Scottish bagpipes playing.
Edinburgh Edinburgh
So we still don't quite know how to pronounce the name of the city.
As a Canadian, I would be saying Edinburgh but I keep hearing the locals saying Edinburgh,
so that's what we are going to go with for the rest of our videos.
Well, as you can probably tell we're not in Kansas anymore and by Kansas I mean Chiang
Mai, Thailand.
Look at what we're wearing.
In our winter clothes.
Today we're exploring Edinburgh for the first time.
This is our first impressions video.
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The views of the castle are phenomenal from here.
It's time to go climb up for an even better vantage point.
And to get there we're going to Granny's Green steps.
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Screw this hat.
I've got myself a proper Scottish winter trapper.
More like I've inherited his hat.
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I'm feeling the Christmas spirit here in Edinburgh.
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To go on the Ferris Wheel it's going to be a ten minute ride and hopefully we'll some
nice views of the city.
And we are moving.
Woo hoo!
And we're only half way there.
We're going to even go higher up.
Are you scared?
Yes, and we're not even at the top yet.
We don't like heights at all.
We're probably using up all of our courage points doing this.
Oh, yes.
All for the viewers right?
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Well there has been a lot of ginger sightings here in Edinburgh.
I fit right in.
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So today we're going to be doing a tour with Haggis Adventures.
We're up in the Scottish Highlands and we're going to be visiting some of the main sites
around this area.
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Every time I come here I always get really emotional.
I can't explain it.
It's a place that is very very close to my heart.
This is the battlefield.
No jokes.
No humor.
Guys.
This is a massive war grave where my ancestors and other people's ancestors died needlessly.
So, just respect it guys.
As you're making your way through here.
It's the same as if you go over to Europe and you go to these Second World War places.
Just utmost total respect.
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A big massive shield and a big ginger beard.
And long hair.
Quite intimidating, eh?
Boom.
Five of you guys have just been disemboweled.
Now you guys over here boomfff.
I probably just slit through your jugulars.
So with one man I could have taken out eight red coat soldiers.
That's why the Highlanders were known.
The people come here.
They sing songs.
They tell stories.
And they remember.
If you guys were to come here just after the 16th of April all the way around this would
be five hours and things like that.
On the anniversary of the battle during the day they bring a little piper out who is actually
blind.
And they bring him up here and he stands here for forty five minutes and he plays songs
on the bagpipes for forty five minutes.
The length that the battle lasted for.
And I dare any of you to come and stand next to him and not cry because I did and it is
just such an emotional thing.
There is just silence and all you can hear is the pipes just playing through and you're
just looking around you can just imagine it happening.
And it does really really tug on your heart strings because war is such a terrible thing
and one thing is guaranteed with war is death.
Death and destruction.
really really sad.
These flags here.
The three lions represent the connection to England.
fleur de lis a connection to France.
And the flower is the connection to Ireland.
I think it's quite cool.
So this is the Royal standard of King James.
If I had to stand here in this battle field 250 years ago and I was flying this flag I
would have been taken for treason and hung and killed.
This is pretty cool actually.
And another interesting thing that one of the Jacobite generals did.
If I had saw this being a Jacobite soldier this would have inspired me to have courage
and morale.
He actually led a charge into the front line against the British government army.
Snapped his sword in two, lost his horse.
Came back out of the front line of the British government army.
Got another sword, go another horse and led a second charge in.
Now to me that's balls.
If I had of been there and I saw one of my generals acting like that I'd have been YEAH!
Come on let's go!
He's also the patron Saint of Russia and he's the patron saint of Greece as well.
So he's not just exclusive to Scotland.
This flag is very important as well.
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clava cairns.
Pffff.
There isn't actually much to say about this place because it's a mystery.
You still have people coming here in the winter solstice with professor suits on and they
all argue with one another basically.
Eh, these chambers are older than the Pyramids.
They were built by teenagers because the life expectancy back then would have only been
about 30 years old.
So these tombs were built by teenagers.
Now you might have had a dome coming over the top as well.
And as you can see the sun is actually just setting right over there.
And I believe it's either in the summer solstice or the winter solstice that the sun actually
sets in alignment here and the sun beam comes right down in this chamber and there would
have been a fire and smoke and all of us would have been sitting in here.
So image that beam of light coming in and all of this room started filling up with a
smoke and light and things like that.
Very very very spiritual.
People who come here.
If they take any of these rocks from these cairns and take it back to whatever it is
they are from bad things happen to them.
So much so people actually come back here and replaced the rocks.
So there is your disclaimer guys.
Don't take any of the rocks.
Hahaha.
Don't go on facebook.
Dave my arms is falling off!
