London Calling
Trip Start
Aug 23, 2007
1
46
60
Trip End
Jul 17, 2008
London,
United Kingdom
Friday, February 29, 2008
The next day I headed out to take advantage of my last day in Asia for a while. I headed to Chinatown and found so much of what I had seen around South East Asia, but everything was priced just a little more like the developed world. Unfortunately, I stumble upon a shop with gorgeous silk pillowcases...my new fettish. BUT, I successfully resisted and picked up some sillk tissue box covers instead. I had a beautiful lunch with my newfound Asian confidence and when the humidity started to roll in, I rolled into a pub and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon with a cold beer. I met my friends for supper and we all had a good laugh at last night's predicament over some beautiful Thai food. Funny, I had to go to Singapore to get some Thai food with bite. In Thailand, they had only served the mildest food to the tourists.
Caught the plane (late again) the next day from the beautiful new Terminal 3 where everyone is really happy. I asked a clerk in the book store why everyone seemed elated to be at work, and she replied, "we have to be." And then I remembered the men with the AK47s walking around the terminal. During my time in the airport, it amazed me that my friend Becky was in the same airport at the same time, but we were unable to link up.
Arrived to the shock of cold, wintery temperatures in Frankfurt and made my way to the hotel for a quick sleep before shipping off again to London. Caught the late plane (now this is a pattern) to London where my 90 uncle and his new bride were there to pick me up...it was not lost on me that this would be the only time I would be met at an airport during my entire trip. We headed off to Basingstoke, just west of London and enjoyed a lovely visit going through old family photos. I was so fortunate to hear my uncle spin some beautiful yarns of family history. It made me feel quite close to my dad again. My cousin Nina was able to come out from London and visit for a day and reminisce about her visit to Canada 7 years earlier. I headed out one day for a beautiful walk along the trails that pass through woods and farmland and enjoyed the daffodils just coming into bloom.
Once I had acclimatised and slept off my jet lag, I headed up to the Lake District to visit my Great Aunt Margaret (mom's aunt). We also had a lovely visit and her friend Dawn took us out for a drive through the stunning scenery in that area. It couldn't be further away from Australia's sun and sand. Moss was draped over every branch and stone and it rained and blew gale force winds, never mind the earthquake one night. So, just in case I had forgotten that it was winter back home, this little side trip was a good reminder minus the snow.
I headed back to London on a late train (what's going on???) and trudged through the underground with my pack, that I now officially hate, breaking my back at each step. I don't know how much more I can take out of my bag. I just mialed home 6 kilos from Australia. I'm down to 14kg, and I know that doesn't sound like much, but tell it to my ankles and hips and my aching shoulders. Finally, found the hotel where I will be meeting my roommate/friend/colleague from home in the morning. I suspect we will have quite a week in London and I know it will do me a world of good to see a familiar face from home. Off to the pub, enjoy your MArch Break teachers, a.
