Home Sweet Home & 10th Anniversary

July 3rd, 2008

Hoho.. I arrived at Kuching on the 30th of June 2008. Finally can reach my own home, where it is the best compared to any part of the world.

1st thing I did when I reached my home is to drink the COLD FREEZING water from refrigerator and take a warm bath. These are what unavailable at any places. Haha. At night, went to visit my grandparents and unpacked my luggage.

2nd of July, it was our house 10th anniversary. We had a small little celebration. :P My dad bought a set of Pizzas from Pizza Hut and we had as our supper. That’s simple and meaningful. Maybe will have bigger one at 25th anniversary? Haha..

Too lazy to update my blog, and don’t know what to write. My blogging styles and skills lost in somewhere else, need to find them out. :P Have a nice day~

Bye bye London 2008

June 30th, 2008

Finally my London Tour 2008 ended yesterday. Took Qantas Airways flight directly from London to Singapore Changi, 11 hours and 40 minutes.

Now waiting for my next connecting flight to Kuching. This is what I waiting for! :)

I will update the Day 4 till Day 7 in London soon. Stay tuned!~

3rd day in London

June 27th, 2008

Weather : Warm
Start : 9.30am
End : 6.30pm

As usual, we went out at 9.30am, because before 9.30am is considered as peak time, where the tube fare is higher.

Our 1st stop was at ‘Sun Clock’, still remember the sun clock we made when we were young? Now I saw the bigger one and more accurate one.

This is the sun clock

Can you see how accurate it is?

After the sun clock, we visited the Tower Hill Medieval Postern, which is just next to the ‘Sun Clock’. There is no more the real building stand there, because it was destroyed. The one we can see is the only remnants.

This is the remnant.

Next, it is visit to Tower of London. It is actually a castle, which was built near to riverbank. The castle was burned down in 1974, for more information you can visit here.

View of Tower of London from the opposite side of the riverbank

Ticketing counters, so many people queue to get ticket, Entrance is 16.80pounds.

People queuing to enter the Tower of London

one of the hydraulic station found near the Tower of London

Information about the Tower of London

Tower Bridge, it was our next visit after the Tower of London. This is actually the Tower Bridge, not the London Bridge, many people confused that it is London Bridge? Why? This is because this bridge used more often to represent London.

After that, we walked along the riverbank to London Bridge. On the way we saw the exhibition of HMS Belfast, also a shopping center called Hay’s Gallery, and several stone balls on the street.

Hay’s Gallery

Balls

Belfast

This is the real New London Bridge, the old London Bridge was fallen down, therefore the new one is built to replace the old one. Still remember the song called, “London Bridge is falling down”

London Bridge

During the walk on the London Bridge, there were several police cars, emergency ambulances, fire fighters trucks pass by. I thought there was something happen in central or somewhere else, so I don’t care about it and continue my walks. Who knows, they were stopping in front of the underground station several meters from me. I saw the paramedics brought out the oxygen tanks, stretchers, while the fire fighters took out their equipment toward the underground. Anyway, I thought it was only fire drills.

Don’t care about them; continue my walks to top-up my mobile phone. Then, I walked back to the same station to take a train to other places. Once I entered the station, the underground officers blocked me (only only me, lots of people too). We were instructed to use other station, at the same time, fire fighters, paramedics and doctors running toward the underground. The road traffics at that time, was completely mess! We walked to the station instructed by them, and at the same time, the station was closed too, maybe due to the same reason! I was thinking, is there something bad happen under?

We used the bus services, instead of underground and it took us almost 2 hours to reach the destination.

We bought our tickets to visit Windsor, Stonehenge and Oxford. And continue our journey to Science museum. The science museum is nice and very informative!

Science Muzeum

After the visit to the science museum, we went to China Town and had our dinner there.

That’s all about our 3rd day in London.

2nd day in London (Special Edition)

June 26th, 2008

This is the video taken during the changing of Guards ceremony in Buckingham Palace. The Guards were playing the James Bone 007 theme song. It was very un-expected, and of course it won most of the crowd’s hearts. Everyone clapped their hands after their performance.


I only managed to take some part of it, because I was not prepared.

During the ceremony, I also noticed the Buckingham Palace airspaces, there are commercial aircraft fly above every 5 minutes, and at the same times, there are police helicopters making the round.

We were thinking that during the changing of guard ceremony, will there be any guards on duties to protect the palace? Because the guards are in front of the palace, there will be at least 30 minutes, so it might be a great chance for any invaders. But there will be twice in normal amount of guards in front of Buckingham palace. So invaders, think twice.

I hope you all enjoy this post, meanwhile I’m preparing my travel reports on 3rd day and 4th day in London. Tomorrow will be my 5th days here. Honestly speaking, I want to go back home~~

2nd day in London (2nd Half)

June 24th, 2008

Sorry for the delay. Here is the continuation from 2nd day in London (1st Half)

After reach the opposite, we walked along the riverbank again, girls had their chance to sit down for 5 minutes rest, while me only 1 minute! Haha.

