Disclaimer: This is a narration of my perspective and may not be subscribed by the others who traveled with me.

There were two choices ahead of us to travel to London, from Northampton. To take a train and then a tube or to take cabs, as we did not have the option of a mini bus this time. After a discussion that was also marked with thoughtful silences, given the difference in the fares that we needed to cough out if we took cabs, we finally decided to take the cabs, with the majority going for it. What tilted the decision in favour of cabs? It was the uncertainty of taking and changing trains and lugging the luggage along distances we were not sure of.
It was silence in the cab that I traveled in – I was quiet as firstly I was not too sure if too much of my chattering away would distract the person who was driving (that did not stop me from asking my questions, once in a while :-)). Secondly, the memorable experience at the university left me lost for words. Both the cars were being driven by people who were from Africa (not able to recall the exact place they said they were from). They kept communicating with the bluetooth receiver that they had clipped on to their ears. Apparently, if one is caught speaking on their mobile phones while driving, they are penalised and penalisation upto 12 pounds (totaled across different traffic rule violations)  would make one lose their driving licence. To get a new one would involve going thru the entire process of getting a new licence starting from scratch; and that could be a pain.
Friday evening traffic to London we heard is likely to be heavy and it actually was. Traffic was certainly moving at a snail’s pace. In a not so choc a bloc traffic, we would have reached our hotel 40 minutes earlier than we did, according to person who was driving our cab. New place, new surroundings, seeing more Indians driving their cars and trucks (more of Sardars), absolutely no horning of cars (this one was melody to the ears – can you hear the music of silence? :-)) and last but not the least, missing a turn and going round and round for a good few minutes more, before reaching our hotel – interesting it was!!
The weekend in London was an eye opener in more ways than one – a city that I found really bustling and energetic with all its people and culture.. The learning continues..

While standing and waiting to be checked into the hotel, I saw this 1 – 2 feet gap between the person who was checking in at the reception, and the person who was next in line. The gap was the same in the two counters that were there at the reception. I was puzzled to see why there was so much of a gap. It then struck me that this is the distance that people here would maintain (can’t blame this slow uptake on the jet lag now :-)).

To visit our first tourist destination, London Eye, we had to take the tube. Standing near the ticket kiosk to punch our tickets, we were lost trying to navigate thru the options on the screen. An officer quickly came across to help us out. He stood with us and helped the first person to punch the tickets out and the rest of us just followed the procedure. Take a day’s travel card and take any number of trips in the tube from any destination to any other, within the specified zones – sounded nice and economical but a little overwhelming too. I watched with my mouth wide open to hear the clanging of the coins, which was the 6.9 pound change to my 20 pound note, as I punched for my ticket. Getting in and out of different trains at different stations, carefully listening to the automatic instructions that were being announced, looking at people who were in different attires, some with intricate tattoos that extended from their forearm to their wrist – I am not sure if my mouth actually closed :-). It was interesting to hear the instruction of ‘Please mind the gap’ (the gap between the train and platform) repeated at every station (they make no assumptions, do they?).

Walking on the road towards London Eye, we got the first jolt and perhaps a big learning. Though there was a red light at the pedestrian crossing area, seeing a few other pedestrians crossing, one of us in our group tried to tailgate and whooooosh, with a loud scream asking her to move, a cyclist just zipped past her. The cyclist’s reflexes perhaps saved this friend from getting hurt or perhaps her life, in the extreme case.  After that, all thru the weekend, we were really careful whenever we came to a pedestrian crossing and would wait most times for the green signal to come on, before crossing. A learning that would stay in me, for many more trips to come.

London Eye was just beautiful to look at. This was built to mark the millennium and was to be  in place for a couple of years only. Popular demand and the many tourists who visited London Eye, made the government to retain this tourist attraction.

It was cold near London Eye and windy too. Now that I think about it, I wonder if River Thames’s proximity to London Eye, was the reason for this chillness in the air. A half an hour ride on the London Eye, seeing River Thames at one’s feet, the skies seemingly closer and with a bird’s eye view of London city, this certainly was one jolly fantastic ride.

While at a short duration stop at a shop to see the souvenirs available, we were informed by the security person at the shop that it was time for them to close and we had to step out. As we were standing outside the shop, waiting for one of our friends to come, it was really really cold, even with all the wollens. We went up to the security and asked him if we could stand inside for a few minutes till they are ready to close. He said, “No. You get used to the cold by standing outside.” Rude or is it just their way of speaking straight what has to be and / or needed to be spoken?
It was late enough and the stomach was grumbling for food. Searching for a place to have dinner and we walked and walked and walked and finally found a place (did we really walk so much or that hunger made me think that we walked so much). It was a place that served Indian cuisine too, much to our delight. After 5 days of eating just bread, croissants, cornflakes, chocos, pasta and pizza and imagining the idli, vada, dosa, sambar, chutney and paratha, finally Indian cuisine. This was a feast to the eyes and to the stomach. What a start to the weekend!!!
The next day started early for us as we needed to finish our breakfast by 6.45 and be at the tube station at 7, to reach our destination by 8. The destination was the boarding point for an organized tour to Stratford upon Avon (the birthplace of William Shakespeare), Bath (known for its Roman architecture) and Stonehenge (prehistoric monument of standing stones).
It was a challenge to reach the boarding point as we were lost trying to locate it. That was when we realised that if we don’t ask people for directions we are not going to get there on time. And even if we do ask, we need to word the question correctly. When I asked two gentlemen who were traveling together, “Would you be able to guide us on how to reach this place?” (stating the name of the place, of course :-)), their response was “No, we won’t be able to guide you?”. I was stunned at their answer and in that pressure of getting late in reaching the boarding point, I thought they were rude. When I thought about it later, they actually just answered my question and they perhaps were also new and hence did not know enough to guide us.
We reached the boarding point and were the last ones to board the bus. It did not feel nice to be the last ones to board, with so many others waiting for us. Wonder if the bus would have left if we were a few more minutes late!! Another realisation that came – everyone who is delayed has their own valid reason for it, though it may seem frustrating for the people who are made to wait.
The day was spent more on the bus than in the three places that we visited that day. However in each of the places, we had a more than an hour to wander around. In both Stratford at Avon and Bath, more than the actual places to see, walking on the streets, looking at shops and just walking around was wonderful.
In Stratford upon Avon, there were people dressed up in the characters of Shakespeare’s plays on the streets, with whom one can be photographed. The souvenir store here was a treasure trove, with books, posters, cards, magnets and key rings with Shakespeare’s work and quotations. While waiting at the billing counter, I met this charming lady who is from Scotland. As we were talking about the Scottish Kilt, she shared some information on it – the Scottish Kilts are otherwise called Tartans. Each clan has a unique Tartan pattern. When these Tartans are worn for festivals and occasions, one can identify the clan that they belong to, by looking at the pattern on the tartan. There are times when you meet a stranger with whom you strike a chord and wish you had some more time to spend with them. She was one of those 🙂

 

Bath had many many small shops that sold different things – right from clothes to antiques to chocolates to cigars to souvenirs. There was one shop that sold idols of gods of different ‘faiths’. Interesting to see the idol of Shiva and Ganesha and Buddha also. It would have been wonderful to see the various rooms in the Bath but for the long queue that was standing to see it.
It was here that we saw many weddings happening, with the bride and the groom in their bridal finery walking on the road, amongst so much crowd. It was a different experience to see a bridal couple perhaps in their early 60’s getting married. When they were on the road being photographed, walking along with them were bridesmaids, the best man and a few others; all of them in the same age as the bridal couple. The yearning for a companion who we hope and wish will be always there for us and more so when we grow older, seems to be a universal phenomenon. Just that in some cultures, age does not matter in seeking that companion and being wedded to them also 🙂

 

Stonehenge – what attracted me was the nature – lush green landscape, clear blue skies with pristine white clouds adding their beauty and a weather that was neither warm nor cold, but just a welcoming one. To me, the stones were just ‘nice to see’ and ‘nice to hear about’. There were the audio phones that we could listen to at every spot. I was sure there was a mismatch in where I was standing and the description that was being given about the spot. I hence could not see what was being described. Within the first couple of spots, I gave up listening and just kept looking around at the landscape more than the prehistoric stones.

 

There are times when small things gives you happiness. It was finding hot chocolate at the cafeteria at Stonehenge, after a wonderful day, that gave happiness for me. I wanted to jump with joy!! Is this really me?
Another lovely day came to an end and it was back to a waiting bus once again. “Whew, again??” was a question that would have been in many a person’s mind in the bus. Seriously, not acceptable but no justifications either. Being always a few minutes ahead of time on every situation otherwise, this was certainly not our day.
It was back to hearing the slightly accented voice of our tour guide. If the voice was anything to go by, she is not a native of UK but has been perhaps living there for quite some time. More about her, the rest of the evening and the remaining part of our stay in London, in the second and final part of the finale.
Oh my!! Where is the plant with all its blossoming buds? Ah, there it is, sitting in that cozy corner, warming up to London and looking up to the sun with all admiration. This plant is a little different and knows that it will blossom fully in another day and is waiting for that moment to happen 🙂
I am sorry to make you readers wait for the ending. I miscalculated the amount of sharing to be done, you see :-(.  Well, as you wait for the second and final part of this finale , you may choose the option of reading once again, the beginning, the middle and the first part of the finale and also enjoy the pictures.