Yorkshire Dales | Day out in Malham Cove

Finally, a blog post after almost half a year of absence. So much has happened since the last entry which was on spending Christmas in Tromso, Norway (link). Let's see, mid-terms went by, then it was stressing over job applications and a huge chunk of the remaining term was committed to finishing up my dissertation and course-works. Finals came and now here I am about to graduate, moving on to another new chapter of life, employment (meh). Less of the boring stuff, this post will be dedicated to my Civil Habibis! These people are one of the reasons I've came this far in my degree and I owe it to them for keeping my sanity over these past few years!

This trip to Malham Cove was a great getaway after finishing our final exams and to top it off, we were blessed with an amazing weather! 

An early start as we made our way to the train station to catch the Leeds to Skipton train. After arriving at approximately 9:20am we then got on a van/bus to Malham village, the whole journey took about 45 minutes through country roads and beautiful landscapes. We were dropped off at the Malham Bucks Inn and started our walk heading towards the cove. As you can see from the images below, the sky was clear without any clouds in sight, there was a gentle breeze and a perfect temperature of 23 c. We couldn't ask for a better day! We walked along the foot path leading us to the foot of the cove, it was about a 20 minute walk, it took us a longer time because of our constant picture taking/ selfie breaks.  

The start of our walk to the foot of the cove

Approaching the cove

After a short break by the stream, we continued our walk up to the top of the cove through a path that led to rocky/ stone paved steps. The walk may take the wind out of you, especially if you're unfit due to other priorities i.e. trying to get through uni. But we all made it slow and surely and was awarded with fantastic views of Yorkshire Dales! 

The path that leads up to the top of the cove

On top of the cove

Damini called this view 'The xxxxxx'

After spending an hour or two chilling on the the grassy field getting some tan, we all started to get really hungry and decided to head back down to the village for some nice pub food! 

As we got down to the foot of the cove, we cooled off by soaking our tired legs in the icy cold water of the stream while we watched other visitors with their pet dogs splashing around in the water chasing the ducks who were waddling peacefully before their day was ruined by us intruders. 

While chilling by the stream we got a shock of our lives when a fighter jet flew really low and past the cove above us. I'd give anything to see the reactions on our faces when we heard the loud rumbling of the jet engines echoing through the hills and its shadow disappearing in a blink of an eye.  

Foot of the cove with a little stream running through

The squad

4 years isn't a long time, but as I reminisce to the beginning of travelling thousands of miles from home to Leeds, the first day of uni and meeting tons of new faces and just finding everything so bloody overwhelming! Through constant doubts and questioning my life purposes until this day, from my personal experience I really think engineering does that to you, at least for me. So much has happened in these few years and I can't help but feel grateful for the opportunity, for the struggles, new experiences and of course the wonderful people that I've met along the way.

The one thing that made me feel so empowered as a woman in engineering is being a part of the very few civil engineering ladies in the course and seeing so many of us taking up roles, outshining the lads in many aspects of our degree life! I feel proud and honoured to know these Habibis in particular and my prayer is that you gals go on to make an impact and excel in your personal life and future careers! 

XX

Alexis

Some useful information:

Bus 210 or 211 schedule (Skipton St. to Malham Bucks Inn )

Only 2 service run daily, 9:45 am and 12:55 pm 

Because of the limited service, we decided to get a taxi back from Malham Village to the Skipton Train St. which cost approximately 30£ on way. 

More on Malham Cove

Singapore | That country that's killin it

Summer. A season I long for every start of the term. A period of time where I eagerly anticipate.

After not being back home for almost 2 years, it was time to head back home. Finals was over, the process of packing commenced and soon it was time to head back home. But before that, I made a cheeky stop to Dubai because why not. More about Dubai in my previous post here .

Long story short, I spent about 3 weeks back home before heading off to the tiny island, a dot on the world map but an incredible country known as Singapore.

So there I was, in Singapore. It felt familiar, like home, but it wasn't. This time I wasn't a traveller, I was not there for just a few days. This time, I was an Intern. Living, breathing, and adapting to the hustle and bustle of this economy powerhouse.

Not going to bore you with the in depth details of my time in Singapore because, there wasn't much that went on. But here are some of the highlights of my 2 months there.