Girls were taking rest, while I was taking photo of

This is actually a car that can be used on land and in water. That’s what it is called duck.

After the rest, we continue to walk along the riverbank to see the London Eye, we had our Lunch at McDonald, 4pounds!!! Only me, Adeline, and Khian Lu had it, another one, I think most of us know the reason~

After the lunch, we relaxing, seeing, below the London Eye. Watching people boarding for it. Hehe.

Handle of the London Eye

The motors that ’spin’ the London Eye.

Security scanning

Long long queue~~~

The capsule. I was thinking, what if something ‘urgent’(small/big businees) happen to you during the flight, and you got to wait for 30 minutes…

After the London Eye, we saw the live human statues, they were cute, attractive. Visitors can donate some money for their jobs.

They are all human!

Afterthat, we walked along the Hungerlord Footbridge to the National Gallery.

Group photo on the bridge.

Honestly speaking, I can’t evaluate the painting. :P I only knew they are valuable! Afterthat, we walked out from the National Gallery. We saw people acting animals, ladies wearing bikini and their bodies were painted with colourful paint representing some animals, while the men wearing the full costume. I forgot to take photo about them, but don’t worry, you can see it at Niny’s blog. They are promoting London Zoo.

Oh dear little duck, you should not be at here.~~

Oxford street was our last station for today, we just simply walked along the streets. Then we went to Tesco again to buy dinner and breakfast for tomorrow. Went back home around 7pm.

Do you want to know what happened to me after the whole day walking tour? Just look at the photo, and you will know.

Blisters on both of my feet.

Sun burn

That’s all for the 2nd day in London.

2nd day in London (1st Half)

June 24th, 2008

We started our 2nd day in London at 9am sharp. Everyone woke up early, and we had our breakfast at home, Toasted bread with home-made Kaya and Coffee/Tea.

Left home

A new Day, we are going to “conquer” London

They are so high tech! Even cleaning the road also use machine.

Church on the way to Tesco.

We went to Tesco 1st, because we wanted to top-up our UK mobile phone, in order to get connected when we are walking alone. Then we get our Oyster Card, so that we can travel around the city. (oppss, forgot to take photo for Oyster Card)

We changed a bit our actual plan, because we were short of time, we got to reach at the Buckingham Palace before 11.30am for the Guard Changing event. We reached there at around 11am, and there already full of people; we can’t get the best spot, but luckily managed to get the slightly better one. British Police were there to control the crowd and traffics.

Buckingham Palace left Gate

Buckingham Palace

Is me, standing in front the crowd

The event started at 11.18am, the guards in Buckingham Palace marched out to the front yard, while the guards outside the palace reached at the Buckingham Palace at 11.21am. The 2nd badge of the guard who will on duty today marched from somewhere else to Buckingham Palace at 11.30am. The whole event/ceremony took around 40 minutes. We were not allowed to move out from the spot during the whole event. Horse Guards are (the police who sit on the horse) guarding the crowd.

Guards in the Buckingham Palace

Guards outside the Buckingham Palace

Guard on duty marched into the Buckingham Palace

oppsss.. Out of focus, this is not what I want.

This is what I want. Can you find out where is Niny?

Short video about the Guards marched out from the Buckingham Palace.

After the Guard Changing event, we went to St. James Park for a little walk. It is actually a Royal Park! The history of the park will be shown in the photo below.

In the park, we saw lots of waterfowl (ducks, swam, and etc). They were chasing after people for food!

View of St. James Park from Buckingham Palace

How nice if I could have an ice cream here, the cheapest available is 2pounds!

Lazy ‘duck’

Waterfowl feeding

On the way to Big Ben and Parliament house, we saw a Memorial ‘Ball’ and Wall for those who were killed in Bali Terrorism attacks few years back.

Memorial for those who got killed in Bali’s Terrorism.

We also never miss out our chance to take photo with Red Telephone Booth; it is one of the photos of must in London! (Photos of MUST are 1) Red Telephone Booth, Double Decker and Harry Porter Tube Station(if I’m not mistaken) :P )

We finally reached the Big Ben, after asking for help from several policeman (around 4 policemen, they are friendly!), we walked along the Big Ben, House of Parliament until the next bridge called Lambeth Bridge. Of course we took several photos on the bridge.

Big Ben

House of Parliament

House of Parliament from opposite site.

That’s all for the 1st half, the 2nd half will be ready soon. :)

1st day in London

June 23rd, 2008

Finally reached London at 6.20pm (local time). This morning we left Kursk early at 6am, and reached Moscow Domodedovo Airport at 12.30pm. Since we had checked in online last night, we went straight to Fast Drop counter to Drop our bags. Our passport is not Russian Passports, so they took several minutes to verify our passports to London.

