Happy Chinese New Year

Aloha. HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR. I hope it's not too late although it almost comes to an end...it's the 14th day of CNY wtf but still, it's the thought that counts, right?

I have had quite a blast on my cny celebration. Spent too much money too. Now I really need to keep myself grounded -.- Oh, not quite yet. I'm now in Newcastle and just got back from York. So, SPEND SPEND & SPEND.....

So basically, for the 'family reunion dinner' the night before cny, we have the Malaysian gang + 2 China girls for steamboat (aka hotpot to the British/Europeans).

 Preparation:

Guys can be so..... *shakes head*

The menu (part of the menu only actually... )

Jon and I


And when food was ready.....

We've used this special soup called 'Xiao Fei Yang' (roughly translates as Fat Little Sheep?) and omg it tasted so good (if you can take the spiciness). After food, we were drinking and we played different types of games. One of it was pretty kiddish but still fun: 'PING PONG PIANG'. Err... I won't explained how the game is played but who ever loses has to make ugly face....

And as you can see, I'm one of the *coughcough* ultimate winner as I am not in the hall of ugly face's picture  *sticking out tongue*

As simple and kiddish as our celebration sounded, we managed to hang on until about 6a.m. in the morning. When Jon and I woke up, it was already noon (on first day of CNY). I've never woke up so late on my first day of CNY before. Always very early but in Manchester, there's not much celebrations or CNY atmosphere going on so it just looks like another ordinary day to me which was pretty sad. I don't get to eat ba gua (dried meat), pineapple tarts, kuih kapit, etc. 

So, Jon and I die die want to do something more special. So although it was late, we still  head our way to Albert Square and Chinatown because friends told me there were CNY celebrations going on.

When we arrived Albert Square at about 4, nothing much had left :( HOWEVER.....

I was given a big pack of Soya Bean drink from one of the vendor. Haha

Better than nothing :)

So out of nothing, we took some photos before we left for Chinatown

Yeah that's me being very Chinese: wearing RED on the first day of CNY.

Jon was also wearing a red/white checkers top.

Thank god we made the efforts to Chinatown despite my boots hurt my feet to hell (£5 only what). It was so happening over there with lion dances, fire crackers, etc...

The 'angmohs' so happy to see the artificial firecrackers.

Lion Dance!

err....Dragon Dance!

I didn't find them very fascinating because in Malaysia, 2 person will handle one lion dance. The one in Chinatown was like a mini version only but of course, I have to consider where I was at the moment. I was really shocked when I heard the red firecracker though and more surprisingly....

As soon as the red firecrackers finished, fireman was there to put off the fire -.-

Lame or what -.-

When I walked closer to the scene, I realized that they light the red firecracker inside this 'cage':

After the whole lion dancing action, both of us actually waited for more than an hour for the grand finale: FIREWORKS display....

While waiting....

I am not camwhoring. Jon was testing his camera...

The fireworks was 'so so' only. There were few times where there were failure and they didn't shoot up as they should. They just fired on the ground, super scary. And the countdown by the host was like shit -.- After counting 3, 2, 1.... everyone got their camera ready on the sky but we had to wait for like another 30 secs for the fireworks to work...... seriously FML..... FOL (our)!

Now I really feel like 'balik kampung' to experience the REAL THING (though it's illegal but I can assured you everyone enjoyed them especially fireworks!)

First day of CNY would never end just like that. We continued our steamboat (we bought too much ingredients, that's why).

Our style of 'yee sang'

Me with prawns -.-

Oh when I arrived, my friends who watched Chinese Zodiac's show told me thatt as a Rabbit, I should not wear RED in the year of the tiger The 'ong' (lucky) colours for rabbit are grey and green -.-  First day of CNY already so 'suey' -.- FML.

After dinner: Games!

We have: football, poker, snooker.....apa pun ada ;)

Doesn't look like accommodation hall for university students right? Hahaha

Off to bed now. Goodnight

[Winter 2009] Edinburgh Part II

It's day T.W.O in Edinburgh. Our pres-scheduled plan was supposed to see us in Loch Ness but then, we have like 101 reasons not to go at that time. One which makes up like 100 portions of the 101 is the WEATHER. It was so cold that all of us were freezing and we were told that we would not get the best view of Loch Ness during the winter cum snow. So that's when we've decided that we were not making a trip to Loch Ness; not seeing Nessie :( We'll do it in the future, I supposed :)

Day two was fun and we had the whole day visiting different places in Edinburgh. All prominent places, I think.We were lucky to have Eddie (Angela sister's good friend who had settled in Edinburgh for few years already and also the photographer of the above photo) to show us around :) (No photo of him to protect his privacy and integrity *haha*)

In a way, I really like Edinburgh :) It seems and felt different from other city. I'm not sure if it's because of the heritage or what, but I just felt more peaceful in Edinburgh than any other place. Perhaps, it felt more native?

The first place we stopped at was the parliament. At first sight, it doesn't look like one. It looks more like a place where Picasso get his inspirations from, seriously :) The place was really huge with unique design and everything over the top. Unlike the one we have it here and here  -_______- The only image I can see from those pictures linked are images of politicians having catfight, which I've watched in youtube *shakes head*

The place was not that big but we spent a lot of time inside. Either we really find it fascinating inside or we were so cold that we don't feel like going outdoor -.-

*Be honest: Am I rounder?*

Dionn & I

Next short & quick stop:

Holyroodhouse Palace

*The place where the Queen will stay when visiting Edinburgh*

Next: dunnowhereisthis

Like I said, we have a friend who brought us around and with someone to depend onto, I did not really see what this place was.

Okay. The place is called 'dynamic earth' where you will find out anything about protecting the Earth, I supposed?

We headed to a Museum of Edinburgh/Scotland (I can't remember which) after that. No photo because everything inside is typical museum stuffs -.- BUT when we were leaving, heavy snow stroked! Wait, not quite right... it's HEAVY SNOW + HEAVY RAIN. It was so scary because the weather looked fine just before we went into the museum. We spent like 45 minutes inside (despite being a typical museum) and once out, it's like we were in another place.

Once the rain stopped, the heavy snow did not but we were so excited (snow amateur wtf) so we ran out one by one to have our photo captured! Shiok!!

Mine!

We were under the museum's shelter for sometime before getting elsewhere. It was really heavy that my photo above would not be able to present it as it is >.<' We were starving after the snow and after lunch, the sky turned dark (about four?)

So we headed to new town again (we were there every single day).........

Scott Monument

surrounded with........

Fun fair!

NOT FORGETTING.....

Edinburgh Castle (again and I've told ya!)

So our Day 2 probably ended after a walk at New Town and also the worst fish & chips dinner at Old Town. (Writing 'Old Town'; now I missed Malaysia Old Town's Ipoh Hor Fun T_T )

Day THREE was the last day in Edinburgh. We proved to have not plan our trip well as we have the whole day in Edinburgh without anything much to do. Our train back to Manchester was later in the evening so here are photos taken on day THREE:

:

Visiting Bobby at Greyfriars Kirkyard

I have once heard story of Bobby from Seakchiew and I'm not going to tell the story over here. Summary: Bobby spent 14 years guarding his owner graveyard before it died. Wikipedia here (and my summary is quoted from there as well wtf).

Bobby's Grave

In National Museum of Scotland I

In National Museum of Scotland II

JK Rowling's 1st Harry Potter's inspiration begun here!

Piper playing Great Highland Bagpipe

Right opposite our hostel is Museum of Childhood. That's where Devonn turned 8.....

Haha. Laugh all you want but it was really fun :)

Lastly, you would have guessed which spot *coughcastlecough* that we've been seeing everyday...

The mighty Edinburgh Castle. 

HAHA *slap me*

Before I forget, here's where we have stayed in Edinburgh:

Err...too small to see? It's the small door with orange plat leading towards upper floor, between the light blue shop and 'The Tappit Hen'. It's called Brodies Hostel and the place looked fabulous to us. Room was fine except with noisy heater. We loved the well-equipped kitchen and the location as well as clean shower room  :)
Warning: This is just how I felt about the hostel. Take the recommendation or just leave it.  Everyone has different expectation so do not complain  how bad it was, etc if you are there and unhappy with what it has to offered because of how good you thought I've said it was supposed to be.

Inside the hostel I

Inside the hostel II

*I'm rounder, right?*

Malaysians were here before (like-duh). Here is the proof:

Spot the 'Ringgit Malaysia' game.

If you can't spot it, here it is. 

ps. If you are bored of me wearing the same winter coat, there's more on the SAME WINTER COAT in my upcoming posts. So it's either you bear with it, or just don't look at me -.- Explanations: No money and I was glad I didn't buy many of coat since I don't wear it anyway at the moment. It's not thaaaaaaat cold anymore *rolleyes*

pss. Talking about my winter coat, it's from GAP okay and *proudlyandcoughcough* it was from the children's section which I can fit :) More importantly, it's like 50% cheaper than the adult one. Now I am fking proud of my height wtf!

Next up: MANCHESTER (Sounds over the top but I've been here for close to 5 months already ...)

Now: Busy with assignments and dissertation is starting soon. Chinese New Year is around the corner and I don't feel it at all -.- (nor Valentine's Day). Have to do research now, kthxbai!