Escapade: Part V

Città vuota

No, it should be Lonely Town, not a song of a small town girl in a lonely world

Saturday, 4 May 2013

I finished my packing this morning and went for breakfast. The Canadian elderly couple who slept in the room next to mine told me they were going to Paestum, an archaeological site south of Salerno. I had checked the train times the night before and the train times were not frequent at all. They are like these:

Salerno-Paestum 0804-0839, 0830-0911, 0921-0959, 1339-1420...; and

Paestum-Salerno 1116-1150, 1406-1439, 1441-1517, 1522-1549, 1541-1618, 1801-1846.

So if you take the 0921 train, do you take the 1116 train back or the 1406 train? Whatever are you going to do there for 2+ hours? I decided to play it by ear.

As I only decided while having breakfast that I would go to Paestum that morning itself instead of in the afternoon, I hurriedly finished my breakfast and took my bags out into the hall. Then I rushed off to the train station, walking as fast as my vertically-challenged legs could take me. I arrived at the station with 5 minutes to spare but a glance at the screen told me the train was delayed by 5 minutes so I had 10 minutes to make the train after all. Phew. Although of course it also meant that my time in Paestum had been reduced by 5 minutes, should I decide to take the 1116 train back to Salerno. The train ticket cost €3.30 one way.

When you get down at Paestum, exit the station and walk towards the arch and walk on for about 700 metres. The site will be in front of you and you need to turn right and buy your ticket at the museum.

I made up my mind that I wouldn’t rush through the site and just enjoy it. I decided I would take the bus back to Salerno. No way was I going to wait for the next train out at 1406. See, Paestum is not as large as say, Pompeii, and you should be able to cover it in 90 minutes or so.

In the flower-filled meadows of Paestum are three perfectly preserved temples: the Temples of Athena, Hera and Neptune. Paestum began as Poseidonia, the city of Neptune or Poseidon, a colony found by the Greeks in the sixth century B.C. and taken by the Romans in the third century B.C.

If you’re going to take the bus back to Salerno, walk out of the site and walk towards the museum. Walk past the museum and on for another 400 metres (? I’m not good at measuring distance like this) until you come to an intersection. About 5 metres from the intersection is the bus stop back to Salerno. I asked around just to be safe and when I was sure that I had the right bus stop, sat down to wait. The girl at the bar opposite the bus stop told me the bus comes on an hourly basis. Fortunately for me, I waited only 10 minutes before the bus arrived. The fare back was €2.80.

It took 45 minutes to reach Salerno although when we entered the city, we hit the Saturday lunchtime traffic so the bus was inching its way slowly. It took another 15 minutes before we reached the train station. I walked back to my B&B, stopping for a slice of pizza (lunch). I also bought a huge vegetable pastry for dinner and breakfast the following morning.

Italians here observed the same siesta hours as the Spaniards so I returned to the B&B to rest myself too.

The Canadian couple came back just before 3 and we sat in the living room and chatted with each other. It was fun to be able to talk to someone else in English. In Galway, the hostel I stayed at had a lot of Spanish and French backpackers but they were all travelling in their own groups and they stuck to each other tight, hardly making the effort to talk to other travellers. So to be able to converse with them was such a pleasure.

I left at 7:30 pm and bade them goodbye. I had a night train to catch. I had bought the ticket online for a berth a few weeks back. And guess what, first the electronic board showed the train would depart from one platform but when I came out of the washroom, it showed a different platform instead! So I had to drag my bag down the stairs and up the stairs to the other platform. FFS. Then when the train came, I had to go down and up again because I went to wrong coach (the conductor said it was easier for me to get down and walk on the platform to my coach than to walk between the coaches). I was so exhausted from all that climbing up and down that I almost fell off the train after hauling my bag up. Luckily, a girl managed to grab my hands and pulled me to safety. Then there was some problem with the door: you need superhuman strength to twist the knob to lock it and then summon your strength again if you want to open it. Despite feeling tired and sleepy, I couldn’t sleep well. Of course. Nothing new there.

Sunday, 5 May 2013

We pulled into Milano Centrale (the Italians pronounce it Chin-tra-lay. They pronounce Barcelona as Bar-chee-lona) ahead of schedule. I had earlier utilised the tap in the train to brush my teeth and wash my face and a good thing too. I bought return tickets to Mendrisio and then went to store my bag at the left luggage. Today was shopping day! The return ticket to Mendrisio cost €15.

The lady at the ticket office sold me the 0810 train ticket. The trip would only take slightly more than an hour, meaning I would reach Mendrisio by 0915 while Foxtown would only open at 11. Oh well, at least it was a direct train and I wouldn’t need to change trains at Chiasso.

The ticket office at Mendrisio was closed on Sunday so I couldn’t wait in the waiting room. I didn’t feel like exploring the town centre so I spent the time reading my novel. I stopped reading at 1050 and walked to Foxtown. I hadn't been there in years and was excited to visit it again after all this time.

There were some free WiFi spots in the centre so I spent some time checking my tweets in between shops. I tried on some clothes but most didn’t fit me well. I managed to get some bargains though. Alhamdulillah.

I decided to return back to Milan earlier and checked the train schedules online. Took the 1648 train back to Milan, reached Milano Centrale at 1750 and rushed off to get my bag from the left luggage to make the 1805 bus to Bergamo Airport. It wasn’t as if I loved to spend time in airports but I could visit Orio Centre near the airport, get some dinner and rest there. There were some Juventus fans on the road honking their cars and flying their club flag on the streets.

Alas, it turned out that it rained earlier in Milan and was threatening to rain again. I dozed off in the bus and was not happy when I woke to find that it was raining in Bergamo. It was heavy enough to make one wet and I didn’t want to lug my bag in the rain getting unnecessarily wet. So in the end, I spent a longer time at the airport than I would have liked. And of course I couldn’t sleep a wink that night. Airports are the worst with their bright lights and noises.

To be continued

Escapade: Part IV

We Built This City

Thursday, 2 May 2013

Woke up for morning prayers. Sensed something was unusual so I poked my head out and guess what, it was raining! I had never associated Napoli with rain before so was surprised to discover it actually did rain in the city. Of course it does but Italy always seems sunny to me.

The rain had stopped by the time I got up again. I left after breakfast and left my luggage in the hall. Walked to the nearby Circumvesuviana station at Piazza Nolana and waited for the next train out to Sorrento. The train schedule was still affected by the strike of the previous day because we had to wait a bit before the next train departure flashed across the screens.

It was about a 38-minute ride before we reached Pompeii Scavi Villa Misteri station. This is where you get down for the Pompeii ruins. There were a few restaurants and stalls selling mainly lemons and limoncella (lemon liqueur) along the way to the main entrance. And there were already a lot of people there!

I spent close to three hours at Pompeii. Evidently it was a bigger town compared to Ercolano (Ercolano was more of a small town) with a few temples, bathhouses, villas and houses within its walls. It was getting hot very quickly out there so a word of advice if you’re heading there: bring a brolly or wear a hat, bring water, wear sunblock and wear comfortable flat footwear.

I returned back to Napoli (had to wait longer than scheduled for the train) and went to have lunch at a restaurant recommended by Francesca. As Napoli is the birthplace of pizza, I decided to have pizza. It was huge and I didn’t manage to finish it because it was too big a portion for me and because I didn’t like it. It was too salty for me.

I went back to the B&B and waited until 4 pm to get my bag (the person manning it would only be back then). After collecting my bag, I walked to the train station for the next train out to Salerno. If you bought the 3-day Campania Artecard, it includes the local public transportation in the region so I didn’t have to buy a separate train ticket. After the Circumvesuviana train, the train to Salerno was so much cleaner and faster too.

