We spent the night at Denise’s aunt’s house. She’s a really nice lady, with a very quiet husband and an even quieter daughter. It’s a bit funny to realize how she dominated almost all of our conversation. She has a really nice home, a small house like in the movies, with a bit of Asian and British touches here and there. Because the family only have two bedrooms, Denise and I slept on the living room. Which was more than enough for us.

It was a little bit late when we arrived in London, so we just went straight to their house. We spent hours talking with the aunt, while everyone else just do their own activity. I think it was part of their culture, you know? I might not be able to see things like this at home.

When you’re in the Eastern culture, you’re required to be there with your guests even you don’t know what you’re gonna do or say. But here, if you don’t have anything to say or ask, you just do your own business and that’s not considered impolite. Of course, it was a bit uncomfortable at first  to be in this situation, because I am not used to things like that. Fortunately, they were so nice to us so we felt welcomed in their house.

We stayed there for two nights, however we didn’t see the host so much because we do our own business. Again, I think it’s the different culture. In the Eastern, especially Asian.. or particularly my family’s culture, it is (almost) required for the host to accompany the guest everywhere. I prefer the British way of course, because sometimes it would be a little bit awkward to be there just for the sake of being there.

Anyway… I hope we didn’t cause them so much trouble.

London itself is still the same.

The difference was, I spent more time at the East London. The first time I came to London with Mr. Nottingham, I was experiencing the backpacker tourist’s walk in the Central London. Last Weekend with Denise, I experienced being the East Londoner.

Going to Canary Wharf is definitely one thing I would like to do again… but later probably in spring. It was too cold to go there in winter (or almost winter) like this, because the wind is so strong and you can die freezing there. I would like to go there in daylight too, because it would be nice to see the sunset in the river.

The kebab shop is surely somewhere I would go again to eat. Of course this time I would ask for the smaller portion because the last time I can’t finish the kebab. The size is twice as big as large Doner Kebab in Indonesia. And of course… the Malaysian Food stall that only open in Saturday would be the place to visit because of the delicious rendang. RENDANG! It’s been ages since the last time I had one.

What about the photo session? Well… I migh tell you about that later

Where were you Bybyq?

Yeah, I am so sorry I didn’t update the blog for the weekend. I am so sorry that I didn’t feed those hungry souls of yours. However, I am now back and I can tell you the whole story from the beginning.

Few weeks ago, I got a phone call from a professional photography studio in London, named Pierre Lemond photography, that I won a competition. I didn’t recall it at the first time because actually I entered the competition only by accident. Seriously. Me?

So, about two weeks before I got the phone call, I clicked on one of the ads on FB. The ads asked me whether I wanted to get a FREE make over, hair styling and magazine photo shoot experience? At that time, all I can see was the big “FREE” so I didn’t really understand whatever it was. I was just asked to fill the form, nothing else. So that’s it. I won that opportunity.

I was allowed to bring one friend with me. So, because I was in Denise flat when I got the call, I asked Denise to go with me. Of course she wanted to go, because things weren’t really smooth at her flat at that moment and she wanted a little weekend getaway. We booked a session for two of us and also two return tickets to London (with the cheapest transportation available).

Why didn’t I tell anybody about this?

It’s merely because I still unsure whether that was real or not. You know, all my life I never won any lucky draw or anything similar to that. So when someone called me and say I won something, it sounds unreal. I told Denise about my doubt, and she told me that if it is not for real, we can just go around London and have a weekend getaway without photo shoot. It would be as fun with or without the photo session, so I wouldn’t have to put so much thought about that.

So, the weekend came, and we went to London. Want to know what happened in London?