Brighton ... a few hours

These two viewed from the window
of the bus passing by
the Brighton Sealife Centre & Brighton Pier.

Brighton Clock Tower.

2015 Brighton Fringe... Fringe City is a small part of thousands of events in May.
Cabaret, Drama, dances, music, comedy, gigs, street performances, visual arts, etc.

This town has over 300 000 people of all nationality.
2 universities and many colleges & schools.
Many international students, visitors, tourists, immigrants & workers from EU & other parts of the world.



Over 40% of population has a bachelor degree or above.
(academic qualification/education standard)
 

Many restaurants and shops cater for
vegetarian +/ vegan +/ raw vegan +/
organic vegetarian/ organic raw vegan diets...

The best free sugar I have ever had is from this
Infinity Foods Kitchen. Fair Trade Organic Raw Cane Sugar!!
 

Infinity Foods Kitchen, Loving Hut, Wai Kika Moo Kau, etc.

Also there are more shops selling 
healthy, ethical, environmental-friendly,
vegetarian/vegan +/ organic products.
So glad.
More educated / informed people / awaken people / truth-seekers here.


Many magazines on vegetarian / vegan diet/recipes, etc.

Itsu has many salads, soups, Japanese food.
Takeaway bento boxes.





 Many interesting shops in the Kensington Garden, North Lane, Church street, etc.

A touch of humour and fun --
 the pub is named "The Office"

Nowadays difficult to find good art material shop.
 (many closed due to internet & cheap stuff importers)
 There is one in Brighton --Bond Street!

Ironbridge, short visit

My long time friends, a couple, took me to Ironbridge.
A World Heritage site which can be reached by car/coach.

Map-- Enlarge to see more details. **

This place has an interesting name.

A bird in hand. 

Older than the iron bridge.

Nice lunch menu. 

Nice interior decoration, including 

an iron work of the structire of the bridge

Accommodation available.

This view is outside

 an indoor market of Merrythought.

We spent some time browsing inside the market.

  The milk-bottle-like structures are 

   chimneys of a power station.

Around the Ironbridge world heritage area,
 there are many museums related to
 iron, tiles, china, Victorian old days, etc.
 
(Back then, stuff made in Britain were really of good quality and last long. That is before globalisation and over-emphasis of profit and fast return eyeing short term benefits of cost-cutting and blind belief in free trade  via which influx of cheap imported goods slowly killing off local good quality goods, businesses, craftmen, trade even industries. )

My old friends cannot walk much.
So we just did window-shopping in the interesting shops & market around the area,  had lunch & left.

It is a good place to spend a weekend.

Especially when it is sunny, warm and mild wind.

Good for family day out. Very educational, too.

Canterbury 2 hours

 First time visit to Canterbury.

Renovation works going on , and
someone booked the main part for a wedding...
 I didn't go in the cathedral this time.
GBP 10.5 entrance fee....  maybe next time...

Nice little boat trip....

Tonbridge a few hours

Day off. Off to Tonbridge.
Eat something in a cafe in High Street not far from rail station.
Flinch cafe. I had soup and a small salad (choose 2 )
No gluten-free option.

Not really want to spend the time in shopping malls. Castle also nearby.

Nice moat or river.

A small Lidl supermarket
within a few minutes walk
on the right of rail station exit.

 




A small church St Stephen.

Originally, thought of drop by my sister who lives in Kent.
But then they had already started making dinner.

This time maybe I shall try not to reach home too late.

Changed train at St.Leonard Sq.
But in evening, Un-manned. No waiting room.

It is open-air. Cold. 

I went to buy a bit fish-n-chip and mushy pea.
Pity that  it is microwave mushy pea.
Then, went back for connection train.
It took just about two hours back.

Faster then visiting sister
as that took over three hours via Ashford International.

see railway route map: