Reward Yourself I: Antwerp, Belgium

After have been struggling with my doctoral proposal, finally the first draft has coming through. I have spent almost 3 months to scrutinize everything, with endless meetings and discussions with the researchers from the Department of Artificial Intelligence, Agent Systems Research Group and Clinical Psychology. I can say, it is a bit tricky when you’re trying to tie up three different disciplines altogether, especially to model cognitive ability in human into a bit and chunk of computer codes and mathematical models.

Hhm, to wire them with the robotic tool will be another mind-tumbling episode. But, I love challenge. I have submitted the first draft of my proposal to be reviewed (and hoping both of my supervisors will be happy with this – pretty though when dealing with the funded project). I will receive the result by next week. As for me, it means – reward yourself time (yup, I love to reward myself – as a token of appreciation for your accomplishment (kalau ada penaja lagi syoookkkkk …siapa yg berminat ingin menaja ?). For this “reward yourself’ time. I went to Belgium, to be specific, I visited Antwerp and Brussels. I went there with my friends, since she decided to show her sister more parts of the Europe continent. I started my journey from Amsterdam, using bus and it took me almost 2 hours to reach Belgium.

Left: The Map of Belgium

Right: The Dolly Parton Bridge .. (focus yourself to the 2 humps bridge) ..heh..heh..heh

I will share with you about Antwerp first. Brussels thingy will be in the next entry. Antwerp (in Dutch it is pronounced as Antwerpen, or in French as Anvers) is one of the cities in Belgium and the capital of the Antwerp province in Flanders, one of Belgium's three regions. There are many versions how this city got its name.

Left: yummilicious belgian's chocs.
(sedappppp!)

(Right): Way to the Statue of Brabo & and the Square

One of them is the mythical folklore, a legend involving a giant called Antigoon who lived near the river Scheldt. He demanded a toll from those crossing the river, and for those who refused, he severed one of their hands and threw it into the river Scheldt (sungai kat Bandar Antwerpen). Eventually, the giant was slain by a young hero named Brabo, who cut off the giant's own hand and flung it into the river. Hence the name Antwerpen, from Dutch hand werpen—related to Old English words of hand and wearpan (= to throw), that has changed to today's warp. (Mat salleh ni kalau lagenda diorg mesti ada gergasi.. heh..heh..heh). Nevertheless, the 'hand' is the symbol of Antwerp.There are hands in the town flag. Also there are several sweets in the form of a hand (cookies, chocolates ~ tapi tak lalu laa pakcik nak beli .. ). In any case, visit to Antwerp without the Brabo fountain, the Grote Markt would not be complete. Notice how the water of the fountain is not caught in a basin, but just simply disappears under the stones of the monument where it enters in a closed water circuit.

Left: The monument of Brabo's triumph against the giant & Grote Market.

Right: One of these greenish sculptures is a real human (except those visitors)

(errmm apa lagi ni yaa .. oo okay) Antwerp is the second largest harbor of Europe (after Rotterdam, The Netherlands). Moreover, Antwerp is a splendid city with numerous architectural highlights, most of which date from the 16th (the golden era of Antwerp) and the 17th century. The destructions of the Second World War, unfortunately, has scarred somehow the fair face of the old town. Still there are enough monuments left for those who like monument-hopping to spend a few days admiring them (which i'm not in this list). The past is also represented by the numerous paintings of Peter Paul Rubens who lived in the Antwerp of the early 17th century.The city also has many architectural treasures, such as the Rubens House, the market square, and the Italian Renaissance-style Town Hall. A typical feature of the European architecture

Left: City Square of Antwerp (posing sikit ..)

Right: My lunch .. (boleh laaa - rating 6/10 ~ tp licin jugak tgh lapar kan .. )







Anyway friends, that Antwerp is all about. I do believe there are many things to be explored there, especially the riverside of it, and many historical monuments, but since i don't have an ample time (and interest) to visit those places, i skipped those. Next, heading to Brussels - the heart of Belgium - will be in my next entry.