30-Apr-2006

When I woke up this morning, I discovered that the sunflower seeds bought from Hokkaido and the bulbs from Amsterdam are sprouting.  I also brought some bulbs to the office last Tue, eager to wait for them grow healthy and brightly.

Today is the last day of April, I don't know am I weak or not, many people already wearing short-sleeve T-shrit but I still have to wear long-sleeve overcoat on top of T-shirt.  I should aware of my health and should schedule a complete body check next month.  Besides, after my vacation, my weight still continuous deducing without any reason, it makes the people around me worry so much.  I  really sorry about that and don't want the people love me feel sad.

Tomorrow also no need to work because of the Labor Day.  Afterwards, Friday is another public holiday, Buddhist Birthday.  Therefore, next week with 3 working days only.

14/15-Apr-2006

Today is the last day of our itinerary.  It was raining when woke up.  Fortunately, the weather change better after we'd finished the breakfast.

After breakfast, we returned to the room for pack up and countercheck the luaggage again.  The check-out time was extended to 12:00.

After check-out, we placed all our luggage at the hotel store room and walked around the Bayswater, which is the location of our hotel.  Although we stayed at the hotel for 10 nights already, we hadn't walked around the surrounding area.  There is a shopping arcade Whiteley located.  Besides, Bayswater is a lively place with many hotels and motels located.  You can see many people with their luggage walking around.

There are many different food shops among the street, i.e. Chinese food, Italian food, Pizza shop, of course with the most popular food, fish and chip.

The hotel shuttle bus arrived at 6:00 pm and we arrived Heathrow Airport at nearly 7:00 pm.  Actually, we should not be so hurry.  But after arranged for the VAT export (tax refund), the time was almost 8:15 pm.  Then we still had to check-in and passed through the immigration.  With the last flighting inside the airport, we were the last few to get on the plane.  The plane was departed at 10:30 in time and arrived Hong Kong at 5:10 pm 15-Apr.

The whole journey is enjoyable and relex. But the weather is quite cold and sometimes with drizzle.  It is disappointed that we cancelled the Paris itinerary because of the union strike.  Knowing that the strike was settled few days before, disgusting. Let's wait for next chance for travel to Paris and other Eurpoean countries/cities.

Chinatown(Apr06)

Today is the 2nd last day of our itinerary.  The weather is cloudy with intermittently sunshine, not bad.

After we had finished the breakfast, we went to the China Town located at Leicester Square tube station.  As compare with the China Town in Kobe I'd visited before, here is quite dirty and the outlook of the food made by the restaurants is unattractive and expensive.

Then we went to Piccadilly Circuit again for the purchase of sportwear at Lilywhite and breakfast / fruit tea for my sister at Fortnum & Mason.  Becuase of the start of Easter holiday, every shopping areas are very crowded.  Especially in chocolate shop and supermarket.

As we passed through the fighting of 15 days, our luggages are becomes heavier and heavier.  At this moment, I would like to special thanks Mr X - regarding to the ordinance of protection of witness, I cannot disclose his information here  but he know I'm talking about him - who assist on extend our luggage loading from 20kg to 30kg.  Otherwise, we'll have a great problem of luggage overloading during check-in at the airport.

Hyde Park & Trafalgar Square(Apr06)

Today's weather is much better than yesterday.  With warm sunshine and no rain.  Of course, cold wind again after sundown.

After breakfast, we went to the Hyde Park located at the Marble Arch tube station.  It is the largest park in London.  In special ocassion, i.e. the brithday of Queen Elizabeth II, there will be a gun salute.  In the middle of the park, the Sepentine is a popular lake for rowing boat.

And then we wen to Covent Garden again.  There are many fashion shops among and very crowded.

Next, we travelled to the Trafalgar Square.  Unfortunately, the Horatio Nelson Cenotaph and St Martin-in-the-field are both under decoration.  Then we went to the National Gallery and National Portrail Gallery which is located at the opposite side of the Trafalgar Square.  The gallery collected with more than 2000 paintings.  The most famous are Sunflower by Van Gogh and The Ambassadors by Holbein.  We spent almost 2-1/2 hours inside but only glance at it.  It is upset that no photo is allowed within the museum.

