The above photo was taken while the bus was crossing the bridge from the Isle of Skye to Inverness.
The mandatory photo at John o' Groats.
Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UK. Show all posts
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Scotland 2003
Just read about Wenn's trip to Scotland and it brought back memories of a trip there back in 2003. I wanted to blog about it for a long time but never got around to doing it so here are two photos from that trip. We went around Scotland by trains, buses and ferries for about 2 weeks without joining a guided tour and it was fun! Wishing Wenn and her daughter lots of fun in Scotland too.
The above photo was taken while the bus was crossing the bridge from the Isle of Skye to Inverness.
The mandatory photo at John o' Groats.
The above photo was taken while the bus was crossing the bridge from the Isle of Skye to Inverness.
The mandatory photo at John o' Groats.
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Stirling 2003
Sept 2003 - A day trip to Stirling from Edinburgh by train.
From the train station I walked to Stirling Tourist Information Centre and then via the Back Walk to Stirling Castle. The blue line in the map below (from visitstirling.org website) shows my route to the castle and the green line shows my route back to the Train Station. I walked about a little more than 2km (1.2miles) in total.
Stirling Railway Station back in 2003. I believe it still looks like this today.
This was one of the street I walked through on my way to the tourist information centre.
The statue of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (Member of Parliament for Stirling Burghs and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908). It is located next to the "entrance" of the Back Walk.
The Back Walk - a quiet uphill walk alongside the old Town Wall (on its right).
Close up of the signboard.
I was glad to see a lady walking her dog after a while as it was becoming a bit too quiet for me as I was the only one walking on this route.
I walked past the Old Town Jail.
Nice view down the street (Old Town Jail is on the right).
Finally, I reached Stirling Castle. View of the castle from the Castle Esplanade.
Entrance to Stirling Castle. I just looked around outside since there was not enough time for me to explore the inside of the castle thoroughly.
But I have just enough time to watch a documentary about Stirling castle in the castle visitor centre below.
View from the Castle Esplanade. The National Wallace Monument can be seen on top of Abbey Craig hill.
Another scenic view from the castle.
A peaceful and quiet street. It must be nice to live here.
Back at the station at 4.15pm. Again, as I was alone, I have no photos of myself in Stirling. Stirling is a very nice place for walks. I would like to visit it again some day with my loved ones.
From the train station I walked to Stirling Tourist Information Centre and then via the Back Walk to Stirling Castle. The blue line in the map below (from visitstirling.org website) shows my route to the castle and the green line shows my route back to the Train Station. I walked about a little more than 2km (1.2miles) in total.
Stirling Railway Station back in 2003. I believe it still looks like this today.
This was one of the street I walked through on my way to the tourist information centre.
The statue of Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman (Member of Parliament for Stirling Burghs and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1905 to 1908). It is located next to the "entrance" of the Back Walk.
The Back Walk - a quiet uphill walk alongside the old Town Wall (on its right).
Close up of the signboard.
I was glad to see a lady walking her dog after a while as it was becoming a bit too quiet for me as I was the only one walking on this route.
I walked past the Old Town Jail.
Nice view down the street (Old Town Jail is on the right).
Finally, I reached Stirling Castle. View of the castle from the Castle Esplanade.
Entrance to Stirling Castle. I just looked around outside since there was not enough time for me to explore the inside of the castle thoroughly.
But I have just enough time to watch a documentary about Stirling castle in the castle visitor centre below.
View from the Castle Esplanade. The National Wallace Monument can be seen on top of Abbey Craig hill.
Another scenic view from the castle.
A peaceful and quiet street. It must be nice to live here.
Back at the station at 4.15pm. Again, as I was alone, I have no photos of myself in Stirling. Stirling is a very nice place for walks. I would like to visit it again some day with my loved ones.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Princes Street
23-25 Sep 2003:
It was my 3rd visit to Edinburgh. My spouse was there for work and as usual I tagged along. He took a flight while I went by train - a 6 to 7 hours journey (one way) from Newbury.
Day 1:
I reached there in the evening of 23 Sep and met up with him. We stayed in a hotel near the Haymarket train station (I can't remember which hotel it was).
Haymarket Train Station. Look deserted? That's because I waited until everyone left before taking a photo. Since all the photos were taken by me and without a tripod, I have no photo of myself for this trip.
I saw this when I stepped out of the train station. The structure with a clock is a war memorial for former players of Heart of Midlothian F.C. who died in World Wars I and II.
Day 2:
After he left for work, I took a train from the Haymarket station to Stirling (that's for another post) and came back in the evening. The time shown in the photo below: 11.12am (when I board the train to Stirling).
When I came back in the evening, my spouse was still at work so I took a leisure stroll all the way to see the floral clock in West Princes Street Gardens. The yellow line in the map below is the route I took. Yellow circle - Edinburgh castle, blue circle - The Royal Scots Greys monument, green circle - floral clock.
