Let's Go Glasgow

Scotland Day 2 - A Chill Day

Since we have already basically covered most of the tourist spots in Edinburgh, we decided to ditch the wet city as rain was pouring, and took a train to explore Glasgow.

Glasgow Central Station

Glasgow is just an hour's worth of travel via train from Edinburgh Waverly station to Glasgow Central station, with ticket prices starting from £8.50. Since there's 8 of us, we bought 2 off-peak day return group tickets for 4, which gave us 20% discount.

Along Buchanan Street

From the station, we went straight to Buchanan Street to do window-shopping. Among the brands lining this beautiful street are Russell and Bromley, Aldo, House of Fraser, Urban Outfitters, All Saints, Diesel, Jack Wills, New Look, Zara, Puma, Nike, and malls with brands that include Hermes, Gucci, Prada, Mui Mui and Anya Hindmarsh.

And then we went to St. George's Square. The principal civic square in Glasgow, this square is home to the Glasgow City Council and monuments dedicated to Robert Burns, James Watt, Sir Robert Peel and Sir Walter Scott. 

St. George's Square

We went inside the City Chambers. But there was a commencement program that day, so we were not able to explore the halls open to the public.

Inside the City Chambers

By the time we finished shooting photos and fun videos chasing pigeons in the square, it was already lunch time. We went to have lunch at Obu Pan Asia inside one of the malls to escape the drizzle.

In a Crossing along Buchanan Street

There wasn't so much you can do with too little time at Glasgow, so we headed back to Edinburgh. And luckily when we got back, it stopped raining in the city center. So we headed to Calton Hill to take in the breathtaking panoramic views of the city.

Edinburgh viewed from Calton Hill

Calton Hill is home to the National Monument. An unfinished monument sitting at the hill, it was meant to be a replica of the Parthenon of Athens as a memorial to those who died in the Napoleonic Wars. However, only the facade was completed and it was later dubbed as "Edinburgh's Shame." Now, it is a popular site for tourists to climb on to the giant steps and take photos. The hill also gives views of the Salisbury Crags, Arthur's Seat, and the Holyrood Park.

The National Monument as backdrop

Another monument sitting atop the Calton Hill is the Nelson Monument. Standing at about 456 feet above sea level, it offers even more breathtaking views of Edinburgh, with an admission fee of £3. It is usually open 10AM to 6PM, depending on the months.

The Nelson Monument

Then we walked back to the bus stop along Princes Street to go back to the hotel.

The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Edinburgh-vo

Got three days in Scotland? Here's a 3-day itinerary for a short laid-back family holiday.

Day 1: Edinburgh-vo

View from the back of the Castle

We booked a return flight with EasyJet via Gatwick Airport, which was the closest airport to Haywards Heath where we're from. We had a morning flight, and so we were already at Edinburgh Airport at around 10, boarded Bus 35 to alight at Hutchison Crossway, which is the bus stop just across our accommodation, Badjao B&B.

The first day was dedicated to exploring Edinburgh town center. So after setting the luggage down, with Buses 4, 34 or 44, we were able to reach the city center where we decided to grab lunch at Pizza Hut in Hanover Street which was about 3 minutes worth of walk from Stop PL (South St David Street).

Budget Tip: It is much cheaper to buy the bus DAYticket (4 pounds per adult and 2 pounds per child) to have unlimited travel on the buses and city trams rather than pay for a SINGLEticket (1.60 pounds per adult and 80p per child) if you're planning to explore the city.

During the bus ride, I couldn't help but be blown away by the quaintness of Edinburgh, especially when we arrived at Princes Street which gave a stunning view of the Edinburgh Castle perfectly perched on top of a volcanic rock cliff, followed by a row of equally beautiful quaint buildings. And furthermore, below such buildings are the Princes Street Gardens. You will also be able to pass by the famous Scott Monument before the bus stop.

After lunch, we walked back to Princes Street, and took photos at the Scott Monument. This Victorian monument was dedicated to Scottish author Sir Walter Scott. It is considered the world's largest monument dedicated to a writer. You can climb the 287 steps to the monument's tower for 5 pounds to enjoy breathtaking views of the city. Recommended length of stay: ~15-30 minutes.

