Festival of Plants 2015

Yet another of my free writing :)

I went to the Festival of Plants in Cambridge University Botanic Garden last Saturday. A nice sunny day to be out there among the beautiful spring plants. Our first stop was the canopy where there were stalls with interactive games and explanations provided by volunteers of Festival of Plants. One thing which attracted me was the booth on algae and biofuel. I work with Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, one of the few algae studied widely on its ability to produce biofuel, and I do like the idea of this animal-like single-cell lower plant being such a useful tool to study various aspects. We created a furry cartoonish ChlamyBaby (look below). There are some other activities which I didn't stay long enough to gather info. However, it seemed to me that people were enjoying themselves. We passed by the glasshouse and there was an interactive concert going on. Nice vocal for sure!

There were tours around the gardens, according to my friend, it was very beneficial as the guide told the stories of many of the trees around the garden. There was a talk tent where various talks were conducted. Apparently they were good too.

ChlamyBaby wading on the grass

I managed to capture a few nice shots - thanks to the lovely afternoon sun!

Moor hen feeding her chick

Colourful tulips

Peony?

Iris

I had a great time that afternoon. Discovered it was my friend's birthday, which was nice. Since the weather was great! :)

Scientific Walk in Romantic Sintra

I went away last weekend to refocus and refresh before this hectic season. I'm in the process of writing my first year report, but at this moment, I am kinda frozen in time and space. So, as what the trainer of the Graduate School of Life Sciences (GSLS) suggested, I begin a short piece of free writing on some random topic.

Finally, I was in Sintra. After pondering for a few nights on which part of Sintra I should do and how much I was willing to spend, I've decided on Castelo dos Mouros (Moorish Castle) and Parque e Palacio Nacional da Pena (Pena National Palace and Park).

View of Palacio Nacional da Pena from Castelo Dos Mouros at the spot where King Ferdinand II loved as he found it an inspiration for his romantic ideals.

My favourite picture of the Castelo

It was an amazing journey and I did take many excellent shots of the breathtaking views, and plants! I never thought I'd end up in the Dept of Plant Sciences, but since I'm already in it, I should make the best out of it. I may be a ChlamyScientist working on molecular biology/physiology of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, but my colleagues are great physiologists/ecologists. I'm beginning to see beyond the green and to see each plant as a different species. It will take time, but I hope I can make my way closer to them greenies.

Navelwort I think... also in Parque Nacional da Pena

Sedum sp. in Parque Nacional da Pena

Fascicularia bicolor, a Bromeliad in Castelo Dos Mouros

Long Distance Flight

It is akin to a marathon.

Requirements include:

Endurance.

Patience.

Probably stamina too.

Interesting observation in Dubai.

All sorts of methods to kill transit time.

Sleeping behind rows of benches.

Covered by blankets is the luxurious ones.

Some only had jeans and shirts,

With their palms in between their thighs.

To keep warm.

I'm blessed.

Just an hour in Dubai.

Always a fleeting visit.

I prefer so.

Can't wait to lie down and rest.

To nurse my body back to health.

Missing everyone whom I bade goodbyes last night.

Last Time in 2013

Here am I

Sitting in the waiting room

For the last time in 2013

To Southampton I go.

All familiar faces I'd meet

Indeed it's excitement I feel.

Yet some I'd bid farewells

For a long time them I will not meet

Some I'd bid goodbyes

For I shall see and meet very soon.

A year came and went.

Good friends I've met.

Those who are there

That I should stay sane and oblivious.

Of course I'm fine.

Finer than ever.

Some are horrible and rude backstabbers.

Somehow Truth prevails.

To Southampton I go

To my beloved ones.

All praise and honour be to God!

Wrong Train

I'm as blur as a sotong.

I went on the wrong train.

And the train I was supposed to be on..

Left.

The train I was on,

Doesn't bring me there.

So,

All my appointments are delayed for an hour.

Thanks to myself.

Eeekkk.

Go! Rhino

Spent the whole afternoon hunting

For rhino sculptures in Soton!

What fun it was,

Whenever I found them.

Colourful guardians of tourist spots,

Interesting and creative designs.

Discovered Southampton finally,

After the countless times of visit.

Brother Sun walked with me the whole day.

I've been hoping such day would come,

When I finally see warm Soton!

Southampton

A place I've been countless times,

Thanks to the friends I've got here.

Never been a traveller here.

So today,

With brother Sun shining bright,

I'm being a traveller

To hunt down the colourful rhinos!

End of 16 Days

In another 8 hours,

I shall bid the land of Ireland farewell.

Will I return?

Will I not?

All but God's will to say.

A pleasure indeed,

this journey.

Ups and downs,

here and there.

With a grateful heart,

to St. Teresa of Lisieux as my companion,

and to the people from all walks of life,

who became my friends.

Not forgetting old friends who took time to meet up.

Spectacular is the creation of God,

wonderfully and intricately made.

The breathtaking scenery is unforgettable.

Completely etched within me.

A journey of joy I'd name,

with a bit of Irish luck,

I hope to find a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

My Worst Choice of Hostel

I made a wrong choice of hostel stay.

