#Hotel Airlink

[greenrouteshotels]

𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘅 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲 | 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘀!🏩 Experience unparalleled comfort and luxury at HOTEL Airlink Castle Nedumbassery Cochin, a 5-star hotel stay just minutes away from Cochin International Airport. Enjoy world-class amenities, exceptional service, and the perfect ambience for relaxation. Whether you're here for business or leisure, we ensure a seamless experience from check-in to check-out. Book your way to comfort with Green Routes Hotels and Resorts. 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. ☎️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁: +919847842000 | +919847872000 | +919847802000 🌐Web: www.greenrouteshotels.com | www.greenrouteshospitality.com 📧Mail: crs@greenrouteshotels.com | sales@greenrouteshospitality.com 🏩Green Routes Hotels & Resorts Near Rice Research centre, East Ponnurunni, Vyttila P.O, Cochin, Kerala - 682019

[doingthedirtydishes]

Dublin, Ireland: I visited, had tons of craic, and immense fun – I’m addicted.

As with most times I travel, I make sure to take advantage of national airlines and their home hub cities. My flight was destined for Amsterdam, Holland but I wished to visit Ireland on my way.  So I decided to fly Aer Lingus from PHL to AMS, knowing they would first fly to Dublin for a stopover, require a plane swap, and then depart to mainland Europe. Well, one can choose to continue on at the stopover city, paying only country taxes to exit airport; thus getting two trips in one. Each country has a limit as to how many days you can remain there, and so it pays to check first.  I had not arrived in Ireland yet and could already tell this country was going to be imbued with enjoyment. The flight was filled with craic.

Dublin was already having an effect on me and I had not even departed the airport. The feeling in the air was quaint and charming, just like the Irish people.  There is no subway or underground transportation system in Dublin, so coach is the best option for public transport. Uber is not allowed to operate in Ireland. The best bus service, Airlink, an express coach with the fewest stops, departs the airport every 15-20 minutes – so it is never a long wait to get to center of town. They are handicap accessible. The buses end up at Busaras Central Station before heading off to O’Connell Street in city centre, finally ending up at Heuston, one of Dublin’s main train stations.  I opted for a taxi. It was time to get my green groove on!

The distance from the airport to my hotel, located in Smithfield section, was approximately 12km. The bus fare was 7 Euro single, 12 Euro return – and a taxi, door-to-door, was between 25-30 Euro. Every taxi company is metered by law but also has other differences that can affect each individual fare. Do your homework beforehand. Being new to this city I opted to take a taxi ride, knowing this would also afford me a common gem of past globetrotting journeys: no one knows a city and its secrets better than taxi drivers. They tend to be a salty group; replete with enough stories to turns one’s head, in or out. As it would happen with my luck, my driver, Seammus McCafferty, was of the extremely colorful sort.

Taxi service paid, his business card with cellular phone contact in hand, convenient for future excitement and adventure reference, it was time to see what another Generator Hostel and new city had in store for me to boot.  As humans we tend to be creatures of habit – as well, having traveled all over the planet – I have learned a few tricks here or there. One invaluable lesson for travel and also life: When you find something that works, do not make any unnecessary changes – no need to reinvent the wheel. I had stayed at many Generator Hostels throughout Europe in the past and they always served me and my injury needs adequately.  The bar was set high for this location (pun intended).

Upon entering the hostel I was taken aback by how stylish it was. It looked very elegantly fashionable, very chic – my kind of place. There was a refined unassuming contemporary counter for check-in, plush chairs abound to relax and view any street walkers-by, with an eclectic and trendy colorful bar and restaurant in the background, with a Jameson bottle chandelier as the centerpiece. To the far right corner, with a clear view of the drunken shenanigans taking place at the bar, sat a beautiful pool table. To the back left was a veranda with sitting area for live entertainment and additional tables for more hobnobbing with newly made friends. The hostel was clearly setup to induce traveler interaction.

After getting my room sussed out, I decided to explore the hostel further.  I reserved a dormitory style room that slept twelve, although when I arrived I only saw four other bodies – all fast asleep at 15:00. I had a short distance to wheel over thick carpet but once out of my floor wing the floors were smooth. There was a dedicated handicapped toilet and sink room, but most times it was occupied by someone too lazy to walk the extra two meters to the common room. The showers were in a separate space. Both areas were very large, with enough sinks and showers to clean a small army. There was also a dedicated shower stall for those needing assistance, including a bench and low water controls. Splendid!

It was time for an obligatory pint of Guinness.  As the saying goes, when in Rome…. I headed to the bar and was immediately met with a set of stairs.  Two meters to the left was a dedicated lift to bring me down one level. I picked a table, ordered a pint, and within minutes was talking with some fellow voyagers. Sean Kennedy from Ottawa, Canada was the first, followed by Erika from Rotterdam, Holland, and then came Jacob from Perth, Australia.  Did I say just one Guinness? Oops, a Catholic white lie. A few beers later, minding our “Ps” and “Qs,” the group comfortable with one another, travel stories and laughter only increased round after round. We all decided to meet for breakfast the next morning.

For some odd reason no one made it to breakfast the next morning – must have been the Dubliner air. I enjoyed a delicious traditional Irish breakfast: eggs, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans and grilled tomatoes. Stomach overly filled, I decided to venture out and take my chances seeing the city on one of the many hop-on-hop-off bus tours. I chose the red line as they had a pickup only 30 meters from the hostel entrance. The bus pulled up, a foldable pull-out ramp appeared, I rolled on, paid my 20 Euro fare (unlimited rides for 48 hours), and off we went. Though it is a great bargain, as you get to see most the city’s best sites, it is only for the strong and fit – even with breaks on, the chair was thrown all over.

Being an exceptionally seasoned world traveler, having lived all over the planet for almost a decade of my life, international travel mostly comes easily to me – even the constant hiccups and curveballs the world throws my way are met head-on, and overcome with grace and laughter. No doubt travelling in a wheelchair is a much different experience, though mostly logistical, hence my injured traveler blog. But there is another element to what I do, one that requires that my wheelchair and its parts are all in the best possible working order. I am forever indebted to the people at NuMotion Mobility Company, especially Gary Gilberti and his amazing crew at my local office, including Christie, Jim and John.

By the time I returned to the hostel, sea-sick and bruised, the rest of the crew was already at the bar, and many pints ahead of me. By this juncture, a French doctor, Pierre, and Wouter, a quiet and witty Dutchman, had joined the bouquet �� making for quite the assorted international motley bunch.  We decided to go out for dinner that evening – Kennedy had heard the food at Kingfisher’s was the best in town.  It was agreed the four of us would meet at 19:00 and taxi to O’Connell section of town. All taxi drivers, with one honorable mention later, were more than happy to get out and assist with the wheelchair breakdown and storage. I had the classic dish: fish-n-chips. It was amazing. Legendary!