It took me 30 minutes to walk to my B&B from the station. The main route was one cobbled street linking to another and I cringed at the damage I imagined it caused to the wheels of my trolley bag. Then I had to ask for directions to the B&B as it was situated around a small alley. And guess what: this time, the B&B was on the third floor. In a building with no lift too. Oh joy...

After checking in and paying for the two nights I would be staying there, I went to my room to rest. I ventured out again after 6 pm and walked around the vicinity before returning just after nightfall. Again, I was so happy I chose to stay there as the B&B was so charmingly decorated. There are only four rooms, all en-suite. The girl who runs it is a great baker because she left cakes she made herself at the dining table. And just like the Napoli B&B, you are free to help yourself to anything from the food table, fridge and dining table.

Now, you may ask, why did I stay in Salerno? Good question. I had searched for lodgings in Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi and the lodgings there are not cheap. Not cheap at all for a single traveller. Positano is a vertical town; this means you have to climb up and down hills with your bag. No way. Amalfi is hilly too with cobbled streets. Bad for my trolley bag. Sorrento is a big city in comparison to these two but the prices put me off. Finally I stumbled on this and I was sold to stay in Salerno. And Alhamdulillah, I managed to find a very reasonable B&B too. Not just reasonably priced but also centrally located and tastefully and charmingly decorated too.

Friday, 2 May 2013

I woke up for prayers then again after 7. Left after breakfast and made my way to Piazza XXIV Maggio where the girl said the bus to Amalfi leaves from. I had printed the bus schedules earlier on and was hoping to get the 10 am bus out. Good thing I decided to check with a lady at a nearby news kiosk who told me that the bus didn’t come that way anymore. She told me to wait for the bus near the post office down the street. I hurried off as it was close to 10 am. Found the big post office and asked at another news kiosk. The guy said he didn’t speak English but understood me enough to point me to the stop. Phew!

Costiera Amalfitana or the Amalfi Coast is Italy’s most beautiful stretch of coastline and is deservedly a UNESCO World Heritage Site for natural scenery. We drove right along the narrow coast zig-zagging along and around winding hills and towering cliffs and through idyllic villages tumbling to the sea. Pastel-painted houses and steeply terraced fields of olives and lemons on one side and the sea on the other. Sit on the left side of the bus for the magnificent view if you’re heading to Amalfi from Salerno. And riding the bus has its advantages: you don’t have to worry about navigating your car, you can just enjoy the view and your viewpoint is above the traffic. We passed a few towns before reaching Amalfi 75 minutes later: Vietri Sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori and Atrani, just to name a few. The next bus out was at 11:30 and the one after that was at 12:15. I decided to take the 12:15 bus out as I wanted to explore the town centre first.

Well, Amalfi is a charming lovely town (in its day, it was one of Italy’s four maritime republics - with Venice, Pisa and Genoa) and so is Positano, the next town I stopped at, 40 minutes away from Amalfi. We got down at the stop announced by the driver (I remember feeling surprised and wondering why he had dropped us there. Then only I realised that the town is vertical and you need to walk up and down) and from there, you get the most gorgeous picturesque view of the town beyond. To get to the town centre, you need to walk down the hill. I remember thinking ‘This will be hell climbing back up’ and yet I still walked down and down. It is a vertical town alright. The shops sell about the same things as a lot of shops along the Amalfi Coast sell: limoncello and lemon-based beauty products, and ceramic, the two important products of that part of southern Italy. Oh, and also the local chillies. I would never have associated chillies with Italy.

I didn’t linger long in Positano as I planned to continue on to Sorrento. I remember back in school, we were taught the song Come Back to Sorrento and man, I was not going to leave until I had visited Sorrento. It took an hour to reach Sorrento from Positano.

