A short trip to Northern Ireland

Me, my sister and a brother and his wife suddenly decided to go for holiday together. It was their idea to chose Northern Ireland neither me or my sister had been there before. He planned everything, flights, accommodation and car hire.

The day finally came when we had to board flight to go to NI (Northern Ireland). It was an early flight. I tell you what, boarding Budget Airlines doesn't feel like a that kind of flying experience that you desire. I have always flown in Qatar Airways and other ones but always felt nicer there. The terminal felt like a Victoria Coach station and when we were actually there inside the plane I fell asleep. It was a mere 1 hour journey and there we were, ready to land on the NI soil. I didn't see any scenary cause I was sleeping and another reason was I was not in the window seat. :( But that is what we paid so that is what we get I guess. I have seen those budget airlines show in TV and imagined my journey was better than what they show in telly.
Funny thing is people actually stare at you cause we have different skin colour and they might have never spotted anyone like us so frequently.

It took us nearly an hour to get the car hire which was already booked. Soon after that we started roaming around Belfast international Airport. We went to nearby lake, Lough Neagh. A big lake whose waves felt as big as sea's waves. We still had a whole day to roam around so we decided to go to Silent Valley Reservoir. This place was recommended to me by a instagram follower 'frantic_photography' few days before our trip. That place was awesome. Some things and places are better of seeing yourself. It is amazing to see how human being managed to create such a thing, what a engineering at that time. I also paid tribute to those who died while building that reservoir. I can't explain how beautiful it felt to run wildly around that area. The sounds of massive fall of water, smell of grass, freshness of pure mountain water, the breeze that passed through my cheeks. We all were pretty exhausted and hunger stricken till we reached the apartment.
Luckily there was a Tesco store just below the apartment we stayed at. We cooked a proper dinner and before even finishing one single program in telly we fell asleep in couch.

Next morning we had planned to go to Portrush. Driving in Northern Ireland was a real fun. I tell you what, the roads were wider, toilet signs found everywhere, FREE PARKING signs were ludicrous and people of NI actually GIVE you WAY. I have driven in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Kent, East Anglia, Yorkshire, Wales, Sussex, Essex, Surrey, and many other places but never felt as nice as driving in NI. This time we stayed at ''No Alcohol and No hot food'' allowed in the room Youth Hostel. There were other people staying there as well. After we unpacked and relaxed, we wanted to go for stroll. According to the recommendation of the owner of the hostel, we decided to take the Causeway Coastal Route from Portrush towards Balintoy. Many beautiful places followed after that. White Park Bay, Carrick-a-Rede, Rope Bridge,  Dunluce Castle, Giant Causeway and so on. It did rain for a short period other than that weather was favourable to our trip. To get to the Rope Bridge was 15 minutes walk. We didn't cross the bridge cause being NEPALI we already know how it feels like to be on a rope bridge. We have so many rope bridges  ( झुलुंगे पुल ). The longest time we spent was at Giant Causeway. It was such a feeling which I do not have words to explain. We saw a lonely sea-lion as well. We met a really lovely couple Jeff & Christine from Seattle, USA. They were really nice people and we exchanged some conversation. Finding out that we were Nepali, seems like they were really excited. They said they would love to go there someday. It feels nice to hear that people know about Nepal. The waves were really really big comparision to the waves I saw in England. Just staring at the waves and seawater we spent lot of time there. In the evening ( the opening ceremony of ParaOlympics), we sat at a pub nearby and drank MUST not Miss drink - Guinness.

