I have missed this Taxi driver’s story in between.
It was a Sunday( 3rd July), and we were moving from St.Leonards to Parramatta. He was not sure of the location of where we wanted to go, but had a street map. I just helped him out in spotting the place we wanted to go, to the precise point where the apartments are.
Then he started with asking me whether I am a software professional, and whom I am working for and all. I took this opportunity to go in to his life and get his story.
I will call him Ching, a Chinese migrated to Australia some 10 years ago. He had come to Australia some 10 years ago. He struggled a bit to find a job, and then started with driving taxi. Once slowly settled down his parents in China started looking for a girl for him. He says, then, he could see the girls have changed over 3-4 years when he went back to his home country. They were only looking for money. He was telling some examples of his friends who married from China and the girl ran away with a rich man in Sydney, after an year or so !
So, Ching dropped that plan and found a girl, basically Vietnamese, settled in Sydney itself. She also came to work and almost 3 years she has been in Sydney when Ching met her. He feels that this gave him the advantage that she will be comfortable with the environment, and don’t have to worry much about her language problems or cultural shocks. He is now married to her and has got two kids.
The taxi drivers works in shifts. One person is only allowed to work for 8-9 hours only. They take one day off a week. Most of the drivers, Ching says, start by 6am or 7am and work till 3pm. Ching normally starts an hour late, and stays for an hour or two more so that he can exploit the demand for taxi around 3 pm when all taxis vanishes. The second set of people takes over to work till midnight, after that.
Ching is a Buddhist, but he was telling me he will eat fish and meat. Once a week they will fast, that is fully vegetarian. I was about to ask him why, as the followers of Buddha – the father of Ahimsa, they are eating meat, but then I realise in spite of all this wisdom and charm, this question may be too much for a poor taxi driver ! I have the danger of us been forced to get down somewhere on the roadside with all my luggage J !
I am not sure whether I am becoming a story teller from a traveller, but I think these stories are also part of the journey J.
By the by, these guys here never worry about helping you out with loading your luggage, and never worry about the tip too! If you give them a tip, they are more than happy, that is all. I am just telling this, as it is the other way in US.
Tailpiece:- About Driver's license in the Aussie Government Site J,
Whether you rent or buy, you'll need a valid driver's license. If you have a driver's license from your home country, with your photograph on it, you probably won't need anything else. In some cases you may need to carry a translation of your license if it isn't in English. You probably do not need a so-called international drivers' license - they went out of fashion years ago.
Information :- Taxi charges-
Booking- $ 1.15,
Flag off - $ 2.75( what we call minimum),
per km - $ 1.56
Friday, August 26, 2005
Friday, August 19, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER 6
The days are mostly pleasant here. It was rainy for one or two days in June, but it is no more like that. The temperature is also pretty consistent.
The shops normally closes around 5-5:30, except one or two like Woolworths. On Thursdays, they are open till late, mostly till 9. So, if you can plan your purchases on Thursday, weekends will be all yours!
For this weekend, we left the Saturday for sleeping, and planned for Sunday. Again, it will be 12 by the time it is morning for me J. This week, the rail maintenance was for our area, and Parramatta station was closed. We got a notice in all our post boxes notifying this! This replacement buses till Granville, the next rail junction from where we can carry on with train journey. The day’s plan was to get down at Town Hall and go to the top of Sydney Tower.
We had a downtown’s map to guide us. A 10 mins walk from Town Hall station, we came across some old huge malls on the way. A shopping complex built in early 60s or before -something like a shopping complex looking like our old government office buildings !
Then, was this shopping area with two huge malls on both sides, and from the middle of one of them goes the Tower, going up and up for some 1000 Feet – it is about 4 times our Kutub Minar, New Delhi ; 4 times the height of The monument, London ; only 81 metres less than the Empire State building Structure ! I can swear it is the highest view I have ever got from a man made structure! (I am not sure of the Fire Exit :D ). There are 4 round floors on the top, and an open terrace!
The first two floors are restaurants. You have to take $40 entry ticket (per person) and get in to another set of lifts to reach one of those revolving restaurants. Imagine sitting and eating at some 1000 feet high, and while you eat, the building is rotating slowly, to finish one rotation in an hour ! You will see the whole of Sydney!
This is told to be the highest building in Southern hemisphere. Aussies are lucky that US went in to the northern hemisphere J !
We had our lunch to finish. We settled for a north indian shop in the food court downstairs (Central Plaza), which got settled for around $15 - for rice, a curry, some pakodas and pappadams ! Then we just had a walk around, went to the entry ticket counter by 2:30. The entry to the top floor for view costs $22 per person and this comes along with a hologram show known as ‘Oz-Trek’ when you come down.
A small queue for the checking before entering the lift, for sharp objects or weapons, and here we go. The lift was fast enough to take us to the top in less than one minute, non-stop.
This floor is only for viewing. The middle portion has lifts, souvenir shop, and steps to go to the coffee & bar below. There is this terrace on top, which is open! They charge you $110 to go there, rather take you there, with safety equipments and it is referred as ‘Sky walk’.
Views from all sides were looking good. One part had the view of the sea with the Bondi beach, we had the harbour, and the main parts on the other side! We spend around an hour on the top, didn’t buy the souvenirs as a small 15cm model of the Tower cost $23!
We came down to enjoy a Virtual Reality show, which took us to an air ride above the harbour bridge, and then a lot of places in Australia ! It was a first time experience for me, have heard of such things from Brajesh and others – the shows in Universal Studios. May be it is a similar one?
We had spotted some beautiful meadows and fountains( Hyde Park) from the top, just walked in that direction and spent a peaceful evening there. Walked over to the Harbour, back to the Town Hall station, we had done with the day and back home by 8. One more weekend is over.
Tailpiece :-
Information :-
About the Sydney Tower: (taken from) http://www.sydneyskytour.com.au/tower.html
Construction of Sydney Tower Centrepoint began in late 1970 with the first 52 shops opening in 1972. The office component was completed in 1974 and the final stage of the complex, the Sydney Tower, was opened to the public in August 1981.
Ranked as one of the safest buildings in the world the design has made the tower capable of withstanding earthquakes and extreme wind conditions. 56 cables stabilise the tower, and if the strands of these cables were laid end to end, they would reach from Sydney to Alice Springs, or from Sydney to New Zealand.
The turret has a capacity of 960 persons, and contains two levels of restaurants, a coffee lounge, an Observation Deck, two telecommunication transmission levels and three plant levels.
Three high speed double Deck Lifts take approximately 40 seconds to travel from top to bottom.
The 1504 stairs, constantly monitored by security, provide emergency exit from the tower. Divided into two fire-isolated sets of pressurised stairs, they allow patrons direct access to street level.
The 420 windows of the tower are cleaned by a semi-automatic window-cleaning machine, which recycles and filters 50 litres of water. This machine takes two days to clean all 420 windows.
A 162,000 litre water tank, the tower's primary damping system, one million dollars worth of fire protection equipment and countless sprinklers add to the safety standards which far exceed normal building requirements.
The shops normally closes around 5-5:30, except one or two like Woolworths. On Thursdays, they are open till late, mostly till 9. So, if you can plan your purchases on Thursday, weekends will be all yours!
