New 2011

Well... this year I'm even later than last year for my New Year Resolution post due to my busy working schedule and a lot more personal thingy to do...

Lets recap of last year and see what I've achieved.

I successfully made it for my Solo backpacking trip to Cambodia... And what make it worse is that its 2 days after my recovery from Dengue Fever.i had a great experience climbing the ancient Angkor Wat, experiencing and view it from my own eyes how poverty has strike the Cambodian at the Tonle Sap, witnessed the remains from the worst ever torture i can imagined done by human being during the Khmer Rouge and i even have my most heartfelt pity towards them even till now...  Additional itinerary to my travel list is hitting 3 countries at one go - Hong Kong, China and Macau... Had my first longest ever flight delay at Macau airport which i can give up anything just to fly home....

I failed to control my temper well last year though, i still fight and argue with my sister due to her behavior that i couldn't find an excuse to accept at all....We've not been talking for as long as 3 weeks after the argument and that's the longest in my lifetime.

I did not put effort in getting a well insurance protection plan for myself, i did not do sports, i was  lazier to even clean the house as schedule because i got fed up of doing it alone while others mess it up

I realise that my social circle has become smaller and me being too self centered last year... I did not made many new friends (only 2 or 3) but has enhanced the friendship with many of my existing friends... wwe've been closer and share a lot of up and downs together. I disowned a friend which at the beginning I've already feel hard to please her ridiculous need and feel grateful for do not have to pretend to like her but complaint at the back of her.

i do agree that I've put in more effort in my work, more organized and without me realising, my boss actually made me cross my border in some task that i never have confident doing it. But i too got pull back over some unfair treatment and realising that i have to be selfish for keeping my performance to myself. I repaired the relationship with an 'angin' colleagues and learn to back up in work as a team too.

I'm more prone to doing recycling last year, i encourage my mum to use recycling shopping bags, i donated old furniture and preloved clothing to the charity organization.

I am more patient to the elderly of course, I've taken up the responsibility for transporting my mum to and from work. I bring my aged dad for meals sometimes and I've even been so caring to cut his steak for him, i remember to buy his favorite food every time i go grocery shopping and i did not get into major fight with him over the last whole year.

I had my first strike with major illness that i have to seek treatment from Hospital - Dengue.

I did not slow down in shopping, in fact i shop more comparing to previous year. I'm addicted to online shopping~!!! I got conned over a small amount (less than RM10) on a transaction from a distrustful seller and i still feel angry over it~!

I drove out of Klang Valley and Kuala Lumpur, I drove to Melacca and drove in Singapore....

I follow on TVB Drama marathon, i cover every dramas from TVB...

So, that's my achievement of 2010, now lets see what is the plan of 2011.

1. I still want to travel, I managed to grab the AA new launched destinations to Korea at a really bargain price and I'll be flying there in April. I have planed another adventurous trip with my mate to Yogyakarta to see the ruins.
2. I seriously need to look into a insurance plan for myself.. let say a must to do it this year.
3. I need to meet more friends to widen my social circle.
4. I'm ready to take up new challenge in work and i want to make sure i can do it well.. But i still want to be selfish... hahahaha
5. I want to make my donation to support the poor kids through world vision because i witness how poverty their life could be and i wish to influence my friends to do it too.
6. I want to complete my photo album- @28 before i turn 29
7. I want to keep my hair long and healthy.
8. I want to correct my body posture.
9. And last but not least, My to buy list in yr 2011.

• A New laptop - Achieved!
• Toyota Vios - It could only happen possibly in 3rd quarter of the year.
• Change to a new Phone, maybe Samsung Galaxy... But i'm tied up with telco plan... i can't enjoy the privillege offers.
• A GPS - Optional, if the android tablet from my sister has this function, i can give it a skip.
• A DSLR camera for my landscape photography... But after i learn the features from BB.
• A new Gucci/ Burberry bag to my collection :)

New Year with Arthur Guinness

1/1/2010

We wake up in the New Year Day quite late due to staying up late last night. Mum cooked the balance instant noodle and coffee we bought cause its too cold and everyone of us reluctant to go out to buy the breakfast. We took our time keeping the luggage as we'll check out today and off to Manchester tonight. I check out from Fleet Street Hotel and request to keep our luggage in the lobby and come back to collect it later. I've read from the web that there's a New Year Mayor Parade in Ireland, but couldn't find anything related for 2010 and after confirmed with the staff from the hotel, there isn't any in Dublin but in another town of Ireland call Belfast.

