Backpacking to Stranraer, Scotland from 21 May to 26 June 2014 (37days)
Millfield Avenue, Stranraer, ScotlandDay 35 (24.06.2014) Travel to Glasgow for a night and our flight home the next day
Today was our last day in Stranraer and we were all feeling sad to leave Alistair and his friends behind, however, at the same time we were happy that we are going back to Malaysia to be with our dear families. In the morning after breakfast we rearranged the furniture and cleaned up the house that we had being staying for more than 30 days.
We then walked outside to see the vegetable garden and the rose garden with all the flowers fully bloomed. By today we were ready and had done all our packing and repacking of our luggage and daypacks.
This morning Norman John Robertson and wife Carol Anne Robertson came over and had early lunch together before driving in two cars to Glasgow and drop us in the Travelodge Hotel beside the airport where we stayed for a night.
For dinner we treated ourselves with a sumptuous western meal with wine at the Travelodge Restaurant.
Millfield Avenue, Stranraer, Scotland
This is Alistair McCulloch’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer, Scotland.
Fully bloomed flowers at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Fully bloomed flowers at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Fully bloomed rose flowers at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Fully bloomed rose flowers at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Fully bloomed rose flowers at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Fully bloomed flowers at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
The flower garden at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
The flower garden at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
The flower garden at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Sweet peas enchant us with their fragile, seductive fragrance and make great bouquets. These pea-like flowers grow in many lovely colors and are suitable for border, garden and arch.
The broad bean plants at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
The broad beans at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
On the left is cabbage, center is beetroot and on right is carrot at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, Stranraer.
Onion plants at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Vegetables planted at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Potatoes plants at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Rhubarb plants at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Zucchini yellow flower at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Zucchini at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Raspberry at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Apple tree with fruits at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Apple tree with fruits at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Lindisfarne at Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Beautiful garden at Janet Drysdale's house, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
Beautiful garden at Janet Drysdale's house, Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
We had sandwiches for lunch at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
A farewell group photo at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
A farewell group photo at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
A farewell group photo at Alistair’s Shambley Residence, No.12 Millfield Avenue, Stranraer.
This morning Norman John Robertson and wife Carol Anne Robertson came over and had early lunch together before driving in two cars to Glasgow and drop us in the Travelodge Hotel beside Glasgow Airport where we stayed for a night.
Travelodge Hotel beside Glasgow Airport where we stayed for a night.
Travelodge Hotel beside Glasgow Airport where we stayed for a night.
Travelodge Hotel beside Glasgow Airport where we stayed for a night.
For dinner we treated ourselves with a sumptuous western meal with wine at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Lim Kee Moon and Betty Ching taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Catherine Oon and Ching Neng Bin taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Ching Neng Bin and Val Allan taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Pauline Toh and Catherine Oon taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow.
Taking dinner at the Travelodge Restaurant, Glasgow. 
Day 36 (25.06.2014) - In the morning at 4am we checked in at Glasgow Airport main terminal for our 6am KLM 1hr 40min flight to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport arriving at 8.20am.
At 12 noon we took MAS MH17 Boeing 777-200 (12hr 20min non-stop) flight from Amsterdam Schiphol airport to KLIA.
Day 37 (26.06.2014) – MH17 touched down at KLIA at 6.20am.
Dear Alistair McCulloch,
We just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful one month stay we had with you while we were in Stranraer. You are such a fantastic guide and it was nice of you to have driven us out to those beautiful and scenic areas along the coast. We will definitely miss the bothy and Lady Bay.
We are not sure when we’ll visit you in Stranraer again, but I hope it won’t be too long – it’s always nice seeing you and we had such a fun time while we were there. You have truly given us a wonderful trip.
We would be waiting for your visit to Malaysia and we could have the pleasure of taking you around. Thanks again for giving us the great days in Stranraer. Thanks again and best wishes.
From
Val Allan and Pauline Toh
Kee Moon and Betty Ching
Ching Neng Bin and Catherine Oon
Dear Carol Anne Robertson and Norman John Robertson,
We just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate your company and efforts in showing us around in Scotland. You drove us around the country side and picking us up from airport and to airport - that was incredibly nice of both of you.
