Nic Private Limited

Rotterdam

2008-09-13T17:36:00.004+02:00

Finally i am free to continue my travel log. This is the continuation of my summer vacation after Amsterdam.

Rotterdam , Europe's largest port and second largest Dutch city , is nothing less than Amsterdam. A city vibrating with energy , boasting with a plethora of aesthetically unique architectural masterpieces , and buzzing with beehives of activities at the port.
It's a totally different experience compared to Amsterdam. Less tempting and seductive as Amsterdam , yet alluring in its own sophistication.

Erasmus bridge

The Overblaak development , designed by Piet Bloom , is another must-see here in Rotterdam. The cube apartments are something we can find nowhere else in the world. You will just be amazed by how far our imagination can run.

2008-09-09T17:15:00.002+02:00

12 hours before my flight. My last night at home. My last blog before flying.

It has been a long summer vacation. 2 months of non-stop eating , non-stop playing , non-stop traveling , i think i am all ready and fully recharged to take up the challenge that's about to unfold.

Non-stop eating. I think that's the must-do during holidays. After a year of craning and craving for Malaysian cuisines to be general , Kuching food to be specific , i think i have compensated all my yearns and urges for them to last me for another year. I have been eating kolo mee , laksa , nasi lemak , char kueh , kueh chap , bbq fish almost everyday to an extent of satiating every single taste bud that i have. And of course with all these high calories , high cholesterol dishes , there's no surprise that i have gained another few kg over this holiday. Time to hit the gym again!!

Non-stop playing. Yeah , like what Angelia said , her semester actually starts tomorrow after i fly back. Hehehe...Their new semester started 2 months ago , coinciding with the time i came back. But when i am around , there's too much of distractions. It's all about watching movies , eating , karaoke-ing , shopping etc etc. It's play , play and more play since day 1 until day 60.

Non-stop travelling. I have been traveling around for the whole past 2 months. Even before staying long enough to keep my bed warm , i have flown to KL to meet up with friends. From KL to Genting then back to KL again. After that i was back home for 2 weeks before flying off again. This time to JB to attend Razin and Mal's wedding. From JB we were off to Bali for family holiday. And i headed straight to Damai Puri one day after i landed in Kuching from Bali. Which left me with about 2 more weeks in Kuching before bidding farewell again.

And here i am now. Getting ready to go to bed. Going to miss my room. Miss my home. Miss Kuching. At the same time , anticipating for a new term to start in Palacky , to meet my friends back in Olomouc , and for whole new excitements in Olomouc...

Dear Friends...

2008-09-07T10:01:00.008+02:00

Sometimes i do wonder , is there any set of criteria that befits how a 22-year-old should behave. If there are , then i think we really do not conform to any of them. Hehe..When friends are together , you will think of all the craziest , stupidest , crappiest things to do. Oblivious of how others see you , you are all immersed in your own fantasy land. That's why it's well worth the money to buy the flight ticket , flew all the way to KL to meet up with them , even though just for a few days. There are certain things which money just can't buy - sweet memories.Having said that , this friendship is no smooth sailing all the way. It's built on labyrinths of love , entangled with personal affairs , occasionally mesmerized with sheds of tears. As it doesn't come easily , it is held more preciously.
That fire of friendship should be kept burning , though not always that furiously , but someone should take the initiative to rekindle it whenever it dims. That's what we call eternal flame...

The stupid one Speak no evil , hear no evil , see no evil...T he nerds the posers

Love is in the air...

2008-09-07T05:37:00.003+02:00

Finally , the day has come... The much awaited wedding of the year has arrived.

Anticipation for this glamorous golden-themed wedding has been growing ever since the day Mal and Razin announced their wedding plan. Who is getting married now? Hamsath or Mal? I guess friends are more emotional and excited than the couple themselves.hahah

So here i am in JB finally to witness and celebrate this auspicious occasion. Preparations were made as early as early this year. Gold colour is chosen as the theme of the wedding , every spot glowing , every corner shining , well reflecting perkahwinan yang gilang gemilang.

Everything for this big day is impeccably done. And of course not without the help of this 3 musketeers...hehe..
Even goodies bags are glowing for attention...
From getting the goodies bag packed to setting up the pelamin , all the way to picking up the wedding dresses , Ajeem is involved first-handedly to help (or to mess around). Hahaaa..No matter what , no one can do the job as penyeri perkahwinan(if there is such a job) better than him. KudosssAnd here comes the wedding day. The akad nikah ceremony is held at Mal's place. Friends and family members from both sides are there to witness this historic moment.And nothing beats this moment captured in photo... The union of two entities now termed husband and wife.We wish Mal and Razin happily ever after.....

歇脚站

2008-09-06T16:35:00.003+02:00

古晋...我的家乡。
这里有我最亲密的家人，有我最要好的朋友。有我最熟悉的脸孔，也有我最难忘的经历。

朋友当中，我应该是最早离开到外地求学的那一个吧！一个人在外地，朋友全都还在这里打拼。当时每当放假，无论是区区三四天，都一定要回来与大家聚一聚。不少甜蜜的回忆，真挚的友谊都在当时撒下了种子，茁壮的生长。

事隔几年的今天，再回到同一个地方，看似熟悉，却欠缺当年的感觉，也少了许多欢笑声。是啦！都是自己的时间安排得不好，回来的时候，都是人家已开学的时间了。有机会见面，也只不过是那区区的几天。

当年如果有聚餐，家里都会挤得满满的，现在想找足十个人都有点困难。天下无不散的宴席，长大了，大家都持着各自的梦想各奔东西，离开家乡可能是一年，五年，十年甚至没再打算回来了。在见面又会是何时？

古晋也就这样，成了大家的歇脚站。走了漫长的路，偶尔回来休息一下，补充了体力，再继续在各自选择的道路上奔波。有缘就在这歇脚站碰碰面，无缘就希望下一回再见。兜兜转转，终会回到这起点--我们的家。

朋友不需要无时无刻的在身边，只需要在各自不断改变与扩散的圈子里，留有一个特别的地位。。。

Back in Kuching

2008-07-19T17:29:00.002+02:00

I am back in Kuching for more than a week already. I thought this is the good time for me to blog. I have loads of photos to be uploaded , a lot of experiences about my trips to be shared , and a lot of views to be penned. But sadly and frustrating enough , Streamyx here sucks... Even getting online is sometimes a problem , not to mention uploading photos.

I guess i can only do so when i am back in Czech. I have photos dated all the way back to April about my trip to Berlin , then May to Budapest and June to the Hague , Rotterdam , Antwerp , Brussels and Egypt. What to do , have to wait patiently...

Speaking about my holiday here , i must admit up till now ,nothing great or exciting enough that is worth sharing has happened. Firstly , most of my friends are no longer here in Kuching. Everyone is back for new semester. Secondly , i am still adapting to our Malaysian weather. Ok la , this is not "poyo". "Ceh , konon-kononnya orang pergi belajar kat oversea , balik Malaysia dah komplain komplain..." It's true la , after staying there for 10 months and then coming back home , the heat and humidity is killing me. I take bath on average 5 times a day. So i am too lazy to go out during the day. Thirdly , apart from eating , eating and eating , i don't know what else can i do here in Kuching.

Hoping for greater fun and excitement for the rest of the holidayssss.... Please.....

Amsterdam - Sightseeing

2008-07-04T11:50:00.007+02:00

Of course , the Netherlands is not only famous for its Red Light District and Marijuana. Amsterdam has even more to offer-its scenic canals , beautiful , heritage-protected 17th century buildings and also some of Europe's best museums.

Tulip - the flower synonymous with Holland. Too bad the tulip blossoming season was over the time i was there. Anywhere , no harm paying a visit to the famous floating floral market along Singel canal. What is left are wooden tulips for souvenirs , and also buds of tulip which you have to plant it yourself.
And the 17th century buildings here are so unique. Packed closely together , each with its own distinguished architecture , the whole view seems as picturesque as those portrayed in paintings. I guess it's not just adults X-rated theme park , it's also artist's dreamland for inspiration.

And of all these , this house at 7 Singel Street is the narrowest house in the world ,with its width of about 1 meter...And the Dam square is the heart of Amsterdam , with beehives of activities going on everyday , day and night.

And talking about open-mindedness , i think this is another eye opener. Imagine this stand is for peeing. Worst of all , there's no flush , no water tabs , nothing. And these stands are everywhere in the city. One thing i like about Amsterdam - the laid-back , no frills lifestyle. Maybe that is what i see. Basking in the sun , sipping a cup of cappucino and chatting with friends.
Or picnicking in Vondelpark. They really know how to enjoy life. ..
With so many canals here , the best way to explore the city is by taking a boat ride. And we chose the cheapest options , boat-pedaling.
The only museum i visited in Amsterdam - Van Gogh Museum.

Amsterdam - Sins committed

2008-07-03T22:58:00.001+02:00

How can you not commit sins in the Sin City? When temptations are luring all around you , that high libido coursing through the blood , that overwhelming curiosity overtaking your sanity , its really hard to say no.

And how can you tell people you have been to Amsterdam when you have not even tried their local delights? The same way as you can't miss Nasi Lemak when you are in Malaysia , or miss Sacher Torte when you are in Vienna , you definitely can't miss cannabis and prostitution in Amsterdam.

Sin 1: Marijuana and Hemp
Amsterdam is the only country which 'legalise' selling of drugs. But the term 'legalise' needs some clarification. The authority don't really legalise cannabis. But they have this tolerance act , in which the selling of drugs is tolerable , but not encouragable. I guess it's just like our budaya Buka sebelah mata , tutup sebelah mata.

And their coffee shop don't really sell coffee. Coffee shops are everywhere , all over Amsterdam. The main difference between coffee shops in Amsterdam and the typical Kopitiam in Malaysia is - they sell cannabis , not Kopi-O.Of course i hav to at least try once. Where can you get the chance to take marijuana without being caught? Don't worry , half a roll of marijuana won't make you can addict. And as creative as Malaysians who can come out with Durian Cake , here in Amsterdam they sell Marijuana Cake and Marijuana Coffee called Space Cake and Space Coffee. Amazing...Sin 2: Prositution

Window prostitution is a norm here in Amsterdam. It is nothing new , and in fact has existed since the olden days. Amsterdam used to and still is an important port. So when the ships arrived with sailors who have not seen girls for months , of course prostitutes were their best options to vent their pent-up sexual desires. And that's how window prostitution became a lucrative business.We followed a Red Light Dostrict tour which costed 21 euros per pax. Anyway , the input we got was well worth the money spent. We got the chance to meet an ex-prostitute Marissa , who is now working very hard to fight for the rights of prostitutes. And we also gained an insight into the world of prositutes , to understand them and to know how they feel.
Of course , wehave our own rights to choose how we want to live our life. Now one should be judgmental over others life. Not all prostitutes are forced into the business , some are willingly choosing this as their profession. The reasons - they like that sexual contact with men , they don't like to live that boring , mundane , routine lifestyle , they enjoy being in this exciting , adventurous business.

And walking around the Red Light District is just like window shopping for men. Really WINDOW shopping! One thing , guys window shop for flesh , not LV bags like girls. And its standard price for all , no bargain , no discount. Flat rate of 50 euros per session lasting 15 min. You get a choice of white , black , asian , fat , thin , transgender , cup A-Z. You name it , they have it.
Of course , condom business is brisk here too. See how much of condoms they use a day...

But one thing , there's not much of photos that i can upload from the Red Light District. No cameras are allowed near the girls , so we can only take pictures from far away , out of their sight. I don't want to risk my camera being thrown into the canal.

The funniest thing is , this chinese temple is built smack in the centre of the Red Light District. What a stark contrast with its surrounding! A neutralizer to all sins committed...

Amsterdam - Sex Museum

2008-07-03T19:36:00.003+02:00

3 boys , 1 destination - AMSTERDAM!!!

Amsterdam , undoubtedly the adult wonderland. It's a sin city where you can indulge yourself in almost everything imaginable , not restricted by laws , not bothered by regulations. It's the most liberal country on earth , where prostitution is just like any other business , where taking marijuana is just like smoking normal cigarettes. There's sooooo much to tell....

If seeing nude bodies around is an eye opener , i will say that a trip to Amsterdam is really a mind opener. It widens your horizon and brings you one step further to see what freedom really is.

