Free Museum In London, The Horniman - in a free hilltop park with view over London and animals

Problem
Where to go in London which won't cost a fortune? A wonderful all-weather activity, indoor and out.

Answer
The Horniman Museum. The Museum is free.

The gardens are free. Masses for children to do in the museum and outside in the grounds.

Indoors - free
1 The global world collection of oddities that Horniman collected on his travels around Asia, India and Africa. Supplemented by updated information from the coutnries concerned.

Go to the upstairs gallery and look down.

2 A huge collection of stuffed animals and birds - a bit like the Natural History museum collection out at Tring collected by the Rothschilds.

3 A vast number of musical instruments. Click on buttons to hear them play.

Indoor gift shop will keep you amused for some time whether or not you buy. Lots of things which make a noise, such as soft toy birds from the RSPB, which sing.

Musical instruments based on those from around the world, such as maracas.

Items to paint with washable pens supplied, and then wash. Choose from a backpag, pencil case, pillow case, duvet, four placemats.

The design is the world which kids can colour in. Hours of fun - providing you can make it clear they decorate this item and nothing else - but if they did at least the paint in the pens supplied is washable.

The indoor cafe has assorted foods and drinks and seating.

Outdoors - free
Park And Views
The hilltop park with flower areas has views over London and its skyline. I immediately spotted and identified the pointed Shard from a distance. The display aboard points out Wembley Stadium and arch to the left, The Gherkin and several more buildings to the right.

A statue of a goat drew my attention to the entrance to the animal area with goats and rabbits. I went there first which proved a good idea because it closed early. The guinea pigs were hiding when I was there.

Outdoor ice cream kiosk attracts those walking through the park and not going into the museum.

Practical Visitor Details
Nearby station
Forest Hill (has a fish and chip shop opposite and pubs which have to provide drinking water for free because they serve alcohol.

Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London Road
London SE23 3PQ
Tel: 020 8699 1872
horniman.ac.uk

Photos will be added later.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and phtographer, author and speaker.

Light Relief - writing poems whilst travelling

Problem
How to pass the time during a delay? How to see the funny side? How to make good use of your time? I write comic poetry and when I remember and feel inspired I write poems about problems. I met a Singapore Airlines pilot at a toastmasters International meeting and said I would give him a poem, but our paths did not cross again. He was always away flying. However, for your entertainment, here's a new reproduction of my poem.

Answer
To be performed wearing a cap with gold buttons.

The Pilot Speaking
by Angela Lansbury

"This is your co-pilot speaking
I promise we're leaving on time
I know you feel like you're dying
Just breathe deeply, and you'll be fine ..."

"This is your co-pilot speaking
I'm sorry about the delay
If you look out of the windows
You'll see goat herds on the runway

"We don't usually tell you
When we see a snake on the plane
I lift my feet in the cockpit
Calmly sigh, 'Oh no - not again!'

"Whilst I am waiting for the vet
I announce, 'We're waiting for parts ...'
I send for vets - and two doctors
Mine quickly checks my waltzing heart!

"We know you've paid lots of money
We pretend complaints don't cause stress
Altitude makes food taste funny
Crew clean toilets, they do their best

"I have you enjoy a pleasant flight
A safe journey, a lovely day
Remember whilst you have a holiday
We're working, driving, smiling, all day."

Copyright Angela Lansbury
April 21 2017

Quick facts
Single animals or whole herds can get onto fenced or unfenced runways, especially in Africa.
Snakes on the plane have happened several times - either in passenger area or cockpit. Planes from some destinations are checked for stowaways - local wildlife which slithers in. Animals and reptiles and pets can also escape when carried officially or unofficially in luggage, or hidden under the passenger's clothes.

Snakes on a plane
Wikipedia:
The (movie) story is credited to David Dalessandro, a University of Pittsburgh administrator and first-time Hollywood writer. He developed the concept in 1992 after reading a nature magazine article about Indonesian brown tree snakes climbing onto planes in cargo during World War II.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker, entertainer.

WWII in Singapore - video and museum at the Old Ford Factory

All that's left of the outside old Ford Factory is the wonderful art deco exterior.

All that's left of the interior is an accurate reproduction of the surrender table, where the British surrendered to the Japanese, plus chairs from WWII, which might have been the actual chairs used.

The price is a mere Singaporean $3 and free to both Singaporeans (lots of schoolchildren visit) and permanent residents (expats who are long time residents but still hanging onto their birthplace passports, such as British passports, which prevents them from becoming Singaporean).

The museum has a small number of books and gifts on sale at the entrance. To the right is a movie theatre room where you can watch a video of about half an hour which is an overview of WWII, or one of several other films, one of which is two hours long, so it's worthwhile to make repeat visits on your own or with friends, family and tourist visitors.

The overview video explained two things to me:

1 The end of the war was foreseen by locals and the Japanese after the air Battle of Midway, which reduced Japanese air power and like the Battle of Britain was an essential step towards success on the ground for the Allies.

2 a) The Japanese had previously invaded China and because of opposition groups fighting openly or covertly again Japanese in China they regarded the Chinese in Singapore as a potential threat, which is why Chinese deemed political were massacred at the start, in worse danger than the Indian and British or European POWs and civilians.
2) b) Tan Kah Kee, who has a station named after him on the Downtown line was on the Japanese hitlist.

3 The Burma railway was important (to the Japanese) because Burma was the barrier between Thailand (to the north of Malaysia) and India. With lack of access by sea, a land bridge was essential.

On a jollier note, we see how crops were grown locally. Goats provided milk. Pigs and chickens were fed cockroaches. I always wondered what use coach roaches are!

On display is a white wedding dress. Two ladies gave accounts of their wartime weddings.

The Japanese surrender marked the end of WWII. Although food rationing continued, and the buildings had to be rebuilt, it was a chance for the restoration of peace and prosperity.

The war in Europe had already ended about 6 months earlier. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, according to the testimony of Singaporean residents, brought a swifter end to the war in Asia.

It was not until decades later that the mass graves of missing Chinese massacred on the beaches and elsewhere were found.

A nice end note is Lee Kuan Yew's dignified and conciliatory commend on the WWII memorial, that is not to recall old enmities but to honour lost ancestors.

Photos being added shortly.
Please share this with anybody who might be interested. I have other posts on varied subjects and videos on YouTube and Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.