2005 Spring in England

End of my England trip during 31 March - 17 April, 2005

2005 Spring in England - London

The weather is so good that we see a lot of people relaxing in the park. In the picture is the park at Greenwich, where the world's time has been measured from the Royal Observatory since 1884.

2005 Spring in England - London

We then walk further to Columbia Road to see the flower market.

2005 Spring in England - London

This last day in England Khun Noom and Khun Ja pick Oh and me up to go to Spitalfields old fruit and veg market.

2005 Spring in England - London

Notting Hill and Portobello Road Market

Hundreds of stalls and shops selling a variety of collectables. It is very lively and bustling atmosphere.

2005 Spring in England - London

At Convent Garden.

2005 Spring in England - London

Piccadilly Circus is dazzling with neon lights at night.
Tonight Jeab and I watch the Phantom of Opera together.

2005 Spring in England - London

Tulip in front of the Palace.

2005 Spring in England - London

There are tons of people waiting to watch the changing of the Guard in front of the Buckingham Palace. It is the colourful and musical military ceremony as the guards march down from St. James's Palace, parading for half an hour.

I go to see the parade by myself but confirm to meet Oh and the gang at Byswater for lunch. Since there are a lot of people at the parade we don't even see each other at the train station until we get off the tube.

2005 Spring in England - London

London View

2005 Spring in England - London

View of the Houses of Parliament from the London Eye.
The Parliament was designed by Charles Barry after a fire burnt down the 14th century Palace of Westminster in 1834. The tall tower housing Big Ben dominates the skyline.

2005 Spring in England - London

The British Airways London Eye.

It is the tallest observation wheel in the world.

2005 Spring in England - London

The star exhibit is the ornate gold state coach, built for George III in 1762, which was used by the Queen during the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2002.

2005 Spring in England - London

Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace.
The Palace is opened to the public to raise money for reparing fire damage to Windsor Castle. The house was converted into a palace for George IV in 1826 by John Nash. The first monarch to occupy the palace was Queen Victoria, just after she came to the throne in 1837.

2005 Spring in England - London

We start the London tour by visiting Tower Bridge.

This Victorian engineering, designed by Sir Horace Jones, was completed in 1894 and soon became a symbol of London. Its two Gothic towers contain the mechanism for raising the roadway to permit large ships to pass through. There are fine river views from the walkways.

2005 Spring in England - Windsor

Our last stop for today before we go back to London and return the rent car is Windsor Castle. The oldest continuously inhabited royal residence in Britain. The castle, originally made of wood, was built by William the Conqueror in 1070 to guard the western approaches to London. He chose the site because it was on high ground and just a day's journey from his base in the Tower of London. King George V's affection for it was shown when he chose Windsor for his family surname in 1917. The castle is an official residence of the Queen and her family who stay here many weekends.

2005 Spring in England - YHA Cheddar George

We then drive to stay overnight at Cheddar George. Cheddar has given its name to a rich cheese which originates from here and is now produced worldwide. But the main reason that we go to this small town is to see the george, of which is a narrow ravine with limestone rocks rising almost vertically. It is the popular place for a rock climber, though I never be one of them.

Here at the youth hostel, we have a little Thai food party with the hostel officers.

2005 Spring in England - Lego Land

We stop by at Lego Land for some of us to shop for their nieces. The ticket is quite expensive, though I can't remember how much. But don't feel like we want to pay that much for the theme parks, maybe I am too old for it.

2005 Spring in England - Stonehenge

Today we visit Stonehenge, a very famous prehistoric monument. It is believed that it is connected with the sun and the passing of the seasons, and that its builders possessed a sophisticated understanding of both arithmetic and astronomy.

2005 Spring in England - Bath

The Roman Baths was built in the 1st century. This bathing complex is one of Britain's greatest memorials to the Roman era. It was the first spa resort in England.