Welcome 2010

Happy New Year greeting from England - London...

Our 2009 last dinner - Nero di Seppia Risotto from Italy, Goulash & chix cutlets.

Kings of Leon Concert @ O2

Unbelievable, I'm at O2 catching a POPULAR ROCK CONCERT!

Singapore Day in London 25th April 2009

I had volunteer in many different ways but the few remarkable events include NDP celebration, 1st Formula 1 Night race 2008 and the most recently Singapore Day 2009 in London.

I woke up early at 530am and set off to the train station at 620am. I had went to check out the day before on purchasing the train ticket. I got on a bus, catch my train and head to Hampton Court Palace. I was LOST in the surrounding area. I knew I will be lost hence I had set off early. I know I'm a traveller, my navigation should be good but most of the time I took the route based on my 6th sense! hence alot of time is spend on walking to and fro at the same place.

I saw another sg in the train, we merely smiled at each other. We reached the station at 740am. I began walking to the meeting point based on the map given and it rained slightly heavier than drizzle. AND I was LOST for 2hours before finally tagged along a group of lost students who went to the place I been to earlier on. >_<||| After that, we moved around the garden to find the meeting point. Phew. Not many volunteers there yet, I got myself a sandwich, some briefing from my leader and set off for my role. Btw my role was Registration Usher - we'll vexed through people who came with their printed E-Ticket, those without will be turn to PDA ambassador, for those who have not register will be asked to sign up at the registration tentage, those not register and yet not a Singaporean will be turn away. Put it bluntly - I'm a waiting staff. Cos alot of people came in from the EAST door - we welcome them with open smile, greet them and wish them have a nice day. =) even thou is FREE, I still do it HAPPILY, wholeheartedly. I believe is the group of people whom I'm working with, esp the garang aunties whom I worked with they were very enthusiastic! They made me enjoy my day very much.

After my shift, I headed to join 3 little piggies for LUNCH!!!! SINGAPORE FOOD at FOC but you need to Q up! We finished the whole program and ate till we drop or I shall say till I wanna PUKED. I m not really missing any sg food yet other than my mummy's food.

Overall - GOOD WEATHER, GOOD CROWD, GOOD FRIENDs, GOOD ENTERTAINMENTs, GOOD PREPARATION and GOOD NEW FRIENDs made....

I LOVE YOU, SINGAPORE!

"A London Landmark" - National Geographic - Sept 2000

I went to a Hindu Temple in London. Yes in London! At first, I thought it will be similar to those in Singapore. Oh definitely not! It was very different and it looks grand with its exotic design and workmanship. Too bad I can't take picture inside. you gotta see it yourself.

The Hindu Temple - BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is located near Neasden Tube Station within walking distance. I guess it is so popular that even the tube station had pieces of paper with direction to the temple. =)

We had to deposit our bag which is free and went through a scan before entering the temple. After getting in, we had to remove our shoes before moving on to other part of the temple. The significant of the temple is the Italian marble and Bulgarian limestone were hand-craved by skilled craftmen and assembled by volunteers in just 2.5years.

Lisa had planned to visit a Thai temple, Hindu temple, Air force museum and a Park on a Saturday. But too bad the transportation for tube is so expensive I limit to taking BUS cos it capped at £3.30 per day. By the time we reached our first destination was already 2pm. When we left was already 5pm. I don't think is wise to move on to another temple if it is too far and expensive. However, along the way we dropby Ikea =) though we don't have anything to buy but end up getting FOODs - Ikea hotdog bun at 40p and Waffle Ice cream at 35p.

We wanna head to a park for picnic but Wembley Park isn't a Park is just a station! =) so we end up picnic in BUS. We had grapes, orange, cammomile tea(sweet Lisa to think of it), scones with home-make lime cream, tortilla chips, crisps aka chips & homemake sandwiches.

English Weather by Wendy Cope

January's grey and slushy,

February's chill and drear,

March is wild and wet and windy,

April seldom brings much cheer.

In May, a day or two of sunshine,

Three or four in June, perhaps.

July is usually filthy,

August skies are open taps.

In September things start dying,

Then comes cold October mist.

November we make plans to spend

The best part of December pissed.

I first came across this poetry in National Portrait Gallery, I laughed after reading it.

Suvivial Skill 2: Job Hunter in UK

The economy is grim everywhere but there are still alot of jobs published in gumtree, reeds and many other job agencies are still recruiting people. To find a job here, please prepare a LONG detail cv selling yourself if you don't have any GREAT, COLOURFUL ACHIEVEMENTs in your career like myself.

Job like kitchen helper, butcher also require you to submit CV. lol.

Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time)

In Europe Country there is Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time) because the day will be longer than night so they going to change the timing to Greenwich+0100 on 29th March.

