Namaste England : A Journey Through the Heart of England (Part II)

I had shared some memories of London with you in my previous blog. In this second blog of my England tour, I will mention some memories of my next stop which are especially related to the visits to Oxford and Birmingham, the historical places of Central England. On the morning of 18 March I left London Marlybone station by the Chiltern Railways for Banbury.

I had to catch the 10.45 am train to Banbury, I left Saurabh ji's house for London Marlybone station at around 9.45 am, but while trying to find the platform and find the right train, I missed my scheduled train.

I told my problem to the responsible officer present at the station and asked him for permission to board the next train on the same ticket, he smiled and allowed me. But I did not know that this is illegal, because we are required to travel only in the train for which we have a ticket. It was foolish of me that I took the officer's smile as his permission. I was lucky that there was no ticket checker in the train that day, otherwise I would have faced a hefty penalty.

After about one and a half to two hours, I reached Banbury, where my sister Swapnil and little niece Navya came to receive me. Banbury, like other towns in England, is a very peaceful, beautiful, clean and attractive town. Although the cities of England are much quieter and less crowded as compared to India' city, but in the villages or towns it seems as if a curfew has been imposed.

With Shashank, Swapnil & Navya

Banburry Known for its historic market town charm, Banbury offers a blend of old-world charm and modern amenities. It has iconic Banbury Cross, picturesque canals, and traditional markets. After having lunch and some rest, we went to Broughton Castle near Banbury in the evening after the arrival of my brother-in-law Shashank. The vast pastureland near Broughton Castle was extremely tranquil and attractive, especially to anyone arriving in England from the Indian subcontinent. where sheep, cows and other cattle could be seen grazing freely. This is one of my niece's favorite places in Banbury where she loves being amongst the innocent animals. 

In those days in the UK the sun set at around 9 PM o'clock. We returned from Broughton at around 7.30 PM, being very tired throughout the day, I fell into deep sleep after having dinner. In UK you have to walk a lot on foot, hence you get tired quite easily. Also, there is no noise of AC, cooler, fan or noise of vehicles in the residential colonies there, hence due to such peace and cold weather, sleep in England is easier. it was very relaxing.

Next day My next stop takes me to the illustrious city of Oxford, home to one of the world's most prestigious universities. Walking through the cobbled streets, we marvel at the stunning architecture of colleges like Christ Church, where echoes of scholarly debates and literary inspirations linger in the air.

The Bodleian Library beckons with its ancient manuscripts and literary treasures, inviting us to explore the worlds of knowledge contained within its walls. A stroll through the University Parks offers a serene escape, surrounded by verdant landscapes and the gentle flow of the River Cherwell.

Spending the day wandering the streets of Oxford and exploring this place surrounded by students and young minds from all over the world, we witnessed the vibrant heritage of education. Respect for knowledge is actually what makes cities like Oxford and Cambridge special in the world today and also reminds us of the glorious history of Nalanda and Takshashila. 

After roaming around in Oxford the whole day, reached Swapnil's house in Banbury in the evening. Feeling tired throughout the day and having mild fever, I soon fell asleep. The plan was to go to Birmingham the next day, but due to the condition after coming from Oxford, it seemed that perhaps the body would not allow me to travel anymore. 

But after about 10 hours of good sleep, the next day I was feeling quite refreshed. Swapnil had prepared a very tasty breakfast. After eating it and packing the food for the day, I, Swapnil and little Navya left for Birmingham. we arrive in Birmingham after around 2hrs journey, Birmingham a vibrant metropolis that embraces diversity and innovation. 

As I set foot in Birmingham, I was immediately captivated by the city's vibrant energy and rich history. My journey began at the heart of Birmingham, in Victoria Square, surrounded by impressive Victorian architecture and the iconic Council House. The square bustled with activity, showcasing the city's dynamic atmosphere.

One of my first stops was the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, a treasure trove of art, history, and culture. Walking through its halls, I marveled at Pre-Raphaelite paintings, ancient artifacts, and interactive exhibitions that brought Birmingham's past to life. The Library of Birmingham stands as a beacon of learning and culture, with its striking architecture and vast collection of books and resources.

