ThatMandu

Gay, vegan Mancunian wanting to 'Break Free' around the world with his camera.

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An amazing climb! This is the same walk that the video was taken from. I know there's a lot of panorama photos, but I'm stretch crazy at the mo! 😋

[thatmandu-blog]

A brilliant day walking around the coast in Donegal. A few hitches with the map reading, but it made it more of an adventure. We were all prepared for the rain as it had forecast torrential storms. We only had a 10 minute shower!! Yay! The area is beautiful, so photogenic. We found a lovely tea room at the end of the walk. They even had soya milk and syrups for my latte! I'm easily pleased :-)

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A little belated. This was an amazing walk. It actually started snowing at the top and then back to sunshine 10 minutes later! Crazy. The views were amazing, considering it wasn't a particularly hard climb. Although for about 20 minutes we hit a very steep bit and I had to stop talking as was out of breath. Me not talking is quite a rare occurrence ;-)

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We were really impressed with the Titanic museum. It's interactive, informative and touching. They have a ride in there too! There were a lot of things I didn't realise about the Titanic, I'd definitely go if visiting Belfast. The photo on the left is where it was actually built. It has its footprint drawn on the ground if you look closely. It was quite eerie to walk where it had been!

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Mmmmmmmmmmm, vegan pancakes! I wandered into Home coffee shop and got a lovely welcome, the barman was so friendly. There was nothing vegan for breakfast, so the chef offered to make me these, amazing hey! It makes such a difference when people go the extra mile for you. It will always be my first memory of Belfast now 😊

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It's so lovely to wake up to the sun as we approach Belfast harbour. What a gorgeous day, I think I can feel Spring in the air. I didn't sleep very well as kept having dreams about oversleeping and missing the disembarkation. The boat hardly rocked at all, you'd have never thought you were in the middle of The Irish Sea. They said that it sometimes gets a bit rough passing The Isle Of Man though. Well, what to do next!? Mark and Kev are off to visit a friend. Here I am at 7:30am in a city I've never been to, exciting adventures ahead!!!

[thatmandu-blog]

Well, I’m off to sunny Ireland for Easter with a few mates. I’m on a night ferry with a cabin! The last time I slept on a boat was 20 years ago when I worked as a cruise photographer, It only feels like yesterday!

We used to put the life belts on the passengers (like in my pic) and take their photo, it was a great seller!

Just leaving Liverpool now, it looks fantastic at night. The photo doesn’t do it justice as it’s taken on my phone. I left my S.L.R camera at home as it’s supposed to be wet and windy all weekend 😰

On the way here, the sat nav tried to take us back down the Mersey tunnel the wrong way, a little scary. We’re safely on the boat now though (I’m sure that’s what the passengers on the Titanic said!)

Anyway, I’ll stop waffling. We’re docking in Belfast at 6:30am, I certainly won’t be doing much waffling then! The first thing I’ll be doing is sitting in a Belfast coffee shop with a (vegan) Ulster Fry! 😋☕️

Nighty night!

[thatmandu-blog]

I sneaked in to the 1st class toilet (rock and roll!) They have lovely hand wash with bergamot and lavender, and gorgeous moisturiser! I really enjoyed using it 😋 When you board, you have to walk through 1st class and then Club class to get to the cattle truck at the back. I'm sure they do it on purpose to show you what you're missing! The 1st class seats turn into beds, they are amazing, I had a sit in one in the middle of the night whilst everyone was asleep. One day, that'll be me for the whole journey😊 From my seat, I could see them through the curtain eating caviar and chinking their Champagne glasses and watching the dirty rich gravy dribble down their double chins! I'm not bitter, ha!

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I got fed!!! So happy as they didn't have my vegan meal on the way (I was livid! 😡) When you don't expect something and you get it, it's always twice as good! It was like a broccoli and mushroom rice thing, actually REALLY tasty. I so love airline food and the little plates and dishes you get. If I'm honest though, rather disappointed with having crackers with nothing to put on them and a fruit salad for desert, it's always a fruit salad!!!! I even got fruit salad for breakfast when everyone was eating breakfast baps and croissants. Come on British Airways, try a little harder for the vegans 😝

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I'm sooooooo happy, I got legroom!!!

I’ve not lost my charm.

The woman at check-in said to check at the gate if any better seats. I headed straight there (after my security stress) and told the lady that the lady at check in said there was maybe emergency exit seats left, and could I swap as I was tall. (I was standing on my toes for added drama) The kind lady said ‘yes’! I could’ve kissed her 😋

It just goes to show, if you don’t ask, you don’t get! (Although, often you don’t ‘get’ either)

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I’m such a fool!

