the weather will be good and we can sit outside)

Dinner - Momo – 7:30 – 9:15pm

Digestif - Milk & Honey - 9:30 – 10:40 pm

More Digestifs – Absolute Ice Bar – 11pm – 11:40

Night cap – Kingly Club - 12 onwards

Alternatively we can have dinner and just mooch around. If the weather is good we can pop by The Trafalgar’s roof top bar area.

Best and looking forward to seeing all of you tomorrow.

Helicopter ride over London

A helicopter sight seeing tour is one of the best ways to see the sights of London. To truly appreciate London, jump in a helicopter and see our Capital city from the air. The helicopters used for these sight seeing tours are renowned as being amongst the world's most comfortable and reliable aircraft and, as you might expect, the views through the cabin windows are excellent.

The Thames
The Thames is a major river flowing through southern England. While best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows through several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading and Windsor.

The river gives its name to the Thames Valley, a region of England centred around the river between Oxford and West London, the Thames Gateway, the area centred around the tidal Thames, and the Thames Estuary to the east of London.

The River Thames is the second longest river in the United Kingdom and the longest river entirely in England, rising at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flowing into the North Sea at the Thames Estuary. It has a special significance in flowing through London, the capital of the United Kingdom, although London only touches a short part of its course. The river is tidal in London with a rise and fall of 7 metres (23 ft) and becomes non-tidal at Teddington Lock. The catchment area covers a large part of South Eastern and Western England and the river is fed by over 20 tributaries. The river contains over 80 islands, and having both seawater and freshwater stretches supports a variety of wildlife.

The river has supported human activity from its source to its mouth for thousands of years providing habitation, water power, food and drink. It has also acted as a major highway both for international trade through the Port of London, and internally along its length and connecting to the British canal system. The river’s strategic position has seen it at the centre of many events and fashions in British history, earning it a description as “Liquid History”. It has been a physical and political boundary over the centuries and generated a range of river crossings. In more recent time the river has become a major leisure area supporting tourism and pleasure outings as well as the sports of rowing, sailing, skiffing, kayaking, and punting. The river has had a special appeal to writers, artists, musicians and film-makers and is well represented in the arts. It is still the subject of various debates about its course, nomenclature and history.

Vauxhall Bridge
Vauxhall Bridge is a steel arched bridge for road and foot traffic, crossing the River Thames in a north-west south-east orientation, between Lambeth Bridge and Grosvenor Bridge, in central London.

On the north bank is Westminster, with Tate Britain and the Millbank Tower to the north-east, and Pimlico and its tube station to the north and east.

On the south bank, Vauxhall Cross, site of Vauxhall station and the headquarters of MI6, lies immediately to the south-east; Kennington is to the east, Vauxhall to the south-east and Nine Elms to the south west. The River Effra, one of the Thames's many underground tributaries, empties into the main river just to the east of the bridge on the south bank.The current bridge was designed by Sir Alexander Binnie, with modifications by Maurice Fitzmaurice, to replace a previous cast-iron structure. It was built by Petwick Brothers.

It was completed in 1906, and opened on the May 26 by the Prince of Wales, and was the first bridge to carry trams across the Thames. It measures 80ft wide by 809ft long, has five steel arches mounted on granite piers, and its most striking feature is a series of bronze female figures on the bridge abutments, both upstream and downstream, commemorating the arts and sciences. The four upstream figures are by F. W. Pomeroy, the four downstream by Alfred Drury.

MI6
Vauxhall Cross is the site of the central headquarters of the British Secret Intelligence Service (more commonly referred to as MI6), which occupies offices built between 1989 and 1992 and commonly referred to as Vauxhall Cross. More recently, a large complex of apartments and offices has been built to the south of Vauxhall Bridge.

The MI6 building has featured in several James Bond films, initially filmed without permission but then condoned by then Foreign Secretary Robin Cook with his memorable "After all James Bond has done for Britain..." quip. It is seen in GoldenEye, The World Is Not Enough (wherein it suffers a fictional terrorist attack that prefigured a genuine incident) and Die Another Day. The latter featured a fictional London Underground station, Vauxhall Cross, a supposedly closed stop on the Piccadilly Line now employed by MI6 as an extension to its HQ. In fact, the Piccadilly Line does not come south of the river at all; only the Victoria Line passes anywhere nearby, and the secret entrance to the station shown in the film is on the east side of Westminster Bridge some considerable distance down river.

