Best Places to Travel as a Student

THE BEST PLACES TO TRAVEL AS A STUDENT

In each edition, Bath Time Travel will be focusing on a UK destination, a European destination and a long haul destination for students. Setting this section in motion is Isobel, here to provide her useful insights and recommendations.

By Isobel Nash, Contributor

As a student, travelling can sometimes seem unaffordable and unrealistic. However, with budget airlines and cheap hostels, travelling on a student budget is no longer impossible. In this article I will outline some of the best places to travel as a student so you can start thinking about your next holiday today!

UK: Edinburgh

Thinking about travelling doesn’t always require looking far away, some of the best places to visit are right here in the UK. Edinburgh is a great place for students with something for everyone. Edinburgh has everything, from Scotland’s national museums and galleries to outdoor adventures with natural wonders, such as Arthur’s Seat, nearby. It also has a vibrant nightlife scene. As well as its great attractions, Edinburgh is also a beautiful city to explore with a medieval old town and an elegant Georgian new town. Taking all into account Edinburgh is well worth a visit with cheap flights with EasyJet or a cheaper Megabus option direct from London. It even has great hostel options, including St Christopher’s Edinburgh which has great views of Edinburgh castle.

EUROPE: Amsterdam

With Amsterdam being only a short flight time away (less than two hours from London!) it is a great, convenient choice. Amsterdam is a picturesque, beautiful city to explore with tilted buildings lining the scenic canal. Each neighbourhood of the city has its own unique character and charm– you can even cycle around like a local! There are plenty of things to do in Amsterdam: canal boat trips, museums including the famous Anne Frank House and the quirky Red Light District. Amsterdam’s student hostel market and budget airline flights, including Ryanair and EasyJet, also make it the perfect student friendly choice.

LONG HAUL: Thailand

Thailand may seem an expensive option for students, being a long haul destination, however it is perfect for budget-conscious students due to the cheap cost of living they have there. The country is especially perfect for backpacking with many cool places to visit, from the capital city of Bangkok, to the mountainous region of Chang Mai, to the beautiful islands, including Phuket. Thailand also has a unique Buddhist culture and is known as the “Land of Smiles”. If you go you must try Muay Thai boxing and the renowned street food. In addition, visiting a colourful Buddhist temple is also a must do. Overall, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Thailand.

THINGS TO DO IN BATH AT NO COST

At Bath Time, we appreciate the finest restaurants and most vibrant clubs but, more importantly, we appreciate what your bank account appreciates: activities at low or no cost. Throughout the year, we’ll be making it our mission to seek out the most exciting things for STUDENTS to partake in – those rarities which are affordable, sociable and accessible. To kick off the year, here are some places you may or may not have considered visiting in Bath (the UK’s only city to be named a UNESCO World Heritage site), handpicked by a range of contributors.

THE ROMAN BATHS

Laure Bellanger

The Roman Baths experience includes interactive exhibits and detailed reconstructions which give the visitor a taste of the Romans’ lives. They retrace the city’s unique history and contain the hot springs where the Romans used to bathe. You can access the Sacred Spring, the Roman Bath House, the Roman Temple and finds from the Roman Baths, to see for yourself what living as a Roman was like.

The centrepiece of the museum is the Great Bath, an enormous pool containing hot spa water. Other interesting features are the Plunge Pool and heated rooms demonstrating the Romans’ heating system. The museum also displays the remains of the Temple to Sulis Minerva. It is superbly organised across several rooms, taking the visitor back in time to the Roman era. You can observe many aspects of their lives, for example the ancient artefacts they used.

Another exciting part of the journey is drinking the spa water, which is rich in minerals and surprisingly tasty! This visit takes around two hours and it is preferable to go on weekdays to avoid queuing. An audioguide included in the admission price is also available in twelve languages to accompany your visit.

Students from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University are entitled to free entry on production of a valid student card.

