2008-12-27
snowy alley
"so glide away in your soapy heels..."
2008-12-21
How a volgo medstudent spent his weekend..
This is a video to answer my 12-year old niece who keep asking me .."do u have to study during the weekend??"
disclaimer : author awares some may spend theirs differently. So, no offence, I just want to make a funny video for my cute little niece :)
2008-12-20
My heart just made a little hop
Introducing the greatest jewel this winter month...Priscilla Ahn
2008-12-19
early snow of the last winter
Posted via Pixelpipe.
"EARLY SNOW OF THE LAST WINTER"
hehe..I love the contrast :)
and the harsh structure of Soviet-era factory, with a mild snow in the walkway, along the wall with kid's drawing depicting their hope and dreams..
Its cannot get any more contrast than that
hehe..I love the contrast :)
and the harsh structure of Soviet-era factory, with a mild snow in the walkway, along the wall with kid's drawing depicting their hope and dreams..
Its cannot get any more contrast than that
2008-12-18
I am too - old and ageing fast....
"You're an ageing-man..and u're ageing too fast for ur age , with a thick layer of adipose insulating your surroundings - which is not helping"
This is practically what my body screamed to my brain when I saw the confirmed diagnosis and the X-ray slide of my lumbar area..
Anamnesis :
This semester rounds, I felt it's like a blessing that I got a lot of invitation to involve more deeply into practical medicine..
While most of medstudents face the same problems about being shunned away while doing thei practicals - I am blessed with a very dedicated attending, readily to teached us humble students, and a group of perky colleagues to keep me coming for more and more practicals.
5 sessions of practicals later, I learnt a lot more than I had than spending this past 3 years reading text book of surgery. There's the chance to scrub in, and my attending "little secret" on how to insert the Nasogastic tube more easily. And..uh..the screaming, purulent anaerobic ass...cant never forget about that (yes, a real ass...not an ass like..a person)
Anyway, on my 4th session, I was attending a non-stop practical for 16 hours (its that even worth an on call during residency)..where I stand on my poor feet for most of the days..and return to home hours later..when the inevitle happened..
Complaints :
I was back at home, planning to cook some chicken soup (for the body and the soul). I must be too tired to even concentrate on what I am doing when I try to lift something from the floor...
and...SNAP!!!
it felt like I was being shot at the back. For a moment, I almost scream..but managed to clench my teeth and just lay still on the bathroom floor (oh...so...Izzie)...Its so hurtful, I passed my screaming phase towards the giggling phase ..and my housemate thought I was crazy laughing by myself in the bathroom
I cant sit, and I cant lay..so I happened to stand for almost an hour in the middle of the hallway. Then, with good-humor, housemate managed to lay me down with the help of an iron board to keep my back straight. And, that night...i slept on an iron board ..which i think is kinda cool..haha
only that, the next morning..both of my legs tingle..and to my upmost upset, I couldnt feel my own finger on my right foot...shit!! its neurological!!
a reference to 2 rheumatologist later, they suspected a case of Osteoarthritis and presribe me with a handful of meds
Instrumental Examination:
I felt they almost kidding since in whole of my humble knowledge, I rarely meet an Osteoarthritis (OA) among young, healthy (dare I say), people...its more commonly known as the old-people disease..u know..combined that with tear n wear and bla bla bla...its like they're telling me I have gray hairs...
So, as just to comfort myself I consider herniated disk (as the symptoms is quite similar) and refer myself to a surgeon.
The surgeon (who happened to be my attending) directed me for a "free" lumbar x-ray (ugh..the enema the night before..undescribeable) - and yes, its free because he snatched some unused films, and ask for favors from the roentgenologist.
Then, a neuropathologist come to assist with the diagnosis...
5 doctors and an x-ray film later..my diagnosis was confirmed....I am an aging man
Treatment :
I was given a paravertebral injection of analgesic - which miracolously quickly, surpressed my pain ..but not for long..
a handful of meds was prescribed..which all amounted up to Rub 2300 (RM 300) !! it may seems like a small change for some of you..but for a medstudent living his ass in Volgograd solely on the scholar...its too much...so i picked up the cheapest myorelaxant and NSAIDS, and pass out the analgesic..thinking maybe a day or two later, the pain will go by itself, or I will be adapted to it.
Prognosis:
All the meds above, sadly does not heal the condition. It only control the symptoms from vaguely affecting my life. The process is irreversible, and there's a good chance it may recurs from time to time.
For work and career, sadly I had to think seriously to stop with the elective surgery practical. And more upsetting, I might have to let go of my ambition from being a surgeon..for good...( I recalled the time when I was a kid and wish I could be a pilot, only to be told NO by the optometrist who prescribed me an eyeglass 1 year later)
Epicrisis :
This is a rare case of 23-year old young, Asian male, with a confirmed diagnosis of OA in L4-L5-S1, with neurologic complication. Patient led a sedentary (but happy) life most of his lifetime, and once in a while enjoy swimming just for the sake of it. A higher-than-normal BMI and increase workload with monotonous work regime is believed to be the triggering factors for the OA to develop. An osteophytes compressing the nerve is believed to be the cause of pain and numbness, and might all well cause chronic pain in right leg. Management is by strikingly expensive and time-consuming meds. Prognosis is poor as the process is reversible (though liveable) and patient might need to seriously consider being a psychiatrist (read : quack) for his specialities
Disclaimer : I know most of all u juniors out there snatch my award-winning case history plan. But this POST isnt one of them..so, please, dont cut and paste this and send it to your Traumatology lecturer..that would be awful for both u and me
Anamnesis :
This semester rounds, I felt it's like a blessing that I got a lot of invitation to involve more deeply into practical medicine..
