Gonna skip Christmas post since pictures are still waiting to be located.
Well well,my first ever Winter break.What better way to start it off by going skiing?Or so we thought but we got more then we bargained for.
THE ROADTRIP
The plans were already slightly distorted even as Ben.Jackie,Ken and myself headed off to collect the first 2 rented cars in the morning,we were told that a few members of our entourage would be late,not to mention one of our key car renting person.Not everything was bad though,the people at Arnold Clark told me that since it was a busy morning and the smaller cars were going out very well,they decided to upgrade us to a medium size car and I got a new Peugeot 308.Yay..i probably gave Ken the scariest ride of his life,sharp new breaks are not really my thing.
Starting point : Kincaid's Court,Edinburgh
Destination : Aviemore, Cairghorn National Park
Mode of Transport : 3 cars and 1 GPS system
Estimated time : 2 hours and 39 minutes ( according to google map )
Starting time was 4.30pm and since it's Edinburgh,twilight was already settling in.The first 15 minutes was spent getting lost around Carlton Hill area according to the faulty GPS.Okie, to be honest it wasn't the gps,it was us noobs with the gps.Well finally when everyone came to their senses and regrouped in Kincaid's, I decided to whip out my Edinburgh map and with the help of google map directions,we were on out way.Poor Pwassy who was relegated behind due to his notorious driving speed finally had the chance to express himself since i was navigating.Hehe.Everything was going on smoothly and the mood was going up as well,we were finally going somewhere.Damn excited as i saw Fourth Bridge till Yew Wen called and said that we missed a turn.I was honestly shocked cos we were leading, how could it be that we missed a turn???Was my google map not working??After clarification, they had taken an earlier turning according to the instructions per the gps system.Note , the same one we didn't know how to use.Well since we're on the bridge,it was kinda impossible to make a U-turn.The consensus was to take our own routes and meet up in Aviemore.The first hour was pretty nerve wrecking, one car travelling with only the guide of a google map on my little pink Tocco.Every exit was checked to make sure we're still en route.Every correct exit at the roundabout was a sign of relief and finally when we were on the A9 motorway towards Aviemore,gone were the worries.However,travelling with terrible weather conditions was no easy task as well...sudden fogging up of our windowscreen leaving limited view was tricky to drive.Kudos to our wonderful driver Prasad who got us there safely....
Calling to check on the other's when we arrive gave us quite a shock.They told us they were in some
kampung area off the motorway and didn't know where it was.The
kan chiongness came back.Luckily they manage to find out the name..a town called
Appin.With luck,the lady in the Youth Hostel was also from
Appin and informed us that it's all the way in the west coast.For those who are confused on Scottish geography,Edinburgh is on the East coast,
Aviemore is in the North.So going west means that they were lost.With many many lucky stars to thank that night and many
Samaritans offering directions,they arrived in Aviemore slowly but eventually.I wasn't lost but i could definitely feel the despair from each update.That's what people would really call a roadtrip.
Moral of the story,always research before going on a road trip and download a google map on your phone.Trust me it's the best 1pound you'l ever spend on any day.
Z Pioneer batch
So-P and I on the tram up
Look at the excited faces
Everyone is born to ski but what really matters is if you know how to brake.Putting on our skis itself it's the most trying task.The the angling to place one foot in while trying to lean and not slide makes me sweat.After i got one foot it,there is the problem of the other foot.Thanks to all the Wii experience,bending for a long period of time wasn't a very hard task.Next was learning how to snow plough.Meaning we're suppose to make a V with the skis.I made a V but it didn't stop me from sliding down...I fell pretty much too many times for my instructor to care anymore.He decided not to help me up on my skis after the second time and just watched me slide around in the snow.Meano instructor at first i tot but it proved to be the most useful lesson i had for the 2 hours.Now i dun have to take of the skis to get up yippie...happy to fall anytime.Even after 2 hours,most of us didn't even know how to snow plough and our instructor said bye bye.Darn...While the other left for lunch,my sifu Ivy thought me the theory of snow ploughing and just like magic,i can SKI....anyone up for more ski trips??
The Aviemore Jump
Went to test the ice...