Ok , let's start with this. Sex Museum. I don't know if anyone still remember the 1st sex museum i mentioned in Prague last year. This is the 3rd i have visited so far. I visited another one during my trip to London called "Amora".

Well , honestly speaking , there's nothing much of an hoo-haa about it. Ya , its a sex museum. So expect everything to be related to sex. If the sex museum in Prague is full of dildos , this one is full of erotic photos from all over the world , different countries , different colours , different styles.

Nevertheless , i shall put up some more 'interesting' ph0tos...

Ancient chinese sex orgy

toilet seat with male and female genitals

ever try telephone sex?

cake with large boobies

wow , this is more erotic. Not suitable for minor..

Picture enlarged

Penises

Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder...

ever seen one as massive as this?

Wedding of the Year

2008-06-22T23:48:00.003+02:00

Wedding bells are ringing! Merriness and excitement fill the air , from Olomouc all the way to Malaysia. Nothing leaves such an impact as this one. Undoubtedly the wedding of the year.

We have been craning our necks for this to happen , and finally Mal and Razin are meeting their "happily ever after" soon...Everyone is excited. Even more excited than the wedding couple. Hahaa...of course , they are the first couple among our friends to tie their knot.

It all started with chemistry. Fate and destiny appear when you least expected. Love appears anytime and anywhere. Believe in miracles , believe in fairy tale. Of course , this knight didn't come with a silver amour nor did he ride a white horse , but he came with one thick chemistry book...

This is truly a blessing in disguise.
If Cinderella had not failed chemistry the 1st time , she wouldn't have found her knight (with his chemistry book) ,
if he had not taught her chemistry , their chemical reaction would not have occured,
if there had not been any chemical reaction , their love bud would not have blossom ,
if the love bud had not blossomed , we would not be attending kenduri makan at Kg Majidee this 17 August...

May their marriage be filled with love , love and more love...

Circus

2008-04-27T20:21:00.004+02:00

I have not been to any circus for ages. Honestly , i have forgotten when was the last time i went. Anyway , there's this small scale circus in town for a week. So just to satiate that childhood crave and reliving that long gone childishness , we decided to attend one of the matinee. And trust me, it's truly worth every single cent we paid.

He can hardly steal the limelight from the animals....hehe

The Ruins of Devin Castle

2008-04-24T18:18:00.003+02:00

As part of the trip to Brastislava , i took a day tour to Devin Castle , which is located about 10 km away from the city centre. Devin Castle , perched high on top of the hill , at the confluence of Danube River and Morava River , has a strategic location of protecting the trade roads in ancient time.

Sadly to say , what is left today is the ruins of it. As most of the castle was destroyed by Napoleon's soldiers in 1800s.

This place exudes an air of mystery and calmness shrouded by it melancholic past. Unlike the city which is crowded with tourists , you can seek peace in mind here. Away from the hustle , back to the nature.

Easter Trip to Bratislava

2008-04-24T17:36:00.005+02:00

I have not been very consistent in updating my blog these days. And i ain't sure if there's still anyone checking on it now. Anyway , just for the sake of those who are still interested in knowing my whereabouts and life these days , i will try my best to keep this blog active. (Leave me a short comment to know that you are still reading....)

And i just realise that it is fast turning into a travel log. More of my trips and photos around Europe and very much less on my reflections and thoughts of life. Maybe life has reached a steady-state for the time being. Compared to a year ago when i just reached Czech , where everything is a new experience , everything is an eye-opener and everything seems so different and interesting , i have so much to say about life then.

Well , after a year , it seems that everything has become a norm. When you see girls scantily dressed (or even nude in the sauna...oopss) , it's just their culture. Nothing special. When you see people kissing on the streets , be it gays , lesbians or straights , it's their way of life. It's a liberal country.

And there's less ups and downs in life. And now that i have pretty much get accustomed to the life as a medical student, there are less to get excited about( unlike the 1st time you see a cadaver and dissect one) and complain about too. So life is about study , playing , drinking and the more interesting out of all- traveling. So that's the only thing that i can still share with everyone.

OKOK... Here are some photos from my Easter trip to Bratislava. For those who have not heard of Bratislava , its the capital of Slovakia , neighbour of Czech. And for those who have watched "Hostel 1" , it is here where most part of the film was shot.

Bratislava

Bratislava Castle

Hodzovo Namesti

The Frenchman

The Photographer

The Peeper

Communist Memorial Column

Distance from major cities aroun the world

Bratislava Castle
Time to eat...

Typical Slovak dish made of sheep cheese and minced meat.

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Malaysian Dreamgirl

2008-03-06T20:13:00.006+01:00

I just finished watching the 1st episode of Malaysian Dreamgirl at www.malaysiandreamgirl.tv. My response - dissappointed , both with the contestants and one particular judge , Kenny Sia.

Of course not all the contestants are that dissappointing. I particularly like Jean and Adeline. I think they do have the whole package , in terms of height , feature and fashion sense. Some girls had just committed too much of fashion faux pas so unbearable for the eyes to see , what more to say to go public.

Of course i am no fashion guru. But this are just my humble opinion. Fashion is not about wearing everything you like at the same time. You are not one Christmas Tree with all the decorations hanging around you , all at the same time for X'mas. And it's just common sense that colour combination is one crucial factor. And too much of floral patterns just make you look nothing but another Flower. So i guess simplicity is still the best policy. You are there to showcase yourself , not to be overshine by that plethora of colours on your clothes.

But there's another thing about the judge. I like Kenny Sia's blog. It's always witty and interesting. But for him to be a judge , hmmm... Ya , he has his own judgement on pretty girls. But fashion model is not like any pretty girl you come across on the street. Ya , it's true that when the girl appeals to guys in general , she will most probably appeal to the client. BUT , a model is supposed to adorn and sell the client's clothes , so of course their body figure , body frame , height should be taken into consideration. If you are a judge of Playboy magazine , that might be a different story.

And he should watch his words when he commented about the girl's fashion. Ya , it's always nice to have one devilish judge and one angelic one in reality show. But commenting a skirt like it is from the rubbish bin and a blouse like it is a mamak stall table clothes is very offensive. I find the skirt and the blouse lookable , it's only the wrong way of mix and match. And i guess such comment is also very disrespectful of the designer.

And Kenny makes the whole show look very Playboy-like audition. It does not seems like a professional model search with all his hoo-haa on seeing girls with skimpy clothes. Girls...you don't have to dress scantily to look sexy . Sexiness is not just about flashing flesh. That's LALA type of sexiness like what Elaine mentioned. Sexiness should be one that's provocative , revealing some yet covering the others , leaving some mystery and curiosity behind.

I think a model doesn't have to be pretty. But she does need to have certain features. Height and body figure apart , facial feature is of utmost importance. Face is the first thing we see. So at least one feature on the face should have the selling point. It's not just pretty face. Maybe the cheekbones , the voluptuous lip , the twinkling eyes , the sharp nose , the chiseled jaw bone....

Hopefully the 2nd episode will be much better. Looking forwards to seeing it soon...

Stonehenge

2008-03-06T19:13:00.004+01:00

Madame Tussauds

2008-03-06T18:37:00.008+01:00

Meet the royal family I was there when Newton discovered the Law of Gravity What about Einstein? E= mc2
It's an honour to be at the Red Carpet...
with Penelope Cruz and Will Smith Nicole Kidmann is here too
Or maybe Kate Moss
Tom Cruise Superman changing - before and after Pirates of the Caribbean

From Hollywood to Bollywood...

Salman KhanShah Rukh Khan Discussing strategy with Tiger Wood Vote for me ,
i ensure you no corruption , no empty promise , no inflation...

London at night

2008-03-06T18:30:00.003+01:00

London's night view just took my breath away. Taking a ride in the capsule of London's eye , taking in the view all around , seeing every gleam of light that adorn the skyscrapers and appreciating every moment of it...This is just worth dying for.

London, 7-10 February 2008

2008-03-06T17:54:00.006+01:00

London , here i come!!! Exploring London in 3 days... Bird's eye view of LondonDouble-decker and red telephone booth , typical hallmarks of London...
Standing at Trafalgar Square in front of the National Gallery
London Tower Tower Bridge Crusing along Thames River British Museum Great Court - Europe largest covered square Natural History Museum London has the most CCTVs in the world.
On average , you are being captured in CCTVs 300 times per day.
Anywhere you go,y0u are being watched.... Apollo 10 command module , which took 3 astrounauts around the moon in 1969 Sherlock Holmes China Town during Chinese New Year Buckingham Palace at night Harrods

Day Trip to Howth , 5 February 2008

2008-02-23T12:24:00.006+01:00

Thank you friends!

Dublin , 3-6 February 2008

2008-02-23T11:52:00.006+01:00

Molly Malone

What's my best experience in Dublin? Was it nursing the famous Guiness beer? Or was it walking around Temple Bar? Or could it be buying fresh veggies in Asia market? I guess nothing could beat the hospitality rendered by all the friends there - the chocolate cheese cake , lemon cake , walnut carrot cake , nasi lemak , sweet and sour chicken , dark soya chichen , kangkung , fried bee hun...

Fourth Courts

Kilmanhan Jail , reminds me of Prison Break

Trinity Collge , Ireland's Premier university

Bank with no window at all (Forgot the name of the bank)

St Patrick's Church

Tour around Dublin

O' Connell Street , see the Spire?

Phoenix Park

Liffey River

The Last Supper?

Temple Bar

Krakow , 1-2 February 2008

2008-02-23T11:31:00.003+01:00

Krakow, a city founded upon defeat of a dragon, is packed with beautiful historic buildings and streetscapes. Though nothing as superb and magnificent as those in Vienna , it remains to hold its own charm and mystery , each telling a story of its dark gloomy past.

The Barbican , a defensive bastion leading towards the old town

St Mary's Church in front of Rynek Glowny ,
Europe's largest medieval town square

Krakow at dawn

Wawel Cathedral
Castle Ground

Street in Old Town

Church of SS Peter and Paul

A trip to Poland won't be complete without visiting Auschwitz ,
the location of history's most extensive experiment in genocide.

Auschwitz , this is where the Nazi killed millions of Jews

Vienna , 29-31 January 2008

2008-02-23T11:09:00.005+01:00

Vienna needs no further elaboration. This is not my first trip here , and yet every time i am here , there are more to be seen , more to be explored.

I like the place , the people , the weather , the sights , the shopping and of course the world famous Sacher Torte. You have not tasted Sacger Torte until you try the authentic one from Hotel Sacher , the recipe of which still remains a secret until now.

UNO City - United Nation's Headquarter in Vienna

With our tour guide

UN office interior

Conference room

Hofburg Imperial Palace

Schloss Schonbrunn Garden

Rathaus

HundertwasserHaus , where men and nature live together.

State Opera House at night

Salzburg , 28-29 January 2008

2008-02-23T10:32:00.006+01:00

Who could have forgotten the evergreen "Sound of Music" which remains one of the best ever produced musical.And here i am in the town where this 1965 film was shot - Salzburg. The best town i have visited so far.

Fairy-tale like small town with cobbled street , from Gothic and Renaissance to Art Nouveau architectural heritage and horse carriage , these are a few of my favourite things...

Charming little town , where Mozart was born

Salzach River

Town of Salzburg

Festung Hohensalzburg (fortress) perched on top of the hill ,
overlooking the whole town

View from top the hill , with the Alps behind

Postcard-like scenery

Leopoldskron Castle , used as the Trapp family home.
Leopoldskron lake where the children were boating and later fell into it.

Nornberg Abbey , where Maria was a novice here

The Gazebo , where Liesl was singing "i am 16 turning on 17..."

Lake District

Remember the scene where the children were clinging on the trees?

Wedding church of Mondsee

Mirabell Garden where Maria and the children sang "Do , Re , Mi"

Mouth drooling apple strudel with vanilla ice cream

Prague , 26-27 January 2008

2008-02-23T10:11:00.004+01:00

Prague , with its multi-faceted charm ,that will lure anyone to its rich historical past yet not forgetting to entice us back to its present liveliness , is just the right spot to kick-off our European tour.