By this time I had already made friends with the bartender, Milo, from Greenland – a country of 56,170 people – a fjord-lined Danish territory.  All the staff was very friendly.  As stated in my book, Unbreakable Mind, one must participate in life by Doing The Dirty Dishes: If meeting new friends or socializing with strangers is an issue, go where others are seeking the same: new friends and experiences. You are guaranteed both if you stay at a hostel.  I choose to stay at Generator Hostels when in Europe because even though they are the cost of a cheap hotel, they have better clientele. I have never once placed a lock on my storage bin. If in need of purple underwear – please, by all means!

The next few days friends went various directions and so I decided to venture out into the city where ‘streets have names’ alone.  The walkways and sidewalks upon first inspection looked smooth, until in the chair wheeling around town – they surely gave my kidneys a workout.  There are curb ramps but definitely careful attention to detail must be paid if one wants to stay in the chair. Drivers are not so quick to slam on their brakes for you when crossing the road. Also, Luas, the tram/light rail system, which began operating in 2004, extends throughout the city with Red and Green lines, thus providing many places for your caster wheels to get stuck, or dumped by not wheeling over the bumps properly.

That next morning I was up early so I could visit St. Stephens Green, a historic park and great inner-city escape with 15 statues and memorials of famous figures and events, a favorite of James Joyce. Soon after, I found myself at the Guinness Storehouse, Ireland’s most famous beer, with a guided tour that ended on a rooftop bar with free tastings. Best to reserve a ticket online as the queue can be a bit long. Just around the corner from the St. James Gate Brewery is the 200 year old Jameson Distillery Bow Street, the world renowned home to Irish Whiskey – even though Jameson was in fact a Scottish lawyer. Needless to say after such a day, finding stable ground key – the chair was wobbly for some odd reason.

The following day I decided to bugger off to Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, just a short distance from Smithfield, the district where my hostel was located. The castle, former seat of the British government’s administration in Ireland, played a lead role in the Easter Rising of 1916.  It helped set the stage for the Irish War of Independence, fought from 1919 to 1921, between the Irish Republican Army and British forces. It had a small incline and some cobblestones about but was surprisingly easy to navigate in a wheelchair. The Cathedral’s layout was expansive, including long verdant lawns and brick pavers, thus making for a smooth visit. Both buildings, heavily steeped in history, will leave you in awe.

My second to final day a few of us decided to visit the Dublin Zoo.  Kennedy and Wouter rounded out a threesome – our troop was complete. Before we even had a chance to observe the local animals, we had one of own for a taxi driver. We had inadvertently stepped into the wrong taxi and the driver, quite rattled and angry, Patrick Donegal, of Belfast, continued slagging us incessantly. He kept repeating in a deep Ulster accent, “You don’t understand!” It made for some fun local taking the piss before we were on our way to be accosted by apes and monkeys – two mainstays of the zoo, located in Phoenix Park, with 707 hectares of land, making it one of Europe’s largest parks. It was a roaring day. Classic!

My last night in Dublin I decided to head out to the famous party zone of Dublin’s Temple Bar District with some of my new friends. We all had flights out of Ireland the next day. They all headed home and were asleep by midnight. But to me, that is just when the rapture began.  Four hours later, a few locally sourced prescribed pints of Guinness down the gullet, it was time to find my way home to sleep before catching my 07:00 flight. Dublin is so rich in history, cultural delight and overall fun, with so much to see and on such a short visit, no doubt I will return to the Emerald Isle for another dose of some additional Ol, Craic Agus Ceol. You left me wanting more; I shall return, old friend.  Slán leat – Céad mile fáilte!

Travel Blog: Click here.

Spiritual Blog: Click here.

Book: Unbreakable Mind. (Print, Kindle, Audio)

Doing The Dirty Dishes Podcast: Watch or listen to episodes and subscribe: Spotify, Apple Podcast, Buzzsprout.  Also available on Google Podcast, iHeart, Tunein, Amazon Alexa and Stitcher.

Doing The Dirty Dishes YouTube channel – watch and subscribe.

Social Media links: Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin.

Travel Blog links: Covid-19 stranded in NYC JFK and Maine – also travel stories on Ireland, Spain, Sweden,  Belgium, Iceland, Colombia (Espanol version), Amsterdam, Germany, New Hampshire, TN and NYC.

Personal Website link where you can also find my book, photos of my travels and updates on current projects.

Thank you for your love and support.

[viaggintempo]

Due Giorni ad Edimburgo

Due Giorni ad Edimburgo

Era tempo che desideravo visitare la capitale della Scozia, ma non è ho mai avuto occasione. Poi di recente, a pochi giorni dalla Brexit, Ryanair ha ascoltato i mie desideri, prevedendo un comodissimo volo in partenza dall’aeroporto di Orio Al Serio venerdì pomeriggio con rientro domenica sera. Certo è un mordi e fuggi, che dà però la possibilità di trascorrere un week end in una città…

[daneeee77]

PAGDIRIRIWANG SA ALIAC:

ONLINE POETRY SLAM:

Naganap noong ika-apat ng oktubre taong 2020 na kung saan ay nilahukan ng mga mahuhusay na makata at iba pang may angking potential pag dating sa pagkatha ng mga tula na estudyante ng Airlink International Aviation College. Ang nasabing patimpalak ay naisakatuparan sa pamamagitan ng pag-susumite ng kani-kanilang bidyo. Nakapalaman sa mga nasabing kopya ang kanya kanyang obra-maestro ng mga kalahok, malayang binibigkas ang kanilang katha na may kinalaman sa binigay na paksa “HILOM: Mga piyesa ng Pag-asa at Pagbangon sa Panahon ng Pandemya.” Isang simpleng programa na may mabuting intensyon para sa mga mag aaral, layuning maging isang tulay para sa mga estudyante na ipakita ang kani-kanilang angking talento. Natapos ang nasabing patimpalak sa pag bibigay rekognasyon sa mga piling mag aaral na si Angelica Arinal at ang kanyang katha na “Paano ba Makakabalik”, sinundan ni Roman Garcia at kanyang likha na “Wikang Pambansa” at ang obra ni Vanessa Bellen na “Welcome 2020”.

