Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland from 21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)
Very good breakfast at Dalmally Hotel, Scotland.
Day 26 (15.06.2014) – Day 5 return journey to Stranraer and dinner at Aileen’s house in Leswalt.
We woke up at 5.30am and took out our baggage from the Dalmally Hotel room for the staff to take it to the bus. Our breakfast was at 7am sharp and departed at 7.45am for our bus journey back. On this return journey the bus stopped to drop participants at their villages. Our tour ended when our bus arrived at Cairnryan at 1.45pm to be picked up by Alistair and Jessie. Stuart and wife Aileen and mother May invited us to their house in Church Grove, Leswalt for dinner at 6.30pm.
“Dearest Aileen, May and Stuart.
Thanks for inviting us to your home for a lovely dinner. Your home cooked meals and drinks were all excellent. We had a very good time and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. And it was really good to spend time together after such a long time. Thanks for the wonderful evening. We look forward to meeting you again in the near future. With Love from friends of Malaysia: Pauline Toh, Betty Ching, Catherine Oon, Val Allan, Lim Kee Moon and Ching Neng Bin.”
Sleeping: Shambley Residence, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer, Scotland.
Temp: min.12 – max.18°C
Very good breakfast at Dalmally Hotel, Scotland.
Toilet stop in Balloch at Café on the Loch Lomond Shore, Scotland.
Back home at Shambley Residence, Alistair brought out 10cans of beer that had expired about 5 years ago. Nevertheless, it tasted good, so Lim Kee Moon and Ching Neng Bin finished it within a week.
Excelsior lager beer and Erwins lager beer the best beer so far we tasted in Scotland.
Stuart and wife Aileen and mother May invited us to their house in Church Grove, Leswalt for dinner at 6.30pm. 
Mr Stuart welcomed us in his Ryanview House, Church Grove, Leswalt, Scotland.
Stuart and mother May invited us to their house in Church Grove, Leswalt for dinner at 6.30pm. 
Lim Kee Moon and Val Allan at Ryanview House, Church Grove, Leswalt, Scotland.
Stuart's Ryanview House, Church Grove, Leswalt, Scotland.
Mr. Stuart and wife Aileen at their Ryanview House, Church Grove, Leswalt, Scotland.
Mr Stuart brought out a special bottle of whisky at his Ryanview House, Church Grove, Leswalt, Scotland.
We helped ourselves with the Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Scotch whisky at Stuart's house in Leswalt. 
Monkey Shoulder whisky is a superb blended malt whisky from William Grant, made with single malts from the company's three neighbouring distilleries in Dufftown. 
Monkey Shoulder whisky taste is smooth, creamy, supple and very malty Scotch which works superbly well neat, over ice, or in whisky cocktails where it really excels.
Mr Stuart the fisherman who runs the Kirkland Fishery Farm in Leswalt. 
A nice view of Church Grove from Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
The beautiful green and flower garden of Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Betty Ching, Pauline Toh, Ching Neng Bin, Catherine Oon at Mr Stuart's House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Just beside Mr Stuart's house garden is the Church of Scotland, Leswalt built in 1828. 
Betty Ching, Catherine Oon, Mr Stuart, Pauline Toh at Mr Stuart's House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Flowering plants at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
This is a colourful Brown-lipped snail in Scotland.
Brown-lipped snails are common in Scotland and they like to live in grassland, woodland, sea cliffs and gardens.
Catherine Oon and Pauline Toh at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Aileen Stuart is seen busy preparing dinner for us at her Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Stuart, Aileen Stuart and mother May invited us to their house in Church Grove, Leswalt for dinner.
Stuart, Aileen Stuart and mother May invited us to their house in Church Grove, Leswalt for dinner.
Poached chicken with potatoes, carrots and peas in wine sauce at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Chocolate mousse garnished with ground cinnamon at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Dinner at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Strawberry Meringue at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Strawberry Meringue looks so pretty and everyone knows pretty food tastes better.
There is nothing like a good strawberry meringue we had from Aileen Stuart.
Aileen Stuart's recipe had all the best things: crisp exterior and a chewy inside with a swirl of fruity sweetness.
Alistair and May Stuart at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Strawberry Meringue we had from Aileen Stuart.
Five types of cheese crackers at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
Five types of cheese on the table at Mr Stuart's Ryanview House, Leswalt, Scotland.
They may look similar, but these cheeses are very different in their taste and smell. 
How to taste cheese? Take a bite and focus on the flavors. Do you find nutty? Sharp? Cow-barnyardy? Bell pepper?
“Dearest Aileen, May and Stuart.
Thanks for inviting us to your home for a lovely dinner. Your home cooked meals and drinks were all excellent. We had a very good time and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. And it was really good to spend time together after such a long time. Thanks for the wonderful evening. We look forward to meeting you again in the near future. With Love from friends of Malaysia: Pauline Toh, Betty Ching, Catherine Oon, Val Allan, Lim Kee Moon and Ching Neng Bin.”
