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然後呢？

一直以來，讀書彷彿是我人生唯一的任務。

幼稚園三年，小學、中學、大學各六年；每一個學期的結束標示著新學期的開始，每年的暑假都在為下一學年作準備，在小學中學階段時少不了購買新學年的課本、趕快完成暑期作業、上補習班，然後期待著九月開學時與同學們再見面。當學期開始後，我們便要不停溫故知新，還有準備香港教育制度裡必要的測驗考試，以評定你過去一年在學業上所付出的努力，而這些考核彷彿就是評鑑一個學生的能力的唯一標準。從小到大，長輩都告訴我們求學不是求分數，但知識能改變命運，而最後考試高分和能夠考上大學的就是好學生，未能高中狀元的就是不夠努力，潛移默化下專心應付考試成為了我們成長的過程中重要的一環。所以基本上每次都是由父母和學校幫我們安排一切，告訴我們該於何時做適當的事，我們只要照單全收，照單執藥就可以了。

第一次真真正正為自己做決定的是大學選科，而六年來我都沒有後悔過自己做的決定。所謂的大學五件事－上莊、住hall、讀書、拍拖、做part time，我沒本事一一完成。但對我來說更重要的是認識到臭味相投的好友，享受大學生活，認識社會，認識世界。這幾年聽得最多的不是「下dental要讀六年？」，便是「你到底幾時畢業？」，都聽慣了，也懶得每次解釋。Year one的時候覺得六年好漫長，但原來眨眼便過。一開始很希望能fast foward大學的時間，但到了真正結束的時候卻又萬般不捨。我的大學生涯比別人長一點，每次與朋友相聚時，我總是默默地聽著他們訴說上班一族的趣事和辛酸，當他們在談出糧交稅，我還在煩惱寫報告；當他們在談工作時的見聞，我還在擔心明天的考試會否不合格；每一次談到工作時，我都好像搭不上嘴，無形中覺得大家的距離愈來愈遠。雖然如此，我還是很慶幸自己可以在受保護的環境下多讀兩年書，多做想做的事，多出走去看世界。

這是一個與別不同的暑假，是進入社會大學前最後的一個暑假。21年讀書生涯終於可以暫告一段落，暑假要做的再不是為下學期做準備，而是為將來的人生（或是為成為打工狗一員）做準備。慢慢地我發現原來自己有多無知，要做決定是一件多難的事。在我學習的過程中，似乎少了學做決定這一環。搵工、申請各樣牌照、簽約、搞MPF等等都是書本沒有教的，卻要在短時間再學懂去處理。原來讀書不難，掌管自己人生才是一門學問。

畢業以後的路要怎麼走？對這個充滿未知的問號有點懼怕，又有點期待。

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說好的陽光與海灘呢？－沖繩（三）

上次就分享左笑死人冇命陪嘅搵眼鏡事件，今次就會講下我哋點樣係10號風球嘅情況之下由酒店揸一個鐘頭車去美國村。

話說我哋嗰日撞正有颱風「格美」由那霸一路鏟上去北面。呢個係今年第6個吹襲沖繩既台風，所以叫台風6號。雖然撞正打風，但去旅行冇理由要喺酒店到留成日㗎。大雨同雷暴嘅關係酒店嘅室外泳池就更加唔會開放，留喺酒店到都冇咩意思。所以我哋就決定膽粗粗咁揸車，由我哋所住嘅恩納向南行去美國村。

由於呢個颱風格美係由南鏟上去北面，而我哋係由北面揸車落南面，所以我哋一路沿途渣嘅時候就好似逆風而行咁。

大雨到將個水撥開到最快都趕唔切將擋風玻璃上嘅雨點撥走，好似倒水咁，尤其係有對頭車駛過嘅時候，特別係大嘅旅遊巴既話，佢就會產起咗啲水落個擋風玻璃到，撥都撥唔切，一刻都唔可以分神，真係少d駕駛技術都搞唔掂！中間仲要有一段時間係真係好大雨，雨水多到連路邊嘅坑渠蓋都湧起一段段小型嘅白頭浪！我諗當時我哋應該係喺這個颱風嗰頭。

真係前路茫茫呀

經過一個鐘頭超級驚險嘅車程我哋終於去到位於北谷町嘅美國村。唔知到底我哋係咪真係貴人啦，永遠我哋係要上車落車嘅時候都超級大雨嘅！明明上1分鐘啲雨都叫做係微微雨，但下1分鐘到我哋要落車嘅時候就倒水咁倒。

停車場門口有個咁嘅標誌係咪即係叫我呢啲橫沖直撞嘅司機唔好入去？？不過好彩唔係我揸車姐lol

因為落雨嘅關係，我哋就求其入咗其中一個商場到避下雨先。我阿媽見到有大國藥妝就緊係唔會錯過購物嘅機會啦。之後我發現原來我哋部車呢就泊咗係一個比較遠嘅停車場，而唔係喺正美國村嘅中心，冇咁方便。於是我同阿爸就趁阿媽係大國藥妝好開心咁買緊野嘅時候就去咗郁車。心諗「唉又要淋雨啦」，點知一出行出個商場就發現雨不特止已經停咗，仲俾我哋見到有一線嘅藍天。我哋嚟咗第三日沖繩終於比我地見到沖繩應該要有嘅藍天。雖然只係見到一個縫隙咁大嘅藍天，但係我同阿爸都已經係超級興奮！

係藍色既天空呀！

緊係即刻叫埋呀媽出黎影相啦！因為沖繩既天氣就好似女人既心情咁，立刻變黑哂亦得，勁驚下一秒又再烏雲密佈！

去到美國村就好似入咗環球影城咁，望多兩眼又覺得佢似澳門威尼斯人。除咗有最出名嘅摩天輪之外，入邊嘅建築充滿異國風情架。雖然我冇去過美國，但係我就覺得入邊嘅建築物同我喺認識嘅New York City好唔同，睇落就好似一啲西部牛仔地區嘅建築咁。美國村以Deport Island為中心，分開咗三個區域。我哋去咗避雨嘅大國藥妝就係位於摩天輪個到。

我地趁好天就去左行付近既日落海灘先。日落海灘嘅水比我哋係萬座毛見到嘅海水比較混濁一啲，越近海岸就越泥黃色，人哋話係呢個海灘睇嘅日落係最靚嘅，不過我哋就冇時間係呢一度留到日落，因為我哋夜晚仲要趕住去一間好出名嘅餐廳度食夜晚飯，陣間再介紹！

日落海灘。一路行個天就愈來愈光，睇黎個風已經北上吹左去我地住個頭。

喺海灘旁邊有一條好長嘅堤壩，上面有好多塗鴉，都幾靚架！企上去嘅時候發現海風大到可以吹得郁個人，企都企唔穩嘅，仲要呢個堤霸其實係非常之窄，大概只有兩個腳掌咁闊，差錯步都已經會踩左落去防波堤到，對於唔係好識游水嘅我來講，企上面都有啲驚架！

真心窄窄地，小心駛得萬年船，我都係坐喺度影相算啦 LOL 大家見唔見到我著緊拖鞋？！因為朝早真係大雨到著波鞋會搞唔掂。

呢到既海水真係好混濁。

行完海灘之後，我哋就去返美國村入邊搵食。喺美國村就梗係要食美國野啦，而美國最出名係咩呢？就係漢堡啦！我哋本身係堤壩嘅隔離見到有間coffee Shop賣Burger，點知入到去先發現原來佢哋嘅burger係問隔離鋪頭攞嘅，而佢個日冇開鋪，但店員好友善咁同我地推介左其中一間係出名嘅漢堡包店，仲俾埋地圖我哋添！我諗如果係香港個侍應仲啤爆你呀？！

喺Depot Island入邊啲鋪頭嘅排列比較不規則，好似迷宮咁，間野仲要係二樓，周圍既指示又花碌碌，所以我哋都花咗少少時間先搵到呢間漢堡包店。美食通常都係要係啲隱蔽嘅地方先至會搵到，呢間Jetta Burger 都唔例外，睇佢咁噏耷其實佢啲嘢食真係好好食㗎！呢間鋪頭都有好多外國遊客幫襯，我諗連外國人都要喺呢度食嘅burger應該都唔會差得去邊。

呢度嘅burger係可以一set set 咁嗌嘅，但佢嘅價錢就會根據你配乜嘢嘢飲而定。

三個人飢腸轆轆，所以就叫咗三個set，都係唔同款嘅burger。當地最出名嘅啤酒係Orion，我哋基本上成個trip都係飲緊呢一隻啤酒，就冇再試其他嘅日本啤。唔知係咪因為得一個人整緊burger嘅關係，我哋都等咗大概20至25分鐘先至有得食，不過見到個burger嚟到就知道之前嘅等待都係值得嘅！！首先淨係望個樣個漢堡包嘅size同薯條嘅份量已經係超級慷慨，我叫嘅係Ninja Chicken Burger，入面有菠蘿煎蛋生菜芝士同埋雞，聽落真係好似好邪惡，但係堅好食。入面塊雞juicy，菠蘿亦都煎得好香，隻蛋仲要係流心嘅添！個burger仲要大到根本冇可能一啖咬晒咁多層！如果你哋真係去食嘅話千祈唔好嘗試咁樣做，如果唔係肯定甩骹都似！啲薯條唔會好似麥當勞嗰啲咁稔謝謝，雖然我去美國村之前冇咩做過資料搜集，搵吓有冇啲咩好食，但係呢個意外發現真係好驚喜！強烈推薦大家去沖繩嘅話一定要試吓呢間burger！！

美國村入邊都有好多時裝鋪，其中一間係仲會賣啲懷舊野，入邊有啲美國style嘅男裝衫，我老豆就入咗去之後唔捨得出返嚟，買完野之後由大叔變潮男 LOL

呢間就係個間sell vintage 既鋪

隔離仲有一間專賣酒嘅，初初入去見到佢唔同類型嘅酒都有得賣，都已經喺度諗緊會唔會有啲奇怪嘅酒啦，點知一擰轉頭就見到呢一支十全大補酒！！

見到當堂下一跳，然後得啖笑。心諗入邊嗰條咪膠蛇嚟㗎 lol 其實睇落都有啲核突，唔知有冇人買㗎呢？差唔多成9000円都唔平㗎！

係美國村hea左半日，我地就起程揸返上名護市。我地前兩日叫酒店幫我地打電話book一間幾乎係成個沖繩最出名既餐廳，叫「大家」。為左唔好miss左咁難得book到既台，我地都早左返上去。不過去餐廳之前我地又一次去左萬座毛！！！真係去足三次！真係好天人都要搏盡少少，今次仲特登叫呀爸袋好個眼鏡，費事要黎第四次LOL

呢到既海水同美國村個邊真係差天共地！呢間係ANA酒店，完全好似係係天崖海角，三面環海，要成4000蚊晚！好似有好多人鍾意去佢個白色教堂行禮架！

呢間「大家」係係山上既，所以要行一小段山路先可以去到。不過一泊好車就見到間野咁細，唔通就係咁多？

門口。職員確認左我地既訂台之後再叫我地沿路行落去。原來呢個只不過係入口，唔係餐廳。個通道一路帶番我地行落山，都幾有feel架，不過要行得幾遠下，我地行左差唔多5分鐘先到，行落就易姐，食飽要行番上山攞車真係唔方唔「我要健康我要消脂」！

係咪有d似曾相識既感覺呢？我覺我呢到有少少似京都個邊既千鳥居。

終於行到正門啦。介紹下呢間大家到底有咩咁出名先。首先佢係一間由有過百年歷史既民宅改建而成，有幾幢建築物組成。呢間餐廳係以烹調琉球料理，特別係阿古豬出名，好多人都慕名而來。我哋book咗六點半，去到嘅時候已經有幾個香港人喺門口度等緊。我哋入去間餐廳之前要除鞋擺喺個locker入邊，店員會將locker鎖匙交俾你保管。本身Search呢間餐廳嘅時候都知道有一啲枱喺山澗隔離，但係我哋咁遲book都打定輸數冇得坐咁靚嘅位㗎啦。點知個店員帶我哋入去竟然就係坐呢啲風景位，真係喜出望外！！

風景位正呀！！！

一路聽住流水聲一邊享用美食真係好奢侈 omg

一坐低就有個後生既男侍應招呼我地，當佢知道我地係香港黎之後佢竟然同我地講廣東話！！原來佢係馬來西亞黎既，識講少少廣東話，不過佢就好謙虛咁話自己講得唔係咁好，d廣東話都係跟佢呀媽學既。不過能夠同識廣東話既侍應溝通，同聲同氣，作為食客緊係喜出望外啦！晚餐既menu係一set set 咁叫，一係涮涮鍋，一係鐵板燒，可以share，但係涮涮鍋一定要叫兩人份量，即係價錢既double，先可以開爐。當我地係到研究緊到底應該叫貴少少既極上阿古豬定平d既特選阿古豬個陣，個個侍應就好老實咁話「其實只係部位唔同，我就食唔出有咩分別啦，不過唔好話係我講架喎！」我地就叫左特選阿古豬涮涮鍋同埋極上和牛西冷。

