http://www.hostelbloggers.com The insiders' guide to budget travel Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:10:43 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en It's the eternal question on the lips of locals and backpackers in London alike - where can we get a cheap pint in this pricey city? With most pubs in the center of town now charging around (cue collective horrified gasp) £3.50 a beer, we felt it was our duty ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/london/2008/08/how-to-find-a-cheap-pint-in-central-london/ In many ways, Indonesia's celebration of independence (held every year on the 17th of August) is much like other festivals worldwide: people take a day off work, dress up, eat good food, and partake in cultural performances. Oh, and they also slather grease onto huge palm trees, stick prizes at ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/events/2008/08/pole-climbing-for-independence/ Recently, we posted about the EXIT Festival in Serbia. Now, with the dust having barely settled in Novi Sad, it's time to turn our (loving) attention to another awesome music festival in Central/Eastern Europe: Budapest's Sziget Festival. In many ways EXIT's slightly older sibling, the two events occur within a month of one another (Sziget ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/events/2008/08/sziget-festival-budapest/ About a week ago, HostelBloggers went along to the London leg of the Red Bull Air Race. Not really knowing what to expect, we took our seats in one of the temporary grandstands, and filmed a bit of the action... There's something basically illogical about flying planes four meters off the ground ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/events/2008/08/red-bull-air-race-london-08/ Always willing to put ourselves in the line of fire, HostelBloggers went along to report on the Great British Beer Festival held at Earls Court last weekend. Here's some footage of what we found...   The festival is held every year, and really is a great day out. While some may baulk ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/events/2008/08/the-great-british-beer-festival/ Following this story that surfaced on the BBC a couple of days ago about an adventurous garden gnome, HostelBloggers have come across more tales of traveling toys. Tilly, Tom and Tina are three lucky rag dolls about to embark on an adhoc tour of the world. Each has a polite notice ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/random-stuff/2008/08/traveling-toys/ With all eyes currently turned to the Olympics in Beijing, it's easy to see how much China loves its sport. And when you consider the activities available at the famous Macau Sky Tower, it seems that they're also fans of the extreme stuff. The Macau tower is the 10th tallest in the world ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/adventure-travel/2008/08/extreme-sports-in-china/ Taking our cue from Chris, who's just posted a list of the Top 5 Travel Movies to Give you Goose Bumps over at Nomad4ever, HostelBloggers have been banging our heads together over a similar subject - the 5 funniest travel movies ever made. We've made a start below but it's a work ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/random-stuff/2008/08/top-5-funny-travel-movies/ Once upon a time (aka the middle of July) not so far away, the sun was shining and Hostelbloggers skipped their way down to Brighton for a spot of sun, sea and sand (well, pebbles). With its lively, arty atmosphere and proximity to the capital (London to Brighton is just an hour ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/trips/brighton/2008/08/fun-in-sunny-brighton/ HostelBloggers recently recommended the East End Thrift Store down in Stepney Green, but it's really just one in a series of exciting retail possibilities. When it comes to cheap shopping in London, East is very much where it's at! Every Sunday between 8am and 2pm, Columbia Road (an otherwise unremarkable street ... http://www.hostelbloggers.com/london/2008/08/columbia-road-market/