16 July 2001 - Abbey and Portobello Roads

The next two days were packed with meetings. I know because I set most of them from Hong Kong.

While traveling to and from the hotel, we passed Buckingham Palace. I was with my boss’ boss, James, who volunteered to play tour guide. He told me that the Queen was in the Palace – which is indicated by the flag on the mast at the top of the main dome.

On the way, we also passed Albert Hall, where in summer they held the Proms – a nightly series of concerts. How nice. Is U2 going to be there? No.

From the office, we headed to visit the studio where they produced a daily live show. En route, James asked the cab driver to swing by Abbey Road. And so I saw the site of the famous studio and the zebra crossing the Beatles used in their album cover. Funny thing was, he said worked in this area before, and he recounted how there were so many tourists who would ask him which crossing was the famous one. As a prank, he would sometimes point to the wrong one – which looked totally the same, until the poor guys went home and compared their photo to the album cover.

James asked me if I wanted my picture taken, I declined because we were with some other colleagues. He later said he was rather “disappointed” with me for not getting off for that picture. Yeah, well, I’d live.

We also passed the famous Notting Hill, saw Portobello Road – but no market.

After a thousand phone calls I finally hear the good news that BA found my bags, and these were sitting happily in my hotel room.

At least I didn’t have to shop for clothes. Oh, boo hoo.


Had dinner with an Asian colleague, Eddy, who had just moved to London. We had a table booked at the Mezzo in Soho, about 5-10 minutes’ walk from the hotel. Angela said she knew where it is, but when we were walking, we got so lost that we asked about three different people for directions. I was laughing and laughing. At least I was a first-timer. She grew up in this country.

After dinner, Ange and I went back to the hotel to do some work. When I went to the front desk to ask where the business center was, the attendant gave me the weirdest look. As if the word “business” does not belong in this hotel at all.

“Ok well, is there a place where we can use a computer?”

She directed me to a 24-hour internet café down the road. Great hotel this is.