2010 Resolutions

1. Stay healthy and fit And gorgeous - gym or pool at least 3x/ week, no excuses. Minimal junk food intake.

2. Stay cultured - at least a concert or a musical a month.

3. Pass MRCP part 1 by dec 2010.

4. Fight for a central Birmingham Fy2 rotation.

5. Been to US/Argentina/Cape town/Japan.

6. Save as many lives as possible.

7. Keep in touch with family and friends - haven't been doing this very well lately.

8. Work hard and play hard.

9. Appreciate and worship myself more. Lol.

10. Be a better man.

Confession of a shopaholic

It's winter. It's cold. Daylight is super short. Your appetite is easily satisfied by festive food - mince pie, mulled wine, chocolate, cakes and more chocolate so dinner is often optional. There isn't really any need to leave the house again after getting back from work if there's nothing planned with friends. Switched on yhe central heating, soak in a hot bath and pour myself a glass of nice wine. Before I know I'm all comfortable and pampered.

Thanks to victor I'm addicted to will and grace and I've been chasing the series with all my available free time. Since the DVD is only playable on my laptop I have no choice but to sacrifice the 52" plasma downstairs. Well I'm happy gluing onto my cosy little laptop screen on my comfortable bed.

Ok now here's the deal. You're on your laptop with wireless connection. There's lots of junkmails telling you about all the good deals online, and they are really good!!! Before I know I'm pausing will and grace's infamous argument, karen's incessant worship of her own gigantic boobies and jacks lovable stupidity, and get indulged in the evil online shopping spree... House of Fraser, Topman.com, Asos.com, fragrancedirect.com, hmv, zavvi, play.com etc etc.

It's been a pleasant 2 weeks. I get at least a parcel a day of my online purchases. It's like getting a Xmas present a day lol! Sounds crazy yea? But I have to defend myself on this... I admit spending on average xxxpds per order but I return a big chunks of them if they're not what I really want or need. Yes most sites offer free return. Stick the free return postage sticker and hand it to the nearest postoffice and a refund will be raised onto my card!

Now I need a new wardrobe, cd tower and toileteries rack to accomodate this influx of goodies lol!

Journey to the south

On my way down to London. It's always a bliss to travel on train in midday midweek. I'm one of the only four passengers in this carriage. No little kids no drunk teenagers to spoil the mood and scenery. Choose to take the longer journey from moor street to London marylebone cos it's so much cheaper. I can't believe I'm only paying 3pds for this journey down to london! It's a sunny day when I left so t shirt and short are the obvious choice. Went past some gorgeous country side, rolling green farms with sheep and cow roaming around in the sun. Had a can of coke and a pack of walkers while enjoying the journey. A long weekend after a long tiring oncall rota, I'm gonna be generous to myself this weekend. If I can't treat myelf well how can I be kind to my patients? Lol finding excuses - I'm not bad at all ei! Thanks to iPhone I can now blog anywhere when I'm in the mood. However I still need to figure out how to add images on the posts so for time being iblogging is gonna be plain words and no pics which is a shame cos it'd be nice to be able to share what I see contemporously and instantaneously. Reaching soon gotta start thinking what to do later. Maybe a musical :)

Graduation Ball

OK, this is the 3rd official full fledged ball (and the last) as a medical student. The first being the intro week ball, second would be the Winter ball in 2006 and this the graduation ball.

The venue is Sketchley Grange Hotel, Hinckley, a lovely cosy countryside Hotel next to a farm. Was not planning to go initially, since my dearest clinical partner Z would not be in the country during that time and the few closer friends in med school have decided not to go and the ticket was too dear at £65! However everyone seems to change their mind at very last minute, so I booked my ticket online few minutes before the deadline.

Since booking the ticket I've been looking forward to it a lot... after all it is a significant event - one that marks the end of my student life, one that verifies my success in the past 24 years, a finale to a great 5 years in university, a milestone that represent the beginning of a life as a doctor! It is indeed a grand event on the calender to be celebrated with friends and future colleagues.

I didn't spend too much time on deciding what to wear. I have a suit tailor made a year ago for graduation. I have been waiting for the right occasion to show off the immaculate cutting and workmanship, and I despise the fact that a hire in Moss Bros is always ill-fitting - sleeve is 2x longer than my arm length, smallest dinner jacket is big enough for 1.5x me...after all it's cutting is meant for more manly Caucasian figure. I still had to sort out the shirt and ties though. Got it all done in one trip - picked up a pink vintage looking cotton shirt from DKNY and a tie from Next. In view that I was still a poor student at that time, I abandon the plan to get the Ted Baker I love so much but cost 5x the price I paid for the substitute. All ready to go.

Bus picked us up from a local bar Drydock. My goodness I have never seen my coursemate in such glamour before. All completely glammed up to kill. The girls especially, summer ball gown with matching accessories and make up. These docs are not any lesser than A-list!



30mins drive brought us to Sketchley Grange Hotel. A very nice and posh place, but could be bigger to accommodate our big crowd. Cocktails reception was not too bad, it's always good to poison the liver and brain before a function to decrease the defence and cool-factor to ensure everyone starts talking (something I learn over years - alcohol does serve a purpose in gluing up people and breaking the barrier). Not long later we are seated in the planned tables. Life band performaces, fanstastic table set up, freeflow wine, and vouchers for drinks at the bar! Chit chats continue until starter comes. I'll skip the details of the food as I can hardly remember now. But in summary, all are nice and fresh and up to standard.











Dance floor started to get crowded after the speech and awards session. Memory started to blur out at this point when I've had too many glasses and pint. I did remember having a good time dancing with all the very important people in the past 5 years in Leicester. Patches of red wine stain on my shirt suggested accidental spill or falls lol. The last thing I remembered was being sent home by Chris and James. One crazy night as a student, a mad an fun way to draw a full stop :) Let's show you some happy faces of the night!

OMG? It's september already?

Time flies when you're busy, totally agree. I've abandoned this blog for nearly 2 months now, it's about time to catch up again. The last entry was just before graduation, since then many highlight event happened one after another... Graduation ball, parents visit, graduation day, moving house, relocating to another city, starting new job, and getting used to a whole new place and a new group of people. A tough yet fulfilling 2 months. I shall reflect back, dissect them and create separate entry for each. Watch this column :)

My blissful addiction to the tiny little beans

I'm a coffee addict, yes I am, since a long long time ago. It's amazing how such humble little beans can produce such intense, mysterious and delicious aroma. Nothing beats starting off a morning with a cup of strong blend. A smooth roast in the afternoon goes well with a light lunch, and a cappuccino after dinner is divine, and if the mood is right, I don't mind a cup of decaf in the middle of the night.

I appreciate a cup of good roast, especially when accompanied with a nice sofa, comfortable surrounding, some mood setting background music, and a street side window with handful of pretty faces to check out, or a good book to kill off a lazy afternoon. A cuppa of 3x strength is essential while burning midnight oil (I always do), and to ensure a nocturnal being like me gliding through the night effortlessly.

These tiny little beans have been an essential part of the world's civilisation for centuries. Without them, the Parisian cafe culture would not flourish, and Edith Piaf might not be such a timeless classic among the cafe fans. Coffee farmers may not earn as much as they do now when more coffee buyers adopt the fair trade concept. Rural coffee plantation in Africa, south america and south east Asia will not be developed to support the local economy, giving their younger generations a better future, and to upgrade their living condition.

Tiny little beans with a big significance. My beloved coffee, my justifiable addiction!





**Just about to finish off a night shift, and going to have my breakfast and nice cup of Americano.


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Don't wanna be a doctor yet...

5 days count down to graduation ball, 13 days to convocation, 30 days to first day on the job... I am considering this possibility - can I not postpone the day I put on the stethoscope and take over the ward? I don't wanna be a doctor yet! Don't think I am ready for that...


It's been months after finals, and a big chunk of knowledge I gained in the past few years seem to have been deleted from my memory. Besides, I am not entirely sure that I am prepared for the challenging life of a houseman. Being in charged of a ward in the day or the whole hospital during night shift? Doesn't sounds cool to me. Lives of patients depend on my decisions, of which my insufficient experience and immature skills might be their one way ticket to heaven. My license to heal could be the same one to kill!

I can no longer say 'sorry I'm just a student' and I am expected to know my stuffs well, and that is worrying. It is not just doing things to learn anymore, it's doing things to develop a career, to please my superior for a good feedback, so that I can get a nice step up the training ladder. Oh, and workplace politics too, another new subject to learn and master!

Once starting my job, I will have to abandon this carefree, spontaneous lifestyle I've been living for months now: I work as much as I want, I go anywhere under the sun I wanna be, I search around for the most exotic food, I stay indoor for days when I feel like doing so and I meet whoever I miss dearly. I haven't have enough of this, and am not ready to give this up yet.

