Falling for London

Initially, London wasn't part of my itinerary.

I received a sudden invitation for a pre-reg interview at Kent (my first interview invite!), which is the south east of London and so, I thought why not? 

It was my first time travelling alone in my whole life! 

Plus, it was quite a long journey from Sunderland to Kent and I would only be reaching by 10pm. 

The feeling I had at that moment was a mixture of excitement and anxiety, the whole solo adventure idea was really cool but scary... But with the lucks of the gods on my side, I am glad I had a safe and wonderful experience. 

Day 2

 All prepared for the interview, which did not turn out so good :( 

Hence, the hunt for pre-reg continues...

I headed for London via the Southeast rail (which only take about 1 hour) immediately after.

 King Charles' Hotel, Gilingham where I put up a night upon arrival.

 Waiting for the bus at the bus stop by the secluded street. 

I was really lucky to be offered a ride here by a kind stranger upon asking for directions. 

Coincidentally, the gentleman was a pharmacist too! My biggest regret was not getting his name and contact. I owe him a kindness which I may never return...

 Waiting for the underground train to arrive. 

In London again, I got an amazing underground fee-saving tip from a customer service attendant! 

Apparently, you can save more with Rail Card by incorporating its details with an Oyster Card (to be done at the underground service counter)! 

I saved almost 30% on underground tickets on my trip and so, my travelling budget can be used for more good food and shopping! :D

I love how convenient is the underground train, and had fun exploring how to change lines effectively to reach my destination!

 On my daring, aimless stroll around the streets of Kensington and Chelsea area, I ended up landing in Fulham. 

 The bridge which was on the way to Fulham from Earl's Court.

A garden in Earl's Court

 A pretty florist in Earl Court area with a spectacularly innovative"Christmas Tree"!

 Streets of Earl's Court area

 Streets of Earl's Court area

Day 3

 My travel buddy who join me for the night much later on Day 2.

Visited Camden Lock Market which reminds me a lot of Malaysia's Petaling Street!

Other then having quirky little bits and pieces sold here and there, there was also a variety of street food!

There was a random Aldo outlet in the area in which we got really good bargains from (explains our flashy Aldo shopping bags)! 

 The memorial of Nelson Mandela at the Trafalgar's Square.

I was brought around centre London by an ex-colleague and I had quite a wonderful tour.

Am really marveled and awed by the cheerful festive aura in the city as well as the lively happenings! 

 Giant Christmas tree at the square!

The Household Cavalry Museum. 

I missed the horse guards parade as I was too late.  

The one and only, Big Ben. 

 The scene at River Thames.

Before entering the spiral library of LSE. 

The festive atmosphere at Covent Garden. 

The premier of Anchorman 2 live in the biggest cinema in Leicester Square! 

Sadly, I didn't manage to witness anything with the crowds and the barricades...   

A lively funfair opposite the premier. 

 Street dancing at Piccadilly Circus 

 A shop at Reagent Street, London

 Winter Wonderland, Hyde Park

Day 4

 Chinatown, Leicester Square

Our day of return to sweet countryside, Sunderland and so, we decided to hang out nearby.

Met up with a Sunderland buddy for lunch who would be spending his break in London. 

He bought us to Misato for the most economical, yet tasty Japanese food and got us to the shop which sells the best egg tarts in Chinatown.

Still, time is up and we left heavy heartedly on the train back to Sunderland.

I had a bad impression of London on my previous trip years back (all I remembered about London is being packed, Harrods and traffic penalties!), this trip opened my eyes to the "Real" London! 

Growing up in the city may have attributed to my attachment of the vivacious historical city.

I will be back again one day to explore the parts that I missed out!

See you again, London!

  

Running for my Life

Run! Don't stop!

Just few months more to the next checkpoint!

This would then again promise a better future!

This is how I have motivated myself over the years.

From primary school, the most important paper in my life after this life will be good! 

Yay! Secondary school! Wait, who says that's all? Freedom means completing the next most important paper and wait, there's more important papers to come! College, University, Pre-Reg and some more?

Never ending marathon of exams!

So, yes, my whole life was about finishing all the most-important-papers to the extent that I forgot the real reason behind trying to finish them and got motivated on the thought the faster I finish, the less left!

In reality, the first to reach the end wins the race, but in life, what is the end other than your grave?

After meeting people like me, the people I might be in years to come, only then I realized. 

We have all gotten used to running to the next stop and so there's no reason to stop.

The thing is, what is the reason for our crawl to evolve to shaky steps then bursting into adrenaline-filled sprints? 

Whatever fantasy amazing picture it was, it led us to this crazy endless run which made us neglect the present.

