London

My dear people,
First thing love you all. Second thing.....3 days and its been slightly hectic. Have had to juggle between work, finding a place to stay, figuring out the way Britishers live (daily travel, food, telecom). Sorry couldn't mail any of you as soon as i reached. Was able to wrap work by 6, so here i am knocking away at my keyboard.
So here's a gist of what's happened after i waved you guys goodbye at the airport.

10 APR
The two times that i turned around after checking in, i thought you guys would be looking at me and waving in manners that would appear sentimental, but on both occasions you were distracted. Fair enough, i shared the flight with Aditi Govitrikar and many other models. I guess they were all in club class, but there was one who was unlucky enough to be sitting in economy, behind me. well she kept moaning and groaning about wanting to change to club class but, hey lady, there wasn't any place there or anywhere, the flight was running full. I guess she soon realised that if the crew tried to move her, if not to club class, at least to any place near it, she 'd sitting on the wing. And that ain't that good a place to be seated. She made her peace for the rest of the flight.
Nothing eventful happened on the flight, had my dinner, had my thoughts and we landed at Mumbai.
The last i saw of the models was at baggage claim, and boy was baggage claim looking good or what. I missed my luggage three times on purpose, i wasn't the only one.

After landing, took the internal shuttle service to the international airport. Spoke to you guys then, Sindhu's number kept ringing. Embarkation and security checks afterwards, i was waiting at the lounge for the British Airways flight. Kader Kahn trvelled with me this time. The flight was late, was scheduled at 2, we left at 3.
I wanted a window seat, but instead got one by the isle. the seats were quite cool, the ones with tv screens in front. there were around 10 channels to watch. movies, discovery, music. watched School of rock, was ok.
Slept quite well.

11 APR
your watch starts at 4:00 am, you watch a 2 hour movie, and later you fall into a deep sleep. You wake up and hey its only 6:00 am, we switched time zones. Not all that bad, but i guess its worse for US travel. Wasn't too jet lagged. The plane landed at Heathrow, at 8:00 am. Walked out of the plane, entered the airport, took a minute by the side of a huge glass window ovelooking the runways and the planes, took out my passport and work permit and thought to myself................ "man, i've managed to tear my work permit into two". Well i tried to strike a very romantiv pose by the crystal clear glass with the beautiful background, but didnt realise that i was handling my WP a bit too hard. Told myself, they shouldnt be throwing me out of this country for tearing my WP, so dont worry.
Headed towards immigration, gave the passport and torn WP, the official didn't have a problem with it, but i guess somewhere in the corner of his mind he prayed for the company i was going to work for. I didnt have a chest XRAY, was asked to get one. The facility is right within the airport, a very beautiful lady stripped me half nude and had me standing with my bare chest against the cold XRAY machine. Oh! you perverts, stop thinking about the lady, she was at least 60 years old. XRAy done, i marched off to collect my baggage, picked it up much faster than the last time.

I had to wait in a long line to catch a cab, finally caught one to my destination, Premier Travel Inn, Yorkway. The car pulled out of the airport and onto the main road, and as we did so the sight that met the eye was quite beautiful. Lush green grass on either side of the road, plots separated by hedges, a shy sun peeping out of the clouds, high rises in the distance, and a couple of planes circling in the morning sky awaiting a chance to land at one of the busiest aiports in the world. Oh London, thats the only time i've embraced you.

Half an hour later, i' d reached my hotel. Checked in, made a call to the project manager, informing him of my arrival. It was 10 by then an hour later a colleague of mine dropped in at the reception to take me to work, UBS at 10, Golden Lane, Barbican. We took the tube, as far as i can remember i think the first time i'm travelling in one.(Amma, if you're reading this, i have no memory of the first few years of my life).

Got to work. Got back from work

12 APR
Got to work. Got back from work

13 APR
Got to work. Will get back from work after i'm done with this travelogue.

Food:
For lunch, there's a place, rather a street near the workplace, where there are these small takeaway carts. They sell Thai food, its ok, never been too fussed about food anyway. Grab other meals near the hotel.

Stay:
Will be staying at the hotel for the rest of the week. Need to look at another place to live. Could move into the place where the INfy boys are staying, will have to camp in the living room. Am looking at other options too. Have many, there's a bunch of Aussies with a penguin for instance. Will have something worked out in a week or two.

Travel:
The tube is a real cool thing, i must say. Travel is so easy, its not one bit frustrating. Get into the train, get out at your station and walk to work. Its real good.

Weather:
They call it summer, its the coldest Bangalore gets during the winter. And this we're talking during the day. Winter must be real cold here.

Thats all there is for now, i am going to stop knocking on this keyboard soon. I really miss you guys. You know this place is good, the roads are clean, traffic is organised, an efficient transport sytem, good facilities, nice people, pleasant weather.
But all said and done I'm a hot blooded Indian, i miss my family and friends, and there's no place like home.

Love you all.
Pattu