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Vela Huang
Vela Huang

Vela Huang

16 カ国を旅行しました もっと詳しく
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  • Our OE
    Couple of beach bums
    Looking out over the tops of the battlementsPlenty of breeze to fly the flagsView of the old cityGetting artsy with the gatehouseFound a cutieThe beach!That tropical feelingSquid ink paella & some sweet treatsWalking off our dinner

    To the beach!

    2024年6月21日, スペイン ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    But before we got to the beach, we stopped by the big stone gate into the city. We've passed this structure every day since we arrived, but we always had other priorities and hadn't gone up. Today was the day! So we bought our very expensive tickets (sarcasm) and made our way up the steps to the top of the gatehouse.

    It would have been roughly 8 or 9 storeys high and we got a very nice view out over the old town. We could see the tops of church domes peaking out past apartment buildings. We were lucky to have another fantastic blue sky day with only a couple of fluffy clouds scooting past on the Mediterranean breeze. We spent a bit of time atop the battlements, getting a couple of snaps before making our way to the bus station.

    It took about an hour by bus to get to the beach, and with a very lazy start to our day, it was about 6pm when we arrived. There was plenty of heat still in the sun, and plenty of people still out enjoying it. We found a spot and Nathan promptly made his way into the waves. The water was a little cool at first, but once in it was lovely. After Nathan had enough time trying to body surf the choppy waves, we chilled on the beach reading until dinner time.

    We found a neat little restaurant near the beach and ordered squid ink paella (it's the squid ink, it's not burnt) and topped it off with a cheesecake and tiramisu for dessert. A bus ride and short walk later we were back home. That's it for our time in Valencia, very pretty little city with an amazing climate. Looking forward to our next stop on the Mediterranean coast!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Bright and colourful day in Valencia
    The market buildingA sample of what we saw at the marketInside the silk merchants buildingInside Valencia CathedralSaint Vincent's armGiant gold processional pieceHuman remains uncovered in the crypt below the cathedralThe holy cupSangria time!

    Market, Cathedral & Sangria

    2024年6月20日, スペイン ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Back out into the old town of Valencia. Today we were exploring the old food market and Valencia Cathedral. The day was absolutely spectacular, with an insanely blue sky and fluffy white clouds scooting across. Everything seemed particularly vibrant and colourful.

    First stop was the food market. There was so much variety and colour here, with gigantic capsicums, massive tomatoes, and bright purple eggplant. Butchers, bakers and fishmonger stalls were throughout this stylish building. We sampled some fresh juice, oysters, and some of the Spanish ham and chorizo on fresh bread, yum!

    Finished in the market we crossed the road to the old silk merchants building which we saw on our first night in Valencia. At a cost of only 2 euro to enter, this building was definitely value for money! A beautiful, cool, outdoor square with a fountain and orange trees was central to the complex, while inside the tall stone columns and vaulted ceilings were epic. The upstairs room with its patterned marble floor and intricate wooden ceilings was also spectacular.

    We continued on to Valencia Cathedral. We plugged ourselves into the audio guide which was included with our entry ticket (more places need to do this!) and set about admiring the cathedral's features. Our first Spanish Cathedral so there were definitely a few interesting items of note. Firstly was the range of different architectural styles, from Gothic, to baroque through to Neo classical designs also being represented. Vela got a little bored and tired so sent Nathan off to explore the rest of the treasures.

    The main items of note included; the preserved severed arm of Saint Vincent (patron saint of Valencia), the gigantic golden processional piece, the tombs and foundations uncovered in the crypt beneath the cathedral, and the most spectacular piece being the chalice which Jesus drank from during the last supper. Very cool cathedral.

    To top off our explorations we made sure to quench our thirst with an afternoon Sangria of course!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Hanging out by the pool
    Awesome architecture of the museum complexLeaf cutter ants cutting leavesVela smelling flowers (yes these don't have a smell)Really enjoyed the architecture of these buildingsAfternoon Sangria and a light lunchOld Roman bridge into the Old townCooling off by the fountain - Vela showing off her new hatGuess which ice-cream belongs to whoDinner time! Vela ate this all by herself, plus a dish of fried baby green peppers

    Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciences

    2024年6月19日, スペイン ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    After quite a relaxed start to the day, we took a bus across town to the museum complex. On arrival, there was an immediate impression made by the architecture. Completely white buildings with a backdrop of deep blue sky and light blue pools in front of us. Very awesome.

    We headed inside the science museum. It was filled with a bunch of space exhibits, some DNA stuff, and big pendulum clock. All-in-all not the most enthralling exhibitions. The most interesting item was a display of leaf cutter ants, carrying their claimed trophies back to their nests where they feed them to a fungus which provides the colony with food. Interesting!

    After the museum we stopped for a late lunch and a Sangria (this might be becoming a habit...) The prawns came out in a little bowl full of sizzling oil, and Vela had round two of her baby squid. We chilled out for a little while, enjoying the near perfect temperature and light breeze.

    We eventually made our way back towards the old town, stopping briefly for Vela to purchase a bikini (which will be required in the coming days and weeks) and a new hat. We walked back (roughly 3km) through the old riverbed park, enjoying the nature and the old Roman Bridge into the old town. We then found a neat fountain in the old town to chill out next to before having a cheeky gelato.

    Vela was still feeling a little peckish, so we stopped for one small taster before heading home. With squid, snails and baby green peppers in Vela's belly, we headed back to the apartment for a good night's sleep.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    The sun!
    Entry through the old city wallLocal flag of ValenciaLa Lonja de la Seda de Valencia (old merchant building)Looking down the streetsSangria time!Zucchini Carpaccio & Valencia PaellaThat is a gigantic spoon in the pan by the way2The evolution of Sangria Vela (giggly)Relaxing walk home

    Arrival in Valencia

    2024年6月18日, スペイン ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C

    An early morning to catch our plane, and by lunchtime we had landed in sunny Valencia! We enjoyed our time exploring England and Scotland, but boy are we glad for some blue skies and temperatures in the high 20s!

    We checked into our accommodation, a really nice apartment just outside the old city walls. After a light lunch and grabbing some breakfast goodies from the supermarket, we got straight into the Spanish habit of an afternoon siesta. We headed out for a wander around the old town at about 7.00pm and to hunt down some dinner.

    The architecture was in stark contrast to the Gothic style in Northern England and Scotland, with a much lighter coloured stone and giving off a Mediterranean vibe. We passed a few musicians busking and enjoyed the relaxing feel of the plazas where people were enjoying their evening meals. We made our way over to Yuso - a recommendation from Mike & Cass - and ordered a jug of Sangria to quench our thirst. We made sure to get the original Valencia version of paella made with chicken, rabbit and mushroom, and had a light dish of carpaccio zucchini. Very tasty, although possibly a touch on the salty side to have too much. Looking forward to trying a range of different paella in the coming weeks!

    A relaxing walk back to our apartment to digest our dinner, and off to explore more of Valencia tomorrow.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Golf time!
    Vela showing Nathan the way on the first teeFalkland Golf ClubGreat to get back on a golf courseThe big dirty rain cloud found us...Little bit of St Andrews swagVela enjoying the sun - she says she's a plantNathan running off again - always has to be in frontVela in actionFinal scores with a Mulligan each

    Falkland Golf Club

    2024年6月17日, スコットランド ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    After being at the Home of Golf, we were itching to get out on a course for a hack - and try out our fancy new ball markers. So we stopped back in at Falkland Golf Club on our return to Edinburgh for a cheeky 9 holes. The weather was a little questionable, with some threatening clouds hanging around, so we packed our umbrella and a jacket and set out.

    The course was a tidy little 9 hole country course. The greens were in great nick, the fairways well maintained and it was a good reintroduction for us to golf. It was a little quirky with the second hole requiring you to hit your tee shot over a football field... But for just 10 pounds each we definitely won't complain!

    Playing with hired clubs is always a little tricky, but we had both decided that happy golf was the aim of the day. To be honest we both played pretty well considering we haven't been out for a while, we did give each other a Mulligan though to make up our rustiness. We had to hide under the trees for about 10 minutes from a particularly nasty rain cloud, but once that was over it was a beautiful afternoon.

    There were a couple of shots of particular note; both Nathan and Vela hit great shots out of the bunker (filmed both of them), a great bogey saving 20ft putt by Vela, but most impressive of all was when Nathan managed to bounce his tee shot on the 8th off the wall of the cart path and into the back yard of the house behind the tee box...

    At the end of our 9 holes we'd managed to achieve our number one goal of happy golf, and both shot sub 50 through the 9 holes. A great way to finish our UK road trip - back to the airport tomorrow headed for a warmer climate!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Standing on the 18th fairway
    Haggis roll for lunchHow could we not stop at the Dunvegan?Some legends stamped into historyStanding on the Swilcan BridgeView from behind the 17th tee boxLooking out over the 18th greenIt's not until you realise you could hardly see out of the bunker that you understand the difficultyVela demonstrating the depth of some of the swalesAnd topped off with a Sunday roast, YUM!

    St Andrews

    2024年6月16日, スコットランド ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Bit of an epic experience today. We left Edinburgh bright and early, with nowhere near enough sleep, and after a pit stop to get ourselves caffeinated, we headed further north, deeper into Scotland. We made a little stop on a country road with a little bit of a view of farmland and a lake, Vela had a nap and Nathan chilled out reading a book.

    With Vela feeling a little fresher, we popped down into the town, Falkland, and visited the golf course. The clubhouse was open so we had a couple of hot rolls for lunch, getting our first taste of haggis in the process. Honestly, not too bad and full of flavour. We made arrangements with the golf club to stop in tomorrow and play 9 holes on our way back, so looking forward to that!

    We continued on to St Andrews, and after getting our hands on some coins for parking, we got our first look at the home of golf, the Old Course. Not going to lie, it was a pretty surreal experience. On Sunday's they close the Old Course and it's open to the public to go for a walk. We were experiencing some typical Scottish weather - cold, wet and windy - so we just walked to the Swilcan Bridge for a quick photo before finding shelter at the nearby Dunvegan pub. The pub is iconic, and legend has it that Ernie Els was the first to hit a ball off the flagstones outside the pub to the 18th green on the old course at 4am, a feat which has been repeated at least once in recent history. The photos and golfing memorabilia inside the pub were pretty amazing, so we settled in with a pint of their local stout and watched a bit of the US Open on the telly.

    About an hour and a half spent hiding from the weather and it had cleared up outside, so we went for another foray into the Old Course. This time we walked a bit further to check out the famous 17th tee box, where you're required to hit your tee shot over the hotel to reach the fairway. We investigated some of the bunkers and fairways before we made our way back into town.

