Noodles + Hindu

The entire class awaiting our noodles

After a particularly vigorous discussion (the hot topic: the confidence of Cruiser in The Bird of Dawning), Prof Williams treated us to a lunch at a popular noodle spot, Wagamama's. I give it an A+: plenty of variety, great food, quick service, and free green tea :)

My meal: green tea and yasai yaki soba

The afternoon led us north of London to a Hindu temple. BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the largest traditional Hindu temple outside of India. No shoes were allowed, so we walked barefoot around the temple and its halls. Cameras were not allowed either (people were praying while we were visiting), so for interior pictures of the temple, visit their website. The temple structure is covered in wood and marble carvings that were all originally done in India. The pieces were transported to London and then pieced together by volunteers.

Intricate, elaborate, ornate.. words cannot describe the detail!

Interesting fact: our guide (a PR guy) spent time with Michael Jackson and Madonna in the temple, and I saw Charles and Camilla had recently made a visit earlier this year.

Our guide set up a Q&A session about our questions about Hindu customs and etc. His big 3 to avoid: sweets, salt, and stress!

When we got back to the flats, I decided to venture out in search of Liberty, a fashion, design, and art mecca I have heard about. I was not disappointed! It featured four floors of designer goods and home furnishings. I witnessed two Middle Eastern women purchasing over $1000 worth of Liberty print fabric. Their bodyguard was anxiously waiting to the side, and after he got the bags, he passed them on to yet another bodyguard and the quartet left the store.

What a life... Harrod's yesterday, Liberty today. This town is going to make me an expert windowshopper!

Liberty: another new favorite store