Saturday, March 3, 2012
Next Adventure - Bali
A week ago I sat on a plane. The night before had been long, humid and muggy as only Darwin can deliver. I waited at the Darwin International Airport for my traveling companion's flight to land. This was going to be an interesting trip, traveling with someone for the first time since my adventures really started. We would see how well I cope with companionship.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
The Train to Fort William
31st October, Glasgow to Fort William
Now... For some reason I keep waking up (without fail) at 5.46am each day. Today was no different. Up early, and I tried to fall back to sleep, but to no avail. So up for breakfast, and then out and about in Glasgow for an early morning stroll. Along with some amazingly old buildings, Glasgow has this rough and rugged feel to it, but I liked it. There was more to this old town than what meets the eye...
It was soon time to catch the train to Fort William. And what a train ride it was! I love trains at the best of times, but this... this train ride was magical! The route takes you through parts of the West Highland Way, which is mountains and lochs, valleys and view beyond imagination! Winding around mountain bases, and chugging past lochs, while the autumn colours of Scotland were brilliant and vivid. Oh it was magnificent! The closer we got to Fort William, the more deer I saw, bounding away as the noise of the train startled them. Then Ben Nevis and the peaks next to it came into view.
I still don't know it it was snow or simply frost and ice on the top of Ben Nevis, but my first view of the mountain was seeing it towering above the bogland and moors it was surrounded by. And the magic and wonderment I felt, gah I was blown away! As giddy as anything looking at what could very well be my first and only view of snow on this island of countries! I felt like a small child with my nose pressed hard up against the train window!
It was cold and dark by the time I got to the Bank Street Lodge in Fort William. But I still made (back DOWN the hill the lodge is on) to Tesco to get my dinner. Happy days and hot food in the belly made for an early night in bed for this one traveler.
Now... For some reason I keep waking up (without fail) at 5.46am each day. Today was no different. Up early, and I tried to fall back to sleep, but to no avail. So up for breakfast, and then out and about in Glasgow for an early morning stroll. Along with some amazingly old buildings, Glasgow has this rough and rugged feel to it, but I liked it. There was more to this old town than what meets the eye...
It was soon time to catch the train to Fort William. And what a train ride it was! I love trains at the best of times, but this... this train ride was magical! The route takes you through parts of the West Highland Way, which is mountains and lochs, valleys and view beyond imagination! Winding around mountain bases, and chugging past lochs, while the autumn colours of Scotland were brilliant and vivid. Oh it was magnificent! The closer we got to Fort William, the more deer I saw, bounding away as the noise of the train startled them. Then Ben Nevis and the peaks next to it came into view.
I still don't know it it was snow or simply frost and ice on the top of Ben Nevis, but my first view of the mountain was seeing it towering above the bogland and moors it was surrounded by. And the magic and wonderment I felt, gah I was blown away! As giddy as anything looking at what could very well be my first and only view of snow on this island of countries! I felt like a small child with my nose pressed hard up against the train window!
It was cold and dark by the time I got to the Bank Street Lodge in Fort William. But I still made (back DOWN the hill the lodge is on) to Tesco to get my dinner. Happy days and hot food in the belly made for an early night in bed for this one traveler.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Married For 12 years and....
30th October, Euro Hostel, Glasgow
...and a paddock of panda cows!
I am in Scotland!
And my bus trip to the land of the kilt wearing men was enlightening! I met Lisa, a lovely 35 yr old baby-of-the-family who has been married for 12years, and still doesn't understand her husband! We chatted about the weather, the English (naturally), the fact that there is no jobs in Scotland, so she will never live in the country of her birth again, and the fact that her parents don't get paid very much on the pension they receive (I saw her parents at the coach station, they seemed really nice!)
And we past panda coloured cows as we drove through the Lake District in England! I kid you not - panda coloured cows! It was soo cool! They had the exact shading of a panda, only it was a field of cows! Love it! An enthralling blend of cow and panda - the panow, or the conda! Whichever works for you!
Now it is 10pm, and I am ready for bed. I am cold, sore, very tired and before I go to sleep tonight I need to put my clock back, because tonight is the night that clocks go back an hour... so instead of waking up at stupid 5.45am each morning I will now be waking up at 4.45am... great!
...and a paddock of panda cows!
I am in Scotland!
