the first step

I guess the experience of the first step is always unforgettable. I came to realized later that never again, at any other point in the same journey, I will have this much to gain. Its natural for one to feel vulnerable when just starting out on a new journey, especially when there weren't that much of experience and preparation before hand. In fact, I’m only able to sleep for 4 hours the day before the travel and I wasn’t really sure that if I had brought all the travel accessories and enough clothes. However, travel with housemates somehow makes me felt more secure I think.

Furthermore, Scotland was a ‘safe’ target to start with, the Scotts speak the same language (although they do speak an ancient language called Gaelic), eat the same English-like food (bread and steak, what else?) and using the same currency, so there are less possibilities of the occurrence of the ‘unexpected incident’. After all, it may seem that I don’t have much to lose as well, sometimes the unexpected can even adds excitement to the trip, a serendipity perhaps.

5/10 morning. The trip started with the 90 mins train travel from Newcastle to Edinburgh, Scotland. The scenery along the journey was absolutely stunning, with the wide open fields, edgy cliffs and seashore. After we stepped out from the station, the first scenery came into my view is some big department stores and elegant building, well typical city view, that was my first impression. However, the BIG surprise came when i turned around, the opposite side is a massively packed old town, with the castle standing proud over the hills. i cant suppressed the adrenaline running through my veins and the excitment that treatening to jump out from my chest. awestruck i am.


It was later that i finally understand that Edinburgh city is divided into two parts, new town and old town, connected by a few bridges. The one that i am standing on is called the waverley bridge. Edinburgh's elegant Georgian New town is in stark contrast to the compact, narrow closes of the old town. Personally, i think the old town is more beautiful than the new town as it preserve the original scent of the Scotland.

The first destination was our hostel- caledonian backpackers. it was really cheap with only £8 for b&b per night. The hostel itself was a Georgian style building beside the corner of the busy edinburgh street. This hostel is probably tries hard to maintain its ethnicity and character as there are some odd, gothic painting all around the walls of the building. Our excitement was washed away by horror when we see some guys sitting inside the dorm, it was then struck us hard that the dorm that we booked is actually a mixed dorm. i wasn't totally satisfied with such arrangement but i have no one to blame but myself, well, i guess if you don't mind sharing a room with some foreign people from all over the world then it do has a communal-like atmosphere with colorful cultural diversities (yeah, i am comforting myself).

To be continue.........