Saturday, 10 May 2008

公共交通 Public Transport

伦敦的公共交通可说是非常完善的。有地铁(这里称之为Underground或TUBE),火车(Rail),电车(Tramlink),巴士(Bus),轻馗电车(Light Railway),船(Riverboat)(计程车我不介绍啦!)。它们共同组成大伦敦的交通运输网。

地铁站都有最常用的大众运输图(TUBE Map),免费的;伦敦大众交通网官方网站里也可下载。Standard Tube Map

大伦敦则大致上被分为5个区域,即伦敦市中心、东北、东南、西北、西南。各大巴士总站都可免费拿区域地图;当然,网站里也可找得到。Travel For London

地图里清楚地显示巴士车站名,每条路有什么巴士会经过,及每一号巴士所会经过的地点。每一个巴士车站牌下都有详细的路线图,所有停靠这车站的巴士号码,各巴士所会经过的车站,以及巴士预测会到达的时间…真是太好了!虽然伦敦的道路很狭窄,但都有巴士道,所以坐巴士也不必太担心交通状况。

更强的是,官方网站里有个协助安排行行程(Journey Planner)的功能。哇,这真是我的救星!只要输入出发点和终点 (可以是邮迅区号、观光景点、地址或车站名称)、欲出发、抵达的时间,系统就会帮我们搜寻适合的路线和交通工具,以及行程所需的时间(那是包括走路的时间哦),会给几个不同的选择。不仅如此,它还有详细的路线图,只要按Wizard它还会动呢!路线图也可以印列出来。而且如有什么交通状况(修路、系统问题)都可以在网站上知道第一手消息,以方便安排行程。

我强力建议我亲爱的祖国的官员们来伦敦时不要驾车或坐官车,来体验一下搭公车吧,那么您们就会比较有概念如何改善我国那可悲的公共交通系统了。

所以超级方向痴如在下,也可凭着以上种种设施,坐公共交通工具安全到达目的地。(虽然还是有迷路的经验,但那完全是在下的不慎,与以上设施毫无关系)

夏天 Summer




噢!原来已经入夏了。大家都争先恐后的穿短裤、短裙、背心、tube。
其实风吹来还是冷冷的,不是凉凉的哦。

不管天气多晴朗、太阳多猛烈,大家都会习惯性的带一件外套。因为英国的天气就好像大小姐大少爷,说变就变!

在英国的生活和在我亲爱的祖国的生活当然有很大的分别,其中包括对太阳的珍惜和感恩。由于我还未在公司附近找到卖吃的店,我就暂且学当地人,自备午餐,中午步行到附近的公园,坐在草场上,一边晒太阳一边享用我的午餐,真是有一番风味。若在祖国,不被他人视为怪物才怪!而且大家都是选太阳晒到的地方坐。有的还躺着睡个午觉呢!

目前我还未到达那个境界,以后有体验再和大家分享。

It's already summer! Hot pants, short skirts, tube tops everywhere. But in fact it's quite chilly, even when there is only a slight breeze.

It's a norm to carry a jacket with you at all time outdoor. The UK weather is indeed flicker-minded.

I have yet to explore the area around my company, so I bring my lunch pack to work, and have my lunch at the Peckham Rye Park. It's indeed a new experience to me, as no one would do this in Malaysia!

You can even take a nap in the middle of the park, under the warm sunshine :)

Thursday, 8 May 2008

第一天上班 First Day at Work

噢,今天终于上班了。老板同事都好(其实只有一位同事)。因为要主动,所以开始接电话。
天啊!这里人讲的英语怎么那么难听懂啊?快且夹着浓浓的鼻音,我连名字都听不清楚,哎,希望我老板没后悔请到我(他就坐在我后面啊)。
怎么说都好,我需要一点点时间适应这里的腔调,我会加油的!!

Wednesday, 7 May 2008

走马看花伦敦四小时游 1/4day trip to London City






走马看花伦敦四小时游 -省钱促销!

只需悠游卡一张,有足够储值让您到达伦敦(一区)和返往住址;午餐自备。

10.30am 在白金汉宫铁栅霸位,占个漂亮的位置。11.15am,室外禁卫军换班仪式开始。操步,奏乐。禁卫军都戴着大黑熊毛帽,穿红衣,酷毙了!过程12.30pm 结束。
午餐可在Green Park享用。这里有很多大树,绿莹莹的,很舒服。
步行到鸽子广场(Trafalgar Square)。拍照留念吧。旁边的National Gallery入场是免费的,可是时间有限,我们暂且不进。途中可和帅阿兵哥拍照,可是他是不会动,也不会理睬你的哦!
再步行到Horse Guard,和马拍照耶!
再步行到大笨钟(Big Ben & House of Parliament)拍照。可入场参观。
西敏寺Westminster Abbey。这里是皇室聚办重要典礼之处、是间博物馆。入场10磅,自付。
再步行到Westminster Cathedral。是一间教堂,很庄严、神圣(可是暗暗的)。我尊重这里的规则,不可拍照。所以拿了印有教堂内部照片的传单,留作纪念。

就这样,我用了0磅游了一些伦敦必看景点。哈哈。

其实,我只不过是到附近来应征,顺道来走走。这可是我第一次踏足伦敦市中心啊!那些入场要钱的,等找到工作再来吧。就像Doris所说的:我又不是下星期回国;还有机会再来啊!

Quarter's Day Trip to London City - Money Saver Promotion

All you need is an Oyster Card, with enough credit for you to reach London City (and to return also); bring your own lunch pack

10.30am, get the best (if you can) vantage point by the rails. The ceremony took place at 11.15am, until 12.30pm. Guards in their red uniform and bearskin hats marched, and visitors were snapping their cameras.

You can have your lunch at Green Park.

Walk to Trafalgar Square, and take photos, of yourself and many other people. Beside the Square stood the National Gallery, admission free. Due to time constrain, we'll move on to the next stop.

Walk to Houses of Parliament, and Big Ben. Take photos. Admission allowed.
Walk down to Victoria Street, and there is Westminster Abbey. This place is used for royal ceremonies, admission 10pds/ adult.

Then walk down to Westminster Cathedral, a Roman Catholic Church. Admission free, but donation suggested. Distinctive. Well, respect the rules, no photographing inside the cathedral.

That's it. I didn't use a single penny to visit some of the 'must-see' places in London. And oh, I did see the London Eye, behind other beautiful buildings.

Actually, I was going for an interview at Victoria Street, so I just took the chance to walk around... I will definitely come again, when funds are sufficient. Anyway, as posted by Doris my housemate, I'm not travelling back to Malaysia in a week's time, why rush?

Monday, 5 May 2008

Stratford




这是离窝最近的市区(算市区吧)。两条大街,商店、教堂、警察局、图书馆、超级市场。这里有很多工作中介,我就是在这里挨家挨户找工作。我甚至跑进清洁工作和罗哩司机工作中介去问“请问有没有工作?”
哎…同屋友人劝我别太躁急,给自己一些时间,找一份好一点的工,如果到了自己设下的“期限”都还未找到,才找一些餐馆外卖店的工作,暂时不要“饥不择食”。
我也明白这道理。
可是…我的肚子会饥呀!
This is Stratford, a town nearest (i suppose) to my place. There are many shops, walmart, a library (UK has many libraries, lots of them), a church (St John's church), and many job agencies. I walked in all the agencies I could find, including cleaning and logistic services, asking "Good day ma'am, I'm looking for a job."
It seems to my housemates, I'm too desparate for a job, and they think I should give myself a break (or I'll break later on)