OFF TO KOREA!

Repro exam was ok, though I made too much careless stupid mistake to be happy bout it. I'm going off to KLIA soon. Have a flight at 12.45am to catch... all the way to Korea! Happy holidays to everyone, and merry christmas!!! >=)

BREAK FROM STUDIES

I was so looking forward for the Reproductive System classes to start juz a few months back... Now that the course has ended, I have to conclude that it is the DULLEST system we've EVER learn so far. Even the history taking session on sexual history is totally stripped off of its humours and hilarity bcuz the CSU lecturers juz have to be so stiff and solemn and serious all the time. Most of the physiology lectures ended up as nothing but piles of facts make me regretted coming for the lectures in the 1st place. Blegh...

Also, somehow there's a persistent oppressive feeling everytime I tried to study for this system. Usually I juz ended up detesting what I'm forced to study, not unlike the bygone days when I have to sit thru hours of pointless memorization of facts concerning the Islamic civilization for my SPM papers. I can't believe the lecturers can actually make the reproductive system so incredibly stale, but they truly exceeded themselves in doing so.

Anyway, at the day before the exam, I decided that I have enough of this oppressive atmosphere and (finally) decided to take a trip to KLCC and get me a book which I have wanted to obtain for quite some time already - The Lost Art of Healing, by the renowned cardiologist Dr. Bernard Lown, who happens to be a Nobel Peace Prize winner. I've checked with Borders Times Square and MPH MidValley earlier, but both of these giant bookstores do not have any copies of the book. It is in the ever-reliable Kinokuniya KLCC that I finally got hold of the book. Which is why Kinokuniya will always remain 1 of my favourite place to hang out at! Lol. I juz love the amazing efficient and friendly service they have there!

Since I've already came so far, I figured that I might as well enjoy a nice meal for my lunch... and the consequence of the choice is...



Tada...

Shish Kebab from Tarbush (with lebanese bread) and Chicken Spaghetti from Kyros Kebab (with Ice Lemon Tea)!!! Yup, both dishes contain kebab, which signifies how much I've fell in love with lebanese cuisine lately hehe. Really love the Food Court in KLCC: you can get all the really tasty food in one place! Lol.

More closeups!!!



Ah... The very shish kebab that I went so crazy about the last time I went to Karbush. Too bad it's not as juicy as the last one I have... Nevertheless, it taste juz as good!!! Wrapping the kebab up in the lebanese bread with some sour cream, onions and tomatoes... Yum yum!!! >=)



Chicken spaghetti from Kyros!!! Man I sure miss this dish! I was shocked by the news of the Kyros Kebab branch in Klang Parade, juz directly opposite my house, was shut down a few weeks ago. I've mourn for it ever since, for I really really love the food there, espeacially the aforementioned spaghetti and the ooo-so-delicious Kyros Fries (even better than McD's if u ask me). I finally got the chance to enjoy it again here!!! Yay!!!

The meal was finished in a blink of an eye... That's how much I enjoyed the food! Lol. Now you see it...



... now you don't!

Walked around the place for e few minutes b4 I decided to go back to IMU to attend the 1st lecture of the Renal System (ya, it started b4 the repro exam is over, silly right?). I was really reluctant then really... I really wanna juz have fun here without having to face all those lecture notes again... But I guess I really need to do well in this exam to pull up my average, since I did quite badly for my last paper... Oh well...

Repro exam's tomorrow, and a few hours after that, I'll be leaving Malaysia... to Korea! See you guys again next year! I won't return here to New Year's Eve! I wonder how Christmas would be like in Korea... and man, I can't wait to see snow for the 1st time of my life, and try skiing!!! >=)

SOME PICS WITH MY K750i

A tree that is so majestically beautiful it looks totally out of place in the ugly and mundane surroundings. I doubt all the people in their cars or motorbikes even notice how gorgeous the tree looks, with its perfect shape and moss-covered bark. Oh the pic is taken is Sri Petaling btw, from my table at a coffee shop.




Medical students are a hardworking bunch. Juz look how exhausted 2 of our students are during lectures due to all the hours of studying... or was it DOTA-ing? Hehe... (Their faces are not shown - my first practise of professional confidentiality hehe)




Look closely and u'll see the dead (and probably fried as well) cockroach surrounded by the tomato sause. It is found on Tony's order of Chicken Sandwich in Food Avenue, IMU. I'm unfortunate enough to happen to eat some of the fries WITH the sauce earlier... (yuck) And guess what? This is not the 1st time I heard about cockroaches found in the dishes served here in Food Avenue...




Something seems to be on fire near the Telekom Tower... Viewed from Vista B, B Tower, 24th floor.




"In the land of Mordor where the shadows lie..."

The smoke from the burning building (I assume) hovers above KL city... Looks like it's a victory for Sauron there lol.




Experimenting around with some features in my handphone. I really like the "cartoon" effect on my portrait! =D

DINNER AT TARBUSH

Went to a Middle-Eastern restaurant to celebrate Bryan's birthday last Monday, Dec 12. Well, actually, we were supposed to go for a Sri Lankan buffet instead... But poor Thommy (that's me) have to disappoint everyone bcuz he juz simply can't take any spicy food!!! >=D So ya, Sidd suggested Tarbush at Bukit Bintang instead, and off we go! ...Actually, it wasn't that easy... There's also this blasted heavy rain that kinda hinders our journey (to the LRT station nearby hehe), but sufficient to say we survive the ordeal la lol.



The place is situated juz opposite KL Plaza, and my, it really has some nice middle-eastern deco inside! It somehow reminded me of Morocco more specifically.



This being the 1st time I'm trying out "Lebanese delicacies" (that's how they put it in the signboard!), I'm kinda lost with all the jargons they used in the menu. Shish Tawook, Fetush, Baklawa, Grilled Arayes etc etc. Thank God we have Sidd there, our ever dependable guide when it comes to foreign food! (he's not very good on Japanese food though lol) All of us different variety of food there, and here are a couple of pics of them!





It was there at Tarbush where I discover one of the best tasting dish I've ever had in my life: shish (lamb) kebab! Man, the rich and complex taste of it juz explode in your mouth! Lol. I highly recommended that! I really enjoy the rest of the dishes too. All the lamb chops are really well seasoned, and I'm totally addicted to eating all the dishes with sour cream and wrapping them up with Lebanese bread!

The eating out/birthday celebration at Tarbush has been really memorable, and I sure wanna return there again! Apparently there's 2 other branch restaurants too, one of it in KLCC which Sidd claims to be much cheaper than the one we went... Guess I have to investigate myself to confirm if that's true... I guess I'll juz bring my parents along... They might come in handy... or at least, their money does! Hehe... >=)

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL

This book gives me the best reading experience ever!!! I nv so consistently enjoy reading a novel as this one! And ironically, it isn't even a fiction work! It's categorized under a rather obscure genre, which I guess can be called non-fiction novel. The entire structure of the book has a feel of a novel, though there is a little resemblance to a continuous chain of short stories as well, but all the characters and the events mentioned in the book are based on real facts and observation of a journalist (except for a few minor points of the story).

The novel is basically about what a newspaper columnist, John Berendt (the author), encounter, observed and interviewed on a group of interestingly bizarre eccentrics in the town of Savannah, Georgia, US, as well as the mystery and court-case of a murder crime. And gosh, Savannah really do have lots of fascinating eccentrics, ranged from the self-made antique seller Jim Williams, the ever-charming and hospitable real estate shark Joe Odom, the weird inventor Luther Driggins who happens to possess a bottle of poison strong enough to kill the entire townspeople if he ever decided to poison their source of water, the vulgar but captivating transvestite Lady Chablis, the voodoo priestess Minerva, who uses graveyard dirt to put curses on people as well as conduction voodoo rituals in the graveyard 30 minutes before and after midnight (the 30 minutes b4 midnight is for doing good, the 30 minutes after for doing evil, thus the title)... etc etc.

All the characters are so remarkably bizarre that it's almost impossible to believe that they're all real-life people. One reason why so many eccentrics exist in Savannah is bcuz the town have always have an unusual high tolerance towards unconventional people, and in fact, they become like some sort of minor celebrity in their charming, secluded town. Some of the aura of the Old South still lives in Savannah, and people who have watched or read Gone With the Wind will know what I mean immediately: the elitist party that they have all the time, the upper class etiquette, and the charming hospitability most of the townspeople have with them all the time. Savannah truly seemed to be disconnected from the world around them, and the town stubbornly refuse to give in to any foreign influences, espeacially from the Yankees (North). It almost seems as if the Confederates nv lose the American Civil War after all!

The murder trials at the 2nd part of the book is also a great read. For a guy who has nv read any books on court cases (ya i know it's about time I expose myself to John Grisham), I enjoy reading about the proceedings of the trials. The best thing about the 2nd part is that eventhough there is a grim murder trial going on in town, the people there still are as charming as ever, and the writer's good story-telling skills really makes reading the book a pure joy!

It is amazing I nv took any notice of this book until I accidentally stumbled upon it after a long, complicated links search using Amazon.com (ya, reading reviews is one of my hobby). There is no book I enjoyed reading more, for even books that I love so dearly (e.g. 1984, The Lord of the Rings) somehow always contains small parts that I find it a chore to read thru. But there is none of that in John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. I heartily recommend it to all book lovers!!!

