A Long Overdue Post

Uh firstly, pleeeease don't look at the date of my previous blogpost, haha.

So well, I actually promised friends that I would blog about my first few days in London, but I apparently didn't (hehehe), so I guess this post is to make up for all the missed out updates. Disclaimer: Lots of photos.

Pre-departure

Predeparture dinner with the family!

全家福 :)

MAS. Thank God it was cheaper comparatively.

Penang International Airport, with family and relatives :)

The surprise party, prepared by Ninii Chagiya and the rest of the SN12Rians!

Nearly time to fly :(

With the SN12Rians, and Ninii :D

Bye! :') Oddly fitting advertisement down there hahaha.

First few days in London

The first few days in London were.. a rush. The moment I arrived at my hall, after lugging all my luggage and backpack etc, I had to prepare to go to school for an orientation event for us freshmen. I was thrown into a situation where I had to introduce myself to people while they do the same, and also the task of memorising various names and linking it to the person. (I fail at this). But well.. Here comes photos :P

Greeted by the cold, yet somehow comfortable atmosphere of London.

Sunlight reflecting off one of my university's buildings!

But yeah, the sunsets here can be awesome sometimes.

Not to say the crowd at night in the common room, full of a diversity of people to hang out with; whether around a pool table, a ping pong table, in front of a wide-screen television, in front of a PlayStation 3, or just chilling at the couches, the common room stays true to its name :)

Malaysian Night, in Trafalgar Square! We were greeted with the nostalgic aroma of satay, and of course, the warm feeling of being at home again. It was great, seeing fellow Malaysians away from home, conversing in Chinese, English, and Malay :D

Malaysian food! :D but man, they're expensive :(. Roti canai and stuff for 5 pounds?

People watching the performances that night!

And a foreigner (I think), singing Malay songs, which include the 1Malaysia song!

Group photo with the Banksiders! Okay, not all of us are from Bankside, but yeah :D

Celestine and Shi Man!

Man, look at that crowd!

Chillin' at work - near the end of the festival :)

Group photo with the Malaysians that were there!

Adam Tiam, the future Prime Minister of Malaysia!

Picnic with the Malaysians at Hyde Park! 

 

Camwhoressss!

Karti! Fellow Carr-Saunderite :D

Stack!

Ian, the joker.

LOTR - The Three Towers.

Wait, I don't..

Hyde!

The guysss.

 

At the TalentCorp dinner.

Hi.

Reflection selfie!

A little pup that we met in Hyde Park, it was really adorable!

Curious squirrel is curious.

Food

Food here is.. Expensive. During the first few days in London, my mind was busy converting everything in terms of MYR instead of GBP, but I slowly realised that if I did that everytime, I wouldn't be eating anything at all.

Average price of sandwiches: ₤1.20 = RM6.00

Average price of a meal: ₤4.80 = RM24.00.

.. And luck isn't on my side yet so far, went to ask for vacancies during my first few days here but no luck - either they've just did a recruitment recently, or they're not hiring part-times etc. Gotta continue trying :(.

Chicken Tinga Taco :D

Sightseeing!

I haven't really got the chance to walk around London during the first few days of my arrival - my daily schedule was always packed with orientation stuff etc; registering for a student ID, making a bank account at Lloyd's and all. It wasn't till two weeks after my arrival, during my birthday, that I decided to go for a proper (but still express) sightseeing trip; an idea of Ninii's :).

A bagpipe player in front of the National Gallery, at Trafalgar Square.

The Big Ben! Don't judge the unrealistic HDR :(

Another bagpipe player - I kinda like the mood that this photo portrays.

The London Eye - well, my take of it.

A more creative angle of the Big Ben :D

Motion blur.

Afterthoughts

During the first few days in London, I've already kinda fell in love with it - the cool weather (for now), greeting me everyday, the occasional drizzle, or even showers of rain that comes unexpectedly, the friendliness of some Londoners as contrasted to the coldness of the others.. I guess it offers a nice balance of duality; of Yin and Yang. 

As for the food prices? Well, meh :( *wallet burns* no choice but to accept it as it is first, till I can find a job :).

Creativity at its max - the vanity plate :D It's a cleaning service van!

River Thames, taken on my Nexus.

Random!

Okay, I guess that's it for now. Threw a lot of photos (some of them raw) up there, so yeah, I admit I'm being kinda lazy today :P. But I woke up early and took a jog at Fitzroy Square this morning though! So I'm not exactly that lazy, right? .. Right guys? Hey? 

Neways, gotta hop to school soon. Need to complete some stuff by today, soooo, yeah, seeya peeps :D

Loveee,

Ruiyou.