UK 2017

Okay! I have decided that I shall do this in 2 parts - one post for UK (London, Brighton & Hastings), and one (maybe two - depending on how long it gets) for Spain (Seville & Granada).

So brace yourself for super long posts!

London
28 December - 30 December 2017

After running errands all day (it was really like a week of errands), I finally had time to properly pack for my flight that night late that evening. Years of last minute packing has prepared me for this moment and I'm happy to announce the only thing I forgot to bring was a pack of vitamin C (I told you, once you turn 25 your body is no longer as strong as it was.. #weakling!) which I must say is not bad. Got my vitamin C at the airport and I was all ready to just pop it in my drink and snooze all the way to Heathrow, but God clearly had other plans for me..

My flight got delayed from 11.30PM to 2.30AM - they had to switch aircraft and all.. But thankfully my flight turned out to be empty so I had an "economy flatbed" all to myself :p I didn't even bothered waiting for the "wear your seat belt" sign to turn off, I just snoozed immediately after take-off until mid-flight (cause the seat belt was starting to get uncomfortable..).

Also, back to the whole your-body-is-just-not-the-same-after-25 thing, I have lost my ability to sleep throughout the entire flight. About 4 hours before landing I was WIDE awake (and mind you this was probably about 4am UK time x.x). Thankfully I had a book with me (usually books that go on flights with me are just a waste of space in my handbag/ hand-carry), so I managed to catch up on HP6. (At the point of me writing this, I'm very sure I haven't pick up where I left off with it. But I'm currently reading another book #defensive)

Upon landing, I managed to clear immigration and pick up my luggage within 30mins of landing - I forgot how efficient things are in UK. Hopped into a cab (because Heathrow Express was under maintenance -___-) and started bugging Zayana:

At 9.15AM: "I'm in the cab now to the hotel, probably would reach your place about 1030AM"

At 9.17AM: "Btw, SELAMAT PAGI!!!"

At 10.00AM: "Hrmm, she hasn't reply my texts.. I should call her" *2 minutes later* "Pisang what doing?"

Zayana:"Trying to ignore you"

At 10.10AM: "My soul is ready!"

At 10.15AM: "Map says it's 5 minutes walk to your place.."

At 10.20AM: "I'm hereeeeeeeeeeeee"

Zayana: Of all times you want to be on time -_________________- *once she tagged me in* Ma, look, I found a pest downstairs..

Aunty (Zayana's Mum) fed me spaghetti goreng before we left cause knowing me I missed all my meals in flight (sleep > flight meals). At least Mummy was pleased that I had proper breakfast instead of my bag of chips (though I did have a bag of chips in the taxi cause I was really hungry!)

First stop of the day was to pick up the Harry Potter & the Cursed Child tickets I got for later that evening (and the evening after). When we got to the ticketing office, we found the main entrance empty as in without any humans at all. Pisang were all excited to take a photo there and thankfully we met another Potter fan who wanted his photo taken too (he was travelling alone) and I swear he's a trained insta boyfriend cause the pictures he took were so straight! *claps*

After we got the tickets we made our way to ZARA on Oxford Street while waiting for lunch. Shopping with your handbag full from your flight seriously was not fun, so I only got a pair of tights (cause I only had one for the entire trip..) and a few tops.

Soon it was time to make our way to Stax for lunch with Dani. Dani has always been a gem, even since Uni days, she made a point to look up for halal burger places (cause Zayana was craving) and that's how we ended up in Stax for the first time despite numerous visits to London town before..

As we both have never been there we had to map our way there and we didn't realise that Stax was actually inside a courtyard so we kept making rounds around the area and Zayana is not fun when she's hungry...

Zayana: Of course, of course you missed a turn again..

Zayana: We've walked up and down this street twice............

Me: On the bright side, at least its a pretty street! I mean can you imagine back in those days, these alleys are filled with..

Zayana: Whores?

Me: ..... Whurrrrrrrrrrt, I was going to say all the bars buzzing with people!

Before I proceed with the next line, let me provide some context first:

Earlier on on the way to Stax we passed by Lulu Lemon and Zayana being the fitness junkie that she is was telling me about how Aunty pronounced it as "Lulu Le-mond"

Me: Well maybe she thinks if Im spending this much on some gym tights, I might as well make it sound fancier than just "lemon"

Zayana: But I swear their tights are amazing! I got a new one and then I kept going "feel my thighs, feel my thighs" to everyone once I tried it on, it's so sooofft.

