To Urs, For Urs, From Ur: Sat 2Feb08: Cadbury World, Birmingham

Last week, we met the pharmacy girls (Pui San, Li-Lynn, Ei Lyn, Kae Shin, and many more) that came here since last year, and they invited us to join them visiting Cadbury Factory. Yes, it’s true, it’s the Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate! Not solely only due to the-more-the-merrier reason, but also the-more-the-CHEAPER reason for the entrance fee per person.. xD

Woke up in the freezing morning, we didn’t notice the weather (bcoz it was still dark until 7.30am) until we were outside, getting on to the taxi that we booked: It was SNOWING!
Yes, it did, though it’s not heavy, this time exceptionally we could see the soft piles along the road. Argh! If only we came down earlier! (which I doubt will ever happen)

Off we go by train that departs at around 8am, the sky was already bright, and we were excited because we could see the piling snows during our journey! Snows are hardly to be found in Nottingham. The ‘snow’ here will only last for few minutes and will eventually gone by another seconds by the sunlight. That’s why we were so excited by it! I wish the stop in each station could be longer for few minutes for us to take pictures… Hahahaa…

After the 1.5-hour journey, we took another train to go to our destination. After that we still have to walk for another 25-30mins to the factory. It’s really not far, and the weather actually encourages us to walk faster.

Finally after the long journey, here we are, at Bournville village, where Cadbury chocolate was born!

While Pui San was our EO for the trip, she had to queue in order to get our tickets. Well, either did we, in order to take this picture!

- And then we visited here…. It was TRULY THE BIGGEST!!

Upon the entrance, we received few ‘free’ chocolates (not exactly free right?). Having no idea what we should expect in this chocolate factory, first of all it started with the origins of chocolate.

- No history lesson, so first page will do right? -

- Not only texts, they also visualised the history... -

After that, they showed us the history of Cadbury family who invented the first dairy milk chocolate and their business with a very interactive way, some with ‘life shows’. They were divided into several stages, and during the interval they gave us different chocolate (=D). We were also told about process of making each type of the Cadbury chocolates. It was not boring at all as they presented it somehow so that we felt that we involved.

Next, its PLAYING TIME! The ‘games’ and attractions are not only for children, some are for adults too!

-Dear chocolate, play with me!-

- We use LOTS of chocolate to play! -

- Recognise someone here? *blink *blink -

- Jump on it, and it'll break! -

- Er... Charlie Angel's? -

- One of the demonstration -

We really had F-U-N, and didn’t realize that half day has gone! Finally now we came back to the shop and grab the chocolates! I bought some too, sharing with JQ and Carol. But of coz i didnt buy the 5-kg chocolate! =p

- Finally came out of the building, but the fun doesnt end yet! There's still playground! -

The very last chocolate treat that we have. It's a REAL CHOCOLATE still in liquid form, and we could choose the fillings: marshmallow, rice grain, jelly, etc... But have to eat fast, unless you wanted to find it hard-rock!

We took the train again to go to City Centre to find some food. Instinctively we were led by our feet towards the China town.

- Taken while deciding where to eat... (my fav group picture!) -

Following the pharmacy girls group, we ate in Malaysian restaurant (pic: Ma-lai-xi-a, Truly Asia). Before entering to the restaurant, I swore myself not to convert the price to Ringgit or Rupiah, or else I wouldn’t order anything but Chinese tea. Sad, huh?

Now, do the food look as what they are? ;p

After the late lunch, we separate ourselves with the pharmacy group since they went to shopping centre while we preferred to walk around the city.

Well, not exactly walk around, because in the end the so-called city centre was surrounded by shops too, and we can’t help going in when there’s a SALE sign! xD

PS: The 'Pavilions' were take for fun purpose only.. =p

And here I present you, the historical Victoria Square...

Not clear? Let's ZOOM IN!!

- Oops.. not ready yet! -

- 1, 2, 3, action! -

- Shop til drop and dark, we did... -

As if we were not tired when we were back home at around 9.30pm, me, Carol and JQ still had the strength to ‘display’ our chocolate shopping. Those are REALLY cheap since some of them were nearly expired, and some others are the chocolates that could hardly be found. Yes, this is our lil Cadbury shope in Flat 36: