Day trip to Edinburgh! 01.11.11

Finishing class early, we jumped on the train and went to Edinburgh (1hr)
First Impression? Big old city. It wasn't like Glasglow where most buildings were in the modern glassy box style and it wasn't like St. Andrews where buildings were one levelled and old dark bricks. Edinburgh was full of tall classic beautiful and detailed brick buildings with large windows and was beautiful. It made me realise just how small Dundee was, which I hadn't really thought about before.

We saw an ad for a free walking tour at the back of a free tourist map but we waited and no guide came =[ It also said "best free walking tour in Europe". But there were lots of walking tours, most of them costs money though. Instead we walked about Princess Street which had all the usual franchise shops, and up the Royal Mile which was mostly food and souvenir/wool/cashmere shops until we were at the top of the hill at the entrance of the Edinburgh castle. It was a beautiful view from the top, which was even more amazing with the sunset.

We didn't go in as it required an overpriced ticket, so we made our way down the Royal Mile, visited a souvenier shop which was huge on the inside and was very decorative. It even showed the machine (very loud) making the tartan patterned cloth.

In the evening, which was the main reason we came to Edinburgh, we went to the Playhouse Theatre and watched "Sister Act the Musical". It was brilliant!! When we went in all the staff, even guys and bartenders where dressed in nun costumes! There were some Sister Act stuff for sale but hugely overpriced ($6 for a keyring, $40 for a t-shirt) The Musical itself left me speechless. All the characters were fantastic, and it was nice how each actor corresponded to a character in the movie so well. The music were great, and the little jokes they added in was halarious! (My fav one was when the Delores opened the gift and held up the big blue coat and her friend said "looks like someone shot a smurf!") The background, props and costume were wonderful, I loved how at the end all the characters came back with a sparkling costume, sparkling nuns, pope and policeman for a grand finale.

Huge bridge taken from train. 

Beautiful three levelled long pathways with seats on side

The Royal Mile

Edinburgh Castle! 

Giraffe artwork outside cinema

Scottish traditional clothes

Medieval armor shop 

Restaurant sign! 

Halloween Pumpkin Carving Competition 30.10.11

At the Seabraes residences (my uni flat blocks) the student reps held a "Seabraes Pumpkin Carving Competition" where every flat got one free pumpkin and one week to design/carve. On the night we all took out our pumpkin for judging and some quite cool prizes.

Unfortunately, all my 6 flatmates were away that weekend =[ (half went home as they lived in scotland and the other half went traveling) but luckily on Sunday when I went to Megan's home where the Stadalsky family prepared a wonderful 3 course Sunday Dinner (lunch actually but its called that) Megan taught me and guided me through my first pumpkin carving experience! Which I thought turned out great tho I didn't get a prize =P

So proud! My first carved pumpkin! Megan suggested putting some braces on ahaha

Haunted House was my favourite

The right pumpkin says 'voldemort' 

Transformers on the left.
Looks kind of like little pumpkin kids haha

Lots of free lollies and dunked apples

DUCU Houseparty in Paisley 21-23.10.11

Dundee University Christian Union weekend away in Paisley which is just outside of Glasglow (2hr drive from dundee). We stayed over at a christian campsite which wasn't too bad, quite old though I thought. The weekend was packed with fun events like bonfire, sports activities, bible talks and a very special techno ceilidh! It is the traditional ceilidh but with modern techo music + some fancy dress! You could tell this was a big highlight as everyone put in so much effort into their costume (this year the theme was 'time machine'). Look what I dressed up as!

I enjoyed it very much, not only did I make many new friends, but I also grew in my knowledge and faith in Jesus Christ. I will def go again next year! Tho I think I'll be more careful at the sports, I sprained my ankle in the weekend diving for a Frisbee (5 people 4 frisbees)  and the guy coming from the other side slammed into my ankle =[ it was so painful and left a dark purple bruise! But on the bright side I did manage to get a frisbee which my teammate subsituted in and played haha My team ended up winning overall as well!

Bonfire! Took a while for the fire to get started which got really big at the end. The wind was really strong and it was like the fire was playing tag and you don't want to get tagged!

Techo-ceildh in a rather low-roofed hall. But it was fun =]

Nour (classmate), Megan (Dentist from USA!) and Me = Dental Pirate Trio!

Nerdy school girls

Creative!! the pig flu (H1N1, H1N2, H1N3) From the medic students 

Best costume i thought. She went the extra mile and even got the contacts which is why its so slightly creepy. Just what you'd expect from a art student lol

Im not sure which one is robin hood 

Chimney Sweepers!

Pirate captured by roman warriors o.O?!

Exquisite costume

This was awesom. They split the leftover/uncooked food into two lots and auctioned them on the way back between the two buses. All the money went back into the DUCU for future events. Some foods were very competitive!

Lake at campsite

Food! Cooking demonstration, CMF dinner~

St Peter's Free Church holds a social gathering every saturday night called International Cafe where international students and residents of the city can come together and meet new international and local friends.
On the 15th October they held a Scottish Cooking Demonstration which lots of people came to, they cooked stovies, porage ("porridge"), Cullen Skink and highland cream mousse dessert!
Stovies and Cullen Skink were dishes (usually with leftovers) that are mixed with mashed potatoes and baked.

highland creme mousse with shortbread and some orange zest (Slightly sour, very creamy, nice with cookies)

Porridge cooked with some water and milk. Eaten with salt or honey (Said scottish eat it with honey and english eat it with  salt) (I prefered the taste with salt)

Stovie and some veges

Stovie

CMF (Christian Medical Fellowship) held a social dinner at a uni medical staff's lovely and big home! Dinner was delicious, the funny thing to me was that on the table of food there was one big bowl of just potatoes!! People here have potatoes with everything! cooked, baked or mashed!!