Full opening times and prices can be found on www.romanbaths.co.uk WARLEIGH WEIR

Nicola Jennings

I first visited here after a night out. Swimming outside in natural water surrounded by crowds and crowds of people may not seem like the most, well, natural thing to do when you can’t keep your eyes open and your head is spinning … but, let me tell you, this place is fun. Located in Claverton (down the other side of the hill, heading away from town), this spot has a real ‘abroad at home’ feel. As a disclaimer, it is probably only worth a visit in very sunny weather but keep it in mind for after exams (although during term time this place feels like a hidden gem since it will be practically empty). Visitors can enjoy swimming in the warm and not-too-deep waters, sunbathing in the surrounding fields or setting up a BBQ with summer tunes blaring out. The effort to maintain a clean, litter-free environment has proved very successful and, on the right day, Warleigh Weir feels like Bath’s own mini paradise.

THE SKYLINE WALK

Félix Keane Vincent

I can’t count the number of times I have walked or run along bits of the skyline during my first year; easily accessible from either side of campus, this long trail cuts through the National Trust grounds around uni, offering breathtaking and ever-changing scenery. Winter’s snow storms make the skyline something out of Narnia; quiet, crystalline and timeless in its beauty. Spring and its sunny mornings restore its bustling livelihood, its ecstatic lambs, flower trails and dashing rabbits. Finally, the glory of the summer months and the views of the city from the hillsides make you understand why Jane Austen wrote “who can ever be tired of Bath?”. Whether you want to do the full fourhour walk, or merely wish to go on a quick jog or stroll, the grounds which surround the university have never failed to disappoint. Widely unknown to the student body, the trails remain a hideaway from the hustle of the library at peak time and the queues in Fresh. More information on itineraries can be found easily on the National Trust website.

RECIPE: Eve’s Easy 5 Ingredient Lemon Soufflés

By Eve Bellers

I decided to venture out of my baking comfort zone (Betty Crocker, what a woman?!) and tried my hand at baking the slightly intimidating soufflé. A surprisingly successful attempt for the novice that I am, I was inspired to write up the recipe and share it with you all.

Makes four

You will need:

-4 ramekins -an electric whisk -saucepan -2 large bowls

Ingredients:

-4 medium eggs -100g caster sugar -1 large lemon -25g butter -1 tsp cornflour

Method :

- Lightly grease the ramekins and pre-heat the oven to 170°C (fan)

For the lemon curd:

- Crack one egg into a saucepan, whisk, then add half the juice and zest of the lemon, the butter, 40g sugar and 1 tsp cornflour. - Whisk the mixture continuously on medium heat for about 3 minutes. It will thicken suddenly so at this point whisk for an extra minute, then divide between the four ramekins and leave to one side to cool.

For the soufflé:

- Separate the yolks from the whites of the remaining three eggs into two different large bowls. - To the yolks, add 50g sugar, the remaining lemon juice and zest - Whisk the egg whites until you reach the ‘stiff peak’ stage.* - Add the remaining sugar to the whites and whisk on high speed for 30 seconds. - One tablespoon at a time, fold the whites into the yolk mixture, trying to keep as much air in your meringue as possible. -Divide the mixture between the ramekins, place into the oven and leave for 15-17 minutes, or until the tops are golden. They will sink a little when you take them out but ensure you don’t open the oven during cooking or they won’t rise well.

Photo Credit: Eve Bellers

-Finally allow them to cool, dust on some icing sugar and they are ready to enjoy! *after consulting Google images, the whites (now meringue) should stand up straight when whisk turned upside down and not flop over like a bluebell.

VK Electric ft Tom Zanetti & K.O Kane

REVIEW

There’s no better crowd pleasers than flashing lights, bass music that oscillates through your entire body and absolute bangers blasting from enormous speakers. All of these things made the VK Electric ft Tom Zanetti & K.O Kane gig at the O2 Academy an unbelievably fun, energetic and atmospheric concert; the ultimate way to spend a Friday night in Bristol.

