London and Manchester

Last day in London 

So far... My London trip has been up and down. I've met the rude crude dodgy people, and I've met nice ones too. 

The very first Londoner I saw when I got off the plane in Heathrow airport was this guy holding a wheelchair for one of the passengers. He looked grumpy. Not the kind you'd expect to work in the airport helping the disabled. He had long greasy dirty blonde hair that reached his chin. "haha" I thought to myself. "what happened to the Leona Lewis, David Beckham sort of people?"

Then at customs, the counter was just this small table. There was no barrier like the ones in Aus or Sg. Feels like someone could just make a run through customs if they wanted to. Of course they'll get shot before they reach the gates. Haha..

The journey to the hotel from the airport was a bit of a nightmare. First, train services were closed halfway along our route. So we had to get off at one station, drag our bags up and down narrow passageways and stairs to take a shuttle bus to another station called Ealing. At this station, when we went through the ticket barrier, the gate shut on our luggage. "JUST PULL IT!!" someone yelled behind me. And of course, try as I might, I couldn't!!!! Luckily, 10 seconds later the train conductors came to help open the gates with their key cards. I thought to myself how aweful. The first conversation I have with a Londoner is on the train and involves him yelling at me at for something I couldn't control. :( Thirdly, when we got off at our station, we made a left turn instead of a right and briefly got lost. Imagine this dark empty street with 2 Asian girls and their luggage. We are damn easy target. Didn't help my nerves when I noticed a group of gangster like men huddled around in the dark alley just behind the train station. Also didn't help that stupid optus did not activate my roaming so I couldnt call anyone if something happened. Lucky we spotted a group of 3 causasian men and woman walking towards what looked like a hotel. So we followed them. Never have I been so thankful walking with strangers. Finally we reached our hotel safely.  

Second day in London was interesting. We went to a craft fair filled with independent designers. I picked up the cutest rings, earings and brooch. I also bought a very unique looking dress. I saw a 5kg tub of nutella!! The store owner said he bought it from Italy. Food eas really cheap  But Janet and I didn't know where we could sit down to eat so we stood at the entrance near the bins!! Yuck!! Another thing is, I find the city of London has some funky smells everywhere!! Yuck... However, our luck ran out when we wandered into another dodgy street. Lucky we had no trouble there. After this we wondered into st paul's cathedral. Funny how places not so far away from each other are so different. The moment we got off the train and walked on the street, it's peaceful, nice, quiet and pleasant. The cathedral was beautiful. Wished I went in but there was a prayer session going on and I didn't want to disturb. Then we went to oxford street. The site of my crime - spending too much money. This is where I discovered just how great shopping here in London is. 

Imagine a entire row, bout 400 metres worth of topshop, H&M, Zara, River Island, New look and more departmental stores all in 1 row. OMGoodness there was just too much to cover! Then I saw Primark, everyone says it's a good place to shop. But I had no idea how cheap their stuff are! Shoes for £2, singlets for £1, stockings for £1.50. That's insane. And it's not that the quality is bad. It's actually ok. 

On our third day we went for a tour. Warwick castle was nice. The village where Shakespeare was born in is beautiful. Oxford university is beautiful. But I'm sad to say that a lot of these places have been commercialised for tourism. The tour took up the entire day and with a 6am start, we went straigt home after this. Not before stopping by for dinner at Shepard's bush. Man was it another dodgy area. People lurking around with shady looking eyes. I later learnt from janet's friend that it's nicknamed "shady's bush" for a reason. Our fifty pound note had to go through a machine for approval before the cashier would accept it. This was where I ate the worse Thai food ever. I don't even think it's autentic thai. Yuck. Nothing worse than cold chinese cooked to resemble somewhat thai buffet.  

On Wednesday we went to a village far off the city for some bargains. It was this town called "Bicester village", but was pronounced as "Bister village". More on that story later. My goodness, an entire row of Gucci, Burberry, Vivien Westwood, Mulberry, CK and much more. Products all on crazy sale. There were so many Chinese people there too. All after branded goods as thy always are. I bought a Burberry trench and a few bags from Radley and CK. No wonder people here seem to go so branded with their dressing. I have to say though, that even with all the nice shops, better clothing and cheaper branded stuff, Melbournians dress wayyyy better thanthe average Londoner. 

I have to say also, that Janet and I were pretty annoyed with a lot of main land Chinese shoppers at Bicester village. They were as loud, rowdy and just made themselves look less civilized than other shoppers. When there was a long queue at Radley, this lady came to ask me, without saying hello or anything, "is this even a brand? Why are so many people lining up?" while I stood there waiting for Janet, holding a bag full of already purchased Radley stuff. "erm... Yeah it's called Radley" I pointed to the sign, "but if you don't like it don't get it" I said. Meaning to tell her not to follow the crowd if she didn't like how the bags looked. Without saying anything, she walked away. I bet you off my toes, that if I said to her that it was a very expensive good, famous brand, she and her friends would have bought lots and queued as long as it took to buy the stuff. Next, at a Miss Sixty shop, a Chinese guy came to ask me in mandarin, if the receipt he held was a tax free one. I said no. He walked away and didn't say thank you. Then he approached me again to ask the same question, I went to the counter to ask the store assistent I he could have the tax free one. I found out that he didn't spend the minimum of £50 to claim tax free, so he didn't quality for it. I translated it and he walked away again. What no thank you? Annoyed, I yelled out, "you're welcomed". Everyone was staring at him as he walked out without thanking me.       