Well, it's a new phase of life that I must go through and I shall adjust my mood to start it off with a blast! Here I am, standing at the shores of my student life, waiting for my boat to sail through the ocean of an interesting career. Praying for a safe, calm and peaceful journey until I reach my final destination. I am sailing, I am sailing...


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Devil D

Working in a healthcare setting, you can't help but constantly be reminded about your own mortality. Recently, a question rings in my head all the time... what is the worse disease that one could get?

The big scary HIV? Not really, with early detection and well developed anti-virals drugs and on-going research, the life-span of a HIV positive patient has been increase tremendously.

The nasty C - Cancer? Yes maybe - but there is still a bleak chance of surviving with the right treatment - Chemo or Radio or more the sophisticated you-name-it, and if a deadly one is diagnosed early you can have your remaining time predicted quite accurately so that you can plan your end-of-life issues.

An autoimmune disorder that doesn't kill but affects your quality of life e.g.: Crohn's or SLE? Well, it does cause major suffering during flare ups, but with optimum control the remission periods could be a blissful break.

So what is it then? Well, this is a very subjective question. What I personally think - the worst condition that could happen to me is something that would cause me to lose myself slowly. Nothing but the Devil D - Dementia. Imagine that losing yourself slowly, starting off by being forgetful, then you forget about things that happened in the past, forget about your loved ones, forgetting who you are... It's like the contents of your brain being digged out bits by bits, until nothing is left but an empty shell...

One day if I am diagnosed with dementia, dear friends, please bring me to Amsterdam or Switzerland for a legal Euthanasia. Please please please.

(This is merely my own opinion, those unfortunate souls out there with the Devil D, I express my deepest sympathy here, and please don't take any offence)

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How do you do?

I see those eyes in the crowd
Big grey charming eyes
Yet I turned away
Arrogance, shyness, or ignorance?
I guess it's a mixture of all

I see that smile casted at me
A melting killer smile
Yet I looked away
Unprepared, nervousness or unnecessary pride?
I hate not knowing what to say or do

Yes, I am not a natural flirt
Yes, I don't initiate too often
Yes, I am still sober...
Let me down a few pints
To kill the ego inside me

Just hold on sec
I will come to you
With a big hello
A big hug
and a 'How do you do'


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Back in UK - Beginning of a Glorious Summer

It's been nearly 3 weeks since I got back from my blissful 2 months' elective & holiday in Malaysia. So what have I been doing in the since my return to the land of Union Jack?

1. Enjoying the sunshine, and long days. Although I've had enough of sun back in KL, sunshine in England is a rare commodity, and at a mild temperature and less humid weather, it actually feels nice to be out in the sun! Had a BBQ with the gang in the weekend, which was a blissfully fattening experience. Imagine us having proper homemade Kajang Satay with authentic peanuts gravy and ketupat, in the sun in UK, followed by hours of poker, Too good to be true ei!

2. Catching up with friends. Everyone is eager to talk about their elective and plans for summer! So glad to see everyone :)

3. Work! My usual nursing bank shifts. Been getting lots of them since I have nothing much to do in these few weeks till convocation. I try to do 3 nights in the week, and half a Sunday. That will make me enough £ for the next few months - for visa application (£665pds - oh dear), rent, GMC registration, and summer shoppingggggg!

4. Going to Gym. Joined Bannatyne's Health Club again after 2 lazy years. This complement well with my night shifts, as I go in for an hour before I start work, and another hour after work. It's a bliss to have this sanctuary right in the middle between my flat and workplace, as I don't have to make any extra effort to get there... cos it's just THERE. My daily routine would be 30mins on either threadmill/bike/stepper, and a 20 laps swim in the pool, ending with a relaxing 15mins in the steamroom/sauna. Coupling up regular gym sessions and healthy eating, I'm determined to shed a whole lot of adipose tissues for this summer, for nicer photos during grad ball and convocation, and also for a sparkling new image as a newly qualified healthcare professional!

5. Sorting out mountains of documents. Although I am still not sure if I want to stay in UK or return back to work in KL, I filled up all the documents UHB sent me anyway e.g. reply for confirmation of job offer acceptance, pre-employment checks etc. Quite a tedious chore to be honest!

6. Online shopping. For CDs, DVDs, books, misc rubbish etc. Bought so much that I have shut down the computer to stop myself from doing so. It is infectious, I shall try to exert more self control! Just for a rough guide of the scale of it... I've got and extra 2 dozens of CD/DVDs, and books that could possibly last me for half a year if I have the time to read continuosly.