Jan Hus Monument , right in the centre of Stare Mesto

Meridean Line

The twin Gothic steeples of Tyn Church

Spectacular view of Prague Castle from Charles Bridge

View of Prague from Prague Castle

Astronomincal Museum on top of Petrin Hill...And we are lucky , we saw Mars!

Petrin Hill Tower

My journey begins now...

2008-02-23T10:04:00.001+01:00

The following blogs will all be about my trip this winter break with loads of pictures and minimum writings. So sit back and enjoy the breathtakingly beautiful pictures!

Nic's Kitchen

2008-01-17T17:02:00.000+01:00

It's all about my cooking...

Hamburger Croissant with Ham and Cheese Chicken in Cheesy Sauce Chinese Herbal Chicken Salmon with Terriyaki sauce

Minced Beef Ball

Honey Chicken

Minced Meat in Chinese Cabbage RollRoasted Chicken

Char Siew Pork

Stewed Beef

Orange Lemon Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken

Dumpling

Coffee Honey Chicken

Beef Chop

And me...haha

Malaysia...Haiksss

2008-01-12T20:36:00.000+01:00

I don't think Malaysia has a good start this year. What is wrong with everything? Within 2 weeks , 2 politicians are gone. One with scandal , another one shot dead.

I think it's time we sit back and review what is going around us. With the impending general election around the corner , it is not a good sign for the ruling party in anyway. Does everything happen out of coincidence?

First , about the sex scandal involving our ex health minister. Like what he said , Malaysians tend to act 'holier than thou' , thinking that everyone behaves nothing but like saint. Ya right! That's what every politician tries to portray. They just have to pray hard that their dark secrets will be kept till the grave and not spilled out the bag. Of course it is hard to accept a leader , tainted by such scandal ,to rule the country , but come to think of it again , who are we to judge others? Ya , we tell people we are religious , we are holy , but when you cut all these craps , how many out there are with mistresses , having one night stands? Just because you are not caught in the act in cctv doesn't mean you are safe. And what about those corrupted ones? Their despicable act are still kept sealed. Maybe since all the 'small fishes' are caught , there are no more scapegoats to be sacrificed , so all the anti corruption campaigns just dissappear with the wind.

And everyone knows that is it a political move to thrash a politician , just like what happened to Bill Clinton years ago. And yet , we are advocating such act by not giving the minister a second chance. And no politicians are dare enough to stand up and fight on his behalf. Enough of all those comments " he is my comrade" , "he is a good leader" , "we will miss a great leader" . That's it? I guess Karina Lau was luckier that time when all Hong Kong artists stood by her side and fight with her when her nude photos were exhibited by unscrupulous party.

And to the second case which just happened today. It makes me wonder , how safe is Malaysia? To be shot point blank in the lift. I thought it could only happen in movie scene. So now , Malaysian are living in fear. Who knows what will happen next?

I wouldn't say it is a political turmoil in the country. Of course no country leader will admit that it is no matter what. As they always won't. When have you heard our leaders said we are in trouble. Everything is under control despite issues spiraling out beyond control. Even when the blind can see it , the deaf can hear it , they are still oblivious and ignorant of it.

What about the issue of Hindraf? What about the issue of demonstrations in KL? It is not a SMALL problem. It is not a SIMPLE problem. When people have grudges and have no way to channel it , they will seek the extreme way. And if our leaders are still not paying enough attentions to it , it will soon be an epidemic discontent and outrage. It's better to weed out the problems before it turns cancerous.

But sadly to say , they are not taking the right approach towards the problems. Banning demonstrations doesn't mean problem is solved. Capturing people doesn't mean problem is solved either. With such easy accesibility towards mass media and telecommunication , propaganda , ideology , plan and motive can reach out far to all and sundry. So even if demonstrations are banned , there are other ways to convey their thinking. And Malaysians are getting more educated, which is what government want. But they have to be aware that with education and knowledge , people are also more politically aware and want to voice up their opinions and views. It is not like food and money alone will silence the mouths during our forefather's time.

In a democratic country , people's voice means nation's voice. But how many times do leaders listen? Only sucked-up opinions are shown. And all criticisms are covered up. How are we going to improve if all is perfect? And general public are scared to voice up due to all the restrictions and laws imposed , while the other few fearless ones will seek radical way , but eventually end up eating 'curry rice'.

We love our country. We want the best for the country. But are we really going the right way? We are playing on international arena. Each and every move we make is seen by everyone. And by how we act now , we are a laughing stock for the others. See the interview by Al-Jazeera with our information minster about the demonstration issues. I don't even understand what he was trying to say. Obviously it was rather a ridiculous opinion. Sigh~

We just pray for a better year ahead. Pray hard. That's what we are best in doing. Whenever anything goes wrong. PRAY...

Just Snow

2008-01-11T11:32:00.001+01:00

It's winter again. It's snowing again. It's all about snow...

Happy 2008..Recap of 2007

2008-01-11T10:44:00.000+01:00

HAPPY 2008!

This is my first blog of the year. And also my first blog after so many months. The last one was written in September , so i practically have not open my blog for almost 4 months. And i don't even know if anyone is still checking out my blog. Nevertheless , i will keep writing what i want..Life since coming back from summer holiday has been great. TOO GREAT at times. As in i did not let any seconds and minutes pass unused. Because there were so many things to do. To cut it short , i was very very busy. There is no point for further elaboration , as you will hear the same old things as you will hear from any other medical students "too much to study laaa.." , "exam very hard laa.." But we are not grumbling , as indeed it's true. Imagine sitting and studying almost 8-10 hours a day , including weekend. The time left will very much be treasured for sleeping.

Anyway , having said that , it's not like we are a bunch of nerds doing nothing but studying. So here's a recap of the parties and celebration that we had in the past few months:

Since Hamsath has moved out from her hostel and got her own apartment , we have found a new chill out and party spot. So a lot of gatherings were held at her place. First was a birtday bash for Mal and Azam. Then there were Bak Kut Teh sessions , Nasi Lemak sessions , Deeparaya gathering and last but not least , Xmas party!

I roasted the chicken...Hehe

Then we received invitations from Malaysian Embassy in Prague for a few gatherings. One memorable one will be the Hari Raya gathering where we met Amber Chia. She was on a filming trip to Europe and coincidentally stopped by here during the gathering. And did i mention before that Dr Chua Soi Lek met us here in Prague too , during his rounds around Europe after attending some Health convention in Geneva. Anyway , that was months ago before any scandal was revealed.

my close-up photo with Amber Chia

And there has been lots of clubbing and party sessions this semester.

The highlights i think is the party with Erasmus students 'Love Party' , where everyone is out to show his or her love and affection. The dresscode : Red - getting married , Orange - flirting is ok , Green - i am single and available.

Then we have the Halloween party. I think my make-up was like shit. Bluerkksss. Going to do a better job next year. hahah...

And CZEMSA has organised one massive Malaysian Night in Olomouc in which the ambassadors and officers from the embassy , lecturers and friends from other places were invited.

And i think that's a few highlights during these few months. And without realising it , that's also the culmination of another year , GREAT year indeed. As we welcome year 2008 , i know i am one step up in maturity and responsibility. May it be a great year ahead for everyone!

Holiday

2007-09-22T23:08:00.000+02:00

This is my second week back to Olomouc. As usual once class has started , my blog will pretty much remain stagnant. But i am trying to keep it updated. I will try...

After 2 months more of holiday , i am finally back to reality , the harsh reality of studying medicine. And what have i done over these past two months back home? Well , it's quite a lot indeed.

My first week was spent mostly with my friends. How nice it was that after so many years , most of us keep in touch closely with each other.
Hamsath and her friends visited Kuching. And we all went to the Rainforest Music Festival which i must say is awesome. The workshops , the concert and the party , everyone who was there must had a great time!

Then i was off to KL to meet my old time buddies from INTEC and Kuching Town. Everyone still stay pretty much the same , except some slight physical changes. Ya...Almost every single person i met mentioned one thing about me - i have gained weight. And that's an undeniable fact since i have indeed gained 10 kg over a year.

Then a trip to KL will not be complete without shopping. And a large portion of my time was spent on shopping. And it timely coincided with Mega Sale. So what was it to do for a shopaholic like me? SHOP!!! From Sg Wang to Times Square to Lot 10 , then further down to KLCC and One Utama , my cash was flowing like water and my pocket was left with a big hole. It was irresistable. I just realise how nice it is to shop in Malaysia , when you have Euros to spend. Hehehee....

After that, Tammy was back to Kuching , bringing along two of her friends. Once again , i played host bringing them around. And Kuching is a haven of food , synonymous with food like Laksa , Kolo Mee and Tomato Kueh Teao. So a trip to Kuching will not be complete without eating. Massive eating , indeed. And Tammy is the best standing testimony of how much we ate. As day by day you can see more flesh added to her body. Hahah joking...

And i also got the chance to meet up with my friends who were back for holiday from Russia too.

Then i was back to KL for the second time. And this time round , due to limited cash left after the 1st trip , i had to make budget for my spending. So the best thing to do is to avoid shopping complexes and head for sightseeings. So i went to "Eyes on Malaysia" , celebrated merdeka at Putrajaya watching fireworks , and rekindled my playful inner child at Genting Theme Park with Alvin.

And for the rest of the time , i was just chilling at home , spending precious time with family , eating or working out at the gym.

So that's about all that i have done in the holiday. And i am looking forward , really forward until next year or a year after next , for my next trip home. There's always no place better than home....

Aquarius

2007-09-12T17:15:00.000+02:00

My friend send me this post. And i find it 95% accurate about me. Please read:

Aquarius Jan 20 - Feb 18 AQUARIUS MAN

Hot-hearted man who likes to do thing his way. He can suddenly decide to do something without thinking of it's outcome. He is the type of guy with an inside energizer, so if you fall in love with this type of guy be "patient", even if you have to follow him a bit. His creative mind could create fantastic idea any time. If you do not understand or can not follow him, you won't be with him for long.

A man in this Zodiac will less likely to have a pale skin, and if he has a scar, it would be on his face or on his head. He moves very fast and very energetic, and he has a very self confident in himself. He loves justice. He dares to show his opinion or even argue about certain subject even he knows it might bring him problems. A straight forward type of guy.

He is gifted with the ability to be a very social person. He could talk even about subject that he has no knowledge of. He interests only at the present time and look at the world positively. Many times he feels hurt because of reality, but he will not run away and he will overcome that difficulty.

Even he is a high and self confident type and center his own thought as a main focus, but at the same time he is a kind, cute and polite guy. He certainly is not a mean person. He likes to help people who are in troubles even he is not asked to. He is the type who feels sorry if you remember bad things he said to you that he had already forgotten, but you did not. Belief him that he is very sorry and give him another chance.

Once he decides to do something, he will put all his mind and energy in it either in his "Work", or "Love". He is the type who gamble anything in the casino, so do not even take him there. He does not like pessimistic, low energy, and depress person, especially no brain. Strangely he like to overpowered this type of people to assure that he is more superior.

If you date this kind of guy, do not or avoid showing your face to him with face pack, face mask, always be presentable, nice and cute. If he is quiet not because he is shy, but he is only quietly thinking. If you have a chance to ask his X-girlfriend, she will tell you that he is not a shy or quiet type. If he is really and truly in love with you, he will never lie to you at all. How do you know if he loves you, bet on your faith! Love him and treat him steadily and do not try to find anything to argue with him, he will be with you for sure.

If you are his lover or girlfriend and need to tell him something, go and say it out loud and straight forward because he hate long boring story. He hate to play games, chasing for love or being chased, so let him call you first. He likes a confident woman who also a good follower. If he gets mad at you, let him be for only a short time he will be normal again. You have to like and be able to get along with his friends, but he does not have to do so with all your friends.

Don't ever think you could make him jealous by flirting with other man, he will just leave instead of making a scene because he is a confident man and has to be the first in everything.

2007-09-09T19:05:00.000+02:00

Happy 50th anniversary to my beloved country!

Yes , it has gained independence for 50 years. Things have changed for the better (or for worse). In retrospect , we can see a lot of differences 50 years ago and now. I was not born in the pre-Merdeka era. In fact i was born in the 80s. And our generation are constantly being reminded about the hardships of the yesteryears. People think we don't treasure our independence that much , we are being pampered too much , we don't understand much.

And this is my humble opinion about the country.

We are a nation that like to be praised. I am not saying that acknowledgement is not good. Of course good deed must be given credit. But not as much as in our country. The titleships , the awards , the chance to appear on headlines... When we are praised , we think we are good enough , we then tend to slack and be complacent , so we think we have achieved enough. That's the time we close our eyes and take a nap , by the time we wake up , our friends are already far ahead of us.

There is no time for a nap , people are working 24-7 , and yet we are working 5 days a week , 9 am to 10 am , TEA BREAK one hour , 10 am to 12 pm ,LUNCH BREAK 2 hours , 2 pm to 3pm , TEA BREAK one hour , 4 pm to 5 pm , pack bag and go home. How wonderful life is.

The only thing everyone is good at - EAT..See how many breaks we have a day? How much of food we consume a day? Nasi lemak , nasi goreng , pisang goreng ,roti canai... A look on the street and u can 8 out of 10 people have bulging belly. Not beer belly , but nasi lemak belly.

And it is time we get out of our own coccoon of cotton sugar and throw our lollipops away. We are not as good as we think. We just assume we are good. I know the Boleh! slogan is good to spark our spirit. But too much of something might not bring as good a result as we expect. Anything and everything , we will just shout"Boleh!".

I still don't get it sometimes...Does making the longest flag make us Boleh? Does baking the largest cake make us sooo Boleh also? I don't mean to undermine the effort of our people reaching southpole , climbing mount Everest , swimming across strait etc. Those great deeds should be remembered. But how do they impact the life of all and sundry? Tell me more Boleh things that we can do...Maybe we should not only send someone to the space , but be the country that make the spaceship , or find a new planet. Maybe we should have more Nobel laureates in the field of science and technology. Maybe our universities should be enlisted in the world top 10 ten best universities (instead of giving reason for slipping down the stairs as the faults of the marking system). Maybe our currency should be stronger (so that we don't find it a hard time surviving in Europe , UK , USA ....)

We have to learn to take criticisms more positively. We have a culture of finger pointing. Whenever there is criticism , we point someway else. When there is praise , we point back to ourselves. When we know we are wrong , we do not apologise , instead we shoutback , we act fierce and do everything a barbarian does. We always speak more than we do. We speak of a thousand great things , and yet it will usually take years and years for some meagre little things to be done.

We have a culture of "Hangat-hangat tahi ayam". Everything starts with a bang , but end with a whisper. When serious accident happen , op after op are launched for a month , or two...Mat Rempits have their bikes in garage for a few months , then when tension subsides , they are back on the road. When certain crime is charged in court ,the whole nation is focused on the same issue , making it the newspaper headline for a month , or two...After trials and trials , people tend to get bored , newspaper find it less sensational to report , so sooner or later , they just disappear.

The fact is...we still have a lot of shortcomings that need to be improved. We have less than 2 decades to achieve our vision , and if we still do not beef up our effort , we will soon be bidding farewell to it.

2007-09-09T18:02:00.000+02:00

This is the continuation of my previous post. There are even more intolerable acts that i realise after my trip to Kl recently.

4. Jumping queue

How i wish i have a hammer in the hand and hit hard on those "queue jumpers". I went on a trip to Genting on Saturday. So obviously there were a lot a lot of people. Somemore , there was a huge group of tourist from India , as many as a thousand people. So we expect the cable cars to carry passengers to their full capacity. And the queue was extremely long. Look at the photos , there were thousands of people waiting for their turn. And the law abidding me had to stand there for an hour before my turn came. I am not grumbling , as everyone (pardon me , most of the people) , the young and elderly , were all doing the same.

BUT , there were just some shameless , annoying , disgusting , non-civilised people who jumped queue. The heat and humidity was enough to give discomfort to everyone , and to see such inconsiderate act was just too infuriating. If it were parents carring young children or the elderly , we can still accept it. BUT it wasn't. First , i saw these 2 strong , hefty , healthy young men jumping the queue. Then followed by a young couple. What's wrong with them?? Shameless morons...

5.When using public transport...

How do you know you are in KL? Use the public transport. That's what struck me when i first stepped down. KLites are just soo kiasu when taking public transport. It was pre merdeka. Obviously there were throngs of people using public tranports. And civilised people know we HAVE TO QUEUE. And we have to let passengers inside the train come out before we enter.

BUT again , there were people who just tried to squeeze in once the door open. They were not the very small size type (ehemm...) and just imagine the resistance they created for the people coming out. Isn't it easy for a one way flow? And once they have entered the train , they will just stand right at the entrance stone still, not budging in a little bit further for others to enter. Can't they be a little bit more tolerative? And i had to wait almost an hour , missing a few trains before finally embarking on one.

Intolerable acts

2007-08-24T17:49:00.000+02:00

There are some attitudes that i could barely tolerate:

1. Trying to act generous

A few days back , we had lunch at one of the seafood restaurants at Muara Tebas ("Cheh Sua"). Muara Tebas is reknowned for its seafood as well as the good-fengshui chinese temple. While eating , there came this loud commotion over the table next to ours.

"Oui! tell you don't pay oh! I pi bin (change face) liao oh! Tauke neo (lady boss) , i warn you cannot take money from him..."one of the red-faced , round-bellied , cigarette-stick-in-the mouth guy shouted.

"No la , no la...I pay i pay...beh hiao kin(nevermind)" another guy with a softer tone spoke from the counter.

Then immediately this cigarette studded guy stood up , walked over to the counter , swung the wallet from the back pocket and pulled out the money. That ended the drama. Someone has footed the bill.

What a drama...Why do people always have to fight to pay? Is it a show of generosity? Or merely an act of table manner. Aiyah pai seh la , need you to belanja me... But to me , shouting while others are eating is nothing of an act of well manners.

If somebody has mentioned that he is going to treat you for the meal , just let him be the host this round. And if there's a chance next time , treat the person back. Then it will save a lot of energy , saliva and drama while eating.

And to add on , if the guys were so generous, the chinese temple there needs public donation. Why not one of them pays for the meal , and another one donates the money?

2. Phone etiquette

If you realise , people (especially guys , even more specifically older men) like to speak loudly over the phone. It is not eavesdropping , but sometimes we can hear the person's conversation at a distance as far as 5 m. I don't want to hear what he says , but it is just that my ears can't selectively filter nonsense and nuisance.

We have very weird reflex reaction. When we can't hear clearly what someone from the other side of the phone say , we don't say 'pardon me'. Instead , we raise our voice and speak louder. C'mon! We can't hear clearly doesn't mean the person on the phone can't hear us too... So when people can't hear clearly , they will go from hello... hello... heLLO... HELLO... HELLLLL!... LOOOO!!!

3. In the cinema

I am very very particular when watching movies in the cinema. I am easily irritated and annoyed by people who chat and make noise. Argghhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Kuching people are busy lots , they can't even spare that one and a half hour of movie time concentrating on the movie and keeping their mouth shut.

I watched Rouge Assassin just now at Star cineplex. There were these group of 5 or 6 teenagers in front of my row. Before the movie started ,this chatterbox was busy talking to his friends around. Fine..it's just advertisement. Then once the movie started , he continued with his conversation.

And these days , cinemas usually have advertisements asking patrons to switch their handphones to silent mode and keep quiet.This person is either blind or deaf. He didn't off both - his handphone and his mouth. And my anger and frustration were getting the better of me. I could hardly concentrate on the conversations in the movie and there were no subtitles. My first attempt was to give him a long SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...He stopped for 10 seconds and continued talking.

What the hell? The second time i just said 'Mother f**cker , can someone just keep the mouth shut and watch movie??' This time i think he heard me. But to no avail , a while later his handphone rang and he resumed his business.

Finally the movie ended. I can't really catch the movie. But i caught a glimpse of that person. How i wish someone will just teach him a lesson. I still have not released my pent up anger. Then when i saw the guy and his friends waiting for the lift , i just can't stop but blurted out " If someone cannot understand english movie , then don't come and watch la...Don't keep on talking." (the movie has no BM subtitles) Hopefully he heard me. At least i felt better speaking out.

When can people respect others? Stop talking in the cinema. Can't we impose fine on these chatterboxes?

Fireworks

2007-08-23T17:33:00.001+02:00

A month long of feasts and celebrations in Kuching finally culminated with a "bang" by this spectacular fireworks display. The inky night sky if Kuching was momentarily adorned by this splash of myriad of colours...

And i am now looking forward to the Malaysia International Fireworks Competition in Putrajaya. Will be flying to KL next week so hopefully can make it for the 30 August presentation.

Tip-Tip Poligami

2007-08-16T19:13:00.000+02:00

Came across this book while browsing through Popular "Pop Club" brochure.

This is the description of the book. Quote:
"Menghuraikan gambaran sebenar poligami dengan mengambil kira pandangan beberapa pihak. Turut menyelami naluri isteri yang perlu difahami oleh suami sebelum dan semasa berpoligami. Padat dengan TIP TIP dan DOA DOA bagi suami , isteri dan individu yang terlibat dalam berpoligami..."

Hmmm...book for poligami. Interesting...Need any further comment?

Red Alert

2007-08-14T17:50:00.000+02:00

Got back my medical report. See the highlighted parts? Hmm...Too high of uric acid and LDL cholesterol. Alarm is ringing...Time to change my eating habit. Less fat , less oil and less meat!

Showing Patriotism Carefully...Don't Play Play

2007-08-13T17:25:00.001+02:00

In less than 20 days , we will be celebrating our country's 50th National Day. And as a nation with great creativity ,and people with great enthusiasm and patriotism , many are vying to show their love for the country in the most unique way.

But don't play play , you may be playing with fire. Instead of being deemed as heroes , you might end up eating curry rice behind the bars.

Just like our country 'budding' lyricist Wee Meng Chee ,who gave our national anthem a new facelift with his rap version ,is now hot under fire as his deed was deemed a defamation to the country. What started of as a joke turned out to be a hot debate among politicians now. But honestly speaking , his version of national anthem receives more attention than the original version. And his version receive more viewership in youtube than our cuti-cuti malaysia advertisement. If only tourism malaysia can come out with such a gimmick , we might be able to attract more tourists.

According to the ceremonial division and international conference secretariat of the Prime Minister's Department (phew! such a long name as quoted from the newspaper) , we can't make cakes with the design of the national flag on them. Why??? Because you are going to cut and eat it!

And you are allowed to wear the national flag as clothing. But at the same time it is not proper for you to display it as a bikini ,swimsuit or towel. Or use it as a cushion or toilet seat cover , most probably because your butt is touching it. This makes me wonder ...how do we wear the national flag on our body , without our butt touching it? Hmmm...We do need to consult the secretariat again.

So the best way to do , be a law abidding citizen. Wave the flag the normal way like everyone does.Why want to make a fuss out of it and get yourself into trouble? If you have more time , read our constitution and know well about the Dos a Don'ts la...

2007-08-06T17:15:00.000+02:00

It's a Sunday afternoon at home. With temperature as high as 33 degree celcius , i am too reluctant to drag myself out of the house.

So the best thing to do at home with family - cooking...

My first attempt of Butter PrawnAnd Cheese Cake..And it all turned out delicious...Hmm...

Shopaholic

2007-08-06T11:30:00.000+02:00

Ya...admittedly i am a shopaholic... Sometimes i do think i have slight symptoms of Compulsive Shopping Disorder too...ehem..

I was browsing through my wardrobe finding for clothes to wear when i realised i have such huge number of shirts and pants left here. And yet i still convinced myself i have not enough to wear in Czech so i was on quite a lot of shopping sprees in Olomouc and Prague.

When the wardrobe unfold , i realised i can even classify my shirts into different colours and categories. T shirts , sleeveless , shirts , jumpers , jackets. And different series - chequered , stripes , black , grey , blue , white so on and so forth.Then when it comes to pants , there are series of different colours- black , grey , brown , biege , blue , be it slacks , jeans or short pants.And perfumes - CK , Polo , Boss , Giorgio Armani , Davidoff...These are part of the collections of my shoes...

And last but not least , these are bags of stuff i bought from my recent shopping. I still have no time to sought it out properly.This blog is all about the vanity in me. Okay okay...sometimes I am vain , with mild narcissism. So what? Haha...