Time ticks, everything moves, nothing stays.

The present will be a past, the past may be a regret.

With this in mind, I stopped my footsteps and turned back.

The chances, the experiences, the life I missed.

These were the things I left on hold as I kept running.

One day, I promised, I will do it, I will get back to it.

But the day never comes, and even when it does, the meaning it had to me, had changed.

I am still young, they say. 

But, youth for long either.

While I am young, I should live to the fullest, so I don't look back to the past with regrets ever as I have lived my life to the fullest. 

I want to be ... Free. To live my life. To feel. To enjoy. To experience. To live. 

It isn't how much you run, it's about how you enjoyed the run.  

Back to Uni...

It's been awhile....

Well, I had a rewarding summer - completed my 3 months internship with GSK; had fun and crazy catching up with my BFFs; visited the busy city of Hong Kong; went for my first ever concert; and of course spent quality time back at my cosy home in the arms of my sweet loving family!

At a snap of a finger, summers over and back to the chilly land of royalty and castles.

First thing, first. I moved from university hostel to a private accommodation with 4 other mates. The house is small by Malaysian standards but they have big rooms! I love my room, so much space and the best part is I get to sleep on a double bed!!! But its quite cold as heating and electricity is on ourselves now, we are living on only hot water until the magical time of 8 - 10pm when the heater turns on.

Class starts on the third day of my arrival. The lecture hall was surprisingly full-house, a rare occasion but its always full house from then on.... ya, it's the final year now... No more Ding Dong -ing nonsense... Got a terribly serious lecture on the super tough outlook for the year and the climax of getting our final year project titles.... I was somewhat lucky to get my choice of module but was extremely disappointed when I found out it will be theory-based instead of lab-based as I have anticipated... Then first community placement starts on the second week of the semester (namely week 10) and thank god all classes are cancelled for the week so we can breath a bit while trying to crack our head on assignment number one due in week 12!

Other then setting up my new room and uni work, I do have a little bit of social life. On the second day of touchdown, I enjoyed my first intense game of paintball! It was so bizarre! Paintballs coming in all direction and you have nothing robust on you other than the tight and annoying face mask and yield with big, heavy gun! I didn't really care what the tasks are for each game as long as I don't get shot! The main key to survival is to take out as many enemies as possible and so the chances of getting shot would be lesser!

Went for a bowling night, but didn't get a strike or anything sadly.

And the highlight of this week is my first time spectating a LIVE football match - Sunderland vs Liverpool! I always find it sad that on the other side of the world we had to stay up till the wee hours of dawn to catch a live game. And trust me seeing the tiny ball chased by about 20 men on the field don't look very interesting, to me at least. But, but, but!!! Seeing a live game is totally different!! The huge crowd are so respondent to every action on the field! A close strike, the crowd applauded; A penalty strike from the enemy, the crowd booed; A goal scored, the crowd goes mad! You would really wanna be there for the drama not the game! The Mackems love their team indeed! It was a great game although we had a tight score of 3 - 1, fair game though!

I had a pretty interesting week but weeks ahead, who knows really? It's the last year of my life, probably, as a student. I hope to enjoy it to the fullest possible without flunking my papers (God, please let me pass!). Working, would be very different and I may never get to do and experience things the way a uni student does. And who knows, this may be my last year in the United Kingdom, am sad to said due to my incompetence to get a pre-reg but apparently this is happening now. So yeah, as long as I am still here as a student, YOLO!

Cheers!

That Spring

That spring,
the wind blew,
In a quiet town,
To the north of England,
There I sat,
In a room to myself,
Waiting as the clock ticks,
For the time to pass,
For the day to come,
I am coming home.

2013

Happy New Year!

It's a miracle that we survived Doomsday! Anyhow, life goes on.

This is another happening year for me!

This is the year I would complete my Year 3 and proceed to my final Year of my degree!

As usual, more assignments to kick start my new year.

Lectures commenced as usual with more lectures on medicinal chemistry and practical sessions for pharmaceutic would begin soon.

Term time is expected to end by March and then the not very long Easter break till finals in May!

With everything settled, hopefully I can return safely and happily home during the summer! Hooray! 

Its been a long journey, indeed. 

Tiring but fascinating though I really can't wait to get over all these never ending studying!

Chinese New Year is around the corner! 

To help me lessen my feeling of homesickness during this festive season, I am grateful that my family would be visiting me here!

Before then, 2 more assignments to complete then I can truly enjoy my 'Holiday' with my family in Scotland.

Going to strive hard this week!

Wish me well!

Cheers!