Time is running short, just another week to go in the UK and a long weekend ahead of me before I head back to India on the 2nd of April. I started searching in Google for tourist attractions around Britain. One such places caught my attention was Snowdoniain Wales, I thought it would make a perfect weekend place for two days and started looking for an accommodation. At this point I realized that I've already made a mistake by not booking a hotel in advance. I called up around 10 to 15 hotels and the response from everyone is that there is no room available for this weekend at any of the hotels around Snowdonia, as it’s a long weekend having Good Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Easter Monday holiday. So I finally decided to visit Isle of Wight, which is not far away from the place where I live.

On a bright and sunny Saturday the 26th morning, myself and Ananth started our journey to Isle of Wight. With full of enthusiasm and excitement we reached the Southampton Ferry terminal at 11 in the morning from where we need to catch a ferry to get to the Island. There is a slow ferry that takes you to Cowes (in Isle of Wight) in about an hour and an express ferry to West Cowes, which takes around 22 minutes. We decided to take the express ‘Red Funnl’ ferry as we are already running short of time. We crossed the Solent (Solent meaning - A strait of the English Channel between the coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight) and reached West Cowes around 12 noon. From there we took a bus to Newport and to Alum Bay where ‘The Needles’ is.

The Needles, one of the most famous tourist attractions of Isle of Wight graced by the red and white lighthouse tower, the chalk cliffs, the unique colored sands of Alum Bay and the restless ocean is a treat for the eyes. The chairlift down to the beach proved to be the best as it provides a spectacular view of the needles and the entire beach while you travel above the treetops. We spent most of the evening on the stony beach watching the silent ripples and throwing stones over the wave-tops. The best part was the boat trip to the needles point as the guide took us through the history behind the colored sands, the cliffs and the lighthouse.

Don’t miss it if you are around!!!

Few clips from the Needles

A perfect weekend place if you are around UK, frequent trains from Stains to Windsor all the day. Anand and myself decided to explore the 900-year-old remains of one of the working palaces of UK where the Queen resides presently and is going to hold the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles on 8th of April. We were stunned with the giant walls stand tall guarding the Queen’s home just outside the Windsor station.

“Over 900 years ago William the Conqueror, with the help of his victorious armies commenced construction of the castle. The site was chosen with great care; high above the river Thames on the edge of the Saxon hunting grounds. The castle was a days march from London and guarded the western approaches. It is a massive castle, the largest inhabited castle in the world and it is bigger than people realise.
Source: http://www.plus44.com/royal/winds/windsor.htm”

The collection of guns and swords acquired during various war against India, China and other countries just reflect the power of such a small nation which ruled the world with iron hands. Tipu Sultan’s Sword and Gifts were also part of the collection.

India and Pakistan cricket teams may be fighting for the cup on the field, but off the field they are heroes. With the second test match between the two arch-rivals about to kick off in few hours from now, most of the team members from both side contributed to the tsunami fund by participating in a charity auction organized by ‘Together we will’, a Kolkata based NGO. Among the cricketing gear auctioned were bat signed by team members, T-shirt, ball and glove.

We will see the real face-off when they pad up for the second match at Eden Gardens