Hello Lovely people and welcome back to a new blog post. I hope you had a great summer and summer holiday. Here are some great tips if you are planning to go to festival camping. With the summer almost gone, this will be probably for next year. However, this might be helpful for a “normal” camping trip as well. At least I hope so because this was my first ever camping trip. I am not a camping expert yet.
Camping is a great way to experience life outside and I would love to this again. I am sure this camping list will help beginners like me prepare for their first camping trip.
So just copy this checklist and print it out if you ever go “festival”
camping or just camping somewhere sunny.
Like I said before, it is a new and amazing experience to be out in the open-air, sleeping on a nice inflatable mattress and listen to music and relax.
The only thing I forgot is to bring this time, were some warm clothes. Even in the hot summer, the nights can be very fresh and cold. So don’t be fooled by the weather forecast. It was 33 degrees Celsius in Germany and the nights were very cold.
TENT ESSENTIALS
Extra blanket – If you are cold easily
Sleeping mask
Comfortable socks
Pack of toilet paper small
Phone charger – Solar charger is the best
Tissues
Plastic bin bags
Towel – Go for the microfiber towel
Water bottle
HYGIENE
Baby wipes
Face wipes
Mirror small
Hair Brush
Dry shampoo – Baptiste
Shampoo
Small deodorant
Sun crème
Contact solution – Important if you wear lenses
Day lenses
Glasses
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Tampons – Period stuff
Disposable raisers
Plaster – For blister
Hand sanitize
Small sprite mist spray
Small moisturizer
Hairpins and elastics
FOOD PREP
Cooking set – Fuel stove (only if possible)
Plastic knives, forks, spoons
Drinks
Muesli bars and snacks (a lot)
Mix for water – syrup (to change)
Figs dried
Prunes dried
Energy drinks
Juices
MAKE-UP
Small moisturizer
Q-tips
Lip balm – Vaseline
Anything really – Depends on you and the weather, but less is better
CLOTHES
Leather jacket
Hat – Soft, easy packable
Festival dirty shoes
Sunglasses cheap
Extra underwear+ socks
Pyjama
Poncho for the rain
Trainers
Plan outfits for all the days and day of commute
Long trousers – Leggings dry fast
Shorts
T-shirts
Clothes for nights when it is cold
TIPS
Mark all your stuff with your name – more likely
to be turned at lost and found
Take a picture on your phone and set as screen
saver “IF LOST PLEASE CALL THIS NUMBER
AND NAME”
Colourful lights for at night – attach on your
bag and tent
Always check the weather
Tent not facing East
Let me know how your first time camping experience went and what are your tips? I am curious to know how you experience your first time camping. I hope you find this checklist useful.
Hello hello Lovely people here in
London and around the world. So many wonderful experience and people I met last
month that I just didn’t had the time to update you guys through my blogposts. I
know. I started the year great with posting regularly, but don’t be
disappointed. I am working on a few blogposts to catch up with you guys!
Without any further delay, grab your glass of wine and sit back to enjoy reading my blogpost about the many wonderful things I did last month.
I was lucky to participate in a project where I met so many kind and lovely people from around the world. At the moment I can’t tell so much, but when I can I will let you know how life changing this experience was for me. Stay tuned for this one!
Another fun experience was spending time with family. One of my cousin came over for a weekend with her friend and we had a blast. It was a short weekend and way too fast, but we did a lot of fun things that are now mentioned below. Thanks for that ladies !
Last month, I went to many restaurants, bars and exhibitions, so I will just put them in categories with a small review and the relevant links for you all below. There are definitely tips for you here, even if you are living in London for years. At least that is what I hope.
This is a lovely British gastro pub near the canal at Granary Square. Huge windows and a terrace outside makes this place a really cosy place for food and drinks with friends and family. I did enjoy the homemade burger with chips and the many beers that they serve.
