A day of window shopping

Started the day with an important mission, to inform MARA the details of our flight home to Malaysia. So it is OFFICIAL..the dreaded date is 22 JULY 2014. I think it's the 5th day of Eid' Fitr. Huhuhuhu, I'm sad every time I think about going home so let's not dwell on it. I want to make the most of my time here, while I can.

After 4 days of serious walking expedition around London I think I need a rest, before an all-day walking in Kew Garden tomorrow.

So after a very short meeting with MARA, we went to Shepherd's Bush, the Westfield mall. Window shopping is no fun without having your best girl friends along. We tried on shoes, clothes and even went into a toy store and having fun with it. Just being childish.

The Westfield mall in White City is a little bit upscale compared to the Westfield mall in Stratford, hence less crowded. I believe it's because it does not have a Primark store in it. Had a nice cup of trendy flat white coffee and went home.

Anyway, I need to finish up a post about my walking experience around Westminster area. Let's start drafting!

XOXO

A day with Churchill

Place: Churchill War Rooms & Churchill Museum, London
Date of visit: 3 June 2015 @ 2pm
Cost: GBP 18 (entrance fees) + GBP 5 for visitors guide
Free audio guide provided

The Rooms first became operational at the end of 1939, but only really came into use after Winston Churchill became Prime Minister. The War Cabinet Room was the scene of numerous crucial meetings held by Churchill during the Blitz, as above ground, Luftwaffe tried to devastate London.

The Rooms have been maintained as it were in 16 August 1945 when the final light goes out in these subterranean rooms after the war ended.  It is situated in the basement storage rooms under the Office of Works and the Boards of Trade.

War Cabinet Room

The gallery starts off with the War Cabinet Room. The room's red girders on the ceiling were there to support the ceiling.

The red box on the table is Churchill's, full with state papers that he brought along with him everywhere.

Churchill suite in the bunker. Simple but yet functional. He liked having his wife nearby, hence a room was set aside for Clementine next door to his own. How sweet!

Look at that pink bed cover! 

The most amazing room was the Map Room. It was staffed by one officer each of the Royal Air Force, the Army and the Royal Navy, 24 hours every day from August 1939 to August 1945. Each day by 8pm the map room officers produced a daily summary of the war for the King, Prime Minister and the Chiefs of Staff. Unfortunately, my camera failed on me and I have no pictures of the room. Sad :( 

But there's one fun fact about that room. On the desk of the Chief Map Room Officer is an envelope marked with his name with 3 rationed sugar cubes in it. It was to avoid the sugar being taken by other people. How cute!

Next, to Churchill Museum where it illustrated Churchill's life from birth to his death on 24 January 1965 at the age of 90. He was given a State Funeral which was quite awesome for a commoner. There's a video showing his funeral procession in the gallery.

There's one thing struck me though, did you know that Winston Churchill lost his General Election of 1945 mere months after winning the war for Britons. An 'ungrateful nation' as he put it in his book, after years of inspirational leadership in the war against Hitler (I directly quoted this from the guide). I wonder what went through his mind when he lost the election. Poor man!

I love how the museum has a 15-metre long interactive table chronicling the life and times of Winston Churchill. You just need to click the date and the details & photos will be shown.

After looking at the details of his life,  I believe Winston Churchill  is one of the greatest statesmen and a war hero. '

 'We shall fight on the beaches'

'This was their finest hour'

That's why you need a plan before you go anywhere

Well, lesson learnt today. I was supposed to cover the Old Westminster area today, but unfortunately I did not. I only managed to visit Churchill's War Room and walk along Whitehall.

Reasons????

First - I woke up late and went out close to 2pm which is kinda late.
Second - When I exited the Westminster station, there were hordes of tourists at the junction trying to get the best picture of the Abbey and Big Ben. It was a nightmare to navigate.
Third - Churchill War Room gallery was too awesome to have just a short visit. You need at least 2 hours to enjoy the self-guided tour and feel the energy of one of the greatest war figure that I admire.

Will put up an entry tomorrow that covers my adventure to the Old Westminster. I hope, fingers crossed.

XOXO

Girl lost in a city

Actually, my initial plan is to visit Kenwood House in Hampstead Heath. But my hubby was against the idea as he was worried about my safety. He felt that it's not safe to go too far out from the city without him. Well, I take it that he cares about me. So the plan flew out of the window. 

Then I thought why not visit the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square. I've been living in London for 2 years but I never went in. Ok, back-up plan is ON!

