London

Back on the Tube

The view from Sunny & Cora's flat in Marylebone

Baker Street area shop

Daunt's, my fav book store, amazing travel section

The new smoking laws have brought these clever bins to each wall

My first meal back in Blighty!

Marylebone High Street

Street based electricity point for electricity cars, in Mayfair

Brunch in Mayfair

Joe's garden

Hackney corner shop

Joe @ home

Letter boxes

Hackney street

Dalston Lane market

Columbia Road Flower market

South Kensington

Natural History Museum, South Kensington

Sally @ cofee

The gang on Monday night dinners


I start my first day back in London in my old local neighbourhood of Marylebone. Its so homely for me, yet some form of bizarre cultural shock of being back in the UK. Things are so familiar yet somehow it all feels so odd being suddenly back, odd in a good way.


Marylebone High Street has not changed in the year since I have been there. I enjoy browsing my favourite shops, Daunt's Bookstore and Skandium Furniture. I pass the many cafes and restaurants. Good memories on every corner to keep me cheerful!

Its 11am, and I opt for a massive full cooked English breakfast at Ponti's Cafe, washed down with a big mug of Coffee. I enjoy watching the Londoners walk in and out, the sounds of their melodic voices a sharp contrast to the Cantonese I had been used to.

The night is spent with a tapas dinner closeby in St Christophers Place, then a stroll around Mayfair. Much of which I never knew existed! Such a very classy area, and there is something special about wandering around on a perfect summers day in the twilight at 9pm.

The Next day its brunch, again in Mayfair, then off to East London to hang out with other mates, in their new flat in Hackney. Its a new area of London for me to discover, quite different to West London, literally the other side of the tracks.

The canals remind me of Holland, in some places edgy, in some very pleasant, new buildings mix with old, its a nice 30mins from Angel to Hackney. The markets are a pleasant surprise, lots of lovely fresh organic produce, and great tasting too! Its true, sometimes there is a real taste difference!!