Out & about - the free loader @ London-town! (Day 1)
Having ended my long-term relationship with PwC - I finally had time to visit Peggy in London. Well, given that I will be unemployed and with no inkling when my next career move will be (i.e the inability to forecast my inflow of $$$ for the next 2-3 months) , I've decided to be a free-loader. Peggy will be sponsoring accomodation and food (and I've requested for yummy awesome food).....
Actually, that was the plan since 4 yrs ago...when Peggy first moved to London. But I moved to Adelaide for work and things were pretty crazy ...so finally, I found time and the right amount of discount on ticket to London!! To top it off - I get to check out the new A380....haha....love the spacious seat, for once, my fat ass is comfortable in Economy (and the fact that the flight is pretty empty).........
To be honest, the whole London-trip affair was confirmed and decided within a day. Malaysia Airlines was having a sale and the travel period co-incide with my unemployment - and I'm like, hey....if I don't do this now, I don't know when I'll do this. Skyped Peggy and confirm that she can take me in for 2 weeks or so, organised alternative accomodation with Mich (in case Peg and me fight - its normal in our friendship).....and drop a note to my non-asian sister, Libby that I'm hitting London-town soon and if she's alive and kicking, I'll love to catch up with her.....
It was a frenzy, with only a week to pack, get ready and prepare for the trip. Did some research online and draw up an itinerary.....just so the auditor in me feels like there's a plan and I don't freak out!
Had a last minute panic attack, when I read the UK Immigration information wrongly - for some reason, I've interpreted that I need a visa to travel to UK and I didn't have enough time to get one!
LOL...such a MH moment....
Day 1 - Arriving @ London
13 hour direct flight from KLIA to Heathrow.............while my fat ass is comfortable, its pretty crazy to seat through the whole journey. There's only so much in-flight movie your eyes can take....and eventually, I tried to sleep.
In-flight meal : Don't quite remember what I had....but its was alright.
Now, Peggy had given instruction on how to take the Underground from Heathrow to her place at Stratford. As a kiasu-packer, I've of course brought my huge-ass luggage + a carry-on - so imagine the work-out I had lugging it. While Peggy's planning skill is superb, she had failed to predict that the Handicapped Access Lift is under repair at the transiting station, so I was faced with this daunting flight of stairs @ peak hour (it was 5pm then) that I need to go through before I reach the right platform.
But thank god, there are some kind soul in London ...or the dude is just fed-up waiting for me to drag my luggage one-step at a time. He lifted my luggage from behind while I hauled it up the stairs....and he's kinda cute too (better if he's without the dreadlocks). Ahhh....I love London already!!!
I manage to get myself to Stratford station and waited for Peggy to finished work (I have no keys to her apartment) - and was feeling the relief of having someone else to help me with my luggage. Got a crash course from Peggy on how I can take the bus to her place. Was really tempted to sleep - it must be about 1am in Kuala Lumpur, when its about 7pm in the evening in London.
But I was hungry - and Peg decided to bring me to her favourite Turkish restaurant. It was awesome...the best lamb kebabs I ever had (I don't usually eat lamb...) and some spinach & feta triangles..lovely!
Dinner @ Day 1 @ Haz Restaurant
http://www.hazrestaurant.co.uk/
Pls excuse the photos .....too hungry, so we ate first and half heartedly, I decided that I need to take photos of the food so I can blog about it. Its does not do any justice to the meal - which is really flavourful...
I'm trying to "prove" that there's spinach & feta in it - not thinking clearly, and my eyes are literally drooping by now
Actually, that was the plan since 4 yrs ago...when Peggy first moved to London. But I moved to Adelaide for work and things were pretty crazy ...so finally, I found time and the right amount of discount on ticket to London!! To top it off - I get to check out the new A380....haha....love the spacious seat, for once, my fat ass is comfortable in Economy (and the fact that the flight is pretty empty).........
To be honest, the whole London-trip affair was confirmed and decided within a day. Malaysia Airlines was having a sale and the travel period co-incide with my unemployment - and I'm like, hey....if I don't do this now, I don't know when I'll do this. Skyped Peggy and confirm that she can take me in for 2 weeks or so, organised alternative accomodation with Mich (in case Peg and me fight - its normal in our friendship).....and drop a note to my non-asian sister, Libby that I'm hitting London-town soon and if she's alive and kicking, I'll love to catch up with her.....
It was a frenzy, with only a week to pack, get ready and prepare for the trip. Did some research online and draw up an itinerary.....just so the auditor in me feels like there's a plan and I don't freak out!
Had a last minute panic attack, when I read the UK Immigration information wrongly - for some reason, I've interpreted that I need a visa to travel to UK and I didn't have enough time to get one!
LOL...such a MH moment....
Day 1 - Arriving @ London
13 hour direct flight from KLIA to Heathrow.............while my fat ass is comfortable, its pretty crazy to seat through the whole journey. There's only so much in-flight movie your eyes can take....and eventually, I tried to sleep.
Now, Peggy had given instruction on how to take the Underground from Heathrow to her place at Stratford. As a kiasu-packer, I've of course brought my huge-ass luggage + a carry-on - so imagine the work-out I had lugging it. While Peggy's planning skill is superb, she had failed to predict that the Handicapped Access Lift is under repair at the transiting station, so I was faced with this daunting flight of stairs @ peak hour (it was 5pm then) that I need to go through before I reach the right platform.
But thank god, there are some kind soul in London ...or the dude is just fed-up waiting for me to drag my luggage one-step at a time. He lifted my luggage from behind while I hauled it up the stairs....and he's kinda cute too (better if he's without the dreadlocks). Ahhh....I love London already!!!
I manage to get myself to Stratford station and waited for Peggy to finished work (I have no keys to her apartment) - and was feeling the relief of having someone else to help me with my luggage. Got a crash course from Peggy on how I can take the bus to her place. Was really tempted to sleep - it must be about 1am in Kuala Lumpur, when its about 7pm in the evening in London.
But I was hungry - and Peg decided to bring me to her favourite Turkish restaurant. It was awesome...the best lamb kebabs I ever had (I don't usually eat lamb...) and some spinach & feta triangles..lovely!
Dinner @ Day 1 @ Haz Restaurant
http://www.hazrestaurant.co.uk/
Pls excuse the photos .....too hungry, so we ate first and half heartedly, I decided that I need to take photos of the food so I can blog about it. Its does not do any justice to the meal - which is really flavourful...
Spinach & feta triangles
Kuzu Shish (lamb on skewers) - so SEDAP (Tasty).....
Peggy picked up the tab - but somewhere along the way, I think she mentioned that a typical lunch @ Haz will cost between 10-15 pounds. Supposedly, that's a good deal. Well, if you compare that to a Malaysian lunch, downtown KL - it will cost us RM10-15 for a simple lunch.
In my drowsiness (by the time we are done, its about 3-4am Malaysian time) - I would say that Haz looks pretty fancy by Malaysian standard, but its probably a mid-level restaurants with decent service and decent food. For me - the flavours for the lamb was spot on and I truly enjoyed the meal - but unfortunately, Haz was not quite well received in other reviews - Foreign Food Affair & http://www.london-eating.co.uk/36761.htm. But noted that mostly were not happy with the service but love the food. :D
Its probably tougher for restaurateur in London compared to in Kuala Lumpur, where we are generally quite tolerant in terms of service. Well, I was probably caught between enjoying the food and thinking about a good night sleep at that point in time......
Labels: food, Haz, London, St.Paul, Turkish cuisine
posted by Mh at
10:28 AM
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