Oh ya, in case u have already watched Clint Eastwood's movie adaptation of the book, know that the critics find the book much more superior than the movie. So even if u dislike the movie, juz go give the book a try! I'm sure u'll be as eager to travel to Savannah as I am now after reading it!!! =D

HARRY POTTER 4

Juz watched Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire with my sis and her frens. And the verdict? It's really really good. Not many 2-hours-plus-movies can hold my full attention throughout the entire length of the movie, but this one did, and that's one helluva praise. Funny how many of many of my frens disliked it though.

The only people I can think of who dislike the movie would be the purists, i.e. ppl who are so in love with the book that the resent every single eliminated/ changed/ simplified details made on the movie. A fren of mine cursed about how the entire Quidditch World Cup tournament is totally left out in the movie, and others on how Hermione is supposed to only look pretty when she dressed up to the ball, not from the very beginning of the series (wait that has nothing much to do with plot changes... nvm).

Personally, I'm GRATEFUL that the director has push out all those redundant side-stories that contribute absolutely nothing to the main plot. Honestly, I'm really tired of the whole Quidditch thing already. There's a reason why all sports are played in a 2-dimensional field: it's pretty hard to follow a game where ppl fly all over in a 3-dimensional game field playing some pseudo-soccer game. It's amusing in the 1st movie, but if they gonna show more of it in the future movies, I'll refuse to watch it in the cinemas. Lol.

Speaking bout abandoning stale elements, I love how Mike Newell, the director, focus more on the antics and personalities of the characters to inject life into the movies instead of over-relying on special effects or some magical elements in the school. A few supporting characters, such as Neville Longbottom and the Weasley twins, are given more screen time and leave a much stronger impression than they ever did with the last 3 movies combined. Seeing how the main characters react as they entered their puberty stage is fascinating too: I nv feel much for the characters b4, but seeing how Hermione break down at the stairs after the ball is one real angsty scene! Lol.

The movies also have a wide range of moods: the comedic scenes are amusing, the action scenes intense, the characters' interaction scenes are full of teenage angst, and the darker elements of the movie are truly sinister. I guess that is the main reason why HP4 is a good movie: the director did a marvelous job balancing all the different elements in the movie without bogging down the pace with some stupid Quidditch match. =P

(MINOR SPOILER WARNING!!!)

That being said, if there's one flaw that I find in the movie, it would be the lack of emotional impact following a character's death. I think that more time should be spent to flesh out the character earlier in the movie, so that his sudden unexpected death would leave an impact on the audience. It's weird to watch how the whole school mourn for a single kid when the audience juz take it as yet another plot point and are completely not bothered by it. They should add more drama to his death scene! Lol.

(SPOILER ENDS)

Overall, HP4 is one of the best movie I've watch this year, and it is consistently engaging throughout the entire 2 hours and 20 minutes of its screen time. Definitely worth a watch in the cinema!

* * * * * *

Now, I wanna say something that has nothing to do with the review of the movie. In one of the scene in the movie, Harry Potter (played by Daniel Radcliffe) has to immerse a golden egg into a hot bath in order to get the next clue for the next trial that is coming ahead. Throughout the entire scene, only one alarming thought keeps on drifting around in my head: "Shit this Radcliffe kid has been working out hard!!!"

And I was really bothered and annoyed for the next 15 minutes or so. Here we have this bratty British kid (i assume he's bratty bcuz he's so filthy rich now) who is currently the richest teen in the UK and all... yet he has the time and determination to train his physique to wat it is now in the movie!!! And here I am, with time to kill, and wat did I do about my weight? Next to nothing! Argh... It really bugs me that a kid could do so much better than a guy like me! Eeeesh... I really have to do something BIG now!!!! >=@

...

Yes I'm juz plain JEALOUS!!! @#*&^%!

MALIGNANT DREAMS

Lately my dreams have ceased to be episodic... They have started to become some sort of a long TV series with recurring qualities! Seriously. Certain individuals and events that I dreamt about earlier will appear a few nights later. It's almost as if my dreams have assume a world and life of its own, with their peculiar sets of rules...

I guess some ppl will be thrilled to have dreams like these (i.e. Christabel) =P, but I for one prefer it to stop. The consistency of the recurrence of the "dream events" is making it hard for me to differentiate between reality and imagination, and that really disturbs my sleep pattern, for I can't stop waking up throughout my sleep...

Wonder wat causes this hyperactive subconscious imagination of mine...

