UK Adventure Post - London

I didn't have regular access to WiFi while in London, but I wrote up a few posts while traveling:

27 March 2011

Finchley, London

10:45 BST

I took a redeye coach from Glasgow on Friday night and arrived in London early Saturday morning. From then, it was a nonstop day, exploring the city and meeting new friends.

London was not on my original itinerary when I planned my trip to the UK. I thought it would be too expensive for my limited budget (and for most Americans, the UK is already hard on a limited budget).  My cousin’s church community was gathering for their anniversary so she arranged for me to travel here and stay with her friends.

I’m having a wonderful time!

After dropping our bags at the flat in Finchley Central, we ventured into Central London and explored areas like Chinatown and Picadilly. The streets of London were taken over by street demonstrations against proposed taxes to education and social programs, but that was great for us, since traffic was diverted from main roads and we could walk with ease. 

Demonstrators at Trafalgar Square

More demonstrators at Trafalgar Square

From the London Eye

28 March 2011

Finchley, London

09:45 BST

I joined my new friends at the London Praise Community for their 8th anniversary celebration. The community is comprised of mostly Filipino ex-pats, and the hall was filled with great music and fellowship.

Filipinos--no matter where in the world they may go--will always have one unique trait: jumping into pictures. 

With members of the London Praise Community

UK Adventure Post - If You Don't Like the Weather...

During my first visit to Scotland a few years back, a man I met was quite apologetic about the weather, especially since he learned I was from Florida.

"Welcome to Scotland! If you don't like the weather, just wait 15 minutes."

  

I was reminded of that as I took the train for a light day trip into Glasgow and have a look around.  I had explored the city many times, but figured it would be nice to walk around Buchanan Street and George Square to see what's new since my last visit.  At the last minute, I decided to hop on a tour bus and check things out.  

It was cloudy and breezy sitting on the top deck of the bus, but I toughed it out and enjoyed it.  I was repaid in sunshine by mid-afternoon as I sat in George Square watching university students set up for a protest against proposed education cuts.  The Square is a great place to people watch, and I pulled out a few brochures I picked up at the nearby Scotland Tourism Info Centre.

I thought highly of the public transportation system... until my ride home during the early evening rush hour.  On the rail from Glasgow Queen Street Station to Helensburgh Central, the train stopped on Hyndland and passengers were told service was discontinued due to "technical problems." I stood on the platform with dozens of other passengers, in a chorus of groans as we saw the next train to Helensburgh Central canceled and other passing trains headed to other areas like Dalmuir and Balloch.  

I laughed a little when a woman started complaining about the ongoing "technical problems" (apparently she had three encounters in the last three days); she complained in a very polite way which I truly admired.  She wasn't rude or aggressive, and her voice hardly raised in more frustration than anger.  

Anyway, after nearly an hour on the platform, I finally got on one and made it home.

Thursday turned out to be another great sunny day, and this time I stayed closer to home.  We went to a local park in Helensburgh where the kids played on the swings and ran around soaking in some fresh air and sunshine.

We ventured down to the Firth of Clyde and sat by the water to soak up more of the sun.  This winter was especially harsh, so I was told everyone was excited to be outdoors.  We munched on McCoy's Crisps and drank my first Irn-Bru (which I definitely love!) while watching people.

I'll take it easy again tomorrowy... I leave for London on Friday night.

UK Adventure Post - Ode to the Roundabout

How I love you, sweet roundabout,

Where Brits queue,

And never pout,

While Americans wait a minute or two,

For that light turns green,

Or run the red as well could do,

should the cop nowhere be seen!

UK Adventure Post - Mexican Dip

My cousin's church has a fellowship supper after services on Sunday afternoon, and of course I volunteered to bring along a contribution for the pot luck.  I was mulling over ideas on what to bring, and I thought it was would be unique--especially in this part of the world--to bring a Mexican Dip.

There are two main grocery stores in Helensburgh, with very limited choices, but I managed to pick up some ingredients at The Co-op: 

Dare I even mention that the total cost to make the dip with tortilla chips came out to be near £14, nearly USD$23!  Needless to say, it'll be a while before that dip is ever made again while I'm here!

The dip was a hit at the supper! Of course, after you've had the rather bland food eaten here, this spicy dip has a lot of flavour!

UK Adventure Post - Stirling

21 March 2011
21:30 GMT
Helensburgh

My legs are sore tonight after exploring Stirling Castle and Wallace Monument!

At the Wallace Monument.

I've visited a number of castles now, and I have to admit that it's just not that fascinating anymore.  There seem to be hundreds of them here in Scotland, and it seems that if you've visited one, you will have seen them all.  It was built long ago... royalty slept there... some museum with old pieces of furniture like a gravy boat carved out of the skull of a giant stag. 

While Stirling Castle plays an important part of the Scottish history for independence, if you just have to see one castle in Scotland, I'd settle for Edinburgh Castle. 

The Wallace Monument was a unique experience, combining patience and balance to trek up a tower with the reward of rock hard thighs and some of the most amazing views of Scotland.  The extreme wind gusts made for many great laughs and of course, I thank God we didn't lose any small children that could seemingly have been sucked away.

UK Adventure Post - Feeling Blue

18 March 2001

22:35 GMT

Helensburgh

I made a new Scottish friend that's made me feel blue... in a good way:

UK Adventure Post - So It Begins With a Hot Pot

18 March 2011
10:05 GMT
Helensburgh, Scotland, UK

Well, I'm finally here! I'm enjoying my first cup of tea of the morning-- extra strong-- and of course, I'm delighted to be reunited with wonderful family and friends.

The transatlantic flight from Atlanta to Amsterdam was fine, though a little uncomfortable because it was a full flight. I flew KLM, and it wasn't bad, I just really miss British Airways who were better.

