Has been planning and talking about this trip for about a year... Doing all sorts of research for Hostels, transportations, intersting places, charges... bla bla bla... I know this Europe tour dream coming true when i first bought my London - KL return ticket during the MATTA Fair.
24/10/08 (Day 1)
The day i have been waited long at last came, i took a night Emirates Flight.. Everybody in the family wants to send us to the airport, ok lor.... actually its just a 11 days tour...
Lek drove us to KLIA, spend some time queue for check in... Once done that we go to KFC to have some light snacks.. BB call me then to confirm that everything run smooth before i fly off.... he just will worry on anything... Easy baby!! I can make it!!
Its late midnight, all duty free shops selling nice stuff is close, without spending much time at the KLIA, we boarded the plane. Our seats are arrange at the side, but not the window seats, last in the row, so we have more spaces. I first thing i do once the seat beat light off is sleep. cause its mid night. But after an hour or so, i was waken up for supper.. now i take a good look at the cabin crews and surrounding... This is a flight to Dubai and transit to Gatwick, London.
I felt a little bit of air sick, when i was served the supper, a Beef and Cheese Sandwich set, after the first bite, i feel like throwing out... the food is bad.... and i think also because of the little air sick plus it is mid night.. Bad timing and Bad food... It end up i did not touch the food at all, just a cup of coffee and i continue sleeping... Can sleep well through out the whole flight too... the nausea feeling comes every now and then... The flight to Dubai toke about 6 and a half hours.. After few hours, we were again served the breakfast.. I was like...OMG...another terrible meal again.. ya, as i expected, it is another terrible breakfast.. I dare not choose another option with beef, cause the beef sandwich scared me off... to be more secure, i choose the Vege Omelette... It is terrible too... All the salads, fruits, croissant are cold. Only the omelette is heated, but it taste terrible... I really have to worry about what can i eat throughout this 15 hours flight... God Bless me...
We reach DBX International Airport at 4.45am. Have to go through a very strict security scan, Jackets and Boot need to be taken out also.... Ok, now we have 3 hrs in this Airport before the next connecting flight to London. We planned to explore the Duty Free Shop since there are tonnes of good comment about it. Once step into the public waiting lounge... OMG... There also so many (should i call them campers?) Well, they are passengers sleeping on the floor, with their "EMIRATES" blanket covered. Like corpse... I wonder why can't they sleep on the bench instead??? Funny scenery... i never see such airport before..
(The Dubai International Airport)
Ok, nevermind about those campers... The Duty Free shop is a bit disappointing, occupy a full storey, but mostly are selling Arabian perfumes, ciggrattes and and liquor. There are a few counters selling internatinal brand cosmetics and perfume, but prices are more expensive compare to M'sia. There are no branded stores there.... I still love Survanabumi Airport... Branded store stretch from one end to the other.... Finish exploring and sit down at the bench to wait for our flight.
My EK 15 flying to London
The flight to London is an "all angmor occupied" flight, we are the only asian in the flight. This flight is less packed, maybe half full only.. both me and mum are sharing 4 seats, so we have more space to move. Again, not long after departing, we were served breakfast again... this time my appetite getting better, maybe after a rest a Dubai airport and its more proper time to eat.. And they serve a better breakfast, still butter croissant and salads...
Can't really sleep at the second session of flight, watch movie " Princess Diary 2" and do a mask on board! hahahaha... So tired of sitting still on board, i saw parents with young babies have to walk around carry their babies... so pity!!!! The breakfast gave me more confident on the lunch, i choose a Masala Curry Chicken with butter rice, cross finger it will at least taste ok!! Ya... it taste good.
I am so so boring on board, until the last one hr before arriving i am only staring at the satelite showing where are we... At last we reach, flight touched down at 12.35 noon at Gatwick Airport London. Checking out at the custom is difficult... Maybe they just do not "so welcome" Malaysian, for the past records of over staying.. A lot of question and at last the officer stamps the entry visa on our passport... relief.....
