Search this blog


Home About Contact
2009-02-22

UK Escapade - Northern Ireland  



Tips : Rather than spending a huge amount of Euros (Up to 80E/person) for a pre-planned trip to Giants Causeway, there's always a cheaper alternative. However, ensure that you have this 3 : 1) Rent a car (pref automatic) from AVIS 2) GPS 3)Someone who can ACTUALLY drive

Yes, the driver is certainly not me (or even Zack, he thought he better off leave the license over there in Msia so his siblings could gawk at it), but Harith, my loyal companionship throughout the journey, whom need to divide his attention in between the snowy roads, makcik GPS, and me chatting my mouth off all the way.

But those hours of driving was certainly worth it!!!

Giant Causeway is phenomenal. Made up by volcanic and tectonic activity (I called it "rocks thingeys"), it had created this great hexagonal rocks arrange neatly from the hill downsliding into the Irish sea. Obviously, our ancient Grandfather love to pinch a salt, and instead of telling their kins the boring geologic activities, they create up a story where an Irish Giant built it as a bridge to cross the sea to fight with the Scottish Giant. And later on at the end of the story, they ripped it off. So a part of that causeway is here (in Northern Ireland), and really, a part of it is in Scotland. Its great because during old ye times, u can create up stories and nobody will ever Wiki-it.

Its an UNESCO world heritage site (the city of Malacca and Penang are world heritages sites too, but they are afar away from this to even create a comparison). I hate them Irish cause they have it all - those light heart behaviour, funny-yet-wonderful slangs, carefree life, good-look, alcoholic liver disease, and great nature. Owh, but I wont miss those cruel winter winds.

p/s: more pics in Facebook. Some had to be removed since it gives a little bit of "misconception" about my entire trip (saje je nk bagi korang bergosip kejap)

Posted by Picasa

2009-02-21

UK Escapade - DUBLIN  


Not that Dublin is part of UK though, but its in my plan, so to heck with it.

I've been planning this up to meet with my best-mate Harith (pics above), who helped me through in school, and - God blessed him - had create a path for me to enter the medical school by letting me to copy a huge amount of his Add Math homework (I'm a real dumb donkey when it come to math)

But, as how he put it, we did bring our "Russian curse" to Dublin. Just on the day we arrived, Dublin experienced its heaviest snow-fall, so heavy that my mate said it never happened during his entire life in Dublin. And the sky cleared up just as we took our next flight to Edinburgh. Cliche, I know.

Snow and wind apart, Dublin amazed me with its light-hearted environment (or so I thought). Architecture is amazing (wish I studied in one of those Trinity College buildings), and the natural beauty is...just..natural. We visited Glendalough, who is an hour drive away from Dublin, and while Harith intended us to see the land and its greenery, we were greeted with broad plain of snow (where I learnt that Im an accurate snow-ball thrower when it goes to throwing at "the" balls,sorry I know its hurt)

And we made some friends in Dublin too. Well, mostly I met a friend-of-friend, but those Dubliners are so warm-hearted it enough to warm us up in those freezing night eventhough they have to cut back on gases. (recession, mate)

So, thanks a bunch to those who unknowingly invited us to Hadi's birthday party, to Shawal/his more glamorous social name in which I shall not published here for keeping us company till our end day in Dublin (and thanks for advicing me against buying those overpriced fugly sling-bag), and a BIG BIG BIG thanks to harith and his housemate for letting us to crash in (literally, crash)

p/s : more pics in Facebook. My blog followers had advised me agaisnt putting too much pics, it slows the blog down, and mostly, it cost them more (yeah, Russian ISP still charge us on per mb basis)



Posted by Picasa

2009-02-18

UK Escapade Series - Merchandise  

U guys must be bored with all the touristy pictures.
I wish I could show u something else.
So here's something else...
Though it doesnt really suit the current economic crisis, but I guess once in a while, u need to give urself a valid excuse to splurge.
(Note to self : dont forget to do charity)


Posted by Picasa

2009-02-17

UK Escapade - London again!!  

After Manchester and NCL, we head back to London for the "piece du resistance" of our trip. The Arsenal - West Ham derby game.

Except its tie at the end. So its kinda disappointing with Zack's grim face, and me on the other hand couldnt wait for the game to finish as Im freezing my ass off (literally!)

Hate to admit but I found my new idols at the end of the game, who is Samir Nasri. I did foolishly bought the new away jersey and printed his name at the back, foolishly since I thought the jersey doesnt look good on me (or any other jersey for that matter)






























but everything is ok soon after I went with Yah and Khalid to watch "WICKED" - the most amazing musical of the year!! (not to mention, my 1st ever musical that I attend - I used to attend some in Volgo, but I couldnt make the head and end of it when they sing in Russian). I officially fall in love with London's arts and theatre settings, that on my last day in London, I decided to skip the bed and went to watch Billy Elliot - another musical in less than a week apart. Its kinda pricey for student like us, but hey, I wont mind escaping some meals just to watch the Green Wicked Withc tossing her hair!!!



















Then there's the typical London landmark. Big Ben, Tower bridge, bla bla...bo..ring...haha..at least its kinda boring when u have to struggle agaisnt cold winter breeze slapping right on your face. I couldnt imagine that I skipped all London's magnificent museum. Blame that to Zack since Im afraid it gonna bore him I dont even mind to ask.







!

2009-02-14

UK Escapade - Manchester  






Zack and I couldnt take the bus anymore (Megabus can be stinky), so we ditched our bus ride and ended up buying a new train ticket. We rather waste that 4 pounds than having to sit next to a in-couch WC. And anyway, Yah told us there will be sheeps..lots of sheeps along the railtrack..so yeah, minus WC and pluses sheeps, Im all for the train journey.

Manchester is...really...manchester. Not London, no romanticisim, classicism, neo-bla bla architecture. Its red bricks, functional, and within the shadow of the great manchester university, where Zacks friends are currently studying, and whom lovingly spared us their lovely home for us to ditch in. (did I really put all that facts in a sentence?)

In fact, we're not even planning for Manchester. So really, its just to spend good time with ol' friends (well, at least zack's, got no one I really know there), visiting the Old (literally) Trafford (Atak ngan Theenesh jgn mara please..hehe), and shops in Trafford Centre (hurraaaahh!!) which I found awfully beautiful to be just a shopping centre. I'd get married in place like that (statement NID utk ari ni).

They got the "box" in Manchester!! The X-box!! (not xxx u kinky little fella!!). I'm hardly a gamer, but I cant say I'm not impressed.

Talking about impression, there's a friend of Sdar/Jenglot/Naboo whom I met, and he made a big impression on me. I love the last night we were there, where we got everything out from his wardrobe and he insisted of trying his new cardigan with all the shirts he have. I'm sorry he had to return that cardigan, I found it lovely.

Will head back to London soon, for the Derby game..