Go Solo Adventures England

English breakfast

The UK is an acronym of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Geographically, like the Philippines, it looks like an archipelago separated from the rest of mainland European countries. If the Philippines has the sobriquet, the Pearl of the Orient Seas, the UK seems to be a Pearl of the Occident Seas as it lies surrounded by waters and off the coast of European nations. It is also a nation that virtually influences many states on Earth because of its past commercial and colonial powers. It has left its hegemony over the nations that it commercially governed through the British East India Company during the time of colonization and over the states created by its former citizens. It is the origin of the English language which is widely learned by many people around the world today. It is also known as England, but this is a misnomer because the UK includes other states and kingdoms such as Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Snow frost on the leaves

As the car traversed the road from the airport to Epsom, the feeling of wonder overwhelmed me as I saw the different forms of man-made structures and the natural environment. Houses have chimneys protruding above their roofs and many are made of bricks. There were not many high-rise buildings; instead, there are low-lying, old, rustic ones that served as archives of memories of the nation from the time of its birth until its maturity. I could feel history etched in every wall of each house and buildings seen. I could envision the Celts building houses in the formerly rural London and its suburbs, and the coming of the Romans and Christianity to restructure the communities. I could also smell the smog of Industrial Revolution that fueled England to be a nation of the filthy rich.

It was the height of winter when I arrived in England. The air is cold and fresh unlike in the urban Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations whose air is warm and filled with smog. The tree branches bow down with colors ranging from black to gray, to as white as snow. The atmosphere was gloomy and it looked like it is going to cast out snow anytime. Along this and the visions of throngs of people walking along the streets, the environment perfectly captures a winter scene in movies.

I stayed in England from 10 December 2017 to 10 January 2018. But there is a sandwiched side trip to Europe from 14 to 18 December of the earlier year.

On 12-13 December we visited Sutton, a town near Epsom. It is less than 30 minutes train ride from Epsom train station. There are malls and boutiques in the area. An option to ride a bus is also available but the waiting time is too long. However, the time of arrival and departure are written on the waiting sheds so one can plan ahead. Those are strictly followed. 

Sutton is a place where shopping like there is no tomorrow. We bought shirts, polos, formal pants, rubber and leather shoes. But the penchant for material things no longer excites me. What makes me happier was seeing the eyes of loved ones beam as they offer gifts. It is a sense of fulfillment for them to offer me such things. But their mere effort to invite me to England and be with them is already a lasting gift.

Some Thai food in Sutton

Around that week, we visited Epsom Downs. Opposite the meaning of its name, the place is actually uphill. There are a golf track and horse racetrack at the place. We also visited Sainsbury and did a grocery for the Christmas and New Year. 

I also visited Homelea – the care home where mom is working and where I met her friend Anne. Sister Anne is a jolly person and has full of stories about life and their friendship. She shared the stories while mom was working. 

From 14 to 18 December 2017, I flew to Europe. And when I went back on the 18th of December, the winter has gone stronger. The temperature went down to around 9 degrees from 11 degrees. Sometimes the temperature drops to 2 degrees at dawn. Those are the times when I need to suspend my regular jogging time.

On 20 December 2017, I and mom visited London – the heart of England. We met Day there again and she also introduced her friend, Lina to us. We first went to Harrods passing by Hilton Hotel London. Again, mom bought clothes for me. I should not want anymore because I might not be using some of them but I need not refuse the happiness of mom to express her love to me. I know that that has been her dream for us her children – to be treated with some lasting memories. Mom also brought me to the Trafalgar Square and M&M factory outlet.  We also ate in Chinatown. I savored the moment with mom as I remember her bringing me as a child to the local market day back in my hometown. When we were at the market, I would want her to buy a toy, which she compassionately refused. I would receive a painful beat when I insisted or cried hard in retaliation of her refusal. But being with here in London was completely a different picture – it was a reversal of the events in childhood.

In other days, as I am fond of going solo, I would go to London alone and just do a walking tour around the city until night time when I could still catch up the last trip of the train to Epsom. Transportation in England is easy to follow and convenient as the schedules of arrival and departures are posted in each station. We can also see the schedule online. On some other dates, Day and Lina would meet with me and we watch Les Miserables in a theater, or just take a stroll along the streets of London. A solo walk and a city-walk with Lina were memorable.