I should have known better than to stay above a bar.

No lock in the bathroom.

No kitchen facilities.

No secure lockers.

Loud music is fine.

But...

Random noisy kiddos as roomies?!

No problem at all.

As long as they don't be stupid,

and ask silly, obvious, idiotic questions.

I'd throw my boots at them,

if they come back drunk and noisy.

Ugh.

Guinness and Football

Here sitting in an Irish pub,

Watching Ireland vs. Sweden in FIFA qualifying match.

1-1 now.

I'm in Ireland.

Obviously who I'm supporting.

Ha ha ha.

C'mon.

More goals please!

Food Spree

After 11 days of scrimping on food

Today I'm going wild.

Maybe just a little.

Started the day with daily mass.

Then subconsciously walked to English market.

A superb bowl of mushroom soup.

And savoury salami sandwich.

End the meal with a cuppa latte.

Perfect life.

Going slow today in Cork.

Just chilling out here and there.

After 11 days of gungho-ness,

I'm slowing down for reflection.

Ahh...

When life gives me lemon,

I'm chilling with a lemon cheesecake,

And a cuppa.

Drinking Wasp

While having lunch at Torc Waterfall,

I almost drank a wasp.

Yes,

The 6-legged creature with a needle at its butt.

It was at the mouth of my drink,

Right at the moment I wanted a sip.

I could feel the hair rubbing my inner lips.

What a great relief I wasn't stung!

I could have died.

Yeah.

My new Dutch friend would definitely remember me!

Misunderstood

Being a solo Asian traveller myself,

With a rather tight budget,

I often am being misunderstood.

Fellow travellers seem to be awkward,

As though Asians should travel in taxi,

Staying in posh hotels.

Aside from Dublin,

I haven't seen any Asian travellers

Staying in hostels in west of Ireland.

A culture shock for me indeed.

I was asked few times if I speak English.

If not English,

What do I speak really?

Funnily annoying actually.

*Gasps of horror*

"Stop being so narrow-minded!"

That was often at the tip of my tongue.

I just gotta be patient and ignore them.

I'm not a posh Asian.

Just a world traveller with limited monies.

Hostels

Many travellers are familiar with this term

Some negative circumstances might include:

Rowdy drunks.

Noisy sleepers.

Hectic traffics.

Dirty linens.

Unhygienic toilets.

Uncomfortable beds.

These are the most frequently occurred conditions.

Yet,

Here in Ireland,

Out of the four locations I've stayed,

Only once I encountered drunks.

Tonight,

I'm hiding under the duvet,

Just to type this chronicle.

Everyone was fast asleep,

When I got to the room.

Concerned that I'd disturb them.

I probably did.

Total silence.

Total darkness.

Comfy bed.

Warm duvet.

Plus having a friary next door.

The smell was not awesome.

Can't do much about it.

At least it's a roof over my head.

The Way to Love

I'm bidding goodbye to Galway

With hopes one day I'll return

Only a short day here

Yet

I've come to love this city

A city of God and His people.

This bleeding heart of mine

In need of God's healing love

With St. Therese of Lisieux

My dear patron saint

Whose name I adopted at baptism

I pray in this journey of love

God's healing hands will bring me to health

Once again

Right from ground zero.

WiFi

It's a norm

Travelers vs free internet.

Hostels and free WiFi should be a norm.

Minus the one time in Reykjavik.

So far,

I had been pleased with the WiFi European hostels provided.

But Irish hostels...

Dublin was alright.

Galway,

not really.

Their Three telco provides good mobile plan.

So,

I'm surviving on the eat-all-you-can data plan.

Yeah.

Irony of travels.

WiFi.

Ben Lettery Connemara Hostel

Chilling with friendly volunteers.

Sipping glasses of red wine.

Playing Beatles on Youtube.

Those are lovely past midnight activities,

yes,

In Ben Lettery Connemara Hostel.

An unique Irish hostel,

fully managed by volunteers.

A well-chosen spot for quietness,

hiking,

just meeting people maybe.

An excellent choice indeed.

 — feeling blessed.

Into the Wilderness

Here I am,

First stop of the west of Ireland,

Galway.

Just for a couple of minutes.

In the bus,

Into the wilderness I go.

Elijah is my model today.

Want to experience the small still voice.

A ponder I have,

Are there more sheep than Irish in the land of Ireland?

Dublin

Everything seems strangely familiar here.

Shops I saw in England,

Dublin has them too.

But as I took the bus from the airport,

I passed by houses with colourful doors.

Red.

Blue.

Green.

Yellow.

Adorning the whole row of terrace houses.

Despite the gloomy and cloudy day,

The friendliness of Irish,

and colourful doors,

made this a happier place.

Catching up with an old friend,

Eating Irish stew.

Perfect combo.

Though I'm exhausted,

I'm thankful I'm here.

It isn't even midnight,

everyone is asleep.

I am trying to be quiet.

Somehow I fail.

Maybe I should also sleep.

 — at The Times Hostel - Camden Place

Wifi on Public Bus

I know many places have it.

I'm already impressed by Dublin. 

A good start I guess.