UK and Canada

A 114-day adventure by Isaben Read more

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Trip start
April 16, 2016
UK and Canada Traveler
Getting ready.
April 16, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
So far I have paid for my airfares and the Trafalgar tour. Lots of money. The next payment is due in May. July seems a long way away.

Have been checking out what COSMOS offer for tours in free time. Would love to do all, but need to be sensible to fact I might need some down time.

Nearly time for last payment. Still 2 months to go.Read more
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Upper Hutt
June 25, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Getting things sorted. Only 2 weeks to go. Bit nervous, but excited. Collect my tickets and itinerary on Monday.
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27 June 2016
June 27, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
Well, reality time. Ry and I went to the travel agency and collected the the TICKETS. It is really going to happen. Both Trafalgar and Cosmos tour papers all completed and Singapore and later Vancouver tours all docketed.Read more
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30 July 2016
June 30, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Only 10 days to go. Trying to get your head around it! Tidying up a few bits and pieces and starting to put together what I need to take with me.
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Lasr Week Before Take Off
July 5, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 11 °C
Had a bit of a panic re Trafalgar tour as no gratuity paid and no pick up. Apparently they don't pick up as I am coming in one day early. Natasha has calmed me down and I am getting excited nervous. Ann H phoned to catch up and also Debbie. Heather and Kevin are also meeting up with me for a meal at the airport.Read more
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Friday night
July 8, 2016 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Wow, nearly on my way. Lovely friends have wished me well with lunch and little gifts. Kate sorted my packing so have been honed back, still full case. Rangimarie is all packed in hand luggage.
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singapore at the hotel
July 12, 2016 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
After a dramatic start yesterday mostly induced by my not reading signs and understanding them) I have had a lovely nights sleep and feel reasonably refreshed. Guess at some stage in
I will need to get dressed but for now doing some journaling.

After loosing and finding my luggage and papers work, I got the shuttle to the hotel. Heat and humidity is amazingly different from the Birchville morning I left behind. It drizzled yesterday but with 32 degrees you dry as fast as you get wet! Yes, Sharon, streets empty we get wet and Singaporeans come out when it eases.

The hotel had arranged my room early so I was able to get straight in. After a shower, I was off. I got a 24 hour bus pass, which will last me until 1 today. You get your own set of head phones to plug in and take with you as you travel the red, yellow and brown lines on the map that comes with it). I managed about 18,000 steps all up until I returned to the hotel for a break before going to see the lights at Garden at the Bay. Hopefully the photo will sow how amazing this place is.Read more
Sandy ClarksonWow 18,000 steps that's amazing.
7/12/16Reply
Sandy ClarksonSounds amazing
7/12/16Reply
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Singapore
July 12, 2016 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
Some photos from yesterday
Kate Milburn Ryanne says these are beautiful flowers 💕
7/12/16Reply
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Boat Trip and Raffles
July 12, 2016 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
The statue is half lion half fish. Legend tells that a lion was seen on the shores and as this was originally a fishing village the too became the Merion. The very smart gentleman is at the entrance to Raffles. Doorman? The food is from Ah Teng Bakery. Croissant was lovely, salmon, cucumber, to a toe and lettuce. The multi coloured statue was on the way to Raffles, and the selfish was taken at the start place of the boat trip. Note the baby merlin.Read more
Kate MilburnYou ate a toe!? Lol! Cool app.
7/12/16Reply
Sandy Clarkson Looks amazing
7/12/16Reply
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Cade special
July 12, 2016 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C
These plants are also made from lego. I missed the spider, sorry Cade.
Sandy ClarksonWow had to look twice
7/12/16Reply
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Night Safari
July 12, 2016 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Collected from hotel at 6.15 and travelled out to the Safari Park. Very organised as things seem to be here. After a forty minute tram ride through five differing environments we got off to take a choice of walking, show or fire dancers. Piked for first time and opted for free dancers and a sit down. We should be back at hotel by eleven and with early start for UK need all my sleep. The picture is of a mural painted on a wall in the waiting area.Read more
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UK and Canada Traveler
First Night London
July 14, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Arrived after a 13 hour flight. Spent 20 minutes circling Heathrow. No lost luggage and straight through. Where is customs? Immigration guy was asking where I am going and said I will see more of London than him. This is the view from my room.

I have a smaller room here than Singapore but is adequate. Going to have a shower then dinner I hope.Read more
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Kensington Park and gardens
July 15, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Woke at 2.20am. Not such a good idea. Anyway, meant an early morning start. Met Marie and Neville (I think) at breakfast and found out that they are joining everyone on Saturday. Nice couple from Oz. Breakfast over and laundry sorted walked down to Kensington Park. Ambled my way past shops shut til 9.00 or 9.30. Found a lovely church and Kensington Palace. Was able to walk into the gardens and take a closers look at the gardens. Lots of photos taken. Picked up a sim card ND had a Devon scone and Americans at Marks answer Spencers. Sales on everywhere it seems and I have managed to resist so far.

Made it back to hotel in time to go on Windsor to u what an amazing place. The Queen was not in residence but again amazing afternoon. The opulence is mind boggling. The rooms are much smaller than I thought they might be too much cartoon watching.

Tonight another amazing trip. This time ATASTE of London. Went to Inn at Court,a lawyers drinking place in the past, probably still is. Pub dinner of soup and bread followed. Was nice to meet some of my fellow travellers. I guess I will eventually remember names. By the by the meal was huge,so I had a taste of each course. Dessert was amazing, and English lemon type custard. Very good and very rich.