I walked along Princes Street, main shopping street in Edinburgh New Town and passed by a flower stall and numerous high street shops but I did not buy anything, just window shopping only.
Then I reached the West Princes Street Gardens and noticed a squirrel running about.
Photo of Edinburgh Castle (yellow circle on map) as seen from the West Princes Street Gardens.
The Royal Scots Greys monument (blue circle on map) shows a soldier from the Royal Scots Greys Regiment.
Finally I reached the floral clock (green circle on map) and I waited for the cuckoo (bird) to tell me the time. The time then was 4.10pm and the bird appears every 15 minutes.
Now you see it! The cuckoo appeared from its "nest".
Now you don't. No cuckoo.
West Princes Street Gardens. Then I walked all the way back to the hotel and joined my spouse for dinner.
Day 3:
I left for the train station immediately after breakfast while he checked out from the hotel and went to work before taking a flight back to London. I like walking along Princes Street and I hope to visit Edinburgh again one day.
It was my 3rd visit to Edinburgh. My spouse was there for work and as usual I tagged along. He took a flight while I went by train - a 6 to 7 hours journey (one way) from Newbury.
Day 1:
I reached there in the evening of 23 Sep and met up with him. We stayed in a hotel near the Haymarket train station (I can't remember which hotel it was).
Haymarket Train Station. Look deserted? That's because I waited until everyone left before taking a photo. Since all the photos were taken by me and without a tripod, I have no photo of myself for this trip.
I saw this when I stepped out of the train station. The structure with a clock is a war memorial for former players of Heart of Midlothian F.C. who died in World Wars I and II.
Day 2:
After he left for work, I took a train from the Haymarket station to Stirling (that's for another post) and came back in the evening. The time shown in the photo below: 11.12am (when I board the train to Stirling).
When I came back in the evening, my spouse was still at work so I took a leisure stroll all the way to see the floral clock in West Princes Street Gardens. The yellow line in the map below is the route I took. Yellow circle - Edinburgh castle, blue circle - The Royal Scots Greys monument, green circle - floral clock.
I walked along Princes Street, main shopping street in Edinburgh New Town and passed by a flower stall and numerous high street shops but I did not buy anything, just window shopping only.
Then I reached the West Princes Street Gardens and noticed a squirrel running about.
Photo of Edinburgh Castle (yellow circle on map) as seen from the West Princes Street Gardens.
The Royal Scots Greys monument (blue circle on map) shows a soldier from the Royal Scots Greys Regiment.
Finally I reached the floral clock (green circle on map) and I waited for the cuckoo (bird) to tell me the time. The time then was 4.10pm and the bird appears every 15 minutes.
Now you see it! The cuckoo appeared from its "nest".
Now you don't. No cuckoo.
West Princes Street Gardens. Then I walked all the way back to the hotel and joined my spouse for dinner.
Day 3:
I left for the train station immediately after breakfast while he checked out from the hotel and went to work before taking a flight back to London. I like walking along Princes Street and I hope to visit Edinburgh again one day.
Friday, October 21, 2011
Maidstone 2001
Time to reminisce: Ten years ago (21-23 Sep 2001), my spouse attended a kick-off meeting held at the Mercure Maidstone Hotel and as usual I tagged along.
While he was having his meeting, I walked to the nearby Leeds Castle with two other ladies who also accompanied their partners to this meeting. We visited the lovely gardens, the maze, the grotto and had scones and cream for tea. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me at that time so I did not get to take any photos of the lovely place.
After the meeting, my spouse and I visited Canterbury and Dover before returning to Newbury.
While he was having his meeting, I walked to the nearby Leeds Castle with two other ladies who also accompanied their partners to this meeting. We visited the lovely gardens, the maze, the grotto and had scones and cream for tea. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me at that time so I did not get to take any photos of the lovely place.
After the meeting, my spouse and I visited Canterbury and Dover before returning to Newbury.
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| Leeds Castle: dinner and drinks |
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| Hotel activities: archery |
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| Hotel activities: Clay pigeon shooting |
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| Hotel activities: Air rifle shooting |
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| The Canterbury Tales Visitor Attraction |
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| The West Gate of Canterbury |
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| Canterbury Cathedral: Christ Church Gateway |
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| The White Cliffs of Dover |
Monday, May 16, 2011
Donnington Castle 2000
Time to reminisce - one weekend in Aug 2000, we visited a ruined medieval castle situated north of Newbury, Berkshire. Details about Donnington Castle can be found at the English Heritage website.
