Road Trip – Brighton / Beachy Head

brighton-and-beachy-head

Second Day

The weather was foggy when we arrived Brighton, however, I can imagine it would full of people when it comes to Summer. Brighton is a lively and young city. At first, we went to the Theme park in Brighton Pier and had some fun. Then we visited the famous Royal Pavilion, then we drove to the Beachy Head.

Beachy Head, from the name you can tell is the pointy cliff of Sussex, as famous as the white cliffs. We stopped there for half and hour and it was really relaxing. You could see a open-space land and the ocean, sheep, cows and farms. Then we drove back and ate in a famous Dimsum restaurant called Drunken Monkey in Liverpool Street. I heard there are many celebrities and cool trendy young people hanging out there, so it must be great to eat and hang out. Food was not bad; price was totally acceptable, but service could be improved. Then we drove back home and had a great fun holiday.

Third day – Lee Valley

Last station was Lee Valley – 40 minutes drive outside London, then we had a picnic in the park, and rent 4 bikes and rode for 4 hours, seeing the canal, forest, swans and enjoyed the sun and Spring in England. It was the most amazing place to have a weekend break for cycling. Bike rental is 2 pounds per hour. Super good deal. Here are some more pictures.

第二天 -布朗顿 / 海滩头

我们开车1个半小时后,到达布朗顿,可惜天气还是有点雾气,海滩上不是很多人,布朗顿是出了名的漂亮和有海滩度假胜地。但可以想象中夏天应该超级多人到这里来晒太阳。给我的感觉它是一个年轻有活力的城市。我们走到海边的‘游乐场’玩了‘鬼屋’ 上下飞船,吓死我了,象海盗船一样,太久没有玩了,功力下降了许多!然后去出名的有印度色彩的-皇宫宫殿,听说以前一个国王旅游到印度,喜欢印度的宫殿建筑就照样子也建了一个,然后我们吃了个简单的炒面就开车去海滩头了。

海滩头,象它的名字一样,是布朗顿最凸出的陡峭的峭壁,也是以白色峭壁出名,我们走了半个小时,海滩头给人很开阔和休闲的感觉,很自然,看着羊啊牛的,吃着草,广阔的草地,看着海,晒着太阳,感觉朴素中带浪漫,十分享受。大家也累了,开车到伦敦商业街利物浦街吃饭,选了一个听说蛮多名人去蒲的餐厅叫 - 醉猴,吃点心和喝酒的地方。我们点了很多点心和些鸡尾酒。食物还可以,价格也蛮能接受的,但服务要改进下。这样就结束了我们第二天旅游。

第三天 - Lee Valley

我们选了伦敦郊外一个公园湖边野餐和骑自行车,放松和运动,户外运动是我们的最爱。单车是两位退休老人家成立的,2磅一个小时,哪里有这么便宜,晚去还没有单车租呢,十分popular啊!值得推荐。这里还有超级多的照片呢!

Road Trip – Canterbury, Dover, Deal and Sandwich

day-one

Day one

As we planned to travel some cities in the UK with friends during Easter Holidays, so we chose Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Sandwich in the first day. These four places are all located in South East England. First day, John drove us to Canterbury as our first stop to see the famous Canterbury Cathedral. Then had some pizza in Strada for a quick lunch. However, we had planned to have a boat trip in Canterbury, but we ran out time. Canterbury was a small pretty town, peaceful, and people were friendly. I like Canterbury a lot.

The next stop was Dover – the famous White cliffs. It was peaceful and open, facing the ocean. It supposes that you can see France through Dover, (the funny thing was Ricky received a message from O2 saying – welcome to France, even we were standing in Dover! That’s why you can see they were very close to each other) Unfortunately the weather was a little bit foggy, so we were unable to see France. I like Dover beach and able to see English Channel.

The last stop was Deal and Sandwich town. They were a small little town, so we just took some pictures and because everyone was tired, so we drove back to rest and ready for the next day. Here some day one pictures.

第一天路游 - 坎特伯雷 / 多弗和三文治郡

和朋友们决定放复活节时一起开车去英国几个城市玩。我们选择了第一天先去东南部的坎特伯雷,多弗和三文治郡。开车一个半小时,到了著名的坎特伯雷教堂,本想去乘小船参观的,但我们闲逛教堂太久了,就只能放弃,下次罗。去Strada意大利餐厅吃了超级大的pizza,然后就去下个站。我蛮喜欢坎特伯雷的郡的,漂亮,静静蛮悠闲的小镇,人们也很和蔼。

多弗最著名就是它的白粉质的峭壁, 好天的时候,你可以站在英国的多弗看到法国。我们到了多弗,面对的广阔的海边,看着英吉利海峡, 感觉很开阔和舒服!可惜优点雾,看不到法国,但好笑的是朋友居然收到电信发来的信息说:欢迎您到法国。多弗很漂亮,好天气的时候,可以周末三五知己对着海,晒着太阳,在海边野餐,蛮休闲惬意的!

