England - Lichfield, Walsall

An old gruesome story told at Lichfield Market place.













While Mages went to work we drove to Lichfield to sightsee the city. It's an old quaint city, very pretty and clean.







At Lichfield Market place with stories of English philosophers.
















Jin at the entrance of Samuel Johnson museum, Lichfield.






















Lichfield information at the rear of Lichfield Cathedral.












Jin wanted to see the old Cathedral but we didn't know where to park nearest to the Cathedral. After several stops we decided to park for short stay and bought a ticket from a machine. We put the ticket at the dashboard. A kind gentleman showed us the short cut way to the Cathedral.



















At colourful Beacon Park, Lichfield.









We walked around in Lichfield and accidently found Beacon Park which Mages recommended us to go. It was indeed a beautiful park with colourful flowers in full bloom. The sun was out making the park a bright, merry ground where people sat and chat or read.













Many of them, I noticed were senior people who enjoyed it the most. They sat down on benches to read, walk around or just chat with one another.










In the Garden of Remembrance in Beacon Park, opened in 1920.







Like many other lakes that we visited, there were variety of ducks, geese and swans swimming freely in the lakes and nobody steals them. But why can't we, in Malaysia, have ducks, geese and swans in our lakes and let them multiply. I remember when I first visited the lake at Proton City, Tg. Malim, there a number of white ducks swimming happily some with little ducklings but a year later pityfully, I saw only two or three of them were swimming there. What has happened? Maybe somebody has had a duck feast in their homes or somewhere?
Anyway by the time were ready to go back, we found a summon ticket on the windscreen of our car for not displaying the parking ticket. Alamak, mana tiket tu pergi? We were sure we put it there it was nowhere to be seen. So we theorized that it flew out of the car without us realizing it when we slammed the car door shut. It was a windy day. So we had to pay 25 pounds fine. What a waste!!

In the evening, Mages took us to the Arboretum Hatherton Park to enjoy a good walk.


Arboretum Hatherton Lake in Walsall is small but very attractive. The public is allowed to fish at specific points with license. Autumn is playing its role by changing colours of trees around the lake which makes it incredibly beautiful, a favourite season for me.














A place to fish and relax.







People came prepared with bread to feed the hundreds of ducks, swans and geese there who came flocking to get the food. It was a sight that was so delightful.









Staying for a week with Mages gave us opportunity to see many more places nearby like taking a bus to Birmingham. Mages had a full activities for us especially visiting her many friends which later she held a dinner party for her close friends to meet us. Being a good cook, she cooked the dinner all by herself.There was Izzie, her French teacher, Maggie, the psychologist from South Africa, Lenny and Wife Anne who live in a traditional British cottage which we visited earlier. They were a jovial lot.
On 4 October, we left Walsall and bade farewell to Mages with a hope we would meet again when she comes back to Malaysia.






Stratford-Upon-Avon.
This is Shakespeare's old house which becomes a well-known tourist attraction.












The square where Shakespeare's house, museum etc are situated with lots of souvenir shops and restaurants in Stratford-Upon-Avon.












Driving down to Essex, we stopped on the way at Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare's birth place. I have been there some years back and didn't mind going there again.










Attractive scenery of the river on the way to Shakespeare's house.










I met a grade 2 school children on their school trip. When they saw me taking photos of them, they chorused together "tourist!!". They were quite obedient considering their age and seriously followed their teachers' instruction. I had a short conversation with one of the accompanying teachers. This trip was their class assignment and the kids were having an great time.



We left for Grays, Essex soon after. Eng was waiting anxiously for us. She was concerned about the accident we had at Snowdonia as the insurance company wanted to talk to Jin personally. That guy reported the incident and made a claim to the insurance company. Obviously he was looking for easy money. In Malaysia, we would just say, ' Forget it, not worth claiming, too small.' and that's all there is to it.

North Wales - Conwy and Betsw-y-coed

Saturday 1 oct 2011, with Mages, Jin and Harpal, we went to Conwy to see Conwy Castle and the surrounding area. The four of us are really a mixture of races representing Malaysia though Harpal is really a British citizen - Malay, Chinese, India and Punjabi. Mages drove this time as she
is familiar with the road.




