University in a Garden

USM's tag line is "University in a Garden." "University in an Arboreteum" would be more accurate. In any case it is a lovely campus with a wide variety of trees and flowering plants. The downside of living in a garden is the upkeep. The last few days the workers have been "mowing" the grounds near my office. The noise is as loud as an suburban mower, but the equipment is far smaller so the noise seems to last for hours.

Yesterday as I was leaving campus I noticed the stand of trees with the same shape as the artificial Christmas trees. As my stay here is winding down I am playing closer attention to my surroundings (and remembering to take more photos). What I noticed? Similar stands of trees are NOT spread throughout campus. If I was a tree person I would be in tree heaven with all sorts of varieties to inspect. (A random note - the Christmas cards at the shops by campus are all in English!)

One place I pass by everyday is the mosque. It is on campus next to a main gate. (Last week at lunch two senior Penangite debated which of three gates is the main gate. An important point b/c one of the participants had suggested that I meet him at a canteen "next to the main gate.") There is far more activity around the mosque than the picture suggests. In front of the mosque is a common meeting place, which is fine unless it is prayer time. The amplification drowns out thought and conversation.

Next Saturday I am going to KL. So today's project is go to George Town to find a used book store. The pickings in Borders and the like are expensive and uninspiring - a lot of fiction and books on how to make money.