I did tell you not to take the rocks.
Hahaha!
You have been warned.
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After the rising you had 1719.
Spain and England are shall we say had an alliance with one another and voided that
alliance, so Spain decided to play the Jacobite card.
They spent 300 of their crack Spanish mountain troops to help the highlanders.
Thank you very much Spain!
Woo!
They went down to the eilendon castle which is where I'll be taking you shortly.
Unfortunately, for the Scots and the Spanish we were defeated, so it was another failure
and arising.
Thanks for trying to help us guys.
Hahaha.
So it's quite crazy to think guys that there were was actually Spanish soldiers fighting
here.
That's why we've said about Jacobitism being part of Scotland.
As I said, Bonnie Prince Charlie was offered to become King of America, so an International
dimension as well.
What a beautiful place for a battle guys.
What a beautiful place for a battle.
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Wind blowing.
So today is day two of our tour of the Scottish Highlands.
The blue skies are gone and it is rainy, cold and the weather is just very Scottish and
dramatic.
So our first stop of the day is eilean donan castle and that's just right behind us.
Brrrr.
When I'm cold you know it's really cold.
Oh yeah!
Bone chilling, wet and damp right now.
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Aside from just the impressive Castle there is also wonderful views here.
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Wind blowing.
SO we've just been warming up in a pub right now.
It is really cold, damp, wet and windy outside, so we've got tea for two and we've ordered
some traditional pub fare.
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I actually quite like the damp and the rain because it reminds me so much of home where
I grew up on Vancouver Island.
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It is super windy.
Our guide Dave this is the windiest he's ever seen it here.
I bet you can barely hear me right now.
Wind noises.
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Today is day three of our Haggis Tour adventure and we've had all kinds of weather.
On day one it was pristine conditions - sunny blue skies and day two was insane.
Howling winds, rain, chilly and today we have a nice overcast day.
And we've got great views from the back of the mountains.
So the snowy peak we have over in the background is Ben Nevis and it is the highest peak in
the UK.
It's a real treat that we can see it today.
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So here is inverlochy castle which dates back to the.
So we've just been wandering around the ruins and seeing what is left of it even now.
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And just behind us we have the three sisters.
There is not much explaining to do the scenery speaks for itself.
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So we're visiting the William Wallace Memorial.
Fans of Brave Heart will certainly know who this is.
What was interesting was that our guide actually told us that many of the scenes in Brave Heart
were actually historically inaccurate.
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It's our first meal in Scotland, so we've decided to go with something very typical.
We're going to be eating the National dish, which is Haggis.
So let's go into Whisky Room.
So today's meal is all about Haggis.
We are starting with Haggis spring rolls.
So let's see what those are like.
We've had a lot of spring rolls lately in Thailand, Vietnam and other places in SE Asia.
Mmmmmm.
Never Haggis.
And it's also the first time trying haggis.
Oh, so hot!
Is it hot?
Mmmmmm.
I'm pleasantly surprised.
Oh, yeah.
Haggis is good people!
Those are hot.
Mmmmmm.
Wow, so many flavors.
It's delicious.
I think I've found myself my new favorite spring roll.
Haggis spring rolls.
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So for those of you who aren't familiar with Haggis it's a savory pudding made with sheep's
pluck.
And that means a sheep's heart, liver and lungs.
And if that doesn't sound appetizing enough it's wrapped in the sheep's stomach and it
also includes spices and some oats and onions.
So that's what we're going to be trying.
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It's time to cover this bad boy in some gravy.
Oh my, oh my.
Look at that.
So Haggis is served with neeps and tatties, which is basically turnips and potatoes.
First bite.
So I've got lots of haggis here.
Neeps and tatties.
Lots of gravy.
The verdict.
It's awesome.
Yeah.
That's not an acquired taste.
I love it on the very first bite.
Do you like it as much as I do?
It's a really nice rich winter dish.
And like normally I don't like organs.
I've had liver before and it has a very strong flavor but somehow when it's all mixed together
and they add spices and the gravy it's perfect.
I like it.
I like haggis!
And it's a cold day today so I'm trying something else very Scottish here.
It's a nice warm drink.
It's called a Hot Toddy.
It's got hot water, whisky, lemon and honey.
And that sounds good to me.
Take a sip.
Oh yeah.
It goes down nice.
Okay, First sip of the Hot Toddy.
I'm not I've ever even tried this whiskey.
So let's how it is in a hot drink.
Ooooh.
It's nice.
It really warms you up but it's not a strong and overpowering as I thought it would be.
This is nice.
And it's also very aromatic because they've put some cloves along with the lemon.
Like Christmas.
So far you're liking Scottish food.
Yeah.
