Friday, September 21, 2007

Somewhere Else

Well, there’s only one way to say this. I fell in love with a little Welsh sea-side town called Conwy 15 days ago- and hopelessly at that. The river Conwy flows through this town that is surrounded by purple-red flower-laden mountains and a grand 12th century castle runs along the town's perimeter. This basically means that from any given standpoint within Conwy, you are bound to find a picture postcard-like view before you that you want to capture and permanently freeze in your mind. Somehow, writing about my visit seems like it isn't the right way to save for posteriority the memories of the trip. When I write, it feels like I am trying to organize memories in convenient packages, just like those cans of processed food with their customary levels of preservatives that occupy miles of shelf-space in super-markets. And just like those cans, I know that anything I write will simply not have the intended effect.

This, my friends, is Conwy:







(pictures courtesy Trambak, Suryadip and Dam- muchas gracias guys! :))


P.S: I should have written this earlier- just that I did not have access to the internet at what is now "home". I am in the UK on work for the next five months. I would appreciate it if anyone has any suggestions on places that must be visited and things that must be done around here. We have been making our own plans too for almost every single weekend we'll be spending here- but then any local knowledge always adds significant value to what the maps and travel guides tell us.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

hope your'e having a good time.. [:)] really like the pics that u have posted.. :o)
The first one has such a fairy tale feel to it.. :o)

Trambak Banerjee said...

So ur planning to settle down in Conwy??????.. :-)

the One said...

Goodness, Conwy Castle. Faint memories of a trip to north Wales resurface from the depths of this aged mind.

One happens to be a former local, if that counts. So the recommendations are : the Lake District, Cornwall, and Stratford-Upon-Avon. And do take le tunnel sous la Manche and floor the chaps across the Channel by parling Francais :)

Oh, and watch out for the cream tea.

the One said...

Sorry, this is the intended link.

Anonymous said...

We also visited North Welsh this summer. It is a wonderland (Hills, Sea, Forest). You can also go to Bewts-y-coed. You can also visit Edinburgh and London.

Anonymous said...

If you are in London, we can meet. I am your senior from IGIDR.

shreya said...

I'd go see Stonehenge. Just...

Oxford is gorgeous!! And Stratford- Shakespeare's birth place- is lovely too, even though a tad touristy...

Theres a place in London known for it's crepes...please do not miss that!! Google it, or ask any old (haughty!) Londoner. It's famous.

Have fun!

Padma said...

Divya: Thanks..I've been liking it so far... but not really looking forward to the grey winter!

.........: No,I'm not. And what's with this anonymous status? We see someone's getting more mysterious by the day.

One in a billion: Thanks very much for the recommendations:) I'm yet to visit the Lake District and Cornwall. Stratford-Upon-Avon is a blink away from where I live which is why I managed to see it quite early during my stay here and quite liked the quaint little town. Did the parling francais bit last week and enjoyed it very much. Thanks also for the caveat! I read your piece and have decided that I shalt not order cream tea in a café....to think I've been making myself tea at home every evening with sad teabags and water and I didn't even know I've been making myself cream tea all along! That revelation just changed the way I see myself :P

Santosh: Thanks very much for your suggestions! I was pleasantly surprised to see your comment! I shall try to make it to these places before I leave the UK. I also intend to visit London several times before I leave (as I'm quite fond of the city). Could you please let me know how I could contact you there? You could mail me your contact details at padmaranjini@gmail.com. Thanks!

Shreya: Stonehenge..yes..shall certainly try to make it there. I agree about Oxford- I totally fell for the town! I shall try to find out about the creperie in London- I've suddenly developed a taste for crepes. Thanks for dropping by :)