Experiencing Culture in London, UK & Back to Malaysia - Part 9 & Part 10

Day 9 ( 20 Sept' 14 )

Check out day and we left our luggage in the storage of our hostel. Personally felt that today was the most meaningful day in London because got to go to the Portobello Market. Market is the most easiet way to approach the local culture! Others than that, you can see a lot of different things or local food which you can't really find from Malaysia! Hmmm, should be totally cannot find.

 Local pickled foods & dairy

And something not forget to mention: DAIRIES! We can always see those in tv like the host always mentioned how nice how tasty it was and plenty of choices. Yes, of course you can find it in supermarket but all were packaged or imported which don't really attract me. I got few seconds of I AM IN THE HAVEN!! thought. And oh I saw the cheese that Tom always used to tempted Jerry! (Emmental Cheese perhaps?) That is the thing that came in my mind. Hehh! Those cheese wheels & cheese blocks sold were all super fresh. I am not really a crazy cheese lover but those do attracted me because how can I see these in Malaysia? Yeah sadly only from tv... By the way, even it was almost 2 months passed, I cannot forget how nice the Europe pastries and buns were.. the buttery smell and taste.. Gosh. Give my 20 fingers & toes up for their dairies!

 Local vegetables that are so so so so fresh，image it when you receive a bouquet of flowers.... 

 Local fruits that tempted me badly throughout the whole trip!

Paella  dish which I am not used to the "uncooked rice" texture.

Close up look with different types of seafood and peas in it.

Local patisseries that coming out from tv.

Others than eatable food, old music plates, clothes, a lot of antique stuffs which were found in few decades or very long time ago were sold there also. But photo taking was not allowed for those antique stuff. Portobello a real eye-opener.

Street performances can be seen all the way down the street.

And somehow I got pissed off by the sincerity of *some* human. When a people look nice or friendly doesn't mean it all, you will never know what is their intention behind and what they actually think about you. One of the lesson from this trip! Back to topic: One of the example (case) is, some of us bought some really cheap chocolates from a stall, we did not think too much about that at first but later I wondered how can they sell so cheap, so I checked on expiry date and okay... expired! But that doesn't matter actually because is was understandable that was the reason they sell it so cheap, seriously we cannot ask something much with such a low price. So the problem is when we went back and return the chocolates, we told the lady owner and she acted like: Oh really?! Ok, take back your money then. Right after few seconds, all the chocolate we returned she arranged it back to the rack again. I said at least she can explain about it instead of making me feel like I got cheated. Why have to act like she didn't know but actually she knew it. It was totally understandable people selling expired thing in cheap price which actually still can eatable but just finish it faster. HONESTY is the most important attitude that a business people should have. But somehow I found it was funny also because of the acting skill and feel bad for the next person who would felt cheated after they found out the truth.

Then..Then..then..

YES. Abbey Road our next destination! Once you heard "Abbey Road" sure will think about the Beatles! We were tracking their trails!

100% excitement for this first Abbey Road plate I saw before 15% was cut down each time I saw the same road plate all the way down the street.

Looking for the Beatles' crossing! *which took us for quite some time.

Abbey Road Studio found and excitement back to 100%

Left an autograph on the wall outside the studio! 

Found the crossing after a long walk & passing few intersections... Here it is! There was a lot of complicated feelings in me when I reached there. I can't imagine I am there and the crosswalk is right in front of me, and 45 years ago.. The Beatles were here and now they already walk into history. 

Don't think they ever thought this road cross will be so famous in one day! Hahh!

Spend around an hour there because the road was busy and have to wait until no car coming then can only ran to the middle of the road and pose. There was a lot of tourist there and now I know why the man before this told that walk until you see a lot of people taking photo there. Really, a lot of people taking photo there!

-Them-

-Us-

THE 45 YEARS BEFORE & 45 YEARS AFTER.

We went to Oxford Circus after this to grab some goodies before leaving London & flying back to Malaysia.

We met back in the hostel at 7 pm then went to take the midnight bus back to Paris for almost 10 hours ride. It sounds horrible for such a long ride but no worries, sleep all the way was the solution. Got on the bus with complicated feeling... It ends. Everything ended here. Forced myself keep the eyes open before the bus leaving the town even though the heavy eyelids were so naughty. Don't even have the energy to surf as the bus was WiFi available! I just wanted to appreciate the last few minutes there because I don't know when I will be back again or if I got any chances back to this beautiful land again. Then the emotional feeling flooded my eyes and okay time to sleep. See you London.

