The Amazing Loch Lomond

Many of us live in cities with all the crowds, stress, noise and dirt in the environment. Most probably we have not often come across nature, searched for it or even be one with it. But there is this marvelous place in central Scotland that will surely blow you away; a dream place for those wanting to escape from a boring and almost monotonous pace of city life.

With exuding natural beauty of a 24-mile-long freshwater lake interspersed with picturesque islands, diverse landscapes and medieval castles, all these existing components makes up the lovable loch that we call, the Loch Lomond.

Loch Lomond is a freshwater Scottish “loch” lying on the Highland Boundary Fault, the boundary between the lowlands and highlands of Central Scotland. Measuring 27 and a half square miles, it is the largest single inland waterway in Great Britain (by surface area), the second largest lake in Scotland and most probably the most famous lake after Loch Ness. It is now part of the Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park, Scotland's first national park and most spectacular visitor destination. The loch has 30 or more other islands, some so small that they disappear when the water levels are high, and others large enough to be (sparsely) inhabited. One of the loch's islands, Inchmurrin is the largest island in the British Isles, while Inchconnachan island is home to a colony of wallaby (marsupial), its young is known as “joey” just like many other marsupials.

The very name Loch Lomond depicts nothing but nature in perfection. The main tourist focus is on the western shore, around Balloch. This is the place to head for boat trips and home of the Maid of the Loch, an authentic paddle steamer and utterly unique venue for events and functions. Further, development is attracting large numbers of visitor like the this magnificent addition to the area, the Mull Railway, which will link Balloch and Loch Lomond Shores. Also on the western side are the villages of Arden, Tarbet and most northerly, Adlui. Arden boasts Scotland's most beautiful Youth Hostel. The most picturesque of the loch's villages is Luss on the west bank. Its streets are laid out in a linear pattern and were originally part of the planned estate village built by the Colquhouns. Recently restored, they present a pretty sight.

The loch is one of the country's premier boating and water sports venues. It is open to every kind of watercraft including kayaks, canoes, wind-surfers, jet skis, speedboats and cruisers. Having said all these, Loch Lomond presents the perfect retreat for the young, the old, the busy people who deserve to enjoy or get a life!

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Summer 2011: London, England

July 14-16, 2011 -- London, England was the first stop on my travels to Europe and Israel this summer. It is an ideal starting off point because of cheap flights from the U.S. and high speed trains into Continental Europe. Plus it is a world-class city and a fantastic place to visit. Despite the recent riots and looting in poorer sections of town, the city is putting on its best face for the upcoming 2012 Summer Olympics and the improvements are noticeable.

I flew the red eye on Virgin Atlantic from Washington Dulles International Airport, arriving at London Heathrow Airport early in the morning on July 15th. The Underground subway zipped me from the airport to the Swiss Cottage neighborhood in the Camden borough where my hostel was located.

Palmers Lodge is a big, busy hostel with easy access to London's extensive bus system and an Underground subway station. There are also lots of shops and restaurants in the area.

Since I was only in London for a day and a night I wanted to cover as much ground as possible. So after hopping on one of the frequent buses from Swiss Cottage to Central London, I rented a bicycle through the Barclays Cycle Hire bike sharing system.

Biking is the best way to see a lot of a city in a short amount time. In London it was a bit tricky at first because cars drive on the left side of the road. But there are also plenty of bike lanes and once the adjustment is made to the left side, London is an easy city to bike around.

Hyde Park, Serpentine Lake, The Princess Diana Memorial Fountain, Rotten Row, Wellington Arch, Buckingham Palace, Victoria Memorial, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Palace, Trafalgar Square. These are most of the places I biked to in one day. If I was walking I might have covered half of these places.

It is not just bike sharing that makes London easy to get around. The buses run every five minutes or so and go to every corner of town, providing an additional commuting option to the extensive Underground subway system and a late night option because the Tube closes around 1 a.m.

Click here for my environmental perspective of London on my Green Center Blog.

