DIY Destinations (4K) - Isle of Man Budget Travel Show | Full Episode
Failt ort! Hello! I am going to the famous offshore tax haven, the Isle of Man all alone, with almost no money, no film crew, no make up or friends, except for the one I met Just myself trying hide my money and follow the story of the Man I’ll visit to many of it’s magnificent castles learning about its’ people through its museums and going deep, deep underground to retrace it’s history We’ll also going to confess our sins in its beautiful churches and learn about the story behind its historical landmarks As well ending the day on a spectacular beaches Not mention getting around the old, old way and dinning out on a tight budget All under three days all done safely, inexpensively and easily DIY Destinations – The Isle of Man and you are invited! We are so fortunate to live in a small world with so many cultures so much beauty and so much diversity the world waits for no one and it's up to each of us to discovery it's magnificent destinations I want to make travel accessible to all of us by showing how it can be done safely and inexpensively Situated in the Irish Sea between United Kingdom and Ireland the Isle of Man is a self-governing British Crown dependency and has being inhabited since 6,500 B.C. Over the centuries, this isle had exchanged hand multiple times and famous in recent history and known worldwide as a tax haven for the rich However there is more to the monetary wealth That is why I am here to get to know about its proud people and its history to experience it’s rich heritage and the unique Gaelic culture and learn the Manx language To discover many of their achievements includes having world’s the oldest continuous parliament and being the first national legislative body to grant voting right to women and being awarded the biosphere reserve status by UNESCO Of course, to find a rich Manx wife… just joking! If you are fit and ready for some real challenge feel free to try swimming across the Irish Sea it’s only 180 kilometres from Dublin and 230 kilometres from Liverpool so make sure to pack light and stock up on some Gatorade The patience and scenic way is the ferry connecting the capital city, Douglas to Dublin, Belfast, Liverpool and Heysham the journey takes 3 to 4 hours depending on the route But for me, I am either fit or have the patience and being a solo traveler, its not going to be too romantic So my solution is a 45 minutes flight from Belfast however there is also schedule flight from Dublin and cities across United Kingdom Hello ladies and gentlemen, we have landed! I am competing with the air phones okay here... we have landed and the...
it's going to be disembarkment I'll let them go first! I am in no rush to get out! So ladies and gentlemen.... welcome to the Isle of Man! Wow! It is probably going to be the strangest place I will ever go to but we are already here let's get start exploring! It’s almost guaranteed you’ll be fly in from Ireland and United Kingdom therefore no immigration control Yay! The only hold up is this island is not cheap you need to have some cold, hard cash to get down to the city or to eat or to do anything It’s not a cheap destinations I am not surprise if the Crazy Rich Asians are here as well if you want evidence the Chinese are conquering this planet just look at this! they are even here in the middle of nowhere! Go China! Two things you probably need to do! get one of these Go Cards What the Go Cards is get you access to the trains, the buses all the trollies every type of transportation here and also get you access all the major attractions free of charge it cost £65 it's valid for five days it's quite a bargain! oh and by the way... the bus comes to the airport every fifteen minutes and I think we... look at that! such a good timing! I am a very lucky man! The bus departs every 20 minutes and the journey takes approximately 30 minutes to the Douglas’ town centre If you don’t plan to buy the Go Explore Card the fare will set you back a pound or so… no big deal for all those Crazy Rich Asians so another thing I recommend you to do while we are on the bus getting to Douglas is go and get a SIM card it is only £5.00 and it gives you 5 gigabyte of data so you can look up online for maps or where to go as well 100 minutes and free text as well hopefully you'll make lots of friends with that being said... I think our stop is coming soon! Douglas is the capital of the Isle of Man the seat of the island's parliamentary assembly called “Tynwald” Originally a small settlement until it grew rapidly as a result of links with the English port of Liverpool in the 18th century during Industrial Revolution Today the town is home to 30,000 residences over a quarter of the island's population As well the Island's main hub for commercial, legal services, shipping, transport, shopping, and entertainment Internationally, the town is known for the base of offshore financial service industry and even more famous for being beginning and ending point for the Isle of Man TT the Tourist Trophy motorcycle races and often called one of the most dangerous racing events in the world The good news is everything in town is accessible by foot I recommend you stay near the town centre That is where my accommodation host The Empress Hotel is located right at the scenic promenade I like to thank them for providing me with a very comfortable stay Thanks guys! So we'll start our journey right here at the town centre of Douglas and if you forget to withdrawn pound sterling at the airport ATM don't worry! all the banks comes to this island because this is where all the rich people hide their money so with that being said...
let's go and find a fee free ATM because this is not a cheap place not a cheap country! let's get going! Let’s talk about money Credit and debits card are accepted everywhere and majority of ATM offers free withdrawal but here is a good advice... if you are a customer of Global ATM Alliance that includes Deutsche Bank, Bank of America, Scotia Bank you can come and withdrawn money here at the Barclay's ATM at no charge after you take out the money the Manx pound they are not convertible outside the island go inside the bank and convert it back to pound sterling so you can spend it here and the remaining sterling you can use back in U.K. So let’s get started! We’ll begin our journey on foot from the scenic Douglas Promenade and first landmark you’ll walk by is the Douglas War Memorial The memorial was dedicated to the residents of Douglas who gave their lives in both World War I and II with rolls of names are segregated by service and the year of death Including the statue at the top the memorial stands about 15 metres high and has a stone base rising in four steps upon which is a tall column of Manx granite surmounted by the three ton figure of a soldier called "The Manxman" The monument was designed by Ewart Crellin and first unveiled to the public in 1922 and initially dedicated only to the fallen members of the World War I It was designed to have a flower garden and guard rail surrounding it and stands on what was once a bandstand area The front facade features sculptures of a wreath and holy cross Rolls of names and copper vases for flowers are affixed to the base The memorial was finally was erected in May of 1924 and later the name of fallen World War II members were added Along the Douglas Promenade you’ll discover its fascinating history from the Victorian era through to the present day including many historical structure built in different time period The most noticeable is the Marine Gardens built between 1872 and 1882 In the early 1930s further extensions including the part many referred to as the sunken gardens were added Additions including seating, shelters, a 200 foot boating pool, an illuminated fountain, a sundial with eight faces and a sculpture depicting the wreck of the St. George The sculpture, by Michael Sandle shows Sir William Hillary and his crew saving survivors from the shipwreck and honours the courage of lifeboat crews down through the ages Just a short walk from the Promenade you’ll find the undoubtedly the best place to learn about history and culture of this island… for free! The Manx Museum was established in 1922 and partially housed in a former hospital building It serves as a national museums with the aim of preserving the island's cultural and historical heritage and this is where over an 100,000 visitors come each year to discover the wonders of our natural world to road racing legends So this is the Manx Museum it's actually a pretty cute little museum here it has quite extensive collection dedicated to pre-historic archeology museum of natural history it also has a art gallery and it also serve as a national archives come and check out because the admission is free The museum covers 10,000 years of the island’s history from the Stone Age to the modern era as it is presented through film, galleries and interactive displays and showcase how the Island changed from being the centre of the Celtic Kingdom of Mann to a Victorian holiday destination So if you like Vikings there is a whole section dedicated to the Vikings in this room it has a replica of the boats they use the tools, the artifacts, and also the really, really interest display of how they live also some stoneworks The museum was expanded and was significantly remodelled between 1986 – 1989 and a large extension included a lecture and film theatre and an art gallery The museum was officially reopened by Queen Elisabeth II Lord of Mann in 1989 Apart from a number of permanent exhibitions ranging from the archaeological history of the island to the natural history collection several temporary themed exhibitions are shown each year One of the most noble exhibits included This Terrible Ordeal which focused on the experiences of the Manx people in the World War I definitely the most popular the most famous this island is famous for is the TT Race happen every single year since 1912 each summer an exhibition covering the Isle of Man TT or the Tourist Trophy An annual motorcycle sport event run on the Isle of Man in May or June of most years since its inaugural race in 1907 The collections showcase it’s history through many artifacts from the early days of this important event to the present Oh... with a injured feet I call this a determination to hike up to the Douglas Head I don't think it's much further Thank goodness for their 3G it actually works It was getting late and dark but I am determine to end it in a high note seriously So we’ll be hiking up to a rocky point on the Douglas Bay to get the best view of town Until 1870, the headland was originally owned by Sir John Goldie-Taubman’s Nunnery Estate and gave part of it to 'the people of Douglas' by donating it to the Douglas Town Council In 2018 the Douglas Borough Council installed a giant poppy as a "permanent tribute" on Douglas Head to mark the centenary of the end of World War I More than 8,200 Manx men served during WWI of which 1,165 lost their lives The most noticeable structure on the shore of the Douglas Bay is the historic lighthouse In 1855 the Lord Commissioners of the Admiralty requested to have a lighthouse built at Douglas Harbour It was established in 1857 and built by engineering brothers David and Thomas Stevenson The white tower is 20 metres high and its staircase has 71 steps The lantern is composed of eight brilliant reflectors made of pure silver built in 1831 The light flashes white every ten seconds and this is the only light between the Calf of Man and Point of Ayre with a distance of 40 miles. The lighthouse became fully automated in 1986 Now don’t be surprise if most of the business shuts down at 5 pm and street is completely deserted Here is a little juicy secret since there is not much do at night most Manx people just go home and have sex or make dinner, than have sex But before I do that myself I think I deserve a nice hot meal to get some energy… oh a budget of course Especially after a half day of walking with a broken foot The best deal this time of the night is the Chinese food the price is not bad But when it comes to authenticity that’s another story! So our food has came and this is what we got let's eat! No comment! it's okay! After getting my dose noodles I tried to check out the only thing to do at night the pubs scene to see if I can burn my sugar off with some sexercise with some local ladies But no luck I suspect I’ll need to be a Crazy Rich Asians to land myself a date in this island So I decided to call it a night Next morning it’s time to get rolling… but I am not anywhere without fuelling up Here is another way to eat well without breaking bank or with the help of a rich Manx wife so if you don't want to pay so much for food I mean...
