year abroad in London

8:14 AM
Lura

Saturday, September 24, 2005

Hello from Copenhagan. Arrived earllyyy morning, like half 7am. So I chucked my bag into a locker in Central Station and then took a shower as well. Fresh and ready to hit the city about 9am, I soon realized everything wasnt yet open, except a coffee shop called Baresso Coffee. Although its still a franchise, it was refreshing to see a local Danish franchise rather than the Starbucks you get everywhere in London. But want to know how much my cappucino was? 27 Krone...which translates to about AUD 5.50. ouch. I realize its like that everywhere in Copenhagan. So, it turns out Denmark is similar, if not more pricy than Sweden. According to the book Im reading at the moment, the income per capita in Denmark (excluding Norway and Switzerland) is the second highest in Europe after Luxemborg. This book I brought at the train station in Stockholm is called "The Armchair Diplomat". Its satirical, witty and politically opionated. but it good, because it does a piece of each of the EU-15 countries (plus 2) and gives the history review of each. I have the book in front of me and on the front page, it lists the countries in the Old Europe like this:

France: Most land, most push, biggest food producer
Germany: Most people, biggest economy, most anxious
United Kingdom: Most aligned with US, least likely to use euro
Ireland: Best example of how EU can turn a place around
Belgium: Most eurocratic: headquarters of EU and "capital of Europe"
Austria: Most vehemently antinuclear; first to start immigration debate
Italy: Most embarrassing head of government; best political soap opera
Spain: Most fun, highest unemployment rate
Greece: Most easterly; most tied up with Cyprus
Netherlands: Most tired of being ignored
Luxembourg: Most small, most rich
Denmark: Most surprising; anti-immigration, and anti-euro
Sweden: Most likely to suffer mysterious political assassinations
Finland: Most gung-ho of Scandinavian countries about EU
Norway: Most happily independent of EU
Switzerland: Most unlikley to ever join EU

lols, the book cracks me up. It gives the facts of each country, but also ridicules the nations.

Anyways, I spend the early morning walking around what I thought was an extremely quiet city....ah yes, it was 9am...when we returned in the afternoon, it was so busy I could hardly recognize being back in the same place. I met up with my friend, Arthur and his friend Patrick who is coincidentally living in London and also visiting from the weekend. They are both from Vancouver. We spent the day touring around Copenhagan, on foot and on boat/canal...disappointingly not on two wheels. Shucks. I think that would have been the ultimate transport. The roads here are so wide, because they accommodate an extra lane for bike lanes (not those narrow ones you get in Melbourne and abruptly terminates down the road, but big wide ones so you can even overtake another cyclist). Arthur told us there are city bikes you can cycle for free. Its a pretty cool concept. basically all around the city, there are red bikes that are locked up to bike racks. You put 20 Krone in, which unlocks the bike and you can cycle within the city zone for as long as you want. When you finish, you simply locate those city racks and you lock the bike again; you get your money back too. Today was Saturday, so all the bikes were used...awww

Ohh this afternoon, I had the best waffle. Mmm Danish waffles are really that good. I had mine with chocolate and Patrick had his with ice-cream. So yummy. Thats about the extent I went with trying Danish cuisine because for dinner, we had Spanish food...tapas, seafood paella and sweet sangria. it was so good. My face is still flushed from my glass(es) of Sangria so Im not in a hurry to join the boys who are in the pub right now watching the footy. Arthur tells me Danish food isnt so good. But Im still determined to at least try their Smorgesbord (open sandwiches).

Im going back to London tomorrow evening. Its a really late flight, about 11pm I think..I need to check. But its departing from Aarhus, which is a 3 hour bus/rail journey from Copenhagan. I need to book that leg soon.