While most of medstudents face the same problems about being shunned away while doing thei practicals - I am blessed with a very dedicated attending, readily to teached us humble students, and a group of perky colleagues to keep me coming for more and more practicals.
5 sessions of practicals later, I learnt a lot more than I had than spending this past 3 years reading text book of surgery. There's the chance to scrub in, and my attending "little secret" on how to insert the Nasogastic tube more easily. And..uh..the screaming, purulent anaerobic ass...cant never forget about that (yes, a real ass...not an ass like..a person)
Anyway, on my 4th session, I was attending a non-stop practical for 16 hours (its that even worth an on call during residency)..where I stand on my poor feet for most of the days..and return to home hours later..when the inevitle happened..
Complaints :
I was back at home, planning to cook some chicken soup (for the body and the soul). I must be too tired to even concentrate on what I am doing when I try to lift something from the floor...
and...SNAP!!!
it felt like I was being shot at the back. For a moment, I almost scream..but managed to clench my teeth and just lay still on the bathroom floor (oh...so...Izzie)...Its so hurtful, I passed my screaming phase towards the giggling phase ..and my housemate thought I was crazy laughing by myself in the bathroom
I cant sit, and I cant lay..so I happened to stand for almost an hour in the middle of the hallway. Then, with good-humor, housemate managed to lay me down with the help of an iron board to keep my back straight. And, that night...i slept on an iron board ..which i think is kinda cool..haha
only that, the next morning..both of my legs tingle..and to my upmost upset, I couldnt feel my own finger on my right foot...shit!! its neurological!!
a reference to 2 rheumatologist later, they suspected a case of Osteoarthritis and presribe me with a handful of meds
Instrumental Examination:
I felt they almost kidding since in whole of my humble knowledge, I rarely meet an Osteoarthritis (OA) among young, healthy (dare I say), people...its more commonly known as the old-people disease..u know..combined that with tear n wear and bla bla bla...its like they're telling me I have gray hairs...
So, as just to comfort myself I consider herniated disk (as the symptoms is quite similar) and refer myself to a surgeon.
The surgeon (who happened to be my attending) directed me for a "free" lumbar x-ray (ugh..the enema the night before..undescribeable) - and yes, its free because he snatched some unused films, and ask for favors from the roentgenologist.
Then, a neuropathologist come to assist with the diagnosis...
5 doctors and an x-ray film later..my diagnosis was confirmed....I am an aging man
Treatment :
I was given a paravertebral injection of analgesic - which miracolously quickly, surpressed my pain ..but not for long..
a handful of meds was prescribed..which all amounted up to Rub 2300 (RM 300) !! it may seems like a small change for some of you..but for a medstudent living his ass in Volgograd solely on the scholar...its too much...so i picked up the cheapest myorelaxant and NSAIDS, and pass out the analgesic..thinking maybe a day or two later, the pain will go by itself, or I will be adapted to it.
Prognosis:
All the meds above, sadly does not heal the condition. It only control the symptoms from vaguely affecting my life. The process is irreversible, and there's a good chance it may recurs from time to time.
For work and career, sadly I had to think seriously to stop with the elective surgery practical. And more upsetting, I might have to let go of my ambition from being a surgeon..for good...( I recalled the time when I was a kid and wish I could be a pilot, only to be told NO by the optometrist who prescribed me an eyeglass 1 year later)
Epicrisis :
This is a rare case of 23-year old young, Asian male, with a confirmed diagnosis of OA in L4-L5-S1, with neurologic complication. Patient led a sedentary (but happy) life most of his lifetime, and once in a while enjoy swimming just for the sake of it. A higher-than-normal BMI and increase workload with monotonous work regime is believed to be the triggering factors for the OA to develop. An osteophytes compressing the nerve is believed to be the cause of pain and numbness, and might all well cause chronic pain in right leg. Management is by strikingly expensive and time-consuming meds. Prognosis is poor as the process is reversible (though liveable) and patient might need to seriously consider being a psychiatrist (read : quack) for his specialities
Disclaimer : I know most of all u juniors out there snatch my award-winning case history plan. But this POST isnt one of them..so, please, dont cut and paste this and send it to your Traumatology lecturer..that would be awful for both u and me
2008-11-28
Sloika...Sloika...
These past few days , in some cosmic-related, twisted ways, I really connect to the elderly in my sweet little town of Volgograd
For example, there's a sweet little shop selling "sloika" (pastry shop, dare I say) with +-60 years old women as the seller, opened right in front of my house.
This network 0f sloika-selling babushka had become a phenomena in our little city. You can find them almost anywhere, at almost every major bus-stop.
This particular shop in front of my shop anyway, had a very particular scene to it...
Isolated from the major city centre, (as I could not afford to live there), the shop seems lonely, and stands out with it bright pink-color agaisnt the background of grim construction behind it.
And inside, the babushka (grandma) selling it, waiting faithfully, with a cup of tea, and some sort of novel in her hand.
I admit, I loved the sloika...and it almost become habitual of me to stop and buy it every time I reached the bus stop on my way home. But undeniably too, a little part of me just want to spend the 5 minutes of pure-business transaction, into something more personal. Yes, to spend some time to her, and let her know, in those lonely small shop, she can get a touch of human too.
It doesnt take long before our polite-form "Zdrastvuite" turn into more informal "Privet!" showing the fondness that grow. But, as commonly as it happened in my life, I dare not to ask her name (will tell u later on)..
