Rantings Of A Geminian

1000 Oceans

2011-03-01T00:33:00.006+08:00

It is what it is.

C'est la vie...

Home Sweet Home

2011-02-10T00:25:00.006+08:00

Been back home quite a while now, and things are starting to fall into place.

Am still waiting for things over there to get organized, once when they are done and I have everything in my hands only then I can go ahead with my plans. As for now, I'm still considering my options...

Funny that I had come to almost the same crossroad in my life like before I left 6 years ago. Diverging roads that are so very different (but both equally important!), and if chosen incorrectly the path that I'm gonna be walking through might not be the right one for me.

Istikharah, istikharah, istikharah.

When one has no idea which one to choose, there's no better way than to leave it all in the hands of the almighty Allah. Only He knows what's best for me, my family and my future.

Ya Allah, Yang Maha Berkuasa dan Maha Mengetahui, sesungguhnya hidupku dan matiku hanyalah untuk Mu, bukakanlah pintu hatiku untuk menerima petunjuk Mu Ya Allah. Aku redha Ya Allah Ya Rahman Ya Rahim, amin...

A Sentimental Pre-Eid Moment

2010-09-08T07:56:00.006+08:00

Still here. Still trying to tie up lose ends. Still in the process of packing up 6 years worth of memories before heading home for good.

Had a recent conversation with mom that went like this...

Me: Tahun ni banyak ke buat kuih raya?
Mak: Alah, kuih tunjuk2 je. Takde masa nak buat la. Ada dekat 20++ jenis rasanya, cukuplah tu..
Me: Hah banyaknya! Nape tak pos kat sini sikit? *dgn nada gurau*
Mak: Eh, ha ah ek, LUPA pulak anak mak sorang tu raya kat sana tahun ni! Memang TAK TERINGAT LANGSUNG lah yang. Sori..
Me: *aduih, sampai hati..*

Yeah, I know I am forgettable, haha...

Spring!

2010-03-22T00:59:00.004+08:00

Spring is here at last! The cold/sunny/snowy weather this past week has been a real pain in the butt I tell ya. One minute it was sunny and windy, the next minute it started snowing! Darn weird it was. Skang ni banyak ler komen, lepas ni ntah-ntah rindu pulak weather kat sini bila balik Msia, huhu..

Gedebak-gedebuk it's already March; the graduation day and the license exam are just in a few months time! How time flies...and it's kind of a l'il bit scary when I start to think about what will my future be after this. Hopefully I'll make the right choices and be able to fulfill my dreams, insyaallah....

And speaking of dreams, I've been having real weird ones lately. Entah apa-apa entah, merepek je jalan citer dia. Banyak asid dalam badan ni kot, isk isk isk...

Welcoming 2010

2010-01-01T00:10:00.003+08:00

The arrival of 2010 was celebrated in a very quiet manner, just dinner and hanging out with close friends. Heard the fireworks outside but it was too foggy to see anything and plus it was too cold to go out anyways. So we opted to welcome the new year at my place.

I have stopped making any new year's resolutions since, ermmm forever I think, but surprisingly this year it was as if something clicked in my brain and unconsciously I began to promise myself to try doing things that I've been wanting to do and to look forward to the future instead of keep looking back at the past. It was nothing specific actually, just little little things that I know I need to change/accomplish in my life so that it would be improved for the better. Well, the aim here is to TRY, we'll see how well that'll go shall we...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

May 2010 be a prosperous year for us all..

p/s: I've finally managed to sort out all my friend's request on FB that I've been neglecting because I really dunno where they all came from. Aduhai, kelakar la pulak bila ada budak baru lepas spm antar msg nak berkenalan hanya selepas tgk gambar profile tu. Dik oii, gi sambung belajor dulu lah ya...

BIrthday Wishes

2009-12-28T02:29:00.003+08:00

There seem to be a lot of December babies in the family, and here's two more...

Khas buat adinda ku Ely & anak buah ku Eiman,

Allah selamatkan kamu
Allah selamatkan kamu
Allah selamatkan Ely & Eiman
Allah selamatkan kamu...

Panjang umurnya
Panjang umurnya
Panjang unurnya serta mulia
Serta mulia
Serta mulia...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELY & EIMAN!!

Kak Eva doakan Ely sekeluarga murah rezeki aman bahagia hingga ke akhir hayat, amiiiiiin

To My Dearest Mom...

2009-12-21T06:56:00.001+08:00

HAPPY 56th BIRTHDAY!!

May you be blessed with all the good things in life and more...

Thank you for everything mak, I owe my life to you.

Miss you & Love you lots and lots!

Hugs & kisses,
From your (slightly deranged) daughter ^_^

He's 31 Today!

2009-12-19T06:48:00.000+08:00

My dear bro,

You're getting old, hehe...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMRAN!!

Wish you all the best and may your life be blessed with an abundance of love, laughter, health & wealth...

With lots of love,
Your sist ^_^

1431H

2009-12-18T01:53:00.008+08:00

SALAM MAAL HIJRAH 1431

Tahun Baru, Buku Baru, Azam Baru

Only When I Sleep

2009-12-17T01:42:00.000+08:00

One of my favourite songs from The Corrs. I love their unplugged versions. Listening to this sure does brings out a lot of memories...

Apa jadi dgn diorang ek sekarang ni?
Apa-apa pun, jom layannn... ^_^

You're only just a dreamboat
Sailing in my head
You swim my secret oceans
Of coral blue and red
Your smell is incense burning
Your touch is silken yet
It reaches through my skin
And moving from within
It clutches at my breast

But it's only when I sleep
See you in my dreams
You got me spinning round and round
Turning upside-down
But I only hear you breathe

Somewhere in my sleep
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside-down
But its only when I sleep

And when I wake from slumber
Your shadow's disappear
Your breath is just a sea mist
Surrounding my body
I'm workin' through the daytime
But when it's time to rest
I'm lying in my bed
Listening to my breath
Falling from the edge

But it's only when I sleep
See you in my dreams, (dreams)
You got me spinning round and round
Turning upside-down
But I only hear you breathe
Somewhere in my sleep, (in my sleep)
Got me spinning round and round
Turning upside-down
But its only when I sleep
It's only when I sleep

[Sharon & Andrea solo]

Up to the sky
Where angels fly
I'll never die
Hawaiian High
In bed I lie
No need to cry
My sleeping cry
Hawaiian High

It's reaching through my skin
Movin' from within
And clutches at my breasts...

But it's only when I sleep...
See you in my dreams, (dreams)
You got me spinning round and round
Turning upside-down
But I only hear you breathe

In bed I lie
No need to cry
My sleeping cry
Hawaiian High

But it's only when I sleep
Got me spinning round and round
(Turning upside-down)

Up to the sky
Where angels fly
I'll never die
Hawaiian High

But it's only when I sleep...

BULAN BARU

2009-12-03T03:31:00.014+08:00

I am not a Twilight-er and I haven't had the chance to read the books yet. The storyline is kinda interesting although I think I much prefer the DarkHunters because of the myths and legend background that are intertwined in the storyline. Nonetheless I was looking forward to this film interpretation of the sequel to Twilight.

I know a lot of you guys out there are Edward's fans, but if I were Bella I think I'd have chosen Jacob over him. True, vampires are considered cool, but the wolves are waaaaay cooler.. I wish I could have one as a pet, hehe..

Edward is as Edward was. Still pale and freakishly good looking, and most of the times emotionless (but hey, he's a vampire right). Tapi yg nak carik nahas sebab nak mati kalau si Bella tu mati apa ke hal nya, hisy...

I tried to give Bella a chance to redeem herself but, nope sorry, still can't say that I empathize with her. I've never liked damsels in distress and brainless careless hopeless damsels are much worse. Just like Sookie (of True Blood), she irritates the heck out of me. Sampaikan satu tahap tu heran gak apa lah si Edward & Jacob see in her, tak paham betul..

Jacob..well, gotta say he's changed. A lot. Thank goodness. Not through so many words he had managed to show his unrequited love for Bella through his actions and I really feel for him. Cian dia..

All in all, the movie was ok. Although not a fan I really enjoyed it. Oh, and it did help that the wolves were smokin'... :))

The Psychic Connection

2009-12-01T02:09:00.000+08:00

Have you ever had someone calling you just when you were thinking about that person? Or people coming to see you because they suddenly felt like it when at the same time you just thought that you wanted to see them too?

How about the bad vibes; the ones where your whole being just tingles and you know deep inside that something is just gonna go wrong or something has gone wrong?

I don't know what all these feelings are and I can't really explain them, but I've been having them almost all my life. Some of the time I just disregard them because they made no sense at all, but most of the time they are right on. Confused? Yeah well I am too...

Just recently had an unexpected call from a long lost friend. Lately I've been wondering about how that person was doing and if there are any new developments in his life when BOOM! Suddenly today I got a call from him out of nowhere... And this had happened to me more times than I could remember. Not with the same person, but with other friends and family too.

But the one thing that I never want to experience again was when my father passed away. I don't know how or why, but the truth is deep in my heart I knew exactly when it happened. The dread and heaviness and emptiness inside me just got worse and the bad feeling just would not go away that up to a point I even told my friend that I knew something bad had happened and I think he's dead. Spooky? Heck yeah. There was also this one time when I was very young, my grand-aunt told me how I couldn't stop crying like as if I was spooked (macam kena sampuk she said) and at that same moment my mom was actually involved in a car accident somewhere else. Crazy huh..

And don't get me started on my dreams. As weird as they are, some actually did come true. And deja-vu? Well, it's getting worse nowadays because they are getting more and more frequent.

Is this normal? I'm sure a lot of people experienced these before. It's not a biggie, right??

I don't know, maybe these are all just coincidences. Maybe my connection with people close to me are strong. Maybe. Or maybe, I am slowly and gradually losing control of reality and losing my mind...

But don't worry, no need to get me into the straight jacket yet. I am still sane. I think. At least for now.

I WILL SURVIVE!!

2009-11-09T04:02:00.008+08:00

Let's get jiggy, ladies!

At first I was afraid I was petrified

Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side
But then I spent so many nights
Thinking how you did me wrong
And I grew strong!
And I learned how to get along!

So now you're back from out of space

I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock!
I should have made you leave your key!
If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me

Go on now, go, walk out that door!
Just turn around now
cause you're not welcome any more
Weren't you the one who tried to hurt (crush) me with goodbye?
Did I crumble
Did I lay down and die

Oh no, not I! I will survive!
Oh and as long as I know how to love I know I'll stay alive
I've got all my life to live, I've got all my love to give
And I'll survive!
I will survive! Hey, hey!

It took all the strength I had not to fall apart
Kept tryin' hard to mend the pieces of my broken heart!
And I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry!
But now I hold my head up high

And you see me somebody new!
I'm not that chained-up little person still in love with you
And so you feel like droppin' in
and just expect me to be free,
now I'm saving all my loving for someone who is loving me!

Pecah Kaca Pecah Gelas

2009-10-25T00:59:00.004+08:00

I broke one of my mugs today. Again. Now I only have one usable mug. Oh dear, I really don't have any luck with mugs. That was the fifth one I've managed to break since the 5 years I've been here. One for each year. Ironic, isn't it?

As far as superstitions go, well I'm not really a believer, but I do hope everything back home is okay. A broken mug is just a broken mug, nothing more. I hope. Touch wood.

I know it has been a while since I've blogged about anything before the previous post, but I was too busy relocating my sorry behind to another apartment. Oh, have I mentioned that I've moved? Yes I have. My dear housemate Ms JZ is finally done with her studies here and has already gone back home for good, thus leaving me the thrilling task of finding a new housemate. But things didn't exactly go as planned, so I had to move out to another place. So now I am staying somewhere not really near the university but the distance is still okay, as long as I leave earlier for classes. And as it turns out my current housemates are also my classmates (people who have known me for 5 years now). They had a vacant room at the same time that I was looking for a place, and I guess things worked out in the end. Cool eh?

Moving to another place was really a hassle, especially when you also have to pack all the stuff and do all the cleaning/clearing/disposing on your own and you only have two days to do it. In the end I threw away most of the stuff that has been in the house for more than 7 years and just kept the things that I really needed. No point hanging on to things that in the end will only accummulate space and dust, right?

But what really touched me when I was really stuck and in need was the concern and help that some of my friends that had really surprised me. They had went all the way to help me move my stuff, and even consented on storing some of the things in their place for the time being. Some had even offered to help out in any way that they can, helped to look around for a suitable apartment, and some had even offered me to stay at their houses until I could find my own place. That was when I really felt that even though I am on my own here, I am never alone, for I have caring friends that I have considered as my family over here. Their concern and actions really really touched me and it brings out tears in my eyes every time I think about it.

Therefore, to all of you who have been there for me when I'm in need, THANK YOU from the very bottom of my heart. I hope I can be a good friend as you guys have been to me, and hopefully our friendships will last for eternity...

p/s: Sorry for the emo entry. Didn't plan it to be so, but I just had to get it out of my system... *sob*

Sesucinya Syurga Cintaku

2009-10-18T09:07:00.004+08:00

CINTA:-

Cinta kepada Allah & Rasul serta agama-Nya;
Cinta kepada ibubapa yang melahirkan dan membesarkan kita;
Cinta kepada bangsa dan tanahair;
dan yang paling penting sekali;
Cinta kepada diri sendiri, agar kita ni sentiasa redha dengan qada' dan qadar.

Cinta itu adalah permulaan Jodoh.

Dan JODOH pula terbahagi kepada 3:-

Yang Pertamanya, dikatakan Jodoh dari Syaitan;
"Kamu berdua berkenalan, berpegangan tangan dan terus buat maksiat. Akhirnya Syuhada mengandung. Baru kamu menikah."

Yang Keduanya, Jodoh dari Jin.
"Kamu berdua berkenalan. Kamu sukakan Syuhada, tapi Syuhada tak sukakan kamu. Kamu bomohkan dan sihirkan agar Syuhada suka kepada kamu. Dan kamu berdua menikah."

Dan yang Ketiganya, Jodoh dari Allah.
"Kamu berdua berpandangan mata, terus menusuk ke dalam kalbu. Kamu terus meminang Syuhada dan Syuhada terima pinangan kamu. Dan kamu berdua menikah. Insyaallah, berkekalan hingga ke akhir hayat. Dan itulah yang dikatakan Syurga Cinta..."

- Petikan daripada filem Syurga Cinta -

Entah kenapa tiba-tiba je bergenang airmata bila dengar dialog ni. If only.....

Home Sweet Home

2009-08-04T01:44:00.010+08:00

I'm hoooooome!! Been here almost 3 weeks now, and there were so many things have happened, so much to tell but so very little time. And all the running around + the weather is making me feeling sickly with the usual coughing fits and runny nose. Haiyo, manyak susah lor...

It was only tonight that I could actually sit at home and surf the net leisurely. Seriously, I don't know how the time just flew past by; from the exam session to the packing & room cleaning to the 2-days journey back home to the 3-days leadership training to the wedding preparations plus family time, I haven't had a full day rest as yet. Not that I'm complaining because all of those moments are precious and memorable (except for the packing part) but even though I don't feel my age my body seems to be constantly reminding me that I am getting older.

I had to pack all of my stuff before leaving coz I might have to move to another place when I get back to Romania. Thanks to some misunderstandings and kecoh-ness I could only start packing a day before leaving. 1 DAY. Apa lagi, memang speed packing la jawab nya.

I wish Iasi is nearer to Malaysia, because traveling for 2 days is just too much. Although there are other airlines that offer a much direct and simpler route, but the fare is higher of course. So to be economical I took the one with 3 transits (the last one in Dubai was 10 hours), left Iasi Thursday afternoon & reached KLIA Friday night. Memang pancit by the time sampai rumah.

And then out of the blue mom told me that she had already signed me up for a 3-days leadership training by ESQ 165 in KL. At first I was like "What??!!" and was really annoyed (to say the least), but after it was over I didn't regret it one bit. I am now proud to say that I am an ESQ 165 Alumni Angkatan KL-36. It was really a soul-cleansing and mind-stimulating training that I feel everyone should attend for a better understanding of what our purpose is on this earth. And the best part is, once you have attended the basic training and become an alumni you can come again for recharging sessions for free! You can visit their website for further info, and they have trainings all over the country plus they even do in-house trainings. I have went and recharged once at PICC last weekend, and planning to recharge again for the coming training insyaallah. Maju satria ESQ 165!