VIRTUAL FOUNDATION DAY:

Bagamat palaisipan para sa mga makakabasa ng blog na ito kung paano naidaos ang nasabing okasyon. Hindi ko rin lubos maisip na sa kabila ng mga samu’t-saring pangyayare ay tagumpay na naisakatuparan ang Foundation Day ng ALIAC. Ginunita ang nasabing okasyon noong ika-15 at 16 ng Oktubre taong 2020 bilang pag alala sa ika 37th na taon na pag-kakatatag ng nasabing kolehiyo. Handog ng kolehiyo ang iba’t ibang pakulo upang maenganyo ang mga estudyante na ipagpatuloy ang panunuod. Mula sa virtual mass, Online bingos, Esports Competition hanggang sa Zumba session at tagisan ng talino. Sino nga bang hindi mahuhumaling sa eksenang kahit nasa bahay ka lang ay para mo narin kasama ang komununidad ng ALIAC.

CWTS WEBINARS:

Dati’y seminars ngayon ay Webinars naman, isang pagtitipon na idinadaos sa mga sosyal medya platforms gaya ng Zoom o Google Meet. Tila labis tayong naapektuhan ng pandemyang ito, marahil pati ang ating seminar ay tila binago nito dahil sa implimentasyon na nililimitahan ang kahit anong klaseng mga pag titipon. Mula sa pinaka unang webinar noong Ika-19 ng taong 2020 na may temang “Scio: ALIAC Phoenix’s Unyielding Cognizance for Environmental Awareness.” na may layuning ibahagi ang natatanging kaalaman sa agrikultura , Hanggang sa pinakahuli na may temang “Servant Leadership: Strengthening Mental Health and Social Skills through Volunteerism noong ika-16 ng Enero na may layunin namang ipakita ang kagandahan nang pagsali sa mga community service at kung paano nito napapabuti ang leadership trait ng isang tao. Lahat ay talagang nakaka enganyo salihan. Kaakibat ng iba’t ibang mga tagapag salita ay ang kani-kanilang mga paksa na talagang kapupulutan ng maraming aral. Bagamat hindi man harap-harapang nasaksihan ang mga nasabing pagtitipon ay naging epektibo parin naman ang pag-pasa ng kaalaman dahil sa kanilang mga alternatibong pamamaraan nang pagbabahagi.

SCIENTIA:

ika-28 ng Enero taon 2021 ginanap ang isa sa mga magarbo at pinaka inaantay na kaganapan sa ALIAC, kaabang abang dahil sa samu’t saring pakulo’t mga pasabog. Kaakibat ng mga usapang talaga namang nakaka-enganyo ay ang mga paksa na tiyak na kapupulutan ng aral. Kasama ang ilan sa mga kapintu-pintuhong mga tao sa kani-kanilang larangan na may layuning ipasa ang kanilang mga nalalaman sa mga susunod pang henerasyon. Tila pati ang nasabing pagtitipon ay labis na naapektuhan ng pandemya, marahil ito ay idinaos lamang sa pamamagitan ng mga alternatibong medium at hindi sa nakagisnang mga magagarbong lugar tulad ng mga hotels. Kapos man sa magagandang features ang nasabing event ay hindi naman ito nag pahuli sa kalidad ng mga first hand experiences at leksyon na binahagi sa mga manunuod na estudyante. Isang dahilan kung bakit sa kabila ng mga di ka nais-nais na pangyayare ay nanatili itong maganda’t maayos.

[bliju]

Saturday, 19.2. 2022

DUBLIN únor 2022

Jelikož jsem si fakt oblíbila víkendový letenky, tak jsem nemohla vynechat akci do Dublinu. Letěli jsme v sobotu dopo a vraceli se v neděli večer. Platili jsme nakonec asi 1300,-, protože jsme se docela dlouho rozmýšleli. A musim říct, že nám těch asi 26 hodin úplně v pohodě stačilo. Nechodili jsme teda nikam dovnitř (myslím galerie, muzea a tak) a stihli jsme úplně všechno a i nějaký místa navíc.

Z letiště jsme jeli autobusem Airlink a lístky jsme si kupovali za 8 EUR přímo na místě. Autobus jsme viděli hned, když jsme vystoupili z haly a taky tam byl rovnou stánek, kde prodávali lístky. Jen teda systém autobusů jsme úplně nepochopili :D Podle jízního řádu měl jet ve 14:30 (nekupovali jsme schválně lístek online předem, protože jsme nevěděli, jak se zdržíme na pasový kontrole). No a nakonec jsme odjížděli busem ve 14:15, čas na lístku žádný nebyl a ještě s ním nejeli všichni, kdo tam čekali, ale jen lidi do centra :D 

Každopádně jsme za 20 minut byli v centru a hned jsme se vyadali na fish and chips k obědu :D Pak už jsme si udělali klasické turistické tour po památkách -  Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick's Cathedral, Trinity College, Dublin Castle...U skoro každý jsme teda čekali, že bude větší :D Celkově je Dublin docela malý, všechno je blízko a v pohodě se dá všude chodit pěšky. 

Odpoledne jsme chtěli někam na pivo, což byl dodela problém :D Zrovna se totiž hrálo rugby, takže už ve čtyři byly hodpody totálně narvaný. Ale nakonec jsme místo získali a dali si Guinnesse. Pak jsme se rozhodli jít ubytovat, což bylo kousek. Bydleli jsme v hotelu Clifton court. Hotel byl v pohodě, jen v pokoji bylo fakt strašný vedro a topení se ovládalo centrálně. Ale naštěstí šly otevírat okna :D

Pak už se nám ani nikde moc chodit nechtělo, takže jsem zapadli do hospody  Merchant's Arch, kde bylo místo i přes rugby. Po jeho skončení tam hrál a zpíval kytarista, což je tam taky běžný a je to super. Tam jsme si dali pár pivek, ale jako skoru všude v centru byly za 6,8 EUR a tak jsme se snažili vygooglit levnější :D Takže jsme se přesunuli do Cleary's Pub, kde bylo plno míst a pivo za 5 EUR.

