Didn’t know getting a bank account in UK can be such a pain. Anyway after talking to 4 banks and still being brought around in circles, I decided to take a break and went back to see some ldf shows. Took a bus down to Leicester Square and took a long and cold walk to Southampton Row to look for Central St. Martins. It was drizzling and I didn’t have umbrella with me. Good thing I had my cap on so I pop on my earphones and braved the rain while listened to some feeling feeling music. It actually feels quite good but too bad I have to stop frequently to look at the map as I didn’t know the way.

After looking through the ma works of csm, which I thought are pretty impressive, I walked down Oxford St to look for Regent St for more exhibits. That was my first time in Oxford St (after hearing it for so long). It was a very busy street, wanted to take some photos to show you guys but I was just too busy dodging passer by and since the drizzle didn’t stop, I‘ll just do it next time.

Stopped at Regent St. to look at Gap Kids window display and Wunderville display, then rushed down to Habitat hoping to see their Room X display but silly me didn’t notice that It has already ended days ago. Since I have some time to kill while waiting for Angela to knock off work, I walked around Piccadilly Circus and decided to take some photos. Here is a view from the big junction:

*sorry for the lousy quality cuz i didnt have tripod with me la..

After that i decided to play with the shutter:

More night scenes:


Here's where Angela works (hmm.. close to i think)

When the poor thing finally done with her work, she brought me to this nice little italian restaurant at Angel for dinner. It was nice, food and ambience. and we had a great fun chat. Hope that lighten her friday night a little since she has been traumatised by her work lately. We are looking forward to travel London with our only common friend too. Nat, u see this? haha

That's Angela with our supersized cheese and pears pizza


More food! The mussels serving was generous!


and dessert :D

Hey here is a short update. School has started officially. On Monday we had another round of self introduction, I really see no point for them to do it again and again when everybody else just didn’t remember anything at all after that. For instance, I have got a classmate from China that told her friend that I am from Thailand right after the session. Sighs.

I have got a really interesting class cause they are made up of people from different ages, industries and races. There is a 40 yo entrepreneur that owns a dot com, a 30+ yo journalist that writes for several magazines in Norway, a shipping management officer cum navy from Taiwan, a Italian guitar musician etc etc…the most interesting part of all, is that most of them didn’t know anything about the course. When they made their introduction, they went like “I don’t know anything about interactive design. But I have decided to do something different and I think it is fun..” For a moment I forgot that I am actually doing a master course. I mean, how often do you hear Asians do ma for fun?

More surprises came during the second day of studies as they started teaching us how to use flash. It was so basic that I think Singapore taught that to secondary school students. Just when I thought that we should be doing research proposal and all, they were talking about which button does what. Well I guess I must have a good talk with the lecturer soon. At least what I can do now is to learn how to chill like the Caucasians. Half hour of lecture, coffee break, another half hour, cigi break, then another half hour…class dismissed. Haha.

Third day passed by more convincingly as we have a discussion on the history of hypertext. Well most of the time I didn’t know what they were talking about, but that should be it. It sounds more like a ma course that I was expecting, I shouldn’t understand and so I can complain that it is so tough and seek comfort from my friends. I love attending abstract lectures as it confuses everyone so in the end we can all walk out feeling intelligent :p

I wont have school from today till next mon so I have a long weekend! It can be boring since the rest are going to school but I have already a list of things to do lined up in my mind. Shall go now and settle my bank account first. Till then, hope all my sg and msia frens are doing well!

Shit, I just said it is a short update.