And after that there was the wedding of my beloved cousin. Hah ni satu lagi. I was really surprised and touched that she would asked me to be her bridesmaid for both the wedding receptions, but seriously woman, why lah so late. I was worried that I couldn't find anything suitable to wear for the occasion but luckily I have managed to find the perfect baju kurung (a traditional malay costume) for both our side and the groom's side reception. It wasn't that easy to find a nice silver and rosewood pink dresses with matching scarves but somehow or rather I've managed to find really pretty ones at reasonable prices. And what's funny is that I found it all under one roof. Convenient eh?
The wedding itself deserves its own post so I guess I better save the juicy details for another time.

And fyi, that was the first time I was a bridesmaid, first time that I had (allegedly) caught the bouquet, and first time that I wasn't really bothered by the most dreaded question that I seem to get every time there's a family gathering. I guess I've gotten used to it kot. Abis nak wat camno, senyum je la...

Sigh, the downside is, whenever I come back home I always get sick. I guess the humid dusty weather is just too much for my body after so long in a dry cold climate. Fever I can handle, but the chesty dry cough is the one that I most dreaded because it usually takes me several weeks for the cough to disappear. As I'm typing now I am barking like nobody's business that I think it can even be heard next door at my aunt's house. Yup, that loud I am and it has been so bad that I have lost my voice since yesterday. Oh and I don't think it's H1N1 because it's been 2++weeks since I've been home so there's no possibility of imported transmission. But then again local transmission oso got right? Hmmmm......

All in all, it's really good to be back home again. I've realized I miss having the family and friends around, the family outings and makan-makan get-together, and of course, the fooood! Here I am spoilt for choices, but nowadays I can't really eat that much anymore. And since I've been sick some more lah got no appettite. Tapi tak jugak turun-turun, rasa badan macam kena pam-pam je ni ada la. Isy, bahaya bahaya ;p

NB: Tak tahan tgk deghoyan, pulasan, rambutan, ciku, manggis, jambu batu, mangga...& sushiiiii.....cedapnyaaa.....

Lagu2 yg Menggamit Kenangan Nostalgia

2009-07-08T07:52:00.009+08:00

Bila dengar balik lagu-lagu ni, teringat pulak masa zaman muda remaja belia dulu...

SHADES

Siap beli kaset diorang lagi tau (zaman dulu mana ada lagi CD-CD ni ler). Ada 2 sebab.
Satu: Suka dengar diorang punya harmonisation, & kalau diorang perform live best jugak la. Lagu 'Malam' & 'Jangan Kau Ucap Selamat Tinggal' ni antara my favourites & yang temankan study memalam masa kat asasi sains UM dulu.
Dua: Masa tu ada 'ter'minat gila kat one of them, heheh... :D

FEMININ

Adusss, lagu yang dipaksa kena nyanyi masa minggu haluansiswa kat 6th college dulu. Masa tu abis je lecture belum sempat kitorang nak keluar lecture hall seniors semua serbu masuk & terus 'kena'kan kitorang, huhu. Sebab nak kena ambik tandatangan punya pasal terpaksa la jugak tebalkan muka. Lawak la jugak bila teringat balik kena nyanyi lagu ni sekuat hati kat dalam lecture hall, nasib baik tak hujan lepas tu, kekekeke...

KOOL

Bebas; peribadi mu, perhatikan lah
Bebas; tingkah laku mu,
Jangan sampai tersalah pilihan hidupmu, yeah...
Jaga lah personalitimu
Bebas masa depanmu...

Good advice, ain't it? ^_^

Agaknya apa lah citer diorang semua sekarang ni ek?

I wonder.....

NB: Sah dah takde keja lain skang ni. Exam habis sudah, kena start packing+mengemas lah pulak. Aduhai, kemalasan melanda diriku ini.....

Does Voodoo Really Work?

2009-07-05T01:21:00.006+08:00

So what do you think? :-)

NB: Post-exam mode. Very very sleepy. But very happy too. Very the unexpected. Very very tired. Now need to zzzzzzzzzz

Kempunan Mode

2009-07-02T13:05:00.011+08:00

Selamat datang ke rancangan 'Mengidam' yang dibawakan khas dari Iasi dan diiringi oleh orkestra USPER:

Dengan ini adalah dukacita dimaklumkan bahawasanya saya telah pun mencapai tahap mengidam yang kronik sehinggakan terbawa-bawa ke dalam mimpi di malam (dan juga siang) hari.

Sekian. Terima Kasih.

Nb: Gambar-gambar di atas adalah untuk hiasan semata-mata. Sila klik pada gambar untuk ke laman web asal. Harap maklum.

Another year older...

2009-06-23T08:06:00.006+08:00

...and none the wiser... *sigh*

THE day when I turned another year older was eleven days ago. Yeah I know, this is 'stale news' already, but I seriously didn't have the time to write about that day before this due to the exams.

When I was younger birthdays were anticipated events. You kinda looking forward to add that extra year in your age. But when one gets older one tends to stop counting the candles on their cake. Well, at least I did. Especially this year when my beloved classmates actually put my age's worth of candles on the ice-cream cake. Go figure the cake started to melt even before I blew out the candles, heheh...

And another first for me this year, is that we actually had an exam on my birthday! Luckily it was Pediatrics Surgery, which for me is a subject that is kind of interesting. The Qs? Undescended testis, esophageal atresia, Ortolani & Barlow maneuvers in congenital hip dysplasia etc etc. And alhamdulillah things were good during the exam. If not I don't think I'd enjoy the day as much as I did.

By the time I reached home after the exam it was already 2pm. After my (very much needed) short nap, the girls served me home-cooked pasta, some jemput2-like thingy (what was it ah Shrn??) and a birthday cake! Cho chweet of them, especially the cake part. It was sooooo my type of cake, and was made by my dearest roomie. Vanilla-flavoured-strawberry-swiss-rolled-up cake. Y.U.M.M.Y... Thank you Ms.JZ!! I wuv it! I'll upload a photo of it when (or if) one of you Gummus decided to send me the photos ok.

That afternoon was even merrier when Ms.Rv and Ms.KG came over and hang out. I missed hanging out with Ms.KG especially, as things weren't what it was like before after a misunderstanding/disagreement between us. I really appreciate the fact that she made an effort to patch things up between us as I am keen on doing it too. Well, we'll see how things go after this shall we.

And then later in the evening, my darling classmates gave me a dinner treat at a very nice eatery just nearby my place. Never knew of the existence of this place before, but the decor was so cozy I loved it. I was so touched that most of them came even though all of us were still pretty exhausted after the exam. We ordered, we ate, and then came the candle-full ice-cream cake. Honestly, I only realized that I am already THAT old when I saw the number of candles that they've managed to squeeze onto it. Gee, thanks for reminding me of my age yet again you guys... ;P

All in all, even though it was just another day in my calendar, it was definitely not just an ordinary day. I had fun, laughter and a blast with my friends and colleagues. They certainly made the day more bearable and something to be remembered back fondly.

And I love the pressies! I'll treasure them always. They're really cool and I especially love the treasure chests. Was just admiring them the other day in the shop while imagining how it would look on my vanity dresser and now I have them! Now that's truly the power of The Secret, teeheehee...

THANKS A MILLION guys!!

Hugs, hugs, hugs and more virtual hugs from me ^_^

n.b.: More piccas will be uploaded at a later date, haven't got the time to transfer them yet :)

I'll Be Back!

2009-06-10T22:53:00.008+08:00

Have finally confirmed my flight ticket for July.
I'm going home for the holidays, YAY!

Will have several weddings to attend to; cousins', friends, friend's sister... Hopefully I'll get to go to all of them insyaallah.

Will be flying with TAROM and Emirates this time around. Have never taken Emirates before, wonder what would it be like. Will have transits in Bucharest, Istanbul and Dubai.
Isk, why lah Iasi has to be so far...

But, before the time comes for me to pack, need to go through the exam session first:
Pediatrics surgery, Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Neurology, Neurosurgery.....

Waduhhh....

Three Graduates and A Bride

2009-06-05T01:50:00.015+08:00

Last Sunday was a very busy day. There was a graduation ceremony for the girls and a wedding of a friend. I was practically running around for both occasions, but in the end I'm glad that I did it although my feet were killing me by the end of the day.

The Wedding
Remember when I wrote about my friend, Ms.MCL's proposal during class? Well, they finally have all their papers in order and decided to register their marriage here legally. As she is of Romanian-American parentage and he is an Israelian, there were a lot of paperwork to get sorted out. But after all the hassle and running around, finally they were declared husband and wife on May 31, 2009 at the wedding registration place in town.

It was a really sweet occasion. Because it was all kinda last minute, they decided to forgo the pomp and frills and invited only close friends and family to the ceremony. I was deeply touched and honoured that she would include me in it and plus this would certainly be my first.

The ceremony itself was simple, short and sweet; practically hassle free and it took less than 30 minutes. The bride was really beautiful and glowing; she couldn't stop grinning all through it all, and I am really happy for them. As I said it was my first time in a Romanian-style wedding and was delighted to join in with the newlyweds-walking-under-flower-bouquets and rice-throwing thingy because before this we only got to watch how it was done from afar whenever we passed by this place while there was a wedding there.

It was a really really lovely affair, simple and sweet. No hassle no fuss. No frowns, only smiles all around. I wish I could have joined them after that when they went to Ciric to celebrate but I wanted to run back to the graduation ceremony before it's over. And so after giving her the flowers and gift I left the happy couple to join my friends in CUG.

The Graduation Ceremony
Got up early, got ready, and accompanied the soon-to-be grads to the university (5 minutes walk from our place) for a pre-graduation group photo taking session. After that we straightaway went to the Centrul de Providenta in CUG where the ceremony was to take place (which was very very far, according to Iasi's standard lah) and waited for things to get started. As I had a wedding to attend to at noon I had to leave and later on joined them again after the wedding.

The gummu girls :))

It was nice to see all of them happy and excited and seeing some juniors coming to show their support, but I was quite bummed coz didn't get to watch them actually walk onstage, receiving their scrolls and reciting the Hippocratic Oath. Rugi gila lah, tapi takde rezeki nak wat camno...
Eventhough people keep saying that our turn will only be next year, it's kinda hard for me to believe it coz it really felt like only yesterday that I had set foot in Iasi. Will I be ready to don the robe and cap and be a good physician in the future? Scary thought. Sigh, time flies so fast eh.....

I gave the girls white roses as a token of our (crazy) friendship which I had pre-ordered a day before and had asked the boys to pick 'em up for me and gave it to them because I wasn't sure if I could make it after the wedding. And after that we were just chilling out at the sistas place. Good times indeed, they were my travel buddies and also my partners in crime; I'll surely miss them when they've gone back home for good...

Oh, and I am really glad that I came back to the graduation place. Surprise surprise, I got to meet a friend who was with us for the first 3 years but had transferred to Bucharest in our 4th year. He told me before that he had exams the day before and couldn't come, so imagine my surprise when I saw him there. And apparently most of my classmates were there too, but only managed to meet some of them because they left early.

Wonder how our graduation ceremony is gonna be like? Compared to my first convocation several years ago in UM which was a very formal affair (DYTM Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah yg bagi scroll hari tu) the ceremony here is, I would say, semi-formal. Takde org kenamaan, cuma org2 besar & yg penting drpd uni kitorang je. Which is a good thing I think. Less hoopla, but a bit dragging also lah. Tak kisah la belalang, asal jangan tergolek doq masa kat atas stage tu nanti udah ler. Isy, malu giler tak terkata gamaknya.....

So, to the new bride and the new MD graduates:

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Update: Was asked to stand in line for the bouquet-throwing thingy, but the bouquet flew into the hands of Ms.MCL's bestfren. Fuhhh, nasib baik... :))

Zee Avi / KokoKaina

2009-05-24T03:28:00.007+08:00

I love her musical style! So jazzy and soothing. A Malaysian with a Youtube success story. Read more about her here.

Enjoy!

The Moroccan Dream

2009-05-23T04:31:00.013+08:00

One of my classmates is from Tangier, Morocco, born & bred. She's actually a Berber, and can speak several languages (jeles nya!). Eversince I've known her for 5 years now we have talked about lots of things, especially about our cultures, our homes and our families.

You see, I am an explorer at heart. I love getting to know about all these different cultures and their way of life, especially one that is so foreign from my own. I told her that one of my dreams is to go there for a visit, so that I can see the culture with my very own eyes and experience it, sample their cuisines while breathing the Moroccan air.
Sigh, that would be so lovely, wouldn't it?

Btw, I already have a standing invitation to go there. Tempat tinggal makan minum tak payah nak pikir dah, cuma kena beli sendiri tiket kapalterbang nakgi sana je. Bestnya kalau leh pegi.....

Disclaimer: All the piccas above are not mine. Click at the images to go to the original sites. Thank you.

"What do you mean you cannot drink milk??"

2009-05-16T01:20:00.002+08:00

"It's because I have Lactose Intoler ance (LI), ok? "

I got asked this a lot. And when I told them why, they automatically assume that I don't drink milk. Actually, it doesn't mean that I cannot take milk at all, in fact I love dairies, but consuming milk or any type of dairy products will eventually cause bloating, flatulence, abdominal cramps, and last but not least, acute diarrhea that could lead to dehydration if proper countermeasures are not taken.

Why me??
Well, thanks to the 1/8 chinese, and the remaining jawa part of me = Genetic predisposition, of course. And plus milk-drinking is never really a Malay culture, isn't it?

When will I have the symptoms??
Whenever I have appeased my cravings for something dairy i.e. milk, yoghurt, cheese, ice-cream.....YUMMM!!

How come??
Basically, we lack the enzyme lactase that breaks down lactose, a form of sugar found in milk & other dairy products. Lactose is a big-moleculed sugar and cannot be absorbed by the small intestinal (ileum) walls.
Therefore;
No lactase --> Lactose passes intact from ileum to colon --> Fermentation of lactose by the normal intestinal bacteria --> Production of a lot of gasses --------> Bloating, Flatulence, Cramps + Diarrhea (by lactose that attracts water into colon)

What to do??
Avoid dairy products (unless they are lactose-free), oral rehydration salt, water, water, water, water, water... + Oral enzyme substitution (never tried this before coz can't seem to get my hands on it yet)

Where??
Check out the prevalence of LI in the world population:

If you are still clueless and don't know what I'm talking about, go watch White Chicks the movie. Pay attention to what happens to one of the agents when he ate cheese. Oh yeah, I soooo know the feeling. Been there done that, sigh....

IMHO, being lactose intolerant ain't fun I tell ya. Especially for a person who loooooves dairy and can't live without them, like moi. And yes, different individuals have different levels and degrees of intolerance. But 'lucky' me, I got stuck with the one-glass-of-milk-will-make-you-have-diarrhea-the-whole-night type of LI. And imagine what would happen if I'd have 1 glass milk+1 slice cheese+1 stick ice-cream, in 1 day. Berkampung kat dalam bilik air ler jawabnya...

A lactose intolerant gal who loves lactose-full dairies. What a bummer, ain't it?

Aching Legs

2009-05-09T04:17:00.005+08:00

Went gallivanting around town today:

1. Left home early to go to the Neurosurgery Hospital, but upon reaching there I was told that class was canceled. Haiyaaah... Decided to walk back home and so began the 30 minutes journey up & down the hill back to the house...

2. Reached home, had some snacks, and then went out again for some gift-shopping with Ms JZ to the mall. Went round and round the mall while keeping an eye for the things that we wanted to get and had lunch at the food court there.

3. Left the mall at half past four. Ms JZ went back home while I went to the Paediatrics Hospital (which is just 15 minutes from the mall) on foot, walking uphill, for a garda session with our paeds surgery lecturer.

4. After garda, walked back down the hill with the boys and then walked back home alone...

Mak aih, patut la kaki rasa macam nak tercabut je. Nasib baik pakai sneakers tadi, kalau tak, isk...

And now my feet and legs are aching and it feels like the muscles are being twisted in knots. Can't tell you how much I'm longing for a foot and full body massage now, sigh....

NB: Yeah, I know I'm out of shape. I should be used to walking a lot here, but I guess going up and down the hill was a bit too much for my sleep-deprived body today.
Sungguh lah tak fit nya diriku ini, hmmmmm.....

98 DEGREES & Counting

2009-05-05T22:51:00.005+08:00

Remember this?

At the time when boybands were sprouting like poisonous mushrooms everywhere, I've gotta say that 98 Degrees is definitely a class above them all. Unlike other boybands that were assembled by the recording/talent companies, these guys actually had formed a group on their own before getting themselves a manager and signing on with a record label.