Druhý den ráno jsme teda nebyli úplně fresh, ale i tak jsme vyrazili za dalšími turiscikými cíly -  The Hugh Lane, The Basin, King's Inns, The Black Church, St.Stephen's Green, Stephen's Green Shopping Centre a další. No a pak už jsme si jen dali jídlo a vyrazili na letiště. Jelikož jsme měli dost času, rozhodli jsme se jet autobusem č. 16 ze zastávky College Green. Cesta stojí 3,3 EUR (musíte mít peníze přesně) a autobus jede asi 40 minut, když není provoz. Ale cesta byla super, protože jsme měli místa hned v první řadě v horním patře double-deckeru :)

[greenrouteshotels]

Experience the beauty of Kerala with Green Routes Hotels!🏩 GreenRoutes offers unique experiences in beautiful destinations. Explore the beauty of Munnar, the backwaters of Alleppey, the wildlife sanctuaries of Thekkady, the waterfalls of Athirappilly, the beaches of Fort Kochi, the pine forests of Vagamon, and the historic streets of Fort Kochi with GreenRoutes. Properties at Dream Destinations: 📍 Casa Rio Resort, @ Athirappilly 📍 Dutch Manor, @ Fort Kochi 📍 Falling Waters Resort, @ Munnar 📍 Forest Canopy Resort, @ Thekkady 📍 Fort Munnar, @ Munnar 📍 Lake Canopy, @ Alleppey 📍 Palette Hill View Resort, @ Vagamon 📍 Airlink Castle, @ near Cochin International Airport 📍 Luxury Caravan & Houseboat experiences Let us make your Kerala adventure unforgettable! Book your getaway now and explore Kerala's beauty with us. ☎️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁: +919847872000 | +919847802000 | +919400660001 | 9847842000 📖Reservation office: Green Routes Hotels & Resorts 📌Near Rice Research centre, East Ponnurunni, Vyttila P.O, Cochin, Kerala - 682019 🌐Web: www.greenrouteshotels.com | www.greenrouteshospitality.com 📧Mail: crs@greenrouteshotels.com | sales@greenrouteshospitality.com

[architectnews]

Southbeach Weligama Sri Lanka: Balmond Studio

Southbeach Weligama Sri Lanka, Balmond Studio luxurious residences, Beach front apartments, Building images

Southbeach Weligama, Sri Lanka by Balmond Studio

25 November 2021

Balmond Studio launches new lifestyle led beach front apartments

Design: Balmond Studio Colombo

Location: Weligama, Matara District, Southern Province of Sri Lanka

Southbeach Weligama, southern Sri Lanka by Balmond Studio

24th of November 2021, London – Balmond Studio is delighted to unveil their latest project, the stunning new beach front residential development Southbeach Weligama, Sri Lanka which has now launched for sale globally.

The development, due to be completed in 2023, includes 106 one, two, and four-bedroom apartments with freehold prices starting from $150,000 USD for a limited period. This, coupled with direct airlinks to European, Central and East Asian markets, provides international buyers with a unique investment opportunity, like those seen in Thailand before its boom. Sri Lanka is fast becoming a must-visit global destination, and Weligama town has already seen its beach front land value increase by 84% since 2016.

The exciting Southbeach Weligama, Sri Lanka project brings a new offering to Weligama; with lifestyle-led residences that include state-of-the-art amenities such as a restaurant, poolside bar, gym, 35m swimming pool, an art gallery and a music room; providing a five-star hotel experience at a more long-term affordable price. Weligama is also home to one of Sri Lanka’s few swim-friendly beaches, with a sea that attracts surfers who are seeking exciting new breaks. When you invest in a property at Weligama, you are investing in breakfast by the pool with the turquoise Indian Ocean for company, afternoons spent surfing and snorkelling off catamarans, and evenings watching the sunset from the Southbeach Weligama bar.

Designed by Balmond Studio, who are entering an exciting new chapter of ground-breaking design in Sri Lanka, these luxurious residences are set to become one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting new addresses. Distilling years of experience into the design, the apartments feature high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, with oxidised copper façades and balconies with blue-green glass to perfectly complement the colours of the ocean and coconut trees which are just a stone’s throw away. Southbeach Weligama reflects a celebration of a new ‘young and vibrant’ Sri Lanka, encapsulating the trend for modern coastal living and inspired by local artisans: ‘Design led; Sri Lanka inspired’.

At the forefront of Southbeach Weligama is a philosophy of sustainability supported by Balmond Studio Colombo’s Managing Director, John Balmond, a dedicated committee member of the Lanka Environment Fund (LEF), who work with local communities to provide them with the education and tools needed to bring about long-term ecological change. With this commitment to sustainability in mind, for every apartment sold Southbeach Weligama will donate $1,000 to the LEF, while the development also aims to meet the Platinum requirements of the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka.

Prioritising the synergy between renewable energy and design, Southbeach Weligama will use turbines and solar panels to power the lobby and restaurant areas while rainwater harvesting systems will be utilised to conserve water. The cornerstone of Balmond Studio’s ethos is to empower local communities by using local produce in the restaurant and furnishing the apartments with pieces crafted by Sri Lankan artisans.

John Balmond, Managing Director Balmond Studio Colombo commented, “We are incredibly excited about the Southbeach Weligama project, as it marks the beginning of a new phase in Balmond Studio’s growth as specialists in modern lifestyle design. We want to use this platform to shine a spotlight on the excellence of Sri Lankan craftmanship, all the furniture will be made by local artisans. Community also lies at the heart of everything we do, and we believe that involves helping local communities to prosper.”

Balmond Studio is responsible for the design of Gal Oya Lodge, a unique ecolodge in the heart of one of Sri Lanka’s most remote wilderness areas, while also acting as architectural consultants for Port City Colombo a brand-new development with the vision of building a world-class city in South Asia. Creating the Port City Colombo sales gallery, Balmond Studio designed the building in a unique octagonal structure to represent it’s commitment to modern architectural design in Sri Lanka

Balmond Studio also helped develop Cinnamon Life, a 4.5 million sq. ft integrated mixed-use development and Sri Lanka’s largest single private investment. Designed to transform the social, cultural, and architectural paradigms of Sri Lanka, the project is a perfect urban sanctuary right in the heart of Colombo, offering luxury apartments featuring a blend of contemporary comfort and stylish sophistication.

For more information, please visit: www.southbeachweligama.com

Balmond Studio

Balmond Studio is a research-led practice of architects, designers, artists, and theoreticians, originally founded in 2011 by one of the world’s leading thinkers on form and structure Cecil Balmond OBE. With offices in London and Colombo, the studio has a global reach and fast-growing presence in the fields of architecture, art, design and theory, making them the first port of call for a comprehensive range of architectural and consulting services.

Southbeach Weligama is a collaboration of likeminded international investors from London, New York and Sri Lanka who have excelled in the field of finance and design.

Cecil Balmond

Southbeach Weligama Sri Lanka buildings images / information received from Balmond Studio London, UK

Location: Southern Sri Lanka, South Asia

Sri Lanka Architecture

Sri Lankan Architecture Designs – chronological list

Another Sri Lankan resort on e-architect:

Ani Villa Dikwella Design: AW2, Architects photo : Mkael Benard Ani Villa Dikwella, Sri Lanka

Post-Tsunami Housing, Kirinda, Sri Lanka Design: Shigeru Ban Architects photo : Shu He Post-Tsunami Housing Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan Buildings

A key Sri Lankan Building:

British High Commission in Colombo Design: Richard Murphy Architects photo courtesy of architects British High Commission Sri Lanka

Star Innovation Center in Colombo

Sapphire Residences, Colombo

Sri Lanka House

Sri Lankan Community Building

Indian Architecture

Resort Buildings

Comments / photos for the Southbeach Weligama, Sri Lanka by Balmond Studio page welcome

The post Southbeach Weligama Sri Lanka: Balmond Studio appeared first on e-architect.

[sandjsbeachbumbonanza]

Day 151 – Dinner with Pieter and screwed by St Kitts

We headed from the Windhoek Hilton to the international airport. Despite the fact that there were only two flights leaving, both of them Airlink, the place was chaotic. There was no queuing system to check in and we managed to stand behind three students who were trying to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic to try and lower their luggage weight. It was like watching a three Stooges episode. We finally got checked in and through customs. Once again, the ruthless Namibian security searched S’ bag and confiscated an oversize shaving cream that he had forgotten he had. They also questioned J’s contact lenses and S’ binoculars tripod but eventually let them go.

It was another fiasco to find our gate. The Cape Town flight was leaving from the Johannesburg gate and the Johannesburg flight was leaving from the Cape Town gate. The Johannesburg gate was also different to what was printed on our tickets, and there was a further false Johannesburg gate close to the airport café. For a small airport, they really manage to confuse the heck out of people. The gates were so confusing, that one Cape Town passenger actually got onto our plane before being sent back as the check-in system was manual and the gates were so confusing.

It was a comfortable plane, with only 4 of us in business. The food was good, as usual, and they kept giving us more sparkling wine. Arrival at the Johannesburg airport was very quick and easy. Our hotel was 100 metres across the road from the terminal and only a 2-minute walk. We checked in at the Intercontinental Johannesburg airport for our overnight stay. At around 6:30pm, we headed off to see S’ good friend for 20 years, Pieter, for dinner. We met him at an Italian restaurant called Bellagio near Stanton. It is his favourite, open restaurant. The food was great, as was the wine and after dinner drinks. We really took our time with dinner, European style. J had only met Pieter once before 10 years ago. He is very friendly and high-spirited. What a great guy. We had a great dinner. S ordered 12 oysters and got 18. One was off, but he noticed it immediately so did not eat it. He had the minestrone as a main. J had the ginger squid and grilled chicken salad. We also shared an orange soufflé with Grand Marnier cream. This was amazing.

On our way back to the hotel, we saw that St Kitts had responded to our email enquiring if we would be allowed into the country. S had emailed the St Kitts tourism authority as he had a sinking feeling that they would not allow in travellers who had been through South Africa. They told us that despite the fact that there is no written guidance to this effect, we would not be allowed in. It is quite disappointing given that their website does not make this clear at all. We now have to cancel our St Kitts tickets.

Once we got back to the hotel, we crashed.

[jd-aero-industry]

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[worldhotelvideo]

[https://youtu.be/GTI54WoXBUU] Welcome to Hotel Airlink Castle in Nedumbassery, India (Asia). The best of Hotel Airlink Castle. table tennis. In the restaurant section you can enjoy: bar, room service, snack bar and restaurant (à la carte). For wellness facilities offer indoor pool, swimming pool and fitness centre. With regard to the transfer we have airport shuttle, car hire, shuttle service (additional charge), airport shuttle (additional charge) and shuttle service. For reception services we can find safety deposit box, 24-hour front desk, concierge service, lockers, luggage storage, newspapers, currency exchange, tour desk and express check-in/check-out. Within the common areas we will be able to enjoy games room and terrace. The cleaning of the facilities will include laundry, ironing service, shoeshine, dry cleaning and trouser press. If you fly for business reasons in the accommodation you will have fax/photocopying, business centre and meeting/banquet facilities. shops (on site) and gift shop. We could highlight other possibilities as lift, facilities for disabled guests, air conditioning, vip room facilities and designated smoking area Book now cheaper in http://ift.tt/2ykNSjK You can find more info in http://ift.tt/2wUoboQ We hope you have a pleasant stay in Hotel Airlink Castle Other hotels in this channel Senses Centro https://youtu.be/CR6MVYimFIg Lancaster Plaza Beirut https://youtu.be/PK97MqTyNzo Guangzhou ChangFeng Gloria Plaza Hotel https://youtu.be/vFELEz1eo5k Radisson Paraiso Perisur https://youtu.be/CGqvVo6cdu0 Camden Lock Hotel https://youtu.be/wOiU1oLic-M Majeka House https://youtu.be/cf-Sy-V5Lqo Hotel Hoffmeister & Spa https://youtu.be/o57AsfOm-nU Sheraton Guiyang Hotel https://youtu.be/kRSAs9JH6hw Conrad Chicago https://youtu.be/INsciyuKQ-k Arabella Hotel & Spa https://youtu.be/PM9kpVAotQg Holiday Inn Express London-Wimbledon-South https://youtu.be/92PCCNuFLvs Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa https://youtu.be/1gYLt-ezuqg Crowne Plaza Fuzhou Riverside https://youtu.be/VYevLHjNAvo Hotel Waldhaus https://youtu.be/eDrYfLv6_1Q Hili Rayhaan by Rotana https://youtu.be/k_PffjNZR4I We hope you have a pleasant stay in Hotel Airlink Castle All images used in this video are or have been provided by Booking. If you are the owner and do not want this video to appear, simply contact us. by World Hotel Video

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🏩Green Routes Hotels & Resorts Near Rice Research centre, East Ponnurunni, Vyttila P.O, Cochin, Kerala - 682019

[azvolrien]

