Hi, my name is Drei Lewis. a 31 year-old guy from Manila, Philippines.
About me: A proud FEU Tamaraw licensed Nurse/Registered Nurse here. Simple, straight forward, Funny, a Loving and Understanding Friend, Thoughtful and most of all a happy looking guy.
I have been celebrating Christmas at work for the past 13 years. I have been living far away from my parents for a very long time, and as a nurse, we never usually have enough holidays during December. (We were nit allowed to), Thus we always work during holidays and this is the reality that I’ve had to face ever since I began my career in this profession.
By nursedrei
I have just noticed that many tourists who come to Birmingham do not make any research about the different places prior to coming here. Birmingham is not just about the City Centre. Try to go outside the city Centre and explore the whole west Midlands and you will see the real beauty of this place.
For First Timers, I’ll try my best to give tips for anyone:
If you are using the train to come here, I advice that you get a Day Trip Pass Ticket which usually costs around 7 to 8£. You can use this to visit the different towns in west midlands via TRAIN and BUS. (Trams are not Included)
The City Centre:
First have a walk along the New Street once you got outside of the Train Station, or Corporation Street( Which is around the corner if New Street). From there, you can walk to the Victoria Square where the Birmingham Museum is located at. You can also walk through the Chamberlain Square and take some
photos of the fountain.
From there, walk further and turn left, you can see the Largest Public Library in Europe. The Birmingham Library. You can go there inside free of charge, go to the top which will give you access to the Rooftop Lounge.
After visiting The Birmingham Library, Walk to Broad Street, and there you will see the commemoration photo or chair for Black Sabbath (Metal Rock Band). If go downstairs, it will lead you to a canal. Birmingham has the largest connection of Canals in Whole Europe, Larger than in Venice, Italy. There are many independent Indie pubs, restaurants along the canal. At the end of the canal, it will lead you to Either The Mail Box Mall or the Utilita Arena (Major concert Stadium) in Birmingham. There’s also a Sea Life Aquarium Nearby if you are into those things.
From the Mailbox, you can continue walking until the end exit of the building. It will lead you to the Birmingham China Town. If you like Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, Malay and Thai food, There’s a food Court that I can recommend called “Asia-Asia”.
Chinatown is also near the gay village, if you are into those kind of things, then China Town is the best place for you.
Now, let’s proceed to a different place called Digbeth, where all the underground clubs and pubs are located at. It’s the “Hood” as what they may call it. Digbeth is home of the different Street /Wall Arts in Birmingham. So many nice shops and small restaurants are located there.
Other Place I recommend is the Jewellery Quarter, It’s home of the famous Jewellery Factories which account 40 percent of the Jewellery production in the UK. They also have a museum there for jewellery enthusiasts.
Now a little far a way from the City Centre, Let’s visit the University of Birmingham. One of the kost Prestigious Universities in UK. The campus is soooo huge and the buildings are scattered around the forest. You can take a train from Birmingham New Street and drop off at the “University Station”. From there you can Visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Top 4 best hospital in UK) and the University of Birmingham. The Admin Campus is home of the Tallest Independent Clock Tower in the world. “The Old Joe”. If you are familiar with Lord of the rings and the Monster INC Animated film, both towers on the movies are inspired from the OLD JOE.
If you have time, I also recommend visiting the Aston Hall (One of the most important palaces in Birmingham). They have a very good garden outside and the entrance fee was around 11 to 13£ If I can still remember it right. The Last Entry for the Aston Hall Museum is at 15:00H. The Aston Villa Football Stadium is just located beside the Aston Hall.
Another Place to visit is the Cadbury Factory Museum (Good for kids). Birmingham is the origin if Cadbury Chocolates. There are many nice small villages and shops outside the cadbury museum. Just walk further and you can visit the Selly Manor Museum along the Sycamore Road.
on the other side of Birmingham, try taking a bus going to Canon Hill Park and enjoy the nature. You can also visit the Birmingham Bitanical Garden which is just located nearby. Outside the park, you can find the famous Edgbaston Stadium. (Home of the best Cricket players in the UK).
If you like going to the zoos, castles and a fan of peaky blinders, you have to visit the town of Dudley. There is also what we called the “Black Country Museum”. It is an open museum which depicts the life of the British people during the Industrial Revolution. Some of the settings of Peaky Blinders were taken here.
Another beautiful town I recommend is the Warwick. They have a very nice park and Castle. You can see the old buildings and houses that were built during 1500’s. I love this place so much.
If you are a fan of “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespear, you have to visit the town of “Stratford Upon Avon”. There you can see his birthplace and the preserved house he used to live in.
Another City I recommend is Coventry. Coventry has many Museums, Home of the Coventry Cathedral which was bombed during the World War and many Asian Restaurants. There are many Korean and Chinese Restaurants to eat in.
