September 2016
London, whose underground is the oldest
railway network of the world, in 2005 I mainly stayed at campus crib with my
college mate at University of Reading; eleven years later, I am lucky to get
share a dwelling together with two Finns, and continue my journey from Canary
Wharf via Jubilee Line.
Choosing oyster card to travel around is
the easiest way to discover The Chinatown, Piccadilly Circus, Her Majesty
Theatre, National Portrait Gallery, Trafalgar Square, South Kensington,
Knightsbridge, Harrods, Victoria & Albert Museum, Chelsea, London Bridge,
Borough Market, St. James Park, Big Ben, Parliament Square, Buckingham Palace
and Westminster Abbey. I would loved to revisit The British Museum, Tate Modern,
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London and Baker Street again, alas it's all a
matter of time. I target shopping at the outlet, such as Bicester Village at Oxfordshire, rather at New Bond Street,
therefore the extra budget I put on cuisine and musicals. For such a museum
mania as I am, I can pay a visit during the rainy days or with friends since
it’s often all-time free admission in London.
At Gerrard’s Corner Chinatown, I have dim
sums, steamy dumplings and rice rolls accompanied with oolong tea at Cantonese
restaurant小籠皇; the reason I select among hundreds of, is based on the circulation
of the guests, the menu shown at the doorway, and the photo of Prince of Wales
on the wall. I am fulfilled and delighted since it’s almost impossible to have
an authentic and proper Cantonese lunch in Helsinki spending merely 13 GPB. On
Friday night, while my British roommate and I decide to do food grocery
shopping for Asian cuisine cooking, we hop off at Piccadilly Circus, and
revisit the same hood. I introduce Taiwanese bubble tea and fried tofu as the
late night snacks, again our stomach and mood are indeed in jubilee and gaiety
after the shopping.
I attended Billy Elliot the musical in 2005
at Apollo Victoria Theatre, and I could never forget the experience. Through the
sale ticket booth at Leicester Square Garden, I the stall seat for only 35 GPB,
indeed, The Phantom of the Opera at her Majesty Theatre. The programme costs 4
GPB, still it’s a quick cheat sheet to adopt the necessary info the
performance. The Phantom starred by Ben Foster, sadly his voice and body
gestures are too feminine to look powerful, desirable and uncontrollable.
Celinde Schoenmaker as the talented and beautiful Christine Daaé, her
confidence and elegance on stage with no doubt is the super star of the musical
universe. While Christine pitches high at ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, her
excellence gains joyful applauses. I find Nadim Naaman who plays Raoul is both handsome
and charming, more of the dreamy British boy I would like to befriend with. The
climax of the musical is not only the catchy theme songs, but also the setting
design and the visual luxury of the costume. Such as in the dungeon scene, only
Christine is wearing ivory-white chiffon dress in order to represent her
angelic personalities, all the others are putting pure black with only a
slightly of golden details on their hats or buttons. I am amazed how fast-pace
the setting switch between acts, together matching perfectly with the colour
tone of the apparels and accessories on each cast.
Special Thanks: Rosie & Miko
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