Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
If you want to have a great view on the skyline of London there are different places to consider like Parliament Hill at Hampstead Heath or Muswell hill, but the best place I discovered by incident: the terrace of the Alexandra Palace located inside Alexandra Park. It is an event location known for darts and snooker tournaments, but Ally Pally is also the best option for Londoners to ride their sledges in the rare events of snow in the city.
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One of Londons highlights outside the city center is the historic Highgate Cemetery. Located in the north in todays city quarter Camden it was opened in 1839, became the graveyard for many persons living in exile and it had to close around the year 1960. Fifteen years later a friend’s association acquired the land and therefore it can these days be visited again and also burials are again happening in this place. That feels a bit odd in the beginning, but seems to work well.
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When I went to Japan 15 years ago my favorite Japanese food was initially sushi, but I learned that there is something better: Japanese curry (Karē). It was introduced into Japanese culture only in the late 1860s when Japan had to give up its self-chosen isolation and came into contact with the British Empire. Karē was by that time a military dish, today it is a beloved everyday meal ubiquitously available. While travelling through the country I often stopped by at a chain restaurant called CoCo Ichibanya serving delicious Katsu karē.
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A visit to the Courtauld Gallery leads you into a very special building, the Somerset House. It was built in 1776 and was for long time the seat of aristocracy, later it was turned into a government building. Today Somerset House is a center of art which hosts an ice skating rink in winter and it is often used as backdrop in blockbuster movies. Since 1989 it houses the Courtauld Gallery which is focused on French impressionism and post-impressionism – a very good reasons to stop at Somerset House.
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If you’re into contemporary art, the Saatchi Gallery at London is for you. Located at Chelsea close to the Sloane Square station it offers rather small exhibitions in a beautiful building; some free of charge, some ticketed. It was opened by art collector Charles Saatchi in 1985 to make his own collection accessible to the public. The building itself is the former headquarter of the Duke of York. Artists exhibited here are British ones like Damien Hirst; but you can also find works of some German artists like Jörg Immendorff.
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We all know the famous Hyde Park at London and when looking on a map you’ll see one big green rectangle between Paddington and South Kensington – but in fact the West Carriage Drive going from North to South in the center of it divides the Hyde Park in the East from the Kensington Gardens in the West. The latter is named after the Kensington Palace that was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built in 1689 for William of Orange to cure his asthma.
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Well, Battersea is just a city quarter of London at the river Thames, but it has two important highlights that first time London visitors might not drop by. The first is the Battersea Park, a vast garden opened in 1858. It is great for a walk, for doing some sports like jogging, or playing tennis. But it also has a large lake on which you can ride a paddleboat, the Peace Pagoda and good bars to sit outside and enjoy nice weather (if there is some).
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South Africa is often called the Rainbow Nation to symbolize its diverse cultures, ethnic groups, and religions. The term was popularized by Archbishop Desmond Tutu after the end of apartheid in 1994, reflecting the country’s transition to a multiracial democracy under Nelson Mandela. The ‘rainbow‘ represents the many different people and traditions coexisting in the country, including Black, White, Colored, Indian, and various indigenous groups such as the Zulu, Xhosa, and Sotho. It also highlights South Africa’s eleven official languages and rich cultural heritage.
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Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (PLZ), located in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), South Africa, is the main gateway to the Eastern Cape region. Named after the legendary Khoisan leader Chief Dawid Stuurman, the airport serves as an important hub for both domestic and limited international flights. It has undergone significant upgrades and renovations to accommodate growing passenger numbers, with modern facilities that include a range of services such as restaurants, duty-free shops, and comfortable lounges.
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The South African Airforce Museum, located in Gqeberha, offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of the South African Air Force (SAAF) and its contributions to aviation and military history. The museum showcases a diverse collection of historic aircraft, including fighter jets, helicopters, and transport planes, many of which have been in active service during key moments in the country’s history.
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