Lake District

May 23rd -26th

I was looking forward to this trip right from the start of this week since this was our first long trip after coming to UK. Since there was a bank holiday on 26th May(Monday), we had planned to take a leave on 23rd (Friday) too. Though Sumanth was hooked up with his project deadlines at office in the last week, the trip was meticulously planned right from the beginning, thanks to Arun! We were quite a big group of 7.

Thursday eve, the day before our trip was a festive day..I came back soon from office and started preparing puliogre for our 6-hour long journey the next day. Each one of us, Savitha, Maya and myself had planned for a kind of potluck coz of our cooking enthu.
It was almost 1:00 am when we slept after packing stuff for the next 4 days. Got up at 5, prepared channa masala, went with Arun to get the 7-seater rental car. This was Sumanth's first time driving experience in UK. But driving here is no issue, unlike France/Dubai where it is a right hand drive.

The roads were blocked with huge traffic jams on MotorWays since every other person was getting out of the city for the long weekend! We could see cycles/boats on the top of cars...huge holiday spirit everywhere!Enjoying the spring weather and view and the typical English country side, the journey was very pleasant. Took a break for lunch and binged on batata vadas, pullav, etc. Not to forget my channa masala and puliogre..

We reached Windermere in Lake district where we were to stay for the next 3 nights at 8 pm, much later than what we expected, due to the 'bank holiday weekend traffic' and also our innumerable breaks on the way.

Next morning, rented a motor boat in which we cruised for 4 hours, and passed another town called Ambleside. After a mammoth task of anchoring the boat, we spent quite some time walking in the town and park. Got back to our B&B (Bread and Breakfast) for a quick refresh, then drove amidst wonderful lush green landscape to Conestan Pass and had hot cup of coffee along one of the quiet lakesides. Came across a sports complex nearby and spent a long time playing football, foosball and snooker. The sports cmompelx was located amidst beautiful landscape and we could spot couple of people camping in their tents in a distance.

Next morning, drove to Ulswater lake waterfalls. While walking up the hill to the waterfalls, the narrow path and surroundings somehow reminded me of Pearl valley in B'lore, though the only thing in common is the narrow path. The place was refreshing, clean and fresh. Spent considerable time there, before heading to 'The stone henge'. This is the most stupid tourist attraction. I wonder why it has been a tourist spot in the first place! All you can find there are couple of small rocks placed here and there. No one knows of any significance too! Nevertheless, clicked couple of snaps there too in the hope of somehow compensating for the long drive till there :)

By then our stomachs started growling and we had had enough of the *famous* stone henge. Drove into the nearest town -Kendal. On our hunt to find something edible, we walked all though the beautiful lively town centre where an interesting road play was being staged. Watching the skillful road play made us forget the time..later,finally with great luck, found a french restaurant and had the yummiest margherita pizza ever! Kendal town centre is pretty, much like a studio-setup. I could spot huge flower vases (taller than me) kept decoratively in the midst of the roads..

Crashed on bed in our B&B after a long day and it was time for us to leave to Birmingham the next day, on our way back to Reading. Birmingham's attraction is the huge Venkateshwara temple and the Bull ring mall. The temple is huge and beautiful and we were provided with a real yum lunch as prasadam.

Reached Reading in the eve after a nice long trip with enjoyable company.