Highbury Stadium & British Museum(Apr06)

Due to the bad weather, whole day with the heavy rain and cold wind.  Today we went to the Highbury Stadium and The British Museum only.

The Highbury Stadium is loacted at the Arsenal tube station.  It is going to close, with remaining 26 days.  To be replaced with a new stadium, Emirates Stadium at the same district.  After we visited the Arsenal Museum and going to have a look of the new stadium, a heavy rain sudden came.  Then we rushed to have a look and left quickly.

When we arrived the Holborn tube station, which is the nearest station of the museum, there was still heavy rain and cold wind.  We spent some time to find out the route to the British Museum also.  Because of the bad weather, the museum is very crowded, many people are inside and walk around.  The museum is grand, large and well-displayed.  Recorded with many ancient products, which can reflect the living style and vicissitude of the ancient history, i.e. Rome, Greek, Egypt, Babylon, etc.  Very interesting that Chinese red pocket is also one of the collection item of the museum.

Buckingham Palace & London Bridge(Apr06)

Today we visited many famous points.

Early in the morning, we went to the Buckingham Palace for the matching.  We arrived at around 10:45 am and the matching should be started at around 11:30 am.  When we had reached the Victoria tube station, many people came from everywhere squeeze at the station and all were follow the same way to the Palace.  Among the route to the Palace, many travel bus were parking along.  Arrived to the Palace area, more than thousand of people here and extremely croweded.   The matching is dignity and grand.  We took many photos also.

After that, we just walked around the Palace area and go to Big Ben again coz I'd like it very much.  And then we went to the St Paul's Cathedral.  The church is now with some preparing job but most of the area is not restricted.   The next is London Tower and London Bridge.  The bridge is so grand and good looking.  I took many photos with it also.

National History Museum & Royal Albert Hall(Apr06)

As time passes, today is the 6th day of our London itinerary. 

Today is Sunday and most of the museums and shops are opened around noon.  Aften taken the breakfast, the time was almost 11:00 am. 

The weather in this morning is cloudy and with cold wind.  The temperature is only 0-9, which is the coldest day in our trip.

We went to the Natural History Museum and Royal Albert Hall.

Natural History Museum with 2 parts: Life Galleries and Earth Galleries.  When entered to the museum, there is a dinosaurs specimen placed.  Nothing special, just similar with those I had saw at the exhibition in Taikooshing before.   In Life Galleries, many specimen of fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals with detailed description.  In Earth Galleries, many earth's treasury are recorded, such as different kind of old stones, the power of the universe, etc.  Due to our limited time, it is not able for us to go through all of the items and just walked around.

Royal Albert Hall is a building with ancient romanian design.  Many famous orchestra were performed here before.

When we walked around in Covent Garden Market, there was a heavy rain suddenly.  The rain was non-stop until 4:30 still raining.  We decided to return and go to bed early.  Tomorrow we would go out earlier for the matching at Buckingham Palace at 11:30 am.

Oxford University(Apr06)

Today we visited to the Oxford University.  Actually, Oxford is a city and most of the colleges of the university are distributed within the city.

We got the coach bus for about 1-1/2 hours from Victoria tube station.  As today is Saturday, we found most of the people walked around were visitors rather than the student here. The weather is not bad also, with bright sunshine during the daytime.  The sky is blue with beautiful cloud and clear.

It is impossible to visit all of the colleagues within one day.  We just randomly walked around, took some photos and had lunch there.  It is so relex and comfortable to spend a day in this way.

Oxford Street & Covent Garden(Apr06)

Actaully, we had decided to visit the Oxford University today. Due to our late woke up and almost missed the breakfast time, the schedule will be postponed to next day.  Today we randomly walk around also.

First, we went to Twinings for some fruit tea.  At the opposite side of Twinings is Royal Courts of Justice.  At the meantime, they were many presses and reporters with cameras towards to court.  Seems an important lawsuit was held there.

After then we went to Oxford Street station and Covent Garden station walked around, have something to reap also. 

We returned to hotel at around 7:00pm and go to bed earlier, because we have to take the caoch bus for about 1-1/2 hours at the Victoria station when travel to Oxford University.  It would be the whole day trip of our itinerary.

