It feels almost natural for us to be interested in Oxford and Cambridge in England, places where Nobel Prize winners do their work, where artists create and where world leaders get their education. Our interest was intensified when we heard stories about the entrance fee for some colleges while students and visitors are not allowed to walk on the grass inside the colleges (halls of residence and the place where students receive small group teaching sessions).

After a long flight from Jakarta to London, we were set to visit the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge in one day by renting a car.

Come Saturday, 15 September, the sunny and cool London weather distracted our plan for the university tour. We instead headed towards Windsor Castle, almost 40 km south west of London through the M 4 motorway.

Windsor Castle

 It was mystifying to see a huge structure built by William the Conqueror that has been in existence for almost 1000 years. The green lawn surrounding the castle is a nice contrast to the earth color of the medieval structure shown in this picturesque Windsor Castle video 

As the official residence of the Queen for a few weeks a year, this 1000 rooms palace in a 13 acres land is open to the public.  A rare opportunity for foodies was an offer for combined tickets to the Castle and a Guided Tour to the Great Kitchen to see behind the scenes to the oldest working kitchen in England, in constant use for nearly 750 years. The Guided Tour to the Great Kitchen was offered from 28 June to 30 September 2012.

Across from Windsor Castle on Thames Street, shops sell souvenirs while restaurants serve thousands of visitors. We would like to visit a Thai Restaurant but ended at Nando's  with flamed-grilled chicken in Afro-Portuguese PERi-PERi sauce.

University of Oxford

After driving for almost 60 kilometers from Windsor Castle in Berkshire, at 4.00 PM we arrived at Oxford. The University of Oxford  already teaching in the 11^th century has educated 25 British prime ministers and over 30 foreign presidents and prime ministers.  Famous Oxonians (those who study or have studied at Oxford) include Adam Smith, philosopher, economist; Bill Clinton, the 42nd US President; Aung Saan Suu Kyi, activist, political leader; John Donne, poet; Albert Einstein, scientist; Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean); and Indira Gandhi, the third prime minister of India. 

Oxford now has over 21,000 students, including 11,752 undergraduates and 9,621 postgraduates from over 140 countries and territories. During our trip around the colleges, the magnificent buildings looked empty and yellowish at twilight. We were able to identify famous colleges such as Christ Church, Magdalen, Trinity and a few more.

Bangkok House at 42A Hythe Bridge Street was our destination for authentic Thai Cuisine dinner. We were pleased with our choices of Tom Yum Prawn Soup, Green Papaya Salad, Jasmine Rice and Prawns with Garlic and Pepper. The milky ice tea was refreshing.

We signed the check at 7.43 PM and headed back to our base at Chelsea in London as clearly there was no point in going to Cambridge on the same day as planned.

Bicester Village

On Sunday, 16 September, soft sunray wrapped the city of London. Nice weather again diverted our university tour. Instead of Cambridge, we drove through M40 motorway and an hour and a half later arrived at Bicester Village in Oxfordshire. 

As an outlet shopping center selling designer clothes and accessories it is a popular spot for travelers from all over the world. Bicester Village housed 130 boutiques offering previous year’s collections discounted up to 60% all year round. We arrived at lunch time feeling a little bit hungry, but window shopping seemed to be more appealing than eating.  Bicester Village was so crowded that security limited visitors’ entrance for popular shops like Prada and Tory Burch.

University of Cambridge

Since we still would like to see Cambridge, we decided to pass Bicester Village’s choices of Busaba Eathai, Carluccio's Caffè, Jamie Oliver's Fabulous Feasts, and Villandry Grand Café.

That was really a big mistake as it took us almost 2 hours to reach Cambridge. Remembering the taste of the Thai Cuisine in Oxford, we again looked for one, relying on our small GPS. Unfortunately it was almost 3.00 PM, way passed lunchtime and all of the authentic Thai restaurants were closed.

Starving, we went to Wagamama, a restaurant chain inspired by traditional Japanese ramen bars and Asian flavors. We almost gobbled up the Amai Udon and Yasha Cha Han. Wagamama’s Flowering Tea was magic. Two thumbs size of dry tea leafs, bloomed into a beautiful flower after a few minutes in a hot water cup.

Teaching has taken place at the University of Cambridge www.cam.ac.uk since 1209 and today there are around 18,000 students at the University, 12000 of whom undergraduates. Over 3,500 international students came from over 120 different countries.

Cambridge hailed famous alumni such as Stephen Hawking; scientist; Sam Mendes, Director; Henri Cartier-Bresson, photographer, filmmaker; C.S. Lewis, writer the Chronicles of Narnia; and William Fox Talbot, the inventor of the negative positive photographic process. More than 15 British Prime Ministers and over 25 foreign Heads of Government graduated from Cambridge University.

Cambridge on a Sunday afternoon was full of tourists, students and faculty walking around the colleges. Like in Oxford we also drove around the colleges, amazed by the grandeur, and for a second wondered whether we could divert the attention of the Porters (security guards in front of the colleges) so that we could get into the colleges without paying.

Anna Tims’s article for The Guardian,  A working life: the university porter,  made us appreciate the porters more and understand that their job is not to scare tourists off.

We drove back to London satisfied to have spent a weekend breathing the air of legendary educational institutions. Given a chance we would like to visit Oxford and Cambridge again, albeit a little bit intimidated by the keep of the grass sign.

--------------------

Photos: Sarah Usman, Maira Niode, Bicester Village and Digibron.

Note:

Digibron is currently travelling from London to Melbourne via Europe, Russia and Asia.  Read her blog here.