100,000 White Balloons

If you live in London or are travelling here, be sure to catch the "Heartbeat" exhibition!

According to the official website, this is the first exhibition outside of France by the French artist Charles Pétillon.

It's located at the heart of the Covent Garden's Market Building.

[Greece] The Island of Corfu

In Greek, Corfu Island is called Kerkyra.

It is located at the Northwest of Greece, while Mykonos and Santorini are at the Southeast.

Because it is so close to the heel of Italy, you could see much Italian influences on the Island.

There are many English, Russian and Italian tourists.

For once, I could count the amount of Asian tourists I saw on this trip with my 10 fingers.

The direct flight from London to Corfu is approximately two hours and 50 minutes.

I departed from Gatwick with my medium-sized backpack for a three-day and three-night trip.

Thanks to it being the summer, I managed to fit four outfits, two bikinis and all my toiletries in that backpack!

Truly travelling light!

[Greece] Foods of Corfu

Once again, I have skipped my June holiday blog and came straight to writing about Corfu.

First thing's first, I have to write about the food!

When I go on beach holidays, I usually don't gain weight because of all the walking and (some) swimming.

The first morning, we had breakfast in this beautiful hotel restaurant that cannot look any more like a painting!

Up the O2!

The O2 is an arena in London, pretty much similar to Vancouver's Roger's Arena.

 

One of the major differences is that you cannot climb the Roger's, but you can definitely climb the O2!

 

So on a gloomy (and almost rainy) day when the tube strike is on, I've decided to climb it!

(The weather and tube strike really are just coincidences...)

 

[France] The Little City of Colmar

Welcome to my post on Colmar!

After my insistence on visiting this city, my two friends have agreed to come with me.  I think one of them just don't really care or know where she is going lol.

Once again, I must confess the pick of Colmar is because of some photos I've seen online couple years ago.  What could be a better way to pick your vacation spot right?

(Seriously, just look at how gorgeous this place is!)

A Beautiful Encounter: Hitchin Lavender Farm

I've always wanted to see a lavender field - an actual grand field with rows and rows of lavenders!

This year I won't make it to Southern France, so I found Mayfield, Cotswold and Hitchin lavender farms.

After some Googling, I settled with Hitchin because of proximity and some photos online.

Hitchin station is just 30 minutes away from London King's Cross.  The lavender farm is an £8 taxi ride from the station.

[France] Strasbourg - Part 2

One of the best part about being on vacation in a foreign city is that nobody knows you.

(Except your travel companions obviously.)

 

You can sing freely while walking down the streets, laugh loudly, take constant selfies and pose as tourist-like as you want!

 

The second half of my day at Strasbourg was like that.

[France] Strasbourg - Part 1

Once again, I took the National Express bus to Stansted Airport.

My destination this time: Strasbourg in Eastern France.

It was 9pm in Strasbourg when I arrived. For some reason (I'm sure there was a legit reason), the train no longer ran so I had to take the bus.

Quite a lot of others and myself waited for 45 minutes for the bus to arrive.

No matter though, as we all saw this beautiful sunset.

Afternoon Tea at The InterContinental

My first afternoon tea since moving to London is at the Wellington Lounge of The InterContinental Park Lane.

The hotel decor is my favourite kind: not old-fashioned nor contemporary, but somewhere in between.

The Screen on the Green

It was almost like watching a movie at home on our own couch!

The Screen on the Green is located near the Angel tube station and only has one screen.

When I was first told we will be watching a movie here, I immediately googled to make sure it's not really "on the green."  You know, outdoor with the mosquitoes.

Nitro Ice Cream What?

Liquid nitrogen ice cream is ice cream that has been frozen using liquid nitrogen. The process takes less time than traditional ice cream manufacture.
(Source: Wikipedia)

 

I was Googling for the best ice cream in London (to replace my love: Earnest Ice Cream from Vancouver) and found Chin Chin Labs, which sells the liquid nitrogen ice cream!

Valrhona Chocolate flavour from their website totally attracted my undivided attention.

Just look at how content I looked (minus the tiredness).

A Drink at the Sky Garden

One of the newer attractions of London, the Sky Garden,  will take your breathe away!

 

After work, I took my tourist friend up to the Sky Pod Bar, which is on the 35th floor of 20 Fenchurch.

 

A panoramic view of the "garden."

My New Favourite: Duck & Waffle!

Even before my move to London, I've been wanting to try Duck & Waffle.

I find it to be one of the hardest restaurants to book in London for a full-time working Londoner!

Finally I called them up in late May and made this reservation for three weeks after.

It was truly worth my every effort.

Plus, my friend who's been staying with me this week got to try this too!

Jamie Oliver's Fifteen

One of my bestest friends is currently visiting me in London, so I've decided to take her to a nice rooftop bar.

 

Boundary Rooftop is a chic place I've found from Googling (Oh Google, what would I do without you?).

