Pre-Trip
Initially, in March, we put together a group which was going to Morocco. Somehow, the group started to fall apart due to various reasons... A month is a long time to a bunch of restless MBAs... By the time, we got down to finalising the trip, the flights had gotten too expensive.

So, we decided to travel within the UK. I'd always wondered about Manchester. Probably because I know at least 2 friends from Singapore who had studied Architecture in Manchester, and that I'd come across urban planning related stuff on Manchester.

It so happened that I was chatting with Chia-Yen (Taiwan) about our little Manchester trip when it struck me that she had just spent at least 1 year in Manchester for her Masters before the MBA! She thought it would be great to revisit Manchester after 9 months. A day later, she found Janet (also from Taiwan) to come along with us. Hence, the 4 of us started to put the trip together.

I also emailed HJ, who used to study in Manchester. She got me in touch with her best buddy, Debbie, in Manchester, a former Singaporean who arrived in Manchester when she was 10.

DAY 1
After a 4-hour train ride from Cambridge, we finally arrived at Manchester Picadilly Station. Apart from the fact that my backside was aching a little from the long trip, I was rather excited.

Just 1 minute in Manchester and one starts to feel the city. It is a city. 3rd largest in the UK apparently.

We walked to the hotel which we found online.

The Velvet Hotel was only 5-week old when we got there.

According to the GBP1 visitor's map, the hotel is located right in the middle of the 'Gay Village'. It must have been the Gay Village because just 2 doors away was a club called QUEER. =))


The room was nicely decorated and the toiletries were from Burt's Bee.

We left our bags, and headed out for some real food... =)))

After a 10-minute stroll, we arrived at Tai Wu at Chia Yen's recommendation.


A traditional Cantonese dim sum place. Perfect with the pair of golden dragon and phoenix framing the 'Double Happiness' character in the background.


How cute is the ordering sheet? Looks like the one we used in Hong Kong!


I must say... The Dim Sum was really quite good.

Not as great as the best in Singapore and Hong Kong, but certainly good enough for us to go back again... And the prices... are ridiculously affordable if you compare them with those in Cambridge... Not as if one could have such good Dim Sum in Cambridge... But just realise that we stuffed our faces and the total bill came up to less than GBP30.

After the uber satisfying lunch, we got on our feet and attempted to move about slowly...

The guy in the foreground jumped in front of my camera as I was taking the picture. =))

Chia Yen brought us to her former school, i.e. University of Manchester.


A spacious campus to the south of the city centre.


The new University Centre.


She also brought us down to her tutorial rooms.


I could feel Chia Yen's nostalgia. =))


We popped into the Holy Name Church.

It somehow reminded me of my primary school days... Except that chapel is no longer in operation for worshipping.

A pair of weird structures stuck out in the air of Manchester. They are part of Contact Theatre, which is a performing space for youths.


This University of Manchester's Student Union, bustling with activities.
Ah... The seduction of youth.


The younger ones stopped by the road and pondered for a moment...


Somehow... Back in town... We decided to hop on the Wheel of Manchester.


All looking calm... as we waited for the wheel to start turning...


Heh Heh Heh...


ARGGGHHH!!!! I could feel my legs turning into jelly... =_=

After that harrowing ride... We walked around a little to shake off... I needed to recompose myself.

Eventually, we made our way to Koreana for a great Korean dinner before heading back to the hotel.



DAY 2
We started Day 2 at Tai Wu again. =)))

But this time with 3 of Chia Yen's friends from Uni of Manchester.
From Thailand, South Korea and Taiwan.


After lunch, we took Bus No. 250 to Trafford Centre for some SHOPPING!!! =)))


According to Wikipedia, "The planning process for the Trafford Centre was one of the longest and most expensive in the history of the United Kingdom."


Erm... Check out the size of the cruise ship-themed food court?!


'Good Fren' was in caffeine = withdrawal mode
The first thing we did was to get him some coffee.


Across this super long covered bridge, was Barton Square where the home furnishings stores were located.

After a dizzy afternoon... We hopped back on Bus No.250 and headed for the city centre once again.

Chia Yen went off to meet her friends for a drink. The group thought that might be a last gathering as she will be returning to Taiwan after the MBA.

Meanwhile, Janet, 'Good Fren' and I went in search of ROOM as recommended by Debbie.


A large airy room with high ceiling, windows, lots of people and its signature over-sized red lampshades.

I love big cities. I love critical mass.

As the evening sun caressed our table and bodies, we studied the menu intensely.


Not sure why... But we were the only Asians in the room.


We had a great chat with Janet.

In fact, it was the first real chat with her probably because (i) she was busy with her pregnancy and childbirth in the past 2 terms, and (ii) we were never in the same group for work.

'Steely' was the term 'Good Fren' used to describe her.
One tough lady.
How many people you know can go through an intensive MBA programme being pregnant, give birth, and get a job before majority of the class?

I realised recently that quite a few in the class have one or both parents who are/were teachers/professors. She's one of them.


After the very satisfying meal, we met up with Chia Yen again and headed for the Northen Quarter... We were looking for a pub called Bluu.

At that point, I still had no idea what Debbie looked like.


And so... the story goes... Debbie came from Singapore to Manchester when she was 10. She subsequently studied Architecture in University of Manchester and was the flatmate of my friend, HJ about 8 years ago.

Debbie eventually married George, from the UK, last year. The sweet couple started their own firm.

And her dinner recommendation at ROOM?
They got married at ROOM. =)))

What a beautiful story enjoyed from my perspective!

The weird bit is that Debbie and her actions resembles this other friend, R, who is also a close friend of HJ, and who used to be quite close to me in primary school (the one who showed me my first porn mag).

The weirder bit is that Debbie and George had met R in Singapore some time ago, and George thinks R is a funny girl!

Birds of a feather...

After some very sweet berry beer, we made our way back to the hotel and got upgraded to the penthouse because the first room was kind of noisy.


The penthouse suite is enjoyable.


I want the red leather sofa set!!!



DAY 3
We checked out of the hotel at 11am. Chia Yen had found a nice japanese restaurant for lunch before we braced ourselves for our way back to Cambridge on yet another painful 4-hour train ride.

My kayu 木头 model and me. So farnee!! =)))


The 木头 outside Samsi, the Japanese restaurant.

Ok, so we were early. The front door was locked and Chia Yen/Janet were not in sight. Because we were lingering so suspiciously outside the restaurant, the owner opened the door and let us in.

All was fine, until he realised that we were not Japanese, were Singaporeans and could understand Mandarin.

The owner of this Japanese restaurant had come to Manchester from Mainland China about 10 years.

He started to talk about how much China has progressed and how powerful China has become. How parts of China are more advanced than Singapore. How China need not force any country to 'return to China', because sooner or later, China will become so powerful and wealthy that countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines etc will voluntarily want to be part of China. 0_O

I was like... Uh Oh... I hope he doesn't start chatting with Chia Yen and Janet when they get to the restaurant, because once he realises that they are from Taiwan... The conversation will get rather uncomfortable.

Luckily, no such awkwardness arose. We had some fresh sushi and sashimi, then made our way to the station. =)))