I am now in London, the city of public surveillance. I still can't believe it that I managed to walk from High Street Kensington to Marble Arch without a map in hand! After this walk I realised that London is not as big as it sound.
I started my journey with a pair of comfortable flat shoes as usual, and an intent to take the tube to meet a friend in Oxford Street. When I reached the station, I realised that I was just one stop away from Notting Hill, somewhere I must go after reading how Victoria Beckham got her many inspirations from there. I decided to walk to Notthing Hill where I did asked some friendly locals the correct direction. As I walked, I saw many antique shops, art galleries, and not to mention the food and wine stores. My eyes are feasted by the sight of many Victorian-era china, Indian contemporary artworks and miniature figures of the aristocratic society of olden days England. My walk was afterall, quite interesting.
As I saw Waterstone, I knew I was in Notting Hill. I headed towards the tube station after taking a while to imagine how this place will be when the Notting Hill Carnival arrives. I remember that I always spend some time in a corner shop bookstore and yes, I found it! I am always in awe of the titles that it carries and you don't really find any mainstream books except some Dan Browns or probably Lonely Planet guides (which I think, needed for its sales and survival-bility). The many titles I remembered are the ones that are quite critical. And the ones that made an impression are, a book teaching witch-crafting, a photography book on the fashion runway and film stars of Hollywood. Out of these three books, I only browsed through the last two.
As I wanted to take the tube, I read the map at the station and realised that, if I follow Bayswater Road, I'll reach Marble Arch. I decided to give it a try as the fear of London tube massacre still lingers on my mind occasionally. I walked along Bayswater Road and after about 20 mins with Hyde Park on my right, I saw the famous arch. We met and we shopped. We also ended up having Cantonese Roasted Duck Rice, fried spinach with garlic and the complementary soup of the day, which is lotus root in one of the Chinese restaurant in Bayswater.
