PHOTOS HAVE BEEN UPLOADED
Day 1 Morn & Arvo - Poole & Brownsea Island
Set off from London at around 7.30 in the morn with Jingye, Vivian, Lionel, Amar, Lu, Alex and Jed (yeah... it's usual for us girls to find that we're heavily outnumbered). Arrived at the little harbour town of Poole 3 hours later, from where we took the ferry down south to Brownsea Island.
Brownsea Island kinda resembled the Aussie bush... deja vu. Uphill and downhills (well, a little anyway), damp ground, leaf litter, bushes, pines, fallen logs, etc etc... minus the leeches. Surrounded by a lovely coast too... lotsa seabirds around, and some Oystercatchers were nesting.
First destination on the island was the bust of Lord Baden-Powell, founder and the first Chief Scout of the World. He held an experimental camp on the Island in 1907, and it was from there that Scouting and Guiding movement sprang. The second and more important destination... the climax of our 'pilgrimage', was the Scouting memorial stone. Spent some time there trying to get a feel of the history that had gone on before in that very same place.
Milled about at the old pottery site, where we found some long sticks and poked about the seaweed and cracked pots... and entertained ourselves witnessing the frantic hopping of the exposed beachfleas. Amar sure had some fun in rediscovering the simpler pleasures of life. Lunch on the beach... while Amar and Lu showcased their sparring skills.
Trekked about the little 1 1/2 by 3/4 mile Island and sang songs as we went. lol. Tried to spot a red squirrel but no luck. :| Left Brownsea with a harbour cruise before landing back at Poole.
The gang at Brownsea. Clocwise from left: Lionel, me, Amar, Jed, Viv, Alex, Jingye, and Lu... eh Lu... look up...
Alex and myself with Scout neckerchiefs
Day 1 Night & Day 2 - Bath
Five people squeezed into a twin-shared room of a guest house... that was how we spent our night in Bath. Viv was trying her hardest to cram in details from her notes (she has an exam on Monday ie. the next day, and still she comes! Whoa - pei fu!). I slept through Jingye's and Jed's snoring... but not before I documented them sleeping!
Had a full continental breakkie at the guest house with Viv, then went over to MacDonald's to meet up with the boys. We were sitting on a bench on the street, waiting for the boys to appear round the corner... and when they came... oooo... it went like an MTV clip. One could imagine them as a boy band on some CD cover (see photo)!
At the rather pricely sum of 8 quid, the four Js (Jingye, Jed, Jian Rong aka Lionel, and myself) decided to take a closer look at the old Roman Baths. Ruins from the temple of Sulis Minerva, the Gorgon's head, the Sacred Spring, the Great Bath...
Description taken from the website:
"The Roman Baths is one of the best-preserved Roman sites north of the Alps and at the very heart of the site is the Sacred Spring. Hot water at a temperature of 460C rises here at the rate of 1,170,000 litres (that’s 240,000 gallons) every day and has been doing this for thousands of years.
In the past this natural phenomenon was beyond human understanding and it was believed to be the work of the gods. In Roman times a great Temple was built next to the Spring dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers. The mineral rich water from the Spring supplied a magnificent bath-house which attracted visitors from across the Roman Empire."
We also tried out the famous Spa Water. But... yucks. Thanks to the 43 minerals, it tasted more like water that has been used to wash coins.
Left the city after lazing about at the Parade Gardens by the River Avon.
Here comes the boys!
Jed, myself, Jingye and Lionel at the Great Bath
Day 2 - Stonehenge
Fun! While on the way to Stonehenge, we took pics of us with the car which we rented (Jed was our driver). I love those photos. ;) Hrm... Stonehenge... one of the wonders of the world. We always imagine these huge, towering blocks of rock in a vast piece of land... but it's *not* quite that big. Still, it is a magnificent monument and does have some sorta mysterious air about it. At least now I can claim that I've "been there, done that".
Us by the car
Viv and myself at Stonehenge (classic! whee... I'm taller! :P)
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