The last full day of my first trip to London. I say that because I know I will be going back.
I spent the day with my sister's boyfriend doing what he and I seem to do best museums and historical stuff. Being a bit of a history buff, especially when it comes to science and knowledge acquisition (as in how the ideas that we now consider conventional came about), going to the 3 major London museums (there are A LOT of museums in London!) was a must do while I was there.
We went to the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the British Museum (BM).
When we arrived at the Natural History Museum it was erm, incredibly crowded because it was school holidays and where better to spend your time than looking at dinosaurs really?? So we proceeded down the road a bit to the Science Museum.
The Science Museum was a bit of a children's playground despite being really well laid out and what could be seen as quite complex ideas being well explained. My sister's boyfriend is a primary school teacher and he questioned how much kids get out of a place like that if parents or teachers don't take the time to teach kids about the stuff they're looking at or playing with. I think he might be right. There seemed to be two types of parents, the ones that just let their kids look at stuff and the ones that were constantly talking to their children explaining things as they went, much like Dad used to do with my sister and I.
There was lots to interest me in that museum. DNA, Microscopes, old MRI Machines, Aero stuff, medical stuff, everything! It was awesome! There was a medical museum on one of the top floors which was largely empty. It had some of Lister's stuff and Pasteur's stuff and I went a little nuts. There were all sorts of microbiological artifacts that caused me to go a little geeky. However, I stumbled into the gaenecological (sp?!) section and decided that perhaps my cue to be less interested was upon me, some of that stuff looked painful! I found myself feeling lucky that I didn't live my adult life in the early 20th century or before that, that's for sure. Anyway, I got a little disturbed and decided it was better to get out.
Next was the Natural History Museum where another discussion about my non-commital views on evolution almost broke out. It was really crowded and quite full in there so we decided to skip the dinosaurs. It had everything you'd expect, Geology, Astronomy etc etc etc Biology and being the 150th Anniversary of Darwin's Theory of Evolution there was the obligatory exhibit about him. Very interesting. I even found a sign that said 'we are evolving' on the screen covering the area where they were creating a new exhibit.
The final destination for the day was the British Museum. It is the oldest public museum in the world having been opened to the public in 1759. It houses the Rosetta Stone and many many other ancient artifacts from all over the world. There was sooo much in it that was so amazing. The Rosetta Stone was much smaller than I imagined it would be learning about ancient history as a kid. Cleopatra was tiny! There were bits and pieces from all over the ancient world as well as from all over modernity. There was even an exhibition on Japan which allowed me to impart some of my own knowledge on the superb tour guide that is my sister's boyfriend.
However, the highlight of the whole day was the artifacts found in the Roman rubbish dump found at the border between England and Scotland. My sister's boyfriend had told me how incredibly interesting the pieces of 'paper' they had found in it were and I have got to say that he was right. They were incredible. Just reading the translations of some of the things written was enough to give more of an insight into Roman life, how they actually lived, their culture. It was just amazing!
I came away from the British Museum knowing that I have to go back there one day and thinking that I couldn't have asked for a better final full day in London. At least that's what I thought until dinner time.
Gosh darn it if anyone in my family can cook it has got to be my sister. We came home to a spectacular dinner of Wild Alaskan Salmon and Roast Vegies. They were as usual amazing. I do not know where she learned to cook but she sure does have a feeling for what goes well together and how to make it taste good. I think it is partially due to her having discovered organic veges since her move back to the UK but I'm not sure that's entirely it. I dunno, I just feel like she is just such a better cook than me. I bake, she cooks. That seems to be how it works. I make (and eat) cookies and cakes, she creates amazing meals. I'm the one who will get type 2 diabetes, she's the one who runs half marathons and will still be able to manage her weight effectively for as long as she lives. And yet I still sit here munching on rice crackers flavoured with sugar and plum...
My sister and I talked for ages that night. My flight was in the afternoon the next day while she was at work so I would say goodbye to her in the morning not being entirely sure when I will see her again. Such is the way our relationship works. We haven't lived in the same house as each other for more than 3 months at a stretch since I was thirteen but that doesn't mean that there aren't times when I wish she wasn't on the opposite side of the world to her. Time zones are interesting things.
My trip to the UK was amazing. Returning to Japan in time for the anniversary of my move here was also amazing. The jetlag was not cool but that's life. I don't think that trip to is going to be something that I forget easily, especially not that last dinner. Gosh darn it, my sister's cooking is just too good. Best part of the whole trip: Spending time with my family (yes that does include the boyfriend of the sister!) and eating the food my sister cooked for sure!
UK trip series over and out! Photos coming soon.
Raewyn
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