https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/rss RSS Feed for Matthew Fedaks Website. Matthew Fedak is a PHP web developer who also likes taking photos. Matthew Fedak's Blog (https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk) https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/boats-at-carlingford-harbour-county-louth-ireland
I had a walk up to the castle ruins but it's not possible to go inside unless you organise a tour. I was there with my folks meeting my eldest cousin Linda who migrated to Ireland 40 years ago.

Carlingford looked like a really cool town full of lively pubs and it seems a popular desination for hen parties. The atmosphere was probably hightened due to the County Louth mens football team semi-final game against County Mayo taking place the same day. I saw lots of red and white flags, balloons and people wearing t-shirts with the words "An Lú Abú" on the chest. I think it means "Good Luck".]]> Sun, 12 Jul 2026 16:06:06 +0100 Boats at Carlingford harbour, County Louth, Ireland f4b7ac126ade128203600df359deb6ce [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Boats at Carlingford harbour, County Louth, Ireland
I had a walk up to the castle ruins but it's not possible to go inside unless you organise a tour. I was there with my folks meeting my eldest cousin Linda who migrated to Ireland 40 years ago.

Carlingford looked like a really cool town full of lively pubs and it seems a popular desination for hen parties. The atmosphere was probably hightened due to the County Louth mens football team semi-final game against County Mayo taking place the same day. I saw lots of red and white flags, balloons and people wearing t-shirts with the words "An Lú Abú" on the chest. I think it means "Good Luck".]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/boats-at-carlingford-harbour-county-louth-ireland https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/the-gobbins-islandmagee-northern-ireland
According to our amazing guide (thanks Ian), this short path along the coastline was originally created in 1902 by a visionary railway engineer called Berkeley Deane Wise. It was designed to boost tourism and quickly became an internationally acclaimed attraction. It consists of several suspended bridges which hang around 10 metres above the Irish sea. It's also a great place to see wildlife and we even saw a Puffin.

The tour took about 90 minutes in total. In places the rocky path is very narrow and there is one part where you go down into a small tunnel with a low ceiling. Due to the obvious health and safety risks, hiking boots and a helmet must be worn when on the cliff path.]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2026 18:39:41 +0100 The Gobbins, Islandmagee, Northern Ireland f4dd43ce9b31bd2b40f66ba37ed87d99 [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) The Gobbins, Islandmagee, Northern Ireland
According to our amazing guide (thanks Ian), this short path along the coastline was originally created in 1902 by a visionary railway engineer called Berkeley Deane Wise. It was designed to boost tourism and quickly became an internationally acclaimed attraction. It consists of several suspended bridges which hang around 10 metres above the Irish sea. It's also a great place to see wildlife and we even saw a Puffin.

The tour took about 90 minutes in total. In places the rocky path is very narrow and there is one part where you go down into a small tunnel with a low ceiling. Due to the obvious health and safety risks, hiking boots and a helmet must be worn when on the cliff path.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/the-gobbins-islandmagee-northern-ireland https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/weinstadel-and-water-tower-nurenberg
I took this photo of the famous Weinstadel building (which used to be a wine store but is now student accommodation) from the bridge opposite (Maxbrücke).]]> Thu, 07 May 2026 12:46:00 +0100 Weinstadel and water tower, Nürnberg 74b535bcdc36562e7269e0e63a947ef6 [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Weinstadel and water tower, Nürnberg
I took this photo of the famous Weinstadel building (which used to be a wine store but is now student accommodation) from the bridge opposite (Maxbrücke).]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/weinstadel-and-water-tower-nurenberg https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/view-from-burj-khalifa-dubai
This photo was taken from the 145th floor by my father and is still twenty floors from the top. To go to the very top you need a premium ticket and we only had the normal ones (thanks dad). It was a relatively clear day and the city below looked like a lego village from above. In addition to being inside the world's tallest building it must have also been my fastest ever elevator journey. It only took about 35 seconds to go from the lobby to level 144 and my ears even popped during the descent.]]> Sun, 23 Nov 2025 04:31:55 +0000 View from Burj Khalifa, Dubai d1832503009db5ff71557f86d8e43670 [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) View from Burj Khalifa, Dubai
This photo was taken from the 145th floor by my father and is still twenty floors from the top. To go to the very top you need a premium ticket and we only had the normal ones (thanks dad). It was a relatively clear day and the city below looked like a lego village from above. In addition to being inside the world's tallest building it must have also been my fastest ever elevator journey. It only took about 35 seconds to go from the lobby to level 144 and my ears even popped during the descent.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/view-from-burj-khalifa-dubai https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/al-qudra-50km-cycle-track-dubai
Renting Bikes:

The rental service from the Trek Bikes shop at the start was excellent. I reserved two Trek Emonda race bikes (Alu frame, carbon fork, disc brakes) with SPD pedals, helmets and shoes for 6 hours and in total it cost ~ 70 GBP. I did this a week before the trip. The rental service opens at 0530am.

Getting there:

We took a taxi to the track from downtown and we had no problems finding one at 5am. It also only took about 10 minutes to find a taxi to go back to the city although I have heard it can take longer if no drivers are nearby to pick up the fair. The taxi ride took around an hour each way and cost about 40 GBP.

