PART 2: From London With Love

Last day of London is pretty much the craziest day. First stop

NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

The Natural History Museum is FOC to enter and it consist over 80 million or specimens located within. Before you even step foot inside, you would already be awed by the magnificent architecture. 

The museum is located at South Kensington. Initially the held a competition to design the museum and Captain Francis Fowke's entry actually won but he died shortly after and so Alfred Waterhouse took over and revised the scheme.

You can already spot people wearing santa's hat :p

#The main hall.

# I've already hinted to Fitzwilliam as to which cut I like heh

By the time we finish touring the museum, we were already famish and we have decided to splurge on lobster at non other than ....

BURGER & LOBSTER @ Harvey Nichols

Th nearest tube is Knightsbridge but for whatever reason walking there became the choice we took. It is always nice to walk when in UK especially London. We passed by some major buildings like Albert & Victoria museum and obviously Harrods. 

# Apparently the Duke of Edinburgh is banned from entering Harrods. IDK how true is that or if it is actually still going on but that is what I heard.

#Look at what Winter did to mah lips :(

I actually asked my dad when I was there for the second time whether he knows who owns Harrods and my dad who is pop culture clueless actually said "I knnnoooowwww... Princess Diana's boyfriend...." I was like "GOOD JOB dad... even though it is the father but close enough!" Kudos. Proud daughter moment. ><

I did not bother to go in to Harrods which I kinda regret but at that point of being flat broke and actually walking into Harvey Nichols, I can't afford anymore temptation.

# A very tourist moment for me.

As usual, if you are having Burger & Lobster, you know you will be on the waiting list but good thing is, you can actually walk around Harvey Nichols and do some shopping in the mean time. Guess what, I bought the most expensive beauty product ever in my life but it was also the most magical eye cream I have ever bought and used. I died. 

# It cost me £50 but you do get some freebies.

Seriously guys... BEST EYE CREAM EVERRRRRR!

Made in England

# I choose you LOBSTER! YYYOOOUUU

# Blessed <3

Literally have the best time ever eating that. It cost £20 but if you just want to taste it and on a budget, sharing that with your friend is not a problem. Honestly, I ate every last bits of the lobster. I am an Asian, I know how to savour every last bits of a seafood. >< 

But seriously, I can't believe my friends just eat the meat and be like "OK THAT'S ALL!" I was like..

 So I ate theirs :p

It would't be a complete London trip without saying HI to the Queen now would'nt it?

BUCKINGHAM PALACE

It has such a long history obviously but it was called Buckingham House prior to Buckingham Palace because it was named after the first Duke of Buckingham & Normanby, John Sheffield. In 1837, Queen Victoria became the first monarch to reside there.

# Green Park 

#Dusk in London <3

I never got a chance to visit the inside of the palace but it is open I think during the summer to the public for a fee. I heard that the Garden is a must to visit though. I wanted to bring my mom there during summer but in the end I chose Kensington Palace instead because I felt that visiting Princess Diana's previous home will be more meaningful to my mother. 

# They said if the flag is up, means the Queen is home ^^ Royal Standard flag

So close yet so far

# Queen Victoria Memorial

My train was at 6.30pm and I was all alone in London by the time the sun has set and I was waiting for time to past. So I knew there is one final stop I need to make before leaving London and that is a picture of the TOWER BRIDGE

TOWER BRIDGE

Now, I was properly educated by Fitzwilliam that this is NOT THE LONDON BRIDGE! and so I am here to educate others who make the same mistake I did. This is the TOWER BRIDGE, NOT LONDON BRIDGE. 

I took my parents there during summer and we were walking towards London Bridge itself and my dad saw the Tower Bridge and he was like "No no no, we are not walking there it is too far! we can see the London Bridge from here!" By the time he said that, we were already standing on the London Bridge and I made them look at the sign that says London Bridge That disappointing and baffled look on their face were priceless.

# The Tower Bridge is really magnificent and postcard worthy though.

It may not be the bridge we sing about since we were kids but it sure is beautiful,

# HMS BELFAST on River Thames

Honestly, I may be all alone travelling with luggage at night in London but I have never felt more safe other than being in Aberystwyth. To me, it was really not a problem if you are a girl and you want or need to travel alone. Of course, still take whatever necessary precaution but I would not be advising against it at all. 

I had the worst travel experience on my way back though. As usual, train connects using Virgin from London to Birmingham and then it change to Arriva Wales back to Aberystywth. The Virgin train got delayed and I missed my Arriva train and it was my last train back to ABER! I was not going to stay in London for another night. Do you know expensive is that? The answer is very.

The guy that represent Virgin Line told me "Oh you have to speak to someone from Arriva Train because the train that connects to Aber is Arriva, not Virgin, so there is nothing that we can do." So i went to the Arriva counter and then they said to me "Oh, the one that was late is Virgin train, not our problem." I was like at a moment of flipping table at someone!! Literally. 

Thankfully the National Rail counter was still open, so I approached them. Thank You God that they managed to sort it out all for me. So basically

TRAVEL TIPS:

If you want to save money and buy split tickets, National Rail can't do anything for you or responsible for you if any of your train got delayed and you miss the connecting train. It happens quite a lot though but it does save you a sum of money. However, if you buy a direct ticket that cost more, anything happens, National Rail will make sure you reach your destination with expenses fully paid by them.

Example of SPLIT TICKETS: 

1st ticket) LONDON - BIRMINGHAM

2nd ticket) BIRMINGHAM - ABERYSTWYTH

If you buy like a direct LONDON-ABERYSTWYTH ticket, you will still have tickets that says 

LONDON-BIRMINGHAM, BIRMINGHAM-ABERYSTYWTH but you will have one extra ticket that says LONDON-ABERYSTYWTH. So if anything were to happen, National Rail will make sure you get from LONDON TO ABERYSTWYTH.

I have missed the last train to be back in Aber, so what they did was to put me on the next train to the nearest station aka SHREWSBURY and then a cab will take me back to Aber from there. The journey was so bad guyssss.... windy roads! I threw my bus ticket away and got train ticket to escape this TORTURE!!! SO why am i paying extra to go through this.

I have a best cab driver though. He was so sweet and kind to me. He even made sure I have someone to pick me up from the Aber train station before leaving. By the time I saw Fitzwilliam's face, I literally fell into his arms cause I was so tired.... so so physically and psychologically tireddd..... but still an amazing trip <3

# Forever love

xx

“Go where we may, rest where we will,

Eternal London haunts us still.” ― Thomas Moore