I’ve arrived in London on a four day layover before I head to Johannesburg. After dishing out $60 to store my backpack at the airport, and $32 for a one-way train ticket from the airport to the city centre, I noted that no matter how much I liked London, I should never again travel here while on a spending budget. After 3 days here, I’ve found that while the cultural mix is appealing, I enjoy other cities more (Paris and Amsterdam to name a few).

On the flip side, my stay in London, like most of my stays around the world, has been full of good luck. I found a free place to stay in East London with an acquaintance of my business partner Jazz. Kengo is a breakdancer, DJ, and full time artist. His stopping ground is by no means swanky, (In fact, I’m staying in government housing, aka the projects) but it is vibrant and lively, composed mostly of Bangladeshi and Jewish immigrants. Not far away, are two rising arts communities Brick Lane and Hoxton.

No more than 10 minutes after I arrived, Kengo invited me to come watch is breakdance crew, One Motion Crew perform on the South Bank. So, I grabbed my camera and headed out. After the performance, I checked out the Tate Museum (free), and after a 5 mile walk, headed home. I drank some ciders with Kengo’s roommate, which amped me up enough to go out. Kengo joined me, and we took a whirlwind tour of Brick Lane bars. We met up with some of Kengo’s mates, including a fellow DJ friend DJ Mickey Morphingaz visiting from Sydney.

We got in around 3 am and for some reason I woke up at 9:30 to start my day. I explored Brick Lane a bit more and stopped for some Indian food, before heading out to Covent Garden to meet a couchsurfer, Sandra and her friend. We walked around, had a nice lunch, and drank two pots of fresh mint tea at a middle eastern teahouse. Later that night (after a much needed nap) I headed to Fevela Chic, where Dj Morphingaz was spinning and had invited me to the night before. Damn, this place is cool! Inspired by the fevelas of Brazil (check out the movie Fevela Rising to learn more…) this place is obviously a go-to for good music and a friendly atmosphere. And the music was dope. Performing along with my new DJ friend, DJ X-Rated (who has a friend list covering the B-boy Rock Steady Crew and Missy Elliot) rocked hiphop breakbeats.

Today, I woke up to rain (at noon) but it quickly cleared off, so I headed out to do some of Time Out’s “London’s Greatest Walks.” Or in this case, London’s Gayest Walk, as it led me around London’s historical gay district, SOHO. Highlights included: Jo Jo’s drag venue, where they filmed scenes from Eyes Wide Shut, the Admiral Duncan, where a bomb exploded in 1999 by a madman on a hate crime spree, Kettners, a restaurant in which Oscar Wilde threw a dinner parties for young boys in 1892.

I was unsure of my plans for this evening, until, against all odds, I ran into the one and only person I know in London, DJ Morphingaz! I would’ve passed him by, but I was apparently more recognizable to him than he was to me. He gave me a heads up and and flyer for an invite-only warehouse loft party tonight. I’ve decided that my good luck, which makes only rare appearances in every day life, always saves itself for the times in which I am traveling! Of course, I accepted his invitation and am headed of to the mystery warehouse party…. Stay tuned for London Part 2.