you can try to eat raw meat they are not that expensive! Hello! We are in the Isle of Man This is Strand Street Douglas We are going to have a party! have a great day! it's okay... I make friends all over the world so the alternative is get can those meal deals for like £3.50 you get a drink a sandwich and a snack it's not so bad! you are in the middle of nowhere So the first thing we are going to do is go and see the world famous the big Laxey Wheel the easiest way there is by bus come here to the bus station go to stand number D behind me and take bus #3 it will take you directly to the attraction now if you are more adventurist and got a little bit more time go down to the promenade and take a bus to the tram station from there you can take a tram to Laxey as well it's more scenic and maybe that is what we are going to do when we come back with that being said the bus comes every fifteen minutes and let's hope its not late fingers cross! so finally on the bus and I have being told this is a really quick ride it's going to be roughly 15 - 20 minutes yeah it's a small island it is a small island The name “Laxey” derives from the Old Norse Laxa meaning the 'Salmon River' this village is situated on the east coast of the island In the 19th century lead and zinc mining began it became the largest industry in the area but ended in 1929 The village also had a fishing industry Laxey is now a mainly residential and tourist area the most noble attraction being the world famous Laxey Wheels so the bus will drop you off over there as you can see that is the entrance on this way so it's going to be a really, really short walk hopefully! with that being said let's get going! it's actually quite a walk it's okay... it's nice scenery actually! so I think the wheel should be up there in few minutes or so There is also a miniature railway for those wants a easy ride… This is the same Great Laxey Mine Railway that served the mine beginning from 1823 It’s only 2 pounds roundtrip or free with your Go Explore Card not so shabby! The Isle of Man contains a large variety of minerals copper ore was mined at Bradda Head as far back as the 13th century Harald, the King of Mann having granted a charter under which the monks of Furness Abbey obtained working rights for this mine Although there is no exact date for the start of mining at Laxey However by 1782 workings were being opened and by 1833 over 200 men were employed in the mine Whilst various minerals were extracted from the mine lead ore was the main component of the workings and substances regarded as of lesser value were simply thrown away The extraction of minerals continued until 1934 The prosperity of the Great Laxey can still been seen by the giant waterwheel erected in 1854 at the height of its production It remains the largest working waterwheel in the world The wheel was named the Lady Isabella after the wife of Sir Charles Hope, who at the time was the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man The water-powered wheel was used for the mine because the island does not have a supply of coal for a steam-powered pump Most of the wheel and rod is made of wood however, key mechanical parts are metal to provide tension and bearing surfaces During its 70 years of working life, the wheel was capable of pumping 1,100 litres of water a minute from a depth of 200 fathoms The wheel is currently maintained by the Manx National Heritage as part of the Great Laxey Wheel & Mines Trail and became the Island’s most dramatic tourist attraction If you are lucky...
you can watch the mighty wheel turn and climb to the top for panoramic views across Glen Mooar Valley I really hope you got better luck with weather than me! Underneath the wheel, you can also explore the trail to the mine ruins and learn more about the lives of the Laxey miners Laxey was primarily mined for its lead ore However, in addition the mine yielded zinc, silver, copper pyrites and hematite iron in significant quantities In part payment for their labour the owners allowed the miners to keep the copper ore which had been extracted and by the mid 19th century this was being sold for £23 per ton A mixture of copper and lead was sold for £7 per ton so one of the things you have to look out is you got to watch out your head when you are here or else... you'll walk out with a souvenir... Oh... okay it happened to me too! it's all good! In the March of 1904 a fire broke out. Luckily this incidents claims no causalities however the second incident occurred in the December of same year resulting in the death of four miners By May 1929 majority of miners had left for United Sates, South Africa and Australia Continued flooding in the lower reaches of the mine became a persistent and in 1934 the mine was permanently closed In Laxey you’ll find the only in the British Isles This 8 kilometres long railway has being operating since 1895 The track is built with 3 feet 6 inch gauge and electrified with a 550 volt direct current passing through the overhead wires So I am inside a old fashion train you can hear it! we are getting going... so the Go Card also works here and we are going up the Snaefell Mountain it's little noisy but it's okay part of the experience! The ownership and control of this railway had exchange hand many times until it was acquired by the government in 1957 The railway operates from March to early November and links Laxey with the summit of Snaefell Mountain at the peak of 2,036 feet above the sea level taking 30 minutes for a one way journey So we have just arrived Wow! this is really, really foggy! Yeah...
Snaefell is highest mountain in the island and also a popular hiking spot If you are lucky on a clear day you may be able to see some, or all of the Seven Kingdoms England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, the Isle of Man and the kingdoms of heaven and the sea But it’s not my day today it’s too foggy to see anything so I’ll be hiding a café here offering hot beverages and refreshments it’s open during the summer months so we are up in the summit right now there is really nothing you can see because it's really, really foggy so it really depends on your luck if you need to warm up which is cold here actually you can come in to this cafe and warm up and then go out and have a nice walk there is a lot of time in between the trains so you can catch the next train down that might be our train actually good timing by the way so next we are heading off to Ramsey there is some stuff to do there I mean I'll tell you more about it when we get onboard or when we get there... with that being said let's go! here is another advice for you pick a seat on the right side to see the seaside but either way it's a very nice 45 minutes ride enjoy it! Ramsey is the third-largest town on the island and set on the coast with a magnificent backdrop of the North Barrule hills The name of the town derives from the Old Norse meaning "wild garlic river" and also been a route for several invasions by the Vikings and Scots Today it is home to a population of 8,000 residents So we have arrived here in Ramsey as you can see the station is behind me and next thing we are going to head to is the Grove Museum it's about 20 minutes walk from the station and hopefully it will appeared on my online map The bus station is just a minute away on foot and offers ride to Grove Museum The best of all... both the ride and museum admission is covered under the Go Explore Card Oh yeah! The Grove Museum provides a real insight into the lives of an wealthy family from Victorian times to the 20th Century The wealthy shipping merchant Duncan Gibb visited the Isle of Man on holiday in the 1830s and fell in love with a small secluded cottage for sale on the Andreas Road on the outskirts of Ramsey He purchased the property as a summer retreat for his family along with the governess, two maids and a manservant Later it was expanded by adding a second storey and building on two rooms at the front with a hallway Gibb retired in the 1860s the family moved here permanently and The Grove became a much loved family home with a thriving farm attached However, the family wealth dwindled although his two unmarried grand daughters who lived here until their death in the 1970's Soon after the estate was purchased by Manx National Heritage and turn into a house museum The house has been maintained pretty much as it was in its Victorian heyday complete with family furnishings and possessions There was no running water until the 1920s and electricity didn’t arrive until after the Second World War Portable heaters provided extra heat in the winter months Stone hot water bottles were used to warm beds and also carried under clothing to provide warmth Sadly, still no WIFI internet even to this day Now this is really interesting this house even have a beehive and the... it's actually a real beehive can you believe it? so...yeah The drawing room is a typically cluttered Victorian room The piano in the corner of the room came from the Liverpool house and all the daughters would have learned how to play This room was used for parties The tiger skin rug on the floor reflects family connections with India so this is the master bedroom and by tradition each head of the family occupied it until their passing it was first occupied by the Duncan Gibb then it was occupied by Granny Gibb finally it was occupied by Janet Gibb until her passing in 1974 The kitchen is located at the back of the house along with its cast iron range used for cooking and hot water The maid’s first jobs in the morning was to light the fire for hot water for the family to wash Standing at the side of the range is an earthenware water filter The final room would have been a second bedroom but now has a display of Victorian and early 20th century clothes including a tennis outfit and mourning dress As well the display cabinets with jewellery of the era so I am actually in the bus shelter in Ramsey it's too late to go up north to see the Ayre's Point the north most point here in the island so our next stop is Peel there is a bus every half hour I hope this will be speculator! If the timing works for you I strongly recommend you visit the most northern point of Isle of Man the Point of Ayre It’s only 10 kilometres from Ramsey but there is no direct bus service You’ll have hike 4.5 kilometres from the little parishes of Bride
This is the closest point on the island to the British mainland being only 16 miles or 26 kilometres south of Burrow Head in Scotland It’s tidal range provides excellent fishing from the beach However, the site is most famous for its iconic landmark Point of Ayre Lighthouse and first lit in 1818 making it the oldest operational lighthouse on the island While it still retains its original 1st order Fresnel lens from 1890 with a nominal range of around 19 nautical miles In August 2005 the fog signal at the lighthouse was decommissioned owing to the assumed reliance and availability of GPS and modern shipping guidance systems Peel is a cute little seaside town and a small fishing port located on the east side of the Isle of Man Well maybe not that small as it is the third largest in term of population of 6,000… and I promise it can only go up Having a Chinese restaurant is a strong indicator that they on their way! So get ready to welcome more guys like me! We are taking over the world! Peel was the capital of the island before the King of Mann moved his home and military base from Peel Castle to Castle Rushen As a real estate investor, I definitely need check out his old castle to see if it is listed for sale maybe I get a great real estate bargain! It will be so cool to own something that is featured on the reverse side of the £10 notes issued by the Isle of Man Government so official! It might be my only way to attract chicks here To my surprised the bus will drop you off right across How convenient! Built on St Patrick’s Isle and once home to Christian missionaries, Viking warriors and kings and overlooking Peel Marina The majestic fortress Peel Castle is constructed by the Vikings after it’s arrival in 1098 and conquered the Kingdom of the Isles and the Norse city-state of Dublin and incorporated Peel into their realms building the castle to secure its rule in the region This is one of the two wooden prefabricated forts one now believed to be in the South of the island and the other on this very St Patrick’s