Here are photos from London. Click here to see the set on Flickr.



And here are videos of the Underground subway and biking in Hyde Park.

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Harrods: A Luxurious Department Store in UK

Harrods is a pride of the United Kingdom. This is a prestigious luxury department store that is specifically located at Brompton Road in Knightsbridge, London. This is one of the largest shopping center in the world. The store aims to provide everything for all people, everywhere, as stated in their motto: “Omnia Omnibus Ubique”. Indeed, true to their objective, this great store covers more than a million square feet of shopping place and more than 300 departments.

Nowadays, Harrods is a brand name that can also be applied to other enterprises run by the Harrods group of companies such as Harrods Aviation, perfect for any business travel since they provide excellent service; Harrods Banks, a private bank exclusively serving London residents; Harrods Estates, focus on residential properties both for sale and for rent; and many more.

Harrods has already been sold many times to different owners and has also undergone several renovations throughout history. The most recent owner of this place is Mohamed Al Fayed; he had made Harrods a very famous brand and very much appealing to the rest of the world. But recently, Al Fayed sold Harrods to Qatar Holdings last May 10, 2010 as he has retired at the age of 77 and has still continued to ensure that this national symbol is kept out of the British ownership.

And the latest news about Harrods is that it is planning to expand to Shanghai to tap the rising number of wealthy Chinese. That means that there venturing to a more global approach to reach more people in the world. Harrods shopping center is definitely a place one should go to when you want to find everything you need!

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The Great Hadrian’s Wall in England

Are you up for another great adventure of your life? Do you want to travel in one of the most famous tourist attractions apart from getting wet and wild? Let me tell you this. If Asia has the Great Wall of China, then your destination in Northern England is the Hadrian’s Wall.

What is Hadrian’s Wall? Tracing back the history, the wall is made up stone and turf fortification built by Roman Emperor Hadrian in AD 122. The aim of construction is to protect Great Britain from ancient inhabitants of Scotland.

According to my research, the construction began in the east before proceeding to the west. The materials used that time are a type of igneous rock (referred to as the Whin Sill), limestone, turf, timber and clay. A number of full-sized forts are added to the length of the wall particularly in the areas of Housesteads and of Birdoswald. The extension holds at least 500-1,000 troops.

After the death of Emperor Hadrian, the great wall in Great Britain was abandoned. Thank God and portions of its remains still exist these days. In fact, the wall becomes a part of UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.  

These days, several people choose to go here to experience the grandest experience of a lifetime. The nicest thing about Hadrian Wall is the fact that you can tour its 73.5 statute miles by simply riding your own bicycle. 

Getting to Hadrian Wall

Planning your visit to Hadrian wall is easy. You can even book your accommodation and itinerary online. You know, getting around the entire wall is possible in various ways. One is through public transport such as bus and train. The other option is car or motorbike. If you want, you can choose to tour around using a bicycle. Cycling seems a great way of visiting numerous attractions within the area. If you do this, you can stop in every post and snap pictures in various angles. The main attractions to see in Hadrian wall include fourteen Roman sites, forts, museums, countless milecastles and turrets. 

For more questions and inquiries, you can also call for tourist information centers.  

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Buckingham Palace: The Shining Shimmering Home of the Blue Blooded

If there’s anything something so grand to see, what do more you can ask more with Buckingham palace. Considered as the major tourist attraction in Westminster City, London--- the Buckingham Palace serves as the Marble Arch of the Royal Family. The Palace has gone various reconstructions to preserve its lively and luxurious state rooms.

Since it became a loyal residence in 1837, there are a number of eminent parts you must see. These are the Ballroom, the Grand Entrance, the Marble Hall, the Grand Staircase and the cream & gold schemes of galleries.

Seeing the Grand Entrance and the Grand Staircase is like a having two fantasy dreams into one. At first sight, you can immediately see the grandest gold-like fan at the ceiling, designed by James Wyatt solely dedicated for George III. John Nash designed the Grand Staircase upon the request of King George IV. Climbing down in this bronze-casting balustrade feels you’re at the center of a glimmering spotlight.

