Friday Flowers, Purple Flowers

Purple Flowers (Clicked in London, November 2007)

If you know the name please drop a line. If you know about a website that lists flower names accessibe to a lay leader plese let me know.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Tower Bridge, London

Tower Bridge, London on a Cloudy Day (November, 2007)

Road Side Sale, London

Colorful Brooches on a Road Side Sale (London, May 2009)

I was drawn to the colors of these Brooches on a road side sale in London. At pound 15 price tag I was quite content to just look at them and other such stuff.

Telephones from the Past!

Telephones with a Dial, A Thing of Past (London, May 2009)

I was looking at this picture and it dawned upon me that I have used such phones when I was growing up! And now they end up in antique sale! The way time changes.

Colorful Jewellery at London Streets

From a Roadside Sale in London

I was rummaging through my pictures of the UK 2009 trip and hence this flood of images from UK. And even though I am traveling from Friday, I have scheduled posts, mostly images from UK only.

Road Side Sale, London

And for the stuff in the pictures above, I was quite content to look and take pictures.

Change of Guards- Buckingham Palace, London

Change of Guards at the Buckingham Palace, London (May 2009)

Lazy Sunday Photo- Charing Cross Bridge, London

Charing Cross Bridge at Night, Central London

Lazy Sunday Photo- Ferrari Store, Regent Street, London

Ferrari Store, Regent Street, London

No I didn't go in, just took a peek from the door and clicked a few pictures.

Friday is for Flowers- Yellow Rose

Yellow Rose with Dew Drops

Remember my Grey and drizzling London day? While I was walking with my school friend (whom I had met after 20 years) to catch a train, I found this rose and I of course had to stop and take a picture. Flowers make for such a pretty picture.

Mustard Fields on the Oxford-London Highway

Mustard Fields on the Oxford London Highway

I took this picture of the mustard fields from a moving bus while going back to London from Oxford. And what the eyes saw was much better than what I could capture with the camera. I have also discovered that however much I try to stay awake and take in the scenes I sometimes fall asleep on the way, like on this bus ride. And then I wonder what did I miss!

Grey London Day!

Victoria Memorial on a Grey Day, London

The day I was roaming around in London in May 2009 was completely grey, cold and at times there was a light drizzle too. No, I am not complaining but all the photographs have a well, grey look. And I had just this one day in London. What gave me comfort is that many face this problem. I was reading Phil Coome's Blog on the BBC and one of their award winning photographers talk about grey days, sunny days and traffic accidents too-

I had seen the 'English garden' hoarding before, but always on grey days, and had thought to myself that I would stop sometime when it was
sunny. "That day (a year ago this week) I was driving past and saw the
cumulus clouds and blue sky - so I indicated and filtered into the right turn
lane. ...

London Train Announcements

London Train Announcements

I unfortunately misplaced my 'mind the gap' file while I was moving it on my cell phone (Nokia 6275) so that I could copy it to the computer. Here is something that remains in another audio file but as I said, unfortunately, no mind the gap. Maybe if I go to London ever again I will make sure to get a good recording and save it safely.

As usual for visuals I am rotating some pictures.

Scorching Hot Weather!

Ice Cream Van Near London Eye

It is so scorching hot in New Delhi at the moment that all I could think of posting is the London fog and ice cream van near the London Eye. I mean my brain is trying to shut down, even though I can handle summer quite easily. Can't believe it that just a month ago I was cribbing about the weather being too cold at UK.

Regent Street, London, Underground

Regent Street, London, Underground

The last day in London (May 2009 trip) was such an overcast and Grey. My friend from school and I still decided to brave it out. This shot is of Regent Street in London. I liked the stark colors of the day and the contrast provided by the Underground sings and the red buses. What I didn't notice at that time was that only one lamp was glowing above the underground sign! And what a cold I caught by the end of this trip!

UK 2009 Pictures

Piccadilly Circus, London

While I am posting some pictures from UK, I am off to trek in Himachal Pradesh tomorrow. Rarely do I get to travel like this!

Unfortunately things have been so hectic that I am not able to schedule any posts. So more when I come back.

