What is ART actually??

Given the state of my body, i decided to really give myself a break.. i was supposed to be on a holiday. and i am gonna be here for a while.. take it easy.. but the only thing was, i was taking things easy. it was more like becos i was making all the wrong turns and my life's all twisted up. the plan today was supposedly easy; 1) top up my bus card 2) buy a train ticket for my next day's adventure out of London (Bath Spa) 3) go to the Tate Gallery 4) Have my lunch by Thames River 5) Go home and rest.

so i went over to the Tate Gallery... its a contemporary arts gallery. Ok.. i admit.. i am no arts person. But hey, i was in an arty farty part of the world... i have to go take a look at least rite.. and in London.. most museums and art galleries are free except for those special showcases. (erm... wonder when will spore be like this)..

I was kinda in awe of the structure of the gallery. It was kinda huge and also the interior, they really gave tots to the set up. In I went, with no expectations...

In I went.. BLUR... I took a look at the picture.. trying hard to understand it...

This picture... its just a spray of red... but its called ART.

Then i changed my way of 'appreciating'.. i decided to read the synopsis before looking at the piece. Thinking that it might help me..

.

… I think not…

I was in disbelieve of my ignorance.. I just cant seem to figure things out.. so I decided to take a look at the artifacts instead..

To my horror…

Bars of soap..

Yes.. this is a curtain..

This is JUST A STACK OF CLOTHES!!! MY ROOM!!! SHOULD I start getting a small token fee??!! I am poor, struggling.. ‘tourist’…

Next… Art film…

The fortnightly show that is 7 mins long.. i actually told myself that i should take time to appreciate the art.. so i decided to sit myself at one corner and watch finish the show. The setting was set like an old cinema, with 2 small benches at the side of the room and a running black and white video against a white wall.
(my best adaption)

Yes... these are ART... i nearly.. died in my own laughter

Let me also mention that anything nude is art.. the other films.. were on naked women or men… just idling around in buff… and seriously…

(lucky for the hidden cam in my coat...)

Singaporean(s) (Me) cannot be praised.. Part 1 (Park Visit)

I got a proper tour around some of the hidden attractions on Sun as my friend was all ready to bring me out now. She's done with her work and so yesterday was a R & R period for her. For me, an eye opener.

Sunday... Places i went and did..

-Outdoor Markets

-Bagel time

-Camden Market

-Break time at a cafe.. nice to be in a heated room when its freezing outside

-Harrods

-Chinatown

-Soho

-Middle East Dinner

-nearly watched a gag.. (but too late and no tickets)

Monday... i decided to do a route back to some of the places that i had gone to since the whole day was mine and that we did more of a hit-n-run thing as i found out, most things close early on Suns. I so wanted to go back to Harrods to check out their 'Room of Luxury' aka toilet (i will post up the pics/videos.. OMG). This time, i managed to actually find my way around the places without much of a hitch.. I was so proud of myself that i was already thinking of blogging that down when i was back. When i had done most of the visitation, i decided it was time to head home by bus. I had learnt the day before of the bus no to take and change; Kensington to Tottenham Court Rd (Bus 1) and back to London Bridge (Home).

On route to Tottenham via bus from Kensington, i saw that the bus makes its way to Warren Street. It was kinda short way (2 tubes away) from Regents Park; the last park in London which i have yet to cover. It was early, 530pm, so.. why not.. I managed to find the park again... smooth...

O COME ON... would things be tat easy!!! That was the real start of my @£$%...

And so i made it to my destination, Regents Park. It started to drizzle. In London, due to winter, it gets real dark at about 5. Its like its 8 in Spore. Whats more when it rains... What am i doing at a park!! Firstly, it was damn dark.. There were no park lights.. Secondly, it was RAINING!! Seriously, in the cold, wat am i supposed to 'enjoy'? The dark, silent and wet scenery??!! Ok fine, i decided to make my way on foot to Tottenham Court, note that i hav no idea wat bus goes back to Warren Street. In short, i had to walk 2 stations more than i first came. I was fine with it as i was still sure of the co-ordinates. True enough, i found my way back to Tottenham. It was starting to rain alittle more. i wont say it was pouring as it would be compared back to Spore's context. It was drizzling heavily. Cold but relieved that i was back to familiar grounds or rather a familiar bus in that area that would bring me home on this wet, cold day.

