Dilemma

Wuaaah Wuaaaaah Wuuaaaaah. This is the sound effect of a lazy student's cry. Why cry? Just reminisce how you reacted at the end of the long school holiday. Staring at all the unfinished assignments, you were simply panic and went haywire. This is exactly my situation now; all my writings and plannings, all my unaccomplished tasks for 2007. Who to be blamed? Who is the culprint this time? HARRY POTTER! hahaha. Ya, I'm so addicted to it now. Besides seeing friends for some little funs, I spent most of the time on the story books during this long holiday. I finished reading 3 of them and now reading the thickest one in the series (almost as thick as The Perry's Handbook, the "bible" of our chemical engineering; a bit exaggerated though. haha). So everyday, I would find myself different excuses not coming to the library and working hard on the writing i.e. headache, neck pain, shoulder ache etc. hahaha. It is like going back to my old school days, and struggling with the dilemma between story books and text books.

There was no white christmas in cambridge. Surprisingly, the weather was quite pleasant for the past few days, averagely at 5'C, rained a bit and windy sometimes. Cannot hope better for winter. God bless. Cambridge, although is a bit quiet without students around but I still enjoy strolling around at this time, discovering the little funny things on the street. Have you ever seen crazy dancing dogs on the street? I witnessed many of them stood on their two legs and danced happily, shaking their buttocks and both "hands" (front paws). Could you imagine this? (I took the photos but won't show them here. Hey! Must use ours imagination sometimes, right?). It was so funny looking at them. Anyway, they are battery-operated toys, selling by a lady at £10 each. hahaha. Wish to see real dogs dancing like that.

Cool man! Cambridge

Gorgeous x'mas tree at the Old Town of Prague.
Hoooooo......guarding a gift shop in Cesky Krumlov.
Santa Claus with a price?? Crystal decorations at one of the shop's window in Cesky Krumlov.

On the hour

Tired of life? Then it's time to get away. But
upon return, please have an eye for our own city.

Is overseas moon rounder? Not necessary.

The most beautiful place is
the land we live.

A bunch of kids were waiting patiently......

for the hour needle of the Astronomical Clock to touch 11 a.m.

Waiseh! Anyway, the yellow round plate above the guy's head has the 12 signs of the zodiac.

At 11 a.m. sharp, the bell rang while the two small windows above the clock opened and Christ and his disciples marched out. This happens every hour. Coincidently, I waited and witnessed this twice (or 2 days), both times were at 11 a.m.

The normal clock (top) and the Astronomical clock (bottom) on the Old Town Hall Tower. To me, the astronomical clock is like my digital watch, which tells both the date and the time. But one Czech tour guide explained that it is very important for the astronomies in ancient days to observe the sun and the moon.
The complexity of astronomical clock:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Schema_Orloj_en.png

Blessed

I never dreamed up of studying in the UK, but I'm here now. I never dreamed about touring Europe, but I was travelling in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Looking at those historical buildings which only appeared in the book at one time, my tears dropped. I'm blessed.

Prague National Museum viewed from McDonald

This tower looks like a church but its 10 levels are mainly used for galleries, exhibitions, restaurants and museum, Prague

St. Nicholas Church at The Old Town Square. The horse carriage is, of course, for wealthy tourists. Me, a poor student, used "bus No.11" all the time in order to save 80Kc (~£2.30 or RM15) on daily pass, Prague.

Old Town Square dominated by The Astronomical Clock (left) and The Church of Our lady Before Tyn (Right). At the center is the market square with a huge Christmas tree, Prague.

Another view of The Old Town Square with The Church of Our lady Before Tyn and the outdoor restaurants, Prague.