For some reason, I always get flustered at airport security. I always seem to do the wrong thing, even though I try and plan everything out. I usually leave liquids in my bag or forget I have the grenade in my coat pocket! 😋

For some reason I always think I look guilty, especially if I’m alone. I think that they think I’m a drug smuggler or something!

When I got through (and after being felt up by one of the security personnel) I just carried on up the escalator with my tray!! What an eejit. I had to find a seat in the lounge to put everything back in my pockets. I didn’t dare take it back, just left it 😬

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I'm driving the train, waaaaaahaaaaaaay!! Next stop, JFK. Actually, it's an automatic train, but I think you guessed that 😜 I'm easily pleased, ha! Kinda not looking forward to flight home as I've been given a middle seat. I usually always manage to blag leg room but not this time. Anyone who has been to the cinema with me knows I'm a right fidgeter. I think I may be a little claustrophobic, although having bloody long legs doesn't help ☺️

[thatmandu-blog]

Got my loooooooong journey home. It took 17 hours, door to door on way here, let's hope it's a little quicker on way home. Got my massive backpack, I've had it over 10 years and it's been so good to me. I think it's the heaviest it's ever been for this trip, got my camera gear and tripod in there too, it's like carrying a large hobbit on my back! Getting the subway is quite scary, even worse than the London tube. Everyone stairs at the floor and is silent. Always feel a little vulnerable with my backpack as I stand out as a tourist. Got to JFK okay though :-) The lovely lady at my hotel (Leon Hotel) was so helpful, gave my directions printed out to get to the airport. She'd been more than helpful all week, I'd recommend staying there. It really made the holiday, amazing view of Manhattan bridge, clean, quiet and amazingly comfy bed, gonna miss it!

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Ooooooh nooooooo!! I'm a fool, had this in my back pocket. It wouldn't work and I only had $10 but needed to save that to get my ticket to the airport. I tried it in a store, I just wanted a vegan salad and cookie for the plane (as BA didn't feed me on my outward journey 😡) It wouldn't work, but can you believe the guy who worked there let me have my stuff for free!!!!! What an amazing person, everyone says Newyorkers are mean but that was a lovely thing to do, I actually had a tear in my eye.

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My last day, and there’s still loads more for a vegan gay to see!

Most days I’ve kinda made it up as I went along and see where the wind took me!

Today I got the subway to the Rockerfeller Center. Not really used the subway much as walked and biked everywhere, you see so much more!

The views up there are amazing. I think it’s a better view than The Empire State Building as you actually get The Empire State Building in the photos! 😋 And I think The Empire State Building really IS New York! Should I say Empire State Building one more time!!

Empire State Building!! Yay!

I’ll add some proper photos of the view, and the whole trip when I’m home. Most of my photos are on my Canon S.L.R camera.

I just can’t believe the weather today, I went coatless!! Two days ago it was snowing and I couldn’t feel my fingers. Those poor spring bulbs don’t know if they’re popping up or down!

I treated myself to a fabulous ‘fillet o’ fish’ burger at Terri, it was bloody amazing, go get one now vegans! (And none vegans 😋) To top it off, I got a blueberry muffin for the plane home, but I ate it so had to buy another. I am naughty!

Well, there’s a Citibike with my name on it. This Uptown Girl is going Downtown to pick up my backpack for the flight home 🚲✈️

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Glad you’ve had a good trip - really beaut photos!

[thatmandu-blog]

Thanks so much!

[thatmandu-blog]

I did some miles yesterday. Mostly on the Citi Bikes. When they work, they are amazing. $25 for the week, and as long as you get to the next bike station within 30min you're not charged extra, it makes it more of a fun challenge!! I went across Brooklyn Bridge, an amazing day for it. The temperature here has shot up today, I was sweating like a funny thing in a funny place! It's even hotter today, Spring is here ☀️☀️☀️☀️ I went to a lovely Vegan cafe in Williamsburg called Bliss cafe. Had a fab tofu scramble, worth the sweaty ride! Then onto Gantry Park, an amazing place to see Manhattan without the noise and traffic. I'd recommend sitting on a bench there with a good book. Finally across the water to the Rockefeller Centre. The plan was to go up to photograph the sunset from the viewing platform but the queues were massive 😬 I'll maybe try and fit it in today, we'll see. My last day, just sat in my window for the last time, watching the people and cars going across Manhattan bridge, it's better than the telly. My Mum would love sitting here, watching the hustle and bustle!

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Down with Trump! I stumbled across his crib whilst walking down 5th Avenue, walking cane at my side! (at Trump Tower New York)