International Weekend Away - Kincraig 11-13.11.11

The international cafe's annual weekend trip to Kincraig (2 hours drive away) - a small town between Perth and Inverness. There was about 25 of us from Dundee and 25 from Paisley, all international students. We stayed at a christian camp in town, beside a beautiful mountain. 

On the Saturday, there where different day trip options - some went to Inverness to see Loch Ness, some went to Blair Castle, but I choose to go on a mountain climb up Meall a'Bhuachaille (800m high). The mountain climb was much more interesting. The 360 views where breathtaking (Although NZ has a lot of views but it was much more beautiful here with the sparkling blue lakes, brown mountains behind and white snowtopped mountains at the back!)

At the entrance of the walk into the mountains was a Reindeer Center! Yes I didn't know they actually existed! (I wonder where they will go on christmas night =P ) Though you had to pay to go in, you could see through the fences haha, magnificent creatures.

At the entrance of the walk the rock beside two flags, one Scottish and one Norwegian , commemorated the years when Norwegian soldiers came to Scottish to train before going back to fight in the war.

During the walk our first stop was at "Green Lake", its beauty so stunning we all tried to capture a glimpse of it in our cameras.  

For lunch we stopped at a small cottage literally in the middle of nowhere which had been turned into a resting spot for climbers. Do you see the tiny cottage?

In the afternoon after an exhausting climb uphill we finally reached the top! The wind was so big that we couldn't stand up striaght and had to hide in a small semi-circle wall of piled stones. 

We finished off the day with another great ceilidh at night with some traditional tasty Haggis! Haggis is one of the most well-known traditional food. It is traditionally prepared by stuffing sheep's stomach with a mixture of minced sheep organs and meat. With great seasoning of herbs and pepper it immediately warms up your inside, great food for winter!

On Sunday, we all traveled to Dunkeld, where we walked through a beautiful forest with unbelievably tall trees to see a waterfall and an old hermit's cove (Hermits are people who live alone in the forest). Following that we went into Dunkeld town to see its famous cathedral (800 years old and half still standing). It had high ceilings and beautiful displays.

Relunctant to return home we had to part ways with our Paisley friends and end our an amazing trip. I am so grateful to the international cafe whose staff are all volunteers of the community's different churches aimed to help international students experience the Scottish culture.

Guy Fawkes Fireworks 4.11.11

Celebrating Guy Fawkes Day (The unsuccessful bombing of London parliament building with gun powder) I went with group of friends to Lochee Park. In Dundee both Lochee and Baxter Park had public firework displays but we chose Lochee because it was closer and apparently better. Next year though I will try Baxter Park or even sit at the Law - Big hill between the two and watch them both.

There was a stage set up at one side of the big green park with live bands playing, but it was packed with people we couldn't go anywhere near it. At 7 the fireworks went off and it was stunning! All sorts of shapes, colours and size, some where so large it covered all the sky that was visible in beautiful rain of colours. It lasted for 25 mins, by far the longest fireworks I've ever seen, so long that my neck cringed at the end. (It is said that Dundee Council spent 25,000 pounds on fireworks!)

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