PART 1: From London With Love

I totally should post about Clever Girl but but but all my pics were in my old phone and it died. Like literally could not revive. :(

Hence, in the mean time, a super duper overdue post about my favourite city! For many students, when they fly over to UK, they would choose to fly to London and then take their respective trains to whichever town that they need to head. Well, I did'nt because I stayed in Leeds for couple of days and super privilege because I have someone who picked me up from airport :p That is non other than Sean. You have not read about my stay in Leeds, click here LEEDS

I had my first trip to London in December before Christmas. December was a non-stop travelling month for me and London was my first and probably the most dramatic one too. Oh wait, I think my Berlin one was worst. To read about Berlin, click PART 1 PART 2

I was about to take the bus to London because it was like way way cheaper than train. I've been warned that the 7 hrs ride is not going to be good but I figured, I could just sleep right.... or so I thought. The ride was so horrible! I literally threw up half way through and so ill!

By the time I hit Birmingham, I gave up. I was like so near yet so far but I love my life more >< So i stopped at Birmingham and bought the next train ticket to London. I had to walk for quite a distance from the bus station to the train station and Birmingham does not exactly look like the safest town on earth but the odds of me surviving in Birmingham will always be 10x higher than when in Malaysia, so I took my chances.

# Definitely not in Aberystwyth anymore

I got lost at one point and this guy actually approach me (as usual, i meet the nicest Brits ever when I was there), he was like "Chinatown????" Yes, that was a little racist  but with good intention... so I love him anyway and I told him no and he showed me the way to the train station.

By the time I hit the train and slept right away with my eye mask on. Best rest ever. Honestly, I miss being on the train in UK. it is always so peaceful with the scenery and exciting when the snacks trolley passes by ><

By the time I arrived in London, it was already quite late like 6pm. On the first night, it was more of chilling and relaxing. Checking out the London Christmas life. All I can say is I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. 

# London baby <3

First thing to do as an Asian was definitely to visit Chinatown and get myself some decent Chinese food! My saliva drool when I saw all those roast duck hanging and I was like YYYYAAAAASSSSS. 

# I told the waiter that I want my drumstick to be not chopped but clearly he did'nt bother >> A quarter duck was like £9 I think. 

Surprisingly I did not shop throughout my journey in London. So unlike me was'nt it? That was because someone promised me that He will bring me shopping in Cardiff during Christmas but that did'nt happen. >>

The most basic thing to do as a tourist in London was obviously to visit Oxford Street and Covent Garden. 

# A very naked face and a very awkward pose 

but hey, that is one good pic because I got the red bus and the classic black taxi of London 

TRAVEL TIPS

The place which I stayed in was a hostel at Camden town. Ok, so yea it was like £20 pound or so but boy was it dodgy. London is great but accommodation is just too expensive. So that you have to really be ready to spend some money if you are rather picky.

Ok, so one very important thing to do in London is obviously to get your OYSTER CARD to travel k. You can get your day passes and stuff but if you are not going many places in a day, just get your OYSTER CARD, which is basically RAPID KL card in Malaysia. There is a capping rate, so don't worry and if you have a national rail card, combine both at the booth and it will cap at a much lower rate. 

NOTE: Get yourself a map of the underground station to plan your journey ahead or just install it to your phone. More often than not, some of the stations will be closed for renovation purpose, so make sure you know the routes and make sure you do not go to London when a strike is going on. Yes it does happen and when it does, good luck in getting around without any tube. hoho

NOTE: Before you travel, look online for deals because very often, they have lots of deals where you can get much cheaper tickets for anything if you combine it with your national rail ticket. Check THIS website out.  

or just go to VISITLONDON to pre book all your tickets,

FOOD TIPS

As usual, breakfast is a meal which you can definitely save on if you are on budget. There are so many shops around that offers you like a £3 breakfast deal or just head to WETHERSPOON for a £2.99 breakfast. 

For me, we just get food off like any shops that do deals, go to like Marks & Spencer or something to get some nice drinks which will cost you way less than going to a cafe or something.

# So the sushi taste nothing like what I would imagine sushi to be

but beggars can't be choosers. T.T

SECOND DAY

BEST WEATHER EVER IN UK for our second day in London.

LONDON ZOO

 ...was the main thing we did on the second day. Ticket was around £22-£25 depending on whether you are a student or not. The ZSL London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It has been aeon years since I visited a zoo. I've always contemplated when it comes to zoo because I don't like the idea of animals being trapped and out of their natural habitat just for humans amusement. 

However, in my opinion, what I noticed was the ZSL London Zoo creates an environment as close to the natural habitat for the animals and they do a lot of conservation work that focuses on protecting the animals and in the hope of letting them back into their natural habitat. Well, this is my opinion.

I got Fitzwillam a very adorable Lemur keyring because we both llooovveesss Madagascar and while I love the penguins, he adores King Julian. Though the keyring looks more like Mort than king julian. heh.

There are more than just "looking at the animals" which you can do at the zoo. Do check out their websites to see how you can get involve. :) ZSLLONDONZOO

It took up quite a long day and then we were recommended by some locals to head over to Camden market for food. It was not far from the zoo and the walk was just beautiful. 

# If you do not know, I am funny like that.

CAMDEN LOCK MARKET

Now this place is a rather hipster spot. It is like Brooklyn in New York, IMO. It has a lot of beauty to it though, if you are up for an adventure. They call it the creative and the cultural heart of London.

 They have this like international food market. You get food from Poland, Russia, German and just everywhere.... You would just feel like you wanna eat everything. Camden town as a whole, you would feel like it's a mixture of like UPTOWN in Shah Alam and Petaling Street but with an edge?

Night time was just all about shopping and my one and only desire to visit the London Victoria Secret store. The fact that the Angels visited the store just before I went to London made it a must visit place for me. Trust me, when I knew VS fashion show was going to be held in London early of the month, all I could think of was to get the first train to London and just to catch a glimpse of them. #girlcrush 

# My face can't be put side by side with them... just can't on so many levels.

So from Brooklyn we went to the Upper East Side.  Is it offensive when I make comparison like that? lol

# Nearly got this dress for my graduation from Miss Selfridge...

Obsessed.

To be continueeee.....................

xoxo

London, thou art the flower of cities all! 

-William Dunbar-