Week One in London

Week One in England – Destination: Croxley Green, Hammersmith, Shoreditch, Wimbledon and Westminster.

My first week in London has been a whirlwind of activities.
I am so lucky to be living out in Croxley with Gill and Phil. A small town charm, houses everywhere until you walk 2 mins in a new direction and you hit fields of flowers and poppies. Local shops, cafés, banks, the yummiest smoothies, and underground stations all within 20mins walking distance.

I was greeted at the door by a flower; the amazing Daisy. From here it was a quick settle in and refresh and then off to lunch. Directions given to the both of us, (as we are both new to the area) “head down the hill into town”…. Easy enough, we started walking down the hill…through a small pathway, dodging draping spiky bushes, past houses and along a main road until we read a sign that said “town centre”….Navigation Pros! We pottered around a small town call Rickmansworth, settling in a cafe called Harris + Hoole (chain though not lacking in charm). I had probably one my top ten smoothies – raspberry and strawberry blended with freshly squeezed apple juice!
That afternoon I finally saw Gill and Phil after what felt like forever but had only been just over a year! Then off to the pub for dinner and ciders in the sunshine…..the sun doesn’t go to bed before 10pm!!!

Day two Daisy came to Hammersmith with me for my teaching agency, Vibe, induction and some girly shopping time. We nailed the underground system and had plenty of time to paroooose the infamous ‘Primark’. Anything clothes and accessory you can imagine and cheap as chips! Got some £1 flip flops! Also received free cider and drinks at the bar afterwards AND got offered guarantee work for a few weeks with an instant pay rise.

The weekend came and so did the Town fair on Croxley Green. Phil and I took a stroll down to the Green. Police road block and people everywhere….this must be good! We meandered along, curious to see what would happen. I don’t think either of us imagined a street parade led by the largest hound/scruff-ball dog I’ve ever seen. This was followed by many floats containing, dancers, heads on spikes and decorative Football World Cup floats that were very Brazilian!
After the street parade we walked to the fair….much larger than I thought it would be! There were cake stands galore (cupcake treats for me :)), all the local sports, dance, gymnastics, etc out to recruit, giant slide, spinning teacups, human foosball table, jumping castles, and my favourite … The crockery smashing tent! Did throw some wooden balls at plates and smasssshhhhhed them!!

London bound 17/06/14

I started my next adventure with a trip to airport with mum, dad, Nan and pop. After a longggg check in line we had boost, coffee and tea with a final chitterchat and a quick goodbye before I felt the urge to cry. The flight I was on was fully booked with possibility for latecomers to miss getting a seat … How do airlines oversell a flight?? My 32kg giant bag was sent away and my two overly large carry on bags accompanied me through immigration and customs to claim back tax on my new baby … My Sony A65 camera, going away/Xmas/bdays for the foreseeable future from my amazing mum and dad!!! Then off to wait to board my flight to Abu Dhabi. An emergency row aisle seat proved spacious and luxurious as the two ladies next to me and I stretched out and laid back as the steward whisked out bags away to find a spot for them…first class service; thanks Vigin Australia. After my last lot of air travel experiences the food didn’t play nice with my tummy again… Or maybe I’m developing air/motion sickness which would be unimaginably painful considering my love of travelling!!

I made it to Abu Dhabi and as I was not looking forward to my 8hr layover I approached the transfer desk and inquired to see if there was available space in the next flight, 2hrs away. The man with eyes that I could have stared at allll day gave me the nod and smiled at me, then told me not to worry about the change fee (which I didn’t even think about) as he picked up the phone to make sure my bag changed flights. With butterflies and a beating heart I told him he was amazing then skipped down to my gate with the biggest smile I could muster!!! Killing 2hrs is faster and much more pleasant than a slow 8 🙂 I found my gate and my seat buddies from my last flight and settled in for my now short layover which was now closer to just an hour. My seat buddies… 27yr old first international flight newby on a two month mission around the UK and Europe with Contiki, and English grandmother who had been in Australia for several months after her 36 year old son had a stroke. They both made for lively conversation in the early hours of the morning and the wait went fast enough.

My flight to London was without hiccups after it finally got off the ground almost an hour after schedule. Not that I minded, as I was lounging back watching a movie… I even dozed off and momentarily opened my eyes as we took off. I had smooth sailing with an extra seat beside me to sleep most of the way and chocolate cake for breakfast!!!! What more could a girl want?!
London immigration was a sinch…how long are you staying and what is your address? Have a nice day and off I went…. Baggage on the other hand was left wanting…turns out my bag didn’t make it. On the upside I didn’t have to carry my massssive bag on the tube AND they gave me 25pounds for my troubles! Haha thanks guys 🙂

Down I went to the underground with only the name of a station to head towards. I got myself an Oyster card (top up/reload card) and loaded what the baggage people just gave me for “toiletries”. As I was walking away staring at my underground map the Underground ticket master approached with this sounds advice, “if you wait over to the side for an extra 2 minutes we move into off peak fares, save yourself a few bob” …. Thank yooou!

