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Well, the 2nd day was all packed... and leisurely at the same time.. :) venkat was on leave, so he came with us... they have this thing here.. called THE BIG BUS. What this bus does is... it sort of takes tourists around the city.. all the major tourist spots... and there are like hundreds of those buses traveling all around the city... so you can get on a bus, get off at, lets say tower bridge, see it, spend some time, come back and wait for a min or 2 for the next BIG BUS to come by... its all linked... and its great!! :)
Yeah, so we took this bus... and oh i forgot to tell you... the bus is this double decker thingy.. and the first floor is open air.. no roof.. :) and we sat there... and the temperature was around 10-12 degrees.. freezing cold.. :) and i dint want to zip my jacket.. cant tell you how i LOVED it!!! :) ek toh, i think i was luking kinda... cute.. :P and cool.. :P well, wait for the pics.. :) and the whole climate was awesome! and then there was this commentator- LIVE! he talked to the crowd, told us abt the places, a little bit of history, and was a very funny man... he made witty conversation and actually conversed with us... i felt it odd that he spoke to me thru the mic.. that too in a public transport...! imagine a conductor using a mic and asking you how u are and do u like the place... i felt it odd... and then liked it! he was cool.. no, dont worry, he's kinda old.. like dad.. :)
Well, we chose not to get down anywhere.. we just sat in the bus and traveled all around the city just making mental notes that we will come here and here and there sort of thing... other people got on and got off... :) at the end of the trip, we got off at tower bridge... (the tower bridge is often confused with the london bridge..) this is the one we always see.. the one with 2 towers and blue railings... london bridge on the other hand, is plain and sort of flat.. :) ok, so we got off there, went to London tower, saw all the ancient kings' armors and bedrooms... and their crowns and the history behind them.. :) it all was so mersmerising! :D and we saw the famous Kohinoor diamond... it shone so brilliantly!!! i've never seen anything as beautiful...! i swear! seriously... and we were talking to each other- wah, wat a state! we pay, stand in queues and walk with the crowd to see a rich diamond these britishers stole from us only...! but i will give the devil it's due- amazing the way they have maintained their museums and palaces and grounds... and streets... and trees...and just abt anything! :)
Hmm so after the London Tower, we traveled half the way across the city to an expensive "Woodlands" Indian restaurant.. :) and it was nice... the travel also! :) we took wat they call "tubes"- something like Metro... underground.. :) and i thought i'll draw a comparison between the tube and the indian trains.. like amritha express, for example, then decided its really not comparable.. u dont compare an Oberoi and Punjabi dhaba...! :) well, i'll leave the discussion for another time.. :) Well, we had good indian food.. :) and then we went to a cruise(well, they call it a cruise! :P) on Thames river...:) brilliant... mind blowing wind... and numbing chill.. and open boat thingy... no roof over the first floor... and the same commentary thingy again... :D we must all visit london once in our lifetimes... :P just like i told u about Dubai AIRPORT... :) :D
Some interesting things i noticed about London-ers :D
1. Unlike in india, colour of hair is absolutely NO indicator of age! (I've seen almost all shades except green and yellow, i think... think of a dazzling blue, or blood red, or glowing orange...! i've seen it all! :P)
2. During our travel of some 10-12 hours in the city, we spotted 2 bikes. JUST TWO. and both were racing bikes...! :) we saw a few racing cars now and then too ... :) so generally, there are hardly any two wheelers! :)
3. They have a million varieties of BREAD!
Well, took plenty of pics, then got off, took a bus and came back home around 7.30 pm, and the sun set was around 9.15 pm... :D sorry, i cant stop talking abt the time thingy.. i'm still not used to seeing sun rise at 3 am and sun set at 9 pm!! the days are like really really long... :D after we got home, we ordered dinner and hung around with venkat, his roommates and other frens... very nice fun loving chaps... :D:D
i slept off around 11.30 in the night... :) and got up around 7 today morning... :) and venkat said he'd be a little tied up today so he helped us with planning our travel for the day.. motto: Buckingham Palace! :) "I'm goin to london to visit the Queen! " :).. er... her palace only, actually... :P
Chalo, so long then... Until the next post, take care and have fun! :)
PS: I appreciate comments! :)
7 pieces of wisdom:
i know this will kinda surprise you....but yeah v well written ....it brought bak memories of me visting all these places exactly 10 years ago....hv a great time in london n dont forget to visit lords n get some nice cricketing memorabilia for me......jus kiddin ya....hope u hv a nice time and i am sure its q bright till around 11 pm also...hope uve clicked sachinz photo in tussaud though.....njoy yr stay n come bak soon
yeah...i agree that u can compare punjabi dhaba with oberoi.....wat fun can u get sittin in a Oberoi hotel and eatin the bland food by following all those unwanted ettiquettes...
things with uncertainity and imperfection are more enjoyable
.....this is applicable to the trains also
hi... i jus felt am nw kindaa goin in london streets if yu can believe. waitin for the next post!!!
@Bhash: It definitely was a surprise! :) Thank you!
And yes, i've taken pics with your Sachin... :) will mail them to u when i get back to india :)
@Ravi: I did not say that Punjabi dhaba or amritha express is bad! :) They are definitely fun, but in a totally desi way :) and for the record, i love desi! :)
I only meant that both transport systems have their own charms... :)
@Chandu: Thank you, dear :) Will put up the next post soon :)
Very nice and descriptive post,. Kinda makes me jealous here :P starting with the climate to the open roof buses to the cruise on the River Thames.
And things out there seem to have funny names, "Big Bus", "Tubes", "Cruise"
You really saw someone with Blue hair ? :-O
ek toh, i think i was luking kinda... cute.. :P and cool.. :P well, wait for the pics.. :)
ahem ahem :P Nice description I can feel the excitement :P (all over again)
Hey... Gr8 da...I was able to imagine myself going thru the London streets... Keep up the good work dear... I can imagine how much you 've enjoyed the visit and the stay ...
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