This is the best Beigel with salty beef and gherkins in London. Who does not know them! Too be honest I forgot a bit how delicious the beigels are. I brought my cousin and friend there and it was like a stairway to heaven. I really did forget how GOOD it is and enjoyed every bite of it. I still don’t know why I do not go more often as I live here in London. Might be that it is not so close from home and the weather here in London has not been with us last few months. The Saturday that we went (Brexit Saturday) it was super sunny and chill to stroll around Brick lane and Shoreditch.
This place is great for dates. Once inside you will forget about the outside world. We had some delicious and fancy cocktails at the bar. The baristas there are amazing! This place makes you almost feel like James Bond. (for real) Definitely going back for a drink or dinner anytime soon.
While strolling around with the gang, we came across the Spitalfields Market and we went for a drink at the Grocer. Lovely casual and relax place to have some beers in the afternoon. If you are around, have a drink here. By the way many delicious foods available on this market.
This is the Wetherspoon in Camden Town. Great place for some casual drinks. This is the place to try different beers and just chill with friends or family. Also very affordable drinks and snacks, why not.
I think this a great place if you are with a large group of friends and in the summer. It feels like you are on a veranda or terrace chatting away with friends. Nice thing is you can get food and drinks from different stands.
Unfortunately, this exhibition is completely sold out. So if you did not get a change to see this exhibition, wait for my next blogpost. It was so worth to see this exhibition and I am happy I bought my ticket a month before. The day that I went it was super busy, but so mesmerizing. A designer pur sang. When this blogpost will be online, you are able to click HERE.
Check the website to see when it is open. I thought it is only a few Sundays per year open from March till end of April. We decided to stroll around the second largest conservatory to take some fun pictures with our vintage cameras. I recently bought, out of the blue, a Yashica minister 3 and a Praktica MTL3 camera to practice the use a manual camera. So much fun to use a real film again, can’t wait so see the pictures developed.
This exhibition is till June, so plenty of time to see this one. If you like the renaissance, you will like this one. This is really the baby steps of the nudes in paintings. Here you can see that the artist didn’t had much experience with nude models and it is slowly developing around that period.
I had no idea that this market was not too far from Shoreditch and Brick lane. We were strolling around and BAMM, just came across this lovely and creative market. A lot of food and drinks. We went for some sweets and we had some drinks at the Grocer. A lot of creative gifts at this market if you are looking for some unique gifts.
It is a bit far, but definitely worth a visit. Most likely in summer or at least when the weather is warm and dry, so you can sit in the park and enjoy the view. It is almost as nice as the park near the observatory in Greenwich.
I think through EVENTBRITE UK you can find free tickets to go to this comedy club in the Castle. It can be very busy, but great way to see many stand up comedy acts in just 2 hours. I think I saw around 9 or 10 in just two hours time.
Camden Town is super touristic and overpriced. We all know. Still it is fun to stroll around once in awhile. Check out the stables, food stand and just have drinks at the Wetherspoon. Always something strange and crazy to find here in Camden Town.
Almost the reason why everyone like and stroll
around Shoreditch is the street art.
Fun fact is that they change the street art once in a while. I saw some new pieces this time. Love the atmosphere in this area when the sun is up and the weather is hot.
Something I would not visit by myself, but happy I did because of my cousin. It is really an experience that M&M is trying to sell in their huge London store in Leicester square. Luckily it was not super busy as we went in the morning, so plenty of time and space to walk around the three floors that they have. Just for the experience it is super fun to see all the different colours and flavours that they have and all the merchandise that they sell. The staff is also super friendly. You can smell the M&M’s from outside the store.
This is the empty church I was trying to find for a while now and finally I DID FIND IT. It is in the City of London. Between Bank station and Tower of London. Beautiful to see an empty church in a garden in between skyscrapers. It is worth a visit in the summer, so you can walk around and see so many wonderful sights around this area.
@ St Dunstan Church
@ St Dunstan Church
So this is it for now. As I did mention, it was a wonderful March. Many thanks for the people who could enjoy it with me.
