Saturday, 8 November 2008

Jorvik

To my loyal readers, sorry I haven't been updating for yet another long period. Again, its due to boring boring work which are stacked high up like pancakes. One new coursework is equivalent to 10000 kg burden on my shoulders. No, I am not exaggerating. Well, not really anyway cause it really felt that way while trying to meet all those datelines but not knowing how on earth are we supposed to solve those questions (one major example-matlab and simulink coursework). Its a killer. Been sleeping only a total of 9hours for 2days thanks to that two assignments. I guess thats why I felt really emotional for the first time since I reached UK. My stress level was so high, my friends could sense it strongly. Been a terrible week but its all good now cause the coursework submission receipt is pinned up proudly on my message board *beams*. Anyway, will use this post to thank Teo for helping me with Matlab and finding out the problem in Simulink =) Wouldn't have managed it without his help.




So, yet another long outdated trip to post about. This time, we went for a day trip to York, formerly known as Jorvik. Didn't expect that much from the trip but to my surprise, I had so much fun that day (forgot which day already LOL. I think it was around mid October?). There's this amazing rustic, historic feel to York that made me felt as if I've gone back through time where dresses with big puffy skirts were considered fashionable. I loved the ancient buildings, washed walls surrounding the place, cobbled narrow streets with tiny shops along it, the awesome scenery. There were a few places that we planned to visit and I'm glad to say that the plan went to plan and we managed to go to all the popular must-sees in a mere 6 hours (6hours is short for a trip where there's so much to see). The places I visited were the York dungeons, Jorvick Viking Centre, Clifford Tower and the York Minster (in that order). I can't really pick my favourite since I loved all those places for different reasons (except the Jorvick Viking Centre, which frankly can be said to be a waste of 7pounds as it was quite boring.). Loved the Dungeons for it's horror, terror and the thrilling feeling the place gave me. I shall just give a brief description of the place in case people (cough *adeline* cough) say that my posts are always too wordy. =p Anyway, the place tells us the horrific story of York, where crimes, history, and supernatural occurences were told in a gruesome way. The place is like this huge ghost house where you go in room after room in which different stories were told. Credits to the actors in the house as they really gave me goosebumps. All of us were really afraid (even Wei Han and Darrick lol) that no one really dared to take the lead.. I was tugging Wei Han's backpack while Sarah took hold of Darrick's hoodie hahaha. It was really really fun and we got to learn many new stuff about York.



On the way to York




Entrance to York




Me with York Minster in the background



March March March



Parade




Us on the bridge




Looks like a painting no?




On the way to York Dungeon

York Dungeon
I'll skip about the Viking Centre as it was really quite boring. After the centre, we got ourselves Starbucks coffee and headed to Clifford Tower. It was nothing short of breathtaking. The structure of the tower has the 'I've been here a thousand years' look and is just A-mazing. Sitting proudly at the top of a lush green hill with steep stairs leading up to the entrance to the tower, it just calls out to be visited. Which, we did and I have no regrets parting with 3.50 pounds (as far as I can remember) just to get a look at the view from the top. Take a look at the pictures and you'll get what I mean (=


Outside Viking Centre



Image of how York market used to be


At Clifford Tower


Entrance to Clifford Tower




Outside Castle Museum ( we didn't go visit it though)






With Darrick (wind was too strong, kept blowing my hair lol)




Inside Clifford Tower (ground floor)





View of York from the top of Clifford Tower










View of lower level of Clifford Tower






While walking down (slowly and carefully) the steep curvy stairs


Cobbled street with tiny, interesting shops along it



Goodies sold in a candy store



More goodies




LK Bennet!!!!!


Last stop was the all famous York Minster. I've read articles on the net about places that you absolutely have to visit in the UK and York Minster was listed as one of those places. Basically, that church is HUGE! Totally and completely grand looking just like a castle. The architecture of the building is just unbelievable and you have to wonder how did the people managed to build it with such detail which was I-don't-know-how-long years ago. Really glad I got to see it with my very own eyes. The place is divided into 3 sections which are the Minster Tower, The Undercroft and the main York Minster. We didn't get to go up the Minster Tower as we were too late and the place was closing soon. However, we managed to go to the Undercroft and the main part of the building. Honestly, I didn't enjoy the Undercroft all that much as its just filled with monuments and historic stuff. We can't even take pictures inside it. The main part was gorgeous though, surrounded by the famous ceiling to ground stained windows and the beautifully crafted ceiling. There's just this fantastic feel inside the place and I enjoyed it very much.


With the statue of Constantine





York Minster



Just look at the structure!!






The famous glass stained windows



Sorry for the blur picture, it was MUCH MUCH prettier in real life..my camera wasn't good enough to capture the real image









With Brian





Arvin and I













Beautiful ceiling





A last shot of York Minster before leaving


After the Minster, we had to walk back to the bus stop for our ride home and most people slept through the entire 2 hours journey back. I was exhausted but I had so much fun that it didn't really mattered. A great trip I must say =)

Been too long since I posted on this blog that there's so many backlogged events I need to write about. I'll do that as soon as I can, I promise. But not that soon as I now have a Maths coursework and 2 lab reports this week. Sigh yet another tiring week coming right up.

Till then,

xoxo

Ling