LDN day 2 and 3

Trafalgar Square

Day 2

Called 3 recruiters. Called 1st contact. Went to 1st contact to collect my pack. Went in to see one of the recruiters at Hammersmith. Went to open my bank account at Edgware Rd. Came home had dinner. Went for a walk in the city.

I must’ve had this big grin on my face when I stepped out of the tube station and into Trafalgar Square. ‘Wow, I am really truly here, standing right on Trafalgar Square.’ Even though the fountains were all fenced up getting some maintenance done, the square is still a great sight. Then I turn around and look what I’ve found, the big Ben! So I started to walk down towards it.

Big Ben

Having only ever seen it in photos and on tv, I have to say none of those mediums have ever done it justice. The facade is so ornate and detailed, it’s absolutely incredible. It’s an impressive sight when you the see the whole side of the Palace of Westminster. Then I look to my left and this is what I found!

The London Eye

I walked around a bit more and tried shooting a little street, I may upload some of them, or not… During which I discovered my 50mm lens is fucked. It wouldn’t auto focus from 0.8m – 0.5m, manual works. More about that in Day 3.

Day 3

Looked through a whole bunch of umbrella agencies, signed up with one. Phoned to apply for a NI number (need it to work around this place, similar to a tax file number). Got a call from the Hammersmith recruiter about a potential job, but it’s 2 weeks which overlaps with the Portugal trip and I panic. Recruiter was awesome and managed to sawp me for a one week job with the same client. I’m going in for an interview with the client tomorrow, hope I get it!

Emailed Kiem. Emailed Sissi. Went to bank to get a certified copy of my passport, umbrella agency needs it. Took the 50mm lens to the repair shop to get a quote. The guy says it’s the focus ring thingyo, said it’s a common problem if the lens has been dropped or knocked and also because the lens is front heavy. To replace the ring it’ll cost £120, which isn’t cheap, but the guy said because the ring is unever inside if I keep using auto focus it’ll burn out the motor. Hmm, I don’t exactly have a spare £120, so I’ll see if I get the job, if I do then I’ll get it repaired.

Then I went vintage shopping. Oops. I bought a black velvet jacket that fits so well and a pair of purple suede ankle boots. All for £50, awesome! And the amount of choices, I could spend hours in each store!

Ceiling of tutus

I ate half a gross pastie today, ewww. Had a nice iced chai latte in Brick Lane, that’s where I went vintage shopping. At the Whitechapel end of Brick Lane I found some letters I was so super excited when I spotted the 1st one, I wonder if the whole alphabet is still all there?

Over and out.

Hello LDN!

I have touched down. Here I’ll share some photos from day 1, I’ll keep the writing concise-ish and try to not bore you all to death with too many details.

The flight was ok, bearable thanks to the short stop in HK. Heathrow is crap! None of the escalators were turned on and it took forever to walk to customs. I didn’t write down my address in UK and I couldn’t fill it out in the customs card and the guy asked me so many questions. I mean c’mon, do I look like I’m an illegal immigrant about to enter the black market?

Blue sky!

Inside Swiss Cottage station

Finally I get on the tube and guess what I see, the sky is blue! It’s sunny and warm (still feels cold for me, but I saw a few girls in short sleeves and skirts). I met Markus at Green Park and he showed me to Yasinta’s place, thanks Markus for carrying my big luggage! I had a quick shower, consultation with my guidebook, a little skype with V, downloaded tube map, looked at google maps and off I went to Brick Lane market. Arh! Brick Lane, the only Brick Lane I knew of were from Facehunter’s photos and alas here I am. The area around Brick Lane is mostly Muslim from many backgrounds, but as you head in further trendoids start to appear and by the end of Brick Lane the mix of people is quite interesting. I gave away all my xssat cards, you can see the results here.

Crowds at Brick Lane

My first blue plaque, on a lane off Brick Lane, I’ve no idea who she is though

I ate a strawberry jam crepe which was good, a lime sherbet which was not so good and a smoked salmon cream cheese bagel which was very delicious! After not looking at any of the goods for sale at any of the markets and stores I headed back to the tube, passed the Whitechapel gallery so I went in for a look. I saw an interesting collection of modern art, most of which I don’t understand and don’t like. One installation though, I liked very much. It was by a Polish artist whose name I can no longer remember, the installation was centered around Picasso’s Guernica.

Hot salt beef being sliced

Bagels in the making

I bought some fruits at the markets and went home. Then I went to O2 and the Sainsbury there, it’s so bloody big and everything is packaged here. EVERYTHING is properly packed with a box and label designed by someone, not just a tray, clingwrap and a barcode. I bought the necessities but I still need to find a good pocket sized map of central London.

Main strip of Swiss Cottage

Regency Lodge

So that is home for the next few weeks, not this exact building but close enough. I don’t think I can keep up this blogging, so enjoy it while it lasts and then see it gradually decline til I won’t even remember I had this blog. You know what, I’m too sleepy I can’t think straight. I’ll go to bed soon.

Mixed bag

Photo found on flickr

Now that I’m so close to breaking out of this comfort zone that I was so desperately trying to get out of, now that I’ll be flying out in a few days, I’m feeling a bit scared, a little uneasy and rather surreal. Like I’m just going to pack up and disappear into a time warp and come out again in 9 months time? I’m sure the 25+ hours of flight will really set it in for me, I’m sure I’ll get really excited, worried and finally calm down, then start all over again several times in those hours.

I still have lots of errands to run, still haven’t packed and it still hasn’t set in that I’ll be in London this Sunday!

quick update: airfare booked

All booked all set all done.

Sydney to London 25 April 2009.

London to New York 13 October 2009.

Los Angeles to Fiji 18 January 2010.

Fiji to Sydney 22 January 2010.

Round the world, here I come!