Dublin sort of needs its own post. . .

OK. . . first thing. . . I just have to say this. . . Do I look WAY better ungroomed? The entirety of the above trips, I was too tired to make an effort and wore NO make-up and was more or less (in my opinion) gross-looking, yet I got hit on a LOT (and by not creepy people 1/2 the time)? I had attributed this to being in not London where I don't get hit on at all except by annoying creepy guys who call out "Ni Hou" and "Konnichiwa" to me. I'M NOT CHINESE! This actually really offends me now. It didn't so much before, but now it does. Within the UK, it ironically only seems to happen in London. Anyways, my point is that I went around the first 2 days in Dublin as whatever and I got a lot of attention as usual (usual in Ireland that is), but the last day, I actually decided to make an effort since I planned on going out that night to Temple Bar and. . . I'd get stared at a lot, but it was as if I had a disease or something?!?!?! It just puzzles and confuses me is all. By the way, people told me Temple Bar would be fun even if I was by myself and they were wrong. The live music in Derry was a lot better in my opinion. They used the Irish flute and whistle.

Aaaaaaaanyways, weirdly, Dublin was kind of a spiritual experience for me. First of all, I didn't really actually want to go to Dublin that badly. I don't like beer (Guinness was everywhere) and I'm not much of a "go out" person (though it's fun every once in awhile of course!). The ONLY reason why I decided to go was because the flights were so cheap that I couldn't resist.

So when I woke up that morning, I remembered my flight was at 9:30 am, so my coach was at 7:00 am (to go to Stansted Airport). So I woke up at around 5:30 am. . . to look at my ticket and realize - MY COACH WAS AT 6:00 AM! It takes 30 minutes by the tube to get from Mile End (where I live) to Victoria Coach Station. So I RAN out. . . and missed the coach. Now at this point, I was tired and flipping out and panicking (as usual) and I decided I would wait for the next coach that came, but if they wouldn't accept my old ticket, I would be OK with not going. . .

. . . but the driver said it was OK! Now I know that the drivers are really lax, but I was shocked, I was really prepared to just relax in London! So I just kind of had this weird feeling, like I was meant to go to Dublin for some reason. I just don't understand why things just kept working out like that?

Anyways, so I got there and did the tourist-y things and met people in the hostel - a lot of them were French (and at least one was Quebecois)! So cute! They were really nice! No one seemed up for going out, so I played "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" the board game with 2 South Africans (coolest accent ever btw)! The game was weird and had a lot of questions only British people would know the answer to. The easy questions for me were the higher ones - but I rarely got there since the easy ones were impossible!

So I went to Windmill Lane, which is where U2 recorded a lot of their hits and there is a lot of graffiti. The quote above caught my eye. I don't know I know there are jokes about this quote but I really like it. . . I've always been more driven by anger than anything else.

OK the spiritual part (no, all of the above was not it, though it was part of it). I kept wondering why I was there - I mean I was having fun and all, but I couldn't stop thinking that for some reason I HAD to be there. . . so I went- unintentionally, mind you- to the Irish Museum of Modern Art and saw this:
If you can see, it's a temporary exhibition that had just started containing visual artwork by Hans Christian Anderson. WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I had NO IDEA he was a visual artist! His visual works are not well known at all (of course, not NEARLY as well known as 'The Little Mermaid' or 'The Ugly Duckling') but they exist! So I went in. He did a lot of work with cutting paper and drawing. Actually I was kind of weirded out about the fact that he and I have way more in common than I thought. I used to draw a LOT and be pretty good at it too. He also intended to be a singer when he was 14 (in case you apparently don't know me at all, I want to be a singer). He also believed in the importance of dreams (reason why I'm so interested in psychology, and the weird things that have happened with me and dreams) and traveled a lot. When I got to a room that contained this screen (what he considers to be his greatest visual work):

I cried. I don't know. I can't explain it, but it's as if I know what I'm meant to do in life. Of course there's no way to be sure of it - but I think I understand my purpose in life, and at the same time, am more confused.

Anyways the other revolutionary part of my trip to Dublin was in yet another museum - The Chester Beatty Library, which also I had never heard of, but saw an ad saying they had guided tours Wednesdays at 1 pm and that it had won an award for best museum in Europe. So I decided to go in. The 1st floor was closed, and the only part you could see was the religion collection on the 2nd floor. Apparently Chester Beatty is extremely famous for housing 1 particular book: the earliest known copy of the Bible in codex form, dated to the 2nd century AD. It's not quite in the same order in which we use it today, but it puts together the same 4 gospels - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - which was believed to have been put together under the rule of Constantine in 4th century AD. Basically all the stuff you learned in the Da Vinci Code about Constantine is disproved.

