On and on and on...

In Aerospace Law today, the guest lecturer talked about the various international treaties governing outer space, including orbit zones, space debris responsibility and graveyard zones. She brought in papier mache and little toy models of the earth to demonstrate satellite orbits and to pass around the class; she simulated a space shuttle launch with her cute multi-part origami; she drew fun little diagrams on the wall, and used skull-and-crossbones to symbolise the graveyard orbit zones designated for space debris. As it was just class, I did not bring my camera, and severely regretted this. But it was a fun little class that was engaging and interesting.

After class, my classmate and I decided to take a spontaneous little bike trip to another nearby park instead of routinely sitting on the park opposite the law school. It ended up to be a massive tour of nearly the entire region south of Leiden that took us through a nature park, over bridges big and small, idyllic countryside scenes, old traditional villages, tree-lined boulevards, cow pastures and brought us eventually to a faraway inland beach. As it was spontaneous and after class, I did not have my camera, and severely regretted this.

The Cronesteyne Polder Park is immediately outside of town, and is a nice natural reprieve from the small town life. There was grass fields, canals and wildlife including ducks, birds and swans. However, this did not satisfy us and the road just led on. Before we knew it, we were on a tree-lined boulevard heading out of town into the countryside.

We came upon an old-looking village street running alongside a canal. We stopped at a traditional Bakery called 't Watertje to pick up cheap and freshly baked goods. I was especially impressed by this bakery because the assistant did NOT speak English. This made it all the more charming as I could practice my Dutch. We rode past fields with cows, along raised bicycle pathways, with pruned tree stumps. It was really idyllic countryside that was a world away from Leiden. It made Leiden seem modern, and that is saying something.

Eventually we came upon a lake with a beach (reminiscent of Manly Dam Reservoir in Sydney). There was even water birds just like back home. The beach was nice but the view was obstructed by this one little something that I could not quite put my finger on. Then I realised it was the rubbish bins. This beach, although small, had at least 20 rubbish bins spaced evenly and over-prominently along the shore. It was totally unnecessary, comical and obstructed the view. I wondered how much the rubbish bin contractors paid for this tender!

At the beach, I fell asleep and also realised that I had signed up for a 6.6km run in the evening and that it was not the best idea to have cycled all this way. Photos courtesy of Yuko.






The Singelloop. It was a nice little run around the border of town, which is designated by the singel canal. This is a curvy, windy canal forming a Leiden-sized amoeba. There was a nice gezellig community atmosphere with all ages and types of people taking part. The only uphill we had to tackle was the measly slope up a canal bridge. I noticed many more roadside spectators cheering runners on than at the Sydney City-to-Surf. As it was a running race and I was wearing sports attire, I did not bring my camera, and severely regretted this.
I would like to thank the sun for being so cooperative this day and providing nice perfect spring sun.