So off I went with my carry on and my Oyster card – 4 trains, 3 stops, lugging my gear up and over walkways (thanking heaven I didn’t have my big bag). I asked a nice station master which station the westbound train was and that was the extent of external assistance. Until I got off my train in Coxley and found no cab and no way to access internet to get to my new home…… So I did what any person would do in a new town and country – I headed for the pub (conveniently located across the road)… But before I even reached it I came across a postman who so kindly directed me to my street, and with expert advice in hand I found my own way there no problem.

Japan Japow Journey

The trip from India to Japan was not a smooth one.

As I arrived at my gate to KL I was greeted with no plane in the dock but frequent thanks for our patience and an unknown eta of our departure. I had several conversations with the people around me, one of which had had to postpone her departure by several days because she had food poisoning so strong. After about an hour and a half of waiting our plane arrived and we were hustled into our seats. Settled in, I was ready to start my long journey to Niseko – 3 flights, 1x 3.5 hr bus trip and over 10 hours of sitting in airports still to come. The trolley rolled through the aisle and the customary offer of chicken or fish was made. After almost 7 weeks of no meat and not thinking too much about the fact I asked for the chicken. A few bites into my meal was all I could stomach and then later a few bags of peanuts. It quickly became apparent that my short slip in my vegetarianism would prove to rear it’s ugly head and attttttaaaaacccckkkkk! I spent the next 24hrs in transit throwing my guts up and out of me in the least lady like fashion….charming! The next three weeks and two courses of antibiotics later I still couldn’t keep much in my system…nasty super bug just from a few bites of chicken!!!

But Japan had many things to distract me from my woes in health 🙂 …….

1) Niseko – Bottomless powder skiing and fresh laps all day with my brother. Even though we got old and didn’t ski full days everyday, we worked hard while we did ride. Took lunch and drink breaks and climbed some mountains to boot. I did ride with many others this trip but riding with Matty B was the best part 🙂 Sorry to all the strangers I picked up on chairlifts and along off piste runs, to the ski school fellows and friends of friends, you WERE great 😉
2) Meeting new people and rekindling long ago friendships …. The Kennys, the SAMs the Mels. I’ll start with Mel, we did or first season together in Perisher and had more skiing fun my first season in Japan in 2007/8 and only saw each other on occasion during Perisher seasons. It was so awesome to ski, drink, play and chat with this lovely lady again 🙂 Mel also brought the other kids into play on this trip. She had her flight delayed by weather and met the Sams having wheelchair races around the airport to waste time. A pair of 20 year old boys from Melbourne, full of life and big dreams. And lastly the Kennys; four guys aged 24-29 on a boys trip to ski, drink and party. With all kids combined or separate the weeks flew by with awesome memories.
3) Trips to Otaru for the Candle Festival with Mel. Our ride to the train station set the mood of the night when our taxi driver actually spoke English and was the cutest, funniest Japanese man 🙂 Mel and I visited the coastline and we’re impressed by the locals as they did a drive by, reverse, followed up with a burnout through the snow covered car park…..WHAT!!!
4) Onsens!
5) Après drinks watching the Winter Olympics with brother, Kennys, SAMs and Mel. Go Aussie!
6) The Fridge Bar had the most delicious Expresso Martinis in the Village….tried and tested!
7) Getting lost and finding our way through Shortcuts along unknown snow banks to find new bars
8) The Berg (our accommodations for the first three weeks) stomach stuffing breakfasts, no visitors policies that led to them stealing boots from our doors and writing notes directed towards us threatening expulsion from premises……yikes!
9) “Ice corner” to watch people slipping and bailing…. The ice didn’t take me here, but it did snag me at two other locations
10) Chicken Katsu!
11) House party lock-ins the led to pants off party – nothing sexual!
12) Dancing till the early hours of the morning to live DJs
13) My 26th Birthday – thanks for coming to celebrate Heath, Adam, Muff, Ali, Shauna, Matt and Matt. Thanks for my pizza, cake and my skis with bindings
14) And lastly and the least forgettable moment of my trip was having my heart broken and realising it was again the start of freedom that I hadn’t experienced in over seven years.

All in all I think this short 7 week adventure was a roller coaster I was sad to get off of and leave behind. But then I think about the snow around the world, and adventures with known and unknown people yet to be had. I can’t wait to see where my wild, crazy and wanderlust life will take me next.