Sheffield - The Pinnacles

Sheffield, a slow-paced and friendly city with numerous refreshment sites.

We stay here for 3 months of awesome life!

A lot of memorable journeys and unforgettable memories. 

However, we've to leave when we're just adapting the life in Sheffield...

The Pinnacles, our home in Sheffield.

The Pinnacles has the most strategic location among the student accommodations.

Tesco, Castle Market, train station, and many refreshment sites are nearby Pinnacles.

B2 70 E, This is my room.
A bed, a table, a wardrobe, a chair, a window, a heater, a washing closet,

simple but more than adequate.

5 guys in a unit.

I'll always miss the times when we cook, eat, study, do revision, 

talk craps, watch TV programs, play games... TOGETHER!

SengKong, TongZhao, Alan, KhaiSing,

thank you for being my housemates :)

Victoria Quays, 5 minutes walk from The Pinnacles.

There are a few bars, restaurants, and hotels in Victoria Quays.

That's The Pinnacles! view from The Quays.

You can have your canal trip or stay at Houseboat Hotel in Victoria Quays.

There are more attractive sites in Sheffield.

The fresh air, chilly weather, enjoyable outings, lovely friends...

We miss Sheffield.

欧洲游历 - 后感

历经7个小时的飞行，离开4个月后，终于返回了我们的祖国 - 马来西亚。从搭飞机，到搭地铁，再转搭到德士，时隔4个月后，我再度踏入了家门。

回到家里，一切都没改变，除了我的桌子与一些杂物积了一层灰尘。熟悉的空间，舒适的沙发，温暖的床，厚实的椅子，都在呼唤着我。躺在沙发上，打了个盹，醒来时忽然觉得... 我是不是做了个梦，一个非常美好的梦？确实，这4个月的经历，犹如梦一般的虚幻、美妙。梦醒之际瞟着陪伴我四个月的背包和行李，还有成堆的手信，让我确信了这不是梦。

一边整理手信、一边编排照片、一边缅怀在欧洲种种美好的回忆。在这4个月里，各国文化的差异、建筑的风格、特色的餐点和食物、各具风情的美景，让我们大开眼界，极大地开拓了我们的视野。国际性大都市、历史悠久的城市、三个中古世界七大奇迹、古堡、乐园、草原、森林、荒原、花海、海洋、湖泊、沙滩、山川、雪山、沙漠，许多类型各异的景点都被我们逐个游览，充实及丰富了我们的人生游历。

在这段时间里，学习到了很多生活技能，如烹饪等。认识到了许多朋友，保持联络，有空聚聚吧！获得了很多新知识，尤其从旅欧行的导游 - SK Lau 身上，关于旅行的，地理的、人生道理等，Coach A 的朋友们都以你为我们的导游为荣！

全体 COACH A成员与导游的大合照

毫无疑问，到谢菲尔德升学是我们人生里其中一个最好的决定。感谢曾经帮助我的朋友、导师、亲戚，当然还有我的父母，谢谢你们 :-)

