Scotland

Day 5

Rosemarkie, Fortrose, Culloden, Nairn, Dores,

First on the list of things we had planned today was to go to Rosemarkie and see the dolophins at Channroy Point. The Beach was amazing, however the wind blowing of the north sea was bitterly cold.  God only knows what it would feel like in mid winter.  Any we did manage to see a dolphin (sadly no photo), however i did a picture of seal.

Next we went on a walk around a nice Forrest in Fortrose and visited a nice waterfall.

Next we headed to nairn to check out the beach there.  Lets just say we feeling the full force of the wind, it was 13c although, it felt like  -13.

After visiting the battlefield of Culloden, we headed back to the Pottery House, where we due a new room.

In the evening we headed to the Dores Inn for another round of great food.  After the food we went to the main bar area and listened to the local band 'the creaky doors'.  Lets just say they were excellent.

Scotland

Day 4


Inverness


After a amazing breakfast at the Pottery House (C - Their breakfasts are truly outstanding, a wide choice andd changes everyday!) we headed into Inverness via the Bus.  When we headed out it was pretty sunny and warm. However this soon turned to heavy rain and pretty cold (C - And led to later confusion regarding it always being sunny in doors/dores)

All we did today was look round the city centre.  Which to be honest was okay, much better than Fort William, (C- and there was a rather cute victorian market hall).  But the weather did not help as we got soaked and the dry and the soaked and then dry (u get the idea!)

In the early eveinng we went to Tapas bar which is on the road next to the Castle, 12 - 5, 2 for £5 which served really good food and was just the right amount (C - highly rec the chicken in garlic! - Yeah she licked the bowl practically!)  We then caught the bus home and chilled out with a beer and chocolate.

Scotland

Day 3

Glencoe, Fort william, Ben Nevis and Loch Ness



Today we headed off on our travels, and we were up nice and early. The first place on the list to see was Glencoe.  This place is utterly amazing, the mountains and sceneray are arguably some of the best in the uk, if not europe.  You have the landscape around Ranoch moor, which looks like something out of lord of the rings.  Then you have the Lush greenery, the place is amazing. (Panaramic shots thanks to Claire!)

After travelling through Glencoe we headed into Fort William.  This is one place in the UK I have always wanted to visit.  Although, when i got there I was very disappointed.  It was a very tacky run down place with very little to see and do.  To add insult to injury we were vastly over charged for a scrambled egg and ham bun.

Nex we went to Ben Nevis, which involved a cable car ride.  To say claire was scared was a understatement (Claire wud like to add that it was only 5 mins of hand crushing!).  After 15 min of hand crushing from claire we reahed the top (well as far as the cable car would go).  We Then went on two30 min walks to 2 viewing points, and we got drenched .  May I just point out that my legs were hurting very badly from the walk yesterday.

We passed urqhart castle on route to the Bed And Breakfast place.

We eventually arived at the pottery house,  the room was amazing and just what we needed after a couple of hard days slumming it in the wigwams.

In the evening we went to the Dores Inn, which served the most amazing food. So good in fact we booked in again for wednesday night.

The view from the beer garden overlooks loch ness

Scotland

Day 2


Mountain Rescue


After a very very comfortable night in frodos house, we were looking forward to a nice walk to Ben Lui NNR.

After walking down a very long path, we were walking for about 3 hours, we stopped for some lunch.  We then decided we would attempt to walk up the mountain next to us.  I have no idea what is was called.  It was pretty steep, although it did level out in parts.  After 45 mins of walking, claire  was shattered (Claire - refused to go any further as it was stupid steep) and said she was not going on.  However, as we were not too far from the top I decided to go on.  I gave it everthing I had for 20 minutes, going as fast as humanly possible.  After, going over many ridges I was still not at the top.  I decided to call it quits about 60m from the top.  I was shattered , plus I did not like leaving claire on her own.

After meeting back up with claire, my legs had turned to jelly.  This was down to the sheer exhaustion i had  just made and not claires good looks :).  As we were heading down the long path we heard a vehicle coming up behind us. It was a 4x4 and I was really hoping they would give us a lift, and too my amazement they did! it was the local mountain rescue guys.  If they had been about 5 minutes earlier they would have had the shock of seeing cliare going for a wee in a bush.

The gave us a lift to about 500m from the campsite, this lift saved us about 3 hours. Thanks guys!  After getting back to the site we went on another little walk.  After a nice shower, we headed to the apache food hut to make the evening meal.

Scotland

Day 1

Travelling

Loch Lomond and Strathfillan

It was a very early start, 530 am to be precise. After getting the car loaded, we were off at about 0615.  After about 3 hours we reached Glasgow, and had few problems with the motorway junctions around there, basically we got lost and ended up in a dodgy zone of Glasgow.

After  the minor detour we went to loch lomand visitor's centre for a look round.  There was some sort of festival on there, with a highland dance competition which was quite nice, although the centre itself is a little tacky.  It does have a few shops (good news for Claire!) and the free car park is enormous, indicating how busy it must get in peak season!

The lake is massive , over 26miles in length, the biggest in the uk.

After another 30 min of driving we ended up at the far end of the lake at another free car park, much quieter, this gave a great view from this very nice beach.

Eventually we made it to the campsite, were we are staying in a wigwam.  It looks more like a hobbits house!

After a quick unpacking we went to the nearby waterfall.

Then went on a alleged two mile walk to the next village.  Lets say, it was more like 5 miles. When we arrived we went straight to paddys bar and grill for a beer and some food.

Thailand

Day 18

Final Day

After finalising the packing I headed into the MBK centre for a full thai massage.  This is basically a head,neck, arms, legs and feet massage, it would last a hour and cost £9.00.  I thought a massage is a relaxing experience, however I think the thai's have a different outlook on this.  Dont get me wrong in parts the massage was very relaxing, however there was a lot of pain involved as well.  She kept saying relax relax, however that is quite difficult when you have a elbow in your back.