Helicopter ride over London

A helicopter sight seeing tour is one of the best ways to see the sights of London. To truly appreciate London, jump in a helicopter and see our Capital city from the air. The helicopters used for these sight seeing tours are renowned as being amongst the world's most comfortable and reliable aircraft and, as you might expect, the views through the cabin windows are excellent.

Your flight experience will last approximately thirty minutes, depending on air traffic, and provides you with a full view of London as soon as you take off. Lifting off from the helipad your experienced pilot will follow the River Thames flying at approx 1500ft, providing you with excellent views of London, including: The Thames Barrier, London City Airport, the O2 Millenium Dome, Greenwich, Isle of Dogs, Canary Wharf, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, The City, St Paul's, Trafalgar Square, The London Eye, Houses of Parliament and MI6 building.

Houses of Parliment
Where Parliament now stands has been a centre of authority for over a thousand years. Once the home of the royal family, and still officially a royal palace, the buildings that now make up the modern Houses of Parliament have developed through design, accident and attack.

Westminster Hall is the oldest part of Parliament. The walls were built in 1097 and the hall is one Europe’s largest medieval halls with an unsupported roof. It was extensively rebuilt during the 14th century.

Once used as a law court, the hall has held several notable trials, including that of Sir William Wallace (1305), the Gunpowder Plot conspirators (1606) and King Charles I (1649).

Today the hall is often used for important State occasions such as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and the lying-in-State of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, both in 2002.

Westminster Bridge
Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames between Westminster, Middlesex bank, and Lambeth, Surrey bank in what is now Greater London, England.

For over 500 years, the nearest bridge to London Bridge was at Kingston. Proposals for a bridge at Westminster had been made as early as 1664. These were opposed by the Corporation of London and the watermen. Despite further opposition in 1722 and after a new timber bridge was built at Putney in 1729, the scheme received parliamentary approval in 1736. Financed by private capital, lotteries and grants, Westminster Bridge, designed by the Swiss architect Charles Labelye, was built between 1739-1750. It was only the second bridge crossing to be built across the Thames below Kingston when opened.

Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, England between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge. The name of the bridge is in memory of the British victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the river, the views of London (Westminster, the South Bank and London Eye to the west, the City of London and Canary Wharf to the east) from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level.

The first bridge on the site was designed in 1809-10 by John Rennie for the Strand Bridge Company and opened in 1817 as a toll bridge. The granite bridge had nine arches, each of 120 feet (36.6 m) span, separated by double Grecian-Doric stone columns and was 2,456 feet (748.6 m) long, including approaches. Before its opening it was known as 'Strand Bridge'. It was nationalised in 1878 and given to the Metropolitan Board of Works, who removed the toll from it. Serious problems were found in its construction and the new owners reinforced it. Paintings of the bridge were created by the French Impressionist Claude Monet and English Impressionist, John Constable.

Helicopter ride over London

A helicopter sight seeing tour is one of the best ways to see the sights of London. To truly appreciate London, jump in a helicopter and see our Capital city from the air. The helicopters used for these sight seeing tours are renowned as being amongst the world's most comfortable and reliable aircraft and, as you might expect, the views through the cabin windows are excellent.

30 St Mary Axe is a skyscraper in London's main financial district, the City of London. It is widely known by the nickname "The Gherkin", and occasionally as a variant on The Swiss Re Tower, after its previous owner and principal occupier. It is 180 metres (591 ft) tall, making it the second-tallest building in the City of London, after Tower 42, and the sixth-tallest in London as a whole. The building's name is its address — St Mary Axe being the street it is on.

The building was designed by Pritzker Prize-winner Lord Foster and ex-partner Ken Shuttleworth and Arup engineers, and was constructed by Skanska of Sweden between 2001 and 2004. However, despite Foster taking complete credit for the design, industry insiders advise that Shuttleworth, who later founded his own design studio, MAKE, was the primary source of the radical and innovative design of the structure.

Formed in 1981, the Beastie Boys are one of the most influential hip hop groups in the world. Their experimental musical style has made them one of the most diverse bands in history and their new record 'The Mix Up' is sure to surprise us again. Don't miss them live this September at Carling Academy Brixton.

Day at Ascot races with Lemar performing live

Ascot races
Ascot, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, is one of the world's greatest racecourses and the best racecourse in the UK.