For this weekend, we left the Saturday for sleeping, and planned for Sunday. Again, it will be 12 by the time it is morning for me J. This week, the rail maintenance was for our area, and Parramatta station was closed. We got a notice in all our post boxes notifying this! This replacement buses till Granville, the next rail junction from where we can carry on with train journey. The day’s plan was to get down at Town Hall and go to the top of Sydney Tower.
We had a downtown’s map to guide us. A 10 mins walk from Town Hall station, we came across some old huge malls on the way. A shopping complex built in early 60s or before -something like a shopping complex looking like our old government office buildings !
Then, was this shopping area with two huge malls on both sides, and from the middle of one of them goes the Tower, going up and up for some 1000 Feet – it is about 4 times our Kutub Minar, New Delhi ; 4 times the height of The monument, London ; only 81 metres less than the Empire State building Structure ! I can swear it is the highest view I have ever got from a man made structure! (I am not sure of the Fire Exit :D ). There are 4 round floors on the top, and an open terrace!
The first two floors are restaurants. You have to take $40 entry ticket (per person) and get in to another set of lifts to reach one of those revolving restaurants. Imagine sitting and eating at some 1000 feet high, and while you eat, the building is rotating slowly, to finish one rotation in an hour ! You will see the whole of Sydney!
This is told to be the highest building in Southern hemisphere. Aussies are lucky that US went in to the northern hemisphere J !
We had our lunch to finish. We settled for a north indian shop in the food court downstairs (Central Plaza), which got settled for around $15 - for rice, a curry, some pakodas and pappadams ! Then we just had a walk around, went to the entry ticket counter by 2:30. The entry to the top floor for view costs $22 per person and this comes along with a hologram show known as ‘Oz-Trek’ when you come down.
A small queue for the checking before entering the lift, for sharp objects or weapons, and here we go. The lift was fast enough to take us to the top in less than one minute, non-stop.
This floor is only for viewing. The middle portion has lifts, souvenir shop, and steps to go to the coffee & bar below. There is this terrace on top, which is open! They charge you $110 to go there, rather take you there, with safety equipments and it is referred as ‘Sky walk’.
Views from all sides were looking good. One part had the view of the sea with the Bondi beach, we had the harbour, and the main parts on the other side! We spend around an hour on the top, didn’t buy the souvenirs as a small 15cm model of the Tower cost $23!
We came down to enjoy a Virtual Reality show, which took us to an air ride above the harbour bridge, and then a lot of places in Australia ! It was a first time experience for me, have heard of such things from Brajesh and others – the shows in Universal Studios. May be it is a similar one?
We had spotted some beautiful meadows and fountains( Hyde Park) from the top, just walked in that direction and spent a peaceful evening there. Walked over to the Harbour, back to the Town Hall station, we had done with the day and back home by 8. One more weekend is over.
Tailpiece :-
Information :-
About the Sydney Tower: (taken from) http://www.sydneyskytour.com.au/tower.html
Construction of Sydney Tower Centrepoint began in late 1970 with the first 52 shops opening in 1972. The office component was completed in 1974 and the final stage of the complex, the Sydney Tower, was opened to the public in August 1981.
Ranked as one of the safest buildings in the world the design has made the tower capable of withstanding earthquakes and extreme wind conditions. 56 cables stabilise the tower, and if the strands of these cables were laid end to end, they would reach from Sydney to Alice Springs, or from Sydney to New Zealand.
The turret has a capacity of 960 persons, and contains two levels of restaurants, a coffee lounge, an Observation Deck, two telecommunication transmission levels and three plant levels.
Three high speed double Deck Lifts take approximately 40 seconds to travel from top to bottom.
The 1504 stairs, constantly monitored by security, provide emergency exit from the tower. Divided into two fire-isolated sets of pressurised stairs, they allow patrons direct access to street level.
The 420 windows of the tower are cleaned by a semi-automatic window-cleaning machine, which recycles and filters 50 litres of water. This machine takes two days to clean all 420 windows.
A 162,000 litre water tank, the tower's primary damping system, one million dollars worth of fire protection equipment and countless sprinklers add to the safety standards which far exceed normal building requirements.
Friday, August 12, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER 5
The Sun was shining, my first allowance is credited in my account and it is a Saturday too! What a way to begin a weekend!
There is a day-tripper ticket, similar to weekend pass in London, which allows you to travel in train, bus or ferry through out the city, except for the private services. This costs some AU$15 whereas London weekend pass costs 8 pounds. But the latter is valid for two days! I would have to say transport here is costlier than London!!!
I checked the ferry schedule and we decided to leave by the one at 12. It is just 10min walk to the Ferry from home. We reached the ferry in time; it was big enough to accommodate 100+ people. The water was stinking, but the landscape looked beautiful!
And we started by 12. It was quite sunny. We both chose to stand in the deck with many other people, enjoying the winter Sun. Imagine a single ferry takes you from a canal in English country side (with those small stone bridge, with pavements and meadows on the banks), then in to wet lands like in Pichavaram (any wetlands will do ;) ), and slowly enter the canals of Venice !!! Now you see houses with entrance to the water, and shed for the boat (like a car shed) ! Slowly the scenario changes as you pass through some vacant land - a factory, lots of ship carriage boxes near it- nearing more urban areas. A huge bridge with road and rail, and then you enter water more of a part of sea than a river. Still, the water is narrow; the hilly roads on the banks are so steep that the parked cars seem like waiting for their turns to jump in to the water!
The water starts getting widened; some schooners standing in the middle! It resembles some pictures of Norway, Greece sort of. Then the real Sydney, incomparable, when the ferry taking a left turn and you suddenly see the harbour bridge and all this skyscrapers behind it, the busy port, the Opera house….You can see a lot of big ferries crossing the water , the waves they send out hits your ferry and it sways. And slowly you cross the harbour bridge, and take a right turn, just before the Opera house on your left, the trip comes to an end at Jetty 4 in Circular Quay.
I think I am exhausted with my words now. But just will be able to say this much that it was a memorable trip for us, and the explanation I gave is not even one tenth of what it really is! But for now, let me continue.
We walked to spot the ‘India Quay’ restaurant, which we had planned for our lunch, thanks to Binish Gopal( with his reference in ‘Sydney Badaees’ I could get its map and menu too, on net). The same was spotted easily, we had just planned for a walk around and come back for lunch. But our fate had other plans ! We were just passing a small bus stop and we saw a bus to the Bondi beach ! We had never travelled in a bus in Australia till now, and this beach was on top in our list for places to visit.
We checked with the driver and boarded the bus, to start another new experience. Through the one way steep roads of downtown, and on our both sides, a lot of old Victorian style buildings, and new concrete skyscrapers, a good mix of them! It slowly became a bit less messy, and purely residential, suburb areas. In some 10-15 minutes, we could see the beach in between the gaps of houses and bushes, down the hill!
Got down at the beach – a beautiful one with white soft sand, waves not very strong, but enough to hit and splash at the cliffs on our both sides. We both forgot the lunch and started walking through the beach - watching the surfers, taking some snaps, and continued the walk climbing the cliff which was projected to the sea, and through a path for pedestrians cut through the middle of the cliff. There were some portions of rocks in front of us, which looked like they were under water for a long time. I think this walk went on for an hour or two. Krithi was excited with the sea and I used it well for this long walk J. By the time she felt that we had getting tired, we had come far away from the beach J ! The main road was somewhere behind the hill, we climbed the steps to the nearest road, it was around 3:30 !
