Lympstone, Devon


Ever heard of the term 'avoiding cities like a plaque'? that's pretty much what we did.

It hasn't gone down that well when Suya and I started out cross-country camping trip two weeks ago. She picked me up at Bristol and we headed straight on the motorway and got out of the city within minutes, our goal was to camp at the Forest of Dean in Wales. It didnt happen. It rained on us alot. It was cold.

blame it on summer, everyone who has a life is out on camping trips too! families, school kids, teenagers, couples, loners, the whole lot is out there occupying every camp sites and holiday parks. Caravans and campervans are on the road hogging the single carriageway. It amazes me how outdoorsy the british are, apparently you havent had a childhood if you havent gone camping with your families every summer. We malaysians really needa learn a thing or two from them.

On our first night, we camped behind a pub for only 5 quid, it was getting late as we had a late headstart and we pitched our tent in minutes just so that we can catch the lastcall at the pub before the barmen closes it at 10pm. We ended up having such a good time with the locals and didnt get kicked out until 2am! It feels good when everyone insisted on buying you real ales and southern comforts even after you say no (halfheartedly, :p).

from then on we avoided motorways altogether and got on the A roads and B roads, ie Scenic routes. Driving through english countriside is a beautiful experience, moorlands and national parks aplenty, and the coastline is to die for, albeit being too cold to swim in the sea even in the midst of summer. We gone past manchester and leeds and liverpool and blackpool and every english cities that you can name, without even considering going in and get caught in the mess. I've had enough of city sightseeing in London.

It was indeed a good camping trip, we drove some 1700 miles in total and unfortunately, that costs us a fortune. It's by far my most expensive trip yet but im not complaining, what's better to see the country than to travel with the local. Suya knows everything there is to know about England and she's eager to transfer that knowledge to me, and we've gone all the way up to scotland, back down to england, crossed over to Wales twice, and visited castles and mansions and monuments and stone circles.

It's also a gastronomic trip for me too. Every town has something special to offer and we've been feeding ourselves really well. Went to torquay yesterday and met up with Suya's mom, got treated to a very nice meal and beer at the pub and we participated in the bingo quiz! 25 questions altogether and i somehow managed to contribute 2 answers. The Japanese word for Japan (Nihon) and Jesus's age when He died (33). We didnt win but it was good fun.

will be going back to London next week...