End of year entry

Salam w.b.t and hi all.

First all, I look forward to go home, Malaysia. My flight will be on Monday, Aberdeen - London - Malaysia.

Hopefully will be arrived home safe and sound, and not miss my connecting flight.  

I have several projects line up when I am home.

One of the project is to fix the house. After all the years, my mother's house need a maintenance since many things damage. Toilet door fell off, roof leaks here and there, cracks in our bedroom, and many more.

I just remained silent and did not say a word to my mother about fixing things because I did not have enough budget.

Alhamdulillah, now I can confidently say to my mother, "Mak, go find suitable and reliable builder to fix our house. This is the budget I have, and Mak can use it to fix the house".

I told her about my intention last week. So, right now I am sure she is pretty occupied with surveying and finding what need to be done to fix our house. She is a pro about this, as long as we have the resources.

So, when I come home next week, I will help about cleaning, moving furniture, etc.

I told her, for now, just to fix the main damages first because that is the budget I have for now. She has a dream to renovate and enlarge the front of the house, make a beautiful garage, roof, and gate. I will try to fulfill her dream next year or earlier, InsyaAllah.

Also, I want to go back to our hometown to visit Atok. He must be very surprised since I don't tell him about I am going home.

I am ready to leave Aberdeen. I already packed my bags, let go many groceries, and other items. Tomorrow will be the final cleaning, basically just to mop the house, dispose the rubbish, and do the laundry. I already vacuumed and cleaned it yesterday, so not much to do.

I have been sleeping in the sleeping bag since last week. See...how ready I am to go home for holiday. Hahaha..

Two days ago, I thought I want to sweep the leaves at the backyard, but it was just to chill outside. I reckon around 3-5 degree C and I cannot work in this cold. So, I think forget it. I might get frostbite if I stand outside a minute longer with only wearing shirt + sweater + sweatpants.

Do you expect me to wear winter jacket, socks, scarf, gloves, and thermal shirts just to sweep the backyard? Nah, thanks. 

Tonight, will go out with friends, have dinner, and celebrate Hogmanay. Hogmanay is the Scottish version of New Year.

I don't know what to expect in 2017 actually since all my resolutions are still in draft stage. Hahaha...shoot.

Okay, I think that's all I have on my mind for now.

Take care and see you guys next year.

Salam w.b.t.

P/S - I gotta the feeling...hooo...that tonight is gonna be a good night

"Akak memang lain dari orang lain"

Salam w.b.t and hello everybody.

How are you guys doing? I am doing great! Actually, I was a little bit under the weather. I started having fever last Wednesday, but managed to finish my day at work. On Thursday, I thought I am getting better, but I was not. Fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, chest pain, but I still came to work. Dave (FSM) and Graeme (senior engineer) told me, "Siti, if you feel crap, just go home". Another David, insisted me to go home. I did not want to stay at home because I have nothing to do at home. However, I end up went home around 10 am as I cannot act cool with my croak voice. Hahaha…

On Friday, I took a leave as well. I was really sick because I stayed in bed from most of the time, while watching movies. Hahaha…No way I am going to stay still on my bed. Movies and books.

On Saturday, even though not fully recovered I decided to go out. I went to Dunnottar Castle again and bought groceries. My mates at work invited me to join them in the city watching football and chill out together. I don’t know why I did not go. I don’t know because I thought I want to go at first.

This time, I managed to enter the castle. Weather nice. View is spectacular.

Today, I cleaned the house, did some gardening at the backyard, also managed to finish reading an action book written by James Patterson. Now, I am sitting down at my desk writing this entry.

Honestly, it has been tough time for me for the last couple of weeks. Right now, I have ME-time, four days although I am a bit sick. I appreciate it very, very much. I lost motivation, this time for a good reason (I will share later), and when it happened, I don’t know what to do and what to feel. Most of the time, I felt angry. Being angry is so exhausted. I lost my focus and unhappy.

Therefore, many things happened when I was not myself. Quite hard though. Therefore, having four days alone gives me time and space to think properly. I called my mother last Wednesday, I shared with her everything that bother me, and compared why others don’t experience difficulties I am going through, why and why.