Wat i had to do was to find the bus (Bus 1) and off i would be heading home. I had no idea where the bus stop was or rather the direction where the bus would be heading homewards, so i used the Tube as my co-ordinates.. There are 4 exits, so how far wrong can i go?! I just had to try out the 4 to find the bus stop (the stops had bus signs to tell u which buses there are there).. well.. i did try all 4.. and did it another 2-3 times; total tally: 12 tries.. and all fell to naut. DAMN.. wheres the bus!! so i decided to venture alittle further down the 4 exits; go about a mile more each to check out a few stops before heading back to 'HQ' to re-route my way. Did i mention that it was cold, dark... and my foot was hurting.. or rather feet.. Asked a fellow bus-waiter if bus 1 passes through any of these bus stops and the ans i get, 'Yeah, it does, but not sure which stop'... ~duh~

Then... i saw my bus coming out from some road. I traced the bus route and found a stop only to realise that that wasnt the bus stop for the bus. MAN!! I walked onwards to search for 1 that was.. It must hav been quite a search as another bus 1 turned up.. this time, i ran after it.. I lost sight of it.. come on it wins with 4 wheels while i have like had half-goner-legs.. 'Lucky me', another bus 1 was on its way.. this time, i guess, i was nearing the spot as i managed to trace down that bus..

ONLY... it was the alighting stop!!!!! AHHHHH.. aka... NO BOARDING aka FINAL STOP... Desperate i asked the bus driver for directions. One ignored me completely, maybe i was some frantic Chinese doing a rain dance, the other was much nicer, he did give me directions. 'turn right, the second stop' YES!!!!

Did i get the directions wrong? it was like right then 2... OMG!!! where the hell was it.. I was no longer cold.. kinda boiling already.. i must hav been searching fpr 2 hrs.. WA LA... Bus 1 was just infront and stopped at a bus stop. 'I must have done something good!! I found it'

Going crazy for joy, i rushed to that stop, found the no on the board.. then... it dawned on me... which stop do i actually get off.. This time, i dialed for help. 'Bricklayers Arms'.

Many might be wondering why did i not call for help in the very first place..

Food for thought: u in a foreign land, would u be able to make out the road names or even weird landmarks that your local friend would be trying to say esply when the background is super noisy; ones at a party (friend) and the others at the crossroads (me). Trust me.. U get nowhere...

Good shoes, good socks.. and definitely GOOD LEGS (DAY 2)

lets see... It was a relatively cold day today.. for me.. its kinda super cold! i had 3 layers plus the outer jacket... its either the gloves were too thick... or it was too cold.. I could hardly feel my hands. i think my body adaptation to cold is somewat slow.. Cos i am like a dumpling.. esply when i see some in t-shirts... or better still.. in a mini skirt plus leggings.. i dunno if i'm nose bleeding cox they are chio or cox of their baring of so much flesh...

its another day of walk for me.. i have been told to do more walking instead of the public transport so that i can take in more sights. Further more, its pounds that i am spending. Their public transport system (tube and bus) works on a cashless system as well which is similar to our EZlink card; ie Oyster card. For every beep it makes, my heart really bleeds... £1 equates to abt S$2.4. Thats how money is sent out..

When you are named Jennifer Kuan, most things dont follow to plan even though they might be the tiniest matter that mere mortals would totally have no qualms to. Lets just take walking as a talking point;

Advantages to a Normal Human Being (when on foot)

-savings in money

-keeping fit

-taking in more views

-keeping warm (in winter; i am guessing thats why Londoners walk so fast. Other than the fact that some are very much taller than me)

Disadvantages to me... (due to my 8 characters i would believe)

-blistered heel (right foot)

-cranked up joints (right took lead then next up was the left)

-bruised heel aka plantar fascliitis

-bruised shoulder (due to the sling bag with dunno wat; definitely not money)

-beaten body...

i dont think i saw much...

WTH.. wat were the benefits again?!

Self Traveling (Day 1)--Difficulties (Part 2).. its nv that easy for me

oh ya... just when u think u can do it.. u get all smart and decided to go out again.. and best part is.. u left every other thing behind cox u think its a super ok thing.. since its gonna be nearby and u will be back fast..

so.. u know u are completely screwed.. when..

1)what u did was just walk straight and so the return back is just also straight but only to end up super lost... u forgot which road was the straight one.. the meandering left one or right one.

2) u start asking.. and ppl around dont know where u stay; esply those who can still say, they have been working ard the area for years but only know where the train station is!!

3) u have been circling the area for more than 2 hrs considering u only took a 1/2 hr walk.

4) u feel like Hanzel and Gretal, always ending up at the same place and every tree looks alike. And u so wanna pick the food from the cafes u look into.

5) u still dont feel the seriousness because u start to pace according to the Londeners.. and follow them blindly.. and try to out-walk them..

6) its getting real dark.. and its damn tiring already.. all the roads start to look alike..

7) shops starting to close.. u start to hav no proper asking avenues..

what do u do!!??

I asked the police!! ;o

and i totally acted illiterate and innocent!!! I still maintain that i am a tourist!! and guess wat.. i got home to soak my legs!!

Einstein Day (Mandy's Lab)

Wow... It suddenly dawned upon me that i am staying with a bunch of scientist. Apparently there is a very clear distinction between the 'Dr' term.. Scientist vs Medical Doctor. They are pretty sensitive towards it.

My friend's a for-real-PHD student.. It was all definitely rocket science going on for me. I would label the lab more of a culinary room with loads of weird instruments for totally weird uses.. Now i know why they need so much money.. O come on.. they need a trip up Copenhagen for more green talks.. But hey, they really are 'saving lives'. The research they do.. All the perseverance, patience and pain... Some how, i can understand and relate to..

I was no help, toying with most stuff and kinda overwhelmed..

It made me question... wheres my focus?

SALUTE!!

S.M.TSAENG!

Self Traveling (Day 1)--Difficulties (my way)

Taking a pic of yourself with some attraction is practically impossible...

1) u turn out like crap

2) u are bigger than the tourist site

3) u get half of everythin.. u get cut off or the attraction got cut

4) u get a blackout pic..

5) u start cursing and realise.. u are not taking anything useful or memorable.

How to travel alone when..

1) u practically left your map and important nos on the sofa with the pet cat

2) u only hav on hand a print out super basic maps of London's attraction.

3) u forgot to charge your camera and hence is surviving on a 2 cell batt life.

3) your local phone just wont boot up...

4) when u left things at home.. u left even the address of your living quarters here in London!

5) u left home with minimum cash cox u were told not to bring too much cash out... tt was in mind that u had the essential traveling kit which.. (re-read points 1-4)

Guess to be a savvy traveler.. just do the opposite of what i did.. yeah.. this is a real life story.. so how did i make it..

well.. i walked and walked.. for about 6 hours straight, with a 'smart' mouth and a squeezed brain cells to recall where the hell i walked out from. Luckily, i had a make shift sandwich and a clementine in hand... and of course.. just super act like a dumb, bimbotic tourist.. u get some sympathy though no shillings.. ;p

Traveling alone

ok.. i actually bought a ticket to London.. and off i went.. Alone.. tts so me.. to top it off.. i seriously had no plan.. only with a friend there to rely on.. and a traveler's guide book (still in brand new condition; i might just resell it since i have yet to flip a page), i just impulsively made my way..

430am.. at Changi Airport..

Typically me, i went to the wrong terminal.. thankfully for the connectivity of the terminals, i went to the right one after that. Anyway, the airport is not really open.. Come on, people need a life.. We shouldnt expect people to be at your service 24-7.. But being a Singaporean.. we expect everything fast and there... So the counter only kinda open at 445 with the immigratin side opening at 5am... nothing to do much in the DFS as well. everything is close... so.. wat do i do?? I just sat down and watch the TV... and... I get bored easily... so... FREE LOCAL CALLS... muahahaa.... I conclude though.. Girls are heavier sleepers than Boys.. At least the guys pick up my calls!!

1st day (or rather night)...

its a difference of 16 hrs.. it was like their 5pm (9th Dec).. but Spore's 1am; 10th Dec. Honestly, due to my excitement, i was quite pumped up when i touched down. This is the 1st time i took a train (public transport) all the way to the lodging area... Lugging your luggage with u, climbing up and down the subway... is... no joke.. tiring leh!! A 1.5 hour ride.. with multiple changes of trains.. the zig-zag walking with your bags.. ahhhh.. didnt help that i was attracting alot of unwanted attention with the noise my bag was making (the wheels are spoilt). There goes my image in uptown London!! 'Bloody China Gal' must be their though man.. so wat.. i was proud to be a tourist.. hahaha..

My shopping in London was done at the SUPERMARKET!! Well, i do need to eat.. and when asked wat can i cook.. nothing... except for maggi.. I bought bread instead.. more hassle free.. and chips.. wat totally amaze me at the supermart was the paying mode.. u get to choose either.. 1) at the cashier.. but u pack your own bags or 2) u self do the scanning of the tags and pack your bags.. u cant cheat the system.. i was impressed by the system..

By 9 plus 10.. i was seriously starting to zone out.. and watever i was talking made no sense though i made known also not to take watever i was saying to concern.. with a half eaten pasta on hand.. i gave up and went to sleep.. also preping my fren that i was not gonna bathe... haha.. KO-ed.