Day 1 - Portbello Market

New Shoes for the trip!

On 27 November 2013, I embarked on my second solo trip - on my new pair of of New Balance. This time, it's a holiday/graduation trip. Took just one weekend to plan this trip. But it felt like a dream coming true.

After a couple of hours, I regretted booking a flight with a stop-over at Sri Lanka (Columbo). First of all, I fell sick on this flight. The stopover took what seems like eternity to me after a couple of hours. The flight attendant paid attention to Europeans and had little time for me and other Asian passengers. Even though I had requested for vegetarian meals, she still serve me the normal meals. Can I complain? Lesson learnt: Make sure there is no stopover when booking flights!

Wembley, wait for me!

As it took longer than expected during the stopover, I had to run to the Gate during my transit at Dubai. But thank God I managed to make it in time. As people always say, when you get some you lose some. On the flight to London, there was nobody sitting in between me and a lady. I finally managed to finally finish watching 《真夏の方程式》, a movie featuring 神探伽俐略 by 福山雅治 - I think it's a first - watching a movie on two different flights to finish the show. River Thames greeted me as we descended on London, and I saw the Arch of Wembley Stadium. This time, I definitely going there! Wembley, wait for me!

Upon arrival, I collected my luggage and proceed to clear Borders, somehow wondering if they will asked about the pork floss from BreadTalk for Xinning. Clearing the customs took a long time because there were passengers trying to sneak into UK on the cover of studying there. One of them didn't even have a letter to prove that they are there for studies.

Heathrow Express Ticket

Something in me triggered off and I told the Officer that I was here to attend my graduation. Even thought I'm using a new passport, I was in London during the Olympics the year before. Before I knew it, I was walking out from customs with my luggage in tow, searching for directions to the Heathrow Express platform. Suddenly, there was someone shouting that all trains to the city were down and Heathow Express is the only way to the city. Hmm.. Glad I booked my round-trip Heathrow Express ticket!

Reach Paddington Station in about 20 minutes, and was soon standing in the cold searching for the directions to the hotel - after heaving up the 15kg luggage up the flight of stairs. It was about a 10-minute walk to Lancaster Court Hotel, enjoying the cold. Since it wasn't checkin time yet, I left my luggage there and decided to take a walk around. Bought a map and water from a nearby stall and realised I have to buy another Oyster Card because I forgot to bring mine. Oh well...

Bus-stop at Paddington Station

Since Underground services were all delayed, I could only travel by bus. While at the bus-stop near the Paddington Station, I saw that there is a bus to the Portobello Market and suddenly I was craving for the cream and jam donut. Plus, I wanted to visit the antique shop that I bought my leather football.

It was almost 3pm when I reached Portbello Market. While walking into the market, I had to take note of the shops that would later serve as my navigation pathway out and back to the hotel.

Portobello Market

After weaving my way through the crowd, I finally found THE STALL that sells marve-licious donuts. The stall owners were about to call it a day at the market and the donuts were going cheap!! I bought two, thinking that I can leave one for dinner tonight. Hey! I'm on my own now, I do my own menu from now onwards!!

Walking along, I started to do my shopping unknowingly and before I knew it, I bought three tshirts, two scraves, three pair of socks and a classic leather football! 

One for the memories!!

While waiting for my bus at the bus stop, I saw Bus No. 31. It brought back memories as we took this bus regularly in and out of Camden Town while staying in that area last year. Took this photo for old times' sake. One for the memories!! 

Back at Lancaster Court, I check into my room at level 3. Breakfast tomorrow morning will be at basement. Opened the shared bathroom at level 3 and realised there is no shower facilities there! So I started to snoop around the area and finally found shower facilities at level 5! Good Lord! So it was up and down, as the day draw to a close. Glad that I would only be here for a night!