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United Kingdom

Prashant, 23 August 2009
United Kingdom , London

England...countryside...

England has the one of the most amazing countryside i have seen so far. If weather is in your side, glory of nature unfolds for you. In fact, London always claims to be the most green city globally. It boasts huge hyde park in the middle of the city. Regent park, Battersea Park, Southwark Park, Kew Garden are some of the green spots scattered around the city. From Hampstead Heath one can see entire London. This is a beautiful and leafy manmade park..ranging in acres..encompassing a small golf, few ponds, famous Kenwood house and borderless meadows! When one roams around England, one realises that there is only one proper city in this island country , and that is London! Oxford, Manchester, Edinburgh etc are just a modern villages. And life in the countryside is very quiet, especially in the evenings. The beaches are populated during day time especially during sunny season...places like Brighton are joyful during sunny weekends. However, barring few cases one really enjoys a country life...one has to prepare to forget the comfort of public transport, and late night convenient shops.
So far, I have used trains and buses to travel outside London. And the journey is the most pleasurable. As soon as the train leaves London, you are welcomed by green pastures both sides. Meadows are dotted with sheep grazing and sitting like logs. In a rainy fields, cattle sheltering under old trees. Little pond running through the field, dotted with white swans..sometimes greyish, blackish ducks. Small houses erected in fields. The density of these houses is amazingly low. These houses enjoy a luxury of huge backyard. In fact, that’s the integral part of country houses. A summer room, fountain, duck house, pond flowering lotus and water lily.. Many a times, one come across a meadow bordered by trees. Sometimes, such trees are in encircled in the middle. As if during night, they come together for chat... talk about different things during the day... share their happiness, anxiety, sorrow (sometimes..)..they get so much engrossed in their talk..forgetting about dawn and remain there..standstill..trees..like a cursed price or princess!
Utmost care has been taken not do disturb the green life while constructing rail or bus roads. While going to Cornwall, the train travels next to the sea. It gushes close to the sea, making sure that the waves of the seas do not sweep her away! As soon as, the waves try to touch the train, it enters in to a tunnel..and comes out in a different end..here the waves are little passive..perhaps tired because it’s sunset time! After days hard work he is retiring..showering its golden love on the earth, glittering the waves, glistening the sea shore.
Lands End (in Cornwall) is the most westerly point of mainland England. It has the first and last public house..pub! Unfathomable and unreachable sea..clashing on the cliffs..all one can hear is the sea, smell the sea and see the sea..walk along the sea! Cornish language is extinct now. Apparantly, every Thursday couple of old blokes gather in nearby pub to chat in Cornish and few enthusiastic learners join them too. The area was once famous for mines and therefore now famous for miners food- pasties! Searching for a real (and not mass produced one) pasty could actually land you in a branded pasty itself. Like pizza in Italy, pasties are to be eaten in a bakery! The region is famous for flowers and attracts millions of tourists every year. This area is lucky to get most of the sunshine in the region. It’s a walkers paradise..well, lake district still owns that charm. The view just gets better and better as you walk across the cliffs. Cornish cows don’t mind you entering in your territory..as long as you say ‘hello’ to them! Bed of wild flowers makes you forget the tiredness of walking...the fresh wind coming from far way sea refreshes your mind..the sea soothes the eyes. After a long walk (we walked for almost whole day)..a local pub welcomes you with refreshing beer or house wine. Local food..in Cornwall it has to be a sea food entices your hunger. While the food is getting ready, you are hospitably enquired about your wheabouts..given advice about what to more..what not to do..which the best season..how things have changed or not changed..and in the end a local taxi to take you home!
Cabbies in countryside are very chatty! Most of them are not locals..and perhaps that’s why very friendly too!!! Weather is the most discussed topic in entire England after politics and wife and kids! The most amazing weather is always has to be the one you missed! Tut tut!! You are again given tips about planning your journey..places to visit. They are intermittently disturbed by lady in ‘control room’... telling about next pick up... all cabbies consider ‘this lady’ as their second (sometimes first) wife! Because they have to listen to her..despite their willingness! These cabbies are great source of local info...know every road and corner. I have once been a cab who was driving without street lights and very dim headlights! Never read a news whereby a cabby had done an accident..very safe and jolly chatty!
Cornwall, Dover, Weymouth has astonishing beaches. Pebble beach in Dover and Weymouth! Lulworth Cove is one of nature’s great wonders..going back to Jurassic period. Wavy cliff next to the sea, covered in green fields is an open invitation to the walkers. Chalk cliff in Dover and around Dorset are covering the border for mainland England. Dover port – kind a airport as it links England to mainland Europe- is a novel example of discipline and maintenance. Despite number of ships coming in and going out, there is no clamour of traffic. Dover castle stands proudly cherishing the ancient history. London itself makes sure that history is kept alive! So many more places to explore..but i am going to take a pause and visit my dear old India..mumbai..on Friday!!!

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