We ended up in a residential area, which was almost empty except some cars passing by. Spotted the nearest bus stop, and checked with the bus timings. But we had no clue where this buses goes to is in the same direction. I appreciate the London bus stops, which use to have a map of the routes which ach buses from that stop goes.
I was right in my worry, the first bus turned up in a few minutes and the driver showed me the bus stop for bus in the opposite direction. Another wait for the correct bus, which dropped us in Bondi Junction rail station.
Again, we were ‘fortunate’ in finding that the station is closed for maintenance and replacement buses are running till ‘Edgecliff’. Took a train from Edgecliff to get down at Town Hall, another train to Circular Quay, it was 4:30 by the time we reached ‘India quay’ for lunch! The fortune was again with us, ‘India quay’ was closed! Biniiiiissshhh….
We had no choice other than stupid Mc Donalds ! Krithi was giving me a look, it was her first birthday after marriage ! I was planning a memorable Indian lunch after the romantic ferry and beach, and see where ‘India Quay’ left me !
Took another ferry to Darling harbour, it would have been another good experience with the sky getting dark, Opera house and the bridge getting lighted – but there was this winter breeze which forced us to get in to the ferry and see all through window glass. I still managed to take some snaps, but without my tripod I doubt whether it will come without a shake !
I went too long ? I doubt yes. Anyway, the best part is over. We waited in the harbour for the fireworks, till 7:30. The mercury was dropping, and with the freezy breeze it was impossible to keep on waiting with no idea of when it will happen. A crowd had gathered and some were saying it 8 and some saying 8:30 ! Some rock music was going on and we had no interest in it anyway. Took a ferry back to the Quay and had a good dinner in ‘India Quay’. The last ferry to Parramatta had gone at 7 itself, so only train was an option.
Tail piece:- “ Australia is the land of Kangaroo. When Captain Cook saw the strange animal for the first time he had no one but the natives to ask what they call it. Unable to understand his question, they replied "Kan Ga Roo" meaning "I don't Know"! Tree Kangaroos of Taronga Zoo, Sydney.” Taken from http://sureshgo.tripod.com/, site of my supersenior who was in REC few years ago and in Sydney as well sometime back. He got nostalgic and wrote back when I wrote about St.Leonards, as he was working there.
Information :- The plug points are different from that in UK and India, I think they insisted to keep a different configuration ! It looks like ‘ / \ ‘ compared to UK ‘ ‘ and Indian, ‘o o’. The earth pin is ‘ ‘ same as UK :D. I am not sure whether the whole Europe follows UK’s method, and whole Asian pins looks like that in India.
There is a day-tripper ticket, similar to weekend pass in London, which allows you to travel in train, bus or ferry through out the city, except for the private services. This costs some AU$15 whereas London weekend pass costs 8 pounds. But the latter is valid for two days! I would have to say transport here is costlier than London!!!
I checked the ferry schedule and we decided to leave by the one at 12. It is just 10min walk to the Ferry from home. We reached the ferry in time; it was big enough to accommodate 100+ people. The water was stinking, but the landscape looked beautiful!
And we started by 12. It was quite sunny. We both chose to stand in the deck with many other people, enjoying the winter Sun. Imagine a single ferry takes you from a canal in English country side (with those small stone bridge, with pavements and meadows on the banks), then in to wet lands like in Pichavaram (any wetlands will do ;) ), and slowly enter the canals of Venice !!! Now you see houses with entrance to the water, and shed for the boat (like a car shed) ! Slowly the scenario changes as you pass through some vacant land - a factory, lots of ship carriage boxes near it- nearing more urban areas. A huge bridge with road and rail, and then you enter water more of a part of sea than a river. Still, the water is narrow; the hilly roads on the banks are so steep that the parked cars seem like waiting for their turns to jump in to the water!
The water starts getting widened; some schooners standing in the middle! It resembles some pictures of Norway, Greece sort of. Then the real Sydney, incomparable, when the ferry taking a left turn and you suddenly see the harbour bridge and all this skyscrapers behind it, the busy port, the Opera house….You can see a lot of big ferries crossing the water , the waves they send out hits your ferry and it sways. And slowly you cross the harbour bridge, and take a right turn, just before the Opera house on your left, the trip comes to an end at Jetty 4 in Circular Quay.
I think I am exhausted with my words now. But just will be able to say this much that it was a memorable trip for us, and the explanation I gave is not even one tenth of what it really is! But for now, let me continue.
We walked to spot the ‘India Quay’ restaurant, which we had planned for our lunch, thanks to Binish Gopal( with his reference in ‘Sydney Badaees’ I could get its map and menu too, on net). The same was spotted easily, we had just planned for a walk around and come back for lunch. But our fate had other plans ! We were just passing a small bus stop and we saw a bus to the Bondi beach ! We had never travelled in a bus in Australia till now, and this beach was on top in our list for places to visit.
We checked with the driver and boarded the bus, to start another new experience. Through the one way steep roads of downtown, and on our both sides, a lot of old Victorian style buildings, and new concrete skyscrapers, a good mix of them! It slowly became a bit less messy, and purely residential, suburb areas. In some 10-15 minutes, we could see the beach in between the gaps of houses and bushes, down the hill!
Got down at the beach – a beautiful one with white soft sand, waves not very strong, but enough to hit and splash at the cliffs on our both sides. We both forgot the lunch and started walking through the beach - watching the surfers, taking some snaps, and continued the walk climbing the cliff which was projected to the sea, and through a path for pedestrians cut through the middle of the cliff. There were some portions of rocks in front of us, which looked like they were under water for a long time. I think this walk went on for an hour or two. Krithi was excited with the sea and I used it well for this long walk J. By the time she felt that we had getting tired, we had come far away from the beach J ! The main road was somewhere behind the hill, we climbed the steps to the nearest road, it was around 3:30 !
We ended up in a residential area, which was almost empty except some cars passing by. Spotted the nearest bus stop, and checked with the bus timings. But we had no clue where this buses goes to is in the same direction. I appreciate the London bus stops, which use to have a map of the routes which ach buses from that stop goes.
I was right in my worry, the first bus turned up in a few minutes and the driver showed me the bus stop for bus in the opposite direction. Another wait for the correct bus, which dropped us in Bondi Junction rail station.
Again, we were ‘fortunate’ in finding that the station is closed for maintenance and replacement buses are running till ‘Edgecliff’. Took a train from Edgecliff to get down at Town Hall, another train to Circular Quay, it was 4:30 by the time we reached ‘India quay’ for lunch! The fortune was again with us, ‘India quay’ was closed! Biniiiiissshhh….
We had no choice other than stupid Mc Donalds ! Krithi was giving me a look, it was her first birthday after marriage ! I was planning a memorable Indian lunch after the romantic ferry and beach, and see where ‘India Quay’ left me !
Took another ferry to Darling harbour, it would have been another good experience with the sky getting dark, Opera house and the bridge getting lighted – but there was this winter breeze which forced us to get in to the ferry and see all through window glass. I still managed to take some snaps, but without my tripod I doubt whether it will come without a shake !