Putting up all our winter warming gear, we off to explore the small Irish town again. As New Year Day is a big celebration in the western country, many tourist places are close, even shops & Restaurants are close. Unlike Asian, the public holidays meaning more visitors to the mall... After the careful planning, we'll visit to one of the oldest brewery in Ireland, The Guinness Brewery. 

Before heading to the St James Gate, we stop at Carrolls for a last round of souvenir shopping. Me as usual, will top up a collection of fridge magnet of every places i went. I bought a magnet with an Irish Leprechaun that cost me €1.99 (Equivalent to RM9, so expensive), 2 bars of Leprechaun Beanie Bar (Choco Bar full with colourful beanies) at €1.49 each, A Guinness Dark Chocolate bar (€1.99) and a small Irish Sheep plush toy (€2.99). Mum bought some souvenir for her colleagues too... 

The serenade Liffey River Bay on New Year Day

Mum & Lek at the O'Connell Bridge

As the previous night was snowing, the weather has become extremely cold in the New Year day here in Dublin and floor too has became slippery. We have to walk slowly and hold on the the rail to avoid slips.Even a short walk outdoor has been too cold for us thus we decide to stop by the Burger King at Abbey Street for an early lunch. We order the Whooper Set that comes with hot drinks.(€2.50).. I guess fast food chain is the only choice you can have on New Year Day...  The streets are surprisingly quiet and deserted also.

The Spire 2003

The Spire is a Monument made of steel which its height is 39ft by Architect Ian Ritchie to replace the Nelson Tower which was destroyed in 1996. It can be seen from the Abbey Street Luas station. We bought another Luas day pass from a convenience store and boarded the Luas tram to James Street Station.

Once we alighted the tram, we're greet by a ground full of white snows outside the St James Hospital. We're too excited with the snow and start to camwhore with it... Anyway, we're the only tourist at there at that moment. The whole area is deserted except us. This is my first time standing on the ground with snow... full of whitish snow... wheeeeee~!!! so happy! We totally forgotten about the coldness and start playing and kicking the snow in joy

My First Snow experience in my lifetime

Can't help myself from playing with it

The ground full of snows outside the St. James Hospital

Its very sunny but the weather is uber cold~!

Love the dried branches stained with snows..

The Guinness Store house need a 9 minutes walk from the Luas station, we got a little bit confused of the direction, all shops are close too but luckily we found another lonely tourist which is heading there too..at last we reach there.

The side entrance of St James Gate Brewery

The main entrance.

The Guinness Storehouse is transform from a fermentation plant used from 1904 - 1988 for visitor to experience and dedicated to the history and process of making the world famous beer. The 7 storeys building is designed in a shape of a giant pint of Guinness that if full, would hould 14.3 Million pints.The entrance fee to visit the Guinness Storehouse cost €15 which is inclusive of a perfect pint pouring lesson or you can choose to have a drink at the Graffiti Bar.

Guinness was founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759, making this year its 250 year anniversary. He took over St James's Gates after signing a 9,000-year-old lease, paying only 45 pounds (RM 250) a year.Wow, thats even cheaper than renting a room back in KL. The lease document was frame and embedded on the ground floor central atrium.

Mum posing with the 250th anniversary poster.

The Guinness Company Archives stores all the bottles from the oldest to the latest.

There's also one of the largest Guinness inspired souvenir shops at the ground floor which sells all the Guinness merchandises. I bought another bar of Guinness Dark Chocolate here too. There's also an automated photo booth where me, mum and lek took a photo and it was sent to my email.