回到现实里，正式成为失业人士，真正步入社会的时刻来临了。我已做好准备了，会不断地自我增值，逐步实现那无数的梦想。各位朋友同学们，一起为将来而加油、努力吧！

*在欧洲的游历将会逐个补上。

Dubai Tour - Second Day

由于杜拜与伦敦的时差是3个小时，

我们很艰难地在7时许起床梳洗然后享用自助早餐。

杜拜城市之旅在9时半准时开车了。

杜拜河将杜拜分成 Deira 与 Bur Dubai 两个部分，

一边是新兴的 Bur Dubai ，一边是象征着杜拜历史旧城区 Deira 。

杜拜河 - 最初的杜拜居民繁衍生息的源头 

话说这里的天气对我们而言实在是太热了，

在室外步行一会儿就汗流浃背了。

导游告诉我们这里的人口约2百万，

但仅有约18%是土生土长的阿联酋居民。

杜拜所有的等候亭都设有冷气

杜拜的主要经济来源是旅游及观光业，而石油与天然气产业占不到1成。

世界上唯一的7星级酒店 - 阿拉伯塔 (Burj Al-Arab) ，俗称帆船酒店。

之后，我们到朱美拉棕榈岛 (The Palm Jumeirah) 一游，是世界上最大的人工岛。

The tallest man-made structure in the world - 
Burj Khalifa - 829.8 m

友善的导游和我们与在远方的 Burj Khalifah ，世界最高的建筑物合影。

照片里右边的建筑物是 The Dubai Mall ， 世界上面积最大的购物中心。

杜拜购物中心有约1,200商店，约20家电影院，约120餐馆，

约14,000个泊车位，1间水族馆，1个溜冰场等。

可惜我们得赶回酒店办退房手续，没缘逛这间购物中心。

只好在杜拜购物中心前遗憾地返回了酒店。

急速飞跃的城市 - 杜拜

It's time to back home

时隔4个月后，我回来了，我的祖国，我的家 -

马来西亚。

Dubai Tour - First Day

Dubai Tour - First Day

在伦敦搭夜晚班机，迈向杜拜，返马前的最后一趟旅程。
经过6个小时的飞行后，终于抵达了杜拜，当地时间是早晨8时许。

下了机，办好出境手续，就有专人接送去酒店。
许多人误以为杜拜是一个国家，
它其实是阿拉伯联合酋长国(U.A.E.)七个酋长国里的其中一个。

拖着行李走出机场大门时，一股热气袭来，

已习惯欧洲天气的我们直呼好热、受不了。

在酒店享用自助早餐后，在房间里休息到4时，

等待司机带我们游沙漠。

司机驾着一辆四轮驱动车 - Land Cruiser, Toyato 带领我们横行沙漠。

到了沙漠，司机先给轮胎放气，然后就开始展现他高超的驾驶技术，

在茫茫的沙漠里横行无忌，给我们带来全新的越野沙漠体验。

随着沙漠地形的起伏，我们感受到了惊奇和刺激的快感！

有别于云霄飞车的乘坐体验。

一望无际的沙漠，地形高低起伏，遍布褐色细沙...

这是我们首次到沙漠去。

沙漠里的夕阳

在沙漠留下足迹

我们五人在沙漠营地里合影

在营地外有骑骆驼活动，当然我们没错过与骆驼零距离的接触。

当骆驼行走时感到相当颠簸，若没紧握把手就会跌落。

在这个营地里品尝当地的美食，

欣赏道地的表演，感受沙漠的风情。

沙漠的夜空很清澈，可以看到许多星星，可不见月亮。

躺在坐垫上，望着星空，在欧洲的回忆纷涌而至...

约八时，司机兼导游就送我们回到酒店休息。

时差和当地的天气让我们抵达酒店后，

洗了澡就呼呼大睡了。

Dubai Tour - Second Day

PEM Sharing

At the last minute, I've decided to participate the photo competition in farewell event by SHU. Initially I just want to share my experience, memory, and photo, because they are valuable for me and worth a share. Thus, I send one of my best shots with few words to the organizers. In the end, surprisingly won the third place in the photo competition.

Decision to study abroad at Sheffield Hallam University in Sheffield, United Kingdom is one if the best decisions we've ever made. The days in Sheffield is our most precious and valuable memories in our life. We've grown in a lot of ways during these 3 months. The trip to Derwent Edge, with breathtaking and impressive views is one of the most unforgettable memories. Thanks to SHU and TARC for giving us an opportunity to study abroad, and of course our friends and family! LOVE SHEFFIELD :)

*PEM stands for photo, memories, experience.

We are dwarfed by nature

That's the best compliment and motivation for me in photography :') I clearly know that I'm still a beginner, still have a long way to go. Thanks for my friends who join the hiking and be the models in the photo, it is less valuable and memorable without you!

