UK Study Tour (1-16 Nov, 2015)

 

Study tours provide wonderful opportunities for our students to experience the culture and traditions of different countries. Each November, our Year 8 students embark on a journey to England for two weeks, which also includes a day tour of beautiful Paris. A busy though exciting itinerary is planned every year, taking in remarkable British heritage sites in and around London. Jennifer Chan (8D) recounts her experience of visiting fashionable Covent Garden in London’s west end.

 

 

Experiencing Covent Garden

 

Covent Garden: the perfect place for entertainment.  Stroll along the fine streets around Covent Garden and find yourself relaxed after a long day's work. Various street performances and goods of every sort are available there, never failing to impress you. The somewhat mysterious cobblestone alleys and vintage architecture have rich histories hidden within them.

 

Shopping 

 

Covent Garden is a shopping paradise. Carved skillfully in detail, tchotchkes are the signature souvenirs to buy for your families. Prominent overseas brands such as Campers, Jack Wills and Paul Smith are just around the corner, and together with the grand shopping malls and traditional avenues, they compose a unique blend. Food at Covent Garden is irresistibly delicious with elegantly decorated cupcakes and macarons, each very exquisite and delicate. For students, Waterstones is a popular British bookstore, filled with bestsellers from all around the world. There are also second-hand books to encourage buyers and readers to be more environmentally friendly. Books of every genre can be found, from fiction to nonfiction, classic literature to encyclopedias. Tourists can choose their favourite books depending on their own likings. Overall, Covent Garden is a shopping paradise.

 

Street Performances

 

Entertainment is essential to everyone, and street performances are often just the ticket to relax for a short while during the somewhat hectic shopping sprees, especially during the build up to Christmas.

 

These activities are held in the main square of Covent Garden, which fill the place with theatrical sensations. Dim lights in the sheltered outdoor area that has unique rooftops successfully creates an atmosphere that no doubt is reminiscent of Shakespeare's days. The alluring smell of flowers enhances one's mood as a backdrop to the performances that involve balls or balloons. That may sound ordinary to you, but it's a clever way that performers engage with the audience that is different from those in Hong Kong!

 

Street performers give these fascinating performances as they interact with the audience, and are capable of bringing much laughter to the crowd. The effort put into practicing the performances can be clearly seen, or they would surely not be able to put on such fancy shows like they do.

 

One of the most interesting performances during our UK Study Tour was when a man asked one of my fellow pupils to volunteer to hold an air balloon as he started blowing it up. Gradually he shoved himself into it along the beats of the song. He then started dancing to it when he was halfway into the air balloon. When he finally put his entire body into the air balloon, he was nowhere to be seen. He jumped to the beats of the music, so the air balloon on the outside followed him, and they started jumping together! The climax of the performance went on spectacularly, and a round of applause and standing ovation echoed among the crowd. Everyone clapped and cheered to the hilarious scenarios of the show. Then, what he said afterwards made me stop and take a moment to reflect on his message. He asked us to sacrifice a few pounds, as five pounds would be fairly enough to make his day. Then, I realised that he has to do so much to survive, and that we are just so lucky to have the kinds of homes and families that we have. We have everything we desire, whereas many people like him have to work so hard just to live. He has woken me to the reality of the world. He inspired us that we actually have to offer help to others. Those who try hard to survive are worth helping, are worth it for the society to help them and to keep them, too, as a part of it. These people gave us food for thoughts and had taught us a lesson no other people did, no one else could have, and for me that's worth a few pounds!

 

These influential performances provided delightful entertainment for us, and as we make a little contribution, we can make a difference. We can make someone's day. We can make this a better world with a little more happiness. The unique features of Covent Garden continue to attract visitors, and have made this place a fun and unique site.

 

So...you're heading to London and not entirely sure where to visit, but you know you would like to be entertained, have some shopping time and try some tasty English 'grub'- So...head to Covent Garden: an interesting and fine place to visit, and a desirable site for visitors. Locals hang around there to shop and have entertainment, as do all other people. Various kinds of shops selling goods and tchotchkes are everywhere, and flowers and antiques are also another main attraction for visitors. So if you're free, come and have a walk! 

 

Caution:

- Floor is pretty wet and slippery when it rains, so beware!

- Refined goods can be enticing and captivating, but consider the amount of money you spend.

- Try the scrumptious food there as you might not be able to find something similar easily in other places.

- Roads look nearly all the same, so it is easy to get lost...keep a map!

- Last but not least, enjoy!