Torcher's Parade and Iron Man

TICKETS BOOKED!

Me and Edwin decided to go on a trip during our revision trip to Ireland, Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool. We would be returning on the day before my first exam. Crazy i know right!

Hence I started studying. For the first time in my university life, I am studying 1 month in advance for an exam LOL.

Its nice to study in the library as all the study tables face the windows and some of them face the sea which is so near!!!

On saturday evening, I went to Torcher's Parade which has been going on since 1889. So thinking it would be a really big event, I went!

What do you think? Not really fanciful enough for you? Well in my home university NUS, we have a RAG event too where people spend like 3 months of their time building and rehearsing their performance so that they have a chance to win glory for their hall or faculty. The floats they build were really extravagant and expensive too even though it was suppose to be created out of recycled items. There was always this conflicting views of the purpose of the event which was initially to raise and give money to charities. In Aberdeen's case, it looks as though people didn't put as much effort into the float (you can still see the truck while NUS floats can't) but they looked like they really use recycled items and not really spend money to buy them. It was a noteworthy mention of their contribution to the charitable efforts.

Well, the main event was not that but watching IRON MAN 3 after that with Cheryl, Jianyao, Gizem, Cyrus, Liz and Edwin! Oh boy it was good! It was different from the other 2 iron man movies which was a good thing as what's the point of watching the same movie again. We see the other characters like Pepper Potts and War Machine (now called Iron Patriot) having more roles to play, sometimes in the suit, sometimes outside of it. There were a hell lot more of Iron Man Suits but they seem to be made in China (inferior quality) as they seem to get destroy so easily when in the past they seem to be able to take so much more damage. Iron Man's villians also never seem to be as supervilliany as those from the other Marvel Superheroes like SpiderMan... but the twist in the Real Villian in this movie was really unexpected though. Haha watch it to understand what I mean!

squeezzeeee!!!!

Hiking at Braemar

Haven really hiked at all despite the awesome hiking trails in Scotland.
But now that the weather is getting warmer its time to get going!!!

Early in the saturday morning at 8am, I got Jianyao and Edwin to get to Braemar which was a 2 hour bus ride away to hike to Morrone.
It was suppose to be a 4-5 hours hike but we conquered it in 3.5 hours which included a rest lunch break at the peak. Haha no sweat for 3 NS trained men!

  

When we came back, our Belgium friends Felix & Co. invited us for a BBQ beside the river of Don where we just used the election posters that were left behind after the elections as fire starters and used the branches around for fuel as well as sticks for marshmallows. Truly the most unique BBQ I have ever had. It was quite nice also even though we didn't have alot of food like most BBQ in Asia has. We could chat about stories of Easter break and I didn't feel terribly hungry after that, so :)

Not the most hygienic but warm and tasty!

Back to School

So after our Europe trip, we had to settle back into school... :(
Haha on our first day we had to settle a one day geology workshop/project where we join a group (suppose to have formed one before the holidays but we forgot haha and nearly got a scolding from Parnell)
We also had to submit a paper on one of the petroleum system case studies that was taught during the first six classes.
That was about 75% of the course or something :)

We had to stock up again our food supply. Both for cooking meals and snacks!

All for 5 pound. I hope it can last me at least a month haha. Studying requires alot of energy for the brain.

I also ordered some stuff online as soon as I got back! Look what I've got!

My Doop Skates!!!

An Engraving Tool that can be used on glass which I shall be using to make souvenirs for friends and family.

Time to get back to study! Woohoo!!! (or Boo Hoo!)

Things I wished I had done

1) Stayed longer in each country and travel to all the smaller cities and town and really pick up more of the culture and language.

2) Negotiated for the price for taking photos with the gladiators better. After all I went for the negotiation 3 day workshop didn't I???

Well he had us by our balls that's why!

3) Had more sense to not ski in bad weather conditions. Something really bad could have happened. We were lucky.

Cannot see nevermind. Just go only!

4) Make more friends by maybe staying in dorms and not twin bed rooms. (But some of them really nice! like in venice and rome!)

Nice and homely in Venice!

Comfortable to mix around but with privacy in Cologne!

5) Shared some of the navigation rather than leave everything to Edwin.

6) Showered more often. Hehe.

7) Have better waterproof or quick drying or less smelly shoes.

New Socks + Smelly Shoes = Still Smelly Feet

8) Buy an umbrella as a raincoat while keeps you dry still makes you uncomfortable to feel the raindrops falling on your head through the hood.

Singaporeans dun need umbrella in this small rain! so we say...

9) Traveled to the romantic cities of Paris, Rome, Venice with a lover (Your heart feels itchy seeing all the lovebirds kissing and holding hands)

<3

10) Know how to appreciate the art of Michaelangelo and Co. as well as the history of Europe.

What we queued up for for 2 hours to the Vatican Museum

But we make do with whatever we have in life no?
It was a great experience nonetheless :)
I am really nitpicking here haha.

Things I delight in doing when travelling

1) sending postcards to my loved ones and thinking what special contents to write to them

12 postcards in a go!

