Finally! After all the nail-biting delays and amidst the nervousness, confusion and excitement, I reached London - my first international trip.
Frankly speaking, I could not believe for initial 2-3 days that I am in London. Every time I travelled the areas around my office and place where I am currently staying I felt that I was in Mumbai, South Mumbai to be precise, everything resembled so well, almost, tall buildings, double-decker buses, trains, platforms, people rushing in and out of the platforms (like what I have seen at Churchgate station in Mumbai). Gradually, however, I started getting the feel of London with so many white people around walking around in business suits, chilling temperature, and shops that displayed price tags in pounds. I am here finally; for all who know what it took me to be here will understand this better.
A week old in London, I have adjusted pretty well and doing quite fine, I have been hogging on non-veg everyday – meat of all sorts with curry, rice, and burgers, and sandwiches, and beers of various types, and so on. Walking through the streets of London, watching the train ticket sliding into a slot from one side and popping out from other, and witnessing a true cosmopolitan culture is amazing is fun. Luckily, I am here during the summer time and it is the best time to be in London, they say, and I am seeing that, people enjoying their time, guzzling down beers, shopping, visiting places etc etc.
While, I am tempted to write about all that I have seen here in London and how I am impressed with certain things, I would rather put it off for the moment, as it will make me sound like a typical Indian who has just travelled to a foreign land and started comparing it with India, there will be more than few who will surely accuse me of that. Nonetheless things that are good are good; some praise does not necessarily mean comparison. For e.g., the public transport is remarkable, especially the overground and underground trains that have very good connectivity across London, frequency, and properly maintained systems. Now this is not a comparison with Mumbai’s rail transportation system, which given all the limitations is still the most efficient rail system in India and I am sure we will advance to required levels one day. What I am actually praising is the automation and use of technology and not the administration. Much like Mumbai, may be not to that scale though, train lines here too get blocked because of rains, interim flood like situations put a particular line to complete halt, there are cancellations, there are delays. The ventilation in the tubes is not that efficient, and when it comes to underground trains, probably nothing can beat our Delhi metro.
I had never liked chocolates; I used to find them very sweet. But I have been having chocolates almost nonstop ever since I came here. Now someone might just stand up and say, “so you find chocolates in London better than those in Mumbai, you forgot that ad – ‘aaj pehli taarik hai’, so typically Indian of you”. Phew! I am blemished for trying to compare India and the land of the gora, hahaha. For some reasons, I liked the chocolates here and it’s about my personal taste…ohh naaa please don’t call me a gaddaar. Aaah, and please if may want to remember Cadbury by ‘aaj pehli taarik hai’ (the most disgusting and irritating ad that Cadburys ever made), ‘kuch khaas hai jindagi mein’ could possibly be a better reminder.
The best fun package was meeting my all time favourite buddy. I have been staying with him since last 4 days and enjoying my days to the fullest. After many years I have enjoyed see him tossing the meat & rice in the pan, preparing exotic dishes, mixing drinks to perfection, and playing carom with him, watching movies, and doing full-on timepass (BC we call it), its all a repeat J-11/13 and it will go on and on.
It all looks very exciting in the start and the amusement fades away eventually, you will get bored with the routine, they say. But I think otherwise, while others might get bored of me, it is difficult for me to get bored of myself and this time along I am in the best of company, and that quadruples the fun by infinite-million times, so boredom ka no chance at all…so-far-so-good, and it will only get better with time.
Frankly speaking, I could not believe for initial 2-3 days that I am in London. Every time I travelled the areas around my office and place where I am currently staying I felt that I was in Mumbai, South Mumbai to be precise, everything resembled so well, almost, tall buildings, double-decker buses, trains, platforms, people rushing in and out of the platforms (like what I have seen at Churchgate station in Mumbai). Gradually, however, I started getting the feel of London with so many white people around walking around in business suits, chilling temperature, and shops that displayed price tags in pounds. I am here finally; for all who know what it took me to be here will understand this better.
A week old in London, I have adjusted pretty well and doing quite fine, I have been hogging on non-veg everyday – meat of all sorts with curry, rice, and burgers, and sandwiches, and beers of various types, and so on. Walking through the streets of London, watching the train ticket sliding into a slot from one side and popping out from other, and witnessing a true cosmopolitan culture is amazing is fun. Luckily, I am here during the summer time and it is the best time to be in London, they say, and I am seeing that, people enjoying their time, guzzling down beers, shopping, visiting places etc etc.
While, I am tempted to write about all that I have seen here in London and how I am impressed with certain things, I would rather put it off for the moment, as it will make me sound like a typical Indian who has just travelled to a foreign land and started comparing it with India, there will be more than few who will surely accuse me of that. Nonetheless things that are good are good; some praise does not necessarily mean comparison. For e.g., the public transport is remarkable, especially the overground and underground trains that have very good connectivity across London, frequency, and properly maintained systems. Now this is not a comparison with Mumbai’s rail transportation system, which given all the limitations is still the most efficient rail system in India and I am sure we will advance to required levels one day. What I am actually praising is the automation and use of technology and not the administration. Much like Mumbai, may be not to that scale though, train lines here too get blocked because of rains, interim flood like situations put a particular line to complete halt, there are cancellations, there are delays. The ventilation in the tubes is not that efficient, and when it comes to underground trains, probably nothing can beat our Delhi metro.
I had never liked chocolates; I used to find them very sweet. But I have been having chocolates almost nonstop ever since I came here. Now someone might just stand up and say, “so you find chocolates in London better than those in Mumbai, you forgot that ad – ‘aaj pehli taarik hai’, so typically Indian of you”. Phew! I am blemished for trying to compare India and the land of the gora, hahaha. For some reasons, I liked the chocolates here and it’s about my personal taste…ohh naaa please don’t call me a gaddaar. Aaah, and please if may want to remember Cadbury by ‘aaj pehli taarik hai’ (the most disgusting and irritating ad that Cadburys ever made), ‘kuch khaas hai jindagi mein’ could possibly be a better reminder.
The best fun package was meeting my all time favourite buddy. I have been staying with him since last 4 days and enjoying my days to the fullest. After many years I have enjoyed see him tossing the meat & rice in the pan, preparing exotic dishes, mixing drinks to perfection, and playing carom with him, watching movies, and doing full-on timepass (BC we call it), its all a repeat J-11/13 and it will go on and on.
It all looks very exciting in the start and the amusement fades away eventually, you will get bored with the routine, they say. But I think otherwise, while others might get bored of me, it is difficult for me to get bored of myself and this time along I am in the best of company, and that quadruples the fun by infinite-million times, so boredom ka no chance at all…so-far-so-good, and it will only get better with time.
Comments
Try the Abbot Ale already man. I know I've said it a lot and that may have taken up your expectations, but I'll give another advice: stay away from Guinness, I did too :)
Your initial thoughts of London appearing as South Mumbai are precisely the thoughts I'd in my first London visit.
Cheers dude :-)