What's under a kilt answered online

Ellen Whyte, Columnist, Malaysia, ellenwhyte@lepak.com

Scotland is part of the British Isles lying to the north of England and to the east of Ireland.

Although its 79,000 square kilometers make it a relatively small country, Scotland is well known for its kilts, bagpipes, haggis, whisky, tartan, highland gatherings and other cultural icons. Films and television series like Braveheart, Rob Roy and Highlander have done their bit to popularize certain parts of Scots history as well. This week we explore Scotland online.

Virtual Tours

Tourists admire Scotland's mountains and lakes (called "lochs") as well as the many picturesque castles and monuments. Virtual Tour of Scotland at www.loveofscotland.com has lots of pictures accompanied by well-written articles introducing the country's history and main attractions. It discusses the poetry of Robert Burns, the battles that were fought by the different clans and principal attractions.

If your main interest is to get away from everything, you will love the wild beauty of the Hebrides, a group of islands off the west coast. A series of 360 degree panoramic photos showing off the beauty of the islands of Mull, Iona and Ulva are available at www.isle.of.mull.com/Mull_virtual_tour.htm.

Alternatively, visit Undiscovered Scotland at www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk and click on the Map Index link. This leads to an interactive map that will let you explore many of the lesser-known attractions. If you plan to visit Scotland, this is an excellent holiday planning aid.

Ye Ken?

The accepted language in most parts of Scotland is English, but visitors find it hard to cope with some of the local dialects and accents. The Scots realize this and revel in teaching visitors local parlance. Scots-Online at www.scots-online.org is a brilliant site that is "Pittin the Mither Tongue on the Wab!" (putting the mother tongue on the web). Check out the various introductions to contemporary spoken Scots (including the sound files) or dive into Gaelic, the language spoken in the highlands and islands.

History

The Scots are very proud of their heritage. They will happily argue over events that took place centuries ago, describing these as though they happened yesterday. This interest, plus the fact that Scots history is a riot of heroism, deceit, betrayal, guerrilla warfare, romance and passion, has ensured that there are plenty of resources available online.

The Electric Scotland History pages at www.electricscotland.com/history/index.htm consists of a collection of books and essays that describe main events such as the wars of independence that started in the late 13th century as well as the lives of famous characters such as Robert the Bruce, William Wallace, Mary Queen of Scots, Rob Roy MacGregor, and Bonnie Prince Charlie. If you are not familiar with the history of this region, start with the An Introduction to Scotland and the Scots. This section is divided into sections such as clan life, superstitions, marriage practices, music and battles.

Tartan

Traditional dress for Scots men consists of a kilt and plaid, a long piece of wool that was wrapped around the waist and upper body. The cloth is dyed in a checked pattern called a "tartan". There are many different patterns, with some being associated with a particular clan. Find out more tartan and kilts from Tartans of Scotland www.tartans.scotland.net. And in case you were wondering what a Scotsman wears under his kilt, the answer is: the future of Scotland.

Loch Ness Monster

Reports of a large and mysterious creature living in a Scottish lake called Loch Ness go back to 565 A.D. Today the loch attracts many tourists as well as scientific expeditions bent on proving Nessie's existence one way or the other. Find out more about this unknown beasty by visiting The Legend of Nessie at www.nessie.co.uk for the latest news and take a look at one of the most famous scientific expeditions described as The Beast of Loch Ness at www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lochness.

Robert Burns

Scotland's most famous poet, Robert Burns was born on Jan. 25, 1759 in Alloway, near Ayr. Burns was a farmer by trade, but he became famous in 1786 when he published a collection of poems. Burns was unusual because he liked to write in Scots dialect. As he was also very witty and not shy about writing political satire, he quickly became a household name. Some of his most famous works include Auld Lang Syne, Holy Willie's Prayer and Tam O'Shanter. Today his memory is celebrated on this birthday with a traditional Burns Night supper.

Learn more about his life, read some of his poetry and pick up tips on how to run your own Burns Night supper from A Tribute To Robert Burns at www.robertburns.plus.com.

If you found this article interesting, you can find similar online resources by searching for the terms: Scotland, virtual Scotland, Scottish Gaelic, Scottish language, tartan, Loch Ness Monster, Robert Burns. Cheerio the nou!