I went too long ? I doubt yes. Anyway, the best part is over. We waited in the harbour for the fireworks, till 7:30. The mercury was dropping, and with the freezy breeze it was impossible to keep on waiting with no idea of when it will happen. A crowd had gathered and some were saying it 8 and some saying 8:30 ! Some rock music was going on and we had no interest in it anyway. Took a ferry back to the Quay and had a good dinner in ‘India Quay’. The last ferry to Parramatta had gone at 7 itself, so only train was an option.
Tail piece:- “ Australia is the land of Kangaroo. When Captain Cook saw the strange animal for the first time he had no one but the natives to ask what they call it. Unable to understand his question, they replied "Kan Ga Roo" meaning "I don't Know"! Tree Kangaroos of Taronga Zoo, Sydney.” Taken from http://sureshgo.tripod.com/, site of my supersenior who was in REC few years ago and in Sydney as well sometime back. He got nostalgic and wrote back when I wrote about St.Leonards, as he was working there.
Information :- The plug points are different from that in UK and India, I think they insisted to keep a different configuration ! It looks like ‘ / \ ‘ compared to UK ‘ ‘ and Indian, ‘o o’. The earth pin is ‘ ‘ same as UK :D. I am not sure whether the whole Europe follows UK’s method, and whole Asian pins looks like that in India.
Friday, August 05, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER 4
I will have to finish this searching a house episode, it is going too long ! So, at last I got an apartment near to office, and a brand new one. I am going to be the first person to live there.
Signed a 6 month lease and walked in to the apartment complex. First, I had a tough time to find my flat, as the numbering was random, given a floor. The Lift has level, 2, 5 and 7 only. Level 5 can contain anything from 301 to 699 ! Level 2 will contain all 101 to 399 ! and so on.
That was just a tip of the iceberg. The A/c was not working( remember it is winter here), kitchen sink is stuck with the water not going out smoothly, our apartment is not connected to the intercom at the entrance( that means we will never know if someone comes to see us), and some small things like no keys to open the door to balcony !
I had not even in the wildest dream thought that I will get these issues along with a new apartment, that too in Syndey ! I am sure I am paying one of the highest rents for a single Bed room house in this part of Sydney.
Anyway, the slow people took down our complaints again and again, whenever we go there to follow up ! After one or two days of sleep in the cold, we found a reset switch after opening the A/c and it solved one of the major problem partially, even though under no control, it works ! At last they found that the remote given to us was a wrong one and replaced it!
Now to add to this, the setting up of a home also needs to be done. After some research, we found a new dining table been on Sale at 20$, and chairs for 10$ each. Along the groceries, bought this dining table! Now came the problem, we have to bring it to our place some 1-1.5 kms away !
It was around 9:30 at night (Thursdays all shops will be open till at least 9, and this one was open till 10), we tried one or two taxis but no use. Just managed to place the table on the shopping trolley, and walked back home with it ! I was amazed with Krithi, who joined me to pull a cart on this freezing night with out any protest ! Really an experience of a lifetime J ! The nearest I previously had was the great move of my fridge to and from Krishnakumar’s(97MCA) place, we both had actually loaded and transported the fridge in a Maruthi Omni call taxi J !
In the normal case, TCS people do wait for some 3-4 people to join who need the same things, visit some shops will sell used furniture, buy them and ask for a delivery. Then, it will be reasonable to pay some 40-100$ per person when 4 people combines, for delivery. But this one was ok to be carried alone, and the shopping trolley was anyway there with no restrictions. The chair business was quick, next day just carried some 3 steel chairs with cushions from the same shop.
So, all is set, rented the other appliances like fridge, washing machine, TV and microwave to avoid all these trouble. They will just install it for you after delivery and pick it back once we are done with it.
As the house problems also get fixed over two week’s time, just waiting for my allowance to come (all money is finished) for starting my travel. This magic castle got a lot of fun now. Our apartment number is 412. It is not in the 4th floor. As I told you, I have to go to Level 5 and then climb one level down. Level 4, if you can call it, has only 2-3 apartments. All other 4xx are in level 5 ! The electricity provider recognises our meter as the meter of 12th Apartment, 4th floor! To give us a ring from the entrance so that we can see you and open the gate for you, you need to dial 50, which is ALWAYS the apartment number! Again, he has given some key words. No need to dial or check. If you know it, you can get in to the apartment and till any apartment door steps!
As I have already mentioned, one of my intentions is to make sure that I am giving a clear picture of what I, as a new comer, am experiencing. That is why I am just walking you through everything, so that this gives you as much information as, you were here and experienced them all. I believe our life is very short to learn all from our own experience!
Give me a shout if I sound boring. I will just keep these write ups for my personal diary.
Tailpiece :- There are many things I am skipping for now. One of the them is the story of a chinese driver who dropped us from St.Leonards to Parramatta. Just will try to write it down sometime later. That will give a glimpse of a driver’s life in Australia.
Signed a 6 month lease and walked in to the apartment complex. First, I had a tough time to find my flat, as the numbering was random, given a floor. The Lift has level, 2, 5 and 7 only. Level 5 can contain anything from 301 to 699 ! Level 2 will contain all 101 to 399 ! and so on.
That was just a tip of the iceberg. The A/c was not working( remember it is winter here), kitchen sink is stuck with the water not going out smoothly, our apartment is not connected to the intercom at the entrance( that means we will never know if someone comes to see us), and some small things like no keys to open the door to balcony !
I had not even in the wildest dream thought that I will get these issues along with a new apartment, that too in Syndey ! I am sure I am paying one of the highest rents for a single Bed room house in this part of Sydney.
Anyway, the slow people took down our complaints again and again, whenever we go there to follow up ! After one or two days of sleep in the cold, we found a reset switch after opening the A/c and it solved one of the major problem partially, even though under no control, it works ! At last they found that the remote given to us was a wrong one and replaced it!
Now to add to this, the setting up of a home also needs to be done. After some research, we found a new dining table been on Sale at 20$, and chairs for 10$ each. Along the groceries, bought this dining table! Now came the problem, we have to bring it to our place some 1-1.5 kms away !
It was around 9:30 at night (Thursdays all shops will be open till at least 9, and this one was open till 10), we tried one or two taxis but no use. Just managed to place the table on the shopping trolley, and walked back home with it ! I was amazed with Krithi, who joined me to pull a cart on this freezing night with out any protest ! Really an experience of a lifetime J ! The nearest I previously had was the great move of my fridge to and from Krishnakumar’s(97MCA) place, we both had actually loaded and transported the fridge in a Maruthi Omni call taxi J !
In the normal case, TCS people do wait for some 3-4 people to join who need the same things, visit some shops will sell used furniture, buy them and ask for a delivery. Then, it will be reasonable to pay some 40-100$ per person when 4 people combines, for delivery. But this one was ok to be carried alone, and the shopping trolley was anyway there with no restrictions. The chair business was quick, next day just carried some 3 steel chairs with cushions from the same shop.
So, all is set, rented the other appliances like fridge, washing machine, TV and microwave to avoid all these trouble. They will just install it for you after delivery and pick it back once we are done with it.