Just 2 days ago, realizing how much money did I spend to the overprice pre-prepared pastry, she suggested to me to make my own. With that, she gave me a sample of the pastry dough, and enthusiastically teach me how to make it (though I must admit, i didnt understand half of what she said). But before I leave, she managed to say "vsyo ravno, pridet ko ne" (Eng : dont stop visiting me , even if u know how to make it urself)
Nonetheless, when I went home that evening, me and Yat managed to do our own, Malaysian-esque spicy pastry (apart from the sweet filling Russian very fond of here).
While biting into the pastry, I recall what she said. Little that it hidden the desperateness in her voice, missing human touch. Unlike in our homeland, elderly here tend to live on their own, without son or daughter visiting regularly, once they get married and move out of the house.
Today, I stepped out of the bus and merrily walked towards the shop. Someone else is inside there - yet another babushka...
Reluctantly, I paid for the overpriced pastry just to get an opportunity to ask where the usual woman who sat there. She said "she fell sick". I wonder if anybody even care to visit her at home..
So, today I left with a chocolate pastry in my right hand, and hope that the babushka will return tomorrow...
Else, it will take me another 2 weeks to say "privet" with this new babushka
2008-11-26
I wanna grow old with u...
Because love is what life is...
It was during my latest surgery practical when I witnessed this event.
The grandpa is fully paralyzed...and his loyal wife make every effort to contribute to her beloved husband comforts
The husband, while paralyzed from upper mid-trunk, downwards, could even utter a single comprehensible word (to us, at least). The wife seemingly fully understood what he's trying to say.
Of course, at his age, he wasnt admitted due to the paralysis. That diagnosis was put ages ago. Now, he developed a severe limb ischaemia with gangrenic foot, describing the insufficiency to be at 4th stage...and yes, obviously he'd need surgery..
But the wife wouldnt allow it. Albeit his disease, his wife understood that at his fragile age and health, the chance to survive is severely lowered. Yes, we have the best surgeon here in the city, but no one can guarantee that his husband will come back from the induced coma.
Surgeons are quick to discharge them (i suppose they pretty relieved that the wife would go forward with the surgery, because if she does - and she have every right to do so-it will prove to be a very difficult surgery)
But I can see tears in the wife's eyes. I - a student - could do nothing more than helping up the grandpa to his wheelchair and cart him out of the exam room, while we wait for the ambulance to take them home.
The wife cried, quietly muttering something incomprehensible...but its no complaints...not a single word of complaint..instead, she tried her best in her own way to keep his husband feel warm in the cold basement we are waiting.
Then, slowly, before the ambulance cart them away, the old man raise his one good-hand, and turning towards me, made a cross in his chest...I couldnt know what he tried to say. But in the end, I guess he just appreciate the time I spent with him, that I treat him as a human being, instead of a sick-old-man.
So, fellow colleagues...lets not rush ourselves to grow up too fast. Cause I swear when we turn to HO or MO, we'll be as cold as most doctors i see here...instead, the luxury of lending sympathy is still ours..at least till now...so, use it wisely.
The above story is not a story of falling...of lives in the dark end of winter turmoil..
instead, its a love story..
where they doesnt live happily ever after...
but they live, with love to each other..
2008-11-20
I miss...
Its uncommon of me to post up something,say,'familial'...i guess the chronic distancing had really took some effect and shape my view and values of families, etc. For the past 5 years, i'd call home at-most once a month. Im x being an ungrateful son :). Quite the contrary, since i've left home as early as 13 yrs old,my parents had already got used to the idea that i simply 'wasnt at home'. So,if i call home more frequent than that,they prone to think something bad is happening. Except today, when i gave 'em a call,n i hear everyone's voices, did i aware, how much i miss 'em ...from left:dad,mom,neera (youngest),waeda...not in pic: my great elder bro
2008-11-15
Isu wanita di kelas gynea..
Sha : ..kalo laki cari perempuan lain waktu bini dia mengandung, itu maksudnya dia jahat gile. Sbb pompuan tu paling cantik masa dia mengandung.
2008-11-14
Some XX years ago, a wonderful woman was born..
And despite of all your attempt to hide it,we know you were born at the same year our country grasped its independence. So yes, mom,its really time for you to have an annual med check up despite the magic 'jeli gamat' u trust all your life :). Oh yes,and another milestone is a reason to celebrate..so despite the health-advice your hopeful-soon-to-be doctors gave you, he do wish you'd enjoy the cake he sent,and those spa treatment that doesnt do justice to how much housework and schoolwork you had done all these years. And,im sorry for the pic. I know u hate to be snapped candidly, but i just cant resist :) ...happy xx-th birthday mom!!
2008-11-04
When it comes to practical,,,,Russia is a joke
Night-practical during Surgery posting
Izat : "Hantu ke tu kat hujung koridor tu??"
...Russians isnt a place well-known for its practicality.
Ok, Malaysia isnt well-known also ....
Now, lets see...this post aim to discuss about the latest "zamecanie" we got from the Dean Office, being informed by our "beloved" Prof Zharkin (I really cant see what the buzz about this guy, unlike Tess n the gang) that starting this year on " SUMMER HOLIDAY WILL BE CUT BACK INTO ONE MONTH ONLY, AS STUDENT WILL NEED TO DO SUMMER PRACTICAL DURING WHOLE JULY"
Holy Crap!!! We've got classes on Saturday ..sometimes until evening (unlike other U in Russia), and Volgo is well-known for its stingy dean for holiday. I mean, even before the announcement, Volgo have the least holiday esp in summer time. And in term of public holiday, where else do they proudly announce "we got 3 days holiday!!!" when one of them is actually Sunday???
