Everything Have Come To The End

June has passed, July has fly and August is going to disappear very soon.

Few more weeks left and my studies in UK degree has soon come to the end. Refresh back days i depart in KLIA, packing and preparing come to UK I was worry yet excited. Now am in UK for the third month and i found that i like Sheffield, England. I want to stay longer and i DO NOT want to back Malaysia... sad to say, hahahaha =D

It's sad when management stick this note on my door, sobs* 

I enjoy staying together with my flatmates. Oh yeah, the big difference student hostel in Malaysia and UK is that Malaysia will separate females and males tenants to female dorm and male dorm. It's is absolutely NOT going to be like in UK which male and female staying together within a unit. Well, Muslim country is different.

I like the way of UK ❤ 

Since has come to the end, let me introduce my flatmates..

Room B_Kok Fong, Room C_ Janet Pak, Room D Jun Syuan & Room E_Me 

  

We like to discuss cooking, chit-chat etc during weekend in the dinning area OR going out to the market together garbing groceries with the cheapest price OR celebrations

Now is exam period, everybody are just locking themselves into each room! There is sure a farewell celebration before everyone back to Malaysia and each hometown! I will absolutely miss times in UK =(

UK, I will miss you till I die.

I'll always tell my friends, children, grandchildren that i been to United kingdom in June 2012 for 3 months when i'm in my 22nd years old! I know my grandchildren will ask me why i don't marry with the local? then i'll tell them.. Your grandpa is the only one who touch my soul and heart no matter how i admire the British ❤ I dream again... lol  

I Love UK Summer @ Serene 2012 xoxo

Believe It Or Not

In the Chinese Calender, today is 14th of July while in the Western Calender, it is 30th of August. There are two special happening will be on today and tomorrow which is 31st of August.

 Chinese will  have one festival called "Ghost Festival" aka "Hungry Ghost Festival" and it falls on today. In mandarin we call it as 中元节

Another happening is Malaysian National Day aka Merdeka Day 31/8

Malaysian- Chinese tend to use "friends" to replace the word "ghost" when we speak about them in this special day. It's because eyes from a normal human are not able to see them weather they are following you or watching you now! This is to avoid paranormal issues happen against us. 

As an addition, we will follow some rules when we walk, we speak, colours we wear and we usually do not hang out on street or going anywhere in the late night. We believe late night is the peak period where they hunt for something. Besides, Malaysian-Chinese believes that there's door open at the world of 阴 (Yin) and all "friends" will heading to the world of 阳 (Yang) where we are living now. Most of them are ghost without home. in other words, nobody praying for them at home. While those with home which means are our ancestor. So, we will usually praying outside the house on this particular day and put some foods, sweets and biscuits for them. 

For more details on this festival, you can refer: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Festival

Out of coincidence there are 2 scary cases happen on me. Both are regarding fire! 

I'm not sure it is coincident or human luck will reduce day before or on this particular day.. 2 fire alarm ring on the same day. The first fire alarm rang is in Adsett center (Library) another is at the forge my flat unit!

Flat unit fire alarm rang is the most scary thing happen in my life!

I have never never face building on fire in my life before =S

Selfish and irresponsible flatmate overcook and cause heavy smoke coming kitchen. My room is room E and it's just beside the kitchen. I'm still awake watching movie and thought smell are from outside who BBQ.

 Until smoke detector ring, i realize there's something wrong. When i open the door and check what is going on, heavy smoke coming from the kitchen against me.  

Irresponsible & selfish flatmate take his passport and walk away without informing me anything or make any report the officer. I knock every flatmates door to awake them if any of them were sleeping since it was 12.30a.m. No one is in the room, which means it was only him and me in the unit but he just walk away without  doing anything. Well, if i slept, then i could be die from inhaling too much smoke. 

2 officers came, the I explain everything to them

 I thought he walk away the first place was to contact & report to officer, out of my expectation he bring his friends to see how serious it is.. what the hell! He is so much older than me, age 26. Thinking were just like 10 years old boy. Thanks God that my intuition safe my little life! 

I think he should read this note!

Things he overcook... 