This kind of changes my perspective on everything. It doesn't change what I believe but it bothers/confuses me. But the cool thing is that part of it is actually at Michigan! When the tour guide said that, I went AH! OMG! THAT'S MY SCHOOL!

One of the French people I met learned to play the guitar 2 years ago and is AMAZING at it now. I need to go home and practice. . .

Yes. . . so. . . anyways. . . I hope that wasn't really weird. . . It's incidents like these that restore my faith in God. . . but anyways, that was my trip to Dublin!

Northern Ireland and Liverpool = Muckers and Where Fairy Tales Live

OK continuing on:

Belfast
So I found out when I got there (I didn't know this beforehand) that Belfast is Van Morrison and CS Lewis's hometown! So I continued sightseeing keeping this in mind. The city was gorgeous and once again, it didn't rain! Or when it did, it would immediately be sunny again!

I wish I were Irish! They have so many resources there for looking up your ancestors/background!

Anyways while I was in Belfast, I had a vegetarian Ulster Fry (potato bread, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms and baked beans) at this cute cafe (Paul's Cafe) where the owner had remembered me from when I had walked by the day before! Then I went up to Napoleon's Nose! It was amazing! Since no one else was around I decided to fulfill my goal of singing from the top of a mountain there! Of course I ran around like Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music and sang "The Sound of Music"! When I got bored with that song I moved onto Villanelle - that soprano coloratura song I sang in high school. . . it really is easier to hit those high notes when you're super happy! And at the top of the mountain/hill(?) in nature! Later I also went to the Giant's Ring!

Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede

While I was in Ireland, I wanted to see the Giant's Causeway and the such, so I figured - why not do it on the way to Derry? So I found out it was 17 quid to do it via the Paddywagon tour (which went there and to Derry, then went back to Belfast) and 14 quid to do it piece by piece, so I went ahead and did the tour and got off at Derry! I'm glad I did too because it was probably the best tour I have been on! He went all into the political history of Ireland and told the Celtic fairy tales behind Napoleon's Nose and the Giant's Causeway! It was also cool b/c I thought there wouldn't be anyone else getting off at Derry, but the ONE other girl who was being picked up at my hostel, was doing the same thing! So I made a new friend- hence the fact that I have pictures of me!

While I was there, I went on the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge - which connects to a rock island and is supposed to be scary and unsafe, but I didn't think it was THAT scary! It was more the wind blowing as you can see. . . and really hard!

Seriously, when I got there, my heart stopped for a minute or so - the water is SO clear (apparently seals like to hang out around there!) and the cliffs were AMAZING and even the grass is just magical looking! Seriously, if there's any place that fairy tales could really have taken place, it's this place. . . Though I have been told the west coast is even MORE amazing! I can't even imagine that! I was so impressed, I joined the National Trust.

Derry
So the other part I didn't mention was I couchsurfed for the first time. I know I know a lot of people think it's sketchy and unsafe and no one will join, but anyways I was super scared and worried and I had a back-up plan in case (if I had a bad feeling upon meeting him in a public place, I would run to the hostel I had planned on staying at originally)! But the weird thing was, I ended up chatting with the tour guide of the Paddywagon tour, and he knew him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was SO relieved. You all have no idea. I mean, I have been trying to live off of the "things will work out" philosophy, but you know. . . Anyways as it turns out, Ruairi, my host, is the son of the ex-mayor of Derry! I have to say though, my experience could NOT have turned out better! He was an AMAZING host and everyone in the city knew him - so I met a lot of locals! He also took me to a bunch of pubs with live (usually traditional Irish) music and on one of the tours he does normally - so I also met more people on the normal (more than 1 day) Paddywagon tours! It was amazing! My favorite instrument now is the Irish Flute btw (replacing the cello). The tone is just gorgeous. It sounds kind of lonely, as if it's longing for something. And don't make fun of me, I know instruments don't "long" for anything, but that's how I describe it.

Anyways Derry is really close to the Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland border, so I walked across it! There used to be British soldiers guarding it with guns, but now they're more lax. Ruairi said I get really easily amused. The political history is also fascinating! I had always been confused about the whole nationalists vs. unionists thing (it's more that than Protestants vs. Catholics). Ruairi said when he was growing up, the only accents he had ever heard were British and Irish accents. He also explained to me that a lot of people in Derry have never been outside of Derry, which is why they will look at me a lot.

