The End !!!!

Never!!! It's only the beginning:).I know this is where we're suppose to make resolutions we never keep,so i'l make it short and be thankful i lived another year,cause life's way too short

• It was a fantastic year that it ended so fast
• Next year will be even better,more to learn,places to see,more adventure :P
• I'm grateful for the things i have and the people(friends and family) who love me
• Random things happen all the time - never thought i would spend new year's out of sibu and here i am in Mukah :)

Learning to be happy starts from within ,Shall leave this post with a camwhore moment

Cheers - Happy New Year 2011

Relieving Mukah ( Speed boat experience from Sibu Wharf to supposedly Dalat)

-You will find out why supposedly Dalat in a short while-

 Was told to go relieving this time to Mukah .It's quite a big district about3hrs drive from Sibu.As usual as in most places in Sarawak the road is horrible,been there before and although it's tempting to have my own car here since i'l be there for a week.Decided that i'l just take the speed boat to a nearby town called Dalat then get the hospital to come pick me.Heard that it was a much better way to travel,and of course i always like an adventure:)

So headed to the Sibu Wharf,all jam packed coz it was christmas eve.Especially the express to Kapit,u see lots of chickens,kitten's in steel cages(don't ask me why) squeeling children,annoyed,irritated and sweaty parents "Aggh the joys of parenthood,grins slyly" 

I know the wharf to dalat is on the other side,wasnt very sure how the speedboat looks like.Saw lots of people waiting but i didnt see any boat.So i asked this seemingly nice old lady

"Makcik sini kah tempat ambil boat ke dalat"

Wah she actually snubbed me "Mana saya tahu,carilah"

Whoa was thinking very rarely people around here are that rude,but maybe she just had a bad day.Finally got my answer from another lady who was really in distress
"Ya sini,patut ada banyak boat tapi si banyak sekarang,aduh tak tau la"

So i waited under the hot sun,pretending to be one of the locals,well sadly of course i dont look like one
"Can here people whispering,Nama hal thamby tu situk" (translation why is this indian here)


That's why here i refer to myself as "thamby putih"coz people here know thamby as indians and since i'm fair it fits the description,not much confusion as to if i'm a singh or from india or chindian

Back about the boat,was silently cursing myself why didn't i just take the bus.Met this very nice chinese family husband,wife and daughter who's around my age.I shall write specifically about this interesting girl and the conversation i had in another post.

So happy i made friends and thet're local thought will just stick with them,haha.Finally the boat came after an hour plus waiting.Bags on the top and we sit inside.Ermm as usual i was late so i had to sit on the isle on tiny kindergarden chairs,praying i would not fall since i'm known to be such a klutz.

Wah the ride was nice,and bumpy,just like going on the boat in the sea.Never underestimate the mighty rejang.Not long after it started raining so heavily,luckily the girl i met donated her umbrella to those sitting at the edge.

Hmm as i sat enjoying the ride,looking around i see all this people who do this everyday not just occasionally like me.Thank god at least there are life jackets.You'l pass by so many fishing villages along the way.They're carefree life is nice to watch.The boatman is so skillfull,going at that speed avoiding all this huge barges and logs,scary.


Ooo forgot to mention an important thing,guess who was sitting across me,that rude lady who refuse to tell me about the boat to dalat.I very cheekily kept staring at her the whole way,haha she actually looked so uncomfortable.

Ya so we didnt actually reach dalat,the boat stopped at this place called Kampung Kut as the water levels were to low to procede on.Thank god my new found friends said they'd give me a lift to dalat where the driver from the hospital would be waiting

Kg Kut where we got stranded

 Van's to take us to dalat

So finally arrived at Dalat,the driver was getting worried i hadnt showed up yet.He seemed quite relieved to see me.Haha the white indian made it after all :P

The Step Forward..........

Coming back into the paediatric department after 2and 1/2 years as an MO is like i'm coming back home again,all new/different/tons to read up on,but it's different.Something me ex boss said, when you do something your passionate about it's almost like falling in love again.Ahhh how true.I guess i definately love babies more than i love adults:)

Come a long way since me 1st houseman posting in paediatric 2years ago......

