il Giardino Romantico

I don't deny that I like to complain. But the fact of the matter is, I really think that if you make yourself do something that is slightly out of your comfort zone, great surprises may await. I'm starting this off with something seemingly so unrelated because this is why I got a chance to visit Harrods. If it hadn't been 'someone', then I really thought about skipping Harrods. What? I'm not a big fan of shopping anyway. And even if I am, most of the things here are way over my budget anyway! BUT!! I'm glad I went anyway! You'll see why. 
我不否認我是一個很愛抱怨的人。不過我真的要說，有些時候強迫自己做一些異想不到的事情其實後面只會有驚喜等著你。我會以這樣看似無相關的字句開頭，因為這就是我為什麼會來這裡的原因。如果不是受某人之託要來這裡買個東西，基本上我本來是連來都不想來的！畢竟我本來就不太愛買東西。即使會買，這裡的價位對我來說也未免太高了！但是！！我還是很高興我來了！就繼續看下去吧！
This was my last day in London, my last day in the UK, and the date of this post is the last day of me being a 20-something. My host in London who had been so kind to take me in for an entire week, finally had one free day where we could go around together. We went to a pizzaria in Harrods, where not just the pizza, but the chefs are special. 
這是我當時在倫敦的最後一天，也是在英國的最後一天。這篇張貼的日期也是我2開頭的最後一天。好心收留我一整周的朋友這天終於有空可以陪我一起走走晃晃。我們先去她推薦的比薩店。這間不只是比薩好吃，連廚師都特別好吃。
I'll bet my camera didn't realise it was entering its retirement... This is like.. it's 'last supper'.
我的相機此時應該沒有預料到自己即將走向退休之路吧！這就像是它『最後的晚餐』一樣
So what's so special about the chefs? See the tallest chef there? Well, he's not there to make pizzas. He's there to 'entertain'. While playing around with the dough, he'd start singing arias... Then when he's done, he'll throw away the dough he'd been playing with! Story has it that it was exactly his singing that got him the job! 
到底這裡的廚師有什麼特別的呢？看到照片中那個高大的廚師了沒呢？他不是來做比薩的喔！他是來"娛樂"大家的！他再把比薩餅皮丟來丟去的時候呢也會來唱幾句歌劇呢！然後結束後呢，他就會把他剛才玩耍的餅皮丟掉！據說，就是因為他可以這樣唱歌才得到這份工作的呢！
After lunch, we went off to do a bit of looking around on our own, but my friend took me to these escalators before leaving me on my own, to show me its unique design. But it's not just the architecture that's special! 
吃完比薩之後，我們分頭逛自己的。不過在分開之前，我朋友有特別帶我到這裡來先看看。不過你別看這裡這麼特別的設計！其實更特別的還在後頭呢！
You'll start to hear some singing, and start wondering what kind of stero system they use because it sounds amazingly clear! 
你會開始聽到有人又在唱歌劇！然後又開始想說他們到底用的音響是什麼系統？怎麼可以這麼逼真？！
Then you'll realise: the singing is LIVE! 
原來是真的有人在現場獻唱！
Do you know why this memorial is here?
有人知道為什麼這裡會有紀念黛安娜的地方嗎？
After we met up again, my friend took me to tea. It was probably the poshest tea I've ever had in my life, but because I was heading off on my flight that night, I was so not dressed for it! Those are macaroons, by the way. De-li-cious! 
我們碰了面之後，朋友就帶我去喝茶。這大概是我這一生喝過最高檔的茶了吧！？不過可惜當天因為晚上就要坐飛機，行李也都打包好了。所以當天一副休閒裝就給人家進去～ （我也想當偽貴婦啊！）對了，那些圓圓的就是超好吃的macaroon喔！
No photography inside, but I still managed to take one shot of our tea! 
內部是禁止拍照的！不過為了大家，我還是偷偷拍了一張！
2009 UK Travel Finis.
2009 英國遊記　全文完。

The British Museum is open until 8pm every day (summer season). However, not all galleries are open after five. This is what I had not known during my visit. Unfortunately, after they were ushering people out of certain galleries, I realised that I had already been to the galleries that were open till late. I had to come back the next day. When I asked the clerk if I needed to pay again for my audio guide, he kindly signed at the back of the reciept, and assured me that I didn't have to pay again the next day. 