The reason being thrown is that - the recent MMC visit decided that pract skill among Malaysian students should be improvised..
Their Dean (or whoever actually making up this stuff up there),
The problem with your practical plan is not the schedule. Seriously, all those long night practical (as being depicted in the picture above), long hours drive in ambulance, etc etc...should be enough time for us to learn all the things that we might require during HO.
The real problem is the fullfilment of that time. Most of the time, during practical, doctors ignore us, like we werent even there (also as what being depicted above). At first, I thought they have same xenophobic root in this matter. It turned out that dr dont give a damn about pract skill among student, because in Russia, they suppose to acquire it during their Internatura (equivalent of HO in Msia).
So, the problem here is miscommunication. The dean office fail to notify drs and nurses about why Malaysian student seem so eager to learn practical skill, while Russian student is lingering outside sucking their death sentence (read: cigaratte) and "tonggak".
I think miscommunication occur all the times, especially when the people involved in decision-making doesnt give a rat-ass about us, except how much money they can dig from our -uh, so "taxpayers"- money.
Yeah, yeah..some of u will tell me "Why rant in ur blog?? it will just fall on deaf ears. Go make an official complaint to the dean. They told MMC they even consider anonymous email to be taken seriously"
Whatever. As a person who works with the Russian dean office for 2 years (previously), I have a very strong sense of what would happen to my "anon" email..
The reason??? refer to the title of this post...
2008-11-03
Watch-out!!
I rarely got more than 1 watch at the same time. My brain is wired to let loose any extra baggage that i have (ie, i tend to lose one of them when I have 2 watches). The only extra luggage it wont shed is the one around my waist. Ok,enough ranting. On my latest window-shopping trip last saturday, while i walk alone around the mall (yes, im that lonely) i stumbled into this gem. Its a GUESS watch that i have longing since i saw it adverts on pamphlet last semester!! Ok.must.not.got.greedy. Im now wearing a fossil watch,a gift from friends for my 21st birthday,n after 4 years,i couldnt part with it. But this,this GUESS watch,albeit pricey, could take my breath away. What do you all think?should i?
2008-10-27
I aimed for too high..
Let me retract back my statement in d last post where i thought we gonna have a better classroom for the sake of russian hypocrisy. It turned out i was wrong. Russians now are adopting a plan of 'hide what is ugly beneath the carpet', and thats what they did to us. We've been swept to the old surgical dept where the classroom is a mere cubicle with a sink. No better than the previous one :( ...eh, i x give a rat-ass about it anymore.
2008-10-25
Russians simply love to line up
those still remember the old soviet era,where ppl line up 4 toilet paper, will definitely see it reminiscence here in post-soviet volgograd.except that,now its worse, ppl r lining up to PAY 4 the toilet paper
2008-10-24
Hakikat sbnar kelas surgery..
Bosan kan.x de papepon..tp isnin ni org msia nk dtg,sure dpt kelas baru,cikgu baik, etc
2008-10-20
Yat...teringin nak main bola
Tp since kita kaki bangku sama2 kan yat,kita pakai stokin bola je la kat rumah ek
2008-10-17
Apa ni OZZ ni;
When u think dr job is to fight disease, save lives, and be the hero of humanity...hold that thought for a while. I am now posting in OZz where its all paperwork,insurance,etc etc, standard, certificate, blablabla. Its the part of medicine i hate, but which is impossible to ignore in our present situation where health quality = how much money u got in ur wallet.. Anyway, the muscovites do not have to study these shit, so its up to us to see whether the malaysian healthcare is up to russian standard. Oh,just so u know, russian standard is hardly standartized..
2008-10-12
Hot.and.entertaining..
..n stuffy-is what i can describe about the overall event today. And for u newbies out there, we're talking about my last grand raya celebration here in volgograd. To be honest, i felt a little (and only a little) feeling of sadness, by the fact that this time next year, i would perhaps need to celebrate in a hospital,or worse yet,among unfamiliar faces. And yeah,thats adib,and he worked hard to win the best costume award (again). But i guess this time u'd need a little more ferociousness than a decorated songkok n songket ikat bunga.
1st year;punyer performance...u like??
I found them awesome!!! Its really one kind of a performance!! Kudos!!
2008-10-11
I think its lost...
My camera...
my 1st, fully-owned camera...
my camera that is partially a gift from a friend (who himself is a great gift)..
my...camera ..isk2
2008-10-09
Thank you..
Is the only word that i manage to utter when Ai Chen gave me a hari raya present - a cute pair of cofee mugs- thus saving me from the sufferings of having to sip my tea from a bowl. Yes,it happen for real during the whole past week. Anyway, i am pretty mesmerized by her effort to brought this mugs all the way to our far-far away infection hospital. Yes,thats actually an hour travel from where she lives. So,really,again Spasibo tebe bolshoi!!
First attempt!!
Ok..so its far from perfect,but this is my 1st attempt,and its still edible. Haha,resepi mak turun temurun. Sapa nak??
2008-10-07
TYPICALLY RUSSIAN...
Macam-macam: Lelaki bergaduh 'makan' pasport
MOSCOW: Seorang lelaki Russia berhadapan hukuman penjara selepas memakan pasport bekas isterinya ketika mereka bergaduh.
