October 2014

Delhi to London Jet Airways flight 0122 review

Published on 26 October 2014

Blog/Flight

Travelling to London is always a joy. I have been to London more than any other destination abroad in my entire life. There are many reasons for it, firstly I did my masters from there back in 2006 and then worked there for a couple of years and then went there for tourism and to see my dad. There is something that attracts me to go there often. This time I went there on a business visit. And was looking for a change, I have travelled quite many times from Emirates and Air India. I have travelled with Jet Airways in the past only once and this was my second time. The last time my experience with Jet Airways was back in 2008 was kind of mixed, they had a small entertainment screen and the cutlery was pretty good compared to Virgin Atlantic and Air India. So I booked my Delhi to London flight tickets with Jet Airways, mind you they are more expensive than any Air India flight and Virgin Atlantic flight. So they must give a class service and the meals should be not only satisfactory in portion but in quality too. I know quantity and quality are quite a task to go hand in hand. But then they do charge a premium even on economy class tickets.

jet airways flight 0122 on board meal — Jet Airways Flight 0122 onboard non-veg mean consisting of chicken curry, rice, and roti.

Inside the Jet Airways Flight 0122

I sat humbled and tired in my seat and I felt that the flight departure time will be delayed, and yes the flight moved almost half an hour late. I shall rather say clearly that the meal on the flight was much better than the meal served on Air India. The air hostess was friendly and the entertainment system on board was satisfactory as compared to my last experience. I asked for a low-salt meal when I was checking in and this was well kept in mind when I was served. These are small things, which make a huge difference when giving a nice customer experience. The best surprise was the midnight ice cream which they distributed to everyone. I simply loved having those yummy chocolate ice creams.

USB ports missing on the Economy class seats

Also another small thing worth mentioning, the only thing which I missed Jet Airways should take care of was the USB porta Charging point. To my surprise, there were no USB Charging points available neither near the screen or around the seat. When I asked the air hostess she said me that they don’t have USB points but they can give me universal plugs, which can be used to charge my iPhone under the seat. I must tell you it was not convenient at all but then at least they are courteous enough to lend me the plug so that I could charge my phone. Jet Airways if you are reading this blog post, please in the future make sure you have USB support available for the passengers. Emirates supports USB and is having it next to each screen.

view of London city from jet airways flight 0122 — View of London City from Jet Airways flight 0122

Delhi to London flight duration

The flight from Delhi to London took 9 hours and 15 mins. I would recommend people fly with Jet Airways over Air India. Surely I have had enough of horrible service from them. Jet Airways is a better airline than Air India. But then you also have 5-star airlines in Emirates who just outclass Jet Airways in all departments. Perhaps I shall write about my experience travelling with Emirates in my next blog post.

Medieval London

Published on 19 October 2014

History of London

Some say that the medieval history of London began on Christmas Day, 1066, when William the Conqueror was crowned and jewelled as the king of England in a ceremony at the newly furbished Westminster Abbey, just three months after his victory at the Battle of Hastings.

William granted the citizens of London special privileges, but he also built a castle in the southeast corner of the city to keep them under control. This castle was expanded by later kings until it became the multifaceted place we now know called the Tower of London.

The Tower was utilized as a royal residence, and it was not until later that it became famous as a prison. During the medieval period, it also acted as a royal mint, and treasury, and catered to the beginnings of a zoo.

In 1097 William II began the building of Westminster Hall, near the abbey of the same name. The hall was to prove the basis of a new Palace of Westminster, the prime royal residence throughout the Middle Ages. On William’s death, his brother Henry needed the support of London merchants to maintain his dubious grip on the throne. In exchange, Henry I gave city merchants the right to levy taxes and elect a sheriff to keep things under his control.

By the early 12th century the population of London was about 18,000 (compare this to the 45,000 estimated at the height of Roman Britain). In 1123 St. Bartholomew’s Priory was founded in the city, and other monastic houses quickly followed.

At one point in the medieval period, there were 13 monasteries in the city. Today, these houses are remembered only by the names they gave to their areas, such as Greyfriars, Whitefriars, and Blackfriars.

The city played a role in the outcome of the struggle between Stephen and Maud for the crown in the 12th century. Although they initially supported Maud, her arrogant behaviour when she occupied Westminster so angered the citizens that they rose in revolt, and Maud was forced to flee London.

In 1176 the first stone London Bridge was built, mere yards from the original Roman bridge across the Thames. This bridge was to remain the only one in London until 1739. Because the passage across this one bridge was narrow and congested with traffic, it was much quicker and easier for travellers to hire water boatmen to row them across the river, or transport them up or downriver.

In 1191 Richard I recognized the right of London to self-government, and the following year saw the election of the first Mayor. This right was confirmed by later monarchs.

In 1245 Henry III began his lifetime work of rebuilding Westminster Abbey, which was reconsecrated in 1269. The other major building project of the medieval period was Old St. Paul’s. The cathedral was finished in 1280.

In 1381 the city was invaded by peasants during the Wat Tyler’s Peasant’s Revolt. Although the major grievances of the peasants were aimed at the advisors of Richard II, they took advantage of their occupation of London to burgle houses within the city. The Lord Mayor, William Walworth, stabbed Wat Tyler to death in an argument at Smithfield.

The London merchants supported Edward IV in his grip on the throne in 1461. In gratitude, Edward knighted many of the merchants.