Dia dhuit!
Hello!
I am going to the Emerald Isle all alone
with almost no money
no film crew
no make up or friends
except for the one I met
Just myself exploring its ancient castle
historical sites
breathtaking natural sceneries
as well lots of free museums
botanic gardens and art galleries
As well, getting locked up for good in the largest prison in the world
and biking around it’s national park to discover lots of hidden gems
and getting wet
We’ll also head up to north to learn about Northern Ireland’s history
and discovery many of its free attractions
it’s only one and only UNESCO World Heritage Site
and rediscover the birthplace of Titanic
Not to mention...
lots of good food and getting around without breaking the bank
All done safety, inexpensively and easily
Anything I can do, you can do!
DIY Destinations – Ireland & The Emerald Isle and you are invited!
We are so fortunate to live in a small world
with so many cultures
so much beauty
and so much diversity
the world waits no one
it's up to each of us to discover it's magnificent destination
I want to make travel accessible to all of us
by showing how it can be done safely and inexpensively
Located in the North Atlantic
and separated from the Great Britain to its east by the Irish Sea
The island of Ireland is the twentieth largest on Earth
and consist of the Republic of Ireland 
covering the sixth of the area
with remaining being Northern Ireland
part of the United Kingdom
First settled by humans around 10,000 years ago
with its current Irish Celtic language developed with arrival of Iron Age warrior from the mainland Europe
Ireland is land with rich and diverse culture
Throughout it’s history its people has overcome countless challenges from the Great Famine
to the War of Independence and the Civil War
Today, this island has combined population of seven million
and one of the wealthiest GDP in the world
That is why I am here
to take in it’s history
the sight and sound of the colourful culture
and most importantly the warm welcome of Irish people
and to witness the strong resilience to conquering the challenges of its past, present and the future
So we just landed here in Dublin Airport
and welcome to Ireland everyone!
our journey has just began!
We’ll start our journey from the most popular entry point for international visitors
the Dublin Airport
There is also ferries available from the Isle of Man, United Kingdom and France
If you are from the European Union or from a major industrialized country
including the Good Old USA, Canada, Australia and most of  the South America
Good news you’ll get in free visa with a nice Irish smile
This is really, really not cool
because Air Canada lost my luggage
oh my god!
Despite not having my essential inventory supplies of underwear
life goes on
and I can only hope for the best
If I need buy these
definitely some cold hard cash is needed
the Euro
The best way to grab some of the bling, bling is the airport ATM
most do not have a surcharge
You’ll need some cash to get down to city centre
as well the cheapest is the public buses taking about 40 minutes to an hour
Available at Terminal 1
every ten minutes during rush hours and 30 minutes off-peak
you need exact change for the fare
There is also express shuttle and private coach every 15 minutes from 5 am to midnight
Dublin is the capital of Ireland
established by the indigenous Gaels population around 7th century AD
and a historical and contemporary centre for education, the arts, administration and industry
Today, the city has ranking of "Alpha"
which places it amongst the top thirty cities in the world with a population of 2 million in its metropolitan area
and also home to the famous Guinness beer
So let’s get going and meet some Irish friends for a nice drink!
There is lots of way to get around the city centre
the best way is on foot
it’s free!
we’ll start our exploration on O'Connell Street
Dublin's main thoroughfare
The street was widened in the late 1700s and renamed Sackville Street until 1924
when it was renamed again in honour of Daniel O'Connell
a nationalist leader of the early 19th century
So we'll start our journey right here
at the very city centre of Dublin
right behind me is the Spire of Dublin
it's a 120 metre spire
that was commissioned in 1999
and completed in 2003
Now...
the number one criticism about this structure is that  it is just a simple beam
it has absolutely no architectural connection to the city of Dublin
but it does look pretty interesting
so let's go and check it out
The bombing of the Nelson Pillar in 1966
left a gaping hole in O’Connell Street
in the heart of Dublin City Centre
The Pillar needed replacing
and early proposals in the 1970s argued for the erection of a monument of Irish revolutionary and Easter Rising leader
The monument was commissioned as part of a street layout redesign in 1999
after an international competition was launched
The first section was installed on 18 of December 2002
and consists of eight hollow stainless steel cone sections
the longest being 20 meters
which were installed on 21 of January 2003
The Spire reached a total cost of €4 million
stands at an incredible 120 meters high
and without a doubt the tallest structure in Dublin city centre
with a 3-metre-wide base acting as the Spire’s foundation
The head of the Spire is 15 centimeters wide and is lit by a small amount of LEDs
Despite what was originally believed
the Spire is not self-cleaning and has to be cleaned every eighteen months
The clean cost around one hundred and twenty euros…
oh I mean €120,000
that's a lot of burgers and fries!
But thank goodness...
a nice postcard with the postage doesn’t cost €120,000
you can get right across the at the General Post Office
This is one of Ireland's most famous buildings
not least because it served as the headquarters of the leaders of the Easter Rising
as a result the building was destroyed by fire in the course of the rebellion and not rebuilt until 1929
by the Irish Free State government
It was the last of the great Georgian public buildings erected in the capital
The foundation-stone of the building which was designed by Francis Johnston
was laid by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on 12 of August 1814
For those of you who think you are smart
the perfect place to pick up a post-graduate degree is Trinity College Dublin
This is one of the seven ancient universities of Britain and Ireland
and Ireland's oldest and post prestigious surviving university
Getting in here, it’s tough…
but I hope picking up hot chick here is little easier
since according to my research women were admitted to Trinity College as full members since 1904
First established outside the city walls of Dublin
in part to consolidate the rule of the Tudor monarchy in Ireland
As a result was the university of the Protestant Ascendancy for much of its history
with professorships, fellowships and scholarships were reserved for Protestants until these restrictions were lifted by an Act of Parliament in 1873
Today, Trinity College is only Irish university in the League of European Research Universities
and routinely ranked as one of the top one hundred research universities in the world
Being a student means you’ll always going to be hungry…
and definitely need some sugar to hit the books
Not surprise, a quick bite on budget sounds just fine to me!
€3.00 cheap eats for pizza or €5.00 for a Indian food combo
but I’ll settle for something healthier
maybe not!
Now Ireland is one of the more expensive places here in EU
but we can save money on food
you can go to TESSO and get one of their meal deal
they are €4.00
you get a sandwich, a snack and off course orange juice
Vitamin C
with that being said...
let's eat!
After re-fuelling
I headed to Leinster House
Ireland’s Parliament
I got lots of energy for a political bloodbath
and sadly it's closed to foreigners
But don’t worry…
there is similar looking building next door that is little bit more open
I mean lot more open even to Asian kid like me and it’s free
So welcome the National Gallery of Ireland and get ready to see lots of naked statues
okay... just joking!
The National Gallery of Ireland was founded in 1854
and it has most extensive collection of representative of Irish art
painting in particular
and it's most notably is the Dutch master and Italian Bronx
When the Gallery opened it had just 112 paintings
but today it boasts some 2,500
and approximately 10,000 other works in different media
including watercolours, drawings, prints and sculpture
Every major European school of painting is extensively represented
It also houses a renowned collection of Irish paintings
the majority of which are on permanent display
Including one of the most rare and famous Caravaggio’s 1602 painting The Taking of Christ
depicting the arresting of Jesus
during Judas identifying Christ with a kiss when the guards moving in for the arrest
so the painting behind is the most famous painting here in the gallery
and it was missing for 200 years
The recent Millennium Wing was opened in 2002 and unlike the previous two extensions
this new wing has street frontage and consider modern
In line with its Brutalist style
the interior concrete walls are still unsealed maintaining a quite modern look to the wing
For those of you who are interested in the evolution
or wanting to find out why some guy’s brain are not so developed
like the U.S. President Donald Trump
Good news!
The Dead Zoo is around the corner
by the way that is nickname for the Natural History branch of the National Museum of Ireland
Now the National History Museum in Dublin is also referred as the Dead Museum
is also the museum of the museums considered by many
because it contains over 10,000 specimens from all over the world
Now even though this museum was built in 1856
created it
it's root can be traced back to 1786
The museum was built in 1856 for parts of the collection of the Royal Dublin Society
and the building and collection were later transferred to the State
In 1792 the Society purchased the collection of Nathaniel Gottfried Leske
one of Europe's largest natural history collections
The collection had expanded continually since it’s establishment
Today the Natural History Collection comprises over 2 million items
in the fields of zoology and geology
and a million of the specimens being insects
There was previously also a botanical collection
but this was transferred to the National Botanic Gardens in the 1970s
The museum building is a ‘cabinet-style’
designed to showcase a wide-ranging and comprehensive zoological collection
and has changed little in over a century
The ground floor contains mammals from around the world
including extinct or endangered species
In the same floor also includes the Irish room
which displays of Irish animals
notably several mounted skeletons of giant Irish deer
Hopefully, I won’t end up being a show piece here anytime soon!
Another important museum is located in the adjacent building
the home of the Archaeology branch of the National Museum of Ireland
This is a must go place for those of you who are interested in learning about the history of Ireland
Many important artefacts from the museum were named in The Irish Times’ Ireland’s 100 most important historical objects
The Museum of Archaeology cover both the Irish and other antiquities
now in general
they focus mainly on the Stone Ages up the middle ages
The museum also features displays on prehistoric Ireland
including Bronze Age work in gold
as well early medieval church treasures of Celtic art and Viking Ireland
There are special displays of items from Ancient Egypt, Cyprus and the Roman world
and special exhibitions are regularly mounted
If you want some ideas for next wedding ring
you’ll find it at the central area of the museum
which contains one of the finest collections of Bronze Age gold objects in Europe
The gold work ranges in date between 2200 BC and 500 BC
most of it being jewelry, but with many objects being possibly used for ritual function
If you have enough of museum
don’t worry…
you can always get a fresh breath of fresh air with lots, and lots of greens
Free!
The best of all you won’t need to walk far at the Merrion Square Park
Now the square here was first laid out in 1762
now it is largely completed by the early 19th centuries
and this is actually one of the finest surviving square here in the city of Dublin
and it's very historic
because it is in front of the Government Hose
and surrounded with the National Gallery and the National Museum
The square was laid out after 1762 and was largely complete by the beginning of the 19th century
the plan of the park included a double line of trees around the perimeter
which was later enclosed by railings
Up until the 1960s the park was only open to residents in possession of a private key
The square is also home to the National Memorial
and centennial flame to honour the members of the Defence Forces who died in the Service of the State
Less than 500 meters away is home to another historical park dating back to 1880
when Lord Ardilaun publicly open the 22 acre space for the citizens of Dublin
The St Stephen's Green has been maintained in the original Victorian layout with 750 trees along with 3.5 kilometres of accessible pathways
fifteen commemorative sculptures located throughout the park
Victorian Swiss shelters in case you to shelter from the rain
and a waterfall
There is even free lunchtime concerts in the summer months that is...
