the victoria and albert

I can't decide if I love the Victoria and Albert museum in Kensington. There's definitely a lot to see and the museum's gift shop and book stores are amazing treasure troves. But there's so much to see that I feel overwhelmed; sculptures, paintings, jewellery, cast iron, tapestries, etc. I know it's important to preserve these artefacts. But when I'm looking at ornate silverware, I can't help feeling that this objects exist to display the opulence of a bygone era of wealth, and it's something that just didn't sit right with me. I am by no means a saint, but I can't help feeling that many of these intricate objects could have been used to feed families, school children, etc.

One of my favourite moments in the V&A

One of my favourite displays in the museum wasn't even on display. This section of the museum had been cordoned off. But sometimes fate intervenes; a sculpture of an angel against a window below a halo of lights. I was so lucky to be there at the right place and the right time.

Sometimes it pays to look up

Monument to Emily Georgiana, Countess of Winchelsea by Laurence MacDonald

This is my favourite piece from the museum. It's a beautiful piece, but above all I was moved by this loving tribute to the late Countess.

I
When the Knell hung for the dying
Soundeth for
And my corse coldly is lying
Neath the green tree

II
When the turf strangers are heaping
Covers my breast
Come not to gaze on me weeping
I am at rest

III
All my life coldly and sadly
The days have gone by
I who dreamed wildly and madly
Am happy to die

IV
Long since my heart has been breaking
Its pain is past
A time has been set to its aching
Peace comes at last

W.G.W.& N.

Heartbreaking and beautiful. Does everything heartbreaking end up beautiful?

london weekend

I went to London last weekend, despite the blustery weather, and a lovely time visiting museums and perusing various gift shops.

View of London from the plane

Only in England at the Science Museum

We managed to visit five museums over the weekend and by the end of the first day, I was experiencing a little museum-fatigue. But my favourite exhibit is Only in England at the Science Museum, which is a display of photographs by Tony Ray-Jones and curated by Martin Parr.

We live in an age where we are constantly bombarded by messages that as a result, very little moves me. But I loved this exhibition. Tony Ray-Jones was a street photographer who shot on both sides of the alantic and sadly lost his life to leukemia at the age of 30. Despite his youth, he has amassed a collection of work that is both moving and thought-provoking. It's definitely my favourite experience from this trip!

View from National Gallery

I also manged to visit both the National Portrait Gallery and National Gallery and both museums were well crowded! I felt like I just couldn't focus or contemplate; will just have to leave that for another trip then.

Kimchi ramen at Bone Daddies

I had to have my Japanese food fix while in London and headed to Bone Daddies. The seafood was delicious albeit the soup base was seriously spicy and left me with an upset stomach, but I was still happy have to have eaten this.

The Double Shack

For dinner we headed to Covent Garden because I wanted to try the Shake Shack. We were lucky and didn't have to wait more than 10 minutes to order and get a table. The burger was good and I loved the fries but it wasn't life-changing, or maybe I just expect too much from food. (Not everything has to be life-changing, it just has to taste good)

Outside the Natural History Museum

Spotted outside the Natural History Museum, is Spring round the corner?

Lovely pink sakuras

Just before we left for Heathrow, we spotted these lovely pink sakuras outside someone's home near South Kensington Station. I really love this area, a lot of small cafes, an independent bookstore and a lovely busker singing opera. I cannot listen to opera without tearing up. Something about the emotion always makes me bursts into tears.

I love London and can't wait to go back again.

tokyo, once more with feeling

 I've really enjoyed reminiscing my Tokyo trip this week. Here are some photos that didn't make it into the other posts.

Asakusa, the tourist trap

Not everything in Tokyo is shiny and new

Welcome to the winter of my discontent

Shinjuku Gyoen

All the leaves are brown

View of Tokyo at night from the Mori Tower

If you'd like to find out more about Tokyo, check out a few of my favourite Tokyo bloggers: Tokyo Eats (everything you need to know about eating out in Tokyo); Hello Sandwich (an Australian artist living in Tokyo) and Shoot Tokyo (a street photographer based in Tokyo).

Sayonara Tokyo, until we meet again!

eating my way through tokyo

No blog post on Tokyo is complete without talking about their glorious food. Japanese food is my favourite food; there's just so much variety: barbecued, baked, fried, steamed, stewed and even raw! 

Warning: loads of food porn ahead!

Ooo... Otooya!

Macarons from Laduree

Japanese beef curry rice from Kyobashi Sembikiya

Dessert at the same place

Bacon spinach and pumpkin tartines at Ayoyama Flower Market

Fried chicken and potato wedges from Takashimaya Times Square

Potato croquette with Japanese curry and rice

Macarons from Pierre Hermes

Beef bowl at Yoshinoya

Delicious seafood pasta from Tsunami

Melon pans are supposed to be a favourite in Japan

More baked goods from Daimaru

Ramen in Shimokitozawa

Dobinmushi soup served in a teapot from a joint in Shimbashi

Yakitori goooodnesssss in Shimbashi

Barbecued vegetables from the same place

My hand warmer of choice: soy green latte from Starbucks

Tell me about your favourite Japanese restaurants outside of Japan, I would love to hear from you!

ayoyama and shimokitozawa

ayoyama
Ayoyama is home to many international designer brands, but even if luxury shopping is not your thing, the architecture and interior design is really worth a visit. Check out these flagship stores if you're in the area: comme des garcon, undercover and a bathing ape.

The Prada store in Ayoyama

Loving the cobbled streets near the Dries Van Noten store

Miffy no happy :(

Crossings

shimokitozawa
But if small, independent shops are more your thing, then head over to laid-back Shimokitozawa. Browse through racks of vintage clothing stores, handmade crafts, quirky bookstores and there's even a cat cafe!

The train station was still being renovated in December 2012

Shimokitozawa at noon

Saw this cute tote outside a small shop

Do you prefer Ayoyama or Shimokitozawa?

walking on the streets of tokyo: harajuku

There's a lot to love about Tokyo and with the weather so good, walking around Tokyo is a joy.

Harajuku is a great place to shop and people-watch. There's loads of Japanese street wear brands here and High Snobiety has a great list if you're interested.

Walking past a hotel on our way to Harajuku; loving the brutalist architecture and cherry blossom tree

Sticker art everywhere

I can't count them all

Singaporeans will get this

Space Invader invades a Harajuku parking lot

One of the many quirky shops in Harajuku

Plenty of indie bookshops in Harajuku; this shop owner was so nice and patient with directions

I'll be posting on Ayoyama and Shimokitozawa tomorrow, come back soon!

meiji shrine in shibuya-ku

From just watching films about Tokyo, one would think that it's a neo-punk modern metropolis a la Blade Runner. In some ways, it sorta is; when you're shopping in Shibuya, giant electronic billboards are blasting all manner of ads in Japanese at you. But despite the crowds and noise, you can still find pockets of tranquility at the heart of the city. One of these pockets is the Meiji Shrine in Shibuya-ku. 

The torii

Walking into the shrine early in the morning

The colours of autumn

Japanese maple trees in autumn are a vibrant shade of orange

Sake barrels on display

Entrance to the main shrine

Close-up of the torii

Beautiful architectural feature on the door

Japanese lamps adorn the shrine

Shinto weddings are frequently held at the Meiji shrine

Close-up of the couple

Leaving the shrine

Have you been to Meiji Shrine? If you have, please share your photos with me in the comments section below.