United Kingdom the Impromptu Trip

Edinburgh is a beautiful city.

I forgot what building is this. :( But it's so pretty. Too bad I didn't get to revisit the castles. 

Then, LINH CAME! haha. We went around Birmingham city centre, shopped for the necessities and she really did help my settling down in Birmingham easier. We went grocery shopping one night and had to carry what i thought was about 10kg of plastic bags back to where I live which is about 20-30mins of travelling time (including taking the train).

This is the view from Starbucks in Bullring, Birmingham.

We were chilling there, having a cuppa coffee and skyped wenxian! hah.

On the night Linh was supposed to leave, we went to this french pattisserie, Maison Mayci, on High Street (Harborne Road) in Birmingham. Their tarts are good, beautifully decorated too. About 2.60pounds for a palm-sized tart. This would cost about 8-9AUD in Adelaide.

Afterwards, when Linh was about to leave, I was looking at my timetable and wondering what will i do before going to Leeds in the afternoon as plan, suddenly i was wondering if i should go with linh! it was bout 6pm. Linh booked my ticket online and I packed in 5mins, left the hostel by 6.20pm, rushed to the train station (thank God no one was selling/checking ticket through the whole train journey which save us some time AND money), we dragged our hand luggage and ran to the coach station! 10mins to 7pm! We were 10mins early! SO! i'm In LEEDS NOW.

This was by far the most impromptu interstate trip decision i've made. It is fun, hilarious and exciting. I know it's a God-given opportunity for me to experience. I will look back at these memories one day and will be glad that i did it. I do this now, its called adventurous. If i do this in 10 years time, i'll most probably be called irresponsible.

So, this is only a small part of Leeds!

This is a nice city that I like. the Britz say this is a small city, i think they should visit Adelaide before defining what small means. :D alright, i still like Adelaide ok, just in a different way.

OH YEA! I went to Jamie's Italian (by Jamie Oliver) too! The food is good, but it's not "WOW" good. It's worth trying, because you know, it's Jamie Oliver. ;)

<3,
pRis

Hi 2012. Hi Birmingham.

I haven't blog in a long while. Anyway, Happy New Year! Greetings to all of you from Birmingham.
*This is just a record of what happened on my first day in Birmingham, it may be a lil boring for you*

I had such a long day yesterday. I traveled for about 22 hours to reach Birmingham. The landing to Birmingham wasn't like anything I was imagining: gracefully touch down and looking at the city with full of emotions. NO. The weather wasn't great, so it was so bumpy. It was like a roller coaster ride for at least 15mins. Kids were screaming and crying. I was looking at the downward camera of the plane. The sum of everything led to nausea. Got off the plane feeling sick.
After quite a long wait at the immigration, waited for almost an hour for my luggage. But thank God both my luggages arrive safely.

When i reached the reception of my hostel. i was dead tired. but the receptionist suggested that i should get my ID card from the uni. after much hassle and walk a path that i think is longer than needed, i reached uni. but the person said i have not completed my registration. so i couldnt get my card then. have to go back on Monday. Me, having no sense of direction, tried my luck to get back to uni from another way that i came from. But luckily i found my way back and there were quite a few pedestrian that i asked to just make sure i was in the right direction. I rushed back before 5pm to get my duvet set and internet cable for my room, only to know that reception is 24 hours.

Afterwards, i rushed off to High Street thinking to get my sim card. On my way out, i opened a fire door, thinking that i can use it as short cut, but i set off the alarm. so i had to run all the way to reception and ask for help again. the guy, Amirk (who is kind enough to help me carry one of my luggage to my room) shook his head. I was so embarrassed.

So, as i set off to get my sim card, thinking i must get it then, broke my heart when the stupid phone shop do not have micro sim. :S What kind of phone shop is that!?! he said i need to get to City Centre to get it done. Which i still have no idea where it is. Argh. with much disappointment, i went to get some things from this shop called Home Bargain. and then went to Marks and Spencer to get myself an apple pie and some ham. The living cost here is quite okay. I get the pie for 89p. I couldnt have bought a pie at this price in Aus.

So, using my almost-non-existent sense of direction, i manage to get home in one piece. My new neighbour who offered some help earlier gave me a sim card that she got in her welcome pack, after i told her i couldnt get a sim from High Street. I was so thankful. Thank you God for giving me a good neighbour/toilet mate (we share the same toilet).

So after a long day, i showered (the water was not HOT! i almost froze when i first showered until the water warm up towards the end of my shower), fixed the internet, put the sim in my phone, pack for today, and went to bed. Even though i woke up at 11+pm, 1am, 2am and finally wakes at 4am, I feel well rested.

Thank you God for everything, and my safe arrival. Now, I'm setting off to Edinburgh for 3days! Can't wait to see some family. Hope it'll cure my homesickness a little.

Cheers,
Pris