And my bus trip to the land of the kilt wearing men was enlightening! I met Lisa, a lovely 35 yr old baby-of-the-family who has been married for 12years, and still doesn't understand her husband! We chatted about the weather, the English (naturally), the fact that there is no jobs in Scotland, so she will never live in the country of her birth again, and the fact that her parents don't get paid very much on the pension they receive (I saw her parents at the coach station, they seemed really nice!)
And we past panda coloured cows as we drove through the Lake District in England! I kid you not - panda coloured cows! It was soo cool! They had the exact shading of a panda, only it was a field of cows! Love it! An enthralling blend of cow and panda - the panow, or the conda! Whichever works for you!
Now it is 10pm, and I am ready for bed. I am cold, sore, very tired and before I go to sleep tonight I need to put my clock back, because tonight is the night that clocks go back an hour... so instead of waking up at stupid 5.45am each morning I will now be waking up at 4.45am... great!
On The Road Again!
30th October, Stafford to Glasgow
Just like Donkey (from Shrek for all you non-movie-buffs), let's break into song!
I'm heading to Scotland today, on a coach (bus for us Aussies) which is going to take maybe 6 hours or so! Just Lovely,,,, And getting into Glasgow around 5.30 pm, and I have to make my way to the hostel... this may result in me taking a taxi... If it's raining... or dark...
And for all you Shrek fans (stop hiding your faces and stand proud!) here it is, the one, the only - On The Road Again, performed by you all!!
Just like Donkey (from Shrek for all you non-movie-buffs), let's break into song!
I'm heading to Scotland today, on a coach (bus for us Aussies) which is going to take maybe 6 hours or so! Just Lovely,,,, And getting into Glasgow around 5.30 pm, and I have to make my way to the hostel... this may result in me taking a taxi... If it's raining... or dark...
And for all you Shrek fans (stop hiding your faces and stand proud!) here it is, the one, the only - On The Road Again, performed by you all!!
On the road again -
Just can't wait to get on the road again.
The life I love is making music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been.
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road again -
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends.
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
is on the road again.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again.
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
is on the road again.
Just can't wait to get on the road again.
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again.
And I can't wait to get on the road again.
(by Willie Nelson)
Friday, October 29, 2010
A Boat to Holyhead
28th October, Dublin to Holyhead on Stenaline
Today was a looooong day! I woke up a stupid o'clock because the girl in the bunk above me was dying of a coughing fit between 2 am and 5am, and my alarm was set for 6am! So stupid o'clock came around, and I got up, dressed and out the door of Jacob's Inn, into the cold Dublin morning... where it was a dark, windy morning (but without rain!). I managed to get to the bus stop for the complimentary Stenaline bus to the port without any incidents, just frozen fingers.
The bus ride itself had a fairly interesting aspect - a lovely English lady who wouldn't shut up! She kept pestering the driver, and eventually got off the bus earlier than what you are really meant to. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone else to chatter away for the last of the bus ride, and then we were at the port! My bag (which would have pulled in a fair bit of excess on Ryanair) was checked in, no payment required! Then into the lounge, for a short wait to board the Stena Adventurer...
I was in ferry heaven, it was the most luxurious ferry I have ever been on! It was huge, with restaurants, a video arcade, and even a giant Curious George wandering around on the deck. I walked past him at one point and he was lying on his back on the floor with his legs and arms waving around like a dying cockroach... All because a passenger accidentally knocked him over when she walked past... Good thing the man was wearing a mask, I think he would have been so embarrassed to do that without a mask!
2 hours later saw the ferry outside the Holyhead terminal in Wales, however, another ferry was leaving berth, so we had to wait - AN HOUR! This meant I missed my train to Birmingham, which inadvertently meant I had to buy another ticket. Which then took like 4 hours to travel on with changes. Which was ridiculous really. But what can you do huh? I had to get to Stafford. And now I am sitting in a comfy chair, in a warm house, and all because I worked with some lovely people, this house being the home of one of those people - THANKS DAN!!!!
Today was a looooong day! I woke up a stupid o'clock because the girl in the bunk above me was dying of a coughing fit between 2 am and 5am, and my alarm was set for 6am! So stupid o'clock came around, and I got up, dressed and out the door of Jacob's Inn, into the cold Dublin morning... where it was a dark, windy morning (but without rain!). I managed to get to the bus stop for the complimentary Stenaline bus to the port without any incidents, just frozen fingers.