P.S. Amy: I cant seem to post on the message board. But anyways, dont stress too much. if its any consolation, its still september. I am sure being "Laura" with respect to at least one thing - losing things. yes, I lost my student ID card on the first day!! like on the day of enrollment. I didnt even realize till that evening. seriously, can anyone be as clumsy as me?! ahhhh

update: photos added

11:10 AM
Lura

Friday, September 23, 2005

Hi, just a quick update. Im in Stockholm right now. Its a real beautiful city. Corie, it does resemble Sydney, but I think it looks even better! Oh boy, it is more expensive than I thought. Its a cosmopolitan city, without the chaos of London, HK, etc. So I reckon, living here will be so comfortable. The weather has been good to me...all day, its been pretty sunny. I cycled around the city. It was so good riding a bike around...you have as much right on the road as the car or bus next to you, plus you got the..prehaps.. illegitimate rights of pedestrians as well. So if you suddenly hit a red light, while the other cars have to stop, you just move onto the pavement and keep riding away, or make a turn on the zebra crossing and cycle admist pedestrians. Its so good! And cars dont beep at you as they do in Australia. I kept getting confused and riding toward oncoming traffic because they drive on the other side of the road! I kept going in the wrong lane. eek.

Ooh, Ive only got 5 mins left. The internet is eating my money away. So Im going to go off now. In two hours, Ill be boarding a bus to Copenhagan. Yes, a bus. Its an overnight one, so while Ill probably come away from it with neck pains and little or no sleep, at least Im saving on lodging.

Bye noww

update: photos added

Panoramic view of the waterfront. I cant make this larger unfortunately!

12:00 PM
Lura

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

I was just looking at my calender today at work, and I realize its my fourth week in London. And Im not sure what to make of that...it doesn't feel its been longer than that or shorter.

Anyways, life in the past few days has been pretty much working in the office. Oh, I did go to the cinema last night...by myself...lols. My aunt had a single ticket and she insisted I go, which was fine by me since I love watching films. I watched the Russell Crowe movie, Cinderella Man. It was alright. I wouldnt recommend it though. Goodness, the prices of the tickets are steep. They are the same price as in Australia..but its in pounds. So thats 2.5 times more expensive. Watching a film in the Odeon (like Hoyts/Village) costs about AUD 28 for an adult ticket. Ouch. I rather watch theatre. But I admit that the Odeon cinema is veryy nice. Its huge and the seats are so comfty. I went on a Monday night, and it was 80% packed. Well, thats London and Leceister Square for you.

Uni still hasnt started. Apparently my uni as well as Kings College are one of the earlier universities to start. My friend who goes to Imperial doesnt start till October! I start next Monday (26/09). Im supposed to move into uni housing ( I realize the area Im going to be living in is regarded as Mayfair. How cool is that?) this coming weekend, but Im moving instead on Monday because Im flying this weekend (yes, a whirlwind of a trip) to Sweden and Denmark. The fares were so cheap. Essentially, I am just paying for the airline/airport taxes.

The 'problem' is I booked a flight landing in Stockholm (Sweden) and a flight departing Aarhus (Denmark). Not such a grand idea when I realize the distance in-between. But I really didnt want to fly into and out of the same city because I dont like the ideal of backtracking.

So I need to think of some route...the cheapest route preferably. My tentative plan, as mapped out below, is to go from Stockholm to Malmo. From Malmo, ferry to Copenhagan and then make my way up north of Denmark to Aarhus. I think a cheaper route will be to tranverse from Stockholm to the west coast of Sweden to Gothenburg and then ferry across to Frederikshavn in Denmark and then go down to Aarhus, but the big downside to that is Ill be missing out Copenhagan, which I have heard too many rave reviews about.

The good thing is Im arriving real early on Friday morning and leaving real late on Sunday night. One night, I hope to spend on an overnight bus/train to save a night's cost, and the second night, I will be staying at my friend's studio in Copenhagan.

I booked these flights a couple of days ago...in a rush without any research. I now realize that Sweden is a pretty expensive country (ahh). I wouldn't have chose to go there if I had known. But oh wells, I just hope it will be a fun trip.

1:43 PM
Lura

Saturday, September 17, 2005

Hello~ I realize I write in an incoherent mess...so I decided today, Ill write in a list what has (or hasnt) been happening lately:

1. Some good news is that I got offered university housing. finally! I was dreading to receive news that I have been rejected a place because my app was too late. but all is well. No need to go flat-hunting. It would be so troublesome since im busy during business hours. anyways, so Ill be staying @ Goldsmid House over the next year. It houses about 100 UCL students. I checked out the place (not the rooms though) and realize it is actually further away from Uni than where I am staying. But you wouldn't believe where it is. It is on Oxford Street, near the Hyde Park end. crazy?! what am I going to do? Im going to be soo broke with all the shops on Oxford. The place is opposite Selfridges Department Store also!

