10. I refer to my hometown as Britishtown (formerly known as Germantown).
9. I ocassionaly drive on the left side of the road when no one is looking.
8. I changed my middle name to Rhubarb, that is Pooja Rhubarb Chawla
7. I tell people to mind the gap when they get on the metro
6. I throw my "rubbish" in the bin
5. I have to rush off at 4pm for afternoon tea
4. I am obsessed with Victoria Beckham
3. I take a brolley with me everywhere (even when the forcast calls for only sun)
2. I am working on cultivating a garden that rivals Kew Gardens in my backyard
1. I removed my picture of Tori Amos from my wall and replaced it with the Queen's
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
A Wee Bit of Golders Green
Coming back from India, en route to Washington D.C., I spent four more nights with a friend of mine in Golders Green--a suburb of London that lies 25 minutes North of where I used to live. 
My first day was spent getting over my jet lag and getting acclamated to the London weather again after spending a month in sunny Mumbai. Somehow, being my luck, I missed the rare, but hot weather in London and got there right on time for a horrid, cold front (50F-60F) with rain to match the mood. Even my friend, though it is obviously not her fault, profusely apologized for the weather knowing I had hardly seen a hot, sunny day in London. She repeatedly nailed it in my head that this was NOT normal. Regardless, I tried to make the most of it and went out into the city when I could.
My first day out, I went to a quaint area called "Hampstead" of London where the rich and famous of London reside.
At first I did a little window shopping, but then made it over to the infamous crepe stand which serves both savory and sweet crepes for all types of palates. Since, I was famished, I ordered a savory crepe with spinach, cheese, and garlic. Though drizzled in oil, I happily ate the crepe,
but realized that the dessert I was planning on having at the french bakery nearby was not happening. So, instead I explored the book store around the corner when I was hit with a sudden jolt of jet lag quickly ending my day.
The next day was also not that eventful since the weather was so dismal--a brolley was constantly with me throughout the week. I had originally wanted to spend this day either by going to Stratford-Upon-Avon or Brighton, but my outdoor ambitions were squelched. Thus, I simply went into Central London to do some shopping and hang out with a friend for drinks on Oxford Street. Having one more day left, I figured it was best turn of events since I could stroll around till the weather no longer suited me.
Finally, the last day in London approached, and while I was saddened by this because I had fallen in love with the city and most especially rhubarb (a vegetable like fruit that is cooked) custard and brittle (i'm dead serious, people...you can't find this combination anywhere in the states)
as well as several other things English, I was also excited to be back home with my family and to see my friends after three long months. So, in style, I spent my last day in London using my hop-on, hop-off bus given to me by the GMU program and visiting Leonardo DiCaprio
at Madame Tussaud's (had he not just been created as a wax figure I would have gladly forgone the experience) where I also saw the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachan. That night, my friend also took me to the Shree Swaminarayan temple--the largest Hindu temple outside of India. This was definitely a sight to see and a great way to end my trip.
In the end, my journey to London was an unforgettable one. On one level, I empathized with foreigners in that sense of having to find your way around in an unfamiliar setting, adapting to a different culture without anyone you know in your reach. But on another level it also taught me how life is something to be lived, enjoyed, and explored everyday. And now, having been home for over two weeks, I do miss London immensely, but I'm also glad to be back home to discover what lies ahead.
My first day was spent getting over my jet lag and getting acclamated to the London weather again after spending a month in sunny Mumbai. Somehow, being my luck, I missed the rare, but hot weather in London and got there right on time for a horrid, cold front (50F-60F) with rain to match the mood. Even my friend, though it is obviously not her fault, profusely apologized for the weather knowing I had hardly seen a hot, sunny day in London. She repeatedly nailed it in my head that this was NOT normal. Regardless, I tried to make the most of it and went out into the city when I could. My first day out, I went to a quaint area called "Hampstead" of London where the rich and famous of London reside.
At first I did a little window shopping, but then made it over to the infamous crepe stand which serves both savory and sweet crepes for all types of palates. Since, I was famished, I ordered a savory crepe with spinach, cheese, and garlic. Though drizzled in oil, I happily ate the crepe,
but realized that the dessert I was planning on having at the french bakery nearby was not happening. So, instead I explored the book store around the corner when I was hit with a sudden jolt of jet lag quickly ending my day.The next day was also not that eventful since the weather was so dismal--a brolley was constantly with me throughout the week. I had originally wanted to spend this day either by going to Stratford-Upon-Avon or Brighton, but my outdoor ambitions were squelched. Thus, I simply went into Central London to do some shopping and hang out with a friend for drinks on Oxford Street. Having one more day left, I figured it was best turn of events since I could stroll around till the weather no longer suited me.
Finally, the last day in London approached, and while I was saddened by this because I had fallen in love with the city and most especially rhubarb (a vegetable like fruit that is cooked) custard and brittle (i'm dead serious, people...you can't find this combination anywhere in the states)
as well as several other things English, I was also excited to be back home with my family and to see my friends after three long months. So, in style, I spent my last day in London using my hop-on, hop-off bus given to me by the GMU program and visiting Leonardo DiCaprio
at Madame Tussaud's (had he not just been created as a wax figure I would have gladly forgone the experience) where I also saw the likes of Shah Rukh Khan and Amitabh Bachan. That night, my friend also took me to the Shree Swaminarayan temple--the largest Hindu temple outside of India. This was definitely a sight to see and a great way to end my trip. In the end, my journey to London was an unforgettable one. On one level, I empathized with foreigners in that sense of having to find your way around in an unfamiliar setting, adapting to a different culture without anyone you know in your reach. But on another level it also taught me how life is something to be lived, enjoyed, and explored everyday. And now, having been home for over two weeks, I do miss London immensely, but I'm also glad to be back home to discover what lies ahead.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Potter Mania
I would assume the title speaks for itself, but I shall expound for the sake of Potter fans on this subject of Potter Mania, 
and believe me it was quite mental, because as most people recall, July 12th was the release of the fifth Harry Potter film "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and July 21st was the highly anticipated release of the seventh, and last book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" allowing me to witness Londoners on a Potter high in the middle of July. 
Of course, that's not to say I'm not a Potter fan, but living in Islington and traveling nearly every day to the famous King's Cross Station, where the magical students of J.K. Rowling's series board the Hogwart's Express at platform 9 and 3/4, forces even the least of fans to overdose on Harry Potter. However, that being said, as a fan I did join in on the fun and was front row and center to watch the film (which I enjoyed quite nicely at the VUE)
as well as joined in on the celebrations the eve of July 21st (the day I left for India) at King's Cross and commemorated the release of the new book with Danielle Radcliffe wanna-be's and magicians galore at WHSmith. So, without further ado, here are several pics of all those great Harry Potter moments:
and believe me it was quite mental, because as most people recall, July 12th was the release of the fifth Harry Potter film "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" and July 21st was the highly anticipated release of the seventh, and last book "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" allowing me to witness Londoners on a Potter high in the middle of July. 
Of course, that's not to say I'm not a Potter fan, but living in Islington and traveling nearly every day to the famous King's Cross Station, where the magical students of J.K. Rowling's series board the Hogwart's Express at platform 9 and 3/4, forces even the least of fans to overdose on Harry Potter. However, that being said, as a fan I did join in on the fun and was front row and center to watch the film (which I enjoyed quite nicely at the VUE)
as well as joined in on the celebrations the eve of July 21st (the day I left for India) at King's Cross and commemorated the release of the new book with Danielle Radcliffe wanna-be's and magicians galore at WHSmith. So, without further ado, here are several pics of all those great Harry Potter moments:
The Art of Gardens
If there is one thing the English simply love, love, and absolutely love...it's their gardens. The amount of times that I've heard "I was in my garden when..." is beyond me. So,whether it's Kensington Gardens, or just a small lot along the side of the street, a garden is quite precious to a Brit. Regent's Park was above all my favorite green space that I went to in London. One Sunday morning in mid-July, Johanna, Christi, and I were finally showered with sunshine and thought it was a golden opportunity for a picnic out in the park. We took wine, crackers, the unforgettable Brie cheese from the market, as well as some other delicious snacks with us and headed out for a relaxing day. 
