Aberdeen-London-Malaysia (Trip date: A year ago, Sept 2011)

Now, we explored London for a few hours before boarding the flight back to Malaysia.
The only place we managed to go was Buckingham Palace & the Green Park. And of course, Heathrow airport via Paddington (very2 busy, don't like it) & Green Park stations.

Buckingham Palace

With her 'Costa'. We ate at this place don't know how many times but she really love the muffins..!

At Green Park, going after the birdie..

Therefater - Day 3 to 5 - Aberdeen, Scotland

I have to work today. So hubby & kids took a walk along the beach which is near to the convention centre. Ah, forgot to mention that we rented a car from Enterprise-Rent-A-Car. Kamal said it's one of the cheapest. Thanx Kamal. We didn't take those luxury sedan ones, enough with a mid size sedan that can fit us four + shopping items. Why waste money? Plus, forgot to mention that in Aberdeen, parking is quite a hassle. I think so does London and other European places. I guess.. because I've been to Europe mostly for my overseas trip nowadays.

Parking options: 1) Public parking -ie: 24 hours type but located far from the houses, 2) Road side parking - 1st come 1st serve basis. Both were definitely not free. And the summon is expensive. Here's our car & parking meter.. hehe

ok, continue. Since I had to attend (ie: present paper) at the conference, my family took time to explore the beach. Very windy & cold..! It was North Sea cold.. Actually, the beach was near to the convention centre, so it's a very strategic place to unwind. There was a lot of restaurants, park (but no kids play there, coz it was so cold) & of course, pleasant view of the beach. We ate at Pizza Hut, entered A&W which offers not much choice for Muslims (ie: no fish burger) and bakeries.



A very nice rainbow. There was 2 of them & just observe the landscape below the rainbow line, it was fantastic. And I captured this in a moving car..! with my Canon Ixus..!




The end of the rainbow, how it touches the water - the same 2 rainbows


This famous beach is called Codona's Fun Beach in Aberdeen. Very cold indeed at this time of the year. The wind is so much chilling. Malay said 'menusuk ke tulang', Brrr.. Here's some more views of it.



Our cheeky daughter at dad's leg.. die memang suka buat camni... he..



The Fish Reaturant.. something for us muslim.. good food, nice ambience..

Now, I'll be taking you to little something of Aberdeen, before I end this blog for this trip..
A long awaited update actually. No time really.. a lot of post in 'draft' mode..

A bag piper doing it for a living..

The souvenir place which I recommend. A lot of choices & reasonably priced

Left: Souvenir shops with lots of small tiny purses or tradtional scottish mechandise & Right: Clarks, what else.. he

Another halal restaurant - Arab food - very deli...!!!

Its menu.. call them.. :-)



The night at El-Paso

We stayed in a very nice celebrity loved lodge on the mountain site.

The journey was a breathtaking one. We were told that the lodge that we're staying is located about 8,000 feet above sea level. And so, we could clearly see the shadow of the cloud so prominent in some of the hills. I just got to know that in El-Paso, the higher altitude we reached, there's much more green.. Because in the 'desert' like road of El-Paso, there was not much green plants.

We stopped at the Lincoln National Forest look-up point. It was a beautiful scenery all across with the rock landscaping that geologist would admire and have much better appreciation than a petroleum engineer.. hehe...

And so, we reached our 8,000 ft altitude lodge. It was classic. Reminds me of the US movie about life on mountains with great lodge left and right. It was such a blissful view. I just loved it. And yeah, they named the lodge, The Lodge. There was a ghost story behind it though.. fuh.. and I'm really scared that very night..

Will tell you more..

Day 2 - Aberdeen, Scotland

Ok, now the trip to the castles in Scotland. To be exact, a castle. Scotland is famous for its Castle Trail. There are basically 4 types of trail. Choose which one you want from these four:

- Coastal Trail
- Scotland's Castle Trail
- Scotland's Malt Whisky Trail
- Victorian Heritage Trail

As for us, there was only one castle nearest to Aberdeen, which is Dunnottar Castle, in Stonehaven. It's located in about 30 - 45 min drive from Aberdeen. The other castles are farther away, so since I've to work as well and has limited time, one castle is enough for now. Anyhow, I've been to more castles during previous trip here, so at least this one is kinda enough for the family for now. Who knows, we may come to Aberdeen again in the future...



Stonehaven, Scotland




The roads, the town & of course, the Mr Bean's 3-legged car.. Love it..!



Dunnottar Castle is known as one the most magnificent & HAUNTING ruins in Scotland. Luckily, I only knew after coming back to Malaysia. If not, takut jugak nak masuk. It was raining drizzly that day, giving a much creepier feeling.. huhu.. Luckily didn't know.. luckily. I'm not the brave type you see. There was also a lot of people/tourist that very day. So, ok.. I baca ayat kursi of course, knowing that it was an old castle, built > 100 years ago, during the time of William Wallace. Braveheart? Starred by Mel Gibson. It was that old.




Entrance to Dunnottar Castle. You can see the castle from this far already...



Map of Dunnottar Castle


It was raining & very slippery going up the stoney stairs. It was a long trail also. But it was one of the nicest castle that I've been. (I've been to probably 4-5 castles in previous trip, including Dunnotar. Don't really count as it was more of a Touch & Go ones.. he..).

Anyhow, Dunnottar Castle is located at the very end of the small road, leaning itself to the water and stood hansomely still. You could see the whole landscape from afar. Going there needs a lot of walking but it was a very pleasant scenery, with the nicest rainbow that day. It was also very cold. Just imagine a cold weather + rain. My daughter actually got some mild fever that very night. Only that.. The rest are simply unforgettable experience for the family..

Here are some more pictures to share..

Dunnottar Castle. A tourist took this picture & thankfully it was picture perfect.



The inside of the castle, flowers blooming...





Going back up.. yes, all the trails.. really country..i like..




My son & the castle at the back..