As the house problems also get fixed over two week’s time, just waiting for my allowance to come (all money is finished) for starting my travel. This magic castle got a lot of fun now. Our apartment number is 412. It is not in the 4th floor. As I told you, I have to go to Level 5 and then climb one level down. Level 4, if you can call it, has only 2-3 apartments. All other 4xx are in level 5 ! The electricity provider recognises our meter as the meter of 12th Apartment, 4th floor! To give us a ring from the entrance so that we can see you and open the gate for you, you need to dial 50, which is ALWAYS the apartment number! Again, he has given some key words. No need to dial or check. If you know it, you can get in to the apartment and till any apartment door steps!
As I have already mentioned, one of my intentions is to make sure that I am giving a clear picture of what I, as a new comer, am experiencing. That is why I am just walking you through everything, so that this gives you as much information as, you were here and experienced them all. I believe our life is very short to learn all from our own experience!
Give me a shout if I sound boring. I will just keep these write ups for my personal diary.
Tailpiece :- There are many things I am skipping for now. One of the them is the story of a chinese driver who dropped us from St.Leonards to Parramatta. Just will try to write it down sometime later. That will give a glimpse of a driver’s life in Australia.
Friday, July 22, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER 3
It was a Saturday morning ( 02 July 2005). I am still in St.Leonards, not able to find any apartment still ! Anyway, the real estate agents will not work on weekends( some work till noon on Saturday). So why not start enjoying the place. This place I stay is anyway very near to the city centre, only 3-4 stations away. Again, the train crosses the Harbour bridge everyday on its way to Parramatta, and we can see Opera House at a distance.
We started around 10:30. Train to get down at Milson’s Point, which is just before the bridge. Walked to the end of the platform and there was a spectacular view of the bridge which was taking a right turn in front of me. The bridge was huge than I have thought even while crossing it in train, containing a 6 line highway, two rail lines, and foot paths at two ends( the one on the right side is dedicated to cyclists, and the left one for pedestrians) ! It grows high to the middle and comes down like a trajectory of a body in projectile J. At the top in the middle, two Australian flags flying gloriously ! Took some snaps, we walked down and climbed the steps for the pedestrian footpath for the bridge( first with climbed the cyclist one, which was not steps, and then saw it was only for cycles).
The bridge seem to be too long. Checked the actuals to see I was true, it is something around 3900 feet (1.1Kms) ! It was a fantastic view of the Opera house and land part surrounding the waters with an island in between ! This experience was almost same as the one I had, when I first got out of Westminster station and saw Big Ben just in front. From each step I walk and look back, I feel that is the best spot to take a snap, and across Thames, seeing the big picture with house of parliament included, you feel that is the best and by that time you would have blinked your lens eye for at least 5-6 times L ! The same was here with the sights I got about Opera house. It was getting closer and closer, and at distance some Yatches became visible. Each beam I cross, I get a new view, a new look, of the waters below !
I finished some 8-10 snaps there itself! Walked down some steps in the direction of Opera House. It was still far away! But, these are some times we really loose the sense of time. I don’t have an idea how long we were there, watching the ferries coming and leaving 6 jetties in Circular Quay, licking a cone with chocolate and raspberry flavours reluctant to melt even with afternoon Sun directly falling on it, watching the Seagulls. Then, we slowly started walking to the Opera house. It was much massive than we thought, took some snaps around, and went in till the area where we could go without a ticket. The souvenirs seemed much costly than those in UK, and anyway, it is too early to buy them.
The time was around 3. We tried the local McDonalds for ‘lunch’J. I would say, I have never expected McD to be this bad – they still got the crowd, but they don’t have a veggie burger, and their finger chips are stupid! But anyway, we were enough hungry to eat a so called veggie pesto, and chips with coffee spending some 8 AU$ each for that stupid meal.
It was raining, all of a sudden, when we finished our ‘lunch’ and came out. We just waited for the rain to finish off and then slowly walked towards the nearest station. That was the end of the day for us. During the walk around, we have collected some information brochures for Sydney site seeing trips, harbour trips and some maps which could give us an insight of what all to see, and where !
The walk was tiring for Krithi, she was looking at me pathetically and then I let out the secret, anyone walks with me ends up in the same state :D.
Tail piece :- As if now, I have got a place to stay and have almost settled down. The rest of the renting home story, I will send sometime in the middle of next week. I have given my magic castle's address below. Why 'Magic castle' ? Wait. I will tell you in a couple of days.
We started around 10:30. Train to get down at Milson’s Point, which is just before the bridge. Walked to the end of the platform and there was a spectacular view of the bridge which was taking a right turn in front of me. The bridge was huge than I have thought even while crossing it in train, containing a 6 line highway, two rail lines, and foot paths at two ends( the one on the right side is dedicated to cyclists, and the left one for pedestrians) ! It grows high to the middle and comes down like a trajectory of a body in projectile J. At the top in the middle, two Australian flags flying gloriously ! Took some snaps, we walked down and climbed the steps for the pedestrian footpath for the bridge( first with climbed the cyclist one, which was not steps, and then saw it was only for cycles).
The bridge seem to be too long. Checked the actuals to see I was true, it is something around 3900 feet (1.1Kms) ! It was a fantastic view of the Opera house and land part surrounding the waters with an island in between ! This experience was almost same as the one I had, when I first got out of Westminster station and saw Big Ben just in front. From each step I walk and look back, I feel that is the best spot to take a snap, and across Thames, seeing the big picture with house of parliament included, you feel that is the best and by that time you would have blinked your lens eye for at least 5-6 times L ! The same was here with the sights I got about Opera house. It was getting closer and closer, and at distance some Yatches became visible. Each beam I cross, I get a new view, a new look, of the waters below !
I finished some 8-10 snaps there itself! Walked down some steps in the direction of Opera House. It was still far away! But, these are some times we really loose the sense of time. I don’t have an idea how long we were there, watching the ferries coming and leaving 6 jetties in Circular Quay, licking a cone with chocolate and raspberry flavours reluctant to melt even with afternoon Sun directly falling on it, watching the Seagulls. Then, we slowly started walking to the Opera house. It was much massive than we thought, took some snaps around, and went in till the area where we could go without a ticket. The souvenirs seemed much costly than those in UK, and anyway, it is too early to buy them.
The time was around 3. We tried the local McDonalds for ‘lunch’J. I would say, I have never expected McD to be this bad – they still got the crowd, but they don’t have a veggie burger, and their finger chips are stupid! But anyway, we were enough hungry to eat a so called veggie pesto, and chips with coffee spending some 8 AU$ each for that stupid meal.
It was raining, all of a sudden, when we finished our ‘lunch’ and came out. We just waited for the rain to finish off and then slowly walked towards the nearest station. That was the end of the day for us. During the walk around, we have collected some information brochures for Sydney site seeing trips, harbour trips and some maps which could give us an insight of what all to see, and where !
The walk was tiring for Krithi, she was looking at me pathetically and then I let out the secret, anyone walks with me ends up in the same state :D.
Tail piece :- As if now, I have got a place to stay and have almost settled down. The rest of the renting home story, I will send sometime in the middle of next week. I have given my magic castle's address below. Why 'Magic castle' ? Wait. I will tell you in a couple of days.
Friday, July 15, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER 2
Looking for a house never was so tough during anytime in my life. I had a couple of constraints with me – mainly it was financial, and then, locality. Normally a decent place will start with AU$ 200 per week, and it can be AU$400 also if it is a double bed room apartment. I am talking about the unfurnished apartments only. If you are looking for a furnished one, you are looking at paying around AU$ 475 and above.
