Javon's visit to England and Amsterdam

9^th - 22^nd September 2018

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09 September. Milton Keynes, England. An early arrival at Heathrow. Once in Milton Keynes, we had a walk to Willen Lake. Roast beef dinner tonight. It turns out that beef gives him a rash!

10 September. Milton Keynes. I showed him the court house then just the shopping centre and IKEA today. Javon will be moving into his new apartment soon and IKEA is opening near him soon, so a few ideas for him to pick up.

11 September. Amsterdam, Netherlands. After a very early start we flew from Luton to Amsterdam. After checking in to the hotel, we set off to explore. We went to the Moco Museum where we saw a Banksy exhibition, along with an Icy and Sot show. There was also a 3D Roy Lichtenstein room. Then a tram into central Amsterdam. We strolled around sightseeing. We saw Dam Square, Centraal Station and the Royal Palace. There is a giant clog in Dam Square, which we sat in. In the evening we ate Dutch and visited the Hard Rock Cafe, I've been before, but it was a new one for Javon. His 8th HRC.

12 September. Amsterdam. The morning and early afternoon was spent in the Van Gogh Museum which was interesting and Javon loved. Then we looked at the outside of the Rijksmuseum before heading into town. Then we did the tourist thing and rode a boat on the canals. Javon wanted to go to the Sex Museum, so we went. 'Nuff said! Sticking with sex, in the evening after a Spanish dinner, we went to the Red Light District and finished the day with a gluhwein.

13 September. Amsterdam. Our last day in Amsterdam. Our first visit was to the Het Begijnhof. This is an enclosed area where Catholics were allowed to live when the Netherlands became Protestant. It was a quiet, pretty little place still in use. There was a small chapel (Begijnhofkapel) in there. A visit to the flower market next, where amazingly we saw real tulips. Then we just wandered about a bit before heading for the airport.

14 September. Milton Keynes. One thing most Asians seem to be fascinated by is snow and Javon is no exception. Today he had his first (and probably only) ski lesson. He found it knackering! Then it was a quick visit to the concrete cows and Peace Pagoda.

15 September. London, England. Day one of three days in London. First off, a trip on the London Eye, then the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral. Madame Tussaud's next, where he had his photo taken with just about every wax figure! In the evening we went to see Mamma Mia. Covent Garden afterwards.

16 September. London. A visit to M&M's world was first up today. Then off to Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and a matinee of The Lion King. Then we wandered along the South Bank of the Thames to Vauxhall to see Lorraine who was over from Canada with Leslie. The four of us went for fish and chips.

17 September. London. Our last day. We walked from St. Paul's Cathedral, over the Millennium Bridge to the Tate Modern. After that we strolled along the South Bank to Tower Bridge and past the Tower of London. Off to Paddington Station next for a quick visit to see the Paddington Bear statue. Finally a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe for a drink before grabbing a train home.

18 September. Milton Keynes. Hoey had asked Javon to bring over some Boh tea and biscuits. Today he delivered them. We all ate lunch at the Barge along with Diane, Hoey's school friend who was over from Australia. It gave him a chance to speak Hokkien.

19 September. Leavesden, England. A visit to Warner Brothers Studio Tour today. This is where the Harry Potter films were made. I wasn't expecting much but really enjoyed it. Javon had a ball, picking up design ideas.