17 May ~ 31 May 2011
When I was younger, whenever someone says "why not go Europe for a holiday?", I would feel a pang of fear and apprehension. Don't know why but I had always have the idea that Europe was a dangerous place. The people are so big and athletic that I can never hope to outrun them (if they try to rob me that is). Their many national languages (and accents) are so different from mine that even though if it is English, I can never hope to understand them. Their culture is so opposite with my Asian roots that when I say I'm in a foreign country, I mean a 100% foreign. Scary. Or is it?
Heidi. You bloody idiot. You don't know what you have been missing.
Europe is a wonderful place.
For food, for sights, for art and music, for its culture, for its people.
I am already planning a second trip back, next year perhaps?
This trip began with my first week in London. Traveling companions: my mum and my college friend A.
We went to bed the moment we arrived in London on a Tuesday evening, tried to sleep off the 7 hour time difference, and get our bodies adjusted to London time. It seemed to work for me for I woke up the next morning feeling very fresh and eager for breakfast.
Patisserie Valerie at Oxford Circus for breakfast. London morning is cold. Brr.
When I was younger, whenever someone says "why not go Europe for a holiday?", I would feel a pang of fear and apprehension. Don't know why but I had always have the idea that Europe was a dangerous place. The people are so big and athletic that I can never hope to outrun them (if they try to rob me that is). Their many national languages (and accents) are so different from mine that even though if it is English, I can never hope to understand them. Their culture is so opposite with my Asian roots that when I say I'm in a foreign country, I mean a 100% foreign. Scary. Or is it?
Heidi. You bloody idiot. You don't know what you have been missing.
Europe is a wonderful place.
For food, for sights, for art and music, for its culture, for its people.
I am already planning a second trip back, next year perhaps?
This trip began with my first week in London. Traveling companions: my mum and my college friend A.
We went to bed the moment we arrived in London on a Tuesday evening, tried to sleep off the 7 hour time difference, and get our bodies adjusted to London time. It seemed to work for me for I woke up the next morning feeling very fresh and eager for breakfast.
Patisserie Valerie at Oxford Circus for breakfast. London morning is cold. Brr.
Latte. I had to find out if London has coffee the same way as Sydney does. Answer is yes, but Sydney does it a lot better.
Wow, even in a common chain patisserie they serve you Lescure butter? (Little did I know I would be eating a variety of excellent butter in days to come.)
Eggs Benedict. The eggs were really huge and round, like a pair of b-cup breasts..
Croque Monsieur, first of the many more to come.
First stop: National Gallery. Did I mention most art galleries in London have no entrance fee?
View from the National Gallery. Off we go to gaze at Rubens, Rembrant, Monet, Van Gogh and Cezanne.
A and I.
Next, shopping at Soho! My mum's favourite past-time. My favourite time is lunch time, which brings us to White Horse, a recommendation by a sales assistant when I asked for the best fish and chips in the area.
Fish and chips + Beer = Pub food.
Fish and chips + Beer = Pub food.
Fish and chips as it is with a bit of pea mash on the side. Condiments include your regular tomato ketchup, malt vinegar, mustard and salt and pepper.
More shopping till our feet command us to stop at this quaint teahouse in a small shopping square.
We got a very good Chai latte, orange white tea and a slice of homemade orange almond cake.
That concludes our first day in London, for we were too full after high-tea for dinner, so we returned to our hotel for an early night.
End.
End.
