Hey, what’s up? I hope you’re all doing well. If you’re reading this, I’m glad to have you here. Not too long ago, I recovered from a nasty bout of food poisoning—it was rough! It made me realize just how much we take good health for granted.

I was initially planning to write about my trip to Europe, but that post turned out to be much longer than expected. So, for now, I decided to share something shorter: my recent trip to London and Cambridge with friends. Let’s dive in!

So, I went on this trip with the two Akak Bawang—Hasha and Farah. As usual, Hasha took on the role of our unofficial tour guide, while Farah and I just followed her lead. Honestly, I’d highly recommend Hasha as a tour guide—she’s flexible with any last-minute changes, plans great itineraries, and finds amazing spots to visit. Plus, it’s FOC (free of charge)!

Hasha and Farah went to London a day earlier to indulge in some shopping, while I joined the adventure the next day. Let me tell you, that decision was a smart one. If I had arrived earlier, I would’ve been their unpaid shopping bag carrier—and trust me, when girls shop, they don’t hold back!

We started our food hunt at Borough Market and Camden Market—and wow, we ate a lot that day! At Borough Market, I tried apple crumble for the first time, and it was absolutely delicious. I also picked up some salmon and oysters, which unfortunately gave both Farah and me food poisoning the next day. Lesson learned!

Next, we headed to Camden Market, where the variety of food was incredible. From Southeast Asian dishes to Western classics, there was something for everyone. Afterward, we made a stop at Chinatown to try desserts at a famous matcha patisserie.

Of course, no trip to any city in England would be complete without bubble tea—it’s basically a must-have at this point!

Next, we visited the Natural History Museum. Hasha, being the amazing planner she is, had secretly booked tickets for us in advance. It was such a lifesaver and saved us a ton of time!

I hadn’t been to a museum in ages, and this one didn’t disappoint. I highly recommend checking it out, especially to snap a photo of the iconic whale skeleton (like the one above!). Plus, there’s so much to learn—it’s both educational and fun. Not gonna lie, though, I think a lot of people come here mainly for the aesthetic spots. The museum is full of Instagram-worthy corners, so I totally get it!

We wrapped up the day by visiting a Christmas market and then heading to a ramen shop for dinner. A perfect end to a fun-filled day!

These are just some of the foods we tried on my first day in London. There were so many more dishes I wanted to sample, so I’ll definitely need to revisit those two markets in the future!

After our food-filled day, we headed back to our accommodation. I stayed at a hostel, while Hasha and Farah opted for the comfort of their hotel.

The next morning, we bought return tickets to Cambridge! It was such a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of London. The city’s architecture was absolutely stunning.

As you probably know, Cambridge is famous for its prestigious university and beautiful colleges. If you plan to visit, I’d recommend checking the entrance fees and opening days for each college in advance. Pembroke College is one of the few with free entry, but Trinity College and King’s College are definitely worth the slightly higher fees—they’re breathtaking and full of history.

When in Cambridge, punting is an absolute must! Our punting guide, Adam, steered us along the river while sharing bits of history about the colleges. He also told us some fun stories, like how the engineering students at the university have a tradition of placing cars in random parts of buildings across the city—it’s as wild as it sounds!

According to Adam, punting in winter is the best because the fallen leaves make it easier to fully appreciate the architectural beauty of the colleges. We decided to splurge on a private punting service, which cost a hefty £300. But trust me, it was worth every penny (plus, we managed to snag an NHS discount—perks of the job!).

Oh, and I can’t leave this out—after we finished punting, Hasha and Farah couldn’t stop fangirling over Adam! Sorry, ladies, but this little detail had to make it into the blog. HAHA!

This is the Mathematical Bridge. There’s a popular legend that claims it was originally built without nails or bolts—an incredible feat of engineering. But, as our punting guide explained, it’s all just a myth! HAHA. So, don’t take my word for it; blame the punting driver for busting the story!

This is the Corpus Clock, which, for reasons I’m too lazy to Google, is apparently quite famous!

Our last stop in Cambridge was the Fitzwilliam Museum. I do enjoy visiting art museums, but after my histopathology training application got rejected, I’ve developed a slight (kidding, of course) grudge against art. HAHA.

We had originally planned to visit the botanical garden, but that’s the downside of traveling in winter—the days are too short, and outdoor activities are more limited. After the museum, we headed back to London, grabbed dinner, and then made our way home.

I also picked up a new camera bag during the trip. It was super cheap and had a cool vintage vibe (or at least I think it does).

But the real drama began on my way back home—that’s when the food poisoning hit me. I was sweating buckets, had a pounding headache, felt nauseous, and my stomach was on the verge of revolting. When I had to change trains at Tamworth, it all went downhill. The moment I stood up, I bolted to a secluded area and threw up everything I’d eaten over the past two days. HAHAHA. It was so nasty!

I’m blaming the oysters for this ordeal and have sworn off eating them ever again. The aftermath? I was down for a few days and even had to skip my night shifts. Lesson learned: sometimes, adventurous eating comes at a price!

To wrap things up, I’d definitely revisit both cities in the future. I can totally see myself applying for a job at a hospital in Cambridge—it’s such a calm and beautiful city, and it’s so close to London, too. As for London, I’m considering ranking it a bit lower on my list. It’s an incredible city, but the constant hustle and bustle might be more than I can handle.

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed the journey with me. Until next time, bye!