Your travelling knowledge is wide, and we have all appreciated the care you have taken with each and every one of us to the Lake Districts. The trip will be in our minds for a long time. Your great sense of humour made our visit very ,very enjoyable. We wish you all the best in the future.
From
Val Allan and Pauline Toh
Kee Moon and Betty Ching
Ching Neng Bin and Catherine Oon
Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was a scheduled passenger flight from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur that was shot down on 17 July 2014 while flying over eastern Ukraine. All 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed.
MALAYSIA AIRLINES MH17
DATED: 17 JULY 2014
298 PASSENGERS
SHOT DOWN IN
UKRAINE
We were on this flight MH17 on 26th June 2014 from Amsterdam to K. Lumpur
We would like to convey our sincerest condolences to their families
and friends of those who were on board MH17
DATED: 17 JULY 2014
298 PASSENGERS
SHOT DOWN IN
UKRAINE
We were on this flight MH17 on 26th June 2014 from Amsterdam to K. Lumpur
We would like to convey our sincerest condolences to their families
and friends of those who were on board MH17
From
Ching Neng Bin and Catherine Oon
Lim Kee Moon and Betty Ching
Pauline Toh and Val Allan
Ching Neng Bin and Catherine Oon
Lim Kee Moon and Betty Ching
Pauline Toh and Val Allan
Distance from Stranraer:
N 08km – Cairnryan N 22km – Ballantrae N 49km – Turnberry
N 61km – Kildonan N 65km – Whiting Bay N 71km – Lamlash
NE 41km – Girvan NE 50km – Dailly NE 61km – Dunure
NE 68km – Dalrymple NE 72km – Ayr NE 72km – Hollybush
NE 128km - Glasgow
E 50km – Newton Stewart E 54km – Wigtown E 60km – Creetown
SW 10km - Portpatrick W 72km – Larne W 88km - Belfast
N 08km – Cairnryan N 22km – Ballantrae N 49km – Turnberry
N 61km – Kildonan N 65km – Whiting Bay N 71km – Lamlash
NE 41km – Girvan NE 50km – Dailly NE 61km – Dunure
NE 68km – Dalrymple NE 72km – Ayr NE 72km – Hollybush
NE 128km - Glasgow
E 50km – Newton Stewart E 54km – Wigtown E 60km – Creetown
SW 10km - Portpatrick W 72km – Larne W 88km - Belfast
Click below to view daily adventures:
Day 01 (21.05.2014 Wed) – MH16 KUL/AMS 2355hr – 0655hr on 22MayDay 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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Hi Mr Ching
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of the last days of your holiday conveys a sense of poignancy as one could feel that you guys would rather extend your magical excursion in Scotland than be returning to M'sia. Indeed you all have met some lovely Scottish people and you were lucky to have a wonderful host in Alistair, your fellow Rotarian. You have also tasted genuine Scottish home cooking and their renown malt whiskeys.
I came to England in 1974 and had a week's travel to Scotland. The 4 of us Malaysians drove up through Loch Lomond, Edinburgh, Perth, Inverness and returning via Fort Williams and the Lake District. Scotland has some beautiful scenic landscapes and as I recalled it was such a delightful country to visit.
You lot seem such a durable and intrepid bunch of travellers and it's great to see your wonderful well researched and descriptive holiday blog. 'Kam sia cheh cheh' Thank you very much for sharing.
Best wishes
Gary Ong
Really marvel at the way you all travel with cheap n adventurers itinerary ....
ReplyDeleteKam sia cheh cheh! your shared blog post is amazing and the photographs have soul taking views. I must say that it is a beautiful land to visit there. Can you suggest me the best time to see this stunning scenery? I want to go there in the next month after completing my trip of east coast tour packages. I would like to appreciate you at this nice blog post.
