Grass-journeys

It was wet, cold and grey; but then again it was Iceland. At half 3 in

the afternoon, with rain lashing down, a comfortable air conditioned

coach seemed to be the best place to be, surrounded by the imposing

Fjords of Thingvellir. Little was I to know within 10 minutes this

picturesque scene would be shattered when our driver, Sigy, got a radio

call from his boss saying that a coach full of Swedish OAP's had got

stuck in a river a mile or so behind us. After skillfully turning the

coach round (no mean feat i can tell you) we had to endure a bone

crunching ride through rocky river beds, praying that we wouldn't get

stuck also, due to the ever increasing water level of the river! We

finally made it to the coach after a good 20 minutes and many hair

raising moments we got to the bemused OAP's who seemed to be none the

foggiest to what was going on around them and proceded to offer

cigarettes to everyone. Many of these pensioners seemed to find us

fascinating and started taking random snaps whilst constantly saying

'British, British'. Very weird :S.

In the end, after a lot of rope and 2 topless Icelanders, the coach

was finally dragged out of the river bed, meaning we could continue to

our destination, the stunning Fjord at Thingvellir. But NO, we had to

tow the OAP's back to the motorway, a mere 2 MILES and couldn't risk

going back due to the rising water levels. A suprise journey, but a

thoroughly enjoyable one none the less :)

(Posted on 2009-06-01 21:38:00 by Richard Smith)
Im living in Hong Kong at the moment, although weather is very hot and humid however there is quite a lot of culture. I have often travelled between England and Hong Kong and getting a taste of what it is like to live in both countries although I much prefer to live in the far east!. As i mentioned before where im living now has a lot of culture and that comes from the countless nationalities that have migrated there. It can be an easy place to live in and it can also be a hard place to live. Hong Kong itself is quite adaptable to many people however ive heard a number of people say that they could never treat it as a home away from home because simply all they think of it is a "Big Office!", a place of big business and money "The Financial Capital Of Asia" is what they call it!. On the other hand there are also people who believe Hong Kong is a great place for them to settle and this is a view or an opinion I can share. There are many places of relaxation in this town, for example the outlying islands of HK Island.

I live on one of them and that island is called Lamma Island, I know this place very well as I have had the privilage of growing up and spending most of my childhood there. It is a brilliant place, there are no cars or buses apart from miniture abulances, fire trucks and VV's (construction vehicles) and the occasional helicoptor flying in for medical emergencies so really... the only way to get round the island is by foot or bicycle. The only transportation that we have on the island is a ferry service!, it's a half an hour boat ride that links Lamma and HK Island. This also goes for the other outlying island as ferrys are the most efficient way to reach them. There is no such thing really as a language barrier on Lamma island or in Hong Kong as a matter of fact as there is quite a large community made up of different nationalities living there and pretty much everyone speaks English!. Even the locals are not afraid to have a conversation in English if you put them up to the task! lol.

(Posted on 2009-06-01 17:27:00 by Louis)
It was the 17th of July 2008. Me my brother and my Nan. Heathrow Airport. Flight 304 to New Delhi. The first time ever that i was going to travel without my parents. After the 8 hour flight with a snoring mid 40's male by my side, we arrive. The warmth hits us immeadialtley, its 42 degrees. Well that was only the first part of the journey. Another 5 hour drive to Panjab (the heart beat of India) on the GT Road, in the scorching heat of course. . .

About a week later my brother and I decided to pay homage to the holiest shrine to our Religion, the Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) Amritsar. We get into our Safari Jeep and off we go on another 5 hour journey through the fertile plains of the Panjab. Bhangra music blasting through the speakers our driver dips in and out of the trucks on the road, hey its India there arent any traffic laws ! About 12pm we arrive, we cover our heads, and walk bare footed towards the entrance. ''Sheer Bliss'', there it stood, the most ornate, beautiful and scenic Temple i had ever seen, Of course i had been here before, but with every time i visit, it takes my breath away. My brother and i both in unicen bow our heads in respect and walk into the Golden Temple.

(Posted on 2009-06-01 16:29:00 by Gurvinder)
We'd been planning our year-long trip to Korea for months, but our final few weeks in England flew by, and we soon found ourselves at Birmingham airport, preparing for our 19-hour journey to Seoul. Leaving was hard, but our sadness was mixed with excitement as we waved goodbye to our families and crossed into the departure lounge. Having little money to spend in the duty free, we settled for a few magazines, and a travel-edition of Scrabble. Our changeover was at Dubaii, and although the flight was eight hours long, it was made easier by the free drinks and food supplied by smiling Asian air hostesses. We were glad not to have to stay too long there however - the heat, normal for the people of Abu Dabi, was far too much for us unaccustomed English! Another eight hours in the sky later and we finally arrived in Seoul, and had to fill in special immigration forms. It was strange to think of ourselves as Foreigners. It was late by the time we got a bus into the city, and a cab to our hotel, and so we had no chance to explore the city until the next morning. An urban mix of Americanised shopping malls and skyscrapers, and traditional South Korean temples and restaurants, there was so much to photograph as we first walked around Seoul, and we look forward to continuing our journey out of the city and into the countryside.

(Posted on 2009-05-31 13:26:00 by Rhiannon)
Almost two years ago..

Early morning,I took the train with my brother to come in England.I was so tired I barely could open my eyes because I stayed awake the night before to pack our luggage and enjoy the last few hours of the day with some friends.

My uncle came at home to pick us up and help us to go to the train station which was 10mins walking from home.

We had about 8 luggage and bags altogether.I felt weak and exhausted,my brother too.I was pulling my bag when the handle just broke because it was too heavy.It was such a pain to reach the train station.When we arrived we got into the train and my uncle said 'bye' and I actually realised that we were leaving for real! I was really sad,my brother was sad too he was leaving his friends and he couldnt really speack english.

I wanted to leave and was excited about that even if I had to leave my friends there.I knew I could get better things in my life.I was still growing up.

It was a long day.We arrived in London and mother was wainting for us.It was so good to see her smile.

(Posted on 2009-05-23 20:54:00 by Marie)
I traveled a lot during my life but a significant journey for me was last year to London alone.

We wanted to go to Holland and Spain during the summer holiday. As I am Armerian I need a scherger visa to enter one of the scherger countries. As my husband was very busy at work I decided to go to London by train alone. I was aware that the trip would be very difficult for me because my english wasn't near the level it is now.

At home I studied map of London. In the morning by train I arrived to St. Pancras station. I knew where to go and when to change lines but I cheered every my step for feel comfortable and sure I many time asked for help from underground staff. They were very helpful and friendly. I reached to my destination. I finished my business at the embassy.

I visited the park in Kensington opposite the embassy. I enjoyed my day in the London. In the evening I returned to Kettering feeling more confident.

(Posted on 2009-05-22 21:36:00 by Gayane)
In the last summer I went in too one day trip in Paris. I booked 2 tickets one was for me and the other was for my girlfriend. We chosen the train because we wante to see tunnel under the sea. 25th of June we departed from Kettering at 6.10am and we supposed to be in centre of Paris about 10am. But the train is late. I was worry about this, because we have at 22.00 arival train from paris and for us every hour was very important. We have many places to see this day but when train is not coming the other plans for one day trip be nothing worth. We went to information and ask why the train was late. The man in the room said it was an accident and we must wait another 30min. After these time the train its arrived to platform 1. And we can start our trip.

(Posted on 2009-05-22 15:22:00 by Pawel Wyrwas)
It was two years ago when I decided to go to England. That time I was so happy and full of expecting something new. I saw many movies and documents about England, especially about London. But I had gone to Corby. I still remember the time when I brought my ticket for a plaine. I had to travel with my friend to the capital of Slovakia- Bratislava and I flew to London- Stansted, when we finally arrived in Stansted I was so tyred and nervous. Everything was new for me.

Tgeb we traveled to Corby. When I saw that town first time I couldn't belive that I am here.

I felt so alone and I missed my family and friends. Now after two years time everything changed and it become a habit for me that I am here and I think I am happy.

(Posted on 2009-05-22 15:00:00 by Sanislava)
I am from Malaysia. When I came to England I take 12 hour flight.

I live in Kettering. I going to shopping every week, from my house to Tesco is about 15 minutes drive.

Every Sunday I drive my children to Milton Keynes to take chinese lesson. I take about 50 minutes to go and 50 minutes back.

(Posted on 2009-05-22 14:54:00 by Yuet Leow)
When I was 12 years old, me and my family arranged to go to Paris for holidays.

For the first four dats we went in Disneyland park. I remember that me and my brother were so excited; we were so surprised to see all the Disney's characters because before that holidays we were seeing them just in television.

My parents were so happy and it seemed like them became kids again. When I was in bed at night me and my brother we were always talking about the cartoons that we watched for years become reality. After the four beautiful days spent in Disneyworld Paris, we went into the center of Paris.

Paris is full of monuments and it has got a long history of art. I was twelve years old then, so at the time I wasn't interested: I remember that me and my brother were crying and being so loud for go back to Disneyworld.

That was an amazing journey in my lifetime and I won't ever forget it.

(Posted on 2009-05-22 14:42:00 by Domenico Caranci)
In France I live near the borders of Luxembourg and Germany.

To come to England I chose to take a plane and the cheapest flight was with Ryanair.

The nearest airport to take a plane with Ryanair for me is in Frankfurt, Germany where is 1 hour from where I live.

I went to the airport by car with my little sister who were driving. I took my plane and arrived 1 hour later in London Stanstead Airport where someone was waiting to pick me up.

The day I were a little nervous and excited as it was the beginning of a new life for me in a new countrie, with a new language and a new way of life.

I really don't regret my choice.

(Posted on 2009-05-22 14:33:00 by Nevia)
The morning of the expedition begun with a long soak in the bath due to realising that this would be my last for a month.Naomi and Amy came to see us off and this planned short goodbye, turned out to become quite a tearful beginning as Naomi shed a few but more tears. We packed up the mini-bus and this symbolised the realisation of what we were embarking upon. The drive took us 40 minutes in order to arrive at birmingham airport, where we had a short stay before again taking another mode of transport, the long haul flight to Uganda, firstly changing at Dubai international Airport. the musky heat hit us as we stepped off the plane in Dubai as excitement also surged through our bodies. The drastic change in temperaure from the rain that we left behind in England, to what we were experiencing only halfway through our journey to the destination was a drastic realisation. On arrival to Uganda and after pacing up another mini bus, we were drove to our first campsite, visually inhaling sights which seemed so alien to what we were used to, and what we never imagined this country to look like. Brightly coloured highly commercialised buildings inhabited the dusty, mud-made road side, of which no traffic rules seemed to be apparent. In this first day, the journey meantso much to us, as it became to form an incredibly memorable part of the journey to come... and this was just the beginning.

(Posted on 2009-05-20 20:00:00 by Ellie Falmer)
As I drove myself to university for the very first time, my car was filled with both high emotions and nearly all my worldly possessions. Unaccompanied by my parents on the 2 hour journey, spent, mainly on a samey stretch of road, I felt myself experiencing a feeling I hadnât felt for nearly six years when I first started secondary school, both fearing and looking forward to embracing the unknown. Nevertheless, I managed to breakdown the fear with music and traffic and before I knew it I had arrived and im happy that i wont have the same emotions for another few years to come

(Posted on 2009-05-17 22:21:00 by Peter Davidson)
From time to time, people travel and go to places they always wanted to be. That happens in evey country, every city and every corner of the world. You get to know different people, different places, costumes, tastes, sounds and a lot of new stuff. When I went to Manaus, a Brazilian city located in the state of Amazonas and home to the Amazon Rain Forest, it was no different. I'm a Brazilian, that's true, but that doesn't mean I know each and every corner of the country I live. Traveling to Manaus was such an awesome trip, that I really wish I was older at those days, so I could really taste and feel what the city had to offer me. The fishes, the fruits, the smell of wood and grass and even the rain, they were all so different from what I had known so far. It was like I was outside my country, maybe in some place in Mexico or something. But I'm pretty sure that it didn't feel like I was stepping in Brazilian soil. It felt like something new, like being reborn and getting to know stuff all over again. I was sure that this was going to stay in my mind for my whole life, even being 8 years old at the date. And now, 11 years later, I can say that it's not going away from my head, not even if my brain was washed. There I met new costumes, like the Boi Bumba Party, new tastes like Roasted Pirarucu (a 2 meters wide fish), and the natural life of the Indios, the local people there. That's what makes things feel good. That's what makes people travel more and more. That's a route I think every human being should take.

(Posted on 2009-05-17 17:19:00 by Patrick Antunes)