8th June 2000 Thursday

Before setting off, 6.30am

I woke up around 6am. I guess the jet lag has not got into us. Since some of us would still like to sleep a little long, I shall go out and explore the surrounding area. It's a good thing that CY is still awake. There's someone to accompany me out there. However, it seems that it is a little too early. There nothing much to see when I was walking around, but I am able to see a few landmarks around my hostel. Just opposite the hostel is the British Library and down the road was the King's Cross Station. The weather is kind of cold, I did not want to stay out door for too long. I got back around 8am, just in time for breakfast. 8)
 

British Library. (opps , there's a truck)	King's Cross Station.

Tower of London, 9.30am

After an English Breakfast, we headed to the HM Tower of London. We travel via the tube, we bought a day pass that cost £3.7. I think allows certain us to travel between certain Zones. Anyway, it is not difficult to find our way to the Tower of London. I can roughly find the way from the map I had. When we arrived at the entrance, the line was exceptionally long. I hope the queue would move faster as we have to leave London in the afternoon. It was after sometimes before I got the ticket. The ticket was expensive. It can be worse if not for the student pass I have.
 

Outside the Tower of London.	Hey! this is my ticket.

Inside the tower
 

We worked our way inside this Tower. This tower is more like an area rather than just one tower. While inside, There's some raven flying around. Well.. according to the brochures that I have there, these birds are suppose to be some kind of guardian to the tower: If all the ravens leave the tower, something bad will happen. Do you believe it? The image on the right is a small map of the Tower of London. The building in the center of it is the White Tower. The red sign at the top left corner is the tube station.

Besides ravens, there were lots of tourists and some "Yamen". which I feel that they are some kind of tour guides. We have been to serveral parts of the Tower like the Jewel House, Water gate, The Bloody Tower and the White Tower. Later, we walked around the castle walls. One of the guards standig outside the Jewel House.

The White Tower	A view from the castle wall. The bridge over there is the Tower Bridge.

Leaving the tower, back to hostel.

After leaving the tower, the first thing we did was to look for fresh water. We had lunch at BK again. Perhaps I may not want to have BK again in London. It taste the same as in Singapore. 
Anyway, we got rid of our small change and then we headed back to check out our room.
Checking out is hassle-free. Just return the keys and that's it.

Heh.. I think it's interesting to look at their transportation system. This was how I travelled.
King Cross-> Oxford Circus(Transit) -> Water Loo station.
Well... It took me a minute or two to figure out the way from the tube map. In the tube station, people stand at the right side of the escalator and those who are rushing would use the left side. You get shoved aside if you stood the left. 

So.. We were heading Didn't try the fish and chip and missed going to Scotland.
 

To Paris via the Eurostar 3.23pm - 7.23pm

In the train, I have heard the train manager spoken over the Announcements. I think the way he speak French sounds really nice. Anyway, the trip on the rail is boring. It's my first train ride and I have started to feel bored. Perhaps I should do something about the subsequent ones. Well... since the rest are sleeping on the train I guess I spend my time writing my travelogue. (Which is what you see here now.)
 

In Paris

The public transport is the Metro System, We had a really hard time finding the way to the hostel. 
Firstly, we do not understand French and most of the people don't speak English after we have asked. (We asked in french, hmm.. just hoping that they would say "oui" so we can ask our direction in English.) Secondly, we cannot pronounce the name of the places in French (French != English).  As a result, noone knows what we are talking about. I think it is best to have a pen and pencil ready. Forget the idea of pronouncing the words or the name of places. I think there's already enough confusion. 

At the hostel. we took half an hour to check in when there's only 1 person in the queue. Bad service. Shucks!

Too tired to argue anyway. Zzzzz

Next day.. walk in Paris!