A Look Inside Kenwood House

Located a 20-minute walk from the Hampstead tube station, the Kenwood House is a stunning estate with breathtaking garden and grounds.

I love walking down nature "tunnels" like this.

It's when I can sort of feel like a princess yoif you know what I mean.

Hampstead Heath Beyond My Imagination

Hampstead was one of the top places on my London to-go list.

It's about an hour transit from home.

On a Saturday morning, I woke up at 8am, full of energy but nowhere to burn.

It was a perfect sign I should stroll around London before my evening plans.

You know, to burn some of my excessive energy off.

 

(I miss Artizia!  They really should consider expanding to London.)

A Tate Modern Dining Experience

The highest level of Tate Modern is home to the Level 6 Restaurant.

Every time I come up here for the cafe or restaurant, it is usually packed.

Today we managed to wait about 30 minutes (they give you a buzzer) at the cafe area and got a pretty good table at the restaurant for late lunch.

An Evening at Neverland

By far the BEST play I have seen!

Seeing this version of "Peter Pan" made me noticed the sad truth behind the character.  It definitely isn't as jolly as the Disney version.

Peter Pan was a character created based on the author's older brother, David, who passed away from an ice-skating accident.  The author, J.M. Barrie, and his mother both thought of David as "the boy who wouldn't grow up."

(Source: Wikipedia)

(Photo source: https://openairtheatre.com/production/jm-barries-peter-pan)

Happily Museum Overload

I know it's the weekend and sleeping in is totally acceptable.

But, I just can't, knowing there are so much to do in London!

9:45am - Met up with a friend on hunt for delicious doughnuts together.

Check St. John Bakery out! 

[Germany] Courtyard Marriott

I am very picky when it comes to accommodations, especially when travelling solo.

Safety is my number one priority.  Then comes cleanliness.

In some European cities, a decent hotel room isn't that much more expensive than a private room in a hostel.

This time in Cologne, I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott.

[Germany] Heerstraße's Cherry Blossoms

Weibo, Chinese Twitter, has a gazillion photos of beautiful places.

The exactly locations of these photos are rarely marked.

 Finding Heerstraße (pronounced Heerstrasse) was not an easy task, but I did!

This place is so beautiful it's almost unreal!

(I forgot to breathe for the longest time while I stood at the entrance to Heerstraße.)

[Germany] The Cologne Cathedral & Beethoven's Birthplace

Before I dive into the cherry blossoms, here are some attractions that are beautiful year-round.

It takes about one hour to fly from London to the Cologne Bonn Airport.

(I later realize the airport is named so because it's located in between the two cities.)

Cologne, or Köln, is the fourth largest city in Germany.

One of the city's most famous attractions is precisely the Cologne Cathedral, Köln Dom.

Happiness Is As Simple As You Make It

If there are days I will remember, today is definitely one of those.

Why?

Well, because it's a "normal day."

As I age, I begin to appreciate a normal day where everything go according to plan.

(But, I will not let ageing get the better of me!)

Shakespeare of Stratford-Upon-Avon

Ah, William Shakespeare's birthplace - I simply cannot miss this visit living in London.

Early morning, I boarded the train to Dorridge and transferred to the Stratford-Upon-Avon train from there.

(It's faster to transfer than to take a direct train.)

The trip duration was just a little over two hours.

British Library, St. Pancras & King's Cross (Blimey, Harry Potter?!)

Last November, I announced that I will be relocating to London.

Actually at that point, I wasn't even sure if my visa application would be approved.

I just assumed it would. 

Sometimes I think courage and risk-taking are only divided by a fine line.

Since then, it has been 4.5 months.

I've told my mom I feel only bliss and luckiness in life now.

For today's blog, I want to introduce you to the St. Pancras/King's Cross area - starting with the British Library.

Day & Night from the London Eye

20:00 Thursday evening.

I should really be baking my salmon for tomorrow's lunch.

Instead, I am here typing away.

Do you know why I can't take my eyes off this city?

Here is one of the many many many reasons.

The Perfect Easter Sunday

Happy Easter!

How are you spending yours?

I spent mine at Regent's Park.

The choice was quite random since I hadn't visited any parks in London except for Greenwich Park.

(For some reason, I don't really see Greenwich Park as an official tourist park.)

One of the famous feature of Regent's Park is The Open Air Theatre.

It's not yet opened, but the first play looks to be in May.

Whitstable: My Love for the Seaside

Whitstable is to the East of London, about a two-hours train ride.

If you love oysters, this is the town for you!

It was yet another rainy day.

Having lived in England for almost four months now, rain doesn't affect my plans.

Anne Boleyn's Childhood Residence: Hever Castle

Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.

Apparently fiercely pursued by the King to the extent he went against the Pope's wishes and annulled his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

The story didn't end well though.

She was beheaded by him in the end, three years after their marriage.

On a brighter note, her childhood home, Hever Castle, is a beauty.