I love their voices, how they harmonize and blend their voices with each other. And yes, they sound good live too! In fact, personally them singing live is way better than the recorded stuff. And I could still remember my sister telling me "Sedih kan sebenarnya lirik lagu Invisible Man ni? He likes her but she doesn't notice him. Cian kat dia..."
Ingat lagi tak ezra? ;P

They came to Malaysia a couple of years ago (when I was in college) to perform. At the time I was already a fan, and plus the tickets were very very affordable. Buy 1 cassette you get 1 ticket, buy 1 CD you get 2 tickets! Crazy right? It's as if the tickets were free only. Plus you get to keep the CDs/cassettes some more. Since it was a no brainer I went and bought 1 CD and 1 cassette, finally had gotten myself 3 tickets in total: 1 for me and 2 for my (younger) sisters. Bawak la diorang sekali sebab kesian tak penah gi tgk konsert kat mana2 lagi kan. Kakak mithali, chewah... :D

The showcase was at the Sunway Lagoon amphitheater. All through the show, there were lotsa screaming fans (it was mostly girls, go figure) and they were literally shrieking away when they were not singing along with the boys. Saya pun agak teruja lah jugak masa tu, tapi takleh nak lawan dgn adikku si dokter yg memula malu-malu tapi akhirnya terjerit-jerit keseronokan jugak, hehehe... It was really fun because I got to see and hear 98 Degrees live, watch the antics of fanatic fans, and see that my sisters had fun that night too. Well I've never really asked them how it was for them, but by them screaming their heads off and singing along means that they were having a good time then yeah, they might be. As for me, suffice to say that I had a sore throat that lasted for 2 days, a side effect from the sing-a-long cum shrieking session that night, lol...

98 Degrees didn't get as OTT famous as BSB or N'Sync back then although their sound has quality. Hey, I love BSB and N'Sync too ok. Yeah peeps, I was a boyband fan, huhu. But the truth is I like music for its sound and harmony regardless who performs it and from which genre it is. I can listen to any and all kinds of music EXCEPT for dangdut and house/club. Serious tak boleh layan ah lagu-lagu cenggitu, isk...

Eventhough they haven't split up 98 Degrees are now in a hiatus. I hope they will come out with something new soon because I'm sure their fans can't wait for their reappearance in the music scene (termasuk lah saya rasanya)... ^_^

Paediatrics Surgery Test

2009-05-04T19:05:00.002+08:00

.....is tomorrow. If we don't pass this test we won't be allowed to sit for the final exam.

Wish me luck!!

Nb: I love doing garda with our paeds surgery lecturer. He's a hoot, and the surgeries are pretty interesting. Will definitely join him again for the next garda.

The Beriyani Experiment

2009-05-04T02:00:00.001+08:00

Out of the blue today I got a hankering for some nasi beriyani. And since I have (almost) all of the ingredients in the kitchen, I attempted to cook it myself. Mind you, I've never tried making it ever, but there's always a first time, isn't it?

So I Google-d some recipes online and finally decided to try out the Beriyani Kurma recipe found on mesra.net resepi webpage with some modifications of my own. Instead of using beef I used chicken breast meat since that's all that is available for me here, and I substituted evaporated milk with yoghurt and I also added a handful of raisins.

The verdict:
It turned out well enough, albeit a l'il bit soggy. My bad in over-estimating the water for the rice (as I usually do, lol!). What's more, I didn't use Basmathi rice (mahal lah) and used another type of long grain rice instead. All in all it was edible (and I think it was kinda tasty too, hehe) although it wasn't visually appealing. But hey, everything's gonna go into my tummy in the end right, so what's the biggie? As a side dish I made some spicy tomato-based acar timun (I used pickled cucumber), and VOILA! Dinner is served. Yummmmm

It's usual for me to cook in abundance and finish it in 2-3 days. Why do I do this? It's because food keeps well here due to the weather but actually the main reasons are pure laziness and no time. This way at least I could have something that is cooked and meaty instead of bread and eggs all the time, oh man...

So, what else to cook next week? I'm craving for fish but the fish here is so not very the fresh. Tuna/sardin dalam tin pulak dah naik harga skang ni. Telur lagi lah nampaknya, hmmmmm

Selamat Hari Buruh

2009-05-01T11:00:00.003+08:00

Yup, Labour Day is celebrated here too. It's celebrated globally in fact. Saya baru lah tau ari tu, hehe...

So, it's an off day today. No classes. Cuti, woohooooo!!

But it's Laundry Day for me today lah, sigh...

Oh, and I am currently on a Star Trek Voyager marathon, again. Makes me realize how much I love and miss this show. And Battlestar Galactica. And Stargate SG-1.
Huhu...gimme more please!

Swine Flu - The H1N1 Influenza A Virus

2009-04-30T21:10:00.007+08:00

With the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza viral infections in several countries, and also several reported deaths in Mexico and the US, are we going to be facing a global spread anytime soon? Will there be a phenomena like the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918? Is there a reason to panic?

Well, maybe not yet. Although it's not imprudent for us to take extra precaution to prevent further spread of the disease as announced by WHO. For now, we should practice good hygiene (i.e. hand washing, masks), cover your mouth and nose when sneezing/coughing, and avoid public places if you're down with flu to avoid infecting other people. And make sure that you have a healthy immune system, because our immune system plays a vital role in combating viral infections. And no, antibiotics DO NOT work against viral infections and flu. Unless you have a secondary bacterial infection, only then you should be taking antibiotics. This is important because if antibiotics are used too often generally then there will be a bacterial resistance phenomena, which we definitely do not want to happen.

What's interesting is it's the same etiological agent for both the Spanish flu back then and the swine flu now which is the H1N1 influenza virus. Moreover, there were six genes from American swine flu that have been identified; they are a mixture of swine flu, bird flu, and human flu viruses, and it is also a virulent strain. And because of this the WHO has increased their alertness level to level 4 (on a scale of 6) to prevent transmission and a possible pandemic situation.

Should we be scared and paranoid? I don't think so. But it doesn't hurt to err on the side of caution, don't you think?

Prevention is definitely better than cure in this case.

UPDATE: The WHO has advised against the use of the 'Swine flu' term and instead we should be referring it as H1N1 Influenza A Viral Infection.

The Day When The Earth Shook

2009-04-26T22:07:00.004+08:00

I've been here for almost 5 years now, and have experienced earthquakes TWICE. Thankfully though, it wasn't the earth-shattering ground-splitting type. It was more of a rumble and shake, thank God...

The first one was on September 27th 2004. It was exactly after 1 month we landed in Romania. At the time I was staying in an apartment on the 6th floor, couldn't really feel the first shake. But when it shook again a few seconds after that, my roommates and I grabbed our passports and jackets and ran downstairs! It was at night, and it was rather eerie coz the streets were filled with people and steam. At the time it felt surreal but we then met up with some of our friends a few blocks away and waited for things to calm down before going back to the house. Cuaklah jugak masa tu, isk...

The second time that I've experienced an earthquake was just yesterday, April 25th 2009. This time around even though the earthquake originated from Romania, we only felt a minor shake. At the time both Ms JZ and me were in the hallway having a lively conversation (i.e.mengumpat session, lol) when we suddenly felt the doors shaking. I was stunned, but thought that I had somehow experienced vertigo (ala-ala nak pitam gitu), while Ms JZ thought that someone had slammed the entrance door downstairs until our doors shook. Well, this was rather an acceptable explanation because we live in the first floor and my room is just above the entrance of the building (memang boleh sekodeng orang kuar masuk from my room's balcony, hehe). But out of curiosity I took a peek out of the kitchen window and saw people running out of the opposite block like as if there was a fire or something. It was only then that it had occured to us that it was an earthquake! Talk about clueless, lol...

So, having had the honour of experiencing 2 earthquakes in my 5 years here, and being the paranoid freak that I am, can anyone blame me for having a pre-packed bag containing several essential items in case of emergencies?

And no Erin, not only expecting mothers have the emergency bag, I do too!!

Yup, confirm. Your friend is a paranoid freak... ^_^

Reel Time

2009-04-24T21:55:00.000+08:00

Definite must-sees on my list:

1. Angels & Demons - Another of Dan Brown's masterpiece presented on film directed by Ron Howard

2. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - A sequel with more action and adventure directed by Michael Bay

3. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - Based on book 6 of the series by J.K.Rowling and directed by David Yates

4. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past - Starring the delectable Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner

and last but not least...

5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine - More of Hugh Jackman? Bring it on!

So, movie date anyone? ^_^

When I'm Home Alone...

2009-04-21T16:52:00.002+08:00

..... I bake. A lot. It's Easter break and I'm stuck at home here, so what else to do but cook and bake, heheh...

What I had: Baked chicken (with 3 types of seasonings/marinades = sour cream+mushrooms, lemon+herbs, tandoori style), baked pasta (creamy baked pasta, mac&cheese, tuna casserole with tonnnes of cheese on top), pastries (butter, cheese and also chocolate filling), chicken curry with lots and lots of potatoes, ayam masak lemak cili padi (which was waaaaay too hot for me! Nasib baik tak kena diarrhea, lol...) and maybe tomorrow I might bake a banana cake if I could find a couple of ripe bananas today. Yummmm....

And suddenly yesterday I was hankering for some roti canai banjir! Sabar jelah... Since I've no patience (and skills) to make it from scratch, I decided to improvise and make them using some ready-made pastry dough that I've found in my fridge. Had to use lots and lots of oil (got no ghee), some sprinkled sugar, pan frying, and voila! And guess what, they turned out good! I was surprised myself, but when I had them with some fish-less fish curry with potatoes and carrots, oh my oh my oh my..... I even made some mamak tea (used fresh milk instead of condensed milk) to accompany my meal..... Ahhhh.... a little piece of heaven from home.....

Oh dear, all this free time and good food is so not good for me, I know. So don't be surprised to see me bloated up and round when school starts next week mi amigos!

Apart from cooking up a storm, I do go out and stretch my legs. The weather currently is so fine, and last sunday was Easter for the Orthodox. Went gallivanting around town and sat in the park for hours enjoying the sunshine. It was kinda peaceful this week, thanks to the fact that the city is almost empty because most of the students had gone back to their hometowns for the holidays. You see, Iasi is a kinda like a college/university town; it's quite small but has quite a number of colleges around here. So, the usual crowds during normal semester would consist of mainly students, while during the holidays (eg. Easter, Christmas, summer) it's practically quiet around here.

Hmmm...maybe I should go and settle my internet bill today coz it's so nice and breezy outside. Could just pay in the bank downstairs, but why not take a tram and a stroll to their office, eh? And since I have the student's transportation pass that enables me to hop on and off any busses, trams or maxi-taxis (like a van), I could go wherever I want (within the city's limits of course)!

Hope you guys are enjoying your holidays!

Birthday Girl

2009-04-21T15:01:00.000+08:00

HAPPY 6th BIRTHDAY ELISSA!

Auntie wishes you all the best in the world and here's a big hug & kisses for you, mmmuaaaaah!

On Bended Knees

2009-04-17T01:00:00.003+08:00

Today was a day of proposals. Why?

1. In real-time:
My dear friend and classmate, Ms.MCL is now engaged! And it all happened in Ophthalmology lab just now. Her bf (now fiance) actually got down on one knee, told her that she was the only woman that he wants to spend his life with, and asked her if she would do him the honour of being his wife! It was a lovely and sweet surprise; I knew I was gaping throughout and our lecturer (and some of the strapping macho guys in the class, heheh) were moved to tears. It was kinda like one of those Hallmark moments, because the love that they had for each other really shone so bright that it was almost blinding. But the best part of it is that I've actually had the chance of watching something like that with my very own eyes and not only on TV. How cool is that! I am really happy for her, and wish nothing but the best for both of them.

Congrats my dear MCL! May your lives together will be full of love, joy & laughter forever and ever...

2. On reel-time
This was about something on the House tv show. Yeah, I'm fan, and have been faithfully following each and every episode without fail. I really love the show, but needless to say after the shocking (to me at least) twist in the previous episode (S5 Ep20) regarding the untimely and rather gruesome and tragic passing of one of my favourite characters, Kutner (he was supposedly to have shot himself due to unexplained reasons), I did not expect that the writers would come up with another surprise in the show in S5 Ep.21 when Chase got down on one knee and proposed to Cameron! And this I watched on the telly just a few hours after the real-time proposal in class! Seems like spring and wedding bells are in the air.....

So, the conclusion is:
"Love is in the air, everywhere we look around...."

p/s: Am trying to compile plausible answers for one of the most dreaded questions that will defintely be thrown at me during my cousin's wedding party this summer. Ideas anyone??

Hibernate Mode...

2009-04-15T15:22:00.000+08:00

Salut!

We have just started our Easter break, so now I could finally finish up the posts that are currently in the draft folder. I know it has been a while since I last updated this blog, but things have been pretty hectic lately that I found myself unable to even compose a coherent paragraph.

But even with the packed schedule and on-calls, I am really having a blast! It's kinda funny coz --> Medicine=Fun -- is deemed impossible. Maybe it's something in the air, maybe it's the current lovely weather, or maybe it's the fact that I am in the 'zone' where life is like looking through a rose-coloured glass. Well, whatever the reason is, I am grateful and thankful for His mercy, love, and abundant bestowals in whatever form they may be. Alhamdulillah....

Alrighty then, back to draft board!
But, uhuh, maybe I could do with some shut-eye and mental cleansing before attempting those. So, see y'all (not too) soon okay!

Toodles!!

And to my Orthodox friends:

PASTE FERICITA !!

My Mosaic, My Life

2009-04-07T01:23:00.002+08:00

1. My first name
2. My favorite food
3. My high school
4. My favorite color
5. My celebrity crush
6. My favorite drink
7. My dream vacation
8. My favorite dessert
9. What I want to be when I grow up
10. What I love most in life
11. One word to describe me
12. My flickr name

Numerology Personal Profile

2009-04-06T01:00:00.001+08:00

Just for fun and as a cure for boredom during the weekend...

OVERVIEW

There are several different sides to your character but your energy is primarily pointed in two contrary directions. A good part of you is free-spirited and adventurous -- at least in spirit but often in fact -- and doesn't want to be restrained in any way. Another strong side of you tends to be introspective and reserved, concerned with inner needs and private projects. During your youth and young adulthood, you'll struggle to balance your need to do your own thing with enthusiasm and excitement with the equally strong necessity of spending time alone in study or contemplation. You'll probably sometimes take care of one and sometimes the other, but rarely to your complete satisfaction. As you get older, you'll probably learn how to balance your free-spirited side with your studious, solitary side so that you can feel comfortable with both.

YOUR FREE-WHEELING CREATIVITY -- HOW IT WORKS FOR AND AGAINST YOU

Your 5 Life Path And 3 Birthday

You were born with considerable versatility -- the ability to do almost anything you attempt with superior skill. As you can imagine, this innate capacity allows you a boundless freedom most people can only dream about. One of your major lessons in life is to learn to use this freedom constructively. Since you have so many talents and so many opportunities for the use of those talents, you probably have to learn to focus your energies on a limited number of ventures rather than attempt to take advantage of all the possibilities.

When you want to, you can express your joy in living by socializing, either with many friends in varied activities or in the company of a few intimates engaged in quiet diversions. You probably also express yourself in some form of creative activity.

YOUR FINE ANALYTICAL MIND, SPIRITUAL AWARENESS -- AND INTROSPECTIVE SIDE

Your 7 Expression

That versatile and creative side is a primary part of your makeup. There are other aspects of your personality which contribute to the overall picture even though they're of lesser influence than your versatile side. If there are any conflicts between your free-spirited traits and the other characteristics, your free-spirited side usually wins out.

You have a fine analytical mind and are capable of much in the way of learning. Others will recognize your potential to understand fundamental truths as well as your capacity to search for ultimate meanings. They may turn to you for your knowledge and, perhaps, the benefits of your wisdom, too. You may choose a line of work involving complex technical, scientific or philosophical studies. You probably also spend time working to achieve the peace of mind that is important to you.

True or not? Entah...

Ehem!

2009-03-31T20:53:00.006+08:00

Woke up this morning with a scratchy throat, and by mid-day there was definitely a sign of a throat irritation. Aiseymen.... this is the one thing that I have been trying to avoid, coz when I get the coughing fits they'll usually be accompanied with chest pains and insomnia and plus they'll last for at least a week or so. I hate it when this happens coz I could really bring the house down with the sound. Yup, that loud my coughs were.....

Already bought some lozenges from the pharmacy. Hope it'll help. Am keeping myself warm too, and definitely only warm water/drinks from now on.

Cepat lah sihat, penat ah sakit ni..... :((

Daylight Saving Time

2009-03-29T18:29:00.011+08:00

... or DST is when the clocks are moved 1 hour in the spring. In the European Union, Summer Time begins and ends at 1:00 a.m. Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time). It begins on the last Sunday in March (which is today) and ends on the last Sunday in October. In the EU, all time zones change at the same moment.

