Home Sweet HomeIts been a week since i came back from London. I was there two weeks ago for a communications meeting with other communicators from my company.
I can still remember i was in two minds when i knew about th trip. On one hand, i had really wanted to attend this meeting to network and see the big picture of our business. On the other hand, i am apprehensive about travelling alone.
I had never been a fan of flying and staying in a hotel room alone much as i enjoy touring. I know it sounds stupid but i really had a fear of flying. This was the result of a most horrific flying experience years ago.
But i did eventually decide to go, it just doesn't make sense not to. Furthermore, I'll be flying business class. I don't think I'll ever fly business class if I had to pay myself.
So..on 23 October, my family sent me off at the airport. I told myself not to think too much and to have faith in the Lord. Thankfully, the flight was very smooth and before i knew it the 13-hour flight ended and i landed at London Heathrow Airport. The pickup arranged by my company was already there waiting for me and sent me stright to the Holiday Inn Brentford.
My visit programme was supposed to commence only on 25th October so I had the whole of 24th October to myself. Just as I was unpacking my luggage, the phone in my room rang and it was a colleague who was supposed to be on the same meeting as me. She asked if i was interested in joining her for a walk-about and i said yes. Its better to have company than to stay in the room alone.
We went on a Big Bus hop-on, hop-off kind of tour. It brought us to the main tourist attraction and we ended the tour at Harrods. I bought some Krispy Kreme which Khai Tze had recommended and i came to realised that the dougnuts 'saved' me in more ways than one.
My first impression of London is that its a very expensive place to stay. A20-minutes taxi ride costs me SGD90. As i told friends, SGD90 can pay for more than a tank of petrol for Jeff's car. Anyway, thats just the way it is..even a cashier at the super market earns 800 pounds and thats SGD2,400 so it probably won't matter to the white collar folks.
My secondand third day in London was spent on work so there's really nothing much to talk about. On the 26th, after the meeting, i checked out of my hotel and embarked on my adventures in London - Paris.
With my heavy backpack and bulky luggage, I had to make my way to the Brentford train station. I rationalised and decided against walking and took a bus to the train station. The train stations had so much steps that my hands ached from carrying my luggage down the steps. I eventually made my way to St Paul's station and met Leng Leng. I left part of my luggage at her place and made my way to Waterloo station to catch the EuroStar to Paris.
Jean took a cab to the Gare Du Nord Station and picked me up. We rested early that night at her hotel. The next day we went shopping and i rewarded myself to a Gucci Bag. The second day in Paris, we spent the day touring the famous attractions and ended the day with a good dinner. The most noteorthy thing is that i tasted Escargots and actually liked it.
On 29th October, Jean left the hotel early as she had a flight to catch. I spent the day alone touring Paris but only managed to cover the Lourve. When it was about time, i picked up my luggage from the hotel and went to Gare Du Nord to catch the Eurostar back to London and stayed at Leng's place for the night.
George was very kind and brought me on a walkabout so i had a taste of London's streets. Huizhen arrived on 31st and i shifted my luggage to the hotel she was staying at.
The hotel was right beside Tower Bridge and the room had a good view of it but that was about it.
The last few days spent in London was relaxed but boring at times. The things are so bloody expensive that you have to think thrice before buying anything. For me , i just went walking around, i went to Covent Garden, China Town, Leicster Square etc. On 2nd Nov, i went to queue for half-price tickets for a musical. The musical is called "Blood Brothers" and was recommended to me by someone in the queue.
The musical was not too bad but certain parts of it got a little draggy but i still achieved my aim of watching a musical in London.
On the morning that i was supposed to fly off, HZ went on a roadtrip with Leng & George to Bath, Windsor etc. Its a pity that i missed it but i was also glad to be going home.
The fligh back home was as smooth as the one there and 13 hours was over before i knew it..I really think Business Class makes all the difference.
Now, i am just looking forward to sharing my travel tales with Jeff when he returns in a month's time from Rockhampton.