Kuching Festival

2007-08-04T17:29:00.001+02:00

ALCA , Kuching Mascot

Kuching festival , one of the much anticipated yearly events of the town. Maklumlah...there is not much happenings here. So this is a MAJOR event for us. It's a whole month of celebration , to commemorate Kuching being declared a city.

So the highlight of this whole event is undoubtedly the food fair. For gluttons like us , or Kuching people in general , this is the time when you can savour all the good food in Kuching under one roof. The truth is , it is not really a great experience eating at the food fair. The huge crowd , the limited seats , the super hot and humid weather. Imagine elbowing through the crowd , vying for the seats , rubbing against all the slimy sweaty skin , sniffing the body odour instead of the fragrant food. That's the real scenario.

And i think we have very much get used to it. In retrospect , during our teenage years (which was just a few years back , i am not very old yet ok) it was our must go annual outing with friends. For all the weekends in August , the food fair will be our rendezvous. I can't imagine how i could bear the heat that time to dress impressively just to go to the food fair. Looking around at the youngsters with vests , jackets , boots , long socks...and me , in my shorts pants and t-shirts and slippers now. Those were the days...

And food fair used to be of so much fun when everyone was around. But now ,most people of my batch are no longer around in Kuching. And our holidays don't usually coincide with Kuching festival. So what is left is that meagre few figures who could hardly make up the joy and fun we had before.

Having said so , i am appreciative that i can make it back for this event this year. Losing the company of my friends , i have the company of my parents. And now my sister is the one going out with her form 3 gang. How fast the world has turned around.

And i think the parade on Saturday was pretty good. Okaylah...Not bad..

City cleaners get a day off

Our traditional costumes
Cats ...Kucing...Kuching
Such a poser

Digi "I will follow you... all the way to Kuching Parade"

Good food

2007-08-02T19:35:00.001+02:00

Maybe after too much of good food...
a meal of kaya and butter toast , 'ping pong' brand crackers
and a cup of hot think milo taste really awesome. Ooooo...... Heaven!

Love is Cinta

2007-08-02T18:25:00.000+02:00

Thumbs up for Love is Cinta. How long have i not watched such a touching , romantic love story produced in Asia. The last two i watched were Perhaps Love and Sepet. Apart from Sepet , i don't recall any that has left the slightest pinch on my skin , not to mention has touched my heart. Not to say that i am throwing towel to the local entertainment industry , but compared to our neighbour Indonesia , many of our movies can really go down the drain.

Okay , let's make some comparisons. For Malaysian movies , generally before we sit down and watch , we roughly know what will happen. So i am with utmost unwillingness to drag my feet into the cinema and waste my rm10 on such movies.

Comedies usually have those few actors/actresses as leads , and we tend to make fun of mentally retarded and fat people. And that same few lame jokes. And people must fall whenever they find a chance to do so. And ladies must be smeared with the thickest makeup and possibly big moles near the cheek.

For horror movies , it's always the same few pontianaks. Don't the pontianaks need some rest and let someone take over the job? Pontianak with white robs flying around , sharp pointed teeth , red eyes...Isn't this so 90's??

And action movies , c'mon...Please...I beg...Can the girls who wish to dress scantily shed a few more pounds before they appear on the screen? And the guys who want to unbutton their shirts pump up a few more packs? Compare Mat Rempit( i watched it in cinema with Jimi and his sis , the only 3 chinese) with Fast and Furious...Ehem..And now Haru Biru...And coming soon Impak Maksima..

When we come to acting skills , i definitely praise them for their hard work- in memorising. On the screen , we can still see them trying hard to read out what they memorise , is READ OUT , not ACT OUT. Eyes are the most expressive organs. Instead of moving a lot to show anger , joy or sadness , a good actor can convey message just by the eyes. But sadly to say , what we see in most of them here are eyes that lack confident , and nothing more.

Back to Love is Cinta this movie , kudos to the main leads -Irwansyah, Acha Septriasa, Raffi Ahmadfor their outstanding performances. They really show the true emotions in every scene. Acha Septriasa cried in almost every scene , and yet you feel it is adequate , not overdone and just look real enough.

And of course the most captivating part is the plot. I guess they have injected enough "Wow" factors to keep the audience's eyes glued to the screen. The sudden unexpected twist of fate ,and another surprising turn of story make the 2 and half hour movie seems ephemeral. I didn't expect the hero to die ,Oops ! Did i spill the beans out? And some homosexual issues in between. And angel around?

I am eagerly waiting for a local production worth commenting in the blog soon. The last one i have commented so far is Sepet and that was ages ago. So keep the fingers crossed...

Rainforest World Music Festival

2007-08-02T09:14:00.000+02:00

Rainforest World Music Festival rocks!!! It was super duper awesome. Words can hardly describe how wonderful the whole event was. Honestly speaking , i was rather skeptical initially at how worth the RM200 ticket can be for such an event. But everything changed after the first night. I am pretty sure even if they hike up the price , people are still willing to pay and travel across the globe to attend this annual event.

And RWMF has definitely marked Sarawak , or specifically Kuching on the world map. As much as tourists know Indonesia by Bali , hopefully they also recognise Malaysia by Sarawak. C'mon , we no longer live on trees. We organise massive event now.

Musicians from around the world converged at Sarawak Cultural Village , each bringing the quitessential musical instruments from their respective countries. And what awes me more is that , despite coming from different part of the world , hindered by language barrier , but when it comes to music , all these walls are being torn down. In this current state of political turmoil between the west and the middle east, how rare it is to see people from such countries standing together side by side. And yet , music proved to melt the feelings of hatred , abhorrence and repugnance , bringing along joy and peace. We have musicians from Lebanon and Afghanistan , at the same time we too have artists from the UK and USA performing together. If only Bush and Osama can do the same thing...The daily workshops proved to be a hit among the visitors. All the workshops are packed with throngs of people , each eager to learn , to share or to watch. I enjoyed the percussions the most , in one of the workshop named "Heartbeats". Our heart really beat in accordance with the rhythm. And everyone was so high that at the end of the show , we were all up on the feet , dancing , chanting and clapping along. That's the power of rhythm and music.
And performance by Black Umfolosi from Zimbabwe was definitely the highlight of the concert. By just the simple tunes of "In the jungle , the mighty jungle , the lion sleeps tonight...Wooo...laaa.." , they managed to get thousands of hand up on the air clapping and swaying.
Rainforest World Music Festival , see you next year!!!

Paris - Charles de Gaulle

2007-07-07T18:41:00.000+02:00

Ya , i have been to Paris..erm..to be more accurate - i have stepped foot on Paris. Even more specifically , i have just stayed at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport for mere 2 hours for transit on my way back.

So don't ask me anything about Eiffel tower or Champs-Elysees. I haven't seen them. But don't worry , i will definitely pay them a visit in this near future.

Anyway , these are just a few snapshots i manage to catch at the airport.

Finding that Right stuff

2007-07-07T09:06:00.001+02:00

Studying medicine...Anything glamorous? Ask any medical students around..

If not , why study?

I think we don't study just for the sake of being called Dr. XXX . And not to bask in that shining glomour ( if there is any). Also not to earn that meagre few thousand ringgit (who said doctors are rich?)

I think we are just finding the Right stuff for ourselves. I read medicine because i enjoy what i am doing. I am interested. I find human body fascinating. I take challenges. I like to work under pressure. I am a workaholic. I abhor mundance 9 to 5 office job.

There are so many things around that you can do. The world is not occupied by lawyers , doctors and engineers only. We have entered Globalisation 3.0 where everything is possible. Anything imaginable can be done. Heard of Search Engine Optimiser(SEO)? Google search it yourself.

Quoting from Thomas L. Friedman in his book "The World is Flat" :

CQ + PQ > IQ

CQ - curiosity quotient

PQ - passion quotient

IQ - intelligence quotient

So curiosity and passion are the motivations that keep us going , rather than just scoring high.

And most importantly is a paradigm shift in parents mentality. Asking the kids to ask a good question a day is more important than asking them how much they score. Inject the right motivation to spark the right interest , so that they find the Right stuff in life!

Seeing the difference

2007-07-07T08:23:00.000+02:00

Any difference after almost 9 months not back in Malaysia?

Kuching is still Kuching , charming , lovely , cosy as ever. A few more hang out spots - Wishing Well , Living Room , and some Philipine food shops which i have forgotten about their names. 2 new shopping complexes coming out soon. Another flyover on the way to airport. Ok ok..government is doing something , we can see the development and progress.

Some remain unchanged. Malaysia is still Malaysia. Some issues still remain unsolved. People still muddle in that old pool of muddy water.Some male chauvinists still rule the country. Some idiotic and sexist comments are still thrown out in Parliment. "BP tiap-tiap bulan pun bocor!" "Duduklah , jangan macam monyet!" (Check out youtube for more , this is how we see the performance of MPs)Is this the way a gentleman speak? Are these bickerings for the good of the people or purely personal attacks? Sigh..

And gangsterism , rape cases are escalating. How safe is our country? And why can't the law enforcers realise that rape cases are not caused only by sexy dressing or exposure of flesh???? They just can't take it that it can be due to the inner beast of the rapists. And stop pointing fingers at the wrong direction. And stop blaming Western cultures for any moral decadence in the society. I don't see any serious problems when girls are scantily dressed in bikini walking on the streets in Summer. They don't fall prey to any pyschotic rapists. Here girls are wrapped from top to bottom under 33 degree celcius yet they don't escape such calamities. In fact i believe that the more restriction we impose , the more curiosity the people become , and of course the easier it is to get stimulated. So...

We are nearing our Vision 2020. Konon-kononnya lah... Ya , undoubtedly our facilities can match that of developed countries , but our mentality , sorry lah , still in a poor (pathetic) state of affair. The most crucial ingredient in developing a country is its man power , the people's brains , and this is something we have neglected all this while.

So has there been any significant change? Maybe i should see it after half a decade , not after a year..

2007-07-07T08:03:00.000+02:00

Journey back home
Flying across half the globe...
Taking 5 transits...
From Olomouc via Vienna via Paris via Amsterdam via KL via Kuching...
Spending almost 40 hours...

Finally back home...
Home Sweet Home...
Everything remains the same , just as 9 months ago...
My clothes , my books , even the mud for hair...
And yet not covered even bya film of dust..

Aaaa....
Home is always the best!

Eating the best food...
Not doing anything for the whole day...
No worries about exam...
Indulge in dramas and movies as long as i want...
Letting myself rot once in a while...
This is relaxation..

2007-07-07T07:59:00.001+02:00

Blog reactivated!!

Finally......back to holiday mode...

Bye bye 1st year...

3 months of summer break...

Stay tuned...More to come....

Friends

2007-05-12T00:32:00.000+02:00

Friends come and go. But some stay , either longer or forever. It's kind of hard to say forever though , as forever has no time limit , and no one can really foresee what will happen the next minute.

It's lucky to have just a few very good friends , those we share our joy , our sorrow and our everything with. Acquaintances might abound , but at the end of the day , what i cherish the most is that few souls that accompany me through thick and thin , that few beings that see me cry and see me laugh , that few friends that i would not trade for anything.

Out of billions of population that we have come to meet each other is a fate , and to become close friends is a destiny. To cherish it , to treasure it and to keep hold of it.

When we were young , 'best' friend might have an expiry date. 'Best' friend might change every once in a while. 'Best' friend must be the one that do everything together.

As we grow older , 'best' friend has become an antique , the older the better. 'Best' friend is the one that stand by each other even if the sky came crushing down. 'Best' friend don't have to be together all the time , but the heart is connected at all times.

Close friendship is not formed out of perfection. None of us are perfect. But the bond is formed because we have come to accept who each other is , to accept each other's weaknesses and accomodate each other's shortcomings.

True friendship is the one that is traded with heart , not money. True friendship is the one that , at the end of the day you will say ' Thank God , I know you!'

Muse

2007-04-27T00:26:00.000+02:00

Is it testosterone that is fooling around?

Or is forbidden apple always tastes better?

Is infatuation just a temporary blindness?

Is there always right or wrong , or just grey area?

Floral Exhibition

2007-04-27T00:13:00.000+02:00

Olomouc annual Floral Exhibition at Vystviste Flora..
It's all about flowers , flowers and more flowers...

You just can't get enough of flowersss...