Ok continuing on with the other conversation up there,

Me: Pisang, I think kan, in your past life, you were probably a hooker cause I swear you keep noticing all the tak-cukup-kainness (she was pointing it out to me all day and Im like "huh, what, where?") and clearly it's the first thing on your mind about what goes on back in those days.. Some more with the "feel my thighs, feel my thighs"..

Zayana: And I think you were a drunkard cause you keep going "Uuuuuu pretty" at all the bars/ pubs! (Is it really my fault that some of the pubs in London have really nice deco outside?)

Me: Ahahahaha, no wonder we're good friends! The drunkard and the hooker..

After checking the address properly, I realised that the restaurant is inside some building that we've passed by like 3 times already by then. Thankfully despite our circles we still managed to beat the lunch queue and got a table within 10 minutes of arriving.. Dani arrived shortly 5 minutes after we arrived.

Lunch was filled with what's going on now with our lives and how we should make this an annual thing - we shall try! After lunch we continue with our "shopping", we ended up in ZARA again because Dani was looking for a sweater for her mum, then in M&S because my fingers were getting cold and I wanted snacks & cereal for breakfast.

About 4-ish we decided that its time to part cause Zayana had to go see her cousins at Winter Wonderland and I needed to wash up before the play. We made plans to go to Winder Wonderland the next day but that didn't materialise..

Every time I come back here I always feel nostalgic when I watch E4 - cause honestly that was the only channel that played in our kitchen back then #clearlywerenotafanofBritishshows. And this water! I was so happy when I saw that they brought it in KL too, until I saw the price *facepalm*.

Finished half of the bag of chips I bought (M&S' Sour Cream and Jalapeno Combo Mix are seriously awesome!) before the play and then it was 6pm which meant it's time to make a move!

Got there rather early (the ticket said we needed to be there an hour early..) and even after splurging on the merchandises we still had quite some time before the show started x.x

Given how I was still somewhat in Malaysian timing, come 9pm (UK time) I was seriously so sleepy that I started feeling woozy mid-play. But then by 10pm, since I wasn't allowed to sleep, I'm suddenly WIDE awake again #adrenalinekickedin.

The play finished around 10/10.30pm and then someway somehow Zayana & I got lost on the way back from the theater and took the longer route to get to the station x.x I don't even know how we managed to do that but I'm starting to think that travelling with Zayana involves getting lost a lot.. Lol. But we passed by some adult store on the way back,

Zayana: Oh look, this is where me & the girls shop...

That was a good laugh to warm ourselves up not to mention to take the nerves off (some streets are really creepy at night okay!).

By the time I got back, I was so thankful that I remembered to turn on the heater - AHHH HEAT! Switched on the TV and saw that Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix was playing #fate.

#housepride #mercholic #guiltyascharged

I was about to make maggi and have dinner then Faris texted saying that he's dropping by as he was nearby. Went down and planned our next day as he smoked since he was on "Aisya duty" as Zayana had to be slave child - that was the excuse she told me but for all I know she just refuses to be on "Aisya duty" two days in a row.. #wouldntbesurprised *roll eyes*

Things I had to do: (I had like a list of things to get prepared in my notes - which btw did you know you can make your notes into a to-do list now on iPhone?)

(1) Get hangers for both Mummy & I and jeans for me at Primark (Oxford Street)

(2) Get lipsticks and other make-up stuff for both Mummy & I at Charlotte Tilbury (Selfridges/ Covent Garden)

(3) Get Anis's and my Huda Beauty Lipsticks (Harrods - because at this point I did not realise that there's Huda counter at Selfridges too and Anis/ Zayana told you can get it at Harrods)

(4) Get Mummy's lipstick at Burberry (Selfridges/ Harrods)

(5) Get stuff from The Ordinary for both Min & I (Covent Garden)

Things Faris had to do:

(1) Cari kasut for him & Suhaib (anywhere)

(2) Pick up Hariz's shirts (I-forgot-the-name-of-the-store-already-now at Regent Street) - but subject to receiving an e-mail confirmation from the store

#senangnyahidupjadilelaki

A bowl of maggi, some TV shows later on and I was ready for bed. I thought after the long day I had I'd sleep like a normal human and wake up at humane hours like 8/9AM but no, I ended up waking up at 5.30am -____________-

Thankfully E4 always has reruns of Charmed & Big Bang Theory at odd hours in the morning, so that kept me occupied for a few hours. After running out of lives on Gardenscapes, I decided that enough time has passed and I should get up and get ready. Took my own sweet time getting ready and in between of blow drying my hair/ putting my face on I was desperately trying to wake Faris up because we had a full day of shopping for people to do. But genius put his phone on silent (-___-) so after 10 attempts I gave up and decided that I shall just go out and get my own shopping done first.