Brighton Part 2: Exploring the City

Once I got off the train, the city centre is just a 5-minute walk.

Brighton is a small town.

All the attractions, such as the Clock Tower, The Lanes, Brighton Dome, Royal Pavilion, are pretty much all within 20-minute walk.

Brighton Part 1: A Seaside City

About 86km away from London (SE England), I travelled to the seaside city of Brighton one Sunday.

The Brighton Pavilion was the main reason I decided to visit. 

One of the Pavilion's most famous residence was George, Prince of Wales.
(No, not the little Prince George - he is the Prince of Cambridge.)

Now that I've done this extremely brief Royal introduction, I feel a lack of knowledge on the topic of the British Royals.

A Pleasant Evening with the Montrealers

I've always heard of the Spitalfield Market, but never had a chance to visit yet.

I did, however, visited a restaurant near the area and it has such delicious Thai food there: Rosa's Thai Cafe.

Rotterdam Part 3: The City

 I finally get to show you the actual city of Rotterdam!

 

When I got off the plane, I already felt that it was much colder than London.

The temperatrures are about the same, but definitely not the wind chill.

 

Neverthless, the cold was all forgotten (kind of) when I saw this amazing view! 

(A view from the Euromast, which I'll talk more about in a bit.)

Rotterdam Part 2: Cube Houses

Cube Houses, or Kubuswoningen in Dutch, are built based on "living as an urban roof."

Basically, the house represents a tree and all the houses together, a forest/a village. 

Pretty cool huh?  Now let me take you for a tour inside one of the houses!

Rotterdam Part 1: Markthal

My first trip since moving to Europe is to Rotterdam!

A little about this city before I go on...

1. Rotterdam is a city of the Netherlands.

2. It has the largest port in Europe.

3. It has one of the best universities in the world: Erasmus University.

4. It is about 75km south of Amsterdam.

 

It is difficult to fit all that I have seen in Rotterdam into one blog entry, so I will split them up.

 

First on: Markthal (Market Hall)

My Happiness Begins Again (Everyday)

I don't know how buying a loaf of bread ended up being sightseeing in Greenwich.

It's just a London thing - you might not know where you end up!

The beautiful Greenwich University, right by the Thames.

My First Turkish Delight

My friend asked to meet at Chinatown/Soho area, so I was very prepared for a comforting Chinese meal.

Then she told me she did not want Chinese food because she was going back to Asia soon...

It was a cold and windy evening. 

Right before us was the new Babaji Pide (website coming soon) right by the exit of Chinatown.

We ran inside (literally) and got the last table immediately available!
 

Chicken Beyti £8.50

Minced chicken, bell pepper, parsley, Turkish red chilli flake 
The chicken was SOOO flavourful of all kinds of spcies (I'm confused by the good taste).
I love those beans and a mixed of vege on the side too.

Blueprint Cafe By the Thames

Right at the London Design Museum, there is the Blueprint Cafe. 

 

My friend googled with key words "best view" and this popped up.

 

I have to admit the view was pretty good.  I could see Tower Bridge while sipping my hot water...

 

Seriously, half of London's population is probably sick from the cold/flu going around..

 

As A Proud Hogwarts Alumni...

About two hours away from London, I headed back to the magical school of my dreams: Hogwarts.  I'm most likely a half-blood or pure blood (because of how geekily knowledgeable I am of the magical world) and in Ravenclaw (creativity, individuality).

Now, let the tour begin!

Hello English Football

Chelsea vs. Everton

1 - 0

 

My first football game ever!  The game started at 7:45pm in the Stamford Bridge (District Line Fulham Broadway tube station).  I have to say I couldn't help but noticed how "manly" the atmosphere was...

The Wright Brothers in Borough Market

You know the restaurant is THAT good when I'm bothered to blog about it even without my iMacs.  I've been thinking (and drooling) about the seafood in the South of France since my last visit in 2012.  Then a couple days ago, I was brought to The Wright Brothers inside Borough Market after work for "seafood."  At first I thought it was going to be a lot of fish again, but I was in for a surprise!

 

Sometimes I really feel I fail at blogging food because I don't know what the name of this ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS dish is called.  This stuffed crab was mighty yummy!  It's all crab meat underneath the green oinions and cheese.  Running through the middle part is a thick layer of crab roe.  It's been a couple of days and I can't stop thinking about this...

The Spectacular Yauatchu 丘記茶苑

In London, people often refer to the West Side (where Soho is located) as "posh." The East Side is cool too, but it's more known as "hipster."  Last night, I had the opportunity to try out a classy dim sum place in Soho called Yauatcha.

 

Scallop Shui Mai 帶子釀燒賣 £8.00

I was a little hesitant about this order because almost all Chinese know this is one of the fattiest dish you could have in dim sum.  It turned out to be two layers of scallops and only a tiny bit of pork.  I approve!