Lazy Sunday Photo- Big Ben, London

Big Ben, Picture taken Near Westminster Underground Station (May, 2009)

I like walking out of the Westminster Underground Station. As you walk you are looking at enclosed walls and then when you are out, suddenly this huge and magnificent structure stares in your face. I had done the same in 2007 and being November I remember the cold blast that greeted me along with the grand structure as well! You can see in the picture that even in May it was Grey, cloudy and a little wet and along with a thin sweater I had borrowed my friend's jacket too!

This time I found using the underground a little easier. I realized that if I quickly scan the Victoria line and the Jubilee Line I would be fine. I need not even look at the others. But I learned a new fact about the underground. Even if you have a valid ticket sometimes the entry/exit gates would not open. Then I had to approach an officer in the green vest and after looking at my ticket they would give me one of their own and viola the gates would open again.

Changing the Guards at the Buckingham Palace, London

The Video of the Guards Coming Out of the Buckingham Palace, Changing the Guards

After my official work in Oxford was over I was visiting and staying back with two school friends whom I was meeting after 20 years. It is really amazing that we found each-other via the internet. again And friends with whom you went to school from KG to 12th, it is amazing that you can exactly pick up from where you left! I went to my friend's place in London and then we left for Manchester the next day. Stayed there for one day before returning to London in the evening. So it was my last day in UK that was for roaming around in London with my friend. We had no set plans, and when I suggested my friend to look up for changing the guards at the Buckingham Palace she found that we could go and see it.

The Friendly Policeman on Duty

The website says the changing takes place at 11.30 am in May. They also advice you to take your place by 11.15 am. Both of us could not figure out why. We took the underground, got down at the Green Park Station and walked to the palace. And then we realized why they wanted us to come in a little early!

The Change of Guards at the Buckingham Palace, London

If you do not reach early enough, you will see the changing of the guards only in someones display screen! When we reached there all the places near the railings of the plaace had a thick crowd. So we decided to stand near the Victoria Memorial. You can change places easily around the circle and see the bands walking in. Once the bands enter the palace, the Victoria Memorial however is not the place where the action is. So both of us walked towards the palace and could see what was happening inside only in someone's LCD.

We then came near the ropes, there was less crowd. And the friendly policeman was chatting with the crowd. He told us that his horse was due to retire in a year. When someone asked where, he said, "Hopefully with me." Then she asked, "So will you retire too?" He said, "No, 7 more years to go, it has been 30 already!" He told us, "The first band to come out will walk to the right but don't move, the next will come this way." A lady in the crowd asked if she could take a picture with him after the bands were gone, he said, "Unfortunately I would have to go with the bands." But a while later he said, "Go ahead, you can take one now." He also remarked sometime, "This is not such a good job during the winters and the change happens even when there are no tourists." True enough the schedule mentions all kinds of weather exceptions.

We were second from the rope (on the other side from the railings of the palace), waiting for the guards to come out. The two girls in front of us got a call and decided to leave. My friend and I quickly took their places. Ad that is how I managed to make the video and saw the guards coming out. Oh and it was a typical London day, Grey, cold (to me) with a light drizzle. And I enjoyed it a lot.

Leeds, London and Oxford in Pictures

Leeds, London and Oxford in Pictures

Lazy Sunday Photo- Digging up from Old London Photos

The Red Sightseeing Bus- London

I have taken a tour on the Red Bus in Oxford but not in London. I must say it is a nice concept but why take a bus when you can walk? I have walked a lot around Oxford and a little around London. And if I was ever to do it again, I would like to walk even more.

I have slogged and slogged in January, and went to Gwalior for work. Let us see how I fare in February, I have no complaints with slogging but I wish I will be able to pull of a weekend trip this month.

The British Museum London

British Museum London

I took this picture at the British Museum in November 2007. The exhibition 'First Emperor' was at the museum but the entry fee to that particular section was low double digit pounds (was it near 17 or 12, can't remember) and I gave it a miss. Also, I had so little time at London that I have hardly glanced through some of the sections of the museum. And to be honest, after a while I start craving to get outdoors!