首先介紹下個阿古豬先！阿古豬係沖繩特有品種，出名冇豬既膻味。通常係沖繩既傳統料理都會用到呢個食材，而最原汁原味既食法就係蒸或者係shabushabu。而呢間大家出名就係用shabushabu既做法。老實講，佢其實都係比左一大盆水我地等我地自己烚黎食，不過因為佢用料好，所以食落就真係可以食到肉既鮮味，同埋豬既油份同味道滲左係湯入面，再用黎煮埋d沖繩麵就真係一流！

特選阿古豬涮涮鍋包左餃子，菜同沖繩麵。

跟住呢個極上和牛西冷係用鐵板燒既，配埋飯同湯，邪惡得黎又好滿足！！

我地食左呢兩個餐（其實係三個人份量，因為有兩份豬）已經飽到上心口，完全唔想行番上山攞車。

食飽出黎都天黑啦。

不過呢間野真係令人驚喜不斷！佢係山腳仲有幾部好似golf cart 既車，本身以為係得個擺字，原來係可以坐架！！！個staff 示意我地上車，咁我地三個就逼埋係後排坐，諗住等個staff坐前面啦，我地上哂車之後，佢竟然扣返條安全鏈但自己冇上車！原來部車係無人駕駛架，仲要識自己u turn 自己停！！！ 點解可以咁high tech？！

就係呢部車啦！食到飽又唔使自己行返上去，真係變豬都抵呀 lol

總之就係極力推薦大家去呢間餐廳，性價比我比十個趣呀！

下次：陽光與海灘我黎啦！

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說好的陽光與海灘呢？－沖繩（二）

第二日沖繩既天氣依然唔多好，一起身個天都仲係好厚雲，仲落左場雨。

上次講到話係萬座毛發生左件笑死人冇命賠既事，咁係點架呢？事源我地去到餐廳食晚飯，當呀爸想拎副眼鏡��餐牌既時候，發現副眼鏡竟然唔係身！以為跌左係車上面啦，點知又搵唔到，所以推斷係係街到跌左！本身唔見眼鏡都冇咩特別，不過原來今次已經唔係第一次。三個月前佢地同家姐去tasmania 既時候原來已經試過唔見眼鏡，想搵都搵唔翻。今次唔見呢副仲要係新配既。為左令到自己冇咁內疚（？）呀爸就堅稱呢副眼鏡其實戴得冇咁舒服。但係副眼鏡大拿拿成千銀，咁快又唔見左都幾肉痛架！於是我地食完晚飯番酒店就決定要組織一下案情！諗諗下就發現副眼睛可能係萬座毛就吹跌左，為求實證，我決定睇番之前係個到影既video，睇下會唔會有咩蛛絲馬跡。

段片係我由停車場行去萬座毛崖邊既時候拍既。

可以見到當時副眼鏡仲係掛左係呀爸個心口到。見到我d頭髮亂哂就知個到有幾大風啦！（日期錯係因為我個細相機日期冇較岩lol）

經過我反覆研究條片，逐格該格碌黎睇，終於俾我搵到呢關鍵既0.01秒！

副眼鏡已經消失左！！當大家一見到個象鼻石好興奮咁走去崖邊影相個時，d強風已經吹走左副眼鏡而冇人發覺！ 

於是我地決定第二日去水族館之前就兜一兜番去個到搏下。

紀念一下第一次係外國揸車就係去搵眼鏡。

搏一搏，單車變摩托。行左唔夠30秒，就發現左目標！

原來有好心人執到放左係欄杆上面！

除左濕左同有少少泥之外竟然冇花冇爛！我諗呢d咁好彩既野淨係會係日本先發生到，竟然細心到放係欄杆上面以防有人會踩爛，仲方便左我地見到佢，九成九都係日本人先會做到。係香港？我諗一係就踩爛左，一係就俾人拎走左lu。搵番又慳一千蚊！

搵完眼鏡我地就出發去美麗海水族館！由萬庭毛去個到，以我車厘龜速度大約要40－45mins。

個水族館其實係海洋博公園既一部分，成個海洋博公園有幾個免費停車場，唔驚冇位泊車。

我地停左係p9停車場，其實就應該p7近d既，不過已經泊滿左，所以就要泊p9再行番轉頭。我地係水族館既後門入去。

一入到去就係海星體驗區，可以摸下唔同品種既海星。唔知點解我對於摸海洋生物有種無名既恐懼，明知海星都唔會點郁架啦，又唔會咬你，但係隻手就算放左入水都好似要好大勇氣先夠膽伸一隻手指出黎掂下佢，完全唔會好似隔離d小朋友成隻拎起都冇問題！唔通d人驚摸狗仔就好似我驚掂到d海星咁？不過摸還摸，記得唔好將佢地拎出水面。

海星體驗區既對面就係熱帶魚之海，有好多唔同種類既魚（好廢呢句野），我都努力嘗試幫佢地影下寫真，不過佢地游得好快，都幾難影！

原來雞泡魚個樣係咁唔討好

呢位小姐唔多想入鏡

有冇生物達人幫手認下呢條係咩魚？

行前少少會睇得清楚d，可能個玻璃有特別整過，過濾左d光！當然佢唔係淨係俾魚你睇咁簡單啦，到左指定鐘數佢地會有餵食環節，就係係個魚缸上面放d魚糧落黎，跟住d大魚細魚就會好瘋狂咁追住個網爭食，令原來好平靜既魚缸突然之間熱鬧起黎。呢個魚缸入面有條大佬龍躉，每次放魚糧佢都會撞開其他魚爭食頭啖，做大佬係唔同d。不過中國人可能會有唔同既睇法，見到呢條龍躉可能第一時間就問「你估有幾斤？！」。

就係佢啦！個口仲大過個細路個頭！

跟住一路行都有好多唔同既海洋生物睇，例如珊瑚、龍蝦、深海魚等等，不過lee d 都係小菜一碟，黎到沖繩水族館，為既就係好出名既鯨鯊！

當呀媽上一秒仲問緊「到底幾時先行到去鯨鯊個到？」下一秒一行入去黑潮之海就見到超級大既魚缸（我諗都有3層樓咁高），入面有條魔鬼魚係面前飄過，跟住就見到條鯨鯊係佢後而游過黎。除左「嘩嘩嘩」之外，我地已經詞窮到唔識形容當時見到佢個陣有幾咁驚訝！

第一個出場既魔鬼魚，個樣真係好搞笑，成日都好似係到笑緊咁。

跟住佢就出現啦！

原來呢到唔只有一條，係有兩條鯨鯊咁多，仲要孖住游，真係好吸睛！

近鏡或者唔知佢有幾大，但係遠鏡一同d人比較之下就可以睇到佢差唔多成隻遊艇咁長。俾少少背景資料大家先，鯨鯊係已知體型最大既魚類，無錯係最大，唔好問「藍鯨唔係最大咩？」因為藍諒唔係魚，係哺乳類！（拿俾我講中左既話自己知好啦，呢d係小學常識黎架xD）。原來親眼同睇相真係好唔同，親眼睇就完全感受到自己係幾咁渺小。我可以係到坐幾個鐘睇住d魚圍圈咁游都唔厭架！

睇左一陣要醫下肚先，係黑潮之海入面有個cafe，你可以選擇排隊等坐玻璃隔壁，咁就好似有鯨鯊陪你食飯咁。但係因為要等成80mins，我地就咁等普通位就算。你唔好以為水族館入面既野一定係又貴又唔好食，其實都唔係。一個意粉大約650yen左右。

個兩個意粉份量雖然細d，但係都好好食！炒得好爽口，唔會稔pat pat，又有少少辣味好開胃。

食飽又繼續行啦，係黑潮之海入面仲有個鯊魚資料館講鯨鯊同其他鯊魚品種既資料，仲有皮膚同牙齒標本俾人摸。

不知名鯊魚同魔鬼魚hybrid LOL

鯨鯊個口真係大過我個頭。佢d牙好細隻好似針頭咁，順摸就好舒服，倒轉摸就有少少拮手。佢d皮都係一樣。有d鯊魚既牙又大又尖，俾佢咬一下真係一秒冇命。

出番去就見到有個潛水員係魚缸入面。你估下佢做緊咩？

佢係到抹玻璃呀！仲要好認真咁一格一格咁抹，一d都唔馬虎。唔怪之得個魚缸咁乾淨啦，原來有專人係入面清潔既！個條鯨鯊睇黎好enjoy有人幫佢清潔屋企清潔得咁企理！

三點個陣又係呢到既餵食時間，咁緊係睇埋先走啦！我諗d鯨鯊都知就黎有野食，改變左佢地游既pattern，唔再係慢慢打圈圈咁游，而係游向個缸既中間。之後工作人員係個缸上面灑左d一嚿嚿既糧入去，睇落似係蝦毛仔。跟住大個條終於擘大左個口，一野吸哂d魚糧入口。佢擘大口個時係冇魚游埋去，唔通驚俾人吸埋一份？佢食到成個打直咁係個魚缸入面，好似個巨型抽水機咁一野吸哂d水入去，你仲會好清楚咁見到d水係佢個鰓到出番黎。

跟住d魚仔就會圍住佢食下d餸頭餸尾，主要都係d係個腮到出番黎既魚糧。成件事就好似一個皇帝係到嘆個陣，班細既就圍住佢希望有打賞咁！又或者係d魚仔係風暴既周圍，而鯨鯊就係風暴既中心咁，真係好壯觀！強烈推薦會黎lee 到既人預時間睇埋feeding先走！

順帶一提，入面有隻底面都係黑色既鬼蝠魟，原來係好稀有��顏色，相信係基因突變而成既。

其實睇完鯨鯊都差唔多睇完個水族館架啦。之後我地出左去睇海豚show，我諗我已經好多年冇睇過。

除左有好經典既樽鼻海豚，仲有體型比較大既偽虎鯨。

佢跳左上水之後屙屎lol 咁都俾我睇到。

就係咁我地就係水族館行左成個下午。見食飯之前仲有少少時間，我地就去左附近既今歸城遺跡，不過又落雨又好似一片頹垣敗瓦咁，我就覺我冇咩好睇，可去可唔去啦。

晚餐我地去左一間食地道沖繩菜既餐廳。其實沖繩菜同日本菜好唔同，比較似中式野食。苦瓜炒蛋竟然係名物。不過有樣野係真係得佢先有，就係海萄葡，係藻類植物，我地今次終於試到。佢地多數都係拎d海萄葡生食或者整做salad。食落爽口，咸咸地海水味，咬爆左又有少少黏黏地好似秋葵咁，幾得意架！

我地仲試左d刺身，不過貴得黎又唔多新鮮。

睇d色都唔多靚

所以係沖繩食野都係食番d本土野穩陣xD。好打住咁多先！

next time：十號風球去美國村！

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說好的陽光與海灘呢？－沖繩（一）

沖繩有幾正，個天有幾藍，個海又幾清，d沙有幾幼，自駕有幾輕鬆，聽人講就講得多，實際就一次都未去過。今次終於都到我去啦！其實講起由plan去邊到都買機票個刻已經改左目的地好多次（身邊既朋友，特別係Nat so，應該好清楚lol）。本身我地一家四口今個暑假係冇可能一齊去旅行，因為家姐要考試，我又要去多倫多到做internship做成個月，所以就想趁我考完試有少少空檔就去個短途旅行。因為日本有好多地方我地分別有去過（呀媽除外，佢到到都有去過，因為佢係膽拖黎既！），所以就想去東南亞地區，而泰國就係首選。因為家姐已經有初老症狀，去短途旅行淨係想食訓屙，所以我地就揀左度假天堂布吉，仲book左間好鬼靚既resort。之後家姐又無啦啦提議話不如去北海道，但諗諗下又驚六月冇花睇浪費左，又變番去布吉，睇睇下佢又心郁郁想去Da Nang，又發現原來沖繩都係唔錯既度假勝地，只係比布吉貴，但就乾淨同安全d。點知原來最後佢係請唔到假既！講咁多plan咁多都假啦！由於家姐唔去既關係，食訓屙團就唔成行，變左由呀媽主導，呢個時候竟然多左個option係去曼谷shopping（因為呀媽唔識游水，海灘就緊係冇大商場咁吸引啦）！兜兜團團最後都係揀左大家都未去過既沖繩。

好，講左咁耐終於入正題。我地今次呢次去沖繩要晨咁早就出機場，已經好耐冇試過4點起身，去到先發現我地竟然係第一班scheduled flight！第一次係中場上機，原來都整得好靚！不過因為太早無人列車未開，我地要由T1 坐巴士去Mid field，我諗我對上一次坐巴士係機場穿梭已經係I can fly 既時候 XD，因為係第一次去mid field 既關係，感覺就好似細細個第一次去機場，咩野都好新奇，有總莫名其妙既興奮。HX 加多70蚊就有得坐得舒服d，雖然回程要早一班機番，但其實都試得過！中場有HX既lounge，上機之前可以去hea下，第一日既行程實行由朝早六點食到夜晚十點。

