[290312]
"OH MY GOD. I'M FINALLY GOING TO SEE HOGWARTS!!!!" was the exact phrase that repeated itself 10000x in an overly enthusiastic pitch, like a broken record in my head, the day I stepped foot onto Oxford soil.
As you probably can tell, I'm pretty much a Harry Potter fan..... I mean, those books grew up with me :') I will always remember the excitement I get whenever a new book was released because I always couldn't wait to finish the book. I remember sitting by the window and reading for hours and hours. Having said that, I'm not exactly a bookworm, but somehow the Harry Potter series did magically get to me. The movies were of course a must catch, even though they often pale in comparison. Finally getting to see something or even anything remotely related to the series actually made me feel like a kid in a candy store. It's like fulfilling a lifelong childhood dream :')

Before we headed off we had to satisfy our famished stomachs and without many pennies (for once it really makes sense) left in our pockets, we had to choose a cheap food outlet. In Europe, the cheapest food you can get usually revolve around turkish food like kebabs.

1950s much? :P

hahahaha didn't know YX/BX opened a bar ;)

Christ Church was where inspiration for the harry potter sets were taken (no the film was not actually shot there)

the light at the end of the tunnel ;)

Having read about meadows in poems and fairy tales as a kid, for once it made sense why the authors chose to write about them. There is something peaceful and beautiful about them that makes you want to stop for a moment and forget the world. Looking at this just makes me feel like lying on the grass all day ;)

YI is ever ready!

Everyone was pretty amused by the sword (maybe except fz, he looks bored hahaha)

I realised that in UK colleges, they have this strict rule about not stepping on grass! Well, I would too if I had such beautiful and delicate carpet grass fields to maintain.

ahhh omg, I would die to study in this school!!

SEE, they agree too :P

HAHAH Pardon my obsession over cherry blossoms and spring because at that point in time I had just come from a winter wonderland in Finland and for 3 months I hadn't seen anything remotely close to nature except evergreen trees which don't bear any flowers. Naturally, I was behaving like an overly passionate botanist when I saw flowers!

I fell in love with this place and bought that house you see in the background ;) This is my personal garden. YEAH I WISHED.

Wouldn't it be nice to just lie on the grass and forget the world for a day? Enjoy the warm sunshine and cool air breeze with temperatures of about 18degrees? This is one culture that I would love to bring home but sadly, the hot and humid weather in singapore wouldn't allow such comfort.

Old trees give the ancient architecture so much character, perfect evidence that it stood through the test of time.

hahahah I don't know why this is here but I guess I was just experimenting with coloured photo filters back then LOL

Christchurch wasn't opened for visitors yet so........ when in uk do what the englishmen do, sit on the grass and chill ;)

The bear decided to take a nap instead hahahah that's how nice the carpet grass felt!

FZ too, no wonder they are bros ;)

and girls being girls........ when we are bored, we camwhore HAHAHAH

Another one!

JUST LOOK AT THE CRAZY QUEUE!! Hoho, I guess everybody just loves harry potter ;) Queuing isn't just a singaporean thing.... I've been in countless queues in europe too o.-

Well weathered brick interior

Not sure what these crests mean but I guess it has to do with their history of rulers? *SMOKES* hahahahahha OK I REALLY HAVE NO IDEA.

I think this is where quidditch is played! Don't you love the clear blue skies? Darn, why is the van there! Ruined the moment HAHAHA. it would be better if it's a horse carriage or smth :P

Rmb these steps? Harry and friends probably walk up countless times in the movie!

OMG THE GRAND DINING HALL!! :D

Act yi ge (simulating) 1950s hahahahaha

alright.... here's how it looks like today! Anything consumed here would definitely have its taste up 10 notches hahahahahahha *biased*

Back then I had darker brown hair LOL. OK I REALISE THIS PIC IS KINDA WEIRD. HAHAHAH But whatever, I'm still gonna post it because it's my only pic with the dining hall!

ahhhh~ imagine going down the steps as a freshman at hogwarts......... (darn why is there a HSBC advertisement board??)

yay! :D I'm only missing the broom! (yes, i didn't feel like wearing my heavy pink boots hahahaha it was already spring in the uk!)

Stained glass paintings seem mandatory in churches! The beauty of it lies in the projection on the ground when sunlight shines through...... *I see your true colours shining through~~~~~*

Never thought I would see a vertical sundial :O HAHAH NO idea how it works though! But I really have a question......... in Winter when sun light is limited, doesn't it not work most of the time??

After walking around we were kinda hungry HAHAHA we decided to pay a visit to a market! Here's the thing, markets in UK are pretty interesting I must say, one must visit at least one! There are plenty in London though! Anyway, I like markets because they portray the culture and the way of life for the locals and it feels more real than cruising through fluffed up tourist attractions.

Awwwwwwww cute aye?

hehehe racial harmony?

We decided to have some smoothie!! :D I swear there were like at least 50 different kinds! It was really hard to make a choice hahaha

hehehe <3 my travel mates! :D

To be honest, Oxford is very similar to Cambridge in terms of architecture and town layout, they both seem frozen in the 18th Century! However, the former doesn't have a beautiful river to do punting in! Even though I'm a harry potter fan, I actually liked Cambridge more because the view along the river bank is more appealing! :)

Labels: England, Oxford, UK