7. Catching up with the series I missed in the past 2 months, and starting new ones.

8. Sorting out my folks' grand UK trip. Mum and dad are coming on 1st July, and I've been scratching my head thinking where to bring them to. Finally decided that we won't be going too far away. Just going to concentrate on the midlands, and a 3days trip to Isle of Skye. All done now, just pray hard for good weather :) This is the very first time they come to visit me in UK. Trying my best to impress them and make sure they have a good time. Will need a major tidying up of my flat, stock up my fridge with nice and fresh food and start planning the meals (my cooking of course!).


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My Swimming Partner

After rejoining Bannatyne's health club, I have been going for my daily swim religiously. Many reasons behind to motivate me: I love swimming, need to get in shape and to shed some fat gained back home in the last 2 months, good location of the club, and last but not least - I've got gorgeous swimming partners. Not anyone great, just celebrities such as Rihanna, Lady GaGa and Britney ;) They sing to me with much enthusiasm underwater!

Cheeky me. Right, serious talking now. Introducing this great gadget I got myself last week - Speedo Aquabeat waterproof MP3 player. Great company while you're in the pool or during any wet activities. Comes with a floatable main body, and a tight fitting earphones. All parts are waterproof and comes with Speedo's 1 year warranty. 1GB/500 songs, 9hrs playback time, sufficient to swim across the Atlantic!






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A peaceful 12.5 hours

What a blissful shift I had last night. Got a very last minute job call from the nurse bank. It was a specialed care session, 1-to-1 to a patient in the plastic/max-fac ward. I have done several specialed care shifts in the past and they were all differently interesting. Some were demanding, some were relaxing. Thought I should get to know about the shift/patient better before starting, I rang up the ward. This patient Mr. H suffers from schizophrenia and had history of self harming, the most recent episode was few days ago in A&E in another hospital - lacerated his wrist. So basically, I am summoned to sit in with him to make sure he does nothing silly throughout the night. Great, 12.5hours with a psychiatric patient!

After getting myself mentally (yea it takes a bit to deal with psychiatric patients, i've learned that during my psyc block) and physically (just in case I need to fight, or run lol)prepared, I headed off to the hospital with much anticipation, and excitement.

Mr. H, to my surprise was pretty sober and normal. A quick glance around his room, most potentially harmful items have been removed from the room e.g.: wires, tubes, syringes, sharpes etc, anything that he could use to harm himself. I grabbed a comfortable chair and sit near to the entrace, for source of light from the corridor to read when the lights were out, and to call for help just in case he got agitated beyond control.

Guess what, after offering him a drink at around 10pm, he went to sleep. He woke up a few times throughout the night, but went back to sleep uneventfully every time. Slightly disappointed, wasn't too happening and fun as I expected after all. Well, I went all prepared, so I dug out my book and started reading. Chronicles of Wind-up Bird. Perfect match I thought. A bizarre novel for a bizarre setting! Accompanied by a few cups of coffees, I went through nearly a third of the book, with a 2 hours break in between which I managed a short nap.

Tick tock tick tock, finally clock hits 8am. I bid goodbye to Mr. H and the staff. There goes a wonderful and peaceful night! Let's hope there will be more such shifts in the future. I don't really mind to be paid for 12.5hrs to chill and read, perhaps I should bring my laptop and some DVDs next time ;)

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Needle stick injury

Can't believe somebody as careful as me got a needle stick injury!!! Was on my nursing night shift in the hospital. As usual, tidying the patients up, put them to bed, serve drinks, make sure everything is in place etc etc. Then I saw this bin which is full in the treatment room, so decided to change the bag in it (f.y.i this is not even my job, it's the domestic's, but since I was in a good mood, I decided to do it anyway). Got the plastic bags out, overfilled, so took me a while to tie it up. Then carry it to the disposal area.

Then, ouch, something sharp behind my calf - just a tiny bit. Then I saw this needle poking out the plastic bag... Quickly i dumb the bag away and check on my calf... phew just a scratch! Washed the area quickly. Then i examined the needle, another relief, was a 10ml syringe fill up with clear colourless fluid, supposedly saline drawn up to flush a cannula (note that normally a needle if not connected to a blood sample bottle is only used to draw up saline or drugs from the tube and discarded, as flushing do not require a needle).

After analysing the situation, I concluded that it was some stupid junior doctors' deed, who had drawn up the saline and decided not to use it, but instead of disposing into sharps bin, he/she threw it into a normal waste bin. How dumb, how unprofessional, how unethical! Nurses are better trained in terms of health and safety issues in the ward, and in a haematology ward they have no reason not to know the protocols well, only dumb junior doctors do things like this.