Big Ben and the Parliament House at Night, UK

Big Ben and the Parliament House at Night, UK

I have seen a lot of pictures of the UK Parliament House and the Big Ben on the net and in many of those I would find the bridge featured on the right in this picture. I had completely forgotten its existence and would wonder how did I miss it. I re-looked at my pictures and sure enough, I too had photographed it. Well, it was so wide that I quite forgot that it was here I spent quite some time standing and freezing in the cold weather yet enjoying every minute of it.

Sheldonian Theater, Oxford, UK

In fact, the last year same day I was in Oxford, roaming around the town on a Halloween night. And enjoyed every minute of that too.

Lazy Sunday Photo- A Little Bit of London

Trafalgar Square, London

Tower of London

Millennium Bridge and St. Paul's Cathedral, London

The London Eye at Night

Hyde Park, London

The Marble Arch, London

The Gates to Buckingham Palace, London

Butler's Wharf, London

When in Rome ... A Few Things that Scare Me!

I have been abroad only a few times and every time for work, I don't think we have the courage (nor do I have a big salary) to spend that kind of money on a vacation. So, I never know when will I manage to land up in a new/foreign country next! That probably keeps the charm alive but I wonder if I traveled abroad often would it ever become routine for me?That reminds me of a friend who was made to travel so much that he told his manager "you are moving me around like a piece of luggage" and he was complaining about being sent to Hawaii again!

So to put the record straight I love to travel a lot and I also like to travel abroad if I get an opportunity even if it is for work. But then there are some aspects of foreign travel that feel so strange!

London Underground

I am so used to the hustle and bustle of the Indian railway stations that when I encounter a platform like the one in the picture above, I used to freak out. I remember waiting for a train in Bologna that would go to Venice. I read the information board and proceeded to the platform at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time only to find it completely deserted. I was so confused that I actually went and rechecked if I was at the correct platform! When the train finally arrived not more than 10 people would have boarded it. So, now when I encounter a scene like the one above I do not get dazed but calmly wait for the train to arrive and it always does.

Tower Bridge, London, UK

Hanging on to the passport is another thing that becomes an obsession with me. I mean even in really beautiful areas (I liked the Tower Bridge area) you hang on to the hand bag that contains the passport with all your might.

Once when I was taking a flight to Amsterdam from New Delhi, I was filling some form and took the passport out to fill the passport number. And then I went to exchange some currency. In the line for currency exchange there was a gentleman ahead of me and the young lad at the counter asked for his passport. A bell went in my head and I immediately realized that I had left my passport at the place where I was filling up my form! I ran back and I had panicked quite badly. I stood at the spot desperately trying to locate my passport but could not find it. Then a kindly voice called, saying "Are you by any chance looking for this?" and he was pointing a finger to the passport that was lying exactly at the same place where I had left it, right in front of my eyes and yet I was unable to see it! Imagine if that happened at a foreign airport!

Lazy Sunday Photo- Glass Structure at Thames

I rarely click modern structures but I liked this one near the Tower Bridge in London. Unfortunately I do not know the name of the building (can see Norton Rose written in front) but this one is quite close to Thames River.

Update- As Sunil has pointed it out in the comment section, this seems to be part of More London. Thanks Sunil.

Lazy Sunday Photo- The Millennium Bridge (Nicknamed Wibbly Wobbly), London

The Millennium Bridge, London (Also Nicknamed Wibbly Wobbly Bridge)

I crossed the Millennium Bridge (though I didn't know its name while crossing) after roaming around the St. Paul's Cathedral area. In the background one can see the Tate Modern (at that time I didn't know that the entry is free). And as I was reading these lines again, I can see what a well researched traveler I am!

Anyway, it was later on Sunday when I took the cruise on Thames (I like to think of it as a boat ride rather than a cruise) that I came to know that this is the Millennium Bridge. The excellent commentary we had on the boat, we were told "this is the Wibbly Wobbly Bridge, also known as the Millennium Bridge. As soon as it opened it vibrated so bad that it had to be closed down, so we like to call it the Wibbly Wobbly Bridge."