All my mother can say was, "Sabar lah. Akak memang lain dari yang lain sejak dulu. Dulu, masa kawan-kawan akak sambung belajar, akak kerja. Orang buat ini, akak buat sekian, sekian. Sabarlah. Bila tiba masanya, ada jalan keluar tu. Cari motivasi, jangan putus asa. Jangan layan hilang semangat tu lama-lama".

Translation: Be patient. Since beginning, you are always different from others. When your friends pursued studies, you started working. People do this, you do that and that. So, be patient. When the time comes, I am sure you will find the way out. Get motivated and don’t give up. Stop feeling demotivated.

I totally agree with her. Therefore, I am trying to find my spirit to move me forward. Thinking about it, actually nothing is stopping or dragging me down in reality. It is just myself feeling shite. I just need to find the way to get myself moving and for a start, stop whining and be positive!

Yeap, that’s it from me now. Gambatte! Hahaha… I will write again in the future. Take care folks.

Salam w.b.t. and see you later.

 

P/S - I am thinking to go to Budapest or Barcelona during Christmas and New Year Holiday. But I don’t have plan in place. Anyone???

Jangan putus-asa

Lelah terasa diri ini sejak dua menjak ni.


Penat berusaha mencapai ekspektasi.


Mengah memaksa diri untuk mendaki tangga kejayaan.


Sering-kali terjatuh, tersungkur, bergolek-golek.


Bukan tak biasa tersungkur.


Bukan tak pernah rasa kecewa.


Bukan tak pernah menangis kerana gagal.


Tapi entahlah.


Setiap peristiwa itu unik.


Bukan boleh kata, "Oh, aku pernah kecewa bulan lepas. Sama ja. Tak payahlah nangis".


Tak sama.


Setiap kali, tak sama.


Penat, memang diakui sejujurnya.


Penat, lelah, mengah memaksa diri mengorak langkah.


Menaiki anak-anak tangga ke puncak.


Tetapi memikirkan, "Ah, tak lama lagi ni sampailah kita ke puncak".


"Sabar lah diri. Jangan putus asa. Tak mengapa kalau tersungkur buat kesekian kali. Tak mengapa menangis kecewa, menangislah. Tiada siapa larang".


"Selepas hilang kesedihan itu, kukuhkan tapak kaki. Kuatkan hati dan doa. Jangan putus harap, usaha".


"Pasti kejayaan menanti bagi mereka yang tidak berputus-asa".




The Pier, St. Andrews, Fife

Quick Life Update 8

Salam w.b.t and hello folks.

How are you guys doing? I am doing great. I has been an insane week. I just got back from Malaysia last Sunday, and get back straight to work on Monday. I know I can take a day off just to relieve my jet lag, but I did not.

I would say, the week was crazy. I was helping the folks at work and stay back until midnight just to get things done. I do not get paid for overtime, but I will take my time back. Also, it does not feel right to leave your team behind.

Anyway, this is my quick entry, Quick Life Update 8. 8??!!! What! I don’t get a chance to write properly on things. That’s fine. Ok, here is the update.

1.      I have received update on my Technical Training. Yeay! I will try my best to prepare and hopefully will pass with flying colours, InsyaAllah.

2.      I passed my UK driving theory test on Thursday. The next step is to take practical driving test before I can get Full UK Driving License. At the moment, I will use my Malaysian Driving License.

3.      I bought a car yesterday. A second hand car, Kia Picanto. I need to travel to different bases and run errands. My colleague can pick me up in the morning and give me a lift to home, but I think, "That’s it. I don’t want to trouble him anymore". I need to learn to organise myself, although I am a bit nervous to drive here.

My new car. I haven't give it a name yet. Any suggestion? :D

4.      I spent money quite a lot  for the past two days as I just bought a car. I paid for insurance, road tax, council tax bill, gas & electric bill, etc.. Insurance is quite expensive as I am using Malaysian Driving License. I think I will create one special entry on how to get the UK Driving License together with some advices. One thing I regret is, I should have start applying for UK Driving License as soon as I arrived here in Aberdeen. Well, no use of dwelling the past.

