In Summer Travel 2009

The weather reports forecasting an awesome and bit long summer this year. Few more places in list to visit before traveling back home. An extreme theme park was one we were looking for. A detailed London tour and may be Lake District if time allows. These is the plan for UK and if time permits, wish for few European cities later on as well.

I had been to Alton Towers before and is a great fan of Nemesis, oblivion and such high intensity rides. This time along with my wife who is quiet very enthusiastic about such rides, and myself thinking giving her the scariest moments possible and enjoying it together, set to Thorpe Park. I had not been there before, rides are just amazing as that of Alton towers, but Alton towers got a very nice campus which Thorpe park cant really compete for. Anyways we are not there to see the scenery but only for the adrenalin moments. We started with a bit less intense ride and then immediately went for Colossus which was awesome. Had good time again with Nemesis, SAW; surprising with unexpected twists and yeah we managed to do about 7-8 by the end of the day which I think is quiet fine.

Prior to the Thorpe park visit, there was a long weekend which we sadly had to spend lazily at home due to the swine flu outbreak news that was the May bank holiday weekend. The revelations came then not do such a blunder again!!

The second Bank holiday weekend in May though we had plans for Lake Districts which is quiet bit of travel. As Fithil was not able to join us for that we cancelled that plan and set to London for a detailed trip staying there all three days.
Staying with Fithil and family, the three day trip just made what we needed. The slow, steady and detailed travel and seeing London. Zemi wanted more time in London tube, as its first for her cause of our travel mostly in car.

The first day we managed with Westminster, Canary Wharf, London Eye, London Bridge, Tower Bridge and places around to return home late. Next day more happening with London Sea Life, Buckingham palace, Oxford Circus, again Westminster area this time with Fithil and Family. Next day solely devoted to Greenwich and shopping in Harrods. We did spend lot time in Greenwich. All three days the weather was just awesome and had a wonderful trip. The Arabian food from the Knightsbridge gave a good treat, and then shopping in Harrods for kids back home in India. Meeting friends and cousin sister at East Ham. The third day night about 10.30 we returned from Fithil’s home after 3 days of wonderful hospitality, rushing to St Pancras and then to Bedford on National Rail. Our small beautiful VW Polo was waiting us at the rail station and a small drive to beautiful Odell Close for a tight tired sleep hoping to wake early for office tomorrow. Thank God All went Well. Alhamdulillah.

Hoping for more and more trips to be done this summer, before returning India this August.

Updating the Blogs with relevant pics pending. But will be done Soon 

Prayers

Scotlanding and it still haunts !!

(Writing after a long gap..don't know the reason behind this gap. Now recalling few trips made. Also planning to reduce blogs about travel and shift to topics of interests)

I do not remember it in order, after coming here, for me the travel time started with a weekend in London, then with friends to Cambridge, Stonehenge's at Salisbury, oxford, Scotland etc.. the long one was Scotland as it is another country and we are quiet far from there too..

There was lot of planning happening before we started..as it is going to e a three day program we had to plan our trip along with travel and accommodation facilities, we were six, myself, sunil,sharath, rahul, abishek and ansar. Boarding from Bedford on a night such a way to land glasgow station at early morning were we have booked the accommodation as well the car for rent.

I remember, abishek had started the camera work from Bedford itself, he had came here sometime in advance from MK, reaching at the station in Glasgow, after getting fresh (not all :-)) we contacted the car rental team and they came to pick us...we took a vauxhal six seater..hmm Zafira i believe..directly to the globetrotters hostel where we just got fresh and had the breakfast..and meanwhile some mischief from Sunil as well ;-). The plan was like this - first day for Glasgow, and one nearby place 'a Lake Loch Lomund..

There we had some time in a toy train ride and then crazy mad time of shouting on a green grass area where it actually came out to be a good photography time..see this. myself and sharath were sitting on the bench near the water body while others where busy capturing the place in sepia.

Next day to the hight lands..through Pitlochry, Inverness and all..and the last planned day to Edinburgh..actually it was festival time at Edinburgh..Che had said this to us prior to our travel.
We started after dinner to the Milton Keynes bus station, there was lot of fun happening there, one guy in complete booz was kind of threatening us, telling that glasgow is very dangerous, people there will do this that etc..Our first stop was at a castle and then at Pitlochry
The bridge made for the Salmons returning from the Atlantic is just awesome, its equipped in such a way that the fish can easily climb and move back to the water bodies in the country. Pitlochry is a very beautiful place. The small village with lot of bridges, small as well and nice pathways and people. We did relaxed over there for some time and then left off to Inverness.