By the way there is also a children's playground…
so have lots of children
and bring them here…
once again... its free!
For places that is further away
you can grab visitor transit pass for unlimited travel on Dublin’s public transportation for one, three or seven days
these cards are sold at Visitor’s Centre around the city
I decided to end my day in a colourful way with a short ride on a bus
I heard this place I can pickup some deal on flowers to impress the beautiful Irish ladies
so I am heading off to the Botanic Gardens next
and I want to make the most out of my day pass I brought here
with that being said...
let's hope the weather really clears up
because I had enough of it
with that being said...
have a smooth ride
The National Botanic Gardens is actually only five kilometres away from the city centre here in Dublin
everything you see right here used to belong to a poetic Thomas Tickell
which owns a house and an estate
it was later in 1795 sold to the Irish Parliament
which is given over to the Royal Dublin Society
now what so impressive about this garden is it host over 20,000 living planets
as well as millions of dried specimens
The Botanic Garden is Ireland’s seventh most visited attraction
There are several architecturally notable greenhouses that goes on forever and forever
Now I got to say I never seen so many cactus in my life
after all this is the Cactus House
oh may be not!
Bad idea!
Now honestly I have to admit
I am actually pretty impressed with the collection here
and like...
it just go room after room after room of different kind of plant they have here
and honestly I just can't believe it's actually free
actually this attraction...
so honestly it got to be on your to do list
The botanic garden also home to the National Herbarium
and serves as a facilities for horticultural research and training
including the breeding of many prized orchids
That is pretty all I am going to tell  you
but if you really want to dig deep
there is free guided tours are available on Sundays
A small fee is charged for guided tours on the weekdays
I am not sure about driving on the other side of the road
Next morning my Irish friend and fashion designer Emily Dawson want to take me somewhere really cool
She picked me up and we headed to the Phoenix Park
also name after my own fashion designer Phoenix Ba…
okay just joking...
Honestly, both of them are amazing and cool
and both have shown their collection at the New York Fashion Week
I am going to brag here and thank Phoenix for giving me the privilege to produce her official NYFW The Shows for Spring Summer 2020 collection
If you are wondering who this beautiful model is
that’s Katelynne Lawrence…
her dream is to walk the official New York Fashion Week runway
and here she is at Pier 59
Congratulations Kate and love you so much babygirl!
But let’s get back to talking about Phoenix
I mean Phoenix Park
so this is the Phoenix Park
it is the largest enclosed public park in any of the European capitals
and it started in 1660 as a royal hunting ground
and by 1747 it was open to public as a park
and if you are lucky
can you can get close to these lovely deers
yeah! Hello?
The Phoenix Park is located 4 kilometres away from the city centre and north of the Liffey River
The history can be traced back to the 12th century when the first Baron of Castleknock granted a large area of land
including what now comprises the Phoenix Park to the Knights Hospitaller
The knights lost their lands in 1537 following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry the 8th of England
Then comes the me the majesty the Charles
Just joking!
I mean on the restoration of Charles II of England
he granted the Duke of Ormond to established a royal hunting park on the land in 1662
and opened to the public in 1747
Also located within the park is a bastion
the Magazine Fort for those of you want tryout some target practice
The fort was occupied by British Armed Forces until 1922 when it was turned over to the Irish Defence Forces
The Irish Army continued to operate the site as an ammunition storage through the mid-20th century
until it was fully de-militarized by the 1980s
Next we headed off to the one of the most important archaeological sites in Ireland
to save time Emily drove me here
but it is easily accessible by the public bus 109 operated by Ireland’s national bus service, the Bus Eireann
The Hill of Tara is an ancient ceremonial and burial site
and also consists of numerous monuments and earthworks from the Neolithic to the Iron Age
and this is probably the most interesting stone in the entire country
This stone is called Lia Fáil
and according to the legend
this site is actually the coronation site for all High Kind of Ireland
and according to the myth
all the kings  up to 500 A.D. are coronated right here
The remains of twenty ancient monuments are visible
and at least three times that many have been found through geophysical surveys and aerial photography
The oldest visible monument is called the "Mound of the Hostages"
a Neolithic passage tomb built around 3,200 BC
and holds the remains of hundreds of people
most of which are cremated bones
In the Neolithic period
it was the communal tomb of a single community for about a century
during which there were almost 300 burials
Almost a millennium later
in the Bronze Age
there were a further 33 burials
first in the passage and then in the mound around it
During this time only certain high-status individuals were buried there
At first it was the tomb of one community
but later multiple communities came together to bury their elite there
The last burial was a full body burial of a young man of high status
with an ornate necklace and dagger
About 30 kilometers away is another important prehistoric monument
and an UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Newgrange
Sadly there is no direct bus from Tara Hills
There is a Bus Éireann route 163, running between Drogheda Bus Station and the visitor centre
only 2 services per day and do not run on Sundays except during the months of July and August
So make sure to check latest bus schedule before departing
or else get ready for long, long, long hike home!
Yaks!
Newgrange is one of the three principal tombs of Boyne valley located at Meath County
The structure is a grand passage tomb built during the Neolithic period
around 3200 BC
making it older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids
The site consists of a large circular mound with an inner stone passageway and chambers
The human bones and possible grave goods or votive offerings were found in these chambers
The mound has a retaining wall at the front
made mostly of white quartz cobblestones and it is ringed by engraved kerbstones
Many of the larger stones of Newgrange are covered in megalithic art
The mound is also ringed by a stone circle
Another one of the three principal tombs in Boyne valley is Dowth
this one is free
but there is no bus to get here
Unlike Newgrange
Dowth has not been independently dated
but its features align it with the other passage tombs
which date from between approximately 3,200 BC and 2,900 BC
So this is Dowth
and is one of the three mount here in Brú na Bóinne
even though it is less well known like other mount like Newgrange
it's built 5,000 year ago
it's pretty much the same size
it hasn't being fully excavate it yet
so maybe you can come and excavate it yourself
Dowth shares a special solar celebration with neighbouring Newgrange during the winter solstice
However it is less developed as a tourist attraction than its neighbours
partly because the chamber is much lower
and partly because the decoration is less visible
It was partly excavated in 1847 by the Royal Irish Academy who dynamited the roof causing the still visible crater
though it was pillaged by Vikings and earlier looters long before that
Good morning everyone!
Sadly, my time in Dublin has come to end…
so it’s time for me to show you the art of bus travel 101 in Ireland…
I promise it’s going to be on a budget
alright its finally time to say goodbye to Dublin
and we are finally heading off to Cork by the bus
here is the bus station
it's really close to the city centre
it's about five to ten minutes walk
and the...
but I got a surprise for you
we are going to stop somewhere along the way
where?
you have to wait and find out!
let's get going!
First lesson!
it’s not smart buy individual tickets since they typically cost about €20.00 for most destinations
each direction!
I recommend you grab an open road pass
for unlimited travel on set number of days among within a time period
Since the national bus operator Bus Éireann operates both inter-city and local buses
except in Dublin
It is an absolute a bargain!
I’ll be hopping on a frequent bus X8 heading toward Cork
The bus pretty comfortable and clean
and most have a display giving the estimated time to different stops
And no, you don’t need to bring any diapers since there is always a rest stop every two hours
most stops also have sells quick bite and drinks
But we have arrived at our destinations…
so welcome to Cashel!
Cashel is a really cute town in Tipperary County with only a population of 5,000 gentle souls
and still unspoiled by tourism
and is a really good example of a 'real' Irish town
So we finally arrived here at Cashel
and bus stop is literally right across from the Tourist Information Office
and that is the first place you should visit
because it is where you can briefly drop off your luggage free of charge
they did warn me that they are not responsible for the losses
but I am sure everything will be just fine
it is also where you can pick up some tourist maps and brochures
but I don't want to waste any more time
with that being said...
let's go and check out what the Rock has to offer
The town’s name means "stone ringfort"
referring to the town’s most famous attraction
the Rock of Cashel
a spectacular archaeological sites consist of a medieval complex on a hilltop overlooking the town
Now if you want to visit the magnificent architecture and support the town’s local economy
you can kill two birds with one stone
by spending €15.00 at many of the local business and your admission is free!
Sweet!
So...
there is a little bit of a hike
but it's not that bad
and look like we have reached the Rock of Cashel
The Rock of Cashel was the traditional seat of the kings of Kingdom of Munster for several hundred years
prior to the invasion of Ireland by the Anglo-Norman took place during the late 12th century
The entire plateau on which the buildings and graveyard lie is walled
and in the grounds around the buildings an extensive graveyard includes a number of high crosses
The Rock of Cashel is definitely the most, undoubtedly the most famous castle here in Ireland
it's also known as Saint Patrick's Rock
or the King of Cashel
now according to the local legend
this rock actually originated 30 kilometres away from Cashel
called the Devil's Bite
when Saint Patrick banish the satan from the cave
it landed right here
so that is why it is called the Rock of Cashel
do I believe in this legend?
I am not too sure
but I do know I want to check this out
it's absolutely gorgeous
The fortress was donated to the church in 1101 by the King Muirchertach O’Briain
Sadly, few remnants of the early structures survived
the majority of buildings on the current site was date from the 12th and 13th centuries
The oldest being the 28 metre high round tower restored in 1874 to 1875
The structures was constructed using the dry stone method
and made from coursed sandstone with limestone in the lower section
The largest structure is the Cathedral
a large cruciform Gothic church without aisles built between 1235 and 1270
The cathedral witnessed many bloodshed and violence throughout the ages
In 1491 Gearóid Mór Fitzgerald torched it
and it was in the Cathedral that the townsfolk sought refuge from "Murrough of the Burnings" in 1647
The Cathedral's choir is the final resting place of Archbishop Miler McGrath
known to history as "the Scoundrel of Cashel"
for having switched from Catholicism to Protestantism
Another important structure is the Cormac's Chapel
named after the King Cormac Mac Carthaigh who commissioned it
it is one of the earliest and best-preserved examples of early Irish Romanesque architectures
The construction begun in 1127 and consecrated in 1134
The exterior are decorated with round arches and chevron designs
and its steeply pitched roof is typical of the 12th Century Irish style
Placed at the western wall of the nave is a 12th Century sarcophagus
into which the body of Tadhg Mac Cárthaigh, brother of Cormac which was supposedly placed
The front panel of the tomb is partly damaged
but its intricate carvings are in a good state of preservation
Carving depicts the beasts intertwined in the Scandinavian Urnes style
and the form created by the creatures that is said to represent the concept of eternal life
Unless you coming here to pickup some lovely Irish ladies
you probably need only couples of hours or half a day
But that’s not in my plan…
oh... don’t forget your luggage at the Tourist Information Centre
they close around 5:30 pm
so don’t be late!
