Riga

This will be the beginning of (hopefully) a series of posts about my backpacking trip across Eastern Europe this summer. I'll try to blog whenever I get wireless internet at a hostel or get to an internet cafe.


The beginning of our epic journey wasn't very good. We arrived in Riga grumpy. As grumpy as you could imagine us possibly be, and wandered around Riga in a daze. We were probably too tired to admire its beauty, but walked because we felt we had to. So in our first day, we went to the House of Blackheads and the Occupation Museum, but we were really really tired. We were so tired that we gave up and returned to our hostel, falling asleep at 5 pm in our hostel.


2nd Day
The second day was much better. We woke up bright and early and cheerful (though HZ and I later went back to sleep till eleven =))

Anyway, we went to Riga's Central Market, where there was food, fruits, and flowers galore.

Went to the Bastejalns





Freedom Monument, affectionately called 'Milda' by the locals.

Peeves:

It's not a peeve, but I'm not entirely sure people are supposed to read this much while on holiday with other people.

Raves:

The locals were really polite and friendly and patient. The cars on the street were really courteous and did not horn at us (sigh londoners) jaywalking across the street. The shop keepers and waitresses were also really patient, explaining to us over and over again what the different kinds of food were, and where to go to. I was really impressed, because this is so different from brusque and efficient Singapore, or generally reserved London.

Impression: quiet, friendly

Not the vibrancy of a big city, but retains its old world charm and friendliness

Next stop: Moscow

2 days in Bath

We started with a trip to Salisbury- Stonehenge. It was a rainy day and the sky was grey with looming clouds. Visiting Stonehenge under these circumstances was atmospheric, to say the least.

Stonehenge

In fact, the wind was so strong that we were blown sideways and forwards while we were walking around.

Luckily, it was bright and sunny on our second day. We walked around Bath and wandered round the area near the river avon.


We went to Bath Fashion Museum, then to Bath Abbey.

Outside Bath Abbey.


Stained Glass Window inside Bath Abbey


Inside the Abbey


Roman Baths



We ended our trip with high tea at the Tap Room. That was the part where we intended to bust our budget. The setting and the atmosphere inside was fantastic! The service though, was slow and a bit snobby- perhaps because we looked like (and really were) budget conscious students.

Back From Hong Kong

Our Hotel Room

Its quite nice and big, and the girls get a sitting area, which the guys don't, cos they had to fit 3 people into one room.


We had a nice view of the river from our room


Oh, and pudding! We went out to shop, and decided to try the mango pudding. Toon Wen had mango sago pudding (the one on top) while I had just plain mango pudding. It was great!

We went to Stanley Market, a quaint place named after Stanley Ho the tycoon. Its were the rich people in hk live. the houses are really nice, not like some cramped ones we've seen on our way to our hotel; land is very scarce in Hk.

Me, Jing Wen and Alwin posing at the top of some mountain. We're supposed to get a very good view of Hong Kong, but I suppose the fog, and our silly heads have blocked out most of the scenery.

Toon Wen and me. There, a clearer view of the buildings, but the sky is really very foggy.

Of course, this was meant to be a judo trip, so we had trainings (note the plural, I refuse to go into details here). Toon Wen, Shima, Yumi, Me, Siu-- the girls present at Hong Kong Judo Club .
So thats it from Hong Kong =)