Loch Ness Trip!! 26-27 Sep 09

• night before the trip, dreamt about the LochNess monster – look like white elephant….why is it so? haha
• Good sunny day out from school 9am – we were at the bus late – so sat separately, I sat next to Jana, a german girl studying Math in her final year (equivalent master)
• Fort Rail Bridge – 1st sling pull bridge or something
• Got death person in the pillar – he fall and still alive – then it was too costly to bring him out – so they give him poison in sandwich to kill him. - 12 m longer in winter or summer I’m not sure
• The driver was cute haha – he has scot accent!!!!
  o He told us – need to wear seatbelt – otherwise if caught – 60 GBP fine
  o He told us the story of Jacobytes, Robert Burnes, Killy Cranky, Prince Charlie
  o He point out the richest man in Scotland house – 27 yr old 3.5 billion worth – but gay
  o Last year scot export whisky 3 billion pounds
  o He played SCOT PIPE SONG all the way…….
• Dunkeld City, cathedral
  o 10.30 – 11
  o So little time to walk around – miss the free whisky in town loey.. seng haha
  o Famous for salmon fishing
  o There was one time woman catch 65 lbs salmon – woman has hormone that attract big male fish haha
  o Only went to the cathedral
• National Park – has the highest road in UK – most dangerous road – coz in the mountain.
  - Color of the scenery change – purple – green – brown
• Kingussie – Ruthven Barracks around 12 noon – nice view and there’s a pair of Hamish cow – fierce haha
• Culloden Battle Field next
• Inverness town (at the mouth of river ness)
  o Eat lunch about 2pm
  o Walk around the town – very nice – seems nicer for shopping than Edinburgh
  o I want to buy the puppet COW HAMISH there – didn’t get…. Seng haha kor dee save money
• Loch Ness – 4pm (fort Augustus)
  o Boat Cruise – there’s infrared and reader in the boat
  o They found arctic shark – and make believe that there are more creatures inside the lake
  o Only 2 percent of the world ocean are explored – there are more under!!!
  o Water full of soil and stuff cannot see
  o In 1970 found 18 largh floating obj weight about 1 and a half tons – shd not be normal creature!!!
  o The lake never freeze!
• and here's the picture of the monster and the sail boat.. =)

• Clansmen show
  o Different weapon and how they wear the kilt.
  o Interesting way – see that last time the people really strong – they use big weapon and they are cruel in order to survive
  o Most scots dies about 30-40 – living in the poor condition of wet and cold – mang.. how could they live like that after I have listened…. Maybe the novels are really novels……
• Dinner at Morag’s Lodge - haggis hostel – food sucks though – and then just stick around
  o Drank cocktail – very very nice! – anti social just enjoy each other a bit here and there.
  o Walk back to hostel 9pm.. so dark haha
  o Slept loey – how lovely if I go there with someone – would be nice na.
• Wake up and then go out 8.30am
  o Bad weather- rain and cold
• Commando Monument – just pop by and take picture
• In fort William – the only place where the kitchen sink has 3 taps – the 3rd one is the hydro something
  o Cannot see Ben Nevis – mist around
  o Mist even float and touch the Lochs
• Glen Nevis
  o VERY NICE VIEW!!!!!
• Inverlochy Castle
  o Go in and see – it’s out of itinerary tho, but we got time before the souvenir shop at ben nevis open at 10am
• Glen Coe
  o Rain and wet – the scene was different from last time we went – nice in different feeling o Stop only a bit, take few pic and left
• Green Welly Shop in Tyndrum – stop there to have lunch and walk around
  o Loved the fireplace there – warm hahaha
• Trossachs Wollen Mill
  o The famous HAMISH cow was there --- fat sexy handsome!!! - so i decided to let him smell my mouth....

• Doune Castle
  o Stop to look – some ppl got to sneaked in – we got to pay if want to go in. oh well.
• Pass William Wallace monument – next to stirling castle
• Reach home at 4.30pm – we got nothing left in the fridge – eat mama…
• 9pm found out we have to read lots for tmr.. omg.. die.. didn't read - slept haha

Glen Coe - Glen Finnan Day expedition - some notes - 19 Sep 2009

It's just my scrap note. I believe this maybe interesting and if someone really have time can read it haha.