Next is the Queen’s Gallery which took forty years in the making. The incomparable feel inside this Hall is nearly synonymous to having a grand museum filled with gems and pearls. In 2002, the spectacular celebration known as the Queen’s Golden Jubilee was held here.  

The elegance of the gold-detailed Ballroom is known as the largest room inside the Palace. Various ceremonies and state banquets take place here. If the past, you were expected to wear a formal dress for women and a formal military uniform for men. These days, the story is different. Women are now encouraged to wear tiara if the occasion is too formal while men should either wear formal suit with a tie in evenings or wear morning coats in daytime events.  

Another grand site you must see within the perimeter of Buckingham Palace is its park-like garden that hosts royal functions and events. Exploring the Royal Garden is walking in a freedom 42-acre park with endless artwork and fun around. In fact, to all the tennis enthusiasts like me, I have to tell you that there’s a tennis court in here and for the record, three of the finest tennis players in history displayed their legendary stokes to wow the Queen. These tennis players are John McEnroe, Bjorn Borg and Steffi Graf.

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Palace of Westminster: All Glitters and Jems

It feels so good to live in London near the River Thames and you get to see the ever-magnificent Palace of Westminster.

At first look, you immediately notice its three eye-catching towers. You should know that the Victoria Tower is the tallest of them all clocking at 323 feet. Right in the middle is the octagonal-shaped Central Tower. This is the shortest of the three but the only tower designed with a pyramidal structure. The third tower is the Clock Tower and one of its main bells is a household name. It’s none other than the Big Ben.

Get inside the south-western gate of the Palace and you see the public park known as the Victoria Tower Gardens. It’s called as such for the reason that it houses historic and beautiful sculptures, statues and fountains.  

Wow, that’s only the exterior part of the Palace folks! Be inside the Palace and get awed by its 1, 100+ rooms, at least 100 staircases and a shocking three-mile-passageway. Actually, there are only four floors inside the Palace. The first floor is for the Chambers, the lobbies and the libraries while the two-top floors are for the committee rooms and offices only.

The largest hall in Europe is also found in this Palace. This is simply called as the Westminster Hall but due its large roof beyond the imagination of some, the hall was once tagged as “The greatest creation of medieval timber architecture.” If you are wondering what’s the use of this hall and why it has to be “this big?” According to the book, the place itself has written series of numerous and important events in human history. Would you believe the State Trial of King Charles I after the English Civil War was held here?

For the bookworms out there, your eyes will be dazzled with limitless number of books, journals, official papers and other medium of electronic resources. Though, this House of Commons Library is closed for the public. Yet, once you’re a member, you are given the privilege to scan archives of what to be the Parliamentary Docs.

It seems as if one day is not enough to tour this palace considering its gigantic size and tight security. Even protesting in front the palace is not allowed without permission from Metropolitan Police. But let me tell you that once you step a foot inside this palace, never forget visiting the following: The Robing Room, The Central Lobby, The Lords Chamber, Bars and Restaurants and Gymnasium

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Get High with the London Eye

Call it the Millennium Wheel or the Biggest Ferris Wheel, there’s still only one trademark name in everyone’s mind and it’s none other than the London Eye.

Since its operation on December 31, 1999- the Eye has been the most-paid attraction in the United Kingdom. No doubt about it, riding the 443-feet Eye is truly an impeccable experience. Just imagine if you are blasted off in the air twirling around for thirty minutes and seeing the eye-catching top of Windsor Castle that’s almost 25 miles away.

All you might say is WOW. The London’s Eye is the only ten-ton object in the world that gives you the total circumference of joy and excitement. In fact, you must be aware this is the only Eye that receives series of awards from 2000 to 2007. In 2006, it was voted as the Best Day-out for Londononer’s while in 2007, the TripAdvisor.com called it as the Best Attraction in Europe.

And here’s another fact you should know: The London Eye compared to British Airlines has the ability to carry 3.5 million customers annually.

I Want to Get There!

Getting near the London’s Eye is made easy. These days, you can do all the bookings and reservations online. To those who are living near the south bank of River Thames, you’re lucky as the Ticket Center is right at the corner.

Yet, if you are living within the land area of Great Britain, You can choose to ride the Waterloo. This Waterloo is the nearest tube station going to the London Eye.

You can also ride a bus. Are you familiar with these numbers 77, 211 and 381? If yes then they can take you to the London Eye without stops. But if you have a car, you need to park it and travel by foot around the South Bank. The location of Eye is a “congestion charge zone,” never expect a parking site just around the corner.

Traveling by boat is also possible. If you are taking a European Cruise and one of the itineraries is a stop at Millennium Pier, you can immediately be on your knees or get a friend to ride the London Eye.

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Series of Enchantments at the Blackpool Tower

On March 14, 1894, a tourist attraction quite synonymous to Eiffel Tower was opened to the people of Blackpool, Lancashire in London. This 518 ft. observation tower was noticeably known for its house circus at the base corner. 

Do you now know what this is? It’s the Blackpool Tower!

Coming here is surely a fun-filled experience for the whole family and friends. Can you just imagine the loads of sweet memories you can have while being in these places: Tower Circus of Dreams, Jungle Jim’s Towering Adventureland, Tower Ballroom, Jurassic Walk & 3D Cinema, Tower Aquarium, Tower Top and Tower Top Weddings. 

You are your young siblings are welcomed to witness the spectacular Mooky’s Circus of Stars like you’ll never seen before. Since its inception in May 14, 1894, the circus continues to wow the audience with their dazzling magic tricks and series of unforgettable laughs. Their regular shows usually include parade of the stars, break-dancing, animatronic, live music and pantomime.   

Who says that playgrounds are for kids only? Even at 30, you will not also get bored when you are inside the walls of Jungle Jim’s Towering Adventureland. There are lots of hidden treasures that are at for grabs around. There are also party packages being offered for each child. A party package includes several perks and activities to make your visit a blast! Just be reminded that Jungle Jim has left you new sets of important instructions to follow. As of the moment, advance reservations are needed before attending any timed sessions and there’s already a height-restriction policy.

Next stop is the Ballroom. This Victorian-setting room, situated at the front of tower complex, is the ideal place for an endless search of romance and attraction. The walls made up mahogany; oak and walnut keep the excitement on a higher level as you are gliding with smooth ease at the center of the dance floor. Added to the romance-in-the-air theme is the William Shakespeare’s verse inscribed above the stage, “Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear" or in simplest terms, “Hear me, there’s something so sweet I want to tell you.”

Miss the adventures of Steven Spielberg? Be prepared and Spielberg’s dinosaurs are coming back to haunt you at Jurassic Walk. With its 3D cinema along with the best sound, you’ll surely not be left behind with the best mesmerizing fun and action. 

The Tower Aquarium, the Tower Lounge Bar, the Tower Top and the Tower top Events are the other grand spots not to forget to see. Before lounging and being at the top, you should first see the Tower Aquarium. This old tank gives rise to the use of limestone caverns where fifty-seven species of fresh and salt water fishes are inside. 

Of course, the visit will remain incomplete without experiencing a grand wedding at the Top of the Tower. Or if you’re not ready to marry yet, just be on the scene of the event and enjoy the feel. It is truly an experience at the Blackpool!

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The Breathtaking White Cliffs of Dover

It seems hard to imagine a white-colored cliff. But hey, before asking anything to someone, let me tell you a white-colored cliff really exists and it is made up of pure white calcium carbonate. 

The White Cliffs of Dover is a 106-meter-high attraction that stands at the heart of British coastline extending from east to west of English port. I suggest you to go out on a clear sunny day and you can surely see the cliffs in the French coast. 