ReplyDeleteAs always, thanks for sharing and enlightening us on your adventurous experience --- bravo! Awesome and beautiful shots. Stay well and best wishes.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding Ching!! I am sure you had a good time in your travels. Great photos. All my best and until we meet again. Regards.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr Ching for a great sharing!!! Nice pictures and detail of the trip. Thank you for providing such a good reference for my future trip;)
ReplyDeleteWOW.... that's not too bad. I thought it would be more than 10k. looks like I gotta go there soon. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe last few days of NB Ching and his group's excursion to Scotland are particularly memorable as they're closing the chapter in their travel to Scotland. As usual Ching introduced us the uniquely terrestial trail at Loch Larbrax Bay when they took a mysterious foggy morning walk on Moon or Mars surface-liked landscape. I did not know there's such a domestic beast known as the Scotish Donkey! It's down memory lane for Val Allen with ineradicable nostalgia when the entourage visited the OBS where he had a brief stint in the 1950s. With good nature and friendliness Ching's group earned the respect and love with old Rotarians like Alistaire who played host in showering them generosity in providing lodging, meals and guiding them in going places. New friends and neigbours like Margaret Modrate and Vera Little began to take turns in offering them farewell dinner and tea. I believe such kind gesture made their departure more meaningful but difficult though it's time to bid good bye. It was so important that Ching and his gang reciprocated to return the goodwill by helping out in shopping, preparing the home grown vegetables, and cooking, even tendering the host's garden. Of course the ladies had done a grat deal in their role in the kitchen to prepare the meals. It was impressive as they cleaned the host's home and re-arranged the furniture etc. A small effort went a long way to say it least. I am sure a little bit more weight for their baggage loaded with extra kilos of Scotish Cheese is worthwhile. NB Ching and his entourage sure had hay of good time during his European sojourn in Holland and Scotland.
ReplyDeleteFootnote: After NB's return to Malaysia we read about the ill-fated misfortune of the downing of MH17 by some warring factions in Ukraine in which 298 lives perished. The devastating news threw the country into doldrums and all of us were saddened gravely with the loss of innocent lives. God bless their soul and I wish them RIP.
Regards, from Alan K.
Dear Ching,
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for sharing your Scotland trip. The scenic views of all the places you had travelled would not be known to me if not for your write-up.
I must say that you guys were so lucky to have such fantastic hosts in Scotland who accommodated you and showed you around, for a long period of 30+ days.
I have always thought that western people are not as warm and hospitable as the Asian. Well, maybe I was wrong. Thanks and best regards
Good on ya and I am sure you people had a great time. That is what life is all about.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. Ching. That was a great travel with reasonable budget. Best regards. Rama.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, you sure know how to make the best of your time, happy satelliting round the earth.
ReplyDeleteMr. Ching, I still waiting from you for a chance to join u guys on backpacker travel. I'm now retired at 57.
ReplyDeleteThat's reasonable price for one person. Normally it would cost nearly 10,000 even for backpackers. How long had you plan this out? Must be very early.
ReplyDeleteNice photos. Wah! 37 days spend only RM6,139.05 super cheap, next time count me in!
ReplyDeleteWhile you are enjoying the Scottish scenery, did you manage to get some understanding of the referendum? What about the Lock Ness monster, did you catch a glimpse? Did you eat any haggis? In case you don't know, it is sheep's blood mixed with flour and shaft into the sheep's intestine and then fry it. Did you ask a Scot, what he wears underneath his kilt?
ReplyDeleteHi Ching, Thank for sharing, the travel cost is unbelievable.
ReplyDeleteDear Neng Bin,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your travel to Scotland. It must have been a very enjoyable trip for you all. Have followed your entire itinerary with interest and surprisingly with such low expenses. Well done and keep us posted on your next adventure. Looking forward to it.. Warmest regards.
You're simply a great travel planner!
ReplyDeleteHi Neng Bin, That's pretty cheap for such a long tour. Must meet up one day.
ReplyDeleteGreat! Congratulations!!
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable, but I think this is really a lifetime experience which not many people will be lucky enough to experience. Scotland is one of the places on my travel map – I will ask you for advice when I am ready to go – of course I do not think I can survive backpack travel expedition but will mark the key places to go.
Kind Regards,
Angeline Lam
OSR OS COO MY1BA SPC
China Tel:+86 510 8190 8022
China Mobile:+86 180 5195 1680
email:angeline.lam@osram-os.com
Visit us at: www.osram-os.com
Hi Ching Neng BIn,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your trip to Scotland ! For only a little over RM 6K, it's really a good trip! CHOO CHOR TEK .. I Wanna Live My Life! Mobile 6016-7713042