Though we had the best intentions to spend a long day at the park, we had actually left later than desired only to realize we had to stop by to get some travel passes not to mention I had forgotten the direct route to the Park (I had been once before and thought I knew the closest way). So, an hour of our afternoon was cut short as we circled around for a spot on the grass. Eventually, we found a beautiful spot amongst the roses, indulged in the food and wine, and glared at the sky. A couple of us even dozed off, but soon after we started to make our way out (we had plans for the evening that couldn't wait) a group of women from Qatar set up camp near the tree next to us. There were at least 8 women, children, and one servant with them handing out food and drinks. While we weren't the only ones nearby them, they were extremely friendly neighbors and shared some cake and tea with us as if were were one of their own. The girls and I were overall touched and grateful for such a beautifully pleasant afternoon and, for me, it was a day that remains to be one of my favorites in London.
Though we had the best intentions to spend a long day at the park, we had actually left later than desired only to realize we had to stop by to get some travel passes not to mention I had forgotten the direct route to the Park (I had been once before and thought I knew the closest way). So, an hour of our afternoon was cut short as we circled around for a spot on the grass. Eventually, we found a beautiful spot amongst the roses, indulged in the food and wine, and glared at the sky. A couple of us even dozed off, but soon after we started to make our way out (we had plans for the evening that couldn't wait) a group of women from Qatar set up camp near the tree next to us. There were at least 8 women, children, and one servant with them handing out food and drinks. While we weren't the only ones nearby them, they were extremely friendly neighbors and shared some cake and tea with us as if were were one of their own. The girls and I were overall touched and grateful for such a beautifully pleasant afternoon and, for me, it was a day that remains to be one of my favorites in London.
Monday, August 27, 2007
The Wicked World of West End
Ah, yes, what would London be without West End theatre-the British equivalent of Broadway. 
For me, it was quite nice to be a part of a thriving theater community both through work as an intern in International Theatre and Music, Ltd (IT&M), an agency representing West End artistes, and outside of work such as attending a free West End concert taking place at Leceister Square one Sunday afternoon or watching a show (which I'll describe in detail later on). Now, one could argue that Broadway has a similar feel, but I do believe an outing to the theatre was more delighted upon by a Brit than by an average American. The strongest evidence being the fact that "Any Dream Will Do," a show similar to American Idol where the top contestent wins the role of Joseph in the show "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on West End, was a major hit and that Lee Mead, the winner, was an overnight sensation in England (side note: this bloke was IT&M's client--so I heard plenty about him during my seven weeks and moreover, even spoke to him on the phone once--nice chap).
Anyway, whilst in London, there were several shows to see from Lord of the Rings (which had just opened in the summer) to Mary Poppins
(a role that was, according to my officemates, begrudingly given to an American). Though I would have loved to see all of them my pocket book was decreasing in size by the minute so I only went to one called "Wicked" which, to my knowledge, was a show that first hit Broadway and made its way over to the West End. Lucky for us, Johanna and I found reasonably priced seats and quickly took the opportunity to go see the show on a Thursday night. We arrived at Apollo Victoria just minutes before the doors were closing, however, and leapt to our seats. I was quite suprised to see that the house was packed even though the show had been running on West End for awhile. Moreover, though we were far up and could barely see the performers on stage and despite the fact that the lead male role was played by an average understudy, Johanna and I had a fabulous time.
Better yet, what was the most interesting West End experience for me, was the chance of learning about a community theatre called "Unicorn Theatre" after speaking to my officemate Lina about my love for arts education.
Set in the always lovely London Bridge area of Central London along the Thames River, the Unicorn Theatre holds shows for the entire family, but with the priority being the youth. So, I was quite thrilled when Lina invited me to attend a feedback session with the Art Director of the theatre and I was given complimentary tickets (thanks to Lina again) to see a show there. The truth is, I was so in love with this theatre that I tried to find a job there as an intern or a volunteer, but unlucky for me, there weren't any vacancies. Though there were some job openings, I realized that I would have better chances working first in a theater in the U.S. and then perhaps making my way over to Unicorn.
Word of the day: wicked-an adjective-meaning cool or interesting
For me, it was quite nice to be a part of a thriving theater community both through work as an intern in International Theatre and Music, Ltd (IT&M), an agency representing West End artistes, and outside of work such as attending a free West End concert taking place at Leceister Square one Sunday afternoon or watching a show (which I'll describe in detail later on). Now, one could argue that Broadway has a similar feel, but I do believe an outing to the theatre was more delighted upon by a Brit than by an average American. The strongest evidence being the fact that "Any Dream Will Do," a show similar to American Idol where the top contestent wins the role of Joseph in the show "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" on West End, was a major hit and that Lee Mead, the winner, was an overnight sensation in England (side note: this bloke was IT&M's client--so I heard plenty about him during my seven weeks and moreover, even spoke to him on the phone once--nice chap). Anyway, whilst in London, there were several shows to see from Lord of the Rings (which had just opened in the summer) to Mary Poppins
(a role that was, according to my officemates, begrudingly given to an American). Though I would have loved to see all of them my pocket book was decreasing in size by the minute so I only went to one called "Wicked" which, to my knowledge, was a show that first hit Broadway and made its way over to the West End. Lucky for us, Johanna and I found reasonably priced seats and quickly took the opportunity to go see the show on a Thursday night. We arrived at Apollo Victoria just minutes before the doors were closing, however, and leapt to our seats. I was quite suprised to see that the house was packed even though the show had been running on West End for awhile. Moreover, though we were far up and could barely see the performers on stage and despite the fact that the lead male role was played by an average understudy, Johanna and I had a fabulous time. Better yet, what was the most interesting West End experience for me, was the chance of learning about a community theatre called "Unicorn Theatre" after speaking to my officemate Lina about my love for arts education.
Set in the always lovely London Bridge area of Central London along the Thames River, the Unicorn Theatre holds shows for the entire family, but with the priority being the youth. So, I was quite thrilled when Lina invited me to attend a feedback session with the Art Director of the theatre and I was given complimentary tickets (thanks to Lina again) to see a show there. The truth is, I was so in love with this theatre that I tried to find a job there as an intern or a volunteer, but unlucky for me, there weren't any vacancies. Though there were some job openings, I realized that I would have better chances working first in a theater in the U.S. and then perhaps making my way over to Unicorn.Word of the day: wicked-an adjective-meaning cool or interesting
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Day Trips
While I enjoy the thrills and frills of London, I also enjoy going outside of the city and seeing new places. The two places I have been able to go to recently are Bath and Cambridge. Both different from each other, but equally appealing. First off is Bath (since I went there first).
BATH
Lying 1.5 hours west of London by Train, we (my flatmates and a couple of other GMU students) arrived the Bath station at approximately 10am and wandered around for a bit. We arrived at our first destination, an Abbey (name eludes me at the moment) in the centre square of the city and went inside. It was quite a gorgeous and peaceful moment broken by the need to get to the Roman Baths before they closed.
Thus, we proceeded to the Bath Museum and learned a thing or two about the history of the hot springs and how the Romans created the structure (all of which I will not relay here since you should go to the museum and learn it first hand).
After the Bath museum, Christi, Georgia, and I headed off to the Fashion Museum where a group of tender-aged French students overtook the small halls of the museum and reminded me of the days when I was a foreign exchange student living in France. Eh-hem...anyway, after two hours of fashion history (did you know that women used fans to flirt with men?) we headed out to higher elevation to a place called "The Royal Crescent"--basically a long building that curves like the crescent of a moon.
While it was lovely, it was getting cold, so the girls and I ran back down the hill to meet up with the rest of our group. From then on, since most of the shops were closed by 5:30 pm, we sat in a pub had some grub and chatted.
Two hours later after ingesting a jacket potato, some chips, and a caesar salad which were all nicely lodged in my tummy, Christi, Matt, and I decided to head off and get a break from the smoke (this is before England went smokefree). We went uphill for a good half hour (oh my thighs!) and reached a high point from which I took some good pics. Finally, we ran down the hill to go catch our train. Overall it was a great outing.
