UK Trip December 2015 - Part 12 - To London and back home (End)

Continuation from: UK Trip December 2015 - Part 11 - Tour of St Andrews University

This is the coordinate of the hotel where we stayed in St Andrews.

In the morning we took a taxi to get to the train station. From the bleak platform you can see the military airfield.

Waiting at the platform with other students from the university going home for Christmas.

On arrival to King's Cross Station, we took the tube to our next destination, Leonardo Hotel near Heathrow Airport. Since our flight back to KL was in the morning we decided to stay near the airport instead of in London itself.

Got two rooms.

A quaint hotel that caters for travellers.

The 'fireplace' was a video on a flat screen TV.

A simple lobby.

First thing next morning, before dawn, we are all ready to catch a bus to the airport.

At the airport the checking-in procedure was smooth since we came in early. We got the chance to have breakfast before our long flight home.

Boarding now.

Engross is reading.

Flew on MAS A380.

Basic food.

When we arrived we got on the ERL. Since we have been sitting for 12 hours, standing for 28 minutes was much preferred.

That concludes our UK Trip 2015.

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 07 - Meeting up with old university mate Nazim and family, Westfield Stratford City mall, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Continuation from:

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 06 - The Eye of London, Big Ben and the Parliment Building 

Today we went to Westfield Stratford City mall to meet up with my old university mate, Nazim and his family.

This mall was made during the London Olympics and is the biggest mall in the city. In the photo below you can just see the stadium.

Before the appointed time for the meeting, we went early to do some shopping. It was a Saturday and there were many people.

The whole area has been developed because of the Olympics.

My old friend Nazim.

...with his wife Regina and son Adil.

We had lunch a Nando's and later we went back to their house for tea. We left late in the evening.

To be continued.

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 06 - The Eye of London, Big Ben and the Parliment Building

Continuation from:

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 05 - Visiting the Imperial War Museum in London

After the museum we walked towards the river to see the Eye of London Ferris wheel. An imposing piece of mechanical structure. Decided against going on it due to the poor weather and the exorbitant fee.

Selfie with my son.

Family selfie. The wind was strong which made it cold.

Big Ben and the UK Parliament building.

There were a lot of people with the same intention to see Big Ben.

After this we were tired out and we headed home for dinner.

To be continued.

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 05 - Visiting the Imperial War Museum in London

Continuation from:

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 04 - Walking along the Thames river and Tower Bridge

After Tower Bridge we went back to a Tube station and headed towards Lambert North Tube station. From there we headed towards the Imperial War Museum on Lambeth Road, London SE1 6H. 

While walking towards the museum we happen to stumble upon the house of William Bligh, the Commander of the 'Bounty' (1754 - 1817). Wow, a house that is more than 200 years old. Looks just like any typical house in London.

The museum is situated next to a park. We went through the park and I saw this giant sundial. Unfortunately, it was a downcast day and we can't see any shadows.

The first thing that greeted us at the entrance of the museum was a pair of 16 inch naval guns. Massive.

The front of the museum.

The shell is more than a tonne in weight.

The breach of the massive guns.

The entrance of the museum. The museum is housed in part of the former Bethlem Hospital (Bedlam), built in 1811 and relocated in 1930, with the museum arriving from South Kensington in 1936.

The main hall of the museum has a number of major exhibits like old WW2 aircraft and modern jets like the Harrier Jump Jet pictured below.

There is also the famous Spitfire as well as the V1 and V2 weapons from Nazi Germany.

I particularly like the WW1 exhibition. Here is an advert asking people to invest in War Bonds.

A T34 tank.

A German 88 mm anti-aircraft cannon.

The German sidecar recon BMW bike.

A replica of the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

The Supermarine Spitfire.

The highest floor of the museum.

Selfie.

Had a wonderful time at the museum, the kids enjoyed it.

 To be continued.

UK Trip December 2015 - Part 04 - Walking along the Thames river and Tower Bridge

Continuation from: UK Trip December 2015 - Part 03 - Walking along Oxford Street

The next morning after an early breakfast (can't sleep after 5:30 am due to jet-lag) we headed towards the centre of London to see the sights. It was a downcast Saturday morning.

The cafes were just opening up for the breakfast crowd.

We took the Tube to the River Thames as there is where a lot of things can be seen that are the hallmark of London.

While waiting for a quick toilet break, I took a photo of my kids.

We were North of the river and we started our great London adventure from London bridge heading South.

The famous Shard Building.

Tower Bridge and the HMS Belfast ship museum.

Kids photos.

Very windy.

While walking we came across this beautiful shopping pavilion converted from old building just beside the river.

Very tastefully done. There were also nice sculptures.

My son resting on one of the many cute circular benches in the pavilion.

The Christmas decorations were up and the spirit of the season was felt. Pity I forgotten the name of this place.

While walking along the London Riverside (this is what this whole area was called), we saw new and old buildings.

HMS Belfast. This is a ship museum that one can go to visit.

My daughter.

My son.

We saw a lot of stalls selling food and other stuff. We were told that this is part of the Christmas celebration where for a month, merchants can rent a stall to sell their products.

Was this the building used in the latest James Bond movie?

All kinds of food staff were there. There was even a Malaysian food stall. Surprisingly, a good proportion of the food stalls served Halal food.

Not much river traffic. Maybe because it was a weekend.

The famous Tower Bridge. A lot of people there as well.

To be continued.