No visit to Birmingham would be complete without exploring its famous canals. Strolling along the picturesque waterways, I admired the canal boats, historic buildings, and vibrant street art that adorned the canal paths. It was a tranquil escape from the bustling city streets. Before concluding my trip, I explored Birmingham's vibrant markets, including the Bull Ring Mall.

Reflecting on my time in Birmingham, I was struck by the city's ability to seamlessly blend its rich history with modern innovation. From its industrial heritage to its cultural diversity and culinary delights, Birmingham proved to be a captivating destination worthy of exploration.

 With Milap Bhai & Hetal Ben

From Birmingham we returned to Banbury by about 4 pm. On the same day at 8 pm, I had to leave for London from where I had a flight to Delhi via Istanbul the next day. After having dinner and getting some breakfast packed by Swapnil for the next day, I left for London and reached around 9.30 pm, I  was received by Hetal Ben and Milap Bhai at London Marylebone station and dropped me at Richa Di's house in Langley. In a strange country, small supports like this mean a lot and really make you feel at home even when you are outside the country.

with Richa di and Gaurav ji

On the morning of 21st April, at around 8.30 am, I left for Heathrow Airport from where I had to take a flight at 11.30 am. In the last nine days, many of the perceptions that the British had about this country have changed. The discipline, humility, etiquette and manners of this country inspire us to learn a lot. For a person flying with false ego or narcissism, global travel provides an opportunity to understand the vast world and many people. The love I received from my Indian friends and relative in London also remained intact in my heart...the kind of closeness they gave me in a foreign country is often not found around us.

In conclusion, our journey through London, Banbury, Oxford, and Birmingham has been a tapestry of experiences, weaving together history, culture, and modernity. Each destination has left an indelible mark on our hearts, inviting us to return and delve deeper into the stories they have to tell.

At istanbul

 Said goodbye to London with the hope of returning to this land someday again. On the way, we also got a chance to spend some time in Istanbul where the local culture could be seen at the airport. The bold style of the street artists of Istanbul was quite captivating. The flight landed in Delhi on the morning of 22nd April... You may travel anywhere in the world but returning to your country is always a relief. In this way, keeping the memories of my UK trip in my heart, I boarded the train for my hometown Bhopal… I fell into a deep sleep after the tiring jetlag on the way… but even then, the attraction of London remained in my dreams. 

Namste London : A Journey Through Time and Culture (Part-1)

Traveling always proves to educate you more than any book. This is a lively medium of acquiring knowledge and experience. I got a chance to go on one such trip last year when I closely observed London, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and some other cities of the UK also. Although it has been almost a year since this happened, but now if you think about it, it seems as if it happened just yesterday. So let's start the story of this beautiful journey-

Although this journey had started from 12th April, but actually the excitement of this journey started in the last days of January 2023 when I received a message from the SOAS department of the University of London asking me to send a research paper. This message was from Peter Flugel, Head of SOAS, who had requested me to send a research paper focused on Jain saint Acharya Taran Swami.

Suddenly a desire arose in my heart that perhaps there might be an opportunity to present this research paper in a seminar of University of London, hence it should be prepared with full hard work and dedication. When I prepared that research paper and sent it to Mr. Peter Flugel, he considered it worthy of presentation in the seminar and recommended me to the organizing committee and somehow I got the slot to present it in the seminar. In this work, I got help from many people direct and indirectly.

In this way, after it was confirmed that I would go to London, my rush to get my passport and visa started. With less time and it being my first time to go out of the country, it became quite difficult to manage everything. But finally, after a lot of struggle, everything became clear, now that the possibility of my first foreign trip was ready, fate was also working in the same way.

Finally, on 12th April, the journey from Bhopal to Delhi and then from Delhi to London started. Meanwhile, there was also a stop of a few hours in Istanbul, so there was a lot of excitement that after landing on the soil of two countries, there would be a chance to understand it to some extent. My companion in this journey was Achyutkant, who was a student of the same Todarmal Jain Siddhant Mahavidyalaya from where I have acquired knowledge. Many friends, family and acquaintances bid an emotional farewell to this trip to London.