Why do they do this? This is to make better use of daylight, as the days in the summer are longer than in the winter. More sunlight, less electricity consumption, better environmental outcome so on so forth... Simply put, by turning the clocks 1 hour ahead, people get the opportunity to enjoy the day and the sunlight more.

(gambar hiasan)

When I first came here, I had no idea about DST. As a result, I was 1 hour early for Anatomy class! Yup, it was October and I was in front of the uni wondering why it was so deserted and freezing my a** off at 7.30am (according to my watch) when it was actually 6.30am!! It was only later that I found out from my classmates about the time change. Nobody else to blame but me for my ignorance, haha...

And guess what, I still am confused by the time change up till last year. If my friends haven't reminded me I would have totally forgotten about it. But this year I do remember, and have been preparing for it, i.e.waking up 1 hour earlier than my usual wake-up time in the morning for the past weeks. Since we now have morning rounds/classes everyday I figured that my body and mind would need to get used to waking up at an earlier time. Have to do this, because I found that nowadays my body is less adaptable to changes as I get older. Oh well, what to do, old already maaah...

FB

2009-03-28T19:23:00.000+08:00

Apakah??

Lama giler tak log-in tengok2 diorang dah tukar lay-out la pulak.

Hisyy...kan ke dah konpius skang ni? Nape kena tukar lay-out/settings yang lama tu? Dulu tu okay dah apa...

Sabar je lah, hmmmphhhh.....

Case Study Presentation

2009-03-27T19:52:00.008+08:00

Yeah I know, this entry is kind of backdated. Had the presentation last week but was too busy and sick to write about it. Well, here's the gist of it...

As I've mentioned before, my group had the honour of making the first case presentation for the class. We are now in our Paediarics cycle and are currently assigned to the Paediatrics Cardiac Clinic. Our case study was about a female patient aged around 1++ years old with Tetralogy of Fallot. She was practically bluish due to her heart problems.

TETRALOGY OF FALLOT is a congenital heart defect that consists of 4 anomalies (hence the name -tetra):
1. Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
2. Pulmonary stenosis
3. Right ventricular hypertrophy
4. An aorta that overrides the septal defect

All these anomalies result in a right-to-left shunting of the blood, that leads to the cetral cyanosis. In addition to the cyanosis, she also has clubbing of the fingers and toes (Hippocratic fingers & toes), and poorly developed teeth and poor growth. She was also dyspnoeic during feeding (difficult to breath during drinking/eating), so the mother had to feed her slowly so that she could catch some breath in between swallowing. She could only sit/stand with support because her legs couldn't really support her body. Both the patient and the mother were very cooperative, and according to the mother the patient only cries when she's hungry and sleepy. Other than that, she's fuss free.

Clubbing of fingers and toes

She will be undergoing surgery to correct the defects. And she's also given Amoxycillin as a prophylaxis for endocarditis. Children with heart defects are also prone to get respiratory infections, and that's why she came to the hospital this time because she had pneumonia. She recovered from her pneumonia and was discharged on the day of our presentation while waiting for her surgery next month.

Our presentation was almost doomed from the get go. Apart from being notified last minute about it, we were supposed to present the case last two weeks, but due to unforeseen circumstances (n.b.kes terlupa bawak usb, lol) it was postponed to last week. And out of 9 people in my group only 6 of us were present during the presentation day because 1 was sick, 1 was taking care of someone sick and 1 went MIA. But all in all, it was a success and we really rocked! It was really satisfying to know that you've gone all out and gave your best. What we were happy about is that our supervisor was really proud of us that made it all worth it...

So, next case presentation for us will be after our Paediatrics Surgery cycle starting next week. Saw some really interesting cases recently and Dr.AL had hinted that one of them may be the subject for our case study. Oh well...

The peeps in the my group (minus Mr.MA who's taking this pic, and Mr.OAH who's forever MIA...)

Well, guys, congrats for a job well done and hope we'll rock again next time!

n/b: The patient was also recently diagnosed with an atrial septal defect. Thus she now has a pentalogy heart defect, sigh...

Salam Takziah

2009-03-26T19:45:00.005+08:00

Just got the news from my mom about the passing of my SIL's father in Kedah.

Semoga roh-nya dicucuri rahmat dan ditempatkan bersama orang-orang yag beriman. Amin...

AL-FATIHAH

Flu-ish Weather

2009-03-26T19:19:00.001+08:00

Demam
Selsema
Sakit kepala
Sakit badan

Yup, I've caught the bug that has been making people around me feverish, sneezing and coughing. Barely recovering from bout of stomach flu a week ago and now this, sigh...

Luckily the fever wasn't that bad though, only traces of blocked/runny nose remain. PCM, antihistamines and plenty of liquids were my salvation. Plenty of bed rest should also be in the list, but we have had full day classes all through the week so I still had to go. I missed only one day of classes when I really cannot tahan...

MC? Well, there's no such thing as MCs here. You are either present or absent, unless you have a really valid MC from the student's clinic (which is really far from my place) or you have managed to convince your lecturers that you are really unable to attend the classes. Kalau dah larat bangun nakgi amik MC kat klinik pelajar nun kat Copou sana, maknanya dah boleh bangun gi kelas jugak la kan? Baik gi je kelas tu, kalau dah tak larat sangat mintak ler balik awal, habih citer...

And the weather wasn't helping too. Nowadays it's been sunny/rainy in the day and cold at night. And just when we thought that spring is finally here, all hell broke loose yesterday and it actually snowed!! Well, it was snowing (with winds all) but because the temperature was above 0 degrees celcius the icicles turned into puddles of water when it reached the ground. Sejuk panas sejuk panas sejuk panas...sedangkan batu pun boleh terhakis inikan pulak kulit manusia, isy....

Ok folks, that's all for now. Need to go lie down coz my head is spinning.....

Confessions of a Sci-Fi Freak

2009-03-16T05:09:00.004+08:00

"To boldly go where no man has gone before..."

- Captain Kirk of the Starship Enterprise

Yes, I am one. A sci-fi freak I mean. Have been for quite a while now actually. But, funnily enough, no one would have ever pegged me for being one. Why? Well, maybe because no one would have ever thought that a typical plain girl like me would have an interest in all these sci-fi, out-of-this-world and sometimes ridiculous notions that we are not alone. I have always been sold to the idea that there might be other beings apart from us on Earth, because if we are the only living creatures existing on this planet that we call Earth in this wide universe don’t you think that it is such a waste of space?

My fascination with all things sci-fi started when I was really young, though to be honest I was never into Star Wars... I love astronomy (but I could never really give you the name of the stars and signs, and plus I suck at Physics… *dolefully grinning*) and have always been interested in all things related to the ancient civilizations and cultures (Egyptian, Roman, Greek, Incan Mayan, Aztec etc). Come to think of it, if I were not doing medicine I might just have chosen a career involving ancient civilizations and languages. Sigh, sometimes I do wonder if I had made the correct decision after all…

Ooopsss, I’ve digressed. Ok, coming back to the topic. As I’ve said my interest started really early, but not until STARGATE the movie came out that my fascination grew even more. If you’ve never watched STARGATE before, you really are missing something. For those who have watched it know the reason why I love it so much. First, it’s about the idea that we are indeed not alone and there are other beings that exist in this universe. Second, the storyline that was based on ancient Egyptian civilization, and amazingly enough their ability to make the idea that the Pyramids of Giza could just maybe, maybe, built by aliens as no one could really understand how they were built in those days without proper technology. Some theories were made saying that it must have been built by a far more superior race and technology ahead of their time back then. And third, the concept of traveling through space to reach other habitual planets in the distant galaxies, meeting new race of aliens, learning their cultures, languages etc etc etc….. Ah, what I wouldn’t give to be able to do that…

So, from there on I’ve developed a preference for all sci-fi shows, including all those related to paranormal stuff (it’s kind of arrogant of us to assume that we are the only intelligent life form, isn’t it?) and also space explorations… I especially love the more recent shows, because it makes more sense (well to me at least).

Among those that I consider as my favorites are:

MOVIES:

1. STARGATE
2. STARGATE: ARK OF TRUTH
3. CONTACT
4. STEALTH
5. UNIVERSAL SOLDIERS
6. TRANSFORMERS
7. THE MATRIX (the trilogy)
8. SPACE COWBOYS
9. APOLLO 13
10. STARGATE: CONTINUUM
11. FREQUENCY
12. MEN IN BLACK (1&2)
13. FACE/OFF
14. TWELVE MONKEYS
15. FIFTH ELEMENT

TV SHOWS:

1. STARGATE SG1 (I love, I love, I loooooooove this show!! Finished watching all episodes from season 1 till 10, in a month! Me a freak indeed ^_^)
2. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (2003)

3. STARGATE ATLANTIS
4. FARSCAPE
5. ANDROMEDA
6. BABYLON 5
7. SEAQUEST DSV
8. STAR TREK VOYAGER
9. THE TRIANGLE
10. DOCTOR WHO

11. TORCHWOOD

So what do you think? Well, if you say that nah, what’s the biggie, then let me tell you this: I would rather forgo shopping with my mom than missing one episode of Star Trek Voyager. No sane female would miss out the opportunity to go shopping (especially when you don’t have to pay for it), so I guess I was a freak since back then huh?

n.b. I wish I could be Captain/Colonel/Major Samantha Carter in another life (hint: Stargate SG1): beautiful brainy brave, with a heart of gold.....

Stomach Flu et moi

2009-03-14T06:31:00.015+08:00

Gastroenteritis, or commonly (and mistakenly) known as the stomach flu, is an inflammation of the lining of the stomach and small and large intestines. Most of the cases are infectious, although gastroenteritis may also follow ingestion of drugs and chemical toxins (eg, metals, plant substances).

Infectious gastroenteritis is commonly caused by viruses (Rotavirus, Norovirus, Astrovirus, Adenovirus, CMV), and less commonly by bacterias (Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, E.coli O157:H7) and parasites (Giardia, Cryptosporidium).

Generally, there is a sudden onset of symptoms, with anorexia, nausea, vomiting, borborygmi, abdominal cramps, watery diarrhea (with or without blood and mucus), malaise, myalgias, and prostration. The abdomen may be distended and mildly tender; in severe cases, muscle guarding may be present. Gas-distended intestinal loops may be palpable. Borborygmi are present even without diarrhea. Persistent vomiting and diarrhea can result in intravascular fluid depletion with hypotension and tachycardia. In severe cases, shock, with vascular collapse and oliguric renal failure, occurs.

Treatment is symptomatic, although parasitic and some bacterial infections require specific anti-infective therapy. Gastroenteritis is usually uncomfortable but self-limited. Electrolyte and fluid loss is usually little more than an inconvenience to an otherwise healthy adult but can be grave for people who are very young elderly, or debilitated or who have serious concomitant illnesses.

(Source: The Merck Manual of Medical Information)

This was what I had last weekend. A rather bad case of gastroenteritis. First it was diarrhea. I thought it was just a plain case of lactose intolerance (had a glass of milk Friday afternoon) which usually would pass after a few hours, or at least food poisoning. But then the symptoms got worse; non-stop diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, a pulsating frontal headache, back pain and muscle cramps. And come Saturday afternoon my temperature spiked! I was dehydrated from the diarrhea and had chills all over that I couldn't eat anything. All I could managed was sipping plain lukewarm water then and again, swallowing a couple of tabs of PCM, gulping down home-made ORS (oral rehydration salt) mix, wrapping up myself under the blankets, and slept and slept and slept...

Alhamdulillah, the next morning the fever, headache, cramps, nausea were all gone. Still had some mild diarrhea though. All I could manage was some dry toasts and soup. By nightfall I was almost normal, albeit a little bit weak. I was lucky that my recovery was speedy, I guess that my decision to rehydrate and control the fever worked in my favour. That and also the fact that although the urge to vomit was there I tried not to because I knew that if I do I'm gonna be more dehydrated. It may be bad to suppress the urge, but I do know my body well and how it reacts.

Until now I have been trying to figure out what had caused it. The only conclusion that I can come up with is that I may have had a viral gastroenteritis contracted from the hospital or from my colleagues. Why? Because apparently some of my classmates also fell ill with almost the exact same symptoms that I had on the very same day. It definitely wasn't food poisoning because we didn't eat the same food. Coincidence? I think not. Although, according to one of the doctors it could also be the fact that there was an epidemic of stomach flu at the time. And I think he could be right, because of this. Whatever it was, it affected my friends worse than me. Poor things. But as Ms MCL said there is an upside to it; she lost 5 pounds in less than a week! Good for her, but caution to all of you especially the bulimics: vomiting is NEVER the solution to weight loss, comprende?

It's been a long while since I was this sick. Thank goodness I keep some PCMs, aspirins, charcoal tablets, and paid attention during physiology class. Time and again the ORS mix proved to be useful when no pre-packed ORS are available on-hand. Thanks Prof. Ruby, you're a life saver!

n.b. I'm laying off rice for now. My stomach can't seem to stand it anymore, too starchy I guess. Might go vegetarian for a while. Wonder how long till I'll start craving for some meat...

PCD Rocks!!

2009-03-14T05:06:00.002+08:00

Saw this back then in 2005, I think, when PCD made their live onstage performance on Fashion Rocks. They were an unknown group back then, but as soon as I saw this I could feel it in my bones that they would make it big. And look at them now....

Oh gosh, they just blew me away with this performance and I never grew tired of watching it...

Busy Bee

2009-03-11T21:31:00.001+08:00

I'm wiped out. Tired of running around town for our classes in different hospitals scattered all over the place. Thank goodness the public transport here is quite efficient, although one do have to put up with bau-bauan yang kurang menyenangkan daripada orang-orang yang tak reti nak mandi, ada yang sanggup tak mandi berbulan-bulan sebab nak jimat air. Sheeeeshhhh....

We're having a case presentation tomorrow. It's about a patient in our pediatrics clinic with Tetralogy of Fallot. Interesting case, nice and very accomodating baby. My group has the honour of presenting first, so I would really hope that we'll do good. Will give an update later on how it goes.

Now need to get some zzzzzzzs before revising for tomorrow's presentation, got a killer headache residual from a very bad case of Gastroenteritis (stomach flu) over the weekend. If got time I'll blog about that too.

Oh, did I mention that I HATE public speaking?? Urghhhhhhh...

Eu sunt aici...

2009-03-11T20:38:00.005+08:00

This is where I am. Right here, right now.

But sadly it's quite far from where He once lived, which was here ...

...

I haven't been there yet, but soon, very soon.....

Getting To Know Me

2009-03-06T17:12:00.009+08:00

When I did this test, I had not expected that the result will be this at all. This is so freakily true of myself that I had goosebumps while reading it...

Your view on yourself:
You are down-to-earth and people like you because you are so straightforward. You are an efficient problem solver because you will listen to both sides of an argument before making a decision that usually appeals to both parties.

The type of girlfriend/boyfriend you are looking for:
You are not looking merely for a girl/boyfriend - you are looking for your life partner. Perhaps you should be more open-minded about who you spend time with. The person you are looking for might hide their charm under their exterior.

Your readiness to commit to a relationship:
You are ready to commit as soon as you meet the right person. And you believe you will pretty much know as soon as you meet that person.

The seriousness of your love:
You like to flirt and behave seductively. The opposite sex finds this very attractive, and that's why you'll always have admirers hanging off your arms. But how serious are you about choosing someone to be in a relationship with?

Your views on education
Education is very important in life. You want to study hard and learn as much as you can.

The right job for you:
You're a practical person and will choose a secure job with a steady income. Knowing what you like to do is important. Find a regular job doing just that and you'll be set for life.

How do you view success:
You are afraid of failure and scared to have a go at the career you would like to have in case you don't succeed. Don't give up when you haven't yet even started! Be courageous.

What are you most afraid of:
You are afraid of having no one to rely on in times of trouble. You don't ever want to be unable to take care of yourself. Independence is important to you.

Who is your true self:
You are mature, reasonable, honest and give good advice. People ask for your comments on all sorts of different issues. Sometimes you might find yourself in a dilemma when trapped with a problem, which your heart rather than your head needs to solve.

Whoa, that's me alright. Although, I have some doubts regarding the "flirtatious and seductive behaviour" part because I don't think that I'm a flirt at all. But seriously people, you should really try it for yourselves here...

New Semester

2009-03-01T18:48:00.007+08:00

Sigh, the semester break is over and tomorrow we'll be starting full-fledged classes again.
One week feels too short for a full recovery. Bummer.
Oh well, what to do.

Gonna make some changes this semester. New semester, new resolutions. Stepping up, and aiming higher. Out with the old mindset and in with the new one. Just hope that I could maintain this throughout the remaining of my studies, insyaallah...

Mari kita bergumbira pergi sekolah, hooray!

GOD, give me strength!