Scott Monument

We then crossed the North Bridge and turned right at the High Street going straight to the Lawnmarket and eventually, the famous Royal Mile which leads to Edinburgh Castle. The Royal Mile consists of a series of streets that run through the Old Town of Edinburgh, which is considered the heart of the city. End to end, it essentially connects the Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. I recommend that you savor this walk along the Royal Mile as there are already lots of tourist spots that you may visit. We wanted to walk in a relaxed pace as it was an uphill walk, and also because we wanted to take in the beauty of Edinburgh. Recommended length of walking time from the junction of North Bridge and High Street to Edinburgh Castle: ~30 minutes (but it actually depends on whether you stop to explore the tourist spots along the way).

For a more in depth walking tour, check out the free guided tours by SANDEMANs neweurope tours which is rated 4.5 in TripAdvisor.

Before going up the Royal Mile, you might as well check out the Elephant House, a gourmet tea and coffee shop where JK Rowling wrote the Harry Potter book series.

North Bridge Panorama

Along the aforementioned route, we explored Parliament Square and St. Giles' Cathedral. Entrance is free, but only after paying a small fee will you be allowed to take photos inside; although lots of tourists take stolen shots inside ala-ninja moves. St. Giles' Cathedral is the principal place of worship of the Church of Scotland in Edinburgh. It is also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh. It has a very striking and distinctive crown steeple that contributes greatly as a prominent feature in the city's skyline. Recommended length of stay: ~15 minutes.

St. Giles' Cathedral

Around St. Giles' Cathedral are 3 other tourist spots: Real Mary King's Close which is part of the Underground City Tour, the Advocates Close, and the Mercat Cross in Parliament Square.

Further up the Royal Mile is the Statue of David Hume, who is known as the giant of enligh-toe-nment. Before, many believed that in touching this statue's toe, the philosopher's wisdom would rub off on them.

View from the Castle

Then comes the Lawnmarket which is the oldest part of the Old Town. And further up are other tourist activities such as the Camera Obscura, and the Scottish Whiskey Experience, both of which charge an admission fee. And then at the top was the Edinburgh Castle. The most famous of the Scottish castles, Edinburgh Castle houses the Honours (Scotland's Crown Jewels), the 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O'clock canon, and St. Margaret's Chapel, which is the oldest part of the castle and also the oldest surviving building in Edinburgh, among many others. Admission fee is 16.50 pounds per adult, with additional 3.50 pounds for an audio guide. It is open 930 AM to 6 PM, and last admission is at 5 PM. Recommended length of stay: ~1-2 hours. There are lots to see not just inside the castle, but more so, the majestic panoramic views of Edinburgh at different points in the castle.

Edinburgh Castle Panorama

 After the tour, you can grab dinner at any of the restaurants along Grassmarket before heading back to your accommodation and calling it a day. Try out Oink, which is a simple joint serving Scottish hog roasts, or any of these Top 5 Grassmarket Restaurants by TripAdvisor.

The Day I Kissed You Good Bye

Starting out a new life from scratch in an entirely new country was a dream come true. I can be who I wanted to be, and no one would be able to tell the difference. I can create a new routine, make new lasting friendships, grow in my career, spend hard-earned money, travel and discover, and maybe, even fall in love. There's just literally endless possibilities and opportunities. But, nobody ever said it would be easy.

Because in this human life, everything that's worth having never ever comes easy. All the best things take time; just like fermenting wine or century egg, or that perfectly moldy cheese. Career, friendships, relationships, and self-actualisation - all these require hard work over a period of time.

I never actually had a problem with growing in my career. I've always been open to exploring each open door.

I've always had my family behind me in everything I do. And I have always found it easy to find friends who would be with me through thick and thin.

Self-actualisation practically takes a whole lifetime; or so no one is ever sure.

I guess the only thing that felt like I was missing in this new life is that someone I can share all these adventures with, be crazy with, encounter problems, and still stay. We're caught in that new world when dating has become a battle zone where people like me are placed at a grave disadvantage. It has now become typical for ladies who are independent, career-driven, successful, family-orientated, fit/healthy, funny, and whatever guys these days like from a girl, to be single. It's probably not because the male species have been diminished in numbers; it's just almost half of the males in this world are pricks, the other half being divided into guys who like males as well or are already attached; and the small teeny tiny percentage that is actually available can still be divided into those who we can be attracted to, are too old or too young, or are simply not attracted to us.

