OK. I must be frank. This should not be the last entry as I promised myself that I will update my blog after every trip I made. Unfortunately, due to unforseen circumstances (heheh) I was too lazy to do it. Mark my word, I will jot something soon.
My last roadtrip was pretty much unplanned; spur of the moment kind of thing. It was Easter weekend. So I had 4 days of either doing nothing or go somewhere. Yes, I should have planned the Bath Trip (patient please…. It will be published soon) during easter. Well, to my defence, I did not even know about it. In addition, a dedicated worker like me will never think about holiday. Hahaha
In the end, the three of us (Q, Hasznil) decided that we should do a final road trip. Hasznil was due to fly home in the next few days, Q will be studying hard to maintain his Anugerah Dekan award (sic) and me, well, entah bila lagi nak jalan-jalan UK.
We set off early Saturday morning (11 April 09) towards Manchester. Our target was to reach Manchester by 10am-ish. The itinerary for the day was Cheshire Oaks. In short, SHOPPING. It turned out to be quite entertaining. What did I bought? Towels.. hahha. I did not bring any towel with me (purposely). And got a free mp3 player from a BOSE shop.
The next day we went to Liverpool. Spent a few hours covering Albert Docks, Liverpool High Street. Then off to Lake District just in time before sunset.
The last stop was Durham on Easter Monday. It was a place that I chose. Places with character and history. The likes of Liverpool or Manchester are places that I don’t really appreciate. (no offence, I just like places that are unique).Durham turned out to be really small. I mean really really small. I thought Bath was small, but Durham was a quarter of Bath. We visited the Catheral, had lunch, posed for a few pictures then headed back home to Norwich.
You might ask : So, what was the highlight of the trip? My answer is Megane. Renault Megane. The car that we were forced to rent because my car was still in a garage in bloody Cambridge. A car that was supposed to be a Renault Clio when we book it. A car that I first thought would have a large arse! (Le derier.. those who lived here long enough would recall that ad).
That car was fabulous. To say I like it would be an understatement. I LOVED that car. The build quality was great, the ride was comfy, and the gadgetries were awesome. The only downside might be the fuel consumption. A little bit on the high side. In the end, it was sad to leave her back into the hands of Avis. She parked there with her headlights dimmed for the very last time. I think there were tears in my eyes. Sad time indeed
Special thanks to Syed Hadi (Manchester) and Izham (Stockton) for providing us free accommodation and great hospitality.
Nantikan celoteh yang seterusnye…..
Update [28 Sept 09] - Again , I will break my promise. There will be no celoteh of my roadtrips. Too lazy..
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
Proud uncle
Last week, I was informed by my family that I had just became an uncle to a newborn. My second nephew. I must say it was a proud moment.Now I have 2 nephews, one which is quite close to me and another one that I could not wait to hold him in my arms.
This raises the question of : "hang bila lagi?".. well for now, "NO COMMENT!"
Friday, 9 January 2009
Rediscovering London
There are places that you would have been there, but never actually experienced them. I have been to London countless of times, each time thinking that “been there, done that”. My latest adventure was the first day of 2009. It was not planned; in fact the idea of visiting London was conceived after 7 days of sitting inside my home doing absolutely nothing except playing games. In the end, I needed a fresh place and London seems to be the best destination financially and logistically.
So, there I was travelling from Taleworth to London (via Diss, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Manningtree, Colchester and Shenfield) with nothing actually planned to do when I get there.
Liverpool Street Station was quiet. Not bustling as I used to see it. As I was queuing to buy my Oyster Card, I overheard the sale assistant telling the Spanish couple in front of me “Everything closed today. Holiday”. Damn, I did not exactly plan to roam around the empty streets of London! No wonder the station seemed to be deserted.