Now back on the bus
I got my tickets
and we are getting off next stop Cork
so we have arrived in Cork
on time surprisingly
and so the first thing I am going to do is I'll head over to the hotel or hostel
whichever that is booked
and see what this city has to offer
with that being said let's get going!
The city of Cork is located in the south-west of Ireland and in the province of Munster
It’s long history dated back to founding of a monastery on the south bank of the Lee River approximately 1,400 years ago by the patron Saint of Cork, Saint Finbar
Over time a settlement have grown up around this monastery and was expanded by viking invaders around 915
Its charter was granted by Prince John in 1185
Today Cork is the second largest city in the country
third largest in the island with a population of 220,000
The city centre is small and easily accessible on foot
your open road pass is also valid on all local busses here
A fun way to get around is with one of these Coca Cola Zero bikes
no I am not joking
those shared bikes are sponsored by Coke
I recommend you stay nearby
that is where my accommodation sponsor Kinlay House Shandon is located
So I like to take a moment to thank them for providing me a very comfortable accommodations
they offer both dorm beds and private rooms
a well equipped common area
outdoor patio
free basic breakfast
and as well friendly staff
Thanks guys!
My first stop is to confess my sins at the Church of St Anne, Shandon
But I arrived little too late
but none the less I still get to enjoy the exterior
The church tower is the most visible landmark and symbol of the city
Built between 1722 and 1726
the Church of St. Anne is one of the most important early-18th century churches in Ireland
The name Shandon comes from the Irish meaning "old fort"
referring to a medieval church dedicated to St. Mary existed close to the current location
The original church was mentioned in the decretals of Pope Innocent III in 1199 as "St. Mary on the Mountain”
The church stood until the Williamite wars when it was destroyed during the siege of Cork of 1690
In 1693 another church was commissioned
also dedicated to St. Mary located at the bottom of Mallow Lane on the modern day Shandon Street
Due to population growth
it was decided to build anew on this ancient site
and so in 1722 the present Church of St. Anne, Shandon was constructed
I ended the day with a walk in the Cork’s compact city centre
during the day it’s a busy shopping district with mainstream boutiques
and the 18th-century indoor English Market for organic cheese and meat
But at night...
Now if you are wondering why I don't do much at night here in Ireland
is because everything close down really early in this country
in fact most of the stores close down at 5:30
unlike back at the Good Old USA
which is 24 hours
the only activity I can think of is drinking
there is really not much to do at night
so everyone drinks
drink a lot
Next morning I took a quick bus ride to Cork’s railway station
From there I brought a train ticket for Cobh for €6.00
you can also use your open road pass to take a bus there
but given I am seeking new experience
to save time and the risk of traffic jam
I decided to spent little more to sit back and enjoy the ride…
and enjoy the scenery included in the price of your ticket
With that being said…
we have arrived at the Cobh Train Station
and welcome to Cobh!
Oh I also forgot to welcome you to Cobh’s Heritage Centre or "Queenstown Experience"
located right beside station
The centre serves as café for cruise ship visitors
but also a museum with free and paid exhibitions of Irish history with focus on 18th and 19th centuries
covering mass emigration, the Great Famine, on penal transportation to Australia
and on the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
As well, an exhibition on the history of the RMS Titanic
whose last port of call before it sank was Cobh, then Queenstown
On the subject of penal transportation
I am going to experience it first hand!
Just blocks away in the nearby pier
you’ll be see all the crazy people like myself eagerly awaits their ride across shore to the Spike Island
or formerly the world’s largest prison
Although I am good swimmer
I don’t think I can survived swimming across with all these professional camera equipment
so this is where you line up to get the ticket to get over to the Spike Island
I don't think is that far away
The ticket itself is basically €20.00
not cheap
but if you bring your student card
you'll get a discount of €3.00
so it's €17.00
with that being said...
let's hope this will be a fast and smooth journey
so we are on our way over to the island right now on this ferry
and one thing I like it is the water is really calm
right beside is the most ugliest cruise ship I ever seen
but thank goodness I am not on it
or else I'll be complaining
with that being said...
I think we are approaching at this moment
The total size of Spike Island is 103 acres
and formerly the site of a monastic settlement
The island's strategic location within the harbour meant it was used at times for defence and as well as a prison
The largest in the British Empire to be exact
and gained a reputation as "Ireland's Alcatraz"
However, since the early 21st century the island has been developed as a heritage tourist attraction
With those who needed a mobile assistance
there is a free shuttles to and from different points on the island
I decide to take on the offer given how heavy my filming gear is
and first stop is the Prisoners Graveyard
Sadly this is the actually one of the massive graves
and how it becomes a mass grave is during the Victorian era
there is just too many people dying
so they have to take out all the headstone
and start burring the bodies in here
today a lot of the body being exhume and perhaps give a proper burial
the reason there is so many people dying is because of the massive famine
and compounded by cholera and other Victorian diseases
The islands recorded history goes back 1,300 years
Beginning with on the 7th century when St Mochuda founded a monastery on this island
The monks occupied it for more than 300 years until the Vikings sailed into Cork harbour
In 1779 the work began on a fortress and this would become the impressive 24 acre Fort Mitchel
which crowns the island today
Able to garrison 3000 men and with guns that could fire a shell 12 miles
the fort was so important that Winston Churchill called Spike Island
'the sentinel tower of the defences of Western Europe'
look like I am the only bad boy in this entire island
the maximum security prison
oh goodish I am going to be so lonely
if you guys want to rescue me
there is a helicopter pad right here
and I am ready to be out of here at any given time
see you soon!
The island’s prison was open in 1847 to deal with the growing number of convictions for theft during the Great Famine
and maintained in use as a garrison and prison through the Irish War of Independence
when IRA prisoners were held there
One of its museums showcase the independence exhibits
showcasing 700 years of British occupation
and many failed uprisings, to its successful path to freedom focusing on the period 1914 to 1938
through the eyes of Spike Island
Over 1400 Irish War of Independence prisoners were held on the island’s huge internment camp
at its peak until the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty
Many of the men were simply lifted off the streets and imprisoned without fair trial
you are here by sentence to internment
Before the Victorian times there was no distinction between age groups when it came to crime and punishment
there was 100 children who were held in the very harsh conditions
and with specialty designated children dormitory in the 19th century
The Punishment Block is the only purpose built cell block in the Fort
It was built in response to the murder of Warder William Reddy in 1856
The block consisted of twenty eight solitary confinement cells and housed the ‘Penal Class’
considered the most dangerous prisoners
They were heavily chained and clothed in black from head to toe
with a veil hiding all but their eyes
The cells were furnished with only a stool and convicts slept on the floor
There were several suicide attempts
and the block was the main reason that Spike Island was described as "Hell on earth" by the penal classes
Another one of the exhibits is the Gun Park
showcasing the coastal defence spanning over 300 years of warfare
It includes some of Spike Island’s oldest artillery pieces dating from the late 1700’s
As well, the searchlights previously used around the harbour
that could illuminate targets up to 3700 meters in distance
There are also many military service vehicles
such as Leyland Retriever Lorry served with the Irish Army from 1940 to 1970
anti-aircraft guns
many with radars
as well as tanks!
Lots of them!
As well good luck and have fun on your bird hunting practice!
Now at the height of the British Empire
Cork Harbour is actually very important British Naval base
is actually a very important vehicle assembly line
as well as a supply centre
now during the first world war
The Spike Island was actually home to the headquarter to the South Irish Coastal Defence
so following the handover to the Irish government in 1938
it became a very important once again Irish Naval base
Now come to the end visit here
I have to say one thing
make sure to bring a comfortable walking shoes
because honestly you'll walking quite a bit here
and it's really big
they said recommend three and half hours
and yes it will take up that much of the time
but it's a very pleasant visit
with that being said
let's head down to the Harbour
and get across
let's see what's going on the other side
After serving my sentence
I was release back to the mainland Cobh
I am determine to be a better person and a reborn Catholic
So, on the top of my list is paying a church a visit
That’s not be difficult since there is a mighty, mighty iconic church right up the hill over looking Cobh
The St Colman's Cathedral
the home of the Diocese of Cloyne
The Cathedral is an exquisite gem of neo-Gothic architecture, and took 47 years to build
starting in 1868 until its completion in 1911
and been part of the Cobh skyline ever since
The cathedral was named after the patron saint of the diocese St. Colman Mac Leinin
and was inspired by the great cathedrals of medieval France such as Chartres and Amiens
Most notable is the 100 meter high spire and a tower that includes a 42-bell carillon
one of the largest in Europe
Today St. Colman’s Cathedral is the only Irish Catholic Victorian cathedral to preserve its interior fully intact
and continues to hold religious services and often hosts recitals featuring choirs from over the world
I am back at the bus station right here
and heading off to Killarney
so that will be bus you'll be getting on
now I suppose to get on the 2:00 pm bus
but it's okay
a few bus late
but getting somewhere is better than getting nowhere
with that being said...
see you onboard and let's hope this will be a fast and a smooth ride
fingers cross!
There is frequent bus between Cork and Killarney
with Bus Eireann route 40 and journey takes about a hour and half
now one thing that I like about Ireland
the bus system has dedicated bus line
so it can actually get through the traffic pretty quickly
Killarney means "church of sloes"
a small town in southwest Ireland on the Ring of Kerry scenic drive
Like many of the Irish town
its roots are traced back to a religious monastery settlement
The nearby Innisfallen Island founded in 640 by St. Finian the Leper
which was occupied for approximately 850 years
The town has being voted multiple times for being Ireland’s most tidiest and the cleanest
Moreover, famous for its 19th century building and its main attraction Killarney National Park
But before I can do anything…
I am hungry!
let’s check out the cheap eats here…
no!
I am don’t mean these delicious donuts
I mean real food
on a budget that is…
I just arrived in Killarney
and I learn something really new
if you are actually hungry and want to eat here
bad news!
all the food are overpriced and super expensive
so you have either got to supermarket and fuel up there with prepackaged food
or you better like Chinese food
because that is only thing that I can find that is reasonably priced
and I ordered a dinner set
it cost €11.00
and I am really excited for what's in store
spring rolls and chicken balls
I have a feeling that is rice
oh fried rice
guys I have to run in and grab in a fork
I'll be right back
I definitely need that!
and this curry chicken
and also you get a pop
so for €11.00 it's not bad
After eating...
let’s go for a nice walk and burn some calories
Unlike other Irish town where everything close at 5 pm
Killarney is actually pretty special
the shops are open, street are livery and free concert everywhere late into the night
and most importantly lots of beautiful and friendly single Irish ladies you can practice pick up skill
so good luck!
If that is not your interest
no worries…
There is no doubt you’ll able to find something to entertain yourself with
even without the need to drink
Once again if you need to clear up some skeleton in your closet
and need to confess any sins
and nope, you don’t need to look far
The St. Mary's Cathedral is centrally located near the town centre
Commissioned in 1840 by a local fundraising committee and designed by the renowned English architect Augustus Welby Pugin
despite only having raised £800 pounds at the time
It is said the architect have gained inspiration from the ruins of Ardfert Cathedral
Construction began in 1842 but was not continuous
The great famine and the lack of available funds meant the work was stopped several times
The cathedral was finally completed in 1855 and began regular worship
Separately the spire and nave were completed in 1907 by the Irish architects Ashlin and Coleman of Dublin
In 1972 and 1973 the cathedral underwent a controversial renovation
the interior was both gutted and greatly damaged
as well incurring a cost of £278,500
The approach by the two architects was nothing short of radical
which resulted in none of the former interior remaining
apart from a few small areas
Next morning...
let’s get fresh start at the Garden of Eves
well not quite…
some nature!
By the way this god’s magnificent creation is pretty big
so unless you are superman
you need a bike
I am on a bike today
to go to the National Park
it cost roughly about €15.00 or so for a bike hire
and by the way make sure you get it from a bike shop that offer free helmet
I had to rush
on top of it the reason I hired from this shop is because they offer baskets
I am right across from the Cathedral
and yes this is the entrance of the National Park
so let's get going!
The Killarney National Park is the first national park in Ireland
the creation begin with the donated land to the Irish Free State in 1932
by the Senator Arthur Vincent and his parents-in-law, Mr and Mrs William Bowers Bourn
in memory of Senator Vincent’s late wife Maud
The park has since been substantially expanded
and today it encompasses over 103 kilometre square of diverse ecology
including the Lakes of Killarney, oak and yew woodlands of international importance, and mountain peaks
Our first stop is the 15th century tower house
So behind me is actually the Ross Castle
home to O’Donoghue
and built in 15 century
it's actually free to roam outside
I don't mind to pay €3.00 to get inside
but it has to be part of the guided tour
and I just don't have time for that
so let's go and take a look
what it was to offer
externally I am sure we can find beauty in that!
Ross Castle sits on the edge of Killarney’s lower lake
and came into the hands of the Brownes who became the Earls of Kenmare
The family owned an extensive portion of the lands that are now part of Killarney National Park
The legend has it that O’Donoghue still exists in a deep slumber under the waters of Laune Lake
On the first morning of May every seven years he rises from the lake on his magnificent white horse and circles the lake
Anyone catching a glimpse of him is said to be assured of good fortune for the rest of their lives
so make sure to buy some lottery if you see him
During the Irish Confederate Wars
the castle was amongst the last to surrender to Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads
The castle is typical of strongholds of Irish chieftains built during the Middle Ages
The structure is constructed of stacked and mortared stone with thick walls and providing five inner stories plus the roof
The tower house had square bartizans on diagonally opposite corners and a thick end wall
I need to fuelled up first!
I am hungry!
Another major attractions within the national park is the Muckross Abbey
So, let’s get going!
Actually let’s keeping riding and make sure to enjoy beautiful sceneries!
we are going to heading that way
shouldn't be too much longer
with that being said let's go and take a look!
The Muckross Abbey was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan monastery and a modern Irish graveyard
In the 17th and 18th centuries, it became the burial place for many prominent Kerry County poets
Although the graveyard is in a poor state of repair
but is still used to this day as an active burial ground
These walls has witness many violence in its existence
and often subjected to raids by marauding groups
and were persecuted by infamous Cromwellian forces under Lord Ludlow
The structure has been damaged and reconstructed many times
and eventually the monks of Muckross Abbey were driven out in the 1650’s
by the Cromwellian forces under the order of Queen Elizabeth I
Today the abbey is largely roofless although
although apart from this
it is generally quite well preserved
Muckross holds a special place
as it is the only one where the upper floors of two of the three domestic ranges are accessible to visitors
offering a more complete experience of the buildings where the friars worked, ate and slept 500 years ago
so everyone please watch your head
Its most striking feature is a central courtyard
which contains a large yew tree and is surrounded by a vaulted cloister
it is what it is
I have to do it
oh my goodness
a Emmy for this
The weather was brutal
and yes the rain just kept coming
on the upside you are able to get a free shower while on your bike to the next attractions…
killing two birds with one stone
We just got the waterfall
but at the same time I didn't finish ESL
I am sure that says waterfalls
fingers cross
The Torc Waterfall is approximately 7 kilometres from Killarney
easy to find and get to
So, no excuse…
From the parking there is a little hike of approximately 200 kilometres to the falls
just joking
after you park your bike
the waterfall is 200 metres away
so I am really, really looking forward to it
The waterfalls is approximately 20 metres high and is at its best after heavy rainfall
so I definitely came at the right time!
unlike like the other shows
and show how great everything is...
everything is so flawless
well not with our show
as you can see I want to stay longer at the waterfall
but the rain is just pouring
honestly carrying $15,000 worth of video equipments
I think I better not take that risk
Next morning I started my day with a breakfast…
you’ll need it even if you are on a budget because it’s going to be very long day!
But there is breakfast wraps available at the supermarket for few euros
Also, since we are going on to a full day tour
let’s grab something to go as well
I got everything I need for the day
by the way before you get on the bus
finish your hot drinks
The full day Dingle Peninsula & Slea Head bus tour operates from early April to end of October and begins at 10:30 am
Usually the pickup point is at the tour agency office
There is many tour operators
typically costing around €20 - €25
so bargain and bargain hard!
so this is the official first stop
over here at the Inch Beach
it's a very beautiful beach
now given I have all these equipments
I don't want to get sand over it
But..
we are going to go down and take a look through another way
and that is the aerial shots
so let's check it out!
The Inch Beach is one of the prettiest beaches bordered by two streams situated about 9 miles south of Midleton
It’s extremely popular with everyone
I mean everyone...
from surfers to dog walkers
This beach have two halves
one side is sand backed by rushes and a small river
while the other has interesting rock formations jutting out into the bay backed by small cliffs and dunes
this is actually the second stop right here
it is just a nice peninsula
you can get a nice view of different shade of green
it's actually pretty spectacular
you can see some lake over there
I am not sure
I think that is Killarney Lake
but I have to ask the driver later
watch the front of the sleep
if you want to go and see the beehive
that is entirely up to yourself
After a short drive
we reached a vintage point for another round speculator scenery
So sit back, relax and and enjoy the speculator scenery of the Irish coastline
so this is the third stop
is it third stop?
by the way that is the really cool...
very entertaining
yes here you go!
and those are the Skellig Islands out there
Skellig Islands?
he know everything!
Skellig Islands!
where the monk goes in the 9th century
and the Star Wars was film in the one of those big islands
Skellig Moore
Skellig Michael
the one on the right
well you know everything
well I am around long enough to know enough of things
and these are the Blasket Islands and let me tell you about them as we travel along
oh dear
we came at the right time
we are going to stop here for a quick second
we go to...?
we will stop here for a quick one minute
The next stop is Ireland’s most well known and recognized landmark
and also a very scenic viewpoint
the Slea Head
It is the westernmost part of the Dingle Peninsula
and also facing northwest is Dunmore Head
the westernmost point of Ireland and Europe
From this viewpoint you’ll get to enjoy a dramatic view of the Baskin Robbins
just joking...
I mean Blasket Islands
an uninhabited group of islands
part of Kerry County
do they spent a lot of money and time on the flowers?
no these are wild
they just grown on their own
all these are wild flowers
folks we are little behind time
if you can take a moment
five minutes
this time is five minutes
We arrived at the last stop in the very cute and Irish village
one of the rare places where majority of the population speak the Irish language on a daily basis
This is a tourist town with a host of amenities
including stunning walking trails, craft studios and workshops, a museum, shop, hotel
and cosy pubs with crackling fires and great bar food
Seasonal attractions include an award-winning museum and boat tours
but you are not going to have time for that
since we’ll only going to stopping here for only a hour
just enough for a quick bite
so this is the last part of the official tour
this town is mostly relied on tourism
it's about 71 kilometres away from Killarney
now one of the unexpected attraction here is a dolphin named Fungie!
it's a interesting story behind it
by the way...
the real Fungie actually do exist
you just need to pay for a boat tour to go and see him or her
and let me tell you little about that
Fungie is male, common bottlenose dolphin who is known to live in very close contact with humans in Dingle
According to the locals
Fungie was first seen in Dingle harbour in 1983
and continues to seek out human contact over thirty years later
known to interact playfully with swimmers, surfers, kayakers and divers in the water
so one of the things that this town is very famous for is the sea food
and their specialty is actually the fish and chips
mostly made out of cod
come right from the sea
but I'll be honest with you
I do not like deep fried food
since I am trying to loose weight
but if you are not afraid....
give it a shot!
Dingle is the only town on the Peninsula that sits on the Atlantic coast
with the population of 2,200
The main industries in the town are tourism
fishing and agriculture
The town developed as a port following the Norman invasion of Ireland
By the thirteenth century, more goods were being exported through Dingle than Limerick
and by the fourteenth century, importing wine was a major business
So cheers!
on the way back we have drop back at another viewpoint
I really don't know what this viewpoint is
I actually felt asleep!
it's quite magnificent!
beautiful!
At the end of tour
I realized I need stop for a new shoe
and head off to my next town
or both!