Polis di Nizhny Novgorod menahan Ivan Volokov, 31, selepas dia mengoyak pasport bekas isterinya, Anna, sebelum memakan helaian buku itu.
“Mereka baru bercerai, tetapi tetap tinggal di pangsapuri sama. Dia ingin memusnahkan pasport itu kerana ia satu-satunya dokumen rasmi yang membuktikan wanita itu memiliki hak untuk terus tinggal di rumah itu,” kata polis. - Agensi
2008-10-05
No holiday...
..is perhaps what i need now.all this break,festivities,etc had really put my gear to N...and to shift it to D is helluva effort!! I cant get myself to finish reading even 1 chapter of this russian textbook,let alone making up my own notes.and uh, sorry for the analogy. I only drive auto....
2008-10-04
A proper raya message
Dear Friends & Family (if u are reading this..I guess they dont even know I have a blog)
Anyway, its my last Hari Raya in the "land of the cursed soul"..and perhaps would be the last time I make a Hari Raya message in a blog in a hope that somehow my friends would stumble upon it...since the cost of sending a personal SMS to each of my friends is a little bit over my student budget stretching his wallet to make it last till the end of the month..
So, to those all folks out there, whom I might (or might not) have hurt you in any way, verbally, physically (though this is very unlikely) or simply by totally being a stranger with u all, I wish for your sincere forgiveness.
And to those who had asking for the same thing from me, rest sure that apology accepted :)
I wish I would still be around to celebrate another Hari Raya
And to those who had asking for the same thing from me, rest sure that apology accepted :)
I wish I would still be around to celebrate another Hari Raya
2008-09-29
Is not flu,rather an adenovirus
It wasnt a flu after all.6 hours after the incubation period,my nose raise its red-flag sign,with fulminant rhinorrhea,diarrhea,n what other -rhea can that be.And theres like a lump in my throat,n lymph node enlargement right behind my ear. All saying that i wont feel as festive as i wish for 2moro celebration. Anyway, 1 hour class of Gubalogy doesnt seem worth to skip even in this state of mayhem. So,here i am waiting in the chilling pre-winter morning for my soviet-era avtobus
Raya is like...tomorrow?
Am feeling suddenly ill with flu thanks to the un-temperate wheather outside.still couldnt believe tomorrow is eid already.it seems in russia we always have the eid 1 day ahead of malaysia,which left u with the question 'bila nk call umah ni??'.we've got our day-off, (for wednesday),but still unsure whether we can transfer it to sunday.this coming eid is my last in russia,and despite all the chaotic event here,am still hoping for the bestest raya ever!! Can sany handle that?maybe less autocracity and more helping members could make it possible.until then,i cross my finger
2008-09-28
Project run.away.
Its a pretty big mess with yat's notebook.its graphic card was detached or something,so we decided to open it up and see what's inside.that was 10 days ago..and this picture is taken 1 minute ago.yes,we x really know what went wrong,so it have been laying there ever since...kesian yat
2008-09-16
Memoirs of summer '08
"The PD trip"
Summer 08 was my last summer holiday I would spend as a medical student in Malaysia.
Before I reach Malaysia, I had my Scandinavian trip (read previous 3s Summer trip post). But the holiday didnt end there. There;s a lot of stuff to be done in my own birthplace!!!
Next year, at those very date, I would be an HO (God permits). And being an HO means no social life for two (if not three) years. So, I decided I might enjoy this summer very well. And boy, did I enjoyed it..
THE FUN STUFF :-
1. Queerianz 1st flash-gathering. I got to meet up some ol' mate from Jasin. We met up for a movie "Dark Knight" at KLCC , and dine and chillin' up in Old Town afterwards.
2. Volgogradianz from the East Coast fly down to KL, and we had our own retail theraphy after one full-of-suffering year in Russia. And of course, there's the famous Kotoq ..hahaa
3. I got to see the now-still-hot Pavillion, though not manage to buy anything since all is $$$
4. Its purely subjective but I feel I bond a little more with my siblings.hahah...talk about kidnapping my sis from her lecture and we ran away to KL together for a fun day.
5. Then there's the Mastermind gathering that I always looked forward to. Unfortunately, we cant do much this summer since everyone have their share of business. Big apology frens!! Will be better next year. And after 5 years, got to meet Rosso again (he doesnt change at all!!! and im proud of that)...except that, the venue of our meeting is not at its best. (read more below)
6. I got to fulfill the invitation to Safwan's sis wedding. OMG isnt the whole thing is beautiful.
7. Then there's Kak Sya weds + my 1st trip to Kuala Terengganu. Kak Sya looked like she's beaten from her 1st year of being an HO. But watching her talking on the same floor with other doctors , kinda inspired me. And yes, she looks very pretty in that aqua-blue wedding dress. And would like to take this opportunity to thanks Aida for accompanying me and being my unofficial tourist guide to KT. And thanx but no thanx, no more Akok or JALAMAS for me..One week sugar allocation in KT would be suffice for my whole year sugar intake.
8. There's the memorable PD trip with X tech: Mamud and Safwan. We're never too adult to act like a kid :P no swimming in the beach though, selat melaka kotor seh...
9. I got the chance to visit both my villages in Sabak Bernam and Penang. Nothing much differ, except that my grandma in Sabak had passed away while Im in Russia. May God bless her.
10. And apart from the East Coastians, those from North and Johore also came flocking to KL this summer. And thus, the steamboat with Yat and the infamous Asyraf (hahaha) ,and Afiq did tag along. Azzad my roomate in Volgo decided that we should try the overpriced Thai lucheon in KLCC just after we watch "SUSUK"...seriously, SUSUK...