And not forgetting 'exotic' tropical flowers like our national flower - Hibiscus , which has to be specially cultivated inside the green house..

And also cactus..
And not forgetting the crowd..

Number 1

2007-04-22T00:13:00.000+02:00

Most , if not all of us , aim for number 1 in life. No.1 in class , No.1 in school , No.1 in competition , No.1 in everything.. Ya..Number 1. Number 1 , our aim , our parents' expectation. Number 1 - a show of superiority , excellence and merit. We always feel that being number 1 will prove that we are the best.

Maybe my stint in INTEC has changed my view. How do you want to be the 'BEST-EST' among the bests? Everyone is the best in his or her school to get the scholarship. Why make life so hard trying to best the bests?

And it's not just the number of A1s that determine how good a student is. Everyone has that extra niche that makes him or her unique. Some can sing better , some are musical prodigies , some have superb oratory skills , some have that extra sports gene..... So there is no criteria for the definition of BEST.

Then being here now , i can see even a larger variety of people from very different backgrounds. People being brought up differently , people with different culture , people with different views in life , people half a globe away from us.

What i want to bring out is , rather than striving hard to outbeat each other , would'nt it be better if we share with each other? Knowledge is limitless , and there is no way one can occupy everything. Everytime we share , we are also gaining. Everytime we teach , we are learning.

Everyone speaks Czech!

2007-04-20T10:30:00.000+02:00

Czech language is not that foreign afterall.

Everyone knows Czech!

Do you know that "ROBOT" is a Czech word? I've always thought that this word should come from some developed countries that pioneered such high tech mechanical development.

Apparently it was created by a Czech writer in one of his article during World War II. Hmmm...

How Open Can They Be?

2007-04-17T00:07:00.000+02:00

This are billboards found in Czech...How open-minded the society can be.

This is definitely a big taboo in Malaysia , or Asian society in general. Nudity is not an art open for public viewing. People have to find high and low , resort to pornography or to the least Playboy magazine to satiate this little desire for these explicit photos. Here it is everywhere! You do not have to search for it , it comes to you.

If such billboards were put up in Malaysia , definitely our over-zealous , religious-minded , Eastern-values-guiding MP and leaders will be having heated debates over the newspaper and in Parliament.

But here , it is an art , it is nothing unorthodox. This is their culture , so it is just an adaptation to their culture.

Sauna here is open to both genders at the same time. And all locals , both men n women enter sauna buck naked and even take bath together. For us , it might seem awkward initially , but to them , there is nothing embarrassing at all..

And of course , there is no cubicle for taking bath in common bathroom in swimming pool or gym. So practically everyone is walking around with not even a single strand of string on.

This is Czech..

It's just too over-rated

2007-04-14T22:27:00.000+02:00

Every year after SPM and STPM results are announced , tons of students with strings of A's will definitely say that they want to do medicine , wish to become a doctor , hope to save people's life...It has been a routine year after year.And honestly speaking, it has become quite boring sometimes when we read in interviews that most of these top-notch students proudly cite the same ambition. Why can't there be more variety?

And admittedly i am among these crowds a few years back. And here i am now doing medicine , pursuing my dream. But come to think of it , is it genetically embedded in every good students to have such great enthusiasim in medicine , and most importantly the seed of passion and kindness to help people around? Or is it just environmental influence that mould a so-called good student since young that he or she ought to be a doctor one day.

I think the latter hold more truth in it. We are living in a society where people's eyes and mouths play such an important role in our decision making. Sadly to say , some have been so susceptible to societal expectations that they are just a subject of manipulation , living others' dreams rather than theirs. Just because people think that good students should study medicine , so good students eventually think that because they are good , their dreams should be to become a doctor too. How often do we go deep into our hearts and ask if it is what we really want? Or is it just what our parents and teachers want?

And of course people always think that it would be a waste if a straight A's student doesn't apply for medicine.

"Do you know how hard it is to fight for a medical place in local uni? Now that you've got straight A's and you don't want to apply for it?"

Ya , ya ..everyone knows only 4As student in STPM got the chance to apply for it (not even guaranteed a place) , so only excellent students can do medicine in local universities. So here comes again , just to show to everyone that i am excellent , i scored straight As , i must apply for medicine. And it is betting your future just to proof that you are excellent. So now everyone knows , medical students are EXCELLENT students.

And definitely , this career is being overrated in our Asian society.

"What is ur son in-law doing?"

"Doctor , ehem.." beamed the mother in-law from ear to ear.

But...

"What is your son in-law doing?"

"Errr..er..hair dresser....." whispered the mother in-law ,praying hard that it is hardly audible.

By the fact a famous hair dresser can easily earn many times more than a normal doctor in hospital. I don't think it is an ideal career if you want to get RICH either. Doctor have to work practically 24-7 with not much time left for enjoyment , sometimes even time to sleep. So what can be done with the money afterall?

And to quote that you want to help people , how far is it true? There are so many ways to help others around and why must it be to be a doctor? Aren't teachers helping to shape the future generations? Aren't social workers helping those underpriviledged in society? So why not pick any of it too? And if it is purely to help others , are you going to prescribe medicine for free for those poverty-stricken patients? But real life stories have told us most doctors in private practice are charging exorbitantly even just for consultation fees.

And now that i am in medical school , i have experienced it myself the so-called "life as a medical student". There are so much to do , so much to study in so short a time. How we wish there are 8 , 9 or 10 days a week. Before you get to sleep well on Sunday , you realise that there are huge piles of work waiting for you to complete for the next week. Most of the waking hours during weekdays are practically spent in front of the books. Just to get a week off during study period will cost you double the mental and physical torture to catch up. And sadly to say , after all the toiling , statistic has shown on average 50% of students will dropout eventually.

So unless you really have great passion in doing medicine , do not embark on this choppy tumultous journey. But of course i am not here to pour cold water , of course some of us are really enthusiastic in doing it. So our will and determination is the greatest motivation that keep us moving. Just a reminder , give it a second thought before making this lifetime decision.

Mexican Cuisine

2007-04-08T23:49:00.000+02:00

Mexican gastronomy with its intense flavours , colourful decorations , and its variety of spices is definitely too much to resist for a glutton like me.

Let's start with some starter..

Tortilla filled with chicken and cheese , served with salsa sauce.

And soup..

Tomato soup with avocado and tortilla chips

Main course...

Pork steak , anyone?

Or maybe chicken on hot plate served with wheat tortilla and cheese

Why not salmon with mexican rice?

Everything is red - it's hot , it's spicy , it's vibrant , it's fiery , it's Mexico!

Spring

2007-04-08T17:13:00.000+02:00

How nice the feel of spring is,
With flowers blossoming from dead land of long winter ,
With birds chirping on the trees ,
With bright sun beaming over the sky,
With fragrant faint whiff of flowers,
With crystal clear water flowing along the river,
With cool breeze spreading the message of new beginning,
This is SPRING!

Devils at work

2007-04-08T01:18:00.000+02:00

One devil is enough to create trouble. When two devils meet up , they definitely wreak havoc!

This is what happened during Priya's birthday.

8 ways of making her birthday memorable:

1. Start counting down a week before her birthday. Leave hints everywhere (on the blackboard , on her book , on the slide show , sit beside her) to remind her that we have PREPARED something 'special' for her.

2. Recruit enough team members to work on the evil plan.

3. Prepare her favourite food and drink.

Food: Bread with thick spread of blended dried chilli and chilli padi.

Drink: Egg , Coffee , Milk , salad cream , chilli padi , dried chilli , chilli powder , spices and BELACAN , all blended till smooth.

4.Tell her we will play a prank on her the night before her birthday , but catch her unprepared by having it a day before.

5. Blindfold her and bring her to a secluded place. Make her down the food and drink.

6.Remove the blindfold and before she can react , smash one fresh egg on her.

7.Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to Priya! Happy birthday to you!

8.Celebrate 21st birthday with diarrhoe and vomitting due to spiciness of the drink and food.

*Our initial plan is up to no.7 . Due to unforeseen circumstances , no. 8 has unfortunately happened.

Finale:

2 evils have to apologise.

And to 'repent' and 'turn over a new leaf' , each of us have bought a new t-shirt 'I am NICE'.

Paintball

2007-03-31T00:42:00.000+02:00

I couldn't imagine how painful a real bullet hit will be..A fake rubber bullet hit is enough to cause a twitch in face and a week-long bruise , what more to say a real one..

This is the outcome of the paintball game. Of course it was enjoyable and exciting. But there's a big price to pay for such an excitement..Everyone got bruises all over the body.One of us even who was hit on the head too near even got bleeding. There were mixed feelings about the game , some think it was too rough a game , but for me personally , it was fun. C'mon , we are playing with 'gun' , what's it to do if we don't shoot others?
The whole game lasted for about 3 hours , in which different scenarios were set up, eg assasination of VIP , battle till death , battle between 2 groups etc. And the location was cool - an abandoned two storey building with tunnels , barriers and hiding spots.
My team did a pretty good job by winning most of the games. However we ended up 'killing' each other at the end of the game when everyone has excess of bullets and nothing to shoot at. Traitors!

Picnic at Park

2007-03-30T23:59:00.000+02:00

It's spring! Finally , the cold , shivering , bone-chilling winter is gone. After a long hibernation period , it's time to walk out , take in some fresh air and enjoy the greenery. The best way to do this all at once - Picnic at the Park..We have always seen in movies , scenes where people have picnic at the park , sitting on the grass reading , basking in the sun , and having sandwiches. All this is of course not practical in Malaysia where we have temperature as high as 40 degrees and grass infested with worms , insects and shit. Even before you can enjoy the scenery , you would be busy chasing away insects , complaining about the awful smell and wiping sweats. So since we are here we would like to have a taste of it . And it well coincides with a few of our friends' birthday , so we might just have a birthday picnic.

And most importantly ,the twist of the whole picnic. It wasnt meant to be a proper birthday bash. Instead it was a secret plan to play pranks on the birthday boy and girls , an ingenious idea of Xin Yee. Of course the head of evil also prepared everything for them.
"Cakes" made of mashed potatoes , cream , yoghurt , flour and egg not for eating but for smearing the faces. Birthday wasn't as sweet as expected if celebrated with a bunch of devils afterall..Every birthday boy and girls got their share of it.

Before...After...
It was just fun! Of course , because i am not the one being fooled...

Skiing

2007-03-30T22:53:00.000+02:00

My first skiing experience! I bet it's many people's dream to at least try skiing once. And ya , i've materialised mine.
And it was super-duper fun indeed! The adrenaline rush of sliding down the steep slope , the thrill of slipping and falling and rolling , the excitement of getting a broken limb (slightly exaggerated). All in all , it makes a memorable experience.
Being totally inept in this sport , we started off rather clumsily , and in fact for most of us , ended clumsily too. Trying to move up a small slope took us more than 10 attempts , as we just slipped down everytime we inched a little bit foward , so eventually we gave up,took off the ski and walked up instead before sliding down.
Sliding down the slope was AAARRGGGHHHH - unspeakably thrilling! Nothing beats this. No safety precaution or seat belt fastened like sitting in roller coster , so you won't know what you will end up in. For me , almost all my attempts ended up with face on the ground or legs split open or a big bump on the butt , any fall you can imagine of.
But i have made my resolution , for the next winter , i am going take up proper skiing class and master skiing before spring comes...

2007 Chinese New Year

2007-03-30T21:25:00.000+02:00

1st year not celebrating Chinese New Year with family and friends. Being in a foreign land , in a town with countable Chinese around , we can't expect a celebration as grand as in Malaysia.

But at least , everyone has made an effort to cheer up this occasion.The best thing Malaysians can do during festive season - EAT , EAT and EAT! And yes indeed , the only thing we seek comfort in is eating.

We had our reunion dinner with our Taiwanese friends. A hearty meal of Bak Kut Teh , Char Siew , Pork Rib , Roasted Chicken , Herbal Chicken , Tom Yam soup , Pearl Tea .... True indulgence in pork. A meal to die for.

1st day of Chinese New Year , we had gathering with all Malaysian students. Of course , the in- house chef had to whip up the dinner. Preparations started as early as noon. Furthermore we had to search high and low for 'halal' chicken , which we eventually took from the storage in surau. Dinner of the day - fried chicken strips with 'special' sauce , honey chicken , cantonese kueh teow , steamed chicken , mixed vege , chinese style fried rice and mushroom chicken.

