tea @ the ritz and bag from ted baker

19th june, thursday

we had touched down in london early in the morning, and had made our arduous journey from heathrow green park in the city centre for tea at the ritz - THE quintisential english tea experience. haha.

it's really a very classy affair, and guys have to b in a suit and tie just to b admitted into the hotel. i was dressed in my only suit, with tie, leather shoes n all, and my mom was in a dress! it is the only reason y we had bothered with a set of formal wear for the trip at all! the decor was really very opulent and elegant. and the service rather impeccable and extremely attentive. the waiters n doorboys were all also dressed very well, with waist coats and all.

when we arrived at the palm court, the head waiter had asked for our reservation, and immediately recalled from memory our name and table, and asked us whether we r ready to enter. it felt rather momentous really.

our food soon came in a three tiered tray that had 6 different sandwiches (ham, salmon, egg, n the likes), 2 types of scones (apple n raisin) with clotted devonshire cream (which is as light as nothing) and strawberry preserve, and 5 different cakes and pastries (maceroons, chocolate cake, a white piece of fluffy thing with hints of rose and strawberry, n things i really don't know how to describe and name, which were all very delicious). i had ordered lapsang sochong for myself and ceylon orange pekoe for my mom, and i think we were both disappointed over our choice of tea. so... the next time i go for tea, i'm just gonna trust my instincts, refer to my past likes n dislikes and reflect on my mood when i order.

but overall, the experience had been really wonderful and lovely, and we were bother very happy. it had cost us GBP37 per person, i would suppose i had better b that good and up to expectations! sadly they've got a time limit for us, and we could only stay from1130 to 1315, b4 they start preparing for the next session of tea. they r really very packed. i had booked our tea a month ago, and the only slot available for the day was the 1130 one...

o yes, the toilets r ridiculously luxurious too. they've got bottled high class mineral water, and ice cubes, among other knick knacks in the toilet! wadever for! and there's a toilet attendant too! o well. i'll have to b THAT rich one day to understand such silly extravagance i suppose.

anyway, shopping in london is wonderful and my mom and i absolutely love shopping in london. the ted baker there is really wonderful, and it's a real pity that they haven't got my size, or i would have bought the shirts already. but i did get a bag eventually. n i really love it to bits! :D

i did get a bit rather tired n sickly as the day wore on, and was feeling rather terrible by the end of the day and had just wanted to rest and go home. and the tube had to keep breaking down, and causing massive squeezing on the carriages, as we were on our way back to the airport.

we had washed up and freshened up at the airport (yes, i'm impressed by their free shower facilities) before boarding, and i must admit that BA flights are generally quite enjoyable and pleasant, and i haven't fallen that sick since getting back :)