2. Im deliberating whether to get a bike, because the traffic on Oxford Street is pretty horrendous, and moreover, there is no bike storage at the place. The other two (no, three) options is taking the tube, the bus, or walking.

3. I met up with Desmond last night with Eric and Chris. I havent seen him for 5 and a half years! but he hasnt changed. haha. wait. he had grown taller. anyways, we had pizza at this reallyyyy cheap (well, cheap for London standards) place. it was like 3 quid for a 11 inch pizza. not bad, huh? and it was piping hot too :) afterwards, Chris took us to his old pub, Marlborough Arms, or something. the pub was exactly where I wanted to be at that moment. it was sooo warm. you know, the weather has changed dramatically. last night, it was so cold. I dont know what to do when the real winter comes. Chris kept joking that this is still t-shirt weather. yea riiight.

4. I realize I havent updated since York. I did miss work afterall on the Monday. I spent that day biking around York. Its not as small as I thought. lols. I went biking down the river. The scenery was so so beautiful. I took heaps of photos which Ill put up when I can.

5. I changed phone networks from Vodafone to O2. Apparently each time I 'top-up' (thats the term here) I get 300 free SMS! woo hoo. btw, I got gibbed with Voda. grr.

6. I discovered a funky shopping place. Its in Camden Town..not far away from Kings Cross but probably too far to walk (lolz I did...but prehaps not again!). At first, I was sceptical. The main street looks and feels very ghetto, the shops selling gothic and punk clothes with the average customer having more than a few piercings on their face. BUT if you peserve and keep walking up the street and across the canal you arrive at the Canal market and a bit further on is the Camden Stables market. And the stores they have there is cool. They sell alternative clothes that suit all tastes - whether you are into that whole techno/psychedelic music scene, I saw a shop selling 'astranout-pants' (thats what they remind me of! ) that people wear to raves and glow in the dark...if you understand what I mean. Or if you like the hippi-style of clothing - there were a lot of stores sellings fisherman pants and all things Indian, Thai, Cambodian, Nepalese and Tibetan. mMM I like. hehehe. There were yummy food from various parts of the world. Of course, I tucked into Indian fare...Rogan Josh FIY :)

Oh, I gotta run. Im kind of late. Im taking the train to Reading...its a city west of London. I can only board this train in Paddington so I reallyy should leave now. I should take an hour or less (?). Anyways, Im going there to meet my cousin. Ill finish this post tonight because Ill be bumming at Eric's place where there is internet.

Have a nice day!

Update - its Sunday morning...one of those rare chances to wake up late, but Im wide awake at 7am in the morning. So Im sitting in front of Eric's laptop squinting at his bright screen. Thats the problem with Mac computers...I dont know the settings, for example to reduce the brightness of the screen. Everything else is different as well. You know those short-cut buttons like crtl + F (to find) or crtl + C (to copy) and so on...they dont work on a Mac. thats what happens when you are so used to coventional c'puters.

Anyways, I cant explain why Im awake so early. I tried falling back to sleep but I cant. It cant be the coffee I had yesterday, since I had it early arvo...and plus my regular coffee a day has made me more or less immune to the usual caffeine effect.

Oh yes, so yesterday, I miraculously made it to Reading on time....well 10 mins late, but earlier than my cousin. I say miraculously because there was tube construction work going on at Kings Cross St which meant instead of catching the City Circle line to Paddington, I had to catch the Bakerloo line to Oxford Circus and then change to a different line to get there. But once I got to Paddington, there was a train leaving in just 2 minutes to Reading.

Reading is quite modern. I really only got two other places in England to compare with (outside of London), and I find it a bit in-between York and Leeds. Leeds is really a post-industrial city, whereas York looks and feels like a town/village - a sort of behind-time kind of place..in a good way...some parts just so well preserved. I went to Reading to basically visit my cousin who is studying there. I went there after lunch, so we had afternoon tea and then we went around the town. They have a great shopping plaza called The Oracle. Thats what I miss...shopping malls. You only get street shops in London. There was also this beautiful river that ran outside the shopping center and surrouding it were outdoor eateries and cafes.

