Thursday, 19 July 2012

A backpacker in Scotland ,part one / 蘇格蘭背包客之旅(一)

上個月月底,我隨機決定要自己一個人到蘇格蘭旅行。
當然,這又是一個沒有任何行程計畫的旅行,只單單定好了火車票以及住宿,收拾好一個後背包後便赴箕了。


並沒有充分的行前規劃,而且只有自己一個人行動的計畫,為這趟旅行增添了些許刺激感
然而在行前我說服自己,在這一生當中至少要體驗一次自己一個人的背包旅行,既然如此何不現在就試試呢?

出發的那天,我一大清早就到達王十字車站報到了。
雖然名義上時值英國的夏天,但在那有些許微風吹拂的早晨,竟意外令人感到一絲絲寒意。
當走進車票上指示著的車廂,找到未來幾小時可供我暫時依偎的那舒適位子之後,我的五個小時直奔愛丁堡的火車之旅也正式宣告啓程。



In the end of last month, I randomly decided to travel alone in Scotland.
Again, ain't set up any schedule before the trip, I only booked the hostel and train ticket and packed my little backpack went on my journey ~  

It's quite irritated when you go traveling by yourself but actually without any particular schedule beforehand.
However I persuaded myself that I should experience a backpacking trip as least once in my lifetime.
So ... why don't I just give it a go ?!

I arrived London King's Cross station in a very early morning. Though it was already the summertime in London but still it was a chilly, breezy morning.
When I went into the carriage which was written on my ticket, and found my comfy seat. My five hours journey to Edinburgh by train was about to start.




那天天氣不是很好。北英格蘭下著滂沱大雨,於是乎我開始有點擔心是否蘇格蘭也是如此。
   
The weather wasn't very good. It was pouring in northern England .. so I was quite worry if the weather will be going to be ok in Scotland.


進入蘇格蘭前在英格蘭的最後一站,新堡
Our final stop in England was Newcastle, and then we were heading to Scotland. 




前往愛丁堡的路上有一段鐵路是沿著海岸線築起的,一路上壯麗的臨海斷崖風光綿延不斷。

There was a part of railway that was built along the seashore with a striking view of cliff and sea.



經過了嚴格來說五個半小時的長途車程後,終於可以說,愛丁堡我來了!

After literally says five and half hours long way journey, I could finally say.. Edinburgh !! here I am :)




我訂的青年旅社位於愛丁堡古堡所在的山丘的山腳下,並且只需要步行五分鐘即可到達舊城區的主要大街,對於我們這些依賴一雙腳走跳的背包客來說非常便利。
其實,它在一些背包客網站,及部落客推薦名單中也是間蠻為人所熟知的青旅。
一切無非是因為他便利的地理位置,以及合理的訂房價格。

The youth hostel that I booked was in the foot of the hill where located Edinburgh castle and it only took me five minutes by walk to the high street of old town which is very convenient for any backpacker like me to look around the city. 
And it was actually quite well-known on some tourist websites and bloggers' recommendation list since its nice location and their price wasn't quite expensive. 




第一天,並沒有太多預先計畫的我,就只是隨意的走馬看花,拍些照。
由於抵達的時間時值正午,我那咕嚕咕嚕叫的肚子已經暗示著該為它作點什麼事了,比如說:吃午餐!
於是我走進一條於大街旁小巷子,一個不怎麼起眼的咖啡館裡,準備為肚子好好打點打點一番。
雖說她的外觀很不起眼,但是當我走上咖啡館的二樓時,她的室內裝璜卻很是令人驚艷。
而在其牆角被人擺上了一面巨大,綴有維多利亞風格邊飾的大鏡子,不瞞你說...那面鏡子高度比我還要高出許多呢!

In the frist day, I didn't have any plan but just walked around the city centre and took some snapshots of this historical city. Since I arrived in the noon. My rumbling tummy was hinting me that it was time for lunch now. I therefore turn into an unnoticeable cafe' located in a lane against to high street to get myself a proper meal.
I was really impressed by the interior installation when I walked up to the first floor . There actual had a giant mirror with victorian decorative frame which height even taller than me laid against the wall. 


舊城區大街一隅

A scenery of high street.



愛丁堡古堡的入口。
由於參觀費太過昂貴,連優惠價(敬老或學生)都需要13鎊,折合台幣約莫六百多塊。我實在是負擔不起,於是便打退堂鼓了~
不過,若他們調降價格的話,我是絕對不會放過這個機會的。

The entrance of Edinburgh castle. i didn't go in to the castle, because I thought the entry fee was too expensive for me. A concession ticket was 13 pounds per each.. I couldn't afford it though.Think if they reduced the fare, I would be very willing to pay for visiting then. 


雖然說沒有機會進去古堡裡一探究竟,然而仍舊是被我找到了個值得一看的博物館。
作家博物館,而且她是免費參觀的歐!

