Belfast!! ~ Journey Through Time

Yes, its been a week since i came back from belfast, hence its due time i blogged about it. By the way, its 5.22 AM here in Dublin, dont ask me why im awake. Those who know me well enough Should know the reason. ;) yeah guys.

As i wrote in my previous post, i had a nervy hectic last week. Weekend was relaxing, totally. Hence thats why im blogging Now only on Belfast.

A group of 8, Cool Malaysians, A City up north of home, a place of great scenery, and no worries on exams, all this had to mean one thing, simply, Fun. Indeed it was.

8 + 1 (tour guide) = 9

Left Home at 5.15 to Busaras (the main bus terminal) in dublin, a 20 minutes walk in the dark, in the cold, with our trolley bags sound only to be heard to our ears. Grafton street has never been that dead before... well it was 5 AM on a Saturday Morning. The drunkards would all be sound asleep either in their homes or road sides after partying hard on a Friday Night.

Got the bus at 6, and each of us got 2 seats Each, the bus was empty. Talked a while, took a few pictures and all of us dozed off. Jeff initially took out his notes to study, but i think he eventually fell asleep.

6AM, Bus Eireaan. Destination: Belfast

We got down at the last stop, and the best part, we didnt know where we were. We or atleast i thought we should have gotten off in the second last stop and not the last. And to our surprise, it was written somewhere- "Belfast International Airport this way --->" That was a shocking sign to me. "did we All oversleep??!"
As we were running around to the toilets and also trying to orientate ourselves, Evelyns friend showed up, PC. Yes thats what he asked us to call him. PC. That was when we were in peace of mind, phew..relieved. (imagine seeing an International Airport when we should be seeing a Bus Station!)

L.O.S.T.

We stepped out of the bus station, in to the Shivering Cold. "what happened to a Warm Greeting!?" It was sooo darn freaking cold! Thats when i remembered seniors saying, "you must be really smart to go up north at This time!" Yeah, so we were the smart ones already, we thought we were lost, and then we were shivering out in the cold. Yet, we walked all around Belfast town and its housing area. To the extent, even my (brown) hands started turning Red! The most excruciating pain my hands have ever been through to date. Anyway, we thought that was just how things were... The city was dead at 10 AM. It looked more like a country side, when compared to Dublin (dublin! i love you!).. "where were the people!? all sleeping!? Warm Welcome?? what happened? why the cold greetings?!?"

First sight of Belfast

Then PC left us after showing us part of Queens Uni Of Belfast, where he studies Architecture.

Queens Uni of Belfast

Spot The Not.

The Guys: Me, Ken, PC, Jeff

We took a one day pass bus and then headed to our hostel area. And had lunch in the oldest pub to date in Belfast... It was pretty allright i guess, but my portion was a little small i'd say.

Mel and Jeff

Evelyn and Yun

Then we went on our own walking tour, before PC joined us back later in the evening. Saw the things that needed to be seen, took pictures, learnt abit on the City of Belfast.

Night came, we didnt know what else there was too see, so we PC brought us to this new shopping area. and he gave us 2 hours to shop. (night meaning 4pm!).

Shopping mall... Open Front Entrance

Thats the shopping mall...

Then we went to this Bazzar infront of the City Hall for dinner... Eat Kangaroo meat burger, friends took a few other different kinds of meat, and then had their german sausage, and later on a drink- Baileys + Hot Chocolate which was quite good... We SAW the Eye On Belfast (huge thing, but 8 sterling)

Eye On Belfast. and the Bazaar.

Then to the weirdest part of the night, we took a bus to the foot of a hill which is where Bellfast Castle was situated. Walked up the hill, in a misty night... up up and up... The walk got a little boring, as we were the smart ones walking up there at Night, so, we decided to freak someone out... (sorry evelyn..) Well it was all in the name of a good Laugh. and so it was, but not for her, she was horrified for a short while. (eventually she took revenge on us all!).
We went up to realise we couldnt enter the Castle as there was a private party going on. so all we saw was the outside and thier nice garden. There is where PC started talking about the history of this castle, he called it The Belfast Slaughter. We all bought it, to the extent Rachel went, "i shall go home and Google it!". We realised we were conned, when he went like " and on November 28 2008 a group of Malaysian students bought this story of...*begins getting wooed at*
Evelyn claimed she knew it all along, that she was the one who gave him the idea, but we were not buying her story now. lol.

Belfast Castle

The Garden

The Back

Watched a little TV, a short chat with all once getting home in the TV lounge after shower, and then hit the bed, was dead tired.

The girls room.

Woke up at 7 from our bunk beds style accomodation, and then got ready for the long day ahead. Giant Causeway was in store for us today... Went to Spars (7/11 like store) and got sandwhiches and so on for that days Lunch as Giant Causeway is at the Coastal area. Went on with a tour bus, Paddywagon. Slept on the way there, then saw snow (on the ground! already laid), and then we reached our destination. The sight was magnificient. In the bus and also when we got there.
Walked alot and took alot of pictures, and headed back to the bus. Realised we were late by 10 minutes... we somehow split to 3 groups, jeff, rach and me were a little late, but the other 5, were fairly later. That got the tour guide angry,

Tour guide: 1 times 8, where are the rest!! (he referred to us as 1 x 8 as it was a grp booking)
Jeff: On the way, *in a dying voice* 10 minutes..
Tour Guide (TG): Hah? how many minutes?
Jeff: 5 minutes
TG: 5 Minutes we cannot afford 1 times 8! 2 minutes.
Gan: Okay okay, calling them now. *jeff, rach and gan all using our Meteor Dublin lines calling their Meteor Dublin lines, were not too good in terms of connection i say*

Ken and Eve, ran into the bus. So that leaves 3 more to go. Those 3 came into sight, and then..:

TG: Why are they WALKING!?!
Gan: errr... hold on *walks to the front of the bus to the door*
Gan: can you open your door for me, i will ask them to run.
TG: *attempts in moving the bus as though he was going to leave them*
The 3 of them: No Difference in walking pace, a little in their expression.
TG: *opens door for gan*
Gan: *shouting* "Quick guys!"
The 3: Finally Run.

A weird 10 minutes it was... We were being real Malaysians, but we forgot that we were in Europe i guess...

We still took a pic with the TG and the Bus.

Then headed to the town of Derry, a historical town with a medevil kinda wall used against the British by the locals during the British Colonial era. Went for tea/ Post lunch.

Walking on The Wall.

Then to the bus stop it was... To head home- Dublin.
Initially i was like a King, with 2 chairs for my stuff to my right, one for my butt, one for my right leg, one to my left between me and Mel. Then after an hour, i was Dethroned. The bus was then loaded Full. Sigh... could barely move being tall, and could barely sleep with my neck hanging down as it overshot the Bus Seat.

Came back home, threw everything around my room, laid down on my bed. I realised that my 111 room has become a real part of me now. I missed my room... Home Sweet Home away from Home.
Unpacked, freshend up, and headed to Denise's surprise party at her apartment, dragging out all the little energy i still had in me...

That was Belfast in short... A weekend away with My Best.

Some pictures to follow.. :)

DAY 1: