Saturday, January 28, 2017
Harry Potter and The Cliffs of Moher
First of all, Happy Lunar New Year to all! Growing up, this was my favourite holiday season ever because it meant endless snacking (and the real kind too, not wagon wheels) of prawn crackers, jerky (!!), love letters and loads and loads yummy food.
Before I dive into a whole day of prepping food for Day 1's dinner with some friends at home, I thought I'd finally share the second series of our Wild Atlantic Way trip :-) Nothing quite like the magic of all it during the festive season, eh?
These were taken at Spanish point beach, where I leapt out of the car for some sea breeze but quickly ran away because it got too cold. I was also happy to the point of double chins. Oh yeah.
I've told this story many times before but when I was around 5, I was devastated to find out that magic wasn't real. (After I asked my grandma 'how can I buy magic?!') I spent the next 2 hours napping the sorrows away. But I guess it was short-lived because by 9, I was gifted the first three Harry Potter books and I loved it. I even tried putting on English accents in my bedroom, swishing a plastic wand.
Those were the days.
But all hope was not lost.
Cliffs of Moher is one of those magical places – it's beautiful in all seasons, and all weather. I've been here about 3 times now because my family is basically obsessed with Ireland. But this time around, getting back into the car and driving along the coastal route and arriving to see it as an 'adult' was something that caught me off guard.
Its stretches along the coast of County Clare (how cute are these County names) for 8 kilometres with views over the Atlantic Sea. It overlooks Aran Islands (where a lot of wool jumpers are from!) and Galway Bay; these gorgeous cliffs are more than a pretty face though, becuase it dead drops into the unforgiving ocean at the highest point of 214m.
We went on a relatively sunny but mildly cloudy day, which wasn't the best for photographs but I enjoyed the rolling mists and dusty silhouettes.
Unsurprisingly, it's the backdrop for Harry Potter and The Half Blood Prince an that epic cave scene, where drama happens.
The reason I called this trip one of those that clenches the hearts of hearts, rending your soul into pieces is because of places like these. It's bizarre and strange to imagine the history beneath your soiled New Balance shoes, where rainfall carried sand and mud and salt to erect a monument so grand and imperfect, and a spectacle I could never and would never live through in my lifetime.
In the harsh rays of the winter sun and streaming American tourists, was a resplendent moment of clarity: nothing matters so much more than now.
We stayed in a town called Liscannor, and had dinner in Lahinch. I still can't get over the names of places, and they stay in a special places in my brain. Ha.
I hope you are having a good weekend filled with food and love!
Have you ever been to the Cliffs? I feel so out of the loop from blogging because I've been busy (being so sleepy all the time) but let's catch up :-)
Monday, January 16, 2017
Dingle – Shangri-La of the Wild Atlantic Way
According to the Aer Lingus in-flight magazine, Dingle is often called the Shangri-La of the Wild Atlantic Way because of the mix of rugged and brutal coastline, paired with the saccharine colours of the town.
"There's only one way out of Dingle!"
It's one way in and one way out to the only town on the Dingle Peninsula and was one of our favourite pitstops along the amazing Wild Atlantic Way (refer to my Instagram for more eye-watering photos!). The Atlantic Coast hugs this colourful town of handmade ice cream, bountiful fish & chips restaurants and skilled jewelers. Truly a rainbow gem compared to the UK, I feasted my eyes (and my stomach) to this kitsch town and people who are upbeat even in the middle of winter!
Sneaky treat at Murphy's for the handmade Vanilla Sea Salt ice cream, which tasted even better on a sunny winter day!
Shamrock green! What a glorious and a refreshing change of pace from the grey marble slabs of London (ah ha ha ha). I did wonder whether the shop owners had a meeting where they picked colours out of a hat or something, or coordinate a town-wide aesthetic?!
Dingle you cute.
Dingle is in County Kerry (inland where Ring of Kerry is) with the cutest history: it's home to Fungie the Dolphin for the past 30 years, after he lost his family (sad) but have been spotted by many and he loves visitors and have continued to make an appearance all year round!
I really like dolphins.
Bean in Dingle is a perfect respite after an intense jewelry shopping session opposite at John Weldon's (amazing Celtic designs in white and silver gold, we walked away with a few *cough*). It's odd to see something so modern amidst the winding streets, but here ya are... can't escape the infiltration of the hipster coffee trend!
Post cheerful lunch and dessert and coffee, we drove our full bellies right along the coast to chase down the last of the sunlight and the big blue sea, emerald and green and blue and all that jazz.
While the above were perfect spots to reflect about the greater things in life, I did no such thing as the wind was relentless so I hid back into the car pretty quickly. But as our second day came to a close and I was watching Date Night on Irish TV, I couldn't help but marvel at the earthly delights of the rolling landscapes and stormy seas, knowing that this was the sort of trip that sets your heart on fire, with a devastating and calamitous force and knows no bounds, for better or worse.
Thus concludes the end of part one of the Wonderful Wild Atlantic Way series, I will see you next time! Have you ever been to this part of Ireland? I'm already having severe withdrawal symptoms, and can't wait to get back on the road.
Happy week ahead, my friends <3
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Decisions for 2017
Note that I said decisions rather than 'resolutions' because it feels like I already made up my mind to take action on these (ha how likely we shall see). I don't really buy into the whole 'new year, new me' because I believe some things are harder to resolve and more complicated that one person can ever understand *cue mystery*.
Nonetheless, I wanted to lay down some important reminders for the days when it gets hard to get through and remember what's important underneath it all.
BE LESS AFRAID
Originally I had in my head to 'Be Brave' but I think I'm a brave person regardless, and what I need to do is to be less afraid. There's so much I want to achieve professionally and I feel like if I just be less afraid and speak my mind more, I can get that much closer to feeling more fulfilled. I also realise this is such an 'adult' decision, but it's something I really want to try.
I've learnt a great deal since starting work, and I think that it's a good reminder to have for hopefully greater and more exciting challenges!
BE KIND
I try to think that I act with good intentions most of the times but in midst of everyday life, it's so easy to just think about yourself and think you can get away with being selfish even for little moments. There's so much behind someone's physical presence, and I try not to make judgments based on a 30 second scroll through of their Instagram grid or Twitter profile.
Most of all, I want to prioritise being compassionate to everyone close to me, and just be a cool and supportive gal, you know? I don't want getting older mean getting less connected with anyone around me.
BE ADVENTUROUS
This year should be, like every year, a year of adventures! This calls for more travel to new places and new people so I'm keeping my fingers crossed we get some good plans lined up soon. I always get big travel withdrawal this time of the year so maybe I'll have a peek at holidays soon. Weekend getaway suggestions anyone?
I have such a long travel list it ain't even funny, but we gotta keep it realistic, don't we?
BE HAPPY
There's apparently a line in Blonote (apparently because I don't have the book yet) that says: "Being happy first requires you to be", and after many tumultuous years of feeling depressed and stressed out, I find that life becomes more interesting when I spend more time focusing on getting better emotionally than holding on to things I cannot have the power to change. I used to feel the immense weight of guilt and regret (I think these are the worse feelings you can ever have) and realised that I didn't need to carry the burden of others to feel happy.
Open hearts, open minds!
~
And that's it! We've just returned from the amazing Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland where the first 3 photos in the post were taken (see my Insta for more) and hopefully I can share some really really wonderful pictures with you soon :-)
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