England Part 2 - Day 8 (Fare thee well)

My last day in London...with a heavy heart i finished packing all my loots...We were meeting Siaw Lian for lunch at Chinatown before we go to Liverpool Street station to take my bus to Stanted...we ate at this restaurant called Four Seasons (incidentally there's a Four Seasons in KB too)...apparently they're famous for their duck dishes...and when in London, apparently one has to eat the duck dish in Chinatown to complete one's gourmet experience...so duck we ate...it was wonderful...and we also had eggplant and seafood tofu soup...the bill came up to 43.50 pounds...quite reasonable if you earn in pounds...

It was good meeting up with Siaw Lian again...actually, i haven't seen both Chiew Sinn and Siaw Lian since we graduated from uni 5 years ago...who would have thought we would have a small reunion in Chinatown London huh? and Siaw Lian was showing me pictures of when she went for some performance in Royal Albert Hall...now, wouldn't it be grand to have been able to watch the 25th anniversary of the Phantom of the Opera there? Alas! i was too late...that was a week before i came to London...i think...

After lunch we walked to Trafalgar Square where we were taking the bus to Liverpool Street Station...there was some event at the square...plenty of people...some rocker guy was performing on stage...found the bus stop and waited for the bus...said goodbye to Siaw Lian and Chiew Sinn and i boarded the bus when it came...Chiew Sinn accompanied me till where i was supposed to take the bus to Stanted...so we said our goodbyes...wondering when will we see each other next...

The bus took about an hour to reach Stanted...checked-in my luggage and headed for the departure...i was pretty surprised we didn't have to go through immigration again this time...a bit strange but i wasn't complaining...then checked out the duty free shop to see if i could manage to buy a bottle of absinthe for my bro...couldn't find it at the local Sainsbury...good thing i found a bottle...cost me 25.49 pounds (and my bro was complaining that the bottle looked to common)...then was waiting at the boarding gate...since there was no free wifi so i was reading Journey of Desire...

We boarded the plane a bit later than scheduled...i was hoping maybe the flight wouldn't be too full...unfortunately my seat was sandwiched between an American guy and a Latino looking guy...of course neither spoke to me or gave me a second glance...and i bloody forgot to take my air pillow out from my luggage bag before checking it in...thank God i had the thick windbreaker which i was wearing...used that as pillow...slept most of the flight...uncomfortably...only reached Malaysia the next day afternoon....

So that was my English holiday...i love holidays...who doesn't yea? but my friends do wonder why i love holidaying on my own...besides the fact that i don't have a ready partner to travel with me, i honestly do love travelling on my own...it's like my little adventure...my little glimpse of heaven...when you're on holidays...everything is beautiful...everything is possible (within your monetary means)...everything is awe-inspiring...but after reading Journey to Desire, i am afraid that i may be making holidays my addiction...but thus far, God has been with me throughout my travels...He has blessed me with so many wonderful experience...if He didn't want me to travel, i would have been checked-mate everytime i plan a holiday yea?

Well, looking forward to next month's trip to Vietnam...hehe...then it will be a long hiatus till God knows when...

England Part 2 - Day 7

I wished i have spent my last night in London watching another musical...it didn't happen of course...so i spent my day doing the tourist thing again...Chiew Sinn left her key card for me coz she was coming back late tonight...so i took my own sweet time getting out of bed and getting ready...first stop: The British Museum...loved the exterior architecture...the typical romanic (or is it grecian?) columns...entrance was free...and there were a lot of school kids running around, probably on their field trip...there were sections on ancient Assyria, Egypt, Greek, Roman and even Southeast Asia...and then there were sections on the modern Europe...i was very fascinated with the Assyrian sarcophagi, the Egyptian mummies and of course the Greek architecture...it kinda made up for not being able to go to Greece this September...