Natural formed hexagonal stones

The next morning I woke up earlier. I decided to go for a walk. The waves were even bigger in the morning. Slamming very hard on those rocks yet they could neither move nor deteriorate those coastal stones. I felt like '10,000 white horse running and rushing towards the shore. I have a video that shows briefly. We had to get to the airport by 3 pm so we couldn't really go anywhere else. Instead of that we decided to take a long drive and go through the mountains, forest and landscapes of NI. On the flight back, it was Air Lingus. Thanks god it was a little bit better service. I had a hunch that I could see something nice. I did see Anglesey and my sister saw Isle of Man from other side. It definately seemed like Snowdonia near Anglesey with high mountains. But I am not sure of it. I can see only clouds for some time. The clouds and the waves I saw in the morning looked similar. Some places, clouds looked like a Candy stick of Kate Perry song 'California Girls'. It is just amazing to how clouds stay like that. As soon as our plane entered London, we could see the dense houses, M25. I was more excited to see London Eye, O2, Thames River exactly the way I see in 'Eastenders', Parliament House, Oval Building, Tower Bridge and many many things I have known of. It was like a free Aeriel view of London. A boy infront of my seat was really excited as well. My heart was at peace after I saw Wembley Stadium, felt like home. I saw Wimbledon Centre Court, blue tank of Southall and so on. Landing was pleasant. After all the passengers got out I wanted to thank the pilot for bringing us safely to our destination. It might just be another journey of a day for him but not for me. The airhostess showed me where pilot was, just coming out of cockpit. I went to him on my way out and told him, 'Thank you for bringing me safely. I watch lot of those Aircrash Investigation program in National Geography Channel in youtube'. He laughed randomly and said, 'Oh none of that happened today' and gave a big smile. First time in my life I thanked any pilot.

Hence, there we were, in our city, London. As soon as we came out of plane we could see people of different ethnic background, busy and narrow roads, smells of curry in bus, and a car overtaking bus when oncoming traffic was just 2 or 3 yards away and so on. Still being in London feels different. It feels like home now.

My short trip budget trip to Northern Ireland was more than what we bargained for. If I get a chance in future I would love to go for 5 hour long walk through the Causeway Coastal Route.

Thank you for reading this long post. Hope you can feel what I felt there but again words aren't enough to explain the beauty of nature and the beauty of feeling awesome.

limshaku

Silent Valley reservoir

Carrack-a-Rede, Rope Bridge

Carrack-a-Rede

Giant Causeway

Sunset, sun looks too close at 7 pm

 

waves and sunset

I think it is Anglesey and bit of Snowdonia

Tryanna scare me aai

Clouds vs Waves, similar

Thinking about Nepali Dress

(Follow me in instagram - limshaku for more of my photography updates.)
Hello dear blog readers,

Again and again and many times I would like to thank everyone for reading my blog. I have dedicated my sleeps to this blog. It all started since the Day 1 when I could not sleep and thought about starting to write in a blog. I never knew I would come this far.

Anyways going back to topic, I did something today. I am suppose to go for so called Nepali Dance party where the theme is 'Nepali Dress' or something which looks like Nepali. I normally do not go to dance party nowadays  but since this looked different and my dear friend lexlimbu called me I just could not say 'NO'. For many days I wondered what would I wear. This is common whenever I have to go for party. I guess it's common for all people. One questions kept mocking my mind, 'What could be Nepali looking dress?'. I got many suggestions from  friends and family. Not to mention my sister didn't like any idea that I mentioned to her. Then I finally decided 'NO MATTER HOW VILLAGER ( पाखे ) I LOOK OR HIDEOUS MY DRESS WOULD BE OR EVEN FUNNY AMONG TEENAGERS', I am going to wear what I design and what looks like Nepali but modified. If am called Pakhey for wearing Nepali dress then I might as well be one. I don't care. My sister still doesn't like the dress I made. That's haha ''so her''.

I have learnt to do stitches long time back in school as a vocational subject. I still haven't forgotten it. With a help of another sweet sis, I have created a little skirt and a top. I could not post it at the moment but when the time comes I will definitely put the photo. I am scared to use sewing machine so I just did it by hands, Trust me I had few oouch moment when the needle poked my thump. I love the end result but I cannot judge my own creation. Hopefully you will judge and comment on it later when I post it on my blog.

I am neither a designer nor a professional tailor but still if I try I can make a dress. That is how I felt today. I look forward to see how the guys and girls show their patriotism by wearing something which shows Nepalism (just the word popped up in my mind). :P :D

Aren't you curious how it looks like? haha nothing to superb.

Keeping visiting!!

limshaku

A twitter meeting

Hey there,

bihe ma khana nai important re kya hehehhe

I couldn't believe that I was actually going to see these awesome people whom I often chat in twitter. The common thing for us was 'we all loved tweeting' and being socialise. Thanks to a (twitter) friend who invited us to his wedding reception. Many congratulations to him. We all had so much fun being there. It was worth travelling all the way up there. Everyone asks me how did you know him and I find it funny as well as interesting to say ' I met him in twitter'. It was so nice to see few more of my twitter buddies. For instant, as usual, we all were stuck to our phones to tweet. hehe

girls girls girls

Few weeks back a sweet sister from Nepal (also tweet buddy) visited London. It was nice meeting her too. I invited her over dinner and all we could think about was how nice it would have been if other few of our tweet buddies were here.