THE NOT-SO-FUN-STUFF :-
1. Dad said this summer business is not too good. THe current political and economic turmoil had left his company ill-stricken with less and even less tender from Government agencies, whom had long been the lifeline for my dad small company. I wish I could help more as a son, but me being me, I had none-so-ever skill in business.
2. Late Grandma passed away . The beautiful sabak house is now soo silent. I felt like taking a bullet when I saw her empty bed.
3. one of my best friend sis passed away due to complicated SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythromatosus). Being one in the light of this rare pathology among my friends, I felt sad that I cant do much to help with anything. A night before her sis passed away, he called me to ask whether I can come down to the hospital to comfort her mother. I missed his call, and from those day onwards, still feel ridden with guilt, until now, for not being there when I was needed. The day we had to bury her sister, is the day when I met up with my long-lost friend Rosso. Its kinda paradox, I want to jump happily, but its not appropriate given the scene.
4. Dad's cholesterol is spiking up. I guess he doesnt take his meds properly. I had told him every summer, and every phone call I ended with "dont forget ur meds". Perhaps its the over-nagging that avoid him from taking those handfull of pills???
5. And we still havent shifted yet to our new house, while the current place we're still living in is continuously deteriorating. I hope mom n dad will get out from there ASAP before anyone get hurt.
___________________________
Next year at this very date , I would be posting about my exhausting experience being an HO. Its kinda dreadful waiting the future to reveal. But, come what may, I would always have this sweet memoir of summer to remind me that I was a normal human being once (giggles)..
2008-08-12
I think i'm bored...
The fact that there's always something happening around,n a full social schedule sounded unapalling - which is soo unlike me
This summer im x too enthusiastic of putting up red dot in my calendar,n having a reminder buzzing every 2 hours..
I guess its a mix of boredom,laziness,mood swing,incapability of driving own car,hiking fuel price,n too much carbs consumption....
Its really ugly to say this - but im kinda miss volgo swimming pool..haha
2008-08-04
How often do you find the right person? ONCE..
Rarely I post a critic about movie, for I am well aware that people have different taste, and different view, and thus the liking to a movie varies from a person to another..
But, for those had enough of Hollywood blockbuster all this summer, ONCE is a perfect refreshment..
It felt like after u sniffed a ton of perfumes, and then you got to sniff the natural aroma of a coffee beans...it's that refreshing..
I first saw the poster during my trip in Scandinavia few weeks ago, and decided to get a grab on this movie...
...and I never regretted spending the 90 minutes in my life to watch this hidden gem.
Set in Dublin, a rare setting, it tells a tale of a street-musician, and his encounter with a Czech immigrant who happen to love his songs, and voice. Further it unroll the beauty of real life and those perfect moment where u find the one...the right person.
I love the honesty, the way it tells the tale, the sincerity of showing what real life are really made of. Immigrants departed from home country, family sparsed, people struggling to make end-meet, and how in the vicious drift of modernness, some are left behind, or simply it pass by them without them having a chance to join along the current.
and of course, there's the song...the beautiful song..
my heart wrecked when they sang "Fallin' slowly" for the first time, and when Marketa sang "The Hill", I really connect to it I wet my glasses.
The originality was given when both role actor is unnamed in this movie, making u feel a little closer to the character, since u can put your feet into their shoes. A key dialogue was intentionally not translated for the sake to intrigue us, and put us into the same boat with the character. The actor is not a professional actor, rather indie musicians, and they both really dating in real-life, making the movie super-real...
The song "fallin' slowly" (see YouTube Clip in the post below) won an Academy-award for the Best Song , and this low-budget indie movie won multiple award in various film festivalas - Wikipedia
Even director Steven Spielberg said " One little movie called ONCE had aspire me for the rest of my life"
The film touched my heart too close, I'm afraid to watch it again...
Now its your turn
2008-07-31
Mari belajar berkahwin...
A one session chat from a husband will prove to be more beneficial than
attending pre-marital course offered by JAKIM
i GUESS THIS POST WILL HAVE A LOT MORE AUDIENCE THEN MY PREVIOUS SELF-INDULGING POST
Long story short, one of my best friend got married a year ago (and really I knew it only by YM, so quit asking me pics n all), and in our recent gathering, all 4 of us got to shot him with various questions that we all bachelors are curious about..
my friend is an alumni from both the widely-known Al-AMin religious School, and a former student in MRSM Jasin. SO expect a fiery and deep engraving answer from him.
For the sake of directly-quoting him, and to reach a wider audience, I will post this topic in BAHASA MELAYU.
Soalan : Apa yang dicari pada seorang wanita ??
Jawapan : Bak kata Rasulullah s.a.w (hadis la tu), pilihlah seorang wanita tu berdasarkan 4 perkara : Cantiknya, Hartanya, Keturunannya, Agamanya...tapi kalo nak selamat..pilihlah atas dasar Agamanya, nescaya bahgialah hidup kita hendaknya
Soalan : CAmne nak define "Cantik" tue?
Jawapan : "cantik" tu "bila kita pandang wajahnya..tenang je hati"...yg penting hati kita yang tenang...bukannya cantik melampau sampai org lain yang tenung dia..kang org lain tenang, kita plak gundah-gulana
Soalan : Apa pendapat ko tentang kawin tak se"kufu" expecially dari aspek harta ni. Yelah mana tau gaji bini kita lagi tinggi dari kita kan
Jawapan: Slalu orang cakap, kalo nak kawin, kita kene "kukuhkan dulu ekonomi" kita...tapi sejauh mana "ekonomi tu kukuh"???sampai ada umah? kereta? gaji beribu?
bende ni jawapannya agak kompleks sket.