I’ll leave the shopping for now to catch the bus
so I am right back at the bus station right here in Killarney
next stop we are heading to is Limerick
from there we are going to transfer to Galway
there is no direct buses...
sorry guys!
so we'll make the most out of it!
I am actually here at the Limerick Bus Station / Train Station
they share the same facilities
and I have a little mishap
I book the accommodation for Galway for tomorrow night
but not tonight!
so basically by the time I tried to book it tonight
it's all full!
the good thing about Ireland here is the transportation is fairly decent!
the open bus ticket is only valid on bus routes
and the last bus have already left!
anyways so I have to suck it up and pay for a train ticket
and head over to Dublin
and get accommodation there
which is plenty
So the lesson here is always to double check your liberalities
and the transportation schedules…
hopefully I’ll save you the pain
If you got extra few hours in between
you can also take a direct bus to Bunratty Castle
30 minutes way each
This is a large 15th-century tower house
and this castle is very famous for its medieval banquets offered since 1963
so I just got off the train from Limerick to the Limerick Junction Station
the reason you have to get off here is you have to transfer the train over to Dublin
and you get off at the last stop
with that being said...
I just really hope it will be here really soon!
because...
I am really tired!
I have to give Irish Rail some credit
because the train is actually pretty clean
and it has power outlets
and as well I can get some work done
there is WIFI onboard
you are only allowed 300 megabytes
before it logged you out
but I am pretty sure you can basically go back and sign up again!
with that being said...
this train get going!
it's leaving again!
this is one of the stop by the way
With that being said the total journey from Limerick to Dublin takes about two hours and fifteen minutes
so once you get off at the train station
you have to get on a platform outside here
for the tram to take you to the city centre
so that is what we are waiting for
the ticket does include the journey to the city centre
so you don't need to worry about paying another fare
There is a bus connection directly from Heuston station to Galway
Yes, your train ticket includes the price of the train to city centre
but I am going to chill out and relax in Dublin for the night
Next morning I am back at our familiar hang out
the bus station for our ride to Galway
so finally we have arrived at the Galway Bus Station
and the ride from Dublin is about four hours
it's pretty pleasant except it is little cold
so anyways...
since we have arrived let's head over to the accommodation
put our stuff away and we can start our day
Galway is a county town located on the west coast of Ireland
a base for exploring the scenic surrounding county
First thing on my list...
pay John F. Kennedy a visit…
actually no joke!
this square is name after the former U.S. President or commonly known as the Eyre Square
The origin of the square comes from medieval open space in front of a town gate
known as the Green
Since I am hungry
let’s eat here!
so guess what?
the supermarket is the best way to go!
€2.00 for a meal for one
turkey & ham!
and there is another one!
I am going to be hungry!
this is a really nice park!
it's right in the middle of the city
and right in front of the bus station
with that being said...
let's eat!
and let's have this first!
sadly they don't have microwaves inside the supermarket
but it's fine...
I think I can survived eating cold meals
hopefully I don't get food poisoning from this
it's not fresh!
I say yeah...
just don't eat the vegetables
you'll be fine!
ham and mushrooms...
so this is the pasta right here
I don't know...
I am very sceptical about this one
I think it's just the smell of cheese
I think!
I hope I am right!
at the same time just eating it cold
okay...
I am never going to do this again!
I am never going to eat...
I don't think I will ever buy €2.00 meals again!
After discovering that a discounted grocery meals can lead to a near death experience
let’s check out other smarter option
one of the food option here in Galway is if you are really hungry and want to eat a lot with paying too much
and you can go into one of these Turkish buffets
and you can eat as much as you want for less than €10
€9.50 to be exact
with that being said...
Bon Appetite!
so I am back at the bus station
it's a new day!
and I hoping for a new weather
honestly it's pretty brutal!
so we are heading off to the Cliffs of Moher on bus 350
and yes your open road ticket cover that!
the coach actually drop you off roughly about 100 metres away
and you just come right here and buy the ticket and head off
if you have a student ticket
bring it with you
you save a Euro!
The Cliffs of Moher is name from an old promontory fort called Mothar or Moher
which once stood on Hag's Head
the southernmost point
and topping over 1.5 million visitors annual
and a designated UNESCO Global Geopark
as you can see everything is really, really congested here
be very careful because rain will stop
and then will come
and stop and come
it's really unpredictable and then the trail getting really, really muddy
so be very very careful
take your time!
and don't let the people in the back to pressure to move fast
because if you slip and fall here
there is no hospitals
The cliffed coast run for about 14 kilometres
consist mainly of beds of Namurian shale and sandstone
The oldest rocks being found at the bottom of the cliffs and estimated being 313 and 326 million years old
Today the cliffs are subject to erosion by wave action
which undermines the base of support causing the cliff to collapse under its own weight
This process creates a variety of coastal landforms characteristic of erosional coasts
such as sea caves, sea stack, and sea stumps
The Cliffs of Moher is undoubtedly the most iconic landmark here in Ireland
it is also the number one tourist attraction here
by the way it is very very windy
it's located in the south, southwestern edge of the Burren region in Clare County
now the actual...
the actual cliffs rise up 120 metres from the Atlantic Ocean
If you are lucky, you’ll able to see many animals like feral goats, foxes, badgers and the Irish hare
along with various breeds of farm cattle.
As well there are wide range of sea life can also be seen
from grey seals through porpoises, dolphins, minke whales and basking sharks
as well as, occasionally, sunfish
There is also an Important Bird Area with an estimated 30,000 pairs of birds living on the cliffs during the peak
representing more than 20 species
These include Atlantic puffins
which live in large colonies at isolated parts of the cliffs
and on the small Goat Island and razorbills
so on this side we are going to hike up one of the towers up there
and it is a little bit of a climb
but at least the stairs are well paved
it's all good, don't worry!
children!
I think I should have one myself!
The cliff reaches the maximum height of 214 metres just north of O'Brien's Tower
The tower itself is a very popular tourist destination and built on the cliffs in 1835 by local landlord
and member of parliament Sir Cornellius O'Brien
as an observation tower for the English tourists who frequented the cliffs at the time
It is said to have initially served as a teahouse, featuring a large round table with seats of ironwork
Another rumour suggest O'Brien constructed the tower in order to impress women he was courting
On a clear day atop the tower
visitors can see as far as Loop Head at the southern tip of Clare and beyond to the mountains of Kerry
Your ticket also admission to the Visitor’s Centre
The centre consist of exhibits showcasing the history and legends of the region
as well scientific information on the wildlife, weather, geology, and the landscape
so the public bus drop you off there
and the ferry is on that side
so that is where we are going to see what they have to offer
maybe I'll get on to a ferry
it really depends
I hop back on the bus and headed toward a nearby town of Doolin
it’s a cute town with scheduled ferry to the nearby Inishmore
the largest of the Aran Islands with a population of about 840
The island is famous for its strong Irish culture
loyalty to the Irish language
and a wealth of Pre-Christian and Christian ancient sites
But it is not my day
given the limited ferry schedule
a visit usually required you to stay overnight
the time that I do not have
Added to the fact the weather is acting up again
I decided to escape another round of complimentary shower in a very Irish way
Wow the weather is just really really bad
so to escape by going into one of those Irish pubs
what I am going to do is have a clam and chowder and chicken sandwich together
it's €10.50
Not so bad!
I mean the reason I ordered clam and chowder is seafood
they can't screw up the seafood
after all Ireland is surrounded by sea
that is actually pretty fast
I am pretty impressed
I am excited!
actually I can taste the clam and chowder
it's actually pretty good!
let's check out the chicken sandwich
one thing they don't do is grilled the sandwich
it's all good!
it's all good!
so we still have half hour to go before the bus leaves
and boy...
I eat fast and I should really slow down
so there is whole bunch of little...
so I thought there is someone in here
oh yes!
I thought this is a lovely cute bookstore
went into a cute store
they got arts and crafts
and as well...
they also have paintings for sale
I don’t want to be late for the bus
or be too early either in the pouring rain
But it’s really not my day
so I am ended committing a sin of trespassing in a hideout
I suspect another round church confession ahead
so I am actually inside a barn
with some new friends
Hi!!!
He is going to be famous
the reason we are here
if you can take a look...
we are forcibly getting round after round complimentary showers
because our bus
oh wait!
what time is it right now?
16:16
so our bus is like 45 minutes late
and the...
and yeah I don't think any of us want to get wet for the wrong reasons
so we can only cross our fingers
so I am actually sitting inside the train station here at Galway
and the train station actually share the bus terminal with Bus Eireann
and as you can see...
it's...
or hear...
it's raining really, really hard
they don't have a bus shelter outside
I am going to relax here
I am just hoping like...
when I get to Belfast
the weather is going to cooperate because I can't get anything done here
As you probably guested it
I am taking a full advantage of my open road bus pass all the way to Belfast
The bad news...
there is no direct connection to Northern Ireland
So, here is how you do it…
I am so smart!
The rides to Dublin Airport takes about four hours on regular bus number 20
and three and half on express bus X20
From the airport, you can continue to use your open road pass to transfer on to X1 bus operated by Bus Eireann to Belfast
The same route X1 is also operated by Ulsterbus
the Northern Ireland’s partner of Bus Eireann
and lucky the driver of that bus honour my pass tonight
but don’t count on it!
From the airport to the Belfast’s Europa Buscentre takes two hours
With that being said…
welcome to Northern Ireland
or United Kingdom!
so when you arrived here in Northern Ireland
you definitely need to get some money
because they use pound here
but a lot of shops will actually accepts Euros at a very unfavourable rate
so don't do it!
you get shortchanged
to get the best rate
go to a ATM and withdraw money
if you are a customer of Global ATM Alliance which includes Bank of America, BNP, Westpac or Scotiabank
you can come to any of the Barclay's ATM and withdraw fee free
now here is a little advice...
all the ATM here will give you what you call Northern Ireland notes
these are also pounds
it's one to one to Pound Sterling issued by Bank of England
However...
they are not accepted in the mainland at most places
the best thing to do is go inside
exchange for Pound Sterling right away
and you can use the Sterling anywhere here
with that being said...
let's get our money and get going!
The name Belfast is derived from the Irish “river mouth of the sandbar"
the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland and home to a population of 700,000 in the Metropolitan area
The site of Belfast has been occupied since the Bronze Age
and became a substantial settlement in the 17th century after being established as an English town by Sir Arthur Chichester
Belfast was officially granted city status by Queen Victoria in 1888 after the influx of Scottish Presbyterians
over time the city grew into a major port
and became a major industrialized centre
especially in the area of the textile manufacturing
With that being said…
let’s get going!