It was while Queen Anne was out riding on the edge of Windsor Great Park that she noticed a natural clearing near the village of East Cote, now called Ascot. Queen Anne ordered a course to be laid out 'for horses to gallop at full stretch' and so the Royal Racecourse was born. The first four-day Royal Meeting was held in June 1768, changing to a five day meeting in 2002, the Queen's Golden Jubilee year. Today Ascot Racecourse stages the highest quality flat and jump racing throughout the year and is undoubtedly the best racecourse in the world.

Lemar
Lemar Obika (born 4 April 1978), professionally known as Lemar, is a British Soul and R&B Singer, Songwriter and Vocal Producer who has had a run of chart success in the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia.

Lemar was most notably brought to public attention on the BBC's Fame Academy in 2002, a combination of a talent quest and reality television show. He made the finals of the show winning plaudits for his version of "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green and singing a duet with Lionel Richie on "Easy". While he ended up finishing third in the show, which was won by David Sneddon, he caught the eye of fellow English soul singer Beverley Knight, who invited him to sing a duet with her during her concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. Sony Music was so impressed with his potential that they signed him to a five year record deal worth £1 million.

Ascot, founded in 1711 by Queen Anne, is one of the world's greatest racecourses and the best racecourse in the UK.

It was while Queen Anne was out riding on the edge of Windsor Great Park that she noticed a natural clearing near the village of East Cote, now called Ascot. Queen Anne ordered a course to be laid out 'for horses to gallop at full stretch' and so the Royal Racecourse was born. The first four-day Royal Meeting was held in June 1768, changing to a five day meeting in 2002, the Queen's Golden Jubilee year. Today Ascot Racecourse stages the highest quality flat and jump racing throughout the year and is undoubtedly the best racecourse in the world.

An afternoon of idiosyncratic sporting delights. From the site:

"The single sporting event of the season in which buffoonery, ineptitude and panache are rewarded. The events may all be entered by members of the public, as long as they are adequately attired and not wearing sportswear."

Website: http://www.thechap.net/content/section_news/chap-events.html

Bedford Square
Bedford Square
London, England WC1B 3ED

With summer on the way, we've decided to do what we do best, second to running the world's best online radio: that is, having a BBQ, drinking beer and playing music.

We’ve always had sporadic BBQs that have taken place on our roof top. Unfortunately, Hackney Council has deemed this activity illegal (boo!)

So we're taking over Herbal’s bar and terrace from 6 – 11PM on July 12th. Join us to create a unique user generated event (there will be food, booze and DJs from the Last.fm team).

A unique user generated event? Yup that’s right, When you click to say you're attending, the Last.fm DJ team will play selections from your music charts.

Hope to see you there!

Note: be sure to sign up at the Last.FM page.

herbal
10-14 Kingsland Road
London, England E28DA

Taking over London's Earls Court Exhibition Centre for three days in July 2007, Star Wars Celebration Europe will be filled with live entertainment, celebrities from all six movies, special film and video presentations, an exhibit of movie props and costumes, exclusive merchandise, pop culture tributes, interactive events, a costume contest, and much, much more.

Star Wars The Exhibition, County Hall, London - Imperial Stormtrooper, London

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION features an array of items specially selected from the Lucasfilm Archives in Northern California. These objects give visitors a rare glimpse into the making of the epic movies. Among the featured items is the spectacular life-sized Naboo N-1 starfighter, along with several interactive activities that range from Jedi training to a greenscreen simulation which puts you right into the films.

Upon entering the magic world of Star wars, visitors are immediately immersed into the Star Wars universe as huge landscape images are projected to recreate the atmosphere of a particular world. Different exhibition zones walk you through the worlds of Tatooine, Naboo, Endor, Hoth, Coruscant, Kamino, Geonosis, Kashyyyk, Utapau and Mustafar.

In addition, visitors will find a projection room featuring a documentary on 30 Years of Visual Effects, which reveals just how far this art has come. Optical illusions, picture overlays, pyrotechnics, stunt tricks, and other visual and special effects are also explained in relation to the Star Wars films.

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION gives visitors, movie lovers and Star Wars fans a unique opportunity to learn and discover some of the secrets behind the making of this epic Saga.

Imperial Stormtroopers
The Imperial Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers from George Lucas' Star Wars universe. Originally known as "Clone Troopers" and portrayed as the fighting force of the old republic, they were supplanted as stormtroopers at the formation of the Galactic Empire, and are featured in the original Star Wars trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI). Stormtroopers come to be the personal army of Emperor Palpatine and of his commanders, carrying out the will of their superiors without question. They typically come in large collective volumes of different organizational sizes from squads to legions, and for some their armor and training is modified for special operations and environments.