1730 quickly came around and we were  picked up by the minbus, holiday over.  It has been a brilliant holiday and I would recommend coming.  The people are very friendly, the food is amazing the place is so so diferent to anywhere in europe, anyone who has visitied Thailand will know what I am talking about.


One final gripe, we flew home with emirates airlines. Normally they are very good, however the plane that we flew from Dubai to Manchester on was terrible.  It had not been modernised since the 80s, the seats were very uncomfortable and entrainment was rubbish. Come on emirates sort it out, that plane should be used for 2 hour trips to spain, not long haul!

Goodbye Thailand

Thailand

Day 17

More relaxing

With the holiday fast coming to a end, I basically chilled out all day by the pool and worked  on the old tan.  Thankfully, the speedo club were not attending today

a view of bangkok road system

In the evening, we all headed out to sumo, a restaurant in the MBK centre for very nice meal.  In the evening we headed back to the room to start packing.

Thailand

Today started the same as yesterday, basically I did nothing but chill round the pool until mid/late afternoon.

In the evening however, we headed back out to cheap charlies and snappers.  This is about 2 miles from the hotel and in normal circumstances you would probably walk it.  However, in Bangkok during the evening it is still about 30c, and crossing a road is a life risking task. Even though the little green man says it is okay to cross, motorists still plough through it. So I thought It would be best if we got a taxi, however it was peak time with the traffic and none of the taxis would do the ride on the meter (a taxi trip on the metre would cost about 1.40, 40p each, they would only do it for 3.00!) Everyone bar me thought this was a rip off, a massive 1.60 extra! so we walked it,and to say I was pissed off was a understatement.  I was hot, sweaty not to mention crossing several roads that were dangerous all for the sake of 40p extra each.  Although claire was equally as mad as me and we made our feelings known when we reached the restaurant.

After another lovely meal at snappers we headed to cheap charlies for a couple of beers. Then we wandered round the area where we found this ace bar.

My I just add, we got a taxi back! I had made it quite clear there was noway on earth I was walking back. It cost a grand total of £2.00!

Thailand

Day 15

After yesterdays activities, I decided i was doing absolutely nothing today.  Basically I went to the gym in the morning and then I lounged around the pool all day. I think there must have been speedos on sale at half price in the MBK, because every guy around the pool was wearing them.  They seriously need to banned because anyone over the age of 10 looks ridiculous in them.

 When wandering around the pool I noticed this plant pot.

Nothing overly exciting I admit, however I noticed there were tropical fish in it.  In the UK you would require a heater, filter, UV light etc etc, however in Thailad it is so hot all year round you obviously dont need any expensive equiment

In the evening myself and claire went to the MBK centre and ate at a lovely thai restaurant called sumo.

Thailand

Day 14


Bangkok Royal Palace and watarun


Today I have something other than claires shopping spree to report! After a short taxi ride we headed to the river catch a river boat (it cost 3p each!) to watarun.  Watarun basically  is a achient temple.  Like everywhere in thailand, thankfully, health and safety is not a priority. The steps leading up and down the temple were extremely steep, like a concrete ladder.  If you trip on these steps it is a one way ticket to hospital.

very steep stairs

After about a hour at te temple, we headed back over the river to the royal palace. After walking all round the outside of the palace in 40c heat we  eventually made it through the front gate.  At this point I was stopped by he fashion police and told my 3/4 lenght pants were too short and I had to go and join a massive queue to put on some comedy baggy trousers.

We looked around the palace for about 2 hours, were the searing heat was taking its toll so we headed back to the puthuwan princess (our hotel).

In the evening we all headed to patpong.  This area of bangkok has several streets that are dedicated to the following, dancing girls, dancing boys and the occasion market.  If you have never been there before then it is a real eye opener.  I must have been offered to watch a ping pong show about 50 times, i am guessing it was not a table tennis competition haha. After 3 or 4 drinks we headed back to the hotel about 130am, very tired and a little drunk. Sorry fletcher no photos!

Thailand

Day 13

More shopping!!!!

Today we headed to pantip plaza, this is basically a 7 floor electronics centre. This place is a gadget lovers dream and it sells everything.  We ended up buying a 64gig usb stick for £12, what a bargain.  I also bought a remote controlled car for £12, it is seriously quick.

After spending a eternity in the electronic mall, we headed to platinum plaza.  This is essentially a clothing mecca, a very cheap one at that. I ended up buying shirts, all at a very cheap price.  Claire managed to buy another 6 bags, why!  After shopping all day we headed back to the hotel, absolutely wrecked.

At some point I am going to visit the main tourist attractions, i.e the palace etc.   I will also head to patpong one night and just for u fletcher I will get some interesting pics!

Thailand

Day 12

Cheap Charlies


Today started quite slowly, we chilled out by the pool until about 3pm. After a slow start we headed to a newly built shopping complex called terminal 21.  This is basically shopping mall based on a airport terminal, all be it a very fancy on.  Each floor is based on a different city i.e london,paris, san francisco ec.

the london section, all of the local thai people were having their photo taken next to this bus

after wandering round there for a hour or so we went down sukhumvit lane (spelling), this is basiclly a very busy street with loads of market stalls, restaurants and dancing bars. Eentually we ended up in cheap charlies, this is basically a little english speaking outdoor bar, It was packed and the atmosphere was good.

After a couple of changs we headed to snappers, basically a new zealand fish and chip bar.  The food was amazing, and we could not eat another thing.  After the meal we decided to walk home, this in my opinion was a bad idea and took the best part of a hour. even though it was 11pm, the temperature is still about 28c.  I will insist on a cab next time.