HX既lounge，一早入黎人影都唔見多隻，所以都幾舒服架

Mid field。

不過一分錢一分貨，雖然我唔係d咩航空達人，但係HX d 硬件好似真係麻麻，機艙都幾舊，仲要娛樂系統死左成個鐘咁濟，不過都係短短兩個鐘，平平地都ok既。出發之前我已經check到沖繩天氣唔多好，估唔到那霸機場大雨到降落唔到，要我地係上空盤旋一陣先可以land，真係有驚無險，但就點都好過上次我去KIX要go around，仲要chok到我嘔 (Davina you know it)。

說好既藍天呢？？？？

那霸機場既國際terminal真係超。級。細！我諗佢應該冇香港個mid field 咁大添。真係細到單眼佬睇老婆咁款，好難想像一個咁細既機場一年要接待咁多國際遊客！

今次去沖繩係自駕，所以我地一land就去左拎車先，係orix 租左部honda既混能車，雖然orix 同那霸機場有15分鐘既車程，但佢地有shuttle bus，所以都幾方便。

－今次既代步工具－

而最方便既係咩呢？？就係租車既地方係正outlet既對面！初初我問呀媽想唔想去outlet到行，佢就話「唔使啦！我遲d去北海道都會去啦！」（係呀佢又去日本啦），不過當佢聽到我話個outlet係正攞車對面個時，佢就即刻表示話要去行下。行？你估真係得個行字架？緊係會跌咁d架啦xD。所以我地既第一個目的地就係Okinawa Outlet Mall Ashibinaa！

個outlet大又唔算好大，但大部分牌子都有齊，買得最開心既應該係老豆xD 個個人都有收獲，連冇得去既大佬都有禮物收！因為冇咩雨，又少人，行得好舒服，行左成三個鐘都有！所以吉喼去原來有原因既！仲要停車場係免費既，想唔留耐d都唔得啦。

行完outlet我地就出發去酒店，我地酒店係北面既名護市附近，貪佢夠近個海！由outlet 去酒店行高速公路大約要一個鐘，呢d高速公路就好似香港既隧道咁要俾錢既，不過就係分段收費，入閘拎張飛，出閘俾錢。高速公路既車速係限80kmh，其實都唔算快，又唔多車，就算未去過都唔會覺得好難行。

過左高速公路仲要行多大約25mins先到酒店，我地見天氣都唔算太差，就去左會經過位於恩納村既既萬座毛睇下先，擔心如果之後都落大雨去睇就會冇咁靚。

萬座毛又叫象鼻石，唔使我講你都知點解啦。

陰天冇落雨已經叫好架啦！最少唔使擔遮影相先。我地去到個到都已經五點幾，人就真係唔多，不過就算係陰天都可以見到d海水其實真係好清，清到可以清楚見到深d既岩石既條紋形狀。而呢個海蝕洞就係海浪拍打崖邊力度最好既證明。

而係呢到發生左一件笑死人冇命賠既事！！下次再寫呢part！

之後搞左成日我地終於去左酒店check in 啦！

special request 既高樓層海景房！日日起身見到呢個view真係咩都抵！！下面係酒店既泳池。

話明由六點食到十點架嘛，緊係要介紹下我地呢晚食既晚餐！我地去左酒店附近既一間扒房食飯，叫 Steak House Nakama。呢間野專賣當地出名既呀古豬，仲有石垣牛。我地叫左三個sets，後來好後悔自己眼闊肚窄，因為真係超大份！

我個set係西冷牛同牛漢堡，其實都好好食！不過可能個西冷太大件比較難煎，所以有一邊就煎得好好，一邊就有少少熟得濟。呀爸試左石垣牛，其實都幾貴，不過就真係好好食！好似唔使點咬盲可以吞咁！佢地個兩個sets仲有啊古豬，真係好有豬肉味。呢3個set仲有埋白飯，日本既白飯真係特別好食，但因為佢實在太大份，d飯都食唔哂好浪費！所以如果三個人既話食兩個sets都好夠！我地食到捧住個肚走，仲要一番去就訓，今次唔變豬都唔得，you are what you eat :(

食完就會見到印係碟上面既畫，幾有心思。

寫住咁多先！

下回預告：水族館，萬座毛笑死人冇命賠事件

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a quick update

我發現原來我已經有成年冇update過個blog！因為year five 實在比year four 更加多野做，先係take up 左個research project 黎做，一做就做左成年，做到工傷，跟住又有community health project，有時間都拎左黎休息，都冇咩心情打blog住。不過而家終於都考哂試（雖然我仲有一個practical exam 未考lol），可以hea 下先！

其實過左個年我去左唔同地方，不過都冇打blog，因為如果打起上黎我驚又會好似之前西班牙咁打到一半放棄左，而我亦都唔打算再繼續寫西班牙啦，都過左差唔多兩年，而我覺得馬德里又冇barcelona 咁多野介紹。

上星期我同屋企人短短地去左沖繩玩幾日，黎睇都會寫幾篇簡單介紹下！有機會仲有follow 個blog既朋友就睇下啦（都知你等我出blog等左好耐架啦）！

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別怕曬的黑－西班牙變炭之旅 （五）

1 Aug 2016

（開學咁耐我一直都好忙，一係就番完學好攰唔想郁，搞到相隔4個月我先繼續寫上次去西班牙既blog！）

呢日係我地最後一日留係Barcelona 玩啦，咁就緊係要去Barcelona 最出名既沙灘 － Barceloneta beach 啦！ 其實我地之前已經行過一次架啦，不過今次就認認真真由頭行到落尾。 不過出發去沙灘之前，我地就先去左一間位於舊城區既天主教教堂 － Barcelona Cathedral先。

係Jaume station落車之後就會到達市政廳。市政廳坐落Gothic Quarter既中心，建於14世紀。我就冇點研究呢座建築物有咩特別，不過咁岩前面有班單車tour既遊客停低左，個導遊好似好仔細咁同團友介紹，本來都想加隻耳聽埋一份，不過原來佢講緊第二d話，一隻字都聽唔明，咁就放棄左xD.

單車友們

係市政廳既旁邊，即係相既右手邊有一條比較暗既巷仔。係香港如果我見到咁樣我就一定唔會行入去既，不過去到外國，當大部份人都係行緊個個方向，而個景點就係左近但你自己又搵唔到個入口呢，人行我行多數都work架！原來呢個巷仔都大有來頭，叫做Carrer del Bisbe，意思即係bishop's street，主教既街道。佢曾經係羅馬時期巴塞既主要街頭，不過今非昔比，而家得番條巷！

Carrer del Bisbe － 跟人行就岩架啦

主教既然有條街就緊係有埋條橋先���霸氣架嘛！所以係通道既上方有一條好短既橋（Bishop's Bridge）連接左右兩座建築物，分別係 ‘Casa dels Canonges‘ (Canon’s House) 同‘Palau de la Generalitat‘ (City Hall)。Canon's House 建於13－14世紀，曾經係一個大教堂教士既居所。呢條橋睇落好似好舊，同隔離既建築物都好match咁，其實佢係建於1926年，係高第既追隨者 Joan Rubió i Bellver 起既。除左呢條橋之外，Joan Rubió i Bellver都有參與好多高第著名建築既設計，當中包括左之前提過既聖家堂，casa batllo 等等。

Bishop's Bridge

細心D睇係個橋底到（圖下方）有一個都幾creepy既雕刻，為免嚇親大家（同我自己）我就唔放大show出黎啦。個雕塑其實係一把匕首插住一個骷髏骨頭，佢代表既意義眾說紛紜，有人話如果將匕首由骨頭到抽出黎，巴塞就會被洪水淹沒；又有人話如果你望住個匕首係橋底倒後行，你許既願望就會成真；又有人話如果直視個骷髏骨頭就會帶黎厄運。當然啦，比較合理既講法就係當時建築師可能係想表達對政府既不滿，因為佢提出過想將當時係個個地區既非哥德式建築物全部拆走再起過一d新既哥德式建築，將個個地區打造成全哥德式風格既主題樂園咁，而呢個方案不獲接納，可能係咁所以佢就放嚿咁既野係橋底。

係bishop's street 個到有間賣家居擺設既鋪頭，d野都幾靚架、有興趣可以入去望下

行多幾步路就去到barcelona cathedral啦，不過個個原來係後門黎既，所以初初都冇留意我地原來已經到左。好啦咁諗住入去啦，個security 就係咁指住我講西班牙文，我又用唔到英文同佢溝通，大家雞同鴨講。搞左一輪佢指左個牌，上面有個公仔著住背心裙，再打左個大交叉，原來佢話我既衣著比較暴露（其實都係背心加短褲，barcelona 10個有10個都係咁著架啦），可能係咩褻瀆神明咁啦，就唔俾我入去。好彩我呀媽夠醒，即刻拎條披肩出黎，咁我包住上身啦，佢又話no,咁原來係要我包下身！包到佢滿意啦，佢就笑哂口咁俾個thumbsup 我LOL。入到去，原來好多人都好似我咁包身又包腳haha！

當大家都係咁樣包法既時候，我都覺得冇咁awkward xd

介紹返，barcelona cathedral 建於 13－15世紀，係哥德式建築黎既，入到迴廊有個天井養左好多鵝既。香港人見到鵝就好自然諗起燒鵝，我呀爸都唔例外，佢問我：「知唔知點解要揀左脾食？」再指指一隻用緊左腳單腳企係到瞓覺既鵝，明哂。

見唔見到最遠個兩隻？真係左腳單腳企！前面個隻心諗你影夠未？

教堂內部

新哥德式立面建於19世紀

咁參觀教堂基本上係免費既，但如果係要上頂層觀景台就要俾錢啦。個到有部好舊既升降機。講起就令我記起我地好似俾一個白人family歧視！佢地4個人排我地前面既（有兩個10歲到既細路），咁部升降機雖然係舊，但係都唔係細，寫住可以裝到8個人，咁就算入埋我地3個都仲有位啦，亞洲人邊似得d鬼咁大份呀，咁佢地入左去我地都諗住入埋啦，個個老豆竟然講左句 not enough space 就唔俾我地入！雖然你排我地前面，但既然個升降機仲有咁多位佢就唔應該咁囉，擺到明係歧視亞洲人架姐！大既教壞d細既，黑心講句小心第日你老左俾人，甚至自己既子女歧視你又老又冇用！一講到白人歧視亞洲人就火都黎埋。不過算，絕對唔可以俾呢d無見識，低水平，無教養既人影響我地去旅行既心情！

腳已包，我仲記得我地同後面對couple有互相幫大家影相xd

行完教堂我地就去左搵食！我有朋友(Errin)之前介紹過一間係barceloneta既餐廳，叫Salamanca，食海鮮既，既然有人介紹就唔使自己煩！

一落巴士見到個咁靚既海灘，人都開心番哂！

一坐低就有麵包同肉腸先！西班牙人真係好興法包加新鮮蕃茄醬。個腸辣辣地都ok.

最經濟既海鮮拼盤，有小龍蝦，青口呀咁，我覺得咁貴都唔係咁好食就真係麻麻啦。

Paella 都有好多款，視乎係咩料啦，我地就揀左個比較經濟既。waiter話係2－3人份量既paella，但我覺得4個人食都得，我地最後都食淨左。d海鮮好似冇上面個d咁新鮮。

好似係肉眼，唔記得啦，總之就係牛啦。

Salamanca呢間餐廳一d都唔平！我地埋單都食左2000幾蚊港紙！係咁耐食過最貴既一餐！！不過就食到超飽。海鮮就普普通通啦，我覺得香港三聖既仲好食！反而牛排有驚喜，食到飽一飽先食都仲覺得佢幾好食，我諗如果一開始就食會仲正。呢間試下都okay既但我就未必會推薦啦，因為性價比唔高。

食到咁飽就緊係要散下步消化下！我地一路由餐廳沿住海邊咁行。咁靚咁長既海灘，就算曬到變炭都值得花時間去慢慢行，慢慢欣賞。雖然係曬，但係一路都有涼涼既海風吹過黎，都幾舒服架！我好羨慕巴塞人有一個咁近市中心又咁長既海灘，可以做咩都得。打下沙排呀，曬下太陽呀，玩下滑板，甚至健身都得！個海仲要係深藍色！平時係香港見到都係綠綠地咁，呢個真係藍過smurf! 再加埋個咁清既天，藍天（0）白雲，水清沙幼，咪就係lee d 囉！

滑板咁既樣既建築物就係W hotel! 望住個無敵大海景真係咩都抵，不過哪有錢住！等我第日搵到錢再同呀爸呀媽黎就住個到！hahaha諗起都開心。

做gym既最高境界會唔會就係可以係沙灘上吹住海風咁做？

擺定pose俾我影咁hahaha

我地足足行左成個鐘，3-4km，先去到Port Olimpic，叫得olimpic 緊係同奧運有關啦。呢個係1992年奧運會帆船比賽既場地，而家已經係有錢人泊船既港口。

行左咁耐都腳仔軟，所以我地就早左結束呢日既行程，去左超市買左少少野番酒店煮（酒店有廚房好似要善用一下haha）。下一日就出發去馬德里繼續曬黑之旅！有時間既話我都會快d打好篇野既，不過升左year four 真係忙左好多！希望可以快d打完啦！

[queseraseralee]

My First Extraction

今日終於都到我幫人剝牙啦！我成日都覺得讀dental 每一次做一個全新既treatment都係一個學習里程碑，剝牙就更加唔會例外。由year one 到year four 比人問左無數次「你幫過人剝牙未呀？」，到今日我終於可以答你「我剝過啦！」（雖然只係一次咁多）。我地上oral surgery既堂係以小組形式上既，因為病人數目唔多，老師又唔可能一次過睇咁多個人，所以每一堂都唔係個個都有機會剝到。上星期我個病人甩我底，今日終於有得試啦！

上堂之前都幾緊張架，話哂之前未做過，而且聽人講os d tutor 比較惡，一唔留心隨時俾人省到立立令。我地今日個tutor雖然有時會燥下底，但係都好肯教你野，所以就算有壓力但都唔係大到會暈係到個隻。咁tutor之前都有提過小心上左年紀既病人好多時都有高血壓自己唔知，要問清楚，但到我叫左個patient 入黎，present完個case 到打麻醉針我先發現我應該係現場血壓最高個個！其實tutor 係望住我打麻醉既，佢都話冇問題，但就唔知點解到check下佢work 唔work個時patient就話痛！個下真係心到離一離，間房又焗，著住件gown戴哂mask，又咁多人望住你，我仲緊張過個patient！咁都冇計啦，唯有打多針睇下點啦，一路打就一額汗，一路打就一路求神拜佛希望今次得。打完個下我真係頂唔住 － 「姑娘唔該幫我開風扇！」

好彩今次終於work！咁今次剝咩牙呢？其實係一隻已經爛哂既大牙，即係個crown得返個少少，好似粒骰得留兩隻角咁，不過好就好在佢MI，即係少少鬆，但始終隻牙可以俾你用個鉗夾實既地方唔多，比較容易斷，我都不停提自己要小心d。咁好啦，落手做啦。當我用個鉗夾住隻牙諗住鬆一鬆佢既時候，突然「啪」一聲！原來有一忽仔既牙斷左，我諗個patient都知發生咩事，我就即刻話「拿唔使擔心有少少斷左姐冇咩野既」聽落好似安慰緊佢，其實係安慰緊自己LOL。咁斷左少少又令到隻牙再難夾左少少，不過又未至於夾唔實，就唯有再試下啦。如是者我就擰下擰下隻牙，擰多少少佢又鬆多dd，但同時我又擔心大力得濟會唔會擰斷隻牙腳，如果唔係就會好麻煩，仲比tutor話你擰得太快個下都幾緊張！咁擰下又拉下（其實都幾難用文字去形容），見到隻牙愈拉愈出就好似見到大肚婆生仔咁 － 「個頭出緊黎架啦，用力d！」過左三個字左右，隻牙就pop一聲咁出左黎！見到兩隻牙腳完整無缺咁出左黎個下真係覺得自己成功生左個仔咁，好感動，係心入面大叫一聲「媽呀我得左啦」！！！ 

第一次成功剝到隻牙既感覺真係好奇妙，比起第一次洗牙，第一次補牙較加有滿足感同成功感。雖然唔係dental既人聽到我咁講可能會覺得我好變態，但我可以話你知大部分dental學生都應該會有呢種感覺！可能我中文差啦，描述點剝一隻牙真係有d難度，不過睇唔明都唔緊要啦，我最主要都係想話俾大家聽「我剝左我人生第一隻牙啦」hahahaha! 最後special thanks to Vanessa，今日好在有佢係到陪我提下我，個人先定d。

[queseraseralee]

別怕曬的黑－西班牙變炭之旅 （四）

31 July 2016

第四日既重頭戲係去西班牙村 Poble Espanyol，我地仲book左入面一間餐廳既枱睇flamenco，咁佢就包埋入西班牙村既入場券，但就4點先有得入場，仲有咁多時間就可以周圍行下。第一站就去plaza catalunya。

Plaza de Catalunya 位於La Rambla (上一個blog提過既個條大街）既起點，亦係巴塞既中心點，將唔同主要幹道連埋一齊。廣場入面有好多唔同既藝術品同人像，當然就唔少得有白鴿！！呢到既白鴿數量同香港既麻雀一樣多，佢地飛個時真係唔理人，橫衝直撞，好似轟炸機咁，仲要成日低飛，一唔小心都會撞落人到！

識擺pose既白鴿

La Rambla 起點

本身我地諗住行多次去個街市到睇下早少少會唔會冇咁多人，仔細d睇佢有咩賣，但去到先發現原來佢星期日係唔開既！咁唔緊要啦，我地都叫行過一次，就搭車出發去西班牙村！

摸門釘

西班牙村位於Sants-Montjuïc district，佢係1929年巴塞羅拿舉辦世博面特登興建既。成個Sants-Montjuïc district都同1929年世博有關。條村唔近地鐵站，反而一出地鐵站見到既就係西班牙廣場Plaza de Espana。其實西班牙有好多地方都有 Plaza de Espana ，馬德里又有，塞爾維亞又有，所以google map起上黎都幾麻煩 haha

係西班牙廣場上面係一個由鬥牛場改建而成既商場，叫arena de barcelona，係1979年已經停用左，去到2011年先作為商場重新開放，足足吉左30幾年。其實加泰羅尼亞係去到2012 年先正式禁止左鬥牛，亦係西班牙第一個地區立法禁止呢項運動。

大家見唔見到相既左邊有個電梯直上天台觀景台？我地一去到見到1euro就可以上去參觀就諗都冇諗就俾左錢上去，到落番黎先發現原來商場入面係有免費電梯上既！大家下次去就記得唔好好似我地咁傻仔比左錢上去xD

一上到觀景台第一個感覺就係好曬！中午12點烈日當空咁曬其實都幾辛苦，仲要冇咩cover！但係個view係好靚既，雖然個arena得4層高，但由於周圍既建築物都好矮，所以望出去就有一種居高臨下既感覺！

係plaza de espana 對面既兩座塔叫做Venetian Towers，標誌住1929年世博園區既入口。一直行到尾就係MNAC - National Art Museum of Catalunya。 

估唔到咁都可以望到聖家堂（中間起緊個個）！果然係係巴塞任何一個位置都可以見到佢！

上去天台除左睇景仲有好多餐廳俾你坐低食野既。雖然間間睇落都好似天際100個d咁貴，但實際上又唔係！我地揀左間叫La Lola既餐廳，貪佢有扒食，係我係西班牙食過咁多間餐廳最好食既一間！

Nachos同墨西哥既食法唔同，佢個面有好多芝士，食落有d濟，我都係鍾意有sour cream, tomato sauce 同avocado個隻多d

海鮮意粉出奇地好食。d意粉好有蝦湯既味，仲好彈牙！

Mussels ！！！超大鍋，同埋佢唔係淨係得個殼，入面既青口肉都好大粒

呢個T骨排真係冇得輸，我地叫左Medium-well， 火喉岩岩好，仲食到有炭味，連薯條我都覺得好好食！或者我對食冇咩要求啦，但我真心覺得呢個餐廳係咁多間最好。

食飽飽又要繼續上路，其實見到個太陽咁曬真係唔多想出去行，不過平時係香港已經好懶，去旅行就一定唔可以咁hea。

因為太曬又冇咩遮陰地方既關係，我地行得勁慢，亦係係巴塞行得最辛苦既一次。行左一半路都已經用左半個鐘！

Magic Fountain of Montjuic。一個音樂噴泉，每晚都有表演，但因為我地唔想咁晏先番去就冇睇到個show 啦。

望住前面要行既路，突然覺得自己同目的地有9000公里咁遠

企係水前面係真係會涼d

成功登頂！足足用左成個鐘先行到上去！去到MNAC門口有間露天coffee shop，幾貴你都係要比錢買杯野飲，因為真係好熱

MNAC係一間藝術館，對arts有興趣既人千祈唔好星期日去，因為星期日佢3點就會閂門

攤抖完我地繼續行去西班牙村，其實由MNAC行過去都幾遠，但因為好似冇咩交通工具係可以由MNAC直接去到西班牙村，咁就唯有行啦，好彩沿路佢d direction都幾清晰，好順利就行到過去。

老實講，既然西班牙村係為左世博先起，咁就唔係d咩特別既歷史古蹟，你叫我比13euro入場費我又覺得唔係好抵，首先我又唔係好清楚西班牙唔同地區既建築有咩唔同，加上我唔係讀archetecture 就更加唔會有咩好深既體會，而且佢好多workshop都冇開工（可能因為係星期日掛），特登入去既話我就覺得有d浪費！不過唔緊要，Flamenco 先係重點，仲有兩個鐘先有得睇show就可以周圍影下相。不過人地話西班牙村夜晚有好多music show 睇，有興趣都可以留夜少少睇埋先走既。

正門入去就見到廣場，已經有人係到彩排緊個晚既show

呢part好有greek feel

之前提過既屠龍故事圖解

西班牙村入面既工作坊包括整玻璃、番梘、繪畫等等，另外仲有藝術館可以免費入場參觀，不過藝術既野....你懂的。hea左陣終於可以入去餐廳睇show！不過間餐廳都幾難搵，因為西班牙村入面有好多又長又窄既巷，而呢個餐廳個門口又唔算太突出，所以都花左少少時間去搵。大家入西班牙村個時記得拎番份地圖！

餐廳門口

係呢間餐廳睇Flamenco有幾個meal choices，你可以揀淨係飲杯野（40 euro），或者食六款西班牙小食tapas（55 euro)，或者揀個再貴d既3 course meal （75－90 euro），我地就叫左55 euro個個，其實都食到好飽，而且佢係開show之前半個鐘先俾你入去坐，所以叫左個3 course meal 既話或者未必夠時間食得哂！

餐廳分上下兩層，當然你俾貴d就坐前d啦，但係我覺得坐上面都唔錯呀！

個台白色一點點個d其實係俾dancer 跳到甩哂色，好誇張

55 euro一個人其實都okay既，又有礦泉水（好多餐廳都要收錢），sangria/red wine/white wine，又有西班牙火腿。但係佢好多野食都係油炸，比較油膩。Sangria就冇之前��既7portes咁重酒味，但都唔錯。

呢個flamenco有4個dancers，我地好好彩有兩個女同兩個男跳，一路以為呢個舞蹈係女仔先會跳，估唔到有機會睇到男dancers 跳！吉他音樂加埋富感情而有力既舞蹈真係好震撼人心。雖然我聽唔明個兩個歌手唱緊咩，聽落仲有少少似唱山歌，但係都覺得佢地唱得唔錯！每個dancer都只係會跳1part舞，但每part都跳足10分鐘，絕無泠場。佢地跳舞個時會不例tark手指，拍手同用個腳好快咁dump地。

第一個女dancer，其他三個就坐係右邊拍下手dump下地咁。

有請小鳳姐！！！

呢個男既dump地dump到個台好似就冧咁。動態比第一個女dancer大同有力好多。少左幾分柔情，但就多左幾分氣勢！見唔見個吉他手都好仰慕咁望住佢lol

第二個女dancer就比第一個好似再投入D

最後一個dancer一出場既時候係咁

轉身射個三分波之後d頭髮就散哂，睇得出佢跳得好賣力

Flamenco 真係一個好特別既舞蹈，有少少吉卜賽feel。西班牙鬥牛同呢個舞蹈都係國粹，但我就覺得大家應該去支持flamenco而唔係去睇鬥牛，因為實在太殘忍。fyi, 每次鬥牛隻牛都係會死既。

睇完flamenco 都已經8點，雖然都仲未天黑，但都係早少少番去比較好！今日講住咁多先！

下回預告：Barceloneta (沙灘）

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別怕曬的黑－西班牙變炭之旅 （三）

30 July 2016

今日就真係去Park Guell 啦，不過去之前我地又行左過去聖家堂對面既公園到影左幾張相先出發，因為個到有個水池可能影到教堂既倒影架，有興趣記得要早上先去。無論係幾點個到都係好多人！

我都係要多練習一下點影倒影！

影完相又要咋咋臨搭地鐵去Park Guell！其實Park Guell有好多個入口，但我地擔心會搵唔到正門個入口，所以都係去番尋日去過既側門入，費事揾得正門尼都過左入場時間。Park Guell 係高第另一個好有創意既設計，由Guell 負責出錢。其實Guell 呢個人好欣賞高第既才華，所以就放手俾佢負責成個project。Park Guell 位於一座小山丘上，本身係一個私人住宅區，Guell打算起幾十幢豪宅既，好似city garden 咁，但最後因為冇買家既關係只係建成左兩幢，都唔係由高第設計既，而高第就買左其中一幢搬入去住。所以高第作為一個咁偉大既建築師，自己住既地方居然唔係佢自己設計既！由於city garden 既idea 唔work，Guell 就將呢個地方開放俾公眾使用。Park Guell 亦成為左世界文化遺產之一。