Day 02 (22.05.2014 Thr) – Amsterdam City, Holland
Day 03 (23.05.2014 Fri) – Amsterdam Zaanse Schans Village (21km)
Day 04 (24.05.2014 Sat) – KL.1477R AMS/GLA 1535hr - 1605hr Glasgow Airport
Day 05 (25.05.2014 Sun) – Stranraer, Scotland
Day 06 (26.05.2014 Mon) – Fishing station at Lady Bay (15km) Loch Ryan
Day 07 (27.05.2014 Tue) – Portpatrick and Mull of Galloway Lighthouse (58km)
Day 08 (28.05.2014 Wed) – Lide supermarket (2.8km) and Museum
Day 09 (29.05.2014 Thu) – Exploring Galloway Forest Park (56km)
Day 10 (30.05.2014 Fri) – Kirkland Fishery Farm in Leswalt (4.6km)
Day 11 (31.05.2014 Sat) – Exploring Galloway Forest Park (60km)
Day 12 (01.06.2014 Sun) – Trekking 20.8km Loch Ryan Coastal Path
Day 13 (02.06.2014 Mon) – A free and easy rest day
Day 14 (03.06.2014 Tue) – To Robert Burns Cottage at Alloway (78km)
Day 15 (04.06.2014 Wed) – Fishing station at Lady Bay (15km) Loch Ryan
Day 16 (05.06.2014 Thu) – A trip to the Giant Causeway (153km) by coach
Day 17 (06.06.2014 Fri) – Trekking 4km Ardwell Pond, Ardwell Bay (18km)
Day 18 (07.06.2014 Sat) – Our ladies went shopping in Ayr (72km)
Day 19 (08.06.2014 Sun) – Visiting Isabelle/Robert in Newton Steward (50km)
Day 20 (09.06.2014 Mon) – Overnight stay at Fishing Station, Lady Bay Loch Ryan
Day 21 (10.06.2014 Tue) – Visited a farm using automated milking
Day 22 (11.06.2014 Wed) – Day 1 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 23 (12.06.2014 Thu) – Day 2 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 24 (13.06.2014 Fri) – Day 3 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 25 (14.06.2014 Sat) – Day 4 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 26 (15.06.2014 Sun) – Day 5 of Scenic West Coast Tour, Scotland
Day 27 (16.06.2014 Mon) – Allan and Pauline 50th wedding anniversary
Day 28 (17.06.2014 Tue) – Mysterious beach walk at Loch Larbrax, Scotland
Day 29 (18.06.2014 Wed) – Lake Loweswater, Lake District, UK (day1)
Day 30 (19.06.2014 Thu) – Outward Bound Ullswater, Lake Ullswater (day2)
Day 31 (20.06.2014 Fri) – Return from Lake District (day3)
Day 32 (21.06.2014 Sat) – Our last visit to the bothy at Lady Bay
Day 33 (22.06.2014 Sun) – A farewell dinner hosted by Margaret Modrate
Day 34 (23.06.2014 Mon) – A farewell tea hosted by Vera Little
Day 35 (24.06.2014 Tue) – To Glasgow for a night stay for next day flight
Day 36 (25.6.2014Wed) Glasgow 6am to Amsterdam 8.40//MH17 12noon to KLIA
Day 37 (26.06.2014 Thu) – MH17 touched down at KLIA at 6.20am.
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It's great to try your hand in golfing on well-maintain course, albeit it's just a one-hole green...Unthinkable! Cows queue to have their milk harvested by robotic process. Single wind turbine indicates the farm family is self-reliant on electrical power. Breastfast dishes were so enticing for bon appetite for foodies-minced meat pies and garlic bread, sure home baked? For dog lover NB Ching, seeing an overweight Beagle canine of Snoopy stock could be a pleasant surprise. Very soothing, comfy looking homes adorned the country road heading towards Dowhill and Glasgow. Passing by those rocky coastal features and some war memorials, while feeding the eyes and relaxing in wide-bodied well-driven coach. Watching wild rabbits or hares as they called them with binoculars, no wonder the little pests looked so unafraid. Ladies strolled along the flower garden of Dalmally Hotel and had memorable pictures taken. Fancy the flowers were of large-sized species. Buildings of Oban looked straight out of Children's fairy tales book. The Chins met a compatroit Ms Tan on the ferry who's based in Northern Irland. A pic was taken but I think she should stand between the couple instead of snug close to Catherine.
ReplyDeleteMcCaig's Tower is awesome providing a panoramic view of the sea as it's circular in shape and situated on a hill. It's very well maintained. Fun time and merry go round was felt immensely as Ching & company let loose their hair to dance at Dalmally Hotel's lounge. It's dance down memory lane and had tinge of nostalgia to see Val Allan & Pauline Toh did a perfect round of Foxtrot. Val is really an old hand in doing the Ballroom dancing with his compatible partner Pauline. Ching's energised jive was too much for the Scottish (was she?) lady to catch up with him. Oh my!Some dancer he is.
The last remaining wilderness of Europe at Great Moor of Rannoch is pristine with natural backdrops of intimidating mountains, meandering road tracks, and lochs, over undulating landscape. It's heaven for seasoned trackers like NB. It's great outdoor expedition experience. The tourist attraction township of Fort William is bustling with curious tourist-pedestrains. Looks like the banned motorised vehicle here. A charming violinist caught NB's attention for a photo-shot. Journey back to Stranraer was rewarded with more tempting, sumptuous meals served at Aileen and Stuart's home. Special whiskey and expired beer ensured a good night's sleep thereafter. NB Ching has reported his traveling anecdotes and experience well and clear. He penned the captions of the pics he took and that attracted us more to read further. An enormous task well-accomplished. Ganbatte Kudasai!加油!
Regards from Alan K.
Monkey Shoulder Malt Whisky? That sure's a real treat, neat, with water or on-the-rocks at Mr Stuart's generosity. Bet you never find this brand at the duty-free. Yam seng, Mr Ching and co.
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