To be honest, London would probably not interest my Mum much especially with all that negativity I had tried to inculcate her. Anyway, this trip was 1 of those which should had been done long time ago if not for my busy schedule (ok, more excuses). It is kind of ironic that this was done only after I had quitted my job; but well, at least she got (at least once) to enjoy travel at discounted rates.
After 13 hours on the comfortable A380 (there were only less than 10 operational A380s in the world at this time), we arrived into a rainy London on a Saturday evening. It was freezing (at least for mum and me who were so used to the tropical climate) as well but the elation that I noticed in my brother's eyes when he saw us walking out from the customs pretty much warmed our hearts.
We had dinner at Bayswater where several Chinese restaurants congregate in (yes, this is the where the famous roast duck restuaruant "Four Seasons" but Bro did not think it was a big deal) . The roast duck (half a duck costs about £18/S$40) was so fat and delicious but that did not interest Mum much. Jet lag had gotten into her and had started to become grouchy due to lack of sleep (it was 3am in Singapore). After dinner, we got back home and mum was snoring fast (and loudly). That was probably not a wise thing to do; both of us woke up at 4.30am (local time)!
Sunday was spent walking around Portobello Road (where the movie "Noting Hill" was based on) and the Camden Lock. It was a nice sampler of what London is on a Sunday but nothing much happened anyway.
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This was taken at a pub just outside of Westbourne Park (Hammersmith & City line) Underground Station. The woman did not seems to be very friendly though.
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Portrait of mum. She was feeling so cold that her face turned red.
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"Noting Hill" movie-buffs taking pictures of "The Travel Bookshop" (think a similar shop appeared in the film). Bro told me there was no such shop in Noting Hill.
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Taking a touristy shot of the Portobello Road. Excited?
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My family at the Camden Lock. It was surprisingly filled with people on a Sunday afternoon.
*Did not realise that all of us stuffed our hands into the pockets.* |
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"Free food, free food!". Stall assistants calling out for customers to try out their food (£4/S$9.20 per serving on whatever u can fill in the relatively small alumimum foil container). This is probably the place where you can try pork, fish or chicken all in the typical sweet & sour sauce.
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I was feeling refreshed (or high) after my Guinness (£4/S$4.60) and was caught taking a photograph of Mum in Cuban in the Camden Lock. |
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This photograph turned out to be better than I thought.
- impressions of Pembridge Road, West London, United Kingdom |
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I had more drinks (£1/S$2.2) and got pretty high enough to pose in the midst of the harsh London winter!
- impressions of Westbourne Road, West London, United Kingdom |
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The effects of jet lag. Both Mum and me mum was up at 4.30am and the cat was probably wondering why.
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