Edinburgh Castle

On Saturday 4th June, I had chance to travel at Edinburgh Castle which is positioned atop the volcanic rock at the central of Edinburgh city, near Princess Street Garden.

There are some evident that the castle was built since the late Bronze age. There has been a royal castle since David I in the 12nd century until the 17th century there became the military base with large garrison. In recent time, this place is a very popular tourist attraction and also have Military Tattoo will be performed during August in order to perform the military role as a parade of the pipe and drums of the Scottish regiment.

Reference:

Edinburgh Castle. (2011, June 5). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:09, June 6, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Edinburgh_Castle&oldid=432741158

My First Week at Edinburgh, Scotland

   To begin with, I have chance to pursue the Master Degree at Heriot-Watt University located at Edinburgh city, Scotland for one year since 1 June, 2011 to 3 September, 2012. I left Thailand since 28 September by Emirate Airline (EK 373) from Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok to Dubai International Airport which took six hours. Thereafter, I waited for transit the flight to Manchester Airport, UK for 3 hours and took the air flight EK 21 to there which took 8 hours.
Remark : Air Flight by Emitate Airline (30/7 kg loaded/handed baggage) : 17,000 Baht

It is quite evident that I would like to control my budget by catching the train from Manchester to Edinburgh, the train took 3.39 hours from Manchester Airport railway station to Haymarket Railway station. The railway fee is about 34.50 GBP, but I have booked the ticket online on https://www.thetrainline.com and collected the ticket at self-service machine at the departed station.

Ticket from self-service machine

Calling Stations

Reserved seat

After that I took the bus line 25 to the University. The buss charged 3.20 GBP for one day ticket or 1.30 GBP for a trip. The bus is greatly on time and also can be find the schedule on iPhone through Edinbus program.

Manali (28 Feb-3 Mar, 2011)

Manali is an important hill station in the mountains of Himachal Paradesh, India near the northern end of the Kullu Valley. It is far from New Delhi 600 kilometers and 250 kilometers from Shimla. My friend and I left from New Delhi at 18.30 on 27 February and reached there around 8.00 on the next day.

The first day, we stayed at Vallet of Gods hotel at Vashist (3 kilometers from the city). We walked along the Manali's river and walked up the hill to the particular place. There are very nice and economy hotel, only Rs 300 per night. Another facilities such as heater and geyser are also provided. Thereafter, I booked a taxi to Solang Valley which is far from Vashist 14 kilometers, and the driver charged us Rs 700 for 4 hours (Rs 100 for extra hour). We took 45 minutes to there. There are very nice place, full with snow. Solang Valley is one of the most important for tourist attraction in Manali. There provides extrema sport such as skiing, trekking, driving snow mobil, roapway, and paragliding.

 

The second day, we took a bath at hot spring in the Vashisht Temple 200 meters from Valley of Gods Hotel. Thereis a public pond and also be separated male and female. The second day, I moved to Sunflower Hotel in the city because we would like to travel the important temples in Manali such as Tibetan Monastery, Hidimba Devi Temple, Siyali Mahadev Temple, and Manu Rishi Temple.

Tourism Map

Tibetan Monastery

Siyali Mahadev Temple

Hidimba Devi Temple

Manu Rishi Temple

Delhi (26-27 Feb, 2011)

I left Jaipur city at 00:50 on 26 Feb to Delhi Railway Station in the same day. The train took 5:35 hrs to the destination, 307 kilometers. It is quite evident that I always used public transportation along living in there, New Delhi has a rapid transportation system as metro and bus. To substantiate my view, I would like to show the metro map which can connect from important place to each other such as Airport, Bus station, Railway station, and Tourist attraction places.

For example, Dwarka Sector 21 station connects to Indira Gandhi International Airport. Rajiv Chowk stations is a central of metro station which passengers can transit and interchange to other stations.Therefore, I caught the metro from Chandni Chowk (near Delhi RS) to RK Ashram Marg in order to go to the Sunny Loudge Hotel at Pahar Ganj area. The hotel charged Rs 250 per person per night.

Sunny Lodge Hotel

Map

It is quite evident that I planed my trip by using public transportation and by walk. Therefore, I would like to buy metro day ticket which will be charged about Rs 150 per day. First day, I traveled at India Gate, Himayun's Tomb, and Lotus Temple. I went to Central Secretarial station and walked along the Rajpath Road to India Gate. This way is the best way to India Gate because we will see it along at the end of the particular road and stated the front side of the gate. Thereafter I walked along De.Zakir Hussain Road to Humayun's Tomb which is far 3.5 kilometers from each other. After that I walked along Lidi Road in order to catch the train to Lotus Temple at JLN station to Lalkaji Mandir station (600 meters from the temple).

India Gate

India Gate

Himayun's Tomb Ticket

Himayun's Tomb entrance

Himayun's Tomb

Himayun's Tomb

Himayun's Tomb

Lotus Temple 

Lotus Temple 

On the next day, I went to Jama Masjid and Red Fort which are located near Chawri Bazar station. Moreover, I went to shopping at Palika Bazar which is underground shopping center at Rajiv Chowk station. 

Jama Masjid