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| We left home passing by our neighbour's house with its lovely garden |
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| We passed through narrow roads lined with tall trees |
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| We had to walk a short distance to reach the remains of the castle |
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| Posing in front of the gatehouse of Donnington Castle |
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| The view from the site of the castle |
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Cornwall 2002
Time to reminisce - during the long 4-day holiday weekend (1-4 June 2002) to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, my spouse and I drove down to Cornwall for a holiday. Many people have the same idea too so we spent many hours stuck in an almost non-moving traffic. There were many caravans/motorhomes on the road, something that we do not see at all in Malaysia.
Since we seemed like not moving at all, we turned off the road at the Jamaica Inn hotel to have our breakfast.
When I was young, I love reading the novel, "Jamaica Inn" written by Daphne du Maurier, the dark romantic tale of smuggling and love in Cornwall so I had to take a picture of myself standing in front of the inn.
Then we stopped by Bodmin town. This is the Shire Hall in Bodmin which houses the Tourist Information Centre.
It was nearly evening when we finally reached Penzance, Cornwall and checked into the Tarbert Hotel.
The next day, very early in the morning, we took a boat to the island of St Michael’s Mount.
St Michael’s Mount Castle high up looming in the background of this photo.
Guns at the castle wall. We did not enter the castle, only enjoyed the view from the castle wall.
View from the castle wall.
Having lunch at the Island Cafe looking at the cause way.
In the afternoon, during low tide we were able to walk from the island back to the mainland via the cause way. It was a very nice walk and we had to avoid stepping on seaweeds lying in our path.
In the evening, we walked from Penzance to Mousehole, a small picturesque village and harbour. Little did we know that the distance is 4km and we had to walk uphill part of the way so we were really glad when we finally reached Mousehole.
The harbour at Mousehole. If you click on the photo above, you can see the words "1952 ER 2002" - marking the Golden Jubilee celebration.
We saw many wild seagulls there that were quite tame and even fed one seagull, an ice-cream cone. Only after that we noticed a sign that says "Do not feed the seagulls" ooops! Tired with walking, we took a bus back to Penzance
We then drove to Land's End and checked into the Land's End hotel in the photo above.
The clear blue sea at Land's End, Cornwall.
A windy day and a lovely view.
I love walking on hanging bridges, especially one with a great view.
Evening dinner at the Longships Restaurant at the hotel.
The famous Land's End signpost. We had to take this picture during the night as during the day, tourists queue and pay a fee to have their photographs taken professionally at this signpost.
We rented and drove this small and cute red Renault Clio car all the way from Newbury to Land's End (around 425km).
On our way back to Newbury, we passed by many wind turbine generators in a field and stopped for a photo.
We wanted to visit the Minack Theatre but sadly our schedule did not allow us to do so. Hopefully one day we will visit Cornwall again.
Since we seemed like not moving at all, we turned off the road at the Jamaica Inn hotel to have our breakfast.
When I was young, I love reading the novel, "Jamaica Inn" written by Daphne du Maurier, the dark romantic tale of smuggling and love in Cornwall so I had to take a picture of myself standing in front of the inn.
Then we stopped by Bodmin town. This is the Shire Hall in Bodmin which houses the Tourist Information Centre.
It was nearly evening when we finally reached Penzance, Cornwall and checked into the Tarbert Hotel.
The next day, very early in the morning, we took a boat to the island of St Michael’s Mount.
St Michael’s Mount Castle high up looming in the background of this photo.
Guns at the castle wall. We did not enter the castle, only enjoyed the view from the castle wall.
View from the castle wall.
Having lunch at the Island Cafe looking at the cause way.
In the afternoon, during low tide we were able to walk from the island back to the mainland via the cause way. It was a very nice walk and we had to avoid stepping on seaweeds lying in our path.
In the evening, we walked from Penzance to Mousehole, a small picturesque village and harbour. Little did we know that the distance is 4km and we had to walk uphill part of the way so we were really glad when we finally reached Mousehole.
The harbour at Mousehole. If you click on the photo above, you can see the words "1952 ER 2002" - marking the Golden Jubilee celebration.We saw many wild seagulls there that were quite tame and even fed one seagull, an ice-cream cone. Only after that we noticed a sign that says "Do not feed the seagulls" ooops! Tired with walking, we took a bus back to Penzance
We then drove to Land's End and checked into the Land's End hotel in the photo above.
The clear blue sea at Land's End, Cornwall.
A windy day and a lovely view.
I love walking on hanging bridges, especially one with a great view.
Evening dinner at the Longships Restaurant at the hotel.
The famous Land's End signpost. We had to take this picture during the night as during the day, tourists queue and pay a fee to have their photographs taken professionally at this signpost.
We rented and drove this small and cute red Renault Clio car all the way from Newbury to Land's End (around 425km).
On our way back to Newbury, we passed by many wind turbine generators in a field and stopped for a photo.We wanted to visit the Minack Theatre but sadly our schedule did not allow us to do so. Hopefully one day we will visit Cornwall again.
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