Author: neoalchemist

Today we had 3 minutes silence during afternoon, for the memory of the people who died in the terrorist attack. This was a solidarity demonstration for the sorrowed people of America..

I also kept silent for 3 minutes.. I was thinking in those three minutes., I was keeping silence for the souls of the people killed in the tragedy… does that people include the terrorists who also got killed? I think so.. afterall they also were humans, who died in the end.

What is right, what is wrong.. isnt world turning out to be a place of hypocrites.

I sympathise with the people who died and the people who suffered their loss. But the clamour of war was not sounding too good. Projecting America as victims of terrorism, and clamour for an all out war seemed like another barbarian civilization emerging.

It seemed funny to me, how nations have pledged all out support to US., that too unconditional. If US bombs a poor country.., killing innocent civilians., in the name of anti-terrorism, all the nations will now be apparently supporting them. A cultural genocide emerging? Most nations, including arab nations and pakistan(?!) have said that they are with America in the fight against terrorism!!! It will be better for america to realise that, Friendship based of fear and terror wont last long and they might have to pay a bigger price later…

I am against “eye for eye” policy., which is practised as a law in most Islamic countries. Islam has a long way to go. The Barbaric middle ages have gone past. They seem to be more interested in staying in the Barbaric middle ages. Islam is pushed down the throats of young muslims, who later refuse to look at any other options in front of them. I can understand the shame that any muslim will feel after the terrorist bombings.

Is there an end to all this? The realistic answer is no! Conflicts will be there, since its the nature of humans…

A suggestion from our office “Ban all religions of the World”., Most of the wars and destructions seem to be done in the name of religion. I knew for sure, banning and banishing all religions will make God much happier.

I was tense and met god., and I asked him. “Whats the meaning of all this” He looked back at me., deep into my eyes., and he was silent. I got the glimpse of the answer, and I too became silent.

After a lazy sunday morning, a late afternoon shower, we all decided to go out., and what better thing to do on a sunday evening than sit on swings..

We went to a park in southall., and on the first opportunity grabbed the swings. Well, Myself, Rashmi and Zubin did… I dont know why others dont give swing a try. You are never too old to be a child again.

Had a wonderful evening, and a nice dinner with friends. Sundays should go like this…

Today after planning a trip to Cornwall, we ended up going to Central london. But we found that London had more to offer us, than we had ever seen. Our first visit was Selfridges. A huge department store with a wide variety of shops inside. I was in the books section and the glass section, where artists have used glass as a medium of their creativity.

After the brief visit, we had our lunch at “american burger”, which turned out to be a damp squib, before we caught a bus to Westminister. From Westminister we were to take the walk from Waterloo station. We started walking from the Bigben, through the millenium wheel., a long walk by river thames. Artists were playing along the footpath. and Zubin was enraptured by a westerner playing sitar.

We had a short break at National Film theatre, in front of which a book exhibition was going on. We soon started from there, past the Tate mordern art gallery, past millenium hanging brigde., closed due to faulty design/construction. Soon we reached Vinepolis, the city of wine. I was admiring the architecture of the building, and wondering at the total “earthiness” of the building.

Out from vinepolis, again joining the path by thames, the Queens walk, we went past a thai restaurant, which due to dissenting voices, I couldnt visit. Another long stretch of walk took us past HMS belfast, a warship of 1938. Soon we were near Tower bridge, and past the tower bridge, we soon were on the underground, catching a train back home..

A quick visit to Pizza hut,. and a watching a movie at home., before I knew, I was on a journey to sleepland.

Sometimes some things touch you. Today was one of those days. I was driving back from my office at 12.10 in the morning., the roads were empty and as I was driving through the road going between farms, the moon sprang up in front of me. The sky was cloudless and bright… Moon followed me, and watched over me…

I felt at home, with the world and with the existence..

After that we drove past Big ben, reached Tower bridge, took walk around.. A lovely evening., had dinner near a restaurant with bad CRM! Then we were back at Big ben… Watched the Clock at Big ben Turn 12.00 am, before we drove back.

ps: My journal is overdue for a long time.. so just jotting down memories of the days gone by…

Zubin was quick with the map. We all sat in the car, as per the instructions of Rashmi. I knew, once we get out of the car, our weekend trip will be ending up watching a movie and loitering at home. Gee… what a wonderful proposition. Only if Rashmi will allow us to get out of the car! Zubin was quick and was back with the map. Lots of places were considered and finally we decided that we would be going to Greenwich. I had been to Greenwich once and knew the important attractions. Moreover we will be driving through London as well.

Soon we hit the road again, joined A40, and soon we were in front of Madame Tussauds and London Planetarium. Madame Tussauds is worth one visit, and recently Amitabh Bacchans was statue also has been kept on display. I had been to Madame Tussauds and it was nice, but my expectations of London planetarium were really high. Maybe for that reason, I was not satisfied by the performance at the London Planetarium. I rather felt that the Planetarium at Worli, Bombay was more nice, in ambience, content and presentation. Another worthwhile visit in Bombay is the Science center in Worli., which is very close to the Planetarium, but has a different entrance far from it.

A glimpse from the car at Tussauds, which is close to Baker Street Station (remember Sherlock Holmes?), and we were on our way figuring out the way to Greenwich. Two navigators sitting at backseat were scouring the books to find a route to take to our destination. Somewhere around the way, we lost it. I think I am becoming an expert in getting lost. Particularly when Zubin is my navigator. My passengers were getting hungry and a McDonalds gave us the break which was needed. Especially after the near-accident, that I was about to cause. (what can you expect when you apply break and the car skids?!) Further route was discussed over burgers and chips. Someone suggested returning back home to the cozy comforts. “ah yes” I thought, “we came all the way to Central London to have Mc Burger!!!”

The weather was bit cloudy and it was drizzling all the way., we followed the map onwards to Greenwich and after scrambling for places to park, we finally found parking on a basement near cutty shark.

to be continued…