Star Wars The Exhibition, County Hall, London - Carbon-frozen Han Solo

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION features an array of items specially selected from the Lucasfilm Archives in Northern California. These objects give visitors a rare glimpse into the making of the epic movies. Among the featured items is the spectacular life-sized Naboo N-1 starfighter, along with several interactive activities that range from Jedi training to a greenscreen simulation which puts you right into the films.

In addition, visitors will find a projection room featuring a documentary on 30 Years of Visual Effects, which reveals just how far this art has come. Optical illusions, picture overlays, pyrotechnics, stunt tricks, and other visual and special effects are also explained in relation to the Star Wars films.

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION gives visitors, movie lovers and Star Wars fans a unique opportunity to learn and discover some of the secrets behind the making of this epic Saga.

Han Solo
Han Solo is a character in the Star Wars universe. He was played by Harrison Ford in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, The Star Wars Holiday Special, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.

Solo is introduced in A New Hope as a roguish space smuggler who, through a twist of fate, becomes involved in the Rebel Alliance against the evil Galactic Empire. Over the course of this film and its sequels, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, Solo becomes a chief figure in the Alliance. Star Wars creator George Lucas describes him as "a loner who realizes the importance of being part of a group and helping for the common good."

Star Wars The Exhibition, County Hall, London - Jango Fett, London

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION features an array of items specially selected from the Lucasfilm Archives in Northern California. These objects give visitors a rare glimpse into the making of the epic movies. Among the featured items is the spectacular life-sized Naboo N-1 starfighter, along with several interactive activities that range from Jedi training to a greenscreen simulation which puts you right into the films.

Upon entering the magic world of Star wars, visitors are immediately immersed into the Star Wars universe as huge landscape images are projected to recreate the atmosphere of a particular world. Different exhibition zones walk you through the worlds of Tatooine, Naboo, Endor, Hoth, Coruscant, Kamino, Geonosis, Kashyyyk, Utapau and Mustafar.

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION gives visitors, movie lovers and Star Wars fans a unique opportunity to learn and discover some of the secrets behind the making of this epic Saga.

Jango Fett
Jango Fett is a fictional character and supporting villain in the Star Wars universe. He first appeared in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, in which he was played by Temuera Morrison. Before Attack of the Clones, Jango was mentioned in Star Wars novels such as The Bounty Hunter Special.

Jango Fett's son is his clone Boba Fett, made famous in Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Both father and son served as bounty hunters as well as personal bodyguards of political figures such as Count Dooku and Palpatine, indirectly aiding the rise of the Empire.

Star Wars The Exhibition, County Hall, London - Dark Lord Darth Vader, London

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION features an array of items specially selected from the Lucasfilm Archives in Northern California. These objects give visitors a rare glimpse into the making of the epic movies. Among the featured items is the spectacular life-sized Naboo N-1 starfighter, along with several interactive activities that range from Jedi training to a greenscreen simulation which puts you right into the films.

In addition, visitors will find a projection room featuring a documentary on 30 Years of Visual Effects, which reveals just how far this art has come. Optical illusions, picture overlays, pyrotechnics, stunt tricks, and other visual and special effects are also explained in relation to the Star Wars films.

STAR WARS: THE EXHIBITION gives visitors, movie lovers and Star Wars fans a unique opportunity to learn and discover some of the secrets behind the making of this epic Saga.

Darth Vader
Darth Vader is a fictional character in George Lucas' science fiction saga Star Wars. He is the principal antagonist in the original Star Wars trilogy, who is revealed over the course of the saga to be a tragic hero named Anakin Skywalker. The character first appeared in the original trilogy of films (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi); Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Vader is portrayed in the later, prequel film, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. The character also appears extensively in the series' "Expanded Universe" of novels, video games, and fan-produced works. Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains in film history, ranked third on American Film Institute's 100 Heroes and Villains list.

Darth Vader was physically portrayed in the original film trilogy by David Prowse, vocally by James Earl Jones, and finally by Sebastian Shaw at the conclusion of Return of the Jedi. In the prequel film trilogy, Anakin Skywalker was portrayed as a boy by Jake Lloyd, then as a young adult by Hayden Christensen. Christensen also briefly portrayed Darth Vader without the character's famous costume, and finally in the costume at the close of Revenge of the Sith.