Last Saturday marked my first visit to brick lane. Visited some ldf events and the day ended with a ‘networking’ session of the design Singapore council. It was an inspiring day nonetheless and glad to have known some great Singapore designers, archi or not, :p Sunday was spent with more visits to ldf venues and ended with an exhibit in brick lane. Hope I can catch more before the fest ends this end of month.

that's angela and chee kuan having some fire exit fun

Last Thursday I tagged along the archi people for a London architectural walk. It was a damn long walk starting from 8am at Liverpool street station all the way till 4 plus pm ending at the London Eye. It was an eye opener walk for me nonetheless and didn’t regret climbing out of bed so damn early that morning. The structures in London are impressive I must say, and the materials used are beyond my knowledge. And never before I realized that architectural can be so arty and sexy. Hur hur.


and it was truly, a long walk :p

1st stop : 20/20 Design Movement by designSingapore Council, hope can see some good stuff from Zing

I am really surprised at the fact that there were so many Malaysians here. I have met more than 10 of them to date and have been hanging out closely with some of them. In fact we have been so united that we go places together, share our groceries and cooked every possible dinner together. I have never been into groupie but I guess I have to do this here, for being a lone ranger will be difficult. I have a classic example as there is this Japanese guy, probably in his early twenties stays beside me but he declined all our attempts to befriend him and forever acting cool. That leaves him with no friend and always seen going in and out alone. He is missing out lots of fun and laughter that he would have got from joining us and most importantly, a lot of useful information that we only hear and share among friends. And I guess he must be really bored too, judging from his frown on the face all the time. Anyway what can you do in that tiny room all day if you are not going out with friends? Anyway back to the group, all of them are relatively young and it is a good fuse of different personalities. I am again, the oldest in the group but it does feel good to stay within, even though at times I will think that they are childish, but isn’t it boring to have a group of matured adults doing nothing but talks about problems in life or soccer all the time?

It was Thames River Festival and after a late afternoon visit to the Liverpool Street, we were seen walking along the long stretch of Thames, stopping momentarily to look at different stalls set up and to spot hidden logos on some festival boards along the way. There was a heavy crowd and a flashy parade. We found a good spot after some long walks to look at the parade after which dashed to another spot to look at the finale fireworks. The display was awesome, none like any I have seen before. I guess the fireworks are still the same, only they have it more elaborately here. Everyone clapped and cheered after the display was over and we, yet again, made another long walk to Covent Garden station and parted there. Thanks to Angela for her time again, without her guidance we definitely wont have as much fun and also her dinner treat. Man the food here is really costly.

The weather in London is surprisingly snug at the moment. I was expecting cold stuff but I can now just walk along the street with tshirt and jeans. There was a guided tour during the 2nd day of our induction programme and we were brought around in London city center.

Before that lets recalled what happened during the 1st day after I arrived here. I met a girl from China at the airport and she eventually became my only companion since we were staying at the same hall and will be studying at the same campus. She is no newbie to London like me as she was already here since she was 16. 7 years in London… that explains her beautiful English accent and I think she seems kinda matured for her age too. After some senseless wait at the halls, we decided to skip the pre-arranged dinner and she brought me out to Leicester Square for dinner. There I finally met Angela for the first time after we have been talking for months on msn and man she is really tall. The night ended with a brief walk around the Big Ben. It was great cause I have been seeing it for years on pictures and there it was, right in front of me. There are loads of great building along the river waiting to be explored and I must be back for sure for a good look at them.

Back to our induction, we were brought up on a bus with a tour guide and got shown along Kensington High Street and made a quick stop at Buckingham palace before we moved on along Piccadilly and alighted at Covent Garden. Covent Garden is hip with lots of buskers and fashionable crowd. It is supposed one of the busiest shopping districts after Oxford Street but I am really not into big brands shopping, so we have better fun staying around watching some magic shows and man they were really good.

The buildings in London are intriguing as they merge the old and new and they are really huge. Every one of them has got stories to tell and it seems to take forever to visit them. I am really looking forward to some free time in the future to spend some time here.

The day is finally here after years of determination, months of planning and days of haste preparation. Everything was in great rush. Managed to meet some friends in a hustle and after some sentimental moments at the airport, here I am, typing this virgin entry in the city of my dream, London.

Here is a shout out to everyone, thanks for coming to the airport and the wonderful gifts, messages and hugs. I am here safe and sound and really miss having you guys around. Two years, after all is not a long time I reckon (but it is enough for you to have a baby or two) I will see you again really soon.

I have decided to start this blog as my life journal in London. I have prepared four years for this and I hope it will change my life for good. I can already feel the different vibe once I set foot at Heathrow. I hope this is a start for something wonderful.