*Click here for the story about the photo :)

Peak District - Cycling Journey

'The circuit of all three reservoirs, Ladybower, Derwent and Howden is a very good ride, in magnificent scenery. A lot of the route is on rough tracks so a mountain bike is advisable, but this is a fairly flat route as mountain bike routes go, with relatively little rough ground.' We choose Upper Derwent Valley Reservoirs Circuits as our cycling journey. 

We're not fully equipped, but we're ready!

Let's begin our cycling journey!

'Start from the car park and information centre at Fairholmes. From there, follow the tarmac road up the valley, past Derwent Dam, alongside Derwent Reservoir, to reach Howden Dam and Reservoir.' Probably is because we didn't cycle for a long period and it's our first time after reaching UK (valid excuse? :P), so we've to take a short break when reach Howden Dam.

Wonder what's the function of these pillars

We enjoyed our cycling journey very much!

'Continue alongside Howden Reservoir to King's Tree, where the road ends. Go through the gate and continue along the rough track towards Slippery Stones and the packhorse bridge, which once stood at Derwent village.'

It's my bike, 369

Enjoying our lunch and the natural environment~ 

'Cross the packhorse bridge to the other side of the River Derwent - here no more than a stream. Continue leftwards for a short distance to reach a track which comes across at a higher level, then turn back right to follow this track back along the eastern side of the reservoirs. This track is fairly rough for most of the length of Howden Reservoir, but improves when you reach Derwent Reservoir.'

'On reaching Derwent Dam it is possible to cut the ride short by taking a right turn and returning to Fairholmes.' Due to lack of time (we only hire the bikes for 4 hours), we choose to shorten our journey and have to rush back to the bike hire centre. At last, we've made it! we're able to return the bikes on time :)

After returning the bikes, we go to a lakeside to take a break. The meadow is too comfortable for us to lay on, the weather is too lovely, and the air is so fresh, which make most of us accidentally fall asleep at here~ 

Howden Dam

It's a joyful cycling journey! The lovely scenes, cycling experience, and valuable memories are the best rewards for us :) The circuit which completed by us is about 17km, well done us! We're tired in an enjoyable way :D

*The sentences in Italic are sourced from <http://www.peakdistrictinformation.com/outdoors/cycle0.php>.

Peak District - Adventure in Ladybower & Derwent Edge

在几天内，路线规划好了，功课做足了，

Peak District - Ladybower & Derwent Edge 之旅可以成行了。

清晨7时许，一行14人搭巴士照原定计划出发。

我们先到 Ladybower Reservoir 观看其中一个景点。

看似平平无奇的的放水孔，在湖水高涨时，它的作用就体现了。 

但当日水位偏低，无缘看到湖水流入放水孔时的景象。

 这一刻，蔚为奇观。
<http://i1.trekearth.com/photos/151614/ladybower_reservoir_800.jpg>

过后，我们到路过的 Yorkshire Bridge Inn 喝早茶。
整间客店的装潢和设计都以浓厚的英式风格为主，
还获得了不少奖项。
点了杯热巧克力，很浓、好味道。

当日早上和中午的天气都是阴天，气温约10°C

享用完早茶后，我们继续我们的主要旅程。

起点是 Ladybower Inn ，我们就沿着路线行走。

在途中遇到了岔路，我们选择到非计划中的路线探索查看。

结果... 遇见了一地的紫色植物！犹如薰衣草田园。

紫色田园里的五朵花

天，如所料般下起了雨，寒风刺骨，天气很寒冷。

我们都没有被打到，继续往前进探索。

终于... 令人惊叹的美景呈现在眼前！

雨中朦胧的景色，丝毫不逊色！

雨后的景色，是如此的让人陶醉、让人惊叹不已！

Millstone Grit

来到了类似奇石阵的景点，很壮观！

亲眼看到景观绝对是更壮丽，让人赞叹不已！

整趟旅程，费时约5小时，可这一切都是值得的。

我们彻底地被这里的景色所征服了~

每一趟旅程、探险最吸引人的就是未知的景色、惊喜。

它们让我逐渐地为自然景点的探险着迷！