On the morning of 13th April, we first reached Istanbul by IndiGo flight and after a layover of about 3 hours there, we reached London's Heathrow Airport at around 5 pm. As soon as we came out of Heathrow Airport, we were welcomed by the cold winds coming from the North Pole, which we were not used to, hence these winds seemed a bit cold.

My acquaintances Richa Di and Gaurav ji had come to receive me at Heathrow, at whose house I was to stay in Langley for the next few days. Achyut left Heathrow to Greater London for his hotel. I had to meet Achyut in Greater London to go to SOAS the next day. 

After having dinner on the 13th and falling asleep very quickly due to jetlag, the next morning I left Langley by tube (train) for Russell Square. As I stepped onto the bustling streets of London, I was immediately enveloped in the city's vibrant energy and rich history. After handing over some essential items brought from India to Peter Flugel at SOAS, Achyut and I set out to explore the streets around London.

Our journey began with a visit to the iconic Tower of London, where the ancient walls echoed with tales of kings and queens, knights and prisoners. Walking through the Crown Jewels exhibition, I marveled at the dazzling treasures that symbolized centuries of royal splendor.The attractive buildings and beautiful bridges built on the banks of the River Thames were creating quite an attractive sight. London's iconic landmarks, including the majestic Tower Bridge, the modern marvel of the Shard were amazed us.

Notting Hill's colorful streets and charming cafés provided a picturesque backdrop for leisurely walks and moments of reflection. The Portobello Road Market was a sensory delight, with its array of antiques, books, and quirky finds. London evenings are quite happening, the performances of street singers outside the railway stations and on the streets make you say wow.

After exploring many places around Tower Bridge on 14th April, we had to devote all our time to our conference on 15th-16th April. My presentation was on the 16th so there was some nervousness, we spent most of the next two days in the SOAS conference hall. Where I got an opportunity to listen to the knowledge and experience of many international speakers.

My presentation took place on 16th April, which was much better than I expected and was appreciated by the people. After this presentation, now I had enough time to just explore London and some other places in UK which I could enjoy without any stress. On the evening of 16th we reached Herro to meet some of our friends and acquaintances. Where we met my senior friend Saurabh ji, Kajal Bhabhi and the friendly Hetal Ben and Milap Bhai who took care of me in London. We also visited the Jain temple at Harrow, which is a major Jain center of London established in the Prabhavana Yoga of Gurudev Kanji Swami.

Next Day, We ventured to Buckingham Palace, where the majestic Changing of the Guard ceremony unfolded before my eyes. Exploring the British Museum was a journey through time and civilizations. While walking on the streets of London, Achyut and I enjoyed beautiful buildings and locations like Big Ban, National Gallery, St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, Parliament Square etc. 

Achyut had to return to India the next day, so this was the last day to visit London together. I had also planned to go to my cousin's house in Banbury the next day and I also wanted to visit Oxford and Birmingham in the next few days, so we explored the locations of London till late night. Due to it being late in the night, I also forgot that the frequency of trains reduces late on weekend night, so I hardly changed many trains that night and reached Langley at 1.30 in the night. For this, I got a little rebuke from Gaurav ji and Richa di and also got advice to be cautious in this unknown country.

The next day I left for Banbury with some of my important things, now I just had to come to London to take a flight to India at the end of my UK trip. Therefore, most of the belongings were left at Richa Di's house in Langley. I had to catch the train to Banbury from London Marlybone station which is near Saurabh ji and Kajal Bhabhi's house in Harrow. Therefore, the next night I stayed with Achyut at Saurabh ji's house, the next day Achyut left for India and I left for Banbery.

As my London adventure drew to a close, I reflected on the city's timeless allure and cultural richness. Each moment was a chapter in a captivating story, weaving together the past, present, and future of this dynamic metropolis. London had captured my heart, leaving me with cherished memories and a longing to return to its embrace.

I'll be back with some memories of Oxford, Birmingham and Banbury in my next blog, that's all for now....