 

Fire alarm rang in the Adsett center was nothing, and i never stay at the incident for long. Me and my friend find ways to leave the building.  Adsett center is at level 4, we come from level 6. We took staircase to upper level to leave originally but all the librarians and staffs coming downstairs to the entrance of Adsett center. They instruct us to leave from the Owen building and not upstairs. We both thought nothing serious and it was just like a fire escape practical. However, we can see how serious and important institution it is. So we follow them.  

In Malaysia, i never escape from any situation that happen on me yesterday!

We do have fire escape practice in secondary school but in college and university, we are safe and sound all the time. That is why sometimes we never take emergency issue seriously and thought it was a practical...

 Thanks God that am still alive ❤ amen

Visiting Friends aka Self-Travelling

There are quite lots of friends staying in United Kingdom.

Some for study, some for working. 

Just to pick a few, my beloved are the following. Each person represent a place to me! hehehe

Birmingham_England

Ayr, Glasgow, Perth, Edinburgh_Scotland  

Portsmouth & Southsea_England

In other words, it is a good opportunity to plan my own journey with lowest cost!

Save from accommodation, get free food sometimes (Laugh), tour guide provided, gather between me and her, broaden my knowledge and experience from being independent etc 

It's actually a lesson to me =) 

I enjoy and had fun during these days and many thanks to all my friends who host me!

I plan for transport with the cheapest fees, the best date and times. But it's nothing tough, the toughest is my friend who host me! They all are good and nice. Some apply leave to show me around the town, cook for me, treat me, accompany me and they serve me well.

The first time i travel by my own to visit my friend is to Birmingham. 

I learn to take long journey train.

the only thing worrying me is the interchange; i ask when am lost.

Now, it's not a big deal anymore.

My parents were so worrying about me when i take train alone to another city. Especially my mum! she phone me to confirm my location every moment. I can't believe that i can travel by myself with a whole new environment =O I'm proud that i did it! 

Well, it's really a big difference that the Western and the Asia culture.

Westerner likes adventure, explore and they dare to try something new whereas Asian are more conservative. I'm one of them. My parents take care of us well since the security in Malaysia is not that good enough as UK. Thus, they only allow backpack when they's accompany or in group. So, it is a BIG step for me to travel alone. I don't really like though, unless there is friend who can show me around.      

Birmingham, I been to few places since i spend only 3 days 2 night. My beloved Vyan show me around the main city center and had a great dinner together with her 3 gentlemen housemates. 

Her housemates are superb awesome! They do coking for dinner and dessert (Cheesecake! =9) while Vyan cook breakfast for me! I'm just like a VVIP in her house.

See what i do in the morning? (laugh) relax..

 Breakfast prepared by Vyan ❤

Then we went to BULLRING shopping , Malibu roadshow and had a great dinner together! 

Thanks guys! 

Ayr, Scotland is the next stop. My beloved Mun Li is staying in Ayr and host me for 4 days 3 night. Mun li and i plan the destination that we are interested the day before! It's exciting and challenge! The whole journey we go is by taking public transport, you know... Scotland is sooo big! Just because she doesn't own a transport, there are some famous destination that we can't make it. So, we decided to visit Ayr, Glasgow, Perth and Edinburgh. Mun li treat me all meals, from Breakfast to dinner and be my personal tour guide *wink* So much thanks to her! She even apply half day leave to pick me at the station. 

Ayr 

Lockleven Castle, Kinross

Perth Bridge

Fringe Festival, Edinburgh

Glasgow

Glasgow

Glasgow University 

 The only 3 things that Mun Li emphasize me to take in Scotland is:

Haggis

IRN BRU (The local drink)

Scottish Breakfast (which is similar to English Breakfast), I forgot to take.. 

Scotland journey is really tiring since it take 6hrs + from Sheffield to Glasgow by National Express Coach.

Plus, the journey from Ayr must take train/ bus and interchange in Glasgow.. But, i enjoy and have fun to explore new places. I'll never regret to spend my energy here! 

Thanks Mun Li ❤

 The last but not least, Portsmouth & Southsea =)

I still haven't been to Portsmouth & Southsea yet, will be in this coming October after my Tong Hang Europe trip. However, everything is under planning and will remind the same, visiting my beloved Thiba aka Self Travelling. 

  

 Good night 

Eat_Manger_Mangiare_Makan_吃

It's almost 3 months in Sheffield, United Kingdom.