As mentioned before, Sorrento is a much bigger town than either Amalfi or Positano and I had fun walking along its streets. It was hot afternoon though and I joined other tourists traipsing in the alleys full of shops selling ceramics and other local souvenirs. I left at 4 pm and rode the bus all the way to Amalfi. There, I had to wait for the 6 pm bus back to Salerno. My, it was a full bus back to Salerno (and no wonder as it operated on an hourly basis), so full that some passengers had to stand. I sat on the right-hand side of the bus so that I could enjoy the view of the sea. It was a scary feeling at times though as I felt the driver drove too close to the boundary and I could see the deep plunge into the sea. Even the lady in front was shrieking at almost every sharp turn so it wasn’t just me.

We reached Salerno at 7:15 pm and I rushed back to perform prayers before venturing out again to find dinner. I also managed to buy some ceramic bowls at much lower cost than at Amalfi, Positano or Sorrento.

To be continued

Escapade: Part III

Under the Blue Skies of Naples

Wednesday, May Day 2013

Well, of course I could hardly sleep. Finally managed to doze off and woke up suddenly. Checked my watch and saw that I should have dropped off my bag at the counter half an hour earlier. Rushed to refresh myself and went to drop off my bag. Again, I got lucky as our destination was called to a special line. I would only realise later that had I not woken up suddenly this morning, I might have missed my plane altogether. Thank you, God, for waking me up when You did.

Performed morning prayers at the multi-faith chapel before going through security check. Before long, it had become bright.

I slept all the way and only got up about 20 minutes before landing. Collected bag and went to the bus stop for the bus into Napoli. The bus fare cost €3. It took maybe 15 minutes before we got down at Piazza Garibaldi. There was a huge construction work going on at the piazza. I asked a roadside stall for directions. Turned out my B&B was very near the piazza and the central train station, just about 5 minutes away. I still managed to get a taste of the crazy traffic there though, and in that short walk too, I noticed there were a lot of South Asians and Africans in Napoli.

I couldn’t locate the building so went to ask at Bar Roma. An elderly woman heard me and indicated she worked at the B&B. She then gestured me to follow her. The B&B was on the second floor and although there was a lift, she told me to follow her up the stairs. I grumbled and mumbled and huffed and puffed and struggled with my bag up. She then called Francesca, the girl who runs the place, and gave me the phone to speak to Francesca. Francesca asked me to wait for her and I agreed as I could freshen up while waiting for her.

She came along with her boyfriend and a big black friendly dog. The dog wanted a hug or a pet from me. I was shrieking every time it came near. Sorry, I was sure it was a friendly canine but I didn’t want to cleanse myself unnecessarily.

After settling my bill, Francesca showed me how to use the various keys and explained the basic rules of the B&B. I left just after the clock struck noon and walked to the central train station where I bought Campania Artecard for three days within the region (it covered the public transportation too). I then went to the Circumvesuviana platform for the train. My grand plan was to visit Herculaneum (Ercolano) and Pompeii that day. I had the train timetables all printed out with me.

Now, just like in Rome, there are many lodgings around the central train station and the main square. But be careful as not everything is as what the pictures make out. Alhamdulillah, this time around, despite having to huff and puff up the stairs, the Napoli B&B I booked and stayed at was not only clean and comfortable but also charming and nicely decorated like any normal apartment unit. I was very lucky I managed to book a room there - despite changing my arrival date at least three times. The rooms are all en-suite and there’s a long table complete with jars of cookies, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and sugar for our consumption. There’s a small fridge too from which we can help ourselves to juice and milk. The only thing missing was a kettle but there was a water dispenser with hot and cold options so it was no big deal.

It turned out that there was no train to Sorrento that day because of the train strike, it being May Day and all. Finally a train came bound for some destination two stations after Ercolano Scavi. So I got on and went to Herculaneum. Well, I thought, achieve one objective at least.

If you want to visit Herculaneum, get down at Ercolano Scavi (Ercolano means Herculaneum and Scavi means ruins) and walk down the hill all the way to the site. It’s a good 13-minute walk or so. If you had bought the Campania Artecard, you’d need to show it, get it scanned for an entrance ticket. I didn’t know this and after trying to explain it me in Italian, the guard finally allowed me to enter.