Both Mages and Harpal had prepared picnic baskets for all of us. After 2 hours drive we arrived at Conwy marina and spread out picnic mat to enjoy breakfast on the green grass by the road with Conwy castle as the background.












We chose not to enter the castle proper but went to the castle ground and walked on the castle wall which surrounded the town. I could imagine how the castle guards manned the castle by keeping enemies away. The castle was built as ordered by King Edward 1 of England in 1283. Being high up above the ground, they could see any marauding enemies from the sea as well as from land. The walking path on the wall is quite long, narrow, winding and up and down all the way. Seemed like we were walking on mini Great wall of China.









The whole wall surrounds the town with 8 big circular towers and 4 smaller ones. It's quite a test to weak knees. We were concerned over Mages' troubled knees but she seemed to be OK, resting every now and then.












The bird's eye view from the castle is so amazing which can reach as far as the eye could see because the day was clear and sunny. It's situated near Conwy river estuary which has turned to a marina with tourist boats aplenty.















Conwy surrounding taken from the castle wall.











The sea and the hills protected the castle from enemies during old days. This is one of the best preserved castle in North Wales. Now the town is bustling with tourists.














The colourful backyard of house owners near the castle, taken from castle wall.













Taken from castle wall walk overlooking a pretty garden of a Bed & Breakfast.















The four of us at Conwy castle wall with the marina as background.















After walking the castle wall we walked along Conwy Quay to see the marina, old buildings, restaurants and the main attraction - 'the Smallest House in Great Britain' which can accommodate only 4 people in a tight squeeze but to enter one has to pay a fee of 4 British pounds.

















The Conwy marina taken fron castle wall.








The new town is also bustling with tourists with hotels, shops and restaurant. Jin stopped to shop and I went around to take photos.










The old Edwards building still standing in the town near the castle.
















When everyone has finished we walked toward the car park but none of us remember whici one. So began the long walk looking for the car park. Finally after all feet were tired we found it, with a big sigh of relief.







But our visit didn't stop there. Mages drove us back towards Snowdonia to a town called Betsw-y-Coed. We didin't even know how to say the word which is in Welsh.








Another pretty town in north Wales with pretty scenery - Betws-y-Coed.

































The calm river enjoyed by visitors during sunny days at Betsw-y-Coed.










Our day wasn't complete for Mages who has to stop at her friend's house to deliver muffins freshly baked by her the night before. We went home tired and happy. Thank you Mages for making our stay with you an enjoyable one.

North Wales - Snowdonia

Jin and I planned to stay with Mages in Walsall for 2 days but stayed for a week instead. It was really nice seeing her again. She is working and living there for a few years already and never failed to look me up every time she comes back to Malaysia. So seeing and spending time with her was a treat for me.






Scenic drive to Snowdonia.














Another scenic drive to Snowdonia.








Mages suggested that we drive to Snowdonia, North Wales which she voted as one of the most beautiful places to see. We were not disappointed but the drive there was long through winding road. It took us 3 hours to reach Llanberis but the drive was scenic and awesome with jagged hills, lakes, rivers, farmlands and green open lands. I was bewitched by the scenery and wished I could stay for days.




Unfortunately, when we reached LLanberis ( pronounced as Klanberis), a tiny accident occurred when Jin backed out of a parking area, she banged at a car behind which came suddenly out of nowhere. There was no damage except a tiny winny scratch at the person's car but he was so nasty by insisting we damaged his paintwork. He was such an arrogant white man. That was the first and only time we encountered a nasty person in UK. Eng's tiny car has no dent or scratch at all. Anyway Jin didn't argue but gave him the insurance cover and declined to give her name and address and said we came from Malaysia.
After a long tiring drive, that incident spoiled our day and we had no mood to go around to see the place. We cooled off at Padarn Lake which is so stunningly beautiful to calm our nerve.
After coffee and lunch, we drove down to Llangollen (pronounced as Klangoklen) to see the town but at 5 pm everything was almost dead. Most shops were closed except one or two souvenir shops. Llangollen is another very pretty town near a river.
This is Lake Padarn, Llanberis.








Stunning Lake Padarn in Llanberis.











Llangollen town, quiet after 5pm, even tourists were few to be seen.













A friendly owner of a souvenir shop in Llangollen which was still open after 5pm.















A river runs across Llangollen town making it very scenic and alive with water activities even after 5pm.











