After a big night out, we eventually all woke up about 11ish and being Tom's birthday, we thought it a good idea to go out for a drink or more. By the time we got ready, we caught the bus to Hammersmith and met Tom's other mates at the Starbucks there. Ever since I got here the weather's been raining and overcast and cold, so we had to walk from the station in the drizzling weather. On the way to the bank to draw money, we got stopped and asked if we wanted to get paid to do some beer research (like any of us would have said no). We had to answer a whole lot of questions based on the beer we were given and then got paid for it. So, for drinking four beers, they gave us 5 pounds ... awesome!

From there, we went to a small pub / resturant on the Thames river and I had a couple of beers (including an ale which was alright) and for lunch, fish and chips - in true London style. That was great.

Leaving the others there, Haig and I decided to head into zone 1, the middle of London. We caught the tube to Westminster station and that was... um, I think "wow" best describes it. Coming out of the tube, you first get a sight of Big Ben and the houses of Parliament. To the left is the Thames river and the massive Eye of London. We spent a while walking around there, then went past Westminster Abby (which isnt open on Sundays), past Trafalgar square and then took a walk to Buckingham Palace. I didnt have my camera with me 'cos we hadnt planned on any sightseeing today but I'll go back again for photos. After Buckingham Palace we took a walk past Downing Street and then back to Westminster station. Wow. Just amazing the history and everything about this place... incredible.

From there we caught the underground to Putney, which is south of London (very common area in fact for South Africans). We went to The Boat House which is a nice pub right on the Thames and had a beer there. Haig worked there during the Oxford / Cambridge race so he knew some of the bar people. That was cool.

After boat race thought it probably a good idea to phone home and let everyone know I'm all ok, especially after Saturday night - hi mom :) Haigs staying out near Putney so he said he'll head home and gave me an idea of the best way home. From Putney I caught a train (overland as opposed to the tube being underground) to London Waterloo. The Waterloo station is massive, between the Eurostar station (London to Paris), the underground and the train station - was quite an eye opener. From there I caught the underground to Westminster again (wanted to see the London Eye and Big Ben at night) which was cool and from there caught a couple of tubes back home to get some sleep.