LONDON - STREETS PAVED WITH GOLD??

As children we used to play a game, where one girl would be the den and used to spell "L-O-N-D-O-N ---London", and the rest of us used to run up to her from behind. As soon as she said LONDON, she would turn around and we runners would become "statue". I don't know what was the reason to spell London instead of counting in numbers as is usual in such games. However, my fascination for London started then. Later, it was the story of Dick Whittington, thrice Lord Mayor of London, who made me wonder if actually the streets of London were paved in gold. (as the story went.)

London was the place where in 1945, my father went to study for his Engineering degree from Battersea Polytechnic. London therefore was the place I most desired to see. My opportunity for wish fulfilment came in 1973, when I visited London for the first time, when my husband was sent by HAL on a training programme to UK. After a long gap, I went back in the year 2000, followed by 2004, and after that it became my favourite jaunt, for innumerable visits (it became easy because my daughter Chaitali lives there with her family).

London, is a city of houses, each one having a little open space in the front as well as at the back. They may be handkerchief sized, yet every house has a patch of green. The gardens in the houses are simply b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l. Almost all have roses. As a saying goes "An English man's home is his castle". Besides houses, this city is replete with huge green gardens or parks which are called "Common"- very apt, as these are common grounds for all to enjoy the space, the fresh air, to run around, cycle, play games and feel free.

Freedom is what London is all about. Freedom for India, Hong Kong, South Africa, America, Burma, and any number of African countries including Kenya and Uganda. This was the empire where the sun never set! Britain ruled far and wide. UK is such a small place on the map of the world and yet, look how big their foot prints are on the surface of the earth. Their language, their form of government, their architecture, their system of education, their transport system, their sense of justice, has had a far reaching effect the world over.

Although a monarchy, their Magna Carta, is the mother of all Constitutions.

London was the home of Charles Dickens, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, George Bernard Shaw, Samuel Johnson, Sir Charles Chaplin, Rudyard Kipling, Charles Lamb, Jerome k. Jerome, Beatrix Potter, George Orwell and now our own Salman Rushdie. Swaraj Paul, and Laxmi Mittal have earned their wealth here. Raja Ram Mohan Roy lived here for a long time. Jawaharlal Nehru did his schooling here. M. K. Gandhi, Dr. B R Ambedkar, did their Bar-at-Law here.

Coming back to London, my favourite spot is Oxford Circus. That crossing, the road, the tube station, the number of buses plying the road at any given time is amazing. It is a place which is always so very busy. People just walking and going on with a purpose. There is so much of movement there. A plethora of people all going about their own business. I love to sit on one of the benches put out thoughtfully on the pavements, and watch the world go by.

The buildings in Oxford Street are exquisite. Selfridges, that distinguished shop with its very beautiful facade has window displays to beat any other window display. They are always different and distinct. It's a treat to watch the windows. John Lewis, always seems very welcoming, with its prices and motto,"never knowingly undersold." I love to walk in, browse through the shop, walk through its seven floors and get a nice feeling. I don't have to necessarily shop. My shopping instincts get satisfied with walking through.

The next best place is Sloane Square. Yes indeed there is a small square there. The King's Road is the ultimate in branded shopping, all the designer shops are located here. It is a delight to walk here with its wide pavements which are so inviting for walking and simply standing. Buying once in a blue moon, but then window shopping and looking at the labels is feast for the eyes. Harrods-a huge departmental shop located in Knightsbridge, is more than a shop - it's the ultimate in shopping. It is owned by Al Fayed an Egyptian by birth, and the father of Dodi who died in the car accident with Diana- Princess of Wales. Harrods is always lit up at night like a Christmas tree. It's different floors and departments give a feeling of being in the most exquisite place selling goods. Anything that you may desire to buy is available here. The prices may be prohibitive but the shop is very inviting. The sales people are very polite and friendly. They will always ask you if you need any directions or help. Indeed, you do need guidance and a map to get you through the different floors. In the Egyptian stairway one finds lovely singers singing classical songs on the balcony, at any given time. It is really an out of this world experience to visit Harrods.

England was called "a nation of shopkeepers"-and that it indeed is. You have huge grocery shops-Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda which are also great experiences to go to.

The sights to see are so many. London is replete with history. The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Wesminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Marble Arch, Buckingham Palace, the drive through Regent Street, Shaftsbury Avenue, Hay Market, Covent Garden, Picadilly, Leicester Square, London School of Economics, the different Inns of Law, City Hall, Globe theatre, St. Paul's Cathedral and so much more. My list will never end as there are so many places to see. River Thames pronounced Tems-(oh yes English is a strange language!!!) has lovely bridges across it, which are all lit up at night and present a magnificent picture.

The "Square mile" is the old London where the road names are very practical. You have the Milk street, Pudding Lane, Poultry, Cheapside, Threadneedle street, Fleet street, Bread street, Shoe lane and many other descriptive names. The names are simple and self explanatory. London is so old and yet so modern. There are regular walks where tourists can join for a fee of £6 and see the different places, of their choice, in a couple of hours. The guide takes you through lanes and by lanes and gives you the history of the place in great detail. The streets and lanes are exactly as they were a couple of hundred years ago, so visualising is easy. I love to be in London, where every small culvert or by lane too has a name. One cannot get lost in London.

There is a dearth of parking space almost every where in London and yet there is no rush for running to a parking spot. People are so very polite, and patient. If one is trying to park, everyone down the road will wait until you park the car to your satisfaction-there is no impatient honking, or random abuses, or show of road rage. The people wait-although they are busy and on the move. It is definitely a good gesture to wait, as it results in less chaos and confusion. People seem to understand and believe that the person ahead has the best of intentions to park and is not slow in parking simply to harass the person driving behind.

The transport system is too good to be true. One can travel at a reasonable cost and "day passes" are available where one can take the bus, tube or overground train too. Maps are detailed. Every bus stop gives the time and frequency of all the buses passing through that bus stop. Great thought is given to creating more conveniences for the general public. It is also very user friendly for people with disabilities.

People are taught to respect every culture and religion. There is a lot of tolerance in this country. There is a lot of politeness and patience. One can learn a lot only by observing the people of this magnificent nation which conquered the whole world with its right strategy, planning, and determination.

The streets of London, I learnt were not paved with gold, however anyone who comes to this goldmine of business, education, history, culture, perseverance, patience and architecture can be sure to pick up a lot of gold for oneself.