Escapade: West Ireland (Counties Galway and Clare)

Sharing some pictures of my recent trip.

Connemara

Cliffs of Moher

 Dunguaire Castle

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

How I Spent My Pre-Summer Vacation: First Leg

This trip was conceived when Aud mentioned her plan for London 2012. I didn’t think much of it then but the idea grew as I considered being in London during the Olympic. However, I ditched this idea when I realised that the Olympic would fall in the month of Ramadan. I don’t really mind travelling during Ramadan, having travelled before to Jakarta during two previous Ramadans but I do mind the long summer fasting hours. It’s a struggle enough to fast for 13 hours in KL, what more for 16-17 hours in summer! So Olympic idea was shelved (I did consider going to the World Cup 2014 or Olympic in 2016 but both would be held in Rio de Janeiro. Wow, having to fly half-way around the world for that! Then a Gooner suggested Sochi 2014. Hmm, must admit that idea did interest me). Anyway, what about Euro 2012? Well, I considered it too but it would be held in Poland and Ukraine. I have been to Poland (been pick-pocketed in Warsaw too) so wasn’t too keen in heading there and while I haven’t been to Ukraine, the idea of getting a visa was off-putting. So no Euro 2012 either.

Then I considered, having discussed with Aud that perhaps we could go watch and Arsenal match instead. That would seem more realistic. Next, I considered maximising my stay in London and looked to see if I could attend up to three matches (home and away). Having made up my mind, I purchased my air ticket to London in August 2011 for arrival on the last Saturday in April and departure after the last match of the season.

Of course, I had no intention of staying in London throughout so I made plans of other potential places to visit from London or Europe. However, logistical problems and time constraint meant some places also had to be put on hold.

So 27 April came and I was good to go.

Friday, 27 April 2012

KUL-AUD-LHR
There’s Only The One Killarney
Reached KLIA at 6 pm and joined the queue. Good thing I had checked in online the night before as I could just proceed to another desk to drop off my bag. The flight departure was revised to 2035 from 2000. No matter for it meant less transit time in Abu Dhabi (I was flying Etihad again).

Saturday, 28 April 2012

STN-SNN
We landed at Heathrow at a quarter to 7 am. It was a bleak grey morning. I quickly made my way to immigration and joined the queue. This time, it took me 20 minutes to clear immigration, compared to an hour when I was last there in February. Yes, I noted the time. I was at the counter for a while though, chatting with the immigration lady. I told her I was in London briefly in February en route to Iceland; she was interested to know what was in Iceland. I told her I planned to watch a football match. She seemed surprised that Arsenal have supporters in some far flung country in the Far East and I told her that Arsenal actually came to Malaysia last year and would come again this summer. She was suitably impressed with the fact. And mind you, she’s a ManUre supporter. Well, at least she seemed pleasant enough.

After freshening up, I went to search for the National Express coach ticket office to collect my ticket for another planned trip. Then I made my way to the Underground and took the tube to Green Park.

It was pissing steady non-stop rain and it was an uncomfortable and unseasonably chilly end-April morning. I walked to Bond Street and then to Oxford Street (didn’t visit Oxford Street back in February). Then I made my way to Marylebone Road for my coach to Stansted Airport. The rain continued relentlessly.

The coach was 10 minutes early but we still left on time. It took us through North London - Camden, Finsbury Park, Seven Sisters and then... the dark side of North London - yes, you guessed it: the scum side of North London. You could see and sense it from the change in stores lining the road, the change in demography and population to the scaffolded flats. From the classy side to the dilapidated side.

We reached Stansted 70 minutes later and I went to drop off my bag.

I slept throughout the flight and only got up just before we landed at Shannon Airport. It was a sunshiny, bright day and boy, was I relieved that I didn’t stick around in London for much longer.

I took bus Eireann from the airport to Limerick City. The fare for the 25-minute bus ride was €7.20. I thought it was expensive. I thought Ireland was expensive when I visited Dublin during my uni days and it still is (even after the financial crisis). Indeed, there were a few times when I had to literally stop my jaw dropping at the prices quoted to me.