The perfect pint making start from the ingredients. Barley is malted, roasted milled, mixed with hot water and mashed. The liquid is then filtered off and boiled with hops. Yeast is added and fermentation begins. The beer is clarified , matured and then gone through a series of QC at the tasting laboratory and then send for packaging.

Ist step

The roasted Barley

Milling

The old fashion boiler

We were given a sample of the finished product at the tasting lab after we walk through the step by step guides. I've never tasted a Guinness beer as i always prefer white beer. According to Lek, the original Irish produce's is a lot milder than those back in KL. it tasted smooth enough to be accepted by first time trier like me.
We then walk to the Cooperage section where we discover the ancient craft of cask making and explore the various method of transporting the finished goods for the old centuries.

The Guinness Cooper with the original serial number

The 2nd level of the building is the Guinness Advertising section.It has all the mascot representing the Guinness beer from Toucans, Ostriches,Surfers,Bulldogs as well as other marketing merchandises from centuries old to date for display.

The Harp - uses as the logo of Guinness

The 3rd level is the Business Centre and  there's a choice zone where you can review the stories of Arthur Guinness and have a short quiz session about the brewery through the touch screen exhibit. 4th storey was made as an exhibition hall for the 250th anniversary.Here's where you learn about the story of the architecture and history of the Guinness storehouse building.

The architecture of the brewery

I leave a footprint here at the Guinness Store House, Ireland

Malaysia is one of the Asia Pacific countries that have the brewery plant

The 5th level is the most interesting part out of the whole tour. Me and lek participate in taking a lesson to pour a perfect pint of Guinness and we're granted a certificate for it.The perfect pint of Guinness is served using 2-part pour.

1.  Hold the clean glass 45 degrees under the spout.
2. Pull the handle slowly towards you and allow the beer to flow smoothly down the side of the glass.
3. As the glass fills, straighten the glass - fill glass until full. 
4. Stand the glass on the counter and allow the gas to surge through the beer. 
5. To create the legendary head, push the handle backward slightly (this is known as "topping off"). The head should rise just proud of the rim.

There goes a perfect pint of Guinness, and we're now certified .

I can sure get a job with my oversea graduated certificate of pouring a perfect pint of beer.

The highest point of the Guinness Storehouse is the Gravity Bar where you can redeem your complimentary pint of Guinness beer while enjoying the 360deg view of the Dublin city. The Gravity bar is so packed its even hard to ind a proper place to sit. And we too have been drinking too much at the tasting lab and also drank our perfect pour. so, mum have to drink this complimentary drink while i walk around and snapping the glimpse of early sunset of the Dublin city.

Sunset at 4.30pm



Winter sunset at Dublin

By the time we leave the Guinness storehouse, the night has fall, we walk back to the James station and take the Luas back to Abbey Street. It was about 5pm when we reach and walk back to Fleet Street Hotel to collect our luggage. We stop by at the Mcdonald at Abbey Street for dinner before we off to Busaras to takes the Eurolines to Manchester.I had a Mcnugget  with a hot steaming coffee sets to keep myself warm in the cold winter. 

Our Eurolines bus will depart from Busaras at 8.05 but we need to check in 1 hr prior to departure. This is the most anxious time for all of us as we need to go through the British Immigrations. The ride to Dublin Port isn't too far, approximately 45 mins before the bus ride onto the Stenaline ferry. Similar to the one we crossing to Paris a year ago, we have to alight the bus and sit in the lounge through the journey. This ferry ride is longer than we expected, it takes about 2 1/2 hrs ride before we reach the British Land, call the Holyhead Port... This name is funny.... very one live here must be very holy.... We waited anxiously on the ferry and i did fall asleep cause its mid night. One thing that amazed us on the Stenaline ferry is the do have wifi on the cruise.... i'm using my Nokia phone to check on emails and sailing at the same time.

We encounter a smooth pass at the Immigration and then we get back to our bus and sleep happily till we reach to Manchester.