Graduation celebration!

Lots have happened since the Rome trip last December.. Went through my second semester at Aber Uni, sat for my finals, flew back home for a good six weeks and then came back to the UK for graduation. So this post fast forwards us to a month and a half ago to convo day! XD

Date: 16th July 2008

Venue: The Great Hall, Aberystwyth University

Time: 3pm

Boarding the train from London the day before, it was so much fun seeing familiar faces during the Birmingham transit all the way to Aber. There was easily 6-7 M'sian families in that little coach with the graduates cramming together, busy catching up whilst playing cards.

After two and a half hours, the train got to its final station - Aberystwyth, and everyone went back to babying their respective families. I decided to house my family in Gwyn Hafan, a service apartment in Aber facing the seafront. The place is super cozy and nice!! Will totally recommend anyone who goes to Aber to stay there, the price is really reasonable too.

this is the sort of view you get from the apartment

the old college

We had a 3 days 2 nights stay in Aber, to come here just for the congregation. However, my family totally fell in love with the place instantaneously.. I even got a slight scolding for not convincing them to stay a day or two longer back when we were planning the trip.. See people, Aber is a really cute and quaint little town! I'm so gonna go back there sometime in the future..

Graduation day:

Everything was super hectic on that day. The morning started off well, I had a good night's rest, manage to play a round of Cluedo with my siblings, had a hearty breakfast and went to collect my gown later that morning.

However, the gown collection took unexpectedly longer and I had to rush back to get ready. By the time I got back to the university, it was much later than I had planned to. So I missed out on loads of photos with friends which I absolutely regret and still kicking myself for it. You guys better take note: plan ahead and give ample photo time on your grad day!!

colourful flags celebrating the occasion

in front of the Arts Centre, the building where the Great Hall is situated

Here's me after I went for my robing and registration:

law degrees usually have purple hoods

Photo time with friends!!

one of my closest buds, Sharon

Her DSLR totally saved the ceremony's pictures =)

Sally, my flatmate ~ super nice of her to come attend our graduation

Aberystwyth University Law Graduates, Class of 2008

(a partial group photo)

obligatory hat toss, WE'VE GRADUATED!!!!! XD

Next, family photo time!

a sweet family reunion ~ the people I love most, even baby JY made the trip!

I hope I've made them proud =)

Now, for the actual ceremony:

the Great Hall

after the procession of the VIPs, the Vice-Chancellor gave his speech

interval entertainment

the celebrated law graduates of the day, people in the higher tier are guests. spot me!!

Apparently, its a common thing in the UK to not to be presented with a scroll individually but rather to be presented to the VC in groups.

see the people with purple robes in a row? I'm the second from the left

that's me nodding when the VC called my name, super glad he got the pronunciation right! XD

yours truly

After the congregation ceremony, we went outdoors to take a few snaps:

wee~~!!

Adios Aber, I miss you loads!!

Next conquest: Manchester

After returning the gowns, lingered awhile with friends before heading home to prepare for the celebratory dinner with my family at Little Italy =)

Last up is my studio graduation photo:

mum's got it all framed up and displayed in my living room!! XD

Recently got a letter from the uni informing me that I've jointly won the Calcott Pryce prize for top scores in an individual module. Guess which? European Law I!! wth!! Super unexpected k, I don't even like the subject to begin with.. but no complaints, I'll take wateva's given XD hehehe.. Something is better than nothing.. Can't wait to find out what the prize is, but I'm not expecting anything huge. Afterall its only for an individual module AND I won it jointly..

hmm..

still, happy happy!!!

La Citta Eterna ~ Part V

The final post of my Rome adventure series *grins*.. I'm on a roll here! Never before have I posted 3 posts in a week, one every other day =)

For my final touring day in Rome city, we visited the remaining of the major attractions.. taking it easy throughout the day and lots of photos too.

First up is the Colosseum, going there for the day shots this time around:

these gladiators prefer posing for the camera than going to battles

Nearby, there was a souvenir stall with a machine that lets you make coins with images of the colosseum imprinted on it. Each costs 1 Euro and you have to supply a 2 cents coin for the image to be stamped onto.

insert coin and spin the wheel

voila!

Prior to the trip, we were told that it is cheaper to buy a ticket at the Palatine Hill entrance that allows for entry to the colosseum. So off to Palatine Hill we went, which took about 15 minutes.

an archway entrance

our Malaysian passports actually gave us a concession on the tickets!

Palatino aka Palatine Hill holds the location of the cave where the mythical founders of Rome, Remus and Romulus was saved and nursed by the she-wolf. Legend also has it that this is the place where Hercules defeated some monster.

The hill is packed with ruins, as there used to be palaces and temples built around the vast area.

the ascend begins

better preserved ones

this is as bad as it gets

a little refreshment

view of the city

Surrounding the ruins are lush greenery providing excellent background for some camwhoring:

More ruins along the way:

And the camwhoring continues:

love this shot

Ruins encore:

our hike is almost done with the colosseum in view

Moving on from Palatine, a brief stop by the Arch of Titus on the way to the Colosseum:

aw, a wedding photoshoot was in progress..

Next up, entering the Colosseum:

This is the view from two storeys up. I fully expect to see a flat ground forming the arena where gladiators face vicious beasts as depicted in the movies. However I was in for a surprise to see tunnel-like columns at the base.

Later, I found out those were called hypogeum and only little of the original floor remained.

and this is the view from the bottom

It was late afternoon after we were done with the Colosseum and Palatine, we then leisurely walked towards the Spanish Steps, passing by the Pantheon and decided to have a munch there with a light pour beginning to show.

Italian Mc Donalds!

nightfall was upon us by the time the rain stopped

We continued on to the Spanish Steps, enjoying night scene and christmas decors along the way:

view from atop the Spanish Steps

the Mercedes billboard ad was a total spoiler, sheesh

We did stay at a youth hostel during the trip. I had an enjoyable experience, the staff there was super friendly. Here's on the morning before we left:

that's Cat, she's nice

we were asked to write 'Merry Christmas' in malay since we're from Malaysia

Yup, so this is last of my Rome adventure.. Though we had minor setbacks and scares, it turned out really well and the whole experience was indeed fun and memorable.. If possible, I really wanna come back some time in the future XD

Once again, apologies for the delay in the posts, what a relief to finally finished it!