What I do love about KLM, however, is their Crown Lounge (#52) at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.  It was nice to remove myself from the overwhelming craziness of a busy airport and relax for a bit. The lounge served a lunch buffet of food named with long words that I don't think my mouth is capable of pronouncing (I should have taken notes or pics, but I was just too tired.) and a full self-service bar on hand to take any edge off the stress of traveling.  I managed to get an hour nap in the sleeping room before I had to sprint to my gate.

I arrived to a surprisingly sunny Glasgow by mid-afternoon. We left my luggage at the train station and ventured around the city centre to pick up a few things before dinner, like a Blackberry I'll use while traveling Britain.

On my last visit, my first meal was Chinese, so why break with tradition?  We had this delicious hot pot (the Chinese version of fondue)... on one side was spicy Szechuan and the other was milder chicken broth.  We had our selection of crabs, prawns, fish balls, scallops, abalone, squid, tofu, noodles, and vegetables to cook in our pot.

Only one word I can say: YUMMY!

    

Traveling Day & Reflections on a Bus

16 March 2011

3:30 PM EDT

Delta Sky Club Lounge, Jacksonville International Airport

My head is spinning this afternoon, a result of allergies (damn you, spring in Tallahassee!) and a lack of sleep.  I kept packing and repacking my luggage last night, haunted by a combined paranoia that my bags weigh too much and that I didn’t pack enough clothes.  

It was a whirlwind of trying to get organized, and I’m now thinking in my haste that I might have forgotten something important, like my underwear.  Oh, well...I know I have at least the one pair I have on right now, and I guess the boys will have to adapt to the cold.  

My own personal clothing accounts for about a quarter of my total luggage.  The rest are what Filipinos call “pasalubong,” or gifts for family and friends.  Much of it was packed by my mom, but I included some great stuff for the kids, and I can’t wait to give it to them.  It makes me feel like Oprah in a way.

I took the StarMetro this morning to pick up the rental car I drove to Jacksonville. I know I could have asked a friend to help me, but I do like to take the bus on occasion to remind me it is such a blessing to have a car.  Anyway, for the next few weeks, I’ll be relying on public transport, so I should get used to it!

There’s a stop around the corner from my house, and it took about a half hour to get from there to the transfer station in downtown Tallahassee.  I pulled out my Kindle to read during the ride, but I became easily distracted by the people coming off and on the bus.  So, I began to reflect on this increasing gap between the haves and have-nots.

There are many critics about our public transportation system in this country, which is practically non-existent in most areas, save for the large cities and some mid-size ones.  I looked around to see the people on my bus:  a young lady in a Wendy’s uniform, some women in scrubs, two middle school kids who missed their school bus and were late for class, college students from Florida State and FAMU, and many other everyday people.  

The point I want to make is that it is the everyday, normal (and some not-so-normal like a man wearing a Vietnamese rice paddy concial hat talking to himself) people who don’t just use the bus system, but  DEPEND on it for their livelihood.  Without reliable transportation,  how can you expect to hold down a good job or go to school?  

I can go off on many related issued about high gas prices, the need to invest in great public transport projects like high speed rail, and reduce auto usage, but I’ll save that for another day.  What I want to do is to challenge critics who want to divest in public transport and take a moment and ride the bus.  Meet the people who depend on it, and come to understand the challenges they face.

On the Eve of Travel

I’m sitting at Red Eye Coffee now, completing the daunting task of transcribing notes in preparation for my trip tomorrow, and avoiding any attempt to return to a now empty and lonely home.

I just dropped off my foster dog Happy Jack at Oakwood, where he’ll be boarded for three weeks unless a volunteer comes forward to take him in while I’m gone.  The staff at Oakwood are truly wonderful--- but nothing is better than a home environment.   Anyway, Happy Jack is no stranger to them; he lived there for a few months until he came under my care back in October, 2008 (yep, it’s been that long!) and he’s been boarded there many times when I traveled for work.  

This time is different.  This time, Happy Jack is without his foster sister, Pearl. He’ll have a lot of adjusting to endure.

Pearl is now in a foster-to-adopt home, which means she’s being cared by a volunteer that is seriously considering giving Pearl her forever home.  It’s a great thing, of course. I knew this day would possibly come, but it still hurts.  Pearl was a couple of months old when I took her in November, 2009, so she’s lived with me nearly all her life.   

People ask me time and time again how it must be so hard to be a foster volunteer.  I won’t sugar coat it... it is hard.  However, when I get to see the possible home that my foster dogs might be living, it makes me happy.  She’s enjoying a big backyard with lots of squirrels to chase and things to sniff.  Pearl also has a new buddy, a Lab, and has a wonderful foster family.  Pearl will have a wonderful quality of life should this family decide to adopt her.  

I only hope and pray that I could find the same thing for Happy Jack.

Many times, I jokingly tell my friends that the more I deal with people, the more I love animals.  Never underestimate the power of dog love! In their vulnerability and loyalty, my experiences with dogs and my growing understand of their behavior has made me a better person.  While they’re not human, they have the potential to draw the best of humanity from us.

Now, I’m focusing on the last minute tasks that need to get done before my trip.  On previous trips, I’ve always kept hand-written journals.  This time, however, since I have my Macbook and will have regular access to WiFi, I decided to save a few trees and post here.  

As I journey, I intend to incorporate a lot of experiences I encounter into my Lenten reflection.  Some of my friends know what I decided to “give up” for Lent,  and if you don’t, I’ll reveal that at some point with details. 

Culinary Creation - Stir-Fried Garlic Spinach with Chinese Sausage

I'm starting to document my culinary creations and taking pictures! Here are the pics for my Stir-fried Garlic Spinach with Chinese Sausage: