Scotland Educational Trip 2018 - Day 1

4/28/2018

Greetings from Edinburgh!

Mrs Lam, Mrs Ho and I are among the 31 Hong Kong educators participating in the Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council's Scotland Study Tour 2018. Our group is composed of primary, secondary and tertiary schools members and we are excited to learn more about what people of this side of the world are doing for teaching and learning.

[From left to right: me, my wife (Dr Ricci Fong) and Mr Neil Maxwell, who used to be Dr Fong's secondary school teacher! This was taken when we were at the Arrival Hall at Edinburgh airport - such a happy reunion!]

But before that, we had to go through really long flights - 8 hours to Doha and 7 hours to Edinburgh...followed a 3-hour coach ride to Aberdeen. Yet the views on the way proved to us it was all worth it!

To the people in this country, the meadows and animals may not seem to be so special at all. But to us Hongkongers who grew up in concrete forests, these scenic views are truly a luxury. The weather was great. Mostly a clear sky with decorative clouds. Temperature was around 8-9 degree celsius, just right to keep us awake from the inevitable jet lag!

[On the way to Aberdeen, we stopped by a restaurant for a short tea break. In Hong Kong's standard, it was a very big restaurant. See how relaxing Mrs Ho and Mr Lam were! They got their energy back after some hot drink and soup.]

This restaurant, where we stopped en route to Aberdeen, seemed to have an interesting name: Ye May Gang Faur and Fare Waur...according to a staff member, it was written in Doric, a Scottish dialect, which meant "You may go further and do a lot worse."

So, my first question is: How do you make sense of this idiom?

We ended the long day at a decent restaurant where we all enjoyed a satisfying meal. We left the restaurant at 8 pm, and as you could see from the right picture above, the sky was still bright! But of course, we needed a good rest and we were all driven to our hotel where I wrote this brief travelogue entry.

Bonus question before I sign off - I found these weird items for sale at a hidden corner at the Edinburgh airport. What are these?

Alright! I need some sleep now...See if anyone of you could answer my two questions above and please do leave your comments below which may not necessarily be the answers. I welcome any of your comments.

Stay tuned for more actions tomorrow (Day 2)!

Dr H C Lee

38 Comments

Cayden Wong YWPS 6C 27

4/29/2018 06:34:42 am

What an exciting start for a journey. I personallly felt great for Dr. Lee for having a chance to be part of such a amazing experience!
I do agree with Dr Lee about the meadows in Scotland. These sights are all impossible to be seen in Hong Kong. To the local citizens, the meadows stretching miles without end is a regular view, while for we Hong Kongers, well, let's just say that we'll make a grab for our phones and cameras and snap away as many photos as possible.(Hmmmmmmm...That's what I suspect you did, Dr Lee.
Talking about Dr Lee's first question, I think the idiom "You may go further and do a lot worse" was made up by the restaurant to advertise itself. The idiom might be trying to tell you: If you go further WITHOUT stopping at our restaurant, you will do a lot worse! So please stop by our restaurant( Implied "Duh" here) And i think Dr Lee found the idiom helpful!
As for Dr Lee's second question, I have completely NO idea what those are. Hmmmm... Maybe I do have an idea: If those were found at the airport, could they be pills for passengers to use while on the plane, to help them... I dunno, sleep?
Anyway, Thankyou to Dr Lee for sharing with us his great experience, I sure will be tuning in for tomorrow!(Which means tonight for my case)

Vincent Song 6C 25

4/29/2018 10:13:27 am

Wow. I'm jealous. You know, I kind of want to be those sheep foraging and roaming around the meadows(How can Dr.Lee just leave us here and go to great places?!). But if I can't be a sheep, than teleporting myself and sipping a nice cup of tea in the 'Ye May Gang Faur and Fare Waur' restaurant would be another great option.

I wonder if D.Lee drank something in the restaurant(there's only Mrs.Ho and Mr.Lam in the picture). If he didn't, what a shame for the restaurant. Why do I say so? As that is what I make of the idiom 'you may go further and do a lot worse'. The restaurant hopes to tell the customers that going on is dangerous, and so you should prepare yourself by eating something first. Just like Dr.Lee's group, they would do a worse if they directly head on, as they have serious jet lag. However, if they sit down, sip hot coffee, and look at the great scenic views all around them, that would prepare them better for the long journey ahead and, hopefully, make them feel better. Well, I hope my explanation is different from that of Cayden's, although there may be similarities

Mmmmm... Dr.Lee's second question. Frankly saying, I think it is just a toy. Yep, a toy. It's just Dr.Lee really likes it and so he took a picture. It's one of those things that after you open the outer cover, you get a little car or train inside. I think we have that in Hong Kong too, right?

Right now, I gotta go. See you tomorrow in the 'comments section'!

Mrs Ho

4/29/2018 12:43:20 pm

The hot tea was essential as the temperature dropped a lot when the sun finished its work yesterday.
When I first read the name of the restaurant, I thought it was opened by a Chinese because the word sounded like “you” in Putonghua.

Joseph Lu 6A 21

4/29/2018 03:49:06 pm

Wow, the ride to your destination takes so long! The view outside the vehicle is so green! There is so much grass! Is it a farm?There are also so many sheep!
What did you have for dinner?I think it is a very strange for the sun to be still up in the sky at 8pm! How can you sleep? It must be difficult to sleep with the sky so bright!
I have no idea of both question's answers. hope you have a good trip!

Lucas Lam 6C 09

4/29/2018 04:26:35 pm

Personally, I felt happy about Dr Lee, Mrs Lam and many other educators can go to Scotland for a study trip.After Dr Lee's curiously interesting sharing of (only) Day 0, I already felt jealous to see that I missed spectacular views and some perfect relaxation time after most of the year (Why did Dr Lee left us in Hong Kong and go for a wonderful trip?!)
Firstly, I also agree with Dr Lee about the meadows.This is impossible to see these scenic views in the"concrete forest"(you know, it is Hong Kong).If I could go on this trip, I would definitely snap a million photos just on the meadows (or maybe a thousand, I don't know).I suppose that Dr Lee would have done that during the trip.
Thinking about the first question, I am TOTALLY hopeless. I had some weaknesses to understand idioms.However, I think that this idiom's meaning was to lure customers.This idiom might be telling them,"If you go further from this restaurant,you will do things a lot worse than stopping here sipping a cup of tea before going further."Trust me, I would NOT stop here to be "tricked" into this trap(unless I'm really tired).
Oops.I wrote too much about these things that I forgot to answer the second question!According to the photo, I think this is something that has prizes inside.The rolled piece of paper indicates the prizes, and you can take the presents(maybe) on the counter, like some kind of lucky draw or something.
Anyway, thanks for sharing,Dr Lee!I will definitely stay tuned.

Luke Cheung 6B 05

4/29/2018 05:51:17 pm

I have not seen or experienced in a meadow before, and I am surprised and excited to see one. Its extremely beautiful.
For Dr Lee's first question, I must agree with Cayden and Vincent, and they just stole my idea, but I have a crazy thought, which is : If we drink alcohol there and drink more, which means 'go further', then we may be drunk, or our health will go worse. This is just a guess, I'm not sure about this.
Wow! 8 pm and it is still bright ? This is totally impossible in Hong Kong! It looks like 8 am to me.
For Dr Lee's second question, I think those are capsule toys for children to play on the plane. The children will definitely get entertained !
Lastly, thank for Dr Lee for sharing this wonderful experience with us ! I will definitely leave more comments !

Owen au 6A 01

4/29/2018 08:15:03 pm

Wow ,I wanted to go now.The view is amazing.For the questions I don't know what is number one, I surrender.For number 2 I think it's a toy capsule.And in the capsule it's a charger .It is because I'd people forgot to bring a charger,it is convenient to get one.Enjoy your amazing trip

Chu Tin Hang

4/30/2018 03:24:11 pm

Wow! What a wonderful day! To answer Dr Lee’s first question, I think that this is kind of like the Chinese idiom “draw a snake and add foots to it”, where adding stuff unnecessary when the finished product is already good enough may result in a bad one.
To answer Dr Lee’s second question, those look like little plastic mugs.Unlike Vincent, I think that those aren’t toys. Those look like ornaments instead!!
I hope Dr Lee will post more fun questions like these in the future!