Unfortunately, I didnt take a single photo. But I will probably visit Reading again. Its so near, and plus I got a youth rail card. I applied for it yesterday...its 20 quid, but you save 1/3 on train tickets (note. this is separate from the tube - its the national rail network and not the intra-London tube). Uh-oh. I can forsee lots of weekend trips around England. There are two places I have in mind: Liverpool and Warwick. I still have my heart set on visiting Edinburgh but: 1. its the furtherest, and so the most expensive, 2. since its in Scotland, its getting colder by the day, 3. I don't know anyone living there, and I cant afford accommodation (yea, Im cheap) :P

I returned back to London early evening and met up with Dez in Kings Cross since I had to go home, drop off the stuff I brought in Reading (yea and they were really random items: a bowl, tupperware, a bottle of wine and three packets of chips), and pack an overnight bag. We took the tube to London Bridge Station and Dez showed me his Uni (Kings College - the med campus. its soo nice. and big also for purely med/dentistry courses. he says its supposedly the largest med campus in Europe..wow. anyways his campus looks better than mine !) Then we headed towards London Bridge (okay, I stand corrected...it is London Tower - you know that photo at the top of this blogger - 'the' London Bridge is actually further down the river from the Tower and does not look impressive...actually, it looks plain) because there was a festival going on...its called the Thames River Festival. It was already dark when we got there, and the bridge, no I mean tower, is stunning at night with all the lights on. It looks just like it does on the photo above. We had dinner listening to some indi band performing on an ad hoc stage. It was a perfect night out on the waterfront with the London Tower in the backdrop.

Afterwards, we walked and walked..from the London Tower to Westminister (thats like three tube stations away). We passed the London City Hall (you should google it and see the photos, its a cool looking building - Dez tells me it is built by Norman Foster..who also built the 'Gherkin' - um, thats the nickname..dont know the real name! ) Tate museum of contemporary art, the Shakespeare Globe theatre where 'Shakespeare in Love' was filmed, saw the magnificant St. Paul's cathederal which lies on the other end of the bridge from the Tate, the London Eye of course, then saw Big Ben. A long walk indeed. And then we caught the tube from Westminister to Canary Wharf. I had a huge mobile phone scare. I thought I left my cell on the tube. I even had Dez call it and it reached my voice box! we thought either someone took the phone and turned it off, or its sitting on the tube seat but because there is no reception underground, its not ringing (either outcome, its gloomy). after rushing back to the tube station we inquired at the office. and guess what.....Dez called it again for the sake of it, and it rang..and it was in my bag!!! ohh my. I was so relieved. Yea, Im so silly too! what a scare though. Running through my mind was what I was going to do and how I could tell my dad I lost the phone he got me only in Feb this year, which in itself was a replacement phone for the phone I lost in India (which was my mum's phone...the phone given to me to replace the phone I had flushed down the toilet at Monash Uni, which before that was to replace a phone I lost in a club). Okay, so I have a history of losing/or in one instance, short-circuiting (lols) my cells.

We met up with Eric and Daphne and headed back to Eric's flat. ow ow ow...I have pins and needles. I cant move my right foot. yea, Daphne's housemates came over too and we sat talking...later on they started watching this Thai horror film which I refused to watch. Instead, I went on the internet. I cant deal with (the possibility) of nightmares. They didnt end up finishing it because everyone got too tired.

Eric and Dez is still asleep...Im going to make breakfast. So hungry.

Im off now. Dez tells me there is a Hillsong Church along Tottenham Court Rd, so we will probably check it out today.

Love you all

4:39 AM
Lura

Saturday, September 10, 2005

Hi, Im in York right now. I arrived last night in this really chill town (well, its a city, but its hard to call it that when it looks like a village). This morning...after waking up quite late, Kenny and I went to the York Dungeon. Ah, it was freaky. The stuff they had were quite gruesome and I was majorly jumpy, screaming everytime something lurked out. Afterwards we went in search for a real Yorkshire meal, like roast beef and pudding but in the end we settled for a roast sandwich which was quite yum. The town is picturesque..the shops especially on Shambles lane (a narrow lane lined with sweet shops and tea rooms) remind me of Diagon Alley in Harry Potter. I had my first English tea room experience. I can see myself treating myself to English tea quite often from now on! ahh beats Starbucks any day. Kenny and I were sat in a more or less private room on the second floor overlooking Shambles lane. It was nice and quiet and I think we must have sat there for an hour and a half. Afterwards, I headed to Borders while Kenny went to work. I bought the Rough Guide to Morocco. I am a bit put off the Lonely Planet series. While I admit they are really good and comprehensive, I want a guide book that is slightly off-beaten. I am really hoping I can go there this winter break.

Anyways, Im back @ Kenny's house. Woo hoo. found my way back alright. I just cooked spaghetti bolognese...I havent made this in ages. And opened a bottle of red. Mmm I feel so relaxed. I dont want to go back to London yet. Originally I was going to return to London tmr night, so like Sunday night but Im hoping to leave on Monday evening instead (take a day off work...I would have to call and check). hehe...actually I purposefully brought an open return ticket for this reason...lols. Tmr, we will head to Leeds. Kenny tells me its a lot different than York. hMm. And Ill visit his church there as well.

Im going to shower now, bye!

9:46 PM
Lura

Here are the rest...

more snaps of Regent St; met Garlock and had afternoon tea @ some Patisserie near Picadilly Circus; Indian food(!) for dinner..it was okay; Chinatown photos..I love the last pic...

Street performance in Covent Garden..that guys is incredibly strong and flexible; Corie, Aunty and I at Rendezvous, a cafe specializing in yogurt ice-cream...so good, but so dear; photos at Theatre Royal Drury Lane where we watched The Producers..isnt it so beautiful inside...I wasn't sure if we were allowed to snap in that theatre so I turned the flash off.

Chris, who I havent seen for two years now, met up for dinner @ Balans Cafe. It turned out the waiters and patrons are all gay (save us of course)..Eric & Garlock turned up late (as expected!); Chris, Niki (met her that night through Garlock) and I @ Funky Buddha; more photos at the club; next day we watched the England v Wales qualifiers game (1:0)..and a few days later, England lost against N. Ireland (ah!)

more photos @ Montagu Pyke pub, plus some fobby poses; we polished the plates of nachos and texas bbq chicken; shopping in some street off Oxford St

random street photos; middle left photo is of Eric's apartment and the right photos is of the Regent St Fair

Din din @ Ram's restaurant taking in Korean BBQ..yum; then onto the tube to Waterloo to get on the London Eye, a huge observation wheel

walked along the Thames River, then crossed the Jubilee bridge to Ebankment and then stumbled upon Trafalgar Square; having our caffeine fix in Starbucks (look how tired we are); then we met up with the guys for Thai food and had dessert at an amazing ice-cream parlour...look at how big those sundaes are...mmm Corie got me hooked on hazelnut gelato...so good. I have two more photos of Chris and Eric tucking into their huge sundaes too. Will add them later..

9:41 PM
Lura

Thursday, September 08, 2005

Yay, I can finally put my photos up...my poor USB storage disk is broken. aiyo. I am going to have to ask my Dad to buy one for me in HK since its cheaper there.

I know in a few months time, I am going to look back at these photos and shake my head thinking this cannot be London. Look at how beautiful and blue the sky is. Amazing. These photos were taken during the three-day Notting Hill Carnival. Lots of people, crowds, food, Caribbean themed floats and dancing

Colourful

Kenny grinning; Regina, Jeff, Alan, Nelly & Corie all from the States; Corie eating out of this world Jamaican jerk chicken; Simon, Corie, Me and Kenny enjoying the food too; adorable kid!

smoking chicken...burnt but so delicious

Cheers to jello shots; last two photos are taken from the window of the apartment Im staying at. A serious 2 minute walk to Kings Cross Station..

7 million Londoners; 1 London is the sign says. These signs are everywhere on the streets in London. Last two photo is the apartment block Im living at

Outside the theatre where I watched my first play in London; supper at Tokyo, a Japanese restaurant in Chinatown; afterwards, drinks @ Yates bar in Leceister Square (can you believe there was a 3 pound entrance fee to a ...bar?! but my friend says its like that everywhere); next day, Corie and I outside Hamleys Toy Store!

