Sao Lao

Some photos and a video clip of Hortus Botanicus Leiden Fish Pond. I never knew there were fishes down there until I saw another student playing with them. I made some new friends that day and will keep going back to play with them later.

Read the rest of this entry »

After the spending a couple of hours at Leiden Law School, I decided to head out for lunch at Hortus Botanicus Leiden. It was too crowded at the outdoor seating area with mostly tourists and students having a late lunch or coffee and tea so I went to walk around in the garden instead.

Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I found out about a park near the Faculty of Social Science building. It was only five minutes walk away so I went there after class for a little bit of fresh air. There is a playground and also a sort of zoo for the children to hang out. It’s a nice place to escape to after a hectic day for the people in the area and to take your kids to hang out before dinner or during the weekend.

Read the rest of this entry »

On April 03, 2008 I had an early class at 9:00 AM. That means I had to catch the 7:00 AM train to Leiden. I was fortunate to have found an empty seat for that morning. It beats standing for almost an hour journey to school. At least I can just read and eat my breakfast while sitting down.

By the time I got to school it was almost 8:30 hour and the lobby was quiet with only few souls walking around. This is my last seminar course and I can only miss one meeting so I have to do my best to keep up with the reading assignments as well as the weekly essays. Just a couple of months and this will all be over. I can’t wait to graduate finally!

Some clips I took of my walk to the university book store with a little sprinkle at the beginning.

Part 1

Part 2

Read the rest of this entry »

After a visit to the university book store and not finding the text book that I needed, I headed back to Leiden Centraal train station. I walked pass a Church that I had been admiring for quite sometime but never had a chance to get a closer look at the structure. I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to check out the inside of the Church since it was almost closing time.

Later, after a few minutes of fast walking I noticed a new Thai restaurant that I have never seen before. I only know of one Thai restaurant in the area about one block from the Faculty of Arts. The name of the restaurant is Sisaket and it reminded me of the name of Wat Sisaket in Laos. I checked out the menu and was happy to know that they let you do take out. Maybe I will check out the food with some of my classmates at the end of the school year or sooner.

On April 02, 2008 I had to go to Leiden University book store to find a book for my Government and Politics in Latin America course. This is the last seminar that I have to take before graduation. It was nice and sunny where I was so I didn’t take my umbrella with me. By the time I got off the train at Leiden Centraal Station the sun went a way as I was walking toward the book store, the rain started to come down. I didn’t mind and just kept walking in the rain and took some pictures and made a few clips for my blog later. It was good timing to be there because I found out they have a city market at the center of the town. They didn’t have the book that I needed in stock so I went shopping afterward for Asian goodies.

Read the rest of this entry »

I woke up at 7:30 AM this morning and was ready for the first day of school. While I was organizing my backpack I realized that my wallet was nowhere to be found. I started to panic and did my best to retrace my steps, in hope to figure out where my wallet went. I have never lost my wallet before in my entire life (so far) so it was quite scary to know how careless I could be to loose one of the most important things in my life. Let’s see what’s in the wallet shall we? Hmmm…student card, health insurance card, residence permit, a bank card, Chef Vienne’s business card, and 200 something Euros. How the heck am I going to get to school with no money?

The last place I had my wallet out was at a restaurant in Friesland last night. But then I recall having touched my wallet while searcing for the extra memory card in my boyfriend’s car on the drive back. I told myself not to panic and gave Johan (my boyfriend) a call. I asked him to search his car to see if I left it there somehow. It turned out that while I was searching for the extra memory card I fell asleep and the wallet fell out of my purse. It was lying on the right side of the seat by the door. It was a good thing that it didn’t fall out when I got out of the car.

Johan saved the day and drove from his workplace to bring my wallet to me and I was able to get to school on time. I even had the chance to go by the University Bookstore to pick up the textbooks before class. I walked all the way from Leiden Centraal Station to the book store to get some exercise. On the way back I took the bus because I didn’t want to be late and also to give me a few minutes to eat lunch.

What a day I have had. I’m not even going to list the things that went wrong after the search for the missing wallet. I told myself to look for positive things and smile. If not then I will cry.

Here are some pics I took from earlier today.

A very old windmill, which is now a museum, a few minutes walk from Leiden Centraal Train Station.

A canal in the center of Leiden with Webster University on the right side.

A very well known English Pub in town.

Kooyker Book Store, where I get all of my Social Science textbooks.

Part of Leiden University building.

Social Science Department building, where all my classes are held.