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What's your name?
Sam.
Sam how you doing man?
We're doing a deep-fried snickers, a Twix and we've already done a Mars bar already.
Awesome.
I'm going to unwrap it.
Stick it in the batter.
I can't tell you that because it's my secret.
Hahaha...secret recipe?
Of course.
The Twix.
One.
Two.
Mix it around.
Give it a little shake.
And there it goes.
Ah, that looks good.
Now for the Twix.
Here is the Twix.
There you go.
How long do you put them in there?
Emmmm, we just keep it about...2 or 3 minutes.
We fry them separately.
This is just for the Mars bars.
Mars bars only.
Awesome.
So the temperature.
This is 170 degrees.
And while the batter cooks the chocolate will melt.
So the batter will cook before the chocolate.
Ahhh, perfect.
That's so cool.
So we've been hearing lots about the Mars bars but Sam here went overboard and tried
three different chocolate bars that have been deep fried.
So what do you have?
Well, at the recommendation of the guy at the chip shop.
He recommended I also try the Snickers and the Twix bar, so we've got it all right here.
Let's unwrap that.
I don't want to drop it here.
Okay.
Let's see that thing of beauty.
Isn't that gorgeous.
Alright, so which is which?
So I believe this is the Snickers.
We've got the two Twixes here and that is the Mars bar.
Alright.
And you're feeling a little queasy today, so I'm going to be the one trying them all.
Yes, you are.
Enjoy!
So first up.
And you can tell they really feel as though they've been deep-fried and melted.
This is flimsy in the hand.
Ewww.
Yeah, this is a Mars bar.
I can tell from what is seeping out.
Take a bite.
Oh, Wow.
That is so much better than just having it on its own.
It's all melted inside.
It's gooey.
And you've got the crispiness from the batter on the outside.
Mmmmmm.
One more bite.
Next up Twix.
Next up we have the Twix.
This one is a little longer.
Oh yeah.
Is it still crunchy?
Yeah, it's still crunchy on the inside.
You can see this.
All the chocolate has melted on the outside.
It's just so much better than having it normally.
And the best for last.
Best for last.
My favorite of all these bars is the Snickers, so I have high expectations for the deep-fried
version here.
The battered version.
Oh yeah.
It just melts.
All caramel and chocolate inside and the peanuts.
Oh,.
Let's see the inside of it?
That is amazing.
Okay, so you've tried all three.
Which was our favorite?
Definitely the Snickers.
Why?
Because I love Snickers bars and this just enhanced it.
So, it's not surprising that taking something that is already unhealthy and making it even
unhealthier would make it taste better.
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So this afternoon we are going to be doing a little bit of a taste test.
So we've raided a Scottish supermarket and picked out some items that we thought looked
very local.
So we're going to try those and see what they're like.
Yeah, overall we've got five different things.
Two beverages and three things to eat.
So first up I'm going to be trying something called Irn Bru and apparently after Whisky
this is Scotland's second national drink and it looks like a regular fizzy drink.
It kind of looks like it could be orange flavored but I hear it's just sweet and doesn't really
taste like fruit.
Oh, I'm going to need help opening this.
Hahahaha Rawwwr.
Thank you kindly.
So it smells very sweet and sugary.
It doesn't smell like orange.
Hahaha.
It's a bit like cream soda maybe.
It's just really really sweet.
Like sweeter than Pepsi or 7Up.
Oh yeah?
Yeah, it reminds me a lot of cream soda as well.
Which isn't my favorite beverage, so overall I don't think I'm going to be an Irn Bru man
anytime soon.
Next up we've got Mackie's of Scotland's Haggis and cracked black pepper flavored chips or
crisps as they like to call them here.
Right, exactly.
Chips here would be referring to like french fries, so we're going to call these crisps.
Let's open it up here.
It's going to be like Kettle style chips.
Crisps, I mean.
Kettle style crisps.
Let's try this.
You can tell that has a smokey flavor.
Can you taste the Haggis?
Ummmm, yeah, kind of but I mean it has more of a an all dressed smokey flavor in my opinion.
I do like them.
Why won't you be trying any of those delectable crisps?
Well, I got really sick shortly after eating Haggis, so just the name, just the sound of
Haggis kind of makes my stomach turn a little bit, so I'm staying away from haggis flavored
chips this time around, which is good for me because I get to eat them all.
I like them.
Good.
And what do we have here?
Next up we have Crabbie's.
Here in the back it says that it is best served chilled with ice and lemon but we have neither
of those.
Room temperature?
And actually we don't even know if this is Scottish or not but I think so.
Let's assume.
It says following in the pioneering footsteps of the first Scots.
Well, there we go.