Copenhagen - Day 1

HOLIDAY DIARY INCOMING

~~~

Not terribly eventful, all things considered - just travelling.

Took the Airlink bus out to the airport and arrived in plenty of time to check in - perhaps too much so, as the desk did not open for another half-hour. Had lunch after going through security with no problems.

Takeoff was slightly delayed, but a good tailwind meant it didn’t add up to much at the other end. Saw the Øresund bridge from the air as the plane approached Kastrup, but didn’t get a good enough view for a photo.

Knew that the hotel was within walking distance of the central railway station, so took a train in from the airport - slightly delayed (apparently this is common) but very fast and comfortable once it arrived. The railway station hall is beautiful - high sort of barrel-vaulted wooden ceiling.

Checked into Comfort Hotel Vesterbro - room is small but bed it very comfortable - and walked off along Strøget, past the Rådhus, to find something to eat. Settled on a little bistro/restaurant called Le President (not French despite appearances), with delicious food (spaghetti carbonara and chocolate mousse) and possibly the fastest table service I’ve ever experienced. Returned to the hotel for a bath before turning in.

[sandjsbeachbumbonanza]

Day 139 – off to Namibia

We woke up extremely early today (6am) to head to the airport. The hotel had already placed our continental breakfast in our room so we were ready to go at around 7:30am. We thought it would take a while to get to our gate, but everything went smoothly. The one hiccup occurred when J tried to bring her Atlanticview hotel white corkscrew through security. They claimed it was on the list of prohibited items. J just thinks the security staff wanted to keep her fancy corkscrew.

The international departures area of the airport was desolate and only one café was open. J grabbed a snack and we had a few drinks while we waited for the plane. The Airlink plane was a small Embraer, with three seats across total. The flight was reasonably smooth, though it was very windy on landing. We were surprised to receive a tasty cold lunch and drinks on the plane given it was only a 2-hour flight. We were given two forms to fill out on the plane before arriving in Namibia, including a health screening form. J questioned why the form asked if you’ve recently been to China or any other country with COVID and thought this seemed to be a bit out of date.

When we landed, our temperatures were checked and we went through passport control. After that, we handed in our health screening forms. They handed them back and said they were outdated so we needed to fill out new ones. We are not sure why our airline, which has multiple flights daily to Namibia, is using outdated forms.

After that, everything went smoothly until J got flagged for having food in her bag, which she didn’t have. Apparently something that looked like food came up on the x-ray machine as we were leaving the arrivals area. Not finding any food, the customs agent queried why J was carrying around so many pharmaceuticals. She explained most of the pills were over the counter. He didn’t look convinced but let her bring them in anyhow. This is the second time we have avoided an international drug smuggling charge (the first was when S was quizzed on his medications in St Vincent).

We finally left the airport and were greeted by our driver, who took us on what was supposed to be a 25-minute trip to the Hilton in Windhoek. We were just getting into the city centre when we hit a massive traffic jam. Some of the cars turned around to seek an alternative route. Our driver told us we couldn’t do that as the Hilton is on this road. He also then explained that at the same time we were arriving in Namibia, the president was going to parliament to address the nation on steps he is taking to limit corruption. The driver believed we might have been stuck in traffic due to the president’s motorcade.

Once we got past the motorcade intersection we arrived at the Hilton in under a minute. The Hilton resembled most other Hiltons. At least there is also a happy hour here, which we will take advantage of. They have closed the executive lounge due to COVID but have created a space for it in the restaurant.

The Wilderness Safari rep met us in the afternoon. She handed us a nice leather folio as a gift and two luggage tags. She then walked us through our itinerary. When J asked her for bar and restaurant recommendations in Windhoek, she hesitated as apparently Windhoek doesn’t have a thriving restaurant scene. She gave us a few names but wasn’t convincing.

After that, we headed down to the restaurant for happy hour. S was happy to stay at the hotel for dinner, but J wanted to go out. The Wilderness safari rep had recommended Joe’s Bar, an ‘eclectic’, traditional Namibian bar/restaurant which is popular with both locals and tourists. When we called to make a reservation, they told us they provide a shuttle service to and from the hotel for only $7. Shimi, a 6’6” giant picked us up and took us to the bar. He was a friendly chap.

The bar was really something. It resembled a tiki hut with long, communal benches. This place was packed and we were sat in a nice courtyard being used as an overflow area. We heard German and English around us. We have never been anywhere where antelope skulls and horns and Jagermeister bottles are part of the décor. The server took our wine order and returned with a large sauerkraut can, which was being used as an ice bucket. Having missed her bratwurst in Cape Town, J went for the brat. It came with your choice of curry sauce or mustard. Instead, she went for cheese sauce and beer sauce. S got the Bushman’s sosotie. This was a mixed meat kebab, including, from left to right in the picture below, zebra, kudu, oryx, springbok and crocodile. S asked for it to be done rare. J liked her brat. S loved his kebab, which was too much meat to finish. The only disappointment was that the oryx was in the middle of the kebab and got overcooked. The real standout was the kudu, which was excellent. S also liked the springbok. The zebra was good but overwhelming and the crocodile wasn’t great. S has had crocodile before and thinks it tastes too much like chicken. We had some beer before heading back to the hotel with Shimi. Sadly, because of the 10pm curfew, the bar took last orders at 8:30pm.

[scottbcrowley2]

Discovering the magic of Edinburgh - Sat, 13 Jan 2018 PST

The doors of the Airlink 100 bus from Edinburgh airport hissed open at what we thought was the stop nearest to our hotel. The desk clerk I’d emailed said the stop was directly in front of the hotel, which was supposed to be close to the city center. As the bus pulled away, we did not appear to be either opposite the hotel or near the center of anything, except a row of low-rise brown stone structures and a four-lane road. Wrong stop. Discovering the magic of Edinburgh - Sat, 13 Jan 2018 PST

[alenahorowitz]

"Thailand, Landed"

I’ve basically pulled 3-all-nighters the last three nights because I took a night bus from Munich to catch my flight in Berlin and didn’t sleep at all because the bus was completely freezing and completely packed full, then I had an overnight flight from Berlin to Ukraine where I didn’t sleep at all, then another overnight 13-hour flight from Ukraine to Bangkok where the flight was totally full and this time too hot to sleep on. My right eye started twitching uncontrollably and I thought I might have nerve damage so I immediately checked WEBMD and they literally said, “sleep more,” “drink less,” “eat better,” #travelhack. I haven’t been sleeping, I’ve been drinking much too much (though I swear most people I meet are going WAY harder than I am), and have pretty much been eating pretzels, bread, cheese and meat my entire time in Europe. I swear they don’t eat salads!