Isle The Peel Castle was originally built by the Viking at the 11 century by the King Magnus Barefoot now what's so interesting about it is the first Viking fortification that is built from wood so everything you see here is part of the castle the only thing that is actually remain from the previous monastery is the tower which is what you see in the back a famous landmark of this magnificent structure another thing is this is actually located on the St. Patrick's Isle and is connected to the town by a causeway After the end of the Scottish Wars of Independence when the castle had no longer of any strategic importance it was taken over by the Church who built a cathedral within the walls of the old fortress In the late 18th century the cathedral was abandoned and the castle hasn’t been inhabited since There was a prior Celtic stone monastic buildings on the island dating from 6 to 8th centuries including the highest point of St Patrick’s Isle the round tower was originally part of it with a height of 50 feet The other visible stonework includes the remains of buildings belonging to the former 13th century the Cathedral of St German Other buildings include a medieval armory and barracks These are protected by a fortifications consisting of 14th century flanking towers linked by 15th century curtain walls The last military construction took place in the early 19th century during the Napoleonic wars and later in the 1860s during the time of Napoleon III It is considered that a vestige of Magnus’s fort was found during the final phase of the excavations of 1982 - 1987 when rough stonework of a rampart was uncovered at a depth of 5 metres beneath the surface just inside the present curtain wall to the north of the Cathedral Now if you need to confess your sins at a present day church that is still standing not a problem The Church of England moved to original Cathedral Church of Saint German into a more modern more comfortable, air conditioned and heated building It also was renamed as Peel Cathedral then rebranded as Cathedral of the Isle of Man The church on St. Patrick’s Isle fell into ruin in the 18th century After a considerable period of debate over who owned the ruins and site it was decided not to rebuild that cathedral The present building was constructed in 1879 – 1884 to replace St Peter's Church in Peel's market place and consecrated in 1895 In 1980 the status was elevated to an cathedral by Act of Tynwald so we are taking this bus to continue on to the Tynwald Hill it's only like five minutes away that is what the driver said... yeah... so hopefully the weather cooperates fingers cross! Our next stop is a small village of Saint John’s in the island’s central valley The town centred around the Tynwald Hill one of the Island’s most distinctive landmarks This is also a powerful symbol of the Isle of Man’s independence as a self-governing crown dependency The name Tynwald is derived from the Old Norse word meaning the meeting place or the assembly The Tynwald Hill has its name in Viking orgin it means parliament field so what so interesting about this exact spot is from the time in memorial of the national assembly of Manx people people on this island have being coming here on this exact, exact spot to pass new laws and to proclaim them on every single 4th of July every single year! so you can almost say this is the first parliament of the Isle of Man on this exact site The Tynwald Hill which measures around 12 feet high is thought to be made from piles of stones bonded together with soil from all of the Island’s 17 ancient parishes The small site was used for public assembly which dates back to the 10th century is known as Midsummer Court It is attended by members of the two branches of Tynwald the House of Keys and the Legislative Council The Lieutenant Governor, the representative of the Lord of Mann presides over the assembly except on the occasions when the Lord of Mann or another member of the British Royal Family is present Although the origins of the man-made Tynwald Hill are unclear but it existed by the end of the 14th century The site was used in 1393 for the inauguration of Sir William le Scrope and again in 1408 for the inauguration of Sir John Stanley as Lords of Mann Its first recorded use for the promulgation of laws dates to 24 of June 1417 when Sir John Stanley presided Today the island’s permanent assembly is held in Douglas However during the Tynward Day each year, the site plays host to an open air meeting of the Island’s parliament It is believed that the traditional open air ceremony which takes place on July 5th the date of the Pagan feast of Midsummer was established by Norse Viking settlers over a thousand years ago The hill thought to have been built in the 13th century and making it the oldest continuous parliament in the world Originally Tynwald’s business was debated here before proclamation on the hill Now it just involves the signing of the day’s proceedings Facing the hill occupies a church that plays a unique role in the relationship between the Church and the State The first documented evidence for a chapel was in 1557 and in the late 17th century the church was in ruins and Bishop Wilson initiated the rebuilding of the chapel Until the 19th century the main function of the chapel was as a court house The third Duke of Atholl sold the sovereignty of the Isle of Man to the British Government although he retained manorial rights and the patronage of the bishopric Following a dispute between Atholl and the British Government about ownership of the chapel it was locked up and fell into disrepair By 1782 it was a ruin with no roof, windows or doors The dispute was finally settled and the chapel rebuilt but by 1840 it was once again in poor condition The chapel was eventually completely rebuilt in 1852 with money provided by the British Government and public appeal It is built in the 13th century Gothic style with granite from quarries on South Barrule In 1949 the chapel became the parish church for the newly created the Parish of St John’s It was getting late and I took a bus back to the Douglas and yes it was after 5 pm when I arrived Once again there is nothing to do Except for one thing which I am really good at… eating! Should I say finding cheap eats! C’mon don’t I deserve some credit??? at the night there is really not much of a choice when it comes to food but there are few pizza places and few Middle Eastern places where you can eat until 3:00 AM it's actually not that bad so for £6.00 I got chips, a drink and also a burger Next morning my adventure on Isle of Man continues and I am determine to make the most out of my last day here Today we are heading off to Port Erin but before we get there we have one stop a very interesting one on the way if you like airplanes and military and things like that...
you are in for a treat! there is a really nice museum called the Aviation and Military Museum closed to the airport at Castletown so this will be quick ride I'll see you there! The Manx Aviation and Military Museum offers the exhibits that tells the history and amazing story of civil and military aviation in the Isle of Man With a focus on the people who served in the Armed Forces both on and off the island One of the section is dedicated to the Manx Regiment which was the most successful Allied anti-aircraft unit of World War II The Regiment saw action in England during the Battle of Britain and later in Africa, Italy and other part of Europe This is the Manx Aviation and Military Museum it's actually located two blocks away from the airport terminal and it's also free which is really nice but donation is welcome it was formed in 1995 by the members of the Preservation Society which dedicated to donate all the artifacts in a former museum like this to commentate and focus on the 1938 formation of Manx Regiment which was sent to Liverpool in 1939 to defend the vital ports and docks Other exhibition contains many artefacts and mementos from this time period from medals, commemorative tins issued to the servicemen from Princess Mary and postcards sent to the men serving at war These personal artefacts and their stories are both very moving but also inspiring and those at the Museum hope to do these servicemen justice by telling the real stories of their time at war The exhibition consists everything from a single button to a full-size aeroplane The artifacts in the collection includes the relics from the aircraft accidents, a rare self-propelled Bofors 40mm gun and rare and unique items recovered from the Irish Sea The open air exhibits include a Bandeirante aircraft and historic radar As well a memorial garden honouring the Canadian Servicemen killed on the island during World War II I took a bus to the nearby Ballasalla railway station hoping to try out one of these really cool train… but there is just one problem Now I really, really want to try the steam train but you know... and it is only every two hours and next one leaving in 50 minutes I just don't have... I mean I just don't want to waste time let's put this way but the bus leaves every fifteen minutes from here I guess bus it is! Castletown is only one and half kilometres away from the museum The town is made up of 4,000 residences along with its small winding streets, picturesque fishing cottages along the harbour and a Viking castle that towers over the centre of the town This is where I am going to sugar up before conquering this town So we have arrived in Castletown actually the bus will drop you off right across to the castle and this is a nice spot for you to have lunch that is what I am going to have same thing there is a Co-op across the street Meal Deal! Cheap meals £3.50 you get a main this time no sandwich I'll go with a salad a drink as well as a snack I'll go with a pineapple this time one of my favourite Castletown was the capital of the Island until 1869 and trace its roots can be traced back to 1090 This building is the former meeting place of the House of Keys Originally Tynwald had 32 members and by 12th century this dropped to a 24-member By the 16th century, Tynwald consisted of an upper and a lower house the lower house was known as the 24 Keys By 1869 Douglas had replaced Castletown as the capital of the island This building was considered too small to serve as the lower house of Tynwald and in 1874 the the House of Keys was also moved to the Court House in Douglas Across from the Old House of Keys is the mighty Castle Rushen overlooking the Market Square The Castle Rushen is one of the best preserved medieval castles in the world and was once the home to the Kings and Lords of Mann Today it serves as a museum and educational centre complete with era-accurate decorations and life-like settings earning a reputation as the best examples of medieval castles in Europe The construction is thought to have taken place during the 10th-century reigns of rulers the Kings of Mann and the Isles The oldest artifacts found were dated to 947 and includes the reference to the last King of Man Magnús Óláfsson which believed to have died in the castle The castle was developed by the successive rulers of Man between the 13th and 16th century The limestone walls dominated much of the surrounding landscape serving as a point of dominance for various rulers of the Isle of Man By 1313 the original keep, reinforced with towers to the west and south In the 14th century an east tower, gatehouses, and an curtain wall were added The keep of Castle Rushen's first line of defence is an 8 meter high outer wall protected by a drawbridge and a fortified inner gatehouse entrance with two portcullises The castle also included a medieval chapel housing the castle’s clock mechanism The still functioning Castle Rushen’s clock is a notable landmark in Castletown having been presented by Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1597 while she controlled the island during a dispute The castle changed hands repeatedly between the Scots and the English The Isle of Man was transferred to Scotland the year after Magnús Óláfsson's death as part of the Treaty of Perth ending the 1263–1266 Scottish–Norwegian War On May 18 1313 the Scottish king Robert the Bruce invaded the Isle of Man at Ramsey The island was captured in five days the only resistance occurring at Castle Rushen which was defended by Dungal MacDouall So made it to the top! right here! my goodness! there is a big flag right there As the defensive value of the Castle declined it was in continuous use as an administrative centre In the 18th century a mint was located within its grounds as was the still active southern law court The Manx law books were also stored in The Lord's Treasury within the castle The Castle was also used as occasional meeting place in the 16th century for the 24 Keys where it has no permanent residence until 1710 The 18th century saw the castle in steady decay By the end of the century it was converted into a prison During Castle Rushen's service as a prison it held both men and women with children born by serving prisoners being allowed to live with their mothers within the prison walls In 1988 the control of the castle was handed over to Manx National Heritage for restoration It was officially opened to the public in July 1991 by the Earl of Derby as the first major Manx heritage site so if I am not mistaken I was invited to the banquet here Hi guys! Hi! mannequin can't talk but we have lots of pork and turkey... all the other goodies... bon appetite! Most rooms are open to the public during the opening season between March to October and all open rooms have signs telling their stories The exhibitions include a working medieval kitchen where authentic period food is prepared on special occasions As well re-enactments of various aspects of medieval life are held on a regular basis By the way… Castle Rushen is said to be haunted by a lady ghost walking the castle drawbridge… if are you afraid of ghost don’t come nearby at night be warned! For those of you who are have lots of time to kill considering riding one of the old fashion steam trains there is a service every two hours on select days It’s also included in your Go Explore card but once again… I am on a rush to find my rich wife! Just joking! Alright I have rush on to the bus so next stop we are heading off to Port Erin I heard it is really, really nice it has beaches! that is not our stop so it is going to take about fifteen minutes from Castletown with that being said...
enjoy the ride! The name ‘Port Erin’ means Irish Port or possibly Iron Port or Lord’s Port a seaside village in the south-west of the island with a population of 4,000 The town is famed for its breathtaking views including spectacular sunsets over Port Erin Bay The village previous serve as a shelter for fisherman it’s bay provides an easy landing place and fresh water for the crew As well, an resort town after the steam railway came to Port Erin in 1874 and provided a link through Port St Mary and Castletown to Douglas The Promenade primarily consists of many Victorian hotels However, during World War 2 these hotels and other guest houses formed the core of an internment camp for ‘enemy aliens’ After the war the buildings reverted to holiday accommodations I’ll start my adventure here literally right at the end of the line on the platform of the most southerly stop on the Isle of Man Steam Railway and beside the Port Erin Railway Station The Isle of Man Railway Museum is a small museum showcasing and charts the history of the steam powered railway from its inception in 1873 to the present day including the now defunct lines which used to serve Peel, Ramsey and Foxdale First open in 1975 and now open daily throughout the summer months It has an extensive collection of locomotives, the Royal Train, rolling stock, memorabilia, old posters and interpretive displays mounted on the walls in the waiting room and booking office As well the island’s only railway simulator where you can get a first hand experience driving a diesel train you get to hop on to a actual train that was used in the past I think I might change career actually... it's interesting... The main exhibition hall is housed in a converted bus garage that once belonged to Isle of Man Road Services itself a division of the old railway company which was nationalised in 1976 Exhibits in the museum include two engines and two coaches as well as other equipment from the railway however the real treasures are the royal carriages which carried The Queen and Queen’s Mother in 1963 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1972 An change in career is a big decision and you definitely a good place to think really thinking it over The good news is there is a perfect place that is just a stone throw away there is Port Erin Beach it’s very, very, very scenic! This is the best beach on the island and all time favourite for families as it has many facilities including boardwalk for burning calories I mean jogging... two swimming rafts ice creams cafes, and something we all can not live without of course the clean toilets The beach sits inside a sheltered bay bordered by the tall cliffs of Bradda Head to the north The west facing beach has stunning sunsets and views to the Irish coast and the Mountains of Mourne in the distance If you love water sport there is many local business offering rentals for kayak, paddle boards, as well as licensed courses in sailing and powerboat If that is too, too extreme for you not a problem There is a small pier between the Raglan Pier and the lifeboat station as well from the rocks at the southern end of the bay where you can catch fish! Fresh! Oh yeah… Isle of Man is surrounded by sea there is no way you won’t able to walk away without some fresh catches or screw up the seafood Some of the tasty, tasty fish species you’ll can expect to catch includes pollack, wrasse, grey mullet, mackerel and plaice Now here is a little advice the best fishing time tends to be on the incoming tide three hours before high water and a couple of hours after But also be aware of the state of the tide and keep an eye on rising water to avoid being cut off from the shore It’s getting late and I am not leaving this island without experiencing it’s iconic steam trains So let’s head back to the Port Erin Railway Station and not taking the risk missing the last scheduled train of the day First opened in August of 1874 it is the second established and western terminus of the Isle of Man Railway and the sole remaining outer terminus of the railway Until the beginning of the 20th century the station facilities were very limited all to the west of the pedestrian level crossing However Port Erin developed rapidly, overwhelming the original facilities which were systematically replaced from 1902 to 1905 with further extensions in 1912 and 1914 Finally I am ready to depart Port Erin and I am going to do the old fashion way which is by train what so interesting about the train they have here in the Isle of Man is that is steam train old fashion way I believe it is the oldest continuous running steam train in the world so I am looking forward the experience with that being said I think my boarding time is coming soon! And see you onboard! I think I have a feeling I might get a private room here I don't know... I might ask for a upgrade but I think I am just a good looking guy getting it all the way I actually screwed up the timetable and realized the next train little is actually is departing in half hour So I can either try to spit some games to find a rich Manx wife or just chill out Given I don’t belong in the high sought after Crazy Rich Asian category at least not yet I think I’ll pick the second option but I am chill in classy old fashion style Now this is really interesting even the train station waiting area is old fashion and the... it's almost like going back in time we still have about fifteen minutes or so we'll just hang out here and just relax look like the cabin is empty I think I just got a upgrade to a private suite how romantic anyways join me onboard I shall we? oh yeah you need to close that! Established in 1870 the Isle of Man Railway operates a 3 feet narrow gauge, steam-operated train The first 74 kilometres line connecting Douglas to Peel opened on 1 July 1873 The following year, the second 25 kilometres line open connecting Douglas with Castletown and Port Erin and also is the last remaining line operating The railway initially considered building its southern route only as far as Castletown but due to increasing grow in tourism in Port Erin and the nearby Port St. Mary