As I was about to leave he finally woke up (thank God!), so I thought I'd have sometime to do my shopping first then put my stuff back in the room and go & meet him. On my way to Primark, Aunty Da texted me that she needed some stuff for my cousins from there (nasib, otherwise I can't be bothered to come back to Primark) and then I bumped into Dada (Zayana's sister) on the streets as she was about to meet her friend too #casuallyjustcatchingupinthemiddleoftheroad #nobiggie

Found out that Primark still has their Harry Potter section (Zoe told me it was over!) and from "I just need hangers (and jeans)", I ended up with two large bags on stuff (tbf one bag was Aunty Da's stuff) *peace*.

Since Selfridges was just right opposite Primark I decided to pop-in and maybe get the CT and Burberry stuff from my list. The lady at the beauty hall said they don't/ no longer have a Burberry beauty counter at Selfridges and that I should check out Harrods. And I thought "Okay, cool cause I need to go to Huda also at Harrods" not realising that there's a Huda counter right behind CT

-________-'

This is me photographed while wasting time time waiting for the bus because Faris (who got there just as I was about to pay for some stuff for Mummy & I in Selfridges) refuses to take the tube -__-

Side note: I really wonder where that ribena came from.........

Me: You know, we've been waiting here for more than 10 minutes.. We could've been 5 minutes away from the Hotel by now if we've taken the tube instead

Faris: Tak best lah naik tube. If we've taken the bus, we won't be able to enjoy the view!

This was the kind of arguments we had the entire day because he'd make me run for the bus/ walk pass numerous bus stops because the stop we wanna take wouldn't stop at that particular bus stop x.x

Anyways, 5 minutes away from the hotel, it started to rain heavily (by UK's standard) -__________-

But fine, this part I'm thankful he was already there to help me carry back the stuff cause otherwise I'd have been stuck in the middle on the street with stuff everywhere..

The rain stopped after we dropped the bags (couldn't have waited 5 minutes could you, rain? -.-) and then we made our way for lunch before continuing with more shopping (for other people #kulilifecontinues).

As all my (usual) lunch places suggestions got veto-ed, we ended up at one of his usual student food places which kononnya is so spicy - it's called Sizzling Bomb if I'm not mistaken.

Verdict: The spicy Korean noodles is much worst.. To this day I still say nothing beats it.

Faris on the other hand..... bahahahaha #weakling

Once we were done we made our way to Covent Garden (after much thought out "calculation" done by Faris on where to next based on things we needed to get).

Faris: You nak pergi Harrods for what?

Me: I need to go get Anis' lipstick from Huda Beauty and my mum's lipstick from Burberry's counter ther

Faris: Huda bukan ada dekat Selfridges ker???

Of all people to realise this... Lol

Thankfully based on Google there's a Burberry store in Covent Garden - so we decided that I shall just forgo Harrods and come back to Selfridges another day to check out Huda.

Went to Burberry after The Ordinary and they told me that apparently they closed down all their beauty counters in London and only have it at their flagship store on Regent Street. x.x Sabo jer lah aku dengan Burberry nih haih...

Faris on the hand disappeared into KG - he said "sekejap" but I swear I took 15 minutes between those two stores and he still wasn't done.. So much for "I'll be done before you anyways"..

Since he took quite sometime in KG (seriously, who says girls take ages to shop? All my shopping was done within 10 minutes in the store okay - except Primark, I got distracted with the HP stuff), I went around to look at shoes for myself too - I mean, he took really long and you can't me put in a shoe store wtih sales going on and not cave..