I had a great time at Ercolano, walking up and down, in and out, and round and round the complex. I poked my head here and there and kept humming Città vuota to myself, never mind that I don’t know the lyrics (and I would be humming that song throughout the rest of my stay in Campania) The ruined town had a population of some 8,000 residents or about a third of Pompeii’s. I spent close to two hours there before returning to the station. There still wasn’t any train to Sorrento so I decided to return to the city. As luck would have it, I just missed the train and had to wait another 30 minutes for the next train. Strewth!

Back at Napoli, I decided to check out the old city so I walked all the way there. I followed Francesca’s recommended route I sighted a tourist information office and went to ask the opening hours of the Museo Archeologico Nazionale. She told me that there was no admission charge on Wednesday and said I could still make it (the admission charge is €8) as it closed at 7 pm. It was almost 6 pm then. I thought quickly and decided to go. Well, I was already almost there so why not. And even though I could come again the next day, I still needed to do Pompeii and God knew how long it would take me at Pompeii. And what if there were still some problem with the train the next day? I quickly decided that I might as well visit the museum then so I hurried up the hill and walked as quickly as I could.

I reached the museum at 6:10 pm and hurried through the exhibition. There were busts and statues and sculptures, Graeco-Roman antiquities, mosaics and pottery excavated in Herculaneum and Pompeii. There was also a room with paintings of couples copulating in various positions. Yucks. I was thoroughly disgusted. Indeed, Muslims believe that the inhabitants of Pompeii and Herculaneum practised unusual sexual acts and inclinations (same-sex preference) and that the eruption of Vesuvius was God’s way of punishing them. It’s all in the Holy Quran.

I stayed well after 7 (there were still people inside when I left so I think it actually closed at 7:30 pm) before walking back to the B&B.

Went out to search for dinner but wasn’t successful. Also, it’s not advisable to venture out alone in the dark in this city. So I returned back to the B&B and had a simple dinner. Watched Bayern Munich destroy Barcelona. At Nou Camp. Oh, Pique helped too. Moc moc!!!

To be continued

Escapade: Part II

A Whole New World

Monday, 29 April 2013

Same routine as the morning before but this morning, I tried out a new route to the coach station. Today, I would join the tour to the Burren and the Cliffs of Moher. There were a few of us who joined the trip and the driver then explained he would pick up more passengers who came from Dublin for the day.

We were given the option of going to a farm and experience the Burren landscape or go to Aillwee Cave. At the last minute I decided to join the farm tour - well, I had gone into caves before in Niah and the Thiên Cung and Dao Go caves near Halong Bay. It started drizzling as we arrived but the guide who runs the farm has a barn stocked with walking gear and boots so most of us got ‘suited up’. Of course the gear was too big for me but better that than getting my clothes wet and muddy. Besides, I would not be able to endure the walk in my clothes.

We walked out and up the hill beyond the farm. From the hill, you could see the surrounding farms, even Galway Bay, and you could even make out the outlines of the Aran Islands. It was again alternating between sun and drizzle.

We spent about 30 minutes climbing up and down the hill and then walked back to the main house. The driver came back with the group who went to the cave and then we drove off to the Cliffs ofMoher.

We were lucky the sun was out when we were at the Cliffs. But my, what strong gale! The Atlantic gale was so strong, even grown men were having problems fighting it. I was about to be blown off myself and was saved by a couple who just about managed to grab me. I sought shelter at O’Brien’s Tower, the highest point of the Cliffs, for about ten minutes waiting for the gale to die down before gingerly making my way along. The Cliffs run 5 miles long and are about 650 metres above the Atlantic. We spent close to two hours here. I thought that was long enough but as it turned out, I just about made it back to the bus (it did take some time battling and fighting your way against the gale). A few others were very late.

We then stopped at Doolin Village for our well-deserved late lunch before driving back to Galway, stopping en route at Dunguaire Castle for some Kodak moments. We reached Galway at 5:30 pm.