Getting out to collect our luggage and walk around the shops, no duty free shops... or maybe i was at the wrong way.. its ok.. i need to go and rush for my check in. My eyes keep on looking around, take whatever maps they provided at the airport. From my research, we can take the Gatwick express to Central London. Go to the ticket counter, their is this "Fancy" officer ready to help and give explaination to us for the train service.. Love you Britain, you guys are so good in customer service!!! big big aplause for you.
Gatwick express took 35 mins to reach Victoria station.. Along the way, my eyes can't stop scanning the beautiful scenery.. The houses here, all unpainted, but very beautiful, the greenieries... Suppose we can arrange the driver from the hostel to pick us from Victoria station, but when called him, he told us he was not working... NVM... when reached Victoria Station, i bought a travel card for the day, cost us £5.60 per day.. Its more worth it, cause a single way cost you £4. Its very very cold.. Its about 12deg. Sim was telling me no need to bring so thick clothing. Luckily i didn't listen to her, if not i will freeze to death in London.
Put on my scarf and coat, we are ready for our venture in London. Have to take the underground to Kensal Green to the Hostel. What???? The train stations here are not equip with lifts nor escalator.. Joking man.... to carry the luggage up and down the stairs at interchange is torturing.. I almost wanted to give up and throw my luggage one side.. (FYI, only big rail stations like Victoria, Waterloo, Paddington etc have escalators)
First time taking the tube, it was like sitting in a roller coaster underground.. so fast..There we reached kensal green, Kensal Green is a quite outskirt neighboughood(Its a cementary neighbourhood actually). Our hostel is just opposite the underground station. Hostel 639 is a budget hostel, so, you get what you pay for. we do not want to share a bunk with other foreigner, so we took up a room just for me and mum. cost us £40 per nite. Staircase is so narrow and its difficult for us to carry the luggage up, all together there are 4 floors... we got the room on the 1st flr.
Kensal Green Neighbourhood
The room consist of 2 single double deckers and a showe cabin, bath room are shared at at the hall. There are a strange smells along the passage way, i guess its the old carpet.. and the room dun look very clean.. luckily we are well prepared... i brought a sleeping bag... hahahahahaha
We didn't spend too much time in the hotel, go straight out after we put down our luggage. Its already 4.30pm by the time we settled at the hotel.. Without Delaying, we start off to our 1st destination : The Gherkin. Alight at Algate station, it took me a while to figure out the London underground station, so many lines... and its crowded, maybe because this is the central line.. But its not hard for me to figure out, only need some time.
We can see Gherkin one get out from the tube station, its tall and so iconic... A bullet shape building in the middle of London city.. Nothing much there, its a business district and Gherkin is actually a business building, so, just take a few photos there...
Me at Gherkin...
Mum is making noise that she is hungry and wanna go for meal, so we decided to eat at Subway sandwich.. (Our only choice, cause is almost 6pm, and other shops is close) I ordered a tuna 1/2' sandwich and of course a cup of Hot steaming coffee.. Its getting colder outside.. Here, i learned that Londoners actually self clean up their table after having a meal in a fast food restaurant... wow... thats good... When can our Mcd customer learn to do that?
Its all dark outside after the meal. According to plan, we are suppose to go to visit london bridge and Tower bridge... Took undergroud to London Bridge station. London bridge is just a normal bridge and dunno why its so famous.. maybe just because of the song.. walking around that area.. THERE!!!! see the Halloween decor London Dugeon.. Did not plan to go to visit London dugeon, the admission fee is not cheap, £20 for some scare and scream...
This funny vampire is asking for a £ for taking his photo.. Just joking.
We still walk around the London Bridge area, saw people drinking beer in the cold air, in front of church somemore.. Still can't find the way to Tower Bridge and at last we gave up. Decide to go back to rest since we are too tired and we are facing some jetlagged problem.
Back to hostel at 8pm, quickly go to the internet cafe to send and email to bb and goes to sleep but wake up at 3am... dunno what to do!!!!!
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