United Kingdom- 'Mesmerizing' & 'Beautiful'
Trip to UK...
As usual, my travel itch began in the month of November 2011.Since Dec vacations were fast approaching, i didn't want to waste any more time and decided to start the formalities connected with attaining the visa for UK. I am an impulsive traveller :). The weeks that followed were hectic. There were so many documents that needed to be copied and put together for submission at the consulate. At one point of time, I felt frustrated with the whole ordeal. But I guess that the urge to travel to a new locale outweighed any of the discomforts faced during the beginning stages.
The VFS office have now started an exclusive Premium Service in Mumbai South Application Centres where they provide specialised services to customers such as separate Lounge with personalised service by a dedicated staff, Classy ambiance, Faster turnaround time for submission of application, Courier return of passport, SMS alert on the status of application, Photocopy of the documents. How progressive! I am one of those Mumbaikars who’s allergic to serpentine queues ahead of me. Added to that, most times, I have this penchant to miss out on some document copy or the other. So a personalised service and a working XEROX copier sounded good to me. I booked my appointment and was available at the consulate at the appointed hour. After the usual security checks, I was ushered into the premium lounge where the documents would be collected by a consulate representative. I was impressed with the plush interiors within this area. The representative was friendly and quick. I completed the entire process in 10 minutes.
Once I received my visa, it was time to put all my clothes together. That’s another herculean task considering that I can never travel light! I tried my best to avoid packing some of the items that I intended to take with me. Oh well...all I can state is that it was a good try from my end. Once the packing was done, it was time to fly.
Jet airways flight took off as per schedule. I didn’t quite enjoy the flight this time. There was a lot of turbulence and I felt very nauseous. I am sure that the flight attendant was harassed by my constant demands for ice water, lemon slices, the plastic bag in case I got sick, queries on whether a doctor was on board etc. Am sure he would have been more relieved than I was that we reached London on time!!! Good riddance to me.Tee hee! It was kind of strange to see many Asian faces within and outside Heathrow airport. The immigration official was a stern guy who looked like he was having a bad day himself. He wanted to know if someone was meeting me at the airport. Jeez!! How the heck did he know that I had a penchant to lose my way? My sense of direction...it just doesn’t exist. Sigh!!! Anyways, once I assured him that I had some family who would pick me up, he seemed fine to let me move on. My brother and sis in law were waiting for me outside Heathrow airport.
The ride to Maidenhead was pleasant. The climate was great. Once we reached home, there was a nice Christmas lunch waiting for me. Oh...and some awesome wines too!! How can I forget the alcohol!! We ate away some cooked animal/birds on that day. Ahem…and it was Christmas Eve!!!
After having rested, we went to this nice house party organised by friends. The Christmas theme, lovely wines and cheese set up, the ambiance etc was appealing.
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| Boulter's Lock |
On Christmas day, we went to see the Boulter's Lock. Boulter's Lock is a lock and weir on the River Thames in England on the eastern side of Maidenhead, Berkshire. A lock was first built here by the Thames Navigation Commission in 1772. The lock is on the western side of the river between the main (A4094) Maidenhead to Cookham road and Ray Mill Island. The name is also used for the immediate surrounding area. My brother tried his best to explain all the technical details on how the lock was opened and how the water levels got adjusted etc. I think i disappointed him. My enthusiasm was more inclined towards taking additional snaps of this beautiful place.
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| Brother and me |
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| Boulter's Lock as a boat squeezes in and under the bridge |
Christmas day was an excuse to eat and drink again!!! The food was great. The company of friends and family made this day more memorable. We played the Christmas quiz, Dum Charades, Taboo (am miserable at this one!!!). The day ended with some wine and lovely desserts that were served by the host.
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| Westfield Mall |
The Boxing day sale was on the day after Christmas day. I was kind of puzzled as to why it's called Boxing day sale. It sounded like someone boxed your ears and took away your shopping stuff since they desired the same. LOL! As per Wiki, 'Boxing Day' is traditionally a day following Christmas when wealthy people in the United Kingdom would give a box containing a gift to their servants. Today, Boxing Day is better known as a bank or public holiday that occurs on December 26, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. Shopping is always fun. I am sure there are no women on this planet who would state otherwise. (n i think i don't want to hear about those exceptional cases who don't like to shop!!!) We reached the Westfield mall by around 10 am. It's funny but we left the mall by 10 pm. LOL! All of us had a ball. We kind of split in different directions since all of us wanted to shop for different items. My niece was worried that I'd get lost. Now, when it comes to malls, i somehow have a very good sense of direction. LOL!!! Poor sis in law had to spend some of her time in making calls to find out the whereabouts of our group. I was interested in a pair of boots which i found at 'Jones'. Then there was some shopping that needed to be done for my family and few friends. I wouldn't convert the pounds that i spent, into rupees as that would take my joy away. Nor would i want to ponder on the fact that i would get the same stuff at a much cheaper rate at Mumbai. Ahem..don't want to break my bubble of joy!!! Once done, we travelled back to Maidenhead at night. Twenty pounds needed to be paid as parking fee. Wow! We never even realised this until it was time to pay!!! Yikes!