Getting around is pretty simple in Belfast
Most attractions is accessible on foot
or you can also grab a Translink visitor’s transit pass for one, two or three days
so one thing that is really nice about Northern Ireland is the transportation here
let's say you buy a bus ticket going from Derry to Belfast
or if you buy a Translink ticket from Dublin Airport to Belfast
that ticket is actually valid for the whole day
you can take any buses in Northern Ireland
we are going to take advantage of the day pass by taking on bus 8D to go see the Botanic Gardens
and I think it's going to be spectacular
so this is the Botanic Gardens of Belfast
and it's a very lovely public garden
occupied by 28 acres here
and it's very popular with the office workers, students and so on...
after all the Queens University Belfast is only a block away
as well right beside is the Ulster Museum
and the most popular structure here is the Palm House
and what it contains is lots of tropical plants
as well as hanging baskets
and da, da, da...
with that being said...
let's go in and take a look!
I am excited and I hope you are too!
In response to public interest in horticulture and botany
the garden was established in 1828 by the Belfast Botanic and Horticultural Society
Originally known as the Belfast Botanic Garden
the site contained exotic tree species and impressive plant collections from the southern hemisphere
many of which can still be seen in the park
One of the symbolic building is the Palm House
designed by Charles Lanyon
It is one of the earliest examples of a curvilinear cast iron glasshouse
The initial wings began in 1839 and were completed in 1840 by Richard Turner of Dublin
The cool wing houses all year round displays of colour and scent plants
The Tropical Ravine is a huge red-brick greenhouse, later added and completed in 1887
but also recently renovated while preserving many of its original Victorian features
Split over two levels with an open reception area on the ground floor
and has been made more energy efficient to retain heat
ensuring the plants in the ravine have the right environment to grow
The added revamp walkway on the second floor overlooks some 190 plant species
housed in temperate and tropical zones and kept humid
with notable plants include a Japanese fibre banana tree dating from 1904
tree ferns thought to be 150-years old and a beautiful natal cycad
Many considered these two greenhouses symbolized Belfast's growing industrial might
and prosperity in the Victorian era
well my favourite part about this garden is the outdoor rose garden here
and you can absolutely find every single colour that you can imagine in roses
and if you have a date
should find one myself
you know what to do!
and it's not even going to cost you anything!
just look around and just make sure no one is around here
This is the most popular sections of the Botanic Gardens
There is endless, rows and rows of numerous species of roses
they are not only pretty
but you’ll be surrounded with a heavenly fragrance
This flower bed is filled with pink
blooming roses called Shot Silk
They were first bred in a Northern Ireland nursery by Alexander Dickson II in 1924
The Botanic Gardens shares the main entrance with the Ulster Museum
another one of the must see and free attractions in the city
First established as the Belfast Natural History Society in 1821 and began exhibiting in 1833
It is the largest museum in Northern Ireland with 8,000 square meters of public display space
featuring rich collections of art, history and natural sciences
On the first floor the museum includes exhibition featuring the history of Northern Ireland
from the earliest times to the very recent past
including the history related to conflict in Northern Ireland during the late 20th century
The nickname “The Troubles”
the conflict left more than 3,500 people were killed
with civilian accounts for majority of lives lost until the Good Friday peace agreements
signed on 10 of April 1998
so this part of the museum cover the history of Irish people that arrived here 10,000 years ago
and that period also is the middle stone ages
As well many of the priceless artifacts related to Irish archaeology and ethnographic
Objects in the museum include the Malone Hoard of 19 polished Neolithic axe heads
the important Downpatrick Hoard of Bronze Age gold jewelry
and the medieval coins in the Armagh City Hoard and Armagh Castle Street Hoard
The museum is also home to a famous mummy Takabuti
detailing how ancient Egyptians prepared for death as they believed it was just another part of life
So don’t be scare of death!
The scientific collections of the Ulster Museum contain important samples of Irish birds
mammals, insects, marine invertebrates, flowering plants, algae and lichens
as well as an archive of books and manuscripts relating to Irish natural history
In the late 1980s and the early 1990s it had a permanent exhibition on dinosaurs
which has since been scaled back considerably
The geology exhibits showcase collection of rocks, minerals
and even a slice cut from a large pallasite meteorite found near the town of Seymchan in Siberia
now to my surprised
there is also a art museum
it's pretty impressive
let's have a look!
An art gallery was also added in 1890
initially called the Belfast Municipal Museum and Art Gallery
In 1929 it moved to its present location
and today its collection features some of the finest Irish art found anywhere in the world
It includes scenes by Jack Butler Yeats
William Conor’s depictions of working class life in Belfast
and the vibrant and precise canvases of John Luke
Sir John Lavery’s grand
yet intimate, paintings were a significant gift to collection by the artist in 1929
well last but not least
on the top floor is the Gallery of Applied Arts
I don't even know what that means
The Gallery of Applied Arts includes the Fashion & Textiles Collection
aims to reflect the history of fashionable dress from as early as the 18th century
as well as contemporary international designer and high street fashion
It comprises approximately 5,000 objects
including garments, accessories, historic and contemporary jewellery
and a collection of dolls and toys including pieces by Armand Marseille
now this is actually a very interesting thing
there is even a section dedicated to fashion
and despite my lack of fashion myself
I am going to brag I am actually...
Well...
I was about to brag I actually a runway director for the New York Fashion Week
so I will see you there this September
The museum's policy is to collect clothing and accessories with an emphasis on acquiring pieces that are of high design quality
and or representative of significant changes in fashion history
The collection includes eighteenth-century Spitalfields silk gowns
early 20th century Parisian couture
and contemporary international fashion
we are heading off to the City Hall next
and same thing make the most out of the day pass
you can get there by bus 8B or 8C
it's a really short ride
it's roughly about ten minutes
I briefly drop by outside the City Hall to take a quick look
once the home of the White Linen Hall
an important international Linen Exchange
If you got time and loves history
the City Hall offers free daily tours available on a first-come, first-served basis
But I am hungry
now if you are really tight on a budget
you can try out the traditional Irish sausage rolls
it only cost £1.00
It’s made using ground pork, served as party appetizers or sold in bakeries as take-away food
You can also grab a fresh sandwich costing about £3.00
But if you want to impress your date without breaking the bank…
check out Tim Hortons across from the City Hall
my favourite coffee shop from across the Atlantic
so I am always away
and whenever I have a chance to experience home
I am always happy
so here I found a place
Tim Hortons!
oh my god!
home away from home
Timbits
you can't go wrong with that...
and also my favourite
chocolate glaze donuts
After sweeten up myself with all that sugar
let’s see if I can find a sweet British lady for a date
One place to search for the love of my life is at the Belfast’s best known landmark
Albert Memorial Clock or simply as Albert Clock
Erected between 1865 and 1869 in Gothic style to commemorate Queen Victoria’s consort Prince Albert
The tower is 43 meters in height
and sometimes the clock is described as Belfast’s answer to Pisa’s leaning tower
its tilt caused by the fact it is constructed on reclaimed land from the Farset River and weighs over 2,000 tonnes
I think the tower and myself should go on a diet to be on the safe side
so the bus will actually drop you off about 100 metres away from that sign
it saids Belfast Castle
so we are on the right track
Congratulations!
If you do manage to find a nice British lady
I got a great place to take your date to higher level
In fact, it’s high and romantic!
But… just make sure you behave
no anti-social behavior please!
Let’s get going!
we are not there yet...
the gate is just right there
Located on the slopes of Cavehill Country Park
400 feet above the sea level and with unobstructed views of the city of Belfast
The Belfast Castle has a long and colourful history
the original Belfast castle sat within the city of Belfast itself in the 12th century
In 1611 Sir Arthur Chichester
Baron of Belfast was not so smart
replaced the old castle with one made of stone and timber
and eventually got burnt down
Yuks!
That might bring back bad memories
so rather than rebuilding on the same site
a new castle was built on the north of Belfast at the current site
The architect was John Lanyon
who designed the new building in the then-popular Scottish baronial style
with construction starting in 1862 and completed in 1870
Today the estate is home to a parkland and mature mixed woodland with different species of wildlife
including long-eared owls, sparrowhawks and many of Belfast’s rarest plant
One of the castle's most iconic features is the winding staircase at the entrance
whose greyish-brown color stands out against the burnt sienna sandstone and brick red detail
Alright!
after all that hike...
we made it here
there is a lot of benches in the courtyard for you to actually come and sit
and enjoy the view of Belfast from here
it's pretty high up!
but I am really interested is seeing inside the Castle
because I heard it's free!
Sir Arthur's son in law
Lord Ashley 8th Earl of Shaftesbury paid for the reconstruction and later inherited the castle in 1884
The Shaftesbury family were not only the castle's residents and owners
but they were also generous donors to the city of Belfast and hosted events at their home
The ninth Earl even became Belfast's mayor in 1907
The castle remained a private estate until the entire property was gifted to the city in January of 1934
Now this is one heck of a castle
yup, it's really big!
Since 1945 the castle is open to the public daily
with a visitor centre, antique shop, restaurant, and a playground
If you really want to impress your date
many of the rooms have been turned into public tea rooms or are available to be reserved for private functions
Oh yeah… if you managed to seal the deal
you can tied the knot right here
after all the castle has been a popular venue for weddings
So good luck!
Good morning everyone!
I want to go down to the Saint George's Market
but as you can see the weather is not cooperating
so my option right now is indoor by going to Titanic Belfast
the good thing about this Tim Hortons
it is located right in front of the bus stop
for bus G2
the purple bus that takes you directly to the in front of the Titanic museum
so finally we are on the bus or tram G2
and this should be about a six minute ride right in front of the Titanic museum
so behind me is the actual site where the Titanic is built
at this harbour right here
in front of me is a museum dedicated to the Titanic
during the 19th century
the Belfast Harbour Commission improve the flow of lough
as well expanded the shipyard
which resulted in a boom in a shipbuilding industry in Belfast
After immigrated to Canada as a child
the first English language film I ever seen is Titanica
a 1992 iMax documentary film about an expedition crew searching the wreck the RMS Titanic
and that is the start of my fascination with this ship
So, today I am going to fulfil my childhood dream of visiting it’s birthplace
In 2005 plans were announced to build a museum dedicated to Titanic to attract tourists to the area
with the aim of completing it by 2012 to mark the centenary of Titanic's maiden voyage and sinking
Titanic Belfast is a 12,000 square meters interactive museum
located on the site of the former Harland & Wolff shipyard in the city's Titanic Quarter
where the RMS Titanic and RMS Olympia was built
I recommend you come early and take advantage of early bird tickets
plus it’s less crowd!