Ambrose Young 6B (31)

4/30/2018 05:19:01 pm

This was a great start for the long trip (excluding the long travel time). Reunions,great view and great food is the best to start with.
Well I have totally no idea what the idiom means, so I guess I'm not going to answer the first question, but I think I know what those tiny things are.
In fact, I don't think Cayden or Vincent or Chu had ever taken a good close look at those things. When I zoomed in I could see clearly that those were EARPLUGS.
Anyway the view of Scotland seems beautiful. I wonder if it's like it in Netherlands

Ethan Chan

4/30/2018 05:46:07 pm

Well, it looks like an honour for you to got to Scotland. An exciting start with a clear, beautiful view of the landscape, that is totally AWESOME! For the question, I guess they look like souvenirs in capsules.

Colman Wong 6B 30

4/30/2018 08:23:25 pm

Well, that was ( I think ) a great start for the tour!
( excluding the looooooong 18-hour travel time)
How come Dr Lee get to go to such great places with good view and we are stuck in this stupid concrete forest?
Wow, I'm jealous. xD
As for the idiom it sounded like an advertisement (I agree with Luke, Cayden and Vincent)
and those little capsule things? Ambrose, thanks for your tip, I zoomed in and saw things that look like earplugs too.
So, I guess earplugs.

Timothy Lam

5/1/2018 11:58:00 am

Wow! How could Dr Lee us alone and go on holiday ? Well, I have to admit, the scene in Scotland is similar to the view in the Netherlands ( the sheep, grass and laid-back atmosphere), and it looks fantastic.

Amos Tsai 6C

5/1/2018 03:54:47 pm

The photos taken were so picturesque it was like it was cut right out of a fairy tale! It is true that we in Hong Kong do not see this daily, or even once a week. The Scottish might not think much of it, but they really should be thankful that they live in the farmlands and the countryside.
Most of us strive to live a busy, prosperous life in the bustling city, but I would really rather live a simple life if it means working in the cool, fresh air, living along the sheep grazing in the meadows and enjoying the cool air; it is quite different in a stifling city, ears never getting a moment of quiet, dust contaminating the air!
First question: just a catchy phrase to make people stop and read it again so the staff has an opportunity to convince them to be customers. All the above ideas are good theories but I simply think that the human mind is simpler and eviller than you think.
Second question: those things were too blurry for me to see when I zoomed in, I just saw some things in plastic capsules. Maybe they're really earplugs but i can't say for sure.

ivan ng 6E (21)

5/1/2018 05:04:24 pm

This is awesome! The views are amazing and gorgeous,and it was very lucky for you to have such reunion.You must be tired of the long trip to there!
First question,I think the restuarant wanted to attract more customers by using such humerous name,just like what it did to you,so you can ask us this question.
Second question,I think it is something that does with eating.Is it gum?It is because when you are in the air,your ears will be sore,and chewing gum works.
Thanks for writing this article!

Lin Chin Wing

5/2/2018 05:42:18 pm

Wow , it have been a long fight and a hate to seat in a plane in more than four hours. You're my plane hero because you have sit in an airplane for eight hours!
The views were cool and beautiful place and I Love it the sheep were so comfortable in the huge grassland , so I really wanted to be a sheep. The temperature is cool but cold.
The restaurant name was so special and I wanted to ask him why the name will be so strange because I am curious.
What is this place????? I am sleeping at 8:30 but there was still very Bright so how can I sleep.
The weird thing is plastic bag for vomiting or some gifts for the guest.
Hope you'll have a wonderful trip!

5/2/2018 05:43:39 pm

I'm in 6A (20)

Ryan Kwan

5/3/2018 08:56:12 pm

Chin Wing? You mean "Chun"?

Andrew Ho 6A 06

5/2/2018 07:44:31 pm

This is a great start of the journey. Although it has been a hard time for everyone to ride on different transports for so long! But I think the panoramic view after the rides will make everyone relaxed again.
Talking about the first question, honestly speaking, I don't have a confident answer. I think it is talking about "be prepared of the following journey and get yourselves relaxed before the upcoming". Maybe that road always meets a traffic jam!(I don't know) Anyway, the picture about the view at the window is brilliant! Is it a farm?
And about the second question, I have absolutely no idea! Maybe SIM cards?