An intimate venue, the O2 Academy allows for the crowd to be completely immersed in the artists’ performance and to get up close and personal with the DJs. Not knowing what to exactly expect from this gig, we prepared ourselves for a night full of surprises and boy were we not disappointed. From the off the crowd was raring to go as both K.O Kane and Tom Zanetti were bounding across the stage, getting the audience as involved as possible. Playing whoppers such as You Want Me, we absolutely couldn’t get enough from the global superstar DJ that appeared on Love Island earlier this summer; in fact, we wished he could have stayed on for a tad longer as his set seemed far too short for our liking. Nevertheless, we soaked up every minute of the booming music that we could. Peering down, from the balcony, at the audience crowded together on the floor made you feel as though you were at the event of the year, with people dancing around like there was no tomorrow and soaking up the vibrant atmosphere. Watching hundreds of glow sticks being waved in the air and splashes of neon paint dotting the room, it absolutely felt like the UV Full Moon party that it promised to be. Each DJ played familiar songs with their catchy hooks and rhythmic beats that it was impossible to stand still; we felt the urge to get our boogie on.

After such a lively evening, our voices were hoarse from all the screaming along to songs and our bones ached after all the dancing. Out of breath and with smiles plastered on our shining faces, we left the gig on Cloud 9,hoping that we could start the night over. If you’re after one of the most energetic nights out, this event – or any VK event – will do the trick.

AGONY AUNT

I got talking to a guy on the bus to a night out last week and we got on as well as is drunkenly possible - I found him on Instagram the other day... do I take a chance or do I leave it?

To slide into the DMs, or not to slide into the DMs? That is the question. Those who are guilty of insta-stalking raise their hands. Sure, if a profile is set on public it's free game to have a cheeky look. We all do it but usually there's a motive behind the time we spend using the search bar. If you're still thinking about this guy, the interest you have in him is clear. So in the wise words of ABBA, why not a take a chance and follow the guy? People often regret the opportunities they let pass by. Who knows, it could just take one message to find yourself back on that bus together.

Can I fancy a housemate?

We're often told to steer clear of getting romantically involved with flatmates. Whilst this advice may prevent potential awkwardness over mealtimes, it's a bit of a party pooper. No-one ever stops you from chatting up someone you fancy in a club. Even if that attraction is only based on looks and the broken pieces of information you hear above the music and in-between making out. If you've developed a crush on your housemate, then there's probably more to it than physical attraction.

So why can't you fancy someone you spend a lot of your time with? Sure, it's not something to take lightly. If you only fancy them for their looks, then maybe avoid potential awkwardness by taking it further. But if you do have feelings for your housemate, somebody that you know really well, then why face the barrier of avoiding romance? I say it's okay to fancy a little bit of what you like.

Something weird came up about me during pres, do I confront it or leave it as a throwaway drunk statement?

What happens at pre’s, stays at pre’s... As a student staple to kick off any night out, pre-drinks should set the stage for having a good time. First on the agenda is often a drinking game, a chance to get to know more about fresh and familiar faces. But when these games take a turn for the worse, it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. If you find yourself becoming uncomfortable with this crowd, I’d say switch them out for new pre-drinking partners or simply know when to stop sipping. Gossip can be a temporary form of entertainment but consider whether spilling private affairs for the sake of a few giggles is really worth it.

With love,

If you have any questions for Beatrice, please send an email to su-bathtime-lifestyle@bath.ac.uk