大英博物館在暑期開放至晚間八點。不過不是每個館都開放到這麼晚。當時我就是不知道，所以當我逛到一半被趕出來才知道原來只有某些館是有到八點！而在詢問過後才發現，開放到晚上的館我都早就逛過了啊！所以隔天還要再回來。離開前我問工作人員，隔天再進來的話語音導覽是不是要再次付錢。結果他好心的在那天的收據背後簽了名，並保證隔天來可以不用付費繼續使用！
With a few pounds saved from the audio guide, I bought myself a gift. 
因為省了幾鎊，就有經費買個禮物送自己啦！
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Scarabs （咖賽的）聖甲蟲（他們真的是吃糞便的！）
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Might this be Keats' 'Grecian Urn'? 這會是浪漫時期詩人Keats詩中的希臘甕嗎？
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This is the crocodile asana! (yoga) 這是瑜珈裡的鱷魚式耶！
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Cashier 收銀機
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Clock 時鐘
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Chess board 西洋棋
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Modern 'clock' with 'tea machine' 現代時鐘（還有自動做茶的功能）
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Front 前面
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Back 背後
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Mosaic 鑲崁圖案
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The Asian Gallery 亞洲館
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Maitreya Buddha 彌勒佛
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South Asian 南亞的
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Koran 可蘭經
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This is dedicated to a friend of mystery, a royal patron of this blog! 
這張圖獻給一位神秘朋友，一位本格的忠實支持者！
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This is yet another place in London that tourists/travellers must visit while in London. When you plan your itinerary, do make sure that you leave at least one full day for this. Because even if you are an amateur, you'll still end up spending an entire day in here! The best news of all is that there is no admission charge, although it is strongly recommended that you rent an audio guide to get the most out of this trip. 
這又是一個倫敦必逛的景點。安排行程的時候別忘了排出至少一整天的時間給這裡！即使你外行，或是興趣沒那麼大，你還是會需要一整天的時間在裡面閒晃的。不過我想這裡最好的地方就是他不收門票！不過強烈推薦一定要租個語音導覽，才能夠更了解裡頭珍藏的文物。
Established in 1753, it houses more than seven million objects! 
成立於1753年。現今珍藏品超過七百萬件！
Victorian Poet Laureate Tennyson states '...and let thy feet millenniums hence be set in a midst of knowledge'.
這句出自維多利亞時期的桂冠詩人Tennyson。

Who is Samuel Johnson? I'll bet not many people know his contribution to the English speaking world. We are looking at the house of the person who put together the VERY FIRST English dictionary! All of you who have ever even touched a dictionary, whether Merriam Webster, Longman, Cambridge, or even the mighty OED, have Johnson to thank for it! 
Samuel Johnson到底是誰啊？我想應該沒有很多人知道他對英語世界的貢獻吧！這個家的主人呢，就是寫出有史以來第一本英文字典的偉人啊！即使你只是輕輕地觸摸過一本字典，無論是Merriam Webster, Longman, Cambridge或是神聖的OED，都要記得這一切都是拜Johnson所賜啊！
'When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.'
『當你厭倦了倫敦，你也厭倦了生命。』
Everything Johnsonian. 
Johnson相關出版品
Right across from Johnson's is his contemporary, Boswell. 
Johnson對面住的也是當代（十八世紀）的著名作家Boswell. 
Who let the dog out? 誰把狗放出來啦？
Hodge is Johnson's dog... Hogde是Johnson的狗
As I was running late for my other plans, and out of budget for admission fees, this is all I saw.
因為當天行程還很多，也快沒經費了，所以就只拍了這些～

I reckon not a lot of tourists would come here, prior to the time of the 'Da Vinci Code'. This is the place where Langdon brought Teabing, thinking there were tombs of knights here. Only after their arrival did Langdon realise that there were only effigies, not tombs. Then, Teabing's butler came in, shooting, taking Teabing as hostage... 
我想在『達文西密碼』出版前應該很少有觀光客會注意到這裡吧！？這裡就是Langdon帶Teabing來的地方。他們原以為這裡是騎士葬身之地，沒想到之後才發現原來這裡只有肖像，沒有墓碑。後來Teabing的管家拿著槍進來，挾持走Teabing.... 
