Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Pasar tani
It has been ten days into my sabbatical in UK. I have been busy sorting out the files and work that I have procrastinated. Managed to finish one anylysis of the post-evaluation feedback from PXGT6103. Very interesting data. Now I have to try to make sense of the feedback. Thanks to all who gave the feedback. I have also finished reading two books (novels), they keep me awake till 1 or 2 am.
Since my last trip down Regents St. I have stayed in and been under "house arrest"... not that I have not been out, just that I have not taken the public transport since. I may have to go out tomorrow to meet my appointment at the British Council, which is in Trafalgar Square, and see the pigeons too. Bus number 6 will take me there.
Last Saturday, we went to the Church St. market, a pasar tani, just like our Thursday morning pasar at section 17. We wanted to find kepala ikan, tapi sudah habis, so we bought cod and sea bass. The cherry and plums were so good, and sooooo cheap (I mean in GBP). So bought a kilo of cherry and 2 baskets of plums... hmm been eating those for the last few days. I found out that plums get better after you leave them to ripen, just like mangoes. I had the first basket which was so masam. The second basket is so sweet and juicy, now I know the trick. Eh you learn something new everyday. We did not cook any of the fish we bought that day, for there were just the two of us left for dinner that night, so we decided to go out and get the Domino pizza. Waah.. the price in GBP is cheap (9.99 for a large pizza) but after conversion we could get 4 pizza in KL for the price of one here... must not convert!! good to hear that the pounds are going down...
Oh talking about the fear, someone was mugged down the road on Saturday afternoon. The couple just arrived from Iran about an hour before. The man pushed the husband to the wall and grabbed the wife's watch. She took the watch and flung it under the car parked on the road side.. and screamed. Well, neighbours came out and chased the mugger away. He was a white man. What was scary for me was that the policeman who came to investigate rang our doorbell. I had the good sense to check from the window, well, it shocked me quite a bit. But he left and went to the right house. I really thought that they were going house to house checking for terrorists.
I've been spending most of my time in front of the notebook, I hardly watch TV, not yet, may be later. I've been checking the BBC news online, to know the latest development in London. I've been busy, in touch with so many people through email, tak terjawab email. (For those of you who are worried about me here, please don't worry, I am alright and I am managing the risk well). I have to really budget my time carefully, so that I can finish some of the projects that I have started, before I start something new at CCCUC.
Till the next installment.
END
Since my last trip down Regents St. I have stayed in and been under "house arrest"... not that I have not been out, just that I have not taken the public transport since. I may have to go out tomorrow to meet my appointment at the British Council, which is in Trafalgar Square, and see the pigeons too. Bus number 6 will take me there.
Last Saturday, we went to the Church St. market, a pasar tani, just like our Thursday morning pasar at section 17. We wanted to find kepala ikan, tapi sudah habis, so we bought cod and sea bass. The cherry and plums were so good, and sooooo cheap (I mean in GBP). So bought a kilo of cherry and 2 baskets of plums... hmm been eating those for the last few days. I found out that plums get better after you leave them to ripen, just like mangoes. I had the first basket which was so masam. The second basket is so sweet and juicy, now I know the trick. Eh you learn something new everyday. We did not cook any of the fish we bought that day, for there were just the two of us left for dinner that night, so we decided to go out and get the Domino pizza. Waah.. the price in GBP is cheap (9.99 for a large pizza) but after conversion we could get 4 pizza in KL for the price of one here... must not convert!! good to hear that the pounds are going down...
Oh talking about the fear, someone was mugged down the road on Saturday afternoon. The couple just arrived from Iran about an hour before. The man pushed the husband to the wall and grabbed the wife's watch. She took the watch and flung it under the car parked on the road side.. and screamed. Well, neighbours came out and chased the mugger away. He was a white man. What was scary for me was that the policeman who came to investigate rang our doorbell. I had the good sense to check from the window, well, it shocked me quite a bit. But he left and went to the right house. I really thought that they were going house to house checking for terrorists.
I've been spending most of my time in front of the notebook, I hardly watch TV, not yet, may be later. I've been checking the BBC news online, to know the latest development in London. I've been busy, in touch with so many people through email, tak terjawab email. (For those of you who are worried about me here, please don't worry, I am alright and I am managing the risk well). I have to really budget my time carefully, so that I can finish some of the projects that I have started, before I start something new at CCCUC.
Till the next installment.
END
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Adventure on Regent St.
Invited Terra for a kebab lunch today. Went out about 1 pm and headed for Azim Restaurant on Edgeware Rd. We took bus 414. Had humus and Shwrma Kebab. The helping was big even for 2 people. We couldn't finish the food and had to pack for take away.
After the kebab, we walked to catch a bus to Oxford St. tot it would be nice to take a walk for a while before we caught the bus. The sun was out and I was feeling rather hot. Infact, I was dressed for spring, I wore a black long sleeve t and a light jacket. Just realized that I did not bring my sunglasses, so I had to squint. We caught number 23 from Edgeware Rd. The bus went down to Oxford St then to Regent st. We got off the bus to find the store Talbot, which Terra recommends highly. Walked a couple of blocks before we found the shop. Talbot has quite a good collection of petit clothing... i was not looking for anything in particular, however, I ended up with a couple of baju kemeja again (orange and blue!)? hmm... I'm thinking long term so I cd wear them in KL.
While we were in talbot a lady told us that 3 nail bombs just went off underground... did not look good.. we paid and hurried off. However, we had to make a stop at Liberty to use the Loo....
Caught the no 23 bus to Edgeware Rd, and waited for another bus to Chippenham. We got on 414, and got home safely abt 4 pm. Apparently, all the tube stations were closed and there were many people on the road, trying to get out from downtown before the rush hour. We were lucky to get seats on the buses.
Must get back to reading Zahari's thesis now.
After the kebab, we walked to catch a bus to Oxford St. tot it would be nice to take a walk for a while before we caught the bus. The sun was out and I was feeling rather hot. Infact, I was dressed for spring, I wore a black long sleeve t and a light jacket. Just realized that I did not bring my sunglasses, so I had to squint. We caught number 23 from Edgeware Rd. The bus went down to Oxford St then to Regent st. We got off the bus to find the store Talbot, which Terra recommends highly. Walked a couple of blocks before we found the shop. Talbot has quite a good collection of petit clothing... i was not looking for anything in particular, however, I ended up with a couple of baju kemeja again (orange and blue!)? hmm... I'm thinking long term so I cd wear them in KL.
While we were in talbot a lady told us that 3 nail bombs just went off underground... did not look good.. we paid and hurried off. However, we had to make a stop at Liberty to use the Loo....
Caught the no 23 bus to Edgeware Rd, and waited for another bus to Chippenham. We got on 414, and got home safely abt 4 pm. Apparently, all the tube stations were closed and there were many people on the road, trying to get out from downtown before the rush hour. We were lucky to get seats on the buses.
Must get back to reading Zahari's thesis now.
UK sabbatical
Sunday, July 17, 2005
UK Sabbatical
Arrived from KL yesterday, at 5:30 am. The flight was uneventful. I slept most of the way. I was fetched by Fei and Maria. Arrived at Walterton Rd about 7:10 am. Slept a couple of times to acclimatize myself.
Today, woke up at 5:50 am. Started my sabbatical work by checking email and sending my team a new transcript that Sam worked on last Friday. Thank you Sam.
Today, woke up at 5:50 am. Started my sabbatical work by checking email and sending my team a new transcript that Sam worked on last Friday. Thank you Sam.