On 22 December 2017, I went to London again and met auntie Jenny. We had a visit and picture taking at Hyde Park inside the Winter Wonderland. We also had a walking tour along the Tower Bridge and reached as far as the London Bridge. We also had Day with us later in the night after her work. I also went to London one time and met Day. Then, while I waited for her to finish the work, I had a solo walking tour around the main roads of London. I saw Selfridge and the other shopping malls around the area.

 

At the eve of Christmas, I went to London again and saw the house of Auntie Lisa and Uncle Naldo. When we went out of the house, we also met Day and My Auntie Jenny. They took me to River Thames and I took a ride at the London Eye. After riding at the London Eye, we went to Buckingham Palace and took photos there. I also went to the apartment where Aunt Jenny and Day are staying. 

During Christmas Day, I just stayed home and waited for my mom after work. We cooked some simple dish and ate together with dad at home. At the night of Christmas, I had a heart to heart talk with mom. We talked about many things including my childhood frustrations and things that were never talked about before. I found the conversations very liberating because I got to tell all the things I want to tell her. I was thinking that I was hitting the true meaning of Christmas – the true rebirth of a man through liberation not only from sin but also the burdens that have been archived through the years. Mom apologized for her shortcomings and I also apologized for my being too immature towards her.

On 26 of December, we had Christmas cooking at Burnett Grove. Ate Anne, the friend of mom also came.

After Christmas, I started the adventure throughout England again so on 27 December, I and Lina agreed to meet and explore London. We had a walking tour at the St. Paul’s Cathedral. We also visited the magnificent British Museum. It was there where I saw the real artifacts that were only seen in books and on the internet. Some of the famous artifacts seen are the Rosetta Stone, the Egyptian mummies, gold and other amulets used during the ancient times and in different civilizations, the Greek and Roman sculpture and architecture, and others. The whole day was not enough to see the whole of the museum. The entrance to the museum is free. 

On the eve before New Year, I only stayed at home to enjoy the moment with mom and dad. Sister Anne and Red – my newfound friend in Epsom, also joined us for dinner. Mom roasted a turkey. I only ate a portion of it because I was already full. 

After the New Year (2 January), I and Red agreed to have a tour in London. We visited the National Arts Gallery and he bought a book for me. The gallery is facing Trafalgar Square. It is a building that houses different paintings from the ancient to modern times. Entrance is free, but visitors are extremely generous as they drop donations in the boxes located in some locations of the gallery. The gallery collections are truly a treat of a lifetime because of the grandeur of the paintings and their arrangements.

On 4-5 of December, Mom and Dad treated me to a tour in Brighton. We stayed in the Hilton Hotel Brighton for a night and 2 days. We met Tim there, the younger stepbrother. On the second day, we also visited the Royal Pavilion – the palace where some royalties stay during the summer. Brighton is bounded by the sea at the south and is bordered by the lovely stretch of beach with peculiar pebbles covering the shore.

On 5th January, Lyn had a leave from work and we met in London to explore the Madame Tussauds wax museum. We had a long street walk after that. And because of our endless sharing of stories, we were lost in one of our train our train rides. At Madame Tussauds, we took unlimited photos like we were one of the celebrities there. The entrance costs around 30 GBP.

 

The following day, I went back to London solo and explored Rome. There, I experienced a peculiar kind of bathhouse and freedom. I stayed there from the afternoon until the last train ride to Epsom. Unfortunately, I was not able to catch up with the train ride so I rode a train that stopped in Sutton and asked my parents to pick me up. 

Having only a few days left before my departure back to the Philippines, I continued the adventure. 7 January, I met again with Aunt Lisa, Uncle Naldo and Day and we visited Kensington Palace. Aunt Lisa is also working in Kensington Palace so she had access to free tickets to the place. We had sumptuous lunch at the restaurant inside its grounds just a few meters away from the main building. While waiting for the dish, the hostess noticed that we are Filipinos so she introduced herself as an American with Filipino relatives. She was studying there for her masters in hospitality management. The palace is also a museum. It houses the different rooms where the royalties stay. It also has a multilevel gallery of the different gowns of Princess Diana.

At the dawn of 10 January 2018, I left Epsom with dad at the hospital and mom was busy at work. It was a sad scene to leave them at such a time when they needed my presence most. But, they expressed their assurance that they are alright and they could manage everything. Soon, I will also have time to repay them back for their sacrifices and love to me.