This is London

I think the best thing I like about Guildford, are the bus drivers. They are such sweethearts- they will smile at you (even if youre not taking his bus, or if youre on the other side of the road). Then most people will thank the driver before getting off as well. I like it like this very much.

Well... Its UniS Day 2 of Fall Semester 2008 today, but I'm still not having lessons until tomorrow. So I woke up to an empty house, walked into the kitchen and saw my only trusty companion with me. In fact, his/her family members are all around the house. There are a couple in my bathroom, here & there, everywhere you know. Lovely creatures.

Isn't it gorgeous?

Anyhow, I went to London yesterday but I didnt take too many pictures again! Because in a place where the crowds just push past you along the streets, its not very tourist friendly to stand in the middle of everyone's path to snap a couple of photos. I can imagine all the dirty looks thrown at me. So I just played it cool & tried to look like I knew the city like an old friend. Thus I took some photos when it was scenic enough and there were less of the maddening peak hour crowd.

On my way to the railway station, I got stopped by this guy who was promoting this hair curling iron. Haha it was quite funny to sit in the middle of the shopping centre & have your hair curled by him & i was giving the pained expression on curious on-lookers. haha. They must be thinking - oh look at that poor asian girl. tsktsk.

But I managed to find my own way to London via the rail to Waterloo station, then got myself an oyster card to travel the underground tube. Got out at Oxford circus via the Bakerloo line. FYI, the (Southwest) trains were very comfortable, but filled with many people with muddy wellies. They were heading home from some festival which ended earlier due to "dangerous mud levels". I'm grateful we dont have a mud problem back home. The tubes were adorable! They have colourful printed cushy SOFA seats. (Btw, they all stand on the RIGHT on the escalator, not left.) So eventually I got off my butt & met GT at Niketown- this gigantic complex which showcases all of Nike's products in the latest season. Pretty cool. Then he showed me the world's biggest TOPSHOP/TOPMAN. I visited H&M, ALDO and many others. Too many to remember, but I was looking for a pair of sturdy boots and I couldnt find any decent ones. Everything was expensive! A pair of boots from ALDO or CLARKS or where-ever averaged about 110pounds. Even Topshop/Topman wasnt as cheap as I thought. It might be if theres a sale & i can use my student discount. Nevermind. So we moved on to greener pastures.

These are taken on Carnaby Street.
Its a charming lane lined with boutiques and flower boxes.

Obviously, this is London's Chinatown.
Prior to that, GaryTang brought me through the red light district,
showed me the sleazy XXX joints, cinemas, shops,
then we moved on to see the gay bars, pubs which was overfilled with (duh) gay people.
After walking through some streets, we reached Chinatown.
I dont think I can remember how to get there by myself,
because everything looked the same after a while.

There was a group of joggers who ran in chinatown.
They ran to one end & to the other end,
making war-cries in the process.
GT found them extremely annoying. Haha.

I had to take those pictures which would make mom proud.
Have to see the Chinese words up there.
GT treated me to dinner at this Malaysian joint,
which served decent local food like mee siam, laksa, prawn noodles, hokkien mee etc.
I had a phad thai - NOODLES!
He had his horfun and we shared a rojak.
The highlight was the TEH TARIK.
It was so smooth & thick. Ahh. Its a luxury I tell you.
2 pounds teh tarik.