最后一站就是Deal和三文治郡,我们吃的三文治,我听说就是古时候一个君主喜欢赌博,但边赌博时候又饿了,叫人搞个面包中间加点肉,但不知道怎么命名,就索性叫他们的郡的名字。我们的三文治就这样来的,约翰超级喜欢三文治,就说我们要去下,郡很小,我们就开车过了,大家也累了,就结束了我们第一天的旅游。这就是我们第一天的照片

Jason Mraz in Hammersmith Apollo

jason-mraz-concert-in-london

Discovered Jason when he had released his first albumMr. A-Z in 2006, and since then, his music is pleasure to listen to. Friends saw Jason performed in HK last month, and said it was an amazing concert. So we finally arrived Hammersmith Apollo last night, where there were many young fans already standing outside, trying to get the good spots to see Jason. We also lined up before it might get too late.

It started at 7: 30, and surprisingly, Jason came out and introduced the warm-up bands, one was Priscilla Ahn, who also sang with Jason for the song called “Lucky” later on. I like Priscilla’s music and her voice was pretty good.

After 8: 30, the whole concert was full. When Jason came out, fans started getting so crazy to welcome him. He basically sang his latest album – We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. When he and Priscilla were singing “Lucky”, then “I’m Yours”, all the fans were singing together and it was a fantastic atmosphere!

Overall, Jason performed very well, and he gave fans many surprises. We did enjoy his concert and look forwards his new album soon. (Jason cover picture is from Flicker.com)

在2006年发掘Jason出第一专集Mr.A-Z 的时候就喜欢上他的音乐,他的音乐让人感到十分阳光和放松,很有California, 沙滩,享受生活的味道。朋友们都去看他在香港演出,说他的表演超级棒呢。终于等到他在伦敦演出拉,昨晚,很多歌迷6点还没到就在排队,要抢最好的位子看Jason.伦敦演唱会都是一个价钱,只是你选择要站还是要做。所以歌迷都纷纷要提前排队,抢个头位。 我们7点也就排上队,等着开场。

7点半就准时开场,惊奇的事,Jason亲自出来介绍‘热身’队 - 一个叫Priscilla Ahn的吉他女歌手,声音和歌曲都不错。到了8点半,全场的坐位都爆满,当Jason出场时,歌迷尖叫声不断。当他和Priscilla唱 “Lucky” 和 “I’m Yours” 的时候,全场歌迷都纷纷和他一起唱,气氛超好!他主要唱他的最新专集,虽然没有唱很多首我的最爱,但他的表演功和调动歌迷的气氛十分棒。疯狂的歌迷被他的声线迷倒了。我们都期待他另一张新专集。

Russian Party

russian-party

Olesya from Russia invited us to join her house party on Saturday night. Actually I am not really familiar with Russian culture, either with the food. Even though Russia is close by the Northern China, it feels so far away from the Southern China where I grew up. But I am glad that I have met Olesya and she showed me a lot of real Russian food and culture. With all the hard work preparation for the party, she had woken up 6 am and home-made all food with her closest friend Anastasia. The food looked professional as well as tasting delicious.

After few bottles of wine and vodka, everyone started dancing, talking, laughing and enjoying themselves. When we tried to leave, Olesya and Anastasia didn’t want us to leave, then gave us a lot of hugging and kisses – not sure it was the alcohol effect or the Russian culture that they look tough and cold outside, but after being friends with them, they are very warm and passionate inside.

I guess one thing I learn about Russian culture from Olesya is that everything needs to be perfect and she is a very discipline girl. (I am sure there are some exceptional people like her) It was a fantastic party and we enjoyed a lot, also experienced another type of culture in the UK. Here some of the pictures.