Times pass like rocket and 3 months aren't enough, i want more and stay longer in UK.. but i can't, sigh*

I'm starting to fit and follow the culture here within 3 months time.

I like the environment here so far, i start to talk like local, dress up like local ect

When things have settle down, I tend to explore new activities and places around Sheffield.

I been to 10 different cities following the Student Union Society, so travelling satisfaction is temporary fulfilled. Now, it's turn to experience the local dine in breakfast, tea-time or dinner together with friends.

That is why, i theme my post "Eat_Manger_Mangiare_Makan_吃" Different languages of the words "EAT" 

English, French, Italian, Malay and Chinese.

My first English breakfast was in The Graduates Pub,Sheffield nearby Millennium Gallery Sheffield.  

The graduate pub offer a really reasonable English breakfast that cost only £2 for small, £4 for large (exclude drinks).

Nice environment layout and friendly staff makes you stay longer and enjoying talking with friends =) However, the bacon is really salty!! This is the only thing that challenge me! lol

English Breakfast in The Graduate, Sheffield. 

The next destination is Sheffield Patisserie Valerie 

A heavy rain in Scotland make me enter this restaurant, and since then am into the cakes here!  

Looks familiar to you but never step into it?

Let's see how's the interior of Patisserie Valerie, you will sure like it girls ❤

Service here is superb. They understand what you want and serve you with their best! 

I dine in for the first time in the Sheffield. I don't really know how should i order for the cakes.

I really like the customer service is UK as they respect every customers.

But in Malaysia, they will just prejudice customers from their attire, appearance, first time customer etc in some  "high-class" stores! I experienced some of it and i will never spending in that particular stores again.

Anyways, that's developing country norms. 

The reasons that i like their cakes is because it's not heavy, you know, creams, cheese..  

Their cakes is just fresh and light, it's delicious =9 

I have tried Chocolate mousse cake, Giotto, Strawberry Mille-Feuille and double chocolate muffin.

Chocolate Mousse  £2.95 (Take away),  £3.95 (Dine-in)

Giotto   £2.95 (Take away),  £3.95 (Dine-in)

Double Chocolate Muffin £1.30 & Strawberry Mille-Feuille  £2.95 (Take away),  £3.95 (Dine-in) 

I like their packaging as well. I feel  Patisserie Valerie create a sweet girly ans lady-like image.

The box bellow was the one i get in Edinburgh, Scotland. It's wet because of the heavy rain! However, because of this rain, it brings me to this patisserie ❤ 

   

  

Give it a try!

Patisserie Valerie, xxxx 

I personally like the name "Valeria", I want to name my daughter in the future =B

For more information, click on this http://patisserie-valerie.co.uk/default.aspx 

The last stop will be the Arab dinner in Sheffield with friends!

This restaurant is located nearby Sheffield Tesco and is in town which look like a "Little Arab"

From the restaurant outside, it look dull and nothing special.

But for their foods, i would say not bad. 

It's all about Arab traditional courses, mainly are from rice, Arab bread, Lamb & Potatoes. 

There are lot's of Muslim stores in Malaysia, but Arab dinner is really my first try.

My flatmates' Chinese friends from China recommend us to try on their Arab lamb dishes. They like the lamb here and it's at reasonable price. 

We ordered Lamb Biryani £5.99 and  Lamb Quozy £5.99. 

In other words, with only £6, your can overload your tummy! JOKES ASIDE

The portion is huge and we order 2 dishes for 4 person serving.

Main course start with Arab Lentil soup, it taste like Chinese porridge.
It's nice and refillable! You can ask as man as you want without any extra charge, lol =)

Lamb Quozy

Lamb Biryani

Arab Curries to serve with rice or bread

Arab Fresh Bread

Beside, there are plain water provided. However, our China friends recommend us to try on their Arab Red Tea. It's slightly different compare to the English Red Tea or Chinese Tea. There's some herbs in it.. It cost us only 0.50p for each cup, not bad.

  

The behind of these nice food , there will be definitely a good chef, Let's see how's the chef look like! 

That's him. 

By the time we finish our dinner it's already 9 p.m.. and we have to walk all the way back to the forge.

Nice Sheffield night-view and gang of friends =)