A Tour to one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, Prague (Praha in Czech language):-
http://www.pragueexperience.com/places.asp?PlaceID=605

A fairytale town in Czech

Cesky Krumlov is a place for those who believe in fairy tales. Unlike Cambridge's castle-like colleges, the fairy-tale appearance of this small town is attributed to the colorful small houses with very cartoonist decorations. To me, a lazy backpacker, it is a heaven; lots to see and explore yet no worries of getting lost, and not over much exhibitions to make your eyes sore. It is my first destination in the Czech Republic (oh, my first destination to Europe too!)

Mansion Tower, viewed from city center at a light rainy night.

State Castle and Mansion Tower besides the river Vltava bend.

Houses by Vltava River.

Svornosti Square.

Cartoonist buildings in town.

A tour to this UNESCO protection city:-
http://www.virtourist.com/europe/krumlov/index.html

Why solo?

This trip to the Czech Republic, with no specific reasons, I have very strong desire to do it by myself. Therefore, after submission of my 1st year report and the delivery of my new LZ7 camera (yes, I lost my LZ1), I backpacked to Cesky Krumlov and Prague (the capital) in the Czech Republic alone. This solo travelling comes after 6 years of my first solo in the US when I was 24 back in 2001. That time I had no choice. I wonder what makes me changed. Is it solely due to the 6 years difference?

Apart from looking for the answer for myself, I am very curious about the purpose of other solo travellers, especially Asian gals. I interviewed a Japanese gal met in Hostelling International during my last night in Prague. She was travelling alone too. When I backpacked in the US that time, I observed that most of the gals who travelled alone were Japanese. I gave them the thumbs up as they could scarcely speak English but still dared to travel in an English speaking country by themselves. Bravo! Fortunately this Japanese gal can speak very good English. She told, "It's too much troubles to travel with friends" Huh! Hahaha.

Very different from my solo at one time, I find this solo trip quite enjoyable. May be because I pick up other interests like photography; I could wait patiently just to capture the moment when the tram passed right in front of the historical building. I also like to watch people; Observing the difference between English tourists and the local Czech people, or other tourists who speak the language which I couldn't differentiate.

Prague historical Tram (from the period 1908-1942) ran in Old Town Square.

Tram stop in Old Town Square.

Tram18 crossing the bridge (Manesov most). The notable sight is the Prague Castle, the largest medieval castle complex in Europe.

Tram18 passing the church (sorry, I forgot the name of the church).

A lazy day

This morning, as usual, woke up very early but very reluctant to work, kind of lazy and slothful. I'm supposed to be working hard on a review paper to wrap up my first year of PhD. Wake up, gal! You leave only 2 more weeks!

At 9.30am, got an appointment with the University Occupational Health for an eye test, a requirement to use a laser equipment. During the test, I answered something very strangely that shocked the nurse to certain extent. After consulting the most senior nurse in the clinic, the junior nurse still insisted me to come back next week when the doctor will be around. What's so big deal about telling her that I saw some other colors (dark brown & dark green) on a black paper? Doesn't she know that this is the light diffraction phenomenon? The series of eye tests strain my eyes and cause me heachache.

Received my buddy's text telling that he will be flying tonight. So wandered to his house and watched him doing packing, which was basically searching things to bring back to Spain from the mess of his room. He definitely needs a bedder to help him tidy up his room. His college, Jesus College, has housekeeper to clean their kitchen and toilet but not their individual room. But in Downing, our housekeepers are called bedders as they help to tidy up our room and bed once per week. My buddy said I am like a pampered little gal.

Anyway, I still don't like to see friends flying, I prefer to be the one who flies. Just like one week back (Dec 6), I was so proud (yang yang de yi) to text my buddy from Standsted Airport before flying to the Czech Republic: "Bro, It's my turn to tell you that I'm in the airport now." He averagely flies at least twice per month. Finally, it's my turn to fly! Yeah!

First evening in Prague, Czech Capital. This is Wenceslas Square (New Town, Praha 1) with the National Museum (Green building with "onion head") as landmark. At my back is the tram-modified cafe. Tram is the electrical train runs in the city. They are kind of cool!