As for locality, we prefer to stay near the office, and at the same time stay around the railway station.
Again, normal bond (deposit ) is 4 weeks rent and you have to pay two weeks advance. Most of the apartments are leased through agents( brokers) only. They say leasing for renting here ! Crazy people !
The process starts with you searching the net in some sites and giving them a call, or you just walking in to their office. Again, you can also call the number seeing any board in front of an apartment saying ‘For Lease’.
The problem starts slowly. You find a place which suits you - by net, by seeing the board or seeing in their office – you give them your contact details, and they will say they will get back to you. This getting back will take 24 hours, just to check whether it is still available ! Again, if you act smart by telling 3-4 options in the list so that you have got more chances of getting one, then they will outsmart you by being silent, as they get confused :). This is common for all real estate agents in Australia ( they are just like our brokers, they got their level and speak in that language only), I have tried most of them by now. For the net queries, normally it takes a fortnight for you to get a response. I responded for some 20 apartments in net to different agents, all the responses I got was 2 ! I am not sure where they are having the problem, in finding someone who could read and write, in browsing net or just a problem to work !
There is another point here. You don’t have to pay anything to the agents. They will take you to the apartment, and show it. If all goes fine, and once you have signed the lease agreement ( it is normally 6 months to 1 year), you pay the first two weeks in advance along with the deposit( that is normally 4 weeks, and is paid to the Rental bond board). So, this first two weeks rent is the brokerage for them. After that only you start paying to the landlord !
All I had was a map of my area and was clear of my boundaries – that is from where walking is feasible to get to office and railway station by walk.
I applied all three ways for finding a house, but this fast and smart real estate agents kept me searching, checking and following up for a week ! I think, that is a big period because there is demand and there is supply too. Then, I have no clue why these stupid, lazy anti-catalysts are slowing down the process in the middle !
As for locality, we prefer to stay near the office, and at the same time stay around the railway station.
Again, normal bond (deposit ) is 4 weeks rent and you have to pay two weeks advance. Most of the apartments are leased through agents( brokers) only. They say leasing for renting here ! Crazy people !
The process starts with you searching the net in some sites and giving them a call, or you just walking in to their office. Again, you can also call the number seeing any board in front of an apartment saying ‘For Lease’.
The problem starts slowly. You find a place which suits you - by net, by seeing the board or seeing in their office – you give them your contact details, and they will say they will get back to you. This getting back will take 24 hours, just to check whether it is still available ! Again, if you act smart by telling 3-4 options in the list so that you have got more chances of getting one, then they will outsmart you by being silent, as they get confused :). This is common for all real estate agents in Australia ( they are just like our brokers, they got their level and speak in that language only), I have tried most of them by now. For the net queries, normally it takes a fortnight for you to get a response. I responded for some 20 apartments in net to different agents, all the responses I got was 2 ! I am not sure where they are having the problem, in finding someone who could read and write, in browsing net or just a problem to work !
There is another point here. You don’t have to pay anything to the agents. They will take you to the apartment, and show it. If all goes fine, and once you have signed the lease agreement ( it is normally 6 months to 1 year), you pay the first two weeks in advance along with the deposit( that is normally 4 weeks, and is paid to the Rental bond board). So, this first two weeks rent is the brokerage for them. After that only you start paying to the landlord !
All I had was a map of my area and was clear of my boundaries – that is from where walking is feasible to get to office and railway station by walk.
I applied all three ways for finding a house, but this fast and smart real estate agents kept me searching, checking and following up for a week ! I think, that is a big period because there is demand and there is supply too. Then, I have no clue why these stupid, lazy anti-catalysts are slowing down the process in the middle !
Friday, July 08, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER 1
It is another morning. The temperature outside is 8 degrees. It is 7:40, still the Sun is sleeping !
We both started to walk from our hotel - or will call a Studio Apartment with breakfast served - to the local station, St.Leonards. Krithi had covered herself with all she got, and still feeling the chill. A ten minutes walk, collected the tickets to Parramatta. Return for two people cost A$17.60( around 600 INR), down the escalator to the platform to board the train going south. A huge two storied train arrived in no time, with body looking like a rolling shutter's. You board in the middle and can decide to go down to the basement or upstairs or stand in the boarding floor( let us call ground floor). There is just a little space for the people to stand, in the ground floor. The basement and first floor are full of seats like or buses (3+2 configuration).
It started moving slowly, and the whole journey to Parramatta was literally slow ! It took almost 1 hour, which I would expect a tube to cover in 30mins ! So my estimate to reach the destination by 8:30 went wrong, and reached there by 9. Then, I found it was not stopping in all stops, skipping some stations in the city. If you want to go there, you have to change in some major city stations. After all this, it took an hour plus !!!
My first day in office, in Sydney after landing here yesterday night. My brain is still sleeping for two reasons: it is only 9 even in Sydney, and in India it is worser, only 3:30 am.
This time, unlike my adventurous evening in London, TCS had arranged a place for accommodation, in another suburb on the opposite side of the city ! What a favour ! Still, just paying A$105 per day for that. I think, it was better in London where I paid only 40 pounds per day for a B&B in the middle of the city. Again, please note that, it takes only one hour for a slow train to go across the suburbs crossing the city. So, I won’t say Sydney is a big city. It is green, and peaceful except for the centre part. That is yet to be seen.
I see a bit a South Africa here with the colour standards of the name boards, and greenery. But, I am yet to see an African here( But this was on week days, week ends they are available in plenty! I have no clue what it means) !
* * * * * *
The flight was cool. Singapore flight took off from Chennai by 12:00 midnight and reached 6:30 AM local time. Again, 9:30 AM flight to Sydney took a long time to drop us at the destination by 6:50 PM local time. Singapore Airport window shopping was good. It is bigger than Dubai Airport, the shopping area is also more. As hubs, these airports (Dubai and Changi) sees a lot of transit passengers and so, the shopping area really does matter.
Again, Sydney airport was friendly. Just took red channel as the checking's were heard to be more than in any other place, for the preserved food and all. They are heard to not allow even medicines sometimes. But, all went fine. They just had a glance at the packs, and once it is sealed and manufacturing date given, there was no issue to let it through. But, there was a police dog at the airport checking for drugs and all, it barks at an aunty who came with us. It was barking staring at her hair. It was because she had put flowers in the hair the previous night while leaving Chennai and the smell was still there !
I hired a cab to the hotel and to pay him I had only 50$ notes. His charge came to 50.10 . The Punjabi driver, Gurcharan, was OK with 50, but just for my comfort found a 10 cents coin and gave him. Later, I was just wondering where I got a 10c coin when I have done no transaction in Australia at all. It was actually Singaporean 10 cents, which I had converted there for a coffee :) !
The sleep, the tiredness, all make you do funny things. The taxi was a bit rash like all taxis here, and the place at night looked like Jo'burg to me - all those ups and downs, single Villas, greenery and breeze. Again, I saw a lot of people crossing the road just by a dash which was again similar to Jo'burg !
We both started to walk from our hotel - or will call a Studio Apartment with breakfast served - to the local station, St.Leonards. Krithi had covered herself with all she got, and still feeling the chill. A ten minutes walk, collected the tickets to Parramatta. Return for two people cost A$17.60( around 600 INR), down the escalator to the platform to board the train going south. A huge two storied train arrived in no time, with body looking like a rolling shutter's. You board in the middle and can decide to go down to the basement or upstairs or stand in the boarding floor( let us call ground floor). There is just a little space for the people to stand, in the ground floor. The basement and first floor are full of seats like or buses (3+2 configuration).
It started moving slowly, and the whole journey to Parramatta was literally slow ! It took almost 1 hour, which I would expect a tube to cover in 30mins ! So my estimate to reach the destination by 8:30 went wrong, and reached there by 9. Then, I found it was not stopping in all stops, skipping some stations in the city. If you want to go there, you have to change in some major city stations. After all this, it took an hour plus !!!
My first day in office, in Sydney after landing here yesterday night. My brain is still sleeping for two reasons: it is only 9 even in Sydney, and in India it is worser, only 3:30 am.
This time, unlike my adventurous evening in London, TCS had arranged a place for accommodation, in another suburb on the opposite side of the city ! What a favour ! Still, just paying A$105 per day for that. I think, it was better in London where I paid only 40 pounds per day for a B&B in the middle of the city. Again, please note that, it takes only one hour for a slow train to go across the suburbs crossing the city. So, I won’t say Sydney is a big city. It is green, and peaceful except for the centre part. That is yet to be seen.
I see a bit a South Africa here with the colour standards of the name boards, and greenery. But, I am yet to see an African here( But this was on week days, week ends they are available in plenty! I have no clue what it means) !
* * * * * *
The flight was cool. Singapore flight took off from Chennai by 12:00 midnight and reached 6:30 AM local time. Again, 9:30 AM flight to Sydney took a long time to drop us at the destination by 6:50 PM local time. Singapore Airport window shopping was good. It is bigger than Dubai Airport, the shopping area is also more. As hubs, these airports (Dubai and Changi) sees a lot of transit passengers and so, the shopping area really does matter.
Again, Sydney airport was friendly. Just took red channel as the checking's were heard to be more than in any other place, for the preserved food and all. They are heard to not allow even medicines sometimes. But, all went fine. They just had a glance at the packs, and once it is sealed and manufacturing date given, there was no issue to let it through. But, there was a police dog at the airport checking for drugs and all, it barks at an aunty who came with us. It was barking staring at her hair. It was because she had put flowers in the hair the previous night while leaving Chennai and the smell was still there !
I hired a cab to the hotel and to pay him I had only 50$ notes. His charge came to 50.10 . The Punjabi driver, Gurcharan, was OK with 50, but just for my comfort found a 10 cents coin and gave him. Later, I was just wondering where I got a 10c coin when I have done no transaction in Australia at all. It was actually Singaporean 10 cents, which I had converted there for a coffee :) !
The sleep, the tiredness, all make you do funny things. The taxi was a bit rash like all taxis here, and the place at night looked like Jo'burg to me - all those ups and downs, single Villas, greenery and breeze. Again, I saw a lot of people crossing the road just by a dash which was again similar to Jo'burg !
Friday, July 01, 2005
AUSSIE WEEKENDER Introduction
It is again a chance for me to get a feel of another continent, another country, another city, and another culture, all at the same time!
I am in Sydney now, sitting in a time zone +10 GMT, somewhere in the east coast of Australian continent ( I will accept my geography is bad, so you can shout if I am wrong). As usual, I am trying to give you a feel of the country, through the eyes of an ignorant traveller, who just wanders around without any knowledge of where he is in or what is the importance of the place. But that doesn’t stop me from giving my personal comments, observations and throwing you some open questions when I am stuck!
It may be just a personal comment, and none of my observations need to be fully correct. All I know till now about this place is, it is situated somewhere South to Singapore and all (that is, if gravity was acting from North to South, you just need to sit in Singapore and you can skid down to Australia). Then, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide etc. I know because they have cricket stadiums. I know the seasons are opposite to that in India, because Australia falls in the Southern hemisphere. This wonderful piece of knowledge also, I knew only after being to South Africa. Now, I am in there, and having committed to write about it, I have no choice than finding something interesting to write about.
I am not sure what will be the time when I can send it through, Friday morning looks still the best, as none will be in a good mood to read this on Monday morning :).
But I would love to hear from you, good or bad. Silence means ignorance :(, anything else is better.
I am in Sydney now, sitting in a time zone +10 GMT, somewhere in the east coast of Australian continent ( I will accept my geography is bad, so you can shout if I am wrong). As usual, I am trying to give you a feel of the country, through the eyes of an ignorant traveller, who just wanders around without any knowledge of where he is in or what is the importance of the place. But that doesn’t stop me from giving my personal comments, observations and throwing you some open questions when I am stuck!
It may be just a personal comment, and none of my observations need to be fully correct. All I know till now about this place is, it is situated somewhere South to Singapore and all (that is, if gravity was acting from North to South, you just need to sit in Singapore and you can skid down to Australia). Then, Sydney, Perth, Adelaide etc. I know because they have cricket stadiums. I know the seasons are opposite to that in India, because Australia falls in the Southern hemisphere. This wonderful piece of knowledge also, I knew only after being to South Africa. Now, I am in there, and having committed to write about it, I have no choice than finding something interesting to write about.
I am not sure what will be the time when I can send it through, Friday morning looks still the best, as none will be in a good mood to read this on Monday morning :).
But I would love to hear from you, good or bad. Silence means ignorance :(, anything else is better.
Tuesday, March 22, 2005
LONDON WEEKENDER 10
I think my countdown has begun. 6 more days to go and I will be back in Chennai, from fridge to oven with a sort of defrosting in Dubai ! London is becoming warmer, and days are becoming lengthy and I look like a fool came here to enjoy the winter !
The last weekend is also over. Finished almost all places I planned to visit in the city. Had a visit to The National Gallery, British Library, a ride in the Millennium Wheel - London Eye to take an aerial picture of London, and visited the last, Leeds Castle - a beautiful castle in the middle of a lake, surrounded by a golf course and gardens ! The main cancelled item will be the Wax museum as I couldn't find anything to motivate me to pay £20 for that and stand in a long queue.
I will be taking a handful of memories and souvenirs to treasure and another handful of experiences I want to forget. May be the souvenir list looks like the Tom Soyer's gifts: some weekend passes and tube tickets, the admission counterfoils for castle entry, newspaper copy of the yearly budget and Madrid tragedy, and a lot of such small things. But there are things I proudly will treasure, like a print of the Magna carta ! Then I have 11 rolls of photos waiting to be processed. This thrill I swear, you will never get in digital photos.
But I think I have a lot of pending things to write, so hopefully I will be able to carry on with my weekenders for another one month atleast !
The image of my England has not changed much. The Astrix theory of Caesar's tactics to defeat the British still holds: fight after 5pm and full day on weekends ! English still work 8-5 and no weekends !
The other thing of Astrix that holds, is the coffee. It is hot water with a spot of milk, still ! They will faint if you say you drink black coffee or coffee fully made of milk. I have no idea what difference this spot of milk makes !
I will be landing in Chennai on Monday morning. But hopefully I will be able to keep writing for another 3-4 weeks.