But setting all those aside, there is still this thing called cultural differences wherein people like me, who were raised in a conservative type of thinking, when we actually fortunately meet people who like us and we like in return, make things unworkable. Why? Because there are some things that we aren't able to give that apparently people in this side of the world think is essential in every "healthy" relationship.

This made things head on complicated. I felt very conflicted in every sense possible. It was not about joining the band wagon, I guess. There are things I choose not to do not just because I am a Catholic. I choose not to do it just because I respect myself. Period. People in this side of the world need to chill. I have come to the point in this dating life to have zero care whatsoever about what guys here think of me when they find out I still have not done it.

In our culture, we can fall in love and still be in love without needing to do it. As I say, we were raised in a conservative type of thinking. But I think, it's more than just that; I think we're able to appreciate that some things in life are worth the wait, no matter how long that wait takes. I am not saying that there are no sexually active couples in my country. I believe that everything happens in it's own perfect timing, and not just done out of response to bodily/physiological needs. Go ahead, think of it as cheesy, corny, or 'immature.' I think that's where people are wrong; I may lack the experience, but most people in this world have that experience and are still, sadly, immature.

I am not condemning people who are doing it. I am all for those who do it out of love. And I'm not saying I wouldn't want to do it. As I've said, some things are worth the wait, and for me, this is one of those things. I just choose to wait for when I finally feel like it is the right time, with someone I am deeply head-over heels in love with. Because why share that most special moment of my life with someone I don't even have feelings for? Why share a part of me with someone who doesn't love me? No, I will definitely not. I'm going to have to be selfish in that sense.

Why can't we try to be together without putting sex in the equation? Shouldn't it be much more worth while to fall in love even without that yet? And then when the time comes that we actually do it, I'm pretty sure it is going to be one of the greatest moments of our life.

That's why I am kissing you, all the guys who can't or are unable to wait, good bye. This is me not settling. This is me still choosing my morals over some one night leap of faith thing that we're not even sure is going to last the next day. This is me choosing to love myself more than the players of this game. This is me giving tadhana another chance.

Central Market and The Palace

After a short trip from the Killing Fields, we then headed to the Central Market of Phnom Penh. This is the central hub for shopping really good quality and cheap souvenir items, such as different items made up of the Cambodian silk, keychains, Cambodian style shorts/pants, magnets, etc. It is basically a large oval building which is divided into different sections that converge towards the center where pieces of jewelry and ornaments are on sale. They have sections for clothes, wood crafts, gadgets, bags and similar goods, etc. They also have an area for the wet and dry markets, which are adjacent to the food stalls and the sections where class A imitations of branded items are on sale.

Central Market

We had our lunch here at the food stalls where we spent around 4 USD for a hearty and scrumptious lunch consisting of grilled spicy squid, Pad Thai, and cucumber salad. It was a good lunch, and if you're not the picky and posh traveler, the market is a great place for exploring local dishes.

And then we bought some simple sweets afterwards, which were priced at 4 USD per pack.

Caramelized donuts

We then headed towards the front of the Royal Palace. As we were already running out of time, we were only able to capture photos outside the gates.

The Royal Palace

The Royal Palace Gates

We then headed back to Mad Monkey as we had our van transfer to Vietnam booked for the afternoon. Read about our experience in crossing the boarder between Cambodia and Vietnam here.

Waiting for the van transfer

London Walking Tour v1

Don't waste a sunny day in London by staying warm indoors! Go explore what the city has to offer by walking. This walking day tour includes going to the British Museum in the morning, spending lunch at Covent Garden, then strolling along the tourist spots by the River Thames while enjoying a warm cuppa coffee, and ending at the Westminster Cathedral to hear Catholic mass. Basically, it is just sight-seeing because you're not going to enter the attractions like the Westminster Abbey or ride the London Eye.

I began my walking tour by taking bus 168 from Stop K at Waterloo Station Tenison Way. I went off at Stop Y/Theobalds Road Southampton Row and made my way to the Montague Place entrance of the British Museum.

Montague Place Entrance

I spent 90 minutes just to quickly explore the top 9 must-see of the museum. If you have such a limited time as I did, here's a helpful link to plan your visit: Top 9 Must See in the British Museum. Among the list, my top 3 favourites were the Mummy of Katebet, the Rosetta Stone and the Parthenon Sculptures.