Around Buckingham Palace, London

Taken on a evening in November, 2007, near Buckingham Palace, London

Lazy Sunday Photo- Ice Cream on London Streets

Ice Cream Van- Near Tower Bridge, London

No, no, I didn't even think of eating an ice cream in the November cold in London but I liked the scene. And to put it on record I do not like cold weather and it is cold right now in and around Delhi. I envy people who go about unconcerned in the cold weather and it does not bother them in the least. Like my nephew, he is sitting in two warm shirts, while I have packed myself up, sitting in front of TV waiting for Australian Open Men's final to begin.

A Boat Ride on Thames at Night

British Airways London Eye (Sore?)- As Described on the Boat Ride on Thames

I really liked the boat ride I took on Thames on the trip to UK. We all know the pound to rupee exchange rate. You have to give more than 80 rupees to get even one of those pounds. So, spending was not what I was looking forward to in the UK. But then we both have been earning for quite sometime and now I have come to the stage that if I wish, I will really not bother myself over spending in the vicinity of 10 pounds. That is approximately what a boat ride on the Thames cost me (I think it was 6.70 or 7.60 pounds actually).

I took the boat ride from Westminster to the Tower Bridge and back. I decided to come back because I did not wish to negotiate my way from Tower Bridge Underground to Victoria station (remember my sense of direction?).

It definitely was cold that day but not unbearably so. I had no clue what to expect. The night view was great and I was trying very hard to use the SLR on the moving boat (without too much success). The people navigating the boat were the best thing to happen on this ride.

On the ride to the Tower Bridge, the person started (and these are not the exact quotes but paraphrases from memory), "Ladies and Gentlemen, we are not professional tour guides, we work with Thames river authority. Still, if you wish we can offer you a commentary, so those in favor of it please raise your hand." I was quite busy with the camera, so didn't raise my hand. Then came the voice "So, only three to four hands are up, maybe we should not." Hearing this I raised both my hands.

I do not remember all of what they said but some of it was really witty and caustic. Like one of the first things that you can see on this trip is the London eye. So they would say, "Ladies and gentleman, on your right is the British Airways London Eye sore (in a dead serious voice) and if you have not been taken for a ride by the BA till date this your chance to be taken for a ride."

Blurred Picture from the Moving Boat on the Thames

In a similar fashion they would make fun of so many things modern. The bluish building above apparently was referred as a 'blue carbuncle' by someone (did they say Tony Blair?). Our boatman rightly likened it to the pit of a nuclear reactor (OK, OK, I have not seen the pit of a nuclear reactor but I like his analogy better). The things that got a favorable word were monuments like Saint Paul Cathedral or Tower of London.

I remember I changed my position once on the moving boat to try and click a better picture on the other side. I must say the person at the helm had his eyes all they way on me till I settled down again. No, I did no fancy a dip at night in Thames in that cold weather. Still, I was thankful for the concern.

On the way back I heard the same stories again but then I still liked them! Also, this was my last day in UK and I was wondering if it would be four years again till I go abroad? Before this I was in Italy four years back and now that I write this, I realize I have blogged very little about it.

Remember the Mind the Gap Post?

Mind the Gap- On London Tube

A few days back I wrote about mind the gap announcements on the London tube. Then I got a mail from Steve of Gonomad sending me a link to this news-

The woman behind the gentle, even voice which warns London's subway commuters to "Mind the gap" was fired after telling a newspaper she thought the transit network was dreadful.

Emma Clarke has been recording messages for London's sprawling subway network, popularly known as the Tube, since 1999. In addition to warning passengers to watch their step in walking between subway cars and the platform, she also reads the trains' stops, tells Londoners how long they have to wait until their next ride, and delivers service updates.

Emma Clarke clarified at the BBC-

"What I actually said was that travelling in a Tube train would be dreadful for me, listening to my own voice and seeing the haunted faces of commuters being subjected to me telling them to 'mind the gap'.

"I would find it quite an uncomfortable experience in the same way that when I call a company when I'm their on hold voice and it's me saying - please press 2 for accounts - it's a creepy experience to be honest."

Lazy Sunday Photo- The Big Ben, London

The Big Ben, Westminster, London

The Westminster area was the last place I visited in London. I came out of the train and followed the signs that said 'exit for London Eye.' It was already dark by then. After taking a boat ride on Thames, I headed back to the Westminster train station and then decided to follow the sign 'exit for Westminster.'

