Scotland The Brave!

Scotland is a wonderful country that along with England, Wales, and Northern Ireland make part of the United Kingdom. Scottish history is rich with a combination of ancient Celtic background and modern involvement in more recent world affairs. Scottish people are very proud to say that they are not English, with their own bank and accent, these people are obviously very different from their neighbors. So why go to Scotland instead of any other of the million places on Earth? Simple. Scotland is one of the best countries in the world, and home to some of the best people and legends.

If you still haven't been to the UK yet, you should obviously go to England, but missing out on the other half of the island, is like missing out on an amazing experience. Some of the things that I really loved about Scotland were the food, the music, the clans, and the 1000year-old castles. Crossing the border into Scotland means a completely different yet similar (in some ways) menu to that of England. To begin, the breakfasts are delicious and very nutritive, its almost as if you could go an entire day without anything else. The warm porridge with honey, the Haggis and Black Pudding, the eggs, the bacon, the beans, the milk, the mushrooms, and so much more are just a small list of what you can find on a menu for breakfast. Just so you know, porridge is warm oatmeal and the haggis and the black pudding are like these big sausages served in slices.

After having the exquisite meal, we would drive to the next town stopping to listen to the bagpipe player in the middle of the road play Amazing Grace or Scotland the Brave. Listening to this music live in one the world's most beautiful mountainous scenery is just an invigorating feeling that makes your day. Continuing with our trip, we again stopped at Sterling Castle. This fortress was built centuries ago, and although the ruins are that is left standing today, it does feel like time-traveling into this ancient medieval times. Another great place to have a similar experience is at Hadrian's wall. This wall built by Hadrian to protect the Roman Empire from being attacked by the Scots, is just another example of the Scottish might.

Scottish people are very keen on their family lineage. Here's an interesting fact: every family or clan has their own pattern that they weave into their clothes. This tradition has been lost due to obvious globalization reasons or what ever you want to call it, but what makes this so amazing is that people today still know what their pattern is like and men wear their kilts proudly.

If you're wondering how to plan your visit to Scotland, I suggest the following. Get a plane ticket to the closest city in Scotland (or northern England, like Newcastle) to you, rent a car, and go on a roadtrip. Having a car allows you to go to small towns and visit all the small castles along the Scottish lochs. You should also consider staying some time at a local B&B (Bed&Breakfast) where the owner of the house will greet you with warmth and be happy to help you get serve you breakfast.

The list of big cities is actually a bit short and consists of Edinburgh and Glasgow. These two have gray skies most of the time, but they do have beautiful buildings and talented street performers ranging from your average musician, to witty comedians and even magicians. The museums in both these cities are amazing, they reflect the history, the heroes, the accomplishments, the art and the people. If you want to have a look at what Scotland is really like, go to the Edinburgh Castle. This old building has served several purposes throughout its history. Today, it is home to the Honours of Scotland (the Crown Jewels) and a great display of artifacts that come from different places in the history of Scotland. The Edinburgh Castle is also host to the annual Royal Military Tattoo were participants coming the Commonwealth nations perform their traditional music live. This show ends with fireworks and the final bagpipe concert.

As mentioned before, the amount of local legends and myths in Scottish towns is infinite. There's one in particular that stands out. The story of the Loch Ness Monster. Nessie is said to be a giant animal that lives in this huge lake and makes appearances sporadically. Some say it is a giant dinosaur while others say it actually has more of dragon-like appearance. Whatever Nessie is like, it has a huge influence on the people and it even has several visitor centers along Inverness, the town that borders Loch Ness. Whatever the deal is with Nessie, you sure have fun looking out for her.


Scotland the Brave in Bagpipes


Need anymore reasons to go to Scotland?

The Ultimate Packing List

My last post was about packing and this one is about packing too. While I was stumbling on Stumbleupon, I found a page were they give advice and specifics on what to take depending on your trip. I thought this was a really cool tool if you are completely lost and have no idea what to take. If you're interested, click here and you will be able to know what to take with you.