Drinks/Supplies:

There is a supermarket at the start (ZAD's Food Store/ Cafe) which sells coffee, water and all kinds of energy gels and related sports nutrition. I read online that there was nothing but that was untrue.]]> Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:51:35 +0000 Al Qudra 50km cycle track, Dubai eb789173076943d974eb1c2066e07784 [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Al Qudra 50km cycle track, Dubai
Renting Bikes:

The rental service from the Trek Bikes shop at the start was excellent. I reserved two Trek Emonda race bikes (Alu frame, carbon fork, disc brakes) with SPD pedals, helmets and shoes for 6 hours and in total it cost ~ 70 GBP. I did this a week before the trip. The rental service opens at 0530am.

Getting there:

We took a taxi to the track from downtown and we had no problems finding one at 5am. It also only took about 10 minutes to find a taxi to go back to the city although I have heard it can take longer if no drivers are nearby to pick up the fair. The taxi ride took around an hour each way and cost about 40 GBP.

Drinks/Supplies:

There is a supermarket at the start (ZAD's Food Store/ Cafe) which sells coffee, water and all kinds of energy gels and related sports nutrition. I read online that there was nothing but that was untrue.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/al-qudra-50km-cycle-track-dubai https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bird-shop-in-falcon-souq-doha-qatar
The birds in this shop ranged in price from around £500 to £3000 depending on age and breed. They can live up to three years but it depends on lifestyle and how well they are looked after. We were not his usual Monday morning customers but the shop keeper was welcoming and happy to talk to tourists.]]> Wed, 19 Nov 2025 06:19:03 +0000 Bird shop in Falcon Souq, Doha, Qatar 62f207a61782e9b5afaa57b8ae15a7c7 [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Bird shop in Falcon Souq, Doha, Qatar
The birds in this shop ranged in price from around £500 to £3000 depending on age and breed. They can live up to three years but it depends on lifestyle and how well they are looked after. We were not his usual Monday morning customers but the shop keeper was welcoming and happy to talk to tourists.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bird-shop-in-falcon-souq-doha-qatar https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bucharest-marathon-2025 Via Transilvanica back in the summer of 2023. This was my third marathon, and even though training didn’t go quite as planned, I still managed to hit a new personal best and finished just under 3 hours and 40 minutes! The energy on the course was incredible, and the weather was perfect for running.]]> Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:16:12 +0100 Bucharest Marathon 2025 c6de93a6f6a13be03e2a1227bbb87d29 [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Bucharest Marathon 2025 Via Transilvanica back in the summer of 2023. This was my third marathon, and even though training didn’t go quite as planned, I still managed to hit a new personal best and finished just under 3 hours and 40 minutes! The energy on the course was incredible, and the weather was perfect for running.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bucharest-marathon-2025 https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bikepacking-through-rotterdam-netherlands Roderik later that evening. On the way we cycled through The Hague and Rotterdam.

In Rotterdam we had a sandwich and took a couple of photos. This lunch spot was conveniently located east of the bridge (Erasmusbrug) just across from the Deloitte offices.]]> Thu, 11 Sep 2025 15:43:35 +0100 Bikepacking through Rotterdam, Netherlands ad07c2519dc5dd7e926c4ed9d993156c [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Bikepacking through Rotterdam, Netherlands Roderik later that evening. On the way we cycled through The Hague and Rotterdam.

In Rotterdam we had a sandwich and took a couple of photos. This lunch spot was conveniently located east of the bridge (Erasmusbrug) just across from the Deloitte offices.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bikepacking-through-rotterdam-netherlands https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/lennon-wall-prague-czechia
After the death of John Lennon in 1980, this stone wall in Prague was turned into a memorial and featured a portrait of the musicians face. Soon after slogans appeared on the wall which criticised the communist regime which the residents of Prague lived under. Back then Prague was part of Czechoslovakia which despite not being part of the USSR, was a satellite state and had been under Soviet control since the end of the second world war. Today the wall has less political significance but is a tourist hotspot and part of the cities modern history. People from all over the world can write messages on the wall and it has even inspired other Lennon walls such as the one established in Hong Kong during the 2014 protests in Hong Kong.]]> Mon, 25 Aug 2025 09:25:17 +0100 Lennon Wall, Prague, Czechia 6428ff3b914617cc5cf4dd42cc82063c [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) Lennon Wall, Prague, Czechia
After the death of John Lennon in 1980, this stone wall in Prague was turned into a memorial and featured a portrait of the musicians face. Soon after slogans appeared on the wall which criticised the communist regime which the residents of Prague lived under. Back then Prague was part of Czechoslovakia which despite not being part of the USSR, was a satellite state and had been under Soviet control since the end of the second world war. Today the wall has less political significance but is a tourist hotspot and part of the cities modern history. People from all over the world can write messages on the wall and it has even inspired other Lennon walls such as the one established in Hong Kong during the 2014 protests in Hong Kong.]]> https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/lennon-wall-prague-czechia https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bmw-r32-bmw-museum-munich Wed, 11 Jun 2025 23:23:01 +0100 BMW R32, BMW Museum, Munich 679306be5b8fe906f632e0bb671e176a [email protected] (Matthew Fedak) BMW R32, BMW Museum, Munich https://www.matthewfedak.co.uk/blog/photo/bmw-r32-bmw-museum-munich