10 @ London

One word, good experience. After lot of mess, i got my final travel date, May 25th. This time, it was Emirates and an unusual stop Dubai as a part of cost cutting. Dubai is wonderful place to stop by, but 16 hour journey to London is unusual. How ever, one of my friend always desired to see me in Dubai, i got a chance to stay there for 4 hours at least. I did some window shopping so that i can plan some purchase during my return.

Finally i landed at one of the busiest airport, Heathrow. It was 9 PM but i just felt like 6 PM. I collected my baggage and walked towards customs. I hardly saw 3 customs officers taking care of 3 passengers and rest of the people on their way to exit. I didn't expect this poor security check. I came out and i took a cab towards Harrow. I assumed some honesty with cab people and didn't check distance and fare much before. He charged me 69 pounds, which is thrice the normal fare ( I realized it on the 10th day).

I have passed all the congested roads and this cab driver has shown no mercy towards traffic. Finally he dropped me in front of a big apartments. I just entered my apartment, where 2 other office colleagues were staying. The kitchen was in horrible shape with lot of cockroaches and other insects (caterpillar i guess). The less i explain other stuff, the better i feel about the place i stayed.

Next morning, i took Oyster card and took tube towards client place. There is nothing much to explain from here as the days passed by like that.

On the week end, we visited near by pub and had some good time. Next day, i accompanied my friend during shopping as he was leaving to India. From that Sunday, i am alone at guest house (2 people left). On Sunday, I visited London Eye (which is supposed to give a clear picture of London during flight, as i don't have map or any other guide, The journey went on all assumptions about London). Next visit is to West Minister's abbey, which bags lot of history and it was amazing to see how English people preserve their old monuments. Next visit is to Madame Tussuad's or other wise known as Wax museum. It contains truly a wonderful collection to attract all kind of people from all places and some wonderful work. I got confused some times when i see the wax statue of some unknown person and a real person having photograph with it. It was a fun.

Next day, i booked a ticket for a cricket match(India versus Newzealand T20 match) at Lords. I always wanted to visit London once and i did it. Pleasure watching Indian team playing at one of the best cricketing venue. It was fun watching the match though India lost. You're not alone when you watch Indian cricket. I just walked back to Baker street station, on the way i saw 221 B, Baker street (The famous Sherlock Holmes Home).

I wanted to visit other places, but had to return to Mumbai on Friday due to personal reasons and turned back. Again via Dubai to Mumbai. I did minimum shopping at Dubai.

I could have made it to Oxford, tower bridge, Cambridge if i had some time and Rome, Scotland if i got schengen visa and time.

Overall, it was a good short visit to England. I enjoyed the public transport, the old buildings and Lords Cricket ground.