London Romance

London Romance

The trip was not really long, but tiring. It was a red eye. I did not sleep on the plane. Instead, I watched a movie, and caught up on trip planning. The night before, I did not really sleep until well past 5am either. I got Dad iPod and speaker for his 70th years birthday gift. I spend the whole morning try to organize my song, set up his iPod, and transfer songs to his iPod. So, this was a tiring plane ride.

Since Lo did not successfully get the foreign exchange from the bank, first thing we did when we got off the plane was to get some foreign exchange. The rate was much higher right outside of the gate. I got 100 pounds anyway, since we need that to get to the hotel. Then, by the luggage claim, there was an American Express, with better rate than the one before. I was going to get more pounds and euro. Well, I probably did not set up the cash advance for American Express, they would not let the transaction through. Well, it was actually for the better anyway. We realized later that the rate by the hotel was much better. But, it was a long wait at the counter.

We took the train from the airport to the hotel. It was a little bit awkward, given the luggage, and the transfer. However, for 3.8 pounds each, it is worth the travel. We decided that we are going to spend as little on this trip as possible.

After checking into the hotel and a long shower, we went for a walk. European buildings always bring you the charm and romance feeling. Both me and Lo felt that as we just stepped out of the hotel.

We walked along the Oxford street, took a few pictures, actually spent sometimes in a bookstore, then head back to the hotel. Streets of London is very similar to Hong Kong, except Hong Kong is much smaller. Stores, telephone booths, bus, and even mailbox... It does bring back a lot of memory of childhood, waling along Nathan road every weekend. We picked up some food from KFC, and headed back to the hotel.

After the dinner,it was only about 6p. We decided to go to bed. By 8p, I woke up. Tried all the chargers, and found that the power adapter I got from Radio Shack actually did not work. Well, I would have to return it, probably along with the iGo. Luckily, the hotel has an 110V U.S. electrical outlet. So, at least my laptop, camera charger work. After a while, Lo woke up as well. We decided to take another walk. It was about 10pm by then. We ended up taking a very long walk. We actually got lost. We definitely were not used to London street signs. Most of the time, we did not really know which street we were on. Anyway, it was a good walk. There are many nice department stores along Oxford and Regent streets. They definitely have really nice shearling coats and boots. The streets already have beautiful Christmas lighting decorations. I took a few pictures. We were on Oxford, Regent, Piccadilly (right along the Green Park), which to our surprise at that time, we were not able to pick up Oxford street again. We ended up turning to Park Lane (along the Hyde Park), after a few directions, we finally were able to get back to the hotel.

Well, we did discover that by Grosvenor Street/ Square, there are a lot of embassies and consulates. We found U.S. Embassy and Consulate, Indonesia, Canada, Argentina to name a few. The walk took longer than two hours. We had enough exercise for the day. This definitely gave me a good perspective of the map and the distance between the tourist attractions. It also gave us the lesson of never leave the hotel without a map. Streets of London are not quite like streets of New York.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tea meditation - Plum Village

Image
  This cup of tea in my two hands,  mindfulness is held perfectly.          My mind and body dwell in the very here and now.  Wherever you are drinking your tea, whether at work or in a café or at home, it is wonderful to allow enough time to appreciate it. If the weather is cold, you can feel the warmth of the cup in your hands. Breathe in and recite the first line; breathe out and recite the second. The next inhalation is for the third line, and the next exhalation is for the fourth line. Breathing mindfully in this way, we recuperate ourselves and the cup of tea reclaims its highest place. If we’re not mindful, it’s not tea that we’re drinking but our own illusions and afflictions. If the tea becomes real, we become real. When we are able to truly meet the tea, at that very moment we are truly alive. There is no way to home. Home is the way. There is no way to happiness Happiness is the way to us. A day to return to ourselves, to take care of ourselves to contemplate what's goin
Read more

Mindfulness of Breathing

Image
16 stages/ approaches to mindful breathing  https://www.mindfulnessbell.org/archive/tag/16+exercises+for+mindful+breathing Day 1 Basics of mindfulness meditation. breathing is one of the core practices of Buddhist meditation practice. Two ways street - as the world around us changes (mood, intention, mind), our breathing changes, as breathing changes, our relationship to the world changes.  As we got trapped in our thoughts, our breathing changes.  As we relax our body, our breathing changes. Breathing sitting in the crossroad of all aspects of our life.  Fight/flight mode, breathing changes. When we change our breathing and relax, fight/flight response changes. Sitting there in breathing and watches the world goes on. Easy breath - be in touch with the breathing.  how your breathing changes is related to how your mood/ mind is changing. Area of control - the front part of the body.  focus on the back of the body is easier. not to be concern of a controlled breath. just be very content
Read more

5 Daily Recollections (2) - Sickness

The body is subject to sickness.  we are not immune.  no one is immune.  Suffering stress is part of the human condition, specifically the sickness. Setting in the body with the breath with the body.  how to have a sense of freedom in the midst of sickness.   Dropping in the contemplation into the body, a more stable available ready space. Let it vertebrate.  Later will drop in the body the reflections as if the pebble in the water.  Making space for emotions, or planting seeds for you to be with the reflection throughout the day. I am subject to aging, I am of nature to age.  Aging is inevitable. All the practice we do, with sitting, with meditation, consider all the waves in the ocean, the waves will always be there, better and better with bigger waves. For today/s practice, my invitation is as if there is any sickness and working the sickness and befriending this body's nature.  noticing the narratives with mindfulness befriending them because seeing them is really the first ste
Read more