Nothing but some, things

It's the 3rd day. I started to feel like I wanted to go out for sight-seeing.
For some reasons I had to stay at the Park Inn, so I decided to
go to Winsor Castle, which I heard it was close to Heathrow.
I knew nothing about it other than "it's the Queen's residence".
No map. No internet means no information.

I went to Heathrow anyway expecting trains from there.
At first I went to the central bus station near to Terminal 1/2/3,
but was told to go to Terminal 5.
And at Terminal 5, I finally found out that I could take a local
bus from there, not by coach.
The return ticket fee was 5.50 or so.

After 45mins trip, the bus got to Winsor.
...Well, it is the castle. (Of course, it is!)
It was such a huge building, inside was so regal,
I can make just a typical comment as it looked such a typical catsle.
I wonder how Queen's life would be living in this kind of place?
Imagine, having lots of tourists visiting your home everyday
would be a bit crazy, wouldn't it?

Queen Mary's doll's house was amazing.
Details are so well done, and it is so big, splendid,
it was more than just a "doll house".
Also St. George's Chapel was so beautiful.
Its decoration on the ceiling was like CG art.
Delicate lines were more than beautiful.

Photos in the buildings is forbidden,
so this is a photo from the outside.

I had to leave early as I went out lately,
but if you look at each rooms carefully listening to the guide,
it must take almost one day!

After leaving the castle, I had a lunch at an Italian restaurant.
It looked really tasty, but I would like not to comment
on foods in this country anymore.

There are some shopping streets as well as souvenir shops.
I enjoyed walking around there.

The next photo was taken from just a bit away from Winsor.
I thought close distance between Queen and people was really "British" .

The second day. Although I started to feel enthusiastic a bit,
now I suffer from jet lag. Waking up at 3:00am, (this is like
I sleep over until 11:00 in Japan) having a breakfast around 7
(which is like late breakfast in Japan), having a lunch around 13:00
(dinner), and I feel sleepy around late afternoon.
Perhaps as I am tensed a bit as well, I couldn't get out from
this loop for the first few days. But I need to move anyway!
The place I went first was Heathrow.
0.3 miles is not far to take buses, so I started to walk,
but soon I realised that there were lots of sign saying "No Pedestorian"...
Since I was so hungry, I paid 4 pounds again and went to the airport.
Feel like a loser...

My lunch on that day was sandwich and orange juice at a cafe
named "Bite.". Well, it was quite nice...but cost 5 pounds.
OK, in Japan, we could have sweets too on that price.
Also the sandwich was huge...half size is enough for me,
so make the price half as well.

By the way, hearing that you can get discount tickets for
tube and buses with Oyster card, I went to the tube station.
Paying 3 pounds deposit and 20 pounds top-up,
I finally got it! Maybe I can go to the hotel with cheaper ticket
using this? Although I had no idea how to look at the bus map,
it seemed there was a bus going to Bath Road which is near to the hotel.
When I asked the driver how much single ticket was,
he answered "It's free!".
What!? What is that HOPPA BUS for, then!?

I felt so exhausted when I got to the hotel.
I think I need to sleep now...

So, it's just a few hours to arrive at the UK,
and I need to switch my brain to English-mode completely,
but I'm still stupidly laughing watching Japanese comedians.
Am I really alright!?!?

...thinking like that, still laughing, I arrived at the Heathrow.
It was 16:00 in the UK but 24:00 in Japan...
As I couldn't sleep on the flight at all, I was extremely sleepy.
Also I immediately experienced the UK style.
While lots and lots of people were queuing,
there was few immigration officer!
It took 1 hours to get through this. umm...

Carrying a 20kg suitcase and a heavy bag containing
laptop PC and digital camera, my brain to use English
has already died. Even reading a simple sign was tough.
Feeling miserable. And I started to feel so anxious.
Although just asking "how to get to" shouldn't be difficult,
I was so nervous and using just "lesson 1" words
like "Excuse me" or "Thank you", finally got to the bus station
to go to the hotel. The bus was named HOPPA Bus.
They are driving around the hotels near to Heathrow...
Why HOPPA? Strange name...

And there, I realised how high prices in the UK are.
The hotel is just 0.3 miles away, but 4 pounds for single?
(about 800yen) No kidding!
Actually I could have taken another way,
but I found out about it later...
Since I was exhausted already, I tried to pay 4pounds
on the bending machine. 2pounds went through
but 1pound is rejected. Cancel button doesn't work either.
Oh no! Get my 500yen (-ish 2pounds coin) back!!!

And a British gentle man who has been watching me
talked to me.
"It never works."
"Oh really? But I've inserted my 2pounds already!"
"Oh, keep trying then..."
We pushed some buttons and finally got my money back!

5 mins to Park Inn Hotel..(4pounds...it can't be.)
I breathed a sigh of relief after checking in.
Well, the room was not so big, but clean and comfortable.
The problem was, how can I survive in the country
where it costs 4pound to go to 0.3miles?
I fell asleep being so anxtious.

So. Departure.

Although I was thinking of studying English much before I leave,
I ended up just drinking with friends
I swear I didn't have time for study at all.

Now, I would like to start writing about the life in London,
as well as preparation I have done.
Of course I will write about usual topics such as music or football.
I even haven't given up writing about Korea!
Well, it's been over three months already...but I will do it

So, what is tough about going to the UK is 12 hours-long-flight.
How can I kill the time? Today I used ANA at first time.
In-flight meal was OK (comparing to other companies, much better).
And "Hexagon" (famous quiz TV show in Japan) was on air!
I almost laughed out loud in the airplane.
Now I should watch "Sho-ten" (long-run comedy show in Japan) as well.

Watching outside of the window...
Russia is so big....well, the earth is so big...
and economy sheet is so small...

Having worked for nearly 6years, I resigned from the job.
And now it's only three days to go to the UK.

I really appreciate that such a lot of friends
and colleagues had parties for me.
Starting in the middle of June,
drink and drink and drink...
I smiled a lot and saw smiles a lot. Thank you!
And I'm so sorry that I couldn't manage the time
to see some of you who said they wanted to see me.

By the way, I got lots of presents.
I'm always so impressed by the people
who have such nice senses to choose
wonderful presents. I wish I could be like them.

Now I remember one line written by my favourite
writer, Paulo Coelho. In his book "Veronika Decide Morrer",
one woman says something like this:

"There will be people waiting for me.
Although nobody knows me, and I know nobody yet."

(I read the book in Japanese so English may be different from
original translation.)

To People in the U.K., both who have known me already,
as well as who haven't known me yet,
I wish we will have so much fun together

OK, it was over already, so I wouldn't talk much.
But let me say one thing.

...Their pass skills are so sophisticated...

I'm sure it's not C. Ronald's time, but Fernando Torres's time.