One more weekend is over. Yesterday was a hectic day in office and so the delay. I do not know whether I will have to wait until I go back to Chennai and then write about it as the work is becoming more and more hectic.
I am too lucky to have sunny weekends in this winter, and that too in London! For those of you not heard of London weather, the best thing to compare with it is a woman's mind, you never know when it will change!
It was a new definition for me for the term 'sightseeing trip'. The London sightseeing trip costs £15. It includes a Thames cruise, which will otherwise cost £7. There a five starting points in the city and they go through five different routes. The difference is, a bus will start every 15 minutes from each of the starting points! The ticket is valid for 24
hours from the time you board the bus. Therefore, you can get down at any point, take your time, walk around, come back to the stop, and catch another one, which will be there for every 15 minutes! All are Double Deckers with open top decks! You have a map in your hands and a color code in the bus that distinguishes which route it takes. So, it is your day!
I reached Victoria station by 9:45 and took a red route bus, which covers most of the areas I wanted. I had taken one extra film roll along with my fresh loaded SLR and a recorder walkman. The DD passed through the London streets which are broad enough to contain the traffic, but narrow for me taking a snap of a building in full ! The most used term in the commentary was 'The oldest existing..' or 'The first ever...' and for every building there was something special ! It was a hard time for me resisting myself from taking snaps.
It went through one corner of Hyde Park. It was one of the places I walked through, last weekend and saw some small small crowds centred by a person standing on a platform or a milk tray ! I peeped in, but couldn't follow what was going on. Now I know what is it. This corner used to be a place for executions in olden days. This used to invite a huge crowd. It was a good entertainment for people to see a man's head been chopped off. Before being executed, he was allowed to give a last speech. So the man will air his views before death. The only restriction was he should not talk ill of the Royal family nor should use bad language.
Ages passed, people still come here to air their views. Anybody is allowed to speak on anything, and this area of the big Hyde Park is known as 'Speaker's corner'.
I got down in front of Big Ben by 11. Took enough snaps of Big Ben, the houses of Parliament, Westminster's Abbey (a famous church, where people like Sir Winston Churchill got married), and then decided to walk towards Trafalgar Square. On the way, I saw a crowd gathering near a street. I saw a group of schoolboys and girls in Scottish attire getting ready for a procession or march past. I went in to it and took some snaps of the little bagpipers and three girls gave a smiling pose to my camera! I was feeling like real professional paparazzi! I walked with the parade for sometime and then took a turn when it came to Scotland Yard street (this is old Scotland Yard. The new headquarters we see in News is that of Metropolitan Police/New Scotland Yard).
Finished my lunch, and boarded another red route. It took me through Waterloo, London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Tower Bridge is what we say London Bridge! Actual London Bridge is a normal bridge, which was built very very long ago and another strong one replaced it when it fell down. So when you hear the song 'London Bridge is falling down....' remember, it was an old, normal, wooden bridge and it really fell down.
I got down at Buckingham palace next, and spent sometime around the park nearby. My first roll was already finished! I remember loading the second one while walking with the parade near Trafalgar Square.
It was three by then. I finished the bus trip at Victoria. Took a tube to Waterloo and my plan, get to the Waterloo Pier and take the Thames cruise. I will get the free cruise only if I use it within 24 hours from the start of my sightseeing trip. I had to hurry as it will be dark by five and I should finish blinking my camera before that! I had to walk till Westminster Pier as the Waterloo Pier was closed for maintenance.
A memorable cruise through Thames followed. I saw big Ben, Tower Bridge from Thames. I now repent for not studying the Wordsworth's poems!
The Saturday ended. One more day and I think I need one more weekender to write about it.
London seems to be a museum for future built very well in the past. We should appreciate the vision of the people who foresaw the needs of a city some 100 or 200 years ahead!
Monday, January 26, 2004
Monday, January 19, 2004
LONDON WEEKENDER 1
My first weekend is through in London and I have a lot to write too! The last time I heard Oxford, Piccadilly, Trafalgar Square, Park view, Mayfair etc. were in the MONOPOLY game, which we use to play in the school days. Now they are all in the map in front of me. And my tube pass can take me anywhere.
On Saturday, I underestimated the cold and went out with just a sweater or may be I overestimated my power to withstand the cold. Started by around 11. Took a weekend pass for £7, which will allow you to travel in tube in main four zones of London for Sat and Sun. I have a monthly pass for zone 2 and zone 3. But the main places in London are in zone 1.
