Edinburgh, Scotland

The last destination on our road-trip was Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. Driving into Edinburgh, we were quite excited as we were arriving just in time for the famed Hogmany, probably the UK's largest New Year's party (or so the adverts say), and there was blue sky on the horizon.

Unfortunately though, after settling in for the night with my boss Richard's cousin and her family (what a nice family to stay with...if you're reading this, thanks Jane & Scott!), we awoke to grey skies and storm warnings. Before this, we did manage to visit the outside of the castle, and took a couple of shots before it disappeared beneath a layer of cloud and a fog of rain.

New Years Eve, and it looked like the Hogmany would be a big event. All through the main area of the town, stages were being setup for the night, barricades installed, and we were quite excited (even though we had just walked over 2 miles to see the Castle and were turned away as it was closed due to high-winds). But, at 9pm, Sky News informed us that it was all off, and we were destined to spend the night in front of the fire watching the TV. (Though, Hanna was well and truly asleep by about 8:30 so I don't think the weather would have been the only thing stopping us from going out that night!)

The famed Firth of Forth railway bridge. I had heard of this bridge, and wasn't all that excited, but once we got out there and saw it, I was very impressed (must be the engineer in me!). All of this metal and design just for a couple of rail-tracks...good old over-engineering!

And lastly, a photo of Poppy, the family Westie (West Scotland Highland Terrier)... these are very cute... This photo is mainly for my mum, who's always wanted a Westie.

:)

Alan & Hanna

Blackpool and the Lakes District, England

On the drive from Stratford, we thought it would be good to visit Blackpool...however, after driving the 20minutes out of our way, we entered a very strange town...It was a strange mix between Industrial Estate and Theme Park, and somehow, something felt very wrong.

Blackpool is a seaside resort town (apparently for Northerners), and had amusement arcades, theatres and attractions on every corner, though all of them had a very creepy feeling to them. Perhaps it was that we were there in the off-season, or perhaps Blackpool's day has come and gone, but we were very glad to leave Blackpool as quickly as we had arrived.

We ended up in Windemere and Bowness, home of Beatrix Potter. The Lakes District is all it is promised to be, stunning, even in miserable weather. We didn't manage to explore around very much (due to the constant rain), but whenever a little sunlight poked through the clouds we would stop and admire the views.

:)

Alan & Hanna

Stratford-upon-Avon, England

After leaving Bath, we heading north through the Cotswold's region (thought because of the rain, I believe we missed most of the region), and headed to Shakespeare's home, Stratford-upon-Avon (as opposed to Stratford in London).

Having travelled this far, it would seem silly not to include the obligatory shot of Shakespeare's birthplace. Nothing too impressive, though, it is quite amazing that the place is still there!

A view down the street from the house.

And a really nice shop across the path which was filled with beautiful Christmas decorations. Although we were so tempted to buy some for our home, as the prices started at £8 for the simplest of decorations, and going well beyond £50, we thought we'd save the money for something a little more useful!

And lastly, just a shot from the road of an old paved fence leading out to the horizon.

:)

Alan & Hanna

Bath, England

After driving into Bath after 8pm, and not having any accommodation arranged, we managed to find a little B&B after being frustrated by the YHA and Travelodge, and thoroughly enjoyed a morning wondering around the streets of this Roman town.Bath, named aptly after the Roman Bath's at the centre of the town (see below) is a beautifully preserved town, largely pedestrianised, and so interesting... Another place we're quite happy to return to.

I am sure there's an explanation for this, but the "Royal Mineral Water Hospital" was a little intriguing to me.

Lastly, just a shot of the winter leaves on the lush green grass. What a beautiful place.

:)

Alan & Hanna

Windsor, England

We only spent half a day in Windsor, as an opportunity to glimpse into a real castle (still the residence of the Royal Family). We didn't manage a picture, but on the day we left England (in mid-January), the Royal's flag was flying high above the castle, meaning that the Queen was in the house... If only we'd been visiting then.

This photo was taken inside St George's Chapel, and I was cursed for taking a photo. In fact, the warden informed me that I would have my head removed if I did it again...Oops, but what an impressive stained-glass wall!

