1st Day --> 23rd May 2009: The adventure begins

My maiden trip to London 2009 was surprisingly shortly after my Korea trip 2009 =) due to an unexpected opportunity.

I took the 13h British Airways flight on 23rd May 2009 night alone. It's kinda scary -_-
I only see few Chinese in the midst of a British World..I guess most passengers were British. I was kinda worried something crops up from then all the way till I meet Dear in London..
Fortunately, I have a lovely Australian couple sitting beside me who are very nice =)

Here's the dinner..or rather supper at about 1130pm?? haha..is kinda sumptious i feel..and surprisingly i fell asleep on the plane for a short while..BA entertainment was boring..the shows are rather old and worse, it doesnt work well during that flight..so I listened to my mp3 for the next 13h..awoke by the rising sun next to me..

My breakfast on flight

and den..as the plane flew across amsterdam and nearing London,, I start to get excited!the image of Big Ben, London Eye, Churches started forming and I knew Im going to land soon! wat a long flight~...

I headed straight to the baggage collection area..praying it wun get lost cuz of Dear's experience..luckily I had jus a backpack..it's a camel..(someone should know the size of it clearly ;) )..I lugged it and went to the customs..took some time for clearance..and there I was..walking around with sleepy eyes and searching for Heathrow Express.

Heathrow Express

The directions were kinda confusing. I made a turnabout twice and missed the platform. Finally found it and it was a 15min ride to Paddington Station.

Paddington Station

Paddington Station appears quite new to me actually. Wasnt as old as I thought. Shops were still closed except for a bakery store. Feeling in need for some caffeine, I wanted to buy coffee. I used the 5 and 10GBP but to my shock, the cashier said "These are really OLD notes, we are currently not using them anymore. It's too old!" The suave guy beside me saw it and also exclaimed and showed me the new type of 5 and 10GBP they are using. Just imagine how frantic I was. I kinda trust the cashier and showed him all the cash I had and ask whether they are OLD or NEW notes..fortunately only the 5 and 10GBP are affected.in total abt SGD50. I was quite angry at the money changer in People's Park. So be really careful about the notes you have exchanged and check!! whether they are the notes currently in use!

So I made purchase and wandered around like a lost soul. Supposedly meeting Dear's fren, who is going to bring me ard. But my connection is poor and apparently after waiting for an hr, I dun see her. I made a decision to walk around by myself.

Headed towards the Underground(MRT-alike) and ask what is the best to buy for me if Im travelling a lot on that day. She introduced me a one day-pass that allows me to ride on buses and tubes. However, be careful of the zones which you are allowed to travel. London's undergrd stations are grouped under different zones, from Zone 1 to Zone 9 i think, moving from central London to the exterior.

Im feeling kinda excited and worried at the same time haha..but still..I took the tube, planning to go to Camden Town Station to visit the markets. Heard that these markets are only opened on weekends, so I thought it's ideal to visit them in an early Sunday morning. When I was at King's Cross Station, his fren(M) contacted me..so we arranged to meet up there and place my bag at her place before exploring around..or else I think I will have transformed into a camel at the end of the day, carrying the 8.3kg bag on my back.

M's house was nearer to Angel Station. 1st time visiting a residence in London. Kinda cool. and she has a cat. which frightens me at 1st! cuz of my phobia for cats..but den feel OK cuz the cat is very small haha..

M is very nice indeed. She brought me around on foot for a city tour. and we really walked a lot! From her place's balcony, you can see a panaromic view of the city's landscape, the London Eye, Big Ben etc..how cool! Along the way, we passed by many attractions as followed:

Since it was a Sunday, many people were having a great and relaxing time..reading books under a tree..according to M, that day was a rare occasion with sunlight and breezy weather..haha..is lucky for me to experience that as London mostly consists of gloomy weather and rain..that day, it didnt rain at all! It was hot to them..but to me, still considered cooling as compared to Singapore haha...

"There's always a place for anyone in London" quoted from M. I wasnt so sure of what this means until I walked around and see the people, the culture, the food and the entertainment which the city offers.

We took a stroll along the River Thames and saw many beautiful sights like Big Ben, Westminister Abbey, Parliament House, London Bridge, Tower Bridge etc..
There were many street performers and interesting "statues" which you can take pics with. I feel so relaxed walking..pigeons flying around me..kids running around..and the hustle and bustle of the city..

Artistic nature outside Tate Modern

You jump..I jump..
Cast: Courageous kids

Exhibits in Tate Modern

Along River Thames

Is this real or a fallacy??

Street entertainment on a breezy Sunday afternoonFreedom in arts anywhere


Touristy for the City CruiseThe crowd at the London Eye kinda shocked me..I prefer walking to view the scenery haha

Scenic along River Thames to capture the Parliament House and Big Ben

About 3h of walking..boy we were so tired.. M introduced me to have lunch at "The Albert". The food was excellent! Just look at the contents and you'll understand haha..

Full English Breakfast

Their tube stations look very old but rich in historical flavor just like this one shown hereAt the Traffic Light

During the afternoon, we met up with M's flatmate. Together, we visited Camden Markets. It's a totally different side of London which I saw. I wun say is very chaotic. Instead I find it interesting to move through the shops, looking at the things sold, the food they eat..yup..is getting hotter in the afternoon though haha..

Snapshots in Camden

Plenty of tattooing services in Camden
Some of their shops very interesting..mainly belong to funky, hip-hop styleThis shop sells clothes and apparels and accessories that glow in the dark..they got dancers somemore..photography not allowed though..but is quite techno inside!Pure 100% Orange Juice in a sunny day!
Camden Market opens mainly on Sundays though..

M is very nice and bring me to Notting Hill, the area where the famous movie is filmed at. Located near the hill is the Portobello Market. Similarly, the shops at the market usually open on Saturday. That day was a Sunday but still there are few shops opening, allowing me to have an opportunity to peep in and see what they are selling haa


Being very ambitious, I wondered if we can visit Oxford Street. M,whom I totally grateful for, agreed instantly and brought me there for some shopping. Is a very long street with many fashion outlets like Aldo, Topshop, Adiddas, Nike, Sports Scene, Marks&Spencer etc..very cool..and Primark..famous place that sell very value-for-money items.I went to have a glance cuz act very tired to shop..haa..only shopped on the subsequent days..

It was soon evening. We made our way back to M's place for rest and some playing with her cat..haha..I only watched!

Poo-ing in action

The view from her balcony

Dear finallie callied and we went to the Comfort Inn, which we are staying at, to meet him. Dinner is next and M brought us to this Spanish restaurant for great food!I'll let the pics do the talking now haha! It was fabulous and I heart the cocktail..is like a fruity alcoholic cocktail..that is rather sweet but nice! All of us were kinda tipsy after the dinner though..

The various tapas(small-dishes)The fruity cocktail

Went back Comfort Inn to have a good rest. Well, being in London, it's unexpectedly to find many TV channels on soccer and this is what Dear is looking forward to -_- So for soccer fans, you know where to go for your next trip! Weather starts to turn chilly at night and I was starting to shiver..

St. Pancras Station

One thing to report.. I can still see daylight at 9pm!!.. I thought I was dreaming but it wasnt.. Daylight hours can be from 5am to 9pm..piang..I lost my sense of time over there in London..just the 1st day..hahaha

more adventures to come on the next day!