Yup, I went to London! I love it there!
I think London is a wonderful place to be in. There're so many things to see! Most buildings are as old as a hundred years and very well maintained. History felt like just yesterday.
Royce and I arrived in the middle of the night using Air Asia and landed at Stansted Airport. For those who are using coaches to Central London, it's best if you book about 2 hours upon arrival, you will never know how long it'll take to get through immigration. As for me, my bus was the following morning, we had to wait for 5 hours or so, I actually wiki to check where can I go and I get to know people actually sleep on the airport grounds while waiting for their flights the folloing day as rides to airport in the middle of the night can be really expensive. So it's actually common for people to whip out their sleeping bags and sleep at corners of the airport, so did I.
I think London is a wonderful place to be in. There're so many things to see! Most buildings are as old as a hundred years and very well maintained. History felt like just yesterday.
Royce and I arrived in the middle of the night using Air Asia and landed at Stansted Airport. For those who are using coaches to Central London, it's best if you book about 2 hours upon arrival, you will never know how long it'll take to get through immigration. As for me, my bus was the following morning, we had to wait for 5 hours or so, I actually wiki to check where can I go and I get to know people actually sleep on the airport grounds while waiting for their flights the folloing day as rides to airport in the middle of the night can be really expensive. So it's actually common for people to whip out their sleeping bags and sleep at corners of the airport, so did I.
In Stansted Airport while lying on the ground
Stansted Airport is catered for low budget airline. Good news to Norman Foster's fan, the current terminal was designed by Foster and team and the construction was completed in 1991 after spending approx £100 million. It was the most modern airport complex in the world at that time, and I still think it looks modern, being built during the 90's.
Sunrise at the airport
China Town at Leicester Square
It was a tiring experience but a wonderful one being the first time Royce and I stepped foot far far away from home, away from my family but closer to my sister, Cindy as the reason why I visited London was to see her after a year of not seeing her. After we checked into our B&B at Marble Arch, she practically made us walk from Marble Arch, Oxford Street, Bond Street, Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square within 30 minutes. Beat my record! I almost faint! Be reminded I was suffering from jetlag.
For those who loves shopping, Oxford Street is the place! There's Primark (offers VERY CHEAP trendy clothings), Marks and Spencers (reasonable and high quality goods), Body Shop, Accesorize (my favourite accessories shop), Sports goods like Nike and Adidas, Top Shop, LV, you name it they got it! UK brands I meant.
For those who loves shopping, Oxford Street is the place! There's Primark (offers VERY CHEAP trendy clothings), Marks and Spencers (reasonable and high quality goods), Body Shop, Accesorize (my favourite accessories shop), Sports goods like Nike and Adidas, Top Shop, LV, you name it they got it! UK brands I meant.
Quotes you can see on benches around LondonThanks to Cindy, we walked whole day long and the moment we reached the hotel late at night. After warm shower the moment my head rested on the pillow I immediately sleep. Thanks to jetlag, I woke up pretty early in the morning.
Courthouse, an image from the busrideThe next day we took a bus from Marble Arch to St Paul's Cathedral. St Paul is a huge and magnificent historical building designed by Sir Christopher Wren, standing through wars, the Great Fire, refurbishments and Prince Charles and Lady Diana's wedding (which sadly did not last).
St Paul's
The entrance, with the statue of Queen Victoria
Interior of St Paul's
Big entrance door with tiny me
Check out the pillars that supports the building, wonder how they lift it up high in the 17th century
Statue of St Paul behind the cathedral
To the Millennium Bridge, designed by Norman Foster and Partners, Arup and Sir Anthony Caro in a competition in 1996
Famous quotes along ThamesWe crossed the Millennium Bridge and and passed many intereting buildings along Thames.
3D model beside Thames to show interesting places around that area
Birds will flock around you if you have cookies
Gherkin, by Norman Fosters and Partners
Tower BridgeTower Bridge is open to public from 10am to 5.30pm with a student price of £5. For more information, you can visit www.towerbridge.org.uk
Dead man's hole below Tower BridgeAs we walked further end of the bridge, we arrived at the old castle before Buckingham was built (during Queen Victoria). (We did not enter nor did we snap much pictures)
The Traitor's Gate at the old royal palace
Tower's Bridge from across the river
Further down the palace we ate out first English Fish and Chips for £2.99After a trip around River Thames, we took the Nothern Line to Camden! Camden offers variety of handmade goods, unique bargained clothings and cheap oriental food. Camden also offers goth and cybergoth cultures. You will find all sorts of weird stuffs around like coffin handbags to foulmouth baby shirts but not all are cheap though. Potential artist can be found there. You'll see them spraying faces on a t-shirt. I especially love all the accessories there! Most uniquely handmade from Korea or Japan.
Royce and I in Camden
Along the many foodstalls in Camden
The stable in CamdenThe Stables horse farm, that's why you see loads of horse figurines around.
Stalls you can see that sells all kinds of stuff
Meet Cindy and handcut mirrors; find Bart Simpson
Along the street in Camden you will see stalls
Artist at work
Cyberdog - all kinds of weird clothing, watches and other stuff, like really cyber weird, felt like being in space
Huge horses around Stables in Camden
Weird mosaic figures in The Stables
Lock Market in CamdenI can assure you that after visiting Camden, though you might hate that place (I find the people there extremely weird), but you just want to go there agin and again as there are many things to offer and very Creative people to meet. And after 3 days in London, which was obviously not enough, it was time to go to Middlesbrough.
Bus terminalLet's just wait for my next London Trip!
0 shout-out:
Post a Comment