::welcome to slow rock::

Saturday, June 22, 2013

:: LONDON Travelogue - 22nd June 2013, Saturday

>> 1130H - Spitalfield Market

Nothing much to see or do in this market, which i think has lost most of its "market-ish" charm with the modern compound in which it is housed. It's clean, organised, very unlike what you'd expect of a typical market. The only indications that this is a market are the temporary stands which line up neatly in rows. Sells mainly clothing, bags and accessories. I was done with this place in 20mins.

>> 1230H - Bayswater

While on the way to Portobello Market, I decided to make a short detour as I passed Queensway Tube Station along Bayswater Road, to Bayswater itself. Stopped by Papa Roti to try their famous coffee bun (which I know costs much cheaper in sg but I wanna try the papa roti version from across half the world map). The coffee smell wasn't as rich as the one back home. It's much sweeter too (maybe coz the brits have a soft spot for anything sweet.. think of their cupcakes).. Roamed around the area for a bit before hitting the road again

>> 1300H - Eggs Benedict Lunch! (Daylesford)

Tucked in a small corner just off Portobello Road, this shop is set amongst a row of lively coloured houses. It sure didn't feel like London as I walked through the place. This made me anticipate what lunch could offer even more. Without hesitation, I went for the eggs benedict with smoked salmon, with a cup of carrot juice fused with apple and a tinge of ginger. Boy, that concoction was heavenly. The ginger sounds out of place, but it's the reason why the drink tasted soooo good. It gave the drink... more character - adding a tangy, zesty feel to an otherwise mild mannered combination of apple and carrot. Then came the star - 2 poached eggs delicately balanced atop a toasted slice of bread with a generous amount of hollandaise sauce spread over it. Ironical as it may sound, I am always reluctant to progress from the "admiring" part to the "eating" part. I just can't bear to poke that "little bundle of joy". But when I finally do, that decisive moment where you see the yolk oozing out is what determines a good eggs benny from a bad one. The first egg I poked wasn't quite what I was hoping to see, but the second was delightful. Lunch wasn't heavy at all, which meant that I have room for more as I throng Portobello Market soon after :)

>> 1400H - Evans Cycle

Got on my bike for a short 3 mins cycle to the start of Portobello Market, but that 3 mins was all it took for my front tyre to start making funny noises. I stopped the moment I heard them, but what followed was a squeal which grew increasingly louder and then "poof"! dang, not again.. tyre failing on me, this time at the other end of central london. I contemplated taking a cab back to my apartment, but some quick calculations told me that it's ridiculously expensive to do that. Besides, I only have got a day left on London. I don't wanna waste it repairing my bike. Then I thought about my Galaxy Note and what google can do for me - search for bike shops nearby! True enough, there's an Evans Cycle outlet just 10 minutes from where I was. Got my bike fixed in 30mins, for 14 pounds. But it's money well spent in my opinion, coz it would have signalled the end of my adventure otherwise.

>> 1445H - Portobello Market

Now this is what you call a true market - shops lining the streets, crowded walkways, the smell of food drifting through the air... I had such a good time looking at the antiques for sale. Walking along Portobello Road was in itself thrilling enough coz it's one long stretch of road lined with shops selling interesting gems from yesteryears, such as a toy figurine of an American Sergeant from the Vietnam War, a rusty red london bus, LDs of bands like Pink Floyd and the Beatles etc.. just too many to name..

>> 1700H - Bak Kut Teh with Line and Shiyun

Was invited over to Dylan's place (where line and tungsy are currently putting up) for a meal that means so much to Singaporeans - Bak Kut Teh.. Great meet up over some great home-cooked food, though the soup became a tad too spicy towards the end as we left it to simmer. Last dinner in London with the remnants of Commonwealth.. kinda sad..

>> 1930H - Buckingham Palace

Had intended to head straight back to my apartment after dinner, but I can't stand the thought of lazing around in my room when there's daylight still.. so I decided to make a trip to Buckingham Palace. I dunno why I've never made time to go see it, so I felt I needed to before I leave for the summer. it felt great to cycle down the red coloured roads running outside the palace grounds, with the union jack hung from every lamppost which lined the streets. It sure made me feel grand. haha.

>> 2030H - Thames (Embankment to Blackfriars)

Just felt inclined to head to my favourite chill out spot in London to relive good ol' memories and soak in the scenery for one last time. Took a leisurely walk with my bike down the river till about 9pm before cycling back to Farringdon.

>> 2115H - 30 St Cross Street

Was starting to get hungry and I went around my area looking for some classic British food to eat. First on my mind was Fish and Chips. But dang, almost everywhere was closed! save for wetherspoon. But me no wanna try wetherspoon coz I tried it a few times already and the atmosphere in that pub is, well, pretty much dead. Contemplated buying some ready made meal from sainsbury's but once again, I just couldn't stand the idea of getting back to my room! So i decided to head back to Blackfriars and go across the river to this pub I saw earlier.

>> 2130H - Doggett's Coat and Badge

Went for their signature dish - beer battered fish and chips, with a pint of Fuller's London Ale. To finish off the london experience, I decided to go al fresco, dining in the open by the Thames. I watched the sky go dim as I waited for my fish and chips whilst sipping on the ale. When it finally came, I was thoroughly impressed. The fish was really crisp on the outside, and this crispiness stayed throughout the 30mins i took to complete the meal (yea i know it's long, but well what to do when you've got the river sights to distract you?) The meat (by the way, cod fish was used here) was firm and had texture, not like those nua ones that simply break off in your mouth. It wasn't too oily too - i swear some british fish and chips joint just drown their fishes in oil. I felt it only had one minor flaw - the batter was overfried. It had a bit of chao ta smell, which I would gladly welcome if this was hor fun, but no, I felt it masked any hint of beer in the batter. I'd definitely visit the pub again to try the fish and chips, to reaffirm today's assessment of it.

>> 2300H - Home at last!

Yessss, with great reluctance, I end off my last day of adventure here. London, it has been a pleasure to be your guest. I sure look forward to September!

Entered by platinum at 7:28 PM