Thanks to my company I am fortunate to be able to visit London frequently. Again I am lucky to be able to stay in the heart of Central London off Oxford or Regent Street. However short, a trip to London is not complete without a walk @ Hyde Park. Many a  time I miss it because its too cold or its raining. But today was the perfect weather.

Thanks to the jet lag I was up early and left the historic Courthouse Double-Tree at Marlborough Street at 5 AM and was at Hyde Park by 5.15  AM.

I walked briskly in the cold breeze … Hardly a sign of humanity. But I had nice companions –  a few magpies, squirrels, and a woodpecker chipping away at some massive Oak. The sound of leaves rustling as the willows and oaks gently swayed. The sound of peace & solitude.

The narrow roads beckoned as they led you from one mystery patch to another – everywhere it was neat and clean. (Not a sign of trash or plastic bottles). And as the sun casts its warm rays  a few more early morning walkers appear.

And then the lovely water body emerges in front of you.  and the first rays glisten on the water as the ducks swim by.

I pay my respect to the wonderful city of London and the beautiful Hyde Park and complete my 50 “Surya Namaskars” in record time.

A plane flies by – with its engines shut gliding down slowly – respecting the peace & quiet of the neighborhood. I remove my shoes and walk on the grass. It tingles my soles and pacifies my soul. And I feel eternal bliss.

A few horses canter past and you can hear their horse shoes on the cobbled pavements.

Its nearly 645 and I have spent well over 90 minutes. Its time to leave. I look for the closest exit and see that I am at Kensington Garden – having walked all the way thru Hyde Park. I step out from Queens Gate to see the majestic Royal Albert hall.

I look at my map and realize that I am a long long way from my hotel. I break into a run and as I keep jogging a few thought enter my mind.

1. Was India’s  independence a bad thing – should the brits  have stayed on !!

2. London is the perfect place to retire (If you are Rich) – its got parks, excellent public transport , free medical, language is not a problem, a Cosmopolitan city, well connected ……..

3. And as I reach my  hotel and enjoy my English breakfast , I  wish I had my family with me –  now that the kids are old enough , its time to get them to London for a nice long holiday. And maybe subtly influence my 11 year old daughter that Oxford & Cambridge may be a better choice than the colleges in US.