#MyMorningAfter : My Future, My Life

If you’ve ever collected the morning after pill, did you wait until no one else was in the pharmacy to ask for it? Did you even travel to another town? Did this all spring from the fear that you’d instantly be immersed in a cloud of judgement and false assumptions? If yes, yes and yes, then you’re with the vast majority. Seeking emergency contraception is a responsible choice, not a confession of guilt. And that’s why ellaOne is encouraging women to shed the stigma around it in their recent #MyMorningAfter campaign. The team behind ellaOne, the most effective pill of its kind, are going to great extents to help women speak out about their experiences in an honest and frank manner. Influential women will be getting onboard to dismantle the taboo surrounding emergency contraception and to call out sexist double standards. When men request Viagra, they don’t have to endure a relentless inquisition into their sex life and previous partners. This intrusive questioning is exactly why women are made to feel needlessly guilty about the night before. But this awkward conversation is moving towards an end: ellaOne have now created a consultation card for women to answer just six simple questions and pass onto pharmacy staff. They have listened to the 72% of women who showed a preference for this option. If women feel less ashamed to speak out about their experiences with emergency contraception, they can also help to pull apart myths surrounding it. Namely, they can enforce ellaOne’s messages that the morning after pill: 1. … is NOT an abortion pill 2. … will NOT affect your fertility 3. … is generally very well-tolerated by women 4. … does NOT have to be taken the morning after (it can be taken up to 120 hours after unprotected sex) 5. …does NOT require a prescription Students at Bath have remarked the following when it came to their experiences: ‘I felt like I had to justify why I was collecting it’ ‘All of the questions were targeted at me and not my boyfriend, making it seem like my mistake’ ‘I didn’t want people to think I was reckless or promiscuous’ ‘The whole trip made me feel extremely anxious and question whether it was worth it’ ‘I felt as though it was a waste of the pharmacists’ time if I didn’t actually need it’ ‘I felt alone and responsible for dealing for the actions of both of us’ ‘I didn’t want to tell anyone I was going’ This certainly isn’t what we want to hear. Bearing in mind unwanted pregnancies are a two-way street, because even if you consented to unprotected sex, your partner’s penis is also half to blame. That said, and as mentioned above, it seems male patients aren’t getting the same sort of questioning. But it’s better to share these views; to be reminded that any guilty emotions are entirely unnecessary and to provide understanding for others needlessly feeling the same. ‘A baby, maybe. One day, we’ll see’ remarks the narrator in ellaOne’s Youtube campaign. Seeking emergency contraception isn’t about erasing last night’s mistakes, it’s about taking control of your life.

For more information, see the campaign magazine at www.mymorningafter.co.uk. To obtain emergency contraception, visit the University Medical Centre, a pharmacy in town or the Riverside Clinic.

For more info and tickets please visit: thesubath.com/sport/bucssuperrugby/

University of Bath GYM EXTENSION TO OPEN SOON

By Ellie Carsley

Among the current building works on campus at the moment, the gym at the Sports Training Village is currently undergoing an extension. The usual services at the gym are not being impeded by the works, but the expansion is not set to open until late Autumn 2018: what new facilities should we expect?

Once finished, the gym will double in size. The most significant change is the space allocated for the exercise stations: once completed, there will be over 200 stations - double the current number.

Stephen Baddeley, who is the director of sport at Team Bath, told the Bath Chronicle that: “This development will respond to genuine needs and has been planned with a lot of input from our current gym users. It’s very gratifying to see it a significant step closer to reality. My team and I are looking forward to welcoming new and existing members from both the university and the wider community to what will be a fantastic addition to our already inspiring facilities.” The extension - which cost £3.5 million – is also enabling the provision of new functional training areas, a group exercise studio with a sprung floor and a state of the art indoor cycling studio.

Moreover, new cardio and strength equipment, as well as lifting platforms, will be installed. The external access road will also be widened, giving the whole space a new, exciting landscape within which athletes and gym-goers will be encouraged to thrive.

Some students may have noticed a few delays in the building of this extension and weather conditions are partly to blame for that. Due to some periods of unseasonal climate, there was a need to slow down construction: the company in charge assured the University that this won’t affect the final result of the new gym.

Ultimately, the 940m2 extension to the hugely popular gym is being added, in order to improve the experience for all users. So, whether you’re an Olympic athlete, or an everyday student with a gym membership, you will have the opportunity to enjoy this new spacious addition to the Sports Training Village.

KEEPING AN EYE ON AI

By Arron Mallinson-Pocock

Softwares are now able to copy your voice, as well as modifying your facial features in a video. Is this the future of fake news?

Technology has been blurring conceptual lines for years, threatening human workforces, encroaching on privacy and altering our perceptions of society and social interaction. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is even infringing on the abilities many hold to distinguish humans from computers, including creativity. An AI developed in Rutgers can now generate original (and beautiful) artworks, and an Amper Music AI can create background music of any tempo, instrumentation or mood on demand.

This painting created by AI sold for 10,000$ this year.

Photo credit: Christies

a high awareness of computer graphics power; an audience with less awareness on the topic however, and a motivation to believe doctored footage, would be much more susceptible to share such content.