Since most of my work wear are dark coloured (think black, grey & white a lot), I felt like the cream is "too bright" to go with most of it which I'd have gotten over it (and find something to go with it regardless) if it weren't so uncomfortable (I fwas suddenly aware of how hard the floor I'm stepping on is because they felt like the had no padding whatsoever for the shoe). So with two cons, I decided to not buy it despite how cheap it got after discount... Ahh, Aisya is growing up *pats head* #recoveringshopaholic

Made our way to Regent Street next only the find out that the lipstick shade Mummy wanted was sold out!!! Haaaaaaaaaaaaaih.. I had to get my brother to wake her up (sorry!) to ask if she wanted anything else instead and she said no. For all the effort made to get to the Burberry counter, it felt like a crime to not get anything (plus the sales lady was really helpful!) so I decided to get a lip creme for myself #maybenotsorecoveringafterall

I got the bottom shade whilst the colour mummy wasted was the one second from the top - she even refused the alternative colour (most top) because the packaging wasn't in the shape she likes #cantevendealsometimes x.x

We may be able to share handbags and shoes even at times, but we definitely can't share lipstick. Some of my colours make her look pale and her colours are just BRIGHT o.o

Anyways once we secured Hariz's shirts next (there was no confirmation e-mail but we decided to try our luck and thankfully for Faris' "distinctive" last name, the sales person remembered seeing the stock coming in that morning and searched for it properly when we asked), we decided to call it a day since it was getting close to the time I need to get back to make it in time for the second half of my play.

In the bus (seriously running up a Regent Street trying to catch a bus during Christmas should be an obstacle race event) as we were passing by Selfridges,

Faris: You nak pergi Selfridges balik tak? Sempat jer lagi

Me: Hrmmm, but it's so cold outside... Then nanti kena tunggu bus lagi sbb you taknak naik tube x.x

Faris: Malas lah tuh.. Betul nih taknak? It's the stop nih..

Me: ......... Fine fine fine, JOM!

So we made a quick dash to the Huda Beauty counter - it was seriously right next to the CT's, I can't believe I didn't see it - see how focused I get when I'm on a "mission".

They didn't have the lipsticks we want at both Huda's counters in Selfridges and I swear Faris was more disappointed that I was

Faris: So we got off the bus for nothing?

Faris (in the bus otw back): The bus before this was empty, we had nice seats.. Now we have to stand

#guysmembebeltooguys *rolls eyes*

Dropped of my purchases, had a quick change of scarf - you can't watch a HP play and not be in a Slytherin scarf - and dashed out again.

This time knowing that I don't actually have to get there one hour before the play starts I took my own sweet time walking to the theatre. When I got there they had more merchandises that they didn't have at yesterday's show so.... #guilty

The play was amaaaaaaazing, their special effects were really good and so was the characters' portrayal by the actors. I especially love Scorpius (obviously) but felt that Albus' character got even more annoying in real life (or maybe I just down played him in my head). Though I must say the second half of the play was much better because the first half, the characters felt like they were high on caffeine + sugar.

While leaving the theatre, Zayana met up with one of our colleague from EY at the play and got a someone to take our photo in our scarves. Compared to the "instagram boyfriend" the day before, this lady must've been a #fashionfashion instagrammer cause just look at those photo angles - I don't get it (cause I'm not a #fashionfashion instagrammer)... But at least the lights look pretty!

Cool fact: Turns out both Zs in my life are Hufflepuffs.

Zayana: Zoe's a Hufflepuff too?

Me: Yeah, what are the odds that somehow a Slytherin became bestfriends with not one but two Hufflepuffs

Zayana: Hrmm... I don't know if I feel threatened or impressed.. Both Zs, Both Hufflepuffs..

Me: Omg, you're threatened by Zoe?! That's a first.. It's normally the other way around (I have really clingy friends)

Zayana: Not threatened because of you! -__- More like she's like me.. Like I'm not special..

Me: Well... We all know Aisya has a type..

Note: Apparently Haikal & Megat are Hufflepuffs too! I really do have a type..

Since I haven't eaten anything since lunch, I was hungry after the play. I wanted to go makan but I really needed to pee first (I have a rule against using public rest rooms especially when I'm travelling) and Zayana refused to go back out if we were to go home first as she needed to pack for her flight the next day x.x

But I really really had to pee so I decided to just eat the other half of my chips. Thankfully Faris texted asking where I was and he agreed to teman me go makan

Faris: Lain kali asal tak cakap pukul 4 pagi jer you nak makan?

*rolls eyes* #sabojerlah

Was supposed to pack once I got back from Chicken Cottage, but lying down to "rest" for awhile became a full night sleep with the lights+TV on all night. Hehehe.

That morning not only I had to rush and pack, but I also had to get ready and check-out to meet Megat for brunch. Safe to say, I was late to meet Megat *peace*

Megat: You know, 30mins is still not the longest you've made me wait for you...

The record is 1 hour guys.. Sorryyyyyyyyyy!

