Ireland

Welcome to Ireland!


This is kind of a common sight on the bus. Big night out?


Flying in from Paris, we got to Dublin with no problems at all. We flew with Aer Lingus, Ireland´s national airline. We had to change our flights last minute as their pilots were suppose to go on strike the day we intended to fly so we pushed our flight one day ahead and got to spend an extra day in Dublin. Well worth it too.

Dublin was really good and Ireland and its people are awesome. A lot like aussies so its really easy to relate. We stayed with some friends we made while travelling in Laos and that made it all the more fun. Their housemates were all good people as well.



Ireland is a tiny country and Dublin is pretty much the place to be in if you want city life. We checked out the major sites including Trinity college and the usual old buildings and cathedrals. Tasted the local treats including black pudding, white pudding, beef and Guinness hot pot and of course the beer itself: Guinness. Its suppose to be tastier in Ireland and I think its true.



We did a couple trips out into the countryside and saw Wicklow, Glendalough among others and visited Newgrange. Newgrange was kinda cool as its a burial chamber thats older than the pyramids of Egypt. I wasn´t really paying attention but I think the lady at Newgrange was saying its the third older burial site in the world. There is heavy demand to visit the site on the winter solstice of each year. Its because once a year the sun is perfectly aligned so that sunlight fills up the entire chamber with light (the builders did this on purpose). There use to be a six year wait if you wanted to see the solstice but now they just do a lottery draft. Its that special.

The wicklow, Newgrange, Glendalough and some other place? (I forgot already!)



Us and Fergus & Anna


Our trip is rapidly coming to an end, Im sad and happy at the same time. Will miss the constant change of environments but it´d be nice to wear some different clothes. I only packed 2 pairs of socks for the trip. It didnt matter at all in asia because I was wearing flip-flops but in Europe its too cold most days and shoes are necessary. Unfortunately, that means wearing dirty socks. Sometimes 3 days in a row. Yes, I know, its kind of gross but thats life on the road.

- Derek

Oui Oui France

In France it seems like their favourite past time is good eating and living well. I can get use to this. Waking up early in the morning, lining up outside the local Boulangerie and just enjoying breathing in that fresh bread smell. Once you feel you have all the fresh bread you want for the day, you can not pass by a passterie without buying a profiterole look a like (only better as it is two tiers and chocolate mousse inside) ...... i'm droooling while writing this blog, so delicious. All the while you constantly think " umm what should we have for dinner". What's made our France trip so special????? We didn't spend much money thanks to the generousity of Charito & Daniel (Friends of Derek's parents).

They have been treating us to THE best French food and they've provided us with wonderful accommodation. See pics below.

Chateau in Limeray, Dessert at Le Train Bleu


Roast Lamb & Au gratin, Escargot (SNAILS!)


You know...an apartment in Versailles and a "Chateau" (Castle) in Limeray where the neighbours include the likes of Mick Jagger. It's crazy sleeping in a bed room that is bigger than my parent's entire house. Oh the life. So a big merci beaucoup goes out to Charito & Daniel.

Our days in Paris were spent blending in with the horde of other tourists from all around the world wanting to see all the major sites. Every site I absolutely loved from the Arc de triomphe, the Musse de lourve (just managed to see the Mona Lisa painting from afar, i got lucky), Sainte Chapelle, Notre Dame, Moulin Rogue, Funiculare and of course the Eiffel Tour (tower) to name a few.

Notre Dame & the horde around the Mona Lisa!! How fun.


View from the Funiculare, Us in Versailles


I had so many " I can't believe I'm here moments", that I would look into my husbands eyes and melt with so much love for him, while he looks at me with a " get me outta here, I hate all these friggin tourists everywhere taking pictures of everything" look. What a contrast.

Melting moments, Mr. Annoyed

France we shall see you again.
-Uriah

Jolly ol' England

Hi all, we're back. Been a bit slack updating this thing but we'll do our best to keep it up to date now.

After a marathon of sleeping at Bao's house in London, Uriah and I woke up to our first REAL English breakfast. A lot of people seem to think a full English breakfast is disgusting but I like the kind of disgusting that comes from frying everything on a plate.



We did the usual sightseeing stuff and we got lucky with the weather because we got sunshine everyday. It did take some adjusting though coming from Asia because its much colder up here. After wearing flip-flops (a.k.a thongs) everyday for over 6 months it took getting use to having to wear shoes all the time. And now, for some reason everytime I wear shoes my feet stink in a bad way! Uriah almost vomits when she catches a wiff.

London Bridge, Big Ben, Trafalgar Square, Buckingham Palace



London Eye


We had the opportunity to catch up with some people as well. Thanks to Bao and Rodora we were able to sleep for free in London.

Uriah with Rodora & Lauren at Camden Markets, Me & Stui at a bus stop


From London we caught the bus to Bristol to visit Uriah's Nan and cousin Helen's family. Bristol is small but pretty nice and we had some time to relax.

Me, Helen, Nan, Uriah, Rihanna and Samuel.


After a couple days in Bristol it was off to Paris!

- Derek

Sydney to London

So, we got back to Sydney and settled our flights to London with no problems at all. After being stinking hot humid weather for so many months, Sydney's winter was a shock and we were freezing cold everyday. It was nice to get back to Sydney and see family and friends...

Uriah happily enjoying Sydney


The flight to London was not so bad. After all the drama that comes along with flying stand-by with Qantas, we made it.

MADE IT!


We are staying with our friend Bao in London and its good that we are because London is expensive. Our first day in Europe was pretty much spent sleeping and getting over jetlag. We slept for 17 hours STRAIGHT!!

Uriah & Bao


-Uriah and Derek