The bus ride itself had a fairly interesting aspect - a lovely English lady who wouldn't shut up! She kept pestering the driver, and eventually got off the bus earlier than what you are really meant to. Thankfully, there wasn't anyone else to chatter away for the last of the bus ride, and then we were at the port! My bag (which would have pulled in a fair bit of excess on Ryanair) was checked in, no payment required! Then into the lounge, for a short wait to board the Stena Adventurer...
I was in ferry heaven, it was the most luxurious ferry I have ever been on! It was huge, with restaurants, a video arcade, and even a giant Curious George wandering around on the deck. I walked past him at one point and he was lying on his back on the floor with his legs and arms waving around like a dying cockroach... All because a passenger accidentally knocked him over when she walked past... Good thing the man was wearing a mask, I think he would have been so embarrassed to do that without a mask!
2 hours later saw the ferry outside the Holyhead terminal in Wales, however, another ferry was leaving berth, so we had to wait - AN HOUR! This meant I missed my train to Birmingham, which inadvertently meant I had to buy another ticket. Which then took like 4 hours to travel on with changes. Which was ridiculous really. But what can you do huh? I had to get to Stafford. And now I am sitting in a comfy chair, in a warm house, and all because I worked with some lovely people, this house being the home of one of those people - THANKS DAN!!!!
Saturday, October 23, 2010
The Jameson Experience
21st October, Midleton, Co Cork
So today - it was hard, tiring, and long...
To deal with the loveliness of my life, I went to the Old Midleton Distillery, where Jameson Whiskey used to be made. However, now, it is now distilled elsewhere, so the old distillery is now a museum dedicated to the making of Jameson Whiskey! It was really cool!
My memory card (the only one I had on me at the time...) was corrupted.... Damned! So basically, no photos for me to show you, but it was a beautiful! I had a ball - and the best bit about today was the fact that at the end of our guided tour (the guide was a bit stuffy) we had both a whiskey tasting test, with a shot of Jameson, a shot of Johnny Walker, and a shot of Jack Daniels to taste and compare. The other thing we got.... A GLASS OF JAMESON WHISKEY!! Just lovely! And considering how I was feeling about life, four shots of a whiskey, just lovely...
Eventually I got back to Myra and Jim's, had some more whiskey... Had long chats with Jim. He is so cool! A little like grumpy old men, without actually being grumpy, or necessarily old at heart, and just lovely. He has become my 'other man', according to him! Such a laugh!
So today - it was hard, tiring, and long...
To deal with the loveliness of my life, I went to the Old Midleton Distillery, where Jameson Whiskey used to be made. However, now, it is now distilled elsewhere, so the old distillery is now a museum dedicated to the making of Jameson Whiskey! It was really cool!
My memory card (the only one I had on me at the time...) was corrupted.... Damned! So basically, no photos for me to show you, but it was a beautiful! I had a ball - and the best bit about today was the fact that at the end of our guided tour (the guide was a bit stuffy) we had both a whiskey tasting test, with a shot of Jameson, a shot of Johnny Walker, and a shot of Jack Daniels to taste and compare. The other thing we got.... A GLASS OF JAMESON WHISKEY!! Just lovely! And considering how I was feeling about life, four shots of a whiskey, just lovely...
Eventually I got back to Myra and Jim's, had some more whiskey... Had long chats with Jim. He is so cool! A little like grumpy old men, without actually being grumpy, or necessarily old at heart, and just lovely. He has become my 'other man', according to him! Such a laugh!
The Sheridans
19th October, Midleton, Co Cork, the Sheridans
Yesterday afternoon I got on a bus. And 4 and a half hours later I arrived in Cork City. While I was there I saw many a crazy Irish persons (because apparently the crazy people are all in Cork City ~ according to Seany....) It was here I waited for Myra Sheridan. A short time later, Myra arrived, and as she walked up to me... well... I stood at one of the doors of the bus station thinking "I really hope this is Myra, because if it isn't then there is a person beelining towards me and I really don't have the energy to deal with a crazy Irish person..."
But it was Myra, and here begins a time for me to go "splat"....
Yesterday afternoon I got on a bus. And 4 and a half hours later I arrived in Cork City. While I was there I saw many a crazy Irish persons (because apparently the crazy people are all in Cork City ~ according to Seany....) It was here I waited for Myra Sheridan. A short time later, Myra arrived, and as she walked up to me... well... I stood at one of the doors of the bus station thinking "I really hope this is Myra, because if it isn't then there is a person beelining towards me and I really don't have the energy to deal with a crazy Irish person..."
But it was Myra, and here begins a time for me to go "splat"....
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