呢個公園就有分免費同收費既參觀範圍，但所有重點要睇既建築其實都係收費範圍入面，而且只係8euro就可以參觀哂成個公園，都幾抵架！

正門

沿住樓梯上就會見到好出名既馬賽克蜥蜴

成個公園大部分既野都係馬賽克組成，多得黎又唔覺得佢亂，唔會睇到暈陀陀。

我覺特下面呢隻Mosaic Salamander 簡直係成個公園既靈魂。成個藝術既色彩配搭花得黎又唔會太誇張（可能附近既野全部都係咁我先唔得佢誇張掛），加上用左好多藍色同綠色等等顏色做主調，見到背脊用上天空既藍，腳就用左草地既綠，同周圍既環境好吻合，亦突顯左Nature 同City Garden 呢個概念，愈睇就愈順眼！不過呢d都係我既見解姐，當時設計者係咪咁諗我就唔知啦。或者你去到又會有唔同既體會！

必影。一直行上去就係廣場

呢個廣場係依山而建既。以前d有錢人有party都會係到搞。

終於行到上去。

旅遊書入面一定有既相。由廣場望出去其實就係大海。下面兩幢樓真係幾似糖果屋

所有櫈都係mosaic!!

souvenir shop

行左咁耐又係時候要去醫下肚！之後我地去左位於La Rambla 大街既街市 Mercat de La Boqueria 睇下有冇正野買。可能我地撞正lunch time, 入面超多人！

生果鋪。當一個西瓜講緊係～30HKD，其實一杯仔生果都唔係特別平。

BREAD MY FAV

火腿就一定有啦。今次都係我係西班牙第一次食火腿！佢地有一包包仔好似snacks咁既packing賣既。價錢視乎本身隻豬係咩級數啦。我地試左包2euro 都幾okay 架！

其實成個街市都有好多野賣，仲有少少熟食檔，但入面既bar枱已經坐滿哂人，加上唔似得香港街市有冷氣，所以都幾熱下，我地求其食左少少野又繼續行啦。

la rambla 有少少似paris 既 la champs! 

其實成條街都有好多藝人同小食店，當然唔少得手信鋪，一路行都一路有野睇，完全唔會悶。一直行出去就可以去到海邊！

la rambla 既盡頭就係哥倫布像，成個野其實係個round about

向海邊伸延既係Rambla de mar，係一條木橋連接 La Rambla 同舊港（Port Vell）。Port Vell 亦係好多遊艇既停泊地方。最後有個叫Maremàgnum既商場可以俾你係個到坐低休息一下。

Rambla de mar

我地係入而行左一圈就運另外一邊出番去搵食！今次就去由Heinok 介紹既7Ports Restaurant 到食 dinner。

下午六點都仲咁曬，日日咁行真係會變炭

永遠到打blog先發現自己冇影到d好重要既相！我竟然冇影到餐廳個大門，不過唔緊要啦，下面個張頂住檔先。7 Portes Restaurant 已經180 年歷史，淨係聽到180 已經覺得佢好勁，野食（同價錢）都唔講得笑。一間餐廳可以生存到180年，一定有佢過人之處！

一坐低就比個包你，我鍾意！

7 Portes 既招牌菜！唔記得左佢叫咩名啦。份量雖然細，但樣樣都冇hea你，我連個法包都覺得好好食！

本身唔想出樣，不過冇相就冇辦法。Sangria 係西班牙特飲，基本上係紅酒加果汁再加少少生果係入面。我係外國人，餐廳沖得正唔正宗我都唔知架啦，但係我可以講呢到既Sangria係我飲過咁多間最多「料」，姐係紅酒成份最多既。

Paella 姐係西班牙海鮮飯，呢個係好足料既，墨魚、青口、腸，咩都有，唯一美中不足既就係佢d飯硬左少少，我之後係馬德里食過一間既paella就真係perfect la。睇黎我都係鍾意食軟飯 LOL

我地仲叫左呢個唔知咩野魚，我呀媽有講過個名，但我已經唔記得左，證明我之前冇食過，總之就係d貴野黎既。我地見餐牌上面寫左有兩種烹調方法，我地就問個店員邊樣比較好，佢都好老實咁答話grill係正D既！所以服務都好okay 架！

唔知咩野魚。d肉唔係散既，佢只係用左幾粒鹽調味，所以可以食得出魚既鮮味！Side dish都好好食。

今餐真係好豪華！！！ 不過係好好食就真既，店員都好認真同好friendly，所以我覺得budget許可既話可以去試下無妨！

番去途中見到medic related 既野緊係要影下啦

其實我地食完dinner仲行左去barceloneta 姐係沙灘個邊，不過我之後都會再講，為左保��神祕感我就唔post 相啦！

下回預告：西班牙村，flamenco danc

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別怕曬的黑－西班牙變炭之旅 （二）

29 July 2016

第二日既行程其實都有少少迂迴。

原本打算係巴塞羅拿既第二日去park guell 同聖家堂兩個景點，因為兩個景點都係同一個area，行起上黎好似順路D，但最後都係調左行程。唔知點解次次打blog都好似要俾credit 樊子聰，係啦，咁今次就聽佢講過話佢去park guell 冇事先買飛結果係個到等左兩個幾鐘先入到去，又聽過errin話預早買飛就一定要係個段時段入去，如果唔係就唔俾入。本身已經買定左聖家堂下午既入埸券（學生平過成人架！），諗住買埋上午既Park Guell入場券就可以行哂。早一晚上網見到公園最早既飛都係一點半，班主佢地就覺得可以試下上午去左先睇下會唔會有即場買，我諗住walk in可能都仲會有少少飛，點知原來去到都係一樣要一點半先入得，白行左一趟！所以提提大家，網上買所見到既時間同公園賣既飛係一樣既，信個網就得架啦，而且每張仲平1euro，如果已經plan好哂行程不妨可以預先買左入場券，就唔使好似我地咁行兩轉！

上山既時候見到，但之前發現原來西班牙周圍都係呢d供水器。要好大力㩒先會有水出，但d水係凍既！當你係炎炎夏日冇哂水又唔想買仲貴過啤酒既樽裝水，話知佢係水喉水定地下水你都會照殺。

去park gull地鐵站出口見到既巨型自動販賣機！2L既橙汁都有得賣，真係好似個mini market 咁。

咁上午去唔成Park Guell就臨時變陣去左位於Passeig de Gracia 既不和諧建築群。呢條街有咩咁特別呢？其實就係好多西班牙著名建築師都係呢條街到幫人起過樓，仲要係d奇形怪狀既樓，同四周建築身格格不入，所以就叫不和諧建築群！好多時候個d建築物都係叫Casa XX， Casa 姐係家既意思。我仲好記得中學有一年有支學生會候選內閣就係叫casa。咁xx 就係出錢起樓個個人既名啦，姐係好似如果李嘉誠出錢比醫學院，醫學院就變左李嘉誠醫學院咁lol 雖然個名冇咩創意，但創意呢d野，睇個建築物本身就夠啦！

Passeig de Gracia。當我以為我已經過哂馬路，好專心咁影緊相既時候，突然間比車boot我，原來過完大馬路，係行人路中間仲有條單程路俾車行！（大馬路係右邊）大佬，班馬線又冇，馬路同行人路隻色又咁鬼似，想睇到都難啦！大家去記得唔好掛住影相唔留意周圍環境，如果唔係好危險架！

就係影呢張相出事

巴特略之家就咁睇已經好有童話故事既色彩，門窗全部都係流線形設計，加埋七彩既馬賽克，唔講以為自己係宮崎駿世界入面！我諗入面都係好精彩既！不過一張門票要成22euro，值唔值得比就見人見智啦！

巴特略之家。又係高第起既（成個巴塞佢玩哂啦？！），用屠龍傳說做主題，建於1877年。至於屠龍傳說係咩一回事就自己google下啦，我唔係到多講啦。

阿馬特耶之家。由卡達法爾克設計。

影完相就行前左幾個街口去睇Casa Mila。Casa Mila係高第最後一座起既住宅，好似話當時客人唔太喜歡呢個設計，因為覺得佢太奇怪，d 窗台向內而唔係向出既，邊個會估到而家佢咁受歡迎？不過同巴特略之家一樣，入場費好貴，所以我地都冇入去參觀。但我覺得如果你本身係高第fans或者係讀建築既話，廿幾蚊euro當交學費都抵呀！

Casa Mila

連nespresso都要馬賽克，呢到馬賽克太泛濫 xD

食完野就番番去聖家堂個邊。上次講話聖家堂而家有誕生立面 Nativity Façade ＆受難立面 Passion Façade，其實高第設計左三個立面，最後一個就係榮耀立面 Glory Façade。我唔係天主教信徒，對於聖經故事冇咩概念，最多都係知道童貞聖瑪利亞係伯利恆馬槽生左耶穌，耶穌分餅，同耶穌被釘十字架然後復活既故事（好似我既知識都係聖誕節同復活節到黎...），有錯請指正。但我相信好多「主線劇情」都刻劃左係兩個立面上，每個石像都好仔細，如果真係要個個認真咁睇，睇到頸痛都未睇完（因為成日都要仰高個頭望）。每個立面都有4個towers，夾埋就有12座塔，代表耶穌既12門徒（有聽過下）。而屋頂上有好多生果既裝飾（bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, you name it) ，象徵向天主奉獻。誕生立面係成個教堂最早完工既部分，1930年起好。其實好明顯就睇得出誕生立面係早過受難立面好多完成，因為整體上色彩都比較黃，石像有明顯被歲月侵蝕既痕跡，老實講，雀屎都多好多。講左咁耐，比圖大家睇下先。

呢張係之後一日早上過黎影既，因為誕生立面向東面，咁成件事就好清楚啦xD 而聖家堂既入口位於誕生立面。

我估呢個係出世

但呢個都好似係LOL

圍觀既人...好似唔係咁叫 laughcry

入到去我除左mark大左個口同wow之外都冇咩可以表達到我有幾驚訝。靚到完全唔似係教堂，根本就係一件巨型藝術品！呢個時候又要轉廣角鏡，冇錯，今次去西班牙我真係不停轉lens xD。最衰中間起緊野，睇唔到個organ!!

呢到既柱係以樹木做藍本，天花版仲整左好多樹葉形狀既裝飾。

係到影相影到癲左

出番去就係受難立面。比之前好唔同既係人象既線條簡單好多，亦好左好多創新既元素。

我考試個時唔知佢想問咩個陣都係咁既樣

我最鍾意就係下圖既幻方。小學有玩個奧林匹克數學既人應該都知咩係幻方啦？幻方其實係一排排整數組成既正方格，無論打橫打直定打斜咁睇，個行入而既數字相加起黎都係會等於一樣既數值。唔好以為幻方係外國產物，其實係made in china 架！最早出現於西漢時期。我仲好記得以前我係識做少少架，而家就真係唔記得哂啦 :(

呢個 4x4 幻方有咩咁特別呢？佢點加都係會得出33，其實33係指耶穌係佢33歲個年被釘係十字架上，所以將呢個幻方放係受難面就好合情合理啦。

旁邊有個model display將來教堂會係咩樣。

受難面隔壁有個souvenir shop，係souvenir shop 下面有個好細既入口仔，其實係關於高第設計聖家堂既exhibition，仲有好多佢自己整既model，仲有而家都仲run緊既studio，好值得入去參觀架，不過呢到我就唔多講啦！

高過人既model，呢面係受難面

出去之前不妨入去呢個課室參觀下，佢同教堂係separate既，入口要特登搵先搵到，不過只要你圍住呢個細細地既建築物轉一圈實搵到入口係邊LOL

以前學生上堂就係咁架啦

唔覺唔覺都行左成兩個幾三個鐘架！我地係附近求其搵左間餐廳坐低食就算，冇咩特別就唔寫啦hahaha 不過如果你好鍾意食野既話可以放心，遲d會有post 講埋野食架啦！

下回預告：Park Guell

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別怕曬的黑－西班牙變炭之旅 （一）

28 July 2016

雖然一直都好想去西班牙，但香港以前係冇直航去西班牙，一定要係英國或者德國轉機先去到，而逢係要轉機都好麻煩，所以都係得個恨字。咁岩今年國泰終於都有直航去西班牙首府馬德里，緊係遊說呀爸呀媽同我一齊去！可惜既係家姐因為岩岩做MO，假期時間又唔夾所以就冇同到我地一齊去。（不過佢地三個今年都試過瀨低我自己去法國玩左成個星期！）米飯班主，姐係我老豆負責出錢，咁我都緊係負責出力啦。成個行程由訂機票、酒店，到去邊到玩點搭車，有咩好食都係我一個plan哂！係咪好勁先，快d搵人頒個excellent trip planner award 俾我xD。出發之前已經知道西班牙陽光充沛，靚景又多，所以都特登買左支廣角鏡去，重就係重架啦，但如果可以影多d影相我又唔係好介意揹住多過成kg既equipment走黎走去既！

今次去西班牙主要係去三個地方，Barcelona, Madrid & Toledo。三個係非常不同既城市。特別係Barcelona! 其他地方冇時間可以唔去，但Barcelona絕到唔可以錯過！國泰飛去馬德里要差不多13個小時，仲耐過飛去英國！可能我一直都好恨去法國同德國啦，唔知點解當飛過呢d國家既上空個時總係有一種好amazing既感覺haha。趣聞一則就係話說我就坐economy去既，咁就坐window seat 啦，一上到機就好自然會hung個頭去望下出面架啦，但唔知點解次次hung埋去都聞到陣陣幽香既呢，當我向下望就見到大大隻腳係後面伸左黎前面，仲要冇著鞋！結果成程機我都冇再hung埋個窗到 lol

呢個係比利牛斯山脈，係法國同西班牙邊境接讓既地方，以前其他國家既人想向西班牙國皇進貢好多時都要攀過呢庭山。當你係高空三萬幾尺都仲可以咁清晰見到一個個夏天都仲積緊雪既山峰，可想而知呢坐山係有幾宏偉！

終於見到西班牙既國土！全部都係冇屋既地。。。。

飛呀飛呀，飛左6500幾里。

清晨八點幾既Madrid Barajas International Airport。黃色既裝修都幾有西班牙feel。

我今次旅行既第一站就唔係馬德里，所以一落機就即刻買火車飛去Barcelona! 順帶一提，即日去barcelona既火車飛真係貴到癲，一個人單程要成100 euro! 圍起成九百蚊港紙！所以我強烈建議所有會搭火車既朋友如果想慳錢就一定一定要早少少買飛同埋記得買round trip，因為一次過買可以兩程都有八折！

人在異鄉唔到唔少都會有語言溝通既問題，西班牙唔係個個都識講英文，但就算唔識講佢大概都會明你想問佢d咩。我第一次問個後生仔點搭車去atocha station （去馬德里既朋友注意：Atocha station 係大站，基本上去toledo/barcelona既火車都係係呢個站出發），好彩佢識聽又識講，話俾我地知應該幾時落車，仲教左我點講西班牙文既thank you! (Gracias) 。不過當我問atocha station入面一間coffee shop 既店員點去買車飛既位個時，佢就係咁用西班牙文答我野，我除左佢個 si (yes 咁解）就冇隻字聽得明，好彩佢用左好多身體語言指我睇點行，終於都搵到點買飛！所以溝通上都冇咩大問題既LOL

搭左三個幾鐘火車總算arrive your destination！前前後後用左差唔多17／8個鐘先去到巴塞隆納！我地住個個apartment 距離聖家堂只係兩分鐘路程！一出地鐵站就見到佢，大到忍唔住wa 左出黎！聖家堂係巴塞隆納既必到景點，但因為我地去到已經係四點幾五點，所以就未入去參觀住。話明係必到景點就緊係周圍都係遊客！個個一係好似我咁拎住個大相機影影影，一係就拎住個selfie stick。 呢個時候廣角鏡就好有用啦！單係用18mm既lens都影唔哂咁大個建築物！連我呀媽都係咁叫我send番d相俾佢去upload 上facebook LOL （都唔知佢upload完有冇俾番個credit我既-,-) 簡單介紹下，聖家堂係一庭天主教教堂，由著名建築師安東尼高第設計，係1882年開始起，到而家都仲起緊，亦係世界上唯一一座未完工就成為世界文化遺產既建築。教堂大致上分兩面，受難面同誕生面，都係用耶穌同聖母瑪利亞做主題。至於詳細介紹大家就要密切留意我下一篇blog! 

近鏡。受難面

遠鏡，已經係教堂既另一面－誕生面。

我地圍住教堂影左d相就去左食野，肚餓得濟去左附近一間土耳其餐廳到醫肚。

搵食中

除左大教堂好吸睛之外，個藍到咁既天都係一個重點！我係西班牙個幾日天氣就日日都係咁，所以大家都知點解我要用周董既歌詞「別怕曬的黑」做呢個blog 既title 啦，因為如果你怕曬黑，我諗你都係唔好去西班牙比較好XD

下回預告：聖家堂，不協調建築群

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A food hunt in UK (Part 3)

It has been almost five months since my last blog on British food! This is the final part of the food hunt and also the final blog about my UK trip, which happened exactly a year ago. Sorry for not writing for a while because school work and exams has been keeping me busy for months! Finally exams are over so it’s time to update my blog just to relax myself a bit!

I mentioned the carrot cake from Costa in my first food hunt blog. Here comes a lemon tart that i tried in the other chain coffee shop - Caffe Nero.

Again Borough Market is a heaven of food. This time, recommended by Lushna, an Indian friend coming from Boston, I tried Moong dal dosa. It is an Indian verge food, serving with chic peas and tasted just as good as it looked.

Moong dal dosa. Borough Market.

You have never truly been to London if you have never been to a pub. Hannah and I went to a local pub next to Millennium Bridge called Founder’s Arms after the closing ceremony of our Summer School. Locating at the Southbank of River Thames, you can enjoy a gorgeous view of St Paul’s Cathedral and the river. I had steak pie and mash, which is one of the British traditional dish. It’s made from beef wrapped in puffy pastry, served with mash potato and some savoury veggies. I didn’t expect the dish to be that large and couldn’t finish it eventually.

Steak pie and mash and ginger beer (non-alcoholic). The Founder’s Arms.

Seven Sister Cliff is definitely a good place to have a picnic. Having a chicken roll with such a breath taking view should be in your list of things to do!

After 3-week stay in London, I moved to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The first breakfast i had was none other than the very local and traditional food - porridge. The porridge here is nothing like the instant oatmeal I have in Hong Kong. It’s more filling and rich! Although congee is also a kind of porridge made of rice, the western porridge is my cup of tea!

Banana Porridge topped with cinnamon. Hula.

Scotch egg is another traditional dish which I wanted to try for a long time before I visit Scotland! Not sure if Scotch egg is actually from Scotland but now this dish is like a must-eat in Scots! Basically it’s a deep-fried hard boiled egg wrapped in some minced meat and bread crumbs, topped with some vinegar. It may not be the best scotch egg in town but it’s not bad at all!

Fish and Chips! Not so much to say huh? Everyone knows this dish!

Another dessert that i like is pecan pie! I bought this from a local bakery in Glencoe en route to Loch Ness. It is said that pecan pie was originated from America. It was not as sweet as I thought! I was trying so hard to find Nessie the lake monster while i was enjoying this lovely pie as my lunch. Of course, none can be spotted. LOL

The last special thing that I tried in Edinburgh was a Scottish full breakfast! Unlike the usual English full breakfast, this one contains Haggis sausage (which is black in colour and was covered by the toasts in the photo below). Haggis is 100% Scottish. It’s like a national dish! It is a savoury meat dish made of sheep’s organs such as liver, lungs and heart. In the old days, the minced organ together with some onions would be enclosed in an animal stomach. Now of course it is replaced with artificial one. The sausage itself may not be so appetising but it actually tastes quite good! I actually bought a whole piece of haggis from a fast food shop at royal mile but it would be too disturbing to upload the photo here! It’s black and the colour of the sauce is like curry. So you can imagine... Back to the haggis sausage, it’s rich and salty. Not as bitter as I imagined! It’s definitely a must try even you may not like it’s appearance! The portion of the breakfast was too large to finish on my own. Better share it with your friend if you are not going to Edinburgh alone!

Scottish full breakfast. Patisserie.

It took me almost a year to complete all the blogs regarding my one-month stay in the UK. I hope you enjoyed reading all my blogs and I will work on my blog about my recent visit to Spain this summer! Stay tuned!

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A food hunt in UK (Part 2)

I hope you found my first part of food hunt interesting. Here is the second part of it!

There was a Snog bus at the Southbank Centre, which was pretty close to St Thomas’s Hospital where we usually had our lectures. Two hours of lunch was simply too long for just staying at the Canteen, so Hannah, Kayce and I just decided to have something cool for snacks. Snog bus sells frozen yogurt, which comes in different flavours. You can even get onto the bus and enjoy the view of River Thames.

Plain frozen yogurt with blackberries. £3-4. Snog. It wasn’t too sweet with some acidity in it. Just right for those who prefer sour than sugary. 

British are famous of their tea culture. Hong Kong people like saying ‘high tea’ but it’s actually wrong to say so. The proper name for it is afternoon tea. There is a significant difference between High Tea and Afternoon Tea. The former one refers to dinner of the working class, which includes some hot and filling food. It’s called high tea because it was usually served on the tables. The later one refers to the light meal between lunch and supper of the wealthy class. It was made widely popular by Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford in the early 19th century. Dinner was usually served at 8-9 pm which made the Duchess hungry between meals. So she requested a light meal with cakes, sandwiches and tea and invited her friends to enjoy the tea with her. Unlike the high tea, people usually had the afternoon tea in a comfy armchair. There was an Afternoon Tea Week during my stay in London. Different hotels, teashops and cafe offered special price for their tea sets. Errin (whom I met in the primary school) was having an exchange in Slough. We had an afternoon tea date at a local chain tea shop called Patisserie Valerie. They served a very simple yet classic afternoon tea - pastries in a three tire cake stand together with a pot of tea of your choice, exactly the same as I had been imagining it! The bottommost were a classic selection of finger sandwiches (cucumber, egg mayonnaise with cress & smoked salmon with cream cheese). Raisins scones were in the middle. Different types of cakes and pastries (fruit cakes, puff & strawberry mousse cake) were on the top. The British love afternoon tea, just like the Chinese like yum cha. They even have a debate on the pronunciation of the word ‘scone’! For more traditions and etiquette of a proper afternoon tea, you may refer to this website - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/food/article-3208603/Don-t-stick-little-finger-milk-second-NEVER-serve-cupcakes-Etiquette-expert-William-Hanson-explains-rules-afternoon-tea.html

Tea set for two. Patisserie Valerie. £25 for 2. I liked the scones in the middle the most. They were served with 4 flavours of jam and butter cream. The desserts on the top were a little bit too sweet for me. I chose Earl Grey, another signature of British culture. Although it’s not a very fancy looking afternoon tea, it’s the most economic choice an exchange student could have!

Like I said in my previous blog, Borough is life! I kept returning to this food heaven to hunt for more delicious and local delicacies. Pies are one of the most popular food among the British. Pieminister serves one of the finest savoury pies in London. I chose the vegie version (trying to lower the guilt).

Mushroom pie. Pie minister. £5. Crispy crust with finely seasoned mushrooms. It was very hot that I almost got a tongue burn! I finished the whole thing because I was too hungry at that time!

Unlike my sister, I do drink alcohol. Yet I am not a regular drinker and I haven’t tried finishing a whole bottle of beer before so I’d better started with something sweeter - Cider. I was requested to show my ID when I bought a bottle of cider from a local store. I knew my face doesn’t tell my exact age (baby face yeah!) but I really didn’t expect someone would checked my ID. LOL

Rekorderlig mango and raspberry cider. Local Express. £2.99. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) Drinking cider must be patient even though it tastes sweet. I finished this bottle in 15 mins because it was very fruity like and didn’t taste like alcohol at all. And I ended up having a bit of drowsiness and had to go to bed early!

There was a historical food market in Oxford called Covered Market (because it has a cover). Unlike Borough market, it is slightly cleaner and with fewer people. There are a wide variety of traders, selling food, drinks and even clothings. I got myself a flapjack for lunch. A flapjack is a baked sweetened cereal bar. It originally referred to a type of pancake and was also mentioned in Shakespeare’s piece. But later people just adopted the name and refer it to oat bars.

Blueberry flapjack. Brothers Cafe. £3. A bit too sweet for me and you should know that this single ignorant cereal bar contained more than 400 cal. That’s why I didn’t dare to have anything else after stuffing it into my mouth.

I must have mentioned somewhere in my previous blogs that I missed the entrance time of the Christ Church College and had to wait for the evensong in order to enter the church again. Since the shops and museums in Oxford closed super early, I went into an ice cream shop right opposite to the college to rest a bit. I thought 1 scope may be too little for me so I ordered 2 scopes with 2 different flavours and it ended up in 4 scopes shown in the following photo!

Ginger ice cream and raspberry sorbet. George & Danver. £4-5 for 2 ‘scopes’. The ginger flavour was very strong and not too sweet whereas for the sorbet was fresh and light. Yum yum.

Another cider I found in Tesco. Never heard of a Stella cider before and I now wish they would sell it in Parknshop!

I tried an indian meal at the school canteen and it was pretty nice (or is it because I have never tried a proper Indian dish before?) Indian food is one of the most popular cuisines in UK. Curry is even adopted as the national dish of the UK. The obsession of curries began from the returning of people from the Indian colony or the immigration of Indians and the opening of more and more restaurants featuring Indian cuisines in the early 19th century.