Survival Skill 1: Groceries Shopping

To survive as a WHM, you need to find a job to earn some $ for your travelling. BUT before you manage to find a job, you need to feed yourself. To feed yourself, preparing food instead of dine out will be CHEAPER. So learn to cook! To cook, you need to find cheap food. Usually cheap food can be find at SUPERMARKET. Supermarket housebrand will be cheaper than other brands. So I was brought to 24 hours ASDA to get groceries & daily necessities - Shampoo, shower foam, toiletries, etc.

Making of Chicken rice with instant stock & some self-make spices - Presenting the Chef - Lisa

My 5 days in UK-London

As we walked to the Bus Stop that can bring us to town. We saw beautiful blooming flowers on trees along the way. But the cold wind really put me off.
I was well-fed by my room-mate and Lisa. I can't deny Lisa is a good cook, she's particular and would like to improve on her cooking. While for me I'm more of a foodie. I'm still a green person here. I will look for astronaut food instead of preparing from scratch.
I need to adapt to their transport system, think of what to eat and make my own meal, wash my own clothes, clean up my room, etc.
Well enough about myself. Here I'm presenting UK-London to all of you.

Touchdown at 0510. at T4. There's a lift to underground on the right hand side of the building.
When I first entered tube aka underground from Heathrow Airport, I need to add value to my Oyster card(thank to Layteng who donated it to me) but can only insert coin. (thot: why isn't there any machine accepting note?) It was windy in the underground which make me felt cold not freeze yet. Yeah here come the tube upon seeing the tube I was still pretty excited but stepping into it and sit in a little squeezy seat (thot:why so small when the ppl here is quite huge size?). There is no space for standing in between 2 rows of seats hence my BIG luggage is place near the door way and the train tix is expensive. My friends had already warned me of the many STAIRS in the underground so here come my saviour - Mun who had came to HELPs me to move the heavy luggage to where we stayed. We took around 2 hours to reach our accomodation which is at Zone 3 abit out of place but the rental is consider the cheapest le. Thank to Lisa & Surin who was here earlier.
Presenting the house/room/surronding I'm going to stay for the next 4month.

Entrance to our lodging for the next 4 month.

Our lovely bed

Yes there is a basin out of nowhere.

Open Concept Shower & Toilet

Our Bedroom, was built extra out of the main house. Is cold in Winter & cooling in Summer

Took from another smaller room unit built in the laundry area. My Full length Window.
I was experiencing jetlag...getting sleepy but I hope I can fall asleep at UK night time instead of staying awake. We ate the noodles with the soup prepared by Lisa. Btw Mun is my room-mate. She helpes me to get used to UK life. She brought me to Iceland Supermarket which is selling astronaut food(frozen food meant for oven/microwave) at the cheapest 1pound!, 99pence shop bought my shampoo & shower foam, M&S, etc M&S has Mini Bits which I think ah rong will love it to bit! He insists I get it for him when I return.

In a day, I had visited most of the London Tourist Spots Big Ben at Westminster,

Saint Margaret Church beside Westminster Abbey, National Gallery, National Protrait Gallery, London Eye and picnic at Jubilee Garden, strolled along Jubilee Garden and saw street performance along the way and crossed the Golden Jubilee Bridge to catch this view below.
It was a good experience of a laid back day with Mun.

After all the tourist spot, we head to Chinatown and Piccadilly Circus. I saw how expensive a MILO can be, around 9.95pounds in one of the Chinatown shops. phew. It was so crowded at Piccadilly Circus. Everyone crowd around the statue and take picture.
Over the weekend, Lisa brought me to Camden Town Market. [to be cont...]

(THOT: Somehow I feel UK isn't so much a developed country. It is still trying to be one. eg there are still jam)in city area, not that it is not suppose but somehow the jam is terrible and I guess sth need to be done.

Arrived in London.

I had set my foot in london on 0510 10th March. A 13 hours gruelling flight. I didn't sleep for more than 4 hours and right now I'm not gg to rest till UK time turn 8 or 9pm. Thank to Chee Mun my room-mates who made an hour journey to Heathrow to pick me up.

Before my flight yesterday at sg time 2320, my families-mummy & dexun, ming & his mum, yanlin & layteng had sent me off, guess what layteng accompanied till the waiting room. T_T. Well I had held back my tears cos I know it will turn ugly. I can't control when I walked to the airplane. How come I'm upset? oh I realise is the love, care & blessing I received from my families, loves one & friends. I cried happily. =)

I'll be back soon.

that is me carrying my ruby backpack and with the help of Chee mun to carry my heavy luggage throughout the never ending stairs in LONDON tube. can't imagine if my mummy come with a heavy luggage. kekeke my advice to traveller planning to come to UK pls bring a backpack will do =)