Anyway, I got my Oyster card then decided not to use the Tube. I was not in a rush and I have 5 hours before the day got dark. So, jumped on the first bus I saw. Throughout the journey, I was contemplating which stop I should get off. Waterloo station.. Nahhhh nothing there, This side of River Thames is quite dull. Then it stopped at Victoria Station. Emmm, never been here for years. Good place to start walking.
When I got off the bus, I realised the road leading to Westminster was blocked. I could hear music, marching band and saw loads of people. This could be interesting. To cut the story short, it was a marching band parade from Parliament to Trafalgar Square and to who knows where it ended. The marching bands were from the USA, with participations from charity organisations et al. I followed the parade for 2 hours , walking along the parade route, before deciding that it was moving too slow and I was freezing. At this time, I was just off Trafalgar Square.
Next stop , Oxford Street. One of my missions in London was to buy an Ipod and a camera provided I could find them cheaper or similar price as in the internet. No luck. Every store I went in, the price was a good 15 pounds more expensive. I stopped at a Chinese stall (halal ofcourse) for my lunch, and then walked passed a few stores that were definitely going bankrupt due to the recession. Bought myself an England jersey for GBP4.49 ( that’s less than RM30! What a bargain). It was getting quite dark and temperature continued to fall. A quick stopped (ok,.. 15 minutes) to Starbucks just to get myself warm then off to Wissleden, where my 5 star hotel was located.
My shelter for the night was the usual spot. Owned by a Malaysian, I could not be happier to see En Azman and En Zabirin, occupants that I met 3 weeks earlier, still living there. We had a chat until 11pm, and En. Azman’s wife even cooked us dinner. Langkah Kanan rupanya.
The second day was spent shopping with Adi, an UEA 1st year graduate. We toured Tottenham Court Road, the so called “Lowyat of London” to find our cheap Ipods and my camera. No luck. Death to normal shopping. Internet rules! Then off to Harrods. Bought ourselves perfumes at 50% discount and I even bought coffee ( to be honest,I was just after the Harrods coffee tin box).We ended the day eating dinner at Khan’s Restaurant in Bayswater.
The final day, I had only one thing in mind. Join the demonstration against Israeli aggression towards Palestinians.
So, what new stuff did I “discovered” about London? Well, I’ve done all the things normal tourist would have done before this trip; photographs at all tourist sites, Oxford street, harrods, etc. But this time, I walked. From Victoria Station to Edgeware Road via Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, and on my way back to Liverpool Street Station, walked from Trafalgar Square and along River Thames all the way to the station. I discovered that London is best experienced when you walk. Forget the Tube. Use it if you are really in a hurry. Take the bus only if you feel tired of walking. Take things slow even though London is a fast moving city. I did not imagine I would see a parade let alone join a demonstration in the streets of London!
Back in the year 2000, I saw a tour bus when I first arrived in London. In my mind, it was a dream if I could go to all the places advertised on the side of the bus. Come 2008, the only place I did not know where was the Tate Gallery. Fortunately, as I was walking down River Thames, there she was. The final piece of the puzzle. Tourist spots definitely all checked!
On the train home, I was already plotting the next London adventure. It will be a weekend of jogging inside Hyde Park, watching a concert at Wembley and watching football in any London club. Can’t wait for February.
Update [28 Sept 09]: I did planned to write about my second trip to London. But I could not have cared less. Anyway, I did jogged around Hyde Park, stopped to hear the ramblings at Speaker's Corner, watched a concert by a band called Keane (not at Wembley Stadium but at O2 Arena). Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to watch live football in a london stadium. There is always next time! Insya Allah
So, there I was travelling from Taleworth to London (via Diss, Stowmarket, Ipswich, Manningtree, Colchester and Shenfield) with nothing actually planned to do when I get there.
Liverpool Street Station was quiet. Not bustling as I used to see it. As I was queuing to buy my Oyster Card, I overheard the sale assistant telling the Spanish couple in front of me “Everything closed today. Holiday”. Damn, I did not exactly plan to roam around the empty streets of London! No wonder the station seemed to be deserted.