Lastly, a glimpse through the fence at the Royal Residences... No one's home today, though I doubt we'd see any more than this...perhaps if we were really lucky we might have seen the Corgy's on the lawn.

Alan & Hanna

Hayling Island, England

Welcome to the first of a series of ten posts from our recent trip to the UK and Europe. Overall, we had a really great time, and though it was bitter-cold and wet most of the time, it was an enjoyable trip, and has definitely wet our appetite to see more of Europe sometime in the near future.
We started our holiday with a couple of days in London, and then Christmas in Slough with some of my cousins, aunties and uncles from my dad's side of the family. Its nice to finally get to know the family which I have always been so remote from. Its funny how similar family can be, even though you have lived your lives entirely in absence of each other, somehow family traits still carry on.

On Boxing Day, we made a trip down to Hayling Island, to the south of London on the coast to visit my Grandparents.

Visiting Hayling Island allowed Hanna and I to visit our first ever pebbly beach. The weather wasn't quite beachy (to say the least), and taking this photos required a bit of effort (as I had to take my hands out of the warmth of my pockets!)

I don't know why, but I had always expected that the pebbles on the beach would be nice small round things, not too dissimilar from those you find in a pebble-crete pool, and was surprised that the beach was covered in fairly large and irregular stones. I think the beach looks really nice, but I can't imagine wanting to lie on the beach, and we're told that often when the waves crash down on the stones, they are sent flying around the place, often travelling far enough to break the windows of nearby homes!

Just a quick photo of two of my youngest cousins. :)

And a photo from my grandparents home. It was really touching to walk into a house I've never ever seen, and have pictures of me as a child all around the place. It makes you realise that no matter what, family is family.

:)

Alan & Hanna

Mumbai, India

As I've been very slack, and are now posting for the last two months, I'll say very little, just say a little about the photos I've taken.

A couple of weeks before heading to Europe for a holiday, I spent a week in Mumbai, meeting the local team and assisting a colleague who is starting with us in India. We spent most of the time in the office, but we did manage a couple of nights out, and spent a very long time in the car being driven between places. I was quite amazed with the traffic...we sat for close to an hour without moving... Definitely not a place you can get somewhere in a hurry.

This is the Gateway of India, built to commemorate the visit of George the V. I managed to take this from the taxi on the way to dinner... As it was a last minute work trip, I didn't do much sightseeing...perhaps next time I'll plan ahead a little more.

I very much like the old taxis which are in use across the city. All of the taxis look like this (except the A/C ones, which are the same but blue and white). Its not very clear, but the meter is a mechanical device that sits outside the cabin on the right hand side. As you get in the taxi, you pull down the little flag to start the meter.

This is just a view out of the hotel on the southern tip of the Mumbai peninsula. The building next door (I have no idea what it was) had a constantly changing light pattern which was very nice.

Finally, some Indian food...this was at the Raj, and by the time I was eating this we had drank quite a lot of the local Kingfisher beer, and so I was just happy to be able to take this photo without dropping the camera in a bowl of chilli :)I'll hopefully be back in Mumbai early in 2007, so I will make sure I am more prepared and see a little more of this bustling city. Driving around in the taxi, its quite amazing to see how many grand old English buildings are around. The beachfront areas could be taken right from a seaside resort in the UK. I definitely want to see more!

Alan :)

Family, Semarang - 3 of 3

Last, but definitely not least, I wanted to include a couple of photos of our family in Semarang. Well, now that I've chosen the pictures, its really our niece and nephew that have stolen the spotlight. But there you go.

Firstly, a nice picture of the kids in the car, from left to right, Santoso, Dylan, Shelda. Shelda and Dylan are the children of Hanna's older sister, Siannie, and Santoso is our driver Pak Kabul's son.

This is just a picture of Shelda about to eat a spoonful of sambal (chilli sauce), though, she never actually ate the sauce!

A candid picture of Hanna's younger sis, Merry. We thought this turned out quite well, especially as I just shoved the camera in front of her while we were walking to the car!