Benard Ng

5/3/2018 06:55:52 pm

I feel really grateful for you.hope you have an AWESOME JOURNEY!
The meadow was ENORMOUS. I have never seen such a big prairie in my whole life, and it was so satisfying! I wish I were a farmer breathing fresh air and leisurely gardening there, having a life of no pressure.

It was still very cold now in May! This fact shocked me enough as it was rally warm in Hong Kong , the best temperature for having outdoor activities. Also, if you don't tell me the restaurant was for a "tea break", I would think it was a restaurant you at e your dinner. It was so gigantic(why everything in Scotland is so big).

For the first question, I think it means that if you are doing bad things like what criminals do, you should now turn back on your road and become a kind and good man, before it is too late.I also think it is making fun of the highway, like"Don't go too far and there be something dangerous waiting for you(with a Joker smirk)!"

For the nexy qurstion, personally speaking, I think it is some EARPLUGS for the passengers to wear during their flight, isolated from the noises on the plane(I've tried listening to a baby wailing for so long...).

Ryan Kwan 6A(12)

5/3/2018 09:48:33 pm

Hi Doctor Lee, thanks for sharing with us.

First of all, I feel quite JEALOUS. I also want to escape from school and go on a nice trip. No, just kidding. School is fun, so I don't want to escape. But anyway, good for you!!! :)

Now, let me answer your first question. To be honest, I don't have an answer. It is because I think that this sentence is nonsense, it makes no sense AT ALL. However, I think that Doric is an interesting language, I might learn Doric in the future.

As for the second question, I have a feeling that those green things are earplugs. It is because while a plane is taking off, it is quite noisy, so we have to wear earplugs. Also, wearing earplugs helps to stabilise ear pressure. That's why I think those green things are earplugs.

Although I want to go to Scotland WITH YOU, I have to think twice when it comes to the long flights. I hate to take long flights. I usually read books or watch movies when taking those long flights.

I think the views in Scotland are so beautiful. The meadows are green and the sheep are cute. I want to be one of them. I want to be roaming around without anything to worry about, munching on those fresh grass and relaxing in such a wonderful place. Indeed, our Earth is so beautiful, unfortunately, we destroyed her with lots of pollution. Therefore, we have to be environmentally friendly, we have to protect Earth!

These are my comments on your trip. I am looking forward to going to Scotland this summer. I am not going on vacation, I will be having a SUMMER CAMP there!!! Anyway, thank you for sharing. Bye!:)

Aaron Liu 6E18

5/4/2018 08:17:22 pm

Wow! What a wonderful first day! The view was spectacular, espacially the beautiful medows. The restaurant which is called Ye May Gang Faur and Fare Waur is really interesting .The first guestion is a bit hard but the second question is a bit easy because I saw those things in my last trip in Scotland so i think they were scottish whisky.
Thanks for your sharing :)

Bosco6E

5/5/2018 10:13:57 am

question

Ian wing 6E 27

5/4/2018 09:52:08 pm

Just by looking at the photos you have taken,I already want to Scotland.To be honest, I am so jealous.I really want to go with you,however,I am stuck here.(Although I enjoy the time in school)I hope you will have a wonderful trip and you should buy that weird thing to investigate what is that.

Jacob Wong 6A

5/4/2018 10:06:27 pm

Well,for the first question, I think it means don't be greedy, just take what you need, but not what you want; For the second question I guess they are plastic bags. I really liked the beautiful place in Scotland and if I can go to Scotland, I will be so excited!

Johnson Cheng 6A03

5/5/2018 06:18:38 pm

Oh, this is amazing! The view is very green and beautiful. I have never seen such a beautiful view in Hong Kong. I also want to go to there for fun. Well, I have no idea for the first question, but I may know that the weird items is similar to the coin-op toy vending machines. When you paid for the money and turnt the crank of the machine, there was a capsule which has a toy inside it, dropped down from it. Anyway, thanks for sharing, bye!

