Thursday | 14 June - Oxford University

Today we set off for Oxford from London Victoria.
Grace was nice to help me renew my Oyster travelcard because it expired (I was stuck behind the stiles), and I hadn't renewed it. Cost me 33 quid!

Together, we took the Oxford Tube to Oxford today. The ride's about 1.5 hours, and takes us right to the city centre of Oxford University Town. Oxford is quite like Cambridge; Cambridge was incidentally founded by Oxford scholars. Though I found the architecture and heritage of Oxford far richer than Cambridge, Cambridge seemed livelier and more pretty to me.

Grace and I had lunch at the Eagle and Child, the pub where JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, and the Inklings met up to discuss their literary works.. (go Wiki 'inklings') Pretty amazing, to have sat and dined at the same premises as those great writers.

Jishan took us around. Was very nice of her. she showed us the various colleges, showed us her own, took us punting down the river, took us to have ice cream (really awesome) and english tea (scones, jam, cream and tea). All in all quite a good experience.

Got back before 10pm, and met up with Grace's mom before we went home.

Wednesday | 13 June - Cambridge

Woke up at 8am today and met Grace and family at Beckenham Junction promptly at 9.45am, and made the 2-hour journey to Cambridge via the M11 Highway. Lovely views along the way. Cambridge was an interesting experience, seeing all the colleges, the town centre, and the river where they had the annual rowing competition.

Jenny is performing here with her band this week, as it's May Week - the week where they have all sorts of Balls, Formal Dinners, Parties, etc. as part of celebrations which mark the end of exams. Some of the undergraduates will be graduating in 2 weeks time.

We had a fish and chips lunch at one of the pubs there, and met up with Grace's mom's old friend Aunty Monica. Pretty good I must say. And I had the privilege of eating the peas and chips that Grace couldn't finish - (: . After lunch, we just walked and walked and walked around Cambridge. Didn't see much but the meadows alongside the river (where the rowing competition was held). Spent close to 3 hours walking to and fro, and finally got back to the car where we took another 2-hour drive back to London. Grace and I dozed off in the backseat, while her mom and friend enjoyed their conversation in the front.

Back in London, we went to Regent Park (slight drizzle there), before going to Chinatown for dinner. Had noodles at a small Chinese diner located within Chinatown, and it was pretty good (:

Aunty Monica dropped us off at Victoria, and we all got home. I'm gona hit the hay now. Only going to pack my camera and gear and upload photos tomorrow morning. Will proly leave at 9.30am to meet Grace and take the bus to Oxford (: