Autumn in Manchester

Weather is quite cold in Manchester. Sometimes 10 degree celcius with really strong wind that penetrates whatever you are wearing into your bones. Today the weather is the best so far, about 15 degree celcius, with lovely sunlight. We used to hate the strong sunlight in Malaysia but it's so comfortable to have it here. In Manchester, places with shades are cold, those without shades are warm, even if they are just 10cm apart. Haha, when I talk, I can see smoke! Well, that happened 2 weeks ago but I just couldn't be bothered to talk about it.

Everyday I have to take the bus to attend my lectures. I live at the south campus while my school is at the city campus, about 2km away. I took the bus to somewhere with the ferarri showroom where they just put the ferarri's outside. A lot of it. Wow. In malaysia, no one will put the ferarri outside, but they just leave it. Anyway, I will take pictures of it when I pass by next time. Morning time is always hectic for me. Rush for breakfast and bus. However, I enjoy it.
After school, we take bus home again. One good thing about my hall is that the bus stops are just outside. I got the unirider for 155 pounds which allows me to take free bus wherever and whenever I want. Just in 3 weeks time, if without the unirider, it will already costs me 50 pounds. Haha.

Lecture finished at 12pm today. As I walked back to my hall, I saw leaves started to fall. Rain of yellowish leaves, and scattered around the floor. So beautiful. Sometimes you can see 2 or 3 squirrels playing on the field.

the daisy i found outside my room, first time i see the daisy

whatever flower this is

the field in front of the reception where a lot of students like to lie for sunlight

road to my room

outside my room. nice..

the squash court, next to my block

trees starting to turn yellow

Lewis's father came last week to Manchester. He brought me bedsheets from home. Now my room feels more like my home. Lewis and I went to airport to welcome him, but we were late, as the bus went through the small roads.. on the way to airport, I took some pictures

a lot of this kind of bus here.

beginning of south campus

gray

I realize there are a lot of 'brown buildings' inManchester

on curry mile near where I live, famous for indian and pakistani food, like curry

Nando's in Manchester

Lewis and I on bus

Lewis and his father and I went for a walk around the school campus. Then, we walked to the china town in Manchester, mainly for dim sum and other chinese food. Craving for that, although we sometimes have rice in the catering hall, and some chinese style food.

china town

Anyway, the china town here is not like the petaling street in KL. No hawker stalls, but restaurants and chinese shops only. The china town is actually very near to my school, around 10 minutes walk. The dim sum was quite disappointing and the food too. I guess that is not the best.

Curry was the dinner that day. Where? curry mile of course, a restaurant called Sangam. It's so famous that you can see people queueing outside. Anyway, I still prefer the one my mum cooks. yummy!!

Sunday, we went to Ashton for IKEA. I bought a DIY shelf and some hangers and a bathroom scale. Lewis got a bigger shelf. Lewis's father helped us to set it up. We spent nearly a whole day there. I dont know why I just love IKEA. There are so many things there I wanted to buy but... it's not my 'own' room... can't do much to it. And packing next year will be a pain if i buy too much.

Picadilly Garden-- city centre

Manchester City football club

landmark of Manchester City? No idea..

Road to IKEA. near the outskirt and I can see hills

Cathedral

Manchester United Football club (Old Trafford) which I took earlier on

Chinese food for DINNER! We went to the famous chinese restaurant called Taipan. NICE FOOD, dim sum especially. Oh.. I miss home cook meals.

Lewis and his father

in Taipan, not only chinese people

Dear and I

Some random pictures in Manchester.

Archimedes (trying to climb out)

Sackville building (Engineering School), former UMIST

me outside Sackville Building

Dear and I after playing badminton with church friends

What is Wen Zhe trying to do?

in front of Wheel of Manchester (difficult to take the whole wheel)

outside Arndale, the city centre shopping mall

shopping area at picadilly around Arndale, and-- near my school

Antonia and I outside Trafford Centre

at Whitworth Hall after doing my swipe card

A long post after I come to Manchester.. busy school life...

Stepping to a far far place

My flight to Manchester was postponed to 20th September, which is a good thing, while waiting for Lewis's visa to be done. It was a sad day. Firstly, leaving my family and home. Second, had to stay in the plane and airports for 23 hours before I reached Manchester. Luckily Lewis is with me. My luggage was so heavy, so Lewis helped me to carry it all the way. It's too heavy until it's difficult even to move the trolley.

At Miri airport, both Lewis's and my luggages were overweight. Anyway, MAS was giving too little allowance which was only 25kg even for students while Emirates and Singapore Airlines gave 30+kg. The maximum weight for each luggage was 32kg, so we had to open our luggage at Miri airport to 'transfer' things from Lewis's luggage as his one was 34++kg. It really spoiled my mood. And---------- the overweight charges was scary...---RM3800 for boths our luggages. Lewis's father managed to bargain, so we finally paid RM1900 (only). Sigh.

at home before going to airport

with mum and sister

Uncle Freddy and family, Uncle Stephen and family were at airport as well as my grandma. I couldn't resist to burst into tears when I hugged my grandma. Mum was crying. The airport was 'populated' by both our families. Phew.....

Transit in Kuching then KLIA, then Schipol. A long day..

Lewis playing with the reflex test machine

looking tired

early in the morning in schipol but afternoon in malaysia

Didn't take any picture in the 747, I was too tired as it was midnight. I managed to sleep for a very short time. Anyway, luckily I felt the time passed very quickly even though it was a 13 hour flight. Wacthed movie and played games during the flight. Bored. They served meals at 1am and 11am malaysia time, which made me had indigestion and felt ill while waiting at schipol. Checking in at schipol to manchester was strict. Belts and shoes had to be taken off, and I had to take my laptop out from my bag.

I was excited during the flight to Manchester, finally, the last flight after three. Manchester airport was quite big, but not 'grand' or whatsoever. After filling in the landing card and going through the custom check, we went to collect the luggages and I found mine torn. What a lousy bag. Not broken, but rippped, and one zip was broken. Whatever....

When reaching Dalton Ellis Hall, I was grateful that it looked nice and was with a serene environment. We carried the 32 kg luggage all the way to our room, was disappointed at first... but now, feeling so grateful as my hall is 100000 times better than other's.

KL trip and Ivy's wedding

Family pic (Dex is not in)

********************KL trip pics********************

with Roger at 1901

hotel lobby after visa application

posing

at Madam Kwan's

big big mirror in hotel room

*********************Wedding**********************

my little cousin from Kuching

my parents were happy to have another son-in-law, Andrew

my uncle was so happy, big big grin

my second sister said 'hiak hiak, my turn now'

Evelyn in green grinning

shy shy Veron

*******************Back at school*******************
(Was called to go back to school to celebrate the achievements of RIT A-Level. )

with Jenny the nice nice clerk

Miss Chan, the mother of the school

Lewis, Dr. Fong, Me, Miss Chan

Where is my VISA?

I was in KL last week for UK visa application. Took the earliest flight from Miri to KL using MAS at 6.20am. So I had to wake up at 4.40am. Haha. First time I checked in at the counter for FIRST CLASS! Thanks to Lewis's father.

Lewis's father is really a FAST person - fast at walking. Both Lewis and I were chasing after him in KLIA. But he just walked like normal. I couldn't even take my breath. Knocked my ankle on the way to the KLIA express.

Yeah! We're staying at Westin Hotel at Bukit Bintang. My second time staying in a hotel in KL. It's quite luxurious and impressive. The American breakfast was expensive - RM 78++ per person. Anyway, I really like the bakery. They had all sorts of bread, pudding, yoghurt... and I love the half-boiled egg in cupped bacon. Damn nice. As we were rushing to do our visa, we only took a few but ah.... I wanted to eat more, plus we paid so much for that.

Buying bank drafts from the bank was a frustration. It took about 2 hours. They said they were waiting for the response from Miri branch. Asked why didn't they call, the girl said they did but ONCE! ONCE! Stupid! So I called the Miri branch myself. Stupid guard acted like he was the boss. I didn't know that I wasn't allowed to talk on phone in the bank as there wasn't any sign. He was stupid enough as he could just point at the escalator to signal me to go down instead of making me walk here and there. Wasted my time. Went to meet up with Roger at Low Yat where he bought a new laptop. A good one, at least, value for money. Then his father gave us a treat at 1901 and we had hot dogs. Ate at Planet Hollywood. Thanks to Lewis's father. For how many times I passed by the restaurant but had no chance to go in. I was HAPPY! It's an enjoyable meal. I love the fried mushroom. Yummy!

The visa application was another frustration. First, the guards were, again, rude. They talked like giving orders. 'Number?' 'Sit!' 'Downstairs!' 'Go there!' My goodness, you don't own the British HICOM. Anyway, the whole process took only 20 mins. Then we had a long day of walking. To KLCC from Westin. Found a nice pair of Puma walking shoes there but we ended up buying it at mid valley, no more my size. Went there for nice 'xiao long bao' at 'din tai fung'. Then Lewis went to the Jusco in Mid valley to 'sapu' the faber castell pens. The KTM back to KL Sentral was delayed for 20 mins after we waited for 10 mins. Then Lewis's father said just throw away the ticket and take the taxi. Cool! I have never done that. Cool!

I moved to Prince Apartment opposite Westin over Pavillion for the third day. Had Thai food in Pavillion for dinner with Uncle Stephen and Eve. Nice but really expensive. Five dishes plus drinks costed RM400++.

Last day in KL, while having breakfast in Coffee bean with dear Lewis, I received a call and I quickly rushed to the hospital to collect something for someone's favor. We walked all the way to KLCC as no taxi wanted to charge according to metre. We took the LRT to Ampang Park. I realized that was stupid as the hospital was so far from the station although it is at Jalan Ampang. Poor Lewis had to walk with me. We took a taxi half way and got slaughtered. RM40 for both ways. Ah! What to do, we were rushing to catch the flight. Was knocking here and there carrying my luggage when we walked to the monorail station and to Sentral. Sigh.

Rushing back for my sister's wedding the next day. No pics yet. Haven't gotten the pics uploaded. Visa not done yet. But I will be leaving next Wed. I pray that I can get it on time.