5.      Time flies fast. Really fast, I am telling you. Today is the last day of July already. Oohhh…

6.      Hopefully I will get a chance to go offshore soon.

What else…. I think that’s it for now. I will try my best to keep this blog alive, InsyaAllah.


Alright folks. That’s me. Take care and see you guys in the next entry.


Salam w.b.t and chow.

P/S - Next week will be 'fantastic'. Pheww..

Quick Life Update 7

Salam w.b.t and hello folks,

How are you guys doing? It has been a while. I am doing fine here.

I have many things to share here, but I don’t know how to put it in words. Or, I don’t really have suitable words to express what I feel.

So far, works are not really bad, mates are great to work with and fun as well. Honestly, the people that makes the working environment interesting. Although sometimes they give a hard time.

Nearly 20 hours of fasting in Ramadhan, I managed to do it so far. Well, as usual woman got her period.

Random statement, "I like to be busy". Busy with works, chores, and anything. It is just a way to make my mind occupy and my body tired. So, my mind will not have to wandering around about other things such as boyfriend-marriage-husband. LOL.

This is not a good thing, but I start to swear at work or whenever things did not go as I want. I blame the guys at work. This is really bad, really, really bad. I must learn to behave and control myself better!

Oil price, plummet as the UK vote to leave EU. One thing I am amazed is, the people here, they are well aware and informed about the political circumstances of their country, regardless of what position they are in the society. They have a very good understanding about their government as well as the opposition. They have resources and the transparency and then, they decide. They exercise their rights, voting. They can even explain in details about politics to me. I am amazed. Compared to Malaysia, I don’t think I can explain in one sentence of what is the mission of our government. Most of the things are related to money. I don’t know.

I am planning to buy a car. Still need to save money in order to buy a car. Also, I need to take theory and practical driving test in order to get UK driving license. All in all, I need to study and save money as it is not cheap.

 

Raya, is around the corner.

I don’t get too involved with Malaysian community here. I believe they are all nice, but I feel awkward. I don’t know how to say this. But imagine this, most of them got family with kids. So, whenever there is gathering, it will be like a family day. If I come, it will be just me, myself, and I (song title, hewhewhew). It is awkward. Well, there are bunch of students, but I don’t have any idea about them. Of course, students will be with their own colony. So, I end up solo. Well, hopefully not for long. I will find a support group, I think.

So, that’s it from me for now. I will update later. Take care guys and all the best in whatever you are doing. Wish me best as well.

Salam w.b.t and see you.

 

P/S - I did my medical checkup yesterday, and I passed with flying colours, except that my weight is 57.4 kg. But, I keep convincing myself that I am lighter than that :')

 

My first Ramadhan in Aberdeen

Salam w.b.t. and hello folks.

I don’t have fancy pictures of food, restaurants, whatnot to be posted on social network. But, I would like to share so far what it is like fasting here, in Aberdeen. Ramadhan 6 today.

Maghrib is around 10.15 pm, and Subuh is around 2.10 am. So, I have approximately 4 hours to before I start fasting again. Well, compared to Finland and nearby regions, they have less than an hour. So, 4 hours. Should not complain much.

Also, I shared with my workmates about Ramadhan, fasting, and basic ideas why Muslim fast.

*

Kris: I have an energy drink in my car. I can nip out and give it to you.

Me: What? Energy drink? No, no. When I say fasting, I mean no food, no drink, nothing goes inside our body.

Kris: What??! I thought you cannot eat only. You can drink. What if you dehydrate?

Me: I haven't reach that level yet, and I can assure you it won't be until dehydration. If it is too much, I will just break my fast. So, don’t worry.

*

Alan: Toon, are you fasting ey?

Me: Yeah. Do you want to try to fast with me as well?

Alan: I don't think I will make it. If I don’t eat and hungry, I will be grumpy and have my period all day.

Me: You are the first man I know that can have period ;)

*

Workshop supervisor came and asked me several questions about Ramadhan and fasting. After our chat, I told him, I am not really good at explaining stuffs but I will try my best to answer.

He said, "Nah, don’t worry. You already answer all my questions. Before this, we did not have a chance to ask this sort of thing here. Since you are here, we can ask you".

"I will try my best to address all the questions, Fincham".