俄罗斯派对

俄罗斯来的澳丽莎周六邀请我们参加她在她家开的的派对,说实在话,我不是很熟悉俄罗斯文化和食物,虽说俄罗斯和北部的中国是近邻,历史或政治上也很多‘关系’,但俄罗斯对在南方长大的我,实在太遥远太陌生了。 但我十分高兴认识澳丽莎,她让我认识了很多俄罗斯文化和食物。她说她早上6点和她老友安娜就起来准备食物。派对食物看起来十分专业及好吃。

过了一会,几瓶红酒和伏特加之后,大家纷纷跳舞,开始变得疯狂 - 不知道是酒精的效应还是这就是俄罗斯的文化,虽然他们有时候看起来十分强壮和严肃,但和他们认识之后,才发掘其实他们内心很温暖及热情。我在澳丽莎身上学到俄罗斯文化的一点就是他们的严禁纪律性和一切都要整齐完美,不能有瑕疵。当然也可能有很多不同的例子。我们12点先走人,她们不让我们走,老亲亲抱抱我们说不要走,他们继续派对到4点。我十分享受这个特别的‘俄罗斯派对’,对我来说,又体验了一个不同国籍的文化是一件极开心和特别的体验。这里有些照片和大家分享。

Mew

mew

I have been searching some new music recently, and thanks for my friend Syrinx introduced Mew. Mew is a band from Denmark, established in 1995 with a musical style that is best described as a combination of indie rock and progressive rock (with shoegaze and dream pop influences). I have been listening their music these week and I like their album a lot, and highly recommend to you if you like indie rock.

Best albums: And The Glass Handed Kites and Frengers
Best songs:

  • Zookeeper’s boy
  • Speicial
  • 156
  • Comforting Sounds
  • Apocalypso
  • She came home for Christmas
  • You can hear their songs in last.fm here for free or visit their myspace.

    最近在找有没有新歌或新专辑刺激下神经,要感谢广州的朋友Syrinx,一个很小就打从心底喜欢英文摇滚!她介绍给我去听Mew的其中一首歌。Mew是95年就成立的丹麦摇滚乐队,他们的音乐类型是indie摇滚加上电子摇滚。这个星期都在听他们的专辑。最喜欢的是我放在封面的2张专辑,里面的歌曲十分喜欢。喜欢indie rock的朋友们,我极力推荐哦。 上面是6首我的最爱也是比听的哦!你们可以上last.fm免费听他们的歌曲,或是去他们的空间 听!

    My First Birthday in London

    french-style

    Today it’s my 27 years birthday but also is my first birthday in the UK. I am very grateful that I have met a lot of good friends as well as having such a good time together during the school term. Last night, we went to celebrate our tri – birthdays for Elieen from Korean, John and me who were all born in March with Miwa and Vicky. John found a French restaurant called Savoir Faire in Holborn, and it has been recommended as the top-table in 2008 with 5 stars reviews.

    The restaurant was very cosy, French style with oil-panting on the wall. Only flaw was the music! The price was affordable and the food was absolutely tasty, just like their name – Savoir Faire in French means someone knows the trick.

    We ordered some wine, starters, main courses and desserts. I ordered a slowed-braised lamp and it was a super huge lamb leg with mush-potato, which it could feed two people and I ate them all! Others ordered the popular dish – Duck, and John ordered a fish dish. After the meal, we all stuffed and left with a big satisfaction. Friends and I had a fantastic time with delicious food. London is the city you can think of any food from different nationalities, and never could try them all.

    I have received many birthday cards and wishes from friends and families. John bought me the ticket to see Keane with Ladyhawke Concert on 30th of May. I have bought myself many clothes to spoil myself. Moreover, John cooked a delicious fish with roasting huge mushroom with cheese tonight, along with beer and chocolate pudding!

    I had a really happy birthday and wish to share my happiness with you. Here some pictures to share with you.

    今天是我27岁的生日,同时也是我在英国的第一个生日。幸运的我在短短的半年中认识很多好朋友,也和他们度过了很多校园美好的时光!昨晚我们为了庆祝韩国美女Elieen,约翰和我三人都是3月份生日,一起和日本好友美和和香港老友Vicky一起五人读过。约翰选了个法国餐厅,听说这个餐厅10年历史,评价很高,很多杂志和评论都说食物超级棒,厨师有5星级的水平,这一定要尝试下。

    餐厅十分法国味道,2层楼,墙壁是手工的大幅油画,唯一不足的是音乐 – 配合不了餐厅的味道。价钱中高,但食物超级美味! 就像餐厅的名字在法文的意思是 – 它知道秘诀 (他们能做出拿手好菜!)我们叫了红酒,开胃菜,主菜和甜点 – 我选了漫炖了5个小时的羊腿和土豆泥,羊腿够2-3个人的分量,我自己一人独吃掉!其他朋友选了最出名的鸭胸,程度刚刚好,约翰点了鲈鱼,他说超级好吃!然后再甜点!天啊,我们把碟子都吃得一干二净,5个人吃到超级饱,决定去伦敦眼周边走半个小时消化下,大家对餐厅的评价特别高,食物超级物有所值!