Also seriously, the people here - it's just SO safe, people leave their doors unlocked! UNLOCKED! I mean I'm not even exaggerating!

Among the sightseeing things I saw, the coolest was St. Columb's Church - which is potentially John Newton's inspiration for "Amazing Grace" (yes my travels have a theme - finding inspirations for great works of art)

Then I caught a flight to:

Liverpool
I didn't have much time to do much, but I made sure to at least go to The Cavern - which was actually really fun! I went by myself (and walked in just as a guy was starting my favorite - "Hey Jude") and it was fun! They played Beatles covers and people were singing along! I also met a Canadian at the hostel who happened to be going on the same coach to London with me so we sat together!

Anyways, I ended up hanging out and talking all night with her and a Kiwi, and I'm even more inspired to travel! The Kiwi (sorry, not sure what his name was) had traveled a lot, and he could tell I was Korean - to which I go - WHAT?!?!?! I can't tell the difference and I'm Asian! But in his travels he sort of picked up the physical characteristics. He could also tell I was an Aquarian (said I reminded him of another Aquarian he knew) which I think is weird.

My Adventures In Scotland

OK so I'm finally done with my UK/Ireland tour and my first time traveling alone and IT WAS AMAZING! Everyone I know who has gone to Scotland or Ireland has had it rain on them majority of the time - for me it was sunny majority of the time! I did feel kind of lonely generally on the first night of each place I went, but I would always meet people the second night and for some reason, if I was staying only 1 night (Glasgow and Liverpool) I would meet people that night and stay up talking/hanging out all night! I've made a list of "Things I Want to Do in Life" and I completed SO much of it!

* Write in the same spot a famous writer wrote in
* Sit on Arthur's Seat
* Take a deep breathe from the top of Napoleon's Nose
* Sing at the top of my lungs from the top of a mountain
* Walk around the Giant's Ring
* Walk on the Giant's Causeway
* Walk across the Carrick-a-Rede Bridge
* Walk from 1 country to another

Edinburgh
Edinburgh actually started out really badly. I checked in to my hostel (which was a church converted into a hostel) and somehow on the way, lost a 10 pound note. As this is worth $20 and I'm broke, I freaked out of course. Then my camera's batteries exhausted. . . AGAIN. Luckily I had brought 2 in case, but it's ridiculous b/c I had only used my camera what. . . 2 times since I last replaced them?!?!?! I also felt really, REALLY lonely and the people around didn't seem very social at all, so I started really regretting going on this trip alone, and at all.

The next day though things improved significantly - it was sunny! So I went about doing all of the sight-seeing - Fettes College (where James Bond goes to school in the books), Carlton Hill and Arthur's Seat (an extinct volcano)! Arthur's Seat was amazing! But totally dangerous since I kept insisting on taking the hard routes to prove to myself I could. I nearly died. It was worse than that time Sarah nearly led us to our deaths in Nevada and I slipped 2-3 times. Then I walked the Royal Mile, went to the Museum of Scotland and saw Dolly (the first cloned sheep) and the Writer's Museum! My day was so amazing that I completely cheered up from my depression the night before. What was also awesome was I came back and the guy at reception found me to tell me someone found my 10-pound note! I also met a cool girl named Dilek at the hostel and had someone to go out with that night!

The next morning, I went to the Elephant House - where JK Rowling wrote a lot of the 1st Harry Potter book - and had a coffee (I know I'm "avoiding caffeine" but you can't go to a coffee house and not have coffee!) and wrote in my journal. The people working there were so nice about it! I thought they would be annoyed that some girl who only had 1 coffee was spending an hour or so there writing. Then I had a vegetarian haggis samosa at this vegan restaurant called "The Baked Potato Shop" - it was AMAZING - I had no idea they were supposed to be spicy!

Inverness
I took the coach to Inverness and the ride was beautiful! There are cliffs, beaches and mountains all over the east coast of Scotland! Since I was exhausted from Edinburgh, I decided to take things easy in Inverness, which was super easy to do since there is almost NOTHING to do there and I was there for 3 nights! But I walked around the city, went dolphin watching in the north, and walked around the Ness Islands in the south. I went on a Jacobite cruise to the Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle on the second day and as you can see, it was beautiful! The people were also super nice! When I asked for directions, a couple led me to where I needed to go! It was really funny though because I met this girl named Amanda at the hostel, and we RAN INTO EACH OTHER the moment I arrived in Belfast (later, in Ireland)!