*

They are curious, curious on many things. They asked about headscarf, hajj, mosques, and many other things. Some even asked about marriage (Hahahaha). Most of the times, I doubt if I have properly explained to them since I am not that alim.

Anyway, Ramadhan Mubarak to everyone. No matter where we are, we are aiming the same objective, to be a better person.

The view of Edinburgh from Arthur's Seat. I went there last month.

P/S - The responsibility is bigger

My first trip offshore

Salam w.b.t and hi all,

How are you guys doing? I am doing great. Hopefully all of you are doing great as well.

Actually, before I start writing these, I wanted to watch a movie called "Sinister". But after 16 minutes, I think the movie is a bit scary for me to watch alone although it is 11.00 am in the morning here. So, I decided to write an entry.

It is been awhile. Several important things happened lately.

I was offshore for two weeks. I was assigned to Brent Bravo platform, of course as a trainee, which means I observed the job. No responsibilities yet. This was my first time going offshore, ride on the chopper, and being in the middle of the ocean.

In the middle of North Sea, with the risk anything could happen at any time.

Before I left, the senior engineer said I will be there for seven days or less as the bed space limitation might require me to leave the platform at a short notice. We done the job on the fifth day, and I thought, "This is great. I am able to see the job from start till finish before I down manned".

We done on the fifth day. On the sixth day, I called the base, they said, "You will not be relieved until next week". This means I had to stay another week.

"Oh my god".

It is not that I don’t like there, but I was worried. You know, as a female, you will have period every month. And, it was about time and I did not prepare. I don’t think there is women tampon sell at the Bond. (Ladies, be prepared. Bring it and extra whenever you are going to somewhere and only God knows when you will return)

Also, on the third day, there was an unfortunate event happened in Norway. A chopper outbound for one of the platform in the North Sea was crashed. The passengers were all oil and gas workers, and they are all dead. Let me tell you, everyone onboard was worried including me. This particular specification of chopper is mostly used in the North Sea. It can cover long distance from onshore to offshore.

These are only some factors that made feel nervous.

Even though there is nobody wait for me in Aberdeen, but I was homesick when I am offshore. The homesick feeling was difficult. It is like the feeling of wanting to go back to my comfort zone. I am sure it is normal to experience this, I saw many personnel on the platform sometimes sit and stare blankly at the wall.

Being away is tough. You have to learn to control this feeling, in the meantime keep your head straight.



The view from Computer Room in Brent Bravo



Anyway, long story short, I stayed there 15 days. Everything went well. I also got the chance to see they pulled out the completion using our tool on the day 13. So, it was great.

Everything was massive. It was really huge and old platform. Everyone on the platform was really, really, really helpful and nice. From OIM, DSV, DE, drilling crews, and everybody onboard.

They shared their knowledge and experience to me. They are really good at what they are doing. "Good" is so understatement, I would say excellent. They are very excellent at what they are doing. Even though in some occasions, the language become a little bit to understand. They come from all over the UK, so difference accents. My ears are not used to listen to various accents, so it took a bit of effort to understand them.

When I was there, it was like what I read on textbook come to life. It is surreal to able to see, experience, and become part of it. 

The first job was to section mill 85 feet of window, but the client decided to extend the window to 180 feet due to certain circumstances. We were continuously milling for nearly 3 days, and I was hoping our tool will not fuck up. We were really pushing the limit. When we were arrived at 150 feet, the client said that’s fine. 150 feet is fine.

I did not know, but when I back onshore, the senior engineer said, this is the world record. 150 feet. So, you should be proud to be there and see it. Around 6 persons only can come onboard to operate this tool and involve with the operation.

Well, I know you don’t really understand on this bit as it is a bit technical. In short, I am glad to be there even though as an observer.

There are a lot more to learn, and I have to remain focus on developing my knowledge and skills. It is tough with the current business environment for the Oil and Gas industry.

Also, I am looking forwards to the next trip, which I don’t know when. But, I look forward to it.

I think that’s all from me for now. I will see you in the next entry.

Salam w.b.t and take care guys.

P/S - Bond, is the shop name on the platform. Most platforms have the Bond.

Sembahyang

Salam w.b.t dan hai semua.

