When I told some of my friends that I hadn’t been to London in two years, the most common response I’d gotten was surprise, and I can understand as much, what with London being the place where everything happens compared to Manchester. And so, this Easter break, I took the chance to travel down south for a couple of days and stayed over at Janice’s, and I’m really glad I did because I found myself falling in love with London all over again.
My relationship with the city of London is somewhat a complicated one. My first time in London, back in 2013, was love at first sight. Of course, it was my first time in UK itself, so it was difficult not to be in awe of literally everything in a foreign country. But fast forward two years later during my first year of uni, my phone got stolen on Oxford Street and I was intimidated by the bustling crowds of the city, and that was when London turned into more of a foe than a friend in my mind’s eye.
This time was different. It felt like I was revisiting a whole new place all over again. And technically I was, seeing as how different a person I am compared to who I was two, five years ago.
Frankly, my trip to London this Easter can easily be confused for one to Japan instead, not that it’s something I would complain. From the first day of visiting the arcade to play taiko drums and Hatsune Miku songs on the Groove Coaster (apparently the only single one machine of this game in the whole of Europe is right here in London oh wow), to queuing in the rain to enter the exclusive Isle of Dogs exhibition at 180 The Strand, to visiting Japan Centre three times in the span of two days (each time with different company at that), and ultimately, to feasting on Japanese food and desserts for literally every meal I had in London, it was really fun and interesting to be so immersed for those couple of days within a subculture in the melting cultural pot that is London.
And of course, what is a place if not for its people? Special shoutout to Janice, Karu, Yi Jing, Rumin, and Lionel for being great company while I was there, and for making London feel like an already familiar friend to me, even after these two years.
I’ll see you real soon again, London. またね, ロンドン。
michelle teoh 