Went to Argos in Westfield Stratford to pick up my new pedometer which cost me like 4 pounds, dirt cheap. Then, off I go on the DLR towards Bank station. But somehow, my brain was not programmed  correctly, and I went out the station and tada! there I stand in from of the Royal Exchange in the middle of the Bank junction. I forgot that I'm going to the National Gallery. I supposed since I'm here why not just explore the area. So there I was, at the Bank junction taking pictures after pictures like an actual tourist. 

Bank Junction

I kept on walking towards St Paul Cathedral along Cheapside street. Even though the street name is Cheapside but the outlet along the street in not cheap, all designers. Again took some pictures at St Paul Cathedral. Thought of going to see what's inside but to my surprise the entrance fees in 16 pounds. Too expensive! I walked out of the cathedral disappointed. 

St Paul (sorry for the horrible photo, though)

I dropped by the London Tourist Info Centre just across St' Paul and picked up lots of brochures. Then I saw a sign outside the centre for a guided walk along Fleet Street themed 'High life vs Low life'. It was supposed to showcase the stark difference between the rich and poor Londoners during the 1900. Waited and waited but didn't see the tour guide anywhere so again need to think of what else to do. Walked along Peters Hill and  cross the River Thames from the Millennium Bridge. 

 Millennium Bridge 

Saw this hideous brown building in front of me, the Tate Modern Gallery. Well, why not try new things today. So I stepped into the Tate building.

Tate Modern Gallery

Actually it's a bit funny for me going to an art gallery as I used to failed my Art subject during my primary school days. My mom used to laugh at my drawings whenever I showed her my homework for Art. I think my Art teacher just hates me and that's the reason I failed the subject and not because of lack of interest in art hahahahahaha.......

Some of the galleries are free and some with entrance fees. I had a look at the free galleries and thought that it looks the same as my drawings during my school days. Why, I think my Art teacher never had a chance to learn modern art. My drawings were ahead of time, too modern and abstract for her.  Ok, enough rambling about my old Art teacher. 

The only interesting thing in the building is the viewing balcony outside of the cafe on Level 3. It has the best view of St' Paul and other buildings along the Thames. 

Took a short coffee break at the cafe while  updating my notes. I keep notes of the area and things that I saw along the way. Then I remembered that I did visit Tate Gallery in Liverpool but it was much smaller compared to London. Mental note to self: I need to put up an entry about my visit to Liverpool & Manchester last February.

It's time to head home as it is almost 4 pm. Walked towards the Monument station along the River Thames to Southwark Bridge and then heads to Cannon Street. There's a nice mural on a wall at Queenhithe on the Thames Path. It depicts the history of London from Roman times to now. 

The Thames Path is quite isolated and not many passers-by, so I did get a little bit worried. 

It was a good day as I did try new things today but it is tiring as I did miss a few turns here and there. Need to have a better route plan next time.

A day in Museum of London Docklands

It is my first day unemployed.
I tendered my resignation as I am planning to go back to Malaysia for good in 2 months time.
So I decided to document my journey from now until the day I am leaving UK in July. It is bittersweet to leave a place that I love so much but I guess it is fated.

I'm living around the Canary Wharf area and I used to see this museum on my way to the Jubilee line.  I'm always curious of what's inside but I never have the time. So, I think I should explore my neighbourhood before venturing other places.

Went there just before lunch and there were not may people around. Well, it is a Monday.

The exhibition starts from Level 3 so I took the lift, well there's stairs too if you fancy. The lift door open and there hanging a small medieval boat. It was quite a display. The gallery starts with the history of London during the Roman, Danish & Norman period. It was quite a fascinating read.

It does have a special section dedicated to slavery in the UK. Apparently West India Dock is a major artery for transporting slaves from the African continent to the UK and also to the English colonies in America. Along with the slaves, the English transported sugar & rum (Coincidently, the cafe in the Museum is of the same name 'Sugar & Rum'). Demand of sugar increases due to increase in coffee consumption by the European.

There is also an exhibition where the docklands area was reconstructed, it was so creepy and so life-like, it scares me. I was halfway the exhibition that I decided to turn back, when I saw a museum staff walking my way. She saw that I looked scared and was so sweet to walk with me till the re-contsruction exhibition ends. Embarrassing but....

The second level exhibits the modern docklands and redevelopment of the area which includes Canary Wharf. It struck me that it was great battle to develop Canary Wharf into what it is today. From local disputes and financial recession, it took almost 30 years to realise the dream. I guess it's for the better...

Overall, it was informative and interesting, but not much of exhibition display though. It was a quite day and no noisy kids running around. But I'm not sure how's the condition during school holidays though.

p/s Do try the Victoria sponge cake from the cafe is quite good but the cappuccino is so pricey.

Front entrance

Exhibition / Galleries

The first display - Medieval boat

Scenery around the museum

Robert Milligan  - He was the driving force behind the construction of West India Dock