London

Looking back, i can safely say that my 10 day trip to the UK was probably the best trip i've ever had. Thanks Wei Sing for being such a wonderful spontaneous travel buddy =).. It's hard to capture all i've experienced in the subsequent blog entries.. but i shall try! I've decided to do it kinda chronologically again.. 1 entry per destination.. unless there's something especially significant that warrants a separate entry on its own..

I don't think i'll be able to finish blogging about the UK by tonight.. and since i'm leaving for Stockholm and Copenhagen tomorrow.. please gimme some time! Plus.. Yuan is here with me right now =) .. so i have less time to blog.. but here goes..

First up.. London!

We took a budget easyJet flight that wasn't really cheap, but at least it flew from Helsinki and not Tampere..

Arriving at abt 9+ meant we decided to sleep in the airport till the next morning =)

Our hostel is called "BESTPLACE" in Paddington.. near Edgeware Road Station..notice the BESTPLACE is in inverted commas.. =) But it wasn't too bad..clean place to sleep.. warm showers.. breakfast included.. with a 24hr bar downstairs plus friendly staff.. what more can a backpacker ask for?

After dropping off our stuff.. we went to Oxford Street to recce for the Gucci bag that Wei Sing's sister wanted (hi! i heard u read my blog as well? haha).. before heading to the Wellington Arch.. That was the meeting point for the Free Walking Tour of London (tips basis)..

Horses shit as they go along.. so ya..

Thats my guide in red! She's Irish.. and in the picture she seems to be saying.. "I dunno whats the big deal about Buckingham Palace!"

Poor guard.. like abt 2000 people were queuing up to take pictures with him..

We even managed to catch a ongoing protest.. something abt the killing in Sri Lanka..

Westminster Abbey, where parliament meets =).. this is also where the tour ended.. and i gave 5 pounds to the Irish guide.. i actually dunno if i'm being generous or kiam siap.. coz i dunno the market rate

And yes of course.. the Big Ben.. apparently the big ben is referring to the bell inside.. who cares that the clock tower actually has a name when u have a big bell inside called the Big Ben? =)

So Wei Sing and i continued our exploration of London.. we decided to go back to places we covered in the tour where we didn't get the opportunity to spend more time.. and of coz also find some food.. But of coz.. we took the scenic route.. by the Embankment.. The London Eye... The Singapore Flyer's older cousin..

How can i resist taking a photo with a red phone booth

After lunch.. the walk continues.. Trafalgar Square.. The tall thing being Nelson's Column.. Commemorating Lord Nelson's victory at the Battle of Trafalgar

We took turns to climb up and to fool around with 1 of the 4 huge lion sculptures..

After Trafalgar Square.. walked towards Covent Garden.. and saw breakers on the street..

And were just in time for the Les Miserables.. which was fantastic =)

The show ended abt 10+.. and we once again took a walk by the Embankment to see the lights. =)


End of day 1.. another busy day awaits!

We checked out early in the morning.. coz we're kiasu Singaporeans.. and we want to be right in front for the Change of Guards Ceremony at the Buckingham Palace =).. It wasn't a big thing with horses and all.. but a nice one nonetheless..

After the parade we planned to be at Tower Hill Station by 4 to catch the other tour.. so we had time to spare.. =)

So we went shopping.. at Harrods.. bought a tiny box of chocolates.. that's all i can afford there

And of course we went to Kings Cross Station.. Platform 9 3/4

We arrived at abt 4.10.. and we see no tour guides! We'll just have to explore by ourselves =) And so we walked down towards the Tower of London.. and the Tower Bridge. By now the weather is becoming really nice and with the sun setting it was a really pretty sigh

Continued our own tour.. and came to St Paul's Cathedral.. which was really pretty.. too bad we couldn't go in..

The Millenium Bridge in the evening..

Bag piper playing Amazing Grace.. awesome..

Our bus to Glasgow was at 11.. so we had time.. and decided to walk to around Leicester Sq in search of cheap tickets.. 20 pounds for an entertaining performance.. Stomp!

London is so full of energy and life.. a really happening place that doesn't sleep.. We still had our shopping to do.. but we were leaving that for the last day when we're back in London.. =)..

I only bought 1 pair of Fred Perry shoes.. nothing else! =)