I'll get to it eventually

I know I said I would update this blog, but I seriously can't think at the moment, and I'm still collaborating photos in which to put up here. So I haven't abandoned this blog, I just haven't been bothered lately.

:) xx

Home sweet home

Back home in Hunstanton today!

And I shall get onto updating all my blogs sometime this weekend. :D

Contemplating

I have so much to say... but I don't know how much of it you can take

Re-occurring dreams about the same person in different perspectives.

I don’t understand it. I have a dream of you as one person in my life, and then another day, I’d have you in my dream again as a totally different person. Today I woke up from a dream, thinking that you were one long lost friend that I would always talk to in my high school days, one that was someone I could hang out with as good company. In that dream, I longed to find you. I woke up to reality – literally – figuring out that I can’t, because I know you wouldn’t want me to, and because I realised who you are, and knowing that I can never find you again in the same way that I used to if I did.

I think I just really miss you. Not for what we had, but for who you were. I haven’t thought of you in a while now, but I guess it was just a reminder to me, and I absolutely hate it, because I wish you were still here. This is why I don’t like looking through photos on facebook, because during our last moments, you were with them, not me. And knowing that I’ll never see you again just hurts. I can’t bare it anymore. I just can’t...

But what can I say? They're just dreams..

Especially for you

Dear you,

I miss you so much.

I hope that we can talk soon.

~

Dear you,

Why are we drifiting?

We'd normally talk to each other every day,

we'd make time to catch up and see each other.

I know that I may be eleven thousand miles away from home.

But it kinda kills me knowing that we barely even get the single change to speak to each other.

~

Dear you,

I hope that you're alright,

Stay strong. You'll overcome those obstacles.

~

Dear you,

I never thought I'd say this,

but you are really frustrating me

Life can give you a hundred reasons to cry, but there's always a hundred and more reasons to laugh & be happy.

It's so challenging, and it's definitely not easy, but we must keep fighting against it. Be positive, all will prevail. I'm looking forward to a new adventure, and it begins tomorrow! :)

.........

As I look back on all that has happened: growing up, growing together, changing you, and changing me, there were times when we dreamt together, when we laughed and cried together. As I look back on those days I realize how much I will truly miss you and how much I truly love you. The past may be gone forever and what the future holds. Our todays make memories of tomorrow. Therefore, it is with all my heart that I send you my love, hoping that you’ll always carry my smile with you for all we have meant to each other and for what the future may hold

Ireland, drinking capital of the world

I can never seem to get myself into a blogging mood

It kinda feels like having a writing block when you need to write an essay or something like that.

I've literally had this post drafted for a few days or so now. I just can't find the words to describe what I want to say. I'm kinda having mixed emotions right now. The good ones of course are because I know where I am, I'm here, having the time of my life. But on the downside, it's just something I don't know how to put words to.

I don't know anymore..

Dublin, Ireland

This is why it's called the EMERALD isle..

St Patrick's Cathedral

St Stephen's Green

Only in Ireland..

St Stephen's Green

What a wonderful world

Ahhhh laaa laaaaaa. The paddocks are so green.

Travelling first class on East Coast Rail

I actually didn't know that I booked for first class tickets on this rail journey. It was much cheaper than what I paid for on my previous ticket? But oh well, I'm not complaining. I have my own seat, wifi, table and window. I totally rate this over Sydney's cityrail. But then again, I guess it's also because it's travelling to and from country boarders. Right now the sun is just rising, it's high up mind you, but it's literally blinding me. I could use a pair of sunnies right now!

It even has a separate menu from the other standard carriages. Oh how I love this. And the country side is just breathtaking! :):)

Flat out tired

Honestly, I can't be asked writing a blog right now, but I know I should, because if I put it off for later, I won't get the time nor effort to remember the things that have happened within the past three days. A thing that I have to remember for my next tour is to write things down onto paper while I can so that I can just type it up later on during the month or something like that. The past three days have been somewhat relaxing, yet flat out tiring at the same time. I know it won't be anything compared to the All of Ireland week tour that I'm going on.

