#AdventurerMelly || Dive at Tioman

In light of my previous entry about Tioman, I compiled some of the best diving moments during the trip. Since taking the plunge (literally), it has been one of my best experiences thus far. 

#AdventurerMelly || A day in Bath

With only 12 hours to spare before heading down to visit a friend in Exeter, I decided to visit a nearby city in hopes of conquering as many cities as possible while in England. There were so many cities to choose from but due to time constraints I had to choose somewhere on the Southwest of England. Bath, situated between London and Exeter, naturally became the perfect option. 

Stepping into Bath is like taking a trip back to the Roman and Medieval days. Every building in Bath is beautifully carved and well preserved. The intricacy of each architecture showcases the amount of effort put into building them. With so much history behind each building, its no wonder one can lose track of time while wondering around the city center. Even a non-history enthusiast like me was amazed. No wonder it was awarded the UNESCO World Heritage Site recognition in 1987. 

Getting there:

It's rather simple to get around England; train, coach or rental car. Picking the best mode of transport depends on your budget and schedule. Timing was my top priority so I booked a train ticket from First Great Western. I only took me 1.5hrs to reach Bath. It's also relatively affordable when you book off-peak train timings. Word of advice; book your ticket before the trip to secure a seat on the train and avoid price increment. 

Luggage storage:
A very affordable storage space can be found at a local internet cafe that is about a five minute walk from the train/bus station. It's located on 13 Manvers Street. I can assure you it is decent and safe as University of Bath also recommends it. The person running the place is extremely friendly too.

What I did:

Wandered the streets of Bath - Being an art on its own, one can hardly miss the massive buildings of Bath Abbey (church) and Roman Bath. These landmarks are located in the city center, which is usually swarmed with tourists and street performers serenading passers-by. Have a seat on the benches provided while soaking in the atmosphere. It can be rather therapeutic. 

Stonehenge - It is located about an hour away from city center so it is very much advisable to follow a tour or rent a car. I highly recommend Scarper Tours for a day trip to Stonehenge. It is a 4 hour tour that covers transportation to and from Stonehenge, Stonehenge entrance ticket and a driver/guide that provides interesting facts about the places you will pass by on the journey to Stonehenge. Along the journey, I saw University of Bath, the oldest houses in Bath, a prison from the Celtic era and many more. 

Unlike most tours, it was not rushed. We were each given an audio guide and ample time to soak in the beauty and understand the history of the stones. I had a pleasant and insightful time understanding how people from the past made these sculptures. The only thing that bothered me the most was that researchers did not know why the Stonehenge was built. They found out how, who and when it was built but didn't know why. There must be a reason for their actions. If only we knew... 

Where I ate:
Sally Lunn Bun - It's extremely famous for its long history of serving the best French buns in Bath. It is very popular among tourists and is crowded round the clock. Personally, it did not live up to its reputation as I wasn't impressed with the bun. It was a little soggy for my liking. But the jam, cream cheese, in house tea and impeccable service made the experience sweeter.

That's pretty much what I did in Bath. There are definitely loads more to do there, like riding a bike around the city and entering the Roman Bath but I left the place understanding the history of England. So there was no regrets. I also manage to meet up with a friend that I don't usually get to meet when in SG. I ticked Bath off the list of cities to visit in England with a happy heart!