Category: Places

The third days here and I could tell this city main attraction is the people. Their transportation system might be so confusing and less comfortable for traveler with toddler like us, their parks are not as good as Paris or London for me, but their people, in spite of their lacking in English, are truly genuine and might be one of the kindest ones in the world.

Honestly, I am not that sold to this city for the architecture and the feel. My medium to low expectation meets the reality. So, I am just enjoying some candy eyes view the city offers for the few first days.

Mistakenly clicked the trash button and the long-written-PUBLISHED post gone in an instant😢

Rewriting those long stories are too lazy, of course. But, after some time, I’ll need the writing to back up this forgetful brain, to cherish the happy moments in the future. So, here we go.

Day 6 : London

The sixth day agenda was another trip to city centre. Actually, it’s more to shopping centre. Both my sister and sister in-law asked to buy some clothers for their kids in Primark. So, the first stop is Primark Marble Arch. 

It was quite lucky to arrive there when it was just opened at 9 am. There is a bus which go directly from our airbnb to Primark Marble Arch entrance door. I spent almost two hours looking for the orders. Really, it was totally not my happy place. So many people and crowded. But, it made sense. They offered such a good price for everything there. I couldn’t help buying something too for others. And myself too.

Wait, didn’t I say this was my unhappy place?😒😒

We spent half day strolling in Oxford street. From west to the east. I wanted to have the famous Shack Shake for dinner. The closest store was on Leicester Square. 

Shack Shake was quite full during lunch time. I had to wait for some time until ours were ready. We were quite lucky to find four seats by the window during those crowded time. Their portobello mushroom and fries were good. Price was so so. 

We continued walking to Trafalgar Square where we planned to meet my brother there. We wanted to retake the same picture as we did in 1994. It turned out Trafalgar Square held a Vaisakhi celebration that day. So, it was full by Hindunese culture, Indians people, food, music, and art.

I couldn’t really enjoy Trafalgar Square that time. Me and crowd would never be a good match. We went home after retook the picture.
Having a break on mid day was a very good idea. We did it in Paris and we enjoyed the afternoon trip more after recharging the energy at home.

We strolled around Angel Islington once again in the afternoon. I went back to the small book store to complete my Guess How Much I Love You Series. After that, I wanted to visit a kitchen ware shop which I had been eyeing everytime we rode on the bus. I needed new thermos since the old one was broken.

We found the shop and yes, the thermos was there. Happily buying the new thermos for £ 12. We continued walking until the bus stop. It was almost 7 pm and it was time to go home already.

Day 7 : London

The planned itinerary was going to Greenwich Park. The reality said no. Since it was the last day and some things were still missing, so off we went once again to Oxford street.

Since it was on Sunday, the stores opened as late as 11.30 am or 12.00 pm. So, we went to Regent Street then continued to Kensington Garden.
Kensington Garden was the favorite royal garden of the late Princess Diana. Some of its benches were written by messages for her. There was a small playground too and Langit was so happy.

When it was about the time, we went back to Oxford Street to find what we needed. In spite of the crowd, Primark is truly one stop shopping place where you can buy almost everything without went broke.

We had a plan to visit my brother’s place after done with the shopping hassles. We took the bus to Shoreditch and first stop would be Brick Lane Sunday market.

It was quite hard to believe that Brick Lane was the place that drew the biggest smile on this group of mine face. Both my father and the doctor kept telling this was the place they have  been craving for. Crowded small alley with lots of good street food, street musician, second hand shop, a real market to shop. Different hype and vibe from Oxford and Regent street in a very pleasant way.

My brother’s place was within walking distance from Brick Lane market. He told us that his class mates, two of the closest ones wanted to say hello to us. So, after few minutes arrived in his place, his friends came and we had some conversations in the living room. It was good to know he really met nice people there. His british and japanese friends were very warm.

Another highlight of this trip occured when my brother introduced us to his host. An old British man who lived accross my brother’s room. After having some conversations for a while, he said something to my father that hit me hard.

“You should be proud of him. He’s very nice and most importantly, very polite. Young people these days are having less manners to older adults, but your son is exceptionally very polite. You must be very proud of him,”.

Damn. 

I want those words too for myself some time in the future.