If you are still curious about this natural and gigantic attraction, the face of this cliff erodes regularly. Studies confirm the average annual rate of erosion clocks at one centimeter. That’s why, if decided to visit here, you better stay at least five meters back from the edge point. This must be done to avoid accidents.

Truth is; the cliff remains white because of the erosion. Do you believe it? Yes folks, it’s true. When there’s erosion, piles of rock fall during the winter season. When this event happens, the so-called “water in the chalks” ices up, making the surface layers break. If it’s not a winter season, this white cliff turns into green due top vegetation. 

Visiting the White Cliffs of Dover is easy if you ride a train from London. Perhaps, it will be nicer if you also visit the Samphire Hoe and Shakespeare Cliff. Are you wondering what these two are? Well, to make it easier for you to understand, the Samphire Hoe is a country park situated at the base of Shakespeare Cliff. Here, you can see breathtaking views of the white-colored cliffs. 

Never forget your digital camera, folks! Even if you’re not in the field of photography, you will still be tempted to take shots in different angles. Yet, if you’re not satisfied with just taking pictures, perhaps you can ask for a tour guide and explore the hidden tunnels located behind the cliff face. These tunnels were once served as the Secret Wartime Tunnels of the Dover Castle. 

Is it amazing to be inside those tunnels?

If yes then you need to know the tour is not yet finished. Near the cliff, there are luxurious hotels and camp sites to stay at. Why not stay here for a while and enjoy the accommodation being offered?

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The Fulfillment of your Fantasy Dream: The Windsor Castle

Do you regularly imagine a place where there’s a limitless air of elegance? Have you ever dreamed you’re once the handsome prince waiting for your Cinderella? Do you imagine yourself standing at the center of a ground and you’re surrounded with breathtaking walls and towers? If you answer yes to these series of questions, maybe it’s time for you to stop daydreaming and book a flight in Berkshire to see the 484,000 sq. ft. Windsor Castle.

Yes folks; the Windsor Castle is the answer to your deepest fantasy. This grand attraction help you realize that things you only see in animated films do really exists in real life. You see, the interior and exterior layout of this castle has evolved throughout the years. Lots of eye-watering landmarks are added but the positioning of most main features remained untouched.

So, what are these grand attractions you can see inside the Windsor Castle? Let’s start with the Round Tower. It’s called as such obviously because of its cylindrical and irregular round shape that cuts the castle into two sections, the Lower and the Upper Ward. You should be in the Lower Ward if you want to see the Baroque style of St. George Chapel. This chapel already looks so good at the outside with its meticulously-carved big windows. What more if you’re exploring the inside as you see the burial place of Henry VIII. 

The Upper Ward consists of the private royal apartments, the George’s Hall and more state rooms. There’s no need for you to doubt, living in those private apartments is a grand. All what you need and all what you want to eat are at grabs in an instant. All you probably need to do is ask.   

The St. George Hall is simply splendid. Entering this hall, you’ll be amazed with a very wide space and impressive set of high-quality furniture all around. The ceiling is decorated with coat of arms with those brave-hearted, Order of the Garter. The experience is a delight once you’re here, you can spontaneously say this area is without a doubt an ideal place for whatever dream event you have in mind.

The Royal Home Park is another must-see attraction inside this castle. The whole area is divided into two; one for parkland and the other area is for farms. If you are interested, you can schedule for a tour visit in Frogmore House and Gardens. Just by the name of the attraction, it sounds like it’s already a piece of paradise waiting to be explored.

There’s also a private school in the north part of the castle known as the St. George’s Windsor Castle. The purpose of erecting this school is to train students who want to be a part of a choir in the chapel.

There’s also this beautiful scene referred to as The Quadrangle, located in the Upper Ward from the North West. Taking a picture with you at the center of this vast ground is really a fantastic moment so hard to believe. Sad though, this place is not open for tourists.

In many cases when the Royal Family is in, anyone is not allowed to tour. So, it’s better to make an advanced reservation before visiting Winsdor Castle.

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