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| I swear on god..all of this is not mine. Just 2 :) |
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| London Paddington |
The next 2 days were spent in exploring London city. We took a train to London Paddington. It was a chilly day but bearable. Once at London Paddington, we walked towards the Marble Arch.
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| Marble Arch as it is now, standing near Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park |
Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument that now stands on a large traffic island at the junction of Oxford Street, Park Lane, and Edgware Road, almost directly opposite Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park in London, England.The arch was designed in 1825 by John Nash as ceremonial entrance to the new Buckingham Palace,which he was then rebuilding from the former Buckingham House. Until 1851 it stood in front of Buckingham Palace.In 1851 the arch was moved to its present location,when the new east range of the palace was built, closing in the courtyard. A popular story says that the arch was moved because it was too narrow for the Queen's state coach to pass through, but, in fact, the gold state coach passed under it during Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.[courtesy- Wikipedia]
Speaker's corner- A Speakers' Corner is an area where open-air public speaking, debate and discussion are allowed. The original and most noted is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park in London, United Kingdom. Speakers there may speak on any subject, as long as the police consider their speeches lawful, although this right is not restricted to Speakers' Corner only.[courtesy- Wikipedia]
Hyde Park- Hyde Park is one of the largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of London, famous for its Speakers' Corner. South of the Serpentine is the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial, an oval stone ring fountain opened on 6 July 2004. To the east of the Serpentine, just beyond the dam, is London's Holocaust Memorial. Another memorial in the Park commemorates the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks, in the form of 52 steel pillars - one for each of the dead.
From here on, we took the 'hop on, hop off tour' of London in those double decker buses which i love. The 'Big Bus' Tour is designed to take you to all of London’s famous landmarks: Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral and The Tower of London are just some of the iconic places you will discover.
'Big Bus tours' are great and highly recommended. Apart from the bus tour, their ticket includes a river tour, 4 guided walking and free vouchers (which we forgot to pick up). Also, the second day of the tour is absolutely free!!! The ticket sellers are friendly folks. Their instructions are easy to follow even for someone who's direction challenged like me. So go for it!!! We did the bus tour and the river tour. The river tour was fabulous. The person who does the commentary had an awesome sense of humour. I didn't get the time to do a guided walking tour but that's on my 'to do' list for later.
Most of the photographs that i clicked from here on, really sucks. I was fascinated/curious in seeing/hearing about places and to be honest, i forgot to click. When i did, it turned out to be disastrous. Sigh!!! Nyways..it happens!!! Another issue was my thinking which was still running as per IST hrs despite being in London. The city gets dark by 4 pm during this time of the year. Some of my snaps are jet black though it's only 4 pm. Oh well...at least they are stored in my memory!
Big Ben and the Houses of ParliamentThe Houses of Parliament, or Palace of Westminster, has been the home of the English political system since the 16th century, and the seat of British government for over 200 years.The building we see today was designed in 1835 by Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. It is built in the Neo-gothic style and building work took thirty years. When completed the new Palace of Westminster changed London’s skyline forever. The Parliament Clock tower rises 316 feet above London and is fronted by the world’s largest four-faced chiming clock. It is often referred to as ‘Big Ben’, but Big Ben is actually the name of the main bell, located deep within the tower.The tower is one of London’s most iconic landmarks and one of the most recognisable buildings in the world.
Tower Bridge opened in 1894 and is now one of the most instantly recognised landmarks in London. Tower Bridge’s medieval style leads many to presume the bridge is much older, but it was purposely designed to complement its close neighbour the Tower of London.Tower Bridge is sometimes mistakenly referred to as London Bridge,[3] which is the next bridge upstream.The bridge was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by The Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII), and his wife, The Princess of Wales (Alexandra of Denmark)
The London Eye- The Merlin Entertainments London Eye is the largest observation wheel in the world. It stands at 135 metres tall and has 32 pods representing the 32 London boroughs. The wheel was built in 1999 as part of London’s millennium celebrations. It was designed by British architects David Marks and Julia Barfield. Each capsule is capable of carrying up to 25 passengers and it takes 30 minutes to complete one revolution. I didn't get the time to take this ariel tour of London. But it was a nice sight even from a distance. Again, on my 'to do' list. 
Trafalgar Square is the most famous public space in London. It is used for political gatherings and is a centre for national celebration.The Square commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar. A naval battle, fought in the Atlantic in 1805, where the Royal Navy defeated the combined French & Spanish fleet. Admiral Nelson, who led the British fleet, was killed in the battle and became a national hero. In 1816 Parliament decided to erect a monument in his honour and a competition to design Trafalgar Square was commissioned. Nelson’s Column was completed in 1843. The column is 46 metres high and the statue of Nelson that stands at the top of the column is 5.5 metres tall. The height of the column is said to reflect the height of the mainmast on Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory. The Square also acts as a monument to other naval battles and important naval figures. Its famous 4th plinth remains unoccupied and is used for contemporary art installations. [courtesy- Wikipedia]
Piccadilly Circus
This was my favourite part of the city. It reminded me of Times Square in New York city. Piccadilly Circus connects Regents Street, Piccadilly, Shaftesbury Avenue and the Haymarket. It is a very busy thoroughfare, right in the heart of theatre land and famous for the large electronic advertising signs that over look the ‘circus’.Originally built in 1819, the junction takes its name from the latin word meaning ’circle’. The original junction was round, but changes to the layout have altered its shape and traffic now travels in just one direction. The centre piece for Piccadilly Circus is the small statue commonly referred to as Eros but accurately known as Anteros the God of ‘requited love’ Son of Ares & Aphrodite, and brother of Eros. I like the vibrant atmosphere in this part of the city. Only regret is that i didn't get much time to explore this area as we were running short of time.
St Paul's Cathedral One of the most impressive sights on the Big Bus Tour is the glorious view of St Paul’s Cathedral as you approach from Ludgate Hill.This was another favourite place to visit. It was a very spiritual experience for me. I'd request all those who intend to visit this cathedral to dedicate an entire day here. It's vast and covered in History. You need additional time to soak in all the historical details. The baroque interior is just as imposing as the exterior of the church. The mosaics on the ceiling were added in 1890 by William Richmond after Queen Victoria complained that there was not enough color in the cathedral. The baldachin above the altar was built in 1958 after a sketch by Wren after the original was damaged by bombardments during World War II. The only monument in the church that survived the fire of 1666 is the tomb of John Donne, from 1631.The church area is serene and I did spend some time here, conversing with the gods. LOL! Sounds funny but it is nice to contemplate on your life so far and to express your gratitude to god for all that he has blessed you with, in this lifetime. I'd like to thank my sister in law and brother for having sacrificed their free time to take me to visit this lovely cathedral and other places in the city.The beautiful cathedral was designed by London’s most renowned architect, Sir Christopher Wren, following the destruction of the previous building during the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Cathedral was inspired by St. Peter’s in Rome and the magnificent dome of the Cathedral has dominated the London skyline for centuries.The funerals of both Admiral Lord Nelson and the Duke of Wellington were held here and their tombs can be viewed in the crypt, as can the tomb of its creator Sir Christopher Wren. It was also the venue for the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981.St Paul's is built in the shape of a cross, with a large dome crown the intersection of its arms. At 111.3 metres high, it is one of the largest cathedral domes in the world and weighs approximately 65,000 tons. the area under the dome is the principal place for worship in the cathedral.
As part of a personal prayer that i had made to god, i climbed all the steps that led to the galleries mentioned below. It was tedious but i made it to the top. Ahem...my fitness level isn't bordering on 'hopeless' i guess. Yay!!! It's an experience of a lifetime. It's recommended for all those who wouldn't mind climbing narrow, steep steps, who are not scared of heights and who have no health issues. You can't go down the way that you are coming up. Hence you have to be sure on whether you want to really climb those stairs.
The Whispering Gallery-Climb 259 steps up the dome and you will find The Whispering Gallery, which runs around the interior of the Dome. It gets its name from a charming quirk in its construction, which makes a whisper against its walls audible on the opposite side.
The Stone Gallery -The Stone Gallery is the first of two galleries above the Whispering Gallery that encircle the outside of the dome. The Stone Gallery stands at 173 ft (53.4 metres) from ground-level and can be reached by 378 steps.
The Golden Gallery-The Golden Gallery is the smallest of the galleries and runs around the highest point of the outer dome, 280ft (85.4 metres). Visitors that climb the 528 steps to this gallery will be treated to panoramic views of London that take in the River Thames, Tate Modern and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre.
