Monday, October 31 - Ghosts, Gaslight and Guinness

 

Every since we arrived there has been no rain and today being Halloween, we have a beautiful clear sunny, warm - 18 degrees day ahead of us as a treat. The tricky part comes as I suggest to go on a Biking tour in the heart of busy London. We strolled early morning and pumpkins are already on the door steps in the neigborhood.

 

Our guides today are Nick and Jaime. We split up into two groups because so many came out because of the nice weather. Starting at Kensington Park is a super idea as the grounds are flat and surrounded by beautiful ponds. Our first stop was Kensington Palace, Will & Kate's hangout. Nick tells us they come and go via helicopter so there's no worries about parking or traffic - nice!

 

As we rode through Hyde, Queens and St. James Park the scenery is breathtaking. Fall leaves are still hanging on the trees like rainbow coloured ribbons. There's a section of the park where horses and old carriages used to parade along side the modern bicycle path. I can imagine the sound of horses trotting along pulling exquisite carriages with the sound of crush gravel as they went by just like in a Jane Austen novel.

 

The ponds are filled with eloquent white swans, gooses and other feather friends enjoying the warm autumn light. Ah, so peaceful until - oh my! A very large and very young group of army lads were spotted doing their morning training up ahead. Lucky the traffic light turn red , so did I when I caught up to them.

 

Reluctantly, I followed my group to Trafalgar Square and many other must see attractions nearby (too many to name here)

 

Halloween night in London doesn't seem right without ghost stories. Gary and I found a walking tour of the most haunted areas in the Holburn district. I won't repeat tales of the dead but will tell you we thoroughly enjoyed the Guinness in the west end theatre district of London at the end of the tour.

 

 

 

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Sat October 29 and Sun October 30 - Mary Ward Centre

Our retreat weekend came just in time after yesterday's day of grasping and over indulgence. We're here in London to attend a dharma talk event supported by my fav monk Ahjan Brahm from Perth, Australia to help raise funds for a new nun monastery in the UK. The talks (or no talking) are held in a beautifully renovated Arts and Crafts building in Bloomsbury, London. Built in 1898 financed by a philanthropist and named after the novelist Mary Ward as a learning centre for the less fortunate in society.

 

The Mary Ward house has a library named after Charles Dickens with extraordinary preserved woodwork cabinetry with his portrait above the original fireplace mantle.

 

 

 

Two full days of keeping quiet for me is challenging as most of you know....... Lucky during the breaks we are permitted to go outside and do walking meditation. My mindfulness seem to have directed us straight to street food stalls. Unfortately we did not get to taste any but through a other senses it all felt delicious.

 

 

 

After obtaining enlightenment that evening, we went pub hopping. The Black Friar on Queen Victoria street is London's only true remaining Art Nouveau public house that remains in operation. Saved from the wrecking ball in the 60's by public outcry, it is amazing that it still exists dating back to 1902 when most London pub faced bankruptcies. The finishes are incredible with over 50 different types of marbles used throughout the building. There are great examples of Art Nouveau furniture, lighting fixtures and wood carving in perfect museum quality once inside.

 

 

 

 

 

Finding true British Sunday night roast in the centre of London is just good karma.

 

 

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Friday , October 28 - Buckingham Palace and Afternoon High Tea

It official half way through our trip new and we must stop by and visit HRH residence Buckingham Palace. We had a slow start to the day as we are both exhausted after Cambridge.

 

By the time we arrived in front of the guilded gates and royal guard with machine guns it was already early afternoon.

 

The crowds are thick but generally well behaved and no sign of protest etc. I rushed up between the iron bars and zoomed in on the famous balcony where the royals wave to their subjects. But it was more interesting to imagine Mick Jagger on the roof bellowing out tunes during the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

 

Then there's Vicky starting down The Mall still waiting for Albert to come home.

 

 

What can I say? This is one shot that is really necessary.

 

After hearing so much about the famous Harrods and the famous food floor, Gary and I taxied over there to see what all the fuss was about. Just as we thought, if u have to check the price, you can't afford it. I must admit the section of the store where the memorial tribute for Diana and Dodi is located is kinda creepy. It's like you are in an Egyptian tomb. Sorry no photos permitted period.

 

After seeing how the other side lives, we just had to experience a true English Afternoon High Tea.

Fortnum &Mason( founded 1707) is where HRH have brands named and made especially for the Royals. They created a new blend called "Wedding Breakfast" especially for Kate Middleton and William's wedding.

 

 

The Tea Salon is located on the top floor and it's all white gloves, linen and silverware service. Gary & I were pretty comatosed on sugar by the end and they even package beautifully the left overs to take home. Now that's Class!

 

 

 

. It's hard to spend a day like Royals you know.

 

 

 

 

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Thursday, October 27 - Cambridge - Day 2

It was a beautiful crisp sunny morning with a slight autumn chill when we ventured out on our second day in Cambridge. I researched on what what to do in this town if you are not here to apply for entrance. Biking - is the next most popular reason to be here. So off we go to meet our group leader - Chris. Chris was a townie (means you work in the town) and his girlfriend is a gownie (means you are here to study) studing medical science.

 

We push off on a bike trail right along the river Cam where most if not all the water sports are learned, practiced and raced. Chris tells us his favourite thing to do is watch (not enter) "Bump Racing" every May between Cambridge and Oxford. Teams of students paddle boats that line up along the river the tries to bump each other out of the way to the finish line. Then the winning team parades around town with their lucky paddles getting drunk.

 

One of the mandate of The university is to learn a century old tradition - Rowing - both the men and women. There are no special privileges or option to bail, every one must participate and the best of the best go on to compete with guess who? Yip - Oxford in April. Here is the Rowing club building.

 

 

You cannot come to Cambridge without visiting the Trinity College centrally located in the heart of the university. Founded by King Henry VIII ( that's why he's standing at the front) in 1547, Alumni include Issac Newton, Prince Charles and six British Prime Ministers. Very impressive indeed.

 

 

The next important land mark is the King's College Chapel one of the most beautiful late English gothic architecture example of its time. The plans for the chapel was disrupted due to the war of the roses and it took almost 100 years from start to finish. Chris informs us the grounds in front of the Chapel is used to raise royal cattles. (No more than 3) When ever any member of the royal family have dinner in Cambridge, a special cow would be selected for the main course. Here's Henry guarding the front door.

 

 

After a quick lunch, Gary and I went punting - well we hired a punter to be exact. A punt is a flat-bottomed boat with a square-cut bow, designed for use in small rivers or other shallow water. Punting refers to boating in a punt. The punter generally propels the punt by pushing against the river bed with a pole.

The punting tour on this section is really only a couple of miles but it's a strenuous workout for 45 mins. Our experienced punter is Celab - a recent graduate in philosophy and soon to continue in law school at Cambridge. He's been punting since he was 16 and boy he makes it look easy.

The scenery - well, judge for yourself.

After a full day of riding, punting, shopping, now it's time for drinking. We got a hot tip from our guide about a watering hole name The Green Dragon. The writer Tolkien was inspired for the setting of the Hobbit right from this place. I too was inspired by a 10oz ribeye waiting for me there.

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