Ofcourse, I have my London Dreams ...I always wanted to visit this beautiful city right next to the list with New York ...and I used this city so many times in my various stories and subplots ....not to mention the eternal love story I wrote 'Long Lost Love' in my college days.
But to arrive and depart from Heathrow Airport is a different ballgame altogether.
Circa 2007 , In my last trip from US , I was rerouted to Heathrow from Chicago and was made to spend 7 hours at the Airport before I could catch my next flight back to Delhi. My initial horror turned into a 'responsibility matrix' wherien I had to take care of another passenger (a typical middle aged Indian women :) to make her reach our common destination (saddi Dilli).
Siiting at Heathrow, I wanted to break the panes and just fly out...over to the Big Ben and the Thames ....but.
Circa 2009, on my way to US...I missed my connection at Heathrow and was again rerouted to Chicago and along came Polly...oops Dolly...or whatever her name was...Mrs. Chadda who didnt know English (or Hindi) but was heading to LA with a valid passport :)
SO history repeated and so did the matrix !
But THATS THAT....why in the world ...I had to again miss the flight on my way back to India....
I was there 20 minutes before the scheduled departure....wow!
"Sorry, Its too late !"
Hmm.....so these British Airways can do away with anything , I thought..." so what is the next available flight?"
"Its after 9 hours, sir"
OKAY......time to say 'Namaste"
A room in Hotel Renaissance, a Lunch coupon and a bus to and from Hotel to Heathrow....all set.
"What is the nearest place which we can cover within the short time frame "(cutting out the transportation, checking in and out and returning back)
"Well, you can go to Southall"
Oh yes...the name rang a bell.....right since childhood, Southall meant 'Punjab-in-England' (pronounce : ing LAND )
Here are a few moments from that visit
' Smelling the chill in the Air '
'Waiting for Bus No. 105 to Southall'
'on the way '
"Welcome Ji"
Well, no surprises ..here's what London's official website has to say about it :
"Sometimes known as Little India, Southall is a lively and diverse community in the London Borough of Ealing, West London.There are strong Indian and Pakistani roots here mixed with communities from all over the world.You'll find women in colourful saris, pavement food stalls selling samosas and Indian sweets, and bright fabrics hanging in shop fronts.Add to this the bhangra music in the air, and the hustle and bustle of a vibrant local economy, all of which makes a visit to Southall unforgettable."
Absolutely True. But the real surprise was this :
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara
Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, on Havelock Road, Southall is the largest Sikh Temple outside India and welcomes visitors.
It's a stunning building finished in marble and granite with a gilded dome and stained glass windows. Well worth a visit.
With just an hour left to return, I wanted to see some of the English Architecture and buildings...and did see some of them
More pictures on facebook : http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=124876&id=543399479&l=2e8210c115
Hmmm.....so that was my tryst with London...ofcourse, I would like to come again (not in this manner, though ) and see what I have been missing all this while.
I am hoping my destiny would bring me here sometime and make me live my 'London Dreams'.
So I finally caught my last flight back home and that part of the journey was as exciting and memorable as I met somebody almost after 12 years and some 33,000 feet above in the air !!
Well, that would be coming later....till then....'Namaste London'
