England 2014
I'm guilty as charge! It was only a few weeks ago that I was in London. Well, hello again! Instead of going through the trouble in explaining about my quick return, let's focus on my adventures.
One thing that I have to point out is the misconception about the weather in England....I am here in the middle of January but, by all means, it doesn't rain all the time. I think people assume it pours consistently. Well, let me tell you, it doesn't. Yes, it drizzles a lot more in compare to L.A. but, it's comfortable and has not kept me from doing what I want to do.
Anyhew, the first time I came to London I couldn't believe I was actually here. I think hearing and seeing about London being one of the best destination to visit; definitely confirmed it for me when I finally saw it and experienced the city with my own eyes. This time round, I had the chance to see even more than London. I ventured off outside the city and saw the country side.
London China Town: My first day back in London I was jet lagged. I figured I might as well wonder off so, Phil and I came here to China Town. This area doesn't require much introduction but, it is worth a pit stop to grab a bite to eat. You'll find a few good eateries and food stands that is worth checking out.
St. Albans (above photos)
One exit away from Harpenden via train is St. Albans. Base from my observation, this place was much quieter and a tad smaller compare to Harpenden. There were a few places we looked at such as a park and of course, the town center. I suggest checkingout the cathedral, it is one of the oldest around & the second longest in the UK.
Bourton on the Water city center
The Dial House Hotel (photos above)
Bourton on the Water at night
Bourton
On The Water (photo above) is a very small town with villages. If you're looking for a
lot of action, this is not the place for you. However, if you are
seeking for something quiet or a quick getaway from the busy city life,
then, you came to the right place. The village (particularly Bourton on the Water) is quite small and can be explored within 30 minutes. There is not a lot to
see here so, we made the right choice of staying 1 night and then moved
on to do sightseeing elsewhere another day. We stayed at a hotel called The Dial House. The room was small but, dinner here was amazing. We tried to find good restaurants in the area but, it was too much of a hassle dealing with a cab. Therefore, we opted to stay in the hotel which, surprisingly turned out well. The "3-course" meal we had turned into a feast. It went from appetizers to the main course to desert which, turned into a total of about 6 different plates. Every single item was really good and one of the best. I highly suggest eating here for dinner!
City Center
Over to the next village (about 15 min. drive from Bourton On The Water) we got cozy at The Perch House, a pub known to be one of the oldest in England. This area is another small town good for sightseeing. Honestly, there wasn't much to see here except trying out the different pubs and/or restaurants. Other than that, it's worth seeing for an hour at most.
A photo I took inside a pub. It rained a bit but, I couldn't help gawk at people and bicyclists.
Phil lost while we wondered around.Oxford is definitely a college town. The minute we arrived here, everyone looked like they were either going to or coming from school. Although, what really topped this visit was the architectures. Geez, talking about being spoiled. The buildings here are very inspiring and is something that I've never seen before. Imagine waking up to go to not only one of the top prestigious school but, also to be part of history that dates back to 18th century. I remembered looking up to these buildings and going seriously? We don't see this in the U.S. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford
London Fashion Weekend
Luckily, I had the chance to participate in the London Fashion Week/end. The fashion show showcased the Spring 2015 trends which, included metallics, flowers, laces & sports influenced styles. This has always been on my top list of things to-do and I can say the experience was amazing! Not only was I able to see the fashion show in London but, we managed to get front row seating.
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