Tintern Abbey, Caerphilly Castle & Ping Khuan

It has been the busiest and most tiring week in the UK. I worked as a garderner in Uncle Carl's garden on Saturday, and from trimming leaves ended up uprooting entire trees. I think the last time I physically exerted thus much was in the army. But it was a very good workout. Next, the maps assignment is due on Wednesday, and even though I have had a rough idea on what to do for quite some time already, I only got started typing on Monday. But the highlight of this week, is a visit from Ping Khuan from the US!

He arrived at 920pm on Tuesday night, and left Cardiff at 920pm on Wednesday night. Within this time period of 24 hrs, I finished my report, and we travelled from Cardiff to Chepstow to Caerphilly and back to Cardiff, and visited Tintern Abbey, Caerphilly Castle, Cardiff Bay and the famous Gala Casino Cardiff (made famous by me). I saw Wales at its most beautiful today, even better than the visit to Brecon Beacons made last year.

Tintern Abbey lies along the Wye Valley in Chepstow, and was built in the 12th century (1131) by Cistercian Monks from France. A gothic building set admist greyish mountains and the Wye River, it really gives a sense of peace. Not a holy kind of peace as places of worship might give, it is after all only the ruins of the Abbey; but a kind of quietness within nature. The shade of colours are dull, except for the glorious sky, yet the whole picture exudes a great calmness. The town of Chepstow must be my favourite place in the UK thus far. The town centre is simply a sloped road filled with lightly painted houses (i.e, light pink, white). Beyond, the housing is laregly detached with lots of garden space. Add to that a wonderfully rural racecourse, which is nonetheless huge. (Very different atmosphere from Kranji, which gives a very commercialized "betting" feel.) A small town of 20,000, it perhaps allow peace and activity, nature and civilization, community and individuals to mix effortlessly.

Caerphilly Castle was built by the Norman nobleman Gilbert de Clare and not Edward I(who built most Welsh castles so as to crack down on the Welsh Lords.) Gilbert de Clare instead, built the Castle to resist against the Last Welsh Prince Llewellyn and safeguard his territory of Glarmorgan. It is the largest castle in Wales, and the second largest in the UK. It has double moats, and the extent of the defenses are elaborate. In here, I learnt much about Welsh history from the exhibitions and books. (how power in Wales evolved from the Celtic Chieftains to the Romans, to the Normans, to the various Welsh Princes, and finally to the English Kings). Caerphilly is also a small town located very near to Cardiff. We saw lots of students from the same Secondary School walking down the streets. This gives it a very local feel, which I think actually gives the place a sense of cosiness, and you really do not get a feeling of being lost, even though it is foreign.

The reason why I have gone into some detail into explaining all these is because for once, the pictures I am going to post do not tell a thousand words. Rather, they are pictures I like because the scenery or people within (=P) look very nice. Of course, to end off, this entire visit would have only taken place because Ping Khuan visited. I can never emphasize more how the familiarity of having a close friend visit, and the pride of being a host, actually gives me a huge sense of satisfaction and eagerness to discover the land!

It's now time to sleep. I have slept only 3 hrs in the last 30 hrs. (now you know how come the report could be completed even though Ping Khuan visited) Good night! Have a great day! Hope you like the pictures!