Once upon a time in Groningen

It was on Saturday, 3 February 2012, I travelled from The Hague to Groningen visiting a friend of mine, Mr. Aja Nasrun (Bang Aja). At that time, I felt that the air temperature in Groningen was colder than in The Hague. That was my first impression about Groningen. I arrived in Bang Aja's housing around 10.30 am. His housing is commonly called as Blue Building. It's located near from Bottelroosstraat bus stop. His housing can be reached by Bus 5 from Groningen Station Noord roughly 5 minutes.
            While in his room, I asked him what is the most famous location or place in Groningen. He said that it's Martinitoren. Furthermore he mentioned that Martinitoren is a tower which is a part of Martinikerk (Martini Church). This tower had been reconstructed after it was burnt down in the war world era.  Martinitoren is also the highest steeple in Groningen. I remembered that there are about 200 steps of a brick spiral staircase. In the middle of the tower there are several bells varying from small to big sizes. On the upside the tower, there is a spot that people especially for tourists could have a wonderful view of Groningen.

Martinitoren

Source: Own Collection, 03 February 2012. 
        Martinitoren is located in the area of Groningen Centrum. To achieve Martinitoren, we took a bus 5 from Bottelroosstraat bus stop and got out from the bus at Grote markt bus stop. The tower is just around 15 metres from the bus stop. To going inside the Martinitoren, per person would be charged 3 Euros. People can buy the ticket in the VVV or the tourist office which is located across the Martinitoren.

       During this visiting I got some interesting story about places in Groningen especially about University Groningen. My friend told me about his experience studying in Groningen. We were sharing each other about what we have learnt from our academic circumstances since we arrived in Netherland. There is one thing that I could conclude about the difference what we have learnt. For example when we compared about population study, I found that he learnt more about the tool or technical analysis of a population while I acquired more about the policy and the contextual analysis of a population.

         He gave me also an advice about doing research paper. He suggested me that the topic of my thesis is better coherence with a future plan to continue a PHD programme. He illustrated with his planning that he would take a PHD programme to the University of Southampton by preparing research paper plan in demography study as his major. It was a good advice; I think.