Sebagai contoh, kita slalu dengar org cakap "ko ni keje x bagus, gaji sket, ko nak bagi anak bini makan apa?? pasir???"
Aku tanya orang2 ni balik la...pernah tak ko dengar org kawin pastu makan pasir??? takde kan??
Kita kene faham, bahawa yang "bagi makan anak bini kita bukannya suami, tapi Allah S.W.T". Jadi jangan risau sangat tentang situasi ekonomi kita, either pre- or post-marriage.
Macammanapun, ada certain bende yg kita kene acknowledge. The most popular theme is about "nafkah harta isteri" dan "status isteri yang bekerja".
Kita kene faham pertamanya, suami yang bertanggungjawab memberi nafkah kepada isteri, dan sementelahan itu, suami tidak ada hak kepada sedikitpun harta isteri yang diperolehnya sendiri melalui kerjanya.
Tapi, dalam realiti sekarang, tidak berkongsi beban bersama dari aspek ekonomi, boleh membawa masalah dalam pembinaan rumahtangga.
Maka dari aspek ini, hendaklah bakal suami berbincanng dengan bakal isteri sebelum mengikat tali perkahwinan, biar jelas, biar clear, sama ada isteri sanggup utk berkongsi hartanya.
Isteri pula mestilah sentiasa ingat, biarpun dia tiada tanggungjawab langsung dalam menanggung beban ekonomi ini, tapi "isteri yang dapat menyenangkan hati suami itu diberkati Allah hidupnya".
Soalan : Macam mana kalo mak bapaknya tak sukakan kita?
Jawapan: Ini berkaitan keturunan. Percayalah orang tua ni, kerasnya macam kerak nasik. Kalo kita pandai pujuk, insya Allah lembut hatinya. Kita kene faham, kita nak amik anak dia yang dia dah jaga bertahun2. Jadi pastilah sumer ibu bapa agak protective. Dalam hal ini kita bukan berundur, tapi sepatunya berasimilasi.
In the end of the day, kalo anak dia senang dengan kita, cukuplah tu...kita kawin dengan anak dia..bukan dengan mak bapak dia..
Soalan : Macam mana kalo perempuan ni baik, tapi keluarganya cam pelik2 sket dari aspek akhlak? haruskah kita berkahwin dgn anaknya?? atau jauhkan diri atas dasar keturunannya??
Jawapan: lihat itu dari aspek lain. Mungkin kedatangan kita (jika akhlak kita pun baik) boleh jadi "jalan keluar" atau panduan bagi ahli keluarganya. kan bagus begitu..
Soalan : Kalo kita tak baik? camne nak dapatkan isteri yang baik?
Jawapan: Kalo x sehebat Rasullullah, manakan dapat Siti Khadijah....percayalah, Allah jodohkan yang baik itu dengan yang baik juga....jadi mulakan dengan diri kita sendiri.
In the end of the day, kalo takut tak dapat carik isteri yang baik, jumpalah mana2 ustaz dan nyatakan hasrat anda utk mendirikan masjid. Insya-Allah, dia dapat membantu...ni cam match making gak la...
Soalan : Kenduri...besar ke kecik???simple? atau pernuh beriya?
Jawapan : Dalam hal ini, kita tekankan satu phrase "RAikanlah KELUARGA"
Kita perlu ingat, ini mungkin hari paling bermakna dalam hidup mak ayah kita. Biasanya nak buat besar2 ni orang tua lah...ikut lah seboleh mana hendaknya kemahuan mereke...raikan keinginan mereka..tapi kalo kita ada "batas sendiri, jangan pula melangkaunya". Bila berlaku hal ini, jangan ditentang hasrat ibu bapa, nanti tak manis pula..eloknya carik la jalan alternatif lain
(ie, kalo mak bapak beriya nak kugiran, cadangkan kepada mereka jemput kumpulan nasyid)
ada banyak lagi info2 dan nasihat menarik yang penulis dapati hasil perbincangan dan pemerhatian terhadap sahabat penulis yang seorang ini. Tapi nak memuatkan semuanya kat sini, ada sesetengahnya agak personal la plak...
jadi cukuplah ini sebagai garis panduan kasar kepada siapa yang dah berfikir2 nak berumahtangga tu
penulis lama lagi lah~.....
2008-07-28
3S Summer trips: OSLO pics
Plate on the Right side of Town Hall commemorating The Nansen Passport idea. (see post below)
Lepak2 di taman, menikmati bayu Scandinavia
The Oslo Fjord, menghadapi laut Baltik, Gulf of Finland, and the open North Atlantic Ocean.
Melepak di Main Street sambil menambah selera merenung orang2.
The "Rostig" (Parliament) of Oslo.
Oslo (and Norway) had the most sophisticated parliamentray system in the world during its early ages. Perhaps because of the high democracy value being uphold at that time, Alfred Nobel decided that the Norwegian Parliament should award the Nobel Peace prize.
The Nobel Peace Centre
The Royal Palace in Oslo.
What did I say about it being simple?
The Sculpture Garden. Do I look like the statue above? (except being overweight?)
The Town Hall
2008-07-27
3S Summer Trip : OSLO
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I dont recall much about my short trip to Oslo. We never intended to make it short, but due to some scheduling problem, we decided to stay in Oslo less than 24 hours. YEs, with no lodging.