5th April 2011 - Isle of Skye.

We all woke up in the morning happy with the weather, well we were content that rays of sunshine were peaking in through the clouds. But we were warned that we should appreciate it while we can because it won't last very long. We drove off to the Isle of Skye, but had a few photo stops on the way and that kinda thing. The island of Skye was just simply amazing. Don't know how else I could describe it because words wouldn't be enough. There were waterfalls everywhere, and just clean, green country side kinda grass. Ah it was beautiful. We also took a stopover at Eileen Donan castle where 'Highlanders' was filmed, and also some scenes from 'Maid of Honour'. The castle was pretty, although we weren't allowed to take photos inside, but when we got outside it was just way too windy for anything. But it was a great experience.

At night, there was a live performer at the bar, who was literally 'a walking ipod'. You request ANY song you want, and he just plays it, with his voice/guitar/harmonica/etc at the same time. He was so clever, seriously, I was amazed. So yeah, had a few drinks and what not. I'll just sum up that Australians are the best to party with ;) #truestory.

6th April 2011 - Loch Ness to Edinburgh.

Woke up this morning completely tired and out of energy. Our first stop was to Loch Ness, where the Loch Ness creature (monster) was spotted. Heaps cool!

Reporting from Fort Augustus

Today has been such a great day, despite the "atmospheric" (rain) kind of weather. I can't recall too much because we've just been everywhere. We went from Edinburgh to Stirling, hiked up to see the Wallace monument, saw Hamish and Heather the highland 'coo's (cow), saw the bridge that was used in Harry Potter, Chamber of Secrets - the part where Ron and Harry have trouble with the flying car, Glen Coe, Ben Nervis Distillery (where they make Scotch Whisky.. yummmmm), Commando Memorial and finally to the lodge at Fort Augustus. :)

Live from Edinburgh, Scotland

The train ride yesterday was horrible. Not fun at all. But looking out through the window and seeing the amazing landscape, don't think anything can top that.

I'm currently in the hostel reception, waiting for my taxi to take me to the meeting place of my tour. So this will just be a blog to recap the happenings of yesterday.

I saw both ends of a rainbow from the train, it was soooo beautiful!!!! I'll upload photos onto facebook at another time. By the time the train got to Newcastle, it was already hyping me up for Edinburgh. There were so many bridges there! There was also one that looked similar to the Sydney, Harbour Bridge, only a smaller version of it.

I got to Edinburgh, and caught a taxi which took me straight to the hostel. Checked in, and then went exploring around the area. I went to a spot called Calton Hill, which featured many monuments, and I was also just in time for the sunset. Ahh, I love how daylight savings started before these April holidays, I can be out and see the sunset at a later time than the usual 4pm sunsets in England. The view from Calton Hill was one of the most amazing that I've seen so far, and if this is just a little taste of what Scotland is, then I can't wait to see the rest of it!

I took a walk around North Bridge, and found Pizza Hut! Just in time for dinner. So I treated myself a meal, then started to walk back to the hostel. I was just about to raise my hand for a taxi when this man on a pedicab (or what Filipinos call it, instead of a tricycle [which is a motorbike], it was a bicycle) came over to me, and asked me where I was heading, he offered me a ride. The thing I didn't know was that I didn't have any cash/coins on me at the time, I was definitely apologetic about it, and told him not to worry about it. Thankfully he noticed my half ''British/Australian'' accent, and said they don't get people like me in Ediburgh *BLUSHES* ahha. So instead, he offered to take me on a tour around the upper level of Edinburgh. (Yes there are two levels of this capital city) and finally got to my hostel. Cleaned up a little, and right when I was just about to sleep, these two German guys walked into the room, and it felt awkward not saying anything, so knowing me, I introduced myself. And I found out they were taking a year off uni. Haha, the things you find out when you meet strangers. They asked me to go out for a drink tonight, but sadly, I didn't go. Haha, had to wake up early for this morning.

