Travel Pictorials "jalan-jalan": 20 January 2006

START ~ Back in England 061105

Arriving at Manchester Airport the night before, we picked up this zippy Ford Focus. We plan to spend the day in Liverpool before returning to Manchester to catch our evening flight back to Kuala Lumpur.

Anfield 061105

First stop for the day - Anfield. We have a Liverpool fan in the family (last week we did Old Trafford for the other guy), so I guess this Anfield visit is mandatory.

Old Trafford has Matt Busby, Anfield is not outdone with an expressive Bill Shankly!

The stadium has been here since 1884, and is now surrounded by residential homes in a working class area. The whole place looks pretty cramped and I wonder how it handles the weekend football crowds.

The Kop.

The Club Store 061105

I see red everywhere, but not as spectacular as Old Trafford's store.

Reds' Shopping 061105

Two satisfied visitors, but I would not trust the girl. Last week at Old Trafford she was a Red Devil!

Note the red bird on the Paisley Gateway gate.

A bunch of real fans and pseudo-fans.

The Mersey River 061105

Ahhh...the famous River Mersey. Wirral District is across the river with its towns of Birkenhead and Wallasey. I'm on the Liverpool side, next to Albert Dock. Can you imagine ships carrying precious rubber and tin arriving here from Malaya during the British Empire days?

Birkenhead used to be a famous seaport and ship-building place, but alas, no more.

The Mersey ferry service connecting both sides of the river has been running since the 12th century. Now it does cruises for visitors too.

Maybe we should hop onto this boat and return to Dublin.

The Monument 061105

On the bank of the river, we see this poignant monument ...

... and stacks of Malay and Chinese names.

The Lyver Birds 061105

The Liver Building ('liver' is pronounced 'lye-ver'), built 1911 for the Royal Liver Friendly Society, whatever that is. Next to the touristy Albert Dock, it faces the Mersey river.

Two lyver birds (also spelt liverbirds) atop the building. Said to be a cross between a cormorant (which used to fly, in the old days, along the Mersey river with seaweeds in their beaks) and an eagle, it is the official mascot of the City of Liverpool. There's one on the Reds' crest too.