The drive was just awesome, nice beautiful landscape around and curly beautiful road (resembles the hilly roads in India). we had stops here and there to relax and to treat the eyes.
Inverness is nice, that ruined castle was looking too beautiful when we saw it from the top. I believe we reached there by eve 4 and little time to spend over there left with us. At first thought not to go for the boat ride in Lochness, at that time somebody went to the museum and some at memoir shopping. After sometime, don't know who exactly asked for it, but the team decided to go for a ride in the big water mass, which stretches around 27 km in length and huge depth as well. The name Lochness came from the Monster 'Ness', which appeared in fact said that somebody plotted in the Loch..nice story and nice looking monster it is :-). There started the wonderful time, Sunil meanwhile got in company with person who was steering the boat and then after sometime the steering is in his hands. Meanwhile the rest enjoying the beautiful wind, water and the nice scenary around from the deck. Abhi cannot stop asking for snaps..and ya those all were nice moments too. The Italian couple and the boat driver joined us in the fun and had lots of jokes from them which made the boat with laughter..and a snap at the end. The Inverness experience was quiet very good as we really enjoyed the place and at the same time the nice highland roads. Juz see this video.


Back from Inverness we were in Edinburgh, on exactly the last day of Edinburgh festival and thats worth it. The streets were full of various acts and shows. My self Abi and Sunil went to the Edinburgh castle which is worth seeing and the first castle I saw in detail. After long time roaming around inside the castle hearing the tales and stories of the kings and queens, our stomach gave a bad call which made all of us get down and run to the nearest pizza hut.
Running on the road to find the next spots, seeing around by walk and lots of fun happening all the time. Went back to the Globetrotters, got fresh ready and went for the dinner at an India Restaurant. We got back to Glasgow in the evening and from there boarded the bus to Bedford.
At the bus station, though we had the booked ticket s with us, we got to know that that there is no space for us. The bus folks arranged a separate transport for our team till Luton and from there again on a national express to Bedford. All the way in the end, it was a superb trip, which still haunting us as a over speed penalty which we received after a week,(we never knew about it). We are still trying to pay the fine but the reason that we don't have a British license is not allowing us to do so. Hmm what to do..!! :-)

Just after uploading the video to Youtube, though of completing this blog which actually was in a half written state and its done now. Thank god for this wonderful trip

Roaming london

First weekend after landing in UK, John is flying to US the next day. So have to go and meet him. So decided to mix the first London trip along with it..The morning was good as usual (Thank god) and then got to know that the room booking is over for that day. Actually could have extended early but forgot to do that and now there is no room in the hotel. Kim had became a good friend and some adjustment made and i got a room in the hotel itself..so just packed everything and shifted to the new room..thats not bad :-)
Getting late for meeting John..went to MK railway station then to Euston and in Tube to Pimlico. The place was just near and John was sitting there with a daily telegraph and Christin joined 10 mins after..was good time and we had in menu some good french dishes and lot of world affairs. Christine walked with me till "Tate" and briefed how to go to here and there..

From there,I began roaming London. Its already 1 or 2 pm and have got some few hours left with..immediately to Tate. Will you go to a museum, when you are in a new place and don't have much time to spend there..dont know how much time exactly..it was nice time..walking through the gallery..reading and observing some of the pictures which i had seen on notebook covers..

it was raining even before, but i decided to walk along Thames to reach the big ben, London eye..yeah nice time..some snaps from the bridge..from the pathway..in front of the Ben and all..and now at the Eye' Ticket counter...got the ticket for next hour..and in the gap..its time to have a walk in the pathway where i saw lot of people performing. The majestic king and queen to pretty Japanese girl in the shimona.. and the guy playing with knives and sword..and on on..Its raining and a break for me for a coffee from a nearby caffe...
when the bell rang for the next queue in the eye..in another 10 mins in the queue and am in the globe which just on the way up to take a circle for an "Birds Eye view" of London..Good time [:)] Camera flashes everywhere !!

Walking down to Trafalgar square, picadilli circus and few other places which otherwise i heard only in the Monopoly board.. the downing street gates where closed ..and some more space around the area. Cause it was exactly five days after my landing here..i was not fit to accept the sunset which happens at 10 Pm. but the shops and offices were!! Should not miss the train back..so started back a bit early (something which rarely happens with me) in the tube to Euston and then at MK.. back to the hotel bed for a big sleep am not sure if i had dinner or not..

Good time..thank god :-)