When I logged in to MSN today, Chong jumped at me.

“SISTA! YOU’RE COMING HOME TOMORROW!” he typed hysterically.

(I’m not really his sister. He just likes to call me that.)

Rolling my eyes, I said, “No, I’m not. I extended my stay. I thought you read my blog!”

“Oh, I haven’t read the latest one.”

“I mentioned my extension a week ago!”

“Oh, yah. I mostly only look at the photos.”

 

* * *

 

To think I actually feel bad every time I post a photo-heavy text-light blog. I keep getting evidence that most people prefer to just look at photos.

Well, photos I have in abundance.

I’m going to share some from my first London day trip. Took a coach there in the morning and back in the night. (It was cool the first time but got tedious by my third trip. The commute totals almost five hours each time.)

 

 

I was met in London by Limin and Xi Yen.

 

 

Limin is a Singaporean studying in London. You’ve met her on my blog before.

Xi Yen is a Malaysian working in London. (Those of you in Plurk will know him as junkie.)

Anyway, they’re both very awesome and showed me around the entire day. Xi Yen works in Google London and took us on a tour around his office. It was so fun! Luckily, it was a Saturday and no one was working, so we were able to gawk freely.

But I’ll blog about that another time!

This is Xi Yen and me in Chinatown:

 

 

He was mortified when Limin made us pose there so she could take a photo of us. Where we’re standing seems to be a favourite photo spot for tourists, cos of the lanterns, I suppose.

Xi Yen was, like, “Nooooooooo….!” all the way. He said he’d die if his friends caught him doing a touristy photo, especially in Chinatown.

Let’s hope his friends chance upon my blog.

 

 

I think Chinatown shouldn’t be called Chinatown. It’s more like Asiatown. It’s a mishmash of restaurants and influences from different Asian countries and does not really reflect any specific identity. But I suppose the English wouldn’t know that!

 

 

I was brought there specifically to try a very famous roast duck which many people have told me I must eat if I were to go to London.

 

 

The restaurant is called Four Seasons and it surprised me because I never expected to find really good Asian food in England.

The roast duck was beyond good. Best of it’s kind, even. Skin as crispy as that of Peking duck, tender meat with flavourful juices, sitting in a bed of sweet-salty sauce.

The fats under the skin melt in your mouth and taste so good, almost like foie gras, but it does get too rich after a while. It was a struggle for us to finish half a duck (with two other dishes and rice).

 

 

 

I would really love to eat there again before going back to Singapore. On the other hand, there’s still so much more stuff to try out here. It’s always such a dilemma, whether to keep eating something you like or try new things all the time.

I’ve eaten a Big Mac four times here in the last three weeks, though. Well, it’s really good and very cheap. =P

 

 

Our meal of three dishes at Four Seasons costs £40 (S$83). Yikes!

But, like Limin keep saying to me, “Don’t convert!!”

I suppose everything tasted so good it was well worth it. Besides, Xi Yen paid for lunch, lol. So very nice of him!

 

 

I find London rather strange. Old Victorian buildings stand side by side modern glass buildings, making me confused as to what to think of the city.

I did see many more Victorian ones, which made me happy because they’re so pretty. But, occasionally, you’ll see a classy glass structure smack in the middle of all that antiquity and feel a funny sense of displacement.

 

 

It’s a truly beautiful city, though. Not once as we travelled through the streets did my heart stop pounding in awe.

 

 

 

 

We next went to Trafalgar Square, one of the most landed-on spots on the Monopoly board game.

The real Trafalgar Square seems as popular as the game board’s. There were so many people, tourists, Londoners hanging out, street performers and protestors. Some Egyptian protest was going on that day. Not sure what about.

And I was so lucky to have visited London on a blue skies sunny day.

Photos now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Covent Garden is about 10 minutes’ walk from Trafalgar Square, so that’s where we went next. It’s a lovely area with street performers, shops, restaurants, bars and theatres.

We stayed and watched this funny magician who did tricks while joshing the audience. He’s so good. I think I laughed the entire duration of his act, which was, like, 45 minutes or something, can’t really remember.

 

 

 

Then drinks at Punch & Judy Pub, where, if you go to the upstairs balcony, you can look down into a square where you can see, like, acrobatic street performances. I didn’t enjoy them as much as I did the magician, though.

 

 

 

 

Okay, I think that’s enough photos for today.

I had such a great day and would like to thank Limin and Xi Yen again for taking time out to show me around. So nice to have friends around the world! ;)