Day 4 - Liverpool

Again, I brought the girls to places I had been to before - St Georges Hall, Liverpool Cathedral and Museum of Liverpool. I went to Metropolitan Cathedral where I did not go for the last trip in Liverpool. I brought them to shopping in Liverpool One. It was quite boring for me actually to shop at that moment. I set myself a limit not to spend over GBP 100 for the whole trip.

The 4-day trip was successful. Everyone was happy about the days. My friends said these 4 days were fully utilised. My friend said it would be worthy to rent a car for trip like this. He claimed that it would be cheaper. However, after the Scotland trip, I am scared to go trip by driving. There are a lot of hassle and bassle to rent a car. It is not easy to go trip by driving. In this trip, it cost us GBP 45 pounds for transportation ONLY!! Going Cardiff to and back does not cost that little actually. If you think back again where I stop before going to Cardiff and Liverpool, you would probably understand how I made the transportation fee to be 45 pounds. hehe. I felt a success for the trip as everything went as I planned.

Day 3 - Chester

Chester is a really beautiful town with rich history. There are a lot Chinese tourists in there. We went to Deva Roman Experience, Cathedral, Grosvenor Musuem and Roman Amphitheatre and Garden. Later, we went for Chestes Boat. It cost us GBP 10 for hiring a rowing boat. It was so fantastic!! We were given 45 minutes for the rowing. We went to Cheshire Oaks Outlet to shop. The girls had been desperate for this for weeks. However, they were surprised that not muc items attracted them. They said to me "Why English people do not have good sense in wearing?" However to me, I find them okay actually and I would buy many clothes if my mood for shopping was there. I actually like the style on how English wear. I stood so strongly in my position not to shop. ^^. My friend were so disappointed that she could not buy BURBERRY items. They were actually cheap but she found them not beautiful.

Back to Liverpool, I brought the girls to Albert Dock, Liverpool One and St. John Hall for photos and night view. Love the night view of Liverpool... It is always so splendid.

Day 2 - Cardiff

I did not bring them to places I planned such as Cardiff Bay Wetlands, Techniquest and Wales Millennium Centre. We took Cardiff Water Bus to the Cardiff Castle and it cost GBP 3 for single way.

We paid GBP 7.50 to enter Cardiff Castle. Again, this castle was fantastic like Warwick Castle, although there are more events in Warwick Castle. Not much to describe the castle, we took crazy photos. A duck went to us for food. My friend attracted it with food and grabbed it so hard with its neck. We took photos with hands holding it. At that moment, I did not feel right at all!! I always know English is protective with animals. English do whatever to protect and preserve them which I find it admiring. hahhaha. Not to my surprise, a staff came to us and warned us to be careful with the duck. I knew he warned us not to harm the animal, but in indirect and polite way :). We stopped in Birmingham and reached Liverpool at 11.55 pm.

Day 1 - Cardiff+Liverpool+Chester+Birmingham Trip

Weather was cold, although it was sunny. Again, my friend overslept this time. The same person who was late to woke up and failed join me to Bradford trip. This time, she gave me a fright again. We caught the bus as the bus had started to move. Scolded by the driver, I felt it was so shameful. I always know English do not like people who are not punctual.

We stopped in Birmingham for 2 hours before going to Cardiff. I brought them to places where my new English friend, Andrew brought me to last week. We reached Cardiff at 4 o clock. What a coincidence!! That day was the concert of famous rock band, U2!! It was so crowded at the Millennium Stadium. All public toilets were closed. We did not know why.

We walked around Cardiff, following 'The Cardiff Centenary Walk' I found in the internet. It was so useful!! We went to Animal Wall, Cardiff Castle and buildings nearby to Alexandra Garden to take photos. We bought some snack and drinks, enjoying ourselves in the garden. A group of naughty boys came to us, talked shits and obscenity to us. We felt like they had the bad intention to rob us as they kept asking the price of the outfit i wore - belts, watch, shoes. I told them that we were not comfortable with their appearance and asked them to leave. Without surprise, they threatened us to give them 1 pound or ask the girls to show their booties. Oh gosh. I said to them that if they did not leave, we would leave. They gave in and went away. This incident had spoilt our day completely.

We walked for 20 minutes from the city centre to Cardiff Bay to view the night view. While on the way walking, we felt that Cardiff is quite an unsettled city. We all felt Sheffield is the most peaceful city among the cities in the UK we had been to before. Night was beautiful in the bay. We ended up sleeping in a carpark. The night was so cold!! It was such a suffering yet good experience. I was so glad that the girls were so strong and tough to have made it!!

