BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 8

Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales Part 2

Today I covered another 10 km starting from Strumble's Head Lighthouse where I saw some purpoise swimming offshore with my binoculars. Next I saw some grey seals shelteing on rocks in a cove. This area is famous for being the place where French troops landed in an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Britain in 1797 during the French Revolutionary Wars in Europe. I also passed by some cows and horses. That was the last time Britain was ever invaded. Finally, I reached Fishguard Village in the evening. Again, I shall let the photos do the talking.

BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 7

Pembrokeshire Coast, Wales Part 1

Beautiful coastal scenery. I covered 20km today passing by Dinas Head (where you see the stone slab below). I shall let the photos do the talking instead.

BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 6

Snowdonia mountains, Wales Part 2

Up another peak, this time its one covered with rocks like a volcano! Fortunately, I was wearing boots or I would be in danger of getting a sprain.

A mountain goat and a cute lamb are the only company I saw here.

Beautiful view of the lake where I ascended the ridge from.

Two wild ponies grazing on the mountainside like as if I was in Mongolia.

Another mountain lake. The view here is so breathtaking! It is usually misty here but today it was all clear and I had no difficulty moving alone with my map and compass, thank God!

A final lake with the sea in the background marked the start of my sharp 700m descent to lowland.

The woods. the sky and the slopes of the mountain all blended in well.

The stream where I followed to the end point. Interestingly, both my start and end points are near streams.

BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 5

Snowdonia mountains, Wales Part 1

The fox at the backyard of my cousin, Trudi's, neighbour's house. I have read so many stories about foxes in children's stories when I was young. Now is the first time that I have seen it life. It looks like a small dog.

The mountain country of Wales is still served by 19th century steam-powered trains. I am getting ready to take one that will bring me up to Snowdonia mountain.

Inside the rustic steam powered train.

Passing by one of the lakes around Snowdonia.

Caernafon Castle, a 12th century coastal castle on northern Wales built by the English King Edward I as part of a series of castles to defend his conquest of Wales. It is a huge place with many ramparts, dungeons, rooms and towers that took me the whole day to explore.

A fast-flowing stream where I followed upstream on my 24 km (9 hours) trek up three peaks above 1,000m on the Snowdon moutain range.







The summit of the first peak. The most ardous part of today's trek is over. I am well-attired for the bitter cold and rain up here.

After that, its a walk along the ridge to the other two peaks. The ridge was quite narrow where the ground slopes sharply at both ends.

BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 4

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL HERITAGE AREA

Admiral Lord Nelson who lived in the late 18th and early 19th century. Every British schoolchild has heard of his name as the man who defeated mighty Napoleon's French navy at the Battle of Tralfagar in 1805, which made the British Royal Navy the greatest worldwide for 150 years. The supremacy of the Royal Navy allowed the British to colonise distant lands and created an overseas empire that straddled a third of the world at its height. "Rule Britannia, Britannia, rule the waves, Britons never, never shall be slaves!" was the cry at that time.

Nelson's preserved flagship (warship which served as his headquarters), the HMS Victory made in 1765. This was during the time when sails were used and warships were made of wood. This warship was considered as one of the most powerful with 100 cannons (50 on each side), lined up in three storeys.

Malcolm at the gun deck in the interior of the warship. Tourists can get into the ship and see how cramped and dark it was. During the day, sailors served on board the ship and at night they tied hammocks to sleep as there was no space for beds. Only officers had their own room and table. The captain's and Nelson's room, were of course, the most luxurious.

The might of the modern British Royal Navy, still one of the world's most powerful. Tourists are allowed to take a ferry to sail around Portsmouth Naval Base which is still in use. This is HMS Illustrious, one of three British aircraft carriers that fought in the Falkland war 1982 and recent Afghan and Iraq campaigns. Aircraft carriers serve as "floating airbases" and allow a nation to project its military power overseas. They are very expensive to built and only great powers could afford them, thus they served as status symbols of a nation's power and prestige.

BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 3

LONDON, OXFORD and SURREY

The World War II underground bunkers of the British War Cabinet. In 1940, the German Army overran France and the German Air Force bobmed London. Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his war council operated underground to esacpe the bombing. This room was where he and his generals and admirals often had meetings to discuss about the war situation. It reminded me of our own Fort Canning "battlebox" bunker which was also used during the war.

