Yes, this is the spectacular London Eye. So massive it takes 30 minutes to complete the turn. I rode on it once on my 30th birthday. And I'd consider it a most wonderful debut to my succeeding journeys... London is a world city, no less. And nothing ever beats a 360 degree view. I knew from then on that on my succeeding trips I should get on another wheel or the tallest building so I can see the whole scene.
London was my first time to leave the Philippine soil. I knew nothing about how things work there. I was only armed with the assurance that there is quite an extensive network of Filipinos and social development workers who would be taking care of me. My colleagues would say: while it's unfortunate to figure in an accident, that's about the fastest way to find a Pinoy in London. Of course, every Pinoy knows the city is teeming with top notch nurses the Philippines used to have. Brimming with excitement and wads of very useful maps such as this...
...I felt completely confident. Thankfully, I reached Victoria Station from Gatwick Airport still in one piece. Hours ago, I had a physically daunting sprint from Dubai immigration to that far-and-away boarding gate while I hear in the PA that my connecting flight was about to take off. I have never ran that fast in my entire life, I swear I had a mild nose bleed. Back at the train station, I was met by one of the most wonderful Filipinos on earth. Then we took the iconic double decker bus to the beautiful suburb of North Finchley.
This trip was among those very few special gifts that came my way partly for being at the right place at the right time-- sheer luck. Some well-meaning friends would say "we just reap the fruits of our labor." I'd say it's all of those reasons put together plus some hear-headed sense of adventure and a never-say-no attitude to a professional challenge. Of course, a chance like this was a no-brainer because it came with the privilege of getting to that side of the earth without having to go through the endless queue at the embassy. Although that is something I can never be very proud of knowing a friend of mine had to endure condescending Q&As to get that elusive seal on her passport. She's still trying. All because of love. And I'm going off the course here :>
But there is one thing I realized -- despite all that, we all eventually get off on the same plane. It doesn't matter who we are or where we come from as long as we don't quite tick off some alarm bells on terrorism. Huh? Unfortunately, the only other Filipino who joined that workshop in London did not have the same peaceful landing as I did. My program partner (he landed at Heathrow on another day) was accosted and was questioned for some time for the sole reason that he was taking some pictures while inside the airport. Were there warnings against it? None. One thing led to the other as the police found he is from the Philippines and from Mindanao, no less. 
I also grew up in Mindanao and directly correlating this with some remote connection to terroristic activities would be unfair. Of course, in the world we live in nowadays, these "alarm bells" evidently becomes par for the course. We cannot blame the authorities. It is their role to ensure public safety. Well, my partner survived relatively unscathed. These were really uncertain times as more than a month after this trip, the horrible bombings happened. Not that there is any relation..What was ironic in that "little airport incident" was that we were both invited to London because of our peace-building initiatives in Mindanao.The picture above was my take of Gatwick.
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