The original trilogy depicts the character as a fearsome cyborg and Sith Lord who serves at the right hand of Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), leading the brutal Galactic Empire in oppressing the galaxy and hunting down the Rebel Alliance. The prequel trilogy depicts him as a slave boy who becomes a heroic Jedi Knight and hero of the Clone Wars. He then falls to the "dark side" of the mystical Force after Palpatine manipulates him into betraying the Jedi and destroying the Galactic Republic. In Return of the Jedi, the series' final chronological installment, Vader redeems himself by helping to destroy the Empire, sacrificing himself in the process.

The London Eye (Millenium Wheel) at a height of 135 metres (443 ft), is the biggest Ferris wheel in Europe, and has become the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom, visited by over 3 million people a year

The iconic County Hall and the London Eye. County Hall houses the London Aquarium where Julia Roberts meets Clive Owen in Patrick Marber’s drama Closer (2004), while Austin Powers’ swinging pad is located on its roof in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). It also makes an appearance in Judy Garland’s final film, I Could Go on Singing (1963), while the interiors double as the Pentagon in Mission Impossible (1996). County Hall is also home to The Movieum of London where you can see exciting props and memorabilia from some of the world’s most famous movies. Since the London Eye was built on the South Bank in 1999 it has appeared in a wide range of films, featuring in a spectacular stunt sequence in Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) as well as in Basic Instinct 2 (2006) and Wimbledon (2004) starring Kirsten Dunst. Jubilee Gardens in front of the Eye was used as a landing pad for T2 in Thunderbirds (2004) and is where Sidney Poitier eats ice-cream with his daughter in A Warm December (1973).

4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007)
With Von Doom back in his homeland of Latveria the fantastic four have new troubles when Galactus has decided that Earth is his next target. When his henchman, The Silver Surfer, is sent to Earth he discovers that he's getting more than he bargained for when he encounters the Fantastic Four. But that's not all when Dr. Doom decides that after two years in the homeland he is ready to return. Written by Gharrett Favinger

Parliament View

In conversation with Bill Moggeridge, NESTA, London

From Spy.co.uk:
What can businesses keen to innovate and improve draw from design? From the Cox Review and the Stanford d.school, BusinessWeek magazine to the Institute of Design Strategy Conference, the role of design in business has taken on new dimensions. From offering new ways for executives to think, to informing corporate strategy, from creating new models for organisational design to providing new sources of revenue, it is argued by many leading thinkers that design thinking and methods are increasing in relevance and significance.

Bill Moggridge will present his thinking on this subject, drawing on his pioneering work as co-founder of IDEO and his insights offered in his recently published book Designing Interactions (MIT Press). Then, in conversation, Nico Macdonald will investigate these issues with Mr. Moggridge. We will then open up to an audience discussion around these themes.

Award-winning designer Bill Moggridge is a founder of IDEO, one of the most successful design firms in the world and one of the first to integrate the design of software and hardware into the practice of industrial design. He has been Visiting Professor in Interaction Design at the Royal College of Art in London, Lecturer in Design at the London Business School, member of the Steering Committee for the Interaction Design Institute in Ivrea, Italy, and is currently Consulting Associate Professor in the Joint Program in Design at Stanford University. Bill’s career has had three phases; first as designer, then as a manager of design, and now as a communicator, working as a writer, graphic designer and video maker. His fascination with design, and with what people want from everyday things, has given him a broad view of the information revolution.

Award-winning designer Bill Moggridge is a founder of IDEO, one of the most successful design firms in the world and one of the first to integrate the design of software and hardware into the practice of industrial design. He has been Visiting Professor in Interaction Design at the Royal College of Art in London, Lecturer in Design at the London Business School, member of the Steering Committee for the Interaction Design Institute in Ivrea, Italy, and is currently Consulting Associate Professor in the Joint Program in Design at Stanford University. Bill’s career has had three phases; first as designer, then as a manager of design, and now as a communicator, working as a writer, graphic designer and video maker. His fascination with design, and with what people want from everyday things, has given him a broad view of the information revolution.

The view from Primrose Hill

Primrose Hill is a hill of 256 feet (78 m) located on the north side of Regent's Park in North London, England, and also the name for the surrounding district. The hill has a clear view of Central London to the south-east, as well as Belsize Park and Hampstead to the north.

Like Regent's Park, Primrose Hill was once part of a great chase appropriated by Henry VIII and became Crown property in 1841. In 1842 an Act of Parliament secured the land as public open space. The built up part of Primrose Hill consists mainly of Victorian terraces. It has always been one of the more fashionable districts in the urban belt that lies between the core of London and the outer suburbs, and remains expensive and prosperous.

