Day Five - Wednesday: Tower Bridge, Tower of London, King's Cross station, XXL

The morning repeat itself, so not much to talk about.

I decided to see Tower of London so I plot my route and off I went. I got off at London Bridge station so I could walked over the Tower Bridge and to Tower of London.

I walked along side the river and came across a modern building with interesting modern art in the center of the building.

I totally forgot the name of this place... It was in one of the brochure I put away somewhere... Anyway, there was a PriceWaterHouseCooper office in the building. I was wondering if Grace's hubby works there (turns out he wasn't). There was also a Boots shop (the personal care shop not shoes :P). I went inside, found and contemplate whether I should buy a bottle of lavender shower gel. I eventually decide against it. It was rather expensive and I just started my trip of the day anyway.

Further toward the Tower bridge, there were some modern office buildings and public park.

Which to me, looks like a stark contrast to the Tower.

So after some more walks I finally arrive at Tower Bridge.

There was a small muesum near the tower about something... I totally forgot about it now but they have souvenir shop...

When I finally arrive the Tower, I walked along the side (it was quite a long walk) pass the souvenir store, the food stall, and finally to the ticket booths.


I was not happy that it would cost me 16.50 pounds to get in... Plus I noticed that there will be special events to demonstrate the seize of the Tower in the weekends. So I decided come back on Saturday instead, just to make my money worthwhile :P After eating fish & chips for the second times in London, I walked to Tower tube station to go to Greenwich area, as suggested by the B&B owner.

As I was walking toward there, I passed a small church.

I also help a fellow tourist, from S. Korea, to find Tower tube station. I also rest a bit in the park near the exit of the station.

It was a long walk through Tower station toward the new tube line. I got on the train only to jump off the very next station when I saw ticket checker coming towards me. My plan was to only check out the station while not actually leaving it. I panicked, hopped off the train when it reach the first station and got back to tower station, thinking that the ticket checker might actually charge my card.

I also stop by King's Cross station where I heard that there was a new addition to celebrate UK's more recent icon 'Harry Potter'. It came in the shape of pushing cart disappearing into the wall of platform 9 3/4 :)

By that time I was quite worn out by the whole experiences. The unusual sunlight cycle, the foods, the walks... Plus I wants to catch up on posting as well (see the first London post). So I spent a relaxing late afternoon and evening lounging around the living room, have dinner and contemplating the merit of buying a tour to Stonehenge and Bath.

The tour was quite costly, the cheapest one cost at 45 pounds. Plus the pick up time in the wee morning which do not bode well with my plan of going to XXL club (recommended by the B&B owner as the place only open on Wednesday and Saturday night).

Since the clubs usually get busy around midnight, I discuss the night bus I need to take back to the B&B with the owner because the tube close at midnight. He drew me a map leading to XXL and the number of the bus back to the B&B.

Even with the map, it took me quite sometime to find the club. But I found it eventually.

The club, XXL, is a bear club but not exclusive. I paid my entrance, went in, and check my jacket.

XXL was not big, although I was told that there were three dance floor, only one open on Wednesday night. There were quite a number of people there already. The club can be divided roughly into three sections: the smoking/socializing area outside, the bar/lounging area after the entrance, and the dance floor + *back room* area. I must say that I am still quite surprise of how *open* these people were. While the whole area was poorly lit, it was not completely dark, yet people just having sex out in the open with others look on. The crowds were mostly comprise of bear and chubs guy, there was a few nicely built guys too but they were not interested in me :pp I hang around until about 1am when I decided to leave. There were quite a lot of action in the back room but I did not get the attentions from the guys I wants so...

It took me a while to walk to the bus stop and wait about 20 minutes before the bus arrive. There was, however, a drunk couple sitting near by making out. By the looks of it, I suspected that they were *penetrating* :p The bus arrive on time and I got off at the right stop and got back alright.

I go to bed right after I showered and freshen up.

Day Four - Tuesday : British Musuem, Tottenham Court Street

The morning, again, repeated itself: the strong sun, felt under slept, etc.

Today the other guest in the B&B, a gay couple from France, planned to visit Hampton Court. I had seen the poster promoting the place a few times in the tube stations. The thing that pique my interest was the Tudor cookery event. Sadly it was not done often and I was either too late or too early for it. Not to mention the cost of transportation to and from the place, though not too bad. Eventually I decided against it, and went to The British Museum instead.

The museum, while not hard to find, took me a while to find it. There was also a hotdog stand in front of the museum. The scent of cooking onions were so irresistible that I finally succumb to buy one. I saw quite a few of these stands on the bridge going to Big Ben earlier and the scent of cooking onions were just... divine. The hotdog was simple, since I did not wants the onion, I just slathered it with chili sauce (from Thailand too) and mustard.

After I finish the hotdog, I ventured inside the museum.

I suppose one can say that it is a fairly typical museum. The souvenir shop, while sell quite a number of interesting items, did not made me pried my wallet open. I was sorely tempted by the Rosetta stone keyring though. But at 3 pounds a piece, only when I am rich :p.

I must admit I had a sense of familiarity when I enter the building and get the hang of the directions, it must be from when I play 'Hellgate: London'... There was a British museum map that got replicated quite realistically in terms of the map design.

Anyhow, I started at the Sumerian area.
Then Egyptian.

And Roman
Then Egyptian mummies on the second floor


And the Roman lifestyles.

After finish touring the museum, I wandered outside to check out the souvenir shop across the road. It claimed to be the cheapest one and tax free for tourists (provided that you show your passport).

Then I wandered into Tottenham Court Street to check out the GPS unit that my younger bro asked me to buy. Admittedly I did not too hard because I think it was rather frivolous of him to buy one.
I was wandering the area looking for an internet cafe, in my effort to try to see if my Micro SD card really broken or not. I suppose it became a bit of trade off, since when I finally went into one and choose the computer, I noticed that one of them have a flashdrive in one of the USB port. I took it with me since no one comes to claim it the whole one hour that I was there.

Meanwhile, my friend (a German who live in London), called me and ask where I was. I told him I was in Oxford street area, which is near to where to he was as well. So I agreed to meet up with him at HMV where he was doing his business.

He was almost unrecognizable. He did told me, through our monthly e-mails, that he gained a lot of weight since the last times we met 10 years ago, from the cheap food he could affords and he wasn't lying. It's like he was wearing a fat suit, from the puffy cheeks and big belly. The sight of him almost brought tears to my eyes and I did tell him that, although I did it in jesting manner... We agreed to meet again before I went home, as I threaten to sell the duty free cigarette I bought for him on the plane to someone else :p

Afterward I took the subway back to the B&B, if I remember correctly, and stay there until club times (late evening).

All in all it was another ok day in London. Quite a lot of interesting sites and sights to see, too bad that it's not a lot of people to do :p

Day Three - Monday: Trafalga Square, National Museum, Soho, and Old Comton road

The morning repeated itself, I woke up way too early by the streaming sunlight and felt rather under slept.

The destination of the day was the National Museum. I figured I could hit two hot spots in one go since Trafalgar Square is right in front of the museum. There are also several location of interests in the area as well.

First the Trafalgar Square. It was bigger than I thought but then I think I got mixed up with the Piccadilly Circus.
The square is right in front of the National Museum.

I did not know what to expect from the place but I enjoyed what I have found. Turns out the museum is the painting museum.

I think the first painting I ran into was 'The Virgin on the Rock' by Leonardo da Vinci. My first impression of the painting was that the skins of all the people in the painting seems unusually pale. I spent quite a lot of time in the museum walking from room to room, looking at all the different paintings. The museum also had a computer room, with touch screen monitor for visitors to use to browse all the paintings in their archive. You can scroll through, read up on the info and tidbits of the paintings, and even zoom in to take a closer look :)

The souvenir shop was also quite interesting. They have necktie, mug, cup, key chain, etc. with the patterns of famous paintings. Like Monet's waterlily pond and Van Gogh's Sunflower. I would be quite tempted, had it not for the fact that I hate wearing ties. Not to mention the price.

After touring the museum, I walked out pass the National Portrait Museum and into Old Compton Street in Soho area. The area that I was told is one of the gay area in London. I even saw the actor Adrian Paul walking through Old Compton Street talking on his cellphone looking rather anxious as if he was already late for appointment.

I walked around the area, almost lost even, and ventured into the China Town area.

It was not big, just one street even, but you will know right away that it is China town :) I think it was in this area that I finally found one shop that do top-up for my particular SIM card.

After walking around so much I started to get hungry. I had my mind set on Italian food this times so I scouted the price of various Italian restaurant, in Soho area of course :P And finally found this one, as the cheapest one :P

I was tempted to order the cabonara but eventually decided on Verdi Lasagna instead which is lasagna with green color pasta. It taste quite good :dd I was not disappointed at all. The place was quite small but seems to be ran by Italians staffs.

If I remember correctly, I went to have another private moment today :P Afterward I bought my first 'Mars ice cream' :dd I Loved it. I wish they would sell it here.

Then I returned to the B&B, they were having dinner so I join in as well. Then I watch TV and chit chat with the owner. And then I went to bed.