I went out for a walk before returning to the hostel, freezing myself in the process.

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

I woke up early and packed. Had breakfast then continued packing. I then went out briefly and bought a water bottle and some chocolates at a discount store. Left my bags in the lounge before venturing out to the city centre.

I joined the Galway walking tour. Now, one word of advice: even though the tour is free, you are expected to pay tips to the guide. I didn’t have small change and had to give him €10. There were only two of us too - had there been more people, I would have given €5. Look, I come from a country and culture where we don’t tip people because we are already paying service tax. And I don’t earn Euros.

I went back to the hostel and had a simple lunch. Asked the girl who manned the place if I could perform prayers in one of the empty dorms and she said yes without question. Thank you for understanding ;’)

I decided to take the 1705 bus back to Shannon Airport instead of the 1805 so I left the hostel at 1630. Well, there were a lot of people who wanted to take the 1705 bus too so the bus was quite full when it finally left Galway. And one word about Shannon and Cork airports: they provide free WiFi. Stansted doesn’t even provide the same.

Goodbye Galway. I don’t know if I will be able to revisit you...

Reached Shannon Airport at 1850, had my light dinner and dropped off my bag the minute the counter opened.

The flight took off on time and we landed at Stansted at 11 pm. I had an early morning flight the next day so had to spend the night at the airport.

To be continued

Escapade: Part I

Leaving On A Jet Plane

I had planned on going to the Arsenal-ManUre match after learning the skunk had sold his soul to the devils and bought the ticket to London in early September 2012 as soon as the Premier League schedule for 2012-13 season was released. The rest of the trip was finalised along the way - and I had to strike off some destinations as I wasn’t sure of the public transportation available at those destinations.

Friday, 26 April 2013

I took half-day off work today and rushed home after a brief stop at Isetan. Well, there was a members’ sale and I wanted to get a few things. I was so exhausted from everything and wanted to leave after 5 pm; the downpour which started at 4 also meant I couldn’t leave earlier even if I wanted to.

Abah offered to drive me to Ampang Park and from there, I took the LRT to KL Sentral. Dropped my water bottle in the car in my haste. Ditsy me.

The flight took off slightly later than scheduled: I saw some people still wandering around looking for their seats when we were supposed to have taken off. As for me, unfortunately I was seated next to two Middle Eastern men. The oaf next to me hogged the armrest throughout but of course. Stupid inconsiderate selfish idiot.

At mealtime, I asked for water and apple juice while the guy by the window asked for 7-Up. When the cabin crew gave me my drinks, the guy reached over and took my water, thinking it was his 7-Up. I was so shocked that I gaped at him then asked the cabin crew loudly for another cup of water ‘because he took my water’ while pointing at him. What an idiot. Sure, both water and 7-Up are colourless but soda fizzes. You fool. I hope you enjoyed your water. I only wished I had taken a sip before you took it away. Then the cabin crew handed him his precious 7-Up. Like I said, dumb fool.

Saturday, 27 April 2013

We landed in Abu Dhabi and it was a sleepy transit before I embarked on the next flight to London Heathrow. Landed in Heathrow on time and was out fairly quickly. Took the tube to Green Park for the simple reason that it has lifts and from there, I walked to Old Bond Street and New Bond Street before emerging into Oxford Street. The sun couldn’t decide if it wanted to be out or stay behind the clouds and the rather windy morning made it seem much colder.

I browsed some stores and was tempted by some of the clearance offers but didn’t buy anything as I was going to fly the cattle airline a few times. No can do. I then made my way to the easyBus stop and waited for my bus to London Stansted.

We reached Stansted an hour later and I went to perform prayers at the multi-faith chapel. Funny I didn’t realise the existence of the chapel before. Joined the queue for check-in and there were such long lines (Stansted is a major hub for RyanAir). Luckily, we got to join a different queue as the time was drawing closer for our flight. Then there was another queue to join at the security check.

