Good to Be Home

The last few days in Southampton were tiresome. I was constantly struggle with sleepiness in the afternoon, and thinking about coming home to have some real green vegetables, especially when I was having breakfast, if I am lucky to find one. This is perhaps the best breakfast I can find. Sausages, eggs, bacon, tomatoes, and toasts. It costs £8, which is about $16! For this?! Coffee is not even included! However, one thing I like a lot at a few restaurants is that they use sea salt in a grinder, like the one I use at home. However, the quality of their dishes is not as consistent as I hope. I went back to Oxfords, next to my hotel, for the third time to try out other dishes because I loved their sea bass and duck breasts. But, the halibut was a joke. It was dry, plain, and not interesting. The restaurant manager took it back after I told him my opinion. I heard that Southampton‘s weather is depressing—almost never see blue sky or sunshine, only clouds. I noticed that I only saw the sun peeked through the clouds twice, very briefly, during my entire stay. However, people seem genuinely happy despite the sad sky, at least observing from people in a local gay pub called "London Hotel" next to my hotel. They would all jump on the stage and sing along and dance silly—no matter how cheesy the songs are. They seem have a better time than anybody else in the world. I love the spirit. I don’t know if British people don’t get up early or something. Hardly anything opens in the morning, especially if it’s on weekend or a holiday. On Saturday, even the big grocery store doesn’t open till 8am. When I was leaving on Saturday heading to the airport, I was never able to find anybody to check me out at my hotel—which is supposed to have a four star rating. Nobody was in the office, and I couldn’t find a living soul, as if I was in a horror film. I left the door and headed to the airport as fast as I could. Flying back is fairly smooth. Since I had couple hours at Heathrow Airport, I had something to eat and drink. It was a wise move, because even in the business class, the food was awful. I only had the starter, and pretty much left the main course untouched. I watched "Kung Fu Panda" about 3 minutes during the flight, then I switched the channel. I think filmmakers should refuse to let their films be shown in an airplane. It totally does injustice to a film. Besides small screens, modified contents, changed aspect ratios, loud plane noise, films are constantly interrupted by the announcements and flight attendants’ questions like "chicken or beef?" I am so glad to be home! Not only I can watch movies in theaters and on my big screen, I can also hike in Marin Headlands. I am heading over there right now, in such a sunny beautiful cool day!