Landed in London

After numerous dinner invitations (read increasing waist line), a few fun family visits, and meagre attempts to shed the kilos (the morning walks that lasted three days), we finally got to London on January 28th.

We came via Sri Lanka, where I wish we had a longer halt. But we spent the three hours exploring the rather impressive Bandaranaike International Airport. I tried on the testers at the perfume section in the duty free store, and stared longingly at the alchohol section. We eventually tore ourselves away, and got back on the plane that brought us to Heathrow.

London was cold, though bearable. However, wrapped up in sweaters and coats, we began exploring immediately. We got there a few days before Shilpa Shetty's victory at the Big Brother house. Even today, everyone is raving about how gracious and beautiful she is. She was at the celebrated Richard and Judy show, where she modestly agreed to being the biggest Bollywood star in India. Jade Goody meanwhile has been labelled bully and racist. Magazines carry tearful stories of her existence. "I finished up the Chicken Tikka Masala, even though i was full, coz i was scared." Magazines with Shilpa in them screamed "Shilpa's heartbreak of her ex's two timing." So Akshay Kumar is getting some publicity as well!

In addition to finding the Shilpa-racism story amusing, i've become a huge fan of the underground tube. I'm amazed at just how easy it is to get around. We often take the tube to central london and walk. We walked through Covent Garden and watched the street performers (statues that change position every time you throw a coin) and musicians, before eating a the Rock and Soul Plaice that is the oldest Fish and Chips restaurant. In addition to all the walking that gets done here, i also like the fact that you can do your own thing and not be stared at. I ofcourse try not to stare, when an oldish Brit lunching with his young, beautiful black friend, tells the waitress, "The food is great, but we need to kiss and the plates are getting in the way." Then we went to Leicester Square that houses several theatres (movies and plays/musicals). Some of these tickets are very expensive, and yet you can buy half priced tickets for them. We then walked via the National Gallery (gotta check the exhibition of paintings from Manet to Picasso) to Trafalger Square. It was beautiful. Then it was Big Ben, 10 Downing, and Westminster Abbey (where we attended an organ recital). For any literature student, London sure does come to life! Finally we settled down by the Thames for coffee.

On Sunday, we went to St Paul's Cathedral and later Westminster Abbey for service. I was so taken in by the grandeur of the place. And the acoustics are so great, you are quite sure that you're in heaven once the choir begins singing..in Latin! And after years of drinking grape juice during communion, actual wine here was a welcome surprise. There is still so much more to see and do!

Meanwhile we just got the keys to our new home. So i'm looking forward to moving in and cooking some normal food (minus the cheese and plus the spices that i smuggled in from India). I also came with a few jars of fish and beef pickle that should keep us happy while the husband endures my culinary experiments. Luckily for me, he is quite the chef himself.