After reaching Paris, settled in the station for some times then we just kept walking and walking to take metro to airport and get ready for the almost 24 hours flight-transit-flight journey.

It was quite rush actually after reaching airport and I am sad that I don't really have enough time to walk around in the airport but gladly managed to buy some tax free Laduree Macaron from Paris airport because that was one of my must try target. They were very expensive but at least let me try once! Close the eyes and buy. Heh, they are the originals, locally from France (that's all the reason it is a MUST try)! When the chance come, grab it!

They really taste too good!!

Again... flying from day to night. Sitting there for hours.

This is how my seat screen looked all the time. I prefer sky more than all those drama or movie things. Adds on the music-best companion.

Hello, landed safe and sound. *Sighhh

And this was what I got after I took off my shoe when i reached home. Shocked me out!! I think that would be most probably because of the long hours flight made the blood circulation bad and they  got swollen like elephant legs!! And the bruise underneath my toenail, shoe problem or walk too much? Up till now, November already, still sitting there nicely, came with the artsy blood clotting pattern some more. Free nail art.

Greeting from elephant *Back to human again the next day.

Unpacking time!

Here is the end of the trip experiences and I appreciate that I got a chance to have this Eurotrip with classmates and friends during uni life! Last but not least, thanks to our lecturers who planned and prepared so much for us! 

Experiencing Culture in London, UK - Part 7 & Part 8

Day 7 ( 18 Sept' 14 )

Today's first landmark we going to visit was the Buckingham Palace to see the Guard Changing Ceremony at 11.30am. We went 1 hour earlier to get a better spot but still can't really see the whole ceremony because too much people blocking. 

That is all I can see about Buckingham Palace.... gilded railings & gates... And then need to peek through.

People squeezing and the police guards "look after the traffic".

Actually it feels amazing that I can see Her Majesty's official residence in London! I cannot imagine, the Queen's home is in front of me, Her Majesty used to stay here, what Her Majesty do inside, how was the life.... All those sort of Royalty. And I found an interesting site that talked about the facts of Buckingham Palace, so if you don't mind to spend some times on it (Strongly recommended!).. please read 40 Facts about Buckingham Palace. I promised you will get Wowwwww, Ohhh, WOW!

More people you can see all around!! All visitors.. How many visitors come everyday?! But take note on the days of Guard Changing,  some period was daily, some period was the day after.

Patted the horse that the ride by the police after getting the permission because I scare I will get caught by simply touching the royal property! They stood so close to us!

This is what everyone waited for hours for... around 30mins of parada.

Everything ended at 12pm then we took underground tube to Stratford to visit Discover Children's Story Centre but we have to wait until 4pm then the tour will only start. So before that we went to eat our late lunch in an Middle East Restaurant. I am quite surprise that how nice the workers there let us stayed inside the restaurant without doing anything for quite long (waiting the time passed) even though we finished our meal quite long ago, some of us took some nap by lying on the couch or table. Lying on couch was the most comfortable because I did it too. Restore energy!

Everyone were just too tired...

Finally time to look around but it took less than 30 mins inside there.

London streets always will note out where to look when you cross the road, which is a very good idea for tourist from different country. Thumbs up!

Reminder of vehicles will coming from the right.

We then went London Olympic Stadium by walking and passed through Westfield which gave a very nice and comfortable environment. Surrounding view:

Installation surrounding

Bridge connected to another side of malls.

Westfield is like another land that is out of the busy city which I felt it is a surprise from another surprise. After passing through the sea of people, we came to a more quiet place... The land of designers' masterpieces.

Floating ball of lighting.

London Olympic Aquatic Centre.. The cur~~~ve~~

Olympic Stadium London

Learned extra knowledge! Normally who will care so much about what the history or future development of a building/structure? Maybe only me. Olympic Stadium opened in 2011 was constructed to serve as the host stadium for the 2012 summer Olympics & Paralympics. In late 2013, it was closed for renovation and will be reopen in 2016. It will become a long-term home of West Ham United Football Club & British Athletics. 

We then traveled back to city centre by taking the rail and proceed to the Heritage & Culture Walk around the city. London Eye, Big Ben, Wetsminster Abbey & Trafalgar Square are all in the list.

Panorama view in front of the Big Ben.

Millennium Wheel, aka London Eye 

The largest 4 faced chiming clock in the world and 3rd tallest free standing clock tower!

