Day 3- Exploring on foot :)

Hey :) Thanks for all your responses and comments. Its really overwhelming... :)

Yeah, so... the 3rd day was a fantastic adventure... the 4 of us left home around 10 am... went to the closest bus stop and waited for some 20 mins for our bus "82" to come so we can go to our destination "Victoria" (Buckingham palace). After 20 mins, of shivering in the cold, our bus finally came.. Kichu, Amma and I got into it.. and the bus moved.. we turn around and find Appa standing outside waving and telling us they dint let him inside!! They have a fixed number of people only they will take on board a bus and they stick to it like glue! There is no conductor and the driver checks passes or tickets... :) I asked "her", the driver, if we could get off and she said no.. only in the next stop! We were a little panicky... anyway we got off at the next stop...

Now multiple ideas... shud we cross the road and take another bus back to the old stop, do we just wait here? Do we proceed to Victoria and finally meet Appa there only? We decided that the next 82 will take some time to come and we'll walk back to the previous stop... and we do. And half way down the road, we see an 82 go by and Appa waving to us from inside! :P we cursed the bus and the other curse-able things and started turning around and running to our stop from where the 3 of us got down... :) I was leading... :) Kichu semi-ran behind me and Amma walked.. :) The bus moved again before we reached and thankfully, Appa had spotted us and had gotten down at the bus stop.. :) so we were all re-united!! :D:D hehe

We waited for the next 82 wistfully... we took another bus finally... after almost 45 mins of waiting in the cold... so by now, its almost 2 hours since we left home... and we are still at one stop away from home! :P we decided to eat lunch at our very own "woodlands".. :) and after lunch, we finally decided we'd take a "tube" (metro) to Victoria (that’s the stop closest to the Palace) {wondering if such details are boring...! :P} yeah anyway, all of us continuously had the “lost” sort of expressions and I was the one to ask passers by "hello, good morning, where can I find a tube around here?", they'd smile, and politely direct us and end it with, "have a great day. I hope u like london" ! :) my point here: We seemed lost, in spite of Venkat's clear directions, it was drizzling and cold! Yet, the directions the people gave us were so warm and friendly... it felt so nice... :)

Hmm so we discovered the Palace.. rather re-discovered the palace.. :D and wat a brilliant sight!!! :) Amazing, breath taking.. i'd love to upload pics.. but I dont have the time and patience to sort and upload them now.. will do that when I get back.. :) hmm so we took plenty of pics... PLENTY! :) Different poses, different angles... then we strolled the palace gardens... imagine this: you are standing in a place... and around you, you can only see green... different shades, but only green.. all around you, for miles... for as far as you can see... on all sides!! :) neatly maintained lawns, little white flowers growing in patches, huge trees evenly spaced out, big doves and crows "hopping" and walking in the lawn.. unlike what we might expect- flying! :P and oh I forgot to mention- quiet!!!! Its so peacefully quiet.. you cannot hear a sound! Except the strong winds blowing thru the trees... it was so heavenly... and then it drizzled... :) brilliantly... the skies were grey, the sun peeked form somewhere, the drizzle was there, the lawns were green and I was in heaven :)

We decided we'd head back home as the palace it self is not open for public this time of the year.. only in august or something they open it for public.. at least parts of the palace.. :) hmm so we start walking towards what we think is Victoria junction... and we walk and walk and walk... turn around corners, talk to passers by, we are a little tired and worn out, we continue walking... Amma's really tired.. me leading the troop.. :) we reach a junction.. we think its Victoria, we discover its Piccadily! :) hehe.. Appa was all panicky... and I just kept on asking people how to get to St. John's wood (thats where we stay)... Appa called Venkat, got the directions again and, we got on the right bus.. now the only thing was to get down at the right stop... and it was a task!! at one of the stops, to our great relief, we found Harish, Venkat's roommate, board our bus.. :) now we could breathe a sigh of relief.. we'd know where ot get off! :) hehe

We got home, changed, sat for a while, changed again and went with venkat(kichu and i) to a near by store to buy some grocery and other stuff... we cooked at home.. :) ready made chappatis but sabzi mom and i made.. :) and everybody loved it.. 9 of us ate.. :) more credit to mom.. :) me dint do much :)

Then peacefully retired to bed... got up late this morning... was contemplating whether or not i have the time to blog now.. so here! the 3rd adventure... exploring london on foot comes to an end... :)

Until the next post, take care, have fun and keep smiling. Thanks once again for all your responses and comments. Hope you continue to enjoy London as much as I am.

Cheers! :)