MERCY Malaysia - Sarawak Chapter (Medical mission to Long Luar,Belaga)

One word AMAZING.This mission fulfilled what i had always wanted to do since coming  to sarawak,not just working in the hospital

1.Serve the people who are really in need,at the most unreachable areas
2.A 4wheel drive adventure
3.Creating awareness in any little way we can


MERCY Malaysia is a non-profit organization further details go to
http://www.mercy.org.my/

So anyway the whole team of 4 wheel drives was heading down from miri,one car had to detour to pick me up from bintulu airport.Honestly i was quite nervous,although i love adventure,when the lady in charge told me not to expect anything,of course i wasnt but i couldn help thinking of wht i had to bring hmmmm

"Sleeping bag - check , torchlight - check,fishing rod (ermm seriously u want me to fish)"
Sadly i am after all a subang girl :)

So anyway met this 4 great volunteers from miri 2 doctors,1 nurse and our driver  - We headed on to Sg Asap a 2 hours drive from the airport where we were suppose to meet the rest of them

 What might be our last meal for the next 3days

Part of the entourage

Part of the organisers eating in Sungai Asap

From Sg Asap drove another 40 mins towards the area to our destination

Pit stop before our gruelling 4hour journey.At was 4pm when we left this place towards the long luar area

The nature call stops 2hours midway

One of the many penan villages on our way,needed to stop and promote/ask them to attend the mobile clinic the following day

Finally we arrive at Long Luar at 8pm,trust me no electricity,no water,only generator is at the tuai rumah's house

Busy uploading things for the mobile clinic the following day

The people

After all the uploading we had to head another 20mins to the place we were suppose to stay.All in suspense coz the organizers told us not to expect much.Few volunteers left earlier to start preparing for dinner.By  this time most of us were really exhausted after almost 10hours on the road,plus the clinics the next day

Absolutely lovely meals throughout the trips - we were never left hungry

 Yay so happy to see where we were staying - Camp Samling ,a bit of a squeeze with 20plus people per house but who cares at least we had a roof over our heads

All bright and cheerful to start of day long clinics

The prgramme's for the day was the mobile clinic,activities for the children,and risk reduction in case of fire

Medical @ GP's

Eye check-up

 Dentist - Very good business :)

 The very dedicated pharmacist explaining and re-explaining - cause most of the times the parents cannot be found

 Dietician's checking the BMI,nutrition and health counselling

An excellent Pap smear screening

Risk reduction in case of fire all the pails were filled with sand by the volunteers,because the penan people do not know how to use a fire extinguisher.Hopefully the education helped

So we ran clinics from 8-1 then lunch break resume from 2-5 .The turnout was good,some came from nearby longhouses(near meaning an hour long boat ride:)Overall it was great.Saw almost 300people.

Group picture - Great job everyone:)

Final BBQ and de-briefing session

Overall it should be commended that everyone put in so much of time,effort and mostly volunteering to do something.Actually the Long Luar plight started because their long house was destroyed in a fire and hence the risk reduction in case a fire were to happen was advised.These people still cook with firewood,have no proper running water,even no school for the children.Someone comes in 3times a week to teach these kids,but is it really enough(I think we can all answer it for ourselves)

The number of children you see there will really surprise you,u think and see what happens when these kids grow up,will they follow their parents footsteps and still live like a nomad,would they ever learn about internet,I-phone???

That's why it is so commendable that an organization which is the Rotary Club of Victoria Singapore is going to adopt them for further continuity of efforts to revive not just the folks here but also those from the nearby areas.Thank you MERCY sarawak for rercruting me for being apart of this wonderful mission and UMW the main sponsors for making it happen as well,may there be more in the future.A shoutout too to all those volunteers,the organisers who all did their part making all this happen,things like this only work out greatly when there is teamwork and a lot of passion,cheers:)

Miracles,A little faith and a lot of luck :)

Today was a very melancholic moment ,  Finally after 2years of housemanship , 6months as an mo in anes i'm finally going to paeds.Call me lame but i cannot control how excited i am,haha that's why i'm awake at this very moment and full of energy( it could be because my sleep pattern has been altered from of the ICU calls as well:))

After months of uncertainties,doing lots and lots of calls in anes,learning as fast as possible,people telling me eh now that your in anes sure you won't want to do paeds one/sure get stuck here.Thank god i stuck to my principal and my passion.I mean i really enjoyed the experience and working in anes,i shall be forever grateful for it,but it's not my passion.I've wanted to do paediatrics since in med school.I mean why would i change what i want to do just because situation calls for us to do something else first.It all goes to show if you want something really badly,really stick to the thought,focus on it and just be patient,regardless the months or the years,it will happen.People just generally give up so easily i realise,not just in work in other life aspects as well,it's so sad .

