Revisiting London and Saying Hello to Ireland

Most Indians invariably have family living abroad. That was not the case with mine. The first time anyone ever went abroad from my family was back in 2010. I had just quit my IT desk job and received an admit for a photography course in The University of The Arts , London. I didn’t get off to a comfortable start though. The University had arranged for a meet and greet pick up service and for some reason my name was not listed. The driver from the University arranged cab mistook another Varun for me and decided there was only 1. After a brief clarification I was on my way to my Hostel. It was well past midnight when I reached my room. The bedding and essential utilities I had pre-ordered for didn’t get delivered in time. It was late September and it was cold. I was pretty exhausted after nearly 18 hours of flying. I wrapped myself in my jacket and slept that night. The course commenced in a week’s time and flew by. It didn’t take me long to realise that I probably made an expensive mistake. The course offered nothing new and being a poor student in London doesn’t help that regret . So, I decided to make the best of my time in London with whatever little I could afford. Looking back, I can proudly claim I did add valuable life experiences and wonderfully good friends from all over the world. 2011 still remains the most memorable year of my life.

Fast forward 8 years. My sister had moved to Ireland to study and we decided to go visit her and also stop over at London. This time I wasn’t going back as a poor student. 8 years of moderately sincere hard work did pay off and it was truly one of my happiest moments to show my parents around London and ask them to go crazy in Borough market.

Like Hammond from Jurassic Park would say. No expenses spared this time.

There is a lot more that happened in 2010 and 2018 but I will stop writing now. For there are photographs to see. All the pictures you see here are shot on Google Pixel 2XL.

Enjoy. Visit London.