Okay, I'll finish updating the rest of the photos later (at work...heheheee). Good night

2:13 PM
Lura

Saturday, September 03, 2005

finally get to update. Im staying at an old high school friend's (Eric) flat in East London tonight with Corie. His apartment is really nice. Its a semi-studio/apartment near Canary Wharf. So good to have internet access at home and not at an internet cafe.

my sterling is being swallowed up in London. Everything is more expensive than Australia....by a lot. A coffee in a cafe in lets say Leceister Square is £3.50. Thats around AUD 8!! last night I went to Funky Buddha in Mayfair (Monopoly!l lols...Im told Park Lane is not nearby) and my friend Chris ordered vodka orange which costed £8.00...multiply that by 2.5! psycho yea? and the entrance fee to the club is I think £15..although we got it £5 cheaper..but still. so I dont think ill be clubbing much here. While the venue was really nice..the music was old school.

tomorrow marks the end of my first week in London. I feel I have been here a lot longer because I have been going out every day. Ill just blame Corie for that...lols j/k. But really, I need to mellow down next week, because Im not going to last long in London (money-wise). Its pretty bad..I have already been to three theatres (two plays and a musical - The Producers by Mel Brooks which was hilarious). The comedy play was called 'What the Butler Saw' which was a bit of a disappointment. Im going to stop watching theatre for a while....but after one more! haha - The Woman in White which I heard is really good. well its by Andrew Lloys Webber, so it should be! Hopefully there is some student tickets available. There are so many theatres in London scattered around Covent Garden and Leceister Square and so many shows each day.

I started interning @ Save the Children office two days ago (Thursday). The office is quite big, but after restructuring it is going to downsize because they are shifting human resources to regional and country offices. Im positioned at the human resources department and the stuff Im doing is research, filing, and helping with the restructuring process. So far its been interesting. On Friday, I sat in on a training session given by my menor to three human resources mangagers (from Pakistan, Mozambique and Angola) who flew in to London to be trained in setting up local recruitment systems. So it was really cool meeting these representatives. I guess the best thing is Im working with people who are passionate about children and having their rights voiced. My hours so far is 9.30 to 5pm but that will change when Uni starts at the end of this month. The office is only a station away by tube from Kings Cross but Im avoiding the tube because its more expensive than the bus. I really really need a bike. The problem with the tube (well two problems) is one, the cost of a journey from one station to the next is the same price as if you are traveling a longer distance but within the same zone..which is a bit silly; and two, there is no mobile reception underground..ahhh

Today, Corie and I met up with Eric and Chris (another old Island School friend - so far in London I have met 4 old high school friends and bumped into 1..Im surprised because I thought everyone has graduated. but that doesn't seem to be the case) in Chinatown for yum cha! It was quite a good meal...actually better than all the cafes/restaurants I have been to so far. including the one last night called Balans. while the decor was nice, the food was mediocre (the drinks were better). and clueless me, I didnt realize that it was a gay cafe/bar. Chris informed me after I finished my meal and only then I studied the people around me and noticed all the tables around me were male diners. Im so silly. Anyways, after yum cha we went to a pub. it isn't one of those traditional looking ones (oh, I heard from somewhere that Australians are known to have a huge beer drinking culture...but I honestly think Britons are more extreme...at lunchtime, I see people having pints of beer. and pubs are like every corner)...but a modern one equipped with huge TV screens (one huge screen and a half dozen smaller screens...all serving the one purpose...for people to watch football matches. Chris is a football fanatic and so watched the England vs. Wales match. I thought Ill sit for a while and leave them there and go shopping but suprisingly, I was drawn to the game! The atmosphere was really good. Everyone was cheering and pumping up whenever England 'nearly' scored and when it finally did the crowed erupted. We got there early, thankfully, because by the time the match started, all the tables were full and people were just standing around. The result was 1:0 England won! Apparently this game is important because it goes towards the points in deciding if England can participate in the World Cup next year in Germany. Afterwards we walked around Regent and Oxford St, went to HMV to buy a DVD, and then hit up Marks & Spencer for junk food. We are now at Eric's place...just had Dominos Pizza delivery (it was rather nasty) and Im now stuffed.

Not sure what plans are tomorrow, but will most likely visit Canary Wharf since we are so near. So finally I will get to see the Thames River. I also would like to visit some markets. I hear there are a lot of markets around central London that sells pretty funky alternative clothes as well as vintage items.

I will try and update soon (prehaps not wise to do so in the office)

Bye

1:34 PM
Lura