    太爱伦敦的理由就是你可以吃到全球各地特别好吃的食物,因伦敦多元化很多国际人都在这里生活,餐厅的选择更是超级多,你要你想到的,都可以找到,品种太多了!

    约翰送给我Keane的5月底VIP伦敦演唱会门票和一双西班牙出的运动鞋,我看了很久,就是太贵不拾得买,他买了给我。我当天在自己买了几条裙子,哈哈!我们今晚喝些啤酒,烤大蘑菇加芝士在上面,烤鱼和甜点是巧克力布丁,浓浓的巧克力从布丁里面流出来,超级棒!

    很多朋友都在facebook和留言给我,谢谢你们的祝福,我度过一个十分开心幸福的27岁生日!照片很快再传上来给大家分享!这是一些最新照片

    River Trip and Parties

    day-trip-on-thames

    The school has organised a boat trip to Greenwich on Wednesday. We were on the top boat and saw all the tourists’ attractions such as London Eye and Big Ben. Additionally, I also met some new friends from other classes and had some crazy laugh with thousands pictures taken. It was a windy cold spring day, but it didn’t reduce our fun at all.

    After we arrived in Greenwich, we walked around a little because I have been there with John’s family last summer. Friends decided to go to the pub and have some beer! Then all of us – 16 people went to the restaurant I had booked, ate some delicious food and went to another bar.

    So we decided to try the popular Buddha Bar near London Eye. I heard that it is a franchise which is based in Paris and all over the world. It is a very posh and fancy bar / restaurant. We had some talks, laugh and dance till 12 am, then we went home, the rest of friends went on continually till 5am! It was properly the last time all the friends gathering – I will miss you of my friends. Here some pictures to share with you

    因学期快结束了,所以学校组织周三大家坐船一游泰晤士河到格林尼治 – (英国伦敦东南一市镇,为本初子午线所经过的地方〕虽然当天风很大,大家兴致还是不减,坐在船顶,照相聊天和在船上看伦敦出名旅游景点。大家到了格林尼治之后决定去当地的酒吧喝上几杯,接着16个朋友去我订的餐厅(就在伦敦眼50米的地方,餐厅面对着泰晤士河,风景绝佳)。之后当然再接下场,自从离开广州之后,好久没有这么疯狂过了 – 去了很出名的(佛吧)听说它的基地在巴黎,然后世界各地都有。佛吧里面超级高级,看得出是很多政客去谈生意或疯狂的地方。我们喝了很多鸡尾酒,快到12点,我和约翰先回去了,他明天要上班,其他的同学疯狂再换去跳舞的地方疯狂到零晨5点。太疯狂了!可能大家分别后也没有很多机会大家一起吃饭疯狂,我会想念你们! 这是一些最新照片

    Epping Forest

    epping_forest

    We spent one weekend to travel to Epping Forest, which is famous for Henry VIII’s hunting house during 16 century. It is a natural, big forest and it is actually my first time to see the real wild forest. Some people rode their bicycles, and some were playing with their dogs. It was a peaceful sunny afternoon, and we enjoy our relaxing weekend exploring the area.

    The house which you saw in the pictures was used to Henry VIII’s hunting house. It is free entrance. I do enjoy some weekend walking and exploring some area in London!

    周末和约翰一起去epping森林,它是一个野生自然的森林,据说照片上的这个房子就是6世纪亨利八世纪在伦敦的猎物小房子。那是我第一次走入荒野的自然森林。看着大家溜着狗,起着单车,享受阳光和新鲜空气,这是我最喜欢的休闲周末!喜欢伦敦的理由很多,1个小时你就可以享受伦敦郊外的田野风光就是其中的一个理由!

    Spring in London

    spring-in-london1

    It was John’s birthday yesterday, and it was sweet to spend with him relaxing at home and eating some great food. Today, it was a nice crispy sunny day of Spring in London, so we decided to have a walk along the Regent Canal with Miwa. Luckily we had finished all the school projects and essays, so we can enjoy our free time.

    We talked two miles to reach Angel in Islington. On the half way, John discovered a local market called Broadway Market next to Victoria Park. Surprisingly, it is a very trendy area – all you can see there were full of fashionable young people, who were shopping some local food, picking their sandwiches, drinking some fruit smoothes, as well as purchasing some second hand clothes.