Camping was also absolutely freezing both nights. Though the camps provided sleeping bags, they were not warm enough in the least! The showers were also cold, so you were cold all night… then took a cold shower… then were even colder. You absolutely NEED to go to Octoberfest at some point in your life, but I definitely recommend staying in a hotel or hostel. I didn’t plan on staying in Europe this long, so I didn’t pack the right clothes for this chilly weather. I was also not wanting to spend precious travel money on a whole new winter wardrobe, so I’m stoked to get out of Europe and over to the warmth of Asia! Stoked about going to Asia because of reasons other than warmth as well, of course.

Arriving in Bangkok, you could immediately feel a rush of warmth over you when boarding the plane. I kid you not, the entire airport smelled like steamed rice and curry. This is going to be my happy place, I know it! After what I read online about tourist visas upon arrival, I thought it would be a long process that costed $35 and required 2-forms of ID, two “passport photos,” and proof of a ticket purchased leaving the country within 30 days. I scrambled and bought a $25 ticket to Cambodia at the Ukraine airport this morning, but was worried because I didn’t have the two passport photos. I’ve heard horror deportation stories on this trip. However, customs simply stamped my passport and told me I needed to be out in 30 days. So much for stressing on that!

I got in line to board the Airlink into the city and a Canadian boy started talking to me. He was pleasantly surprised when he realized I spoke English. I hadn’t booked a hostel yet, and he swore by the one he’d stayed at on two separate occasions, so I decided to just follow him to his hostel rather than worrying about finding one myself (now that I have no data). The Airlink took us over agricultural fields, small canals and colorful little shanty-towns on our way into the heart of the city. We stopped at a street vendor and bought some fresh mangoes and pineapple, then jumped in a Tuk-tuk with richly patterned woven seats, flower garlands and photos of the driver’s family and recently deceased king, and road all the way to the hostel.

Taking your shoes off at the door is custom here, even in many public businesses. The staff remembered the Canadian guy and greeted him kindly as we paid around $8 for a bed for the night. After a rinse (which there really is no rhyme or reason to rinse because the moment you’re out of the shower, you start sweating again), we went and walked around our neighborhood. The hostel is on a quieter street, THANK GOD, because I really need to be out of the party scene for a while. It’s such a fast-paced and vibrant city that “quiet” here still means there are Tuk-Tuks, motorbikes, and street-food vendors squawking everywhere at all hours of the day.

All over Europe, I was already hunting down Asian food because (let’s be honest) it’s just the best. I’m stoked to be in the home of my absolute favorite cuisine–Thai food! We got come icy fruit smoothies to cool us on our walkabout and my new friend said he had to take me to his favorite restaurant in our neighborhood. It was on a busy alley with several other restaurants waving napkins and trying to get us to dine with them. They had huge red Thai-umbrellas and an outdoor flaming wok that was constantly in use for all the customers they collected. I heard most people asking the owner to “make me whatever you feel” which gave him complete creativity over the meal. He was in an absolute constant state of “flow” and smiled and cracked jokes as he threw things into the fire with his blistered brown hands.

We sat next to a Spanish couple and enjoyed a Chang beer. Out of nowhere, lightning cracked and rain started pouring down. This wasn’t normal rain… the drops were the biggest drops I’d ever seen and immediately the street was full of water up to the sidewalk. I guess it IS monsoon season right now! But the rain was warm, we had our Thai beer and delicious food for a very slick price, so we were happy. Workers were busy chopping, taking orders, cleaning, passing the chef whatever he needed, re-lighting our candles and keeping the umbrellas from dumping on us. They put little plastic bags on their heads and brought us extra smaller umbrellas when they noticed the horizontal rain was still reaching us under the large umbrellas. They worked through the storm like a perfectly polished machine with such kindness and gratitude.

Always,

Alena Horowitz | Miss Potato

[fromwinnipeg2everywhere]

The Land of Guinness and Irish Whiskey

We typically don’t travel during summer because we are not fans of the crowds and the heat. Also, just like the days between Christmas and New Years’, it is usually nice and quiet at work in the summer, and with us being child-free, we’ve kind of taken it upon ourselves to “hold the fort” while everyone else is on summer holidays. Summer of 2019 was an exception. We just lost our beloved cat, Jake, in the early spring, and we were both so sad and full of guilt and grief, and at that time, our response to this was “Let’s book a trip!”. This was technically a “last minute” trip by our standards and picked Ireland because it was the least expensive we can find given our timeline and because they have mild summer weather.

We arrived in Dublin at around 11am on August 11, 2019 and we hit the ground running. We knew we only had a week and we had no time to waste. The first thing we did was buy four 24-hour LEAP visitor cards at the airport. The 24-hour LEAP cards are 10 Euros each and allows unlimited travel on the Airport Bus, city buses and DART trains. The Airport bus already costs 7 Euros one way, so if you plan the trip so that most of your commute is on the first and last 24 hours, then this card is worth it. We took the Airlink 747 bus to our hotel in the Temple Bar Area and the bus stop was just a three-minute walk to our hotel, which is convenient if you have lots of luggage. Many people would probably advise against staying at the Temple Bar area because it is very crowded and loud at night, but unlike most people, we actually thrive in busy and lively areas. Really, all you need is a good set of earplugs and you’re set. We like having our hotel in a central area because we can enjoy bars and restaurants late into the night without having to worry about the commute back to the hotel, and we enjoy being in the center of everything. We stayed at the Temple Bar Inn which is a couple of blocks away from the Temple Bar so it isn’t as loud, but who am I kidding, it was still pretty loud. Apparently, air conditioning isn’t a thing in hotels in Ireland, so you must keep the windows open which means you hear every drunken person within a hundred feet radius. Aside from being surrounded by bars, there is also a TESCO supermarket right next door to our hotel, so we never went hungry or thirsty. After checking in, we visited Phoenix Park. We read that there are a lot of wild deer in that park, but sadly we didn’t see any. After exploring the park, we went to a restaurant called Hairy Lemon for dinner. The lineup is long so go early if you want to try this restaurant! We ordered fish and chips, Irish stew and our first of many, many pints of Guinness for the trip. I’ve always appreciated the pub atmosphere where I feel more comfortable than in a fancy restaurant.  

We had an early start for our second day. We set the alarm for 5am so we can be at our meeting point for 6:30am for our Northern Ireland tour. We don’t typically go for the big bus tours, but I was wary of driving on the left-hand side of the road with a right-hand side car and the roads in the Irish countryside are no wider than a Winnipeg back lane. We bought our tour on Viator, but the tour operator name is Finn McCool’s and I highly recommend them. The tour started promptly, and it was very organized. If you are doing this tour, do not forget to bring Gravol if you get motion sickness. The driver is very good but there are a lot of winding roads. The tour guide was very informative, and I learned a lot about Irish history and about Northern Ireland. Our first stop for this tour was the Giant’s Causeway. It was a long walk from the bus to the rocks. The Giant’s Causeway is basically this very cool rock formation extending into the sea. Legend has it that it used to be a bridge that the giants used between Ireland and Scotland. I’m sure there’s a pretty good scientific explanation for it, but the giant story is funny, and you should google it. We stayed a couple of hours here then drove over to Carrick-a-Rede. I’m not a fan of heights but since the crossing the bridge was already part of what we paid for, I went ahead and crossed the bridge. Apparently, I would rather scare myself to death crossing a bouncy, rickety, rope bridge than not get my money’s worth. I would have to admit the views on the other side of the bridge are worth it. After Carrick-a-Rede, we drove to the Belfast City Centre for a quick dinner then returned to Dublin. It was a very long day and it was late by the time that we got back to Dublin, but we still had drinks at the Palace Bar right across our hotel before calling it a night.

