Oh, it was hard to get up so early! But I did, and by 6:00 AM I was in a taxi on the way to the airport. One of the advantages of flying business class is there is little or no line at the check-in counter. I just went in, walked up to the counter, and within a couple minutes I was on my way to immigration. There was no line there either, and by 6:30 I was done with the formalities and had time to kill. I found the Cathay Pacific lounge and had some coffee and a pastry. Ahh, that's better. At least now I can make it until we get breakfast on the plane. As I went thru security the x-ray machine operator asked me if I had a pliers or any tools in one of the bags. Yes, I had a small took kit with two pliers and some small screwdrivers. These were not permitted, so the toolkit was taken from me and put into a box as checked luggage. Interesting. They had flown in that same carry-on luggage from Manila to Bangkok to Singapore. But not from Singapore. The aircraft boarded at about 7:30, and we pushed back right on time at 8:05. I was in seat 15A, In the seat next to me was a man who had been in town for the aerospace show. He seemed pretty happy. I think he did some good business at the show! We flew to Hong Kong, where I changed planes to go to London. I had about 2 1/2 hours in HK, and had time to go to the CP lounge. Wow! What a nice place. Free food and snacks, free coffee and drinks, lots of internet computers and laptop hook-ups. Amazing! I had some noodles and a coffee. The noodles were very good!
The flight to London boarded and departed right on time, no problems. I was now in 11K, the window, and my seat mate was a Brit going home from a business meeting in Australia. We took-off about 2:30 PM HK time, which was 6:30 AM London time, and we arrived in London about 8:00 PM London time. It was a long flight! After lunch I was able to sleep for about 4 hours or so. It was much easier to sleep here in business class--the seat reclined very far, and I was pretty comfortable. We finally arrived at Heathrow. It was quick and easy getting thru immigration, and within a few minutes my luggage appeared on the turnstile. OK. Now I had to find the ATM; the express train to Paddington; and also get a SIM card for the phone. I also found the left luggage department. It would cost 5GBP (Great Britain Pounds) per item per day to leave luggage. I was not going to spend $18USA a day to store 2 items of luggage, so I just pushed my luggage cart all the way to the train. I found the ticket machine, paid my 25GBP for a round trip ticket, and boarded the waiting train. 15 minutes later we were in Paddington. I found another luggage cart, loaded my stuff, and walked out to the taxi stand. Whoa! What a long line! Oh well, it moved quickly, and it gave me a chance to talk with the lady behind me in line. We agree that we would share a taxi, since I was only going a couple blocks to my hotel, and she was going a farther distance. This we did, I gave her 3GBP for my share of the fare, and the taxi dropped me at the London Crown Hotel.
I had found the London Crown Hotel on a couple different hotel websites, and it seemed to have a very good deal. I was not disappointed when I checked-in. Yes, the room is small, but it is clean, has a TV and phone, and has its own bathroom. For about $53US a nite it is a real bargain for London! And, this includes a breakfast. I guess it is a bit cheaper to travel to London in the winter! Anyway, I lugged my stuff up to the room (luckily they did have an elevator), and unpacked some things. I then went down to the hotel lobby to check my email. They have a computer with a coin operated timer. You put in 1GBP coins, and you get almost 6 minutes. This is the most expensive internet I have ever seen. Luckily I work fast, and I am able to check my email within the 6 minutes alotted, but I will not do this again. I am sure there are internet cafes in the area. I then went to bed. I was tired.
I wake several times during the night. My body is not sure what time it is. There is an 8 hour time difference. Is it 7:00AM, or 3:00 PM? Well, I am unable to get back to sleep, and so I do get up at about 7:00, and get downstairs about 7:45 for breakfast. It is not a hot english breakfast. But it is a full continental breakfast, with coffee or tea, rolls and bread, and cereal (several different kinds). So it is very easy to have a filling breakfast of cereal and breads. Not bad! While eating I meet some of the other hotel guests. A lady from Korea here for 3 days on a business trip. A young couple from Japan who are celebrating their recent college graduation. And, there is a large group of older teen students from Germany.
After breakfast I go back to the room. Out the window I can see it is a sunny and blue sky day! Great! It is also quite cold, starting out at about 0C, and hopefully will get up to about 7 or 8C later today. I do some more unpacking, and then walk around the neighborhood reacquainting myself. I had stayed just a few blocks away the last time I was here in 1999. Yes, there is the old hotel. Yes, I am glad I am not there this time! The London Crown is much nicer, and cheaper! I also spot a couple internet cafes, and buy a knit cap and some gloves. It is cold outside!
I call my internet friend G, and we agree to meet later in the afternoon. I have lunch in the restaurant next door to the hotel, and then walk to the subway station. I purchase a 1-day travelcard form zones 1 and 2, 4.30GBP, and take the subway downtown to Embankment. I walk outside and find that I am right near the river. I walk across the pedestrian bridge to the RCH concert hall, and then west along the river a short distance to the London Eye. The London Eye is the world's largest ferris wheel! What an amazing structure! Yes, I want to go on this, but not right now. Maybe tomorrow!
I walk back across the river to the Westminster tube station, which is across the street from Big Ben, and take the subway to Kings Cross station. I walk to the nearby McDonalds, and after a while G comes to meet me. We decide to go to the next neighborhood, Angel, which is where she lives, and where there are many restaurants. We go into Warner Village, an outdoor mall, and find a sushi restaurant where the food comes to you on a conveyor belt. It was very good, and maybe I had too many plates of food. The bill was quite expensive relative to what I have been spending on food. I must remember I am not in Asia anymore! G is a nurse in the private ward of a local hospital. As we sit and eat and talk my eyelids are getting heavy. We go for a short walk after dinner, but I can't fight it any longer, and so soon we say goodbye and I take the subway back to the hotel.
As I was walking thru the lobby and up the stairs to my room I heard a young lady asking the hotel clerk about the internet computer in the lobby. I told her it was very expensive, and that there were internet cafes just across the street. She went outside, and I went up to the room and to bed.
Back to Home Page
To Site Map/Table of Contents
Go to XXXXX