Wokingham in The Royal County of Berkshire and Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

Today the 28th of May 2011...our last day in England...and we had not visited Wokingham our base town...so Marie our gracious hostess took us out to Wokingham while David and Simon went riding like young lads would do.

Wokingham is a lovely town with all its small shops with big names...lots of nice restaurants...card shops...pharmacies..banks...and the lot. It was just so lovely walking around on a beautiful spring day. And of course shopping was on the agenda too. I told Marie that she was so blessed having this good life in England with her husband and daughter.

Marie and me

The beautiful town of Wokingham

And that evening we left the Suresh residence at about 5.30pm to head for Heathrow to take our flight home. We bid farewell to the Simon , Marie and Simone with the hope that we will return to England if they still lived there in the future.

The check in at Qatar Airways in Heathrow was so pleasant and we boarded our flight so anxious to get home and see Andrew of course.

When we reached KLIA on the 29th of May 2011 at 10.00pm....we were greeted by Andrew and Sandra who brought flowers and garlanded us and it was a sight for everyone at the arrival hall...and guess what....we were HOME after a beautiful month of travelling...and we united as a family again. Thank you Jesus for the beautiful trip You gave us...You are so Good. We love you Jesus.

Reading , Camberley , Marlow and Henley

Today the 27th of May 2011....last minute shopping again....for us gals...so David had no choice but to take us to Reading where they had all the stores we wanted to shop at. Reading is a beautiful town...now packed with immigrants...and also houses the ever famous University of Reading. We parked at the Broadway Shopping Mall and walked around and got some good bargains.

Then David drove us to Camberley where the huge Marks and Spencer store is and guess what they were having a huge sale and that meant lots of bargains. Yes I sort of went crazy and managed to get some good pants for 5 pounds each...that RM25.00...really a bargain. Mel too got some stuff and then we headed to see some small towns before we headed for home.

We went back to Henley on Thames to show Mel around and it was as beautiful but we saw it under grey skies this time. Then we headed to Marlow...another beautiful quaint town which just mesmerised me and David. And then it was time to head home to spend some time with the Suresh family...our hosts.

Good day out for last minute shopping and sightseeing...very fruitful indeed.

Reading , England

Camberley , England

Henley , England

Marlow , England

And that night we treated the Suresh family to an Italian dinner at Don Perry's in Wokingham but before we left for dinner...Simon toasted us with champagne and strawberries...which is and English custom....to say thank you for visiting and we all had a great time together.

Simon and Marie our gracious hosts and the champagne

Mel and Simone

Dinner at Don Perry Italian Restaurant

Oxford Street, London

Today the 26th of May 2011..we gals went into London City to do some last minute shopping and meet up with Tharishini. David and Simon dropped us off at Wokingham Station and we were off to the city after paying a train fare of 20 pounds each and that RM200.00...just to get into the city. The trains are very expensive but we did it anyway.

We came into Waterloo Station and then took the Underground to Marble Arch station...and as we got out at Marble Arch to Oxford Street it was raining...typical English weather and Mel was so sad...the day she wants to shop and it rains. Anyway we made our way to Primark Departmental Store and shopped around. Then we met up with Tharishini and wow there was excitement when the two girls saw each other...and there was more excitement when Veronica Rozario...one of Mel's friends met up with us. 

We headed for Pizza Hut for lunch as it was the nearest and we had the buffet which served pasta and pizza. Yum Yum it was great and with the fellowship we had it was better. we chatted and and laughed and then Tharishini pulled out the scan photos of the baby she is expecting. Wow a miracle to see the baby within her womb...it was a special moment in our lives. That made our lunch more exciting and awesome.

Then we walked out in the rain that came and went and that did not stop us gals from shopping...so we went from store to store until we covered the whole of Oxford Street. Then it was time to say bye to Tharishini as we reached  Waterloo Station from Oxford Circus Station. It was sad but then she was coming home to Malaysia to join Anantha her husband who was already working in KL. 

