Skip to main content

Thursday Thirteen: Exploring fairyland

Header by Samulli. Play T13 here.

"Purpose of visit: To fulfill a childhood dream - see an English castle." After examining my visa application and inch-thick supporting documents, the British immigration officer looked me in the eye and said right on the spot, "I'm giving you six months." Spontaneously he encoded his decision into the computer, while I gawked in momentary disbelief. The Thai assistant cast me a glance; a subtle smile crossed her face. I knew then that my childhood dream was going to come true.

On a sunny April afternoon I came out of Heathrow in a Mercedes Benz, and my date with beauty and charm began. As England unfolded through the car window, those illustrated storybooks I slept on when I was little came to life. Fairyland is very rich in history and culture. I got so much more than I bargained for. The visit enriched my life in ways I didn't expect, didn't plan, nor imagine. The learning part connected me to my past, inspired my present and allowed me a glimpse of what could be possible in the future. These are 13 happiest and most meaningful moments of an awesome experience:


13. A castle it is. As a kid I used to imagine Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty waiting for their princes from the keep of Windsor... :-) The highlight here is seeing Da Vinci's drawing of the Vitruvian Man.

12. Yorkshire Moors. I busied myself imagining Harry Potter with Ron Weasley in the flying car. Hogwarts must be somewhere in the vastness. And there's this friendly dog I met while exploring the moors. We played catch-the-stick for a few minutes.


11. Beamish. It was fun learning about English culture in this museum. The guide spoke Geordie. After listening to him without understanding a word, my friend Anne (behind me) and I followed him inside a coal mine. And I thought teaching was difficult.


10. Antique shops. Having a fascination for antiques, I had a lot of fun observing old things on display, especially candelabras and tea sets. The antique sign above me reads: No trespassing. Violators will be shot. Survivors will be shot again.


9. Quaint cottages. They amaze me no end. The beauty of the English countryside takes my breath away.


8. The Bard of Avon. After many hours of sitting in English literature classes and wondering who really is this guy whose writings I am required to analyze, Shakespeare finally became easier to picture when I set foot in his home. I had goosebumps looking at signatures of other literary greats who visited the famous playwright's home: Dickens, Twain, Tennyson, etc. and finally Shakespeare's grave itself.


7. Anne Hathaway's cottage. A look at the abode of the woman in the life of England's national poet. This place oozes with charm eventhough I bumped my head on the low ceiling.


6. Burton Agnes. The Grinning Skull story on the lower floor walls held my attention. Cameras were off-limits in the king's (George? the king who lodged here during his hunting trips) bedroom. I stood admiring the intricate bedspread til my heart was satisfied before touring further. The Manor House at the rear of this Hall is older than my country.

5. The Shambles. I loved browsing the book, doll and hat shops. At the end of this street is the starting point of a ghost walk. I wanted to join but stayed put at Guy Fawkes as I couldn't stand the cold.

4. York Minster. The vespers chime beckoned me in. I've never experienced such beautiful worship. The choir was awesome. I went all sentimental when I lighted a candle for my father who passed away the year before.

3. Church and graveyard. Call me weird, but I love browsing graveyards and reading epitaphs. I was particularly looking for Anne Bronte's grave. These slabs of cement I was walking on turned out to be graves! I jumped right into the grass, and back on the slabs as I thought of golf course grass. Poor, jumpy tourist. But this was my idea of a blast.

2. Post-humous meeting with a feminist. A published author before she turned 28 - it's an achievement of hers that only became clear to me when I saw her grave. I read Bronte novels when I'm insomniac in Bangkok.

1. Big Ben. It's him I first saw from the descending plane. The butterflies I felt in my tummy when I kissed my first boyfriend came flitting back. But this time it's absolutely different. Gazing at this symbol of my love affair with world-class history is magical.

Comments

Kristen said…
What a beautiful tour. I was able to see the British Isles 18 years ago. They are a special treat. Your experiences are treasures.
Alice Audrey said…
What a great trip! You are soooo lucky.
Hootin Anni said…
#8!!!! Dang....you lucky girl you. I love Shakespeare.