Apa khabar? Entri kali ni nak tulis dalam bahasa Melayu lah.  

Siang tadi, dalam kul 11.30 pagi waktu UK, kol wan dan atok di kampung. Cakap-cakap dengan wan, tapi wan tak banyak sangat cakap sebab dah tua, tapi boleh je cakap cuma tak laju/lancar mcm orang-orang muda cakap. Apa pun, Alhamdulillah, dua-dua, wan dan atok sihat.

Dalam borak-borak tu, wan tetiba cakap,

"Ko tu kak, kat sana jangan lupa sembahyang. Jaga sembahyang! Penting tu!". 

Kita pun, iye kan lah. "Iye wan, iye. Wan doakan akak kat sini. Berjaya dunia akhirat".

 Memang sebelum ni kol wan pun, ini nasihat yang paling lancar dan padu dia boleh sampaikan. Tak lain, inilah dia.

Sebenarnya, bila dah jauh ni, cabarannya sangatlah kuat. Khususnya, ujian keimanan.

Tidaklah kita mantap imannya. Ada masa, goyanglah jugak. 

Contohnya, waktu sembahyang. Sekarang dah nak musim bunga, nak ke arah musim panas. Waktu sembahyang macam ni,

Subuh - 4.20 a.m.

Zohor - 1.15 p.m.

Asar - 5.00 p.m.

Maghrib - 8.30 p.m.

Isyak - 9.40 p.m.

Balik kerja, sampai rumah dalam pukul 6 petang. Masak, makan, kemas barang, buat kerja sikit, dah pukul 8 malam.

Masa ni, mata dan badan dah mula penat. Pastu, mandi dan solat maghrib.

Dalam nak tunggu isyak tu, tahu-tahu dah tidur. Tengok jam, pukul 4.15 pagi. Luar dah mula terang. Kelam-kabut sembahyang.

Cabarannya dalam situasi ini, macam mana tak nak tertinggal solat di kala kita sorang-sorang di sini.

Kadang-kadang, pukul 7 malam dah terlelap. Tak mandi, tak makan, terus terlelap.

Alhamdulillah, Allah masih kasi peluang untuk bangun.

Belum cerita cabaran pasal pergaulan, kerja, makanan, masa.

"Masa" pun ujian tau.

Masa lapang - macam mana dimanfaatkan

Masa padat - macam mana manfaatkan dengan tak lalai dari ingat Allah SWT

Itulah, untung kalau ada kawan, sahabat yang sentiasa ingatkan diri kita dengan Allah SWT serta tanggungjawab kita sebagai hamba.

Kalau dah tiada yang ingatkan kita, maka kita lah sendiri kena usahakan untuk tidak lalai dan leka.

Itulah je yang kita nak kongsi kali ni. Penting untuk solat dan berusaha untuk mantapkan pergantungan pada Allah SWT.

Oklah, jaga diri semua.

Assalamualaikum dan chow semua!

 

P/S - Tak lama lagi Ramadhan. Dengar cerita orang yang berpuasa di UK ni, kena puasa 18 jam - 22 jam. Macam mana tu?

Quick Life Update 6

Salam w.b.t and hi all. 

Foos ur doos? Me, I pecking. (Well-done you if you managed to understand it without Mr. Google assistance)

It is been a while.

I would like to give a quick update about myself here.

 

1. Technically, I am busy with work. Talking about work, it is not that so difficult work to do, it is just a lot. I had to spend some times and need a lot of patience.
2. REMAIN FOCUS AND MOTIVATED, things I have been struggling for a while. I need a booster!
3. My sleeping pattern last couple of days was so fucked up. I slept at 7 pm, woke at 2 am. Slept at 8 pm, woke up at 3 pm. I dinnae ken why. Probably, the sun started to rise early as here is early of spring. Basically, Subuh is around 4 am.
4. First time I need to speed forward my clock 1 hour ahead due to Daylight Saving. It started last two days. I was like a neap, asking people at the office about this as I was freaked out if I miss my bus to work.
5. I will visit Kak Hani in Netherlands next Thursday. I will spend 4 days, 3 nights day. Hopefully all will go well, and I will share the experience once I got back, InsyaAllah. Please pray everything will go well :) Thanks.
6. Colleagues at work, some are nice while some are not. Well, we are all human being. Nobody perfect including myself.
7. Oh My English. My language is so terrible. I believe, it depends on my mood. I realised, I can speak English properly if I feel like talking. Other than that, it is like shite. I need to learn to control myself better.
8. I don’t know when I want to go back to Malaysia for holiday. I don’t have any plan yet.
9. It feels lonely sometimes. Actually, most of the times. Looking at others who are their girlfriend, boyfriend, partner, husband, wife, kids, and dogs. Me, just with myself. I won't deny, it is tough being alone here, at the corner of the world.