- In H.G. Wells' book The War of the Worlds, Primrose Hill was the site of the final Martian encampment.
- In Dodie Smith'sThe Hundred and One Dalmatians, the Dearly family live near the district, on Regent's Park's Outer Circle, with Primrose Hill itself forming an excellent location for Pongo to engage in the 'twilight barking'.
- Primrose Hill is referred to in the Blur song For Tomorrow. The lyrics "and the view's so nice", from the song, have been painted on a path leading to the top of Primrose Hill.
- Primrose Hill is mentioned in the Appleton single "Everything Eventually", with the line "Let's go fly a kite on Primrose Hill". The video for the song was shot there too.
- Oasis took the black and white photo for the cover of the single "Wonderwall" here where a girl is shown through a frame. The original photo is coloured and shows Liam Gallagher, with the hand of an unseen person holding up a picture frame around him, however the young girl was chosen to be on the cover by Liam's brother and Oasis guitartist/songwriter Noel Gallagher, at the last moment.
- Primrose Hill is referred to in "Emit Remmus" ('summer time' backwards), a song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which is off of their 1999 album Californication.
- It is referred to in a poem by William Blake: "...The fields from Islington to Marylebone/To Primrose Hill and Saint John's Wood/Were builded over with pillars of gold/And there Jerusalem's pillars stood..." It was upon Primrose Hill which the poet-illustrator supposedly climbed and had conversations with the Spirit of the Sun. He also believed that this area would eventually be the foundation for one of the pillars of the biblical New Jerusalem.
- In "The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul," by Douglas Adams, Kate Schecter lives in a flat on Primrose Hill.
- Primrose Hill is referred by Beverley Martyn in her song "Primrose Hill" on the 1970 John & Beverley Martyn album Road to Ruin, later sampled in "North West Three", a tune by Fatboy Slim, on his 2004 album "Palookaville".
- The English pop group Madness released a song named "Primrose Hill" on their album The Rise & Fall. It starts with the line "A man opened his window and stared up Primrose Hill...". The album cover was also photographed on the hill itself. Primrose Hill is also referenced in the lyrics of Madness' 1982 single Driving in My Car.
- Top of Primrose Hill shown in opening scene of "Bridget Jones Edge of Reason".
- Musician Billy bragg mentions seeing Angels up on primrose hill in his song Upfield "I dreamed I saw a tree full of angels, up on Primrose Hill". Bragg says he was inspired to write this song from William Blake.
- Parts of the British romance comedy Imagine Me & You was filmed on Primrose Hill, featuring Lena Headey and Piper Perabo
- The band Marillion's song "Interior Lulu" from the album "dot com" mentions looking down on the city from Primrose Hill.
- One of the scenes of 2006 movie Breaking and Entering takes place at the top of Primrose Hill. Later, background song was put on the film's soundtrack.
- The song "Golden Earth Girl", from Paul McCartney's album Off The Ground, contains the line "Natures lover climbs the Primrose Hill".
- The song "The Promise", by British girlgroup Girls Aloud, contains the line "Here I am, walking Primrose, wondering when I'm gonna see you again!."
- Primrose Hill is mentioned repeatedly in the Fatboy Slim song "North West Three."

I bought a Ramona Mexican Hammock while we were in the Yucatan last year. I finally got around to putting it up and I'm quite happy with the result. I'm going to need to look into a ceiling fitting so I can hang it from the roof.

Romano's handmade Hammock
With weaving techniques dating back to the early 15th century, native artisans, like Ramona, handcraft pure cotton and high-tech nylon into incredible hammocks of unrivalled quality.

Hour after hour, in tiny huts, on open air looms, in the remote villages of Teabo, Pencuyut, Dzitas, Kanasin and Chomayel, they patiently work the fibre. Each hammock has more than two miles of cord and can take an experienced weaver up to 90 hours to complete. For centuries, hammock weaving has been a major source of income for the Mayans, who take enormous pride in their traditional techniques and colour designs.

Cotton hammocks feel like a soft bed. The material breathes and flexes. The colours are natural. If left out in the weather, they will begin to fade in the first year, and the cotton will show signs of deterioration in the second year. They are susceptible to snags. Cotton hammocks are best used inside or on a covered porch, out of the weather.

According to The Journal of The American Medical Association, woven cotton and nylon hammocks "provide excellent back support" and are, in many ways, the "ultimate tool for relieving stress."

For more info visit here: http://www.hamix.com/

George Michael to play first Wembley gig

The UK leg of Michael's tour will take in five cities. Singer George Michael is to play the first concert at the new Wembley Stadium, it has been announced.