2) eating (of course! I have already dedicated one entire blog post to it)

3) exploring the local/less touristy places

Like markets where the locals go to!

4) living budgetly or making a cheap deal

I really love visiting supermarkets around europe and buying their housebrands to find out how to eat and live for a decent price!!!

5) exotic experience (beerhalls, weed, red light district)

Such a huge drinking place!

6) fresh open air with beautiful scenery

Really love the windmills, the grass, the water and the fresh air at Zaanse Schans!

7) walking around at night

Montmartre at night! Simply Beautiful!

8) Attending huge events

They spoke in Italian but we don't care!

9) Taking funny photos of each other

We just ate radioactive food!

Oppa Versailles Style! 

10) and of course, making new friends!

Prost!

Food log around Europe

As a true blue Singaporean, FOOD is one of the main objectives wherever we go!

In every single city, the specialty food and most recommended food is always hunted for! 

Here is our food log around europe!

London is not counted as its still UK where we were tired of fish and chips haha. So its Chinese Buffet to fill our tummy.

Cornish Pastry in Bath - Kind of like our curry puff but bigger version and less flavourful

Apple Crumble Pie in Amsterdam! - said to be the best and i agree!

A traditional Amsterdammer meal in a nice homely restaurant! do you see the bowl of lard on the top right with pork bits inside....my cholesterol level is rising!!!

Shhhh! Its just a brownie!

Pancake with blueberries, yoghurt ice-cream, blueberry sauce, Belgium chocolate flakes and whipped cream in Amsterdam

Pancake with tuna fish, Gouda chesse, olives and red onion - this and the above are the best pancakes i have ever eaten in my life from Amsterdam

Traditional Herring eaten raw like sashimi in a sandwich with  a slice of pickle

Paris - A half eaten bagel with cheese tomato and tuna- simply delicious

Caramel delights for a Parisian lunch - caramel biscuit, salted caramel crepes, cola (which is made from caramel too)

Best Crepes in my life - and cheapest too! 

Turkish Pastries in Paris - I really love these!

Turkish delights, Macarons and Mousse - YUM!

LOTSA Chocolates!

Eclairs!!! Both chocolate and coffee! Said to be best in Paris

Duck Confit and Escargot for our last meal in Paris

All road leads to Rome! Its Italian food time! Pizzas in square shape and thin crust!

Gelato Galore!!!

Bruschetta for appetiser

Main Course is the best risotto i have ever had -  awesomely balanced between the strong taste of Parmesan cheese with tangy lemon 

Seafood pasta - is so fresh they served the mussels raw and the prawn is the largest I have seen since Singapore

More bruschetta!

Lasagne!

Very good Carbonara with lotsa eggs!

Second course!!!

Some panini that i randomly ordered at a wet market! - Olives, tomatoes and mushrooms!

Creme of Potato!

Vegetable Lasagne!

Meat Lasagne

Artichoke! A taste that you need to get used to!

This is how people eat Pizza in Rome when they takeaway! Like a Sandwich~

It is originally like a pizza and you choose the portion and pay what it weighs....taste like a cake haha!

What some call the best gelato in Italy and its in Rome - they dun even show you the gelato unless u buy it.

The oldest Gelato store that Hitler and Mussolini used to love to eat from!

Pizza everyday!

The best pizza we ate and its in Venice!

Still eating gelato everywhere!

Mini Pizza anyone?

Tried to copy the gelato store ice cream sandwich!

It said fish pasta on the menu....crayfish la!

Scampi!!!!

Al Nero di Seppia or cuttlefish ink pasta!

Only pizzas like these straight from the oven are the best!

Gnocchi - some potato pasta

A type of dumpling like pasta

Nothing like a hot bowl of beef and vegetable soup after a tough morning of skiing in Innsbruck, Austria

The best Kebab i have ever had after a long day of skiing - trick is just spam all the sauces.

Chili box! with the same sauces as the kebab! Shiok!

Chili Hotdog!

In Munich, you get stoned drinking one litre beer and eating thick slabs of roast pork with potato dumpling!

Leberkase they call this huge ham sandwich that u get from the butcher

Sinful Pork knuckle that made me quit german food after...too much cholesterol

Chocolate Snowball from the small medieval town of Rotherburg, Germany

We cannot thank any german food liao so in Wursburg we just ate some asian noodles sold by some vietnamese stall.

Phad Thai cravings in Koln - Spam the chili flakes and sugar haha!

Conclusion

Amsterdam - really love the pancakes there. LEKKER!
Paris - Crepes are really a good snack with so many varieties and eating baguette with a spread is also really a nice way to have a picnic easily. très bon!!!
Rome and Venice - Pizza, gelato and pasta are really the Best that the Italians have brought to the modern world. Delizoso!
Germany - a little too meaty for my taste, probably will have it once in a while in a smaller portion too. Lecker!

When all else fails, there is always KEBAB! Cheap, Delicious and Good everywhere!!!
Asian food is also something that satisfies you dearly after too much western food. The spiciness and rice is really something I haven't seen anywhere else in the world. (I hear african food also super spicy)