Lamb curry with Naan bread. I expected it to be a bit more spicy. The bread was just perfect with the curry. The portion appeared to be a bit small but it was actually quite filling!

Stay tuned for more English and Scottish cuisines!

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A food hunt in UK (Part 1)

British cuisines are much more than Fish and Chips. I decided to write a blog about the food that I have tried in England and Scotland. To those who might be visiting England, this may serve as a reference for you (if you are looking for street food or cheaper choice.) You know, exchange students usually don't have much for their budge. ;) 

Let’s start from the beginning of my journey. Bread in local supermarket was super super cheap. There are mainly 4 supermarket chains in London, Tesco, Sainsbury’s (founded in 1864!), Mark&Spencer and Morrisons. Unlike in Hong Kong, there isn’t any what we called convenient store (e.g. 7-11) in the UK; however, they have the local stores of those supermarket chains everywhere, in smaller scale of course. As my dorm was only a street away from Sainsbury’s, I simply bought my breakfast from there (to save money). 

£1 for 4 bread of your choice. Sainsbury’s. Could you believe it?! Tasted not bad. Bread of such size and quality usually costs at least 50p each in HK.

Borough market is another heaven of food. I just felt in love with it. It was only 15 mins walk from my dorm. They sell both fresh and cooked food. Don’t have any idea for lunch? Go to Borough market, I am sure you would definitely find something that you like.

Cappuccino. Monmouth Coffee at Borough Market. £2.5. A bit too milky but still tasted very nice. I actually heard a lady complained about it and asked for another one. I bet she is a coffee expert and a loyal costumer of Monmouth. 

Face sized chocolate cookie. Artisan Food at Borough Market. £2 each, £3 for 2 during daily clearance sale. I have never had any cookie of this size. It was crispy on the outside and chewy inside. The baker was very generous in terms of the chocolate chips added in. It was sweet for sure but definitely worth trying.

Raspberries at £2 only! I never buy raspberries in Hong Kong because they are just too expensive. But those in UK are not only cheaper but also fresh and juicy.

I had lunch quite a lot in the campus canteen because a meal plan was included. Food there wasn’t too bad. At least they offered different types of food and never repeated during my stay. They mainly serve traditional British food, sometimes Asian (which was terrible I have to say). They also had special meals for vegetarians which was very thoughtful. Friday was the fish n chips day but I had never tried it as I was not a big fan of it.

Yorkshire pudding with roasted beef. At Lambeth Wing of KCL. When I heard Hannah (my British friend in the same summer programme) mention about Yorkshire pudding, I thought it was something like a sweet mango pudding or a cake-like pudding with raisins in it, as a dessert. But it was actually a salty bread-like pastry with a texture like a chewy croissant. It was a very traditional British cuisine that was mainly made for Sunday lunch.

Strawberries and Cream Waffles served with raspberry gelato. £5.5. Snowflake Gelato near Oxford Street. I had dinner here with my secondary school friend, Honey. It was like a mixture of hot and cold. A bite of freshly baked crispy waffle then a mouthful ice-cold gelato was simply heavenly tasty.

I must introduce you this. J2O fruit juice. You could find it in Tesco or sainsbury’s. They come in different flavours but personally orange & passion fruit is the best one. Unlike many fruity drinks, it doesn’t taste like a concentrated powder solution but a smooth fruit juice with a bit of acidity in it. I bought it every time I visited UK.

Apart from Starbucks, there are two major coffee shop chains in UK - Costa and Cafe Nero, with Costa being the most popular among the locals. I bought a piece of Carrot cake from a costa near the dorm. Carrot cake was another traditional dessert.

Layered carrot cake. Costa. This double layered cake could possibly reach 600 kcal. It was a very dense and rich butter cake with walnuts on top. I bought it for tea but realised that it was so stomach-filling that I couldn’t have anything more for dinner after finishing the whole piece. But it was the best carrot cake I have ever tried.

The first group dinner with my classmates was in The Real Greek, which was at the river bank of Thames. One thing I admire about the menu of this restaurant is that they listed the calories for every single food. From starters to desserts, you know how much you ate. This is particularly good for those who are on diet. I was very surprised about the energy that you will consume if you finish the whole Greek Sundae (which consists of 4 scopes of ice cream). It’s 1220 kcal. It made me think twice before having dessert from now on! Here is the link of their menu to let you have an idea what I was talking about: http://www.therealgreek.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/TRG_Food_Menu.pdf

Lamb Kefte severed with yogurt and New Potatoes. £9.5. The Reak Greek. Lamb Kefte is a meatloaf made of minced lamb with some spice. I chose New potatoes over chips was mainly because of the calories difference. Both are potatoes, but chips have 4 times more calories than new potatoes. And I decided to go for the healthier choice (See? those calories reminder worked on me). The lamb kefte was properly grilled and well seasoned. Surprisingly, It tasted even better with the yogurt.

Recommended by Honey, I went to Amorino after watching Les Miserable at the Queen’s Theatre. They are pretty close to each other. Amorino sells hand made gelato and sorbet. (Yeh, I thought twice before I bought it! After all gelato is much lighter than ice cream isn’t it? ;-) ) You could order as many flavours as you like and they will build them up into a gorgeous gelato flower. The cone comes in 3 sizes and I went for the smallest one. It does not only taste good, but also look good!

Gelato flower cone with 5 flavours - Raspberry (again), mango, lychee, strawberry and chocolate. All in one cone. £3.5 (approximately). Armorino.

There are too much delicious food to share, so I had to divided them into 2-3 blogs. Stay tuned for the other one!

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跛鱉千里－ 愛丁堡（完）

終於都有時間打埋最後一篇啦，最後都係要擲過年！首先祝大家2016年快樂！雖然就黎考試，但我覺得打得幾慢都好最少都要係考試之前打完中文版既愛丁堡系列。最後一日係愛丁堡都代表左我呢個月既英國之旅就快完結，淨番個一兩日就係係舅父屋企渡過，最後玩到發住燒咁坐五個鐘火車番去colchester，諗番起都覺得辛苦！而第五日係愛丁堡主要就係去講左好耐既Edinburgh Castle!

Edinburgh Castle可以話係愛丁堡，甚至成個蘇格蘭象徵，千幾年前已經有人係呢到住，十二至十六世紀更加係蘇格蘭皇室既城堡。外表古雅既城堡其實係長年累月同英格蘭既戰事蹂躪之下已經千瘡百孔。之前都有講過其實Edinburgh Castle係建於死火山之上， 由幾個部分組成，主要有戰爭歷史博物館﹑St Magaret's Chapel﹑Scottish National War Museum 同 Crown Square。由於以前係軍事重地，城堡既四周都有好多大炮指向外海，我相信以前係仲多！俾左£18入去唔係唔俾多£3租埋個聲音導航呀嘛！其實佢都講得好詳細，我見多時間都好認真咁逐個逐個聽，最後都行左三個幾鐘先走！

One O'clock Gun。

每日準時一點都會嗚炮一下，可惜我遲左去就冇咁近距離睇啦，都係第二日先去番車站隔離既Princes Street Gardens 到睇。個感覺都幾奇妙架。同樣既情況其實大家都一定經歷過架啦。大家一定有發現行雷一定係先見到閃電，幾秒之後先聽到雷聲啦。有讀physics既都知道光速係快過音速好多倍既，所以當我係有番咁上下距離既Princes Street Gardens到望去城堡係先見到炮火，後聽到炮響既！不過個差別就比行雷閃電少好多啦，話哂都係差幾個街口姐！

一生充滿悲劇色彩既瑪麗皇后有一段時間都係以此為家，更加係呢到生左佢唯一既仔，亦姐係兩國皇位繼承人 James VI of Scotland and I of England. 

為左方便大家locate下自己睇緊咩，比個提示你啦，頭先個 One O'clock Gun 係左邊落斜細到睇唔到，證明個城堡有幾咁大！

個城堡經歷過咁多次戰爭當然有好多展品都係圍繞戰爭與和平呢個Topic。其中最大規模又係城堡中心既就係呢個Scottish National War Memorial。佢係用呢紀念兩次世界大戰陣亡既烈士，原址係六百幾年前本來係一個教堂黎既，但後來拆左到大約一百年前先起番個紀念館。

Scottish National War Memorial 正門，前面就係Crown Square。

係紀念館後面係成個城堡以至成個愛丁堡最歷史悠久既建築 － St Margaret's Chapel。呢個教堂已經有八百幾年歷史，係用黎紀念St Margaret of Scotland 既。佢曾經係蘇格蘭皇后，至於點解要起個教堂黎紀念佢，我都唔係太清楚，但係大概都係因為佢係一個好虔誠既教徒啦。（如果咁就可以起個教堂仔地球好快會冇哂位）。

St Margaret's Chapel

城堡入面仲有一個好似地牢既地方，叫David's Tower，建於14世紀。雖然叫tower,但基本上佢已經得番個地基，所以係城堡外係完全睇佢唔到，睇落似地牢既多，而且仲係近呢一百年先俾人發現。Davids Tower 以前係蘇格蘭皇室日常起居既地方。咁通常黑媽媽既地方都有故仔聽架啦，咁呢個地方都有幾個好精彩既歷史既。呢到曾經發生過一件類似鴻門夜宴既事，叫做The Black Dinner。件事係發生係1440年，當時有一個家族叫The Douglases，勢力愈來愈大，咁皇室岩岩先有新國王登基，亦姐係只有10歲既James II of Scotland（因為 James I俾人謀殺左），個皇太后同攝政王就好擔心呢個家族會動搖到佢地既地位，所以就代國王邀請左當時The Douglases家族最大權力既人16歲既William同佢11歲既細佬David黎食餐飯咁話。咁大家都係細路，兩個人同國王都食得又玩得好盡興，緊係唔知有唔對路啦。直至晚飯既尾聲，有個象徵死亡既黑色牛頭突然掉左係餐桌上面，之後兩兄弟就俾人拖左出去Crown Square到判叛國罪被斬首！可見「欲加之罪何患無辭」從古至今，由中至外都發生緊。另外，David's Tower 亦都係第二次世界大戰收藏皇室冠冕既地方。老實講個tower除左黑之外仲好臭，話哂幾百年既味要一百年揮發都幾難，我都係入左去一陣就頂唔住要出番去！

呢到有條Link 有段片講個tower既，有興趣就睇下啦：http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-20510092

炮下既愛丁堡

行完Castle都差唔多，之後都係周圍hea 下，去埋New Town 間Primark! 同Oxford Street個間一樣咁大不過就少人好多！

最尾個日上午仲有d時間就去左National Gallery of Scotland。入去畫廊之前唔知點解d保安係都要我將個背囊揹係前面，咁人地叫到我又唔會唔做既，不過個問題就係我次次坐底起身去完廁所之後都唔記得，結果我足足俾人叫左三次要揹番係前面！講番先，睇畫作可以睇番百幾二百年以前既愛丁堡到底係點既！但我好驚訝原來愛丁堡既變化唔算好大！

睇到啦，一樣咁濟！

行完Gallery就番左Hostel拎番我個成30kg既行李，好彩上落火車都有好多熱心既男士幫我拎一拎，如果唔係我肯定搬唔郁。而番hostel途中俾我發現左一句說話好適合總結今次愛丁堡之旅。

期待下次再出旅行blog！英文版同美食篇都係考完試再慢慢黎啦XD！

[queseraseralee]

跛鱉千里－ 愛丁堡（四）

到左第四日終於冇得懶洋洋咁八點幾九點先起身啦，晨咁早六點九已經彈起左。因為我join個個local tour 係由朝早八點直踩十二個鐘到夜晚八點，七點半係新城區集合，仲要係唔等人既，miss左就GG啦。今次join 左家姐推介既Rabbies既一日團，主要目的地就係久仰大名既尼斯湖（Loch Ness)，今年四月我呀媽同家姐去愛丁堡玩都係join呢個團架！聽得多關於尼斯湖水怪既故事，幾百年黎不斷有人聲稱自己見到水怪既蹤影，就連做聲納探測都唔能夠證實湖入面冇任何大型水底生物，令到水怪既存在更加撲朔迷離，尼斯湖呢個名就同神祕畫上等號，所以個日我既任務就係要親身去搵水怪！

去到rabbies既集合點就發現原來都有好多人參加形形式式既tour,有D仲要係三日兩夜架tim!而我join 既Loch Ness, Glencoe and Highlands Day Tour 原來都好受歡迎，個日就有4團人都係去同一個tour，每團人數都唔算多，大約15個就會成團。Local Tour既特點就係司機本身就係導遊。最驚喜既就係帶我個團既Heather咁岩都係我家姐個團既！25%機會，咁都俾我遇到。我個團計埋我就有3個獨行俠，5個大陸人（重點）同一個中東既family。

