damn the exchange rate.
I can't believe I'm in London! And I'm watching the Simpson's on TV.
I actually pre-wrote an entry...but I left it up in my room...and cbf getting it really.
So just what has been happening?? Let us start from the start...
Once upon a time...
At the airport: I was all emotional when I left my parents at the departure gate, so embarrassing. And I saw Dan from Big Brother 3 (or something) at the boarding gate lol so he's in London too somewhere. HK airport does resemble Southern Cross station. At Heathrow (which is pretty old...I would have expected it to be more modernised etc.) I dropped my luggage on my foot like twice. OUCH. And I broke a nail.
So I took the train (the Underground, the Tube - with a girl I met on the plane who was heading off to Contiki) to King's Cross (which has escalators like Parliament - though, Leicester Square Station is worse) (and OMG you have to stand on the right of escalators rather than the left!) then to Great Portland which is across the road from where I'm staying. BUT that station was CLOSED. And I PANICKED. But it was OK, I found a bus that took me there in the end and I arrived at about 4.30pm by which time it was awfully dark. The weather was pretty cold. I think it was 7 degrees. No wind, but pretty chilly.
So, International Student House isn't bad at all. International people run the place and it's really clean compared to like, camp rooms. And the showers have REAL doors. I was happy with that.
So, I just spent the rest of that day going to Tesco (!) which was around the corner and another grocery store to get essentials and then I phoned my parents, I think it was like 5am over there.
Next day, I was happy to discover I have free breakfast everyday to the value of £2.30 lol (I love having the pound sign on the keyboard!) then I went to find Oxford St. Lots of walking because I just did not want to pay that much for a train ticket. Anyway, Oxford was absolutely crazy because of the sales! There are stacks of tourists about...I can't imagine what it will be like during June/July. I think Oxford is like Bourke...but like much much longer. I didn't buy much (though will be going back tomorrow with Erin). I went to Marks & Spencer! Which I was so excited about! It's a department store with a supermarket as well! HUGE place! And I got a beanie for £2 and a M&S canvas bag (which tore today :( must get another). Oh and they have trolleys! There are so many department stores here...pretty high end too. To me it seems anyway.
HMV (Oxford and Picadilly) aren't really fantastic. 3 levels, couldn't find a rare singles section either. Really cute shop called Octopus though.
Today, I went to Harrods. Oh My God. Do you know how PACKED it was in there!! I found out when I got home that it was the first day of their sale lol. There was a queue to get into the store. I got a Harrods bag now lol. I'm definately going back when the July sales are on, because I want to get some more souvenirs...don't want to tote them around at the moment though. Same with CDs and such.
Met up with Erin who arrived in London yesterday. And we went for a long wander for the rest of the day all over. Got some great shots of the London Eye and Big Ben and went to Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Couldn't find Buckingham yet haha will do so tomorrow. Started the Monopoly tour haha.
And yeah, that is what has happened so far. Still can't believe I'm here. Am not an artsy-fartsy person, but the views and architectures here are just incredible. I was just in awe at the buildings around Harrods.
I can't post any pictures now unfortunately. I think I'll have to do them in Liverpool.
Oh and in my room, there is an 17yo Italian girl who's lovely and a lady from Kazakstan visiting her daughter who speaks next to no English. Someone else should be moving into the last bed soon. Beds are also comfortable and clean :)
Oh and I must complain about stairs. As Erin said, we'll have the strongest calves when we get back. There are like stairs everywhere! And OMG. I got off at Covent Gardens station today and the lift was so busy so I took the stairs instead. And didn't register the sign that read something like "193 steps, do not use unless for emergency". It was fucking exhausting.
That's all I can think of now.
Oh and, shit, I'm running out of cash.
I actually pre-wrote an entry...but I left it up in my room...and cbf getting it really.
So just what has been happening?? Let us start from the start...
Once upon a time...
At the airport: I was all emotional when I left my parents at the departure gate, so embarrassing. And I saw Dan from Big Brother 3 (or something) at the boarding gate lol so he's in London too somewhere. HK airport does resemble Southern Cross station. At Heathrow (which is pretty old...I would have expected it to be more modernised etc.) I dropped my luggage on my foot like twice. OUCH. And I broke a nail.
So I took the train (the Underground, the Tube - with a girl I met on the plane who was heading off to Contiki) to King's Cross (which has escalators like Parliament - though, Leicester Square Station is worse) (and OMG you have to stand on the right of escalators rather than the left!) then to Great Portland which is across the road from where I'm staying. BUT that station was CLOSED. And I PANICKED. But it was OK, I found a bus that took me there in the end and I arrived at about 4.30pm by which time it was awfully dark. The weather was pretty cold. I think it was 7 degrees. No wind, but pretty chilly.
So, International Student House isn't bad at all. International people run the place and it's really clean compared to like, camp rooms. And the showers have REAL doors. I was happy with that.
So, I just spent the rest of that day going to Tesco (!) which was around the corner and another grocery store to get essentials and then I phoned my parents, I think it was like 5am over there.
Next day, I was happy to discover I have free breakfast everyday to the value of £2.30 lol (I love having the pound sign on the keyboard!) then I went to find Oxford St. Lots of walking because I just did not want to pay that much for a train ticket. Anyway, Oxford was absolutely crazy because of the sales! There are stacks of tourists about...I can't imagine what it will be like during June/July. I think Oxford is like Bourke...but like much much longer. I didn't buy much (though will be going back tomorrow with Erin). I went to Marks & Spencer! Which I was so excited about! It's a department store with a supermarket as well! HUGE place! And I got a beanie for £2 and a M&S canvas bag (which tore today :( must get another). Oh and they have trolleys! There are so many department stores here...pretty high end too. To me it seems anyway.
HMV (Oxford and Picadilly) aren't really fantastic. 3 levels, couldn't find a rare singles section either. Really cute shop called Octopus though.
Today, I went to Harrods. Oh My God. Do you know how PACKED it was in there!! I found out when I got home that it was the first day of their sale lol. There was a queue to get into the store. I got a Harrods bag now lol. I'm definately going back when the July sales are on, because I want to get some more souvenirs...don't want to tote them around at the moment though. Same with CDs and such.
Met up with Erin who arrived in London yesterday. And we went for a long wander for the rest of the day all over. Got some great shots of the London Eye and Big Ben and went to Picadilly Circus, Leicester Square and Covent Garden. Couldn't find Buckingham yet haha will do so tomorrow. Started the Monopoly tour haha.
And yeah, that is what has happened so far. Still can't believe I'm here. Am not an artsy-fartsy person, but the views and architectures here are just incredible. I was just in awe at the buildings around Harrods.
I can't post any pictures now unfortunately. I think I'll have to do them in Liverpool.
Oh and in my room, there is an 17yo Italian girl who's lovely and a lady from Kazakstan visiting her daughter who speaks next to no English. Someone else should be moving into the last bed soon. Beds are also comfortable and clean :)
Oh and I must complain about stairs. As Erin said, we'll have the strongest calves when we get back. There are like stairs everywhere! And OMG. I got off at Covent Gardens station today and the lift was so busy so I took the stairs instead. And didn't register the sign that read something like "193 steps, do not use unless for emergency". It was fucking exhausting.
That's all I can think of now.
Oh and, shit, I'm running out of cash.