I walked in the city centre and even crossed over to King John’s Castle. Then I retraced my steps back to the bus station. Had a light meal at the cafe of the adjoining train station.

Our bus for Killarney came on time. The fare was a jaw-dropping €19. Again, I dozed off on the bus and only woke when we arrived in Killarney. I walked from the bus station to my hostel in New Street. The merry people of Killarney were on the streets, already drunk or half-way there. Well, it was 2230 in the evening. Luckily I found my hostel without much problem. I checked in, paid the balance of my room bill and went to my room. I then went back to the hostel lobby to check my mails etc.

Sunday, 29 April 2012
This morning, I woke up to hear people talking in the early hours. Well, at least they were talking and not quarrelling or kicking my door (I had that in Bonn). I woke again after 7 and went to have breakfast an hour later. I decided to join the Ring of Kerry tour (cost me €17.50) and as the pick-up was at 10, decided to walk around the town centre first. It was a bright, sunny albeit cold morning.

The pick-up came at 1010 and after changing buses, we left Killarney at 1030. The driver-guide was great. He talked almost non-stop, pointing out places of interest and explaining the background or story behind. He even sang a few songs.

We drove through the beautiful Kerry countryside, passing villages and towns, rolling countryside, grazing cattle and occasionally stopping for Kodak moments. We passed rivers and streams, narrow bridges, bog land and saw the Atlantic Ocean. It was all so beautiful and we were indeed lucky that the weather was so great. The wind was very so strong at places though that I felt blown around. We stopped at a diner facing the mighty Atlantic Ocean for lunch (I thought lunch was over-priced) before continuing on. We finally completed our circle and drove through Killarney National Park before we were dropped at various locations.

The gale was so strong today that strangely enough, we looked like we were doing the Riverdance when we tried to fight it

I bought some bananas and veggie burgers from Tesco and had them for dinner. Then I went for an evening walk around the city centre before entering the Park for a brief while.

Monday, 30 April 2012

ORK-STN
The fine weather had deteriorated sometime last night and I woke to a cold morning. Had breakfast at 8 and left just after 10. I walked to the bus station and stopped at the Killarney Outlet Centre. There was just enough time for me to drop by Nike and I’m glad I did for I managed to buy an Arsenal jersey for only €6 (€30 originally). OK, it was a kid’s jersey but I could fit into it.

I paid €18 for the ticket to Cork. I didn’t have long to wait as the bus was due to depart at 1030.

We passed the beautiful County Kerry countryside before crossing over into County Cork. We reached Cork bus station (Parnell Place) 100 minutes later. I sat down and pondered my next course of action. I had planned to go to Blarney Castle so when I saw the next bus was at 1230, I decided to head there first.

The return ticket was €6.20. We reached Blarney Village half an hour later. I walked to Blarney Castle and bought the entrance ticket (a whooping €12) and left my bag in a store room across the ticket office. Then I went to explore the castle. I even went up to the tower and kissed the Blarney Stone, the legendary Stone of Eloquence. Let’s see if I have the gift of gab now. Hah!

I left at 2.25 pm and walked to the bus stop to get a bus back to Cork. The weather had not improved, if anything it seemed to have deteriorated further - and yes, it was possible for the weather to get worse. I walked around the city before returning to the bus station. It was getting way too cold for comfort and the rain and the strong winds were getting to me.

I decided to leave early for the airport and a good decision it was too as there was free WiFi there. Was feeling very sleepy as I boarded the plane and slept throughout the flight.

We landed at Stansted after 11 pm. I didn’t realise that we had to take a shuttle to the main terminal. Stansted is a major hub for RyanAir and that meant there were a lot of other passengers there with the same idea I had: overnighting at the airport. I spent a long time trying to find a seat. I hardly slept as it was noisy with other shuffling passengers, cleaners with their machines and airport staff going around.

To be continued