    Miwa and I first picked some German sausage hot-dog to share, and then we bought some French fusion food – coconut tiger prawn with some rice for £7. 50 each. John picked some healthy vegetable burger. The normal lunch price is from £3 – £8, and dessert from £2 – £5. It is not bad with so much fresh and home-made food or desserts – a perfect for a Spring panic in the Park. I do like this market – funky, trendy and fusion style. Then we walked another mile to reach Islington and had some chill Mango Passion fruit Frappuccino – so nice and cool to call a day.

    春天的伦敦

    昨天是约翰的生日,我们买了很多东西在家下厨,本想买礼物给他,出去逛街,结果买了很多自己的东西,却没有买给他,哈哈,他不介意的。我们把所有学校的功课都完成了,决定好好休息和享受春天的到来。所以今天,一个清爽蓝色的周末,我们决定和日本朋友 – 美和一起沿着学校的小河散步到另一个城镇。

    我们漫步走了2公里,半路约翰发掘靠近维多利亚公园的一个当地的百老汇市场。很多时尚的年轻人溜着狗,骑着单车,带着旧式的太阳眼镜,搭配着十分时尚的衣服买着三文治,新鲜蔬菜,自家做的蔬菜派和独特午餐,还有很多甜点,蛋糕,朱古力布朗尼,看到都流口水。

    首先我和美和先尝试下德国的出名的香肠热狗,超级好吃!然后去了家法国买了虾椰子饭,一份£.7.50磅,约翰用5磅买了一个素食汉堡包。普通午餐在3到5磅不等,甜点从2到5磅。价格还可以接受,虽然分量小点,但是自家做的,新鲜程度和用料方面都很下功夫,所以还是值得的。一群朋友一起买着三文治,在公园野餐,是最好不过的春天周末约会。我十分喜欢这个市场,时尚,新鲜,大把食物。我们再走了1公里路,然后喝上杯芒果热情果冰爽,结束今天的散步,真是超级爽!

    Hampton Court

    hampton-court

    Hampton Court called The Great Hall, which is England’s greatest medieval hall and one of Britain’s oldest theatres. William Shakespeare’s company performed there in 1603-4. It is famous also because it was one of Henry VIII’s palaces in 16 century. It is unmissable to not visit it if you love the historical of England’s buildings and architectures.

    We went to visit Hampton Court after watching one of my favourite TV series The Tudors.It took 1 hour by train to get there and we had a picnic at lunch, and then walked around the court for at least 3-4 hours. It is an enormous palace with many pretty gardens – even have a grape garden to make wine for Henry VIII. It still remains the same looking kitchens, beds, entertaining rooms as well as gardens in the period of Henry VIII. It was a great trip and it makes me feel that was it like in the old days. There are some pictures here.

    汉普顿宫廷

    汉普顿宫廷誉为贵族宫殿,是英国最大也是最老的宫殿和戏剧院。莎士比亚剧院曾在16世纪在这里演出。汉普顿宫廷的出名是因16世纪亨利八世在这里执政,这是他最爱的宫廷之一。假如你喜欢英国历史文化和建筑,汉普顿宫廷你是绝对不可以错过的。

    因亨利八世BBC连续剧,我决定来汉普顿宫殿参观下。大概一个半小时的地铁到车程,我们先在花园野餐,然后再进入宫殿。里面超级大,就花园就有4-5个不同形状和主题的花园,还有葡萄园 – 据说亨利八世自己种的葡萄,然后运酿成葡萄酒。当时英国也有很好的葡萄酒。

    宫殿里面有亨利八世的日常生活的细节。最好玩的是你首先进入厨房。你闻到阵阵木材味道,原来为了旅客们亲身体验亨利八世的厨房,厨房一直烧着木材。里面还有很多新鲜蔬菜,肉类,让你知道当时厨房要准备600多人的饮食多么不容易。

    接着参观亨利八世睡过的床,执政的地方,宴会的客厅,皇后们的房子,花园,亨利八世和皇后的房间正对着花园和喷泉,真是好风景!然后一个很多的迷宫供给他们娱乐,还后旧时候他们发明的室内皇式网球场。宫殿至少需要3-4小时才能游览完毕,这让我幻想,旧时候的皇室生活表面是多么的奢侈及繁华富贵,但又为了权利和财富而勾心斗角,我想每个社会都是这样发展起来的。汉普顿宫廷是一个不能错过,十分有趣和富有历史意义的旅程。这里有很多里面的照片哦!