My third Eidul Azha in Northampton began with prayers for peace on Earth and an immediate and long-lasting end to the carnage in the holy land in the Middle East.
HazratSulaiman AS, one of the mightiest prophets, was blessed with many gifted qualities. One of his unique qualities was the ability to understand the language of animals. If these goats, cows, camels and lambs could talk, imagine what they would say about how some of us treat them. Soon this could be a possibility as a Chinese tech company is contemplating an AI system to translate animal sounds and behaviours into human language.
People who celebrate their religious festivals in foreign lands far away from home try to recreate the feeling by celebrating it together by fostering a sense of community. Some travel to bigger cities to participate in festivals that remind them of home, while others choose to take a random trip to their spiritual home. Fortunately, traveling by trains in the UK is mostly reliable and if planned ahead of time, it can be a delightful experience.
The train system in the UK is not only the world’s oldest working transport system – it is also one of the priciest in all of Europe. It can cost somebody a massive fine in case of minor errors or ‘innocent mistakes’. Therefore, one should be extra careful when planning a train journey. A smooth and stress-free train journey is possible by following these three easy steps:
1. Plan and book your tickets in advance via official railway website or app, or by simply from ticket counter at the train station.
2. If the fare seems too good to be true – it is – do not be a penny-pincher, contact the railway service or visit the information desk to make sure there are no hidden costs.
3. Avoid peak hours. Plan a trip on weekdays instead.
My favourite train station is of course, Northampton train station, because it is painlessly straightforward and accessible. Situated in the heart of the town and across the street from the innovation branch of University of Northampton, you can enter by climbing the stairs at the main road or using the lift for disabled customers at the back.
The wide hall has ladies’ and gents’ restrooms on either side as you enter the main entrance, followed by a convenient store and ticket counter on the left and a coffee shop and waiting area on the right. At the end of the hall is the arrival and departure where, after scanning your ticket, you can go to one of the five platforms, depending on your destination.
From the many multi-directional locations, London and Birmingham are the longest direct locations whereas Long Buckby, Milton Keynes, Rugby and Coventry are some of the easy-breezy stops. My longest train journey is a record six hours, when my husband and I go to the charming and captivating Welsh harbour town called Porthmadog.
The well-known romantic poet of the early 19th century, Percy Shelley made Porthmadog his home. He and his wife Frankenstein fame writer wife Mary Shelley lived there from 1812 to 1813. Words cannot describe the ethereal beauty of Wales especially its village called Portmeirion. Because of its unique architectural design, enigmatic vibes and serene coastal scenery it became the filming location of the iconic 1967 famous TV show “The Prisoner”. For The Prisoner fans and admirers who gather here at the Portmeirion village at all times throughout the year, this place is a spiritual home.
Northamptonshire also has a connection with world famous and well-loved films like Star Wars, James Bond and Harry Potter.
The county has also enjoyed its status of being the shoe capital of the world. It used to be the home for some of the world’s most eminent shoe factories. These shoe factories created a variety of noises like clicking, whirring, buzzing and hammering. The sights and sounds of a buzzing show industry were local to this county. Northamptonshire used to be the shoe capital of the world and the county enjoyed this status for nearly nine centuries.
(To be continued)