The underground bedroom of Churchill when he had to sleep amidst German bombings. There is a map of the world on the wall at the head of his bed. He must have been so engrossed with the progress of the war!

Churchill's military uniform, peaked cap, medals and cigars. He was the only British prime minister to have worn a military uniform during official functions to encourage the troops. He was formerly a cavalry officer.

Oxford university, Magdelene College. Thanks to Dr Paul Joyce, a theology lecturer here, whom I met at Changi in 2006. He lived in British Royal Air Force Changi airbase as a teenager in the 1960s (as his father was in the air force) and was at Changi Village with his sister to tour the place when they asked me to take a photo for them. We discovered that we both had the same old map and history book of Changi and we then excitedly toured Changi's historical sites together, sharing what we knew to one another!

One of the many colleges that made up the prestigious Oxford University, where many famous people all over the world studied. Amongst its alumni is Rowan Atkinson, better known as "Mr Bean". He studied engineering here as an undergraduate before doing a Masters in theatre studies here.

Hampton Court, a 16th century tudor style palace built by the infamous English King Henry VIII who married six times in his whole life.

The "king is here"! One of the many historical re-enactments in British palaces and museums. "King Henry VIII" appeared with his "lasy wife and retinue" for his weddding. "The King" spoke to us and surprised us by what he knew of King Henry VIII, the man whom he was acting as! He spoke like him and was even able to answer personal questions about the real king from a first person stance. How pro is he! The palace also featured historical activities such as partaking in 16th century Tudor costumes, food and sports.

The 17th century baroque style renovation to Hampton Court where King William III and other British kings lived up till the mid-18th century before shifting to Buckingham Palace.

The 17th and 18th century throne room of Hampton Court, where British kings sat and discussed political affairs with nobles, ministers and foreign delegates.

BRITAIN (UK) BACKPACK 05/09: Part 2

LONDON Part 2

The Imperial War Museum where artefacts, written, oral and pictorial sources of the two world wars are kept. This is where I did several days of research for my Masters thesis up in the dome-shaped tower where all researchers are kept under close watch to ensure that wer do not destroy anything. The two big guns in front were taken from a British battleship from the First World War.

One of the many items displayed at the Museum - the uniform, beret with two cap badges, baton, sword, plaques and medals of British Field Marshal Montgomery, a great World War II commander, who had a hand in reforming the British Army. He drove Axis Forces out of North Africa in 1943 and then spearheaded the landing of US and British troops in Normany which reconquered France in 1944 from the Germans and occupied Germany itself, forcing the Germans to surrender in 1945.

Whitehouse - the former Ministry of Defence, where all military decisions concerning the British Empire (a third of the world at its largest) were made. This was where the fate of the world used to be debated and decided when Britain was a great global power.

The famous Thames River with the London Tower Bridge in the background and in the foreground, HMS Belfast, a preserved British cruiser warship. This preserved warship took part in many naval actions during the the Second World War and the Korean War. It is most remembered for helping to sink the great German battlecruiser, Scharnhorst. It is now a floating museum where one can explore its many rooms, weapons and equipment. It is very much like a "floating city" and used to house 1,000 over sailors.

The "Changing of the Guards" Parade outside Buckingham Palace

as performed by the elite British Foot Guards Regiment which fought well in many wars all over the world for 300 over years. Guardsmen must be at least 1.78m tall and were the personal bodyguards of the monarchs of Britain. They are wearing 19th century uniforms with red being the traditional colour of British troops since the 17th century. Their bearskin caps are 150 years old and some still had bulletholes from the Crimean War in 1854.

The elite British Horse Guards are the cavalry bodyguards of the British monarchs with an equally long 300 year history. The horse and man are trained to stand still on guard for long hours.

The "Changing of the Horse Guards" outside St James Square. The British Foot Guards and Horse Guards were amongst those troops that defeated Napoleon's great French Army at Waterloo in 1815. The ceremonial uniforms, helmets and armour of the Horse Guards are fashioned back to that time.

Malcolm trying on the gloves, armour and helmet of a British Horse Guard. Its heavy to wear and took a while to put on. I can't imagine the strength needed to fight in these!