1ST SIGHT OF A CADAVER

Finally! After studying medicine for almost 2 years, I finally lay my sight upon the 1st cadever I've ever seen in my life!



Quite an eye-opener trip to UKM really, seeing all the dissected bodies for the 1st time. It's really great that I can finally actually feel all the textures of the muscles and organs after studying them using books and models for 2 years. Got to see an enlarged testicle too, due to hydrocoele. And the prostate gland is much smaller than I imagined them to be! Lol.

The solution they use to preserve the bodies really is nauseating though. It reminds me of soured bread, but much stronger. I felt like vomiting after I was at the dissecting hall for about an hour or so! Lol. Anyway, I'm glad that I didn't need to learn anatomy using cadavers: atlasses and models are so much more convenient lol.

Oh I forgot to mention: this is the 1st time I ever drove to the heart of KL too! That's bcuz I missed the bus to UKM! Lol. And whoever that pass the form around should be spanked for writing the location as Hospital UKM instead UKM - those 2 places are really really FAR apart wei! Lol. One's near Cheras while the other is at the KL City Centre! Lol.

Having said all those, I sure do hope that I can get to see a fresh cadaver dissection one day, instead of those which has been soaked in formalin (or watever they use) for decades. Maybe I'll get to see some in the forensics department during my clinical phase... I sure hope I do! Somehow dead patients are so much more cooperative than the living ones... Lol.

RESPONSIBILITIES

I detest responsibilities.

They are like a cage to me - they limit my freedom. When I'm free of any responsibilities, there's limitless possibilities of how I can spend my time, and immense flexibility to my schedules. But when duties come, I have to forfeit so many of these potential possibilities and get stuck with the limited things I HAVE to do.

It is ok if I have nothing better to do, or better still, that I really wanna do it; but once you become a leader, you can't choose when to get involved and when to walk the other way anymore. You are expected to do the things that you are supposed to do, no matter how much you feel like doing it. That seriously sucks. I firmly believe that we should never sacrifice our freedom of choice for anything.

I know that it's about time that I learn to deal with my duties and be a responsible person, but I really hated being tied down by them. A bird has to fly to wherever ut wants, and heck I don't want any cage surrounding me if I can help it. Question is, how could I remove this cage that I have getting myself into? I should have being more stubborn and refuse all requests of taking up any form of long-term responsibilities.

It's funny how when you volunteer to help out with something, people really appreciate your efforts, no matter how little it can be; but if you are responsible for a task, how well you perform will determine people's perception towards you. If that is the case, I would rather roam freely around all these "zones of responsibilities" and only venture into them once in awhile when I feel like it. That way, I can have the satisfaction of contributing something without being tied down by the tasks at hand.

Now how could I resign without causing a havoc...

i'm bored of med school life. don't get me wrong, i still wanna be a doc, but i'm juz bored of the routine study life. i need so form of escapism. lepak-ing in shopping complex doesn't help.

can somebody get me out of here?

rAmBLinGs (sEriOUsLy)

i'm so sick and bored of myself i desperately need some form of reinvention new look new interests new lifestyle make new friends explore my surroundings try out new stuff demand the payments in time (or they'll juz drag on and on) stop getting broke try shisha perhaps clubbing (wat for i can't dance/drink/smoke) exercise more consistently (4 + 4 is a good start Thom for ur jogging) lap swimming non-stop non-stop (hold ur breathe) non-stop juz keep on going non-stop stamina need to be improved stamina more cardio weight resistance can wait juz focus focus focus on stamina focus on stamina stamina stamina u worthless piece of shit...

reinvent reinvent out out out u go show them what you fear distrusts yes responsibilities sucks i need to take care of myself 1st argh wanna drop them all but how who to resume (can i hide here?) where was the enthusiasm where where where Thom where are you can't recognize you (I'm lost at sea, don't bother me) where was the energy the naivete the (you you you) personality the individuality the comfortability with yourself you once have Thom Thom Thom why sever yourself from others why estrange yourself from your friends why why why...

at least i still have you... thank you, you're all i can cling to...

A QUOTE BY ROBERT BROWNING

Juz found an amazing quote in one of my books:

Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp.
Or what's a heaven for?

Robert Browning

ON TERRORISM

Imagine this: A lecturer who teaches u a secular subject (property valuation to be precise), who loves to watch the English Premier League, supports Manchester United, loves to joke around and consistently delivers interesting lectures... is in fact the most wanted terrorist in Asia, and is directly responsible for the deaths of 200+ innocent people...

Yes, I'm talking about Dr. Azahari, who recently died in a shootout - a former University Teknologi Malaysia lecturer, bomb making expert and mastermind behind the 2002 Bali Bombing which killed 202 civilians. Can u picture that? You enjoyed attending his classes, you remembered a funny joke of his, and you remember the time when he goes on and on about how the football team he support is the best there is... Scary as hell isn't it? None of his students nor his colleagues imagined him to be a fundamentalist: he does not wear any attires of religious significance, have long beards or anything like that. But here he is - a mass murderer of sorts.

I'm becoming more and more disturbed and worried about all these fundamentalist terrorism that has caused so many innocent deaths all over the world. Lately, al Qaeda juz named the Queen of England to be "one of the worst enemies of Islam", and warned against all British muslim leaders “work for Elizabeth, the head of the Church of England.” I'm totally dumbstruck by such stupidity. What the hell does the monarch got to do with their so-called "holy crusade" that makes her deserves the honour of being one of their worst enemies? I don't remember her killing any muslims or persecuting Islam in any way! Hell, who's their next target? In the end, they probably end up killing everyone in the world!

Juz how deeply infiltrated are all these terror networks into Malaysia? I'm not juz talking about all those obvious fanatics who called everyone infidels and eager to kill themselves up (and everyone around them, literally) for their sick "cause"; could there be more seemingly innocent individuals such as Dr. Azahari out there, who dwell amongst us and worked amongst us, currently plotting about how to make a spectacular display of mass slaughters of innocent people?

How safe are we now, in the face of all these bombings all over the globe, from all these insane ppl who claimed to be doing noble deeds by all the killings they've committed? God help us all...





Dr. Azahari

GHOST?

Have u guys watched Shutter? It's a Thai horror movie which, honestly, is rather mediocre and predictable. Anyway, the movie mentioned bout how some ghosts or spirits are caught in photos taken by everyday ppl. I wanna share with u guys a pic I caught myself with my Sony Ericsson K750i when I was in a eating place in Klang...



It was supposed to be a random innocent picture... but wat the hell was that blur thing in the middle? If u look at the top part of the blur, it does resemble a human face, doesn't it? Brrrrrr...

Be careful of taking random pics in the future guys... U dunno wat may showed up! :S

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy 22nd Birthday Keat!!!! XD Hope u'll enjoy the trip to Port Dickson later in the morning!!! (Sorry la have to go Port Dickson instead of all the wonderful beaches elsewhere since they're all fully booked hehe).

Guys, I'm leaving for Port Dickson on the 1st day of Hari Raya in the morning! Hope u guys enjoy ur holidays too! Selamat Hari Raya and Happy Deepavali (I know I'm late haha) to all! >=)

FINAL KKB POSTING

Juz returned from the last KKB posting I'll ever have. Have my final sight of the town... and I guess I won't miss the place much... perhaps other than the wonderfully cheap and delicious Restaurant 98, and the cheap ice cream (less than RM 2.50 for 4 scoops!) there. The latest KKB posting was... bad. Not as bad as the one in sem 3 when everyone is stressed out by EOS3, but nothing compared to the blissful time we all have back in sem 2.

In fact, I dun feel like a med student at all in the latest posting. I'm kind of fed up with med school life. Dun get me wrong, i'm not regretting taking up Medicine, juz that i'm tired of the usual routine of a med student's life... study study and study. Blegh. I have totally abandoned all thoughts of studying for the past few weeks, and went lepak-ing all over KL in hope to recharge myself... but so far I'm still desperate for something to turn me on perpetually... Everything feels so dry now, as if I'm in a desert or something!

Anyway, this KKB trip is full of accidents... Left my sotong balls & honey in the bus when I reached KKB, and I still can't locate the whereabouts of them. Broke my watch there too, have to get it fixed ASAP (thank God the warrantee is still good). And left my favourite formal wear there too, my comfy blue snails collared-shirt. :( Sigh... At least the BBQ was fun...

Somehow I got this melancholic feeling surrounding me all the time I was there. Seeing how my friends mingle around with everyone, I can't help but noticing how superficial most of our friendships are with one another... I can see how after we've graduated from IMU and leave for the PMS of our choice all over the world, we might never see each other nor keep in touch again... It's as if our friendships only last for this moment, never meant to be kept for life...

Everything seems to feel as if they're ending or fading away soon... Guess it's about time for me to sail to the West, to the Undying Lands of Aman... Oh heck forget bout the LoTR talk. I guess I'm juz weary bout this current phase I'm in, and eager to start anew in my clinical training overseas!!! The green pastures of New Zealand does sound inviting...

BAH KUT TEH IN SRI PETALING!

I can't believe my eyes as I drove pass a signboard on my way to OUG: Fatty Long Teluk Pulai (Klang) Bah Kut Teh!!! Wow, not only is there a new Klang Bah Kut Teh restaurant in Sri Petaling, it's a branch of the famous Teluk Pulai Bah Kut Teh!!! Back in Klang, the place is always crowded: you need to wait to be seated when u go at peak hours! And here it is, a branch in Sri Petaling itself!

But I can't help but being skeptical and suspicious... Is it really a branch of the famous bah kut teh, or izzit yet another name-borrowing fake like the countless bad Seremban Siew Paos out there? (No offense, I LOVE the authentic Seremban Siew Pao, but there are plenty of lousy ones out there with the same name!) So today, I finally ventured to try it out with 2 of my Sabahan friends...

I was really pleased when I found out the owner of the restaurant is a Klangite (ah it's so good to see someone from my hometown "so far away from home"!), and everything do seemed to be right... And here's my verdict after we ate the food: it is good, and it does has the Teluk Pulai taste! So yup, it's authentic! Yay!!!

It's so great to have such a good hometown food served so near to my campus! Gonna frequent this place from now on with my non-Klangite friends to introduce them the famous dish that originates from nowhere but my beloved hometown! >=)

UPDATES

Is my life really that boring now till I have nothing to update about?? Guess so... Sigh...

Finally caught Christabel by surprise in her surprise birthday party last night, thanks to the great collaboration between us and CB's mum! Hehehe... It's really amazing la how her mum can send her to Vista without arousing too much suspicion from her. The shock on CB's face is juz... priceless! Hehe... Happy 21st Birthday Christabel!!!

Played A Tale of Two Sisters during the party. As I expected, it got almost everyone confused throughout the movie, but I'm a bit disappointed that not many ppl like it at the end of the movie. And some ppl are juz so impatient! It's as if a movie can nv hold their attention unless it has funny jokes, great action scenes, wonderful special effects, scary shocks or some tender romantic scene in every single minute! Such addiction to sensationalism... Sigh...

Well, as for me, watching that movie again makes me appreciate it even more so. Some comments by the more alert and patient viewers are quite interesting, and did shed more light to my understanding of the movie. Of cuz, Bryan's cynical "unbelief" is hilarious too, though I wonder does he actually like the movie really.

Now that Endocrine System is over and Rotation Posting is beginning, I guess I should start revising my sem 1 stuff already. I guess I couldn't revising anything during the 1st 2 systems of sem 5, considering they're probably the toughest systems there are in phase 1: musculoskeletal system and the nervous system... And since I have to conduct the Q & A session for the sem 1 summative 1 exam anyway, might as well read up a bit so that I won't embarassed myself in front of the juniors! Lol.

...Hey I end up updating something after all... Not bad... Hehe. Let's hope the upcoming rotation is full of fun! Really looking forward for the KKB posting now considering how many friends I'll be with there! >=)

NEW HANDPHONE

Yay, I finally got a new handphone!!! It's about time too. My Nokia 3310 is serious bad shape adi, broken pieces, cover scars, loose cover and all. I initially decided to get something cheap, around the range of RM 500 to RM 800... But my cousin who follows me to the shop asked to see those with memory one pula... I was initially a bit worried with the price, but after trying them out, I got really attracted to them...

I finally narrow my choices down to 2: Nokia 6670, and Sony Ericsson K750i. After much discussion and thoughts, I finally settled for...

SONY ERICSSON K750i!!!

...which cost me almost RM 1500... Ouch... But heck, for now, I'm loving it!!! I was really impressed with the audio quality when the salesgirl play an MP3 song for me. Too bad it's only 64mb... I'm probably gonna upgrade it one day... For now, I juz wanna have fun playing with my new gadget! The 2 megapixel camera function seems promising! >=)

"Leading" (I dun do much actually) the sem 1 students thru CG on "Life in IMU" makes me a little envious of them... The young, carefree faces of these juniors make me feel old after studying juz slightly more than one year here in IMU Bukit Jalil. There's something about me that is permanently altered or lost after going thru (and surviving) semester 3, but I juz can't really pinpoint what it is exactly.

Going thru Sem 3 and EOS 3 is as if I've seen hell, live in one, and walked thru it, and emerged from it, not victoriously, but still alive (thank God). The entire experience was traumatic, to say the least, and extremely stressful bcuz failure is not juz possible, it is almost probable. I nv knew how much knowledge that we are expected to know by heart and how impossible it is for me to grasp every single one of them. The harder I try to cling on all the information, the more it seems that they're slipping away from me. Q and A sessions become scary and stress-inducing, when I realize how much stuff that I've studied juz the week b4 if lost in the sea of information that I've drown myself in. To have pass the exam doesn't feel exhilarating at all (unlike EOS1), merely relieved.

Looking at the Sem 1 & 2 juniors know who are oblivious of the trials and hardships that are awaiting them not so far into the future, I envy their "innocence" and gaiety. Seeing how the Sem 3 students started to reacts towards the impending doom that awaits them a few months in the future makes me feel pity for them...

Well, I guess this is something that all med students in IMU have to go thru... Let's hope it's for the best... But sometimes I really miss the carefree me from the past, before the traumatic sem 3 days...

Wonder will I ever be the same again...

NEWER, HEALTHIER

I've been jogging twice a week and swim bout 2 to 3 times a week. In these moments of boredom, I've learn to appreciate and enjoy some exercises! About time I start to improve my stamina... Hehe... >=)Here's to a newer, healthier me! >=P

SEM 4 BEGINS

Life in IMU, break into semesters:

Sem 1 - Started with anticipation & anxiety. New learning enviroment, staying away from home, new found freedom, new friends, new exam systems... One of the most memorable time of my life.

Sem 2 - Frantic coping with unfamiliar syllabus. Unlike the earlier syllabus in sem 1 which has been taught for the past few years in secondary school & pre-U, subjects like General Pathology, Immunology, Microbiology and Pharmacology are totally new sunjects to us. Took quite some time before I managed to adapt to these whole new stream of knowledge.

Sem 3 - Chronic long-term exam stress. Struggling vainly to memorise all the details of everything we've learned in Sem 2 and the current sem in preparation to face the infamous EOS 3, the 'Great Filter' which determines who among us will ultimately become a doctor (at least that's wat the seniors say). In the end, I can't managed to cram everything into my head in time for the exam... yet thank God I made it thru!

And now...

Sem 4 - Juz started a week ago. There's no new environment, no new fields of knowledge, no major exams to worry about... and therefore the total absence of any sort of challenges! I have been slacking all the way since the first lecture, and I still kinda dread going to the lectures in the near future... Argh, I need some form of stimulus!

I was hoping that coming back to IMU will be more... dramatic. Meeting up with friends that I haven't meet for almost 2 months, checking out enthusiastically what everyone has been doing for the past 7 weeks and share some of my experiences with them, and not to forget meeting all the new faces of the new Sem 1 students...

But it turns out as if everyone juz picked up the burden they've left behind somewhere after EOS 3 has ended and continue on with their journey to become a doctor... It is as if that wasn't any 7 weeks gap in between the sems, as if nothing has happened since we rejoice over our results! I find it so... odd and dull! Sheesh...

Hopefully I'll be able to built the momentum up as the Endocrine System Assessment approaches... in 3 weeks time. >=)

KK (PART 2): MY EXPERIENCE

1. Tanjung Aru Beach
(sorry, no pics available)

Went there on the very 1st night I was at KK. A surprisingly heavily-commercialized yet decently not polluted beach area with lots of stalls and even a huge garden nearby. It was a wonderful start to my 2 weeks stay here. The night breeze from the sea is juz envigorating, and the calm black sea that disappearing in the horizon contrasting with the busy crowd on this side of the shore is really interesting. The place confirms my belief that this 2 weeks trip gonna be hell lot of fun, like an oasis in the midst of my desert-like holiday! Lol.


2. Kinabalu Park & Poring Hot Spring

Along the way to Kinabalu Park, I almost went crazy with the awesome beauty and majesty of Mount Kinabalu. I actually took more than 30 pictures of the mountain in different angle and time of the day! Lol. Here's some of the better ones (hell the pics really dun do the mountain justice):

Oh and mind u these pics are taken FROM A HILL! So Mount Kinabalu here isn't juz a mountain among flat lands, it's like a king of the mountains there!















After we arrived at Kinabalu Park, we have a short jungle trekking tour. And I actually met one of my friend from Klang there, whom I haven't seen him for a long time since he's studying in Sheffield! Wow, think about the chance of us meeting one another at that spot wei... It really is a small world after all! Lol.

Here's some pics of the interesting flora and fauna there!











This is one of the picture I'm proud to have taken!
Don't the orchid looks cute? >=)





Too bad all the real Rafflesia haven't bloom yet...
Oh well, this will have to do for the time being!



A great view of the villages down the valley.


After the jungle trekking and lunch, we went to Poring Hot Spring, which is situated nearby (actually it's about 45 minutes away, but considering that we're traveling thru the hills, that's considered close! >=P) When we arrived there, we went for the canopy walk 1st above the trees of the forest - 41 meters above the ground!






41 meters above ground! Gasp!
I can't even see the ground from the top!