I hope you did enjoy reading my blog and I hope you got inspired to visit at least one or two places from my blogpost, even if you know them already.
MissWidjaja
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In celebration of Black History Month this October, I found myself drawn to Tate Modern to see Zanele Muholi’s striking exhibit—a collection that is as deeply moving as it is visually stunning. Muholi’s work is on display until January 26, 2025, and I can’t recommend it enough. Known globally as one of the most important photographers and visual activists of our time, Muholi has dedicated their life’s work to documenting the lives and struggles of South Africa’s Black lesbian, gay, queer, and intersex communities, often at great personal risk.
Muholi describes themself as a “visual activist,” and after experiencing this exhibit, it’s clear why. The images are raw, beautiful, and hauntingly powerful. Each black-and-white photograph is implanted with dignity and resilience, giving voice to individuals whose stories are often silenced or misrepresented. The series reflects profound themes—labour, racism, eurocentrism, and sexual politics—confronting these subjects with such depth that each portrait seems to speak volumes. From intimate moments of love and family to stark depictions of struggle and trauma, Muholi’s work captures the lived reality of marginalized communities with stunning sensitivity.
The experience of walking through Muholi’s work was, to say the least, humbling. Their photography doesn’t just document; it advocates. Every portrait invites you to pause, to listen, and to reflect. You feel the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in South Africa, where prejudice and violence are still painfully common. But alongside this hardship, there is also immense pride and resilience—an insistence on visibility and recognition that shines through in each photo. Through Muholi’s lens, each person tells their own story, and the collective narrative is one of courage, solidarity, and enduring humanity.
If you find yourself in London before the exhibit closes in January, make time to see Muholi’s work at Tate Modern. It’s an experience that will stay with you, a reminder of the power of art to bridge worlds and to celebrate voices that demand to be heard.
Van Gogh—a name that’s always been synonymous with genius, passion, and profound emotion. There’s something about his work that keeps calling me back. This artist’s life and work have always drawn me in, and though I’ve explored his world through immersive exhibits and the powerful self-portraits that give us a glimpse into his soul, what I recently experienced at The National Gallery in London was simply exceptional.
The exhibit, Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers, is more than just paintings; it’s a window into the world that moved him, the people and places that stirred his spirit, and the enduring themes of beauty, love, and longing that guided his every brushstroke.
Running until January 19, 2025, Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers gives us plenty of time to soak in this collection and trust me, it’s a gift you don’t want to miss. For me, the highlight was finally standing before Starry Night in person. No image or replica does it justice. Seeing it up close, feeling the textured brushstrokes, and experiencing the depth and emotion he poured into it felt like reconnecting with an old friend. But what truly took my breath away were the paintings I’d never known he’d created, each one a hidden gem reflecting a different facet of his artistry.
One of the most moving aspects of this exhibit is the rare opportunity it offers to see his works from Saint-Rémy up close. Here, Van Gogh’s inspirations—poets, writers, and artists—come to life through his vivid colours and expressive techniques. His strokes range from fierce and raw to delicate and intentional, each one telling a story and each shade revealing a part of his journey. Standing there, you almost feel the solitude he encountered, the love he felt for the world, and the fragile yet powerful connection he had with life.
For those visiting, the exhibit is more than just a collection of paintings. It’s an intimate exploration of his inner life, where the words of poets, the colours of the countryside, and the camaraderie of fellow artists all collide to create masterpieces that are, to this day, filled with raw, human emotion.
If you find yourself in London, this is one experience you must treat yourself to. It’s a chance to connect with not only Van Gogh’s art but also the very soul of a man who sought meaning in a world that was often at odds with him.
I had the incredible opportunity to witness the mesmerizing production of “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical” at the renowned Garrick Theatre. As a fan of musical theatre, I had high expectations for this show, and I must say, it exceeded every single one of them.