Nevertheless , no matter how much we engorged ourselves with food , nothing beats the atmoshere in Kuching.

Nothing beats this and this..

Oh ya , many thanks for the cards flown all the way from Malaysia. Also the Chinese New Year VCD ( which admittedly pale in comparison to previous years , are they out of idea or budget??) , and Tammy's specially made PINEAPPLE TART ( which was almost completely shattered by the time it reached me). Thank you!

Hopefully i can go back for Chinese New Year next year!

Long Long Gap

2007-03-30T21:04:00.000+02:00

Checking my last update , it was on 11 Feb 2007.

Ya..It was a long long time ago. That was since summer semester commenced. Not that i have done nothing but study ,but on the contrary i have had too pack a schedule that i find no time to update my blog!

Also class everyday starts as early as 7 o'clock , so early birds have to sleep early. Then most of the time after class i am stuck in the library doing anatomy , histology , biology , in the lab seeing my "buddy" cadavers , in the gym trying to pump up some extra meat , in sauna releasing my pent up pressure..And the time left - snoozing.

(Deep breath) I'll try to update as many blogs as possible one go tonight..... Stay tuned!

Missing Chinese New Year

2007-02-11T23:18:00.000+01:00

Counting down to Chinese New Year .....7 more days..

I am here...half a globe away from home..

My first new year overseas...

Missing home...Missing reunion dinner..Missing gathering...Missing house-to-house visiting...Missing friends....Missing the food...Missing the mood...

Ostrava

2007-02-11T17:23:00.000+01:00

Ostrava , the third largest city in the Czech Republic. Known as "the Steel Heart of Czech Republic" , this place is once renowned for its coal mining. But since the fall of communism , the city has undergone rapid changes to become a commercial and cultural town.

It was a last minute plan to pay a visit to this town. Few more days left before class starts , so better make full use of this precious holiday. Grabbed my bag , bought the ticket 5 minutes before the train departed , and here i came...

Miniuni - where everything is shrunk. I felt like a giant , overlooking all the important monuments and buildings in Europe and also the 7 wonders of the world.

Antonin Dvorak theatre..
The Cathedral of the Divine Saviour
To commemorate communism in this country
Tortured..
Gone were the days of communism where coal mining predominate this town.. What is left is the plant as a testimony of the history

21st Birthday!

2007-02-05T16:42:00.000+01:00

21st Birthday!!

Many thanks to all my beloved friends and family for making it a memorable one. Thank you! Dekuju! Terima Kasih!

Wow! It's awesome.Firstly , i spent my 1st day of 21 in Vienna , up on top of the hill at the Gloriette overlooking the whole Vienna...

Secondly , i have the most famous chocolate cake in the world- Sacher Torte , as birthday cake. A check in the wikipedia just revealed how astounding the origin of this cake is. It was invented by Franz Sacher in 1832 and the trademark was registered by Hotel Sacher. What is great about it is its recipe which is well kept a secret until now. So one can only taste the original Sacher Torte at Hotel Sacher , the one and only in Vienna. And because of this cake , Hotel Sacher was involved in a long legal battle with another pastry shop , Demel over its recipe.. And a taste of the cake , feel as heavenly as an orgasm...Hahahaa.And of course such big name come with great price , the whole cake that they brought for me would cost around 30 euros!

Thirdly , i am touched by the birthday cards i received over the weeks from you all. The cards that flew all the way from Malaysia and also one from Ireland (from Anju). Thanks a lot! It really means a lot.

And of course , there are also presents from you all...Bear from Tammy

Watch from Vin Docker's sling bag from Hamsath and MalShirt from Daddy and Mummy and scarf from "S.H.E." And guess who send the rose?

Finally , a big hug to Hamsath for the treat at Hanacka. The meal started off with a glass of Martini , followed by cold starter ,and main meal comprising of steak and the sumptuous prawns , then finally culminated with tiramisu ,banana split and a glass of vodka.

Thank you!!!

Vienna III

2007-02-05T02:21:00.000+01:00

Day 3

My last day in Vienna.

Natural History MuseumI guess if i say museum , every museums will more or less have similar exhibits. But a museum with dinosaur skeletons? Hmm.. i might be the privilege few to have seen it with my own eyes. Much stories of dinosaurs are known through the movie Jurassic Park , and walking pass the skeletons one by one now is just like living up the inner child in me. It is most of the kids dream to see dinosaurs , so i guess my dream have been fulfilled , a little bit later , at 21 years old. Haha. Ya , maybe my birthday wish 10 years ago is finally answered NOW.

Sloths , extinct about 8000 years ago. What is left now is only the bones.

Human body found buried under the bog. Still rather intact after more than 2000 years.

A trip to Vienna would not be complete without a visit to any of the world renowned musicians museums. Since there are so many to choose from , and due to time constraint , i have opted to visit the child musical prodigy , Mozart, house. As no photo taking is allowed within the house , no photos are available.

Vienna II

2007-02-05T00:47:00.000+01:00

My second day in Vienna started off with a typical Austrian breakfast served with Austrian Coffee at Anker. After that we headed straight away towards St Stephen Cathedral..

St. Stephen Cathedral , one of Austria's most eminent gothic edifice , is a standing testimony of the rich cultural heritage of Austria. It has witnessed the ebb and flow of political fates ,underwent the rise and fall of empires and inspired musicians like Mozart in their masterpieces. Its architecture shows a fusion of different style , spanning from Gothic , Romanesque , Renaissance up till Baroque. Every era , every part of history has left its mark on this cathedral.

Schonbrunn Palace

Apart from the Imperial Palace , another palace that adorn the map of Austria is the Schonbrunn Palace , the magnificent summer residence of the Habsburg. Moreover , apart from visiting the private apartments of the imperial family , we also get the chance to visit the Maze , the Privy Garden and the Gloriette , truly indulging in the life of a royal family.

Privy Garden Gloriette

Belvedere Palace

Belvedere Palace, one of the world's finest examples of Baroque architecture, is now an Art Gallery housing artworks of Klimt , Schiele , Monet , Van Gogh etc.

Hundertwasser Village

Hundertwasser Village - one of its kind in the world!The most peculiar and unorthodox village i have ever seen. Hundertwasser , an artist who translated his artwork into real life buildinsg which now serve as a communal housing area. Each house is unique and distinct from the others ,painted in different colours , and even every pillar is carefully designed to be one of its kind.

When we say Vienna is full of arts and music , even the toilet is shrouded in this artistic atmosphere. The toilet of fine art! But i must say , my pee does cost quite a lot . Every entrance is 0.60 euro. So apart from just doing normal business , i had better take in the arts ( and the smell too) to make my money worthwhile.

Shopping in Vienna...

Vienna I

2007-02-04T23:13:00.000+01:00

30 January 2007

6.30 am , departed from Olomouc.
9.30 am , arrived at Wien Sudbahnhof Vienna

Taking in every sight and sound of Vienna....

Entrance to Imperial Palace

Vienna , the city of music. Not only does it boast of the most number of world renowned musicians any country can ever offer- Mozart , Brahms , Strauss , Schubert to name but a few ,but also offer a whole wide range of other entertainments. Vienna alone has more than 50 museums with exhibits from the Austrian empires all the way to masterpieces from artists like Van Gogh and Klimt , there is too much to do in too short a time. My 72 hours trip to Vienna started straight away...

Museum Quartiers
Volkstheatre

The first two buildings that came into sight were the Volkstheatre and the Musuem Quartiers. Museum Quartier houses modern and contemporary art , with the world biggest Egon Schiele collection ,and masterpieces of many other 20th century artists. As i am not a big fan of art pieces , there is no point entering it. So with a few snapshots , we headed towards the Imperial Palace.

Imperial Palace , the house to the ruling Habsburg Dynasty for over 6 centuries , i can only said that it is awesome. By paying only 7 euros , we got the chance to visit the Imperial Silver Collection where the splendour of Imperial dining wares are put on display, the Sisi Museum where the chronicles of life of the most celebrated Empress Elizabeth are told , and finally the Imperial Apartment where one by one , the magnificence of the daily life of the noblest family of the Habsburg monarchy is revealed.

Theseus Temple in Volksgarten

The Parliament House beside the Imperial Palace is equally enchanting and impending ,too. It exudes an air of righteousness and fairness that deserves every respect and honour. The statue that stood in front of the house just add on to the magnificence of the whole scene.

I also got the chance to take a nostalgic ride in the century-old Giant Ferris Wheel , both the symbol of the Viennese Prater and a Viennese landmark. As the wheel slowly rotated at a speed of 0.75m/sec , different angle of the panaromic sights of Vienna is brought into view.

Danube Tower, at a height of 252 metres , is undoubtedly one of Vienna's most prominent landmarks. Ya , landmark , so near yet so far. We walked and walked , thinking that we were approaching yet the more we walked the more we realised that it was so far away. There were times when we wanted to just call it a day , but another part of us refused it as we have come so far to just give up. Luckily , after more than 2 km of walk , we finally reached Danube Tower. The spectacular view of Vienna from on top of the tower far compensated all the rigours.

21

2007-01-23T13:00:00.000+01:00

Counting down to my 21st birthday..

21 , signifies the key to freedom , means a different thing to everyone , carries along a whole loads of new responsibilities..

21 ,a year full of new discoveries - to seek the unforeseen excitement , to cherish the pinnacle of life , to officially being declared an adult , and formally bid farewell to teenage years.

21 , when love is blossoming all around us , i am still basking in bachelordom. The tag "single and available" has been around me for quite some time , and i think i will keep it for this near future.

21 , i no longer make wishes of having girlfriend or whatever. The right one will come when we least expect , so there is no need to desperately search for one. I am living life to the fullest now , enjoying every second of it , so why should i change for the sake of showing my report card to everyone?

21 , i want a life of freedom , not being tied down , not being controlled. The world is so big , there is so much to be discovered , life is not centred only around Love. And i am going to explore this part of the globe , open my eyes to different cultures , meeting people from different backgrounds ...That's my wish for the year.

21 , i don't think i am ready to settle down just yet. Still in search of more fun , excitement , enjoyment. Still mesmerising in the company of friends. Still making new girl friends , but not getting new girlfriend. I might be alone at times , but i am not lonely...

21 , i have come to see life from a different perspective. At 12 , i might anxiously and eagerly wait for the true love to come , as there's nothing much to think about by then. But now at 21 , the more i walk , the more i see , the more i discover , i have found more aims in life , more dreams to fulfill , more desire to satisfy.

Do not find love out of loneliness , as it will only become a habit...
Find love only when you really love someone....

Sex Machine Museum II

2007-01-20T21:12:00.000+01:00

Can u imagine how this function? It's an electric anti masturbation device. A ring placed on the boy's penis switches on a contact in case of erection , as a result of which a bell, located in the parent's room ring. Ingenious?

This is a machine for woman self masturbation. By moving the handle , the plastic hand will start tickling the back and the rubber penis will move back and forth. A one-woman-show!

See-saw with penis to penetrate. Wonder how it is like...

Who said vibrator is the creation of the modern days? This handle operated vibrator has been around since 1910 in Germany.
When men created drill , they have also created one as vibrator.

Abstinence? Try this Chastity belt for woman invented in Germany in 1580. Do guys need one too?

1 m long penis?Or inflatable penis?Thinking of exercise machines? These are more than that. These are real life sex machines!!

Sex Machine Museum I

2007-01-20T20:34:00.000+01:00

This is my second trip to Prague this winter break. But it's a very short stay of 2 nights , mainly to help my friend , Rouven apply his visa at the Austrian Embassy. I guess much has been said about the grandeur of Prague Castle , the magnificence of Charles bridge , so my trip this time is to explore the insignificant treasure hidden within the town. And this is my latest discovery of the wonders of Prague. The SEX MACHINE MUSEUM.

Warning!! Before proceeding further, please kindly be informed that the pictures below are meant for adult viewing.

Sex Machine Museum , an exposition of mechanical erotic appliances , the purpose of which is to bring pleasure and allow extraordinary and unusual experiences during sexual intercourse. My mouth is left agape by the amount of sex machines and appliances that are on display on this area of three floors. If you think that peeping around those funny condoms and edible underwear in "I Need House" is interesting enough , you should see what erotic aplliances really are here.

