With my departure back to China looming, it was agreed that a day in London would needed to be spent cutting up a 'Third Strike' edition? Yes, that was right! Those English train fares were berserk, we had to take the coach from Birmingham because that impressed me? No, it did not! Grievances aside, that day in London was a great way to conclude my summer break! Let's go!
Waking up before the birds, that joke of a journey started with a taxi from Bilston to Birmingham. Our coach then took me and my mom down to London's Heathrow Airport because going into London first made no damn sense! I had wanted to take the train from Wolverhampton to London Euston but those prices were frightening, the coach was a much more cost-conscious choice. Staying at Terminal 4's own 'Premier Inn' felt like a serving of 'Déjà vu' because I had stayed before I made my post-Pandemic return to Mainland China! With those bags safely secured at reception, it was back onto another form of transportation to make it into the city! It felt much more chilled than that 2023 return to China, London didn't show me any 'work visa anxiety' with thanks I appreciated that my visa renewal would be done in China by my company's HR manager. Calling on a Royal connection, the 'Elizabeth Line' was there for us, we needed that West London hook up! Where would we go first? Sure, I already knew this!
Hold up! I laughed to hard at those tourists, well Americans because they were looking like deers in headlights. Those 'Heathrow' platforms were littered with those early arriving transatlantic passengers, it was giving chaos but I was not the one experiencing any form of panic. I already knew that my British Airways flight back to Shanghai wouldn't give me any concerns. What's it with Americans in London? I know I was being evil in that moment and I was reminded by my mom several times to stop laughing at them looking bewildered with their tickets at the barriers! Shame, it wasn't just me because the station staff were throwing eyes as well, I am sure they see that mess every morning at the same time? Yes! Passing through those stations west from Heathrow Airport did evoke some memories of my childhood but not all that much to shout about. Done with breakfast, we boarded a 'District Line' London Underground service from Ealing Broadway heading west once more. Bound for the Northern Line, it felt like a long ride!
I had big plans for that 'one and only day' in London, I wanted to see it all! What was I thinking? No actually, what was I thinking? I had definitely entered my 'Delusional Era! Changing Tubes at 'Embankment' was easy peasy, I wanted to see the most recent addition to the 'Northern Line', that being 'Battersea Power Station'. The whole journey from 'Ealing Broadway' to 'Battersea Power Station' via 'Embankment' took us over one hour, no joke that crosscity route was! I had not gotten the chance to see the all new 'Malaysia' funded 'Battersea Power Station' in all of its glory, I kept my card closeby because I knew that those prices would be 'frightening!' Stepping off that 'Northern Line' tube at the almost brand new station acted as quite the contrast compared to 'Ealing Broadway' and 'Embankment'. Shiny new it still looked after being opened in 2021, it reminded me of a Chinese underground station because most of the networks are brand spanking new! Using my UK bank card to swipe in and out of those stations felt weird, L!
Once a thriving 'coal-fired Power Station', Battersea's own fell into a pretty barron state until a major redevelopment project brought it back to life from 2014! Powered by a rather wealthy 'Malaysian' contingent, I was able to finally see that former industrial powerhouse reinvigorated into something new but altogether serving something to remember. It was very swish as we walked through the inside of that former 'Power Station', the only affordable brand looked to be 'Uniqlo!' Now, we didn't buy anything from the stores inside, sure those outside also took the biscuit! Fancy biscuits! We stopped by 'Wright Brothers' for a cocktail or two, my word those drinks were ex-penny but delicious at the same time! It was then I realised I have become accustomed to the big city prices in China because my money didn't go far at all near Battersea Power Station! Get me back to the 'Middle Kingdom' I said! I wanted to visit the 'British Musuem' but also had aspirations to drink some craft beer in 'Camden'. How, I had to choose!
Sure, I wanted to visit the 'British Museum' but in hindsight I knew with a theater show booked for that evening time would be extremely tight! I had previously done some research about a craft beer place alongside the 'Regents Canal' in 'Camden Town'. That brewing place would allow us to scoot up from Battersea to Camden on the Northern Line without any changes needed. The 'British Museum' didn't hold a direct route, that was a 'big no' for us! '3 Locks Brewing Company' added as that afternoon buffer becuase we headed up 'West!' Camden High Street served the same tourist trappings like previous visits but I saw through that 'Alterntive Fever', you know I was for real! I didn't have pearls to clutch, therefore I kept hold of my belongings because it was busy! Camden didn't fool me, I wasn't one of those 'London visitors', the West really felt different for me in that moment. Camden had me aware of such social realities, 'America' isn't the only western country that has a problem! I'm not sorry! Where was that 'hipster' brewery?
'Camden Town Brewery Beer Hall' played with our time because it wasn't technically located near to our then 'current location'. I ordered my 'flight' at '3 Locks Brewing Company' beside the canalside, I wanted a canalside photo or two but you know 'Realness' of a certain kind followed us! London, are you OK? She's not well! I drank my beers and clocked the drama, those tourists passed me by and I was like, this is some strange destination! The beer did do something good for me, it eased the scenes that were going on around me! Camden had its own story, I didn't contribute to another new chapter. We walked in around the markets before we found the '3 Locks', for me I realised it was just a game, a money making one. That part of London was a choice to visit because you know those online photos of the brewing company gave me some 'arty vibes' beside the canal but you know it felt very different, indeed. Camden wasn't for me, I took that experience as a valuable one. Making a move, it was back on the Northern Line for us!
I won't lie to you, London was giving me the 'ick' in ways because it wasn't safe and things just seemed way too touristy! Leaving the Northern Line behind us for the final time that day, we left 'Leicester Square' station. From there we swung past Chinatown but no meal would had there because I wanted something British to eat. I won't mention about that 'homely' choice because that's for another post. That walk around Chinatown felt like something different because I had been away from China for nearly one month at that pount, it felt weird. In my everyday life in China, there's no Chinatown because it's clearly Chinese. London's Chinatown reminded me that my life was in another place before I settled into that third round of life in China. It was quite amusing to see all of the tourists enjoying what they thought was Chinese food, more Hong Kong style but that wasn't an insult because things are done differently in the Mainland. London sure had me feeling some type of way, was I fired up? Just maybe, I wasn't going to feel ashamed!
Straight up, I might sound the like the biggest hypocrite because aside from my words spelling the facts, I had the best day in London! Yes, this city has changed but you know it will always be my London, every city has problems nowadays! I did see some shady things but above all the vast majority of sightings were above board and people were doing their best to get from point to point. Even those people who were going through it, well they deserve a leg up because this world continues to pull us further away, amplifying inequalities in the big, bad city! I didn't see many places during my hop over to the United Kingdom, it was more of a family stop. London still allowed me to see what was happening on the ground outside of my 'hometown bubble'. I didn't get to see all I wanted to, neverthless it was quite amusing to see those bewilidered American tourists at Heathrow earlier that morning! You know, I had to say that! Stayed tuned for a 'Foodie' post and something 'West End' soon, I haven't quite finished with London! Never!
Uniquely London!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
