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WHY DO ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END?

DAY: Sunday

LOCATION: London

TIME: 05:00

WEATHER: 14-16 degrees, cloudy with slight sun.

PRE-FLIGHT

Told you I had an early flight. I had to catch a 07:15 coach to Heathrow and considering the distance between the hotel and Victoria Coach Station, waking up at 05:00 seemed like the best solution. We arrived at Heathrow at about 08:00, which meant we had loads of time to spare. The walk to the departure terminal wasn’t really the nearest of walks and I was able to breathe out smoke. Haha, I’ve always wanted to do that. Haha. Well, we arrived at the terminal, checked in our luggage and started to walk around the place. And as we passed through immigration, we were told that each person was only entitled to one bag. And considering that we had plastics bag in our hands and our haversacks packed full, it created a little problem for us. So we had to repack to eek out every little space left. It was a success, but it made the bags even heavier. Why couldn’t you just let us bring along our plastics bags? Then passing through custom, the same routine, metal detectors, and we had to take off our shoes to pass through some security check. And after checking in, we waited out the time in the DFS for our flight home as I started to think through all the memories I will be bringing home from the past 2 and a half weeks.

FLIGHT

Now I remember that on my flight over here I spent most of my time sleeping. So I made sure that there wasn’t going to be a repeat. The moment I boarded the flight and after the plane had taxied, I slipped on my earphones, closed the window shades and watched as much movies as I could. Haha. But not before looking out the window to see that I was flying high above the clouds. And it looked so puffy like a bed of cotton wool only thinner, much much thinner. While flying somewhere over India, I witnessed the sunset from above the clouds. It wasn’t something you could see everyday so I took that moment to enjoy that experience. It was past time that I took a nap. But it wasn’t really the best of sleeps as the plane hit lots of turbulence which made my stomach feel like a washing machine and made me want to vomit. And it did not help that the section I was in had lots of kids which were so noisy and the person sitting in front of me lowered the seat at the most unusual of times which made it rather uncomfortable. But anyways, there was still movies, so what the heck.

POST-FLIGHT

DAY: Monday

LOCATION: Singapore

TIME: 08:00

WEATHER: TOOOOO HOOOOTT, but raining

Touchdown, passed through immigration, grabbed my bags and then headed out. To Bevan, Yee Shian and Lin Hao, thanks for coming down that morning but sorry it seemed like you guys had wasted your time cuz I had to leave. Made our way to my aunt’s house to unpack some of my stuff that I bought. Like I said, I bought too much stuff for my own bags to carry. Traffic was a killer and the weather here is terrible. I can’t believe that I was actually used to this weather. After unpacking, it turns out that for all the stuff that I bought, 4 bags were needed. Haha. I wonder how on earth did I buy so many things. Well, reached home, unpacked all my stuff. I was hungry so I went to get some local delicacies. Haha. And after that, it was back to business as usual. And that concludes my trip to UK and Paris.

Day 16

MADAM, IT HAS BEEN AN HONOUR

DAY: Saturday

LOCATION: London

TIME: 10:30

WEATHER: 15-18 degrees, slightly sunny

Boo hoo. I’m going home soon. And I’ve still got so much to do. So enough of that, lets start visiting. The bridge they call “Tower Bridge” and the tower they call “Tower of London”, I coming to get you. Using the one day pass for both buses and tubes, it was much easier to get around. Went to the “Tower of London” and soon after the “Tower Bridge” to do our first bit of sightseeing.

Up ahead is the Tower of London. Well, we didn't go in but it was spectacular even from the outside.

Sundial and my goodness was it accurate.

GIANT MONKEYS, RUNNNNN

RUNNNN....

They have the most unique of outfits.

Bullet shaped building. Don't know what its called.

A little dungeon gate?

No, its a traitors gate.

Looks far away isn't it?

Well its not.

Spooky.

Lovely.

Dreamy. Thats probably the black pearl there.

Archy.

Tall.

Sailing, sailing home. Sailing sailing home.

Lovely isn’t it. Now its on to “Madam Tussaud” to visit the wax figures. But not before stopping for some lunch.

What'cha staring at punk? IF YOU SMELL, WHAT THE ROCK IS COOKING.

Expelliarmus

Pulp fiction 2 gangsters.

Now the reason why those 2 girls are in the picture is because nobody would move to let me get a clear shot. All the girls were making kissy face to him.

I thought you were in Los Angeles

She's still Jenny from the block

Parley?

Hello, I am the Terminator.

Everybody lets rock.

Are you teasing me man?

What are you doing here?

Go Johnny Go... Go boy go Johnny go

The Five Beatles

Figalo....