Joined the Singapore Ultimate Open (SUO) 2016. Twas a random decision to join a team with a bunch of random international people who throughout the weekend displayed why ultimate frisbee is such an incredible sport that unites everyone.

Probably the best part of the tourney was playing against former team mates from the UK! and also an AUDL player. YAAAAS

Saturdays were one of the days that I looked forward to the most. Beach pickup in Sentosa. 3 things I love the most all in one. Beach. Sea. Frisbee. My life is complete. Big shout out to the pickup people who graciously allowed me to be a part of their training's, games and hangouts <3

Where should one go to be immersed in nature? MacRitchie Reservoir pretty much checks the box in most areas in terms of scenery, trails and wildlife bearing in mind that this place is (man made). A lovely refreshing getaway from the city with my friend Nicole.



Something work related! Had the chance to visit a site where one of the many MRT tunneling work was in being carried out. 30m below ground, standing in the midst of giant machinery. Such a humbling and incredible experience.

Singapore's National Day fireworks display was pretty awesome, albeit rather short. 

One of the place I frequent to chill at night. Good vibes. Good food and Good company.

Singapore Night Festival. Live music, hipster food and drinks all night.

I love the creative aspect of art. But when I had to wait 2 and half hours in a queue to enter a 6 by 6 ft room to see a couple of dangling lights and mirrors. I found myself questioning the mere existence of life. But here it is, the Shower thoughts. It was, pretty cool.

This out of the world Gardens by the bay. Felt like I was transported into a different realm. 

Pretty much sums up what I did in Singapore. Not to mention the people I've met along the way. Friends that I've reconnected with and also family members that I had the chance to meet up with. I feel immensely blessed beyond words with the kindness I've been shown and the opportunities that I was given. To the people that made my stay in Singapore an unforgettable one. Much love!

   

  

                            

To seek is to not be content with where one is,

To seek is to dream that there is more. 

-Travis Rice

Summer Vibes | Dubai, UAE

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

First of all, this city is out of this world. Secondly, the heat literally melts your skin off. 

Dubai has always been a transit route whenever I fly home from the UK. This time instead of a short transit, with the approval of the rents I decided to make a 3 days trip to Dubai and experience first hand what an incredible modern developing city it was.

As an aspiring Civil and Structural Engineer my eyes definitely lit up as we passed by looming skyscrapers spilling out of every corner and street. 

I was accompanied by my friend @nakedhamburger. After completing our final exams and several frantic packing sessions the day finally came where we made our way from Leeds to Manchester  Airport and after a 7 hour flight with Emirates we arrived at the Dubai International Airport. 

We first checked in to our new hotel Rove Downtown located conveniently next to the Dubai Mall and with an incredible view of the Burj Khalifa. With an extra cost we had a room with a view that literally makes my heart skip a beat every time I look out the window. The hotel being new was clean and had a great ambience that leaves you feeling at home the moment you walk into the main lobby and lounge area. 

Some features of the hotel includes a 24hr convenience store, a restaurant, pool, gym, laundry and luggage storage spaces.  

This hotel has some of the best interior designs and decorations I've ever seen.

A spacious laptop work friendly zone and Starbucks conveniently in the lounge area.

The pool area is spacious and offers an incredible view of the Burj. It's also a great way to cool off from the summer heat. 

As mentioned Dubai Mall is just a short walk from the hotel. We spent the evening walking around the Dubai Mall and watch the Musical Fountain show (largest in the World) 

I booked a tour package with Fun Tours Dubai that includes a dinner night cruise at the Deira Creek, City Tour and 4x4 Desert Safari. An amazing deal for the price of less than 60£!

The Desert Safari was definitely an amazing experience and the highlight of the trip. Our guide/ driver has over 20 years of experience and I definitely felt safe and very impressed with his driving skills as he navigated up and down the sand dunes with ease. The safari ended with a beautiful sunset , camel ride, performance and BBQ dinner.

On our final day in Dubai, we travelled to an area known as the Jumeirah where one of the Worlds most expensive hotel Burj Al Arab is located. Its amazing structure was designed to mimic the shape of a sail. 

We spent the rest of the afternoon in Souk Madinat Jumeirah a bazaar type re-creation of the ancient marketplaces with traditional Middle Eastern inspired architecture. Inside this market was little stall and shops selling arts, crafts and local souvenirs. There are some restaurants and bars around as well. 

It was definitely an unforgettable experience and opportunity to visit this incredible human boundary defying city. It's a place rich in culture, diversity and creativity.
I'd definitely recommend Dubai as one of the must see cities at least once in your lifetime.

Links to check out for further information:

Hotel:

Rove Downtown Dubai

Tour Company:

Fun Tours Dubai 

Features countless tour package; almost consistent instant replies by email and quality tour guides who speak good English.

Dubai Mall:

Fountain Show 

Afternoon Shows  

Daily except Friday: 1:00pm & 1:30pm  

Friday: 1:30pm & 2:00pm 

Evening Shows 

Daily: 6:00pm to 11:00pm 

(Every 30 Minutes) 

Market Place:

Souk Madinat Jumeirah

General Information:

Visit Dubai

Check out my Dubai Video Log:

Summer Vibes | Dubai, UAE

#KoreaVibes | Summer Highlights |

#KoreaVibes

The kettle clicks off from the corner of the room; I'm munching on some marshmallows under my Primark throw because it's been raining since morning and the room is quite chilly (Typical Leeds ).

It's been 3 days since returning back from Seoul, South Korea and honestly I'm going through some Post Korea Withdrawal Symptoms- The real deal. 

But enough of my personal emotional issues, I'm here to  give an overview of my 2 months in Korea. I'll try to keep it short as this post is supposed to be sort of a picture Blog! YAY!

Prior to my summer break from university I applied for a student summer exchange program to the University of Korea (고려대학교) and I got in! Long story short I found myself in Seoul on the 25th of June despite the initial worries of the MERS outbreak.

Throughout the 8 weeks in Korea, I've tried to visit as many places I could; Met many wonderful souls and ate gobsmackingly good food!

These are just some of the highlights of my trip and it is almost impossible to fit 2 months worth of memories into one Blog post!

It's been an amazing experience, especially since Korea has been one of my must go destinations and my undeniable love of Korean cuisine!

Cut to the chase, here are some of the places and things I've done along the way: *Reminiscing the good times* *Whimpers*

Pictures may take some time to load, but I hope you will enjoy it nonetheless. 

~Links to more information by clicking on the title

1. Gyeongbokgung Palace 경복궁

This is a must go "Touristy" place to visit and you'll find lots of information about it on-line. Situated in the heart of Seoul city it is easy to access and tickets are only 3000won (1.6GBP).
One can get dressed in the traditional 'Hanbok' clothing and roam around the palace grounds.

Changing of guards

Signalling the changing of guards

One of the entrance from the inside

2.  Banpo Bridge Rainbow Fountain 반포대교 달빛무지개분수

Not a must see but it's definitely a nice sight when you just want to chill and relax by the Hangang (한강) river. There are many parks along the way and it's a normal sight to see families pitching tents and having picnics on the open field. If you have time to spare, cycling along the Han river should be a great way to unwind and get some exercise done.

Beautiful reflection

3. Daebudo Island 대부동

Only for the adventure enthusiasts! Not a lot of information online as it is mostly a local getaway. There are no taxis and bus is the main transportation. However, go to the information centre upon arrival to the entrance of Daebudo for the map of the island and there are several trails on the map that one can tackle. However, it is quite tough to locate at times but the main thrill is getting somewhat lost and discovering beautiful sights and sceneries along the way.  
Watching the Sun set was one of the highlights of this trip as well as meeting friendly people who speak no English but would go out of their way to help you.

4. Yongma Land (Abandoned amusement park) 용마공원

First thing that came to my mind about visiting an abandoned amusement park ? Killer clowns! But the hipster-ness in me was more intrigued by the place and photo opportunities. Not the usual touristy place to go but after reading several blogs about this place I decided to pay this place a visit. It was quite hard to find the entrance and was a long walk from the nearest train station but eventually with the help of 'Naver' map I got to the park and paid an entrance fee (5000won) to an Ahjussi and then the exploring began. As expected it was a run down amusement park, rusts and broken glass everywhere but many picture perfect locations. Friends, professional photographers and couples were among the few who visited the park while I was there.  
Also, this park was a music video shooting location for one of the K-pop groups but I don't remember who.

Control room

Went up a dodgy flight of stairs in an office to the roof for this view. Well worth it!

The sun began to set

At the right moment

Merry-go-round that still operates but with a fee

This piano had some artistic feel to it

Perfect setting

5. Professional baseball game LG vs NEXEN

One of the school trips organised by the Korea University summer school team where we got to watch the baseball game and take part in the chants/ singing and dancing with the supporters. It was a nice atmosphere as supporters sang and danced to different songs as different players turn came.

6. Soongsil Hat (Ultimate Frisbee)

This was my first ever hat tournament and to be playing it in Korea itself was a very special moment. Not knowing anyone or who my team mates were it was a pretty daunting feeling initially but everything panned out pretty well eventually. Until I landed on my good ankle and was out of the the game but pushed on to play on the second day. Really enjoyed playing with team Kimchi! I mean who wouldn't love a team with such swag?

Picture from team mate Oliver

7. Seoraksan National Park 설악산국립공원 

Seoraksan was one of the most picturesque places I wanted to visit. It's also a World Heritage site listed by UNESCO. However, luck was not on our side when the day we made our way to Sokcho it was pouring down with rain. The rain did not ease up the next morning as we pushed on to the park, I didn't bother taking the cable car ride up to the peak as I was sure there wasn't much to be seen and all hiking trails were closed for safety reasons. After enjoying a cup of coffee at a quaint little cafe in the heart of the park the weather slowly cleared and we went for a short trail (2.4km) to Biryong Falls. Along the way the scenery was pretty spectacular, with suspension bridges and the thundering roar as gallons of water came cascading down the mountain ravines. It's just a shame that we weren't able to hike to the top of the peak.

On the way to Biryong Falls trail

8. Caribbean Bay 캐리비안 베이

Cue the Cabi bay song ft. 2pm and SNSD hotness overload *ABS ABS ABS* 

Be prepared to spend a long LONG time waiting for rides that last for less than 2 minutes. A fun experience nonetheless. Would've been more amazing if Taec-ssi was there. 

Wave pool after closing time. 10 minutes ago this pace was completely packed.

9. Gwangjang Market  광장시장

Stalls after stalls of good food. Bibimbaps, snacks like red bean porridge called patjuk (팟죽), jokbal pigs’ feet and sundae (순대) blood sausage. And the famous Bindaetteok (빈대떡) a thick pancake made from mung bean and vegetables. Another must try is the Mayak Kimbap 마약김밥; sesame Korean sushi roll goodness.

Bindaetteok (빈대떡)

Side dishes that really caught my attention and the ahjumma was really kind to offer some of her chilli baby crabs. Taste wasn't that great as it was salty as well as too crunchy for my liking. 

10. Noryangjin Market 노량진 수산시장

Visited this fish market with a friend from home and had the experience of eating the highly anticipated live Octopus 산낙지, raw sea urchins, abalone, crab soup and steamed king crab full with mouth watering meat! 

We chose the seafood we wanted and was given a price, the stall owner then led us to a restaurant upstairs where they cooked the seafood to of your choice. It was a good and filling meal!

Be prepared to fork out a good amount of money for the meals.  

11. Solo travels to Busan

A more in depth post of my 5 days 4 nights trip to Busan will be up soon with details of my travels, accommodation and itinerary. In short, it was a great getaway from Seoul to sunny sandy Busan!

An amazing sunset on the first day at Haeundae Beach 

Where the rich reside

Yonggungsa Temple 해동용궁사

Taejongdae Park 태종대

Nike! 그냥해

Wish I had enough cash to eat fresh Sashimi on the rocks by the cliffs 

Hope I wasn't intruding 

Jagalchi fish market 자갈치시장

Korea is such a unique country that still holds on to its traditions and rich cultures. It is admirable that a country with it's own language has grown into a successful and developed country. Of course like any other countries it has it's own flaws.
2 months flew by so fast and there are still countless places and things I wanted to do but couldn't make time for it. Hoping I'd get the chance to come back to this amazing country soon!

I'm ultimately grateful to my parents for allowing me to go on this trip of a lifetime as well as the University of Leeds for the opportunity to study in one of Korea's prestigious university (Korea University)

Shout out to every individual I've met in Korea; Hope you're doing well! Peace out~