CAMBRIDGE
Now, for Cambridge...well, this time it was just Christi and I venturing out for the day. We both lucked out and went on a day that was both beautifully bright and warm--especially given the fact that it has been raining every bloody day since I've come to London! Anyhow, Cambridge is a fast 45 minute train ride north of London. We arrived at about noon and walked towards City Centre where all of the colleges are masterfully situated. We did get a little lost, however, and lost about 20 mins time which worked up an appetite for me so we ate at the Copper Kettle on Kings Parade and had lunch. Christi and I both were in the mood for cappucinos so we ordered that plus Christi ordered her first scone while I settled on a tuna salad. I was worried though that I wasn't hungry enough to finish the salad after drinking half my cappucino so I asked the waiter how big it was and he cut me off reassuring me that I'll have enough to eat which made me wonder if I'd have too much to eat. So, he came over again and I explained to him that I was asking not if it was big enough, but if, in fact, it was too big. It was too late. By that time the salad arrived. Christi helped me finish it, but we still ended up leaving a heap of tuna:(
After lunch Christi and I went our separate ways. I headed over the market and went in a couple of shops on a cute, narrow road. This path I was on eventually led me to a bridge where I found the infamous river in Cambridge. The sight was incredible so I asked the girl next to me if she could take my picture. Within seconds this girl and I were discussing traveling destinations and the need to live life to the fullest. She herself had given up a Cabinet Officer position back in her home of Australia to live in London and travel every weekend. I asked how she was able to get a working visa for two years not realizing that Australia is a part of the Commonwealth. She told me there's a possibility, if I wanted to live in Europe, to get an Indian passport and get a working visa that way. Well, can't say I'm not considering it, but let's see. I have loads to think about in terms of my future. Regardless, I appreciated her passion and faith to take that risk in life.
A half hour later, Christi joined me at the bridge and we went punting (took a cruise down the river). During out punting trip, Christi and I furiously took pictures. Both she and I left the boat in amazement at how beautiful a university Cambridge is and how we wished we could have stayed longer. Hence, the day was short, but we made the most of it.
word of the day: punting
BATH
Lying 1.5 hours west of London by Train, we (my flatmates and a couple of other GMU students) arrived the Bath station at approximately 10am and wandered around for a bit. We arrived at our first destination, an Abbey (name eludes me at the moment) in the centre square of the city and went inside. It was quite a gorgeous and peaceful moment broken by the need to get to the Roman Baths before they closed.
Thus, we proceeded to the Bath Museum and learned a thing or two about the history of the hot springs and how the Romans created the structure (all of which I will not relay here since you should go to the museum and learn it first hand).
After the Bath museum, Christi, Georgia, and I headed off to the Fashion Museum where a group of tender-aged French students overtook the small halls of the museum and reminded me of the days when I was a foreign exchange student living in France. Eh-hem...anyway, after two hours of fashion history (did you know that women used fans to flirt with men?) we headed out to higher elevation to a place called "The Royal Crescent"--basically a long building that curves like the crescent of a moon.
While it was lovely, it was getting cold, so the girls and I ran back down the hill to meet up with the rest of our group. From then on, since most of the shops were closed by 5:30 pm, we sat in a pub had some grub and chatted. Two hours later after ingesting a jacket potato, some chips, and a caesar salad which were all nicely lodged in my tummy, Christi, Matt, and I decided to head off and get a break from the smoke (this is before England went smokefree). We went uphill for a good half hour (oh my thighs!) and reached a high point from which I took some good pics. Finally, we ran down the hill to go catch our train. Overall it was a great outing.