I never, even in my wildest dream. thought that I would actually meet somebody from my virtual world in a real life. This feeling is so different. I really love to meet few more of them in near future and share some real words rather than '140 characters'.

My twitter followers are amazing.
limshaku

the venue was brilliantly decorated.

A short interview with Peter :)

Hey dear blog readers,

[[ I thank your support and regularly viewing my blog. I have recently joined 'www.Zonen9.com' as a writer as well. For the new website I have started hunting for talents and then introducing it to you guys. I could not possibly include everything there but I can atleast try my best to express my views in my blog. I would appreciate if you know anybody and introduce to me so that I can write about them.]]

I stumbled upon this youtube channel few months back while i was going through some Nepali cover songs. I could see a non-Nepalese guy singing so fluently in Nepalese. I was instantly surprised and mesmerised by the voice and the determination he had to sing Nepali song. I'm glad there are people who loves Nepali music and appreciate them. A big achievement as well as contribution of Nepali music industry. 

Watch out girls :)

this is a cool photo.

He is kind enough to spare some time for me and truly appreciate it. Thank you Peter.

Check out his full interview on :

http://www.zonen9.com/article.html

Please leave your feedback for me. 

With regards, 
limshaku

Find me in :
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Instagram    : limshaku, paintmylove
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Review of Opening Ceremony London2012

iphone image

google image

Hello all,

I've been lazy to blog recently. On Friday 27th July 2012 I watched Opening Ceremony of London 2012 Olympics, the most awaited event. Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle presented the Opening Ceremony of £27 million. I gathered up with friends and close people to watch the programme. Here is what I thought of the ceremony, lets just call it solely 'My Review'.

The first thing I liked was 'The Countdown' of 1 minutes which covered many things already. 10 Downing Street, No.9 bus which runs in Central London and many more. The start of the River Thames for me was awesome.

The 'Isles of Wonder', showed by Danny was so nice. I actually liked the theme of the ceremony. I think he tried to show typical English countryside. I was wondering about so many things and why it was there. I wondered where are the athletes of all over the world going to stand cause there was grass all over there. Why there is a little uphill there. and more questions followed later on. Even living 10 years in Britain I was still confused. Then slowly I got the hang of it. I somehow related to the things that Danny might want to show.

google image

The view of countryside, people farming, playing, singing happily was spectacular. Then followed the invasion of industrial revolution and the big chimneys and dark era. The class difference, the Suffragettes, the greenlands disappearing, labourers, world war, women working in the world war in different fields when all men went to war front, the people migrating from the Caribbean, Uganda and other countries, foundation of NHS (National Health Service) and Great Ormond Street Hospital. More followed as British singing legends and their songs, Film industry and current James Bond and ofcourse the Queen. I very much liked David Beckham's part. He looked cool. Harry Potter theme was shown. Everything that Britain is proud of was demonstrated in a very superb way. I loved luminous lights (Blue is my favourite colour), the effects and danced sequence.

I waited whole night just to see Nepalese participants and them calling out my country's name. Thank god atleast someone was there to represent my country. I was wondering when each country appeared and walked the march past. The volunteers were carrying something in their hand. Later on I realise the flag was suppose to go on the little hill there, the thing those volunteers were carrying was actually the head of the Olympics torch which they lighten in the end. It was like a flower and it all came together to form a flames of all participating countries. The Olympic flame was lighten by young generation. Closing up with Paul McCartney was epic act. Though his voice wasn't that great seeing him was enough for me.

Shreya Dhital :)

google image, Olympic flame

The most of all. I loved the Fireworks in the end. It was marvellous.

Everything was very good. But I must say there few things that people criticised and yes I am also doing it. I am not saying bad things just some points which I felt like expressing here.