Mine is 13 odd towns in Texas this week. Come join me if you can.
jillconyers said…
What a great experience!
I am Harriet said…
Great tour!
I liked your list.

http://iamharriet.blogspot.com/2009/07/thursday-thunks-and-13-great-stats.html
Genefaith said…
mora pod ko ani nisuroy sa London..Thanks sis for posting this and for the virtual tour..he..he..

Our Adventures Together/
Her and History
Tasty Exploration
Anya said…
Lovely trip,
and so many shots :)
The last shot make me smile,
the big ben in London :)
So close to Dutch ......
anthonynorth said…
I loved this post. Nearly everything in it I've lived and seen. I've written about Awd Nance of Burton Agnes Hall, I was born just outside York, have lived in London and now live in the shadow of the Yorkshire Moors.
PMKU said…
That was a great post! It was almost like I was there with you. Happy TT.
So was six months enough time, or did you wish you had more?

I like to wander through cemeteries, too. Ahh, the history in those places! The stories those graves can tell...
Rajesh said…
That is a very exiting trip. The 13 happy moments are very varied. Excellent.
storyteller said…
Wonderful trip! How delightful to experience it vicariously here. Thanks for sharing ;--)
Hugs and blessings,
Great 13! I dream of visiting England someday.
Carleen said…
Of all the places in the world that I have visited, England has been the best. If only it weren't so doggone expensive, I'd live there in a heartbeat!

Great list. :)
Sandy Kessler said…
vwey special and the video as well.sandy
The Bumbles said…
Quite a love note to England! When a cottage is older than your country it does put things in perspective doesn't it?!

Popular posts from this blog

The Hunchback of Abella

A Duet When I was about 8 years old, I sang Something's Happened to Daddy in church. My father was not a church-goer so the guy I sang with was my mother's friend's husband. Papa keeps coming to my mind these days. January is the month he was felled by a massive coronary. Next week on the 14th is the anniversary of his death. The only times he ever set foot in church were during weddings and funerals of family and friends. I remember him being present in church eagerly when I was a flower girl at an aunt's wedding. Finally he entered church one more time. At his own funeral. I made sure church was the very place he went to before the cemetery. I only wished he was the one I sang with. Amy hosts head over to Signs, Miracles and Wonders for more music or to join ************************************ Guns n' Roses and the Hunchback of Abella My childhood was what can most likely be called normal. There was a balance of happy and sad memories. Today's

Sense and Sensibility: 200th anniversary

In 1811 Thomas Egerton of Whitehall, London published Sense and Sensibility . Quick math shows it has been two centuries since Jane Austen became a full-fledged author. Quite an anniversary, indeed. A celebration, I declare . Blogs regarding the publication anniversary of this romance novel picture Jane Austen 's engagements whilst making the final touches of her manuscript from Sloane Street. In letters to her sister Cassandra, Jane gave accounts of her shopping for muslin, the party that their brother Henry and SIL Eliza gave; mentioned several acquaintances, and referred to her book as S and S . As a fan I wonder which between sense and sensibility did JA deem more important since she portrayed both attributes equally well. I'm obliged to enthuse over my S & S reading experience. Alas, I only managed fourteen chapters before getting sidetracked by another novel, the very first that JA wrote. I will resume and complete my affair with the celebrant before 2011 end

Thirteen 13-word Quotes

1. I may be wrong , but I have never found deserting friends conciliates enemies. Margot Asquith , British Political Hostess (1864-1945) 2. Man's love is of man's life a thing apart; Girls aren't like that Kingsley Amis , English novelist and poet (1922-1995) "A Book Idyll" ~ see possible origin, also a 13- word quote: M an's love is of man's life a thing apart, 'Tis woman's whole existence Lord Byron (1788-1824) 3. An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing. Quentin Crisp , English writer The Naked Civil Servant (1968) 4. Happy the hare at morning for she cannot read the hunter's waking thoughts. W.H. Auden , English poet (1907-73) Dog Beneath the Skin 5. Kissenger brought peace to Vietnam the same way Napoleon brought peace to Europe. (by losing) Joseph Heller, American novelist (1923- ) 6. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. Dorothy Parker ,