Facts:
1. Birmingham is the Second Largest City or Metropolitan Borough in the whole UK, Next after London.
2. During the World War, 90 percent of all the beautiful Establishents were destroyed. They had no choice but to rebuild the whole city again from scratch.
3. Birmingham is home of the Industrial Revolution in The UK with great contributions around the world.
4. The Old Joe is the tallest free Standing Clock Tower in the world (Located at UOB).
5. Birmingham has the highest number of younger youth in whole Europe.
6. The city is home of the largest Canal connections in whole Europe.
7. Birmingham is home of the Metal Rock Genre. Many famous Singers and Bands came from Birmingham.
8. It is home of the Cadbury Chocolate.
There are many inventions made in Birmingham and they are too many to mention. You can google it. Thanks.
I hope this may help!
I feel sad to know that Paramore was already disbanded few days ago. Paramore has been my favorite rock band since I was 15 years old!!! I guess every good things in life eventually come to an end!! I miss Paramore!!! Thanks for the huge impact you have given to my life!!!
My friends’ last week in the UK. Thanks for the company and brotherhood!!! Birmingham will never be the same again without you guys. I hope to see you again this December and grab some drinks soon.
Thanks for cooking authentic Chinese food for me. It was very delicious!!!
How I wish I can visit Beijing someday and cook Filipino food in return.
By nursedrei
I can’t wait to see you in 2 weeks Mama. 😍
Yes, my mom is coming to UK and is gonna stay here for 10 days. Only a short period of time because she has many responsibilities at work and she can’t be away for a long time.
Despite that, I am so excited to see her again and show her around the UK. Our goal is to travel the world while my mom is still strong and is able to.
Let’s go to Canada and USA after this. 😍
By nursedrei
I just met a new friend from Indonesia during my trip to Istanbul. I don’t know why but I always feel comfortable hanging out with my fellow Southeast Asians.
Balquist is a very cool and kind friend. She even toured me around Istanbul. We even had dinner together as I celebrated my birthday during that day. It was a very unforgettable experience though.
I hope to hang out with her again soon and explore Cappadocia together when I have free time. Thanks for the friendship and your kindness Balquist. 😍😊
By nursedrei
One of the best persons I have met in Turkiye. So grateful to meet a chill and cool friend from Uzbekistan. It’s just amazing that we both have the same hobby and interest in Photography. In addition, he is also finishing his Medschool soon. We talked a lot about medical and photography stuff while smoking Shisha/hookah. Hahaha.
Someday I will visit Uzbekistan and I am looking forward to hang out with you again bro. 😎
By nursedrei
May mga taong bigla na lang magpapakita after 8 months then pretends na parang walang nangyari!!! Wala man lang explanation and siguro nag eexpect na okay na lahat, ganun ganun lang?
Sorry, siguro kung naagapan pa noon, baka pwede pa masalba ang friendship pero nasanay na kami ni John na di namin siya kinakausap ng ilang buwan. Mahirap magpapasok ng toxic na kaibigan sa circle mo. Lalo na yung magpapakita na lang bigla bigla because convenient sa kanya. Yung lalapit lang kapag sad siya dahil rejected siya ng mga vinavalue niyang kaibigan sa Newcastle!!!
Ano kami, rebound? Taga salo kapag may problema siya, pero pag okay na, bigla na lang hindi mamamansin? Like Who you ka na after tapos na siya sayo?
Yan yung mga pinaka ayaw ko na tao sa lahat. Yung hindi marunong mag value ng friendship. Since ikaw naman nag simula nito, pwes ikaw ang mag effort and mag reach out. Huwag kang gumamit ng ibang tao.
Kung sincere ka talaga, dapat kinausap mo kami ng maayos, ng deretsahan at pribado. Hindi yung puro ka plastikan sa public!!! Pasensya na, di ko talaga kaya mag pretend na okay ako. Kilala ako ng mga kaibigan ko!!! Pag di ako okay, di ako mag kukunwari!!! Sa totoo lang tayo. Pag Galit ako, Galit talaga ako.
Sa totoo lang, dati nag tatampo lang ako pero dahil mas pinatagal yung problema, napalitan na ito ng GALIT until naging manhid na siguro ako. Di ko alam kung marunong pa ako magpatawad!!! Ang masasabi ko lang, the world doesn’t revolve around you!!! Matuto kang magpakumbaba at mag admit ng mga kasalanan mo. Matuto kang mag reach out!!! Matanda ka na. Take responsibility of your own actions.
Kaya walang tumatagal na friends sayo kasi di ka marunong magpahalaga ng friendship. Mas nauuna ang selfishness kesa sa care and kindness!!!
Pero that’s life. We have to move on. You are just another chapter in our lives!!!
