I arrived at the LCCT KL terminal at around 15.00pm ( flight departure 17.00) and then proceeded to the Air Asia check in counter. As I bought an one way ticket to London, the counter staff queried my travel to UK and had to check with her superior before allowing me to check in. After knowing that I had a return Air Asia ticket from Tianjin to Kuala Lumpur, the counter staff accepted my explanation. Not a great start but I cleared the first hurdle.
The Air Asia flight I took arrived at the Stansted airport, London at around 00.30 ( midnight) . At the immigration counter, I had to answer a few questions posed by the Immigration Officer on duty. Again it related to a single journey ticket to London. I had to explain to the Immigration officer that my stay in London was a short one, as I would be touring Europe and then to Russia & China. I also advised the duty Officer that I had an approved Russian & China visa and a return ticket from Tianjin to Malaysia. After looking at my Arrival Card details and visa documents, my passport was stamped and allowed entry. Another hurdle cleared !
Surprise! No Custom officers were on duty at this late hour, so I walked towards the exit door and rested at the airport lounge for 5-6 hours before taking an airport shuttle bus ($10 Pound) at around 5.30am to Victorian Coach Station in central London. The trip took 35 minutes as there was no traffic congestion in the early morning in down town city center.
As it was too early for my hostel check in, I lugged my luggage and walked to the Buckingham Place , which was within walking distance from the Victorian Coach station.
After the Palace visit, I bought 4 underground tube day passes ($5.40 Pound per day covering Zone 1 & 2) from a nearby tube station at the Victoria Coach Station and used a current day pass to get to Russell Square for my hostel ( Smart Russel Square Hostel - Euro$11 dorm bed) check in. Smart Russel Square hostel is within walking distance from the Russell Square tube station ( just one street behind) . In front of the tube station, there is a Tesco supermarket where I bought my food & groceries (rice, capsicum, Scottish skipper, spaghetti , apples etc) . The hostel provided free breakfast ie bread, juice, coffee, tea, jam, honey, milk, butter & cereals. From the station, I picked up a Visitor's Guide to travelling around London (your bus, Tube and rail map) April 2009, which provides the main routes to various tourist sites in central London. This information was extremely useful for travelers who are on a short stay in London.
For the next few days, it was hassle free for me taking the underground tube especially after the peak early morning office hour (9.30am) .
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For my 4 day stays in London - Where did I or tourists go ? As a British colony, I believe many Malaysians had in the past visited UK, in particular London so the places I visited during the last 4 days were favorably known to most Malaysians.
1) Buckingham Palace - No body barking at me when I paid a courtesy visit to this Majesty place at around 07.00 !
2) Tower of London - A civilized wonder of the world !
3) Big Ben - In Chinese, it is called the big dumb bell tower. The tower is 150 yrs old ! British Airways London Eye - Any difference compared with our KL Eye now operating in Malacca !
5) Tower Bridge - Like the London Bridge - standing tall over the River Thames
6) Westminster Abbey & Houses of Parliament - Old and elegant looking. the power house of British Government.
7) HMS Belfast - Anchored in River Thames, like me now retired no longer in combat action &
8) Harrods - What a grand shopping center for the rich and famous ! A class of it's own .
9) St Catherine Church - old and unique, lovely to see &
10) China Town - roasted pork, crispy duck, dim sum, buffet meals eat as much as you like for 8.50 pound
11) British Museum - founded in 1750. A great display of Egyptian, Greek & Roman antiquities.
12) National Gallery - for art admirers & 13) Millennium Bridge - maybe I should rename it as Millionaire bridge.
14) St Paul Cathedral - another Roman heritage's building ! &
15) Natural History Museum - greeted by a big dinosaur as you enter !
16) Nelson's Column & Trafalgar Square - Who won the battle of Waterloo ?
17) Wellington Arch - also took a picture of a Marble Arch, Wellington statute and a war memorial nearby.
18) River Thames - nice to take an evening cruise along the river &
19) SOHO - I like to watch the colorful signboard of sex shops operating in this area.
20) Regent's Park - Flowers, flowers blooming every where. Also visited the Hyde Park & Green Park &
21) Covent Garden - street performers singing Pavarotti songs to entertaining you for a song ! A great place to wine & dine during the day.
21) London's Transport Museum &
22) Royal Opera House - both are in Covent Garden. Of course you need to pay to enter.
23) Downing Street - Heavily armed guards with M-16 at the front gate deter any one from gate crashing to see Tony Blunt !
24) Horse Guards at Whitehall - watching the changing of horse guards at Whitehall.
25) Camden Town - far from the madding crowd. A small country town, accessible by tube from central London. An interesting visit to the Horse Tunnel Market selling horse accessories !
Something to ponder in London: Be prepared to pay a parking fee of 2 pound (Rm11) per hour in central London if you drive a car around to visit major tourist attractions. In Subang Jaya, I pay only Rm0.50 per hour.
" My first glimpse of London, costly to visit but enjoyable. I missed seeing Stonehenge and other interesting places outside of London due to time constraints. Not to worry as Air Asia has regular flights to London. So when are you making a date to visit London Bridge before I sing the song London bridges falling down , falling down !!!
The Secret of Life - Understand money isn't everything "
London, England - my walkabout in downtown London
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