some of my favorite things

The ironic thing about living in this crowded city is that one of my favorite things is being able to walk/wander around in places where there are barely any people. It's probably because it's so crowded, it's nice to get a respite from all the people. And it's fun to meander in these twisty streets, partly because you're not sure where exactly you're going to end up. But you always stumble upon a nice park or green square with benches and daffodils and other flowers welcoming you to sit down and enjoy the quietness and pleasantness of it all.

So as I was walking around today, I thought about all these little things about my neighborhood that I'm thankful for. Yes, it's kind of ghetto and it's kind of rough around the edges, the people could be classier, the housing could look nicer, but still, I thought of some of its redeeming qualities:

1) the canal - it's hidden away, just a bit north of my flat, but such a nice surprise to discover it. One of the best things is walking along it on a sunny day, to see the sun shining on the water and it's even better if one of these old men with beards and captain hats who look like they stepped out of one of my children's books decide to drive their ship down the canal. (Btw, there are so many instances in this country and in Europe when I see someone and they are so quintessentially characters from my books or from those old-fashioned movies or like from Masterpiece Theatre...but the thing is, they're not putting it on -- it's just how they are without much effort. Completely different from America, where style always seemed to be consciously studied and reproduced. For example, some people just look 'professor-ish'. They have their tweed jackets, round-ish glasses, cardigan, and shirt, but the thing is, they don't mean to be like that consciously. It's not like they go to J.Crew to imitate a past style. They actually are it still. That's what I love about England. It's so historical and the people are too. Ok, that was a long tangent but back to the list.)

2) the little park near where we live: I used to think it was ugly, small, and dark, and wondered why the one ugly park in London was in my neighborhood, but then, someone decided to plant daffodils and these little vibrantly purple flowers all along the grass areas, and they've all started to blossom. Everytime I walk by, it makes me happy now.

3) chapel market: Also kind of ghetto, British-style - kind of like the beginning scenes of My Fair Lady, with sellers yelling about their goods with their Cockney accents - 'That'll be 2 quid, love' - but way less picturesque It's kind of dirty on the street, smells like fish near the fishmonger cart (btw: I always wonder what kind of people work there and how they and their loved ones handle them smelling like fish everyday.), and isn't that cheap. But I like how the Indian fruit/vegetable seller chose 3 nice plantains for me and how I can buy tulips and daffs for a few pounds. There is also the random Chinese food market. It's on a side street, across from a costume shop that rarely opens, and I can walk in and buy Pocky. I don't though, since I can't bring myself to buy over-priced Pocky, but that fact that it's there, along with Lee Kum Kee Oyster Sauce and Kokuho Rose Rice makes me feel that life is indeed possible here. Then, the posh-y Indian buffet for only 3 pound 50 (take-away) that only opens ~3 days a week. And then, there are those loud schoolgirls who flood out of the college at 3 pm and crowd the fried chicken/kebab place (only in London). Throw in a short, round, bald British guy selling CDs playing everything from ella & louis to gene autry to reggae, a tattoo parlor, a Jamaican Jerk restaurant, a couple posh bakeries, and a handful of electrical appliance and DIY (do-it-yourself) stores, and you get an idea of just how random and mixed-up life is here.