Oh.. the picture of the map -- look like a man carrying a sack - can see the belt area of the man - those are full with industrial park - including petrolchemical plant

• 9.30 out from sch – rain – 53 seater bus – 24 germans
• Scot seems small – only 3 hour from east to west
• Each day the scenery look different and because the changing weather make them different – and scots love to talk about this particular matter and love to compliment their own scenery because of this particular matter as well.
• Palace – living / castle – build and used to protect itself in the warfare
• Pass Stirling Castle – build near River Ford – the strategic point – build similar to edin castle – at this place the first bridge to cross the river in scot was build in 1314.
  -- K. of scot died – no son à fights amongst the prospects à invite K. of Eng to come and choose à K. of E see opportunity then chose the weakest and then imposed tax on scot
• Unhappiness arose, William Morris -> led the uprising à battle of Stirling Bridge à he was then called the “lord protector of Scot” – he was then betrayed and sent to executed in London.
• Robert the Bruce – one of the prospect – he was a bit confused whether which side (k. of eng or scot) to choose. But after Morris died, he decided that he would fight for Scots. -à he brought a bit of peace for Scotland for a period of time
• Beautiful scenery – and there’s wind farm – wind energy.
• Can grow corn nowsaday – result of global warming
• Doune Castle – place filmed for ‘Monty Phyton’ movie? – was a royal hunting lodge – built by powerful men.
• Most castles in scot was not built for Q or K, they built by different ruling Clans in diff region – coz each clan govern the area for the people in their clan (not like the feudal system)
• Doune was the market – it’s a city in the edge where highlands meet lowlands – highland ppl brought kettle and sell at the market
• Doune was also the place that was famous for its pistol – the first gun shot in American Independent war’s pistol came from here. – now it’s a quiet city where you could rarely see any vibrant from the past.
• Callender – normal looking scot town where the main road passes in the middle. Growing because of the railway and holiday destination by tourist train. In the Roman time, there was a camp here but only short time when it conquered England. Guess, they retreated back coz they probably don’t see that they can do anything in this particular weather and few people in highlands.
• Loch Luknic à color will be different (orange gold brown) – there’s a road along this particular LONG Loch.
• McGreger Clan – Robert Roy – he was like Robin hood – this clan refused to register with the England system – so was cheated by its neighbor, the Campbells, who registered McGreger Clan’s lands under their name. McGreger disputed, but then resulted in the hunt by the government instead. They, then, blended with other clans’ background, however, maintain their identity – this is called highland ‘honor’ where, if anyone harm ppl in their clan, they would fight back.
• If ‘Ben’ is taller than 900m, it will be called ‘Monroe’ – and “Monroe bagging” is a word to call people who climbed over 250 Monroe in Scotland.
• Crianlarlch - meeting point town where major main road meet
• Actually scot’s main roads are just one lane road – one go one back. Maybe because the hilly plane I see today
• Tyndrum – was famous for its gold rush – has the green welly shop
• West Highland Way – it’s a 5-day walking route from Glasgow to Fort William.
• The political change (register of land and etc) plus the industrialization forced people off their land. And people see that sheep and kettle give more value to the land than the human inhabitant.
• The rivers are shallow and with rocks
• The hills are filled with grass – not much of a tree because last time were cut during the napoleon war and then the introduction of sheep. Plus, deer eat young trees – very hard to grow. Therefore, if want to grow tree – must fenced up to prevent deer.
• Loch Ba – the glacier made this happen the water and some humps of hilly planes.
  I wonder how they do wars last time, the weather was not favorable, how they hunt for land and power… crazy people.
• Visitor Centre – eat there, i was very surprised with the very strict to the rule of not bringing outside food in. – at some place they even say 'this trash is for customer of the shop only' – how crazy to be possessive over the Trash bin!
• It was wet day – and tiring – that my legs were shaking – was wearing 4 layers….
• Loch near the sea is like Fjord – we starting to see Sail Boats in the loch – nice west coast.
• Ben Nevis – 1343m – highest in UK
• Caledonian Canal – the short cut from Atlantic to the North Sea.
• These people love to compliment their own weather – I like it when people can just enjoy themselves by appreciate every little things in life. – as I said sunny does not always give the best view! – cold cold with mist is enchanting as well.
• Lots of Rainbows!!!!!!!!! Like 10s we saw
• There’s Duck Crossing warning sign, besides for deers and human
• Lots of ppl travelling on motorbikes
• Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery – the highest (situate above sea level) in scot
• What does “NO HARD SHOULDER” mean? I see lots as a sign on the road……..

elementary food - 16 sep 2009

on top was the panorama view taken when we went on the tour described in the previous entry.

As the topic says, these food elementary students would know how to cook... It has been about 10 days since we are here in HWU... and yeah.. here are some of the food we eat :)

Edinburgh Bus Tour: Sat 12 Sept: with Chaplaincy

Calder Road –

• commercial house for poor people last time, there are some flats as well
• Before reaching Gorgie – Chester Avenue – 25 would stop here, and we can walk to ASDA 5 min, however 34 bus from campus would stop nearer to asder from the other side.

Gorgie Road –

• would notice that the name on the same road change, this is because the city develop overtime

Ballgreen Road

• murray field stadium – there’s an ice rink there as well

Corstorphine Road

• there a bridge that below is the water of leith walkway
• water of leith is the small river that goes through Edinburgh (like Thames in London)can walk to gallery of modern art
• School of Blind “dolson” – look like palace -- Nearer to hay market

New Town –

• biggest area of Giorgione style—a balance style and very symmetrical with second floor of the house is the high ceiling, the door of the house is blast with square door handle – its world heritage site, last time there would be an oil lamp at every doors but they take out already

George Street

• high end shopping area, it used to be old day traditional shop, but these 10 years commercial has came in.

Queen Street

• there’s a private garden which flats around the area would have the key to access. This is because last time the area are catered for the rich. This area are build because the lesson learnt from the old town. (little light little window)

St. Andrew Square

• end of George street – has the main bus stop –
• the garden here used to be private too. But it became public because no one really stay around here and most things are shops.

Old Town

• thinner, taller, smaller gaps between building which was very dirty last time when they drain garbage inside.
• Rich and poor live very near each other

Calton Hill

• the ruin is not real, it’s just from some rich man who could not calculate his finance properly so he couldn’t finish the buidling

Holyrood Park

• used to be hunting ground for royals last time
• Radical Road – a walk way up the hill
• Arthur’s Seat – look like lion sleeping

Holyrood Palace

• In front, there’s scot parliament which created by Spanish architect – some ppl like some ppl hate this building because there is similar building that the artist also created in Barca.

Royal Mile

• One mile connection to the Edinburgh palace.

St. Giles Cathedral

• church of scotland
• Worth visiting even though all English cathedrals are nicer than the Scottish one

South Bridge Road

• Festival Theatre, Indian Restaurant

Braid Hills Drive

• Lots of golf courses around
• Good view to see city of Edinburgh

Morningside Road

• Good small shop area – fish / bakers

Burntsfield Place

• Charity shop
• Waitrose – is a high end grocery
• Peckhams – whisky

Burntsfield Link

• Near meadows – a place where scot play golf since 15th century
• Visit in spring – pink flowers
• The modern flats we see could cost 850,000 GBP for 3br

Back to old town
Nichoson Square - Shops
Near to royal mile and near to the castle

• National museum – near it there’s STA Travel
• Greyfriars bobby dog and shop – the faithful dog known to stay with the owner’s grave for many many years
• The elephant house – harry potter story
• Grass market

Leith Road

• John Lewis is in St. James - Top floor there’s glass view of Edinburgh
• Play house – musical

Leith walk – no.25 comes here

• Italian restaurant
• Youth hostel
• Chinese supermarket eg. Heng Seng

Commercial Street

• Fish restaurant
• “Shore”
• Outdoor equip shop – there’s a shop in Rose St near princess st. also
• Ocean terminal – bus 34 from HWU
  o Britanica Royal Ship -- Used to hand hongkong back to china

Crewe Road - Fettes School

• Famous private sch that james bond went to,
• High percentage of ppl in scot value gg to private sch and see it as a privilege.

MarineDrive

• Sea shore nice walk
• Lauriston Castle
  

we went to see the big picture of all these.. i just want to note down hahaha :P

some edinburgh facts - good to know

After went on the tour and several observations at different events. I would like to share some knowledge of this lovely city; a city between Pentland Hills and the sea

• Haggis --> deep fried mars bars
• Scot made haggis because last time they went on hunting and no way of preservation or throw away the rest of the parts of the animal. So they stuff the rest in the intestine and cook them.
• It is known in the Europe that scot ppl have the least healthy in the rank.
• Skirt was invented by English men – by making it shorter into the style and actually Edinburgh is the only place where you can see men in skirts…. Otherwise would be at the festivities and weddings.
• Real Scottish wear Wellington Boots as they are the best way to withstand the wet weather
• Pipes – are not invented as music instrument – it was used to play in groups to scare enemies away…. And later the well known song ‘highland cathedral’ that is played by this instrument a lot… was invented by German guy.
• Whisky --> Irn Bru
• It used to be the national hard drink.. esp. Glen Morengies (apology for the spelling) but now, it is Irn Bru which has the ingredient that sounds poisonous (ammonia) but can solve the hangover that is the best selling drink here in Scotland (better than coca cola)
• Irn Bru with Vodka is nice also
• Pee pee and poo poo are called “WEE WEE and JOBBY”
• In the Old Town part of Edinburgh, it was built in the limited space within the wall. (the wall was build as a protection from England) and high rises were created. However, they did not plan the garbage properly, so people will throw their pee and poo from the window to the swamp (which is now the garden and the train station) below. When they throw they would call out “GARDY LOO!!”
• Scotland has a very distinct divide between Catholic and Protestant – eg. The soccer matches between the two big teams which is supported by different branch of Christian are very interesting and HOT to watch.
• Loch Ness, within it’s 23 mile in length, it has more water than the rest of the water in UK (including 20,000 over lakes and rivers and etc… )
• Culture in Edinburgh is quite stagnant comparing to Glasgow. Because people here come and go. Nothing could be really develop or fuse together… therefore, it’s like a magical city, a playground for tourist or whatever people expected Scotland to be.
• The bumps on the road are called “SLEEPING POLICEMEN”
• Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in UK – 1344 m……… only..
• Glen = Valley
• Loch = Lake