December 26, 2011

• Cambridge + Notting Hill 25 Aug 2011

  在古老書院裡讀書的幸福
  一直很喜歡古老的東西，古建築，古董，古鎮，凡是老的有故事的都是我的最愛。記得選大學是第一志願是港大，為的只是那Main Building。港大上不了，去了不舊不新的浸大。因禍得福，因為後來發現港大的生活應該不太適合我。這次和Steph到了劍橋，免不了羨慕那些每天在這些幾百年古建築裡上課生活的大學生。他們有的是傳統和非一般的歸屬感，還少不了的優越感。在這種如詩如畫的校院裡，難免特別開豁，腦筋靈活。所以說，貧者越貧，富者越富，就是這個意思。去劍橋當天下著毛毛細雨。其實我覺得這樣的劍橋才最有味道。

  和Steph的單身對話
  我們都單身了一陣子了。對於單身這回事都有很相似的看法。從大學認識Steph開始，到多倫多看她，到倫敦看她，感覺我們一起成長了很多。雖然我們長期在不同的地方居住，但心靈一直走得很近。每次的update都是深入的話題。至於單身這件事，她大概是最了解我的人。而我，卻不太了解我自己。

  Notting Hill的寶物
  第一次嘗試去Notting Hill，是和阿甘去的，走錯路，去了Kensington Park。這次和Steph在Convent Garden吃完早餐，我獨自去了Notting Hill market。 這是一個天氣特別晴朗的星期天上午，我跟著一批一批的人潮往Notting Hill market進發。滿街的古董店讓我精神為之一振，一般到這個時候我就希望擁有無窮無量的錢，因為我對舊的事物總是可看而不可得的。雖然我的錢不多，我還是找到我能負擔的寶物。買了一張1920年的南北極地圖，放在書房提醒著自己的夢想。經過一家店，聽到小朋友玩的樂器聲音很特別，問了一下，發現是沙漠地區的人用以求雨的樂器。那種聲音對我特有吸引力。買下來放在家，偶爾臨睡前聽一下，心情特別平靜，睡得更穩。掙扎了許久買不買Banksy畫作的消費品，後來還是覺得違背了Banksy的藝術本質，忍痛沒有買了。

  Day 1

  Steph and I finally got a chance to go to Cambridge together after planning it for so long. Thanks for booking the ticket and research online for the self-guided tour, Steph. I really enjoy our chat and our visit to Cambridge.

  Cambridge is definitely a beautiful university. The old campus, especially St.John College was very impressive. Some of the colleges were not open for public, so we could not see all of them. We envy the students in this university. It must be very enjoyable to study in such old buildings.

  

  like the stone decoration at the church!

  

  The Saturday market was not very exciting

  

  

  

  The very beautiful St.John College

  

  

  This gentleman was trying to stop us walking on the grassland because his friends were taking wedding photos. He then offered us some information of the college.

  

  The gentleman told us that students can get married at the Chapel in St.John College within 5 years after their graduation. It is the case of his friends.

  

  Love the vegetation on the wall

  

  

  The round church

  

  

  We visited a house of an art collector. It was a stylish little place. I quite like the way he placed the artwork and antique. It is an ideal house.

  

  

  

  

  We felt hungry at the mid-way of our Cambridge tour, so we sat down and had our coffee time. It was kind of a heavy chat, but I enjoy every moment spending with Steph.

  After our coffee time, Steph tried to ask if anyone knows how to go to the Chinese poet monument at Cambridge. We could not find it though.  

  

  

  Kongzi statue

  

  

  

  

  When we got back to London, Steph brought me to the very famous platform 9 3/4 at King Cross station. It was an interesting idea to set a platform as the Harry Potter one for tourists.

  

  Day 2

  Next morning, Steph and I had a lovely breakfast at Convent Garden. Then she went to her school to work on her paper and I headed to Notting Hill market.

  

  Notting Hill

  It was a wonderful morning to go to Notting Hill. The antique shops along the road were cutie. I just hope that I have more money to buy everything I like. At the end, I still got an antique map of south and north pole in 1920 and an musical instrument from desert area. I saw some posters and bags of Banksy artwork. However, I believe that it is against the belief of Banksy, so I did not buy any.

  

  

  

  

  Such a nice morning at the market, I was glad that I was finally there.

  • 9:07 am
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