London – April 2014

February 8, 2015 Wahyu Hidayat 2 Comments

How do you describe London?

.: noise, cosmopolitan, crowded, underground, cold rainy, world leaders, rusting, historic, overpriced, grim, tourists, extravagance :. the list can go on and on…

In London we spent 4-night 5-day trip to close our four-UK capital tour.

The following pictures summarize (should I you summarise to follow British English? 🙂 ) all those days in London except our stadium tour to Stamford Bridge and a day trip to Oxford, Stonehenge and Windsor.

A hackney or hackney carriage (also called a cab, black cab, hack or London taxi) seen past Natural History Museum, London

Once we reached London Paddington station we headed to Wisma Siswa Merdeka on 44 Dartmouth Road, Willesden. This is basically an Indonesian Embassy-owned student-managed housing. The two-storey building has four rooms to book with homy feeling, simple breakfast, microwave and kitchen to use and very affordable rate (to say very cheap: 17.5 pounds per person per night). The closest station is Willesden Green (600m).

London is huge; and even though we have 3 days effective on hand we haven’t covered all must-see places. That said, we managed to visit:

Greenwich, Royal Observatory Greenwich
The Tower of London
London Eye
River Thames Cruise
Green Park and Buckingham Palace
Science Museum, Imperial College of London (unfortunately it was a very long queue in Natural History Museum that we aborted the plan)
Harrods, Karak and Chapati
Piccadilly Circus
Trafalgar Square
The Elizabeth Tower and surroundings
Oxford Street, and Leicester Square shopping area and their surroundings

Enjoy the pictures!

A student-managed Indonesian residence-hotel - Wisma Merdeka - in Willesden, London — A student-managed Indonesian student housing – Wisma Siswa Merdeka – in Willesden, London

Homy breakfast at Wisma Merdeka, Willesden, our base during a 5-day stay in London

Dartmouth Road, Willesden Green, London NW2 4EX where Wisma Merdeka is located at — Dartmouth Road,
Willesden Green,
London NW2 4EX where Wisma Merdeka is located at

Willesden Green tube station, the nearest station to Wisma Siswa Merdeka

At Greenwich, meridian line 0deg 0'0" — At Greenwich, meridian line 0deg 0’0″

Meridan Line, that divides western and eastern hemisphere

Kids enjoy the vast green space at Greenwich Park

Walking down the steps from Royal Observatory Greenwich

Canary Wharf, a major business district/financial center

Kids prepared coins for fish and chips at The Tower of London

Burberry at its birthplace. Well not really in London but it was in Hampshire.

You can do it, Faiq! See you next 3-4 years later? Inshaa Allah

Downing Street, that houses the official residence and office of the prime minister

At Nelson's Column, a monument in Trafalgar Square in central London built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 — At Nelson’s Column, a monument in Trafalgar Square in central London built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805

Cavendish Square Gardens, off Oxford Street

London Charing Cross Station and Golden Jubilee Bridges

The Elizabeth Tower and nearby connected government buildings

a closer look to The Elizabeth Tower (Big Ben)

Millennium Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral as a background — Millennium Bridge and St. Paul’s Cathedral as a background

A must background picture while in London

Tube to tube travel is a must London experience

Europe, TRAVEL

Cardiff – April 2014

February 6, 2015 Wahyu Hidayat 2 Comments

Wales Millennium Centre - Cardiff Bay. Inscription on the centre exterior are: In these stones horizons sing, and "Creu Gwir Fel Gwydr o Ffwrnais Awens" which translate as Creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration — Wales Millennium Centre – Cardiff Bay. Inscription on the centre exterior are: In these stones horizons sing, and “Creu Gwir Fel Gwydr o Ffwrnais Awens” which translate as Creating truth like glass from the furnace of inspiration

Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) is the capital and largest city in Wales. Don’t know yet? How about Gareth Bale or Ryan Giggs?

We arrived at Cardiff Central station after 3hr35m first class train trip from Manchester Piccadilly. We exited the station, walked 2min and here we were at Sleeperz, a budget hotel with awesome location.

