Thursday, August 23, 2012

Edinburgh


Scotland doesn't really sound like a place where big things happen. I heard the three days of crisp weather I had in Edinburgh were the only "sunshine" they had all winter. The city, when I arrived, as beautiful as it was, seemed like it was in deep hibernation. (Puts a writer in a good mood though - perhaps this is why J.K Rowling was able to draft her Harry Potter series) But when you least expect things to happen, they happen to happen, at the most inconvenient time of your life, at the most unexpected settings, at the most unsettling circumstances. Such was Edinburgh to me, making it perhaps one of the most unforgettable trips in Europe.

In the morning of the flight, after a hearty 75cent meal (I've thanked them once, I'll thank them again - thank you, Marks and Spencer, for selling reduced to clear products near closing hour. These meals are extremely filling and good, not sure about healthy, but they are as healthy as packaged ready-made tv dinners can get. I thoroughly recommend them. Grafton Street on Dublin, everyone, around 7pm.) we Ryanair-ed our way to Edinburgh in the middle of the week, in lieu of lectures, tutorials, and assignments.

Edinburgh Castle, from the peasant's view.
Also called "The City of Literature" <3 

It was in Edinburgh where I first saw a 1950s blue police box in real life. As a Doctor Who enthusiast (and a whole blog dedicated to that later ;) ) I was stoked when I spotted this -

Ta-da! Turns out you can pretty much find these on every street corner. So don't be upset if you didn't get to snap a shot with the first one you saw. 

More people would have visited the outside of the castle and left than those who paid to see what's inside. Even the tour guide didn’t recommend it. The best you can do for this is not to expect too much. Here’s a glimpse of the interior, and I’m not sure how close I am to the main poll for tourists, but I did enjoy learning a wee dram of Scottish history by walking through the castle.


Gather at 1pm (daily) to hear the cannons (or was it guns) fire.

"Excalibur! 'Tis mine!" 

There is also a lovely park in Edinburgh with lots of lovely buildings surrounding it



I had stayed up all night finishing an essay the night before the trip, which made me fall sleep in The Elephant House cafe (Harry Potter's birthplace) by an unfinished hot chocolate, and also fall asleep during the pub crawl that night (takes a lot to fall asleep during a pub crawl). Perhaps that is the reason Edinburgh seemed like it was asleep - because I was asleep.

Pretty streets are always a delight to walk through.

The National Museum of Edinburgh is quite the visit. Jump around and let yourself loose.

Memoir scribbling.

Bagpipe attempting.

Feet texting.

Button pressing.
Catapult testing.

Doctor calling...
(Mini) Tardis controlling!

When in Scotland, there is something you just cannot miss – and that’s haggis. It tasted good, then a bit bland, then a bit rich, then a bit repulsive. But you have to try it. With Scottish beer, like the Flying Scotsman (or was it Dutchman…).

Haggis made fancy.
In the end travelling sums up to the people you were there with. I don’t remember much of a London trip I went alone. It felt like I had stepped out for a breath of fresh air and come straight back to my room again. It’s the people you met and the games you played that makes a new city memorable. Sometimes something like that is worth skipping a few lectures for.

That part where you gaze at a glowing city through the darkness on a hill.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Belfast, Transport and Nature




Belfast is only a two hour bus ride from Dublin. However, since Northern Ireland is part of the UK and not the Republic of Ireland, you are technically crossing an international border, so take your passport with you (you need it to drink anyway).

The New Zealand passport IS rather pretty. 

Many many stories are packed inside this little city from old wives' tales to historical/political anecdotes, but for the life of me I can't remember a single story to reproduce here. Most of the stories were told in our tour bus and the guide had a rather deep, drowsy voice with a remarkably soothing Northern Irish accent. In a warm moving vehicle with just the right amount of rhythm and vibration to make you think you are rocking in a cradle and an elderly spinning stories of dem ol' days when Leprechauns were real and not alcoholic like they are today appearing in every Irish pub around the world an' all - you are going to fall asleep like a wee baby instead of paying attention to the stories.

Outside the bus however, the storm was ready to give us a thrashing with hail and frosty winds, so in no way were we convinced to "stretch dem legs, take a breather, stroll over to dat lighthouse and come back to da bus in a wee while." I think we spent longer on the seat of the bus than on our two feet for this trip.

Yes.. we made it to the light house.. now let us shuffle back on our frozen legs to the bus.

In between the bus naps, I remember two things distinctly - the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, and The Giant's Causeway.

It is strange to combine "folk" with "transport" but it works. This National Museum is quite the visit, displaying an exceptional amount of exhibitions that allow you to touch, try, and climb into. (On second thought I'm not sure whether we are actually allowed to do all that.) This place is really a lot of fun, so spare a day (we had an afternoon and didn't get around to the "folk" part) - I guarantee you'll feel like a little kid in a toy shop. (On a side note, I heard that a new Titanic Museum opened in Belfast earlier this year, after my trip. I'm sure the Titanic Belfast is just as interesting.)

Choo Choo!!
"Don't leave without me!"
Hijack series part 1.
My pweety wittle pony :P 
Hijack series part 2.
"I didn't pick up the phone to listen to your grocery list in 1923. Just tell me how to drive the train so I can bolt for it!"
Hijack series part 3.
Stopping over for tea in this adorable cafe.
Recognise this baby?? 
Hijack series part 5.
Hijack series part 4.




