the line was extended all the way from Douglas to Port Erin Through the years the company had exchange ownership and undergo mergers numerous times Despite the multiple cost cutting measures the company experienced financial difficulties through most of its history especially after the loss of the mineral traffic from Foxdale and consistently faced tough competition for its Douglas to Ramsey route By 1975 it’s train only operated between Port Erin and Castletown and Port Erin and Ballasalla in 1976 the company was finally nationalized by the Government of Isle of Man in 1978 All but one of the railway's distinctive locomotives were built by Beyer, Peacock and Company of Manchester between 1873 and 1926 with 16 steam locomotives in total About 30 carriages remain on the railway of which 18 are in service two in the Isle of Man Railway Museum and the rest in storage Today there are two basic timetables the traditional four each way per day for the bulk of the season with a six train service in peak season In addition evening trains operate on Thursdays in July and August In 2015 new tourist ordinated dining train often operates out of season commonly travelling only as far as Santon, Ballasalla or Castletown before returning to Douglas The journey from Port Erin to Douglas by train takes about a hour if that is too long for you the bus little bit faster With that being said I have return to Douglas and arrived the town’s railway station… just before the sunset I took my time to walk home along the calm promenade but since arriving on the island, I cannot help but notice a small rock with a tower in the horizon Sadly, it’s pretty inaccessible even for a great swimmer like myself oh yeah I am going bragged I was once a varsity rower while in university At certain times of the year during low tide you're able to reach the tower on foot however please be aware this is very dangerous and not advised But luckily I got a really cool toy… so let’s get high! Despite its appearance, this tower had no military or defensive function The St Mary's Isle or the Tower of Refuge is actually a humanitarian shelter for the crews of the many vessels which were wrecked on the reef The treacherous reef which the tower was built was a notorious hazard to shipping it was previously often responsible for the damage and sinking of ships The most famous being the steamer RMS St George, when it foundered on the rock in the early hours of November 20, 1830 The tower was constructed through the endeavours of Sir William Hillary who had been instrumental in several rescues of sailors stranded on the rock The first stone was laid in 1832 and the first flag was flown on the tower the following year in 1833 The structure is castellated in the style of the 13th century having hanging parapets and corbels similar to those at Peel Castle and Castle Rushen The tower provided both a visible warning for incoming ships and a refuge for those in distress Next morning marks the start of the end of my magnificent journey to Isle of Man and I almost didn’t end up leaving! The Isle of Man Sea Terminal is located right on the Douglas promenade There is regular connection between Douglas and Heysham in England As well, during the summer travel peak season there is also scheduled connection to Liverpool, Belfast and Dublin The travel time for most routes are approximately three to four hours and I was totally excited to hop onboard I hear it’s very romantic and scenic But I screw up big time!!! So I was careless to admit I made a costly mistake I went to the... what it call? the ferry dock in Douglas 15 minutes before departure the gate is already closed! the cut off is actually 25 minutes so if you want to take a ferry drop by early just because it's not a flight that doesn't mean you can just get on so we are heading off to the airport right now because I just ticket very expensive ticket to Dublin but I have no choice but to get there However on the bright side is my Go Explore Card is still valid There is regular bus to the airport departs every twenty minutes from the promenade right across from the Sea Terminal and the ride takes about half hour I strongly recommend you arrived at the Isle of Man Airport no less than a month before your departure time just joking! I mean an hour beforehand There is regular scheduled flight to cities in Ireland and United Kingdom majority served by British Airways, Aer Lingus, and EasyJet With that being said this marks the end of the my magnificent to the Isle of Man! The Isle of Man has a reputation as offshore financial centre and many come to seek prospectively But I didn’t come here with this goal rather with the purpose of discovering its inner-soul by looking beyond this image and to demystify this little island of 90,000 to showcase that it has more than the financial wealth and being home to affluence bankers I came to seek and understand other types of wealth It’s abundance of wealth in culture with its own distinct language its way of life and it’s rich heritage Its abundance of speculator nature from pristine beaches to unspoiled mountains Its abundance of rich history it’s proud citizens served and made contribution to both world wars and beyond Most importantly, its abundance in welcomeness and the warm hospitality from the people of Isle of Man I invite you to visit this magnificent destination and to feel the heart beat of this Celtic land And finally to discover your very own inner-Manx within! Slane lhiat!
2021-01-06 00:25