Am I safe then? Well there is a slight risk of infection. But since there wasn't a deep penetration, and that the registrar in the ward confirmed with me that there wasn't any high risk patients in the ward, and the nature of the fluid filled in the syringe itself, I am quite safe... Well, the protocol requires me to have a blood sample taken, have an incident report and followed up by the occupational health, fingers crossed. Hopefully I don't become too famous in the department!

Lesson learned:
1. Do not be kind-hearted and do others' job.
2. Be careful, even in the safest situation.
3. Scream, kick, abuse and curse them to hell - those doctors who don't practice safely.
4. Be a 110% safe doctor when I start my first job later this year.


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Messy Messy Messy

I hate unpacking, such a mess! Clothes, shoppings, food, books... they're everywhere. What's making it worse - I was rushing out 2 months ago to catch the train to the airport so it wasn't too tidy to begin with. On top of that, there are tonnes of letters, parcels, leaflets, bank statements, junk mails to be sorted out, arghhh that's going to take me hours. For once I wish Royal Mail and Amazon aren't that efficient, they could've send all the stuffs late but not these few days when I just arrived.

Who wants to be my one-day-maid? I'll pay him/her good money to unpack, tidy up and do my laundry for me! Or who has a magic wand that I can borrow, with a wave and everything goes to where they belong! Ah daydreaming, better start doing it myself NOW!




'Fresh' from Amazon/Borders/Kinokuniya/MPH/Times. Some extra nutrients for the brain for the next few months!

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Leaving on a Jet Plane

It's time to sing this song again. My favourite theme song for airport.

Long long time ago, I used to record every flight I've taken - the airlines, destinations and length of the journey... That mission has been abandoned, probably flying isn't too uncommon after a while. If I'm not trained to be a doctor, I'd probably be a pilot or a cabin crew, because I love & hate airports as much as I love & hate hospitals.

I hate airport...
Travelling to an airport is a nightmare. Getting to KLIA from my hometown is a 2.5 hrs journey. It's not any better from KL - 1hr on the cab, or more if I were to catch the LRT and the airport bus. What's more - the heavy luggages that I have to drag along the way. I always have the tendency to over-pack. A good (or bad) practice I learned from scouting times - Always be prepared, that's what Uncle Baden Powell taught us. Hence, all the unnecessary stuffs (eg: sunblock and sunglasses for a journey to UK in the winter) are all packed in... just in case. And this 'just in case' cost a fortune if the ground staffs don't buy my near-perfect negotiation skills. The queue is always mad, and it's not just one off - you queue for N'th times to complete your journey. Queue to check-in, queue for security checks, queue for baggage scanning, queue to board, queue to disembark, queue at the immigration counters (2x) etc etc. During the peak seasons in a busy airport such as London Heathrow or Dubai International, queuing alone can shorten your lifespan by decades!

I love airport as much as I hate it...
Besides all the hassles, traveling to the airport always comes with an ultimate reward - to see the landmarks I've been dying to see for years, to visit family and friends, to participate in a special event, to get spoilt in a new vacation spot etc. There's always something to look forward to after the hassles and long haul journeys. Having the nomad blood in me, there's nothing better to hop from one place to another, the further the better. I love the feeling when the aircraft takes off from the ground. You feel as if the ground is trying to hold you back, with all its strength to stop you from getting away, your ears gone blurish, and you try to swallow your saliva to equalise the pressure on both side of the eardrums. As the aircraft gone stable, you're free to walk about, sleep, watch video, eat and drink on a whole new horizon few hundreds feet off the ground, traveling parallel to the cars, trains, boat and all the living creatures down below.

I have a whole lot more to write about airport and flying, but it's time for boarding. Right, time to sing the theme song again...
Journey number xxx,
Date: 3rd June 2009
Route: KL to London
Purpose: Graduation, picnic in the sun with friends, strawberries, tea and scones, fish and chips, leisure stroll down historical path of England, summer sales, alcohol binging, saying hello to working life...


Sing along with me:

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn
The taxi's waitin' he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I'll think of you
Every song I sing, I'll sing for you
When I come back, I'll bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time let me kiss you
Close your eyes I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times, I won't have to say

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when I'll be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go


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Friday Night

Where am I?
Who am I?
Who are you?
Do I know you?

Loud thumping bass
Can't hear what you're saying
Pardon me could you speak louder
Oh whatever, I don't care...

