Boyz on the Isle of Man...

Couple of trips - first one in 2015

This was our first time staying in Ash Cottage in Castletown, and it is now our go-to destination.



We had a good drive around, and the boyz got to enjoy some of the beautiful countryside

 

And we hung out by the harbour in Castletown





Then 2016 we went over again...
Variable weather this time.  first hail...



then wind....




then rain, which means Hamish's favourite things - rainbows!

Mr Strong in the DPRK!

After much discussion, we decided that we really should not take Hamish with us - we didn't know what to expect, and Mr Strong is a little less - sizably challenged I guess...

First things first - champagne at the airport before the flight to Beijing...



A couple of days in Beijing first to acclimatise to the weather and heat - Mummy had time to buy a fan...

 

We saw some local architecture and lots of people in squares
 


But then we were off to Pyongyang.  The flight was actually pretty good, although Mr Strong did have to give up his seat for a paying passenger...


On to the first of many buses at the other end on arrival



Checking into the huge, hard room



And the day time buses




And then it was time for the real DPRK - buying flowers for the great leaders (slightly dead ones - the flowers as well as the leaders...)


We saw some mass dancings - I wanted to join in but Daddy wouldn't let me...
 

Then a day in a square with lots of flags and the Juche Tower



And lots of beers - firstly in a beer house - these seats confused me, looked like wood, but was really squishy...


Then back to the hotel...



Then a day trip out to the country past some triumphal arches...



And past some old doors


Then I got to sit at the actual table where the armistice talks were held after the Korean war...


Out at the dam and west sea barrage


A trip on the metro


More beers at the hotel - side of canned tuna for me please!



Lunches at weird olde style Korean places


A trip to the DMZ - I got close to the military dude...



Admiring the green countryside


Then back to Beijing for KFC and a lovely comfortable room!

 

The boyz go to Bergen

First trip to Norway for any of the family, and Mr Strong and Hamish had their own mini-seat on the plane - they were very happy...



But of course the trip had started off slightly differently, not quite so salubrious


We got there and headed to our lovely hotel in a historic building


They didn't get out too much, but did have one stroll along the quayside...

 

Then back on the bus to the airport - yes, they refused to go in the luggage rack!

 

Mr Strong goes to Tokyo

Mummy was off to Tokyo for work, so Mr Strong decided to join her...

After a relaxing sleep in his own retractable bed (ie the drawer) on the flight, we were there!

 

Taking in some other forms of transport - very efficient clean metro system...

And some of the sights - really, didn't understand the excitement about a big intersection...

 

Then we met up with Mummy's uncle and went to a park - I think I would look good in a kimono

Mummy and I went shopping

 

I also found some power tools lying around - strange city where something like this can be left unattended by a gardener for over an hour 

And I also amused myself in the hotel room - catching sunbeams, looking at the view, and watching cartoon weather

 

But my favourite was the hotel lift - blingtastic!