What could have been better knowing that you’ve done a great job raising your kids? Having those words spoken by a stranger, whose culture is quite different, who met your child only for few months, yet telling you such words above in a very sincere way.

In the end, through this trip, I had been reminded once again, it wasn’t your look, wealth, social status, intelligence, or whatever things that attached to yourself that matter the most. Manners and kindness are ones that win the people heart.

Arranged this trip was not easy.  It took lots of time to research about this and that, countless reading, full attention to the smallest details, with the thought and hope my father would enjoy this trip. I guess it was fulfilled.

Having trip with your parent might not as free as when you travel with your own family only. But, for me, it was worth all my time spent to make this happened.

We won’t be here forever, and our parents won’t be around forever too. Spend more time with them, travel to some places, and we’ll find something more than just things we buy on the stores or good pictures we take to be displayed in our gallery.

I thank Allah endlessly for making this trip happened smoothly, without any unpleasant things during the trip.

I want more.

I want more.

(Later child, set your next priorities right first!).

Well, okay. 

See you then, airports!

Kensington Garden

Continue from the previous post

Day 3 : Manchester

Early morning in Manchester was even colder and colder. It was 2 degrees celcius. What kind of spring was that?😬😬😬

This morning we went to visit the famous Red Devil’s home in Old Trafford. It was not that far but we were a bit lost since the GPS map showed us another place called Old Trafford. We managed to get there after asking here and there and a short taxi ride.

We didn’t have the stadium tour here since none of us were a fan. So, we just took some pictures, circling around, sat down by the nearest bench and decided to continue the trip to Piccadilly city centre.

We used to visit Piccadilly city centre often. Enjoying summer sunshine with ice cream, played in its garden, and visited the Debenhams to buy Polly Pocket. This time we just strolled around, stopped by the pharmacy to buy a lipgloss and Primark. The doctor needed a warm pants to cover her legs.

We returned to our Air Bnb, packed up the luggage, having light lunch, and heading to the station.

Arrived at Euston at 14.30 we went home directly. It was quite tiring, and I felt needing some sleep.

We didn’t go outside anymore after this. We had to catch 7 am trains to Liverpool tomorrow. So, we had to leave home at the very late as 6.10 am. Early sleep was a must.

Day 4 : Liverpool

I wrote about Liverpool in a separate post, so guess there’s no need to repeat the story here. I had my Paris in Autumn, the doctor had his Anfield in Spring. 

Maybe this is one of the best things marriage could bring : to help on another to complete each other dream, together.

Day 5 : London

The rest of the trip spent in London, finally. Moving here and there was quite tiring. But, since we did it for a greater cause, it was forgivable. This day, I told the squad that we would leave latter, because it was Friday, and there would be a Friday prayer. We left home around 8.30, not very different than our usual schedule.

Today’s schedules were Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Parliament Square, and London Central Mosque for Friday prayer. The doctor also had an appointment to meet his best friend who’s taking a master course in radiology in UCL.

We planned to meet at Buckingham Palace but it turned out we met at the bus. In one of the bus stop to Buckingham Palace, this friend entered the bus. It was such an unexpected and pleasant surprise.

Reyhan kept going with us to St James Park, Parliament Square and London Central Mosque. St. James Park was very big and beautiful. The baby enjoyed running around, chasing animals, feeding the doves, and screaming happily.

Having such a huge park in heart of the city is truly envious and they have many, not one. When will we have like those ones here?😞

Strolling around St James Park brought us to another place called Parliament Square. It was like a small park where many statues of famous people were built. We had Big Ben from another point of view than we had from the first visit. We waited for the bus to the Central Mosque there.

We had lunch at the basement of the mosque. The Chicken and Lamb Biryani were quite good. We also had a cup of ice cream for the baby and vegetarian samosa. The ice cream was a yes, a not for the samosa.

While the men was doing the prayer, I spent the time by chasing around the baby inside the women prayer hall. It was quite lot of people there. I didn’t join the prayer since I couldn’t leave this rabbit unattended.

Right after prayed, another friend of the doctor joined too. It felt like a small reunion for his year. We proceeded to another of his bucket list : Abbey Road cross road. It was where the Beatles had their last album cover picture taken. The famous four were crossing the street.