The parliament house and the Big Ben were so well lit, I was quite awestruck. I strolled around and took pictures for quite sometime. Being November, I was finding it a bit cold. After a while I didn't know what to do so I just stood and indulged in people watching.

Right next to me a guy was speaking in Hindi (my native tongue) on cell phone and was giving advice on relationships. He was telling his friend (in Hindi) "it is OK whatever relationships she had before marriage but after marriage make it very clear this cannot continue."

A young couple came out of the underground and their jaws dropped in utter amazement at the sight of the area. Then they quickly started clicking pictures. Of course, they had to request others to click themselves all huddled up. This was repeated quite a few number of times with various people (jaw dropping part if they were not a couple). Quite a few requests to take pictures came my way and with a few remarks too, "What a big camera, are you a pro?" Well, the honest answer is I am not. Of course I also asked one couple to take my picture after I had taken theirs.

I really I would have liked to stand there and watch the scene around for a long long time. But by 8.00 pm I was finding the cold too much to handle. So, I crawled back into the underground again to head back to Victoria.

Lazy Sunday Photo- London Underground, Mind the Gap!

Mind the Gap, London Underground, UK

The phrase 'Please Mind the Gap' grew upon me slowly when I used the London Underground and the National Rail for two days. As a station would approach, the announcement system on the train would go crazy, announcing "please mind the gap" again and again. Once or twice it felt OK, then it became amusing. When I went into a souvenir shop later, I saw a mug with the same slogan, "Mind the Gap." Of course, I bought it.

Later, I googled and found this interesting stuff about Mind the Gap on the BBC-

The Recorded Announcement (Male)

The stern, shouting, male voice announcement for 'Mind the Gap' is being phased out. Fortunately, you can download Peter Lodge's 'performance' - and numerous other train announcements - from this Sound File site. As the webmaster of the site says:

His barked orders to cowering passengers continue to ring out in a recording which is already an historical document³.

The Recorded Announcement (Female)

The female voice for the recorded announcement of 'Mind the Gap' is nicknamed 'Sonia' by tube drivers. Why? Because her voice 'gets on yer nerves', they collectively reply.

Apparently 'Sonia' is thought to be a bit too posh in some circles. In recent tests somebody mimicking the voice of Marilyn Monroe proved to be a favourite.

Mind the Gap on the National Rail, Somewhere Between Victoria and Sutton

Pretty Young Things at the Hyde Park, London

Three Young Girls at Hyde Park, London, UK

While I was taking a stroll (with a colleague) at the Hyde Park, caught a glimpse of these three young girls ahead of us. They were speaking a foreign tongue but one could still make out the excitement in their voices. When they went some distance ahead of us, I thought they made a pretty beautiful picture along with the prop on the right and the colors of the park.

And to my complete surprise, the young lady in the middle suddenly stood on her hands and her friends merrily took her pictures. That is what London does to some people!

You Can Go Anywhere You Want!

The Parliament House and the Big Ben, Westminster, London

I was standing in the London underground at Westminster (near Big Ben and London Eye). I wanted to go to London Victoria. My sense of direction is absolutely pathetic, I can get lost even in a telephone booth if it has two exits. I had no clue which platform to go or which line to take. I of course had a map of the underground but maps always look like a tough puzzle to me, not yielding any clues about anything.

My best bet is to ask others and I have always benefited from the random kindness of the strangers. I had quickly realized that the people with the green vest (some sort of officials connected with the underground system) were the kindest. So, I approached one and asked "Hi, Can I go to Victoria from here?" I got a big grin and a reply, "You can go anywhere you want!" And then he directed me to the correct platform. I thanked him profusely. I again was told, "The pleasure is all mine!"

I am really grateful to people who give me the directions, because without them, I am dead. And I do hope I will slowly get to go anywhere I want!

Not Yet Home

Fall Colors in London (Picture by a Colleague)

Not home yet but almost at the end of the trip. It was not that cold and yes there has been sun almost on all days. I guess I am getting tired now but in all this has been a wonderful trip. Bigger accounts and more pictures when I come back. And thanks a lot for the comments in the meanwhile.