England: Day 0 and Day 1
PICTURES!: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=109311&id=636295987&l=cc0691aa0a
Diary entry from 2/8/09 (using British date system of DD/MM/YY) or...
Day 0:
I'm here! In London! In my hostel! Flight was really long, but a good one. ^_^ I watched Dragon Ball Evolution, X-Men Wolverine and The Birds, along with a few TV shows about some of the Palaces and Henry VIII. Met a cute kid in Narita. He was coming to England for a two week summer school. 16 years old. Very brave I think. His English was excellent. We saw each other after the flight and chatted in the Immigration Line. I made sure he found his contact for his school before I headed off. Got my travel card for London (7 day Underground and bus Oyster card), and the gentleman behind the counter helped me get my ticket for the Underground into London. That train took forever! I miss the Japanese train system. Got a bit lost trying to find the street I needed. Went back to the station and asked someone. Turned out I was one street wrong. -_-; Checked in and bought YHA membership to avoid a GBP3 a night extra charge for non-members. Realized I did not have my travel clock. Since it's Sunday, there's no where really open on Sunday to get one at. Will have to look Monday. I rented one from the hostel. I'm in an eight person, all female dorm. Nice girls so far. I'll be here eight nights.
Tomorrow is Buckingham and Westminster. A big day I think, so now, though it's only 9pm, I will go to sleep. It's still pretty light out. Good thing I brought my eye mask with me. And ear plugs; there are teenage girls hanging out around the corner whose voices carry really well.
The view from my top bunk bed out the window is awesome. I'm very tired, but very happy.
^_^ Till tomorrow!
Day 1: Buckingham Palace, The Queen's Gallery, Westminster
7:45am - Decided to get up early because I didn't want to sleep too much. I had only gone to bed at around 9pm last night. The shower is sort of lacking. It's all one floor, gradually sloped to the drain in the back half, with no break to keep the water from your clothes by the door in the front half. I hung them all up on the door stop. Pressure was 'eh' too, but it got the job done. Lush shampoo and conditioner rocks.
It's still difficult for me to realize that I'm not going back to Japan when this is done. Also, I was beginning to be terrified of this trip. Traveling alone? But I'm here now.
LET'S DO IT!
But first.... breakfast.
9:30pm - WHEW! Today was a good day! I left the hostel around 945am to try and have a nice walk around St James Park before the Changing of the Guard. It was a beautiful day. Warm, with some clouds and a nice breeze. I needed that breeze. Sooooooo many people at the Changing of the Guard. But I got a goodish spot near the main gate. I got a lot of pictures and tons of video. I'll post the video to my YouTube account later. Maybe America later. ^^; It was interesting to listen to the security guy on the horse. He was snarkey, and it was most entertaining. Actually it was more entertaining than the actual Changing.
My next stop was Buckingham Palace State Rooms. Gorgeous. Absolutely Gorgeous. Stunning. Opulent and shiney. I totally enjoyed them. And my student ID still works! Ha! Yay! When I left the grounds of the Palace I had some time before my 4pm entrance to The Queen's Gallery, so I wandered the streets to try and find a small travel alarm clock. No go. ;.; The Queen's Gallery has some absolutely gorgeous stuff. But the overall atmosphere was a bit boring. Then I walked to Westminster/Whitehall. Lots of pictures of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.
Went back to the hostel and asked about clocks again. I was directed to Oxford Street. Long road, TONS of shops. Even....
UNIQLO and MUJI!
Two Japanese shops I enjoy spending money at! I was stunned! I wandered into the UNIQLO, but their things were so much more expensive than their counterparts in Japan. Found a clock in a little electronics shop. On the way back I was looking for dinner and found a Subway! Yay Subway! Got back to the hostel and got online. Chatted some, uploaded pictures, updated journal, etc. Now I am to go to bed. Day 2 tomorrow! Which is: National Gallery and British Museum.
And both are free!!! ^_^
Diary entry from 2/8/09 (using British date system of DD/MM/YY) or...
Day 0:
I'm here! In London! In my hostel! Flight was really long, but a good one. ^_^ I watched Dragon Ball Evolution, X-Men Wolverine and The Birds, along with a few TV shows about some of the Palaces and Henry VIII. Met a cute kid in Narita. He was coming to England for a two week summer school. 16 years old. Very brave I think. His English was excellent. We saw each other after the flight and chatted in the Immigration Line. I made sure he found his contact for his school before I headed off. Got my travel card for London (7 day Underground and bus Oyster card), and the gentleman behind the counter helped me get my ticket for the Underground into London. That train took forever! I miss the Japanese train system. Got a bit lost trying to find the street I needed. Went back to the station and asked someone. Turned out I was one street wrong. -_-; Checked in and bought YHA membership to avoid a GBP3 a night extra charge for non-members. Realized I did not have my travel clock. Since it's Sunday, there's no where really open on Sunday to get one at. Will have to look Monday. I rented one from the hostel. I'm in an eight person, all female dorm. Nice girls so far. I'll be here eight nights.
Tomorrow is Buckingham and Westminster. A big day I think, so now, though it's only 9pm, I will go to sleep. It's still pretty light out. Good thing I brought my eye mask with me. And ear plugs; there are teenage girls hanging out around the corner whose voices carry really well.
The view from my top bunk bed out the window is awesome. I'm very tired, but very happy.
^_^ Till tomorrow!
Day 1: Buckingham Palace, The Queen's Gallery, Westminster
7:45am - Decided to get up early because I didn't want to sleep too much. I had only gone to bed at around 9pm last night. The shower is sort of lacking. It's all one floor, gradually sloped to the drain in the back half, with no break to keep the water from your clothes by the door in the front half. I hung them all up on the door stop. Pressure was 'eh' too, but it got the job done. Lush shampoo and conditioner rocks.
It's still difficult for me to realize that I'm not going back to Japan when this is done. Also, I was beginning to be terrified of this trip. Traveling alone? But I'm here now.
LET'S DO IT!
But first.... breakfast.
9:30pm - WHEW! Today was a good day! I left the hostel around 945am to try and have a nice walk around St James Park before the Changing of the Guard. It was a beautiful day. Warm, with some clouds and a nice breeze. I needed that breeze. Sooooooo many people at the Changing of the Guard. But I got a goodish spot near the main gate. I got a lot of pictures and tons of video. I'll post the video to my YouTube account later. Maybe America later. ^^; It was interesting to listen to the security guy on the horse. He was snarkey, and it was most entertaining. Actually it was more entertaining than the actual Changing.
My next stop was Buckingham Palace State Rooms. Gorgeous. Absolutely Gorgeous. Stunning. Opulent and shiney. I totally enjoyed them. And my student ID still works! Ha! Yay! When I left the grounds of the Palace I had some time before my 4pm entrance to The Queen's Gallery, so I wandered the streets to try and find a small travel alarm clock. No go. ;.; The Queen's Gallery has some absolutely gorgeous stuff. But the overall atmosphere was a bit boring. Then I walked to Westminster/Whitehall. Lots of pictures of the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey.
Went back to the hostel and asked about clocks again. I was directed to Oxford Street. Long road, TONS of shops. Even....
UNIQLO and MUJI!
Two Japanese shops I enjoy spending money at! I was stunned! I wandered into the UNIQLO, but their things were so much more expensive than their counterparts in Japan. Found a clock in a little electronics shop. On the way back I was looking for dinner and found a Subway! Yay Subway! Got back to the hostel and got online. Chatted some, uploaded pictures, updated journal, etc. Now I am to go to bed. Day 2 tomorrow! Which is: National Gallery and British Museum.
And both are free!!! ^_^