We then had a quick check-in, settled, and hit the road. Early morning tomorrow we have to depart for London. We walked up West Gate street leading to Cardiff Castle, passing by Millennium Stadium. Rather than headed to the castle, we walked around the castle, by traversing Bute Park.

The side walking path of Bute Park leads us to Cardiff Crown Court, Alexandra Gardens and Cardiff University.

We then returned to our hotel after making a good shopping walk in Queen Street & The Hayes area.

Just before sunset, we took a taxi to Cardiff Bay and enjoyed the scenery there prior to making a trip back to central Cardiff for our dinner on Caroline Street which lined with many halal restaurant (about 4% of Cardiff’s population is Muslim).

Cardiff, a land we never imagined to step on, gave us a short enjoyable visit. Had a long reputation as an industrial city, Cardiff has been gaining popularity as a tourist hot spot. With its concentrated tourist area, easy access, and affordable, no wonder that Cardiff is flourishing in tourism. The only thing that made us puzzled is how they live with that consonant-laden words: gwydr, fyddwch, unrhyw?

First class train of First Great Western

West Gate St, leading to Cardiff Castle passing Millennium Stadium

Millennium Stadium, the home of the Wales national rugby union team

Wefie at Bute Park. Cardiff Castle on the background

Alexandra Gardens, opposite Cardiff University

Qatar-inspired Tulip :) — Qatar-inspired Tulip 🙂

Park Pl street leading to Queen Street shopping area

The Hayes, Cardiff (near Duke of Wellington)

Wales Millennium Centre - Cardiff Bay for theatres, galleries, restaurants, bars, shops, free family fun and behind the scenes tours — Wales Millennium Centre – Cardiff Bay for theatres, galleries, restaurants, bars, shops, free family fun and behind the scenes tours

Roald Dahl Plass - Cardiff Bay — Roald Dahl Plass – Cardiff Bay

Techniquest (Science Center) at Cardiff Bay

Pierhead Building - Cardiff Bay — Pierhead Building – Cardiff Bay

One of the halal eateries on Caroline Street

Walking down Caroline St (The Hayes area off St Mary Street, opposite Philharmonic Hall) where many halal outlets are available

One of the most consonant-based languages I've ever seen. 7 consonants in one word? — One of the most consonant-based languages I’ve ever seen. 7 consonants in one word?

Europe

Liverpool & Manchester – April 2014

February 4, 2015 Wahyu Hidayat

Late post from our trip to UK in April 2014. Whoao that’s almost one year ago!

We landed at Liverpool’s John Lennon International Airport , from Belfast, leaving behind the birthplace of Titanic to the city that never enjoyed the sight of the Titanic steaming up the Mersey although it was designed here.

One prominent landmark at John Lennon International Airport is “Yellow Submarine” inspired by a song written by the Beatles in 1966. Remember the song?

We actually just transited in Liverpool before continuing to Manchester and staying there for two days. Liverpool had our 6-hour visit this time though (I’ve been here in 2012 for the first time).

So here how it were. Took a taxi to Lime Street Station, dropped our luggage to Left Luggage, took another taxi to Liverpool FC’s Anfield Stadium, then headed to The Wheel of Liverpool at Albert Dock. We spent a good time in Albert Dock including its Liverpool Museum before returning to Lime Street Station through Liverpool One with a stop at Cavern Quarter for the Beatles. We had our lunch at one of the halal restaurants close to the station before embarking a 50-min trip to Manchester.

Manchester

It’s the same Manchester as one I visited in 2012: multicultural, creative hive, football prowess, music history (Oasis, anyone?)

Manchester Piccadilly station welcomed us that evening with its comforting cold weather. Walking about 400m from the station we arrived at SACO Apartment, centrally located in the heart of Manchester, few minutes walk from Piccadilly Garden and Central Manchester.

During this 2-night stay in Manchester we covered: Market Street (shopping area), Manchester Cathedral, National Football Museum, Hard Rock Cafe (a must!), Manchester United’s Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium (tour), and Museum of Science and Industry (should I say a must again?)

Check our pictures from these two cities.