Does He Know to Give Mark?

Today I presented the topic of PDCA Deming Cycle. In this presentation, I had done a lot of changes. In the presentation, I gave extra hand-out, I spoke in funny tone and added body language. This time, my group was so improved!! However, to our surprise, we did not receive what we deserve. Our marks was just the same as the previous presentation's. I was about to ask the lecturer "Do you know how to give marks"?? The other presenters' performances were not so okay. But their marks were just the same as us.

I am not being calculative about the marks and emphasise on winning. I was just little disappointed. I feel like there is no improvement in me after I have done so much presentations. Maybe what I need to do is to keep on improving and believe in me again.

Planning On Trip

Although I have two presentations this week, I am planning on my trip to some other places. Early bird always has the advantages. As I finished all my assignments earlier, I am so free until days turn to be boring. In the bowling trip last week, my friends and I were so excited with going somewhere in this coming Saturday. We are going to Cardiff, Liverpool, Birmingham, Chester and Leeds in 4-day time. They intend to go to Cheshire Oak Outlets to do shopping and I intend to go to Wales. We achieved a win-win strategy. I am glad that they are so easy-going.

Supposed the transportation fee is approximately 60 pounds. As there is offer of cheap coach ticket this month, I plan the transportation fee to be 40 pounds. Apart from that, we will go to that many cities with such low transportation fee. It is really exciting.

We did not check the availability of room of hostel before booking for the coach ticket, all hostels in Cardiff are full. To my surprise, these two girls do not mind to sleep over in the coach station. I am so impressed!! This is the type of people I am looking for all along. Flexible and easy-going!! Personally, i think that when we go for trips, we should not care so much whether we can sleep well or take bath. For me, they are not issues. What concerns me is the unforgettable experience and my enrichment in my perspective and horizon. I am so looking forward for Saturday!!

Argument of the Scotland Trip

There have been a lot of ups and downs this week. It is quite terrible. When my group came back from Scotland, we were so dissatisfied with the trip and we complained to our friends and wrote our unhappiness in our MSN personal message and Facebook. The organisers were so unhappy with us. I bet they heard something worse from their friends regarding to our complaints. They are even more furious with us now!!

The organisers requested the lecturer for the postpone of their presentation as they were going to Liverpool the next day after the Scotland trip. Someone from my class was not happy with that. He quarreled for fairness. As the organiser gang did their presentation yesterday, he wrote bad comments in their presentation and asked the lecturer to fail them. The guy and the gang of organisers used to be good buddies. Because of some issues, they broke their relationship with him. Now because of the presentation matter, they shouted crazily in the Facebook. They revealed a lot of things between them. It is kinda scary. A gang fight!! They also shoot us for talking behind their back regarding to the Scotland Trip. Not to arise fights, we keep ourselves silence. They are just gangsters in my course for me since in diploma. Sorry to say that. I guess my gang must take extra care within this week. ^^

Jumbo Jumbo!!

After finish of presentation rehearsal, i suggested jumbo game to play!! It was so exciting. Everyone was so into the game!! Huey Yng won the game!!

Birmingham Trip

It took us a month to plan for Birmingham trip. Finally the day arrived. I met a English, Andrew, a friend of my friend. At the beginning, I was shy to talk to him. It was my first time to meet English friend. Maybe we have different background and culture. He did not talk much. My friend and I kept finding topics to chat with him. I had asked him a questions twice "Do we bore you?" I was so damn worried that we would bore him. He just looked moodless and absent-minded all the time.

Andy kept apologising for not planning well in the trip. Basically, Birmingham is a heaven for shopping. We did not blame him at all. In whole day, I made childish and silly jokes. He laughed. My intuition told me that he think we were childish although i am 1 year older than him. I entered to Disney shop and he stood outside the shop. Then, I asked him another question too "Do you think we act like kids"? He said no. I did not think he mean it. Before leaving, we gave Andy a present as appreciation for spending one day go out with us.

I am glad to have made 1 English friend. I always look forward in meeting English friends. However, from this experience, it made me a self-realisation. It made me worried whether it would it be if I study Master Degree? Would it be hard to mix with English or other international students? Oh nooo... Am I too childish after all? If I do not make this type of joke, I would be a very boring guy. It is the style of my joke. Sighhhh....