So, that’s all from me now. Hope you are doing well.

Salam w.b.t and chow. 

P/S - Excuse my French

"Are you doing alright?"

Salam w.b.t and hello folks.

 

When at work, people will ask me, "Are you doing alright?"

 

This question is similarly like asking, "How are you doing?", "Are you doing good?", in Scottish/Aberdeen style.

 

I will normally nodded and smile. Yes, I always put smiley face.

 

I seldom being open to people, only to certain person I can be honest. However, the personnel who I like to share and listen to is absent. He is on leave for couple of weeks, I guess.

 

And today, another personnel asked me, "Are you alright?".

 

As usual, I nodded and smiled. Seriously, as usual and I hardly shake my head to say things are not okay for me.

 

He basically said, "You smile, so you are doing alright".

 

What he failed to realise was, the level of sincerity of my smile. It complicated and confusing, right? I know, this is what woman does, make stuffs complicated.

 

Listening to his respond, it hits me.

 

Generally, people assume me, smile = alright.

 

I don’t blame them.

 

Then, I reflected myself. I am not doing alright lately and I am not being honest to others.

 

Most importantly, I am not being honest to myself.

 

I have been struggling a bit, in many aspects. Lately, it is just that I find it is difficult to keep myself focus and motivated. I don’t know what are the factors and why, but it happens.

 

I don’t want to make a big deal out of it, so I pretend I can handle it and - smile.

 

Act like nothing bothering me, with hope that time will swallow all things that distracting me.

 

I came across this phrase several days ago. It best describes what I feel and what am trying to do.

 

 Putting shitload aside, and try to live.

Also, several days ago, I said to a colleague, "I hit the bed early last night, because somebody pissed me off and I don't want to say a name".

His reply was, "I can't imagine your reaction when you are angry".

You see here, I smile a lot and people can't picture how am I going to react when I am mad. Yeah, I am still new here and old friends who know me understand how I react when I am angry.

 

P/S - I find it is hard to find a good listener. Pheww.... La tahzan :)

Dunnottar Castle, Stonehaven

Salam w.b.t and hello folks.

 

"How is your weekend?" is a typical question to be asked when we come to work on Monday.

My answers normally are, "Not much", "It was alright", and "A bit busy doing readings". Since then I realised, what a dull weekend I had so far.

So last Sunday, I decided to make a little trip to Stonehaven which is famous with Dunnotar Castle. I made a bit of research on the night before on how to reach there and other places can be visited in Stonehaven.

Below are the details.

Stonehaven Guide - http://www.dunnottarcastle.co.uk/

Address: Dunottar Mains Cottages, Dunottar Mains Cottages, Stonehaven AB39 2TL, UK

Bus X7 (1 hour)

• Day ticket - £10.00 (approx.)
• At 9.15 am
• From F6 Stop, Union Street
• Stop at Dunnottar Junction
• Postcode: AB39 2TL

Opening Hours & Prices

• The current opening hours are Daily between 10am and 3:30pm
• Prices - Adult £6
• Guide Books £3.50
• Postcard Set £2.00

Other interesting places

• Dunnotar Castle - Main
• Stonehaven War Memorial (22 minutes from the castle)
• Aunty Bettys (25 minutes from War Memorial)
• My Beautiful Caravan, at Barclay Street (11 minutes from Aunty Bettys)
• Tolbooth Museum - the museum is only open on a Saturday and Sunday from 12.30 to 3.30 pm

 

Back to Aberdeen

• 4.15 pm from Barclay Street, South bound
• Bus 7
• Arrive at Stop F1

I arrived at Dunnottar Junction Stop around 10.10 am. I did not go straight to the castle, I went to the bus stand to see the bus schedule to return to Aberdeen, just a precaution measure since this is not a busy area. 