Bring me a chair
I'm feeling dizzy
Why am I here at the first place
Oh yea for my gin and tonic and martinis

Pretty faces friendly smiles
Stop staring at me
Stop the room from spinning
I can't stand still at all

Shake your body
Groove it with the music
Hail the genius DJ
Applause to sexy you

Taxi taxi bring me home
Good boys and girls don't drink and drive
The finale of a working week
Friday night oh Friday night!








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KL = Kuala Lumpur = Kapital of Loitering

I'm in HKL for a 2 months elective. Things are busy in this major city centre hospital, so I was not given too much attention as an elective student. I do learn somthing when I hang around in the wards and clinics, which is optional at this stage as I have just finished my finals. This 2 months are supposed to be a long break before starting my first job. However I still try to go in everyday for at least half a day, just to be around just in case somebody or something interesting walk in through the door.

For most of the days, I leave during lunch time and start my loitering adventure in downtown KL. HKL is just a short bus ride away from the city. The same bus brings me either to Kota Raya area (where petaling street and all the cheap eats are), or Bukit Bintang (where all the high end malls, restaurants and gorgeous denizens of KL inhabit). Since the weather does not encourage outdoor hunting, 8 out of 10 times I would stop at Jalan Bukit Bintang, right in front of Starhill entrance.

Government hospitals are stingy with their air-conditioning, so upon arrival I dash straight into Pavillion, where there air-conditioning is full-blast. Walking along rows of world's top designer's brands such as Gucci, Prada, Bvlgari etc is a motivation booster. It's the place where i can tell myself 'work hard and all these are yours'. Not that I am too keen to own any of the goods, it's just the idea of being able to walk into these shops and grab the first thing I saw is quite comforting lol. One fine day, I will, when I survive my hardcore training and climbed to the top of the hierarchy ladder in the medical world. See, loitering is not too bad after all, it makes one realise what sort of luxurious life can be achieved by working hard and smart. Motivational loitering - an activity not to be missed by young professionals.

After feeling all motivated, it's time to cure the hunger. There are just too much nice food around the area. Spoilt for choices, it normally takes me a while to decide what to have. Coffee normally follows a late lunch. Startbucks is my favourite hangout. Love the Sulawesi and Sumatra brew, black - strong and aromatic and bitter. With a free beverage after every 7 purchases under the loyalty programme, the strategic location in the mall, and good wi-fi coverage, I see no other option. I normally have my laptop with me when I am out to loiter, as the internet back in my temporary residence is still not properly set up after a month, thanks to our efficient TMnet. I also make sure I have a novel in my bag too, for a pleasant read in the comfy environment. Books and coffee in a nice cafe, a sinfully bliss in life!

Dinner time... Having enough luxury treat, time for more local stuffs. I love Jalan Alor at night, with all the food on offer. It's definitely one spot not to be missed in KL, if you are a food addict. Of course that's if you're down-to-earth enough to be eating beside the street! I love the exotic mixtures of smoke, aroma and noise. I'm a locally breed Malaysian, remember?

The American's evil obesity claws have invaded Malaysia recently. Krispy Kream. Their first store in Time Square is still a big hit in town after a month. I certainly cannot resist the temptation of the lovely original glazed. Especially when it's freshly made! 2 doughnuts after dinner... hundreds of miles of jog to burn that off, or I might have to up-size all my shirt and trousers soon!

Half day of loitering is as tiring as a long ward-round physically, but it counteracts all the stress built up in the wards. My adventure always end with a long walk from Bukit Bintang to KLCC LRT station. A 10 minutes journey: Pavillion - Jalan Pinang - KL convention centre - KLCC tunnel - Suria KLCC - LRT Station. Another 20 minutes get me back to my room.

Shower and bed. Or out for supper with my housemates. End of a meaningful day in the Capital of Loitering - Kuala Lumpur!

Secret

I have a secret
Something not to be mentioned
Something I am tempted to tell
Something people dying to know

I have a secret
Nothing too great
Nothing too big a deal
Nothing really matters

If this secret is not a secret
Will you still talk to me
Will you still care for me
Will I still be who I am

If this secret is not a secret
I will be unleashed
I will be free
I will be me

I am going to tell you a secret
Sometime
Someday
Somehow

If only

If only I am a little prettier, I would’ve been a supermodel
If only I am a little smarter, I would’ve won the Nobel prize
If only I am a little taller, I would’ve been a basketballer
If only I am a little slimmer, I would’ve fit into that skinny jeans
If only I am a little richer, I would’ve bought a multinational company
If only I am a little stronger, I would’ve conquered the Everest
If only I think a little bit less about if only
I would’ve been a better me





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Absolute Beauty 無與倫比的美麗

A song I came across recently. The piano solo intro grabbed my attention immediately, followed by the crisp and catchy voice of the band vocalist. Then comes the killer lyrics. A simple yet picturesque and romantic lines describing the gives and takes in a relationship, how lovers appreciating each others' inner beauty and strength, helping and supporting each other.

