2018 'WandeRewind'

Hey guys, how's the new year going ? I hope everyone had a good start of the new season and hopefully things will always be great for all of you as time flies.

Yes, time has passed very quickly during the past year too. Little did I realise that I have actually traveled to 22 cities and 8 countries (including England) in the span of a year, yet I didn't write about most of them, huhuhu

So this post is not going to be all about my travel experience because that is definitely going to be way too long to compile in one post. I initially wanted to make a summary on all 22 cities I have visited but I realised that it is just ridiculous, hence here's a 'rewind' of 7 cities I have wandered in 2018 in England; the 2018 WandeRewind!! (hmmm this sounds like a start of a new series hoho)

1. Bath, England

Roman Baths entrance

I went to Bath in January last year. It was a day trip with a group of students from different universities, and I went there with a friend from my uni (if you're reading this, are you proud that I finally wrote about it? well, after a year hahahaha). As it name suggests, this city is the house to the famous Roman bathhouse, the spas of the ancient world. We also visited the Parade Gardens, a garden located just beside River Avon, not far from the stunning Pulteney Bridge that has a unique architecture. We only entered the Roman bathhouse, and passed by a few other historical buildings, one that I can recall is the Bath Abbey, a Gothic Anglican parish church located not far from the bathhouse museum.

The bathhouse

Bath Abbey (front view)

Bath Abbey

Parade Gardens (view from the street)

2. Salisbury, England

I think the name of the city itself doesn't seem to catch one's eyes, if they happen not to know where Stonehenge is based. Well to be fair, I only visited Stonehenge in Salisbury, not even the city itself. The day trip that I went for is a package of Bath and Stonehenge visits combined, hence we didn't get to explore more parts of the city of Salisbury. It takes more than half a day to explore everything about the henges with the audio guide, so I am pretty sure you need the whole weekend to get to know deeper about Salisbury. 

3. Manchester, England

It was in March that my friend and I visited Manchester, mainly to support our friend, Qistina who was the main actress of Manchester University's Malaysian Night. We then decided to spend our whole weekend there, and it was a nice short getaway.

John Rylands Library, which is also the University of Manchester Library!

Don't judge this library from my pictures, you have to admire this amazing architecture by visiting this library for free!

No reason to miss a visit to Old Trafford while you're in the city, so why not?

Manchester Chinatown, the second largest China town in the UK

Whitworth Art Gallery, with a beautiful park nearby! (The gallery closes at 5pm every day except on Thursdays, so better be there earlier XD)

How can I miss the works of archaeology, anthropology and natural history that are on display for free?
@ Manchester Museum

Didn't get the chance to enter the university itself, a reason for another visit maybe huhu

4. Canterbury, England

There are days where you're just confused about a lot of things, felt so messed up, and was in need of some time for your own self. I still remember the reason I desperately need a getaway to Canterbury on that weekend (which I won't mention here, of course), but it was definitely at least to clear up some parts of my mind and get myself together before the start of the new week. As He is the best planner, my travel partner happened to oversleep on that day so she missed the trip and I was completely on my own (finally got the whole time for my own self yeay! XD)

I literally just roamed around the city and spent most of the time talking to my own self. Almost all the places to visit in the city do not have free entrances, so I have more reason to be outside and just wandered kind of aimlessly. But what's a trip without a museum visit? I guess that's the reason I ended up in The Beaney (a museum and an art gallery) just because it provides free admission eheh (and their hot chocolate was quite good actually!)

Canterbury covered in snow

I hope I'll get the chance to come again someday to enter the Roman Museum and Canterbury Cathedral, which is one of the oldest Christian structures in England.

5. Sussex, England

I basically kicked off my summer break by joining my first year compulsory dig in West Dean, West Sussex for two weeks. Oh yeah I actually wrote a post about it but...it's in Malay guys haha if you're interested in getting to know archaeology and Chichester a bit more (and my homesickness XD), feel free to read my post on West Dean here!

6. Hertfordshire, England

Phasels Wood Activity Centre

On the first weekend of November last year, I joined a programme organised by PRISM (Platform Siswa Islam Malaysia) and MCE (Muslim Care Eropah), which is called 'Ladies in UK and Ireland Convention' or LILAC. I definitely had a wonderful weekend, not only for the fact that I was able to escape the hustle and bustle of the city of London and spent a few days in a tranquil and calm place, but also for the new friends that I have made and for the vast amount of knowledge that I have gained.

The campsite area, located in Kings Langley, Hertfordshire

7. Staffordshire, England

Smallwood Manor (Denstone College Prepatory School)

So here I was, in a landlocked county in the West Midlands of England, on the first week of my winter break for another event organised by PRISM, 'Daurah Insaniah Seluruh UK dan Ireland' or DAISUKI for short. I was particularly interested with the theme of the event: 'Millennials: A New Digital Muslim' which I find really closely related to me (despite the fact that I have not been on social media that much recently). Now that I have spent three to four months studying and aiming for good academic results, I thought to myself that I was indeed in need of this three to four days event to refresh the purpose of life as a young Muslim on this earth, and of course I am glad I ended up choosing to go for it after contemplating for quite some time huhu

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2018 has been a bit insane yet it was a wonderful year. I've been to places I've never been, in positions I've never lived, in circumstances I've never expected, in a space I've never encountered, in a zone I've never stepped into. While going through the last year of my second decade of life, I think I've got to know myself a bit better despite being hit with challenges I thought I can never make it through. So for 2019, I believe great things (and trials) are more to come, but what else can those be made for, because...

"If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials." (Sahih Bukhari)

I am actually quite glad that I can turn and look back at the past year from many different point of views. While there are days that the things I can recall from 2018 are only those that I shouldn't be holding on anymore, I am grateful that I can still look up to a lot of other things and be happy about it (like travelling! and fieldwork! and meeting new people! and much more!).

Nonetheless, everything happens for a reason. At the end of the day, the only thing to have faith in is that, "He knows, but you don't know." :)

With that, I hope it's still not too late to wish 'Have a great year ahead, everyone!' and may God ease everything for you and your future endeavours!