Europe - Giant Causeway December 21 2009

airin waking up early and waiting to use toit

Everyone except Sis woke up early today, mom, airin and I because we are going on a day trip to Giant Causeway and Bro because he need to send us to Paddy Wagon office. By the time we reached the office, a small group of people already gathered there. They will be our travel mate for this day trip. Soon we boarded a mini bus and headed north towards Belfast. Arrived in Belfast and stop for awhile to pick up more people. While waiting for them, both of us went to Starbucks to use the loo and have a cup of hot chocolate. It's nice to have something hot during cold weather. We shared it with mom and she loves it, just a bit too sweat for her.

An hour later, we continue our journey to Giant Causeway. Before reaching Giant Causeway, we supposed to stop by at a place called Carrick-a-rede-rope bridge for a short sight seeing to see salmon swims (for a small nominal fee). But because of the heavy snow and the rough sea, we didn't stop and just proceed to Giant Causeway.

mom @ Giant Causeway. She just love and enjoy the scenery there. When we arrived there, the sky was dark and seems a matter of time before it starts raining

our mini bus

airin shivering in the cold weather @ Giant Causeway

mom with me before going down to the seaside

airin trying to protect her skin from the wind

the rough sea @ Giant Causeway

this is what we travel so far to see, the hexagonal rocks by the seaside. Giant Causeway is listed as one of the many UNESCO's world heritage sites

it rains hails and you can actually see the hails against airin's black windbreaker. and it's very painful every time the hails hit our face

exercising on the rocks

After the hails, the sky turns bright again

mom enjoying her coffee inside a coffee house @ Giant Causeway

The National Trust, governing and manage the rocks at Giant Causeway

mom and airin outside the coffee house. the weather getting better and we can even catch a glimpse of the sun

with mom before we depart from Giant Causeway

airin possing with the post box

a hotel @ Giant Causeway

an ancient castle by the sea, something normally found in movies

From Giant Causeway, we proceed to Derry, a war torn county in Northern Ireland. Plenty of political themed murals on the walls and buildings around Derry. Our driver cum tour guide did give us some information about this town but I doubt there's people who understand what he mumbled about. He just talk with his mouth close.

the fort surrounding Derry

airin @ the fort

with mom's new friend, a japanese lady traveling alone to Dublin

mom, airin and I at the fort

Derry municipal council building

and there actually have a cannon facing the municipal council office

me preparing to shoot the cannon towards the municipal council building

the fort's name, Shipquay Gate

Derry

after our walk around, we have our lunch at the cafe, Cafe Del Mondo

the cafe's interior, cozy and warm

Around 3pm, we head back to Belfast and the all the way to Dublin. Reached Dublin at 8pm and took Luas back to Smithfield area, where Bro and Sis stay. Bro and Sis welcome us home with a wonderful dinner and ice cream dessert. After shower and dinner, we call it a day.. tiring but happy boy and girls. By the way, today is the only time we use pound sterling as our currency.

our main dish for dinner, roasted spare ribs