recent trips

i’ve been travelling quite a bit lately… within the country and between countries.

the month of May saw me and A visiting Bayfield for a much needed spa-getaway up to the Superior Northshore. i seem to find myself travelling up there quite a lot. this time, it’s the Wisconsin side of the great lake that we explored. in the small-town, coastal setting, we stayed at the eco-friendly Pinehurst Inn, which is owned and run by a lovely couple. the house sauna and organic breakfast spread were not the only highlights! many of the rooms come with a gas fireplace, a whirlpool bath complemented with organic bath salts, and access to the real spa — in case we felt the need for further indulgence. we rented bicycles and took the ferry to Madeline Island. all was very pleasant except for the one disappointment: the new local restaurant, Wild Rice, that i’ve heard so much about and was very much anticipated, was still closed for the season! we made do with dining at Maggies, whose quirky and flamboyantly pink flamingo-themed interiors (which also included a moving toy train display above the bar) did, surprisingly, offer pretty decent food. what i enjoyed most was the quick bite we got at the hippy Big Water Cafe, and the beautifully soothing vanilla Earl-Grey latte i had.

i also made a trip to Scotland in May… primarily visiting the University of Glasgow, although i did take the train to Edinburgh for an afternoon’s visit. in Edinburgh, i met up with my academic supervisors/mentors/friends, who were very kind not only because they made time for my visit and inquired about my assessment of the offer from Glasgow etc., but also because they fed me a very lovely lunch, as well as offered me tea and homemade cakes. i was quite spoilt, indeed.

the weather in Scotland was miserably soggy and cold, which admittedly made me feel rather down and somewhat despondent about the Glaswegian climate, especially when it had been sunny back in the Twin-Cities. it also didn’t help knowing that it is comparatively sunnier and drier in Edinburgh. while in Scotland, i also had the opportunity to catch up with L, with whom i had many cuppas during our postgrad-days, and who had spent most of 2008 in HK and just returned to the UK.

in June, i made yet another trip up north, with C and K and a visiting scholar from Oxford, to see the Split Rock Lighthouse and Lake Superior, after a brief stop at my favourite cafe, The New Scenic Cafe, along the scenic drive. we had a lovely afternoon exploring the area, enjoyed a large spread of delectable edibles for our outdoor picnic, and scrambled atop rocky formations for a better view of the magnificent lake.

i wonder where the rest of June and the following months would take me…