And what is it?
I think it's a Ginger beer isn't it?
Ginger beer, okay.
With alcohol.
Hmmmmm, what does that mean?
Ginger beer.
Hahahaha.
That's exactly what is is.
It tastes very gingery?
Yes, I don't love beer, so I'm not going to say I love it but it's a nice smell.
It smells like ginger tea.
Tell me how you like it?
Oh yeah, I like that a lot.
It's got a very.
It's quite sweet.
I mean normally beer doesn't have this sweet of a taste, so this is a nice refreshing beverage.
Refreshing at room temperature.
True.
And we've got Butterscotch chocolate.
Let's give it a go.
Hahaha, that's upside down but that's okay.
Let's try a piece of this.
Mmmmmm.
Oh wow!
Oh yeah, you really taste the butterscotch.
It's creamy and sweet and delicious.
Is this milk chocolate or is it dark bitter chocolate?
No, it's really sweet.
You'll love it.
It kind of reminds me of Dulce de Leche.
Dulce de Leche chocolate huh?
Like it then?
Yeah.
I do like it.
I mean normally organic chocolate isn't that great in my opinion because it's a little
bitter.
A bit too natural for me.
But this is quite nice.
She takes another bite.
Nice and sweet.
It's creamy.
Shortbread cookies.
This is Christmas in a tin.
Mmmm, smells like Christmas?
Oooooh, those look good.
I can tell I'm going to like this.
Nice big thick cookies.
Crispy?
Not crispy.
Just crunchy Christmas cookies, you know?
Mmmmmm.
Going to share those?
Maybe.
You know this would make a really souvenir people.
If you're visiting Scotland get Scottish shortbread.
Those are real good.
It reminds me of my Mom's shortbread cookies.
She used to make for me for Christmas and I would eat a lot of those.
And last but not least we have tablet, which is a sweet treat that everyone has been talking
about.
And this is what I'm most looking forward to having.
This is supposed to be very much like fudge and so I can't wait to try it.
This one is whisky flavored.
Mmmmm....mmmm.
Oh yeah!
So I'm just going to go at this like it's a chocolate bar.
Just bite right in.
Smells good.
Oh, wow.
That is really really really sweet.
Is it soft, crunchy, gooey, chewy?
It's a little.
I wouldn't call it crunch.
It kind of crumbles in your mouth and yeah I can taste a hint of the whisky.
I mean it's not overpowering.
It's more sweet than anything else but there is definitely a hint of whisky.
It smells like cheese.
Take a bite.
That's the smallest nibble ever.
Okay, it's sweet when you taste it but it smells like cheese.
I'm not kidding.
Is that the whisky smell?
Could be yeah.
Do you like the taste though?
Yes.
Even though I'm just nibbling at it.
I'm like grazing it with my teeth.
It does taste nice.
Very sweet.
The smell?
Mmmmm-ooooh.
The smell doesn't do it for you?
It gets a nay from me.
Okay, so favorites.
What was the best thing you ate?
I really liked the tablet and the ginger beer the most.
Why?
Well, I just love to eat fudge and I like to drink beer - especially anything with ginger
in it.
Gingery beers....mmmmm.
Okay, so my favorite I would say was the shortbread cookies.
Those were really nice.
It reminds me of Christmas and least favorite I'd have to say the tablet just because it
smelled really bad.
I'm sure regular tablet is great but the Whisky flavored one I'm telling you it smells like
cheese.
Like go buy a pack and sniff that and come back to me.
And I think the thing we both didn't like was the Irn Bru.
Yeah, it's a bit too sweet but not terrible.
I didn't like it at all.
That was my least favorite by far.
Anyways, so yeah when you come to Scotland try out these products and try out other things
and let us know what you think.
And if you have any suggestions of things that we should try while we're here in Edinburgh
just leave it in the comments below.
I think tomorrow we're going to be hunting for some deep-fried pizza.
Number one goal.
Yeah, we just had the deep-fried chocolate bars today so.
Okay, tootles.
Bye.
Arrrrggghhhhh!
Hahaha So this morning we are at the Loony Dook and
it's a bit of tradition here in Scotland that the day of New Years people jump into the
freezing waters of the Firth of Forth and it's all to raise money for charity, so we're
going to watch them do that.
Are you going to do it?
No way!
Cheering.
More cheering.
Hahahaha!
Yeeaaaah!
Yeeeeeaaaah!
So there is a man wrapped up in bubble wrap that nearly floated away.
The rescue team picked him up in the water.
So that was one of the coolest, craziest and I must say zaniest events I've ever seen.
I'm glad that I was behind the lens and didn't go into the water.
Everyone looks freezing cold right now.