Aclimatisation

---

After travelling 23 + hours and getting maybe 4 hours or so of solid sleep I arrived in London. The folks I'm staying with didn't have a car, so I had to navigate my way on the Tube System with a camping pack and a couple of pieces of hand luggage that were just a little too heavy to be comfortable for more than 5 mins.

I'm a newbie when it comes to intrepid travelling... Or just using a camping pack. When I checked in my bag in Auckland, it was under the stipulated weight by 2kg and I was pretty stoked. But putting 18kg on my back along with two rather large hand luggages and walking more than 20m is a little more than challenging. It's excruciating! So I need to learn lessons in packing REALLY lightly.

Part of the tube line that I needed was closed on Saturday (when I arrived), so I had to take a diverted route and ended up in Liverpool Station for where I had to catch a bus. For a NZer Liverpool Station appears like heaven - integrated public transport systems! Buses, trains & tubes running in synchronisation!! So I took my sweet time looking around, taking photos and scavenging for... WATER! Can you believe it was a mission to get a food joint to fill up my drink bottle??

I eventually made it to White Chapel, East London and after MANY rest stops landed at my destination. Note to self: If I ever intend to go back packing again a) learn how to pack later and b) weight train for a few months before hand!!

Today I spent most of it on my feet traversing round East London, on a walking tour and then getting lost after the walking tour. Henceforth, I'm uber tired. A couple of shots are sights of White Chapel. More to follow along with my thoughts.

I did end with a good note - had dinner with an amazing family whom if you listen to my rants you probably would have heard me rant about them from time to time.



Adios amigos!

---

Photos

Liverpool Station
The sheer beauty that is coordinated public transport!

Plaque at Liverpool Station
Memorial to Jewish kids that were helped during WW2

Liverpool Station, London
Memorial to Jewish kids that were helped during WW2

Bengali Street Sign
Street sign on White Chapel Road

Restaurant Sign
Halal Chinese Food!! Nuff said.

Jubilee Street
Street where one of my hosts live.

My hosts
We're about to go for a walk... if the kids will let us.

Jubilee Street
Some indication of the groups that live in this area.

Comments

[Gloria Ozumba]

Fantastic News and refreshing to read!
Loving the News! Awesome!

[Heather]

I really enjoyed your post about arriving in London. It's quite easy to navigate, once you learn it. You'll have a great time there! My boyfriend and I are headed to NZ in a few months, to live/work there for a bit. We've never been and we can't wait! We hear the most incredible things! We also have a community travel blog where our readers from across the globe can post reviews, photos, etc, to share. If you have the time, check it out at dirty-hippies.blogspot.com, or email us at [e-mail]. Continued fun on your travels! Heather