The next day was another early start to another long day. We needed to be at the Gresham Hotel by 6:30am for our Cliffs of Moher bus tour. We also bought the tour from Viator, but the tour operator is Wild Rover and they are also very good. Our tour guide was wonderful, and he entertained us a lot of stories about Irish culture, history, music and folklore. One unique thing about this tour is that about 2 hours (about halfway) to the cliffs from Dublin, we stopped at the Barack Obama Plaza at Moneygall. Barack Obama’s great-great-great grandfather’s ancestral home was in Moneygall and in 2011, Barack and Michelle paid the village a visit, had a pint of Guinness at the local bar and met a lot of his distant relatives. In 2014, they built the Plaza, which is basically a service area with gas stations and restaurants and restrooms for bus tours like ours. It was still quite a long drive to the cliffs from here, and by the time we got there, I was ready to barf. Thank goodness for Gravol. The long drive was so worth it. I wish that I could have driven there by myself and spent at least a couple of days just hiking the trail, perhaps going early in the morning for sunrise or staying late in the evening to catch sunset. They only gave us a couple of hours to explore and it was not even close to being enough time. I love that there were no guard rails and although we received abundant warning about not stepping too close to the edge, there were a few people who were brave (or stupid?) enough to go very close to the edge. I’m a little bit of a rebel myself, and I did go near the edge, but nowhere near that I would risk my life just to get a good photo (besides, hubby refused to let me near the edge). After lunch, we drove to Galway via the Wild Atlantic Way. The drive was so scenic and if you are going to take this tour, make sure you sit on the left side of the bus! I missed most of the drive because I took another Gravol and I was asleep for most of it. Galway City Centre is a little town full of pubs and shops and it was very quaint and lovely. We ate seafood chowder and had some Irish whiskey and Guinness, before heading back to Dublin.

The following day was hubby’s birthday, and what better way to celebrate it than to spend the morning at the Guinness Storehouse! The tour itself was pretty standard, but the highlight was that I learned how to properly pour a pint of Guinness and that I got to pour myself a pint at the bar. I even got a certificate to show for it! We spent a couple of hours here, bought some souvenirs then walked to Brother Hubbard for some yummy brunch. We did some more walking and shopping in between, then in the afternoon, we went to the Irish Whiskey Museum for the Blending Tour. We learned a lot about the history of Irish Whiskey and were given four kinds to do the blending and tasting with. Needless to say, I didn’t finish everything because we have been basically drinking since we got up that morning. We bought the tickets for the Guinness Storehouse and the Irish Whiskey Museum online way ahead of time so that we can get the timeslots that we want. You also get a bit of a discount when you buy online.

The following day, we went to Trinity College to see the Old Library and the Book of Kells.  Hubby lined up super early so that he is in first in line. He wanted to be the first person in line so he can go straight to the Long Room and take photos of it before everyone else got there. This strategy works, but not for long. It probably bought him two to three minutes of being able to take photographs by himself. For me, although the library was beautiful, I enjoyed the Book of Kells more. The Book of Kells is from the 9th (!) century and it is very well preserved. After Trinity College, we headed over to the International Bar to meet Lorcan Collins, the leader of the 1916 Rebellion Tour. He talked about the rebellion and took us to some places around the city that figured prominently in the rebellion. Irish history is very interesting. I think what I took most out of it is how very inspiring it is, especially women’s role in it. After the tour, we went to Merrion Square to check out Oscar Wilde’s statue, then went to the National Gallery of Ireland. The museum is free to enter, and they have a decent collection of Picassos, Monets, Vermeers and Rembrandts. After the museum, we went to a pub called O’Neill’s. We ordered some more chowder and Irish stew. Later in the evening, we went to the Whiskey Palace for some drinks and we were lucky enough that they had a bunch of musicians having a jam session at the bar that night.

Our last day in Dublin was another busy one. We had an early start and took the bus to Kilmainham Gaol. If you want to visit Kilmainham Gaol, you need to be online the second that the tickets are released. They sell out very fast. The tour itself was very somber. We learned a lot about the inspiring men and women who were instrumental in liberating Ireland from British rule. After the tour, we went back to the hotel to check in for our flights back to Winnipeg for the following day. We were able to snag decent seats considering we only bought Basic Economy fares. After checking in, we took the DART to Howth. Howth is a village just outside of Dublin where you can eat amazing, fresh seafood. We ate crab claws and oysters and of course, had some more Guinness. We walked around the harbor and the lighthouse, then we took the trail for the Cliff Walk. It started out really sunny, but typical Irish weather meant an hour or so later, we got caught in a downpour up in the cliffs. It was quite the experience except that it destroyed hubby’s only pair of shoes for the trip and he ended up having to buy new ones once we got back to Dublin. After exploring Howth, we went back to Dublin and had dinner at Chapter One. The dinner started out strong – the amuse bouche was good (mushroom themed) and the first few courses (seafood) were excellent, but I wasn’t too impressed with the terrine and the duck dishes. Overall, it was a good experience, what you would typically expect from a one-starred Michelin establishment.

Our last day was also a very long day. We took the airport bus from Bachelor’s Walk and it was a good thing we were one of the first on the bus because by the third or fourth stop, the driver was no longer letting people on because it was full. The airport experience was uneventful, which is a good thing. The tax credit process was very efficient, and it didn’t take that long to get the credit back. We had a long layover in Toronto which gave us an opportunity to meet up with some friends. They took us for dinner at Pai and then we walked around the harbor before going back to Pearson to catch our flight to Winnipeg. The experience at Pearson was horrendous. The line ups were long, and they didn’t even bother opening the Nexus lines. Then they lost our luggage, which took a couple of days to turn up.

We basically booked Ireland without doing a lot of research. I was kind of hoping for it to be a relaxing, easy trip, but it turned out to be super busy with a lot of early mornings and late nights, but it was so worth it. I definitely want to return someday and spend more time in the countryside and the little villages. Ireland is one of the places we’ve visited that I would love to live in, but alas, I’m a little too old to meet their immigration criteria! But this just means I’ll just have to visit a little longer next time.