Ameeeeeeeeen

Under The Bridge

2009-02-25T08:24:00.005+08:00

The rules:
1. Put your music on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. NO CHEATING!
5. Tag others

IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
Sweet love (Anita Baker)

WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Like a stone (Audioslave) ..... hehehehehe, right on the money!

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Dreaming of you (Selena) ..... nope, no more...

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
My happy ending (Avril Lavigne) ..... well, gotta believe that there's something at the end of the rainbow, right?

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Sometime's love ain't enough (Patty Smythe & Don Henley) ..... how true...

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
I'm a bitch! (Meredith Brooks) ..... whoa, really guys?? heheh...

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Only hope (Mandy Moore) ..... yup, that's all that I can do right now, sigh...

WHAT IS 2+2?
No air (Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Big girls don't cry (Fergie) ..... well, not all the time but once in a while apa salahnya kan...

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
From this moment (Shania Twain)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Untukmu '94 (KRU) ..... hmmm, memang pun...

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Fire (Babyface & Des'ree) ..... on fire?? a fireman?? selalu kena fire tu ada la...

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
I love rock n roll (Britney Spears) ..... woohoooo! rock on baby! ni baru betul going with a bang, huhu...

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Menghitung hari (Kris Dayanti) ..... mak aih, jiwangnya...

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
I'll be (Edwin McCain) ..... whatever that you want me to be... *smirks*

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Give it away (Red Hot Chili Peppers) ..... hah? menyimpan ada ler..

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Life (Des'ree) ..... how appropriate...

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Hilang (Diddy) ..... ada orang tu sembunyi dalam gua lagi ke? *wink wink*

WHAT’S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Dreams (The Cranberries) ..... when it gets crushed before it could ever happen...

WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Ode to my family (The Cranberries) ..... no comment ^_^

WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Crazy (Aerosmith) ..... craziness freaks me out actually...

WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
That don't impress me much (Shania Twain)

HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Destiny (Misha Omar) ..... my life is in GOD's hands...

WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Khayalan (VE ft. Ruffedge) ..... ROFL!!! surely it's a sign...

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Always (Atlantic Starr) ..... i think of them often too...

DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Buttons (Pussycat Dolls)

WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Promise me (Beverley Craven) ..... don't make promises that you can't keep, okay?

IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Back at one (Brian McKnight) ..... from when I was born...

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY, WHEN YOU MEET YOUR BOSS?
Big yellow taxi (Counting Crows ft. Vanessa Carlton) ..... take a ride!

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Under the bridge (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

I'm tagging sue, HO, ezra, ibah, ira and everyone else who are reading this. You're tagged!

Habis Sudah

2009-02-21T00:18:00.002+08:00

The exams are finally over, YAY!! After 1++ months of mental purging plus the drama that usually goes along with it, it's a miracle that I'm still alive and breathing albeit a little (little???) bit worn out from this torturous period. Finally, I could catch up with some sleep and could finally get to read (and re-read) the Darkhunter series that I've been longing to finish so that I can finally know what's the deal with Acheron, my luscious hunk! Creatures of the night, here I come...

From what I've been told, next semester is gonna be extra crazier; hectic schedules, faraway hospitals, tough subjects etc etc... I had better be well-rested to start scouring the books again next week. How I wish that the semester break could be longer than one week, sigh.....

So, noapte buna peeps, and hope to meet you in my dreams Ash...

p/s: It snowed again today! Weird weather this is, isy...

I Wanna Be A Rockstar!

2009-02-18T09:50:00.000+08:00

Haha, yeah right.....

Cartoons of the Yesteryears

2009-02-17T07:47:00.005+08:00

I grew up in the days when there were no internet, no Wii, no PS, not even ASTRO. Back then the only source of entertainment was the tubebox (TV ler)... Plus back then our favourite past time was to play outside in the playgrounds or just going round the neighbourhood with our BMX bicycles. And when we're back at our grandparents' place will be playing pondok-pondok, ting-ting (a Malaysian version of hopscotch I guess), galah panjang or climbing the fruit trees. Okay, the climbing part I didn't do obviously because of my fear of heights but some of my relatives did do it. I know you did...

Wait, what was my point again? Oh okay, cartoons. Yup, the only thing that was watchable on TV for us kids back then were them cartoons. There were those that were shown during the week and some on weekends early in the mornings. I would watch these cartoons diligently, and more often than not wished that I was living their lives. Heheh, well you know how it is with kids and their imagination... *wink*

Below are some of my favourite cartoon shows:

1) JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS

If anything, this cartoon introduced me to the concept of dual personalities. The central "secret" of the series is that Jem is in fact the alter ego of Jerrica Benton, owner/manager of Starlight Music, who adopts this Jem persona with the help of Synergy, a holographic computer designed to be the ultimate visual entertainment synthesizer built by her father, who left it to her on his death.

The other Holograms are Kimber Benton, Jerrica's younger sister, keyboardist and main songwriter for the band; Aja Leith,guitarist; and Shana Elmsford, who plays the drums. Then Carmen "Raya" Alonso was introduced in the series and remains as the Holograms' drummer while Shana takes up the guitar.

The Holograms' rival band are the Misfits: petulant rich girl Pizzazz (Phyllis Gabor) and her cohorts: no-nonsense Roxy (Roxanne Pelligrini) and kind-hearted, sensitive keytar player Stormer (Mary Phillips), who are later joined by the manipulative British saxophone player, Jetta (Sheila Burns).

Why I loved Jem and her friends is because they would have all these adventures, sometimes music related but most of the time it was not. However, it was fun to watch and I absolutely love the songs that was played in the cartoon. Even the show's music intro was catchy and got stuck with me till now.

Jem...she's TRULY OUTRAGEOUS!!

2) TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

Say what? 4 turtles with ninja powers saving the world from an evil nunjitsu master under the guidance and tutelage of a master who's a rat??

Ermmm...yeah, that's what this cartoon is about. Nonetheless, I got hooked thanks to my brother who insisted on all things Ninja Turtles at the time. But come on, the turtles are cute, in a quirky kind of way. Their antics and personalities are enjoyable to watch. And the idea the creators came up with to identify each of them was ingenious; colour-coded masks? How cool is that!

Here's a low down on the main characters:

Leonardo (Blue) — The courageous leader, decisive, and a devoted student of martial arts. He wears a blue mask and wields a pair of katanas. He is named after Leonardo da Vinci.

Raphael (Red) — The team's bad boy, Raphael has an aggressive nature and seldom hesitates to throw the first punch. He is an intense fighter. His personality can be alternately fierce and sarcastic. Still, he is intensely loyal to his brothers and sensei. Raphael wears a red mask and wields a pair of sai. He is named after Raphael Sanzio.

Michelangelo (Orange) — The easy-going and free-spirited Mikey provides much of the comic relief. While he loves to relax, this Turtle also has an adventurous and creative side. He wears an orange mask and wields a pair of nunchaku. He is named after Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Donatello(Purple) — The brilliant scientist, inventor, engineer, and technological genius. He is perhaps the least violent Turtle, preferring to use his intellect to solve conflicts. He wears a purple mask and wields the bostaff. He is named after the sculptor Donatello.

Master Splinter — The Turtles' sensei and adoptive father, Splinter is a mutant rat who learned the ways of ninjutsu from his own master.

Shredder — A villainous ninjutsu master called Oroku Saki. In every incarnation of the TMNT franchise, he has been the archenemy of Splinter and the Turtles. He is also the leader of the Foot Clan.

3) THE SMURFS

"La la lalalala, la lala lala..."

Hehehe, anyone who haven't heard of that rhyme/song before obviously didn't grow up in the 80s. These adorable, three-apples tall creatures that lived in the smurf village, have their own smurf language, wear their own smurfinezed (is that a word??) costumes would go about their daily lives without a care of the outside normal world. Life in the Smurf world is an uncomplicated one, and they lived in their own world. Such bliss...

What amuses me about them is the fact that all of them are male except for one female smurf! There's Papa Smurf, Hefty Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Jokey Smurf, Grouchy Smurf, Dreamy Smurf, Chef Smurf, Clumsy Smurf, Baker Smurf, Greedy Smurf, Doctor Smurf, Baby Smurf and so on. And then there's Smurfette, the only female in the bunch. Well, it sure did made me wonder where all the other females were when I was younger, but now I realized that maybe Smurfette was like a queen bee who kept all the other smurfs in line and on their toes. Very intriguing idea...

Oh, and do you know that the Smurfs are Belgian? Apparently they appeared in a Belgian comic strip before they went and gone English in the Hanna-Barbara cartoon show. Well, wherever they may be from, they sure are a cute bunch in blue!

4) THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF GIGI

Again, another one of those split personalities cartoons. I think what girls like about this show is that the idea of how little girls could grow up and be a gorgeous young woman in a split second and have all these adventures. It's a little (little??) bit misleading I guess, but the idea was enchanting, well to me at least at the time when how I wish I could be a grown up.

This was a Japanese cartoon which was dubbed in english (or malay? I really can't recall). Apparently the title was only "Gigi" in other parts of the world and they also have it in French! The original title was "Minky Momo: the Magician Princess", but I do think that "The Wonderful World of Gigi" sounds way better, doesn't it?

Here's the transformation part:

More info can be found here.

And, last but not the least....

5) THUNDERCATS

As it is, I love cats. And a cartoon about cat superheroes? I'm hooked! Well, it did help that Lion-O is, uh, nice to look at, as is Cheetara, but the other characters were good too. Storyline was okay, but the part where I can't wait to watch every time is when Lion-O wields the Sword of Omens and unleashes the power of the Eye of Thundera. Sigh, it still gets to me, don't ask me why...

I know I know, me finding Lion-O cute is a bit of a stretch, but man, he really was IT for me back then. But do you know that he is actually just a boy in a man's body? Yup, when the Thundercats had to leave their dying planet Thundera and flee from their enemies who managed to destroy all of their kind save for them, they decided to head to the "Third Planet" and were suspended in suspension capsules to save energy and prevents ageing because the journey was very very long. However, Lion-O's suspension capsule failed to inhibit his ageing process and thus he reached Earth as a boy trapped in a man's body. That surely explains some of his immature actions, it's not that he refuses to grow up, but he still hasn't! Well, at least he has a valid explanation for his immaturity, couldn't say much about the actions of some of them from the opposite sex though...

Here's the intro of the show, just loved it and never fails to get my blood pumping:

Tapi kan, ada jugak bebudak kat sekolah dulu suka dok tukar2 ayat lagu ni. Pernah tak dengar...

"Cheetara lari laju,
tak pakai baju..."

Sabar je lah diorang ni, nasib baik takde Sword of Omen tu dulu, kalau idak, isk isk isk...

"Thunder, Thunder, Thundercats...Ho!!!"

Disclaimer: All the information above were taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and all the illustrations and videos are taken from the web and are not mine (obviously). They are used for entertainment and illustrative purposes only. Thank you.

2 Things

2009-02-14T02:27:00.009+08:00

This is a tag posted by a fellow Srikandi in FB. Still got a few more tags that I've got to do in the notes box there but kinda lazy to do them now. This tag may look simple, but boy was I scratching my head trying to answer them coz I realized that I have more than 2 answers for each of the questions!!
Typical Gemini I am, LOL...

1. Top 2 things found in your wallet:
- Money
- Blood type card (in case of emergencies, I'm O+ ok!)

2. Top 2 songs you can listen to again and again:
- Plush (Stone Temple Pilots)
- No Air (Jordin Sparks ft. Chris Brown)

3. Top 2 reasons to watch television:
- House (love the sarcasm and medical jargon)
- Battlestar Galactica

4. Top 2 places I'd want to visit:
- Paris
- Scotland

5. Top 2 obsessions:
- Jane Austen
- the Darkhunters

6. Top 2 favorite nick name:
- Eve/Evie
- Sophie (only Mdm Popovici calls me this!)

7. Top 2 favorite food:
- Caramel pudding
- Tokne's cooking (Y.U.M.M.Y!!)

8. Top 2 favorite snacks:
- Caramel popcorn
- Sour cream & onion flavoured chips

9. Top 2 favorite websites:
- www.thestar.com.my
- www.facebook.com

10. Top 2 goals you want to accomplish:
- Completing my hajj
- Publishing a scientific paper on a medical discovery

11. Top 2 favorite colors:
- Blue
- Pink

12. Top 2 favorite parts of the house:
- Bedroom
- Kitchen

13. Top 2 things I can't wait to happen:
- Financial independence
- Meeting THE one (that is IF there is such a thing lah...)

14. Top 2 places where I love to shop:
- MidValley Megamall, KL
- Any hypermarkets

15. Top 2 movies I could watch over and over again:
- Centerstage
- Drumline (it reminds me of the good ole band days, sigh...)

Okay peeps, I'm tagging everyone who are reading this. So, considered you're tagged!

Drama Queens

2009-02-12T06:37:00.001+08:00

Please, keep them away from me before any bodily/verbal assault is leashed.

There are much more important things to think about besides making a HUGE fuss on those very very tiny itsy-bitsy little things. Unless if it's a life and death matter, or right and wrong, anything else is solvable granted that you have the patience to search for the solutions.

No one else can cure someone's childishness or their obsession with looks, weight and popularity but themselves. It may not make them a bad person, no, but when their behaviour is affecting the people around them in a negative way then that won't make them a good person either, doesn't it?

No drama please. I'm exhausted. Life is hard enough...*sigh*

Visa Scare

2009-02-10T15:47:00.010+08:00

Tuesday February 10th, 2009
Malaysians can visit and remain in Britain for up to six months
By PAUL GABRIEL
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has retained its visa-free status with Britain.

This means that Malaysians can visit and remain in Britain without a visa for up to six months.

The decision was announced in the House of Commons by British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith late yesterday (11.30pm Malaysian time).

British High Commissioner Boyd McCleary briefed Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim on his government’s decision yesterday.

“I am pleased with this result. It reflects the hard work that both we and the Malaysian Government have put into this issue over the last few months,” McCleary said.

A senior Wisma Putra official, when contacted, said Malaysia welcomed the decision and the challenge would be to further reduce the number of Malaysians who overstayed or worked illegally in Britain.

Malaysia was in a group of 11 non-European countries whose visa-exempt status was reviewed by Britain from mid-2008.

Nationals from these countries were said to pose a risk of illegal immigration, crime and security, and all 11 countries were given a six-month mitigation period to significantly reduce the risks.

Britain had given Malaysia until December to prevent illegal immigration and improve passport security, crime and anti-terrorism measures and cooperate in deporting Malaysians who overstayed.

Among the remedial measures taken by Malaysia was improved security at the KL International Airport to ensure that only genuine travellers flew into Britain, a move which was welcomed by the UK Border Agency, a shadow agency of the British Home Office.

Visa-free access for visitors for up to six months will also remain for Botswana, Brazil, Mauritius, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago.

The countries which failed Bri- tain’s visa-waiver test were Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland and Venezuela.

(taken from The Star online)

Alhamdulillah...thank God for that. We've been anticipating the results because if Britain makes the first move for visa enforcements on Malaysian nationals, other EU countries might follow suit too. Let's hope that this will remain permanently. So, do behave ok...

Taking a break

2009-02-09T04:46:00.002+08:00

I'm on my study break now. Had to have one as I feel that my brain is turning into mush, damn the weather is so optimum for a nap and my bed have been calling me endlessly all day long. Resist melle, resist....

We're having Occupational Medicine tomorrow in the Spitalul de Recuparare. Seems that it's gonna be the last class, so everyone should drag their butts all the way to Nicolina. Hopefully the bus won't be too packed tomorrow morning, else am gonna die of suffocation (kerana dikelilingi org2 yg tak mandi berminggu-minggu, perghhhhh)...

I am actually running out of ideas for blogging. Well actually, I have a bunch of them swirling in my head but have none of the time to finish them properly. It's not easy maintaining two blogs at a time, but I'm gonna do it anyways. What? Oh yeah, I have another blog here on Blogspot. But it is to be remained incognito, at least for now. Funny though, I seem to have the tendency to write there instead of in here. Some entries are overlapped, but some are totally different. I guess one can say that there is another side of me, another layer, that only a few know. Will I ever make it public? Maybe yes, maybe never...

Ok lah. Break is over. Gotta hit the books again. Oh no, my tummy is making weird noises in there. Must be the glass of chocolate milk for supper that I had just now. Sigh, for someone who's lactose intolerant I don't learn my lesson well, don't I. But I love dairy!! How lah... :((

Birthday Girl & Boy

2009-02-08T06:30:00.004+08:00

Happy 4th Birthday BATRISYIA !!

&

Happy 1st Birthday RAYYAN !!

Auntie wishes both of you all the joy, luck and love in the world, and don't be notty ok.

Love you guys and hope to see you soon!

Politics Schmolitics

2009-02-07T20:19:00.002+08:00

What in the world is happening back home?

Is everyone going nuts?!!

This is why I don't do politics.

Come on people, you can do better than this.

Peace y'all...

TV Personality Quizzes

2009-02-05T07:09:00.005+08:00

Have Pneumology viva tomorrow, and yet I'm blogging here. What is wrong with me???

Me thinks me is mentally fatigued from Gastroenterology exam yesterday. Too much drama and the longest exam I've ever had to sit for. Lucky me that it was all good though, even with all the chaos and the typical bruhaha courtesy from several brainless twits. Left the house at 8am and came back at 8pm. Hadn't had anything except for a cup of hot chocolate in the afternoon, but couldn't even find the strength to have a proper dinner, just ate some toasts and hot chocolate and practically passed out till morning. Oh gosh, I am just too old for this lah, isk isk...

Neways, while blog-hopping I came across these quizzes. Curiosity got the better of me so I've decided to try it just for laughs.

And so, from my favourite TV shows, I am....

Which House Character Are You?

More on House. Created by BuddyTV

I'm Wilson am I? Well, well, would never have thought that I am anything like him, but then again this is just a quiz, ain't it?

Which Grey's Anatomy Character Are You?

More on Grey's Anatomy. Created by BuddyTV

OMG, Cristina Yang? SERIOUSLY??? I mean, I love her character and her determination is inspiring, but I actually gasped when I got the results for this because it is totally surprising! Me a Cristina Yang, who would've thot? Not me apparently...

Which Battlestar Galactica Character Are You?

More on Battlestar Galactica. Created by BuddyTV

The Chief eh? Well now....... --- Frack it, I'm a Cylon lah! SCHNITS!!!

And last but not least....

Which Harry Potter Character Are You?

Created by BuddyTV

HARRY POTTER??? Uiihhhh...this is too much!!

n/b: Was too surprised and dumbfounded to take other quizzes. Maybe will attempt the others, when I am in the right mind that is. Have to go back scouring the books again, sigh...
Oh and another thing, I SWEAR that I only took those quizzes once only tau! I'm not that obsessed to get the right answer/personality by doing it over and over again ok (like someone I know does)!

I'm Sick & Tired...

2009-02-03T18:37:00.003+08:00

... of EXAMS!!!!!

Of Domestic Traveling

2009-01-28T02:39:00.001+08:00

I love to travel. Going to all those places, seeing the sights and savoring the local customs and cultures are things that I love to do and wish I could do more of. But alas living on a student's budget does not permit me to do so however tempted I am. Sigh....

While chatting with a friend of mine the other day about places we've been, I realized that I've been to all the states in Malaysia. Most of you may think that what's the big deal about it, but I don't know why it is kind of a big deal to some people, honestly. Well, I am fortunate to have had the chance to have been to all these places for business and pleasure. I used to travel alone, or with my besties, or with my family. Traveling alone is kinda fun, your time is your own minus the headache of traveling with an incompatible partner. Just as long as you take the necessary precautions and be street smart you'll be fine. But nothing beats traveling with like minded companions. You'll have a hoot and helluva time, I assure you.

Let me see if I can do a recap here...

WP KL: Born and bred here. Went to school and graduated from uni here. Worked here. Lived here.

Selangor & WP Putrajaya: Jiran je kan...

N9: Current residence. Used to go to S'ban frequently to visit my siblings at school.

Melaka: During our high school trips, business and family outings and weddings.

Johor: Both parents are Johorians. Father from Muar and mom from JB. Cuti sekolah sure balik kampung nyer. Spent 5 years of high school in THE boarding school down south, STF. Got my driving's license here. We still go back during raya to visit our relatives.

Pahang: Mostly due to work; mine and also moms. Actually drove up to Jengka alone. Family vacations in Cherating, that was loads of fun. Oh ya, almost drowned here too...

Terengganu: Came here with the family. Got to see the turtles and other stuff. Makan losong sampai tak ingat donia. My bff is a native. One day I'll be coming here to go to the islands pulak.

Kelantan: Was here when I was in high school, for work and family weddings. Did my summer practice in the teaching hospital here last year. Great-grandma was a Kelantanese, maybe we still have relatives here, you never know.

Perak: Only been to Ipoh & Taiping couple of times for business. Tempat lain pegi singgah kejap2 je and also for weddings. Went to Kuala Kangsar visiting a friend during college days. Never been to Pangkor Island, would love to go there some day.

Penang: Mai sini for business, pleasure and family vacations. Stepdad is a local. Went on a backpacking trip with friends during college days, that was fun...

Kedah: First came here when I was in high school with the family. Crossed the border to do some shopping. Been to Langkawi couple of times, recently was last year in august with the family. Traveled alone to watch the school band comp. held in Alor Setar.

Perlis: Followed my uncle and auntie balik kampung with Tokne and Toktan. Went crazy bargaining and shopping near the border there and Padang Besar. Went exploring Gua Kelam too.

Sarawak: Went to Miri for business. Lived in Kuching for 1 year, sat for my UPSR exam here. A lot of fond memories here and would love to be back here again someday.

Sabah: Mostly pleasure purposes only. Been to KK couple of times; with my aunt where we went gallivanting around town and temankan my Tokne yg temankan my auntie yg nak bersalin kat sini.

WP Labuan: First came here to accompany my aunt who were recently transferred here, ended up staying here for 1 month plus. Since then have made repeated visits, and even went to KK and Brunei by boat from here. Love the peaceful ambience and driving is hassle free. Wouldn't mind coming back here again anytime soon.

Well, that's about it I guess. Apart from local destinations, other places that I've been to are Indonesia, Brunei, Beijing, Istanbul, Greece, Vienna, Budapest, Mekah & Madinah for my umrah, and of course, Romania. And as for the others? Well, I hope that one day I'll be able to travel to all those places that I've only read and heard about. Insyaallah...

p/s: This post is me walking down memory lane. Not intended for any other purposes, alright? Peace...

I am who I am...

2009-01-23T19:46:00.003+08:00

....or is it really now? Found this posted by a friend in his FB profile and thought that it was interesting. Don't know where he had taken it from though, but I wanna give it a shot nonetheless. Well, here it goes:

# : Has beautiful eyes
# : Not judgemental
# : Has a smile to die for =)
# : Very open-minded
# : Has one of the best personalities ever
# : Popular with all types of people
# : Likes someone
# : Best boyfriend or girlfriend
# : Has a smile to die for =)

Hmmm.... I dunno, but am I what I am? Not really maybe... ;)

Go ahead and try it. Follow the guide below:

A : has a smile to die for =)
B : is a nerd at times
C : can kick ur butt
D : great friend
E : has beautiful eyes
F : wild and crazy
G : HOTT
H : likes someone
I : best boyfriend or girlfriend
J : is really sweet
K : gorgeous
L : very good kisser
M : can be funny and dumb at times
N : easy to fall in love with
O : has one of the best personalities ever
P : popular with all types of people
Q : nice butt
R : gives good hugs
S : very open-minded
T : makes people laugh
U : is loved by everyone
V : not judgmental
W : very romantic
X : never let people tell you what to do
Y : very hot
Z : makes dating fun

Welcoming the New Year with a Bang

2009-01-01T06:00:00.002+08:00

Time flies so fast that 2009 is already here and there's only 1 more year to go for me to be done here! 2008 was a year of learning experiences and of growing up, and personally I am bidding it farewell with a large contented sigh. Hopefully this year will be better, and we'll finally get to fulfill our New Year resolutions (at least some if not all of them, hehe...)

So, LA REVEDERE 2008, and BINE ATI VENIT 2009!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009!!

Birthday Boy

2008-12-30T12:22:00.003+08:00

Happy 5th Birthday EIMAN !!

Here's a BIG HUG from auntie and a wish for all the joy and love in the world...

Love you and see you soon!

Maal Hijrah

2008-12-29T10:16:00.005+08:00

Hari ini umat Islam menyambut kedatangan tahun baru, 1 Muharram 1430H.
Tahun baru, buku baru.
Azam baru?? Insyaallah.....

Teringat semasa di sekolah menengah dulu, kami diwajibkan untuk menyanyikan lagu Maal Hijrah setiap pagi semasa perhimpunan/senaman pagi sepanjang bulan Muharram.
Hasilnya, senikata lagu tesebut masih segar di ingatanku...

Satu Muharram detik permulaan
Perkiraan tahun Islam Hijrah
Perpindahan Nabi dan umat Islam
Dari Kota Mekah ke kota Madinah

Atas keyakinan dan iman yang teguh
Kaum Muhajirin dan Ansar bersatu
Rela berkorban harta dan nyawa
Demi menegakkan Islam tercinta

Hijrah itu pengorbanan
Hijrah itu perjuangan
Hijrah itu persaudaraan
Hijrah membentuk perpaduan

Oleh itu mari semua
Kita sambut Maal Hijrah
Tingkatkan semangat tegakkan syiar Islam
Untuk sepanjang zaman
Untuk sepanjang zaman!

Semoga tahun ini umat Islam akan lebih bersatu-padu, menolong antara satu sama lain dan bangkit membanteras ketidak adilan dan kekejaman di dunia ini....

White Christmas

2008-12-25T06:00:00.004+08:00

Lo and behold, it snowed on Christmas eve! As I can recall, this the first in the 5 years that i've been here that it actually snowed on time. Before this it's either earlier or later, most of the time much later though. I'm glad that it's a white christmas this year, but frak it, the roads are gonna be pretty mucky in the days to come. Guess I should be putting on those winter boots from now on huh...

I'm dreaming of a white christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
Where the treetops glisten and children listen
to hear the sleigh bells in the snow

I'm dreaming of a white christmas,
just like the ones I used to know
May your dreams be merry and bright
and may your christmases be white

I'm dreaming of white christmas
with every christmas card I write
May your dreams be merry and bright,
and may all your christmases be white

May your days be merry and bright,
and may all your christmases be white

And if I were to have a christmas wishlist, this one here is definitely in it...

Have A Very Merry White Christmas!!!

The Bright Lights of Earth

2008-12-24T03:58:00.000+08:00

"This is a view of the earth from space that shows the global city lights as seen by the Defense Meteorological Satellite."

(Click on the picture for a better close-up)

"As you can see, the Eastern U.S., Europe, and Japan are brightly lit by their cities, while the interiors of Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America remain (for now) dark and lightly populated."

What's intriguing is that when you look properly at Malaysia, you can see that the lights in and around Kuala Lumpur and several spots along the Straits of Melaka are very much visible, as well as a brightly lit path that runs from the south of Peninsular Malaysia until it reaches the northern part of the peninsular. Wonder if these are the lights along the North-South highway?? Hmmm...maybe we could name it The Bright Lights of Malaysia that could actually be seen from space....

Can't believe your eyes? Then go check it out here.

Pesanan daripada penaja: Jimatkan penggunaan elektrik dan air. Elakkan pembaziran. Marilah kita kurangkan kesan Rumah Hijau. Sayangi Bumi kita.... Sekian, terima kasih.

Holiday..... YAY!

2008-12-18T03:14:00.000+08:00

Yes! We have started our Christmas break already and it's till 4th of January. What am I to do with all those free time? Well, I should be studying since we'll be having a rather busy exam session this semester with Nephrology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, ENT and Occupational Medicine papers this time around. Fuhhhhh....

Buuuuuttttt, it's the holidays!! Maybe a few days for recreational purposes won't be that bad, you know? So therein lies the dilemma; where to go this time? Anywhere outside of the country is certainly out of the question right now because we are not really financially able, but maybe somewhere around here would do too. Or maybe another skiing trip like we had last year would be great, although we should go somewhere else this time since I was informed that already the place is famous amongst the students and a couple of them might be flocking to that place. Hmmmm....

So, mana mau pigi lohhh? Bored as hell at home, and not in the mood yet to scour the books. Normally a bit of fresh air outside walking around would cure the boredom, but with the current weather I will be risking freezing my ass, extremities and face (not in that order though *wink*) if I wanna go venturing outside. Oh well, I guess for the time being I'll have to make do with completing watching seasons 3 and 4 of Battlestar Galactica. More Cylons running amok, frak me....

Happy Holidays!!

Eid Mubarak!

2008-12-09T15:00:00.003+08:00

What we did this Raya Haji:

- Went to the mosque for prayers. Dapat lah makan harissa sket, yummmm...

- Walked back home from the mosque with my baju kurung. Sejuk seh...

- Buat masak-masak sket. Last minute planning with Ms JZ...

- Main dishes: Nasi himpit, lontong, kuah kacang.
- Dessert: Kek pisang, Biskut kacang.

- Mak called tanya takde daging korban ke this year? Told her lembu mahal nak sembelih, and kambing tak dapat nak cari (kambing semuanya hibernate time winter ni kot, heheh)...

- Kemas dapur, mandi, tengok movie dan tidur.....

So, basically that was how our (almost) vegetarian raya haji went. Tak berapa rasa sangat raya kali ni, maybe sebab dah puas beraya kat Malaysia hari tu kot, siap balik Johor lagi tu. Nasib baik lah dapat jugak cuti from classes, kalau tak memang beraya kat kelas lah nampaknya...

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILADHA

Visiting The Land Of ZZZZZZZ.....

2008-12-06T04:58:00.000+08:00

What are dreams? Are they just plain nonsensical scenarios played out when you were in your REM sleep, or is it your unconscious mind that's giving you signals unconsciously? And so, what are nightmares, then? Scary dreams?

The reason I asked is because I had another restless night courtesy of a very vivid dream. Funnily enough, as vivid as it were, when I woke up I could only remember bits and pieces of it. What I could remember was that almost all of my family members were in it. Almost ALL of them, close and extended, from both sides of my parents. Imagine how crowded it was, hehe...

Well, let me see if I can recall the dream... Something about the world being in a state of frenzy, like there was an outbreak of a virulent virus spread by a group of power-hungry aliens leading to a global war of some sort, where all of us (the family) were congregating at my late grandparents' place in the middle of the kebun getah (rubber plantation), and surprise surprise, the fate of the world rests in my hands in finding the cure for the viral outbreak because, *smirks*, I AM a brilliant virologist!!

Oh man, I think the dream was a sure sign that I have watched too much of the Stargate series! Finally finished watching 10 seasons of the Stargate SG1 and also just recently the Stargate Atlantis (SGA) sci-fi series in 1 month. No wonder I'm having dreams related to aliens/paranormal situations. Sheesh....

And if you're wondering, YES, I am a sci-fi freak. Restricted to TV series and movies only though. Will go into that in detail next time because I think it deserves its own post space and title, and plus, at least I'll have a reason to update this blog.

So good night, sweet dreams, and hope I could finally get a peaceful and dreamless REM sleep tonight...

"STRONGER"

2008-11-02T04:00:00.000+08:00

I'll make it through the rainy days

I'll be the one who stands here longer than the rest

When my landscape changes, rearranges

I'll be stronger than i've ever been

No more stillness, more sunlight,

Everything's gonna be alright

I know that there's gonna be a change

Better find your way out of your fear

If you wanna come with me

Then that's the way it's gotta be

I'm all alone and finally

I'm getting stronger

You'll come to see

Just what I can be

I'm getting stronger

Sometimes I feel so down and out

Like emotion that's been captured in a maze

I had my ups and downs

Trials and tribulations,

I overcome it day by day,

Feeling good and almost powerful

A new me, that's what i'm looking for

I didn't know what I had to do

I just knew I was alone

People around me

But they didn't care

So I searched into my soul

I'm not the type of girl that will let them see her cry

It's not my style

I get by

See i'm gonna do this for me...

-Sugababes-

Kung Fu Panda

2008-06-26T03:22:00.000+08:00

If any of you hadn't had the chance to watch this movie, my advice is: Go watch it pronto!! Recently managed to squeeze in some entertainment time from study break, and so opted for this much talked about movie for the much needed stress relief and see what's all the hype about it. And let me tell you, I was practically in stitches throughout the whole thing. Good comic relief indeed...

I won't do a review of the movie here as you can browse the web for a more comprehensive review and I also don't want to give out too many spoilers for those who haven't watch the movie yet, but I just want to share about the things that made me go "Awwwwww.........." while I was watching it.

One: It features animals, talking animals mind you, and Po is oh-so-darn-cute and cuddly! I can imagine if I were to have a man like that there's nothing more that I would love to do than use his love-handles as my pillow, heheh. There's more of him to love, you know... ^_^

Two: The storyline of how an underdog and a normal individual would at the end of the day be someone and accomplish something that no one would have ever thought he would ever succeed in doing it just warms the heart. It shows that through sheer will and perseverance, and also through the trust and compassion from the others around you, nothing is impossible and unaccomplishable. You are what you want to be, trust in yourself and that's the best gift of all...

Three: The witty dialogue and repartee, and the individual quirks of each character in this movie, especially the laid-back and eager Po, his stern-yet-quirky Sifu, and the very wise but very-vague-talking-in-riddles Master makes it an enjoyable watch. The fact that the Sifu actually uses Po's weakness for food against him to train Po was ingenious! And you know what, I actually was craving some kaya/red bean/curry chicken pau while watching them in training! Hahaha...

Four: Check out the original voices for the characters. Great casts and they did a swell job.

So, those are the things that I love about Kung Fu Panda. Do you share my opinion, or do you think it's highly overrated and it is just watchable? Oh well, to each his own I guess. One can't force one's opinion onto another, but do watch it if you're seeking for a light-weight comic relief. Highly recommended, though I won't guarantee that you won't be craving for a pau or a bowl of slurpy noodles once you're done watching...

Po: Sifu, sifu, don't die!

Sifu: Stop it! I'm not dead you idiot.....errrrr Dragon Warrior!

hehehehehe...

Purpose Driven Marriage

2008-06-12T03:04:00.000+08:00

This was forwarded by a friend through an email:

She has it all planned...

THE 84 YEAR-OLD BRIDE

The local news station was interviewing an 84 year-old lady because she had just gotten married -- for the fourth time.

The interviewer asked her questions about her life, about what it felt like to be married again at 84, and then about her new husband's occupation.

"He's a funeral director," she answered.

"Interesting," the newsman thought.

He then asked her if she wouldn't mind telling him a little about her first three husbands and what they did for a living.

She paused for a few moments, needing time to reflect on all those years.

After a short time, a smile came to her face and she answered proudly, explaining that she first married a banker when she was in her early 20's, then a circus ringmaster when in her 40's, later on a preacher when in her 60's, and now, in her 80's, a funeral director.

The interviewer looked at her, quite astonished, and asked why she had married four men with such diverse careers.

"Easy son," she smiled.

"I married one for the money...two for the show...three to get ready...and four to go!"

If only it's as simple as that, heheh... ^_^

The New 7 Wonders of the World

2008-06-09T03:10:00.001+08:00

Have always wondered which are the new ones. Someone sent this last year, but typical me just opened, read, and closed it with very minimal attention. So, as I was cleaning my inbox I found this again and might as well post it here for my personal future reference. ^_^

The New 7 Wonders of the World announced during the Official Declaration ceremony in Lisbon , Portugal on Saturday, July 7, 2007 - 07.07.07.

1. THE TAJ MAHAL, INDIA

2. THE ROMAN COLLOSEUM, ITALY

3. PETRA, JORDAN

4. MACHU PICHU, PERU

5. THE GREAT WALL, CHINA

6. CHRIST REDEEMER, BRAZIL

7. CHICHEN ITZA, MEXICO

I've only been to one of the wonders of the world. And my dream is to visit all these places before I kick the bucket (after completing my Haj, of course)...

So, anyone kind enough to sponsor a trip? ;P

Divorce Letters...from both parties

2008-06-07T03:14:00.001+08:00

This was a good one ^_^

Dear Wife:

I'm writing you this letter to tell you that I'm leaving you for good.
I've been a good man to you for seven years and I have nothing to show for it.
These last two weeks have been hell. Your boss called to tell me that you had quit your job today and that was the last straw.
Last week, you came home and didn't even notice that I had gotten a new hair cut, cooked your favorite meal, and even wore a brand new pair of silk boxers later that night.
You came home, nibbled at your food for two minutes, and went straight to sleep after watching all of your soaps.
You don't tell me you love me anymore, you don't want sex anymore or anything.
Either you're cheating on me or you don't love me.
Whichever is the case.....I'm gone.

Signed,
Your EX-Husband

P.S. Don't try to find me. Your sister and I are moving away to West Virginia together. Have a great life!

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Ex-Husband:

Nothing has made my day more enjoyable than receiving your letter.
It's true that you and I have been married for seven years, although a 'good man' is a far cry from what you've been.
I watch my soaps so much because they drown out your constant whining and griping. It's just too bad it doesn't work.
Yes, I did notice when you got a hair cut last week,,,and actually the first thing that came to my mind was "You look just like a girl"... but my mother raised me not to say anything at all if you can't say anything nice.
And when you cooked my favorite meal, you must have gotten me confused with my SISTER, because I stopped eating pork seven years ago.
I turned away from you when you had those new silk boxers on because the price tag was still on them. I prayed that it was just a coincidence that my sister had just borrowed fifty dollars from
me that morning and your silk boxers were $49.99...
After all of this, I still loved you and felt that we could work it out.
So when I discovered that I had hit the lotto for twenty million dollars, I quit my job and bought us two tickets to Hawaii. But when I got home you were gone.
Everything happens for a reason I guess. I hope you have the fulfilling life you've always wanted.
My lawyer said with the letter that you wrote, you won't get a dime from me. So take care.

Signed:
Rich As Hell and Freeeeeeeeeeee!

P.S. I don't know if I ever told you this but my sister 'Carla'.....was born Carl. I hope that's not a problem for you.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.....PADAN MUKA!!!

Sinful Berries

2008-05-16T11:39:00.004+08:00

Here it is, the most highly anticipated season of the year....

Yessss!! The STRAWBERRY season is here at last!!

I just loooooove strawberries, I think they are the most heavenly fruit ever existed. But mind you I'm talking only about the sweet succulent juicy ones that practically melts in your mouth as you take the first bite...yummmmmmm.....

Ways to enjoy this yummilicious fruit:

Uh oh, that's it! I am so running to the market to grab meself some fresh ones for dessert tonight...

p/s: Just out of curiosity, is it normal for a person to consume 1kg of strawberries in one sitting without developing any gastro-intestinal symptoms after that? If it's not, then thank goodness I'm abnormal!! *winks*

The Language of Women

2008-04-18T03:26:00.000+08:00

DICTIONARY FOR WOMEN'S PERSONAL ADS:

40-ish ....................................................49
Adventurous ........................................Slept with all your friends
Athletic .................................................No boobs
Average looking ...................................Ugly
Beautiful ...............................................Pathological liar
Contagious Smile .................................Does a lot of pills
Emotionally secure .............................On medication
Feminist ...............................................Fat
Free spirit ............................................Junkie
Friendship first ...................................Former slut
Fun .......................................................Annoying
Gentle ..................................................Dull
New Age ..............................................Body hair in the wrong places
Open-minded .....................................Desperate
Outgoing ..............................................Loud and Embarrassing
Passionate ...........................................Sloppy drunk
Poet ......................................................Depressive
Professional .........................................Bitch
Romantic .............................................Frigid
Voluptuous ..........................................Very Fat
Large frame ........................................Hugely Fat
Wants Soul mate ................................Stalker
Widow ..................................................Murderer

WOMEN'S ENGLISH:

1. Yes = No
2. No = Yes
3. Maybe = No
4. We need = I want
5. I am sorry = You'll be sorry
6. We need to talk = You're in trouble
7. Sure, go ahead = You better not
8. Do what you want = You will pay for this later
9. I am not upset = Of course I am upset, you moron!
10. You're very attentive tonight = Is sex all you ever think about?

MEN'S ENGLISH:

1. I am hungry = I am hungry
2. I am sleepy = I am sleepy
3. I am tired = I am tired
4. Nice dress = Nice cleavage!
5. I love you = Let's have sex now
6. I am bored = Do you want to have sex?
7. May I have this dance? = I'd like to have sex with you
8. Can I call you sometime? = I'd like to have sex with you
9. Do you want to go to a movie? = I'd like to have sex with you
10. Can I take you out to dinner? = I'd like to have sex with you
11. Those shoes don't go with that outfit = I'm gay

And finally.....

A recent scientific study found that women find different male faces attractive depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle. For example, when a woman is ovulating she will prefer a man with rugged, masculine features. However when she is menstruating, she prefers a man doused in petrol and set on fire, with scissors stuck in his eye and a cricket stump shoved up his backside...

hahahahaha.....no wonder they say women are complex beings!! ROFL

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

2008-04-13T02:54:00.001+08:00

To Be or Not To Be…..What was the question again?

As these fingers are typing away, there are a few words that literally flashed across this aging and forgetful mind of mine: Disbelief, Affronted, Amusement, and especially, Disappointment. Let’s just say, in all honesty, never in my life have I ever met with this kind of incredulity. I thought that nothing else in life would ever shock or surprise me anymore; not after a beloved father’s untimely death, not after going through all those obstacles and failures in life, and not even after a near death experience…twice! But boy-oh-boy, was I proved wrong. The absurdity of it all astounds me. Life sure has a few more tricks up its sleeves, and one of them was revealed just recently in, I might say, the most unbelievable circumstances ever. To disregard this matter completely is perhaps best for my sanity, but then again perhaps it is also best for me to just say what had been long-time coming…

So, without further ado, here it goes:

Firstly, I AM SORRY. For the things that I have done or said to people that have been hurt or presumed affronted by my actions (or non-actions). Believe me when I say that it was never intended, and I am after all only human. Maybe I should have done more, and maybe I should have done less. But past is past, and I can’t undo anything that has been done or said. To those who felt unappreciated; I’m sorry. To those who felt that my words and actions were sarcastic or rude; I’m sorry. Perfection is what we wish for, but to my own detriment I am far from it. But despite my flaws, I am who I am, take it or leave it. If some of you feel that my decision last night was based on a whim and due to what happened prior, you are all mistaken. This has in fact been considered, thought carefully and weighed upon, and that I feel for my own sake and sanity it’s better for me to bid adieu. I have no grudges against anyone, for to hold any kind of grudge is just a waste of my time and energy. Life is short, as short as it is that I might even exhale my last breath in my sleep tonight. So for now, all I can do is to hope that I might appeal to that hidden place in each and every one of you where forgiveness is not just a word but is achievable and is practiced. Alas, to each his own. But at least I have taken this first step and the rest is up to you.

Secondly, THANK YOU. For all your cooperation, hard work, participation and time that had been invested and spent during the stint in my post. I really appreciate everything that had been done in the name of the association. Thank you, and may your life be blessed with peace, joy and happiness…

OK. Since I’ve got THAT out of the way, now here are some things that might offend some of the more “soft-hearted” individuals who are reading this. So, kalau tak nak rasa pedasnya, tolong jangan baca apa yang ditulis kat bawah ni ya. En anglais: For those of you who can’t stand criticism or have a very sensitive nature, in order not to hurt your very sensitive souls, please STOP READING THIS POST HERE and DO NOT PROCEED ANY FURTHER. But for those of you who think that you are well equipped with your own sets of “bebola ikan”, PROCEED AT YOUR RISK. I hold no responsibilities for myocardial ischemic attacks or elevated blood pressure and tachycardia that might be hazardous to your health. Remember: YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

I realized now that maybe the time hasn’t come yet for a democratic style of leadership, and maybe a dictatorship style is more to your taste. I wanted to give power to the people, where freedom of speech is welcomed, and where each and every one of you are treated like decent, sane, bright, promising and responsible ADULTS. As sane adults, I expected a level of maturity and intelligence from you. As sane adults, if there is anything that is a cause of distress or dissatisfaction amongst you it could be discussed and be resolved until a probable and the best solution to the problem has been found. And as future physicians where you’ll have to deal with more important things like life and death, I expected more from you. But if ganging up, bickering, behind-the-back-talking is more of your style, oh well. I can’t do anything to change that, can I? No matter what we do there will still be some people who are so decidedly against us and will still have things to say that our good intentions would just fall into deaf ears and blank minds. And here I was reminded of what my grandma said; “Mulut tempayan kita boleh tutup tapi mulut orang kita tak boleh nak kawal…..” Ermmmmm……tokne, kalau kita pakai cellotape boleh tak? :))

Power is one potent and heady stuff, and second to money it is the most coveted in life. At least for some people it is. But I guess when too much power is given it has the ability to turn friends into foes, and buddies into enemies. Add a sum of money to that equation and what you get is a power struggle. To use the power that you have been given for something good is what it should be, but to wield it unwisely is dangerous. Sadly though, that is what we see a lot happening around us, so I guess it is easier to be the devil than the saint. But no matter what, I will still try to see the good in people even when there’s no hope, because to give up the idea of kindness and goodness would mean to give up hope on humanity. Come on people, we can do better than this, don’t you think?

So now people, the power has been given to you. Do what you want with it, it’s yours to use and wield. Choose wisely. You are the future, and if this is all that you have to show for, I pray and hope that the future won’t be as bleak as I see it could be if you go down this path of yours...

So, to all of you wounded and yet-to-grow-up souls, Good Luck, God Bless, and May one day you will realize that growing up and being an adult is not so bad after all…

Oh, and for those sensitive souls whom have been stubbornly disregarding my warnings and are still reading this and felt the “spicyness” of my words and thoughts, and also for those whom are wondering why I am putting up this post, this is what I have got to say:

This is my blog and my space so it’s my wish to write whatever that I want to. Deal with it.

August Rush

2008-04-02T03:29:00.000+08:00

omg omg omg omg....

There are no proper words I could use to describe this movie, except that personally I think it is just AWE-INSPIRING, EXCEPTIONAL, MOVING, and truly truly truly EXCELLENT...

There are a lot of elements in this movie that truly touched me; the idea of music is everywhere and around us if only one would just listen, of love at first sight and still holding to that feeling even after years had gone by, and of the fact that there's no greater feeling then being able to feel belonged to someone, in this case even more so for this boy whom have been feeling lost and alone all of his life while waiting and believing that one day he will be reunited with his parents if they can only hear his music.

Go watch it and judge for yourself. Maybe to some people there are parts in this movie that feels too mystical for their taste, but watch it with an open mind and open heart, and you'll be surprised yourself of the emotions that would wash over you in the end...

Here is the part that I loved the most in this movie. Had tears in my eyes all through this part, it was just so wonderful and moving. Oh, just go and watch it, will ya!

My Daemon

2008-02-06T03:51:00.000+08:00

Have recently watched The Golden Compass at the cinema with the girls. I've been waiting to watch this film since it came out but never had the chance. Suffice to say, I can't wait for the sequel! One thing that made me kinda love this story is that the idea of each and everyone of the human beings in the alternate world have their own Daemon, the soul that resides outside of their body in the form of an animal representing the characteristics of their own soul, most often an opposite gender from the humans. For example, if I were to be born in that world, my Daemon would be a male. Interesting huh?

Anyways, just for the fun of it, I decided to find out which animal my Daemon could be.

Surprise, surprise....it's a cat. Hmmm, would love it to be a white tiger though.....

Strength Of A Woman

2008-02-03T03:49:00.001+08:00

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape, but ...

A woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything, but ...

A woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear.

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her, but ...

A woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future, but ...

A woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be God's blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks surefootedly, but ...

A woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but ...

A woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but ...

A woman of strength has faith that in the journey she will become strong.

-anonymous-

So, which one should we be? A strong woman or a woman of strength? Or a little bit of both? Sometimes its easier to be none of the above, and sometimes one doesn't have a choice but to be strong and have the strength to go on living. At times it's exhilarating when others tell you that you're strong, but at times you just wish that you aren't. The highway of life is not a straight one, it is full of twists and turns and bumps. So really, you don't have any choice but to get up and get going even after you've had that nasty fall. And so, does that makes you a strong person, or a person with strengths, or someone who has no choice but to deal with life's lessons no matter how hard it is? Hmmm, I wonder.....

The day when an acrophobic went skiing...

2008-01-03T03:47:00.002+08:00

ACROPHOBIA

Definition: Acrophobia (from Greek ἄκρος, meaning summit) is an extreme or irrational fear of heights. It belongs to a category of specific phobias, called space and motion discomfort that share both similar etiology and options for treatment. Acrophobia can be dangerous, as sufferers can experience a panic attack in a high place and become too agitated to get themselves down safely.

(from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Now, if I were to say that I’m an acrophobic, it really made sense that any activities involving heights is something that I would never consider doing, ever. So that is why you have to understand why I would say that I am really proud of myself in being able to do something that I would have never done, even if I was under the influence of ethanolic substances. Well, maybe I would do it if it’s an absolute emergency, but voluntarily putting myself in danger? I think not!

And people, NO, I’m not talking about something illegal here, ok. Come on lah, I’m talking about skiing...

THE VATRA DORNEI TRIP

Skiing? Me? If you had asked me before this, those two words would never have the chance to be in the same sentence of possibilities, i.e. Me skiing is an almost impossible and ridiculous notion. Never in my life would I have imagined my first time on the slopes would be here in Romania. But as far as first times go, I think this would be the most memorable one...

Started out waking up early to prepare but managed to be at the gara just in the nick of time (thank you asem for your early morning sprint! :-D), the lovely train ride with its magnificent snowy mountain views, and the hike up to the villa that we are supposed to be staying for the 2 nights. The air is fresher there, and the ambience was quite lovely. I would say that it’s a charming quaint little town, though it has its share of modernization (there’s a Fidelio outlet there lah people). As lovely as the sightseeing was, I think skiing was on most of their minds. But due to the fact that it was freezing cold out that day, it was decided that we would go skiing the next day.

After a hearty lunch, we headed straight to the ski park. Boy oh boy, I really can’t tell you how big the butterflies were in my stomach when I first saw the slopes. All the way I’ve been saying that “There’s no way I’m gonna be doing this people, no way…”, but when they were all strapping their boots and ski gears, I just thought, “What the heck!” and finally succumbed to put on those chunky robotic looking boots when a pair of those boots in my size were handed to me. Thump, thump, thump…..

“What in the world have I gotten myself into?!” was the first thought when, fully equipped, we all went out from the cabin with our skiing gears. And guess what; then and there one of us had the first fall, poor thing. I was so engrossed in keeping myself balanced and trying not to fall, looking very awkward and foolish, that some sweet guys took pity on me and showed me some tricks to maneuver those things. Thanks guys, but knowing is one thing, trying to make your body doing what you have learned is another thing.

But you know what the funny thing was, I really didn’t give two hoots about how ridiculous I looked or if others were laughing at me. In my mind there were only these things – get up safely without slipping, putting on my skis correctly, skiing down on my two feet and arrive safely at the foot of the slopes without any broken body parts. Well, no guesses as I managed to do it all except for the skiing down on my two feet part. Yup, I fell on my butt and/or my back countless times. Oh, but I did managed to ski down without falling once, at last, but that was after maybe the umpteenth times tumbling down. And then there was this one time that I actually continued to slide downwards on my back after I fall. Ouch! Yeah, embarrassing, I know, but not as embarrassing as being helped by a group of teenagers who can’t stop giggling at my antics. Yeah, it happened...

But then, after introducing ourselves and a brief how are you session, they turned out to be sweet young things and showed me how to ski. It was really nice of them and sweet too, but it really tickled me when they asked how old am I, if I’m there with my parents and which school I go to. Huh? School? Yeah, junior high school. Me. You should have seen the open mouthed astonished looks on their faces when I told them my age, priceless I tell you. I mean, people have been telling me that I look young, but a high school teenager?! Gosh, I haven’t been one in ages! Heheh…. At the end of the day we were sorry to leave the park, but I don’t think I would fancy a night skiing experience just yet. And as we parted our ways, the kids once again demonstrated their warmth and kindness by inviting me to celebrate Christmas (which was the day after the next) with them and their families. Aww, so sweet…but regretfully I had to decline as we had already bought our tickets for tomorrow.

All in all, this trip really was an experience that I would never forget. Not because of the bumps and bruises that thankfully have healed, but for the first time in my life I went skiing and also for the fun that I had on this trip with my buddies.

So, here’s to you guys….

- Asem: Thank you for early morning 100m dash with our bags!

- Dharma: Waaah…you ski like a pro lah, bro!

- Ganaga: Up for another round of the ‘Dinosaur adventure game’ anytime soon? I know I’m not! Gosh, it was really crazy, wasn’t it? But I really had fun lah, thanks for the very-much-needed laughter…

- Pandian: Thank you for persuading us to go when I nearly changed my mind and not go. I owe you one. Terima kasih, Mr. Tour Guide …

- Suzz & Loga: Next time if we go again we’ll make sure we borong the whole town ok! Oh, and I really like your bumble-bee boots!

- Ju: Glad you had fun skiing too. If you guys wanna know, this is one daring girl lah. Really lah ju, if it were me rolling down with my head over heels sumpah I won’t go skiing again. Hmmm, but I guess berbaloi kot main kat tempat tinggi-tinggi sbb “pemandangan” dia sungguh lah menarik nya, betul tak….

Thanks for the lovely time you guys! So, where are we going next? ;-)

And here are the photos :)

What Time Of Day Are You?

2007-12-31T03:43:00.000+08:00

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you're apt to keep very unusual habits.
Whether you're a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence - you like to experiment with your lifestyle.
Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it.
You enjoy staying home, but that doesn't mean you're a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

Hmm....might be true.....

Blast & Drum Corps

2007-12-14T03:00:00.000+08:00

This one really did "blew" me away...

And I was going ga-ga over this one too...

My goodness, what I wouldn’t give to watch them performing live….. Though I’m a faithful woodwind-ist, the brass section and the percussions have always fascinated me. Well, what to do, once a band geek always a band geek…..
Rindunya band!!

SPIRIT SOLID SMART

Battle of the Tests

2007-11-26T03:30:00.000+08:00

This past few weeks have been HELL. Literary. Personal issues notwithstanding, we have been having class tests for almost each subject, and at least 2 tests every week. Crazy. And then there’s the class presentations. It’s like as if all of our lecturers are having a tug-of-war competition with our schedule. Unbelieveable. We were practically walking zombies in the campus (at least for the ones who studied)… With our packed morning to evening class schedule, it’s a wonder that I am still able to even remember to eat and chew my food, although more than often it’s on the run. Arghhh… I am slowly going nuts!!

WHAT IN THE WORLD AM I DOING HERE?!!

n.b. ECGs… People, I’m dreaming about ECGs nowadays, urghh… *facepalm*

Eid Mubarak

2007-10-14T02:30:00.000+08:00

After one month of fasting in the holy month of Ramadhan now comes the most awaited celebration (well, at least for us). Eid-ul-fitri. For 4 years now I haven’t had the chance to celebrate eid with my family and friends back home due to study commitments. One would say eid is eid, no matter where you and whom you spend it with, but as most of my countrymen would tell you the eid celebration back home is, in another word, "havoc lah"…

The day would start with getting up, cleaned and dressed with our newly bought clothes, going to the mosque for the eid prayers and then back home for some heavy-duty breakfast feast. Well, I don’t know about the others, but when my family gets together we’ll just eat and eat and eat. One can be sure that there’ll be no shortage of food supply at my grandparents’ place when we congregate there, be it eid or almost every weekend. Don’t you all agree, my darling cousins?

And after (or sometimes before) that, the most important part of the day starts. It’s the part where we will all sit around and go to each person to ask for forgiveness for all of our wrongdoings from each other. The sequence would be starting from the oldest son/daughter right up to the youngest. Oh, and another important thing to note, our traditional clothes MUST have pockets with ample space. And for the girls, handbags, preferably . Why? Because while we’re going around shaking hands and hugging our beloved we’ll also receive small, flat packets filled with some money. Yup, I think for me personally this part is the part that most of the small kids will get excited about. Well, actually, not only the younger ones, even the older ones are in for it too. Who wouldn’t? Extra pocket money for us? Hello….

But there’s a downside to it though. Not like the chinese where you will have to give angpows only if you’re married (am I right here?), for the malays the ones who are already in the workforce (i.e.earning an income) will have to set aside a small sum of their salary just to give out these "duit raya" to the younger and non-working/studying ones. Hehehe, like what my cousin said to me that day, "Alah, koyak lah poket camni kalau keluarga kita bertambah besar…" Well my dear, don’t worry. In 3 years time I’ll be contributing too, insyaallah. Hey, you know what, maybe we can pool our money and combine it to give to them. Whaddya think?

And after all the "I’m sorry for everything" session which would sometimes, or most of the time for my grandmother at least , be accompanied with the release of the tear flood gates (banjir, lah…), the guests would start coming to the house. You see, during the month of Syawal for us it’s the time where we would visit our relatives, be it near or far "untuk mengeratkan tali silaturrahim". Sometimes it’s the only chance for us to meet with our distant relatives and get to know them. And more food and hogging. Honestly, by the time we’re done visiting for the day we would be so full that our clothes would start to feel a l’il bit tight in certain places . But being here during eid I do miss the traditional cakes and biscuits back home that are normally only available during eid. Best nya makan kuih raya…..

Oh well, all in all, that’s the Eid celebration at home. And not forgetting also, we Malaysians celebrate Syawal for one whole month. So do expect to be invited to open houses hosted by family and friends, and that explains also why one needs more than 2 pairs of new clothes (for some people anyways) as they would get more invitations to these functions compared to others. But actually, how many is enough? Personally I’ve stopped buying new ones for me as I’m using my current ones over here. Nobody would know any differently, right? Ooppsss…shouldn’t have let the cat out of the bag, now everyone would know. Silly me …..

So, to all of you…

SELAMAT HARI RAYA AIDILFITRI
MAAF ZAHIR BATIN
Mohon maaf jika ada tersilap kata terkasar bahasa, Halalkan makan minum
&
EID MUBARAK !!

The Cranky Traveler

2007-08-30T02:00:00.001+08:00

Have you ever been on a long-haul flight where you were practically stuck in your seat on a plane a few thousand kilometers high up in the skies for hours and hours? Well if you have, maybe some of the things below would struck a cord…

1. Crappy seats

Really, I think this is the major grouse that any frequent flyer would complain of. Some of the planes that I’ve been on have seats that are too small, with minimal leg room. If you’re traveling domestic or short distance then it wouldn’t really matter but long distance? Urghh…this is one of the times that I really rejoice in being short. Can you imagine someone who’s over 6ft tall having to accomodate his body to the oh so cute seats?…

Another thing that I noticed is that some Asian carriers provide bigger seats compared to European carriers. How do I know? Well, depending on the airline sometimes we had to transit in a neighbouring country before taking the next flight (operated by an Asian airline) back home. Correct me if I’m wrong, but after several observations I don’t really believe that my butt had suddenly shrunk after 12 hours of sitting. Seriously. Try and see it for yourself.

Oh, and another thing. Where you sit is also VERY IMPORTANT. Personally I find that seating by the window is warm, though you can have a good sleep sans interruptions. A note to snorers; please choose a window seat and do cover your face with a pillow or at least supply ear plugs for your neighbors to avoid your musical stylings from ‘rocking their world’. Do choose a seat next to the aisle if you can’t seem to hold your bladder for easier access to answer the call of nature.

And the other thing that I can’t stand are auto reclining mechanism seats. It’’s bad when the person in the seat behind you is fidgety and/or just kept pushing and pushing at your seat until suddenly you wake up from your partial slumber to find yourself in an upright sitting position! Oh god, it happened to me recently and it really really pissed me off royally. And no guesses why I was cranky throughout the whole flight…

2. Bad service, bad planes, bad landings

Cabin crews that are just plain rude or ignorant. Was really shocked when I encountered these individuals because have never experienced anything like it with our local airlines.Planes that are really bad that the interior of the plane practically groaned, squeeked and rocked especially during landing. I’ve been on one and let me tell you everyone onboard were covering their heads and some had even turned blue!Bad landings — self-explanatory. Never experienced those though. But a friend told of a landing where the plane skidded off the runway and jumped a few feet into the air before touching the ground again. Scary…

3. Sleep amount prior to your flight

Enough sleep and rest before you fly might work for some people but not me!! Why? Because I can’t sleep on the plane if I’m too well rested.
But if you do not get enough sleep and can’t even get a shut eye in-flight = Cranky+Furious+Extreme jetlag ...
Pros vs. Contra of enough sleep and rest prior to flights. Verdict is still out.

4. Special meals

Whenever I fly I would request for special meals. It’s really convenient, but I have one question though - why serve them early? Generally it’s a good idea, but there were a couple of instances where I felt bad especially when the stranger next to you started to get impatient waiting for his food and starts bugging you about yours (yeah it really does happen ok!)…

5. Last but not least…

Dehydrate, dehydrate, dehydrate…but do stay away from diuretics to avoid the hassle of visiting the lavatory for a time longer than you been in your seat (for me it is tea!)
So, anyone else have your own grouses about travelling by air? Do share!

End Of The Torture Session

2007-08-29T02:18:00.000+08:00

Yesss!! The exams are finally over!! Oh my, what a relief… Now I can finally do some catching up on my zzzzzz’ss without any nightmares or heart palpitations…

I’m going home soon, yay! But, have to start packing first, hmmm… Now, where did I keep my mini padlocks again, seem to be misplacing them all the time…

And I can’t seem to get this song out of my head since yesterday! Help! Oh well, there goes my beauty sleep…

Balik Kampung - Allahyarham Sudirman Haji Arshad

Perjalanan jauh tak ku rasa
Kerna hati ku melonjak sama
Ingin berjumpa sanak saudara
Yang selalu bermain di mata

Nun menghijau gunung ladang dan rimba
Langit nan tinggi bertambah birunya
Deru angin turut sama berlagu
Semuanya bagaikan turut gembira

Ho ho ho… Balik kampung (3X )
Hati girang
Ho ho ho… Balik kampung (3X)
Hati girang

Terbayang wajah-wajah yang ku sayang
Satu-satu tersemat di kalbu
Pasti terubat rindu di hati
Menyambut kepulangan ku nanti

Words To Ponder Upon

2007-07-11T01:45:00.000+08:00

Read Each One Carefully and Think About it A Second Or Two…

1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you..

2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won’t make you cry.

3. Just because someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to, doesn’t mean that they don’t love you with all they have.

4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.

5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can’t have them.

6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.

7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.

8. Don’t waste your time on a man/woman, who isn’t willing to waste their time on you.

9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.

10. Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened.

11. There’s always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.

12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.

13. Don’t try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.

REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

True friends: How many people actually have 8 true friends?

Hardly anyone I know ! But some of us have all right friends and good friends!!!

and…

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age…

Father's Day

2007-07-10T01:38:00.000+08:00

This was something that I posted in my other journals previously for this special day. Just thought of posting it here too…

Fathers play an important role in a person’s upbringing. To some extent, they have a major influence on their children’s lives. To receive a father’s love is a blessing, because it is UNCONDITIONAL. No matter who you are, what you do or what you’ve become, they will always love just as you are. They are not perfect, mind you they are after all only humans, but for some fortunate souls they are perfect fathers. I wish that everyone would get the chance to experience that unconditional love, because it really changes you and makes you a better person…

"Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preseveres. Love never fails…"

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!

Post-Wedding Ramblings

2007-07-09T01:09:00.000+08:00

Weddings are supposed to be about the people that you love, your family and friends, coming together to celebrate your special day. And with that also comes the chaos, tension, busy-ness, and drama that seemed to be attached to a wedding preparation. But amidst all these chaotic, nail-biting, hair-rising, mind-numbing craziness, at the end of the day you could still feel the love and care that are shown to you by the people that matters to you and made your special day a success.

Well, that just about describes my sister’s wedding. In the end it all turned out well, alhamdulillah. More than just well, actually. It was a beautiful day, filled with love and happiness and some funny moments too. I hope it will be a day that the newly weds will cherish forever…

Weddings as some of you may know are stressfull. Honestly. The wedding preparations alone can give you stomach ulcers. And being born a Malay doesn’t help either. Don’t get me wrong, I am proud to be a Malay, rich in culture and traditions, but sometimes they can be a tad overwhelming especially when it comes to weddings or to be precise the process of getting married. There are also those authoritive, "I have eaten salt earlier than you…" elders that you feel are a bit intrusive and that you just can’t say no to but deep inside you know that they do mean well. But no matter what, I am glad that they are there to give advice and wisdom to us, the young and inexperienced lot, to be passed on to the next generation. Without them we ceased to exist. Since we were small we were taught to respect the elders and to honour our culture and tradition as long as it doesn’t go against our religion and beliefs. And basically that was what I kept reminding myself of whenever I felt that I was going bonkers. Just a couple of deep breaths, some time out and then I am good to go. Lucky thing I didn’t develop a post-wedding over-inflated lung syndrome, heheh…

And on top of that, also had to deal with the one question that seems to pop up whenever we have any family gatherings or functions, especially weddings. Yup, it’s the famous "So, when is it going to be your turn, my dear?"… Seriously, nothing else to ask is it? Hmm… Funny thing is, it always comes after the how are you greetings, and then BOOM!! Honestly, by the end of the day I really sounded like a broken record machine/cassette player/scratched cd when it comes to answering that particular question. Guess I should have taken a friend’s advice to record a standard answer and just play it back whenever anyone asks me that question. Silly me…

Anyways, to my dear sister, Congratulations! I am really happy for you and glad that you have found someone that you are willing to spend the rest of your life with. For all my siblings, I wish you all a happy and blessed life with your families. Treasure your loved ones and live your life to the fullest. This also goes out to my friends and to all of you out there. You only have one shot at living and make sure that it is worth your while. And to you guys whom are tying the knot soon, Congratulations and Best of Luck!