#mustvebeenasaintdrunkardinthepastlifecauseidkwhatididtodeservefriendsliketheminthislife

Had Strut & Cluck's Turkish Style Poached Egg along with a side of hummus with crispy chickpeas and lots of catch up & banters to top brunch off.

Since Megat refused to come to town that morning, so Faris was back on Aisya duty again as I had plenty of time to kill before my train to Hastings.

Despite just having bought a pair of shoes the day before, we somehow still ended up in shoe stores that day but this time I found the perfect pair of heels for work! It was black, it's velvet, it's pointy and it was on sale too!! By the time Faris was done surveying the store I was already at the counter ready to pay lol *peace*

(In the excitement I forgot to take a picture of the shoe in store so this will do I suppose - excuse the mess, we just got back from Spain when I took this I believe)

I can't remember what else he needed to shop but I ended up in Burberry again cause Mummy suddenly texted saying she wants other stuff now (#sabojerlah.... #kulifelifecontinues #evenwhenyour6000milesaway)

More swatches for Mummy! *facepalm* Thankfully this time at least she bought a lipstick/ lip creme so it wasn't all for nothing..

Hastings
30 December - 31 December 2017

Once we were done, we made our way back to the hotel to collect my luggage and then I left for Paddington Station. Took the 7pm train to Hastings and arrived around 9ish just in time after Zoe finished work.

She came to the station to pick me up, with her scrubs all (so proud that this girl is now a doctor! *claps*) and then we made our way to her house in Hastings.

Considering that she had to work the next day we had a pretty early night but not without our usual shannenigans of course.
Sometime later that night we had a moment where we not-so-quickly made our way downstairs to uninstall her dancing pole to hide it in her room..

Zoe: They're having a house party tomorrow for NYE, I don't want random people to be using my pole!

#Zoeslogic #itsjustasweirdasAisyaslogic

The next day Zoe left for work early and I had breakfast while catching up on The Crown alone. Sometime mid-day I decided to take a nap and then continued with The Crown some more. Once I finished it, it was almost time to leave for Brighton - which means time to get out of bed and get ready.. *peace*

Once Zoe was done with her shift for the year, she picked me up and off we went to Brighton #roadtrip!

Brighton
31 December 2017 - 1 January 2018

We were greeted by the coastal winds upon reaching Brighton and that was hilarious trying to get my luggage to her door. At some point the bag tumbled door the mini staircase cause the wind toppled it over.. Once we got in, getting the bag to her apartment was another workout by itself x.x #damnnostairs #pivotpivot!

Since McDonald's do not open til late in UK (BOOOOOOOOOOO!) and it was too late to order in anything, we decided to make maggi goreng..

Zoe: Welcome to my cupboard of noodles (#Asianthings)! Do you want ibumie or indomee?

Me: I don't like Indomee so Ibumie

Zoe: What? But I like Indomee..

Me: Fine let's just mix both in the same bowl then we won't be able to tell the difference

Result: Wasn't exactly the best.. But hey, beggars can't be choosers!

While making maggi goreng I saw oranges..

Me: UUUUUUU oranges! Can I have one?

Zoe: They're not mine you know.. But take lah one, I suppose my housemate won't mind if one oranges go missing..

Either we were really hungry or the orange was really sedap, but we once we were done with that one orange,

Zoe: More oranges!

Me: This will be our 3rd already.. And there's only 1 left in the bowl if we take it...

Zoe: ... Aiyaa habiskan jer lah! We'll replace it when we come back. If you're gonna do something wrong, leave no evidence!

So yeah, that's what we did while waiting for midnight.. Friends (the TV show), food (spot the orange peels) and in pyjamas while sitting on the floor. #somethingsjustdoesntchange

At midnight we heard fireworks, and we thought it was the grand fireworks from the Marina.. But I suppose due to the wind there was no fireworks, and instead it was just random people playing their own fireworks..

Zoe: Isn't it dangerous for them to be playing with fireworks with those crazy wind outside?

Me: Not everyone is an oldie like us I guess.. Some people like living life on the edge rather than sit in their house and watch other live life on the edge

Zoe: We like to be alive!

Once we've washed up and sorted out tomorrow's cab we called it a night.

By 5.30am we were already awake as we needed to leave the house by 6.30am. For the first time my jetlag is actually useful lol

After we dropped off our luggage, we proceeded to getting breakfast. I got my favourite "sandwich"/ pastry from Pret just cause I haven't had any this entire trip (blasphemy!) and then joined Zoe at Wagamama's.