To India and back

The past two days were just the best ever. (I say that every day....ooops).
Yesterday, we went to Camden Market, which is best described as the punk district of London. The people there were so different, and the stores all offered peircings and tattoos. It was really fun to be in that atmosphere for a bit. Luckily I didn't come home with a nose ring.... yet.
After Camden we went to Poundland and bought candy. You see, poundland is the greatest because unlike in America, when you buy something, it really adds up to 1 pound. Not 1.07, just one. It's really a unique and touching experience.
Yesterday night after dinner we decided to go to the Victoria and Albert Museum, (despite the terrorist security alert that's going on in the city right now, no big deal) and it was SO fun. I've been to the V&A a few times,and loved it. We noticed a huge crowd heading that way, for some reason, and when we got inside we discovered that there was a masquerade party going on! I guess there's a big party there once a month, and this time it was renaissance themed. Everyone was dressed to kill, with incredible masks on. We felt a little bad we weren't dressed up.... but we didn't care TOO much because it was so fun. It was cool to be at a party with the locals, the people watching was prime.
I also found a room in the museum that I hadn't been to yet... (Drumroll).. The Plaster Cast room! It. was. SO. COOL. They took plaster casts of huge, important, famous sculptures and put them right here in England, so it's like I've seen 12 countries now! One thing that I surprisingly fell in love with was Trajan's column. Maybe it's just because I remember learning about it in Art History,and thinking, "why?". Or maybe it's just because it's MaGnIfIcEnT (but the latter is less likely, seeing that all my friends got bored of it and wanted to move on.) Either way, I love Trajan's column. I'm even a little hesitant to post my picture of it on here, because it simply does NOT do it justice. Believe me people, it's incredible. I have learned that same lesson multiple times already on this London excursion... everything I learned about in Art History was for a reason. It's all incredible. Comparing the textbook pictures to real life is like comparing Lady Gaga to Billy Joel. You just can feel the difference. (I never thought I'd even utter the name lady gaga on my blog. EW.)
Anyways, in the plaster cast room they have all sorts of stuff. Like the David (yeah cool), and the gates of Paradise, it goes on and on. I just love Trajan's Column. Everyone thought I was a little wierd.
Moving on to today, I started off the day like this: "aaauuuggghhhh morning. blleeaahhhhhh." But I had promised myself that I would run, so I did. So I got up and got ready (even though today was a sleep in day. It seemed torturous.) and when I looked outside, I saw frost on the ground and I was like: "aaauuuuuggghhhh noooooooo!!!!". But alas, there was no turning back. So I went outside and ran through Hyde park, and it was the most glorious run I've ever been on. I accidentally found a fountain, and the sky wasn't cloudy (wow), and the sunrise was so pretty, and the whole park was frosted, it was so amazing. And I wanted to remember it, so I wrote about it. Sorry for any inconveniences.
So today was a big group study day, and we went to Southall. Southall is an Indian town just outside of London. We spent the morning in class learning about their churches and their culture, and I was like "boooring!" because it all seemed just like everything I've learned about before. So we headed on over, and got to the first temple, (A Sikh temple) and little did I know, we'd be participating in their worshiping service. We took off our shoes, covered our hair, and went inside and listened to the reading of their scriptures. We all had an opportunity to go to the front and show respect on the platform. It was really uncomfortable to do all these things at first, and I felt all wierd inside... but it really was the greatest learning experience. After all that was over, we were set free. I was talking to one of the religious men at the church and one thing he said was really cool to me. He said "A Sikh is a learner, so you are now a Sikh because you have come here to learn." They were so accepting, and they actually love the Book of Mormon. It was a really cool place. I visited a Hindu temple and another Sikh one after that. Walking down the streets was definitely more fun after I had those experiences. I understood the symbolism in what the people were wearing, and I just felt like over all I knew so much more about them. We ate dinner at a restaurant called "Gifto's", apparantly the best authentic Indian food in the world. I've never had it before, but I reeeallly liked it. I loved India for a day!
Cherry on top: I saw stars tonight. If you know me at all, you know I love them stars. It really made me smile out loud.