Chilling-it Out in Cardiff (Part 2)

From Cardiff Bay we headed to our next destination. Due to miscommunication, one group ended in Castell Coch while we ended in St. Fagan's National History Museum. Lest you think that the place is like any other museums, it's not. It's a open air museum and is often described as a 'living' museum. How fun can that be, you ask? Well, it depends whether you are a person who values heritage or not...

For more information of the place, go to this link.

Basically, St. Fagan's was divided into 3 parts: the living quarters of the commoners, the little township and the castle grounds. Similar to Melaka's Mini Malaysia or Sarawak Cultural Village, perhaps?

A farmer's house

A rich man's abode

 but still gloomy and dark ...

 The leather work shed

The school

The tools used to 'correct' pupils. Among others: a tool to ensure that a pupil sat straight, a lock to bind the left fingers of a left-handed so that he/she was forced to use his/her right hand for writing, and the evergreen cane...

The small township ala Walnut Grove

The tea shop

 Second floor of the tea house

 At the blacksmith's

 The Workmens' Institute

The woods that leads to St. Fagan's castle grounds

Breath-taking. Wish I had invested in a wide-angle lense! Huhuhu...

The maze garden which had a stinking smell (probably due to animal manure :P)

The interior of St. Fagan's castle was a picture of opulence. Couldn't take pictures though, as it was prohibited. All I can say is that the decor was somewhat like the illustrations in "The Princess and the Pea" (published by Ladybird in the 70s).

 Amani at the entrance of St. Fagan's Castle

We were practically the last visitors to come out from the museum at 5. 15 p.m. I think the place gave me the opportunity to see and understand the lifestyles and traditions of the Welsh in the early days. I might visit the place again in the future as admission is free and parking is only 3 pounds for the whole day.

 Sunset at St. Fagans' grounds. A picture of peace and serenity ...