On Thursday we saw the London eye, tower, big ben. I wanted to go into the tower but Janet has been there. Well, perhps next time. Then we did more shopping at oxford st. We  meet janet's friend that night for dinner and I've asked Lee-ean to come along. We had great Thai food. 

On Friday we finished oxford st. Pheww!  

On Saturday when I met Lee-ean again for the second time for lunch before Janet and I went off. She told me when she asked her friend from London is they've heard of Biscester village. They didn't understand her till she spelt it out. Apparently it's pronounced as "Bister village". As with "Lester square", not ""Leicester square. Honetly, I think this whole pronouncing thing is bull crap. All a ploy to make them feel superior cause thy know it is mean to sound like. Hahahaha... 

On the last night when we packed our bags, I managed to squeeze everything into my managable suitcase of mine. But Janet had 2 big suitcases. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't slightly annoyed that she couldn't handle her own luggage and she bought soooo much. You see, we had to take the train the next day to this place called Russell square to meet her friend, Chester, who lives here but is from Aus. We travelled via the tube and there were so many stairs. People were helpful and someone would offer a hand at each staircase. But there were also others who were mean. My first Londoner experience didn't help my mood. Remember how someone yelled at us on our first day at 10pm at night? Yeah... That sort of people. We met one more in the station. Basically we needed the station conductor to open the handicap gate so that we cab drag our luggage through. But there was a queue to speak to the conductor. So I waited in line then suddenly I heard this lady in the queue say to the conductor, "they want to go pass". The conductor opened the gate. Before I could thank them , she said to the conductor, "they don't say anything" "yeah they don't say anything!" the conductor replied. WTF?! We were just waiting to speak to you! And it's not as if we can't hear what you just said about us. Arghhh fucking hate these rude crude London people. 

I actually find a lot of them very outspoken. Unnecessarily outspoken. At Primark, because it was so busy that everyone was walking slowly to avoid bumping into each other, because, you know that's what everyone else who has manners do. You walk slowly and you are paitent. But I was walking pass this lady and her sister (they look alike and dress terrible alike too) and she exclaimed out loud, obviously for eveyone to hear "can everyone just walk or stand out of the way!" another WTF?! Do you think everyone here is holding you up? Are you and your sister the only ones here who can and wants to walk faster? Seriously, learn some respect! Then this other time we were standing at a traffic junction and this group of ??? Were druming and singing their way inthe street, spreading their joy and religon in a non-agressive, peaceful calm manner. This lady next to them with a baby in a pram, exclaimed out loud "arghh, I can't stand this noise any longer!" and stomped on her foot. Ok, com'on, they were even at the junction for that long. Say 15secs? And where is your tolerance and respect for other cultures and religon? After all, I'd expect it from someone of colour and someone who is a Mom as well. Obviously the group heard what she said, cause next thing you know, a lady from the group approaches her and hands her a leaflet, inviting this lady to one of their prayer/singing lessons. "oh, ok" he said, then smiled fakely, looking slightly embarassed. What?! No face off? Suddenly she's all sheepish. Ahhh, a case of all talk no action.  
 
Summary - rude crude people. They need to learn some manners. But lots to do. I need to come back here. But first, I need to grow a thicker layer of skin to withstand the rudeness here.

Manchester
We arrived at Manchester via train. The train station looked ok. People seemed alright, even pleasant and paitent. But when we got off the tram to our stop near the hotel it was a completely different story. We alighted at Old Trafford tram station. Janet's map did not tally with the map on the sign board. I thought this must not be right. It was a residential/factory area. There was absolutely no one in sight but one teenager on his skateboard. It felt extremely dodgy. And at 6pm in the evening, thought it was still bright, felt kinds scary still. Lucky for us I had google maps. I asked a passerby who seemed decent where Chester road is. Turns out it was the opposite direction to where Janet was walking too.  Lucky I asked! We would have been in deep shit. So we wondered off and I followed google maps. Only to realise that we were not at the train station Janet thought we were at. Completely lost, I flagged the first cab I saw. It was a £4 trip but I thought it was worth it. When noisy cars, playing loud music with tattooed/pierced teenagers drive pass, I'd give £10 for someone to take me to a safer place. Our hotel room smelled funny. But the staff were lovely. After a quick drink we headed off to town via bus as instructed by the bar tender of the hotel. The bus ride was ok, but the bus had a horrible stench of urine and rotting fast food. It was also covered with litter. It was disgusting to sit there, even on a short ride. 

The moment we arrived in town I could feel the dodgy atmosphere. The entire city stank of urine and there was litter everywhere. Just like the bus. But imagine a street or 2 like swanston and flinders covered in litter and urine. Gross!!! There were police cars and policemen on horseback at one spot. Piccadilly circus st was the worse. People had no sense of what personal space is and will walk vey close to you. It was so scary! We did find a nice Italian restaurant to eat dinner. Bit pricey but good pizza. I had one of the best mushroom starters ever. Our journey back was terribly scary. Walking on the street with all these gangsters. We looked so obviously foriegn and there were drunk people everywhere. Most of them looked like druggies too... We waited for the bus for about 15mins. 15 very uncomfortable minutes. In the end we found out from the time table that the next bus is due in 30mins, we decided to cab back. Another best £8 spent on a cab fare for my safety. Back at the hotel I had an emotional talk with Mark. I realized that I've take. My safety in sg for granted. Manchester is a terrible city. I don't understand why call it city of the God. The Gods would be disgusted if they came here.  

Summary - I've made the decision never to travel without a guide and a guy ever again.