We reached Wokingham and David was there to pick us and we went home happy after all the shopping and meeting up with Tharishini and Veronica. Good day out for mother and daughter too...and Mel was just happy with all the good buys she got.

Mel and me in the train from Wokingham to Waterloo

Mel and Veronica Rozario

Mel and Tharishini

Tharishini and me

Veronica and me

Mel and me at Oxford Circus Station

Germany back to England

Today the 25th of May 2011..we sadly said goodbye to The Nicolays...and it was no easy task. Harald came to pick us up and of course there was still concern over the volcanic ash and Mama Nicolay called her travel agent friend and he confirmed that it was not going to affect any flight out of Frankfurt.

We hugged and said goodbye to Papa and Mama Nicolay and there were tears and it was such a moment in our lives that it is so hard to express in mere words. We promised that we will come back someday and visit them. And we got into the Nissan Patrol and headed straight out of Weimar . It was beautiful weather and the drive was going to be along one. We left at 10.30am so that we could be at the airport by 4.00pm

We drove through many small towns and also acros the Rhein River and Valley and we had so much to chat about with Harald. We reached Frankfurt Hahn in the town of Kirchberg which is about 300km from Weimar Ahnatal and 120km from Frankfurt City.  We were early so we went to the Burger King nearby to have a late lunch.

We bid goodbye to Harald and invited him to come back to Malaysia for a visit.

We checked in and got on to our Ryanair flight to London. Flight was good contrary to what people warned us about this airlines.. We arrived London Stanstead after a 2 hour flight and was met by Simon Suresh who drove us back to Wokingham which took another 2 hours. It was good to be back at Wokingham after our two week Europe travel. We ordered some Chinese takeaway and chatted about our trip.

Frankfurt Hahn Airport Germany

London Stansted Airport England

Wilhemshoe and Herkules

Mama Niolay and me at Herkules

Today the 24th of May 2011....The Senior Nicolays drove us to see Herkules a must see when you visit Kassel City. Mrs Nicolay drove us there with Mr Nicolay sitting quietly with us gals at the back. The drive as usual was a pleasant one.And it was a cold spring day and it was beautiful.

The Hercules monument is an important landmark in the German city of Kassel. It is located in the "Bergpark (Mountainpark) Wilhelmshöhe", northern Hesse, Germany. Hercules is a copper statue depicting the ancient Greek demigod Heracles ,  (German Herkules). The statue is located at the top of a Pyramid, which stands on top of the Octagon; the statue and the other parts of the monument were constructed at different times. Today "Hercules" refers not only to the statue, but the whole monument, including the Octago and Pyramid. The monument is the highest point in the Wilhelmshöhe Bergpark.The monument is located in Bad Wilhelmshöhe, on the Eastern ridge of the Habichtswald. It was built in an artificial dell of the Karlsberg (526m above sea level) on the most western and at the same time highest location (515 m) of the line of sight Schloss Wilhelmshöhe . These photos should explain what we saw. We spent quite a while there .

At the Herkules Monument Area

Herkules at the top of the monument

Thats what Hercules looks like

 

Then Mr Nicolay David and Mel decided they will walk the stairs down to the castle and Mama Nicolay and I went by car there to wait for them. Well they took about an hour to arrive . We sat and talked for awhile at the castle which is now a museum and and enjoyed the cool spring day.





Mel after her walk down

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The Nicolays and The Nettos enjoying a chat

Wilhemshoe Castle

After visiting this monumental structure of Herkules and The Wilhemshoe Castle we went to have coffee and cake at The Windergarten . It was cold so the hot coffee and cake was good.

Coffee and cake at Windergarten

Mel and her glass of ice tea

The beautiful Windergarten

After coffee we headed for home as Mama Nicolay had to prepare dinner for all of us as it was going to be our last night in Weimar. She cooked a beautiful typically German dinner and the fellowship was great,

Beef stew , red cabbage and potatoes for dinner

Mama and Papa Nicolay





Papa Nicolay and me

Mama Nicolay and David

It was a really good dinner and we chatted awhile and had to bid bye to Suzannah as we were leaving the next day. Of course at that time Papa Nicolay was also keeping us informed about the volcanic ash from Iceland that might delay our flight the next day. We went to bed feeling a little sad that it was our last night in Weimar Ahnatal. 

Day with Mrs Nicolay in Kassel

Today the 23rd of May 2011...Harald took David out for the day...and we ladies decided to spend time with Mrs Nicolay. and treat her to a meal. We had a light breakfast and chatted with Mr Nicolay ...and he shared so many stories with us. He went off with one of his friends and we gals went out for the day.

We went to a Chinese restaurant in the next town called Taipan for a buffet lunch. It was really a welcome change after all that German food. The Chinese food was good with plenty of choices and we just enjoyed the company of Mrs Nicolay. She shared with us about her family and how she met Mr Nicolay and all the stories of yesteryear.  We had a sumptuous meal and then we headed towards Kassel for some shopping.

Kassel is a very nice small  city located on the Fulda River  in northern Hesse, Germany, one of the two sources of the Weser river. If you look closely at a German map you would find Kassel right in the middle of German heartland. We shopped at C & A and some other shops and then sat for a coffee and just watched people go by and enjoyed the weather. Then we went to the local supermarket near Weimar to get some Turkish bread for dinner. We went home aftera leisure day with Mrs Nicolay and sat down for dinner and heard more stories about their life together.

David returned late from his day with Harald...he went to see BMW bikes...saw quarries...climbed hills...and went down into ravines...well thats how your day would go if you spent it with Harald Nicolay....adventurous.

Taipan Chinese Restaurant

Inside the restaurant

C & A in Kassel

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Eisenach and The Watburg Castle




Today the 22nd of May 2011..another beautiful morning in the small German town of Weimar...Harald and Gaby joined us for breakfast as it was their day to take us out. Sitting with them at breakfast and chatting made us realise how much they have lived their life well...all the travelling they have done and the people they have met along the way...and the cheers they have brought to people. I said to myself thats how I want to be remembered always...a well travelled person with my family who has brought love to people along the way and of course doing God's work as part of my life.



After a big breakfast..we set off in Harald's Nissan Patrol that was so comfortable for the five of us. We went through Kassel City and it was filled with so many people as there was the Annual Marathon that was on that weekend. Well Harald just drove his way through and very soon we were on the highway heading east to a town called Eisenach. The drive was so pleasant with Harald and Gaby explaining to us all the sights that we passed. ..the towns of Bishausen , Helsa , Netra , Luderbach and then we came to the old border of West and East Germany. What a historic place! We stopped and they took us to the actual border and explained to us about what happened in the old days when they were divided.

Harald explaining to Mel about the border

David and me at the historic border of West and East Germany

Mel and me at the historic border

Harald and David at the border

Then we drove on and we reached Ifta the first town on the East Germany part and we drove on and we reached Eisenach a  city in Thuringia, Germany. It is situated between the northern foothills of the Thuringian Forest and the Hainich National Park. The history of Eisenach is linked with the Wartburg Castle, which was built according to legend in 1067. There were at least three settlements below the castle, that merged to a common city in the second half of the 12th century. This town, Eisenach, was first mentioned in 1180. We walked around the town and bought some souveniers at the gift shop and then made our way to the castle.

The pretty town of Eisenach

Streets of Eisenach

The Watburg Castle was going through alot of restoration when we went there but we did have a look around. Built in 1067 it housed a lot of history and it is even said that in one of the rooms of the castle...the devil appeared to Martin Luther King when he was writing and he actually threw ink onto the devil and the ink mark is still there.

The Watburg Castle

David and me inside the castle

Mel at the castle gardens

We walked down the castle stairs and were walking towards the car when Harald tempted us to some Bratwurst Sausages....and it was yummy.Then we made our way back to Eisenach and walked around the town and went for some ice cream at Dolce Vita Cafe. We left the pretty town and and went on to see the small towns of Mihla , Cruezburg , Treffurt and then Harald suggested we go and have dinner at another castle. So we made our way to Burg Normanstein but sadly the restaurant was closed but we went up and had a look. Many couples get married at this beautiful castle.

Yes dear I love the Bratwurst

Mel and Harald  enjoying the ice cream at Dolce Vita Cafe

The Burg Normanstein



We continued our journey and passed by the towns of Wanfried , Freida and we stopped at Eschwenge for dinner and we settled for some German Mac Donalds and we ate so much and chatted more. Then it was time to make our way back to Weimar through the Meisner Volcanic mountains and other small towns. Mrs Nicolay was there to welcome us home and we bid bye to Harald and Gaby who were really worn out at the end of the day. It was another very well spent day in Germany absorbing history and culture of all the towns we visited. Thank you Harald and Gaby for everything...we love you guys.

Kassel City and Wihemsthal

Today the 21st of May 2011 the beautiful Mrs Nicolay once again laid the dining table with different kinds of German breads , cheeses , corned meat and beautiful brewed coffee. It was a big German breakfast and we were getting so pampered because back home we just take 2 slices of bread and a cup of Nescafe. .David really enjoyed the breads. And today it was Mr Nicolay's turn to take us out for half the day. He drove us to Kassel City to visit The Markthalle....which opens on Thursdays , Fridays and Saturdays. What a clean market...the stalls were so well presented. Most of it sold pork as Germans love their pork..some sold vegetables..and yet others sold fresh flowers. Mel bought some fresh flowers for Mrs Nicolay..the perfect host. We were there for about an hour and later we made a short visit to the Salvation Army next door. Then we walked about Kassel City...with Mr Nicolay giving us a brief history of some of the places. He even pointed out a place where he first saw Hitler when he was about 7 years old. Then he took us to City Point Shopping Centre so we ladies could take a quick look around. And as we drove home...there was a bit of a traffic jam at one point...and Mr Nicolay being the practical man he is ....made a U turn on some beautiful grass patch...and headed the other way....so we could beat the jam....we had a good laugh all the way home.

The markets in Kassel

The vegetable stalls

One of the many pork stalls

David and me with Mr Helmut Nicolay

Mel with Mr Nicolay

Mel and me with a volunteer of Salvation Army

Mel and me in Kassel City



Then we went home and Mrs Nicolay had a big strawberry tart and coffee waiting for us. The tart was really very nice and rich...and we chatted for awhile..then it was Mrs Nicolay's turn to take us out for the afternoon. They are such a great couple..married for 53 years...David and I learnt a lot from them.

So we headed off to Wihemsthal Palace in Calden. Landgrave Wilhelm VIII, the founder of the Kassel art gallery, had the Wilhelmsthal palace and park built from 1743 onwards in rural surroundings as his summer residence, pleasure grounds and hunting lodge. Unfortunately, however, he died before the project was completed . Each year the palace and park form the backdrop for the official opening of the “North Hessian Cultural Summer“, a series of staged events which are launched with a concert and picnic in the park. The palace building is one of the region’s most important monuments and one of the most outstanding examples of the rococo period still in existence. The best-known artists of the 18th century were involved in its construction. It was awesome...the interior of the palace was so tastefully decorated and some of the pieces were about 200 years old...and the cost of upkeeping the place must be really expensive for the local councils. They had a room for everything...from dining to dancing . It was a one hour tour and it was so informative. We could not take photos inside but I did get some postcards for rememberance.

The Wilhemsthal Palace

The back of the palace

The grounds of the palace

Mel and one of the 'Cupid' figurines

We headed for home in the evening...Mrs Nicolay cooked us a typical German dinner of Bratwurst Sausages and Sourkrat Cabbage..it was yummy...and for dessert strawberry and cream which we had outside the house on the balcony in the cool German weather.... another beautiful relaxing day for The Nettos in Germany.

Strawberry and cream

The view from the home balcony

David tremendously enjoyed the company of Mr Nicolay