Anyway, I got my Oyster card then decided not to use the Tube. I was not in a rush and I have 5 hours before the day got dark. So, jumped on the first bus I saw. Throughout the journey, I was contemplating which stop I should get off. Waterloo station.. Nahhhh nothing there, This side of River Thames is quite dull. Then it stopped at Victoria Station. Emmm, never been here for years. Good place to start walking.
When I got off the bus, I realised the road leading to Westminster was blocked. I could hear music, marching band and saw loads of people. This could be interesting. To cut the story short, it was a marching band parade from Parliament to Trafalgar Square and to who knows where it ended. The marching bands were from the USA, with participations from charity organisations et al. I followed the parade for 2 hours , walking along the parade route, before deciding that it was moving too slow and I was freezing. At this time, I was just off Trafalgar Square.
Next stop , Oxford Street. One of my missions in London was to buy an Ipod and a camera provided I could find them cheaper or similar price as in the internet. No luck. Every store I went in, the price was a good 15 pounds more expensive. I stopped at a Chinese stall (halal ofcourse) for my lunch, and then walked passed a few stores that were definitely going bankrupt due to the recession. Bought myself an England jersey for GBP4.49 ( that’s less than RM30! What a bargain). It was getting quite dark and temperature continued to fall. A quick stopped (ok,.. 15 minutes) to Starbucks just to get myself warm then off to Wissleden, where my 5 star hotel was located.
My shelter for the night was the usual spot. Owned by a Malaysian, I could not be happier to see En Azman and En Zabirin, occupants that I met 3 weeks earlier, still living there. We had a chat until 11pm, and En. Azman’s wife even cooked us dinner. Langkah Kanan rupanya.
The second day was spent shopping with Adi, an UEA 1st year graduate. We toured Tottenham Court Road, the so called “Lowyat of London” to find our cheap Ipods and my camera. No luck. Death to normal shopping. Internet rules! Then off to Harrods. Bought ourselves perfumes at 50% discount and I even bought coffee ( to be honest,I was just after the Harrods coffee tin box).We ended the day eating dinner at Khan’s Restaurant in Bayswater.
The final day, I had only one thing in mind. Join the demonstration against Israeli aggression towards Palestinians.
So, what new stuff did I “discovered” about London? Well, I’ve done all the things normal tourist would have done before this trip; photographs at all tourist sites, Oxford street, harrods, etc. But this time, I walked. From Victoria Station to Edgeware Road via Westminster, Trafalgar Square, Oxford Street, and on my way back to Liverpool Street Station, walked from Trafalgar Square and along River Thames all the way to the station. I discovered that London is best experienced when you walk. Forget the Tube. Use it if you are really in a hurry. Take the bus only if you feel tired of walking. Take things slow even though London is a fast moving city. I did not imagine I would see a parade let alone join a demonstration in the streets of London!
Back in the year 2000, I saw a tour bus when I first arrived in London. In my mind, it was a dream if I could go to all the places advertised on the side of the bus. Come 2008, the only place I did not know where was the Tate Gallery. Fortunately, as I was walking down River Thames, there she was. The final piece of the puzzle. Tourist spots definitely all checked!
On the train home, I was already plotting the next London adventure. It will be a weekend of jogging inside Hyde Park, watching a concert at Wembley and watching football in any London club. Can’t wait for February.
Update [28 Sept 09]: I did planned to write about my second trip to London. But I could not have cared less. Anyway, I did jogged around Hyde Park, stopped to hear the ramblings at Speaker's Corner, watched a concert by a band called Keane (not at Wembley Stadium but at O2 Arena). Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to watch live football in a london stadium. There is always next time! Insya Allah
The day I become a writer (or trying to)
Assalamualaikum.
Today, I am joining the blogosphere community. Officially.
Today, I am joining the blogosphere community. Officially.
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