Stopped by at the Brunswick for lunch...there was a Coast shop there and everything in the shop is on sale...gosh, they have really lovely dresses in Coast...and some are quite expensive even by English standards...there were 2 one-shoulder dresses which i tried...one was tagged at 39 pounds and another 25 pounds...looked good in the more expensive one but 39 pounds were a bit off the budget for me...and i'd hardly have any occasion to wear it anyway...so next stop: Tower of London...

Took the tube from Russel Square station to Tower Hill station...walked about 10 minutes to the entrance of Tower of London...didn't enter though...walked to the Tower Bridge and took some photos...it did look quite impressive...and some Spanish girls asked me to help them take a photo with the Tower Bridge...it was the new Panasonic Lumix G...ahhh, my dream camera...then i hopped on the tube and went down to Westminster just to take a photo with Big Ben...

Next stop was Notting Hill Gate...i just felt like going to the place where Hugh Grant met and fell in love with Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill'...and to think i've not actually watched the whole movie properly...shame...nothing much there except for the Portobello Market along the Portobello Road...while walking towards the market, i saw a shop which said, "everything for 5 pounds"...it was selling clothes...and bags and shoes...i was thinking, no...the shoes can't be 5 pounds...i asked the girl in the shop and she said yes, the shoes go for 5 pounds...saw this peep-toe ankle boots with heels which looked so good...didn't have it in my size so i decided to buy it for Pei...she loved it...though even for her it was a bit loose...

The market was closed/ closing by the time i reached the beginning of the road...but i decided to walk down the road anyhow...many antique shops...and it must have been a busy market fare during the day...i guess the English ppl are not familiar with the concept of night market...then again, it's too cold in the autumn to be walking about at a pasar malam with just your t-shirts and shorts...reached the end of the road and didn't feel like walking back to the initial underground station...went into this Spanish grocery store to asked for directions to the nearest underground station...the Spanish girl couldn't differentiate from left to right...no, she doesn't have left-right disorientation...it's just that her English had much room for improvement...but she showed me the way anyhow...

So i walked to Ladbroke Grove Station and took the tube back to King's Cross...walked a bit along the road and found a cafe selling fish and chips...apparently, when in London, you have to taste the fish and chips...so i did...and i must say i can get better fish and chips in KL...hehe...then i took the tube back to Manor House...i thought i'd reach back at the apartment before Chiew Sinn but the tube back to Manor House was delayed...so Chiew Sinn had to wait about 15 minutes for me...good thing there was a Chinese take out opposite the apartment which she went in to buy her dinner while waiting for me...

My last night in London...and i didn't spend it at some Ministry of Sound or some club partying all night long...i've always wondered how it would be like to party in a club which is not reeking with cigarette smoke...oh well, there are more things in life than wondering about that...

England Part 2 - Day 6 (Shopping spree at Oxford St)

So on Thursday i decided to have a shopping spree at Oxford St...since practically every shop is on sale...Chiew Sinn left earlier but i only got up about 930am...took a bus down to Angel and took the tube to Oxford Circus...Oxford Street must be one of the longest shopping street in the world...i spent some time in Debenham's since they were having their Blue Cross Sale...bought a white with black polka dot dress going for 12 pounds...and a green with while polka dot dress for 10 pounds...don't ask me what's the preoccupation with polka dots...i just happened to like the dresses and they are polka-dotted...

Had lunch at Subway...had a 3 pound 6-inch sandwich...dollar to dollar, eating in England is actually cheap...if only RM isn't so small...or better still, if only i'm earning in pounds...continued on with shopping at topshop...it was so crowded and everyone was grabbing at clothes as if they were for free...i didn't find much that i fancied and everything was pretty much in a mess...but i tried on a pair of shorts which was tagged at 7 pounds...and i thought it looked good on me...so i went to the cashier to pay...i was taking out my 10 pound note when the lady said, "3 pounds please"...i swallowed in amazement and took out a 5 pound note instead...i was thinking, "wah, means the other stuffs that are tagged at 10 or 15 pounds would be cheaper than that?" but i didn't want to risk it...hehe...

