Oxford

Wow, first time travelling by myself! I like it! I get to set my own pace, I can eat anytime I want to and I don't have to worry about getting lost, got my handy GPRS with me this time, hehe.

My trip took only an hour and half from Birmingham to Oxford. This time, my trip costs me 20 pounds, but it's worth it. Oxford is a pretty quiet place, and what I noticed when I reached here is that nearly everyone rides a bicycle here. Well, not surprising, nearly 80% of Oxford are just universities and colleges. Nearly everyone is a student here!

Once I reached Oxford, I went looking for the tourist centre so I could booked my tour. The tour deal was pretty good, it's 2 hours and the tour guide could bring us into at least 1 of the unis. Awesome!

So, the tour starts at 2pm, and what I noticed is that the buildings has sculptures on them. Very gothic!

I noticed the heads on the wall when I first arrived. Scary!

Our tour starts of in Broad Street. Apparently that is the road where executions are usually done. Eeek!

The Bridge of Sighs (basically a building which connects to another -.-)

an illustration. Click to read it

Oh another thing, Oxford is also known for movie sites for Harry Potter and the Golden Compass. Here, is a movie site for Harry Potter, and also one of the oldest standing walls in Oxford.

I love how there are words on the steps :)

Radcliffe Square. A site for the Golden Compass

Click to read

See the sculptures?

Church picture is below

Carfax Tower. I wanted to climb, but I was too hungry to

Next, the main stop I wanted to see. Christ Church! It's known for Harry Potter site, the Golden Compass site and the story "Alice in Wonderland". I didn't know this, but the author, Lewis Carroll is actually a man called Charles Dodgson. And get this, Alice in Alice in Wonderland.. is a real girl! Alice is the daughter of the Dean of Christ Church.

Christ Church as you enter


Another film site for Harry Potter. Apparently, the whole field was covered with tents to accomodate the whole film crew.

This is the sweet shop which Alice frequently goes

Alice cottage

Entrance into Christ Church

The corridor used for Harry Potter

Inside Christ Church. It just takes your breath away

Alot of sculptures like this around

Picture below

mummy!

The pictures on the windows tells a story

The Shrine

Next, we headed to the Dining Room. Another famous scene in Harry Potter.

This is what Lewis Carroll looks like.

The blue grinning thing inspired Lewis Carroll to write about the Cheshire Cat

Real Fire Place!

The window shows portraits of Alice and creatures from the book

Middle is King Henry VII, apparently he was very proud of his legs, the tour guide says

Where the heads sat

Christ Church is actually a uni, so the dining room was still being used as a dining hall and the picture above is where they stayed

A movie site for the Golden Compass. Guess what scene is this?

the Great Tom. Every night, it rings 101 times because during the olden times, the college has 101 students and it rings to remind students to come back before 9pm

the library. If you look closer, the ceiling inside is spectacular!

A uni which J R R Tolkien once taught in. He's a professor did you know that?

Had an awesome time in Oxford! Where to next?

Liverpool FC

It's not right to go to Liverpool for a visit and not see the Liverpool FC stadium!

Stadium is all the way at Anfield so we had to take a train there and we practically walked for.. 45 minutes just to get there from the station. First and last time for me..

Being a student in UK has it's advantages. All you need to do is flash your student ID and you'll get a discount anywhere. We got a really cheap price for stadium and museum tour!

Bill Shankly, former manager


Entrance into the stadium. That's our tour guide.

1st stop, the picture gallery. Mostly pictures of former players and managers.

Former managers of Liverpool

Next stop, the VIP box. Phew, the best seats in the stadium!

Next stop, where they had the tv interviews and conferences

Next, locker room

Gerrard!

Another spot where they had interviews

Later, we were ushered to the audience seats

Among the red seats

Ticket counter. No, this is not where we bought our stadium tour tickets..

Next, museum tour where the trophies are kept

Overall, good trip! Then it's back to Birmingham

2011 is here!!

First time celebrated New Year in a different country.

Happy New Year!

Liverpool Day 1

3 weeks holiday break! Might as well make the most of it by going for road trips!

1st road trip, Liverpool!

After leaving the super huge Lime Street Station, we headed to our hotel which is close to Albert Dock.

1 thing I notice the minute we stepped off the train was how COLD it was in Liverpool! It's twice as cold here compared to Birmingham.

On the way, we noticed they have a Liverpool Eye.

Liverpool Eye

Albert Dock, a UNESCO site

Do you know the Beatles first started in Liverpool?

I didn't hear good reviews about this, so we didn't go for it

Room price was really cheap! 40 pounds per night for 3 occupants. Good Deal! Room was really clean, 1 complain is the bunk bed I slept on. I kept knocking my head on the ceiling! Not a good way to wake up in the morning -.-

When we reached our Hotel, we couldn't check in cause we were too early, so we decided to go shopping instead. Good thing it's free of charge to leave our luggage there. They charge in London! Me heart Liverpool!

Because it gets dark at 4pm, we didn't have much to do except lunch and shop, so we decided to go sightseeing the next day instead.

The next day, we went to Liverpool Cathedral. By the way, it's SUPER huge!

Entrance

Hello!

We noticed that there were no pins from Malaysia, so we happily added a pin on Malaysia! Yipee! Malaysia Boleh!


Next, we went to Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

We noticed the University of Liverpool was beside the Cathedral.

Kinda small, I thought it would be a huge campus

Next, we went to China Town. It was listed as the oldest China Town in UK, but quite a dissapointment when we reached there. Nothing was open!

Next, St George Hall

Again, nothing to shout about. Basically it's a huge spot with statues and a empty building

Pose!

Night view of Albert Dock

Welcome in 6 languages

Liverpool Eye, night view

Albert Dock

Next day, Liverpool FC!