The last weekend is also over. Finished almost all places I planned to visit in the city. Had a visit to The National Gallery, British Library, a ride in the Millennium Wheel - London Eye to take an aerial picture of London, and visited the last, Leeds Castle - a beautiful castle in the middle of a lake, surrounded by a golf course and gardens ! The main cancelled item will be the Wax museum as I couldn't find anything to motivate me to pay £20 for that and stand in a long queue.
I will be taking a handful of memories and souvenirs to treasure and another handful of experiences I want to forget. May be the souvenir list looks like the Tom Soyer's gifts: some weekend passes and tube tickets, the admission counterfoils for castle entry, newspaper copy of the yearly budget and Madrid tragedy, and a lot of such small things. But there are things I proudly will treasure, like a print of the Magna carta ! Then I have 11 rolls of photos waiting to be processed. This thrill I swear, you will never get in digital photos.
But I think I have a lot of pending things to write, so hopefully I will be able to carry on with my weekenders for another one month atleast !
The image of my England has not changed much. The Astrix theory of Caesar's tactics to defeat the British still holds: fight after 5pm and full day on weekends ! English still work 8-5 and no weekends !
The other thing of Astrix that holds, is the coffee. It is hot water with a spot of milk, still ! They will faint if you say you drink black coffee or coffee fully made of milk. I have no idea what difference this spot of milk makes !
I will be landing in Chennai on Monday morning. But hopefully I will be able to keep writing for another 3-4 weeks.
Monday, March 15, 2004
LONDON WEEKENDER 9
This week was spent on having a Roman experience in Bath on Saturday, and Lord's and Wimbledon on Sunday. But let me finish what I have left incomplete.
So it was my second day in Edinburgh ! After a tired day's sleep with no supper, I got up by 7. A very good, and filling breakfast - cornflakes+muesli and bread with baked beans and half done egg- at the hotel which comes along with the rent( it is B&B-Bed and Breakfast). Started my day out by 10. I had to vacate my room and placed my luggage with the reception so that I could pick it up later. The normal check out time is 11am.
It was a sunny day. Again, an hour long walk to the centre, crossed the Bridge to the new Town, walked to Calton hill which has some construct like Roman circus and a tall Nelson monument. Climbed the steep roads and steps to reach the top of the hill by 10. It was perfect silence ! One side of the hill has nothing but some hills at distance and greenery in between, and the other three sides are occupied by the township with sea at one end. I don't know how long I stood there alone with the water on the rock in small pits have become ice, no intention to melt even with the Sun shining on it. I woke up from my dreams when a bell rang in some church below. It was 11 ! I agree to the fact that to experience this peace, for getting a feel of being a part of the Universe, you don't need to come this long. But what I wanted to say was, this is what you find common in any part of the World. You don't need language to experience it, rather language can't convey this experience !
Climbed down and walked to the next bus stop and my aim was to see the seashore. Took bus 22 and with a day pass again, reached the shore area. There was an old luxury Royal ship parked namely, Royal Yacht Britannia - used by the Royal family for cruises. Again, an entry fee of £7 feels not worth it ! The shopping complex from where you get the view of the sea, the ship, was constructed like a ship. A lot of kids playing around, full of joy and fun ! And there was a kid sitting on the 'bishop' of a giant chess board thinking where to move it to, playing with her sister :) !
Back in bus on my way back, again kids were ruling the World. Landed back in the town by 1. Walked around the new part of the town, went down the gardens which come just below the Castle on the other side. Again, back to Royal Mile after a lunch at McD. I have really fallen love with this place - the pipes, the smiles, the hills.......
Visited the Whisky heritage centre. I told the salesman,' I don't drink. So I need a souvenir, it should have whisky, but a memorable piece of something to remember'. He showed me a small barrel, with a small bottle inside with 14 years old Whisky ! It looks a piece worth a souvenir for £10.
Winded up my walks, took a bus back to B& B and took my bag and back in Royal mile again by 4:45. Walked through it for the last time ! I have to leave it. Back to the station by 5:15. And the return journey started by 5:30. Again, the same phases, the sea along with us, snow appears after 20mins, and it is dark by 6:30. The train leaves me at Kings X by 10:20 and am walking back home at 11:30 getting down from the tube at East ham.
It was a good trip with lot of memories. I think the Scots resemble me of the Sikhs. They love to enjoy, they are proud and famous being brave, and they keep their tradition and make their mark. Seeing the cartoon postcards of Scotts in Edinburgh confirmed the last one too, they make good jokes out themselves !I think I will have to write for one more month after coming back to India, to finish off my backlog
So it was my second day in Edinburgh ! After a tired day's sleep with no supper, I got up by 7. A very good, and filling breakfast - cornflakes+muesli and bread with baked beans and half done egg- at the hotel which comes along with the rent( it is B&B-Bed and Breakfast). Started my day out by 10. I had to vacate my room and placed my luggage with the reception so that I could pick it up later. The normal check out time is 11am.
It was a sunny day. Again, an hour long walk to the centre, crossed the Bridge to the new Town, walked to Calton hill which has some construct like Roman circus and a tall Nelson monument. Climbed the steep roads and steps to reach the top of the hill by 10. It was perfect silence ! One side of the hill has nothing but some hills at distance and greenery in between, and the other three sides are occupied by the township with sea at one end. I don't know how long I stood there alone with the water on the rock in small pits have become ice, no intention to melt even with the Sun shining on it. I woke up from my dreams when a bell rang in some church below. It was 11 ! I agree to the fact that to experience this peace, for getting a feel of being a part of the Universe, you don't need to come this long. But what I wanted to say was, this is what you find common in any part of the World. You don't need language to experience it, rather language can't convey this experience !
Climbed down and walked to the next bus stop and my aim was to see the seashore. Took bus 22 and with a day pass again, reached the shore area. There was an old luxury Royal ship parked namely, Royal Yacht Britannia - used by the Royal family for cruises. Again, an entry fee of £7 feels not worth it ! The shopping complex from where you get the view of the sea, the ship, was constructed like a ship. A lot of kids playing around, full of joy and fun ! And there was a kid sitting on the 'bishop' of a giant chess board thinking where to move it to, playing with her sister :) !
Back in bus on my way back, again kids were ruling the World. Landed back in the town by 1. Walked around the new part of the town, went down the gardens which come just below the Castle on the other side. Again, back to Royal Mile after a lunch at McD. I have really fallen love with this place - the pipes, the smiles, the hills.......
Visited the Whisky heritage centre. I told the salesman,' I don't drink. So I need a souvenir, it should have whisky, but a memorable piece of something to remember'. He showed me a small barrel, with a small bottle inside with 14 years old Whisky ! It looks a piece worth a souvenir for £10.
Winded up my walks, took a bus back to B& B and took my bag and back in Royal mile again by 4:45. Walked through it for the last time ! I have to leave it. Back to the station by 5:15. And the return journey started by 5:30. Again, the same phases, the sea along with us, snow appears after 20mins, and it is dark by 6:30. The train leaves me at Kings X by 10:20 and am walking back home at 11:30 getting down from the tube at East ham.
It was a good trip with lot of memories. I think the Scots resemble me of the Sikhs. They love to enjoy, they are proud and famous being brave, and they keep their tradition and make their mark. Seeing the cartoon postcards of Scotts in Edinburgh confirmed the last one too, they make good jokes out themselves !I think I will have to write for one more month after coming back to India, to finish off my backlog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)