I agree that most of the time it's difficult for us to get what we want and sometimes we compromise,but just make sure we're happy with our choices and don't be jelous when other's get what we don't .That would still make us a bitter person.

It's only a stepping stone,but i'm so glad it happened,i'm still trying to find ways to stay happy and make a difference in life,in small ways of course.Which ever department i've been too,the joy of seeing people get cured or go home happy is terribly rewarding,and yes i admit i'm an adrenaline junkie :P.People ask me why paeds and not adults,well it's because they get well so much faster and they're an absolute challenge to work with:)

I keep reminding myself here along the way incase i forget,the reason i became a doctor was to help and teach others,trying to do least harm as possible,along the way learning as well,may I never forget that even when the going gets tough:)

Arggh Hormones..............

Endorphins keeps u up , while cortisol just slowly kills u

Lets not even go into those that creeps up that certain time every month . Never use to believe in PMS when i was younger,these days even the endorphins aren't good enough to halt/stop it....

I'm not really a contact sports person,never thought running would be one of the best, life changing,simpactful thing that could happen to me,but i'm glad it did.Although it's physically tiring,but just concentrating on your run is somehow so de-stressing,at least for me.When i'm sad,stressed,PMS'ing i run :)

Although i must say aerobics taught by a guy who passionately dances and sing's to Lady Gaga's poker face seems to be helping as well :P

Just one of those days where i'm not really liking and  wish a new day would just come soon.

-One day at a time-

When too many choices is a bad thing

First there was none,now there's one to many.And we're still not happy,why coz it doesnt feel right,it's not the time and of course the scary feeling of trusting again


The famous myth

• When it happens you would know if it's right,wrong or if it's time

As i was having all this inner turmoils,plus having lots of extended family over for holidays.....



Went to Batu Caves with my family,plus the extended one.For me i was more excited climbing up and down the stairs,haha thought about how fit i am now compared to 10years back,haha so proud of course.Was telling my dad how i prefer coming here when it's not Thaipusam because i absolutely can't stand the crowd.No offence but do they really have to grind on you,it's terribly disgusting i have to add,we're not in some club for the love of god.

What he told me was something i didnt expect

"You see geet although every year there's a crowd,when you have a will to do something,you will always find your path or someway to do it,despite the crowd,the walk,heat,rain we still make it right"

"It's the same with life,not necesarily only spiritual,when you want something so badly,and work hard at it,along the way not harming anyone in the process,the path is then created,it may take some time,but not giving up and trying hard helps"


Sigh i mean of course i know all these things,but i hardly think of it,he put it into words so nicely,guess people say as you age we'd also get wiser.Of course i also hope one day it would impart such great knowledge/advice to my children,haha,wishful thinking :P


That's why my new resolve will be to concentrate on the bigger picture,try and make best of the oppurtunities i have,accept things happen for a reason,good or bad,try out as many things i can including travelling/helping people,looking at life with a more positive outlook and of course giving people a chance as well :)

The Road Trip ( Drive - Eat - Talk )

Embarked on a crazy 3days 2nights trip from SIBU - BINTULU - MIRI then back again,i must say it was fun,we all had our own reasons for this sudden very impulsive trip,but it's something we needed out of our daily routine,boring lives literally leave everything and run.It's amazing how much one can do in 48hours.

Hmm to start the roads were ridiculuosly bad,if anyone has travelled they would know,your just waiting for the huge pothole,or the idiot driver that drives like an ***hole.

Seriously there is so much land,if they could build bakun the least they could do was just make it a double lane.Oh and please take this sound advice and try not to travel at night unless of course u'r seriously thinking of no better way to end ur life then a road kill.The highlights of the trip are the same as every road trip people embark on.

Discovered bintulu a little,was the first time visiting although we've all bypassed it on our way,nothing much to shout about,but at least it has a sea view unlike sibu






Started off with yummy dim sum,of course cant beat the one's from west,but what to do beggars shall not be choosers



Headed on to miri, along the way stopped by Similajau National Park,nice place but it appears very poorly maintained,probably come back to explore another time.







As i hope what happens on all road trips (or maybe just ours) we were so sure the fuel would last till we reached miri,then again we are doctors and not mathematicians,so after the stretch of vast oil palm,meter started blinking.Oh oh now we think of saving the environment,off air-con & radio(start singing),wind down windows,thank god niah town wasnt so far,stopped at the Gua Niah National Park,more like a stop and see,drive again:)



Yay Miri - Civilization,haha at least for us = Bigger malls than sibu + Starbucks that the 3 of us will not forget + Ermm crazy dancing girls(poor john's scared for life) + Glorious indian food.Let the pics do the talking







Sadly before we knew it,time to say bye-bye miri....hopefully it's a start to more road trips to explore sarawak - this remarkable land,in the midst of working here:)

Whirlwind september ....

To summarize it was more work,and a whole lot of crazy travelling.Along the way i'm always learning new things and revamping my life.

They say when you travel not only do you rest but your constantly learning and experiencing new things.Went to jogjakarta,i have to say south east asia is such a beautiful place,no wonder the westerners love coming here,culture's diverse,people are generally caring and generous.

In each trip i always find a lesson in life,in this trip i learnt 2



Firstly(conversation between tour guide and us at the volcano)

Tour guide - "OK guys go ahead first i'm going to shoot the rabbit"

Hence the individual response from each member of the family

Me - "Cool but how come i dont see any rabbit"

Sister(Who is currently doing journalism,international relations-very involved in human rights,indigenous people)

"Wow he's actually going to shoot the rabbit for the family dinner",then she goes on telling me about how people still have to hunt for food,bla,bla,bla

Mummy - "He has a gun ah"

My dad after listening to all our response,bursts out laughing,of course we thought he was being very insensitive,but he says

"Wht he actually was trying to say was he wants to go pee"

*Faint*....haha so embaressing

Talk about generation gap,but mum didnt know either:P

Lucky thing the tour guide didnt actually hear us




2nd lesson in life

We were shopping in some shop when we heard very strong winds outside,you could actually hear the zinc roof's moving around.
i thought it was quite normal,i mean it's quite a common occurance here,but there you could see all of them so terrified,there was a moment of shear panic outside the shop,people running,everyone looking up at the sky.

Thinking back later the reason they're so worried is because it's so prone for natural disasters the last earth quake was in 2006 the volcano is constantly erupting,so obviously they're shit scared.

We take things for granted,even the place we stay in,sigh,life is just too short,we really shouldn't waste it with petty things or worrying about what may happen....

Young mother's ........

Sometimes you wonder is there such a thing as the right age to have a child.I put this girl who is only 13years old under for generel anesthesia,her ceasarian was for a big baby and post date,thank god she didnt go in to labour.There is always a higher risk for GA in pregnant mother's but we dont have much choice when they're at this age.

Sigh she's barely a child herself,and she's going to be a mother .When we were going to put her under she started crying,was really anxious.Anticipated problems with her because she was overweight,true enough she developed bronchospasm,and little difficult to ventilate,although she's big,her physiology is still of a 13year old,plus pregnancy chnages has it's own problems.Even her op wasnt a very smooth one,a lot of blood loss,her baby was a whooping 4.15kg.

The reason i'm writting this is in many other places this would be considered as rape.When i first came and was in my O&G posting i was thinking what are this girls doing having babies at 13,14 the youngest was 11,but it is allowed here i was told as long as the village headman approves it.Maybe i'm just being skeptical but they're just to young.Even at 28 i think i'm not ready what more at 13.Plus the risk involved,any part of the labour process could have taken her life but of course who thinks of all that,childbirth genereally has no problems,but when it goes wrong,it goes really wrong,sigh.



Not sure where we should start in educating them,as i said before culture is a very delicate thing,probably this girl did not have a choice,or maybe she did,is she even old enough to decide if she wants a child,her next pregnancy will definately carry a higher risk,just hope it'l be alright.