It is one of Europe's largest cathedrals and its dome is only exceeded in size by that of the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep (including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high.George III bought Buckingham House in 1761 for his wife Queen Charlotte to use as a comfortable family home close to St James's Palace, where many court functions were held. Buckingham House became known as the Queen's House, and 14 of George III's 15 children were born there. Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to take up residence in July 1837, just three weeks after her accession, and in June 1838 she was the first British sovereign to leave from Buckingham Palace for a Coronation. Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the Monarch. Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every year.Located in the City of Westminster, the palace is a setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. The tour bus reached the palace by evening time. It was too dark to see much of the palace. Hence we didn't alight at the palace to take a closer look. Maybe next time...:)
Westminster Abbey, is London’s oldest religious building. Its origins go back over 1,000 years to 970AD when a community of monks was established by St Dunstan. A stone monastery was built on the site in 1050 by Edward the Confessor.The Abbey became the coronation site for the Norman Kings and was then substantially developed in the anglo-French gothic style by Henry III who chose the Abbey as his place of burial. The Abbey has been the traditional place for the coronation and burial of English and latterly British monarchs ever since.Over the centuries, the Abbey has been developed by successive Monarchs, particularly Richard II and Henry VII. Its current appearance is an amalgamation of slightly different architectural styles, which give the building a rich and fascinating history |
| No 10 Downing Street |
There were many more sightseeing places that we covered. I guess i'd give all the remaining ones a miss as this blog is getting toooooo long.
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| At Selfridges |
But as an FYI...I also went into to see the beautiful stores in London namely Selfridges and Harrods. Selfridges,(Selfridges & Co), is a chain of high end department stores in the United Kingdom. It was founded by Harry Gordon Selfridge. The flagship store in London's Oxford Street is the second largest shop in the UK (after Harrods) and was opened on 15 March 1909. Selfridge is popularly held to have coined the phrase "the customer is always right". Me and my brother were looking at a 'Kindle' ereader which i wanted to buy one for myself. After that i wandered around the store and came across a small room that had some 'psychics' who conducted thirty minute readings for 49 pounds. I was fascinated by the lady who came out of the room but my brother wasn't very keen to see me spend money on 'dumb' things and thought that the ereader was a better option for me. LOL! Well..this reading is also included in my 'to do' list. Hush!!! I will ensure that my brother is not tagging along with me next time. hehehe!!! It was fascinating to see all the designer items in these stores. You can spend an entire day here and not get bored. At Harrods, we looked around for some momento to carry back to Mumbai but all the items were very overpriced and not worth the money being charged. I really liked the staff who manned these stores. They are extremely helpful and guide you in the right direction, if you ask them for the same. Yeah..you guessed it. I did lose my way. I was looking for the ladies room and wandered away to some other floor. Tee hee!
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| Harrods |
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| Selfridges |
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| Harvester |
During my visit, there were some restaurant visits that were interesting. One of them was a Lebanese joint where we had Shawarma. Shawarma is a meat preparation, where lamb, goat, chicken, turkey, beef, or mixed meats are placed on a spit (commonly a vertical spit in restaurants), and may be grilled for as long as a day. Shavings are cut off the block of meat for serving, and the remainder of the block of meat is kept heated on the rotating spit. The next visit was to a pub named Harvester. I stuck to my usual 'fish and chips'. I thought that the fish would be akin to the 'undernourished' teeny weeny ones that you normally find in Mumbai restaurants, when you order this dish. But to my shock, the fish was a fat and healthy one and it covered the entire plate. Yikes! My usual trait came in the way of my appetite. Most times, I lose my appetite when i see too much of food on the table, while at restaurants. My colleagues and family back home have got into the habit of ordering less food because they know that i'd be wasting some on my own plate. Hehe! Talk about being predictable. Out here as well, my niece finished all the leftover food. God bless her! The icecreams were great but i am still partial to my little 'vanilla' icecream in a kiddy cup. Huge bowls overwhelm me. Overall, i'd give a good rating to all the food we ordered at Harvester. We also visited a Pakstani restaurant during our visit to Southall. I don't remember the name of this place at this point of time. But this place was in Southall and is well known as per my family. I loved the food. We ordered kebabs, Haleem, a paneer dish and a chicken dish.
There are some authentic pubs in UK which are very famous. Believe i saw 2 of them while we were on our way to Windsor. The Hind’s Head pub in Bray dates back to the 15th century.The Fat Duck is now acknowledged as the best restaurant in the world. I was just passing by this area. But I did read their reviews on various internet sites. The food served here sounds yummy, as per most who have recommended them.
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| Fat Duck |
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| Hinds Head |
I loved Windsor. The castle, the quaint cobbled streets, the station, the lovely shops and cafes on the side...the entire atmosphere is extremely charming. History is all around you when you walk around this area. While we did walk around the castle, we never entered inside. We didn't have the time as it was nearly 4 pm and it was getting dark. Most of my snaps came as dark as night. But still, i did manage to click a few in this lovely place. I think it's a personal favorite. I do want to go back someday and explore it in detail.
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| Windsor castle (Courtesy- Wikipedia) |
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| Windsor castle in the background |
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| Eton (courtesy-Wikipedia) |
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| Nooo..i don't want to dance:( |
Until my next travel....
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
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