UK sabbatical

That is the title of the book that I bought today by Steven Johnson. He argues for popular culture helping children to develop cognitively (Please check his blog of the same title). So there's nothing BAD with playing computer games and watching TV, except when there's too much of it, you might even die! like the guy in China who played computer games for 50 hrs continuously, he passed away.

I have been visiting bookstores and running up my credit card bill in the last ten days. There's nothing like the sight and smell of books to make me go ga ga... they are so cheap! compared to the fish and chips. I wish I could just park myself in the book store and read to my heart content.

I've been buying research books and hope to teach myself as fast as I can and at the same time, I cannot resist the story books too... that is bad... but good for me. I've never read that many books in four weeks. How many? well, I am on my 13th. Now you know why I have not been been writing since the last blog.

Actually, I have been rather upset with my notebook, it has been so unreliable... it is definitely not happy with me. However, I'm fortunate I am staying with a family where everyone has a computer and everyone is connected and on skype... we actually use skype to chat with the person upstairs or in the other room... BAD? It is tempting, better than climbing stairs.

Just had kway teow goreng ordered from someone who works in one of the Malay eating places here. It was nice, lots of udang and ayam... BAD? Once in a while it is good to indulge in good food, especially, when you are so far away from home. Next week I will officially move into the college dorm... hmm can't imagine what it would be like to live with students... It should be fun... one of my nephews cautioned me not to cook for everyone... what does he know?

Will tell you more about the book once I have read it, in the meantime carry on doing everything GOOD!

Woke up this morning, decided that I need to do something educational today. Not that I have not been doing work, its just that it would be such a waste to stay home and stare at the screen and the keyboard, when the sun is out and the weather is just so beautiful. So a visit to the museums is long overdue. I've always loved the atmosphere at the museum, the exhibits and the souvenier shops.

I was dropped off at the Nottinghill Gate tube station, bought an all day travel pass for two zones which cost about 4.70 GBP (do not convert!), well, it is more expensive than a sandwich. This is the first time that I have ventured into a tube station, on this visit to London, I have to brave myself and do it. Well, I bought the ticket and headed to the platform 1. Took the first train that came and realized that I was on district line not circle line, so hopped off at the next station, which was High Street Kensington. Waited for the circle line, after 10 minutes, then I overheard someone on the platform saying that there was a notice that said no circle line operating until .. whenever... ok, next best thing is to take the district line again and change at Earls Court station. So I hopped on the next train changed at Earls Court station and took another train, district line to South Kensington, wah that was really something, it took me 45 minutes to get to the Exhibition road.

From South Kensington, I took the tunnel to the museums. The first exit was the Natural History museum, the Biologist in me always like this museum. As soon as you enter the lobby after having your bags checked, you are greeted by the Brontosaurus, somehow the impact is no longer like it was the first time I saw it with a 6 year old kid (Sam), the Brontosaurus is celebrating its 100 years anniversary as an exhibit at the museum. I had fun watching the children and parents engaged with the exhibits and the information, learning from each other. An interesting photography exhibit "face to face" was on. The exhibit features close up photographs of primates (faces only), these primates are from the primate sanctuary in Camaroon. After 1 and half hour at the nat sc museum, I moved on to the Science Museum.

It has been quite tiring walking the distance from the tube station to the museum and walking around the exhibits. Well, I spent the next 30 mins at the science museum, I decided not to go to the IMax movies, the 3D movies and the ride. It would be more fun if I have kids with me. May be next time. After debating whether to go back or go somewhere else, so I can sit down, I made up my mind to walk across the road to the Victoria and Albert Museum and walked some more. This is a museum which exhibits historical things and life from Europe, Asia, South East Asia, etc. The exhibits are themed. I managed to do the fashion exhibition, China and Japan, and western Europe. By two o'clock I was too tired to see more or to walk further, since this museum has 5 floors of exhibits to see, I decided that I should come another time.

Left V&A museum through the tunnel and caught the next train to Nottinghill Gate from South Kensington station. From Nottinghill Gate, I took bus number 328 to Chippenham, and walked home. Arrived home about 3. 10 pm. It has been a fruitful day, I have managed to do something educational and worthwhile. It was nice to be able to get out and to feel brave about it. London now is not the same as the London I used to know 26 years ago. The police did not carry guns then, now they walk around with machineguns. They are everywhere, the security is tight. I should feel safe however, there is always doubts.

Till the next time.

RM

Finally downloaded the skype software. Borrowed the mike from fi and used the creative earplug, now I am connencted by voice and video. Spoke to my family in PJ a few times, having done that, I found that there's nothing left to update them through email. Kind of miss the emailing..

If you would like to contact me through skype, I am at rmaznah. If you would like to download the software, go to www.skype.com and register for the voice only, or you may go to www.vskype.com for video. Try it, it is free. BTW you may need the broadband (tho they say dial-up can also be used), a mike and a headphone, then ur set, or if u want to send video of course u will need a webcam too.

I could say that I am rather productive the last two weeks. I have finished reading 4 books. Now I'm going to have to put aside the books and concentrate on the writings. I have a few things in the pipeline. Actually there is no such thing as too much realxing, however, I am feeling rather muak with it, especially, when London is so unsafe to explore right now.

I attended the Jumaat prayer at the mesjid in Westbourne Park last friday. Before the prayer, I had the opportunity to sit in a session organized by the Arab speaking community, a meeting with their lady parliement representative or their YB. It was interesting to hear the views from both sides. I suppose it is not easy to find a solution to the current problem. In a way for the community it is a worrisome matter, 'cos they do not feel safe anymore. Their children are being harassed in schools and their women are targeted by bullies and verbal abuse. The government is doing their best to overcome this problem and they are looking at changing some of the rules to manage the problems.

Did I tell you that there are two policemen stationed outside the mesjid at any one time. They are also checking on people going in and out.

I finally met up with my British Council friend last Wednesday. I managed to catch her between her busy schedules of meetings and signing letters. She comes to London at least once a week from Manchester. We had some tea and cheesecake with ice cream at W&W in Trafalgar Sq. it was sinfully rich, but it was worth it. That was my first cheesecake in London. We had to walk in the rain to go to covent garden afterward to look at souvenier shops. I'll be arranging more meetings with her and her ICT expert in the next few weeks.

Till the next entry.