A bonus!
Open as scheduled to public in 2012
the museum is occupied by a series of exhibits, galleries, virtual tours, and rides illustrating the stories of the Titanic
which hit an iceberg and sank during her maiden voyage in 1912
and her sister ships RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic
The first gallery is named Boomtown Belfast
it recreates scenes from Belfast at the time of Titanic's construction in 1909 to 1911
It illustrates the city's major industries
before leading through an original set of gates from the Harland and Wolff shipyard
into an interactive floor presenting Titanic's construction plans
along with original drawings and scale models of the ship
The Shipyard section consist of a ride aboard a mini-car up a steel scaffold standing 20 metres
visitors to the top of the gantry, where scenes of shipbuilding are displayed through audio and images
along with an six-seater car which takes the visitor on a ride through a recreation of a shipyard
which moves through a scale replica of Titanic's enormous rudder
so basically...
your tour also includes a ride here
it's very slow
The Launch gallery portrays scenes from the Spring day when Titanic was launched into Belfast Lough
watched by 100,000 people
It overlooks the slipway from which Titanic was launched
Follow by the fourth gallery presents a large-scale model of Titanic
to illustrate how the ship appeared to its passengers and crew
depicting all three classes of cabins
right behind me is third class
that's I think that is all I can afford for now
but when I find that rich English girl
I'll go for the first class right there
equivalent to a $130,000 today's money
A central feature in the gallery presents a 360-degree computer-generated tour around Titanic
through all the levels of the vessel
from the engine room to the dining saloons and the bridges
In the fifth gallery
which depicts the ship's disastrous maiden voyage from a recreation of the ship's boat deck
Visitors can walk across the wooden deck
sit on benches or look out at a view across the docks
The sixth gallery portrays the sinking of the Titanic
with the background sound of Morse code SOS messages being sent to other ships
Images of the sinking are combined with audio of survivors telling their stories
and illustrations of the confused press reporting of the disaster
The aftermath of the sinking is documented in the seventh gallery
which is dominated by a full-size replica of one of the lifeboats used to evacuate passengers from the ship
As well the American and British inquiries into the disaster are portrayed on either side of the lifeboat
through videos and information panels
The last gallery presents Titanic as she is now
12,000 feet below the surface of the North Atlantic
Interactive presentation features the discoverer of the wreck Dr. Robert Ballard
the gallery illustrates his expeditions to the ship through footage, audio and images
A fish-eye view of the wreck is set under the glass floor
so for those of you who don't want to pay for visiting the museum
you can just come up to this area
it's free of charge
you get to see a lot of artifacts left behind from the design of the Titanic
and few debris
it's actually pretty cool!
I like it!
Your Titanic Belfast ticket also includes admission to the SS Nomadic
the only surviving White Star Line vessel in existence today
Its designer is Thomas Andrews who also designed RMS Titanic
Her purpose was to transfer passengers and mail to and from RMS Olympic and RMS Titanic
In 2018 after an extensive restoration to the ship, it is converted into a museum
Both the lower and upper deck passenger lounges and open deck areas on the bridge are open to visitors
including first and second class passenger areas
Internally Nomadic was fitted out to a similar standard as the liners Olympic and Titanic
which she was built to serve
As such she had more luxuries than most tenders of her day
with cushioned benches, tables, porcelain water fountains, sex-specific bathrooms and a buffet bar
She contained ornate decorative joinery and plasterwork
particularly in the first class lounges of the ship
There is only one UNESCO World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland
so it’s a no brainer we need to check that out
However, the questions is tour or no tour
If you only want to see Giant's Causeway
then the Translink’s day pass is the way to go
it gives you more flexibilities and you’ll able to spent little bit more time on picking up girls there
But make sure to check the return schedule
its hell of a long walk if you miss the bus
Another option is for few pound more
you can take a day tour which take to few more attractions
the tour last seven to ten hours
Given my feet is killing me
the tour option sounds lot more appealing
so what's happening right now is I am taking a tour and cost £20.00
and it will directly take you up to the Giant's Causeway
it's a full day tour
Our first stop over here is the Carrickfergus Castle
is one of the Northern Ireland most important historic monuments
this was built in the 12th century
it has being under the state care since 1928
it's going to be very short brief stop
so we are not going to go in
because it's 20 minutes are allowed to be out here
The Carrickfergus Castle is a Norman style castle located on the shore of Belfast Lough
The core of the castle was built in 1177 by my dad
I mean the Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy
after he conquered the east of Ulster and ruled as a petty king until 1204
Sadly, he had no Instagram friends
and was ousted by another Norman adventurer Hugh de Lacy
Over the centuries
the castle was besieged by the Scottish, native Irish, English and French
On various occasions during the 18th century
the castle was used to house prisoners of war
and became a prison and it was heavily defended during the Napoleonic Wars
including the six guns on the east battery remain that were used in 1811
During the World War I it was used as a garrison and ordnance store
During the Second World War it was once again used
this time as an air raid shelter
The castle played an important military role until 1928
but remains one of the best preserved medieval structures in Northern Ireland
Our bus travels on the scenic drive along the Causeway Coastal Route
renowned as one of the most scenic coastal drives in the world
There are many small British towns and villages along the route
and our stop bring us to one of them and where you get 15 minutes of free time to wonder around
or grab a bite and use the toilet
so basically this is the second stop that we get off
it's a very picturesque town
it's an...
I don't know the name
sorry!
I will voice over that!
but it's feature in an...
some TV show called...
like I don't know...
The Game of Stone?
some shit like that
excuse my language
but this is the village of Carnlough with a population of 2,200
Located on the foot of Glencloy
the second of the nine valleys of Antrim
It’s harbour is its most noticeable landmark
originally built by a local landowner Phil Gibbons
and extended by the Marchioness of Londonderry in the middle of the last century
This landmark has being featured in many movies
including the stony staircase leading down to the sea
filmed as part of the Free City of Braavos Canal scene in the Game of Thrones
For those of you who loves hiking or nature or want to shed some pounds
or all of the above
Good news!
we are stopping near the small village of Ballintoy
There is a path leading to a famous rope bridge called Carrick-a-Rede
while it’s free to enter the area
a ticket is needed to cross the 20 meters bridge linking the mainland to the tiny island of Carrickarede
now as you can see...
it's actually really nice here
there is a bit of a hike from the tour bus parking to all the way to the bridge
give or take about 20 minutes walk or so
it's a nice walk along the coastal route here though
especially that island right there
that looks pretty nice!
well I just hope my injured foot survived this hike
with that being said
let's keep going!
I am ready to conquer this
Sadly the hike was too much for my foot and I didn’t made it to the bridge
But I can tell you over 500,000 of people made it each year
It is thought salmon fishermen have been building bridges to the island for over 350 years
Over the horizon and off the coast
you’ll see the sleepy Sheep Island known for its steep cliffs
Although the island is private
it is designated as a Special Protection Area
and an Area of Special Scientific Interest for being home to particular species of cormorant birds
known as Phalacrocorax carbo carbo
Okay...
next… another small, small village…
there is no chicks in sight!
But it does have a famous inventor Henry George Ferguson
but I’ll call him "Harry
who an Irish-born British mechanic and inventor
who is noted for his role in the development of the modern tractor and for being the first person in Ireland to build and fly his own aeroplane
and for developing the first four-wheel drive Formula One car
the Ferguson P99
Our driver said he needed a motivating drink to be a better driver
Irish whiskey to exact
So next stop, Old Bushmills Distillery
one of the oldest in whole of Ireland dating back to 1608
this is the next leg of the tour
they bring you to a Irish whiskey distillery
and no, it's not free
you have to pay for it
it's pretty okay I guess
I am not a big drinker
so let's get going!
To live a high life
you definitely need to pair up your drink with some fine dinning
So our next stop solves this problem
The Dunluce Castle is now a ruined
built during the medieval period
the first castle on the site was built in the 13th century and the seat of the McDonnell Clan
The castle is surrounded by extremely steep drops on either side
which may have been an important factor to the early Christians and Vikings
who were drawn to this place where an early Irish fort once stood
Now if you wonder why it became a ruin...
here it is...
this is another stop
this is a quick photo stop of a castle call Dunluce Castle
it used to be a KFC joint in there
but no one is eating fried chicken anymore
it fall into disrepair
I guess people are eating lot more healthier diet
that is what happens
But I heard there is going to be a Burger King moving into that castle
so hopefully...
Okay, okay…
enough of this none-sense
let’s get the back on track and head over to final and grand attraction of the day
Now, strangely enough on it’s website it said you needed to book a ticket
But there is no ticket office in sight or I have being asked for any proof a ticket
the shuttle bus drop you off at the coach parking
and when you get in here
you have to hike all the way down there
it's about fifteen minutes hike
but because I am actually...
my leg is really, really getting bad
I am going with the shuttle option
it cost £1.00 or €1.20 to get down there by the shuttle
The name Giant's Causeway comes from the legends of Fionn mac Cumhaill
mythical hunter-warrior in Irish mythology
The popular folklore legend has it he was challenged to a fight by the Scottish giant Benandonner
and built the causeway as stepping-stones to Scotland
so as not to get his feet wet
However it was then ripped up by Benandonner
The result was the Giant’s Causeway
so this is the famous Giant's Causeway
it is Northern Ireland's only United Nations World Heritage Site
and rank as the number one natural wonders in United Kingdom
For those of you with scientifically minded or insist on the evidence base approach…
The causeway is area of five kilometers located on the sea coast at the edge of the Antrim plateau
The site was formed between 50 and 60 million years ago during the Paleocene Epoch
when the Antrim was subject to intense volcanic activities
One theory point to the fact when molten lava from a massive eruption flowed into the sea
it cooling rapidly and shrinking into some 40,000 large, perfectly shaped hexagonal columns of basalt
although there are also some with four, five, seven or eight sides
The area is also a haven for seabirds
such as fulmar, petrel, and cormorant
The weathered rock formations host numerous plant types
including sea spleenwort
hare's-foot trefoil
and bunch of other planet I can’t pounce
here you go!