Abbey Road turned out to be an ordinary small road where buses and cars were passing by. In front of the crossroad, there were the small museum and the shop. The doctor had his picture taken crossing the road while pushing the stroller😄.

Finally, the three friends were parted here and continued their own journey on their own. We took a bus to King’s Cross station.

I was actually quite grumpy that day. I wanted to visit Natural History Museum but the distance wasn’t pretty convenient. So, with a heavy heart, it was skipped. So, done with the Abbey Road, I insisted that I wanted to visit Platform 9 3/4 at King’s Cross.

Platform 9 3/4 located inside the station. You just have to walk straight until the end of the station from the entrance door. The trolley and the wall barrier were there with lots of muggles queued up to have their picture taken while pushing the trolley with the scarf flown for £ 10.
Of course,  I missed the queue. I prefered spending the time and money inside the shop next to the monument. The shop felt more like a magic shop packed with muggles who were shopping for their Hogwarts school appliances.

Notebooks, pencil, pen, gloves, scarf, hat, bag, shirt, and many merchandises were available. I decided to buy a bagpack from Gryffindor. Although it was quite expensive (for my wallet), but let’s close the eyes for I wouldn’t have any other chances to visit this place again during the trip.

We had a short walk from King’s Cross to visit one of the luggage store nearby. I needed a four wheels cabin luggage so during the return, I wouldn’t have to carry bags wihout any wheels, which I did during our departure and it was pretty exhausting. Another lucky deal gotten in the luggage store. A green four wheel Samsonite was on a discount. Made a purchase for £79 only.  A good price tag indeed.

A direct bus to our home and its stop was just few meters away from the luggage store. Not for long the bus came. My father wanted to visit an ice cream shop along Angel Islington which he noticed several times when we went home. So, we made a stop in Angel Centre and continued walking. Just few meters walking, a little book shop was having a big discount and I couldn’t help stopping and shopping.

A bundle of six books from Legendary St.Clare’s Twins, Guess How Much I Love You series in autumn, winter, and summer, and few of very cheap children books. What a heaven! I had the intention to go back once again later.

It turned out the ice cream shop was not as near as we thought. But, with a better weather than the previous days, the big pavement, we decided to enjoy Angle-Islington by walk while having sight seeing to the shops on the left and right.

Udderlicious was a home-made and hand-made small and cozy ice cream shop. They had few customers when we were there. We bought three cups of their ice cream and yeah, they were utterly delicious.

We had been outside from morning and when we finished the ice cream it was almost 6 pm. Time to go home and rest.

A bus to Balls Pond Road sent us back home after a long tiring, yet happy day around London.

Goodbye for now!

Unlike the last autumn in Paris, this trip was quite an ambitious one due to the trip members’ bucket list. But, I had set the brain and heart from the beginning, (once again) unlike the previous autumn in Paris, this trip was not absolutely about me. I was here to ‘help’.

From the tickets purchasing (plane, train), accomodation arrangement, itinerary, until the least important like what and where to eat for those seven days. It felt more or less like a travel agent as well as tour leader.

It was actually 9-10 days trip if we counted the flights trip. Departed on 23rd April and arrived here on 2nd May. We went through three flights, two transits for depart and return. For the departure, we spent approximately 30 hours journey. Those were including the time we left home until we landed in our first destination.

The baby was doing very much better on this second trip. She enjoyed her own seat, slept pretty nicely, and very much less crankier than the previous long haul flights trip. I think 7-8 hours trapped in the plane is quite bearable for above 2 years old kid.

I had reviewed two airlines that we flew with in the previous post. Let’s just proceed to the city trips.

Day 1 : London

Arrived at Heathrow Terminal 4 around 9.05 and directly proceeded to the long queue of immigration. Thankfully, an officer spotted us and told us to move from the line and directly stepped forwars to immigration counter. Four of us altogether. Thanks to the toddler girl.

We were greeted by ‘Assalamualaikum’ and a wide smile from the officer. Such an unexpected warm welcome from the scary immigration. Alhamdulillah. The process took quite some time, but I felt at ease. We had light conversation with the officer. Done checking all of our passports, he bid farewell with another ‘Assalamualaikum’.

This was one example of my answered ultimate prays each time I travel : for us to meet the kind ones.