Regent&Bond Street(Apr06)

Today we have no indicated itinerary, just walked around the famous shopping area: Regent Street and Bond Street.

Most of the global well-known brand are located at Regent Street, such as Burberry, Mulberry, Paul Smith Sales Shop, Calvin Klein, DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger, LV, etc.  Some of prices are much cheaper than Hong Kong, but some of them are slightly higher.  Of couse, I have something to reap.

Besides Regent Street, we 2nd times visited the Piccadilly Circus tube station.  But this time we focused on New Bond Street and Old Bond Street.  Many famous Europe brands with store located here, such as Gucci, LV again, Prada, Miu Miu, etc.  When we walked along, we anger that assume we were shopping in the Galaeries Lafayette, high tea in Les Champs-Elysees and night sightseeing at Tower Eiffel.  But now we are in London........

The weather here make my feel sick.  The temperature is only 3-12.  Even in daytime with strong sunshine but still with strong wind and my hands are almost freeze and no feeling.

We still have plenty days stay in London but still have many places to visit.  Let's well plan the remaining itinerary to have more fun.

London Eye(Apr06)

As the 2nd day stay at London, we travelled many famous places located among Waterloo, Embankment, Westminster, Piccadilly Circuit and Knightsbridge today.

If we haven't cancel our itinerary to Paris, we'll travel to Paris by Eurostar at Waterloo to Nord.  Anyway, we still took some photos at the Eurostar station and those few photos are worth with one Eurostar ticket.

London Eye is located at Waterloo next to the River Thames.  Walk along the riverside and across the bridge, we travelled to  Big Ben, Horse Guards, St James Park, House of Parliament, Westminster Abbey in Westerminster and pass through the Buckhaming Palace.  We will revisit the Buckhaming Palace for the daily matching at 11:30am. 

The popular sportswear shop Lillywhite is located at the centre of Piccadilly Circus.  Besides, many famous shop such as Fortnum & Mason, Aquascutum, Gucci, LV are also placed in this area.  As time is limit and the weather change cold when near to the sundown, we will go again to shop something few days later.

The oldest department store Harrods is located at Knightbridge.  More of the well-known brand name also with shop placed inside.  We just walked around and seek for our favourite Harrods PVC bag, which is much cheaper if purchase in Hong Kong. 

The famous visit point London eye is located at Waterloo station next to the Times River.  Walk along to the westside of the river and across the bridge, the Big Ben is located here.

Next to Waterloo is Westminster, which is the policital centrum in England as most of the important military headquarters are located here. 

London(Apr06)

Today we left Amsterdam and arrived London at about 3:00p (London time).  Our plane was landing on Heathrow Airport terminal 4, therefore we need to go back to terminal 1-3 to take the Tube.  The way was so long and some areas with no lift, we're so poor to move our super heavy luggage (each are almost 30kg) from one place to one place.  Fortuneately, some of the English are very kind to help us move the luggage.  Otherwise, it is unable for us to arrive the hotel successfully.

The hotel we stay is at Bayswater, which is located in the circle line of Tube.  We are still thinking to take the Heathrow Express or follow the same route by Tube to Heathrow Airport in our departure day.  We afraid we don't have energy to carry our increasing weight luggage after 10 days flighting in London.

The city infrastructure here is very similar to Hong Kong, or we can say Hong Kong was copied from England.  Both the zebra-crossing, traffic lam, tube railway are identical with those in Hong Kong.

The weather today in London is not bad, but also same as Amsterdam that with strong wind and drizzle. The temperature is between 4-12 only.

As we're going to stay in the same hotel for 10 nights, let's think together the itinerary tomorrow morning because both of us are very tired as a whole coolie today.

Amsterdam(Apr06)

Today is our 2nd last day stay in Amsterdam.  Actually, we have no special schedule.  Just walk around the Amsterdam Central and going to buy some chocolate and cheese.

After reading the news, the strike in France seem unsettle.  We finally decide to cancel the itinerary of Paris but to be detained in London for 10 days.  I can't buy many things which are planned to be bought in Paris.

We have change the hotel in London also, because the previous B&B only provided with share internet access.  Now I search from web and re-book another hotel in Paddington with private internet access in each room but slightly expensive. 

I've tried many different types of cheese and both are very tasty, coz chesse is one of my favourate stuff.  Of course I bought one piece of herb cheese & will bring back to Hong Kong.  There are many many different variety chocolate also.  Especially for Lindt, many other varieties are not seen in Hong Kong, I bought some also.

We'are going to leave Amsterdam tomorrow noon to London, Amsterdam is a very beautiful place.  People in here are very helpful and friendly, the food are very nice, i.e. pizza,  chips, pasta, chocolate, cheese, fruit, sausage, etc.  Hope can come again in the very near future.

Keukenhof(Apr06)

Today we were planned to the Keukenhof for the Kingdom of Florist.  Unfortunately, it was heavy rain and with strong wind. 

Finally, we decided to go and follow the instruction provided by the officer from the train information centre.  Actually, we didn't know what's going wrong, but we took the wrong train again.....  This time the terminus of our train was returned to the repair centre, some officers  found us and feel strange why we were there.  One guy seem is the supervisor use his blackberry to check for the train schedule and platform, provide clear guidence for us, this time extra 30 mins was used.

Keukenhof is only open 2-month, i.e. end of Mar to mid of May, every year.  You can see most of the species of flowers here.  People from different places around the world travel to and it is so crowded.  I bought a bag of bulb & see whether it will grow or not.

The strike in France seems not yet settle and going to deteriorate, we don't know what should do now.  If we cannot go to Paris, hotel accommodation is one of the problem.  Besides, arrangement of Eurostar and Paris hotel cancellation is another issue.  Let's keep notice of the situtation to have further decision.

Zaanse Schans Windmill Village(Apr06)

Today is our 2nd day at Amsterdam.  We went to Zaanse Schans for the windmill village. 

After I had written the diary this morning at around 7:15am, I got back to bed and had the 2nd round sleeping session.  When I woke up, it was already 11:15am and breakfast time was passed already.

The weather today is sunshine but with strong wind. Especially at Zaanse Schans, it is located at the countryside of Amsterdam and temperature is slightly lower than the urban area.

After a simple breadfast (or brunch), we took the bus from Zwanenburg to Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station as usual and transited the train to Zaanse Schans.  However, we got on the wrong platform and the train was ran opposite site of Zaanse Schans.  As a result, extra 45 mins was spent to find the right platform and finally arrived to the windmill village at almost 3:00pm.  We found that Hollander are really very nice and eager to provide a helping hand for the person with the necessarity.

Windmill village is very beautiful just like my imagination.  The houses are look like those I'd watched in cartoon and are placed neatly.  Although the purpose of windmill is for sightseeing more than it's actual function (wind energy), it already make all the visitors unforgetable.  I've seen the most clogs in my life also.  The beautiful design of clog products are placed all around, i.e. magnets, stationerys, glasses, key rings, mobile strap, chinas, shoes, etc.  The screen is so charming as many many clogs are placed together.

Tomorrow morning we are going to Keukenhof for the tulip and hope the journey would be ran  smoothly.

Amsterdam(Apr06)

Today is my first night stay in Amsterdam.  Because of the long flying time (13 hours fly from HK to Heathrow Airport, 5 hours waiting time at Heathrow, 1+ hours fly from Heathrow to Schipol Airport), also the time zone difference, both make me cannot sleep well.

Anyway, the weather of Amsterdam is pretty well. The sunshine is bright but with strong wind during day time, however there is only 5-6 degree after sundown and the humidity is very low.  Fortunately I've brought together with cream and moisturing mask during the trip.  The Hollander are very friendly and quite good in English, it is not difficult to communicate with them.  The transportation infrastructure there is convenience also, metro bus is connected with most of the busy train station, especially Amsterdam Centraal Station.  But the area of Amsterdeam Centraal Station is under reconstruction, it make the traffic around a little bit messy.

The dinner last night was very good, deep fry salmon with fried chip, salad and drink.  The size of the set dinner is very large, the fried chip with mushroom sauce is very delicious and better than any first class steakhouse I'd tried in Hong Kong.  It only costed Euro$21.

It is now Amsterdam time 7:10am and outside is raining heavily.  Hope will change better coz today I'll go to Zaanse Schans for the windmill.