And so here I am now, sitting by a computer, with soft rock music playing in the background in a hostel reception room, waiting for my taxi ride! :)

Let's go backpacking around the United Kingdom

Someone like you

“Some choices we make for ourselves in life and some we make for other people. Not because we don’t love, but because we do. The only way we know it’s right is if it lets us stay true to ourselves. But we can’t regret our choices. The past is behind us—all we have is the present. And the future. Whatever that may bring.”

- Hannah/Belle, Secret Diary of a London Call Girl, S4E08

Bags packed and ready to go

I'm only bringing those two bags with blue on them, (with the addition to a personal bag and my camera bag). It took so long just to compress my clothes into less than 15kg. Don't want to be paying for extra because of excess weight. I'm so excited I can't sleep!

Retail therapy

It was a sunny morning today. The other gap student went off to go to Barcelona, so I was at the boarding house by myself. I decided then to go to the shops (which was a 30 minute car ride, but an hour and a half bus ride). I ended up buying a backpack, so I won't be using my suitcase these holidays. Also bought heaps of clothes for the season (just Spring kinda clothes), a water proof jacket, and all the other little essentials for my trip.

I'm sooooooooo excited!

United Kingdom?

The United Kingdom consists of England, Northen Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

A lot of people have been asking me that question over and over again. Haha

Better than google?

http://www.qwiki.com

It's been so convenient. You just type in a topic/subject into the search bar, click the picture, and it literally talks to you about what you've searched. It's great for assignments (for all my friends who are in uni right now), or better yet - for people like me who need to know so much about where I'm going.

Let me tell you a little more about myself

As you probably, already know, my name is Loreyn and I am 18 years old. I was born and raised in the Philippines until the age of four and a half, which then I moved to Sydney, Australia. I've been living there ever since. During year 12 (which was the last year of high school for me), from the beginning I always knew what I was going to be, at least what I wanted to be, which was something in the field of medicine. But as the year went on, I faced challenges of all sorts, which lead me to the decision of taking a year off. Now, when someone hears about "taking a year off" and also called a "gap year" many people think it's just being lazy, a year to just chill and do nothing. So I spoke to my career's advisor who gave me plenty of ideas of what to do. One that captured my attention was international volunteer work. And because I've always wanted to go to the United Kingdom, there were gap year agencies that offer school placement volunteer work in the UK (which is where I am now). It took me so long to convince my parents to let me, but they soon gave in and knew that it would be for the better.

It took a whole six or seven months worth of preparation: sorting out visas, insurance, passports, and a whole pile of forms to fill in. But let me tell you now... it's definitely worth every second of being here. I know that might not make sense at all. So far, all the people that I've met while I've been here (with the exceptions of all the other gap students who came along from Australia) have been so surprised that I'm so young, in travelling on my own, and being so far away from home. And compared to what most of them are doing, who come blind into a country, live in a hostel (which are the worst - well I think they are anyway) yet cheapest accommodation, and finding a job. I mean, there's no time to travel? You're basically working for your fees to pay for the accommodation that you're staying in. So I'm really happy that I've got a school's placement, where I've got a bed that I've got to myself for the whole year, a room, decent loo and shower, and along with that, our meals our provided everyday, I should also add the monthly allowance/pay that we get too!

So I would definitely recommend taking a gap year for anyone who has a real sense of adventure! :)

Easter holidays, here I come

And so it begins. I've finally finished my duties for today. Mind you, today was quite .. challenging. The kids were all hyped up, and just ready to leave. So all I could do was think of all the things that I was looking looking forward to, which are Scotland, Ireland and London plus it's surroundings. I know these holidays will definitely go by fast, so I'll just make the most of it. :)