Edinburgh (the photos)

Here comes the photos...
In Facebook, you can view it HERE.
In Multiply, you can view it HERE.

For those who have not read the story yet, please see the previous post. :)
Enjoy!

Edinburgh

We're back from our Christmas holiday, both are sick of FLU (all the blocked/snorty noses and sore throats). Well, apart from being sick, we had a great time in Edinburgh.
We took off by train on Tuesday (23.12.08) morning and arrived around 1 p.m. in Edinburgh. We were 'given' a very beautiful scenery along the way up there; green landscape with hills and mountains, sheeps feeding on the green grass, simply blissful! Arrived in Edinburgh Waverley station, the cold weather greeted us, praise The Lord it was dry all the way. By the time we were out of the station, there were so many people buzzing around... Oh my! This town is so busy!

To me, Edinburgh is a pretty historical city. It is unique with the ups and the downs (good for exercising!), also, it has many little boutique-like shops. Cute! I myself, love it! The architectures are simply astonishing... it's like a modern era with a touch of the magnificent past. So unique and breathtaking!
As tourists, we find Edinburgh city centre to be very friendly. It has a lot to offer; not hard to find food (except on the Christmas day!) and many places to go.

On the first day, we did not go around much. We got to the hotel, had some rest and, then, headed out for dinner. We did stop at the Edinburgh Christmas Festival to get a ride on one of the attractions (something like London's eye, what do you call those things?) to enjoy Edinburgh from up above a little bit before we had dinner at Hard Rock Cafe (after queuing for quite awhile). I remember we went back home with stomaches ready to explode, just because the portions were so huge!

Second day was spent mainly at Edinburgh castle and around there. Since it is a holiday, we don't really rush... we got up late and relax. We had to pay £10 per person to get in (a bit expensive, but, hey, it's once in a lifetime thingy that I would do!). We both loved the mini adventure around the castle, although, even if given the chance, would prefer not live there! I enjoyed the scenery of the city from up above the castle. It was simply beautiful... The castle speaks for itself; the gates, the walls, the rooms within, they told stories. It somewhat made me imagine those who really lived there....

Third day - Christmas day! We had problem finding place to eat! Hahaha! After a long walk through the famous princes street, we finally found a Chinese restaurant that was open. God, they are clever! It was sooooo expensive, but... we had no choice! Good thing that the food was nice and their service was superb, otherwise, I'd be crossed haha! After lunch, we wandered around the town centre, took some photos.

Fourth day is Boxing day is Shopping day! Hahaha... It's the day where all the shops gone mad with discounts and people gone mad with shopping! We got some bargains; Lan got a new pair of Clark shoes and a vest, I got some cardigans :) In the afternoon, we met up with my new friend, Mbak Yufrita, in front of Jenners (a huge shop) to go to her house for dinner.
Mbak Yufrita is a very nice person, so warm and lively! She has a beautiful family (two handsome sons, for sure! I am missing Fabian, her second son, now...) and a cozy house. Thank you so much for such a delicious dinner, Mbak! We had great time and would love to see you again soon.
By the time, we were back in the hotel, it was time to pack up. Oh how sad... We are leaving Edinburgh, first thing in the morning. :(

Overal, we LOVE LOVE Edinburgh! I hope one day, I can visit again...

Ps. Photos are coming... It's not uploaded yet hehe..

We wish you...

Dillemma...

With the winter being unusually cold this year, my eczema has become the worst than ever before. It is painful and disturbing. At night, I would be hardly sleeping due to the itch and the inflamed feelings I experience... This obviously affects my day-to-day life; I cannot concentrate on my study because I'd be too tired during the day. And so, for the last several weeks, I barely made any progress.
Last Friday, my supervisors and I had a meeting. They would like me to seriously consider about suspending my study for at least a few months until I get better. This is due to the PhD's deadline being so strict, hence if I suspend it takes away the pressure of not keeping up with my research plan. On top of that, Lan had been suggesting me to go home, have some sunshine (damn UK! We can barely see the sun!) and relaxation a little bit.

After the meeting, I discussed this issue with Lan and my parents. At first, my parents would not agree I go home leaving Lan by himself here. I know that... I want to be next to him all the time, too, but, Lan cannot come with me! He has his research to do. However, with the desperation and no other solution in hand, they finally told me to go home. Still, I don't feel right. Lan does not feel right about this.
During the chat with Lan's parents today, they blamed Lan for being selfish and self-centered. They said my health should be a priority, Lan should let me go home... BUT I know he is NOT being self-centered nor selfish! I know... if I have other choices, I would rather stay by his side...