We arrived in the morning by bus from Stockholm. After storing our luggage in the Bus Terminal, we decided to walk around the Terminal for a bit. Its still a little early in the morning, so the city seems a little bit dead. We practically hang around 7-11 and chat with a nice Pakistani lady there for almost an hour before the tourist office nearby open.
Since we have only a few hours here, we decided to board the hop-on-hop-off bus. Obviously we got lost a little too many times finding the right spot for the bus stop, but like in other Nordic country, u just need to "looked lost" and some nice lady / guy will offer u help.
Our first destination is some Sculpture Park (The Vigeland Park). Its basically, a park...with lots lots of sculptures. I cant see what really special about this nudes sculpture, and some arbitary, yet obviously phallic -like statue. But then again, its art...and Im no art expert. I learnt that although the park consist of almost +1k statues, it took only a short time to be completed. Now, that will be impressing...
Then we head to the Main Street leading to the Royal Palace. The Royal Palace seems almost too simple, with clean, sleek design - unlike those founded in Stockholm. Not too harsh for me to say it looks like our District Hospital in Volgograd (if the Hospital is renovated to its best). So u get the pciture here..its small, have some roman pillars, and ...thats it.
The City Hall stand proudly in the centre of Oslo, with two big tigers statues guarding its entrance. Why tigers? see above.
On its right wall there's a metal plate commemorating Fridtjof Nansen, the founder of Nansen Passport.
The most inspiring thing in Oslo, is perhaps, the Nobel Peace Centre. There's a temporary exhibition being held there about city-slum. The view of usual people living in "slum" (read: setinggan) really left a deep impact in me. I mean, an 18 years old living under a bridge, said it his home and how it is sweet just like other people home, and he dream to be a doctor. Today, I cant never watch my dad's Indon worker without recalling that thought.
Anyway, the Nobel Peace Centre is more sophisticated and futuristic compared to Nobel Museum in Stockholm. Apart from all the Nobel Prizes, the Nobel Prizes for Peace is awarded here in Oslo, and is commissioned by a special committee from Norwegian Government. Why? u have to ask Alfred Nobel why he decide so in his famous will.
I spent half of my day in Oslo wandering around the Nobel Peace Centre, and touch and feel what it means to fight for world peace.
Later that day, meeting back with Sdar n all along the main street, we spent the rest of our evening eating Kebab, wandering around the small stall, picking overpriced souvenirs (with Tax-refund, that is) , and lastly, loitering by the bench checking out Nordic chicks and lads. Gorgeous. Period.
Just before we board our bus that night to our next and last destination, Copenhagen, we met with a pair of Philipinos ladies. They were leaving to Copenhagen as well, since they are now living / studying there. We have a nice chat n all, but we cant manage not to laugh when we saw the "kiasu" style that is all too synonym for South-East-Asians. Even before the bus door open, they had already lined up and urged us to line up as well so that "we can pick the nicest seat".
"Faster, faster..we must pick the nicest seat". They even save us our "nicest seat". So thank you very much.
We dont know how to say that in Tagalog.
2008-07-17
3s Summer trip: part 4 - Stockholm, Sweden
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What can (or more correctly, cannot) u say about Stockholm?? The biggest capital in the biggest nation of all Scandinavian country???
The part 4 of Scandinox trip begin with the three of us (Malchik, Sdar and Me) -who had been in St Petersburg earlier, and travel to Helsinki, and then on a luxurious cruise ship to Stockholm-meeting up with the other two members of the trip (Yat n Haneep) whom earlier spent up their holidays in Sochi n Moscow.
I know it sounds like "THe Amazing Race"!! Isnt that brilliant!! we are criss-crosssing over the continent and made up a pact to see each other in a certain point on earth at a certain time and voila!!! its become reality!!!
Stockholm held up everything u ever wish in for a hip metropolitan. The size is managable, its located by the sea (Gulf of Finland), architecture n arts are simply riches, and most important for all (esp for Sdar), its the MILAN OF THE NORTH!!!
Sdar had a list of shopping spree to be done in Stockholm, and while I busying myself with the Tre Kronor Museum and The Royal Castle, I believe he couldnt wait to hit HnM, where its origin is in Stockholm itself.
Compared to Helsinki, Stockholm have more international air..i mean, u can see people from all over the world here that actually live n work here. There's middle eastern, asians, africans, etc. That however, had its minus, as a pure scandinavian behaviour seems quite dissipating. I mean, while in Helsinki people are more reserved, here people more friendly and u can actually pretend to get lost to start up a conversation, because Stockholmers will definitely go to u and offer u a help. So maybe its not a bad thing after all to have them mix up with other people :)
Being a major power in Scandinavia, u can see its impressive architecture and culture which had influenced most part of the Scandic region.
Anyway, I hate our hostel. I mean, its describe itself as a romantic on-a-boat-hostel decked by the Baltic Sea...but in real, its really an old boat being converted into a hostel. And while it wont do it much justice because I just rent in a dorm, but I believe the condition can be better as we had like one in Helsinki. And location arent that great either...its a little bit remote from the centre, and u need to walk like almost 1km to the nearest bus station. I dont really mind walking, but it really irritates when u walk in a rain by the Baltic Sea..its freaking cold!!
I think thats all about Stockholm im gonna write about. I can mumble more about places and etc, but I guess that will kill your passion to visit the great city!! you must go there and find it by yourself!!
"Most Lovable "City Ranking till this post is written: -
1. Helsinki (still topping I guess)
2. Stockholm
3. St Petersburg
4. Sochi
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