Early morning in Kursk

Check in counters

Check in Kiosk for British Airways. Self Service

Fast Drop counter for those who check in online or at check in kiosk

Domodedovo Airport still performing upgrade for their coming Sochi Games, every time when I come here, I can see the differences of it. Now the airport is more users-friendly, thought the officers there sometimes still rude!! They provide power outlets for passengers to charge their mobile phones, mp3 players, laptops, DVD players, and so on. But the power outlet is 2 pins, I think it will be better to provide 3(with 2 pins embedded) pins universal outlets, since this airport is International. The toilet is clean. And now the waiting lounge and boarding lounge, there are more available seats for passengers. The immigration and security check up speed increase markedly. Thumbs up for the upgrade and improvement of the airport services and managements.

Waiting Hall

Charging Corner

We reached the boarding lounge 3 hours earlier than the actual boarding time. At that time, our aircraft haven’t reach yet, so we can observe the whole downloading and uploading process. We saw a medical doctor waiting there to receive his patient from the air craft. We were travelling with 20 Russian students. They were so noisy and in-cooperative!! I can only have partial sleep throughout the flight.

British Airways Aircraft

Our flight depart on time, and short after the aircraft on air, we were served by ‘snacks’, it is like a light dinner, which only fill up your stomach half.(haha, maybe for me only. :P) The snack is awesome! I love it~!

So called “SNACK”

Our aircraft flying low when reach the London Air Spaces, so we can see the general view of London.

Tower Brigde

London Eye

Our aircraft landed at Terminal 5 Heathrow, the latest and newest Terminal! The terminal is clean, beautiful, and attractive until one of our friends took a photo of immigration counter and instructed by officer to delete the photo at once! Why they don’t let us take photo of their advance immigration counter, don’t you think it is good to promote their airport? Anyway, just forget about it. We claimed our luggage after the immigration clearance, and straight to custom ‘clearance’, there are no custom officers there, maybe today is Sunday? The whole process only took us for 28 minutes! Superb fast.

Terminal 5 Heathrow

International Arrival

Beautiful Lift

Oyster card top-up terminal

Tube Card

Inside the tube

Tube Train

Waiting for next train

Then LynnWei helped us to get tube ticket and went to her aunt’s house. We had our dinner, thanks Aunty for such a nice dinner; really make us feel like at home. After the dinner, I received my Sim card which I order 1 month ago. Then, here I’m to write post and make some research on where to go tomorrow.

Dinner time~

I think is time for me to sleep right now, I haven’t slept ‘deeply’ for 2 days. Hope that I can share with you all more photo tomorrow.

Finally it is! LONDON, we are coming~

June 22nd, 2008

Another 5 more hours, I will be leaving here to Moscow. Then I will fly to London for 8 days 7 nights vacation!!

This is the day that everyone waiting for. After 2 days of packing, now I almost finish pack my stuffs. Since this time I will be going to London 1st, before I go back to my home country, I can’t bring many things. I got to leave some spaces for London!!

Let me show you how messy it is during the packing time.

Just now, when I went out for some simple shopping, on the way Adeline discovered a giant mushrooms growing on the tree. Without second thought, I took out the camera and took a few snapshoot. Actually I got 4 photos, but 1 destroyed during editing. It is also my 1st time seeing such a huge mushroom. I think it can be edible. It is poisonous!!

I prepared meat cake for breakfast later for everyone who will travel with me. I will announce the recipe in future posts.

We already check in for our flight!! Yuppeee~~. How advance it is the online check in. Later we just need to drop our bags at fast drop counter. Wah.. we are treated like 1st class passengers! This is offered by British Airways.

These are our boarding pass!!

Lastly, Congratulation to Russian Football Team in Euro 2008, they won their quarter final!~ Now Russians are shouting, horning, marching on the street. They even launched the fireworks for each ball their national team had enter. How about our National Team?

Okay, I got to pack my notebook now. Hope I can get some internet connection while I’m in London~

Last final exam

June 20th, 2008

Sorry for not updating, I was having my last exam on this semester. I had my last final exam in this morning. It was surgery. Result will be out tomorrow.

Last night, Colley cooked us with herbal soup; it consisted of chickens, some herbs, and oyster. I took a picture of it, about the oyster.

Oyster Soup

“Oyster Soup” in Slow Cooker

And tonight, we bought some curry puff from an Indian friend; he made it for his pocket money. It is nice and spicy! Just a little expensive; 1 piece cost about 0.20usd (equivalent to RM0.70). Anyway, still worth it!

Curry Puff

Every time, when we want to go back home, we need to get a paper called “exit list” in English. We need to get the signatures from the people required, only then we can exchange this little paper with Russian Visa to go back home. I finish get all the signatures require and tomorrow, I will go to exchange it with Russian Green Visa.

My journey to Moscow will be on Sunday, 6am local time here. It takes approximately 6-7 hours to reach Domodedovo Airport (Moscow International Airport).

I haven’t start to pack yet, so many things need to tidy up, as you know, after the ‘war’, it always left the dirty, messy ‘remnants’.

Happy Father’s Day

June 15th, 2008

Hehehe.. I don’t know what to write. Other people during Father’s Day, they will call back from here and talk to their fathers. But for me, I chat with my father almost everyday unless there is Internet connection problems. So everyday for me is like Father’s Day and Mother’s Day as well.

Hehe. Happy Father’s Day~!!~