We were only able to explore part of the Giant's Causeway since the rough weather made it nearly unbearable for us soft city folk to linger in extended periods of time. The portion of natural sights were still rather interesting, so imagine how much better it will be when it is warmer. Here are some pictures (excuse the bad quality, my fingers were shivering).
If you look closely you can see people line up for a bridge in order to cross. Crossing this bridge costs £5, so be ready for that if you want to explore that.
Can you see the camel?
Close up of the camel.
Can you see the old woman?
She's been climbing that hill forever.
The wishing chairs.

There isn't that much to do in Belfast city but it is mandatory to go for a walk at night in a new city.
Yes, mandatory. :) 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

London


The Tower Bridge in all its limelight-lit glory.

There is more than one way to London from Dublin. The easiest way is to fly there - cheap airlines at Ryanair - and planes fly to and fro as often as forty times a day, and as cheap as twenty euro a flight (return). It only takes an hour for Dublin to fly to its posh neighbour so sometimes it is worth giving up a few days of work/study to float in the British fog whenever a cheap ticket decides to pop up. Make sure you double check which London airport you are meant to land/take off, since there are three: Stanstead, Luton, and Gatwick (and I believe there is also London Central, as well as Heathrow for long-haul international flights). I made the common error of being too excited for my own good and whisking myself off to the wrong airport and spending some extra 30 pounds in order to train to the right one. (Luckily good train and bus services vouch for this silly hyped-up tourist mistake)(English train services I love you).



Eurotrippers will find this familiar.
How to make passengers not anxious throughout the whole flight - replace entertainment with safety instructions on what to do in case there's a terrorist on board.

The other option is to take the ferry from Dublin port to Holyhead (Wales), then the train to London Euston. StenaLine is good at this - for 90 euro you can purchase a return ticket that covers the ferry and the train. However, this whole ordeal takes about eight to nine hours in total, and that's not including the time you wait between stations before you line up for the next transport.


Waiting between stations can be a bit of a drag. Bring a book, or knitting, or something.


A whole day may be spent travelling this way. I didn’t mind it so much, but if you are in a hurry and it’s the middle of winter, you may regard this method as a time-waster. Now that I ponder this fact, there is no reason for you to take this option if it takes nine times longer and around twice as expensive as plane tickets (unless you are a train and ferry enthusiast, or air tickets are unreasonably expensive, as was the case for me, due to the influx of excited young travellers into Ireland the day before St Patricks).


So once you are in London, you will become familar with a few things - the tube, the bridges, narrow pedestrian walkways, and a hint of the regal ambience in the air despite the incredible number of buildings under construction. When I was eleven I saw the queen sitting in her black royal cab and to this day I like to make a point that I made a very special acquaintance with the queen. Come to think of it she didn’t move very much in that car. I’m starting to think I may have been subject to the trolling of Englishmen with Madame Tussauds royal wax models.

Oyster cards can help you get from A to B via subway and bus and at the end of your trip you can return it back to ticket points and they will give you back your money. You should be able to buy these at most convenience stores or at train stations. The tube is spiffingly well done, taking you to the most important landmarks of London as quick as you can say “good luck guv’ner.” Or you could be like us and walk everywhere and save a few pounds for KFC later.


Going down down down down down to the underground.
Trusty Travel Companion!
I didn't know this but apparently there is more than one Madame Tussauds. One in the Netherlands, one in Sydney, several in the States. Perhaps they rotate the wax models among themselves. Perhaps, as the celebrities age, they melt down the younger versions and update them (fine lines, receding hairline, the lot), though I heard that the eyeballs are recycled.


The royal family looked a bit different when I Madame Tussaud-ed ten years ago.

Anyway, here are some pictures of me rubbing elbows with the rich, the stunning, and the deceased.

You so beautiful Kate Winslet!
A discussion with George Clooney considering his classy bow tie.
A discussion with Newton about refraction.
A discussion with Audrey Hepburn about Moon River.
Chilling with the Beatles.

And here are some teenage idols - 








The best part is the 4D experience with your favourite superheroes - and look out for scrumptious London lollies hidden in treasured corners of the museum.


Then give the lollies to Hulk or Hulk will be angry and smash you.
   There's also an interactive horror walkway but I am clever enough to know that timid people should not let themselves be talked into walking through winding dark paths and have hideously dressed actors jump out at them.

Looking at it was enough. Didn't need the interactive part of the experience.

The London Eye was part of the tourist package along with Madame Tussauds. It is a very hi-tech Ferris Wheel, and rotates nice and slowly (very phobia-friendly!) so that you have time to take everything in - and there is a lot to take in. The pictures turned out rather terrible because it was raining - but despite the rain the scene below was really quite lovely.



Inside the London Eye - I cannot remember what I was trying to achieve.

Don't forget to explore the West End and throw yourself through clusters of glamorous musicals. There are more than a hundred theatres in London and you won't be disappointed spending £££ to see a musical. We watched Phantom of the Opera, and because we were on £27 restricted view seats, there was a colossal pillar in our faces so we literally only saw half a musical. Still! It. Was. Brilliant!

London is all about being posh and individual. So make a thing out of imitating the British accent (there are more than five specific accents in London alone, listen carefully and take your pick) so that you sound just as proper and fancy as everyone else. Individual style is celebrated in this city, and it's quite fun to sit and watch the different types of styles you come across.

And of course, you have your chance to flaunt your own epic style.