The Weekend That Changed My Life

First off, I have to say that hands down, after hours of contemplation, I am declaring Edinburgh the most beautiful city I've been to. So far in my life, I might add. I'm not sure if it was because of coincidence that the weather was just right so the sunset illuminated the city gold, or if it was because I had the best tour of the city (I probably learned more than a semester's worth of facts considering I hate history). I say best not because it was free but because the guy giving the three-hour walking tour did it voluntarily through a company so it says how passionate he was with the subject. Then there was just the sheer dumbstruck awe to something I've never seen before. Here's a glimpse.


See, this grand climax of finally giving up taking photos when I realized that it would never do justice to what was physically in front of me as I perched myself on top of Calton Hill overlooking the city (whoo, clauses), had its fair share of adventure and classic backpacking moments.


It was Thursday and after a night of heavy partying with two of our mates' birthdays being celebrated, I was awakened by my blaring cellphone (shifted alarm clock) at 7am. Very much in pain and proud that I still managed to even wake up at all, it was an ugly 2 hour coach drive to Oxford.





This is all I'm showing for now because I'm reserving another post for nerds like me who are into Harry Potter. Surely places like the Great Hall deserves more careful attention. Anyway, we also got to see the Eagle & Child where Tolkien (Lord of the Rings) and Lewis (Narnia) would share a pint of beer discussing literature and obviously idealizing their masterpieces. They even have their shrines in the bar.



At around 5pm, the four of us deviated from the larger group to start our journey to Scotland.



7.00pm. We arrive at London King's Cross. There was an overnight train departing to Inverness at 9pm so all is well, right? Well not really. We didn't realize you needed a reservation, thus the next train would be leaving at 6am in the morning. This is not great since we were supposed to have a tour of the Loch Ness at 9 the following day, a reservation at the Edinburgh Dungeon at 4:30 and only a single night accommodation at a hostel. A mishap already ruined our itinerary, another would flush 40 pounds down the drain. This means our schedule is pretty much fucked. And so the fun begins.

Minds set, we were to camp out at King's Cross until the following morning. I was already well into my Sudoku, stomach stuffed with Burger King (yum) when at around 11pm, I was told we were getting on a train. A train! It was a consensus that cushioned seats were better than the cold metal ones we're sitting at. Therefore, we were just going to start working our way north. Somehow, we might find a way to get there before noon... assuming the trains show up.

Next thing I know we were at Leeds Station. A deserted Leeds station where occasional drunks and cleaners would walk past us. This was at 1am in the morning and the train to Edinburgh would not leave until 5am.



No, there wasn't any plague, though it did feel like a zombie movie walking around the big empty station. Fast forward a couple of hours and we were on our way once again.

For some strange reason, we pulled through. I personally didn't mind - we were tired, yes, but now I could say that it was all so worth it.










On Saturday, after getting a good night's rest, we continued to work our way further north.


Going to Inverness, as stupid as it seems is more like a personal goal. It's one of those things I had on my list for this trip. I've laughed about it in high school when we read Macbeth because it rhymed "infairness" a term that was thrown around a lot between my high school friends. It's pathetic, really, but it gave me this silent fulfillment.


Not only have I seen the Inverness Castle, but we got to cruise Loch Ness! They still let us in the tour after all!





At 6pm, the planned trip back home was supposed to be a train to Glasgow and a series of connections. But out of fatigue, we just unknowingly clamored a more familiar city, Edinburgh. It was too late when we realized we got on the wrong train. What happened after was just a fast blur. We didn't book a hostel so it was overnight at the station again, only to get kicked out because the station closed at 11pm. We got creative. I'll leave it at that but there was a little bit of sneaking (nothing harmful or illegal...) and laughing. The two of us finished reading the same book - with only one copy. Hey, what were you supposed to do for 12 hours?


In the morning after walking through the streets of Edinburgh that seriously looked like a ghost town thanks to the heavy mist, we finally got a train back to England. Mechanical problems or not (train delayed!), we didn't care anymore. I personally did not regret anything. As a matter of fact, everything just seemed to unfold itself. Somehow everything just pieced together.

I said this earlier but I'll say it again: I couldn't have been happier with how this weekend that seemed forever turned out. In between the noise and grandeur landscapes, there was something that I haven't felt before. I don't know what it was but it could be something similar to reading between the lines. You know, you read something literally only to find out that it has a much profound interpretation. Only these lines weren't read, they were seen. They were felt.

Who would have thought a weekend was all it took.



If you ever visit the UK, be sure to go to Scotland - Edinburgh if you had to pick. It may or may not have an impact in your life, but either way, just make sure you have train reservations way ahead of time.