The thing I think I have learned is that the colder it gets, the hungrier you get. Honestly when I was in Dominican Republic 2 summers ago, I literally lived off of just fruit and was never hungry (though I was thirsty ALL THE TIME). Inverness was really cold, and so I was hungry pretty much 24/7! I really think I gained a lot of weight going there, I ate SOOOOOOOO much bread. . . and peanut butter - or maybe you don't gain weight when it's that cold.

Glasgow
So what everyone said about there being nothing to do in Glasgow? TOTALLY true. Though I didn't actually have time to see any museums :(. It also did have the coolest cemetery I have ever seen in my life - Necropolis- which is on a hill and has amazing views of the city! Anyways I actually had a really fun time here b/c I met a bunch of really cool people and ended up staying up really late just hanging out and talking the night I stayed here! I'm now officially convinced I HAVE to live in LA. . . and be a musician. NYC is just too close and comfortable.

There are a lot of Canadians in Scotland btw. . . kind of like there are a LOT of backpacking Australians in the continent. I also have an extremely difficult time understanding the Glaswegian(?) accent. It kind of sounds like gargling/chewing or something. I would just pretend not to know the answers (when I THINK ppl were asking me questions?) when really I just had no clue what they were saying and grew tired of asking "What. . .? What. . .? Sorry? Um. . . What. . .? Uh. . ."

I loved Scotland, but the fact that I look Asian started to really make me feel kind of self conscious (and yet raise my self esteem at the same time - hmmmmmm. . .). I would get stared at a LOT - not in a bad way, but it would always be obvious I wasn't from around there (this was EVERYWHERE I went, with the exception of Liverpool and Dublin). Sometimes I'd just think 'Hi? I CAN speak English so stop treating me like I don't understand anything!' Or you know when you just have those days when you hate the way you look and don't want people noticing you? Of course I was also alone so I'd feel like a lot of people were staring at me being by myself. Other times I'm OK with it, and it's even kind of cool because it tends to get me a lot of attention and people become really curious about me and all (and therefore make more of an effort to try to get to know me, so I get to know a lot of locals).

Anyways I will write about Northern Ireland later as this is getting really long and my computer is awful!

I didn't like the picture limit in that other blog so. . .

. . . I'm copying and pasting my one entry in that one and making this my travel blog yay!

OK so obviously my written journal will be WAY more important that writing in this blog (especially since my "e" key doesn`t work and I have to cut and paste them all. . . stupid computer), but I figure it will be easier for me to write things here for people to read rather that sending facebook messages more or less containing the same things over and over!

Anyways, a quick summary of some of the cooler (or crazier) things I have done since I have been studying abroad in London:

1. Watching Ewan McGregor as Iago in Othello: with Ian McKellen in the audience and then later walking alone in the street and seeing Ewan walking alone across the street! He smiled at me! And yes as soon as he was out of ear/eye sight I screamed and called people since he is my biggest celebrity crush person

2. Walking from Bath to Bristol: Supposedly there is a "12-Mile Walking/Cycling Path" between the 2 cities that goes through a lot of countryside views and the such. So I decided to take a little jog. It was definitely 18 and NOT 12! But it was worth it because I saw my favorite painting in Bristol - La Belle Dame Sans Merci. Oh and I also got lost on the train on the way back (Bath is only 1 stop away) and accidentally ended up in a different country - Cardiff, Wales

3. Barcelona: is still my favorite place! I miss Park Güell and I had never heard of Gaudi before, but now I`m in love with him! I also forgot to mention how a friend I was with was threatened by a crazy man on the street with a needle - SCARY. The guy didn`t come near me at all, but luckily my friend got away by saying "ayudame" to a man passing by. Considering this happened and Barcelona is still my favorite place says a lot I think.

4. Paris with Shweta: is also one of my favorite places! I`m still not over it! I LOVE Montmartre the most!

5. Day trip to Stockholm with Megan: - yes it`s possible but don`t do it! It`s way too stressful and I aged around 14 years! But it was AMAZING and I want to go back! My tour book btw describes everything in Stockholm as ugly. Weird!

6. Watching a Murder Trial at Old Bailey: They wear wigs! We watched the Nisha Patel-Nasri Case.

Anyways, I will update this as I travel or do things. . . which will most likely not be until I head off to Scotland in about a week!