Then I walked to the castle about 1 miles, which took me 10 minutes to see the ruined castle from distance.

The view along my walk to the castle

Welcome to the Dunnottar Castle

Behind this field is the North Sea, if you can see it

Pathway that leads to the castle

I was nearly dancing around when I saw the castle



The waterfall



The view is so magnificent

The entrance

In the parking lot got sign said the castle is close due to wind. I was a bit disappointed but I want to have a look, probably the sign was an old sign.

The view, I will never get boring see this





Halfway to the castle



Actually, this is the cliff but eroded due to seawater. The castle is at the top of it



Beach, it was windy, chilly, and started to rain



The gate at the side of the cliff, part of the castle





The stairway to the main gate of the castle. It was closed, affirmative.


I did not want to simply leave the place, so I decided to take a walk down to the beach. The route was treacherous, and dangerous. I saw several visitors just stand at the stairway and enjoyed the view, but none came down to the beach. I took the risk to go down, and if I slipped down the cliff, they will see me from where they stood.

While walking down the cliff, I stopped from time to time and enjoy the fantastic view. Throughout this little hiking, it was raining just so you know and I was carrying my backpack. It was not easy and risky. I was a bit scared, but keep praying all will go well.

 

In the meantime, I saw several people followed me. Huhuhu...but one man slipped, luckily nothing happened. I shouted to him to take the path with fresh grass, much safer.



Nearly there



Finally down at the beach. I did not touch the water as I knew it is so cold



Stopped for a while to read the sign here




Finally, made it to the beach safely

I spent around 10 minutes there, took pictures, enjoying the view. In the meantime, studying the route to get back up the cliff, either take the same route where I used to go down or climb another opposite cliff.

It started to raining heavily and strong wind, poor vision and the ground could be very, very slippery. Besides, the tide was starting to rise. With that, I decided to use the same route.

I walked back to the main road with myself drenching in rain water. I brought an umbrella but I knew it will be useless. As the wind blew so hard and it was so cold. I thought there was a coffee shop, so I could warm up my body while waiting for rain to stop, but nothing, it was a private property. No shelter or whatsoever, just a parking lot. I saw a Blue Bus there but it was a charter bus for tourist.

As a last resort, I decided, lets go to the bus stand. But first, I need to walked back about 1 mile to the bus stop. I walked slowly, and suddenly the Blue Bus I saw earlier stopped next to me. The driver was a man that slipped when he walked down the cliff previously.

He said, "Hop on to the bus".

He gave me a lift to the bus stand towards Aberdeen. He was actually a tourist guide from Edinburgh, brought a group of tourist visited Aberdeen. Now, he was on his way back to Edinburgh after dropping the tourists in Aberdeen. He wanted to visit the castle before going home, but a bit disappointed as it was close.

I said to him, "We should come visit again in summer. The chance will be higher".

He dropped me at the bus stand and off he went. It was around 11 am at that time, the next bus was around 12 pm. It was freezing cold and I hardly feel my fingers, and honestly I was a bit terrified thinking what if the bus does not turn up.

The view from the bus stop. The property there, I thought it was a coffee shop

Finally, the bus turned up and I went straight back to Aberdeen. I did not visit other places as the weather did not permitted. Next time...

Once I arrived at Union Square Bus Station, I went to have my lunch at Thaikun, a Thailand restaurant. A hot meal, after a freezing morning.

On Monday, my colleagues asked me, "How was your weekend?".

"It was great. I went to Stonehaven, see the castle".

Their reply, "You went there in this kind of season, you are out of your mind".

I giggled, "I don't regret it. The view was stunning".

##Extra - Preparation

1. Decent shoes
2. 4 layers of clothes + thermal shirt and pant
3. Waterproof winter jacket
4. Thick socks
5. Gloves
6. Food and water
7. Check the weather forecast

P/S - I was not stupid, I checked the weather forecast already, Allah knows. Anyway, this is Aberdeen.