• Exploring York

      June 11, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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.
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    • 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

      June 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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.
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    • 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!

      June 9, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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.
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    • 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

      June 8, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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!
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    • 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

      June 7, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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.
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    • 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

      June 7, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 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!
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    • 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

      June 6, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 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.
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    • 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

      June 5, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 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!
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    • 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

      June 4, 2024 in Qatar ⋅ ☀️ 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!
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    • 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

      June 3, 2024 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 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.
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