Another marathon journey to Pokhara has begun. I've lost count the number of times but to arrive in Pokhara unscathed can be a challenge. The journey is pretty routine until one arrives in Kathmandu where the fun part really kicks in!
The train pulls away from Norwich station under an overcast sky with drizzle in the wind, freezing cold and it's almost dark again, fairly typical English mid-winter weather. In a few hours though, I shall be jetting out of London bound for Oman - the first stage of this three part journey to Pokhara, over two days.
Oh, what's this? An outbreak of sunshine as the train speeds past Chelmsford. A sign of optimism from above perhaps that I shall have a trouble free journey - no, I don't think so either but nonetheless, it's good to see some English sunshine with a few patches of blue sky as the sun begins to set. Just enough time for a wander around London before dark - I don't have to be at the airport for a while yet.
I quick wander along the Tottenham Court road and then down to Green Park for a look at the Queens house. I don't even have to buy a ticket - just tap the debit card on the gate and off we go, hey ho!
Heathrow terminal 3 at 5pm on the Tuesday after New Year's Day is insanely busy I can tell you! People of all races pushing and shoving their way to check-in laden with about 20 suitcases each. Security - which, thanks to Islamic insanity, means a partial strip down. All belts, coats, jackets, belts and shoes into x-ray. All ones gadgets separated and X-rayed and your toiletries separated into a clear plastic bag and again x-rayed. Oh, and then there's the chemical test - they swipe a cotton wool ball around the hands and stick it into a machine. Plenty of scope for things to go wrong at this stage!
Thankfully, no interrogation and time to relax with a Costa-Lot-Coffee in the somewhat horrible terminal 3 departures hall. I'd say the place resembles a mess with far too much walking involved!
So with time to spare here are a few snaps while mooching around London on whats turns out to be a pretty pleasant winters afternoon.
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| Tottenham Court Road, London |
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| Sunset |
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| Sunset from Green Park |
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| Decorations on Buckingham Palace |
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| London Sunset |
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| Statue near the palace |
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| Flying over Buckingham Palace |
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| Buckingham Palace |
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| Road leading to Buckingham Palace |
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| Statue outside Buckingham Palace |
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| London Eye |
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| Queen's Guard |
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| Big Ben |
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