I was looking for the Primark at Oxford St and eventually found out that i had to go there from the Marble Arch station...so off i went...and i was amazed...pants, skirts, shirts retailing at 5 pounds...so i bought a pair of pants for 5 pounds, a shirt for 5 pounds, another pants for 10 pounds and a teddy suit for 4.50 pounds...the only minus point is that the queue for the changing room is just as long as the queue at the cashier...and they have almost 20 changing rooms...after that i went into this shop called Jane Norman and saw a long purple tie-dye dress going at 14.40 pounds...sold...also got a pair of white shorts for 10.50 pounds...

Met up with Chiew Sinn at King's Cross and went for dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant around there...there was a cute Portuguese server working there...anyway, we had some spicy Vietnamese noodles that tasted suspiciously like prawn mee...but the soup was pretty diluted...and the noodles were like laksa noodles...after dinner, we took the bus back to the apartment and i had to repack my bag to stuff in my loots...

England Part 2 - Day 5 (with Fantine & Elphaba)

I followed Chiew Sinn out in the morning...we took a bus to Angel of Islington...and changed another bus to go to King's Cross which is near her university...i continued on the bus till i reached near Chinatown... found my way to Leicester square where i continued my hunt for Les Miserable ticket...i noticed a few shops offering discounted ticket at Leicester Square the day before...so i randomly picked a shop and asked if they had discounted ticket for Les Miserable...and guess what? they did!!! it was a 65 pounds ticket which was going for 41.50 pounds...i thought that was quite a save...and the seat was a very very good seat (which i found out eventually although initially i was wary that the lady might be playing me on)...hunt over, i went on to do the touristy stuffs since i had about 3 hours to kill...

Chiew Sinn lent me her oyster card which i was using on a 'pay as you go' basis but which maximally deduct 6.60 pounds per day (as in the day pass)...so i thought, what the heck, just use the tube...took the tube to Waterloo station where the London Eye is just about 5 minutes walk away...didn't bother to go up the Eye...just took some photos...then walked along the Thame Banks...saw the Parliament house over the other side...saw the Westminster Bridge...and the real London Bridge...bought a toasted pita wrap and had my lunch by the riverside...novelty to me...but everyone's doing it in London...then it was time to find my way back to the Queen's Theatre to watch Les Miserable...

Thought i got lost for a while but managed to find my way back to the underground station and went back to Piccadilly Circus...then walked to Shaftebury Avenue...almost went into the wrong theatre...there was another theatre before Queen's...hehe...reached just in time to use the bathroom and find my seat...it was at the dress circle and right in the middle...the view was fantanstic...i'm not as familiar with Les Miserable as i am with the Phantom...only know the song sang by Fantine 'I dreamed a dream'...but a classic is always worth a watch...and i really enjoyed it...so many beautiful songs...and poignant moments...though i must comment on the way they made Javier jumped off the bridge...interestingly cheesy...with the slow-mo movements and all...but i guess that's theatre....

Post Le Mis, i contemplated between hanging out in Chinatown or walking towards Victoria...decided on walking my way to Victoria where i would be turning my younger sis green with envy coz i get to watch Wicked in London (oh well, she'll get to watch it in Singapore next Jan)...thank God for the google map saved in my ipad...so i could walk through the Buckingham Palace Gardens towards Victoria...met this chatty middle-aged English woman who exclaimed, "now that's a very smart thing" when she saw me navigating my way with the ipad...apparently she was heading towards Pimlico for a dinner function and she preferred to walk then taking the cab...she was definitely dressed for dinner...and she talked the whole way while i was frantically looking at the map hoping that i wasn't lost...finally i saw the Victoria underground station...and the Apollo Victoria Theatre was just opposite it...and i didn't realize this the day before when i was there...

