Eating in London - The Dickens Inn

If you are visiting London, The Tower of London would certainly be on your ternary. After a few hours (that's the minimum time you will spend here) and as you move out the exit you will notice the magnificent Tower Bridge on the river Thames on the right. Just beyond the Tower Bridge are the Docklands - St Katherine's Docks. On the banks of the harbour and overlooking the Tower Bridge and the harbour is this picturesque restaurant - The Dickens Inn - a place popular with both the locals and tourists.

The Dickens Inn in London

Tracing its origin to the early 17th century when this building was a warehouse, it was moved from its original position to a new spot and converted into a traditional London pub. Whereas the place has 3 specialist restaurants, the most interesting is ' The Tavern Bar ' a traditional English Pub and the Beer Gardens ( which are really a part of the Tavern Bar)  where you can enjoy some traditional English food with beer.

At the Beer Garden with Fish & Chips and Beer.

If you want to enjoy the warm sunny London summer day , choose one of the beer gardens. Collect your beer from the bar and place your food order - the food will be served at your table ( you will need to choose your table first ) . My choice was the traditional fish&chips which is served with a selection of sauces  and beer. The fish was excellent as was the beer.

Pigeons enjoying a bite at the pub.

A walk around the area after a bite at the pub is very pleasant  with some lovely views of the harbour with its boats.

The Harbour with it's Yachts

One of the many interesting boats anchored in the harbour.

My vote is  a definite YES for  visit to this charming English pub and a stroll around the area

The Address :

The Dickens Inn

Marble Quay
St Katharines Way
London
E1W 1UH
Tel 0207 488 2208

Click on the link below for details on getting there

Link to Directions and Official website of Dickens Inn

London Eye

Was in London on vacation last  week and since I was staying near the County Hall, managed numerous visits to one of the most popular landmarks of London – The London Eye.  The County Hall which till 1986 was the seat of the Mayor of London has now been converted into a hotel - The Marriot. And next to the county hall are 2 of most important landmarks of London - Westminster and The London Eye,. The London Eye, . towering at a height of 135 metres, is the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world and attracts over 3,5 million visitors a year. Shot of the London Eye from the Westminster Bridge
The London Eye is the most popular paid tourist destination in the UK. Situated on the south bank of the river Thames, it is located between the Westminster bridge and the Hungerford bridge.

The London Eye at Night
In the summer months of July and August, the London Eye is open till 9.30 at night giving one an excellent opportunity to have a birds eye view of London at night. Particularly spectacular are views of  Westminster and Big Ben overlooking the river Thames.

The London Eye has 32 air conditioned capsules which can hold 25 people each and weighs  10 tonnes. The capsules are designed such that one can easily move around to get views from all angles.The capsules move at a speed of around 10 in per second and takes around 30 minutes to make a full revolution. Since the speed is slow, people alight and get on to the capsules while moving.

 A capsule of the London Eye

The capsules are fixed on a rim which is supported by spokes resembling the wheel of a cycle. An interesting fact is that different parts of the wheel were produced in various European countries - steel from UK, cables from Italy, bearings from Germany, the spindle and hub from Czech Republic.

If you are visiting London and haven't visited the London Eye ,do plan a visit and ride on this most interesting landmark. To avoid ques, book tickets online.

Click on the Link Below to go to the :

Official site of the London Eye for ticketing

Shanghai and it's buildings

Shanghai is a city of contradictions. You will see the ultra modern Shanghai with building reaching into the sky , the tops of which disappears into the clouds  on a cloudy day

This office building is located in the commercial section of Shanghai. Building vie with each other in height and the skyline of city is a series of tall skyscrapers.

These modern buildings are hotels overlooking the central square on Nanjing Street.

Spires and Domes are a favourite in this part of Central Shanghai

By Night

Another view at Night

The tallest building in Shanghai, this one houses the Hyatt Hotel from the 85th Floor onwards. Taken on a cloudy night, note that the top of the building disappears into the clouds.

Yiwu Revisited

Visited Yiwu after a gap of two years. The fast paced development in China and places like Yiwu continue to amaze me. Every visit to this buzzing town sees some new additions and change.

The everchanging skyline of Yiwu

Yiwu is probably one sourcing hub that no retailer from anywhere in the world can avoid. With over 75,000 booths offering a wide range of products ranging from household goods to imitation jewellery, this wide range of merchandise on offer at one place is a buyers paradise. The advantage of buying from Yiwu is that you can buy in small lots and fill up a container with as many as a 100 or more SKUs.

The main market in Yiwu called the Futian market is a series of buildings, 4 floors of air conditioned shopping area and over 4 kms in length from end to end. Each block or building is interconnected enabling one to move from point to point with ease.