And lastly, one of Dylan and Shelda being themselves.

Hanna & Alan :-) 

Semarang, 2 of 3

For this post, I wanted to show some views of Semarang during the day. These photos were mainly taken whilst driving too and from eating establishments. I'm not 100% sure on the locations of some of these, but it gives an idea of what Semarang is like.

This second shot is of a local market. Strangely, Hanna and her friend have never been to this market, claiming its too hot, too busy, and not too safe. I had a strange desire to dive right into the market, but upon opening the window and feeling the oppressive heat, I decided against it, and settled for the local department store instead. Whenever Hanna's family needs something from the market, from foodstuffs to pet turtles for the kids, one of the drivers rushes off on a motorcycle... Perhaps one day, I will leave my wallet, phone, and any other valuables in the car, and venture deep inside this market...or maybe not?

Thirdly, a shot of the street around the corner from Hanna's house. I always find this place amazing, as its a four-five lane road, with huge warehouses all around, but if you look closely, you will see the entire road is paved...not cement, not tar, but pavers. Quite a feat really!

Lastly, just a nice sunset shot of a street that we ate in.

I hope these photos give you all a sense of the size and make up of Semarang. The one thing it doesn't show is the age of so much of the town. Once you get off the main roads, especially around the china-town area, the places are old and dark, with many of them looking like they've been through a few wars (such is the constant barrage of heat and moisture). I think next time we visit I will make sure I take some pictures of the older parts of Semarang.

Indecently, if you want to see more pictures of Semarang, which was a major port town during the Dutch colonial era, please visit Semarang@Wiki or www.semarang.nl. These sites have some photos of the landmarks in and around Semarang.

Alan & Hanna :-)

Semarang at Night - 1 of 3

We have just come back from a week in Semarang, and remembered to take some more pictures this time, so here is the beginning of a three-part introduction into the town of Semarang, Hanna's birthplace, and family home.

Firstly, a photo of Hanna's house in Kampung Petemesan, this has been Hanna's family home since before she was born. The lane to the left is a communal lane leading to a whole other section of the Kampung (or 'village'). The get to the house, you drive down a narrow driveway between two buildings (see previous posts). I doubt I could handle living here...its definitely a different style of living to what we're used to, but this is where Hanna's mum and sister Merry live, and its nice to see how people really live!

This is a view from the front of the house, showing some food stalls which have packed up for the night. You can't really see it, but just where the light is is Hanna's mum's factory.

This was just a view from the car at a Nasi Ayam stall we ate at, waiting for the others to come back. Its not a very good photo, I know, but I was trying to use a long exposure with a very small camera!

Lastly, a view of Semarang at night. This was taken on the eve of Hari Raya, the Muslim New Year, and was taken from the roof-top of a mountain side ice-cream shop. I was hoping to catch a glimpse of the fireworks that were happening all around the city, but I wasn't so lucky. It was a nice experience being there for Hari Raya, hearing the prayers chanting across the city...

Alan & Hanna :-)

Two funky german lights. Beijing, China

I had to include these two shots of the lights used in the Beijing branch. Both are imported from Germany, and I thought they looked cool.

I must admit, I'd probably pay more attention to the lights in the meeting room than the actual meeting!



Alan :-) 

Beijing, China

Well, it was back to China again, and although I didn't get the opportunity to see any tourist sites, I did get to see a lot more of the vast city (well, at least in the NE direction).

I didn't take many pictures during the week, just a couple from the various offices I visited. Ths one, taken from the 10F of the new bank branch, was trying to demonstrate the haze over the city. This was a cloud-less day apparently!


It also just happened that outside the window of the office was Google China. The government definitely can't filter the location of this site from me!


Last day in town, and I awoke to crystal blue skies. I was surprised, as I didn't think it was possible in Beijing. I didn't take any photos of the skyline, as I spent most of the day in a meeting room, but I did manage a shot of the hotel, just to prove that the sky was really blue!


Lastly, the setting sun from the potentially new China HQ. As you can see the haze was fighting its way back, and the blue sky was definitely losing.


Alan :-)