CAMBRIDGE
Now, for Cambridge...well, this time it was just Christi and I venturing out for the day. We both lucked out and went on a day that was both beautifully bright and warm--especially given the fact that it has been raining every bloody day since I've come to London! Anyhow, Cambridge is a fast 45 minute train ride north of London. We arrived at about noon and walked towards City Centre where all of the colleges are masterfully situated. We did get a little lost, however, and lost about 20 mins time which worked up an appetite for me so we ate at the Copper Kettle on Kings Parade and had lunch. Christi and I both were in the mood for cappucinos so we ordered that plus Christi ordered her first scone while I settled on a tuna salad. I was worried though that I wasn't hungry enough to finish the salad after drinking half my cappucino so I asked the waiter how big it was and he cut me off reassuring me that I'll have enough to eat which made me wonder if I'd have too much to eat. So, he came over again and I explained to him that I was asking not if it was big enough, but if, in fact, it was too big. It was too late. By that time the salad arrived. Christi helped me finish it, but we still ended up leaving a heap of tuna:( 
After lunch Christi and I went our separate ways. I headed over the market and went in a couple of shops on a cute, narrow road. This path I was on eventually led me to a bridge where I found the infamous river in Cambridge. The sight was incredible so I asked the girl next to me if she could take my picture. Within seconds this girl and I were discussing traveling destinations and the need to live life to the fullest. She herself had given up a Cabinet Officer position back in her home of Australia to live in London and travel every weekend. I asked how she was able to get a working visa for two years not realizing that Australia is a part of the Commonwealth. She told me there's a possibility, if I wanted to live in Europe, to get an Indian passport and get a working visa that way. Well, can't say I'm not considering it, but let's see. I have loads to think about in terms of my future. Regardless, I appreciated her passion and faith to take that risk in life.
A half hour later, Christi joined me at the bridge and we went punting (took a cruise down the river). During out punting trip, Christi and I furiously took pictures. Both she and I left the boat in amazement at how beautiful a university Cambridge is and how we wished we could have stayed longer. Hence, the day was short, but we made the most of it.word of the day: punting
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Loads of Clothes
Shopping is one experience no woman should ever deny herself--especially in London. And if you are in the mood to indulge Oxford Street is teeming with stores that fancy your credit card. Of course, most of my shopping has been window shopping because as much as I enjoy the art of fashion, I also need enough money to eat.
With a student budget though, I've been able to shop at stores su
ch as PRIMARK that are cheap for the Londoners (which means reasonable for us), but is still trendy. Actually, PRIMARK is the Forever 21 of London, but much more mental (as they say). It's actually the place where everyone and their mate is buying a top. The queue to try on the clothes takes and hour, if not more, because girls are literally lined up from the lingerie section (where the fitting rooms are) out to the regular apparel section. And better yet, the queue to buy the clothes is something from the DMV. You are actually called up by an automated voice when a cash register is free such as ("till number 4, please"). If you don't believe me check out the pics: Besides PRIMARK, there is also Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, and H&M to name a few.
The other most popular clothing store for females, however, is TOP SHOP. This is where Kate Moss recently opened up her clothing line--apparently, there
was a queue out the door and around the corner for its opening--go figure! Johanna and I had the privilege of going in and checking it out last night. There was definitely a quality difference--much more cute tops, shoes, and accessories than PRIMARK with varying price ranges. No sales though until July 5th so you know who will be shopping on that day!
Words of the day: pants (British)=men's underwear (American); knickers=women's underwear; trousers=pants; jumper=sweater; tights=pantyhose; etc.
With a student budget though, I've been able to shop at stores su
ch as PRIMARK that are cheap for the Londoners (which means reasonable for us), but is still trendy. Actually, PRIMARK is the Forever 21 of London, but much more mental (as they say). It's actually the place where everyone and their mate is buying a top. The queue to try on the clothes takes and hour, if not more, because girls are literally lined up from the lingerie section (where the fitting rooms are) out to the regular apparel section. And better yet, the queue to buy the clothes is something from the DMV. You are actually called up by an automated voice when a cash register is free such as ("till number 4, please"). If you don't believe me check out the pics: Besides PRIMARK, there is also Marks & Spencer, Selfridges, and H&M to name a few.The other most popular clothing store for females, however, is TOP SHOP. This is where Kate Moss recently opened up her clothing line--apparently, there
was a queue out the door and around the corner for its opening--go figure! Johanna and I had the privilege of going in and checking it out last night. There was definitely a quality difference--much more cute tops, shoes, and accessories than PRIMARK with varying price ranges. No sales though until July 5th so you know who will be shopping on that day!Words of the day: pants (British)=men's underwear (American); knickers=women's underwear; trousers=pants; jumper=sweater; tights=pantyhose; etc.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