After eating we the travelled along the Thames through London City to the boat . This was amazing as photo show. Pub is Butchers Hook .Read more
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Hampton Court
July 16, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
What a beautiful place. Wandering through this place through gardens and made. Loved topiary Henry 8th
Sandy Clarkson Some cleaver people out there
7/17/16Reply
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Oxford
July 16, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
This world famous city of learning was so busy with tourists and graduations. Found a lovely sandwich bar that a lovely cloister. Really a cool green oasis to sit and recollect images and sites around.Read more
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Heading to York
July 17, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
Going along motorway to get York. Director noted that it was unfortunate that the back road routes not used as we miss so much of rural England. There is a planned stop for stretch and refresh along the way. Today we go through Robyn Hood Country.

Passing through coal mining lands with little villages clustered together. Going through peak country, as we head towards York. Tried for photo of wind power but too slow. Sherwood forest coming up. Where is the forest? Sherwood Forest was a royal hunting park. Not forest as we think of it today. Included woodland, farm land and villages. Age and population has decreased forest. Replanting attempts on going now. Did Robin Hood exist?Read more
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York
July 17, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Going to Minster , markets and then let loose. Used by Romans as base for northern England. Vale of York is most fertile area in North,good water access. Romans here for 300 years, then withdrawn to save empire. Salons and Angles invaded. Settled in York. Late 700s 800s invaded by Vikings. Built city in York. Truce between Salons and Vikings. Next invasion Normans. York Minster greatest minster this side of alps.

Very nice lunch at a pub called Golden Fleece. Had a plough man's lunch with cider. Huge meal. Looked in Minster. What craftsmanship involved in building this church! You can go right down into the basement area and see how the foundations are set up. Mean and I then returned slowly back to the meeting place, checking out a small market on the way. While waiting to meet up had a cupcake for Ry. Sat in a lovely park at the side of the Minster.Read more
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off to Edinburgh.
July 18, 2016 in England ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Edinburgh today as a final destination. Stop off on the way at Hadrions wall. Northumberland after that. So onward and upward to Scotland. Hadrions wall - a bus shelter and footbridge! Wall built between Glasgow and Perth. Second wall built 12AD. Northumberland. Photo taken here of wall.Read more
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Heading to Edinburgh ii
July 18, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Photo of land around Hadrians Wall. We actually drive over where the wall was. This is a world Heritage site . Northumberland is largest national park in UK. Very like Scottish Highlands. Stopping at Melrose. Lots of stone dry walls.

Perry's or Duke of Northumberland main family. British army does training in this area. Otterborn Camp. Next step Carterbaub move into Cheviot hills and cheviot sheep.

At the border! Dad would have loved being piped into Scotland.Read more
Kate Milburn Cool!
7/18/16Reply
Sandy Clarkson Brianna says did you like the bag pipes? And she loves you in pink
7/18/16Reply
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on the way to Edinburgh iii
July 18, 2016 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Reason for flag. St Andrews patron saint of Scotland. Small army facing viking invaders. Last ditch battle next morning. As they knelt to pray to saint for quick death. Cloud in sky into shape of cross against blue sky. JEDWATER WATER STOP! On for lunch at Melrose.Read more
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York
July 18, 2016 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
This is such an ancient city. Going through the narrow streets and hearing some of the history of this early city. Went through the shambles and had lunch at a haunted pub,the Golden Hind. Photos of insde pub,cathedral,house in the shambles and the wall arround the city.Read more
Kate Milburn Looks a lot warmer there! Nice photo 💖
7/18/16Reply
Sandy ClarksonLooks amazing you are seeing so much
7/18/16Reply
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Melrose Abbey
July 19, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
This ancient ruin was originally the site of Cisterian monks and was established in 1136. They believed in a very austere life dedicated to God. Life would have been very hard and prayer was a vital part of their daily lives along with hard work and almost poverty vows.Read more
Kate Milburn Looks amazing!
7/18/16Reply
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Edinburgh Tour
July 19, 2016 in Scotland ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Off to see the castle today. Three hour tour of city and lots of walking the day turned out very hot with a potential high of 30 degrees. The Castle is set on a volcanic plug at the highest point around. The Scottish crown jewels are kept here. You walk up 500 to reach the castle entry. On coming out you can wander around the cobbled streets seeing churches and castles and little close. The photos show a close entry and the gates to the Queens residence.

What a wonderful evening. We went out to a Scottish kaylee night (spelling). Wonderful bagpipes. Just love the sound. There was song, music, stories along with lovely food and company. Had a salmon entree, tasted haggis and toasted it and followed up with lovely serving of pork belly. All very small servings, almost deputation. David Vernonia, the accordionist, comes to Upper Hutt Cossie Club in February so need to keep a look out for that.Read more
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Out of Edinburgh
July 20, 2016 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Well, had written up info and forgot to save. Travelled out along waterfront and now raining Scottish mist! On into Fife? And crossed new bridge. Photo is of old one.

It is great to have history told as we move along the motorways. The area we are travelling now is great growing area.
Unfortunately today we can't see it?Read more
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St Andrews
July 20, 2016 in Scotland ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Been to see golf course in rain. No photo no visibility. Lovely township even in rain. Spent 30 minutes finding coffee and very tasty walnut and date scone. The houses are built of stone and are what I would have imagined it to be 100s of year ago. Most places have lovely gardens. The old golf course was discussed and apparently the new one is very good too. Had a look for Sharon, Phil, Robyn and Dave.

Went to Leuchars Airbase. Photos give wet indication of homes. Airbase hosts an airshow. As we head for Perth the crops line the sides of the road. Seedling are just coming up and potatoes are well on their way to cropping.

Crossed the Tay to get to Dundee. Renown for jam jute and journalism. This city centre was by passed. Wrong side to get photo of new Tay Bridge. The original collapsed. The weather and weight of train caused the collapse and design, weather and train were blamed . Tay is a river often ignored. Floods quite seriously.

Photo is of by passing Dundee!Read more
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