the reason I am wearing sandals is because my foot injuries
and also my shoes is really, really wet
I have to rush because my bus leaves at 5:20
I know the driver will leave without me
The last of leg of my journey gets little political to the city of Derry
or officially Londonderry
a focal point for the nascent civil rights movement in Northern Ireland
Not surprisingly the trip starts from the Belfast Europa’s Bus Terminal
it’s basically transportation hub for Northern Ireland
here in Northern Ireland when you buy a bus ticket is valid on all the buses and all the routes
includes the local and the intercity buses
so my ticket right here
I am heading over to Derry pretty soon
and I am really excited to make the most out of this ticket
hey after all I paid for it!
it's £9.50
we have arrived here at Derry Bus Terminal
the total trip takes roughly about two hours long
the first thing I am going to do is head over to the hostel and drop off my stuff
and we can started on our day
Derry is the second largest city in Northern Ireland with a population of 110,000
The name is an Anglicisation of the Old Irish name Daire meaning "oak grove"
In 1613 the city was granted a Royal Charter by King James I
and gained the "London" prefix to reflect the funding of its construction by the London guilds
and as result the Londonderry remains its legal name
Derry is renowned for its architecture
including it’s famous historic walled city at the core of the modern city
as well many churches, and forts
Most of the attractions are easily accessible by foot from the city centre
that is where my accommodation sponsor Hostel Connect is located
They offer, both private rooms and dorm beds
comfy area for socialization
a full kitchen with free basic breakfast
and I can’t say enough great things about its friendly staff
Thanks guys!
so we'll start journey right here
right in front of the City Wall
oh dear...
right in front of the Guildhall church
Oh man… no break from the weather
let me continued...
we’ll our journey from Guildhall Square
within the reach of historic 400 year old Walls
the iconic Guildhall or city hall is one of the City’s most recognizable
and arguably one of the most stunning landmarks
The building is the seat of the elected members of Derry and Strabane District Council
and it’s council chamber
Built in 1890 and designed by John Guy Ferguson and financed by The Honourable The Irish Society
The red sandstone building is a neo-gothic architecture with Tudor overtones
During The Troubles the Guildhall was the focus of multiple terror attacks
The building was badly damaged by two bombs in 1972
but was restored at a cost of £1.7 million and was reopened in 1977
The Guildhall’s most stunning feature is its collection of stunning stained-glass windows
Donated by London Companies
they represent everything from fishmongers to musicians
there is 23 stained glass windows here
originally built by the Campbell Brothers in 1912 in Belfast
However...
what you see today is mostly replicas
because the originals was destroyed in 1972 IRA bombing
or they call it the Bloody Sunday
in 1989 a new window was setup to commemorate the victims of the Bloody Sunday
Across the Guildhall Square is one of the stairwell of the 400 year old city wall
commissioned by the King James I and built by the Irish Society
as defences for early seventeenth century English and Scottish settlers from Irish rebels besieging the city
Derry has the most complete circuit of historical walls in any town in Ireland
and this is it!
it raise up 8 metres high
it was built between 1613 and 1618
The Walls which are approximately 1.5 kilometres in circumference
form a walkway around the inner city and provide a unique promenade to view the layout of the original town
which still preserves its Renaissance Style street plan to this day
There are four original gates in the Walled City, including Bishop’s Gate
Ferryquay Gate
Butcher Gate and Shipquay Gate
Three further gates were added
Magazine Gate, Castle Gate and New Gate
The Walled City also claims Europe’s largest collection of cannon whose origins are known precisely
Many of them thundered in anger over the two seventeenth century sieges
In 2005 the surviving 24 cannon were restored
and under expert supervision and often by hand
craftsmen, cleared the barrels of centuries of rubbish
stripped off layers of paint and corrosion and bathed
sponged and waxed the cannon back to their former glory
The cannon are displayed throughout the City Walls
with the impressive Roaring Meg located on the double bastion
There is many churches located within the Walled City including the Saint Columb’s Cathedral
built in 1633 in the Planter Gothic Style
with its stone coming from local quarries
and employed local skilled stone cutters and masons
The cathedral has many fine stained glass windows, regimental flags
and a large collection of historical items from the time of the siege
Also within the walls and situated on the ground of a former ancient church from 1164
This is a little church
the St. Augustine’s
established in 1872 and fondly known as ‘the Wee Church on the Walls’
sits on the Grand Parade of Derry’s Walls
now this city has a lot of magnificent grand cathedrals and churches and so on...
but there is also some cute ones as well
this is the Saint Augustine's church
it's actually really, really small
but it's really cute!
so what so interesting is during the siege
back in the 17th century
the term of the surrender within that canon ball landed on the ground of this church
Another church also located within the wall
I promise this is the last one…
is the First Derry Presbyterian Church
It is believed to be on the site of an earlier Presbyterian church founded in 1690
and continues to be occupied by the present Church
Adjoining the Church is the refurbished Blue Coat School
now a visitor’s centre telling the story of the many ways in which Presbyterians contributed to the development of Derry over the last four centuries
Less than four minutes walk away is the Bogside neighbourhood
the site of Battle of the Bogside
where many believe as the beginning of the Troubles
refers to the three-decade bloody sectarian conflict between nationalists
self-identified as Irish or Roman Catholic
and the unionist, mainly self-identified as British or Protestant
The Catholics were discriminated against under Unionist government in Northern Ireland
both politically and economically
The extreme tension boiled over in the late 1960s
and rioting and battles with police occurred in Derry on a semi-regular basis
On January 5, 1969 after a night of rioting and sustain police attacks
this was graffiti on the wall here
"You are entering FREE DERRY"
it's a very simple graffiti
but it becomes the symbol for the civil rights era here
as well international symbol for the police or state injustice
When the British Home Secretary, Jim Callaghan, visited Derry in August 1969
the "Free Derry" wall was painted white
and the "You are now entering Free Derry" sign was professionally re-painted in black lettering
The area in front of the wall became known as Free Derry Corner by the inhabitants
Today you can see the scene of the 1969’s Battle of the Bogside and Bloody Sunday in 1972
painted on building of the surrounding streets
After decades of sectarian conflict
Northern Ireland enjoy relative peace in the present day
with many monuments being dedicated to the Good Friday Agreement and memorials to the victims of its violent past
One of them was the Peace Bridge, with the construction cost of £14 million
with funding coming from European Union and opened on 25 June 2011
The cycle and foot bridge across the Foyle River was intended to improve relations
between the largely nationalist 'Cityside' on the west bank
and with the largely unionist 'Waterside' on the east bank
by improving access between these areas
The asymetrical bridge is 235 meters long and 4 meters wide
is supported by two sloping pillars and symbolizes a coming-together of the two communities
The bridge is directly connected to Foyle riverfront on the Waterside
providing a crossing over the railway line approaching Waterside station
and the stairs to the Ebrington Square
The Ebrington Square is a 29 acre former army parade ground and a military heritage site
Initially occupied by Jacobite Forces during the Siege of Derry
and subsequently developed as a 10 acre ‘Star Fort’ in 1841
The site played a significant role in both World Wars and was pivotal during the Battle of the Atlantic
At the start of the First World War, the barracks were occupied by 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment
who proceeded to France with the Expeditionary Force
During the Second World War the barracks were home to 2nd Battalion
the South Wales Borderers and in the latter part of the War it because a Naval base
The barracks was also being attacked numerous time
including during the Troubles
when on the 11 January 1974 the Official Irish Republican Army killed two civilians
who worked as contractors for the British Army after a bomb exploded under their car
Another incident happened on 14 December 1993
when two soldiers were wounded by a trip wire bomb blast in a fence at a railway bordering the facilities
On the same side of the Foyle River and next to the Square
there is also a large 70-acre municipal park, the St Columb's Park
named after St. Columba
who is the city's patron saint
The park contains the ruins of a medieval church
an 18th century manor house, an Arena, Tennis courts, Running Track
Children’s play area and an Walled garden
Now if you wonder what I eaten all day…
here it is
as expected…
get ready for the most annoying self-checkout machine ever
just listen to this
your journey begins now
scan your first item
the power is in me!
so here you go!
c'mon dude!
one pound!
quantity needed!
But there is also burgers and fries everywhere…
but I am skeptical on their Michelin star claim though
so there is a bus leaving from Derry to Belfast every single hour
and I think we are leaving actually
so...
if you are lucky enough you get a double decker bus like this one
and you get a nicer view from up above!
but be quick or else the front row seat will be fully occupied
Once again the total journey takes about two hours to the Belfast Europa Bus Terminal.
From there, I took bus express bus to Belfast Airport
leaving every 15 minutes and the trip takes about 30 to 40 minutes
Here we are!
welcome to Belfast Airport
this is where we are going to fly out
I mean Belfast International Airport
someone is laughing at me actually...
The Belfast Airport has frequent scheduled flight to many major European cities
But I am heading to the Isle of Man to for the filming of this little cute island
If you are flying out from Dublin Airport
the Belfast Europa Bus Terminal also have frequent direct X1 Bus to the Dublin Airport
But for those of you who are not ready to leave
and returning to Dublin city centre
Including myself coming back from the Isle of Man to relax a bit
or give another try on picking up Irish ladies before flying out
this is how you get to the airport!
so there is two ways of getting to the Dublin Airport from the city centre
first way is lot easier
express non-stop bus
it cost €7.00 and takes roughly about 40 minutes
the other way is more interesting
the bus 16 takes you to the same place except there is stop in between
it takes one hour and cost €3.20
but given the fact I like the public bus
I think it's more interesting
we'll go with that option
it's cheaper too!
But I am not ending my trip without trying one of these Irish donuts
they are absolutely everywhere…
I mean it!
even at the airport
After getting my dose of sugar
it’s time to board my flight back
and this is the end of my magnificent journey of the Island of Ireland
the Emerald Isle!
I come to Ireland in search of the magnificent sceneries
and to appreciate its nature
To experience and feel it's incredible rich Celtic culture
and getting lost in time in its history
and learning about its past
I was able to fulfil my childhood dream of visiting the birthplace of Titanic
and immerse in the legend behind its natural wonders
My favourite part the journey is being surrounded by it’s warm people
and learning about different prospectives
it’s past struggles
it’s long road to modern day peace through dialogue and compromise
a truly a shinning example in what our humanity can do by coming together
I encourage to visit the Emerald Isle
to experience the soul of this mystic land
and find a piece of your own Celtic within
Slan Leat!