When we exited all the checkings, the car I reserved from a service called Unicorn Transfer had arrived there with their driver. We planned to check in our Air bnb at 12, but it turned out we arrived earlier than expected. The doctor sent whatsapp message to the host and he said it was no problem. His brother had waited for us at home.

It took about an hour to drive from Heathrow to our Air Bnb. Quite far and unexpectedly we met traffic jam here also. After a little elevator drama during the check-in, we could finally smell the comfort of home. About this airbnb, maybe another separate post will do. Maybe.

As usual, whenever I arrive in one destination, the first thing I do is always unpacking. While the others were doing whatever they wanted to do, I was busy putting all clothes to the cupboard, the food to the refrigerator, and made sure all the luggages were empty.

Done with that, time to rest? Nope. It was lunch time preparation. I didn’t mind a big luggage full of food until it was a bit overweight, as long as I didn’t have to go outside to find what should be eaten after a very long and tiring journey. We had a home-made chicken gulai with warm rice as our first lunch. Too yummy.

Full tummy, clean body, and done prayed, we went to the famous London Bridge. Well, this was actually not what I had in mind. I intended to visit Tower Bridge actually. But, I didn’t know why, it was London Bridge that kept flowing from my mouth. Sigh.

Another surprise we had during our stay : a very cold and windy spring. In our first day, we were having a lethal combination of cold, windy, and rainy weather. No warm spring for us yet. We couldn’t enjoy London Bridge view too long in such weather. After snapped some pictures, we ended up in Pret à Manger for coffee, hot chocolate and croissant. Done with that, we went home. Too cold for my preference.

Arrived at our home, we had dinner, and I told my father to pack for the next trip tonight. At the first day, almost all of us still enjoyed having jetlag.

Day 2 : London

I set as early as 7.30 to go outside for the second day since we had to catch the train to the next city at 13.00. I wanted to spend the morning time to see more of London. But you know, it was pretty hard to be on time with this kind of travel squad. I’d like to finish all the stuff before we left home. No mess should be left.

In fact, we could just leave around 8.10. We prepared more to face the cold weather. It was still too cold for spring this second morning. My hands were freezing. The baby chose to sleep a lot during outside on the stroller.

Ah, the stroller. This was one of my luckiest things I had on this trip other than the plane and train tickets. During the planning, I insisted to reduce the luggage as many as we could. The less, the smaller, the better, without leaving any important things behind. Then, the idea came up. Instead of bringing our baby elle wave stroller, I had in mind for renting in London. So, I did the searching here and there and found that the rental cost was quite agreeable. It was only around £14 for seven days. But, the major turn off was the deliver cost : £25.

Bah! Forget about renting, let’s just bring more stuff.
But, of course, giving up easily was never my middle name. I found another genius idea.
Knowing my brother studied there, knowing he might know one or two families with a baby or toddler, and knowing that they should have a stroller with them, I asked my brother to find if there was one that I could rent for a week. The answer came not very long after he asked.

One of the Phd students sent him a private message after reading his question in their group chat. Told him that he had one, unsused, but just an ordinary one. Told him he could borrow it, no need to rent. I could picture myself smiling ear to ear that time. Another Alhamdulillah.

Back to the trip. We visited London Eye and Big Ben for the half of the second day. I couldn’t help screwing for the weather. It was too damn cold. Not only me, the others also kept whining too. Until we had an idea to cut the itinerary and found a department store to buy warmer clothes and gloves.

But it was quite a tight schedule. After eyeing the giant wheel and giant o’clock tower, we decided to return home so we wouldn’t be late for the 1 pm train. On the way home, we stopped at Subway to buy some take-home lunch.

Arrived home, done with the last light pack, off we went to Euston station for the second half day trip to Manchester.

Day 2 : Manchester

Virgin Train that took us to this nostalgic city after 23 long years arrived on time as scheduled at 15.05. Seeing Manchester Piccadilly station after a long time was too excited beyond words. My father, the primary reason this trip made, couldn’t hide his happy face.

We stayed for one night in Manchester and even for a night stay, Air bnb was still out best choice. We took a taxi to our Air bnb and it was just about fifteen minutes from the station. Unlike the crowded London, Manchester was quiter and calmer, as well as colder.

