Skip to main content

Hop On and Off bus - London Bridge Experience - The Shard - Tower Bridge - Thames River Cruise

London - We woke up early for our first day of using the London pass; it will be very busy day and have 5 attractions to complete today.  When we reach London we were hunting around for the bus-stop for the hop-on and off bus.

Hop-on and off bus
We drop off near the station for the London Bridge Experience.  

London Bridge experience
After watching the video of the history of the London Bridge, you are asked to follow a dimly light path to one station after another.   It was an interesting experience as the actors act out the time of old London Bridge era and get the audience to participate.  Told tales of old and finally we were led to down the final stage blind-folded to be scare by actors and props along the way.    It was like a house of horrors.

After which, it was a short walk to The Shard, is a 95-storey supertall skyscraper.  The Shard is the tallest building in the United Kingdom, and the sixth-tallest building in Europe.   The view at the top was priceless with 360 degree panoramic views.   There is also an amazing open-air skydeck.  

Getting up to the top was also amazing a remarkable lift speeed of 6 metres per second.




Trev and me
Pax

That's how tall The Shard is

London train station
Lunch was at Leon Coffee - simple dine-in for the family


Chargrilled Chicken

Moroccan Meatballs
After our hearty lunch - we walked to the Tower Bridge.  the iconic London bridge that was built 125 years ago.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge
When we reach the Tower bridge it was raining and cold.



That's the HMS Belfast in the background picture.

Footpath connecting the 2 Towers
Looking down from the glass floor

Engine room to the draw bridge
Afterwhich, we took the Thames River cruise -

Our River cruise ticket
Free seating in this big river boat -

London Eye
Our dinner was at Frankie & Benny's restaurant - is a chain of Italian-American theme restaurants in UK.

Pizza

Seafood pasta


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Calesa around Intramuros

Manila - Together with Albert, we took a calesa (horse drawn carriage used in Philippines) around Intramuros. Albert and Lesley Albert and I Intramuros is the oldest district and historic core of Manila.  The walled part of Manila was called intramuros, which is Latin for "within the walls"; districts beyond the walls are known as extramuros meaning outside the walls.  Construction of the defensive walls was started by the Spaniards in the late 16th century to protect the city from foreign invasions.   Guarding the old city is Fortaiago wich is located at the mouth of the river. Gallery of Philippines past and present presidents General MacArthur Battle HQ Entrance of General MacArthur HQ Manila Hotel Manila Hotel in the distance Manila hotel is the oldest hotel in the Philippines and the most well known icon. Baluarte De San Andres Cannons lined in a semi-circle Colegio de San Juan de Letran was founded in 1620 and is t

Cheong Guk Jang - fermented bean soup

Seoul - Lunch with Youngjin was at a traditional soup restaurant and it was crowded.   Youngjin asked me many times Cheonggukjang "ok", I said ok not knowing what to expect.  I have tried many weird and smelly good in Seoul, so I was very prepared.   My first time tasting Cheonggukjang and I like it. CheongGukJang 청국장 is fermented soybean soup aka Stinky soup.  Actually, I like fermented food and the smell does not put me off.   I like fermented food because of the many health benefits and also we have them here in Singapore - tempe, belachan, fermented bean curd (which I love with my porridge), chincaluk, etc.. very hot Cheonggukjang  I always buy danjang paste and bring home to make soup.  I understand that they are the same but the difference is Cheonggukjang beans are uncrushed and are fermented for a longer period of time.

Temple Street Night Market

Kowloon - This flea market is full of quirky, Hong Kong souvenirs and t-shirts to take home. The actual market on Temple Street is in the Yau Ma Tei and Jordan sections of Temple Street. The flea market starts in the late afternoon every day and continues throughout the evening. You can find fake’designer' handbags, sunglasses, clothes, and electronic gadgets.  The atmosphere was filled with many tourist of different nationalities.  Along the sides were many seafood restaurants, mostly crowded.    You will also find fortuner teller stalls plying their trade.