Weekend @ London

The much awaited text is here!!!.. At the outset, would like to thank my old pal venkat & family for making this happen.. Had been discussing with him for a long time and as usual the prolonged inertia continued.. He had been in brighton, UK and had been there for a while..

I regret posting this blog after a long time, and by the time I had completed drafting this text I feel I have forgotten most of the things turned out at the weekend.. But thanks to my initial enthusiasm, I had drafted most of this text within a week after I traveled to London.. But one thing which I promised to publish in this blog was the super human statement by Ramya Venkat “The slip of the tongue is not the fault of the mind” which I can recollect very easily and I think I have only written it partially.. Though I cannot re-instate the context of the same, I can reproduce this much…

After so many hindrances, got my visa done with the British Consul and was ready to fly there for the first time.. Was checking out with some offers on the net to save some cost, got hold of this cost-effective airline RYANAIR and got hold of tickets for 28 Euros(Round Trip), at least that was what I saw on their site at that point.. Thought this was the deal I was looking for and immediately booked my tickets with my credit card.. But at the end of the trip I thought the regular fares would have been better..

Was the day of departure was all set to leave from the dusseldorf airport, when I ultimately destined to the airport, met a colleague who had traveled earlier with Ryan Air.. He mentioned that Ryan Air doesn’t normally take off from the Dusseldorf Airport and he showed me the directions to the right airport which was damn far from the city.. I thanked my luck that I met him on my way, because I had to take a different route to catch the flight, had to change two trains and ultimately catch a taxi to reach to the airport..

London welcomed me at the Stansted Airport which is also miles far from city, but somehow with the help of a few links sent by Venkat, I was able to catch up with some accommodation in Stansted.. It was called the Days Inn hotel and I was really misinformed by the name.. I thot it would be a 3 star and would have all facilities looking at the cost of it, but it was just another miserable place without a phone in the room.. I had called him from the airport and mentioned him that I would reach the Hotel in about half an hour, managed to reach in that time, but there was no phone in the room.. Had dumped my luggage and went to check out at the reception if I had got any calls, the female receiving ppl, was happily gossiping with her boy friend on the only phone.. Got really irritated and told her that I may receive a call there and then she gave a small break to her mouth and put the receiver down.. Next moment got his call and was discussing my fate with him, and had briefly planned the course of action for the next morning..

I cursed myself for such foolish planning, but luckily my nit-pickings ended there.. Then had a brief breakfast and then set out for Victoria Station.. Boarded a bus starting from Stansted Airport, reached Victoria to get a hostile reception from the Venkat & Ramya at the station.. After a short conversation we moved to the few happening places nearby for a couple of clicks.. Had a brief time at the Big Ben, The London Eye, The British Parliament.. Venkat was sharing his prowess with some conventions of statues out there and the significance of the leg of the horse which was in the air.. He had mentioned if the left leg of the horse was in the air, the person in the horse was murdered and some stuff which I didn’t seem to understand..

Then while walking back from there we decided to go to East Ham for lunch, for me the most anticipated thing from London. I have forgotten many localities which I saw in London but I cannot forget this place and had a unlimited meals at “Vasantha Bhavan”.. Of course not like India, in a sense that was really unlimited, had a taste of 90% south Indian out there.. Had offered my inquisition to employee of the hotel and advocated the need of such restaurants in Germany where many Indians and Slkans live, also gave my address and fone no to them in case they had some plans..

Then I had told him that I had been visiting lotta cities in Europe and I wanted to refrain myself from museums, churches this time and wanted to check out on a different theme this time.. Wanted to visit some legendary venues like Lords, Wimbledon etc. So, my friend conformingly took me to those venues..

I had a delusion that Wilbledon was a name of a tournament, and after being there, I realized that it was the name of the locality in London where ppl specialized in Lawn Tennis.. Though it took a considerable time to reach there I thot it was worth watching, but one more bulb.. There was no tour since after lunch we were pretty tired and reached there at 4 pm..As always, typical Venkat criticizing that I was not bothered to visit many places in London and all the way I had been trying to influence him that my trip was made once we entered Vasantha Bhavan..

And then we visited the Legendary Lords, had a brief tour over there. We had clicked a few snaps over there and then proceded to the Buckingham palace. Though we could not see the guard changing ceremony in action, that was my bad luck, there was no ceremony on that day I went there.. We also visited a few temples in and around London, the one which I remember is Swamy Narayana temple which was awesome.. Such a huge temple, It was great to visit there and spent a few hours at the temple.. I also remember visiting Saravana Bhavan (East Ham) and had a relishing time out there...

After the same returned to Stansted Airport for my early morning flight to Dusseldorf, which was again a mishap, reached office late and got chewed by my PM…