Gargoyles 石頭怪人
The nave. 正廳
Effigies 01  肖像一
Effigies 02 肖像二
Pillar 柱子
Dome 圓穹
Historic templar 聖殿騎士的歷史
Organ 管風琴
Stained glass windows 彩繪玻璃
Altar 聖壇
Master of Temple 聖殿主持
Worth a visit, if you're interested in the Templars and Free Masons. No admission charge. 
若是對聖殿騎士歷史或是共濟會有興趣者可來看看～ 不用門票。
Jerusalem in the time of the crusades.
十字軍東征時期的耶路撒冷。
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Although my student ID had already expired, and I've already made the best use of it while I could, I still managed to get concession for the audio guide at the National Gallery (chuckle). Actually, I planned to tell the lady that I hadn't been aware of its expiration date, that is, if she found out. Fortunately, she didn't. And I still got the concession. Look at the first photo, doesn't it look like a painting? 
雖然我的學生證已經過期了，也在他過期之前充分的運用到他。不過來到這我還是成功地以學生價的價位租到語音導覽呢！我本來想說，被發現就裝傻，說不好意思我沒注意到已經過期了。還好根本不用說謊～因為人家根本沒注意看～～ 
It had been a nice day out, so there the area in front of the gallery were absolutely packed with people! 
因為天氣還不錯（這樣真的算是超好的天氣了！），所以美術館前一堆人～
Lots of interesting things to see in the square. 
光是在廣場就有很多有趣的畫面～
The Lion King~ 獅子王～
Or lion slave? 還是獅子奴？
Nelson's Column 尼爾遜紀念柱
Big Ben at the far end. 可看見大笨鐘
The story of Trafalgar Square 特拉法加廣場的故事
Fountain 噴水池
George IV 喬治國王（四世）（不是Collin Firth眼的那個喬治...  ）
Photography prohibited, so this is all you get of the inside. 
又是禁止拍照，所以只有這張偷拍大廳的～
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London Eye, yet another landmark of London, and made its appearance in so many movies, it should receive its very own Academy Award! 
倫敦之眼！又是一個倫敦代表性的地標（到底倫敦有幾個代表性地標啊！）而且他也在許多電影中出現過，簡直就該頒發一個最佳背景獎給他啊！
It looks so tiny in the picture, but wait till you stand right beneath it. 
照片中看起來不會很大吧！？等你有機會站到正下方就知道... 
I wish this camera had wide-angle lens... 
現在看這照片真希望那時候有超廣角的FP8啊！
The story of London Eye 倫敦之眼的故事
Impressive from every angle. 每個角度都很壯觀
Not-so-clear sky. 不適很晴朗的天空
It would've turned out even better with clear blue sky! 
晴天的話就更美麗囉！
Don't fall! 別倒啊！
You'll find these sculpture interpretations of Dali's works along the riverside. 
沿著河邊（鄰近倫敦之眼處）可以看到雕像版的Dali大作
In fact, this is where Dali Universe is located!
這其實就是Dali Universe （美術館）所在地
Perhaps familiar? 有印象嗎？
Even though I was starting to count down my last days in the UK, I still felt like having a taste of home. Did you know that western-Asian cuisine is so different, I think the good ones deserve its own category name, like Third Culture Cuisine(as in Third Culture Kid)! (Except, this one was rather mediocre). 
雖然在倫敦（英國）的時間已經開始在倒數了，不過那時候突然就很想來點家鄉味。（其實是因為鄉巴仙沒用過這種盒子吃麵）其實有些西方中式餐點雖然很不一樣，但不錯的幾乎可以成為另一種自己獨特的種類了（像第三文化佳餚–改自第三文化小孩）。不過這家，還好而已．．．
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The Mandarin nickname of Big Ben, if translated back to English, means 'Big Clumsy Clock'（大笨鐘）. When I was still teaching English to young scholars, I once had a student named 'Ben', and his fellow classmates often teased him about his name (phonetically sounding similar to 笨 = clumsy) Personally, I think it's a rather cute translation of its nickname, and quite aptly named as well. However, few people know the origin of the 'Ben' part of the name. 
