London in Summer

Well, hello there! You've be good ain't ya mate?

This is London in Summer. Exactly a week after the London Olympics 2012, and I cannot imagine the how crowded the place was during the games. It was the hottest week in London. And amazingly no rain fall during our 4 days there. Maybe there was in the early mornings, but as soon as noon came, boy was it boiling hot!

Oxford Street, London. 

Meet your inner shopping devil.

This is my third time to London, and our sole purpose was to renew our passports. It was a long journey. From Regensburg to Frankfurt, a 6am flight to London, reaching the Malaysia High Commission at 1030am. It was done really fast. By 2pm, we got new Passports. And I'm quite glad that my picture actually looks normal. While waiting for our Passports, I went to have roasted duck for lunch, then we went took a nap at St James Park because we couldn't check in yet. St James Park is 10 minutes away from the High Commission.

The next day, we went all touristy. We didn't get on the tour bus. Instead, we marked out places we wanted to go to, bought a day pass, which was much cheaper and sat on double decker busses where we could see everything.

 

This is St Pauls Cathedral. which stood here for a very long time. It used to be Londons tallest building back in the days.

There was also a wedding going on while we were there. And a gorgeous classic car tht the bride came in. The visitors came in hats like true Brits.

The Tower of London was castle built to defend the city.

People lining up to enter the Tower.

This is the London Tower bridge, holding up the iconic Olympic Rings. This bridge is often mistaken with the London Bridge which is further down the river. This is my first time seeing the bridge up close since we (mistakenly) went to see the London Bridge on my first trip to London. 

A trip to the Kingdom means a trip to see the grounds where the Queen lives. Here we are at the grounds of Buckingham Palace, with St James Park right across.

We only went to have a peep. Then we had a picnic at the park. One of my most treasured moments. We are people of happy hearts. We sat there till my bladder couldn't contain anymore water. 

The next day was shopping day. Going to London means lots of shopping choices (compared to Germany) and of course ticking off some things for people on the list. It was actually mad because the streets were full and packed and soo hot, our legs were already dying. We just got a few stuff that people ordered and some for ourselves then we went on a more pleasurable journey. 

Evening shot of the London Eye

For those who want a ride on this iconic ferris whell, I suggest that you do an online booking on their website, charge it to your credit card and collect the tickets at a tiny machine next to the 4D experience entrance. Waiting in line is like boiling yourself slowly but surely. 

A shot from the London Eye. The River Thames with the Big Ben.

Honestly, my best times spent in London was sitting on grass. This was surely one of it. Along the river, the promenade is filled with street artists. This man was the star because I was jumping like mad popping bubbles. Kids gathered around him while parents sat along the side. On that day, that time, the sun felt better, the grass was better, the air was better. It was like I was in a better place.

To put an end on our trip to the Olympic host of 2012.