London Off the Beaten Path Tips by Manyana

This is one of the most unusual long-history tradition, forming and waiting in queues! I've not seen people like the britons wait in queues! I guess they queue for everything, for the bus, information desk, toilets, money exchange and even queue in the q-jump to a club or a bar.

i remember once i acted as if i was a tourist in an early morning. there was such a long queue for the bus. as soon as it started to get crowded at the door, i just jumped in. a lady approached me angry, 'you'd have waited for your turn and joined the queue'! i learnt the lesson well, to respect...on your turn!

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I couldn't resist the urge to take a picture of such pure romance, a father and his son, head-to-head in such innocent intimacy. It just has shown me that love can be honest, spontaneous and just being what it is. i was deeply touched by this scene!

Aren't they beautiful?

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i was literally shocked and utterly disgusted when i saw a man peeing next to the church wall. i couldn't resist to ask him respect the place. although i'm not religious myself but i felt quite offended!

when i walk down the street, i just see dry streams of urine almost at every bus stop and next to walls or pillars. i even once saw a guy peeing next to a booth for london bus tours! that was quite openly public. i don't why people dare to do it like this although there are public toilets almost everywhere!

on the new year's eve, my friend told me that she actually saw a woman, taking off and simply peeing. i remember one tourist complained to the policeman on that eve about someone peeing, he said, 'i'm not surprised'!

i shouldn't be surprised either...so be warned not to lean against any wall or just anywhere unless if you don't mind;^)

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i absolutely love london in spring, breathtaking. apart from having my hayfever, but just walking down the street and watching the trees and feeling the breeze is joyful. i've never seen trees come in all colours; purple, pink, yellow, white, red, and orange...rainbow flag,lol.

it gets around 15-20C in spring and remains a bit polluted but the scenery is what takes my heart away. Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens and Regent's Park are absolutely stunning in spring. however, the further you go outside central london, the less congested it gets and you see more free space of greenery than cars and buses.

i've also heard that richmond, south london, zone 3, is another charming area in spring...may visit it one day!

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when you get off the tube, when you hop on the train, when you wait for it, you would hear the most popular announcement in all tube stations 'Mind the Gap'. and you should!

there is usually a gap between the train and platform and you may fall over if you don't pay attention or it gets really crowded in rush hours. usually those who are waiting outside to get in wait for those who are inside to get out. it is usually the case and nearly like a tube tradition in london.

once i was in hurry and had to get in and didn't wait for other passengers to get out. i was specifically asked and stopped by someone to wait until other passengers leave.

mind the gap

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