I took district line tube and got down at Tower Hill station. Came out of the station to find myself in a dream land. I was surrounded by building of Victorian architecture, and I couldn't afford to take them all in my camera. I walked to the Tower of London. I think I will tell about it later. It is in the banks of Thames and the Tower Bridge is very close to the Tower of London. Tower Bridge is what we have heard and seen in photos as London Bridge. The actual London Bridge is 20 years ago and I never have bothered to see it. It was a sunny day. But still I couldn't manage with a sweater. So bought some small maps of Central London, and souvenirs, I decided to go back. The day ended by 2.
Sunday, I prepared well. Out with everything I had, a sweater, a jacket and wool gloves, and I was full ready to beat the weather. Thank God that it was sunny too. I made my plan. The time was again 11. Took the District lines tube to Mile End and then changed to Central Lines tube, got down at Oxford circus. It is a shopping area with full weekend crowd. Walked in a direction I felt good. Reached some park after 30 mins and it was Hyde Park. Then walked a bit more, had a meal in McDonalds. That look to be the cheapest place where you will get a Veg:Burger, Juice and large chips for £3.49.
Again started walking, through the same road to Oxford Circus and then walked to Piccadilly Circus. My camera was blinking at times and I realized I made a big mistake forgetting to take an extra roll. A roll costs £5.99 here! From Piccadilly Circus again, I walked through some streets, which looked busy with cinemas theatres, drama theatres, on both sides; and then, I reached a fantastic place. It was a round similar to something like what I have seen in photographs. I asked one of the people around, where I am, very politely. I knew it was something I should know. He replied, 'Trafalgar Square'!
It was an amazing moment. The time was around 4pm, but started looking like six. I climbed the steps of National Gallery to get a view of the Square from there. I could not believe my eyes! Big Ben was in sight some 200 meters from there. The only sad thing was, my camera had one more film to go. I decided to click it anyway - a view of Big Ben from National Gallery, with Trafalgar Square included! Now I was like a soldier with no bullets, in front of an army with no guns! I slowly walked towards Big Ben, crossed Thames in front of the Big Ben and turned back in the middle of the middle. I think I have never been lost in my life like this! I had a huge square prism in front of me, with house of Parliaments just besides it. The sky was so beautiful and all made it a beautiful sight to be captured in camera. Walked to the other side and enjoyed the same sitting on a wooden chair on the other side of Thames. I will not forget this evening in my life! Big Ben rang 4:30, 4:45 and 5 too! I was there just amazingly watching at something I have never seen before!
It is dark by five, just went down the steps in front of Big Ben to Westminster tube. Took District line to get down at East Ham and walked back home. Bought three calling cards to India - it is cheaper to call India with the cards than making a local call from a public booth! Funny World!
I will elaborate on each of the places later. The only other amazing fact I left out was, entering a malayalee shop in the middle of Oxford circus selling bags and luggage - A Siddique from Kasaragod to be precise!
On Saturday, I underestimated the cold and went out with just a sweater or may be I overestimated my power to withstand the cold. Started by around 11. Took a weekend pass for £7, which will allow you to travel in tube in main four zones of London for Sat and Sun. I have a monthly pass for zone 2 and zone 3. But the main places in London are in zone 1.
I took district line tube and got down at Tower Hill station. Came out of the station to find myself in a dream land. I was surrounded by building of Victorian architecture, and I couldn't afford to take them all in my camera. I walked to the Tower of London. I think I will tell about it later. It is in the banks of Thames and the Tower Bridge is very close to the Tower of London. Tower Bridge is what we have heard and seen in photos as London Bridge. The actual London Bridge is 20 years ago and I never have bothered to see it. It was a sunny day. But still I couldn't manage with a sweater. So bought some small maps of Central London, and souvenirs, I decided to go back. The day ended by 2.
Sunday, I prepared well. Out with everything I had, a sweater, a jacket and wool gloves, and I was full ready to beat the weather. Thank God that it was sunny too. I made my plan. The time was again 11. Took the District lines tube to Mile End and then changed to Central Lines tube, got down at Oxford circus. It is a shopping area with full weekend crowd. Walked in a direction I felt good. Reached some park after 30 mins and it was Hyde Park. Then walked a bit more, had a meal in McDonalds. That look to be the cheapest place where you will get a Veg:Burger, Juice and large chips for £3.49.
