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Tag: London Attractions

  • London: River Thames Sightseeing Cruise Is A Must-Do & Affordable

    London: River Thames Sightseeing Cruise Is A Must-Do & Affordable

    Back in 2014, when I was living in Newcastle, London was a place to visit monthly; I’ve never get enough of this charming Big Smoke. When I return in winter 2017, I have a chance to hop on the Thames River Sightseeing Cruise to see London from a different perspective.

    River Thames is the iconic waterway that represent this historical city. I have never did the water tour before, and the only sight of River Thames that I always view is when crossing the beautiful Millennium Bridge or at the Westminster Bridge. If you are a first timer to London, I highly recommend you to take the River Thames Sightseeing Cruise which takes about an hour, with live tour commentary and you may hop off at various point.

    But for us, we got up from Westminster and enjoyed the breeze and view all along until Greenwich. The cruise is operated by City Cruise. My brother got the combo of Hop-On Hop-Off Bus & Cruise ticket but I went for the cruise tour only as I am pretty familiar with London’s sight. (Tips: For cheaper way of sightseeing London by bus, just get on the Routemaster No 15 and pay with Oyster Card, it circles all the heritage sight and you can read the tour guide via phone)

    Father & son.

    Price per adult is £17.90 (Oct – May) & £18.25 (June – Sep) for return ticket. We took the return, unfortunately we spent too many time at this relaxing Greenwich and we missed our boat. It wasn’t hard to get back to the city, we took River Bus – a public transport by TFL to Tower Bridge pier and got back to our foot journey.

    Palace of Westminster Clock Tower was in scaffolding, unfortunately.
    Heading towards London Bridge with the Shard in the background.
    On upper deck, with beautiful Tower Bridge as backdrop.
    Clarice & Tower Bridge.
    When the chilly wind blows…
    Mom and dad could not bare the cold. Still remember it was about 9degree celcius that day.
    Good burger at Byron’s, Greenwich. Because of this meal, we missed our return boat.
    Nevermind, we still can take the River Bus.

    Book River Thames Sightseeing Cruise via Klook for best deal.

  • London: Pickpocketed At Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill

    London: Pickpocketed At Portobello Road Market, Notting Hill

    Prelude: Major throwback of my travel story as I have plenty time to write about during this COVID-19 lockdown in Malaysia. Let’s randomly starts with my Short London Trip in Winter 2017. It was a quick 3-days-2-night trip in London before beginning my main Northern Italy tour. After visiting London many times in 2014 (when I was studying in UK), it had become my starting point of any European travel.

    Did many travelling in 2014 and heard many stories about pickpocketing around European countries but never really encountered any of these pickpocketing event. In the UK, I felt much safer than other countries but this trip changes my thought totally. Yes, my brother got pickpocketed in this crowded and famous Portobello Road Market at Notting Hill.

    Having living in the UK before for a year back in 2014, I’ve never put any vigilant note when I was going around this country actually. Wallet was on the back pocket, phone was in the jacket pocket some times. Thus, we were put-easy while looking at stuff along this congested street.

    He was looking at beautiful vintage camera, and was about to reach his hand to grab the phone out to snap a photo; “Holy shit, where is my phone?”. Hand was quickly searching around all his pockets, in and out and into his camera sling bag. Nowhere it could be found. Me & him started to feel frustrated and I too, check my belongings to make sure it’s there.

    A new iPhone X was taken away, without any notice and probably during his full attention on browsing the vintage camera. Nothing much could be done except to dash to the nearest police station right away and also to stop all Apple Wallet-connected services. Moment of disappointment expresses on the face, and heck, it was the 2nd day we arrived in London.

    At the police station, another French tourist encountered a similar crime and they’ve got a CCTV footage from a store showing the entire process. “Nothing that we could do”, said the policewoman and asked us to make the police report online. It’s a very common crime at this market which we were not aware of.

    Well, lesson learned and brother managed to recover the phone amount via insurance claim. Feeling sad? Better not as it’d ruin the rest of the trip. Just be vigilant, really and buy a travel insurance, really, don’t play with luck!

    Nevertheless, London is still beautiful and PICKPOCKET is a real thing in Europe! I heard (stereotype thinking) most of the time is the Gypsies. Yeah, I heard.

    Good Photos from Portobello Road Market:

  • London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market – The hustle and bustle of metropolitan of London does has a cool funky side of it at Camden Market of Camden Town! This part is London is totally different from the downtown area and it’s fun, cheap, artsy, cool and fun! The Punk-style was also said to be born here!

    Camden Market is reputed in London for its punk shops, cheap eats and bargains! For a visitor from Asia like me, it feels like Asia, selling cheap stuff like souvenirs, clothing, collectibles, antiques, and of course food! The food did look quite attractive at first, but after walking around the whole market, it seems like almost every stalls sell the same food, only different is the name – Chinese Food, Thai Food, Indian Food. If you look closely, most of them are take-all-you-can-in-a-box. Of course, there’s still some interesting food!

    Nothing to buy, Chinese food I ate was not as good as I thought, but it’s a lovely and fun visit to Camden Market!

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market\

     

    Upside-down Man.

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    A canal at Camden Town.

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    Interesting motorbike seats by the canal.

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

    London: Interesting Camdem Town & Market

  • London: A Spring Day In Hyde Park

    London: A Spring Day In Hyde Park

    London: A Spring Day In Hyde Park – 18C, flower blossoms and a sunny blue sky day, that’s the kind of day the ang mo (caucasian) wants to spend a day in the park, big park like Hyde Park in London, bathing in the sun and perhaps have a picnic. That’s an interesting culture that we Malaysia normally wouldn’t do as weather in Malaysia is always scotching high! Sweat, hot and sunburn are what always thought of when we were outdoor. There’s not really a day of coolness until night falls.

    But in London, sunny spring day with a cool breeze here in Hyde Park was quite chillaxing as I spent a bit of time resting the feet off after walking for 1.5km from Malaysian Hall before continuing to Oxford Street in the park. Though, it was under the shade rather than the sun like the rest of the ang mo do. 😛

  • Meeting Up Friends At M&M & Piccadilly Circus

    Meeting Up Friends At M&M & Piccadilly Circus

    Meeting Up Friends At M&M & Piccadilly Circus – Last holiday in London was like a little gathering, meeting up with him and her and they and them. The world is really small, London being in the middle of the Earth was like a meeting point for me and friends from Malaysia. Although they did not come directly from Malaysia to meet up, but from all over United Kingdom and Europe, it was a good meet up. Don’t you feel it’s amazing that you can still meet the you know well at a very foreign land, but not your hometown? And right, there’s really many Malaysian in the UK. Hmmmm.


    Inside M&M, one of the famous attractions in London at Leicester Square. It’s like a retail + attractions, always that crowded.


    At Piccadilly Circus, something like New York’s Times Square, but with so much less LED and sign boards.


    Friends of Malaysia & Hong Kong from Newcastle.


    Embracing 1Malaysia.

  • A Night Out To London’s Chinatown & Leicester Square Christmas Fun Fair

    A Night Out To London’s Chinatown & Leicester Square Christmas Fun Fair

    A Night Out To London’s Chinatown & Leicester Square Christmas Fun Fair – I don’t know is it that I have the Chinese/Asian traits in me, or is it that the Leicester Square & Chinatown are so fun that I’ve to visit the place almost every time I am in London. There was once 4 days trip to London that I’ve been there for like 2-3 times.

    I don’t think I am typical Asian that Chinatown is the only place I belong, I just feel that Chinatown, Leicester Square and surroundings are very happenings throughout the day and night. Of course, not to mention the great choices of Chinese & Asian food, and they are good too! Oxford Street is for shopping and Leicester Square is for food and chill. Where else in London is a good place to hangout? I need to know more about it, or else, the next time I head down to London, I’ll be heading to Leicester Square, again.

    Unlike Newcastle where the main street get deserted after 8/9 after shops close, Leicester Square, Chinatown, SOHO and surroundings are very well alive! Food, pubs, cinema and casinos are the main thing there. During last Christmas, the area was hyped out with the Christmas Fun Fair located at the centre of Leicester Square. Beautiful and wonderful, how could I not spend some times at there? Seriously, I need to explore more of London instead of heading to Chinatown when I’ve no place to go in my mind.


    The small Christmas Fun Fair at Leicester Square.


    It’s like a mini-Las Vegas at Leicester Square as you can find a plenty of mini casinos. Well, not surprised that you will find a numbers of Asian in there.


    Street food stall which just feels so Asian.


    Are you a fan of Chinese roasted meat? I am super duper am! The roasted pork belly, siu yok is good!


    Chatime – the always-good-business Taiwanese bubble tea chain-store that makes everyone goes crazy and queue for it. There’s not a time that there’s no queue in front of the shop.


    This is Chinatown, London.


    Chinese’ Pastry.


    This is a Polo Bun, unfortunately it’s not hot.


    Golden Gate Cake Shop. Sad that most of the pastries were cold, but the taste still ease my Asian’s food craving.

  • London’s Natural History Museum In South Kensington

    London’s Natural History Museum In South Kensington

    London’s Natural History Museum In South Kensington – British Museum – CHECKED, Natural History Museum – newly CHECKED. The best thing about London is that there’s plenty of museum and gallery for arts and intellectual individual, and the best of the best that most of that has no entry fee or whatsoever, except some private showcase. Even if you are not a museum person, I still think you should pay a visit to these museums as the architecture and (or) interior design is very cool.

