It is cold up here in London.

There are many wonderful things about this city. There is not obscene amounts of public urination, for one. You can drink the water out of the tap with no worries about little evil microscopic beings coming into you and cleansing out your system. No beggars asking for your money, no touts trying to scam you out of your money. People ignore you here in London, almost as if they have better things to do with themselves.

India was hard my friends. As much as I hate to admit it, there is a lot to be said for the wonders of the first world. For example, if I have picked up anything from this trip, it is a renewed appreciation of potable tap water. However those governmental hydrologists get the job done, I want to thank them for this cup of water I am drinking right now. Ahhhh, so refreshing, so clean.

But I am not here now to discuss how a country that can build a nuclear bomb has so little in the way of infrastructure. Maybe another day. No, I am here to tell you where I am now, which is the epicenter of the United Kingdom, London. A city that often falls into the 'center of the world' category.

This is my third day of winter now, and I have not really adjusted. It was chilly in India, and warm in Vietnam, Cambodia and Australia, so this is really the first time that it has been Christmas-y feeling. If I am luck I'll get some snow. More likely though, it'll be rain.

What to say about London... Well, it is a great place, but very fucking expensive. This town has the world's most pricey real estate, I believe, so it should come as little surprise that everything else costs a bit more. Thankfully we are staying at a friend's place to keep costs down.

Highlights so far are seeing the London Eye, the record shop that is pictured in DJ Shadow's Entroducing, the Gerkin, and quality bitter, lager and Guinness. We are off today to check out some art, which should be a good time.

But really it is nice just to relax and celebrate being out of the backpacking phase of the trip for now and enjoy visiting friends who happen to live across the pond.