Do you love travelling to London - "the big smoke"!
By dreamhealer
@dreamhealer (812)
September 5, 2008 5:25pm CST
Going to London early tomorrow morning, must do a bit of packing soon, but only staying over Saturday night, so won't need much. Going up with a local coach (bus) company. Staying in a cheap hostel near Hyde park (£12 overnight cost, no breakfast) in a dorm with nine others. Going to the London Vegan Festival in Kensington Town Hall. Should be lots of yummy, scrummy vegan food and other goodies. On Saturday am thinking of visiting a vegan cafe called "Pogo Cafe" in Hackney in north-east London reached via King's Cross.
Always find it fascinating when I go to London, the huge mixture of so many different nationalities of people living and visiting our capital city. I dread to think how expensive people from abroad find London. It's certainly not cheap to travel about on the tube (underground railway). When I went to Amsterdam in Holland in July/ August, even with a euro high against our pound, found it relatively inexpensive.
Whenever I go, usually like to try and go somewhere in the big city that I've never been to before, not sure if I will manage it this time.
Will probably find myself in a few shops when in London, not that I've got a great deal of cash to spend at the moment. The hostel I'm staying at near Hyde Park, is one I've never stayed at before, that will be an experience in itself...
Must go and pack now!!!! ;-)
1 person likes this
4 responses
@zhaoyuexj (98)
• China
7 Sep 08
i did not visit aboard.i like london very much,i will visit london if it is possible for me.
2 people like this
@dreamhealer (812)
•
8 Sep 08
Thank you for your comment. See you're from China, did you get to see any of the Olympics games? Will be interesting to see what happens, when they come to London. Watching sport is not a great interest of mine, though, so highly unlikely that I will go to London to watch any of the games in person!
1 person likes this
@maximax8 (31046)
• United Kingdom
6 Sep 08
I hope that you will have a wonderful time in London. It will probably be very interesting at the London Vegan Festival and you will find some delicious food to taste. Perhaps you will meet other travelers at the hostel near Hyde Park. I think £12 sounds very cheap for a bed in a dorm in London. When I lived in Kent I went to London quite often. My favorite sights are Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and Kew Gardens. One day I would love to go on the London Eye and get a superb view. If I went to London I think I would travel by train and stay with friends.
2 people like this
@paid2write (5201)
•
6 Sep 08
I hope you have a good time in London and at the festival. I lived and worked in London for more than twenty years and I think it's a great city, with a wonderful mix of people and different cultures.
It is an expensive city to live in but I walk a lot, and I knew many quiet routes through squares and parks and along the Thames path. I used to enjoy walking in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens and I have pleasant memories of Holland Park.
1 person likes this
@dreamhealer (812)
•
8 Sep 08
Yep, had a great, full on weekend!
Good coach journey up, along the M5 and M4 motorways, up through the hills towards Bristol. As on top deck of coach can see the Second Severn Crossing, though a bit misty beyond that. Read some of my latest book, "Black Holes and Energy Pirates", about our psychological energy blocks and how others can attempt to take our energy!
On getting closer to London, saw a really clear, albeit distant view of Windsor castle, but the best view from the M4 I've ever seen. Coming in closer to London, you can see the planes taking off from Heathrow airport, about 1 every minute and a quarter I think, you literally see them taking off, one after the other. Could make out some British Airways plans and 1 American Airlines planes - all a lot bigger than the plane I went on from Exeter to Amsterdam earlier in the summer...
Hey, this is getting to be a novel! And it was supposed to be a comment on "paid2write"'s response!!!
Well, once in London, made my way from Hammersmith to Hackney for a meal at Pogocafe - all totally vegan food. It really belted down with rain at one stage, while I was inside! It was getting to be around 3 in the afternoon, as the London Vegan Festival was the next day, I hadn't really planned the rest of Saturday, so took a look on the 'net provided at Pogo. The event listings seemed too biased, didn't see anything that really grabbed me... that I wanted to see. Racked my brains... have been to Camden Town before, where there is an excellent outdoor market.
Didn't actually get to the main market... just as I was walking up to Camden Lock spotted this really excellent joint. inSpiral lounge. It's true, it wasn't here when I last came to Camden, some years ago. As they say on their business card.. "inSpiring vegetarian, vegan & raw organic food... come and enjoy our visionary food, raw treats and fully organic bar...". This was a real gem to stumble on.
Well enjoyed a good meal here (5 - 6 pm ish). Noticed that they live music there in the evening, so I decided to nip back to my hostel in Bayswater, dump off my daypack, freshen up at bit and come back. It was well worth it. Electronic type music, with some lyrics from this 'rasta' type guy. Some really thought provoking, dreamy type graphics were projected onto the wall and so it made a good first part to my Saturday night.
1 person likes this
@paid2write (5201)
•
9 Sep 08
Thanks for marking my response and for the long interesting comments. I have been on many coach journeys along the M4, with the view of Windsor Castle and the planes landing and taking off from the airport. I've been to Camden Market a few times too. I used to walk there along the Canal towpath when I lived in Islington. Oh you've made me quite nostalgic for the Big Smoke!
@petiksmode (2983)
• Philippines
5 Sep 08
yeah you should start packing now..you will be away on trabel again..last time you posted on my discussion that you went away for a month how long will be your grand travel this time? heheheh
i envy you i hope i can travel real soon...
take care God bless
@dreamhealer (812)
•
8 Sep 08
Yeah, I was back at work today - have used up all my holiday leave for the time been!
1 person likes this