Rock and Roll dude

I have a dream...

All hail me. hahah.

We're bringing sexy back, well, actually only he is.

I'm gonna miss you.

Ladies and gentlemen, Dope Boy has left the building.

Incredibly real aren’t they? And now we move on to “Piccadilly Circus” and “Covent Garden” for the last stop of the day and the whole trip. It was kind of like the Chatelet of Paris. It is where lots of shopping takes place and where most locals would shop. So I paid it a visit, and I of course bought some stuff.

And has gone to Piccadilly circus

Last few moments here and i'm going to enjoy this.

Bear Bear

Covent Garden

Its kind of like a little flea market.

Ok, I know I said it was meant to be our last stop. But boarding the wrong bus and alighting at the wrong stop can do wonders too. We alighted at St Paul’s and saw a sports shop which was selling at 70% off. Now I know it’s still pounds, but come on, 70%, you got to go and look. And besides the shop, there were some good views for viewing purposes. And the funny thing was that the St Paul’s underground station was closed. So we had to find the nearest underground station to head back.

St Paul's cathedral. Very nice and peaceful place.

And if you don't believe me, just look at how many people there are here.

The last stop of the entire trip. And its time to let me go homeeee.... i'm just too far...

Ok, we made it back and now I want to take a moment to look back on the past 16 days. 18 if you include my flight night and tomorrow’s flight……

Ok, I’m done looking back. Overall, I have found this trip to be soooooooooo much more then what I had expected. I feel lucky to have this opportunity to see these places. It will forever be in my memory and I would love so much if I could go back there again.

Now I believe that I would be breaking some kind of code or law if I am not going to do what I am about to do. I’m going to draw some comparisons between Paris and London.

London

Scenery: 7/10

Food: 7/10

People: 8/10

Convenience: 6/10

Cleanliness: 6/10

Overall take on the city: 8/10

Paris

Scenery: 8/10

Food: 6/10

People: 7.5/10

Convenience: 8/10

Cleanliness: 6/10

Overall take on the city: 8.5/10

So that’s it for DOPE BOY INC in Europe. Once again, I must stress that it has just been a totally unbelievably experience and if I had a stronger vocabulary to describe mind blowing, I would use it but I think you know what I mean. Tomorrow I got an early coach to catch to Heathrow Airport before flying off at noon. So for the last time in London, goodnight. But before I go to bed, I’m gonna do some packing as I bought too much stuff for my own bags and I’m also gonna watch “The World’s Best Elvis”.

Day 15

PRAISE THE LORD

DAY: Friday

LOCATION: London

TIME: 10:30

WEATHER: 16-17 degrees, cloudy

Its Friday, which means that it is going to be the 2^nd last day I am going to be here. It all went by so fast, too fast in fact. The phrase “time flies when you are having fun” is so true. Anyways, back to London. First stop, Westminster Abbey. It was the same place where the funeral of Lady Diana took place. Other historic landmarks were also held in this holy place but that was the one I could remember best. Well, pictures are not allowed but I did sneak a few.

You're too big lady. This picture also appeared in the Straits Times too.

I'm about to go in, so follow me...

Lets admire outside the abbey first shall we?

She beautiful isn't she?

With her cute little tattoos

An open area in the abbey

It's so old, it'll probably break when i touch it

Its just such a holy place.

Yea, it is.

The visit to Westminster Abbey really teaches one a lot. Tombs of the past kings and queens were there. However the only one I could remember was “Mary Queen of Scots”. But now we move on out of the place and next, we are going to pay my old friend “Big Ben” a visit. Along the same stretch with parliament house.

What up what up Ben?

Don't be looking down on me Ben...

Look at them, don't they just look so fierce?

ho ho Ben

Crossing the “River Thames” and on to the “London Eye”. Can’t wait to catch the bird’s eye view of London.

No, thats not a feris wheel. Its the London Eye up on River Thames

And yes, that is me in the picture.

Quickly now, don't let it leave without you.

And away we go.

Just loving the view

Still loving it.

Look people, we're up.

And now i'm on top

Westminster Palace

Look at the tiny people below

Big Ben and Bigger Leo, haha.

Scary freak of nature.

Last but not least for the day, we headed of to the London Bridge. Its not falling but looking at it, it could, but I don’t wanna jinx it. Turns out it looks a little bit run down and old but hey, its still London Bridge.

My fair lady

I sure hope it doesn't fall.

Act cool. i know. haha

This should allow me to remember i was there.

And from here you can see Tower Bridge.

Tomorrow we visit the more eye pleasing “Tower Bridge” and “Tower of London”. And I just cannot believe that tomorrow is going to be my last full day before heading home.