
I had begun the day in nervous anticipation. For nearly two months, I had been planning this trip to a land that, for a long time, beckoned mysteriously. Over the past 11 years, I had travelled often to London — sometimes, on business as some of you do; at other times, on pure pleasure, discovering the garden of Kent, the variety of East Anglia, the cream of Devon. Some of these delightful places have also been explored by those bitten by the travel bug… I was, in fact, bitten by the question — Where next in the United Kingdom?
This time, the British Tourism Authority came forth in kind generosity when I posed the question that most Indian families of four ask, “What unexplored vistas can we discover by car from London?” “Oh, Vinod,” they said, “go to a different country in Britain. Go to Wales. It is so unspoilt, so unique, so peaceful, you’ll love it.”
To a jaded traveller, such adjectives are like magic, and yet one wonders, will it really be that different? I needn’t have worried. Wales is everything the guide books promise, and more.

We set off on a shiny, happy Monday morning. In the driver’s seat sat Peter Joel, my peripatetic traveller friend who, for years, had been a director with an international airline and now only did charity work. I would hardly qualify as needing charity but, having left my international driving licence back in Bombay, Peter stepped in on a week’s notice to play chauffeur and was now stepping on the gas of the rented Hertz car.
Zoom on— the M4 having cleared London’s never-ending suburbs. Put the radio on. Listen to the latest pop hits. Get information on which motorways are jammed. Sip a Pepsi. Munch a chocolate. Marvel at the green, green, green English countryside.
Stare in envy at occupants of cars that carry watersports equipment on top. Stare in envy at occupants of cars towing caravans, knowing that they have a long camping vacation ahead. We, of course, had only five days.

But what fun-filled, fabulous, fascinating five days they were. In three hours flat, we had arrived in Cardiff. At the Wales Tourist Board Office, we were welcomed by the soft-spoken and exceedingly kind Eirlys Thomas, senior marketing officer, who had planned our itinerary. First, however, it was necessary to appease our growling stomachs, and Eirlys led us to a memorable Italian meal.
Cardiff is an international city with a range of lively and interesting restaurants to suit every pocket and taste, from nouvelle cuisine and home-baked pizzas to Oriental fare and fine Indian dishes. Cardiff is probably better known for rugby football than elegance and excellent entertainment, yet both are evident all around. Many of Britain’s finest department stores fill the pedestrianised city centre, along with countless speciality shops. Three excellent new shopping malls and no less than seven superb Victorian and Edwardian arcades provide a comfortable shopping environment all year ’round.
Cardiff also offers peace and relaxation in its magnificent city parks. Bute Gardens, alongside the castle, features beautiful formal gardens and rolling lawns stretching out as far as the eye can see — perfect for a picnic or a quiet walk.