Llanwst, another pretty town we came across.















A unique cafe by the roadside near the river at Llanwst covered by poison ivy which are turning red for autumn, on the way back to Walsall.







Though we had quite an upsetting experience, the visit was exciting and satisfying with fantastic beauty of the scenery all the way. By the time we reached Walsall, I counted 22 roundabouts we had to cross which we had to be ready to turn on the right turning. It was quite tiring and boring. Most country roads we passed are narrow with little or no road shoulder. Anyway we reached Walsall safe and sound. Mages has already cooked curry salmon heads and rice. Hmmmm, delicious.

South Scotland - Glasgow and Loch Lomond

Taken at Springfield Quay with rows of holiday homes by the river - many left unattended and empty.






Bidding farewell to Edinburgh, we left early for Glasgow. Many people told us that there was nothing much to see in Glasgow but we decided to go anyway. The day was gloomy and cold. It rained all the way. It's not fair for me to say that Glasgow is uninteresting because we didn't actually explore the city. We stayed at Etap Hotel at Springfield Quay with very cheap rate, at 38 British pound per night for a room for 3 people. However the room and the hotel are clean and the people are friendly. What surprised me which my eyes couldn't believe, was the entrance to the hotel - very near dumpsters. We thought we made a mistake and drove around to find the hotel entrance. But that was the only entrance unless we drove to the sixth floor of the car park, I guess. The hotel reception is on the 6th floor.







Being very near a harbour, the scenery was quite pleasant.










Restaurants, cinemas, gambling house which is named 'Mecca' and riverside apartments are situated there. Unfortunately, for grocery we have to walk quite a distance to a supermarket in town. Since it was raining, we chose to rest our tired body by sleeping after taking a walk by the river.







The esplanade along River Clyde at the quay is pretty and good for walking exercise. The pedestrian bridge connecting the town to the other side of the river was attractive.













The pleasant esplanade by the river.













The pedestrian bridge connecting both banks of River Clyde at Springfield Quay.







The next day, 26 September, Jin and I drove out of Glasgow to Lock Lomond. We had heard and read how beautiful Loch Lomond is and we wanted to see it with our own eyes. The GPS couldn't register Loch Lomond and again it was stressful to me when we lost our way. We found a cab driver stopping by the roadside who was kind enough to log in Dumbarton in th GPS and told us that we would find our way to Loch Lomond by road signs. True enough we did. We had been lucky so far that every time we lost our way we found very helpful people to show us the right direction.
At Dumbarton, a small calm town, we stoppped at Dumbarton Castle but unfortunately it was closed under restoration.
Along the narrow path to the castle, we found blackberry shrubs bearing black berries. Unable to restrain ourselves we picked a few blackberries to taste. The thorny shrubs prevented us from going in further.












Dumbarton Castle was built on volcanic rock 335 million years ago. Originally of cooled lava blocking a volcano mouth, the softer rocks around it have been eroded leaving the hard rock where the castle was built prominently above the estuary. Over 1,500 years ago, the rock served as the centre of British kingdom of Strathclyde.
















Jin at the Dumbarton Castle entrance.

















The old cannon guarded the Castle.











The route to Loch Lomond was scenic with pretty villages and small towns. We reached Loch Lomond Shores successfully. Since the weather was sunny, there were a lot of visitors there. I wasn't very impressed with Loch Lomond, compared to Lake District, maybe because we didn't explore other parts of Loch Lomond due to time constraint. However it has beautiful, serene and gorgeous views.









At boat launching site of Loch Lomond Shores.













A playground at the mall in Loch Lomond Shores.














Stunning view of Loch Lomond with cruise boats standing by for passengers.















Jin relaxing at the lakeside of the mall in Loch Lomond Shores.






On the way back to Glasgow, we decided to detour to Stirling to see Stirling Castle and the town. Stirling Castle is part of historic Scotland where long time ago, kings, nobles and foreign ambassadors came to revel in the castle grandeur. But we didn't go into the castle, just stopped at the castle ground.




View of surrounding area of Stirling Castle. We stopped at the Castle ground without entering the castle proper.













At the ground of Stirling Castle.







We abandoned the idea of going to Killin to see the other side of Loch Lomond because it was getting dark and driving back to Glasgow would be a problem.