    On the day before 2014 arrives, me and a bunch of Penangite went for a tour at the Natural History Museum in South Kensington before heading to Westminster for the greatest New Year countdown in the world. One, was to kill time as it’s still early, second; was to cross the list of free-museums in London. The visit also brings me to South Kensington for the first time where the Royal Albert Hall, Harrods & Discovery Museum are also located nearby.

    London is really horny, she’s always that wet, as usual on that day. Queuing outside the rainy weather was frustrating and it took about 45 minutes to get in. Yes, the queue is always that long, everyday, even longer during holiday. I didn’t encounter queuing at the British Museum though! Why would people love dinosaurs so much.

    In there, it’s a queue again, more like a line, you can hardly roam freely, you have to follow the viewing line that everyone is moving to see the history of dinosaurs and bones. Then there’s several halls that showcase different type of animals, more like a zoo, except with animal sculpture instead of real animal.  I think there’s more thing to see, but we leaved after seeing dinosaurs and animals cause we found it rather boring and not interesting to us. HAHA. It’s good one, just it was too crowded and we were more looking forward to the New Year’s Eve countdown.


    Cute little man’s skeleton.


    T-Rex! Not really scary after all.

  • London’s Tower Bridge At Night

    London’s Tower Bridge At Night

    London’s Tower Bridge At Night – I always thought the nursery rhyme of ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’ is refer to the Tower Bridge because the bridge opens and close for ship to pass by. It close as if the bridge is falling down, but then it’s not true that the ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’ is referring to this Tower Bridge, nor the real London Bridge. Last time, I was at the Millennium Bridge, overlooking the Tower Bridge from far. Now, I am just standing right under of it, chilling.

    One by one, I am crossing the checked list of some major London’s attractions and Tower Bridge is out of the list. But it doesn’t means that I won’t come back again; hey, it’s beautiful! I went to check out the bridge on a cold and wet night after spending the day at Westfield Stratford Mall with a Arron, a Malaysian friend who came all the way from India and also to meet with two friends, Wes and JH who were my classmate back in Taylor’s University. It’s pretty cool that I can still able to meet up with friends from Malaysia at a foreign land. The world is just really small, after all.

    Well, Tower Bridge is truly fabulous at night when it lights up. Don’t even bother to visit it during a cloudy daytime, a clear blue sky day would be nice, otherwise, go at night like I did.

  • London // Quick Visit To Westminster & Seeing Big Ben, London Eye

    London // Quick Visit To Westminster & Seeing Big Ben, London Eye

    London // Quick Visit To Westminster & Seeing Big Ben, London Eye – You know, I was trying to cover most of the important places during the 4 days getaway to London back in November, but then it’s was pretty lame and didn’t really see much because it was like quantity over quality. And right, I failed to cover everywhere. Wooooo! Not sad because London is so near that I can visit at anytime.
    So, a quick visit to Westminster, crossing the Westminster Bridge, looking upon the Thames River at the London Eye that is not an eye, and seeing Mr Ben Ben the Big Ben, and also the Parliament building. “Wow, beautiful, good, nice, take a photo, jom, let’s go, next!”. So that was a pretty short while.
    Westminster Underground Station.
    FAKE and doesn’t even look like Charlie Chaplin.
    Crossing the street.
    Most-photographed angle of Underground sign and Ben Ben the Big Ben. Why Ben?
    Parliament Building & Big Ben.
    London Eye!
  • Sunday Night At Canary Wharf

    Sunday Night At Canary Wharf

    London // Sunday Night At Canary Wharf – I wonder why on earth would anybody want to go to Canary Wharf on a Sunday night?! Yeah, that’s us, the siao-kia, the crazy bunch that had nothing to do in London, wandering around randomly and made an evening visit to Canary Wharf.
    Although it’s just located in Zone 2 of London, but the architecture and street at Canary Wharf would probably brings you ‘out of London’! Erm… You can call it the office area of London, sort-of CBD of London, or the International London, or not-London, or Singapore-in-London, or Sydney-in-London, or whatever. There’s no Victorian-style building, they all all just modern, International-style office blocks with big brands like JP Morgan, HSBC Citibank and blablabla.
    So, Sunday night, no working hours, no white collars, it’s literally a small dead city, except it’s quite windy, and security guards patrolling the office blocks. It’s good to see another side of London, modern, tall (still shorter than most buildings in Kuala Lumpur), and clean! (I have to say that Canary Wharf has the cleanest street in London, seriously, London is not that clean after all).
    Should’ve got over to Greenwich to view across the Thames for a better view of Canary Wharf, but nevermind, there’s still chance.
    Jubilee Line of London’s Underground, the only line that looks new, clean, and good, even with anti-jump-to-the-track-and-die-suicide platform screen doors too!
    Canary Wharf Underground Station.
    Interesting underground station full of exposed concrete.
    JP Morgan!
    HSBC.
    Cycle Hire @ Canary Wharf.
    The street that doesn’t looks London.
    A piece of… s…. superb art.
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