LONDON

2001
 In April I went to England on business for two weeks. I stayed right in the heart of London near Soho - a perfect starting point. I have only recently gotten excited about traveling outside of Asia so this was a great nibble. Especially as a New World native, everything in London looks wonderfully ancient! I do have that sense when traveling in Asian cities, but this hit home a little more because things looked so familiar. I could identify these buildings as the predecessors of my home town's oldest structures.

I had a fantastic time running around, shopping, and doing the tourist rounds. London is a truly international city and I never tire of seeing and hearing everyone that is packed into its streets.



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Published
May 2001
On my very first morning in town I took a long amble around Soho, very nearby is the Queen's abode at Buckingham Palace. Built only in 1803 the home is a blocky affair and a little more bare than you expect the Queen's digs to be. Don't get me wrong, the whole taken together is gorgeous.
From there I went to the Thames for a view of Big Ben and the House of Commons - beautiful in the setting sliver of sun. On the way I did stop by Tony's place, but there was nothing worth taking a picture of!
Just across the river is the London Eye at Jubilee Gardens.
This is Cleopatra's Needle. No, not a reproduction of the thousands year old artifact, but the original monument.

THIS OBELISK QUARRIED AT SYENE
WAS ERECTED ON (HELIOPOLIS)
BY THE PHARAOH THOTHMES III
IN ABOUT 1500 B.C.
LATERAL INSCRIPTIONS WERE ADDED
NEARLY TWO CENTURIES LATER
BY RAMESES THE GREAT
REMOVED DURING THE GREEK DYNASTY
TO ALEXANDRIA
THE ROYAL CITY OF CLEOPATRA
IT WAS THERE ERECTED IN THE
18th YEAR OF AUGUSTUS CAESAR B.C. 12

THROUGH THE PATRIOTIC ZEAL OF
ERASMUS WILSON F.R.S.
WAS BROUGHT FROM ALEXANDRIA
ENCASED IN AN IRON CYLINDER
IT WAS ABANDONED DURING A STORM
IN THE BAY OF BISCAY
RECOVERED AND ERECTED
ON THIS SPOT BY JOHN DIXON C.E.
IN THE 42nd YEAR OF THE REIGN OF
QUEEN VICTORIA 1879

East on the River is Towerbridge. Completed in 1894 just next to the Tower of London - it was the first major bridge in East London.
With a mildly bloody history The Tower of London is one of London's three World Heritage Sites. Since 1078 there have been prisoners locked in these towers. Well, not really since Rudolf Hess in 1941. Now the only prisoner is the Kohinoor Diamond.
The National Gallery Museum on Trafalgar Square was fantastic. It houses collections from every treasured western artist - My personal favorites were the Dutch and Flemish works. It should be noted that the statue on the left of the main entrance is none other than George Washington! It was donated by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1921.
Andy does indeed look like Colin!
Portabello Market at Notting Hill Gate is packed with real and fake antiques. The food stalls are great - I feasted on olives stuffed with almonds.
Camden Market is building after building packed with handmade crafts, illegal cds of the newest djs, new clothes, old clothes, food, drink...need I go on?
Divya took me to Hamstead Heath and we stopped at the famous crepe shop before venturing in.

Celena, Divya, Prithy, Priya

In Divya's courtyard.
If Mel is looking slightly exasperated, it's because I dragged her through the British Museum and breakneck speed on my last day in London.