It really isn't a long way to Tipperary...

Dublin, Ireland

Friday 6th October, about noon.

Greetings wee lads and bonnie lasses. (Think in Irish accent) I am havin a grarnd time hur in Irreland. I do'no wana leave.

Ah, I can hear the lovely burr from here. Since writing last I have done something to write about. Quite a lot actually so hang on to your shamrocks cus hur we gooo.
My first day in Dublin consisted of wandering around. The main city is about the size of Perth city with the suburbs surrounding it taking it out to about Belmont in Perth distance. Then it is green fields and tiny towns. The architecture is similiar to England (well duh Kym - they occupied it for so long) and many of the streets are like London, Abbey and Marleborough just to name a few. My dorm room is co-ed but I was lucky enough to have one guy to us five girls. My bed had serious dip-in-the-middle issues but I got some nocturnal exercise by trying to roll over. It has been the most cozy bed I have stayed in since Las Vegas so no complaints here.
I saw some of the sights Dublin boasts of, Bram Stoker of Dracula fame's house, National Art Gallery, Trinity College and the Book of Kells. Let me just pause here and say WOW. The book is amazing. I knew I was only going to be able to see 2 pages (they change each day to preserve it as much as possible) but how cool were those 2 pages. There was information at the entrance on its history and how it was made. The vellum is pig or cow skin and the ink is derived from crystals (rocks like malachite and lapis) and the artwork is phenomenal. I stared at it for ages then went upstairs to their Long Library (want one of those!!! 2 storeys and about 100m long) then went back and stared some more. It is so intricate and would have taken them days and days just to do one section of a page.
The rest of the day I read one of my newly acquired books which was bliss. I went out that night to Irelands oldest pub, The Brazen Head. I sat at the bar and paid AUS$10 for two fingers of Baileys. I was mainly having that for mum (who is a fan) and because there was NO way i was trying thre other Irish export, Guinness. But after a few sips (I had to make it last until the traditional Irish music started an hour later) it went down well. I learnt that if I left it awhile the ice cubes melted and the volume increased, making it more economical for me. You'd think that it would have been cheaper made there (eek - my expectations of cheap China just dropped). Behind the bar was assorted bills from around the world with different words and sayings on them. I was pleased to note there was a blue Australian note with the words 'Go Eagles 2006'. I had to let you know mum.
I spent an hour at the bar (noone came to pick me up - damn! But there was no hope of me showing some skin to get someone interested - its cold here!) I made my way to the back rooms where the Irish music was playing. It was great. I listened for almost an hour (still with the teeniest bit of Baileys - I should have ordered Vodka - I could have refreshed it with water when the waitress's back was turned). I enjoyed the atmosphere until fatigue drove me back to my room.

The next day I had booked a tour to take me to same famous sites north of Dublin, Tara (the seat of Kings, not the Gone with the Wind kind) which turned out to be a hill with mounds, a ruined Abbey, a prehistoric Tomb, the largest Celtic Crosses in Ireland (ooh - want to take one home with me but I sense difficulty considering the one I like is about 3m high and weighs 2 tonnes), and the Hill of Slane (where St Patrick lit a symbolic fire). I learnt the reason why the Irish love the shamrock. St Patrick explained to one of the Kings of Ireland about the Holy Trinity with the clover, one petal for each entity, then he turned it over and said but see only one stem. Cool huh!
The commentary was informative about the history of Ireland (and because of the accent) and my guide was very personable.
I have a free day to explore again today (Friday) before I go on a train to the town of Limerick in County Tipperary. It is only a 2 hour train ride so it really isn't far to Tipperary (hence the title of this post). I start a tour there which takes me to the Cliffs Of Moher and to Blarney. So if my next blog is full of hwnjehejnfenjfnewn, you'll know I didn't get to kiss the Blarney Stone and recieve the gift of eloquence. Ah, I can hear you all now - 'But Kym, you already have the gift!!' Please people, please - no more flattery. It will go to my head.

I am not sure when I will be able to blog next (maybe in China) so I will leave you with a Limerick on the eve of my depature to Limerick.

There once was a girl, Kym Brooks,
Who thought she'd see how the world looks,
She saw so much,
But still kept in touch,
Soon all she'll see is Weet-Bix!

Love from Kym