Thursday, February 11, 2010 @ 8:34 PM

My first overseas trip alone...

First problem: forgot to lock luggage.
We went to the security and i decided against retrieving my luggage, since i might not be able to make it in time for the flight.
I decided not to take the risk.
However, the disruptions that followed would soon become a problem.
It was winter time in London.
I alighted from the plane after 13 hours of poor rest.

Second problem: Luggage delayed at Heathrow.
I was waiting for a long long time and later found out that my luggage was delayed to the next flight due to reach later in the evening.

Upon arrival at toilet outside the tube (around Heathrow).

I only had a bag with me.
I was so scared karina did not reply my message.
My fears were unfounded.
Later, i met her and she brought me to her room in Hughes Parry Hall.

Major discovery: the people in uk tend to leave their newspapers behind for other passengers to read on the tube.

After a good night sleep,

I woke up early due to the eight hours of jet lag and started taking photos while karina slept.

I learnt how to use self-timer online using karina's laptop and practised self-timer shots.

Karina woke up and brought me to walk around Russell Square.

She led me the way to the tube station, equivalent to Singapore's MRT.

Here's karina's back.

Discovery 2: The people there smoke a lot, particularly during winter.

Afterwards, i headed to Oxford Street, or the city area in London.
I met up with Wei Rong, who was my mum's customer's son.

And i actually played with him before when i was young but i have no recollection.

At Hamsley, the largest toy departmental store.

Our visit coincided with the store's anniversary celebration so there was quite a crowd there.

There were many parents and their cute kids...

We walked to Chinatown, a nearby district teeming with Asians.
There were many Chinese restaurants in the area too.

The nicest place in Chinatown - the entrance.
My luggage hasn't arrived so i wore spectacles!

Here's Wei Rong.

Problem 3: I went to a Malaysian restaurant and entered a toilet which had a few doors before i reached the toilet.

When i tried to leave later, it was bolted from the outside.

I panicked when i opened the emergency exit and saw a deserted carpark outside.

My bag was placed with Wei Rong outside so i had no means of contacting him.

I left the emergency exit and ran outside the carpark.

I ran around the circular structure but was confronted by rows of unfamiliar streets.

When i reached a dead end, i ran in the opposite anti-clockwise direction.

Fortunately, i recognised some shops and got back into the shop, panting profusely.

I went to shop around after parting with him, and i did not really want to bother him too much.

Bought some stuff at New Look which made me so happy!

Problem 4: The man delivering the luggage couldn't find his way to the hostel.

Karina went out with me in the cold to get my luggage.

I was really touched then!

The next day, my luggage arrived and i wore contacts to go out.

Happily headed out on my own.

To Westminister!

I didn't even use the map i brought.

I just wanted to roam wherever i felt like going.
I felt so free, so happy and carefree that i couldn't stop smiling the whole day!

Tried to take a photo with the Big Ben.

It was so windy!

Later, i went to a spot less windy but this time, the buildings around Big Ben were blocked by the signboard. =.="

I walked towards the London eye once i emerged from the exit.

And i felt a palpitating sense of excitement that i decided to get on board the London eye.

I viewed a complimentary '4D' show which was in fact 3D.

The place where i watched the show.

Haha!

Found a nice spot for photos..

I took a few shots here and this is the slightly failed one.

I forgot to focus the image.

Taken by a mother who was playing with her kids at the nearby playground.

Evidence of self-timer. HAHA!

Pretty scene during winter.

I queued up for the London Eye and met a mother who asked me what country i was from.

The conversation picked up and i found out that she was a Singaporean who studied in rjc, and is currently Hong Kong-based.

I got on board the London Eye, but the scene was not particularly spectacular since it was drizzling.

Taken by the fellow Singaporean.

Here's cute Charlotte.
Her mum told me about the Burberry warehouse and where to get good winter coats.

Cute Charlotte was busy snapping away while her mum stood at a corner telling me,"I smile until i'm tired in the photos. Haha."

Trying hard to capture the beautiful scenery with my face in the photo.

There were lots of seagulls/pigeons(?) around.

One of them hovered so near my head that i had to duck.

I decided to go into a hospital as i didn't want to travel merely to the usual places.

Unfortunately, i was scared that i would be considered trespassing so i didn't get beyond the second floor.

But i looked around the first floor and it was really spacious.

What shocked me was the fact that the hospital had many departments combined into one, eg eye department, dermatology, palliative care, A&E, research labs with King's College, etc.

There was a even nice garden for patients to relax!

I walked to Houses of Parliament and watched an ongoing debate on the involvement of the house in approving government policies.

On the way to Houses of Parliament.

Found a scenic spot to take photos..

Unfortunately, it was too cold.

My fingers were almost frozen as i took a few photos.

In Houses of Parliament.

A protest against the Iraq war.

I headed back to eat chicken kebab but had a hard time chewing as i had a terrible toothache.

The next day, i went to South Kensington.

I decided to explore the science museum.

I wouldn't recommend any adults going there.

It was harding enriching, since we learnt the basic knowledge back in school.

My self-timer skills improved!

The edges of tables or stands could no longer be seen.

Here's Melissa.

I'm meeting her to pass me a perfume so i can pass it to her cousin in sg!

She brought me to Bayswater to eat at a nice duck restaurant.

I headed back and took some photos with karina!

Here's karina on the left..

I even wrote down what happened in my diary.

Trying to get an artistic pose..

On my last day in London, i went to Harrods at Knightbridge.

I heard about the famous Ben's cookies and Krispy Kreme.

But the latter was less than impressive.

Here's the market-like place.

Candy store.

I ate the doughnut here, at Krispy Kreme.
It was not bad but not worth the adulation.

A staff wiping his head.

A lady making a purchase.

Coffee shop.

I went upstairs to take a look at the clothes.

It was a posh place, i concluded, especially after seeing the 400+ pounds tag on one simple top.

Pretty phone booth!

And a statue..

My camera could actually recognise the statue's face.

Then, i returned to Heathrow Terminal 3 to get on board the return flight.

I took a number of shots before i captured the sunset.

A failed photograph. The lighting was too dim outside so i ended up with such images.

I slept for more than 9 hours at one shot on the flight.

When i woke up, i was horrified to discover how much i slept.

Seen in the photo below is Singapore!

Other discoveries:

Singapore students tend to mingle together with other Asian students and the Eurasians are often mere acquaintances.

Many Eurasians there do not have a condescending attitude towards Singaporeans.

London is quite safe.

Most of the locals there are considerate in their actions.