An Easy Mind Trick to Like Every New Destination (A Lesson Learned from London)

An Easy Mind Trick to Like Every New Destination (A Lesson Learned from London)

Somewhere while sauntering at the colorful vintage and antique Portobello Market and lazing on a comfortable couch in a basement teashop at Camden Stable Market, I came to a conclusion. To enjoy an unfamiliar place you are going to visit, you need to lower your expectation and stop looking at images of the destination.

Prior to the London trip, I’d been brooded for two months mainly because of my secret vow to never return to the same country, let alone the same city, before completing my Euromega–seeing every official country in Europe. I was in London six years ago during my first trip to Europe and didn’t like it at all (long story). The idea of returning to a city that bore no impression on me didn’t resonate with me. On top of that, people’s telling me how big and expensive the city was added to my woe. But I wanted to see an old friend who flew all the way from the US and picked something from her.

Concerned about the cost and the limited time I have there, I spent most of the time gathering information. Not once did I search for any pictures of London. In my mind, I knew London already, namely the London eye, Buckingham Palace, China town, the tubes and heavy-traffic streets.

I flew to London on Friday night, and the first thing I did on Saturday morning was walking to Portobello market. I knew about the market through a recommendation from a friend who used to live in London. Not having any plan for the trip, I opted to go there because it conveniently happened to be near where I stayed, a breeze 30-minute walk through Kensington Garden. As I reached Notting Hill gate, my excitement grew with each steps closer to Portobello Road, leading to the market. I instantly felt victim to the charm of this lovely market adorned by hundreds of colorful shops and stalls selling antique, silver-wares, jewelry, vinyl discs, chic, quirky memorabilia, vintage and second-hand clothing, vegetables, food from various cuisines to name a few.

In the evening, not sure what to do, I hopped on the Northern tube line to Camden town, recalling what a friend said to me in the morning, “You will love it!” “OK! If he said so.” I thought to myself but didn’t expect anything. When I walked out of the station and strolled down Chalk Farm Road, the same surprise and exhilaration from morning immediately returned. Funky shops lined up the street, shaken from loud music. I arrived at Camden Stable Market, which I didn’t know at the time even after being greeted by many giant horses. It was like walking in a blissful maze and I didn’t care if I would ever get out. Natural calling led me down to the basement where I inadvertently found another quarter of hidden horse-stable-turn-stalls and this little tea shop.

I realized the extra excitement and happiness wasn’t because Portobello and Camden Markets were over-the-top magnificent, beautiful and charming. Rather, my emotion was due to my very low expectation of London and my laziness to research for any photos, something I often did on my previous traveling. As the result, Portobello Market and Camden town, despite being tourist-trap attractions, were in every sense real discoveries for me.

Photos from Portobello Market

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Photos from Camden Markets

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