Scribe and Photo by Website Kang
We booked our accommodation at Cowgate Tourist Hostel in Edinburgh when we were at Inverness by telephone. After we finished
with our golf expedition at the RAAGC of St Andrews, we took a bus heading to Edingburgh. The bus journey was as pleasant and
by 4pm, we reached the Edinburgh bus station. It happened to be the Edinburgh Festivals week, and the city was full of tourists and
people. It was quite a distance from the bus station to the Cowgate hostel,and because the city was built on a very hilly ground, and
it was difficult to find the place especially the key street, the Blair Street was blocked by the hawkers' stalls. we were at
the top of the hill and were trying to find the hostel which was at the bottom of the hill. In the end, Garfield and I guarded
the luggage bags and Drug Buster and Sing Sung went checking, the hashing skill was put to use. They could not find the check.
Somehow, by chance, a young Frenchman passed by me and Garfield, I approached the Frenchman and asked whether he knew the Cowgate Tourist
Hostel. By then, Drug Buster returned and said " No, he didn't know because just now I already asked him. " The Frenchman at this
time answered: " Yes, I stayed there, please follow me! " " But, just now you said you didn't know the place!" refuted by Drug
Buster. " Look, Drug Buster, You did not know the name of the hostel, how could he know!" I said. The Frechman answered: " That is correct! "
Drug Buster asked for the street name i.e Blair street, and the Frenchman did not know either, but he stayed at the Cowgate
Tourist hostel. Amazing! and finally we were approaching the hostel and the Frenchman left us. Drug Buster and Sing Sung walked
very fast and were at least 150 meters ahead of myself and Garfield. We were very puzzled when the two of them ignored the
hostel and went straight, overshot and walked very fast further up such that we could not stop them. I told Garfield: "
What are these two jokers trying to do? The signboard is just up there!" " Never mind, let them walk, we had better check in
the hostel." So we entered the hostel, the pretty receptionist welcomed us. " Our friends overshot and are still walking up,
but the booking is under one of their names, just wait!" Garfield and I just sat in the comfortable sofa and waited for Drug Buster
and Sing Sung to return. It must be twenty minutes or so that finally these two jokers returned. " Hey, where have you been?
Why didn't you stop here?" Drug Buster said: " We saw another ' Bakpackers Hostel' far away, we thought that was the one! " What
a joke, they could even get lost in the broad day light of Edinburgh, it is no wonder, sometimes we could get lost in the jungle
in our hash run. You could just look, but never see!
The hostel was situated in front of the well known pub in town, The Three Sisters, and was very noisy as the business had been
very good. From 2pm until 2am in the morning, the customers just kept flowing in and out. They even had a few bouncers who
checked identity seriously and really barred those under age customers to enter. The hostel was not well managed, the cooking
utensils were not well maintained, and washed. But we had a room for four by ourselves.
When everything was settled, we roamed around the city, had fish and chips for dinner and did find the atmosphere was in the
mood of holidaying. The city is very Scottish and so the buildings say that. Many souvenir shops were opened and there were full
of those Scottish stuff.
We put up a night, and this was our last stop of Scotland and we headed to Newcastle the next day.
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Date: 24-09-2004