But one common fear is the manipulation of content that serve to efficiently entertain or carry a message to the masses. As with many discussions of media, the term “fake news” creeps in, but is perfectly apt to describe many of the most influential forms of advertising and entertainment that have been with us for many years.

1987 saw the first photoshopped image shared with the world, and it had honest beginnings. John Kroll, working for Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light and Magic, took a photo of his girlfriend before he proposed, and found that he could improve the photo using Pixar’s resources. This developed into the now infamous Photoshop, but this development has now been surpassed. We have reached the heights of software engineering that we can make an onscreen figure or character directly copy the movements of another video subject.

A program presented at a 2018 computer graphics conference demonstrated this by mirroring Obama’s movements in a TV interview onto Putin, fooling around half of the audience in testing. This may not sound incredibly impressive to this audience with This becomes even more concerning when combined with freely available software like Lyrebird.ai, which can, from mere minutes of sample audio, produce an eerily realistic replication of a person’s voice. I myself have tested this, and with good audio quality and over 10 minutes of data input, it was fluent in my own voice. The inevitable step is to combine these programs, and create full-length, fully fake interviews with politicians or celebrities. The future of fake news is bright, and we will have to learn to watch ever more closely.

The company Lyrebird recreated President Obama, along with his voice, in an eerie clip where he promotes the company.

Photo Credit: Lyrebird,

CRIME RATES IN BATH RISE AS POLICE CUTS ANNOUNCED

The Virgil Building used to be the police station. Photo credit: Martin Addison

By Stefan Garcia

Bath being a world heritage city is something we should all be proud of. Its distinctive architecture, beautiful scenery and pubs are what attracts more than five million tourists each year. This status, however, comes with great responsibility: not only do Bath’s 90,000 citizens need to be sufficiently protected from gradually rising crime rates, but the emergence of new threats like terrorism and drones present a new security challenge. Therefore, ahead of further reductions in police services, the frustration of the people of Bath is understandable.

The Bath and North East Somerset council (BaNES) recently announced further cutbacks, adding on top of the 2015 decision to close Bath’s central police station. Since the closing, the HQ has been an enquiry desk situated in One Stop Shop: the new cutbacks would see its opening times slashed by twenty hours, with no opening times on weekends. This has led to a justifiably negative response from many of Bath’s residents. To convey this irritation, Bath’s MP, Wera Hobhouse has launched a petition, calling for a ‘Proper Police Station’. This has received a strong response, being signed by over 1,300 people to date. The reason for needing a central police station is, as Hobhouse states, to maintain law and order. This is something Bath specialises in, topping the list for being one of Britain’s safest cities. A recent ITV ranking even named it second safest city in the world. However, with rapidly reduced services across Bath, scepticism has grown regarding its ‘safe’ prestige, and rightly so.

As the 2018 UK crime statistics demonstrates, between January 2016 (a month after the central closure) to the following year, recorded crime in Bath rose from 12,807 to 14,661. Consequently, it is not difficult to comprehend why all fingers point towards reduced police services.

Ultimately, if Bath is to remain an envy of the world, in terms of both tourist attraction and safety, BaNES will need to re-think its unpopular decision.

OWL SCULPTURES AUCTIONED FOR CHARITY

By Magda Rojas

Taking a walk through the Royal Victoria Park on the last weekend of September might have been surprising for some. 82 owl sculptures were displayed in front of the Royal Crescent for a charity auction. Throughout September, the University’s volunteering groups recruited volunteers to help set up the display, paint wooden plinths, and other related activities to support the charities involved.

The life-sized owls will be auctioned on the 17th of October at the Apex Hotel and proceeds will go to four local charities. The “Forever Friends” £8.5m appeal for the new Royal United Hospital Cancer Centre, which is due to begin construction next year, is the main benefactor. The remaining amount will be divided amongst three charities: the Archway Project for a new artistic learning centre and World Heritage

Visitor Centre at the at the Roman Baths complex; the

Bath & North East Somerset Young Carers who support the youth caring for a disabled or frail family member; and the Bath-based UK Little Owl Project, which aims to further develop national understanding and protection of the little owl’s ecological situation in the country.

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