Tuesday, January 06, 2009

London in 2009

It's nice to be back in the UK. I had a few days to unwind before participating in our class role play of a public inquiry today concerning the renewable energy tidal project. I was really surprise at how much I needed the alone time. I can't remember a time where I was recharging when sitting alone watching some movie or reading a book. I always remember being more of an extrovert and just enjoying the companies of others. Anyhow, had 3 days of just sleep, reading, and watching TV, which was amazing because I got really into the story of the Genesis, and now Exodus, and I'm absolutely curious and I'm wrestling with the scripture.
















London was splendid, i went and explored a different part of the town, going as far as my legs would take me before taking a late train back to Cambridge. I went to the Portobello Market, and it was festive! Waves of locals were walking through the markets shopping, i walked around and enjoyed looking at the creativity of the artist selling their ideas, product and art... and i walked into the shoe stores hoping to find a deal on a brown pair of boots.... but alas! However, i did notice the great and interesting barrage of fashion of the people here which made the journey through the market an enjoyable one. I will definitely bring my friends visiting from out of town here if they decided to come visit!
















Then, I went to the Natural Science Museum followed by the V&A, I love how they put a skating rink right in front of the lovely historic architecture and make it look fitting. It's just fantastic! I love the Natural Science Museum, I felt like a kid again, saw a model of the giant blue whale.... and all i could think about for some reason was "you're my boy blue!, you're my boy!" Weird how pop culture jumps and leaves my mind... :S The V&A was amazing, again, i found my favuorite room, Raphael's Cartoon of the ACTS. It was great, just sat there, in a dimly lit, but very large room, starting, admiring, and studying at these 20x30' paintings of how Raphael is attempting to convey the same passage I read in Ananias (ACTS 5). And it's amazing when you have some background information on the text, you notice who Peter is in the painting because of he firm posture. And I'm just staring at the rest of the picture trying to understand where he get the inspiration for the others? Why were there always so many people? Where are they? I thought they all sold their houses? Anyway, i felt like one of those old people who just sat there for a good length of time before the curator told me the museum was closing.




















Afterwards, I enjoy the other "finer" things in life at Harrods' Winter sale (supposedly it's a big deal), and i realize i missed a monument to Princess Diana that is in the store and the great food it serves. But it was ridiculous how packed it was, and i looked at some prices, and realize i wasn't really going to buy anythere here, and so i made my way out and to Harvey Nichol. You'd think i learned my lesson the first time around, but yeah, i learned it the second time around.

Finally, it was off to Baker Street Station as I wanted to walk through Marylebone High St. area as supposely there was markets and quaint shops. However, it was already 7pm, and the market was closed, I just ended up browsing through the street, admire the window display, and winter lights which was again very festive. Oh, i must mention, i pretty much had my headphones/ear muffs on most of the the day. It was me continuing this introverted journey. So it's been pretty much enjoying the music/sermon from my iPod and having conversation in my head (one times i almost made conversion with this really cute asian as we both couldn't fit in the tube train as it was overpacked. But we didn't really make good eye contact, and i was a little chicken esp. since i've been thinking to myself for a while...... you know what goes on up there don't make a lot of sense unless you know me :D) Anyway, i ended up listening to Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Live at the Sands as I walked through the lid night streets of London. It was so suiting, and i can't quite describe it, but it was absolutely Perfect. It was a great way to end the night.

Oh, stopped by a very posh looking grocery store, and bought a couple boxes of relatively high class cookies, nope, no second class supermarket this time :D

To better describe what I'm writing... CLICK HERE! http://picasaweb.google.com/hkwong05/London2009#

2 comments:

gear-girl said...

not to be a bugger but your post is formatted all wrong! what are all those extra spaces?? yucks.

i'm envious of the travels you are able to take through UK. my cousin is there right now too and when i look at his photos, it really sucks that i only made it to the states :P soak it ups.

gear-girl said...

oh yeah i forgot the original reason why i wanted to leave a comment.

I really enjoy reading the OT. Genesis and Exodus are really interesting - NUmbers and Leviticus is bit more difficult but if you read them in sequence then you begin to understand all the reasonings for the laws. Then Joshua through 2 Chronicles is about the Isrealites entering the promised land... and on and on!! it is really captivating.