Trying show every special thing that Britain has and is proud of in such a good way was impressive but a lot of people around the world might have very few knowledge of what was going on. I read 'Life in UK' book few months ago so I was able to understand what was going on though I think I might have miss out on something as well. Not a lot of people knows what is NHS. People compared this opening ceremony with Beijing Olympics and said it was less interesting, but I do not agree with that fully. All those great music is not recognisable by everyone. For me being a Nepalese and if I was in Nepal, I wouldn't have known many things. Danny Boyle did try to make it interesting for all age group. He included children, youngsters, middle aged and all people. The whole point of this post is that I loved what he did and how he managed such a big event so beautifully but I guess most of the people around the world might have understand only half of what was going on.

I loved being here in the City hosting London 2012 Olympics. I never thought in my childhood that I will end up here in future. I was lucky enough to get tickets to Badminton and I thoroughly enjoyed watching World Champions of Badminton. I even went to see Olympic village but didn't had ticket to get in.

I look forward to see how the Closing Ceremony will be. Although I didn't get chance to volunteer I just hope they do well. Wishing them luck.

google image

crowd watching Badminton

Badminton

London

That secret place

Everybody has secrets. I have secrets too. Secret is not secret if it's been revealed. If people never had secrets then this world would have been like an open book, not too interesting I guess. I am kind of person who likes surprises (good ones ) and surprise is not possible without secret. Anyways here is a little article about secrets. :)

I HAVE :

.......that secret area of the park that I want to walk with you.

.......that secret phrase of my favourite book which I want to read to you.

.......that secret receipe of food which I want to feed you.

.......that secret destination of Nepal where I want to take you.

.......that secret childhood photo of mine which I want to show you.

.......that secret mistake of past which I want to confess to you.

.......that secret biggest achievement of life that I want to tell you.

.......that secret special member of family whom I want you to meet.

.......that secret corner in my heart where I want to keep you.
.......that secret space in my mind where I want to fill you.
.......that secret place in my soul where I want to decorate you.
.......that secret title in my life which I want to present you.


This secret thing keeps on going. To be honest I do not like too many secrets, and the fact is I can't keep too many secrets myself. I just feel like I'm suffocated by too many secrets. Life to to enjoy and live with much freedom and no deep dark secrets. Free your mind. Love life and enjoy your spiritual freedom. 


Live life to you fullest.

iphone, instagram and photography

Hello dear blog readers,

I never knew myself that I was so much into photography. I do not call myself a photographer by just clicking few nice photos but I love photography. Ever since I bought my iphone 3 back in 2008 I have been passionate about taking photos of anything. I love taking close up photos. I have transformed my own looks into something different. (do not get fascinated by only close-up photos though ^.^)

Back in Nepal, we had that old-fashioned camera and hardly anybody used digital ones in the 90's. We had to take photos of our events and then wait until it gets developed in a studio. But thinking of it now, there was a different joy in doing so. Slowly after I came to UK, things changed rapidly in phones, internet, computers as well as photography world. Digital camera is found in each and everybody's hand. The size of the camera squeezed smaller and smaller. Then again slowly the sizes of camera again started getting bigger. The camera now everybody owns is a big, heavy, extra lens Canon/ Sony/ Panasonic/ Nikon or some other famous brands. It has those features of a professional camera. Gosh I looked so different when a brother took my photo. I don't have it yet but wish to get one soon. (praying and not saving hehe). Now I have iphone 4s. I am not advertising iphone but I am really in love with my iphone. Apps like instagram keeps inspiring me to take photos of anything I fancy. It is just amazing feeling when people press 'likes' for your photos. You can get positive/ negative or neutral comments. I love getting Likes from my instagram followers. There are amazing people in instagram. I get to see what's happening in Nepal, Kathmandu this very moment. The weather (rainy, sunny, windy), the food they are eating, places they are visiting, the people they are meeting or occasions or anything that they post. I feel more close to home.

I love to express my vision through my photography. I like to present things differently. I love flowers, nature, food, art, etc. I do not post photos of people because they get offended if I post it in instagram. I usually take a quick snap whenever I see a flower. I have more than 3,000 photos stored in my phone and I just couldn't delete any of them. I love all of them. Hope you guys also enjoy photography.

Stop piracy, respect photography, admire brilliancy and share skills.


Visit my Flickr page on the top row or Follow me in instagram - ''limshaku'' and ''paintmylove''.
All photos are taken from iphone 4s. cheers

Thank you.