Though I couldn't have chance to visit the castle, but still I found a place which was worthy to visit. 
The writer's museum. Besides, it was free entry! 




參觀完作家博物館之後,我又再度隨意的跟著一小群人走進了墓園區。
那天的天氣實在是不怎麼好,光線不佳,於是乎我拍的每張照片不是太暗,要不就是呈現出一種了無生氣的詭譎氛圍~

在第一天的愛丁堡之旅中我其實並沒有拍太多照。或許天氣不好是其中很大的因素,但也或者是因為,我覺得用一雙眼睛來紀錄當下一切的美景就已經足夠了吧!

After explored the Writer's Museum. I followed a group of people to go into a cemetery.   
The weather condition was just so bad in that day. So that every pictures that I took were looked so dark and inanimate with a eery vibe. 

I didn't take many photos of my first day in Edinburgh. Maybe cus the weather wasn't good enough or perhaps just cus I thought it was good enough to use my both eyes to record all of the beautiful sceneries that surrounded me.







Tuesday, 3 July 2012

世界的另一端

卡斯米諾又生病了, 但由於媽媽們工作過於繁忙的緣故
忘記事先知會我晚點再去就好
於是乎今天亞紀一放學,瞬間就像多了個隨身保鏢姊姊一般,左手牽著愛維琳,右手牽著我離開托兒所

不同以往的是,愛維琳是提了大包小包的來接亞紀,所以之後幫忙領著亞紀過馬路的重責大任自然而然落在我的身上
後來聊天才知道,原來幾天後她即將飛回菲律賓與家人聚首~雖然假期不長,但她顯得非常迫不及待 ; 這心情,我懂!

小傢伙很有可能心理有預感說暑假要來了吧~今天比以往還要好動好幾倍,失控到不行,於是我決定教會他--警察這單詞,等他以後又再次失控我就要說,“I will call 警察 to catch you”教他慢慢學會節制
至於為什麼是警察呢?原因是,三歲的他仍然深信只要不乖,愛維琳或媽媽便會打電話請警察來抓他去關~因為警察除了抓壞人,還會抓不聽話的孩子
至於學習成果如何?暑假後驗收!

時光總是稍縱即逝,四個小時就這樣快速的從手中溜走
臨走前,也順便做了一次國民外交~
因為當時媽媽問起,哪裡會是最適合帶著孩子long stay並學習中文的好去處,我絲毫不“藏私”的回答說:台灣!:)  並且推薦了台彎的好~以及long stay合適的去處,其中包括了我的故鄉之一的花蓮:)

亞紀的媽媽:博娜蒂塔是個看起來很幹練的職業婦女,也是個很具有國際觀且前瞻性的母親,也因此她才會決定讓孩子在這麼小的年紀便開始學習不同的語言,教導他認識許多不同的國家,以及才藝技能~
歐!順道一題,亞紀可是個厲害的小泳將歐!
她不是用逼迫的方式讓孩子學習,而是有點引導式的帶著孩子一同參與
對此她也希望我能用遊戲的方式帶著孩子們學習
所以,每次見到蘿蔔頭們,他們總是認為我又來陪他們玩了,而不是上一堂很嚴肅的中文課

由於我即將要在暑假回家的關係,她緊急的跟我學了幾句短句,反覆練習並拿筆記下發音
看著她認真的操著古怪的中文發音問著亞紀話,不禁覺得可愛又佩服

跟亞紀道別時他正在鬧著彆扭,原因是我們幾個大人聊得頗愉快,忘記他了啦!哈哈
他氣呼呼的說:我再也不要見到妳了~
我順勢回答:好阿,這兩三個月你再也不會見到我了!
小傢伙瞬間愣住了,反而有點不知所措的問到:你要去哪裡?
我說:我要回到位於世界的另一端的家,台灣阿!
他反問:台灣在哪裡?你可以告訴我嗎?
於是我跟他大致形容了鄰近國家為何,要飛多久才會到家等等~
於對話中我不經意的提及了日本,他又再次像被閃電電著一般的愣住,不一會急促的問我日本在哪裡,可不可以指給他看~
並說是遲哪是快的說到:等等,我去拿我的地圖給妳!

就在我心理滿是狐疑,一個三歲孩子怎會有世界地圖時,他冷不防的秀給我看
結果是,他果真有個像地球儀般的世界地圖
一顆對他來說略顯巨大,粗略繪製著世界地圖的  海   灘   球!!!!哈哈哈,我可是在心理為著這可愛的結果大笑不已~
於是,我倆就在這顆每個島嶼國界都歪七扭八的“地圖”上指認著變形的台灣,日本,英國~
而小傢伙在知道日本在哪裡後倒是顯得異常滿足,連正在耍脾氣這件事都給忘記了!

經由媽媽解釋後,原來,他的爸爸正在日本出差~臨走前不忘告訴孩子,他正要去日本呢!
他一定很想念正在世界的另一端的爸爸...就好像我現在一樣~

不過沒關係,就快回家了!:)