My favourite lines:

你若擔心你不能飛 你有我的蝴蝶
If you're worried that you can't fly, you have my butterfly
(If someday for any reason you can't fly anymore, you have my butterflies, my wings to help you fly again)

我若擔心我不能飛 我有你的草原
If I'm worried that I can't fly, I have your garden
(Similarly, if I am tired of flying someday, I have your garden for a safe landing, a company when I am on the ground)

你知道當你需要個夏天 我會拼了命努力
You know that when you need a summer, I will try my best
(Working hard to make someone happy, to be able to provide, to give without expecting anything back)

我知道你會做我的掩護 當我是個逃兵
I know that you will protect me, like I'm your refugee
(To protect your love ones with what you have, from any harm)

Seems like a few simple lines of words, but the meaning behind it is marvelous, just perfect for a hopelessly romantic me.



無與倫比的美麗 - 蘇打綠

天上風箏在天上飛 地上人兒在地上追
你若擔心你不能飛 你有我的蝴蝶

天上風箏在天上飛 地上人兒在地上追
我若擔心我不能飛 我有你的草原

嘿 嘿 你形容我是這個世界上 無與倫比的美麗
嘿 嘿 我知道你才是這世界上 無與倫比的美麗
嘿 嘿 你知道當你需要個夏天 我會拼了命努力
嘿 嘿 我知道你會做我的掩護 當我是個逃兵

我若擔心我不能飛
嘿 嘿 我有你的草原




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Living in Bubbles

Missy U: ‘Where have you been Alice? You missed your violin lesson last week’

Alice: ‘Sorry teacher, my house was robbed last week, my parents and I were tied up and the robbers took all the money and furniture away.’

Missy U: ‘ Aww, I’m so sorry to hear that, is everyone OK?’

Alice: ‘Yea, our neighbour came over the next day to visit and thought something
was not right, he called the police and we were rescued’

Missy U: ‘Thank goodness, I am glad that everyone is safe. By the way, why did the robbers chose your family to rob? Do you live in a massive house’

Alice: ‘No teacher, I live in a normal house.’

Missy U: ‘Your dad must have a very nice car?’

Alice: ‘No teacher, it is a common car’

Missy U: ‘How common is common?’

Alice: ‘A Porsche’

Missy U: ‘…………’

A real story told by a friend, a very talented pianist/violinist/vocalist who teaches part-time in a music school. Due to the geographical location of the school, most of the kids are descendants of the rich and famous, study in private schools and live in their bubbles of luxury.

Like 99.9% of the population in this country, I am from an average family. We do have our own bubbles determined by each family’s values and background. Most of these bubbles are fragile, they burst when we go into mainstream school at the age of 7.

I wonder how would the world looks like in these Class A luxury bullet-proof bubbles? I am really curious. Would I know how a 10 cents coin looks like? Would I call a shirt a shirt if they are not Ralph Lauren Kids? Would I understand the exotic local ‘manglish’ accent? Would I know the difference between Nasi Lemak served in Mamak stalls and Madam Kwan’s? Would I have the chance to share my lunch with a friend whose parents can’t afford to let him eat in school canteen? Would I know that I am the 0.1% lucky ones? Would I even care to know? Would I ever have the chance to find out?

Well, I guess I will never know. I had a great childhood without my bubbles!


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The Art of Silence

A charmer at first sight
Funny, intelligent and suave
Unmistakable artistic flair
Too many opinions to share
All personal yet logical
Dull things seem great
Boring events turn colourful
When you are present
A friend worth to keep
I thought
Until an alien arrived from out of space
Kidnapped you with an UFO
No more sight of you
No more word from you
A hello returned with silence
Are you struggling in pain?
Are you rocketing high up in the sky?
No one seems to know
An opinionated artist such as you
One as good as Raphael or Michelangelo
I guess your greatness lies in your art of silence...


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Nomad

If there’s a past life, I believe I was a nomad traveling between the East and the West on the Silk Road. I owned a camel, a tent, a trunk of goodies and spent my whole life fighting the sand storms, searching my next camping ground and slept beneath the stars for many cloudless nights in the desert. I chose not to stay put at one place for too long because I am born to explore and travel and make a living out of it. I was not responsible to anyone but myself and my camel; I earned a living and lived with absolute pride and freedom. I was an adventurer, a wanderer, an unsettled soul forever searching for the next oasis…..

