Around the World

There is a marvellous museum in Dundee, Scotland worth a visit for its design alone - the V&A Dundee. A branch of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the V&A Dundee not only exhibits artwork and product designs, but is also a cultural centre to host concerts and workshops. The majestic facade of the museum immediately grabs your attention as you approach it on the Riverside Esplanade. The museum has been designed by   Japanese architect K engo Kuma.   The distinctly layered precast concrete slabs on sloping walls represent Scotland's cliffs, and on stepping inside, the interiors will stun you even more. Best of all, this museum is open to everyone for free with no admission fee. There is a paid ticket only for specific scheduled events.

Dundee, Scotland is no ordinary city. Yes, it has the usual tourist attractions, including the marvellous V&A Dundee design museum , but a primary reason why we found it to be a delightful place is the street art and sculpture.  It is not surprising that Dundee received the prestigious UNESCO City of Design award in 2014 as a recognition of the city's contribution to global design.  As a pedestrian-friendly city, walking around is comfortable whether you wish to set out on a treasure hunt to locate the sculptures and statues that are around the city, or dine in charming cafes and pop into shops to take home a souvenir. Mind you, if you are not observant enough, the streetscape will result in a blink-and-miss walkabout! 

Calton Hill, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, is no ordinary hill. It has national monuments and, as you must have seen in a zillion photos of the place, it is where you should head for a fabulous view of the city’s skyline. Don’t forget to take binoculars!

What's the next best thing to meeting global icons in reality? Posing with their real-life mannequins at Madam Tussauds museum in London! The museum itself is located on the main road and at first glance you won’t even realize that the entrance of the museum is located there.  The queues outside the museum are really long and you could be waiting for a good amount of time to get in. It is best to book the museum entry tickets in advance online or if part of a tour group let the tour operator do it for you. You can also buy a special Priority Access ticket to avoid the queues, which are especially long during peak tourist seasons.