蘇格蘭分為高地同低地，愛丁堡就係係低地，而呢日要去既尼斯湖就位處高地(Highland)。講多個冷知識你知啦，Hogwarts 其實都係係高地架！不過根據書既描述Hogwarts 成個城堡受魔法保護，麻瓜就算經過見到都只係會見到一個廢墟，好奇心重既人就算想行入去都會糊里糊塗自己掉頭行開，所以我諗就算我呢個超級麻瓜真係經過Hogwarts都唔會發現得到！有睇過迪士尼個套Brave 就應該更加能夠想像到高地係咩樣！周圍都係山同湖，好似由磐古初開個時已經係咁既樣，唔講直頭覺得自己好似穿過時光隧道番左去原始時代咁。生在香港既我從來都冇諗過竟然有一個地方可以保持幾百年不變！講左咁耐到底尼斯湖係邊架呢？我上網google左個地圖俾大家睇，等大家大概知到佢同愛丁堡差幾遠。

如圖所示，由愛丁堡出發去尼斯湖最快都要三個幾鐘車程，仲遠過由倫敦去oxford。

不過成個tour緊係唔會直接坐三個鐘咁去尼斯湖啦，中間都會加少少景點俾你落下車去下廁所食下野既。車程不過中間好多歷史景點都係坐車經過冇時間落車睇，但Heather都會好好咁不停講好多歷史我地知，識我都知我以前上歷史堂係會hup眼瞓既。而Heather講歷史講到好似講故仔咁，繪形繪聲，一d悶場都冇！最正既就係佢差唔多到一個歷史名勝就會提定你望去個邊，仲會形容埋俾你知個景點係咩樣，等你就算只係有幾秒既時間望都一定會望到！

係去第一個checkpoint (Callander，一個係highland同lowland中間既小鎮) 既途中，Heather講左個好驚人既故事俾我地知：原來以前OldTown係一個超級污糟既地方，又黑又臭，最得人驚既唔係鬼故，而係以前既屋入面係冇廁所既，咁點處理d屎呢？最快既方法就係直接倒出窗，名乎其實既倒夜香！倒出窗都有規矩架！d人淨係可以係夜晚十點至早上七點先可以倒屎，而倒之前佢地就係大喝一聲「Gardyloo！」，意思姐係叫下面d人睇屎呀！你諗下如果你身處個個年代，聽到句咁既野你真係唔好擔天望地搵下邊個嗌，因為樓上既人只係會俾3秒你，係3秒，你要係3秒之內閃去騎樓底，如果唔係就真係lai哂屎！最慘係咩呢，以前既pub係開到十點半既，姐係話d醉酒佬未隊完酒Old Town既人已經開始倒夜香，你諗下d醉貓行番出個pub聽到gardyloo佢個reaction time只唔只3秒？仲唔中到正一正？所以到而家Edinburgh都有個term形容d醉酒佬，就係shitfaced drunk 啦。連外國關於屎尿屁既知識都有增長，我個bachelor of excretion應該可以升le變master。

去完Callander買左少少野食就坐多左半個鐘車就去到Loch Lubnaig，第一個Highland既景點。

咁樣望過去係咪有少少似黑湖？可能Hogwarts castle就係係山巒上面既某一處！

我想我既退休生活係咁

停左五分鐘之後又要繼續趕路！好多野都係走馬看花咁樣睇。

Rannoch Moor － 我覺得我去左lord of the rings 入面既地方咁。

十二點半終於去到個日既重頭戲 － 尼斯湖！今次唔上歷史堂啦，同大家上下少少地理堂先。Loch Ness係蘇格蘭第二大湖，僅次於Loch Lomond除左係疑似有水怪之外，佢係一個窄得黎又長又深既淡水湖，長37km,最深可以去到200幾米，但湖面就只係闊2.7km，而我地就去左湖西南邊既盡頭－ Fort Augustus。Fort Augustus係一個小鎮，鎮既中心人唔多，基本上一眼睇哂。

對於水怪既真身眾說紛紜，有人話係遠古蛇頸龍隱居係湖底，有人話係巨鰻，亦都有人話其實係一隻大笨象游過湖既時候伸左個象鼻出黎造成錯覺。水怪到底係咪存在，可能永遠都唔會有答案，但我自己就覺得佢會係怕羞得黎又好聰明同好溫柔，好似寵物小精靈入面藍色個隻龍咁，佢唔會打搞你，但亦希望你唔好搵佢既生物。雖然理智話我知湖入面可能咩野都冇，但最少都係一個對呢個湖好美好既幻想。

我連loch ness都覺得似黑湖，我真係中哂毒

個小朋友唔驚俾水怪食左？

Fort Angustus

係Loch Ness留左一個鐘就要走啦，我向來都冇咩運，自然就搵唔到水怪啦。回程既時候Heather都仲講緊故，我都好專心咁聽，但大家記得車上面有5個大陸女人！其實我都忍左佢地好耐，人地講故仔個時就係到訓，都算你訓你事，miss左咁多咁精彩既歷史背景係佢地蝕底，但佢地訓醒左就不停將D野食pass黎pass去，又係到講野。我係個d聽緊書有人係我附近講野我就會專心唔到既人黎，佢地愈講愈大聲真係會燥底！我好努力咁抑壓shu佢地既衝動，好彩佢地最後又訓番先靜d！

黎到冇飲過whisky就唔叫去過蘇格蘭！Heather就車左我地去一間有free whisky sample既local souvenir shop 到等我地有機會品嚐下！

一隻甜一隻苦，我就唔係好識欣賞啦！

回程既路上仲俾我地見到highland cattle! 第一睇望我都有少少嚇親，因為佢地真係好大隻，對角都好尖，都驚佢地會衝過黎！但望耐左就發現佢地其實好溫柔，同好為食！

隔壁團個導遊特登帶定d carrot黎餵佢地

仲會r癢

睇完牛就番番edinburgh啦，雖然已經八點但個天都仲好光！話哂都陪左我地成日，又全程都keep住好energetic, 我地去到最尾都俾番d掌聲多謝Heather！

Heather真心好正，一路揸車一路講故仔都仲可以咁精彩！

雖然係尼斯湖搵唔到水怪，但都叫踏足過蘇格蘭高地！下次再黎既話我諗我要全副gear，帶埋相機咁去行上山先可以真真正正感受到highland既原始氣息！十年內啦！等我儲夠錢又有假又有氣有力個時一定會再去過！

[queseraseralee]

It’s all about a little adventure (Part IV) - The excursions (Edinburgh Day 3)

19 Aug 2015

Unlike the previous day, it was a day of outdoor activities. I was actually surprised by how much I walked that day. It was such a good opportunity to revisit Calton Hill again under such a sunny weather. The first site that I went was Nelson Monument. I actually walked pass it on the first day because I thought it was not opened to tourist (like most of the monuments in Hong Kong). But actually you only need to pay £4 to climb to the highest point of Calton Hill.

The Nelson monument was built to in memory of Lord Nelson, who led the British Royal Navy defeated the Napoleon’s army in the Battle of Trafalgar, which marked the status of the Royal Navy in the following hundred year. However, Nelson himself died after witnessing the victory of Britain due to his backbone being shot through by a bullet. Every year on the Trafalgar Day, which is in October, signal flags will be flown on the tower to commemorate the battle as well as Lord Nelson. Another feature that makes the tower so special is that they still hold onto the tradition, the One O’clock Timeball. There is a white time ball which falls exactly at 1 o'clock together with the 1 o’clock gun at the Edinburgh Castle. It was used to enable ships around Edinburgh to adjust the time and location. It has been operating for more than 150 years though people no longer depend on it to verify the time. I like the way that they persevere this tradition because it is part of the history of the city. It worths more when it is still operating instead of being placed in the museum.

This is the entrance of Nelson monument that I missed on the first day.

The staircase was narrow and dark as expected. But one thing made it different from the St Mary Church Tower in Oxford is that windows were added to the building, enabling you to see how high you have climbed and how much to go.

Once you are on the top of the tower, you are at the highest point of New Town (not Edinburgh yet). 

Salisbury Crags, Arthur’s Seat and the morning sun

North bridge joining Old Town and New Town with railway station underneath.

Trying my best to capture a clear image of the Edinburgh Castle

When I was on my way back to the Old Town, I stopped to listen to the bagpipe music played by a Scottish child. I was pretty amazed by his performance and by his age as a street performer. This made me think back when I was a kid, I could be very anxious whenever I played the piano in front of my friends and I usually stopped in the middle, let alone playing music in front of the crowd, like in a piano contest. I was very impressed by the courage of this little performer and I hope he could keep improving his skills and play like the military bands of which the performance I watched later that day.

After a short lunch break at Starbucks, I started heading down the royal mile to Holyrood Palace where i found the correct path to the Arthur’s Seat, which is standing 200m higher than the city on Edinburgh. Once you reach the top, you are at the highest point of the whole city. Like the rock that the Edinburgh Castle is seating on, Arthur’s Seat itself was part of an extinct volcano system which could be dated back hundreds of millions of years ago. It was said that the hill was named after the legendary King of England, King Arthur, who drew the sword from the stone and claimed the throne. But I have no idea why it was called a seat though it looks nothing like a chair.

St Margaret’s Loch

A view of the Calton Hill after ten-minute climb from ground. Couldn’t believe how far I had walked already.

The view from the highest point of Edinburgh with Salisbury Crags at the front.

The last but the most attractive event of the day was the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo 2015. I was lucky enough to saw an available seat (which was at roll G, pretty close to the ground) online before departure where everywhere else was full except for the upper deck, which probably won’t allow people with short sight like me to watch the show clearly. I got the seat almost immediately without hesitation. The ticket had to be collected at their ticket office in Old Town which I had already done on the first day. It actually worried me quite a bit because I had to keep the £42 ticket safe and whole for a couple of days, without which, I wouldn’t even have a chance to step into the ground.

After an hour of waiting (yes I shouldn’t have arrived that early), the show finally began. (I believe that was the cause of my cold right before my departure because it was very windy that night). It started with a lively introduction by the host. He asked which country we all came from and I was surprised to know that more than half of the spectators were Scottish, demonstrating great support to their local annual event. I was sitting between a Scottish oldman and an English lady. The host further brought up the atmosphere by leading us all to sing a birthday song to one of the Spectator who chose to celebrate his birthday in here! Then, a Royal Air Force flew over and marked the beginning of the performance. It reminded me a bit of the old Kai Tak Airport which was situated in the densely populated Kowloon City. I was only two but I merely remembered that my dad took me there and we watched the planes, taking off or landing, flew overhead. I could still recall the thundering engine sound, from far to near, and watching them appear right above for a few seconds and disappear behind the shophouses.

The first performance was the massed pipes and drums. I had never seen any large scale bagpipe performance like this in my life. Hundreds of bagpipes playing together could be loud, but in an open area like this, it was absolutely amazing.

Bagpipe players from different military organisations marching out from the castle.

Another eye catching performance was by The United States Air Force Honour Guard. They do not go onto the battlefield but render funeral honours at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. They didn’t play music. Instead, they performed show-stopping weapon manoeuvres, complex weapon exchange and most attractive of all, a walk through the gauntlet of spinning weapons.

A walk through the gauntlet of spinning weapons. The commander walked through the team while they were exchanging their spinning 11-pound gun. It was all about discipline, accuracy, teamwork and trust.

The theme of the tattoo this year was East Meets West. I was not surprised to see performance in Chinese style. One of theme was called the lotus dragon dance. At first I found it quite boring and ordinary because there were just people holding lotus flower sticks and leave-like umbrellas dancing around. Later on the separated lotus flower sticks were grouped together and transformed into a dragon. Everybody just wowed and the Scottish man even kept saying ‘Weldon’. I am used to a ‘dragon’ because it appears in the parades of some traditional festivals like the mid autumn festival. They are usually made of a piece of colourful cloth, covering the dancers. And the idea of turning flowers into a dragon was surprisingly beautiful and gorgeous.

The body of the dragon was made of lotus flowers. Beautiful.

My favourite part of the show was the drum performance by the Switzerland’s Top Secret Drum Corps. It was formed by part-time percussionists from all walks of life, be it college student, be it civil worker, be it banker. They played the drum in a much faster rate. They even have drumstick juggling and managed not to miss one. My heart beat almost as fast as the drums did. It is not surprised to know that they spent almost all of their free time to practice  because the performance was 100% flawless.

Top Secret Drum Corps.

The 2-hour show ended with a stunning firework at the castle. During the firework, the Scottish signature song - Auld lang syne was played and all of us just stood up, crossing arms and holding hands. I saw people did this before at the free fringe concert in the National museum of Scotland but I had never thought that I could also have the chance to be part of it! It allowed people to share happiness with each other. Everybody was singing their versions of Auld lang syne, even I sang the Cantonese one! Yet, it symbolises a friendship that is beyond nations, race and ethnicity. I highly recommend this to all who are going to visit Edinburgh in Summer but remember to get tickets beforehand. It was tiring but at the same time the best day I had during my stay in Scotland. I joined a local tour to the Highland the next day and discovered the nature side of Scotland, which is another exciting story to tell. Stay tuned to my next blog!