As soon as we landed we looked for assistance to carry our heavy luggage. But to my surprise I found six more aged persons whose physical condition demanded more priority for assistance. A pretty Indian lady ushered us into her battery-driven van along with our hand luggage, and drove us through the long corridor up to the help-desk counter. On proceeding to help desk, the lady at the counter asked us to go to the luggage claim counter which was not far away since there were not many assistants available at that rush hour. She gave us each a placard with words "Assistance" boldly printed on it. So we were given preference to get our immigration check on fast track route.Thank God, otherwise we would have to stand in the long circuitous queue which might have taken not less than two hours to go through the process. Unlike in India, we did not find porters or assistants to help us though we saw some boards with labels "Porters". Some old people were given wheel chairs to push their oldest parents up to the baggage claim counter. As it was not far away, I thought it would be better to go with people instead of waiting there for wheel chairs to arrive. As we were thinking how to lift our heavy luggage from the revolving belt, a hefty Englishman and an Indian Sikh obliged our request to help us in transferring our luggage from the moving belt and placing it on the trolley. They politely declined when we offered some amount. We thanked them profusely for their service, which is in true sense, earnest help done without expecting anything in return. I reflected when this type of attitude would be seen in our country, which would create a very noble impression about Indians on the minds of foreign tourists.
As we came out relieved after this tiresome waiting, we were cordially welcomed and were taken to the new residence of my daughter. On the way I found not much that has altered. London appeared in her usual customary setting with small houses surrounded by neat front yards filled with roses, violets, orchids and other flowering plants. The cold weather typical of her climate touched my cheeks again. On both sides of the roads I saw dense greenery with large trees and thick bushes loaded with flowers untouched by any person. All the doors of the houses remained closed. Only the long chimneys and gabled roofs welcomed us in their own silent style. Old ladies were slowly moving on pavements carrying bags to buy some provisions in the departmental stores. Some were using battery-driven conveyances as they were too old or physically disabled to walk by themselves. We saw a few young mothers gently pushing prams with babies sitting quietly like dolls strapped to their seats. Probably it may be to expose those little ones to warm sunlight or may be to expose them to the weather outside so that their delicate bodies may get acclimatized to the cold London weather. We also found many women taking their pet dogs for a walk either on the roads or in the parks. We saw many young children playing in the play ground. But nobody cared to noticed our brown faces. In brief, a distanced attitude of self-occupied demeanor-- the prominent feature of the present modern civilization. Thus ended our first day in London.
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5th July, 2015 Somaseshu Gutala
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