Yet, still... even with what our parents told us, we are still in dillemma.
We have time until 5th January to think about it, on that day, I'd have to tell my supervisors our decision. Another issue is that I have not got my passports with me. They (yes, 3 passports!) are still in the home-office's hands. I applied for a visa extension since 17 October, and yet, there still is no news.

Oh my Lord, give us wisdom...

Friends, any advice?

Violence, no way!

Phew... just finished doing the laundry and our room looks like a clothes store going on sale hahaha...
There is this thing on my mind that I'd like to share with you. There have been several times where we heard a woman crying from the flat above us (we are on the ground floor). Lan even said that he heard the man beat that woman up, sometimes she screamed in horror... I just cannot understand why would a man beat his wife? I suppose you don't marry a girl to beat her up, right? Also you don't marry a guy just to be beaten up, am I right? We get married to love and to be loved.
Any man should know that he is supposed to protect his wife, not to beat her up! I thank God that Lan, no matter how angry he is to me, will never ever lay a hand on me.

Poor that woman upstairs... I hope the man will come to his senses!

Fun Sunday with hubby...

Despite of the fact that I was in pain of eczema all over my body, I had a great Sunday with my hubby. We got this fabulous 2for1 voucher from Pizza Express, which we normally will not go because of the price. We had a long walk from home to the restaurant, which is by the dock.
We ordered a Arrancini as an appetizer, which is risotto and ham covered and fried with bread crumbs. As our main, Lan had Diavolo classic pizza, devilishly hot with spicy beef, pepperoni, onions and tabasco, with hot green or jalapeno peppers, and I had Pollo Verdure salad, A warm feast of torn chicken breast and chargrilled Italian vegetables tossed with honey and mustard dressing, served on rocket and baby spinach and drizzled with balsamic syrup. They both were very yummy, especially my salad! Ugh... I'd love to have another one! Hehehe... Tiramisu was our dessert, wooo... so deliciously melting-in-mouth sensation!

After our super duper delicious late lunch, we went to the cinema and watched Madagascar 2. I loveeeee it! Hillariously funny! =)
Well, that's our Sunday. How was your Sunday, friends?

About Me 2

I once did the same thing the last time, which you can see HERE. Now, I will do it again for the second time as a request from such a warm lady, Sili. Let us start....

ANOTHER 10 THINGS ABOUT SHERLY:

1. She is a very PERFECTIONIST person, who would stress herself out (and sometimes to the measure of depression) to do things as perfect as she wants.
   
2. Be who she is, say exactly what her mind and heart say and won't even act nice if her heart is disliking something. Too STRAIGHTFORWARD? Maybe...
   
3. She enjoys cross-stitching, knitting, scrapbooking and sometimes sketching random things. After sometime of not knitting, I will soon start knitting a pair of mitten for Lan. I hope it will work out well :)
   
4. She dreams of having twins! Tee-hee...
   
5. She has super sensitive nose that even Lan thinks that Sherly was a doggy in the previous life *bite Lan!*
   
6. People's first impression of her: Quiet and JUDES (mungkin krn modelku garang kali ya =P). The impression after: talkactive and such a crazy gal!
   
7. She is super quiet when she is angry and always puts such a face that Lan really hates. (I am working hard on reducing my temper)
   
8. She loves SWIMMING, but hates other sport. That reminds me of old time when I always compete with BFF Yulia for fun. Tiara Dewata swimming pool, inget ga Yul? :)
   
9. She is NOT a morning person.
   
10. She has no regrets. Anything I do, I do it with pleasure, even there might be some not-so-good time in between. In my life, I have no regrets and will never have. I cherish everything that happens in my life, anyone that comes into my life and all that has been given into me. For I believe nothing good will come out of regret. :)
    

Sil, lunas ya utangku. Thanks once again for such a praise and the prayer. *hugs*

Ps. Anyone would like to this? You are most welcome to do so. :)

Oh My! It's December!

Yeehaa!!! It's the start of December now! It means Christmas holiday is drawing near heehee... We planned, from so long ago, to spend our Christmas this year in Edinburgh, Scotland.
FYI, although I have been here for 6 years, I rarely travel to the 'faraway' destination within the UK. The transport is so expensive, too expensive for a poor student like me. Well, we have been blessed this year, our work as tutors (semacem asisten dosen), earn us some savings to indulge ourselves a little bit (although we are saving mainly for flight tickets to go to Indo next year).

The thing is that it has been so freezing COLD lately... Much colder than the previous winters I had spent here. So, at the moment, my eczema is worse and I am also getting some flu symptoms =(

Anyhow, have a great week, everyone! God bless you always!