I spent the past 24 years living in several small and big towns/cities. Most due to parents relocating for work, later for my own education. Originating from a small town in the south of Malaysia, I must say that I've got all the wonderful virtues of kampung (village) folks running in my genes. We’re friendly, we’re generous, we’re forgiving, we’re grateful, we’re people-oriented. Until today, I still enjoy saying ' I'm from Segamat', which is usually followed by 'Oh... but sorry where is it?'... which I then happily elaborate 'It's a small town in the north of Johor, a southern state of Malaysia, neighbouring Malacca, half way between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, we produced lots of durians and rubber, an important town for the primary industry of Malaysia'

Yes, Segamat is my hometown, which in reality I didn't live there for too long. It's where my grandparents and relatives live. I was brought up in the Klang Valley, lived in Shah Alam and Subang Jaya from the age of 1 until 15. Dad's work brought us back to his hometown when I was 15. A drastic change indeed, a city kid moving to a once 'holiday destination' to visit grandma and to play with the cousins. It was initially an interesting change, but the thrill only lasted for a while before I started to miss the city and all my friends there... What's more, I'm the 'new kid from KL' who joined the class in the middle of the year... Thanks to my reasonably good inter-personal skill, I fitted in OK eventually, phew...

15 years old i.e 3rd year in the secondary education was an important year in my country, there's PMR examination which determines our destiny, to either arts or science stream. In a First-World-Wannabe like Malaysia, the latter is more prestigious and more promising than the former. Anyway, a big change at this significant age could be a big threat to my academic future. Reflecting back, if only I haven't got enough self-discipline and a strong mind, I could've flopped... where would I be and what would I be doing now if that was the case? A crossroad I proudly walked past with no fear!

Well, once adjusted, life is good in a small town. No more loitering in big malls after class but wandering in grandma's or uncles' gigantic house with enormous backyards, no more people speaking posh English in Malay classes but Malay in English classes, no more traffic jams on the highway but bumpy country road to school, no more scouts expedition in concrete jungles but in proper tropical forest behind the school. A small change? A big change? Well, I'd say a good change, because I was lucky to have the experience from both sides of the world, at the tender age of 15! Besides, now I have 2 circles of friends in the country, both quite different but similarly wicked! Interestingly these 2 overlap eventually :)

After secondary school, I went off to Singapore for college for 6 months. Massive change again. Singapore is a much bigger metropolis than KL. Small town kid breaking out into the city, hooray! It took no time for the hibernating city kid in me to take control again. I truly enjoyed all the fun and thrill in Singapore, and the intellectually stimulating circle of ASEAN scholars around me :) It's hard to say goodbye to Singapore when I am offered a better deal back home, an all-paid for education package for 7 years in KL and UK.

2 years of A-levels in KL. I was glad to be back in KL again. 2 years in a familiar yet unfamiliar city. 2 years mingling around with the smartest scholars in the country. 2 years of ups-and-down away from my family in a city which I used to call home. 2 years being an out-of-towner when most of my childhood friends are just around the corner. 2 years of learning to be independent. 2 years of total freedom! I did enjoy these 2 years... thanks to all my close buddies, you know who you are :)

After A-levels and securing a place in University, Leicester is where I call home for in the past 5 years. A small town in the midlands of England with a total population of 250, 000, which is roughly the size of Segamat! It’s a humble small town 1.5 hours to the north of London on a train. We Leicesterians walk everywhere, to town, to the university, to the hospital (LRI), to the cinema, to the malls. Bus is optional, only reserved for the lazy ones or when we need to travel further away to the outskirts. It was love at first sight, I fell in love with this decent small town. However 2 years was all it took for me to get bored of it, I started to complain that it is too small a town to enjoy my student life. Hence, weekend trips to London/Birmingham were common. Perhaps medical school has sped up my ageing process, I started to appreciate the slower pace of life in this small town, with everything I need within walking distance. Friends are around the corner, so a spontaneous coffee meet is always possible. Rents are cheaper compare to bigger cities too. Londoners screamed when they find out I pay less than half of their rent for twice the size of their flat, and cried when they visit our market with dirt cheap fruits and vegetables.

University life is coming to an end soon and I am about to start my first job. Where will be my next destination? Haven’t got a clue but it doesn’t really matter. So if I were an unstoppable nomad in my past life, what is going to stop me in my present life?


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