United Kingdom

"Between the hedges and the green fields there is a narrow road to yet another adventure" 

It's February 2016 and I need to say good bye to one of the most amazing friends back when I was in Korea. We promised each other that one day we'll meet up again. I didn't think it will take that long to see each other again but in the end the wait was definitely worth it all. 

I went to Europe, Jena, Germany in January 2019 for my first training session at my new job. I am the Account manager of the Cape Region in South Africa for Zeiss Microscopy. As part of the job training is something that has to happen sooner or later. Mine happening rather later than sooner but at least not never. I was in Jena for about a week, experiencing the cold winters of Europe once again. I imagined it to be a lot colder than what it was yet I guess my idea of a cold winter after experiencing South Korea's winters was a little skewed. I packed in all my warm clothing and filled my bag to the point of almost being over weight. In order to eliminate some of the weight I carried my jackets in my hand, which is not the most comfortable way of traveling "light".  A week of training commenced where my brain literally felt like it was about to explode. The team of people was lovely and from all over the world. Making new friends and building connections was fantastic. I also had the chance to catch up with some of the Germans who came to South Africa before for workshops. 

Never the less this is not a blog post for Germany but for the UK. 

After finding out I was going to Germany I immediately started planning a holiday trip to end it all off nicely. As the company was paying my flights I had to make use of the opportunity. I called my friends in the UK. 

The first stop was Beca's house. I didn't quite know where she stayed but I knew she's a Cornish girl with the weirdest sayings. New Quay Airport was the place to meet up with her. To get to that Airport from Germany took 2 flights, train rides and a whole bunch of stress. Being late for one of the transports would delay and possibly cancel out the entire chance of seeing my friend. 

Cornwall

The first time we saw each other the bags were dropped, tears started flowing, there was laughter through it all and a complete surreal feeling to once again see each other in the flesh. It was emotionally overwhelming. We loaded the bags into her car and off we went along the Cornish walls, through the narrow streets to her house to have dinner with her folks I only knew from speaking over the phone. It was like nothing has changed. Not even 10 minutes passed in the car and the music was on loud and we sang to the songs. We stopped in East Horsley, Chark Lane at a cathedral from the Medi-Evil (1800's) times to explore high ceilings and exquisite pillars. Following the cobble stone streets to see what else was in the little town we came across the museum. There is never a dull moment. We dressed up as little sharks and Egyptian Faro's. We didn't waste a minute of our time contemplating if the other would judge a certain behavior, No, we explored a world of wonder and amusement and childishness. 

We visited the Eden project. It's super cold outside and then you go into this Green house and the humidity hits you right in the face. Something similar as in Korea when you walk out of an air-conned restaurant. But oh was it beautiful. It was green with water falls everywhere. A variety of different bird species all living in harmony. They had a canopy walk which we did as well and I must say I'm so proud of Beca for doing it. She is afraid of heights and not only was these canopies overlooking the entire green house garden but the bridges was swinging and moving as people walked over it to the main platform. With lots of guts and counting all our steps we made it up and down with no fuss. There was different teas (lemon grass, ginger etc.) available in the gardens which was really delicious and afterwards we enjoyed a lovely fresh smoothie for lunch and headed back home. As it was winter the days was rather short but that never stopped us. We didn't miss a minute of it. 

We visited Gwen-nap pit which is a corning mining heritage site as well as some of the old mining ruins but this also didn't happen without a whole bunch of selfies and ending up getting lost along the way and not being able to find the car. But with every travel story there is always that moment of completely being lost which turns into an adventure of the different sort. Trespassing farmlands and following roads we didn't know was quite exciting. Eventually we found the main road and navigated our way back to the car. This only happened after amount 30 minutes of walking. May I mention the amount of mud?

Beca had to work the next day so her mother took me out for a coastal drive to see some of the other amazing towns. The towns St. Ives, St. Just and St. Levan is so cute that I will actually be able to live there in my old days. We also visited Sennen and Penzance. Lovely coffees, lots of chats and completely feeling grateful the day didn't seize to amaze. One place we visited which I remember quite vividly was the The Minack Theater. You can read about it in the link. This extraordinary woman had a vision to create an art piece for the arts. She worked her entire life (entire as in until she was about 89 years of age) with her bare hands to create a theater on the ocean. I think in the world there is no other theater so unique and so close to the ocean. Rowena Cade is an inspirational woman who worked until she breathed her last breath to make her dream a reality.

The last night I stayed in Beca's caravan. We (she) cooked us a lovely vegan meal with so much taste that I didn't even miss the meat. She was amazing to drop me off at the train station the next morning. We parted wit tears in our eyes and a smile on our face.

You are a true friend Beca and I adore you. 

London

It was time to go back to London to experience the London red buses, telephone booths and the many subways and Piccadilly circus. It was time to walk 20000 steps a day getting lost in the big city and to see all the weird and wonderful things that London has to offer. All the things I've only ever seen in movies or in pictures. From Westminster to Waterloo and Mayfair I tried to see as much as possible. 

I visited every painting in the National Art Gallery, every fossil at the Natural science Museum which I'd like to go back to at some point in my life again, Buckingham palace, the Big Ben (it was under construction) and Churchill War Memorial to learn a little more about World War 2 and the history of my Grandparents childhood. There was so many other things I saw that it is hard to list it all.

My absolute favorite was the beauty of the old buildings and the amount of architectural detail that went into designing these master art pieces. Not to mention that it still stood after World War 2. And of course to see my South African flag hanging proudly at the RSA Embassy. 

If you read my blogs on Thailand and Laos you will remember my friend Rachel who I had a jolly good time with. We met up for a day of fun, laughter and explorations in London, 3 years after the last time we saw each other. We had so much to catch up on. Turns out she haven't seen half the things in London yet which made her an awesome travel companion once again. I saw the changing of the Guards twice; such beautiful horses.

As we are kids from time to time we couldn't resist the M&M store. It's huge. We ran around in the M&M store and got a M&M mood test done. I didn't know you could be an M&M mood. My mood was apparently Black and Rachel was red. Red: You have a fiery personality but right now your feeling a little nutty. I didn't know you get a black M&M but apparently you do. And then on we went to the biggest Lego store I have ever seen to the biggest toy store I've ever seen. I'm so grateful I am grown up and had no money for toys; I would've been broke.

Rachel took me for my very first real English high tea at a quaint corner coffee shop. We sat down ordered some tea 15 minutes after sitting as there was a variety of options on the menu. We also ordered some snacks. It's a very English thing to do. A variety of small munchies from sandwiches to caramel twirls and strawberry cheesecakes stood tiered on the table. We actually took someone else's tier as well after they left it half untouched. You can't waste food. Not nice food anyway.
After eating way to much we visited the Hospital where Princess Dianne gave birth. Pretty cool.

Onto one subway and off that the next stop around the city and we got lost. Lost between beautiful buildings, shops with beautiful things, run down buildings and markets.

I also had a lovely dinner with an old friend from Varsity. Kyle and I haven't seen each other since 2nd year in University but kept contact through the years. The night started with a sushi dinner and ended with a stroll along the River Thames. We stopped and had a crafted drink on a boat restaurant/ hotel. It was grand and looked a little like the decor from Titanic. Odd. As the English love their pubs we also explored a pub and joined the table of two A night was definitely not long enough to catch up on all the years we missed but it was a good start. 

All in all England was absolutely lovely. The people are friendly, its modern as hell and everything works so well. I will definitely return some day to explore even more.