A dialogue between two friends regarding a visit to a London
Asad: Hi, Qamar! Long time no see!
Qamar: Yes, I've been out of the country for a few months.
Asad: Oh, really? Where did you go? The Gulf?
Qamar: No, my wife and I visited the UK to see our grandson.
Asad: That sounds like a great time. How long were you there?
Qamar: We stayed for six months.
Asad: Nice! Which part of the UK did you visit?
Qamar: We were in London, specifically East Ham.
Asad: Oh, East Ham. I have some friends living there.
Qamar: Yes, it's a place with a lot of Pakistanis.
Asad: You know our friend Zahid. His sister and family are there too.
Qamar: Yes, I once met them on the London underground.
Asad: Oh, I see. That's what they call the London subway system, right?
Qamar: Yes, exactly. It's a convenient way to travel around London.
Asad: I've heard that transportation in London can be expensive.
Qamar: Yes, especially taxis are quite pricey.
Asad: Was it difficult to get a visa to the UK? I heard it's not easy.
Qamar: It wasn't too difficult for us. We got it from the British High Commission in Islamabad.
Asad: What was the process like?
Qamar: We needed a sponsor's letter from London and round trip air tickets. Also, we had to show some documents to prove our ties to our home country.
Asad: I guess that's to ensure you don't overstay your visit.
Qamar: Yes, exactly. They want to be sure you'll return home after your visit.
Asad: I can imagine they asked you many questions at the High Commission's office.
Qamar: Yes, they did. Once you get the visa, it's valid for six months from the date of entry.
Asad: So you have to use it within six months.
Qamar: That's correct. We had to pay for the visa in rupees, and the amount depends on the duration of your stay.
Asad: How much did you pay for six months?
Qamar: It was Rs. 70,000 each for my wife and me.
Asad: Did you fly directly from Islamabad to London?
Qamar: No, we had a layover in Muscat and Bahrain. Direct flights are more expensive.
Asad: How long was the overall journey with the layovers?
Qamar: It took around ten hours of flying time, and we spent about two hours during the layovers.
Asad: Which airline did you fly with?
Qamar: We flew with Gulf Airways.
Asad: How was the flight experience?
Qamar: It was fantastic! The food and service were great, and they provided entertainment on board.
Asad: How long did it take you to reach London?
Qamar: We took off from Lahore at 8 a.m. Pakistan time and landed in London at 5.45 p.m. London time on the same day.
Asad: That's quite a journey. London is five hours behind Pakistani time, right?
Qamar: Yes, you're right.
Asad: Was your son there to receive you at the airport?
Qamar: Yes, he and my daughter-in-law were there to greet us.
Asad: Had you been to London before this trip?
Qamar: No, that was our first time visiting London.
Asad: What's your impression of English people?
Qamar: They are reserved and mind their own business. London is a beautiful city with unique architectural beauty, but it's not all about skyscrapers like some cities in the States.
Asad: I thought it was full of tall buildings and flyovers.
Qamar: Not really. It has many charming streets with two or three-story buildings, and each street has a similar design.
Asad: That sounds interesting. How are the roads and cleanliness there?
Qamar: The roads are wide and well-maintained with proper signs and markings. Londoners have a good civic sense, and you can find litter bins everywhere. They have a systematic garbage collection system too.
Asad: That's impressive. I wish we could learn from them.
Qamar: True, it's not just about the authorities; we all need to be responsible citizens.
Asad: London seems to have a lot of thoughtful infrastructure, like pavements that accommodate prams and auto-chairs easily.
Qamar: Yes, it's very convenient for parents and older people to move around.
Asad: I really hope I can visit London someday. Anyway, it's getting late for both of us. We should head home.
Qamar: You're right. Goodbye, and take care!