Time sure flies. I can hardly believe I've been here in Germany for slightly more than a year now! It only hit me when I was checking the calendar and then got an email reminder from the PhD office that I need to set a date and arrange for my 1st annual thesis review committee. Which I did by the way, as right now I've to prepare a report and a presentation scheduled for Nov 6.
Things seemed to pass by a blur. I haven't gotten much travelling around done, as most people who are overseas are apt to do. I mean, I did go on a Phd retreat in Prague and bits of Dresden but that's about it. I think I've come to realise I'm just not the "travelly" kind of person, which is you know the complete opposite of folks that harbours dreams of "travelling around the world and exploring different sights and sounds". I mean, it's not that I hate sight-seeing but it's something that I'd prefer tagging along to someone's invitation rather than me logging on to lonelyplanet.com or lastminute.com to hop on the next cheapest plane to a "cosy, sleepy hamlet with unique traditional delicacies that will surprise travellers".
Another thing I'm bad is photos. As some of you who follow this blog would be well aware by now, I'm terrible at uploading photos and keeping them updated. I just tend to snap some photos here and there, and then completely forget about them. Most of my photos are untagged and left to rot in the camera until one fine day I decide to transfer them to my PC. Now that I have a smartphone, things are a bit easier of course thank to the auto-upload feature of G+. However, since I'm also not that great at social media either... you can see where this is going. :)
Anyway, here are some quite old pics from my last trip to Aberdeen, Scotland. I was there from around March-May last year for an attachment at the University of Aberdeen, working with Dr. Sam Martin on ferritin genes in salmon. Yep.. these photos are more than a year old.
If I remember correctly, this is the King's building/college of the university.
The long street across the university where I can walk from my hostel to the town centre. A bus ride to town cost 2 pounds, and after a while I figured it's cheaper to do the 15-minute walk to town and take bus ride home after buying stuff.
The famous St. Andrews cathedral. It is open free to public at certain times.
As usual, my favourite part of old churches - the painted glass windows!
On a train ride to Glasgow to visit a friend, passing by the Stirling station.
Passing the Perth station. Guess I learned that it is not just a place in Australia! :P
Most of the time the train passed by many large fields and farmlands.
Cheap and large, juicy berries! My favourite strawberries and blueberries were great too! Bought 2 packs of each.
One of the best meals I've had in Aberdeen. The cafe is called Grub and is located on thatthat street stretching from the university to the town area. The panini with brie and cranberry was really delicious! For the complete meal set I picked a hot chocolate and yoghurt with muesli (which were pretty good too). Came to about 4 pounds.
