St Patrick's Day

Its Saint Patrick Day!

Long story short, its to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland and celebrated all over the world by people who are of Irish descent (estimated at 100 million which is 15 times the population of Ireland itself)

A brief history of St Patrick is that he was born in GB and was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. One day in his sleep he had a dream where god told him to get to the shore where he would be rescued by a ship and brought back home. After returning, he became a priest and later went back to Ireland to spread Christianity (apparently with the shamrock as seen above to explain the Holy Trinity)

And to celebrate today, its time to go to another ceilidh! St Patrick Day theme! (which means you have to wear green!)

Edinburgh: Capital City of Scotland

IT IS CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!!

Its my first time celebrating away from my family. Luckily I have no lack of activities to do so in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

On friday which was 2 days before cny, all the singaporeans and malaysians in Aberdeen and some other friends were invited to the Manchurian which was an authentic chinese restaurant for cny dinner. We had Lao Yusheng (brought in by the singapore society ppl:) and lots of yummy chinese food. 

Lao Yusheng! Yum!

The next day (Saturday) in the early morning, we (me Edwin and some of the SingSoc Ppl) walked (Yes walk) to the train station and embark on our trip to Edinburgh: the capital of Scotland.

Our purpose there was to join the Singapore Food Fest organised by the Edinburgh Singapore Society. At 7pound only, we got to eat a portion each of Chicken Rice, Chee Kueh, Tau Huay, Hoon Kueh, Popiah, Muah Chee, Kaya Toast, Laksa and drink some Milo. All were made by the Singaporean Students over there, so that was really impressive! The event had about estimated 400 ppl attending in 2 sessions and has been a tradition every year in Edinburgh! Wow!

Laksa!!!

Tauhuay that can fight with Laoban!

More Food at the Singapore Food Fest!

Anyway me and Edwin decided to stay one more day in Edinburgh so as to explore more of the city as one day wasn't enough (Of Course not enough!) Hence we went to book a bed in a 20 bed bunk dorm at the Caledonian Backpackers for 15 pound. Ha talk about being spontaneous after finding out that our ticket was open return!

We also booked for the night after the food fest a 'ghost' tour at The Real Mary King Close which was described as one of the better ones of the many ghost tour in Edinburgh. Edinburgh is supposedly one of the most haunted cities ever as many criminals were executed during the medieval times. 

Well the tour guide roleplayed as a maid from 500 years ago and brought us into the underground of Mary King's Close which was a real place that was used for living and working purposes in the past and has now been built over. She told us some of the stories of the incidents that happened like the plagued and murders. Haha I guessed as an Asian we have been accustomed to greater scares than some spooky telling of stories. I was constantly on the guard waiting for something to jump up to scare me but atlast none did. It was nonetheless an interesting tour to see what the old Edinburgh was like.

Then.....Happy Chinese New Year! What a drastic change in mood haha!!!!

The next morning at 6am we rose early and left for Arthur's Seat. The highest peak in Edinburgh I think at 250m (about bukit timah hill's height) we had a nice panoramic view of the city. Initially we wanted to get there for the sunrise but it was too cloudy :( It was really exhilarating (and windy) when I reached the top and saw the amazing scenery. Despite feeling cold, I felt really accomplished to reach the top of the world (in Edinburgh).

Early in the morning at 7am

Lonesome figure (me!) at the top of one of the hills.

Where King Arthur sat....or so they say 

Great view of Edinburgh!

Back at the bottom of Arthur's Seat! Can't believe we climbed so much in the early morning!

Then we went back to check out and then to join the Free Walking Tour by the same company in London. We walked for 3 hours around Edinburgh and heard more stories about how the buildings are built on a hill and can have 5 stories on one side and 12 stories on the other (kinda like NUS), stories about philosophers like David Hume, literary greats like Sir Walter Scott and  Robert Burns, as well as stories about the monarchy, freedom fighters, criminals, etc. It was a good tour and this time we tip her haha (even though it was 3 pound only for both of us!)

Edinburgh Castle! Too expensive to go in!

The guy in the centre looks like Jeremy Renner!!!

Walking around the Royal Mile from the Edinburgh Castle! Tourists everywhere!!!

Statue of David Hume. Do you see his right big toe? Its a good luck charm apparently and people rub it all the time!!!

The story of  the loyal Greyfriar Bobby who guarded his master's grave after he died.

After that we had a nice lunch of haggis with neeps and tatties and Fish & Chips.

Haggis!! with neeps and tatties!!!

<3 

We coincidentally saw Zhexi who came over from Dublin to visit Scotland during the weekend. Haha apparently my Singlish alerted them to our presence.

Before we went back to the train station we spent the remaining of our time finding Thomas Riddell's grave ( who inspired He-who-must-not-be-named real name) and exploring the huge and excellent National Museum of Scotland.

You Know Who!!!

Even the journey back was eventful as the train was overcrowded and we were standing initially before we found some seats and had to alight midway to change to a replacement bus as the track was undergoing some engineering work (DUN BLAME MY PROFESSION LOL)

We had shared some kebab near union street before sharing a cab with some strangers who lived in Hillhead also to get back home.(cheaper than bus!)

What an eventful weekend! :D

Merry Xmas!

Its X'mas!!!!

Not my fav holiday because you spend money and dun receive any in return! (CNY ftw!!!)

X'mas today was spent doing the last bit of spring cleaning of my room and learning how to cook curry chicken with my mom! (yum!)

Ate half of the 料 so cannot see the rest of the potato and chicken wings! :P

I would like to give thanks to the family that I have had the chance to enjoy my life and love and be loved in my past 23 years. 

Thanks Mum for being supportive in my life. I know that at times I am irritated at you sometimes especially when you nag at me, but your cooking and pampering of me throughout my life will be felt deeply when I leave for Scotland. 

Thanks Dad for allowing me to do whatever I want in my life and not setting rules that restrict me. Sometimes your nagging is worse than mum haha but your ideals and way of being a person has really define the person that I am today.

Thanks Sandy for being a really nice sister. Every night I hear the piano that you play, everytime I eat the cookies that you bake, I feel that there is nothing more I could ask for in a sibling.

I hope to be a better son and brother with every X'mas that passes; to communicate with you all more, to spend more time with you all more, to make our lives all more exciting and fruitful forevermore! Thanks for baring with me all these years!

Happy birthday Daddy!!! <3