Anyway, grabbed a burger at Burger King at the Victoria station before going to the theatre...it was quite packed..and the theatre was illuminated with green light...my seat was quite a good one...although it was at the stalls...it wasn't too near that i have to spend the whole night looking up at the stage but it was near enough to see the actors on stage...and i must say, Wicked is WICKED!!! i loved it!!! even if they changed part of the storyline and totally changed Fiyero's character (and robbed him off his blue diamond whole body tattoos and turned him into a scarecrow in the end)...but i just love the ending...i'm glad that the 'wicked' got their happy ending and the 'good' received their just reward...i love the scene when Elphaba was singing 'defying gravity'...i actually bought some Wicked paraphernalias (although they are damn expensive after conversion)...one of which was a 'defying gravity' t-shirt and an Elphaba necklace for Pei...i have a feeling Wicked will become the next classic...

After the show, i took the tube back to Manor House, which was the nearest tube station to Chiew Sinn's apartment...then took the 141 bus back to the apartment...had to call poor Chiew Sinn to brave the cold to open the gate for me...while waiting for her to come down, met a guy at the gate...he asked if i was waiting for my friend to open the door and if he/she was on the way down...i said yea...he told me he was visiting a sick friend (a she :(...) who's staying at the apartment as well...he asked me where i was from...i told him "Malaysia" and he had a blank look for a while...and i asked if he was from Austria...coz he was wearing a jacket which has Austria written on its sleeve...and he said "yea, good power of observation"....then Chiew Sinn arrived at the gate and let us in...and we stopped at 3rd floor while he continued up to 5th floor where his 'girlfriend' was staying...and that was the end of my cute Austrian guy encounter....

Quite an overwhelming day...really felt like watching more musicals...but Chiew Sinn was like, "Wei, you come to London to watch musicals only ah?"...honestly, that was the whole idea of my London trip...musicals and shopping...Mamma Mia was tempting...and then there was Crazy For You, a musical by Gershwin...i even saw a poster for The Marriage of Figaro...think that was ballet...gosh! London is theatre haven...not that i would love to live in London...too KL for my liking (in the sense of crowd and jam and air pollution)...but it would be nice living at the suburbs of London...the countryside even so that i can satisfy my theatre cravings...hehe....

England Part 2 - Day 4 (I have a date with Phantom)

Woke up about 7am Tuesday morning...had to follow Jie out when she sent Sylvia to school...then she dropped me off at TESCO where i was taking the bus to London...good thing Sylvia made it in time for school...and i still had time to grab a sandwich from TESCO before walking to the bus stop...the bus was late...it was scheduled at 925am but only came at almost 10am...saw 2 girls who were at church on Sunday...apparently they were going to London too...if only it was Takuya lookalike and his friend who were going to London too...then maybe it was meant to be...hahahaha...wishful thinking...

Slept in the bus till we almost reached London...took about 2 hours plus...and the bus ride cost only 5 pounds...it was bloody jammed in downtown London so we only reached the Victoria Coach Station at about 1230pm...then i went to the Victoria underground station (yes, lugging my huge luggage) to find my way to Her Majesty's Theatre...i had a date with the Phantom you see...at 230pm...bought a day pass and took the underground to Piccadilly Circus...then walked to Haymarket where Her Majesty's Theatre was...eagerly went to collect my ticket and then was quite at a lost at what to do before my date...so i ended up hunting for cheap ticket for Les Miserable...my 1st attempt failed miserably...

Went back to the theatre about 2pm...had to put my luggage in the cloakroom (and that cost me 1 pound)...then went to the toilet...and then went to take my seat at the royal circle...view wasn't too bad except that when they raised the chandelier up to the max i couldn't see it anymore...oh, but to be able to watch the Phantom of the Opera in West End...i actually cried at the opening when the old lantern was transformed and lit up and the stage was transformed into the Opera House (during its heyday)...it's like a dream come true...needless to say i was crying everytime the Phantom sang...such genius, such passion, such beautiful voice...yet marred by a disfigured face...

I envy the kids in London who get to watch musicals at West End on their field trips...there were plenty of school kids at the matinee show...i wished the show didn't have to end...i wished i could hear the Phantom sing on and on...but it had to end...and so it did...and we all had to leave...so i went to take my luggage and headed to Leicester Square underground station to get to King's Cross St Pancras station where i was meeting my friend Chiew Sinn...was bunking in with her while i'm in London...

We had to change two buses to get back to her room...living space in London is really costly...the apartment which she stays in consists of one unit of 4 rooms and a common kitchen...and she's paying 800 pounds per month for her room...which is quite small...practically all her scholarship money goes into room rent...but at least the place is new...and fully furnished...and warm...

Chiew Sinn cooked dinner for me...we had tomyam tanghun with portobello mushroom and celery...and fish fillet...at least groceries in London isn't so expensive...after all the adrenaline rush of watching the Phantom and lugging my luggage around whole day, i was ready for bed so that i would be fresh to continue my musical marathon the next day....didn't dream of the Phantom though...

England Part 1 - Day 3

Took the bus to Stratford-upon-Avon (the birthplace of Shakespeare) on Monday morning...passed by the Warwick Castle along the way...it looked so huge...wished i had time to visit it but i was already leaving for London the next day..seriously, Stratford's quite a small tourist town...so many shops selling Shakespearean souvenirs...and the town centre is only 2 to 3 roads combined...but i like the quaintness of it...saw the Shakespeare house...bought some souvenirs...and had lunch at a small cosy cafe which served scones with clotted cream and jam and a pot of tea...so nice and yummy...but the 2 big scones really stuffed me up...

Then Jeff and Jie came to pick me up in a Mercedes...Jeff sent his other car to fix coz some idiot ran into his car...so the workshop actually loaned him a Mercedes till the car is ready...how nice...they brought me to the University Hospital where Jeff is training and Jie works part time teaching anatomy...they have a cool anatomy lab and the guy who manages the lab was coming up with a 3D programme for their plastinated specimens...which i thought was quite cool...and definitely would be very helpful for my revision...if i can get a hand on that programme...

Also hung out at the library...they have all the plastic journals like BJPRS and JPRAS...so Jeff took some of them and took photos of me with the journals...he said i should show it to my bosses...that even on my holidays i still 'study'....hahahaha...like real...after that they dropped me off at Coventry town centre so that i could visit the bombed Coventry Cathedral...it was pretty amazing...just the shell of what must have been a massive cathedral...they built a new one just next to the old one...

Took a bus back to the University apartment...this time i knew my way back from the bus stop...my last night in Coventry...Jie cooked pasta for dinner...repacked my luggage and called an early night coz London is calling...hehe...

England Part 1 - Day 2

So i woke up on Sunday morning...to bathe and get ready for church....anyway, i've already detailed my chance encounter with the cute Jap-looking guy and the church service in my earlier post My 1st (and likely last) church service in England ...

After church i went to this place called Leamington Spa which was about 15 minutes bus ride from the University...Jie said there's more shopping to do there...and there's actually a spa there which the Queen has visited...they had an afternoon market along the main shopping road at Leamington Spa on Sunday...and i saw this stall that was selling pig roast...i vowed i would buy one to eat...after i finished shopping...saw a Whittard Chelsea shop at the beginning of the road and bought a few cans of hot chocolate and tea (a friend asked to buy some for her)...almost every shop was on sale...but didn't find much to my liking and those that caught my eyes were not that cheap (after being converted to RM)...ended up buying a blouse only...for 12 pounds...

Then i decided it was time for my pig roast...so bought a bread stuffed with stuffings and pig roast and sat at a bus stop and enjoyed my pig roast...but it had too much fat for my liking...so had to take out some of the fat part...after that went to look for the bus stop where i would take the no. 12 bus back to University...initially went to the wrong bus stop and almost got onto the wrong bus...then found the right bus stop but waited for almost an hour for the bus...i guess Malaysia isn't the only place where the buses are never on time...although in England they have schedules...

Finally got back to University and i didn't know which way to walk back to the apartment...hehe...so Jie sent Jeff to get me from the bus stop...they were at Sylvia's previous nursery...there was a birthday party for one of the kids...after the party, went back to the apartment to rest...nice and cosy...