Do not say it's not a good time to visit scotland in Christmas, not because of the weather. The land would be exclusive for you, and it is definitely a once-life time trip.

1st Stop: Edinburgh University.

This is the place my mother used to work for. In the King's Buildings, 10 years ago. I saw the building by myself and it has not been changed so much since 10 years as per my mum's description. Like time does not fly rapidly in the area.

I was so lucky to be let into the building when it was locked in Sunday. And so lucky a chinese boy poped up to show me the way to the photos, which was took 10 years ago. My most important task was to bring a copy of one of them to my dear mum. She must be too happy to wait to see the photo. So I'm grateful to that guy I met at the Joseph Black Building.

When I applied for graduate school, Edinburgh Economics admitted me so generously and write me a warm letter to tell that I would be studying in a Building of 400 years, yet I did not take the offer finally. Always wondering how life would be like if you had chosen another way at the cross of life. But one thing sure, never regret the choice made by myself.

http://www.chem.ed.ac.uk/

 

2nd Stop: Edinburgh Castle.

Located on a hill at the centre of old Edinburgh city, the castle just show me the spirit and honor to be 'king' of Scotland. It's own history, own forces, own culture..., so different but keep perfectly and sleep with serenity in this old castle.

It huge, giant, magnificant, splendid. And I saw a wedding happening in the chapel of the castle. The wedding gown was pure, bright, white, clean... I missed the fairytales...

There is a guy called Adam who is an amateur actor acting Mal Guibson of the Brave Heart, who's the hero for scotland. He's a worker in weekdays and an artist in street at weekend. Newspaper said Adam had ever acted one role in movie Pirates of the Caribbean:Dean Men's Chest. I did not remember him in the film but I find he's quite popular as one sightview outside the castle. He's been acting for 8 years and collected tremendous amount for Charity. He told me he got a very beautiful wife named Jingjing. And he got his own website. From this link you find http://adamthebraveheart.co.uk/ more on him. And maybe lucky enough, to meet him face to face at weekend outside the Edinburgh Castle.

 

3rd stop: Calton Hill

The momument is standing alone in the wind, lonely... There is only remain of the Roman columns, looking down towards the old city and every one...

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Monument,_Edinburgh

 

4rd Stop: Edinburgh City(Bank of Scotland, Christmas Market)

  Christmas Market

Bank of Scotland

streets

There are some wooden frogs sold at the market and I wanted to buy it so much. Sometimes people can pursuring something for too long. Wyj not always say something smart but he was right once. dang yi ge ren yi cheng wei xi guan, bian shi zai ye bai tuo bu liao de su ming de qian ban. The end of the story is I did not buy the frog.

 

5th Stop: Loch Ness

There is definitely no monster in Loch Ness, Nessie. But some very old genetic varied fish in the water. The water is deepest at about 700 feet and low visability. I know I'm not romantic at all to believe the monster story, to keep the curiosity or mysterity. It's just hard to not believe in science but folk stories. To be naive or not to be, that's quite interesting.

The Urquhart Castle are only remains of a fire in the wars of scotland. from hundreds of years ago, Saint visited the place and pointed out the location of Urquhart castle, it has been gone through many battles. The peace and calm that I experienced today was so different from the history this castle tells....

http://www.castles.org/Chatelaine/URQUHART.HTM

 

 

Last Stop: Isle of Skye.

I love the name of the isle. It means north corner of scotland. but I prefer to 'sky' only, because it reminds of Laputa, an island in fairtales. There are very few travelers in winter, our driver is a 78-old man, Dennis. He's nice and professional. Tried so hard to tell us every corner of the isle. He's been living there for 38 years and knows four people out of 10 in the island. I can not imagine to spend that long time at such a remote and small isle. but i learned one thing to live long is to live with calm in one's heart.

one corner of isle of skye.

Friends of the journey

Kilt Rock, wind blows in the small holes on the fences. It sounds like a song of angels living far away in the sea...

  foot prints

Well, a hectare of vineyard cost 18k to 40k euros usually. the most expensive in Bordeau costs millions of euros. I have no interest of that type of vineyard. If I got some money, I'd rather buy some good vintages.
The thing is, how long will it take me to be able to have a Porsche and a vineyard? Or, rather, will it?
This is my dream, if it can be called a dream, or rather, daydream.
Everybody has an angel and an devil inside.
You would not possibly believe that by ticking every risk aspect level than you achieve a credit rating of AAA, AA or B+ even. But this is truely what they do now in China.
I dont know what we can conclude or catch any minimal clue from the indicative B+ notes. I can tell without scrutiny that an ICBC unlimited garanteed note is AAA. simply because every single chinese people who has an account in ICBC is protecting it from default.
who is too big to fail? look at us.
who is too true to be a lie? look at Madoff.