The pop star will perform at the 90,000-capacity venue on 9 June as part of a British and European stadium tour.

Michael, 43, played several key gigs at the old stadium, including Live Aid in 1985 and Wham's farewell concert in 1986 with ex-bandmate Andrew Ridgeley.

The concert was a true one-man show. Michael has that magical ability to hold the crowd on the strength of his untainted soul voice and songs. Only sporadically during the two-and-a-half-hour set did the band and backing vocalists emerge from the shadows.

The new Wembley is an experience for even the most seasoned of concert-goers. To be part of this show was to be part of a party that will go down in history.

Meerkats at London Zoo

Meerkat or Mongoose (Suricatta suricata)
Highly sociable, these mongooses live in extensive burrow systems. One of the group acts as sentry on a high vantage point, while the others forage for food. Black hair around their eyes enables them to scan the bright sky for predators and a variety of calls warns the group to hide when danger is near.

ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo.It was opened in London on April 27, 1828,and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually made open to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of 755 species of animals, with 15104 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

It is managed under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London (established in 1826),and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park (the Regent's Canal runs through it).The Society also has a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved. As well as being the first scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo also opened the first Reptile house (1849), first public Aquarium (1853), first insect house (1881) and the first children's zoo (1938).

ZSL receives no state funding and relies on 'Fellows', 'Friends', 'Members', entrance fees and sponsorship to generate income.

Western lowland gorilla at London Zoo

Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
The largest apes, gorillas are threatened by deforestation and the bushmeat trade. They are gentle, social primates. A silverback male leads a group of several females and their offspring.

ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo.It was opened in London on April 27, 1828,and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually made open to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of 755 species of animals, with 15104 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

It is managed under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London (established in 1826),and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park (the Regent's Canal runs through it).The Society also has a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved. As well as being the first scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo also opened the first Reptile house (1849), first public Aquarium (1853), first insect house (1881) and the first children's zoo (1938).

ZSL receives no state funding and relies on 'Fellows', 'Friends', 'Members', entrance fees and sponsorship to generate income.

Sumatran tiger at London Zoo

Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae)
Their stripes provide good camouflage in the tropical forests where they live. They also have spots on the back of their ears that they use for signalling. Sumatran tigers are smaller and darker than the Amur (Siberian) tigers that are kept at Whipsnade Wild Animal Park.

ZSL London Zoo
ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo.It was opened in London on April 27, 1828,and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually made open to the public in 1847. Today it houses a collection of 755 species of animals, with 15104 individuals, making it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.

It is managed under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London (established in 1826),and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park (the Regent's Canal runs through it).The Society also has a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos have been moved. As well as being the first scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo also opened the first Reptile house (1849), first public Aquarium (1853), first insect house (1881) and the first children's zoo (1938).

ZSL receives no state funding and relies on 'Fellows', 'Friends', 'Members', entrance fees and sponsorship to generate income.

The Reef Oasis Palms Resort

The Reef Oasis Palms Resort is a brand new hotel opening in May 07, with some great facilities, the Palms Resort looks set to compete with some of Sharm El Sheikh's best quality hotels. You'll find stunning pools and sparkling white architecture, well designed and spacious rooms, and great food and drink A comfortable 5 Star Resort.

Located on " Hadabet Om El Sied ", 2 Km from Sharm Old Market and 14 Km from Sharm International Airport.

Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near to the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls and pounding current and coral gardens.

Sharm el Sheikh (Arabic: شرم الشيخ‎, Sharm al-Shaykh), often known simply as "Sharm", is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in Janub Sina', Egypt, on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai.

Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt's Southern Sinai province which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai. Sharm el-Sheikh is known as The City of Peace referring to the large number of international peace conferences that have been held there.

The Reef Oasis Palms Resort

The Reef Oasis Palms Resort is a brand new hotel opening in May 07, with some great facilities, the Palms Resort looks set to compete with some of Sharm El Sheikh's best quality hotels. You'll find stunning pools and sparkling white architecture, well designed and spacious rooms, and great food and drink A comfortable 5 Star Resort.

Located on " Hadabet Om El Sied ", 2 Km from Sharm Old Market and 14 Km from Sharm International Airport.

Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near to the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls and pounding current and coral gardens.

Sharm el Sheikh (Arabic: شرم الشيخ‎, Sharm al-Shaykh), often known simply as "Sharm", is a city situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in Janub Sina', Egypt, on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai.

Sharm el-Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt's Southern Sinai province which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, Saint Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai. Sharm el-Sheikh is known as The City of Peace referring to the large number of international peace conferences that have been held there.

Shark Observatory
The site stretches from the foot of the observatory cliff in the north, across the mouth of a shallow box-shaped inlet, to the beginning of the Anemone City in the south. There are two possible shore entry points, one inside the inlet and the second in the small cove at the foot of the cliff. Both can be reached by road.

In the past, it was possible to see sharks here just by looking down from the cliff top but with the advent of dive tourism and its attendant boat traffic, the sharks have mostly moved on.

The site is a vertical wall, sloping outwards at its foot. The rugged profile is most dramatic in the northern section, where the reef face is especially contoured, with fissures, inlets and crevices to explore. Coral growth is good with lots of variety among both soft and stony species.

The steep profile does not encourage dense populations of smaller reef species, so quality and quantity of fish are somewhat dependent on currents and the pelagic life they encourage. Jacks, barracuda and the occasional gray or blacktip shark liven things up when the current is running: snapper, surgeons and unicorns are present in schools of varying size, and larger reef fish such as big grouper and Napoleons are usually on hand.

Divers should be careful of the strong currents which are common in this area and those who enter from shore should be doubly cautious. Once beyond the point to the north, there is no shore exit point. Do not round the point if current could prevent you from returning to the exit point.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls and pounding current and coral gardens.

The giant moray is widespread in the Indo-Pacific region, being found in the Red Sea and East Africa, the Pitcairn group, north to the Ryukyu and Hawaiian islands, south to New Caledonia and the Austral Islands.

As the name suggests, this is a large eel, reaching up to 300cm (9.8 ft) in length and 30kg (66.1 lbs) in weight. While juveniles are tan in colour with large black spots, adults have black specks that grade into leopard-like spots behind the head and a black area surrounding the gill opening.

Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are two reefs rising just off the Ras Mohammed coast. They are twin peaks of a single coral sea mount, separated from the mainland by a shallow channel.

Shark Reef is the more colorful and spectacular of the two reefs; with its wall and great marine life. Yolanda Reef is the larger of the two. Its name comes from a vessel which sank here in 1980.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls and pounding current and coral gardens.

Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are two reefs rising just off the Ras Mohammed coast. They are twin peaks of a single coral sea mount, separated from the mainland by a shallow channel.

Shark Reef is the more colorful and spectacular of the two reefs; with its wall and great marine life. Yolanda Reef is the larger of the two. Its name comes from a vessel which sank here in 1980.

Sharm el-Sheikh has also become a favourite spot for scuba divers from around the world. Being situated near to the Red Sea, it provides some of the most stunning underwater scenery and warm water making this an ideal place to dive. Visitors to Sharm el-Sheikh can experience a variety of water and activities. Beach seekers find many activities such as diving, snorkeling, wind surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls and pounding current and coral gardens.

By boat & from shore: Long boat time (> 30min)

average depth: 20.0 m
max depth: 50.0 m
visibility:Good ( 10 - 30 m)
dive type: Sharks & Reef

Shark Observatory
The site stretches from the foot of the observatory cliff in the north, across the mouth of a shallow box-shaped inlet, to the beginning of the Anemone City in the south. There are two possible shore entry points, one inside the inlet and the second in the small cove at the foot of the cliff. Both can be reached by road.

In the past, it was possible to see sharks here just by looking down from the cliff top but with the advent of dive tourism and its attendant boat traffic, the sharks have mostly moved on.

The site is a vertical wall, sloping outwards at its foot. The rugged profile is most dramatic in the northern section, where the reef face is especially contoured, with fissures, inlets and crevices to explore. Coral growth is good with lots of variety among both soft and stony species.

The steep profile does not encourage dense populations of smaller reef species, so quality and quantity of fish are somewhat dependent on currents and the pelagic life they encourage. Jacks, barracuda and the occasional gray or blacktip shark liven things up when the current is running: snapper, surgeons and unicorns are present in schools of varying size, and larger reef fish such as big grouper and Napoleons are usually on hand.

Divers should be careful of the strong currents which are common in this area and those who enter from shore should be doubly cautious. Once beyond the point to the north, there is no shore exit point. Do not round the point if current could prevent you from returning to the exit point.

Ras Mohammed is the National Park of South Sinai and located on the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula; it probably represents some of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea with 800-metre (2,600 ft) deep reef walls and pounding current and coral gardens.