I slept prior to take-off and got up about 20 minutes before landing. Chatted to the elderly chap next to me. He told me he runs a pub in north London (apparently close to the Emirates!) but when I asked, he said he didn’t support Arsenal because he didn’t watch football. Oh well. So long as he didn’t support the scums.

Took the Eireann Bus no. 51 to Galway. Return ticket cost €22 (I later checked and found that a single ticket cost €17!). We reached Galway about 105 minutes later. I walked down to my hostel and checked in.

Went out to check out the area and bought some water at a nearby convenience store. Had a simple dinner before retiring for the evening. I was woken up a few times by the loud drunken voices of my fellow hostel guests.

OK, I did say I wanted to catch the Arsenal-ManUre match, right? Well, I would have tried my best except that the match was subsequently rescheduled to start on Sunday instead. At 4 pm. I wasn’t keen to remain in London for an extra night (I wouldn’t have minded one night in London had the match proceeded as scheduled on Saturday) so I decided OK, I would have to miss the match. And probably a good decision too because ManUre were the champions (how it pains me to type that) and Arsenal were having the guard of honour for them. Ugh.

Sunday, 28 April 2013

I woke up for prayers and again at 7. Showered then went to have breakfast. After breakfast, I went for a walk around the city centre before getting directions to the coach station (not the same as the bus station). I had booked to join a tour with Lally Tours to Connemara today.

There were some 34 of us and we all piled into the smaller bus (the company’s other bus which was bigger was bound for the Burren tour). We drove through the range of mountains and lakes, passing the Quiet Man Bridge (featured in the John Ford film ‘The Quiet Man’ starting John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara), the Maam Valley, Killary Fjord before stopping at Kylemore Abbey. We stopped at Kylemore Abbey and Victorian walled garden for two hours. It is a beautiful 19th century house now run by Benedectine nuns. The vegetables used in the complex’s restaurant are purportedly from the Victorian garden itself. The weather seemed to change every minute: sun, fleeting clouds and rain alternating quickly.

We reached Galway at 5:15 pm and tried as I did with the numerous pubs that the city has, I couldn’t find any which was screening the match. Had to go back to the hostel and find out the results online. Aud and Zack helped to text me the results. We drew 1-1 with ManUre.

To be continued

The Curtain Falls

Arsenal went into the final match of the season needing a win as the fourth spot was still up for grabs.

Well, we didn’t play particularly well in the first-half and even after Kos (Lolo???) scored, there was still tension in the stadium. We looked haggard and tired and for some spells, were chasing after the ball. Monkey boy scored for the scums but it was too late for them at that point. And so the curtain falls on yet another trophy-less roller-coaster season but hey, I’m positive we will improve next season.

So much for the negative spiral then, eh AVB?

Opps, he did it again... just like he did in the last match of last season - score the winning goal for us ;')

Team salutes the travelling fans

Wait: what happened to Lolo and BFG?

No Lolo and BFG here either

Nor here

Not here either

Lolo’s here but BFG is still nowhere to be seen

An over-excited Ollie and Lolo

Rain On Wigan’s Parade

I was supposed to be at this home match but the match was rescheduled when Wigan made it to the FA Cup Final. So instead I was watching the first-half from home because I couldn’t sleep due to jet lag.

The match was refereed by Mike Dean, the bugger who refereed 16 past matches for us but only one win and he looked determined to add to that biased tally when he ignored fouls made on the Gunners. He awarded a free-kick which Maloney converted and drew Wigan level with us just before half-time. Poldi had earlier given us the lead.

We didn’t start the second-half well but soon got back into it. Theo bundled our second goal, Poldi scored his second to put the match and Premier League survival beyond Wigan’s reach and Ramsey finally scored Arsenal’s fourth.

We must win at Newcastle and hope for the Toffees to give Moyes a win for his last match in charge of them so that we can finish third and avoid Champions League play-off. It’s all in our and Everton’s hands now... Don’t we all now wish we had scored more against QPR and won over ManUre?