Alex Chan 6E

5/5/2018 07:29:52 pm

wow,such an amazing trip.I have never been to Scotland before.After I see the pictures of the beautiful views like grasslands,I would want to go to Scotland.

Ryan Lam 6A 14

5/6/2018 08:21:26 am

it seem that the air polluting in Edinburgh is better in Hong Kong. The air in there are more fresh in Hong Kong. It is a goog place to retire in there. When you retire, do you want to spend the rest of your live in there?

Angus Chung 6A(5)

5/6/2018 08:56:19 am

I want to go to Scotland. It is because I want to go to a place that have many big grassland.

cedric ng (6A 23)

5/6/2018 04:17:48 pm

What did you have for dinner?
Just by looking at the photos you have taken,I already want to Scotland.The view was spectacular. The restaurant which is called Ye May Gang Faur and Fare Waur is really interesting .

Okumura Hiroaki

5/7/2018 09:12:48 pm

Dr Lee Thank you for sharing us this wonderful experience with us, i love the united kingdom just because the medieval history is so interesting and exiting to watch. I'm very jealous because you can go to such a place with the old culture in it ! By The Way i think that the little green ball thing is a kind of moisturizer. Thanks for sharing Dr . Lee

Hayden Poon 6E 23

5/8/2018 03:24:09 pm

It was so tiring for travelling on a plane for 15 hours! Did you travel on Qatar Airways? It is tthe best airline in skytrax this year! Did you enjoy the flight?
I have been to Scotland before and it has become my most favourite place ever. There are a lot of good scenery there. It was a bit cold there, and you just wore a down jacket? I need to wear three coats if it was 8 to 9 degrees!
For the first question, I think that the road is so long and if you go further, you will be very hungry and will be a lot worse by your health. Therefore, I think Dr.Lee is so hungry that he went to that restaurant immediately.
For the second question I have such no idea what it is. I have already searched in the Internet, but in vain. So I can only make a guess. I think that is a toy for children.

ZACH LI

5/8/2018 05:51:18 pm

Wow I’ve never been to Scotland before and it looks like wonderful after reading your passage,I wonder how can u sleep with the sky still bright at 8pm!
I have no idea of the first question.
The second one I think it’s some kind of food inside

Matthew Yu

5/8/2018 08:03:22 pm

I have never been to Scotland before. After looking at the photos, it seems to me that Scotland is green and beautiful.I really want to visit Scotland once I have time.For the questions, For number one, I surrender .For number 2 I think it's a toy capsule. Please let me know if I am correct.
At last, thanks for Dr.Lee's sharing. I hope you have a wonderful trip.

Hinson Ho (chicken head)

5/8/2018 08:49:12 pm

Since I have known Europe ,I was looking forward to go to Scotland.Thanks to Dr.Lee’s photos ,I wait for that day(the day to Scotland) more dearly. Well ,the views and the mood must be great there! Such a shame that our learning trip is not take place in Scotland.

KENYON CHOW 6E 04

5/8/2018 09:18:32 pm

WOW!After seeing the pictures I am jealous because I see there are beautiful pictures.I want to ask a question.Which kind of animals there are in the grassland?I think the tea is quite taste I wnt to try it.

Jason Wong 6A

5/8/2018 09:58:27 pm

I think that you are very lucky to have the chance to go to Scotland to have a study tour. What did you learn from the other schools ? Are there something that our school can improve? to answer your question: no. 2 , I think that they are some eye masks that can help you sleep well on the the plane to cover the lights . Hope you have a great trip!

James Lui (6E 19)

5/8/2018 11:21:33 pm

Wow,Dr Lee when I see these photos,I already want to go to Scotland! Are you tired for the long flight?Did you learn any new things there?
For the first question,I think the restaurant want to attract people’s attention so they have that idiom
The second question:,is that some toy?

"Good Guy"Henry 6A (2)

5/8/2018 11:56:16 pm

Hi ! Dr.Lee,thanks a lot for sharing with us

Wow!What a long and tiring day if i were u guys i would have passed out,cause of jet lag.we really don't see those types of green land in Hong Kong do we?but we could find it in a lot of places in Scotland,Hong Kong is indeed very odd,and i want to ask are those lamps in the picture.

Scotland Educational Trip 2018 - Day 1

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