Taking the stage with music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Don Black, and a book by Ivan Menchell, “Bonnie & Clyde” is a gripping tale that delves into the infamous story of the notorious American outlaws, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. This musical adaptation flawlessly captures the essence of their tumultuous lives, while weaving a captivating narrative that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire performance.
First and foremost, I must commend the incredible talent that graced the stage. The cast members brought an undeniable energy and passion to their roles, truly immersing the audience in the story. Their voices were sensational, effortlessly bringing the emotional depth and vulnerability of the characters to life. It was a joy to witness such raw talent on display.
The songs in “Bonnie & Clyde” were nothing short of extraordinary. Each musical number was beautifully crafted, capturing the essence of the characters and the era in which they lived. From heart-wrenching ballads to toe-tapping ensemble numbers, the music perfectly complemented the story and left me humming the tunes long after the final curtain call.
One of the highlights of the show was the dynamic between Bonnie and Clyde’s sister-in-law, Blanche. Their interactions added a touch of humour and lightheartedness to the otherwise intense narrative. The chemistry between the actors was palpable, and their scenes provided a delightful respite from the tension that permeated the story.
While “Bonnie & Clyde” is not a musical that graces the stage year-round, I highly recommend seizing the opportunity to experience it if you ever get the chance. The combination of an exceptional cast, captivating music, and a compelling storyline makes it a theatrical gem that should not be missed.
As the final notes of the show resonated in the theatre, I found myself reflecting on the power of storytelling and the impact that theatre can have on our hearts and minds. “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical” transported me to a different time and place, allowing me to empathize with characters whose lives were marked by tragedy and defiance. It served as a powerful reminder of the complexities of the human experience and the enduring allure of musical theatre.
So, my dear readers, if you find yourself yearning for an evening of gripping storytelling, remarkable performances, and unforgettable melodies, I implore you to seek out “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical” next time it is around in London. It is an extraordinary theatrical experience that will leave you spellbound and longing for more.
Exploring Southern Italian Delights at Fish & Bubbles, Notting Hill. I had the pleasure of visiting Fish & Bubbles in Notting Hill, and let me tell you, it was an experience to remember. Owned by the talented Corsaro brothers, Peppe and Angelo, who are also behind Stanley Tucci’s favourite restaurant “La mia Mamma”, Fish & Bubbles offers a unique Southern Italian culinary experience that is not to be missed.
Upon entering Fish & Bubbles, I was immediately struck by the inviting atmosphere and warm hospitality. The staff was friendly and attentive, and I couldn’t wait to dive into the menu.
One dish that particularly caught my eye was the Fritto Misto al Metro. This sharing platter, designed for a minimum of two people, offers a tantalizing selection of fried seafood and fish served on a one-meter wooden board. And here’s the best part: if you order this platter on weekdays between certain hours, you’ll receive a complimentary Negroni to enjoy alongside your meal. [Yes, please]
Eager to sample this culinary delight, my friend and I decided to give it a try. But first, we started our evening with a classic Aperol Spritz, which did not disappoint. Refreshing and perfectly balanced, it was the ideal way to kick off our meal.
When the Fritto Misto al Metro arrived at our table, we were greeted with a feast for the senses. The one-meter wooden board was piled high with an enticing array of fried seafood and fish, each piece perfectly cooked and bursting with flavour. From crispy calamari to succulent prawns, there was no shortage of delicious options to choose from.
While I thoroughly enjoyed the Fritto Misto, I must admit that it was a bit too much fried food for my taste. That being said, the variety of options on the platter was impressive, and I could see how it would be the perfect choice for seafood lovers.
One thing I particularly loved about Fish & Bubbles is its spacious alfresco terrace. With plenty of seating and a relaxed atmosphere, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy some seafood and an aperitivo on a warm summer evening.
Overall, my experience at Fish & Bubbles was pleasant. The food was delicious, the staff was friendly, and the atmosphere was welcoming. If you find yourself in Notting Hill and craving a taste of Southern Italy, be sure to visit them.