It was an amazing view... and a scary one too! Lol. We then proceed to the hot spring area, where man-made "bathtubs" were built and where everyone wait for their chance to secure a "bathtub" for themselves. Seeing how crowded the public baths are, some of us opt for private ones, which cost RM 15 per hour. Well, it's a great deal for the privacy, and I jumped for 1 straight away! Sorry guys, no pics to share with u all for that 1! =P The hot spring bath was juz awesome. I feel so relaxed & energized at the end of the hour! Lol.


3. Labuan

Went to Labuan for 2 days 1 night. We left KK Jetty in the morning and arrived there after a 3 hours ride, where Sarah pick us up at the jetty there. Good 'o Sarah. She brought us all over the island, and many thanks to her family too, for their hospitality and generosity in belanja-ing us all the wonderful meals! Well, the places of interest in Labuan are mostly historical sites, like Surrender Point, War Memorial etc. Here's a pic from Surrender Point:



The sunset view on the beach near Surrender Point is beautiful too, so I took the oppurtunity to ask for a pic!



But of all the cool places in Labuan, it's the mysterious Chimney that caught my attention the most. Built on top of a hill, the seven storey brick structure is 32.5 meters high, and at its base, about 4 x 4 meters. The reason behind the construction of the building is not known. Many assume it to be a ventilation shaft for the coal mining tunnel underground at first, but recent excavation shows no tunnels underneath the structure. Some suggested that it is used as a chimney to burn the coal, but there is absolutely no signs of any burnings in the inner walls. Some said it's a light house, and the locals claimed that it used to be a bell tower signalling the arrival of ships to the port. Till this day, the actual purpose of the tower is still shrouded in mystery...

That means, we have our very own Stonehenge in Malaysia! Hahahaha... I always like mysterious structures and all. And the Chimney do have an enigmatic aura surrounding it... Here's some of the pics I took there!





Pic taken from the interior of the tower,
facing upwards.



Doesn't this remind you of the tower of Orthanc,
Saruman's tower in The Lord of the Rings? >=)


Of cuz, a trip to Labuan will not be complete without buying all the tax-free stuff there... No I'm not talking bout alcohols, I'm talking bout CHOCOLATES!!! XD I spent more than RM 100 on the chocs alone! Lol. Some of them are half the price compared to those sold in other places! Went back with KK with a big load of chocolates! Lol.

4. Manukan Island

The trip to Manukan Island is a relaxing one. We juz go there and lazying around at the beach. There were lots of water sports and activities offered there, from snorkelling to kayaking to banana boat to paragliding... all at a cost, of cuz! But well, both me and Keat are juz not in the mood to do all the stunts that day, so we juz enjoy the beautiful scenery, bathe in the seawater and have fun burying each other with the sands of the beach! Lol.

On my way to the island on a speedboat.


Pulau Manukan, juz a few km offshores of KK City.


Ooooo colourful fishies everywhere,
all around my legs in the water!







Keat standing before the beautiful sea.



2 decapitated heads found along the shores of Manukan...





This is the proof that even sexy chicks and
gorgeous hunks are not immune to heat stroke! >=)



5. White Water Rafting

Of all the things I do in Sabah, this is the one I enjoyed the most. I've been longing to try out White Water Rafting for years, and now I have the chance!!! We travelled all the way to Sungai Padas, deep within the jungle, by an ancient 100-year-old train, still powered by... I dunno, coal? Lol. Here's some pics of the train itself.





The long long ride to the site of the white water rafting is horrible. We were melting under the intense heat in the interior of the train, and the ride there was incredibly bumpy. Some twenty med students from UM joined us in this outing, but they're juz not sociable enough to care about our presence. =P But I was excited throughout the journey as I saw all the crazy rapids along the river, and I tried to imagine how it's like to raft on top of them... Little did I know not only did I do juz that later, but I actually swam on the rapids themselves!!! >=)

Upon arrival on the starting point, we were divided into groups of 6 or 7, all under a guide, and we have a short briefing there on how to use all the equipments and all the what-to-do's & what-not's. Then, we're off to the crazy river! Man, the experience was just undescribable! It's like riding a rollercoaster ride, but this is much more exciting bcuz the rapids are totally unpredictable! Crashing thru the rapids are juz exhilaring! And swimming on the rapids is juz crazy... but hell I enjoy it all the way!

I'm the guy with the blue helmet, black jacket and red shirt!








Crashing into a strong rapid! Lol.


And there u have it, all the fun highlights I have in Sabah! I'll add one more entry on the food there and some misc. photos tomorrow ler! >=)

Heard that there's a White Water Rafting site near KKB... Anybody interested? >=D