Arrived and settling down, we had our prayer then it was the time to revisit those memorable places. The first stop was University of Manchester, the place where the old man spent one of the best times of his life. UoM could be reached by walk from our Air Bnb and it costed less than the least expensive budget hotel for one night, five persons. Another lucky offer I got for this trip😉.

Manchester was raining hard and very windy that afternoon. Really, this cold, rainy, and windy weather was truly the enemy of our trip😑.

After having some journeys back to the past by visiting UoM, Precint Centre, and Arthur Livingstone student housing, we moved to places of my precious memory collections : Granby Row, Vimto Park, and Orient House.

They were all still there. Although they had some alterations, but everything was still really there. The Giant bottle we used to climb at Vimto Park now painted in more colorful colours. Orient House was under reconstruction, the small shop across the street was almost closed since it was almost 6 pm.
I spent only two months there. The memories lasted for a very long time, and it was such a great luck having a chance to revisit those places 23 years later.

I couldn’t stand the cold any longer and asked the other to go back home first. The toddler girl had had enough, I guessed. Time to give her the warmth she had been craving for after a very long day.

Arrived home, I prepared dinner and my father and brother went outside again to go to Piccadilly city centre. Three bears who couldn’t stand the cold prefered to stay at home, lazing around.

That was a wrap for the first and the second day!

Proceed to part two and the part three.

I expected Liverpool to be as quiet and laid back as Manchester. But, it turned out to be above expectation. At least, their city centre is surely much better than Manchester’s.

This one was a compulsory itinerary. While Anfield is just two hours away from London, of course the liverpudlian couldn’t miss it. The first four days, we’d been moving a lot.

We arrived in London on Monday morning. Then, we departed for Manchester on Tuesday afternoon and got back on Wednesday afternoon. Thursday morning we left for Liverpool. It was only three of us while my dad stayed in London woth his son.

The train to Liverpool departed at 7.07. We managed to leave our Air bnb at 6.10 and reached Euston at 6.30. Manchester’s drama wasn’t repeated, Thank God. We even bought some fruit snack first in Sainsbury inside Euston.

Arrived at Liverpool Lime Street at 9.20 and once we got out from the train station, cold breeze attacked with the rain. Really, that freezing weather was truly the enemy of our trip. London, Manchester, Liverpool, we had it all.

Watching the old architecture around the city centre felt so exciting. We boarded on the bus that took us to Anfield. It turned out almost all of the passengers on bus no. 15 to Anfield were mostly tourists who wanted to visit the legendary stadium too. 

We arrived at Anfield around 10.20 and the closest stadium tour would be at 11.00 am. Instead of going anywhere, we decided to stay warm inside the Liverpool shop, of course buying some merchandises. 

At 11.00, the tour began. It was quite lots of people. Surprisingly not only men or boys, some grannies were on the group too and they were sooo passionate. Really interesting. They asked questions, took pictures, and so on.  Not only the stadium, we also visited the board room, the VVIP room where some selected guests watched the match, and paid £25.000 to sit there. Not only that, they couldn’t go alone and had to bring another guests instead. So, it takes £50.000 to watch there. It doesn’t stop there, they had to pay for two seasons minimum. So, all in all, please do the math. 

The tour guide was absolutely charming and pleasant. He joked a lot and  for the standard of cold British, he was very warm. I am not a fan at all, but I didn’t know why, this stadium felt so warm. The pictures, interior, and the people inside the tour. It’s £17 per person very well spent.

Done with the stadium tour, we could visit the museum without any guide. I lost my mood because of the cold weather and hungry tummy. Once the doctor finished his museum tour, I nagged him to go back to city centre to find some food. 

We couldn’t make time for Beatles museum since our train back departed at 15.47 and it was 12.30 already. Too risky.

We had lunch in the city centre and found one noodles restaurant without any porks and it was so delicious. Done with lunch, we strolled around the station and visited Primark and another Liverpool store nearby.

Back to Lime Street station at 15.15 and the trains were there. It was quite full in our coach but still acceptable. Arrived in London at 17.59, tired and happy.

I had my Paris in autumn last October.

He had his Anfield in spring last April.

We’re even, right, Yobo?

I went to this city once.

Here are several pictures from the very first city that made me fall in love with traveling when I was 10. Having a chance to visit this city after 23 years was such a great blessing.
Alhamdulillah.