London apres 11 p.m.

One aspect of London nightlife --especially if you're used to Manhattan's -- that is highly annoying is that bars close at 11 p.m. sharp. So if you attempt to eat dinner at home and then step out, you have to scurry to get to the happening places before you are denied entry.I guess the Brits start drinking right after work at 6 p.m. so the pubs need to shut at a reasonable hour to control the number of drunkards on the roads!

Last Friday night, Darshini and I reached this bar called Collection in Knightsbridge at around 10:55 p.m. and just managed to sneak in. My friend, Tiese, was running late and I thought I could flash a big smile at the bouncer and get her in. But unfortunately we had to chuck our drinks which we'd just ordered and leave when Tiese showed up around 11:15 because she was barred from entering. Needless to say I was cursing London and singing praises of Manhhattan the rest of the night.

On Saturday night, however, we were pleasantly surprised when Rutton told us that we did not have to rush through dinner (at a trendy Japanese place in SoHo called Roka). He had an annual membership to this exclusive club called Milk & Honey and that he could get us in. Cool!

I was expecting a stuffy atmosphere and an arrogant crowd but what Milk & Honey' was actually cozy and oozing a lot of warmth and the young professionals there seemed modest and easy-going. We had a nice table reserved for us and we all sat around, chatted and had a wonderful time. Our group being diverse, we had a fun and interesting conversation indeed. We talked about everything from horrible airplane trips to how Italian men like their women. Amongst us we were a Gujrati, a Parsi, an Italian, a Turk, a Spaniard, a Brit and a Tamilian. I only wish I had been able to whip up one of those jokes that made fun of each of us!