My Chronicled Trip To London Part 1

Bismillah, and Salamu ‘Alaykum

Let me first state that the flight to London sucked! Delta cancelled my flight from Indianapolis to Charlotte so we had to wait longer to get a flight, which in turn made us LITERALLY run in the charlotte airport just to catch our London flight. So after all of the running etc, we get seated on Delta’s international flight to London. The seats were so close I was choking. Upon arriving at Gatwick airport we entered the UK with absolutely no troubles. It was smooth, almost tooooo smooth! It then took us a few minutes to figure out how to use the rail. Once that issue was solved I boarded the train. I sat next to an elderly gentleman. Being the curious American Muslim that I am, and a bit politically savy, I begun by asking this man all sorts of questions. “Sir”, I said in a question-like voice, “Don’t you feel that ‘big brother’ is watching every move you make?” Cameras are everywhere, I stated. The gentleman responds with, “I have nothing to worry about! I didn’t do anything, so I don’t mind my government recording my moves. Besides - he states - they just recently caught some drug traffickers by using these cameras. Its making my country safe, he exclaims!

 Then I asked, “Do you trust your government?” To which he replied without hesitation, “Absolutely!” I was shocked! I had heard that other “western” nations trusted their governments, but never actually met someone who did. I questioned him further regarding the the tories and the labor parties. It shocked me that the tories, a party considered “conservative”, were actually so much like the democrats of America. So after harassing him some more concerning the costs of england, my questions ended, for the train arrived! I thanked him politely and off we went, directly into London.

Again, the first thing I noticed were police and security cameras everywhere. A ubiquitous symbol of a police state. We decided to take a cab to the Hotel room, Best Western downtown. The hotel was planted perfectly in London. Right next to the “arab-Muslim” street, Edgeware road, and close to all of the sights to see.

An immediate eye catcher for a Muslim Hoosier such as myself was an “Islamic” Bank being placed right next to our hotel:

It was not much later that we found ourselves eating shawarma at a hole in the wall Halaal Restaurant (its name slips me). The shawarma was well marinated, and the food was wonderful. After eating we decided to walk around and see all of the stores. It amazed me that they even had a Halal Subway! I was shocked.

Here is a pic of the Halal Subway:

(click the Image)

Yes, my Hoosier self is quite shocked at such a marvel. Subway - ultimately a product of American capitalists adopting “Islamic” principles. Although I have heard of such stories in New York and elswhere in the states - It is still my first time seeing such. What is even weirder is that this subway had Biryani! Yes! I’m not lying!

I shall continue the chronicles of my trip in London soon Insha’Allah .