Jasmin Vallina Bevan – on being a Spanish Architecture Student in the UK
Jasmin Vallina Bevan, 24, is an architecture student from Oviedo, Spain. Jasmin has spent the last six years studying towards her Architecture Part-1 degree and Architecture Diploma. This journey has taken her to Cardiff, Switzerland and London. In order to understand the opportunities and challenges faced by foreign exhange students looking to study Architecture in the UK, I interviewed Jasmin at her home in Kingston-Upon-Thames.
What could you gain from a year in Sydney?
Moving to Sydney was a decision I planned 6-months before hand whilst living in New Zealand. I had heard so many great things about Sydney and I was ready to experience a year there to find out for myself. The purpose of my journey was to gain a first-hand understanding of Australian culture, work ethic and city life. Over the last decade Sydney has continuously ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and I challenge anyone who doubts this to spend an afternoon relaxing by the city’s harbour. But of course, having the opportunity to live in one of the most renowned cities in the world also comes at a price.
Located just 30 minutes west of Cairns is the popular tourist village of Kuranda. The area predominantly attracts tourism by promoting itself as a market village nestled within the Cairns rainforest region. The town’s first major link to Cairns was the Kuranda railway track which opened 1881. Not surprisingly, the area and railway soon flourished through trade and tourism. More than 100 years later and the Kuranda railway now operates as a successful scenic train connecting visitors from Cairns to this thriving market village.
Palm Cove - Queensland's Cleanest Beach
Palm Cove, located in Tropical Queensland, was a pleasant 20-minute drive north of Cairns. I reached the resort by Sun Bus – a local service which I boarded at Cairns town centre. Although just a short drive, Palm Cove instantly felt a world away from the souvenir shops and backpacker culture of bustling Cairns.
City sights don’t have to be the only highlight to your Sydney vacation. The Blue Mountains, just 2 hours west of the city, is a nature lover’s paradise. Earning its name from the eucalyptus trees that form a lingering blue haze over the mountain range, this region is ideal for those who enjoy walks with fantastic scenery. The several different townships which make up the Blue Mountains are linked by road, train or tourist buses. Alternately, get your walking boots on and you will discover romantic lookout points, deserted cascading waterfalls, and thigh muscles you never knew you had.