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The Parthenon Sculptures

I arrived at the museum at around 12 NN, and it was already bustling with tourists. General admission is free of charge but there are seasonal exhibitions which have entrance fees.

There's a huge food hall in the center, as well as shops to buy souvenirs.

After a quick tour around, I went out the Great Russel street and walked towards Covent Garden. It was a good 16-minute walk along Drury Lane and then taking a right turn on Russel street.

Covent Garden

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<2 british="" hours="" in="" museum.="" p="" the="">Covent Garden Piazza teems with restaurants and shops. But what I really liked about it are the street performers that attract crowds around them by doing different gimmicks.

I had late lunch at the famous Shake Shack, which usually has a long queue. Fortunately, they have a good system and very accommodating staff, which made things a whole lot easier. So although I was only by myself, the staff would reserve a seat/table for you while you order your food inside. The Shake Shack is famous for their milkshakes and burgers. But since it was a chilly day, I opted for burger and lemonade and hot coffee.

The Shake Shack

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Covent Garden is a really good place for people-watching while you quietly sip a good cuppa coffee.

Gold Human Statue

<2 british="" hours="" in="" museum.="" p="" the="">After having my fill of people-watching, I started to make my way to Embankment so I can walk along River Thames towards Westminster Cathedral. As I slowly walked along the river to catch the 6 o'clock mass, I was able to enjoy Cleopatra's needle, the London Eye, and the Embankment and Whitehall gardens, and of course, Big Ben, the Westminster Bridge, the Houses of Parliament, and the Westminster Abbey.

London Eye

Big Ben peaking from behind the Houses of Parliament

<2 british="" hours="" in="" museum.="" p="" the="">The final stop, as I mentioned earlier, was Westminster Cathedral to hear mass - the perfect way to end a beautiful day. All in all, I can really say that London is a very walkable city. You can plan a day and not ride a bus or need to used the tube, and yet enjoy it still.  
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<2 british="" hours="" in="" museum.="" p="" the="">There are also lots of free guided walking tours available if you want to really get to know the city more. Here's a useful link for that: Free Walking Tours.
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<2 british="" hours="" in="" museum.="" p="" the="">Until the next post. Ciao.

Uncertain

For the longest time after my most recent heartbreak, here comes that phase when I know that I've finally moved on but is quite unsure as to what I want to do next.

As I moved into a new chapter in my life; new country, new work, new life, I realize how lonely I am. I know in myself that I am looking for that 'great feeling' again. I miss having those butterflies in my stomach, the eagerness you feel when you see his name pop up on your screen, that warmth you feel when he's next to you holding your hands. Basically, I want to fall in love again. But the problem is I'm not sure if I have what it takes to take that plunge again.

I remember my friend using cliff diving as a metaphor for falling in love. She said that the first time she did it, the anxiety she felt prior to the jump was overwhelming that at one point it would make you want to turn and run the other way. But then, she found her courage and she jumped from the cliff. And she said that the fall and then the contact with the water - essentially the whole experience, was so much worth everything she went through before the jump. And so she climbed up again to try and make another jump. She thought to herself, it probably is no longer as scary as the first time since now she's got experience, she basically knows how it feels and what to expect. But while standing on the same spot and looking down on the same way she's going to fall, she said she felt the same amount of anxiety and uncertainty as though it was her first time jumping. Well, if I'm going to be asked, it kind of looks a lot like love to me.

Now, I am on that same spot, I am looking down from the cliff. But I'm not sure at all if I'm prepared for everything this jump entails - the feelings, the stress, the consequences... I'm not sure I have what it takes to be able to survive this jump. I want to jump, but I don't think I know how anymore. It sounds so easy but it's like I've been so accustomed to being single and so comfortable with myself that the idea of entering into a relationship with someone frightens me. I feel like I just 'can't do it.'

This ambivalence is making me feel so lost. I want to fall in love again, but I don't. I try to rack my brains to look for a possible solution for this grid lock. And then an idea sprang to my mind. I thought, maybe someday, someone will come into my life and would make me feel like, "Hey, this is it. It's time to come out from under the rock and live above the surface again." Maybe, that's how it's going to be - someone, who would just be himself, would finally make me brave again - brave enough to overcome the anxiety preventing me from taking that leap. Maybe someday I'll try again. But, I hope it comes sooner.