Southall - Little India

Colorful Southall houses one of the biggest Indian communities in the UK and it's an excellent escape from touristic London-city. The train takes you in about 15 minutes from Paddington station to Southall, west of London (check the timetable at http://www.railtrack.co.uk). It's a Punjabi neighbourhood which you notice right when you jump off the train being welcomed in English and ... Punjabi (even the timetables are in both languages). Turn right to go to Broadway, the main shopping street of Southall. Streetlife is dominated by Indian shops, men with Sikh turban and women in beautiful sari. Many young boys look like Mickey-Mouse with their two hair-knots preparing them for wearing a turban (Arun, an Indian colleague told me that they never cut their hair and don't shave themselves, beards are worn in rolls which looks a bit strange). Here you will find the Glassy Junction Pub, the only pub in the UK where they accept your Indian rupees! Take a look at http://www.southall.co.uk/ for pictures of the neighbourhood and you know why they claim it "Little India".

It's also the place to sample authentic north Indian cuisine in the cheap restaurants around The Broadway and The Green, like we did the day before the wedding at New Asian Tandoori Centre, 114-116 The Green (turning left instead of right when you leave the railway station). Prepare yourself for the confrontation with raita, lassi, daal, aloo, paneer, ... and spicy cuisine. The menu is in completely in Indian and the waiters Indian English is not very clear, something for the adventurous who want to enjoy an authentic Indian curry accompanied by the many Indian families visiting the restaurant. And if you want to serve something else than the classic turkey next Christmas head for the many Indian supermarkets where you can find the most exotic ingredients and spices!

"Kachh, karha, kirpan, kangha, keski, Eh panj kakar rehat dhare Sikh soi." (*)

(*) The five Kakars of Sikhism are special underwear, steel bracelet, sword, comb, and small turban. A person who wears all these Sikh symbols should be considered a Sikh.