Roaming is my new hobby

I love getting lost in London :) I actually do have an A-to-Z guide in my handbag at all times, but I barely look at it unless I'm meeting someone somewhere specific at sometime :) It's great just being able to wander the streets and always see something new! London's never boring that way.

I found this lovely french cake shop, called Maison Blanc, on Kensington Church Street:


I looked up randomly one day and I spotted this on a wall:


I found a great cafe to have my morning coffee:


And I see sights like this side by side:


I don't think I can compare London to any other city I've been to in the world. It's such a mash-up of history, technology and culture. There's always people around, and the streets are always alive. That's why I never truly get lost, I just follow the stream of people to the next tube station. If only the people here talked properly :P I can't understand their dang accent...

Portobello markets

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Originally uploaded by risque.

Fresh fruit and veg, organic coffee, felafel rolls, funky cafes and cute shops. Apparently it's the world's biggest antiques market on weekends.

Petit fours

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Originally uploaded by risque.

Gordon Ramsay style

Edit 24042006: I guess I should elaborate more on my Gordon Ramsay @ Claridge's experience. For those who know me well, you'll know that I love to eat good food. If I was broke, I'd sell my Wuv Muffin's left kidney for a fine dining experience *grin* So I was quite disappointed when I blew a wad of quids at Gordon Ramsay's for a pretty average meal.

Don't get me wrong, the quality of produce is excellent, and the food is good. Just not very exciting. No *wow* factor. The watercress veloute amuse bouche was a nice opening to dinner. However, the entree of pressed foie gras (terrine?) with brioche was pretty plain and boring. For the first time in my life, I left a slab of foie gras on my plate :P The main was pork cheeks with grain mustard pomme mousseline. The pork cheeks were tender, but that's about it. I'd describe the meal as "nice" but not "tasty". I was kinda hoping for an experience like the time I had Becasse's daube of wagyu beef.

Anyway, there's also the theory that I've been eating out too much and my tastes are just too picky these days. It takes a lot for me to be impressed by food these days ;)

Gordon Ramsay: 60 quid for 3 course meal, plus 2 glasses of wine (2 bottles between 8 people) = 80 quid or approx AUD$190.

My opinion: Save the money for Tetsuya's 9 course meal (AUD$180). Of course, it'll cost you a bundle to get to Sydney to try it :P No regrets about going to Gordon Ramsay's though, it had to be done. Just wish more effort was made with making the food distinguishable from other restaurants. 60 quid is a lot to pay for an average food experience. Am I expecting too much from a one-star Michelin restaurant?

Rating: 3/5

Daz's street

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Originally uploaded by risque.

I love the whitewash terraces in London. Wonder how much it costs to buy one...

Getting here

In 1988, my parents packed up and left Kuala Lumpur to make a new life for the family in Sydney. I never thought much about it, to me it was a new adventure in a land supposedly filled with koalas, kangaroos and Cadbury chocolate. 2 days ago, I packed up my own life and left Sydney to start afresh in London. It's given me a new appreciation of how tough it must've been for my parents to migrate 18 years ago. I had enough issues lugging 28kgs (that’s 9kgs worth of singlet tops), a laptop and hand luggage from Sydney to London. I can't imagine how my parents packed up 40+ years of their lives and 3 kids to move to Sydney.

So, what can I tell you about London?

I’m oriental, not asian, in this country. I don’t mind, “oriental” sounds more exotic :)

There’s a strong similarity between the bouncers outside strip clubs at the Cross, and the hussling guys outside indian restaurants at Brick Lane. “Laaaadieez... We’ve got the best, come inside and try!”

I might have to get my driver’s license and become a cabbie. Well, that’s the impression I got from the mini cab driver who drove me from the airport anyway. He’s in IT too, and has a degree in Software Engineering and is MCSE certified.

Pigeons here hate me. My first day out, and one did a giant poop on me :( That killed my happy-go-lucky-I'm-in-London mood alright.

One nite in HK

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Originally uploaded by risque.

Ewww, the prawns were still waving their little prawny legs around...