大笨鐘的英文其實是『大班』（班傑明的班）。不過中文念起來真的挺像『笨』的。所以以前在教兒童美語的時候就鬧了個笑話：班上的Ben常常就被大家捉弄。其實我覺得這個翻譯的挺可愛的，也挺適合的。不過有多少人知道原文中『Ben』的緣由呢？
One of the more credible theories of its nickname is that it was named after Benjamin Hall, whose name is inscribed on the bell. Another theory is that it was named after a heavyweight boxer Benjamin Caunt. Personally, I find the Benjamin Hall story more plausible. What do you think?
其實緣由的說法也很多。不過我個人覺得最能讓我採信的就是它其實是為了紀念一位叫做Benjamin Hall。因為據說他的名字就刻在鐘上頭。另外一個說法就是這Ben的由來是因為一個重量級的拳擊手Benjamin Caunt... 
Well, despite its various stories concerning the origin of its nickname, Big Ben is undoubtedly THE landmark of London. 
雖然大笨鐘的緣由說法不一，不過無疑他確實是倫敦最顯眼的地標啊！
In 2009, the clock celebrated its 150th Anniversary! 
在2009年大笨鐘已經150歲了呢！
Did you know that its full name is 'Clock Tower of Westminster Palace'?
你知道他的全名其實是『西敏皇宮鐘樓』嗎？
The silhouette of the palace and clock tower. 整棟建築的剪影～
View from the other side of the Thames. 從河的對岸看大笨鐘～
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Westminster Bridge was built in 1862. Most people know it from the sonnet 'Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802' by the Romantic Poet Laureate, William Wordsworth. Although the surrounding area now, is not quite as picturesque as the sight Wordsworth had seen during his time, the walk over the bridge, I'm sure, continues to be rather pleasant and enjoyable. 
西敏橋建造於1862年。學過英國文學的應該都有聽過浪漫時期桂冠詩人William Wordsworth所寫的十四行詩"Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 2, 1802'. 雖然現今的面貌一定不比當時詩人看到的還要詩情畫意，不過步行在橋上仍然是件很不錯的體驗呢！

What's up with the limo? 這是怎麼一回事？
What's going on? Is the Queen passing by? Some celeb? 
怎麼一回事啊？是女王行經路線嗎？還是其他名人啊？
What do you think is going on? 你覺得是發生什麼事了呢？
Turns out, it was a protest... 原來是禮車租借業的在抗議... 
With Big Ben on the one end of the bridge, and London Eye on the other end, Westminster Bridge, like all bridges, creates a link - a link that connects history and the modern. 
一頭是大笨鐘，另一頭是倫敦之眼。如同一般的橋一樣，西敏橋形成一個連結。而在這裡看到的連結，是將歷史與現代串聯再一起。
But actually, you'll been fooled... This is Scotland... 
其實你們都被騙了。原來這是蘇格蘭... 
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Westminster Abbey. I don't know to emphasise its significance in history, and up until the present day. How many kings and queens had their coronation and burials here. Its Gothic style architecture, along with the nearby landmarks of Big Ben and Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye, together completes the picture of this part of London. 
西敏寺。不知道該如何強調他的歷史上至今的重要性。多少英國君主在此加冕登基以及安葬。他的歌德式建築風格以及鄰近的大笨鐘及國會會議廳以及倫敦之眼，全部加總成為倫敦這塊地區的完整地標圖。
Despite its outrageous admission ticket, once inside the abbey, you'll find it completely worth a visit. 
雖然門票實在很貴，一旦進入之後，肯定會覺得非常值得的！　
This is St. Margaret's, a parish church right next to the abbey. 
這是在西敏寺旁的St. Margaret's教區禮拜堂。
Don't forget to keep your eye open for 'Poet's Corner' when you're inside the abbey. 
進入之後別忘了睜大眼睛找找『Poet's Corner』，向英國詩人們致敬一下喔～
Now I'm quite glad photography wasn't allowed, or else this article would take so much longer to put together! 
還好裡面不能拍照！否則這篇文章會花上我更多時間去整理圖文啊！
I would definitely recommend Westminster Abbey as one of the top-10 must-visits in London! 
西敏寺絕對是英國必逛的前十名！
St. Margaret's does not charge admission (I think...), and it's quite interesting to juxtapose its relatively simple architecture to the grandeur of the abbey. 
St. Maragret's 進入不須門票（好像）而且因為它就位於西敏寺旁，其實與西敏寺的華麗複雜建築風格比較起來實在是個很有趣的觀察。
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