Leicester, England

We went to Leicester recently, just half an hour's train ride away, primarily to catch a Funeral for a Friend gig. We ended up paying 13pounds each (for a ticket) to get our heads bashed in, lips cut, singing FOR (and not along with) the singer because he lost his voice thanks to a sore throat. I bet he was smoking too much and was probably too drunk to remember the lyrics prior to the gig. How awfully awesome. My lip still hurts from the ulcer some punk left me, thanks to his bodysurfing stunt. Other than that, Leicester was interestingly filled with loads of Indians. Don't know if it's right to say that we felt "at home"... but it definitely felt cozier than your regular English cities. Place felt like a ghost town initially, when we arrived at the train station. Everything was either under construction, closed or just screamed "evacuate now. attacked by zombies!" So we ventured further towards the city centre and got a tight slap in our face. Leicester owns Nottingham big time. They have this mega shopping mall more than 3 storeys high, with a bunch of youths dancing to some new version of Para-para. Super funny I'll try to upload in a bit if I have the time.


Totally beats dance dance revolution, or para-para!!!


Tickets to the gig! So el cheapo, I know.


The half-hour train ride to Leicester. Cost us 8.70pounds return. Not too bad.


Zombieland.


It got better once we started venturing deeper into the city.


Some random church, like all the others in UK, and Europe.


The church within the compounds of Leicester Castle.


So we were posing in front of a random door, which looked kinda cool. Then Talib burst my bubble... what if the door led to... the church's toilet. -_-"






Talib was happilly, innocently jumping around the Castle Courtyard, before we found out later on that this was an execution ground earlier in the days. What irony. Oh well.


Anyone up for lamppost-dancing? Talib's failed "come-hither" look.








Some local museum documenting the lives of the people of Leicester.


We started a new tradition of getting hot drinks and desserts at a bar before catching any gig. This time we had tiny profiteroles drenched with belgian chocolate sauce, and warm mugs of mocha and cuppacino. All for the cheap!


Rise to Remain--some band which opened for Funeral for a Friend. So this punk tried to be funny, and rested one foot on some dude standing next to me, while balancing himself with his other foot on stage. The aftermath was him falling over, and body surfing with his guitar... not without kicking me in the head. Asshole!


Funeral for a Friend!


One of the band's crazy fans!

Cardiff, Wales

All pumped up for the trip to Cardiff from London.


And then I fell asleep... it was a super long four hour bus ride!


Beef steak sandwich for 3 pounds. Also the same place we got the most kick-ass hot chocolate ever.







Go ahead, try pronouncing the street name. Hoity Toity.


Yup, I'm chubby alright.


Here begins our free tour of the Senned (Senate) Building.


Our guide kept going on and on about how it was essential for the Welsh to learn their language, and how important Welsh independence is... even sent his kids to a Welsh school. Turns out that he's a Liverpudlian--masquerading as a Welsh. Sheesh.





Cardiff Bay and the beautiful scenery. The sea breeze was crazy strong.


Talib on a photo-taking frenzy... it was only day 3 of being in the UK. He was taking pictures with everything and anything, I swear.


Talib with Maureen Flynn, from Australia (:




"Stop eating sandwich." -_-"


The Cardiff Bay cottages. Talib wants to buy one in the future. I'm definitely not going to come along.


I didn't know the Welsh had their own language... until naooooo.


We spent the whole day walking in the rain... as you can see from the spots on the photo. Hardcore, ten floor.


Talib claims I look like a koala. Seriously. I've refused to try on ear muffs since.


Magherita pizza for 2.50pounds. Cheapest deal in Cardiff, and yummiest in town :D

London, England

In the elevator to Pia's house. We crashed her place for the 5 days we were in London. Thank you! <3


Talib got a chinese dude to snap this pic. Hahahahaha. Trust your own kind.


Chilli-concarne. Beef, beans, and piping hot jacket potato, with butter that oozes out with every bite. Yum in the cold. But expensive--3.50pounds. You got to hate London for that.


Posing with the Chinatown pavillion and my English jacket potato.


Still makes me burst out laughing each time I see this photo. Seriously now. Dumplings' legend!!! I are dumpling.


The outdoor funfair in Leicester Square. Complete with a merry-go-round, bumper cars and booths selling chips, toffee apples and mushy peas--English style.


Talib's first English McDonald's milkshake...which was a mega letdown. I miss the Mars milkshake they were selling back in September :(


Malay boy in Chinatown.


Got some Chinese girl to help us snap a photo. Only trust your own kind muahahaha.


The primark bag which was on the verge of breaking... it remained in this state for more than 4 hours.


The most dangerous playground for kids. She was dangling there for more than 2 minutes. That's extreme.


Stamford Bridge Stadium. Photos would have been nicer if we hadn't quarrelled. =/ The grass there is treated better than our own S League players, says Talib.


LOOK AT MY PONYTAIL.


Only in London can you skip around with just a hoodie on. Don't try this in Nottingham.


Talib being lame. Please sing nursery rhyme now.


If you recall, I had a similar photo a month or more ago... and I finally got my hands on the melted cheese whatchamacallit. 5 pound for the potatoes, some pickled veggies (which were really gross and sour I really didn't like them!) and the greasy, melted cheese. Quite a disappointment really. We had to wait in queue for close to 25 minutes too. Zzz. Never going to queue for something again, not when I can get a kebab for 3 pounds and still feel the same warmth and happiness in my belly.


Some art exhibit at the Tate Modern museum. This Chinese artist decided it'd be cool to have an entire village of people make porcelain sunflower seeds and scatter them all over the ground. We wanted to steal one home. :D






Church of Scientology. Nope, Tom Cruise wasn't jumping around inside.