For me, every scenes in London are drawings for me, because of those building styles, architectures, environments, people, vehicles, roads...everyhting. Yes Paris got all those significance buildings and nice architecture too, but I don't really inspired much from there but here...I am just totally fall in love with London! I could not pictured all of them but I used my eyes to captured and saved in my mind. I wanted to be back to London again and I WILL in one day!

The drawing that  I mentioned.

Dang Dang Danggg! The Westminster Abbey Church the gothic style church where royal weddings take place! Price William & Kate got married here. Ain't it too gorgeous with those sweet moments happened here before?! Royal life is so eventful and happening what!

Side of Westminster Abbey Church.

Front facade!!

Last station was the Trafalgar Square:

Nelson's Coloum: Monument built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. 

Day 8 ( 19 Sept' 14 )

1 day leader day. First station was the.... Harry Potter Trail at Kings Cross station.

The famous Platform 9^3/4 but why different spot from movie? 

Visited the souvenier shop.  

So waited my packs to take photo and buy souveniers... After some time then hurried them up to finish everything or else they gonna shop forever. Me and Kaya lead everyone to Arsenal Emirates Stadium which is the excited moment for our Mr. Vijay the huge fan of Arsenal team. 

I will appreciate this moment more if I am truly a football fan, but still glad at least once in a lifetime: Ohh, this is it!

The boys went on with the tours in the stadium while girls shop 1 round the souvenier store then we decided to go for Tate Modern. Obviously most of the girls don't really interested in sports! 

*Photo taken from internet as i couldn't take a proper one.

I like how they implement the lighting design inside this modern art museum which they allow the natural lighting transmitted into the space for energy saving purpose!

From roof top.

From walls

Noticed that this can be open and close automatically.

I like this ramp, saw a lot of kids playing around here.

I felt sorry for all of the members as this is the case study that I chose and everyone seem so bored with it. I found out it was not interesting too so they ended the tour earlier then do nothing for waiting me. I needed to walk through every spaces and look around. So basically the reason I chose here was because of the idea implement in this building that the empty double volume space (the ramp part in previous photo) which is provided for temporary exhibition from time to time and the lighting design then lastly because they were having some fabric monuments that time... So for real quite boring as we don't really know/appreciate those artsy thing...

Another interesting activity provided inside is....

Called the "Bloomberg Connects"

Draw anything on the screen privided and after you done, you can post it on the wall right in front of you! 

The projector that project your drawings from the screen onto the wall.

I also saw this super cute scene! Smarter than human... in some point. My friends might be always annoyed by me because every time if I saw there is any dog on the street, I will: Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, see so cute!

Caption: "Don't walk too fast, master"

After ending the museum visiting, asked the help from Elyn to lead everyone to our next station. London Tower and Tower Bridge. So we walked through the Millennium Bridge to another side of the river.

Millennium Bridge

I felt bad for those Muslim friend in our team because it was really not easy to find halal food there and they ended up get nothing when they walked all the way from here to our next destination. I knew the hard feeling because for this trip we don't really have time to take meal and it was almost like we only manged to take 1 meal for whole day, and most of the time is the "so hungry" moment, but before we back to hostel we can grab some food for supper and that's all. So they have to starve because no halal food can be found or either the shop close. 

After we separated for food hunting, we then reached London Tower successfully and it was very near to the tube station. This tourism spot really convenient! I was amazed by the red sea once I saw it. The ceramic red poppies around the tower were set to commemorate the centenary of WW1. Entitled as "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red". Until now it is still spreading and getting wider and wider!

Can you imagine how it will look like after the red poppies filled the whole empty area?! I can't because I cannot see that. SAD

Hello! The Tower Bridge.

Everyone complained about the color of the bridge why the color was in blue. Same to me, it looked weird in the color of blue and was a totally unexpected color. 

Answer I found was... It used to be in chocolate brown color before 1977, but it was painted to white and blue after 1977 to celebrate the Queen's Silver Jubilee.

And sadly, we only can see from far when the bridge was opened!

Last station was Southbank Centre. We arrived with excitement because there was a lot of food stalls outside the centre! 

 Tried some local beer and it taste not bad! *Sharing with friends.

Experience like how locals do because most of them will having a cup of beer on their hand and walk around. 

Managed to got some food, scotch egg before the store close.

From my observation, no matter what store or shop, European always close shop so early at night! Mostly around 7 or 8. It's so different with Malaysia. And another thing is, there were a lot of bars in the street which were normal but... a lot of people will standing outside the bar with holding the beers on their hand. It's not only few but a lot of people will stand outside the shop!

 Like this.

And like this!

Went back earlier today to grab an early rest!