Entrance to the new Block that has been added in the last 1 year

The system of booking goods is simple. To begin with, the services of an exporter/consolidator/agent is needed who will act as your interpreter as well as handle the consolidation and forwarding of your goods. Keep in mind that prices need to be negotiated and your best negotiating skills will be put to test. A good consolidator is essential to ensure that you get the goods that you ordered. Ensure that the consolidator has the necessary resources for inspection of goods . Normal payment terms are either 30% advance and balance TT on dispatch or through irrevocable LC at sight.

Futian Market

You need to start your day early - the market starts functioning at 8.30 in the morning and shuts at 4.30 . If you do not have conveyance, leave by 4.15 - getting a cab after that is not easy. The market has an interesting restaurant named Picassa serving Western Cuisine (quite good by Chinese standards) that you would need to visit to rest your tired legs after a few hours of walking around and a hot cup of coffee or some chilled beer.

The Picasa Restaurant at the Futian Market

Getting There :

There is no direct international flight to Yiwu. The options are

• Fly to Hong Kong . Take a connecting flight to Hangzhou ( 2 Hrs) and by road to Yiwu (2 hrs and 400 RMB by taxi
• Fly directly to Guangzhou or through Hong Kong and take a connecting flight to Yiwu.
• Fly to Shanghai and take a train ( 3 Hrs) or taxi (4.5hrs)

Places to Stay
Yiwu has a plethora of places to stay starting from 150 RMB ( $25). However if your work is mainly in the Futian Market, the Best Western Hotel is the place to stay. Just next to the market, it is very conveniently located and offers all that a good 4 star hotel should have.

Yiwu by Night

Slide Show of My Photographs

An Evening in Shanghai

Was in China recently on a business visit and spent a few days in Shanghai. Took the daytime Air India flight to Shanghai - a very comfortable 6 hours - arriving at 8 PM. If you are in Shanghai, the place to stay in is around Nanjing Street - the all pedestrian street with great shopping  dining and night life. 

A rain soaked morning at Nanjing Street 

The street is a beehive of activity at all times and even rain is not a deterrent. The action starts early morning when the central square on the street comes to life with live perfomances of aerobics, musical concerts and much more.

 Tourists enjoying a toy train ride

Nanjing Street is probably the most action packed street in Shanghai and comes truly to life in the evenings when hordes descend for a few hours of shopping and entertainment. Being an all pedestrian street, it is a pleasure to move around in this area and if you are shopaholic, this is the place to be in.

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 Nanjing Street is a riot of lights as night sets in. Whereas the place is bustling with activity and people, it can get a bit tiresome with the crowds all around . Shopping , though can be great and you could land up with some fantastic bargains.

If you are visiting Shanghai, I strongly recommend you stay in this area. Amongst hotels, my recommendation - Central Hotel at Jiujiang Road. Fantastic location, great large sized rooms with a seperate living room, well priced - rates from $180 upwards and if you are lucky you could get a room with a view of the central square where action starts early morning.

The Dragon Boat Festival of China

The Dragon Boat Festival is an important holiday in China. These interesting facts were sent by my friend Jack from Cixi, China on this fun festival.

Regarding the “dragon boat festival”, let me introduce it simply. The Duanwu Festival (in Mandarin Chinese pronunciation) or Tuen Ng Festival (in Cantonese Chinese pronunciation) is a Chinese traditional and statutory holiday. It is a public holiday in mainland China and Taiwan, where it is called the "Duanwu Jie" and a public holiday in Hong Kong and Macau, where it is called the "Tuen Ng Jit". In English it is also referred to as "Dragon Boat Festival", after one of the traditional activities for the holiday.

The Duanwu Festival occurs on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese calendar, giving rise to the alternative name of Double Fifth [3]. In 2009, this falls on May 28. The focus of the celebrations includes eating zongzi, which are large rice wraps, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.

Below is the information about the Origins for the festival and its related person “Qu Yuan”

The “Duanwu Festival” is believed to have originated in ancient China. There are a number of theories about its origins. There are a number folk traditions, beliefs and explanatory myths connected to the observance. Today, the best, most widely known legend relates to the death by suicide of Qu Yuan, a scholar and minister to the King of Chu, in 278 BC an era in Chinese history that is referred to as the Warring States period. Scholars wrote literary

works, including poetry. Qu Yuan is commonly referred to as a "poet" and a "statesperson", however he is more properly considered as a ministerial scholar.

The best-known traditional story holds that the festival commemorates the death of poet Qu Yuan (c. 340 BC - 278 BC) of the ancient state of Chu, in the Warring States Period of the Zhou Dynasty.[4] A descendant of the Chu royal house, Qu served in high offices. However, when the king decided to ally with the increasingly powerful state of Qin, Qu was banished for opposing the alliance. Qu Yuan was accused of treason.[4] During his exile, Qu Yuan wrote a great deal of poetry, for which he is now remembered. Twenty-eight years later, Qin conquered the Chu capital. In despair, Qu Yuan committed suicide by drowning himself in the Miluo River on the fifth day of the fifth month.

It is said that the local people, who admired him, threw food into the river to feed the fish so that they would not eat Qu Yuan's body.[4] This is said to be the origin of zongzi. The local people were also said to have paddled out on boats, either to scare the fish away or to retrieve his body. This is said to be the origin of dragon boat racing.

Bangalore Eating Places

Bangalore has many eating places and an enjoyable place for any foodie. If you are looking for a quick bite , head for 'The Only Place'  on Museum Road.

The Only Place

This is a nice place for steaks ( no sizzlers though) and very well priced - around $ 5 to $7. Best avoided are the Fish and Chips which are oily and bland. The place also has a variety of Pasta and cheese dishes. Service is fast and if you are hungry you dont have to wait long for your food.

 Waiting for the food

The Only Place

No 13, Museum Road,

Bangalore.

Weekend in Bangalore

Spent the last weekend on the outskirts of Banglore in one of the numerous resorts that have sprung up. An hour's drive from the Bangalore International airport saw us the 'Angsana Oasis Spa and Resort' - a lush green spot.

 The place is a riot of colours with beautiful and exotic plants.

 Besides enjoying the vegetation - which one really misses in a city - you can have a truly relaxing massage at the spa, ranging from a Thai massage to the Ayurvedic one and after that you can take a dip in the pool.

 Note the birds perched on the edge of the bridge

Enjoying a hearty breakfast

 or a chilled glass of beer in the hot summer afternoon 

The Place :

Angsana Oasis Spa and Resorts,

Main Doddaballapur Road,

Addevishwanathapura Village,

Rajanukunte,

Bangalore 560064, India,

Tel : 91 80 28468892

The Hill City of Kandy

A further half hour drive from the Royal Botanical Gardens brings us to Kandy, also known as the hill capital of Sri Lanka. This is a major tourist destination and has many attractions to offer to tourists. Kandy is also on the UNESCO World Heritage List

 Kandy is a town bustling with activity . It's a great place to connect with God - there are numerous places of worship and depending on your schedule, you could visit one or all of them - but do visit 'The Budhist Temple of the Tooth' and offer a prayer in the main shrine.

 The Temple of the Tooth

Some of the other well popular and  famous temples are Gadaladeniya, Lankathilaka Viharaya, Embekke Devalaya, Dodanwala Devalaya, Degaldoruwa, Hindagala Viharaya, Madawala Viharaya and Galmaduwa Viharaya. Besides the Budhists temples, there are quite a few Hindu shrines that exist side by side. The most famous Hindu Temples are  dedicated to Gods Vishnu and Natha and Goddess Patthini. Over time, Hindus and Budhists in Sri Lanka have learnt to coexist peacefully and Hindus actively participate in Budhist festivals.

 Budha Statue

This omnipresent Budha Statue at the Bahirawakanda temple can be seen from almost anywhere in Kandy. Located just a short distance of 1 Km from the city, a tuk tuk ride is the best way to reach here.

Kandy city is a fine mix of modern and traditional. You could enjoy a traditional Sri Lankan meal or if you are an American  missing your Mcdonald's and KFC, Kandy has them.

Kandy is also a great place for handicrafts from Sri Lanka. There are a number of shops catering to tourists - remember to bargain hard or you will end up paying upto 3 times the actual price. Also remember to pick up one of the famous Sri Lankan masks.

 The city of Kandy

The Amazing Botanical Garden of Peradeniya

One of the important halts of the Colombo - Kandy one day trip is the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens . This amazing garden/park is about an hours drive from Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage and about 6 Kms before the main town of Kandy.

The Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens

The garden is an example of the phenomenal wealth, diversity and beauty of the tropics and the botanical wonders that exist in the Tropics. The garden has an interesting history dating back to 1371 when it was conceived as The Queens Pleasure Garden. It was however only in 1821 that the foundations were laid to make it into a botanical garden.

A riot of colors in the Garden

Even if you are not into nature, you will love the riot of colors of the various types of plants in the garden. There is an abundance of glossy foliage, lovely fernery and orchid houses with rare blossoms and spice trees in groves. The botanical garden is large and covers an area of 147 acres. Keep aside at least 2 hours to walk around and enjoy the beauty of this place - nature lovers could easily spend a whole day here.

You need to buy a ticket to enter the gardens. Like other places in Sri Lanka, if you are from the SAARC countries, you only pay Rs 200 ( $2), from other countries, it is 4 times more. As you enter the garden, is a signboard with a numbered map to make it easy for one to navigate through the garden. These numbers are strategically placed around the garden. There are 4000 labelled species of plants with over 10,000 trees.

An exotic Orchid

To the right, as you enter the garden is the Orchid  house which houses a host of exotic orchids. I have never seen so many orchids under one roof. You could easily spend  an hour here just admiring these beautiful flowers. 

Another exotic Orchid

One of the majestic trees in the garden

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