Touristy Things!

Today I braved the outside by myself! And guess what - I didn't get lost! (at least.. not TOO lost...)

I got up at 10am thinking it was 1:30pm (damn receiver), but it's a good thing I did get up when I did, or else I wouldn't have been able to do all the things I wanted to!

After making a breakfast of a fried egg between a UK 'muffin' (I actually asked my friend where the English Muffins were. HURP DURP) and some tea, I got dressed and braved the outside world. Found my way to the South Ealing tube/train station. I always get so self conscious when I'm in a new country, I always think I'm not dressing properly or I'm wearing something in a certain way that would offend someone. Anyway, it just felt like people were staring at me, which they probably were. After about 45 minutes of transferring, I eventually got to Baker Street, wandered around aimlessly, but saw some really pretty buildings. After doing a bit of a circle, I found 221b Baker St, which is Sherlock Holmes'es address in the books by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There is a Sherlock Holmes tribute museum there where there are chamber maids that run the shop inside, and there is also a constable outside letting you into the museum. I went into the museum and saw all the cool stuff, which included top hats and deerstalkers. :D I wandered around the really tiny, but really tall house for quite a while, taking pictures and trying to avoid tourists. There is a lot of really neat stuff in there, including some freaky wax figures, and an antique potty, some old chemist sets, recreated old "clues", really old books, and other antique victorian knicknacks. I got the dude inside to take the touristy picture of me wearing Sherlock's hat, sitting in his chair, with his pipe. Observe totally rad picture. Also apparently people write to Sherlock Holmes. All his mail goes into this binder that is sitting in one of his studies. I read the funniest letter from a Japanese girl, and I took a picture of it. It reads..

"Dear Mr. SHERLOCK HOLMES How are you? I am seventeen year-old-girl and a junior at highschool. I have had great respect for you since I read about your distinguished service in the book. I admire you for your discernment, coolness, and prodigious intelligence. I am sure that you are gentleman of the first class, as well as you are the greatest detective in the world. Why have you retired at so early age? If I remember correctly, you were 48 year old at that time. Aren't you going to come back any longer? I have heard you are living in SUSSEX. What are you doing every day except when you raise bees. I hope you live comfortably. English is not much in my line, but I wrote this letter with my whole heart. Pleasure excuse me made some mistake in grammar.. I promise I will treasure your letter if you write back. Please do. I wish you every happiness. Sincerely yours, Rina Nakahara"

Next, I walked down the street to Reagent's Park, but not before stopping off in another small park to do a walkaround it's horseshoe shape to admire the lovely scenery. There were benches everywhere, and there was always one person at the end of each bench. Also, there were some girls in the middle of the park smoking that flavored tobacco out of a huge ornate water pipe. I didn't know people could do that in public. Interesting! Anyway, didn't stay long at Reagent's Park, I sat under a tree and decided what I was going to do next. I had some time to kill, so I decided to hit up Hyde Park/Kensington Gardens, which would be quite a walk. I hadn't eaten anything so I went to the Tube again, headed off to the Green Park area, and got sidetracked by the most gorgeous looking store, Fortnum & Mason and got some Strawberry Tea in a pretty pink can and some Smoky Earl Grey in a box, which I'm not sure if I like yet. Smoky is just a weird taste for tea. I guess it's more for the Professor Layton tea types. (the more DISTINGUISHED tea drinkers..)

I found a Starbucks and got a chocolate chip shortbread and large earl grey for 3.20 pounds, and headed to Green Park where I had a really nice sit down on a bench and just enjoyed the fresh air, viewing my photos, enjoying my tea and shortbread before I did the walk back to the Tube and went to Hyde Park, which is a huge park with a lake in the middle of it (Serpentine) where you can go river boat paddling.. I walked the great distance, crossed the bridge and went up to Kensington Gardens, where the famous Peter Pan statue was. It was definitely a tourist attraction but I had a few chances to take some great pictures without people interference. Even traded photo-taking with a nice foreign blonde guy. :D (see awesome photo!)

Walked back to the Tube and transferred a bunch of lines, got stuck in CRAZY rush hour and severe delays on my line.. sat in a VERY crowded train for 45 minutes with it barely moving.. Eventually got back and ate dinner, watched House, played Buzz! and had an awesome chat with one of Chris's flatmates :D

With that, I will bring you more adventures.. soon!



Hey isn't that a... I KNOW YOU!!! You bunch of traitors!

ELEMENTARY, MY DEAR WATSON

Me with the Peter Pan statue!

A mini-Tardis outside of Picadilly Circus Tube station!

Beautiful sunset outside of Kensington Gardens