Top 5 Packing Tips

Here are some things you might find useful if you have any travel plans. I find these very effective and they do save you some time while you're away.

1. Money
Always take money with you! Whenever you get hungry or thirsty waiting for your ride to come, you will need money. Remember to exchange some cash to the local currency before you travel. You can also take a card as long as you know how your bank works in the country where you're going to.

2. The Map
Studying the map during the night while you're on the trip helps to save some time and plan your route ahead of time. If you prefer technology, a GPS will work perfectly, but those who don't operate with technology, like me, well, maps work perfectly too. Also, make sure your MAP is updated with any new built roads bridges, or short-cuts, this will also help you save time.

3. The Shoe
Its fine if you want to look fashionable in the jungle but, walking in heels in the rainforest or a museum an entire day, might not be the most comfortable solution. Take your old pair of sneakers with you without hesitation. No matter where you are, you will walk, like it or not, short and long distances so make the most of it and be efficient. Take your sneakers and leave your heels for another day.

4. The Clothes
Personal experience has taught me that no matter where you're going or how long it is, you won't need more than 5 pairs of clothes. You will most likely be able to wash your clothes at some point, if not, wearing them twice won't kill you. Be prepared for the climate in the place where you're going. Don't judge a climate or a weather. Check the internet for updates or ask someone you know about it. Take with you a bathing suit and a sweater. These two things don't take up much space and will make a difference once you have them on, don't forget, you might get surprised and you better be prepared for it.

5. The Bag
Depending on where you are going, the size of the bag changes. I suggest that no matter where you're destined, take a small bag. The size of the bag and the amount of luggage you take with you determine your efficiency in airports and moving around from place to place. If you are carrying something big it will take you twice as long to get in a car than it would if it were a small bag. If you are taking with you only the necessary things, you won't need a huge bag and your life will be a lot easier.

There's also a bunch of other things you should take, like a hat, your bathing stuff, but that's obvious. Remember that travel agencies also help, if you're taking a tour, they already have everything set for you and you don't have to worry as much. Packing isn't a very big deal but it does get you places if its done correctly. Don't forget to pack everything a day or two before your trip so you have enough time to go get anything that is missing. :)

This guy has good reasons to pack lightly. Yes, he is funny but he's very right.

Listen to the World

So, I haven't written much recently so I thought that I would post something about one of my favorite TV channels. First of all, I have always a been a national geographic fan and I thought it was very cool that they had their own music channel with music videos of artists from all over the world. I'm also a very musical person and I love to find new different tunes. I usually spend my free time looking at the genius recommendations on my itunes account. But when I'm in another mood, I tend to listen to whatever is on the natgeo music. I've been listening to the music they put for quite a while now and let me tell you, they have some of the best selections in music. From Colombia native, Shakira, to Canada's Michael Buble, or Nigeria's Keziah Jones, this channel is full of different rhythms and songs in different languages. I think it is one of the most intresting TV channels ever. It not only includes very well-known musicians but it also includes emerging artists making their own name. I personally find it very cool that someone came up with this idea, my love for travel isn't just about going to the place, visiting some landmarks and then going back home. In that case, I would just rather stay and go on some virtual tours on the internet. I prefer to engage with locals and learn why that landmark is where it is or, why they wear this and not that. Part of engaging with locals is learning their tradition. By listening to the world, you get an idea of how musical tradition has evolved and developed in India, Germany, or Brazil. I love this channel and I encourage you to watch it instead of the plain old Mtv.
These are some of the songs I discovered while I was watching the videos on this channel:
1. Breakeven by the Script (Ireland)
2. Watch the Sun Come Up by Example (UK)
3. Lemonade by Planet Funk (Italy)
4. Homesick by Kings of Convenience (Norway)
5. Peace Song by Bob Sinclair and Steve Edwards (France)

This video below is one of my favorite songs my M.I.A. whose half from Sri Lanka, half from the UK. This song was also featured on the soundtrack for the 2008 Academy Award winning movie Slumdog Millionaire. So, I don't really like rap that much but I really like this song so I hope you like it too.