    Time for another pub for a bite to eat, being Sunday we had to get a Sunday roast before leaving the UK. So we split a pork roast and a beef roast between us, which each came with giant Yorkshire puddings and an assortment of delicious roast veggies.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    We took our jackets and umbrella, so of course it was a lovely day!
    The Royal MileFound a nice little pub to sample a couple of dropsYum!Pretty hanging flowersBright!Few angles of Edinburgh CastleDown by the sea for some r&rCute!Sunset over Edinburgh

    Edinburgh

    2024年6月15日, スコットランド ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    After a very nice sleep by the seaside, and a delicious full English breakfast at the hotel (Vela tried black pudding - not her jam) we were ready to get back on the road. Nathan made a quick pit stop to get a bit of washing done while Vela went for a walk through the old town of Berwick-Upon-Tweed.

    We crossed the border into Scotland and then set off for Edinburgh. After a short drive we arrived and headed straight to the middle of town. After we found a parking spot for the afternoon we walked up to the royal mile, a road linking Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace. We wandered up the cobbled streets, enjoying the sounds of bagpipes which really made us feel like we were in Scotland. There was an assortment of other street performers as well, including a group that had some owls you could pay to get a photo with.

    We made our way up to Edinburgh Castle, expecting to be able to buy a ticket at the gate and walk right in. Oops that one might have needed a bit more planning... Looks like it books out at least half a week in advance... Never mind...

    We headed back down the Royal Mile and parked ourselves up in a pub for about an hour. They had some of the Euro Cup Football on so we kept one eye on the telly while sampling some real ales. After we were finished in the town centre, we made our way around a couple of spots for views of Edinburgh Castle. Both of us haven't been feeling 100% so we opted to drive out to a quiet spot at a marina to look at the boats and relax. We both ended up having a nap for about an hour before it was time for dinner and off to our accommodation.

    Unfortunately our accommodation was a bit of a dud. We didn't have high hopes as it was a hostel room with 6 bunks, but it was significantly smaller than expected and when paired with two guys snoring and another getting up very inconsiderately early (5am) having a shower and making a hell of a racket, it even fell below our low expectations... No more shared rooms in hostels for us!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Hiding from the rain (ineffective)
    Couple of snaps at Alnwick Castle"UP, UP, UUUP!""She's a nightmare, honestly, it's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!"Holy Island causewayLindisfarne Castle on the headlandRuins of the Lindisfarne PrioryFairy houseView from the hotelLooking out at Berwick (Berrick)Hazy'o'clock

    Alnwick, Lindisfarne & Berwick

    2024年6月14日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Another lovely English summers day. Fortunately the temperature had improved with a high of 17, but pesky thunder showers were still hanging around.

    First stop today was Alnwick (pronounced Annick) Castle. The castle is famous as it has been used in many films and TV shows, most notably Harry Potter, but also home to Transformers, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves, and Downtown Abbey. We jumped on the movie scenes tour and it was very cool listening to some of the stories, particularly that the fear in Neville's eyes during the broomstick scene was real.

    We walked through the inside of the castle (photos not allowed unfortunately) and marveled at the antiques, sculpted ceilings, and incredible chandeliers.

    After Alnwick we made our way to Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island. The island is joined to England by a causeway which is covered by water and impassable for about 4 hours at every high tide. On arrival, Vela was suffering from a lack of sleep so we took a short intermission - probably quite a good thing as a rather heavy downpour went overhead, including a small amount of hail. Once it had passed, we walked over to Lindisfarne Castle - which made for a very striking figure on the only hill at the head of the island. On our way back to the car, the heavens opened on us again and we tried to hide under our one umbrella... Of course this led to both of us getting rather damp.

    As the rain lightened again, we stopped past the ruins of the old Lindisfarne Priory. Vela also found a little cottage with the most amazing gardens - it looked like a fairy lived there.

    We left Holy Island via the causeway and headed up the coast to Berwick (Berrick) for our overnight accommodation. A very cute little hotel with a sea view. Nathan thought it was prudent to crack open a hazy by the seaside and we relaxed with the sound of waves lapping the beach outside.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Whitby Abbey
    Vela standing on some stairsThe view looking inland from WhitbyAnother view of the AbbeyTrying to get a little artsy (we cheaped out so taking this photo over the wall)On top of the Whitby cliffsSurfers at SaltburnFarms on top of the cliffsVela standing on some more stairsOops she caught me taking photos

    Whitby & Saltburn

    2024年6月13日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Bit of a slower day as we have been feeling a little bit flat (possibly a hangover from being unwell a couple of weeks back). So we visited the Whitby Abbey on the hill and made sure to sample a crab sandwich and smoked kippers before leaving.

    We stopped in at Saltburn and walked up and down the pier. There was a gaggle of surfers braving the cold to catch a ride - definitely wetsuit weather. We wanted to catch the funicular up the hill, but unfortunately it was under repair so we had to put our legs to work instead. The view was pretty cool, with flat farmland going right up to the 90 degree drop straight down into the North sea.

    After we'd had enough wandering around, we made the short hop over to Newcastle and chilled out for the evening.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Looking out over the North York Moors
    A selection of plants and flowersDodging sheep in the moorsStopped at the Blakey Inn for a chicken parmo and a pintRobin Hood's BayRobin Hood's BayBoggle HoleLooking out over Robin Hood's BayGetting a little artsySunset from Whitby

    North York Moors & Robin Hood's Bay

    2024年6月12日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Bit of a long day today. We got going pretty early and headed up into the North Yorkshire Moors. It was a pretty frigid sort of day and outside the temperature only just creeped into double digits, a cold summers day even by northern England standards. The moors were very pretty however, with pink red and purple flowers. The original plan was to go for a bit of a hike but we opted out of it as we felt we could see most of the terrain from the car.

    We drove down into a little farm village and went for a wander along some of the country lanes, with big oak trees and pretty English gardens lining the area. We then headed back up to Blakey Ridge to visit the inn. Jenny used to work here back in the day and the local delicacy, a chicken parmo hot shot, came highly recommended. We opted to share one as well as a pint of real ale - it was a good call as we struggled to get through it with both us! The chicken parmo is a crumbed chicken steak, covered in bechamel sauce, cheese, salami, and some other goodies.

    After lunch, we made our way to the coast to check out Robin Hood's Bay. We did a bit of research and apparently there isn't much linking Robin Hood to the bay, but it was known to be a hot spot for smugglers. We went for a little wander along the shore, Nathan wanted to explore further to Boggle Hole, while Vela liked the idea of finding a little tea shop and reading her book (she wasn't a big fan of the 11 degree air temperature). So we split up and Nathan went to find Boggle Hole - a little spot where a river flows out over the beach. After a little wade over the the river and hike back on top of the cliff Nathan returned with damp shoes and socks.

    We then headed to tonight's destination, Whitby. We were a bit knackered by now, but we went for a little stroll through the town to get fish and chips from Mister Chips and met up with Jenny's sister, Hannah. After dinner, Hannah took us for a little wander through the old market street and to check out the town's sea defences - everything was shut however and we were pretty cold so we headed back to the hotel to warm up and do a proper exploration of the town tomorrow.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    At the York Minster
    Gargoyles, flowers, and architecture of the MinsterTea at Betty'sThe House of Trembling MadnessWalking the city wallsSome twisted old houses and the Shambles1This sign spoke to usA sample of the pubs in YorkThanks Pete & Liz!Hotel in ScarboroughNice sea view

    Exploring York

    2024年6月11日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We spent today hanging out in York. We started off with a 2 hour drive over from Lincoln, with a brief stop on the side of the road to scoff down a couple of sandwiches for breakfast. On arriving in York, we went to check out the Minster. The cost to get in was 18 pound each ($36nzd) and while the place was huge and you could likely spend hours inside exploring, we didn't have the time to make use of it. Instead we walked around the outside, enjoying the architecture and gargoyles.

    We had made plans to meet up with Jenny's parents, Pete & Liz, so we stopped in at Betty's for a spot of tea while we were waiting. The tea was very nice and the sultana scone was amazing! Nathan's funky chocolate scone was not quite to the same standard - goes to show sometimes it's best to stick to the hits!

    Pete then met us outside Betty's and took us on a tour around York - first stop, the pub. We visited a few pubs throughout the day, each with their own style, but this one (The house of trembling Madness) was particularly neat. Downstairs was the most amazing collection of craft beer we've seen, while upstairs the attic had a hunting lodge vibe and was serving some great real ales.

    After the first pub we climbed the old city wall and had a neat view into some very traditional English gardens. We made our way around to the Shambles, an old butchers street which, according to legend, was inspiration for Harry Potter's Diagon Alley. There were a couple of shops here playing off the Harry Potter theme, and a range of neat little sweet/fudge shops, apothecary's, and other souvenir shops.

    Onwards to pub #2 - The Blue Bell. A very small hole-in-the-wall type pub with cosy little rooms. It felt very comfortable and you could imagine stopping in for a pint next to the fire on your way home from work.

    One final stop at pub #3 where we met up with Liz as well. Pivni was another cool spot, a three storey pub with the bathrooms on the top floor. We were taking it easy on the drinks (Vela and Nathan just sharing a half pint at each of the pubs) but you could imagine people finding it tricky to get up and down the wonky stairs and twisted top floor to use the bathroom after a couple of pints.

    A massive thank you to Pete and Liz for the tour of York. We feel like we've only scratched the surface and will have to come back again!

    After York, we drove an hour out to Scarborough on the coast. We'd been told things like "oh you should give Scarborough a miss" or "Scarborough? Why?" But on arriving, we discovered a pretty little seaside town. Our hotel, while a little eccentric, had a great view out over the water. With sunset not until 9.30, and true darkness not until much later, we had a late dinner and watched the people, boats, and seagulls.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Big breakfast for a big day!
    Peterborough CathedralStill have time to stop and smell the rosesAmazing stained glass of Peterborough CathedralLincolnshire WoldsBumped into a few crittersNearly missed the return pathPretty prettyEnjoying the British sunThe King's Head

    Peterborough & the Lincolnshire Wolds

    2024年6月10日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    First stop of the day was Aldi. We are a bit over paying inflated prices for our food so it was time to get a bit of breakfast and lunch food to assist the budget. Immediately after we headed over the road to get a full English breakfast though...

    Next we drove just under an hour to Peterborough. The weather was looking a little bit dodgy, but fortunately held out for us and the Peterborough Cathedral looked fantastic with a splash of blue sky behind it. Home to the largest painted wooden ceiling in Europe (or so we were told) it was the stained glass windows that truly made this cathedral feel special. The Cathedral is also over 900 years old, and took 120 years to build.

    We hopped back in the car and Vela found a nice little walk for us to do in the Lincolnshire Wolds. On the way there the skies opened and we got a true taste of a British summer, hail included. Again we were lucky, and by the time we made it to our hike destination, the weather had cleared and the sun showed its face again. The little hike we went on was very pretty, about an hour and a half for a circuit from Tealby to Walesby through farmland and a bit of light bush. There were all sorts of critters including rabbits, squirrels, sheep, cattle and deer.

    After our walk we found ourselves at the Kings Head Tavern - the oldest thatched roof pub in Lincolnshire, not sure how much of a claim that is but can definitely attest that it looked the part and they poured a decent ale. Onwards to Lincoln and our hotel for the night.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Saying goodbye to London
    The captain on watchCute little river boatsA couple of cool bridges on the river CamA couple of cool bridges on the river CamKings college chapel at Cambridge UniversityGetting Harry Potter vibesCool sandstone architecture - every head was differentThe mathematicians bridge - I'm no engineer but it looks like it would distribute force evenly

    Onwards to Cambridge!

    2024年6月9日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Onto the next leg of our journey. We headed back to Heathrow airport to pick up our rental car, a very nice Mazda SUV, and left London headed to Cambridge. Nathan quickly took a wrong turn while tutu'ing with the cruise control, but 5 minutes later we were back on track.

    Vela sent us to a Belgian waffle house, but the line was huge so we decided to give it a miss and had service station food instead. We continued on to Cambridge, making our way down some very British looking streets/roads - very narrow city streets, and country roads with beautiful lush shrubbery encroaching onto the roadway.

    On our arrival into Cambridge, we went for a stroll along the river Cam. There were a few rowing skiffs out, and some pretty little river boats tied up to the sides of the canal. One of the boat captains was out enjoying the occasional ray of sunshine when it appeared.

    We checked into our hotel - almost more of a boarding house setup, but it's only one night so it'll do us just fine. After a short rest we made our way back into the streets to explore. This time we walked around the Cambridge University campus. Most of the areas were closed as it was a Sunday, but we did get a good look at the Kings College Chapel, and a few "Harry Potter'esque" alleyways.

    There were a bunch of punters heading up and down the river, but it was a bit chilly so we opted to keep our feet dry. We spotted a cool little bridge as we were walking back to our car, and overheard a tour guide calling it the "mathematicians bridge" and that there is a legend it was designed by Isaac Newton - although he went on to say there is no evidence to support this legend.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Buckingham palace
    Victoria memorial in front of Buckingham palaceSome tidy looking gardensDoesn't get much more British than thisHarrods mall - a bit too expensive for our bloodLooking down Great Marlborough Street outside Liberty MallInside Liberty MallGreencoat BoyA real English ale with a steak pieGot streaked during our meal

    Buckingham, Shopping & Greencoat Boy

    2024年6月8日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    Last full day in London. With all the main attractions ticked off except for Buckingham Palace, it was time to go and see the royals.

    We attempted to visit during the changing of the guard, but it seemed that this was put off due to a practice for Kings Birthday weekend next week. From a distance we caught a glimpse of hundreds of horses, but by the time we got close the only evidence left was a few large piles of manure. Overhearing a couple of police officers, it seemed like the parade would be coming back at some point, but it could be up to an hour and a half wait, so we opted to move on.

    We made our way over to Harrods for a nosey, but kept our hands and wallets firmly in our pockets. The main escalator hall was very cool with its Egyptian theming, as was the bookshop with some special edition illustrated versions of famous books.

    We then moved on to the Liberty mall, which was a very different experience to Harrods. The building is a big, multi-leveled wooden structure with a couple of large atriums. Very unique to look at. Vela's wallet loosened slightly and she bought a pretty little toiletry bag.

    We finished off our time in London heading over to the Greencoat Boy pub. This pub was a little bit special because it's the pub where Nathan's dad worked in 1981 while he was living in London. It was interesting trying to imagine what the surrounding streets might have been like back then, and also trying to picture Ross working behind the bar. We tried a real English ale, a London gin, and had a beef pie for dinner. While we were at Greencoat Boy, a small group of naked bikers sped past from the demonstration earlier in the day promoting cycling in London (I think it might be more of a deterrent).

    That's a wrap on our time in London, time to grab some wheels and explore more of the UK!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Natural history museum
    Giant ground sloth, blue whale skeleton, sabertooth cat, ocean mammals, elephant & mammothsAn array of dinosaur casts and fossilsAn iguanodon fossilSauropod skeletonChinese treasuresGlass sculpture in the Victoria & Albert museumNotting Hill Friday street marketHyde ParkMalaysian meal for dinner

    Dinosaurs & Chinese Artefacts

    2024年6月7日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today started with a beautiful blue sky day - which we were under the impression doesn't happen often in the UK. We started by visiting the Natural History Museum - Vela decided it wasn't her thing so left Nathan alone to look at dusty old bones.

    The Natural History Museum was very cool, with some awesome displays of blue whales, saber toothed cats, and extinct species of elephants/mammoths. But definitely the best area was the dinosaurs. Some very informative displays, cool fossils and recreations on display and the crowning jewel of a VERY realistic animatronic T-Rex.

    While Nathan was busy looking at fossils, Vela visited the Albert & Victoria museum. She was quite surprised to find a couple of important Chinese treasures on display. Of particular importance were an imperial throne and an Emperor's robe. Both of these items were likely taken from the old Summer Palace in Beijing when China was invaded. Vela was a little disappointed to see that the Emperor's robe was not given pride of place, and felt that it would be better displayed and honoured back home in China. At the same time, it was a good opportunity to appreciate these items without the massive crowds they would draw in China.

    After we were finished checking out the museum's, we headed over to Notting Hill, where they have a street market every Friday. There were some awesome handmade goods, including these little soft toys made from ox hair. There was also a wide range of second hand clothing, street food, vintage cameras, and old knick knacks. Towards the far end of the street it started to feel a bit like an inorganic collection with some old electronics and furniture, so we left and went for a walk through Hyde Park. We saw a big group of squirrels hanging out under the trees, but their fun was spoiled when a little French bulldog chased them back into the trees.

    We finished our day with a meal at a local Malaysian restaurant and putting into place a bit more planning for the end of our trip.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Tower Bridge
    A glimpse of the Tower of LondonLondon EyeVela standing in front of the London EyeTwo dorks standing in front of Big BenBig Ben... Well bigBangers & Mash and a couple of pints at St Stephen's TavernOne more angle with the sun catching Big BenWestminster AbbeyVela and Rita in front of Big Ben

    Tower Bridge, London Eye & Big Ben

    2024年6月7日, イングランド ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    After a pit stop to rest our feet, we attempted to get up to the Sky Garden. We originally tried to get tickets, but none were available (think you need to book them weeks in advance) but thought we'd try our luck walking in. We were turned around, but it was worth a shot.

    We made our way over to get a glimpse of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. We then caught an Uber Boat up the Thames to Westminster. We did our landmark sighting of the London Eye, Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. Big Ben is definitely a lot more impressive in person, and we never realised the amount of gold detailing around the clock face until we saw it.

    With a well deserved recommendation we popped over the road from Big Ben into the St Stephen's Tavern for a pint and some dinner. The beer was good, but the bangers & mash were better! Apparently this little pub was frequented by many politicians, including Churchill.

    We met up with Rita and her colleagues again after dinner, and visited the Chesterfield Arms pub before heading to China Town. A bit of an unintended late night meant the London Underground wasn't running trains back to our hotel, so we had to splurge on a cab. Have to say the cabs were very comfortable, and with their setup of 6 seats in the back facing towards each other, there was plenty of space and it was very sociable.

    We've now ticked off most of the big ticket items in London, but still one more big one yet to come!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    British Museum
    Expensive little cup and a priceless stone carvingThe Rosetta StoneSelfie inside the museumSt Paul's - we climbed right to the tippy top!Inside St Paul'sView from the second level galleryRight at the top of the domeDoes Nathan look a little nervous?A magical staircase from Harry Potter

    British Museum & St Paul's Cathedral

    2024年6月6日, イングランド ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    Ended up being a very busy day today, so splitting this into two parts.

    First up we jumped back on the tube, headed for the British Museum. The plan here was to visit the China exhibits to see the ancient relics which were "liberated" when Europe invaded China. Unfortunately this area of the museum was closed due to maintenance for dates which almost perfectly match the time we're in London... Grr. We had a sneak peak through a window at this great big stone carving and there was a famous china cup on display which recently sold at auction for 36 million USD...

    We wandered through the rest of the museum, checking out ancient Egyptian mummies, Assyrian stone carvings, and other cool artifacts. But the most interesting item on display was definitely the Rosetta Stone.

    After we were done with the British Museum, we made our way over to St Paul's Cathedral. Entry was a bit on the pricey side, but it did come with a free audio guide which made the experience much more interesting. After admiring the architecture and artwork on the ground floor, we climbed up through the galleries to the top of the dome. Nathan's fear of heights kicked in at the first gallery (whispering gallery) but he soldiered on and made it right to the top. The views out over London were pretty epic.

    After we got our feet back on solid ground, we were a little bit cheeky and asked one of the staff if we could have a peek at the staircase which was included in Harry Potter. Usually this area is not open to the public, but because we asked nicely we were fortunate to be shown around.

    Done with St Paul's, we wandered off to check out some more of London's famous landmarks.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Taking the big bus (A380) to London
    Thousands of wind turbines as we crossed the English ChannelFirst experience of the London UndergroundCute little street in the middle of London (hotel around the corner)Quick curry before heading outPaddington StationKings Cross StationLooking for the Hogwarts ExpressOutside King's CrossFound Rita and a couple of her colleagues

    London Arrival

    2024年6月5日, イングランド ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Another early start for us as we headed back to the airport in Doha. An easy airport process and we were soon boarding an A380 to London. Vela booked our seats in the upstairs economy section, which was a good call as the plane was very full and this smaller section meant we still had really good service.

    About 8 hours later we were disembarking at Heathrow. Everyone has heard the stories about Heathrow being a nightmare, but our experience was very smooth. We made our way to the underground and jumped on the train headed to Paddington Station! The train experience was very different to China and Japan, the age of the Underground definitely showing with its lumps and bumps, but overall not too bad.

    We arrived at Paddington Station and walked 5 minutes to our hotel. Have to say the hotel room was not flash, but its central location and easy access to the Underground make it just fine for a few nights. Hungry from our travels we headed for a curry shop for dinner, before jumping back on the Underground to Kings Cross Station. Very cool checking out some places that everyone hears about when they're children. Also very cool seeing so many streets that we've all bought, sold and mortgaged during games of Monopoly!

    We had a quick look at the Platform 9 3/4 shop, with Harry's trolley stuck in the wall. There was quite a long line waiting to take a photo so we didn't bother. Vela found out that Rita, a friend from her Xiamen Sailing Team, was also in London for a conference, so we met up with her and some colleagues for a couple of wines.

    Back to the hotel for a good night's sleep. More exploration of London tomorrow!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Off to Qatar
    See you later trouble makersChecking out the indoor jungle at Singapore airportWhat a day!Checking out the resort beachPool was the better optionA few local bites to eatCool shots of the sunset at the SouqDoha skyline at nightBack to check out the resort pool

    Doha Layover

    2024年6月4日, カタール ⋅ ☀️ 36 °C

    Today we started our trip to London. Qatar Airlines does this thing where, if you have a layover greater than a certain length, you can book into particular hotels/resorts in Doha for VERY reasonable prices. Vela planned for us to have an 18 hour layover so we could get to see a little bit of Doha, and it is also a great way to break up a lengthy section of travel.

    But first we separated from mum and dad at Singapore airport, mum and dad flying to Sydney before heading back to NZ. With our flight being a little later, we went to check out the indoor jungle at the airport. No issues boarding our flight, and we were lucky that the plane was quite empty and we could shuffle ourselves around to have a row of 3 seats each.

    We arrived to a beautiful cloud-free day in Doha. The temperature outside was steaming hot and very humid, so we made use of the pool at our hotel and waited for the sun to go down before heading off for a bit of exploration.

    We headed into Doha to the Souq Waqif (a market area). We found a few delicious morsels for dinner, including bbq fish and prawns as well as a delicious beef kebab/wrap. The architecture in the market area was very interesting and different to what we've been seeing, and reminded us a bit of Star Wars - in particular Tatooine.

    We got to see a very pretty little sunset before we went for a walk to the waterfront and had a great view of the Doha skyline. Onwards to London tomorrow after a good night's rest!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Orchard road
    Not sure of the plant, but loved the big green leavesFather and son off for a wanderVela getting tropicalIncoming thunderstormApparently a famous staircase in Canning ParkCanning ParkCanning ParkSingapore's youth buildingDelicious food from throughout the day

    Orchard Road & Chilli Crab

    2024年6月3日, シンガポール ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Last full day in Singapore. Mum and dad wanted to go and check out Orchard Road so we spent a good few hours wandering around the shops. New favourite shop for them is Decathlon, with tonnes of bargains to be found.

    Loaded up on goodies, we grabbed a couple of local cold sweet desserts to treat ourselves. A short walk back through Canning Park and then we hid in the hotel from the impending afternoon thunderstorm. It turned out to be a bit of a false alarm, with just a little bit of thunder and lightning - no rain.

    Dinner was the local must try - chilli crab. Delicious sweet and spicy sauce with a couple of other dishes to go with it. Vela finally managed to hunt down a durian dessert shop as well. Early night as we're back to the airport early tomorrow morning.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    The Merlion looking out over Marina Bay
    What a snail!Made it to Singapore!View of Marina BayView of Marina BayLooking back towards the CBDHanging out with the SkytreesChecking out the skytreesA little bit of architecture on our walk back to the hotelSweet treat time!

    Welcome to Singapore!

    2024年6月2日, シンガポール ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Time to get back on the move properly again! A 5.30 am start today to get to the airport for our 8.30am flight. Everything went very smoothly and our plane bound for Singapore left on time. On arriving in Singapore Diane had a little hiccup trying to get through the automatic gate which didn't want to read her fingerprint... Fortunately this was straightened out pretty quickly and we made our way to the hotel.

    We planned to start exploring the CBD but unfortunately the weather had other ideas. So we holed up in a mall until the rain dried up. On the way we saw an absolute monster of a snail chilling by the footpath! We then walked over to Marina Bay to get a good view of the iconic Singaporean skyline and the Merlion.

    As it started to get a bit darker we made our way towards The Gardens and got a great view of the skytrees all lit up.

    Time for a bit of food so we caught a taxi to Lau Pa Sat - a very cool food hall with an amazing atmosphere and many different Asian cuisines to choose from. We opted for some Fujian province style fried noodles and BBQ prawns, washed down with a nice cold Tiger beer. And we couldn't resist a couple of sweet treats for dessert either!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    A big family send off
    Lunch with Vela's mumSo much good food!Baloo and his wife Ju on their bikesHappy mum with a big Majiang

    Last day in China

    2024年6月1日, 中国 ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Last day before leaving China and continuing on our travels.

    We drove about an hour and a half to get back to Vela's mum's place. On arriving we were treated to some delicious homemade dumplings along with a couple of other favourite homemade dishes.

    We then repacked our bags in the afternoon before having a farewell dinner with Vela's family. We ended the evening with some Majiang, with a couple of big hands going around (including this great one from mum).

    Early flight out of Chongqing tomorrow, bound for Singapore!    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Hanging out in the bamboo
    View back over YongchuanTea fields on the side of the mountainCool little dragonflyBuddhist templeBuddhist templeWater lily at the templeChinese character for "Buddha"Lotus flower fountain with turtles chilling in itNice and cool amongst the bamboo

    Yongchuan Tea and Bamboo Mountain

    2024年5月31日, 中国 ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We did a little bit of exploring around Yongchuan today. Yesterday we called Yongchuan a small town, but it turns out it isn't a town at all. It has a population of around 1.2 million, and it's actually a district of Chongqing and not even it's own place...

    Anyway, we headed up a nearby mountain to check out the tea fields. Not as impressive as the one we visited in Zunyi, but being on a mountainside the terraced look was quite cool. Also spotted a cool and brightly coloured dragonfly chilling out amongst the bushes.

    Next we headed to a Buddhist temple site. This temple was much newer but still had some cool architecture and gardens to check out, including a big pond with turtles in it!

    Then we headed into the bamboo forest. It was an area that was famous for having been the site of a movie shoot. Unfortunately I think they leaned into this a bit heavily and there was a bunch of strange props etc which ruined the wilderness feel of the area. We still managed to find a couple of good angles for some photos.

    We headed back into town and spent the afternoon playing Majiang before heading back to the same BBQ place for some dinner.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    The first three alcoves of carvings
    Buddhist temple complex, Vela lighting her incenseThe 9 dragons from Chinese mythologyThe reclining BuddhaTwo walls of the carved cave, the wheel of life, and the thousand armed BuddhaAwesome blue sky dayThe Lotus farmLunch time at the Lotus farmLotus flower - just starting to blossomChinese BBQ for supper

    Dazu Cave Carvings

    2024年5月30日, 中国 ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    After a quiet travel day back to Chongqing (just in time as Beijing was hit by an unforecast storm!), we hit the road again to explore some of the smaller local areas. After a short hour and a half we arrived at Dazu. We entered a Buddhist temple complex where Vela lit some incense, wishing for good fortune, good fate, and long life for her mum.

    We then walked through the complex to an area which is famous for its cave carvings. There were numerous alcoves where thousands of statues had been carved. The carving is around 800-900 years old and took 70 years to complete with numerous carvers taking part. The carvings show an aspect of Buddhist beliefs, with many large Buddha's looking over those who come to view them. It also shows stories, including the tales of hell and punishment for those who don't live their lives to the Buddhist ideals.

    The most famous carving here is that of a massive Buddha lying down. There were also carvings depicting the wheel of life and reincarnation, the 9 dragons from Chinese mythology, and a cave where every square inch of it is covered with carvings. There was also a very intricate gold statue of the thousand armed Buddha.

    After we'd finished with the carvings, we drove to a lotus farm for lunch. A very picturesque area with lakes, lilies and lotus. The lotus were just starting to flower.

    Afterwards we had another short drive to the town we're staying in. We arrived about 4pm and after checking in we all took the opportunity to take a nap. After oversleeping, we headed back out around 10pm for a Chinese BBQ supper.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Hall of Supreme Harmony
    One of the buildings of the Forbidden City reflecting in the pondStanding in the middle of the first courtyardMythical guardian, 11 guardians on the hall of supreme harmony, stone reliefsSome of the interiors of the Palace'sSelfie!Looking over the moat at a towerView of the Forbidden City from the top of the hillDiane & Vela checking out the viewWalking around the lake in the evening

    Forbidden City

    2024年5月28日, 中国 ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Sore feet after today... We left our hotel mid-morning and attempted to avoid the lines to get into Tiananmen Square by taking the metro. Our plan was foiled however as we were directed away from Tiananmen Square... Bugger. We opted to give it a miss in the end as we'd seen it the other day when we were at the museum and headed for the Forbidden City.

    Vela and Nathan had visited 8 years ago, but this time was a very different experience. The crowds have increased significantly, and the contrast was even more obvious when we went back to look at old photos. Being there in the middle of the day the sun was beating down on us too, with very few places to hide. We also tried the audio guides, but the English versions were lacking in information and didn't seem to always work which was a little bit disappointing...

    That being said, it was still an awesome experience. Particularly impressive was the Hall of Supreme Harmony - notable with its 11 dragon children adorning the eaves, the only building to have so many and marking it as the most significant building.

    We also checked out the Palace's which were reserved for the Emperor's mother - the main large empress dowager palace as well as the smaller building where she would actually reside. We made our way through multiple courtyards and past smaller pavilions, halls and bridges until we reached the royal gardens. We remembered the royal gardens being a peaceful place where you could sit and relax in a shaded area, however this was not the case on this visit with it being very noisy and crowded.

    Hot and tired after two and a half hours walking through the Forbidden City, we exited and found a restaurant open for lunch. Inside was cool and comfortable and we relaxed for an hour or so. Diane claims she was "just resting" but we know she was having a snooze.

    We then headed back out into the heat and up to a hill overlooking the Forbidden City. This hill is actually man made from when the moat was dug around the Forbidden City. It gave a great view and put into perspective the massive scale of the palatial complex.

    To wind down, we went for a walk around the northern lakes of central Beijing. There was a lovely breeze blowing over the water. We then met up with Luffy to recount the day over a delicious Beijing grilled dinner.    もっと詳しく

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  • Our OE
    Arrival at Badaling
    1Looking up at the highest pointHaving some fun with our photography (including a local kid we met)1The Wall stretching off towards the WestMore fun photographyNot quite the highest point, but getting there!A few more fun photosLooking back down the hillOur last view of the hills at Badaling before getting back on the trainA well deserved hotpot for dinner

    Badaling - The Great Wall of China

    2024年5月27日, 中国 ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Another big ticket item ticked off the list today. Vela did some research and made the call to not head to Badaling until the afternoon. This would give the morning crowds time to disperse and the temperature should be a bit cooler and more pleasant.

    The plan worked perfectly. So after we caught two metro trains and then a bigger inter city train, we arrived at Badaling about 3pm. After a short walk through some tourist streets we arrived at the foot of the Great Wall. It really is an amazing spectacle, and although we've been here before, it was under very different weather conditions. It was also mum and dad's first visit and they were pretty excited. We were a little worried about how they would cope with some of the steep stairs, but they handled them like champs.

    Obviously the wall is not in its original condition, having been restored many times throughout its life, but seeing it stretch off into the distance over the mountains and imagining how it would have been constructed blows the mind.

    Our original plan was to walk up to the highest point at Badaling and then catch the cable car back down. We thought the last cable car was 6pm but unfortunately it was 4.30pm and the last one left only moments before we arrived. This meant we had to walk back instead. Rather than tackling the steep stairs in reverse, we opted for the easier walk along the bottom of the wall. After getting back to the entrance, we rewarded ourselves with an ice cream.

    We caught our train back at 6.50pm and promptly headed to a hot pot restaurant. This hot pot was a little different, and being a bigger chain restaurant it prized itself on its service. Our waiter was fantastic and kept bringing us gifts - saying it was his privilege to wait on us (we were definitely getting the special "Laowai" treatment). We were even treated to a live noodle stretching dance show - even Vela was impressed!    もっと詳しく

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