Again started walking, through the same road to Oxford Circus and then walked to Piccadilly Circus. My camera was blinking at times and I realized I made a big mistake forgetting to take an extra roll. A roll costs £5.99 here! From Piccadilly Circus again, I walked through some streets, which looked busy with cinemas theatres, drama theatres, on both sides; and then, I reached a fantastic place. It was a round similar to something like what I have seen in photographs. I asked one of the people around, where I am, very politely. I knew it was something I should know. He replied, 'Trafalgar Square'!
It was an amazing moment. The time was around 4pm, but started looking like six. I climbed the steps of National Gallery to get a view of the Square from there. I could not believe my eyes! Big Ben was in sight some 200 meters from there. The only sad thing was, my camera had one more film to go. I decided to click it anyway - a view of Big Ben from National Gallery, with Trafalgar Square included! Now I was like a soldier with no bullets, in front of an army with no guns! I slowly walked towards Big Ben, crossed Thames in front of the Big Ben and turned back in the middle of the middle. I think I have never been lost in my life like this! I had a huge square prism in front of me, with house of Parliaments just besides it. The sky was so beautiful and all made it a beautiful sight to be captured in camera. Walked to the other side and enjoyed the same sitting on a wooden chair on the other side of Thames. I will not forget this evening in my life! Big Ben rang 4:30, 4:45 and 5 too! I was there just amazingly watching at something I have never seen before!
It is dark by five, just went down the steps in front of Big Ben to Westminster tube. Took District line to get down at East Ham and walked back home. Bought three calling cards to India - it is cheaper to call India with the cards than making a local call from a public booth! Funny World!
I will elaborate on each of the places later. The only other amazing fact I left out was, entering a malayalee shop in the middle of Oxford circus selling bags and luggage - A Siddique from Kasaragod to be precise!
Monday, January 12, 2004
LONDON WEEKENDER Introduction
It is drizzling outside, the time is 7:30 am and yet it is dark. A very bad time waking up and getting ready for the office. Have an umbrella, brisk walk to the nearest bus stop and took 101 to East Ham tube station, take district line tube going westwards. They are crowded as our electric trains in Chennai (not as much as Mumbai).The tubes accommodate more than ours as the number of seats are less.
People are the same; I mean what they do, what they talk. They will be reading books or newspapers, or staring at the beautiful girl standing near the door, or gossip about their boss, or simply looking to the top to say I am a gentleman.
Got down at West Ham to shift to the Jubilee lines, up the escalator following directions to the platform for Jubilee lines going westwards. In the escalator, if you want to just stand and let the escalator do its job, stand on the right side giving way to the smarties who are in a hurry. My journey ends in Canary Wharf - you can call it local Wall Street ? Hopefully yes. With big brokers like Morgan Stanley having two huge buildings and a bridge connecting the two, to a small guy with an office next to the hair saloon....
This is a usual morning for me in London. I landed here on Sunday evening and the city accepted me immediately. If you don't know multiplication by 80 you will do great. Still the rent in the central town seems too costly. I stayed in a hotel in Victoria (200 meters from Buckingham Palace) with £40 per day! That too it is not attached! Food is cheap here compared to that, again you will faint of you multiply it by 80.
I will start with another set of weekenders, may be, if I get the luxury of time.
However, for now it is just an Introduction.
People are the same; I mean what they do, what they talk. They will be reading books or newspapers, or staring at the beautiful girl standing near the door, or gossip about their boss, or simply looking to the top to say I am a gentleman.
Got down at West Ham to shift to the Jubilee lines, up the escalator following directions to the platform for Jubilee lines going westwards. In the escalator, if you want to just stand and let the escalator do its job, stand on the right side giving way to the smarties who are in a hurry. My journey ends in Canary Wharf - you can call it local Wall Street ? Hopefully yes. With big brokers like Morgan Stanley having two huge buildings and a bridge connecting the two, to a small guy with an office next to the hair saloon....
This is a usual morning for me in London. I landed here on Sunday evening and the city accepted me immediately. If you don't know multiplication by 80 you will do great. Still the rent in the central town seems too costly. I stayed in a hotel in Victoria (200 meters from Buckingham Palace) with £40 per day! That too it is not attached! Food is cheap here compared to that, again you will faint of you multiply it by 80.
I will start with another set of weekenders, may be, if I get the luxury of time.
However, for now it is just an Introduction.
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