Firstly i am amazed by how sex can be further enhanced by all this mechanical aids , secondly i am in awe by how human creativity can go beyond our wildest dreams to create such things. And all the machines are patented with its designer , dates and function properly stated.

Bra with nipple opening

People are engrossed in the art of body piercing. Bored of ear and nose piercing , want to try something like these?Ouch!!Penis Piercing

Vagina Piercing

Penis ring - tighten the penis to slow down ejaculation...

Ehem...need further elaboration on this?

Or this??

A whole wide range of vibrators for the ladies. Come in all sizes and all colours..

Ok this might need a little bit of explanation. Made in Paris in 1890 , it has passed through the most renowned brothels of its time. Usually one woman lied on the upper part , the man remained standing and a other woman lied on the bottom part , and in this manner they practised multiple copulations.

To be continued....

We , Chinese!

2007-01-13T22:33:00.000+01:00

A few facts about typical Malaysian (Chinese)

1. Criteria to study abroad:
a.Must have snow. Must tell people you go to a place with snow. There's winter.
b.Must have "ang mo" (Caucasians) around you. Never mind if you are a dwarf among those 6 feet giants , as long as you are seen in photos with them , it's good enough.

2. Two most sought after career:
a. Doctor
b. Engineer
A check in primary One students' essays on "My Ambition". I am pretty sure 8 out of ten will write doctor or engineer. Reason to become a doctor - save lives. I guess lesser and lesser students are putting teacher as their ambition. Even before the child can talk , the parents have already been brainwashing the kid with these two terms - doctor , engineer.Where is there room for imagination?

3.Colour preference: White
Chinese seems to have great penchant for white , or something fair. Anything white and fair is good , is superior , anything of darker shades...No No. What i am refering to - skin colour. I think Chinese are still quite a racist lot. Not to say all. But many still view fairer skin as superior to those of the darker shades. Get a caucasian partner and everyone will be green with envy. Get the opposite , ehem.

4.Common inherited gene: "calculative gene" (if there is one)
We are undeniably calculative. One cent or two cent must also be taken seriously. That's why chinese got a popular cliche :"a few cents are bigger than the wagon's wheel". We bargain for that meagre few cents until sore throat at the market , we count every litre of petrol we use to claim from the office , we patiently wait for the sale to come before buying the shirt we want , we control our pee until back home just not to pay for the 20 cents entrance , we prefer buffet to proper dining because we can eat as much as we can.........

5.Kiasu and kiasi
Kiasu-Although we might pale in comparison to Singaporeans , but it is still in us. Parents send children to tuitions here and there. Must go tuition , regardless of how good you are. You get 95 , go for tuition so that you can get 100. People say this tuition centre is good , so you must get into it by hook or by crook. When you get back your exam paper , nevermind if you check your mistakes , but make sure you check everyone's mark.
Kiasi-When there is hearsay of avian flu ,stop eating chicken at all. No more KFC , no more Sugarbun , despite assurance from the authority that well cooked meat is safe for consumption. BUT , when there is free fried chicken ,then the whole family will queue up for it , and all the avian flu worries will be gone for a moment.

Floor is open for discussion...

Interesting fact

2007-01-10T01:30:00.000+01:00

During the period of studying for chemistry , i have been surfing the Net for both relevant and irrelevant stuff. These are a few worth sharing:

1. I tend to feel itchy in the morning after a night of clubbing and drinking. So what i have found , i might have a mutated gene of alcohol dehydrogenase. To simply explain it , whenever we consume alcohol , our body will convert it into a series of compound , to aldehyde then carboxylic acid. In mutated alcohol dehydrogenase , it rapidly convert alcohol to aldehyde , but do not further convert it to carboxylic acid. Aldehyde is the more toxin compound , hence accumulation of it in the body will cause a series of symptoms , including flushing , swelling and itchiness. But i am not the only one with that,90% of Pacific Rim Asian Population meaning Japanese , Chinese , Korean have this mutant gene.

2.The longest word in English - pulmonoultromicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. Phew!It is the lesion of lung due to inhalation of silicon dust.

3.The most expensive coffee in the world - Luwah Coffee.
How is it made? That's the interesting part. It is the faeces of common Palm Civet. The coffee is eaten by the cat , and digestive system of the cat partially digest the coffee bean and defecate it.
The price? 600USD per pound!!

Praha v noci

2007-01-10T01:00:00.000+01:00

Prague by day is just totally different from Prague by night. It's colourful nightlife and red light district will tempt anyone to forgo the bed. There is so much to do , and sleeping is not an option.

Theatre

CATS black theatre musical show , a minisize Broadway musical at a relatively cheap price.

Casino

Another option if you are feeling lucky.I am more attracted to their brightly lit exterior deco. Due to financial limitation , i won't wana risk throwing money into the river. So didn't enter.

Clubbing

Karlovy Lazne - the biggest music club in central europe. Best! 5 music clubs on 5 floors , you can definitely dance till you drop. Ground floor is dedicated to black music. First floor is for disco lovers. Second floor delights the hearts of lovers of immortal hits of the 60's to 80's. Third floor is the Paradogs Club , for Guest DJs. Fouth floor belongs to calm , relaxing music , a spot to chill after visiting the lower four floors.

Got my tequila shot , Heineken , Malibu , Pilsner...

4 am , squatting on the street in Prague , replenishing my energy.

Cabaret

There are numerous cabarets in Prague , big and small. Due to strict security check , no cameras are allowed , so no pictures taken. "Darling cabaret" , the one i went , is the biggest and most expensive in Prague. But coming out of it , i have one word - BRAVO!

Praha

2007-01-09T23:27:00.000+01:00

Ahoj Prague!

Prague , my first destination this winter break. Prague , famed for its rich cultural and historical background and magnificent architecture, is never short of a place for camwhoring. Never walk around Prague without your camera. The appetite to devour all those pretty sceneries can never be satisfied.

Having taken hundreds of photos , these are the few i feel worth sharing. So let the photos do the talking..

Prague Town Square

Statue in front of Prague Museum

Prague Museum

The museum is so big that i had a hard time finding the way out and finishing the tour. And all it cost was 60 crown = RM10. Worthy!

Shopping....

Shopping , shopping here i come. Most of the european brands can be found here , all within walking distance. From shop to shop , the desire to shop will definitely increase. A view at the price (relaively cheap compared to Malaysia), the momentum will not stop until the pocket is burnt. Zara , Next , H&M , New Yorkers , Terranova , Esprit , Debenhams ,Mark and Spencer....

Charles Bridge

Charles Bridge , popularly acclaimed as one of the most romantic spot for lovebirds, has definitely live up to its name. Strolling along the bridge , taking in the view of Prague with Prague Castle as the backgroud , pigeons nestling on the logs , street performers showcasing their stunts , artists capturing magical moments in the pictures , what a nice way to go on a date. But for me , the company of friends can equally bring out the joy. Though lacking in romantism , it is burning with the warmth of friendship.

Just a piece of art

It's Christmas!Joy to the world! I spent my Christmas eve loitering around Prague , doing nothing in specific , but just to experience a new way of celebrating Christmas in a new place. With a hot cup of red wine in hand to warm the body , i spent my first Christmas abroad with the Czechs singing Christmas carols and counting down in front of the Astronomical Clock at Old Town Square. Merry Christmas!Man peeing...Shhhh

Prague Castle..The Castle Guard

Memories captured

2007

2007-01-09T23:07:00.000+01:00

Today is 9 January 2007. Oh! 2007!!

This is my first entry of the year. And it is another long gap since my last blog. Same excuse - BUSY. I guess it is not an excuse , but a fact. Apart from sleeping time , i have been studying 24-7 for my chemistry final exams. I have just sat for it today. So everything is over now, and my winter break has just started.

2007 , a whole new year , with whole new resolutions. Without realising how fast time has passed , i am turning 21 in less than a month! What have i done for 2 decades , what have i achieved so far? Erm......Erm......When people are completing their studies , i have just embarked on my path , completing only the first semester. When people are mesmerising in their love life , i am singly waiting for mine to appear. But no regret , no sigh. I am enjoying my life now. Living the life i want.Enjoy studying. Enjoy my freedom. Enjoy the company of friends. So life isn't that miserable.

When i was 17 , how i wish i could turn 18 soon. And with a few blinks of eye , 3 years have slipped past me. Too fast to even catch it. But it is a good sign in a way. At least i have lived life to the fullest , making full use of it and not let time tick by just like that.

In retrospect , 2006 has been a roller coster year for me. Good memories , worst nightmares all in a year. Car accident , car theft , lost of passport....Winning awards , numerous memorable trips , coming to Czech Republic.... What a year! 2006...

Hoping for the best to come in 2007!

Dissection

2006-12-15T00:38:00.000+01:00

It has been some time since i last blogged. The well expected reason from a medical student - Busy! Busy ! Very busy!!!

I have just finished my dissection last week. The wheel has not stopped since then. Tightly tailing behind was the nerve-breaking post-dissection week followed by a series of other tests and exams. I still have Latin final , Czech credit test and biology test before i can go for my much yearned holiday. How long have i not been able to sleep soundly , wake up at noon , watch endless series without feeling a sense of guilt? I have lost count of it.

The bright side of it is , after having described my life as pathetically occupied only by study , study and more study , i seem to enjoy every part of it. Everyday is about gaining new knowledge , acquiring new skills , and putting myself one step nearer to my goal. To think positively , it is part of the training to prepare us to endure the more stormy and choppy journey ahead.

Dissection week was fun , though tiring. I was totally drained at the end of every day. 5 hours a day , 5 days straight in a week , dissecting the same region. Oh Gosh! And it was the same position - back arching forward , hands holding skalpel and forceps , facing the same cadaver , inhaling the pungent formalin. My back , hand , leg and practically all muscles in the body ached.But it was an enthralling experience. Everyone can experience the thrill of a roller coster ride , but not everyone can have a feel of cutting a real cadaver. Lying ahead was a real man (before) and i would be dissecting it part by part. Ooooo...

First day was mainly to peel off the skin. Of course it wasn't as easy as peeling off chicken skin , as i had to apply the right pressure , hard enough to cut off the skin , but not too hard to cut the subcutaneous structures. To remove it , i had to gently peel it inch by inch so as not to remove the adipose tissue below. And just peeling off the skin took me one whole day ,5 hours of work.
The highlight of the day i must say was the removal of penis. Ouch! None of the guys wanted to cut off the "precious" of the other guy , so we let Hamsath do the other.With just a few cut , the penis was gone! Just like that. And all the way into the rubbish bin.

Second and third day was the most tiring day. Removal of adipose tissue. Man, it was so much of fat. My region was just the thigh and the amount of fat was already driving me nuts , what more to say the buttock region. Everywhere was smeared with fat , my labcoat , my hand , my specs. And the whole body also smelt of fat. Of course we also had to search among those lumps of fat some cutaneous nerves and veins. One small posterior femoral cutaneous nerve took us 2 hours to find! And with a slip of hand and wrong maneuvre , i cut the great saphenous vein! An unforgivable mistake. Luckily with Hamsath "sew"manship , she managed to save my day by sewing it back . Phew!
Forth day was more fruitful. Finally fascia layer was off and our exploration started. One by one , each muscle was reviewed. Arteries , veins and nerves coarsing along it were identified too. So at least a few days of hardwork was finally paid back. It's a sense of satisfaction , a feel of pride that we have conquered our region.
Last day was mainly cleaning up the muscles , clearing off more fats , separating arteries and nerves , and preparation of exam.

I took my post dissection discussion straight on that day , and i passed. :) At least i am relief for the time being. No more anatomy until the next semester. Cheers!

Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra

2006-11-24T16:53:00.000+01:00

I have a wide taste for music. From enjoying Jazz performance two weeks ago to clubbing at Belmondos last week , this week let's turn to Classical music!It was an enthralling experience watching the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra performed. How long have i not enjoyed one such great classical performance since the last one at Petronas Philharmonic Orchestra two years ago. And it was something i anticipated much since coming here. Afterall , Olomouc is a city of rich musical and theatrical background. How could someone miss it?

From Allegro , Andante to Presto , i was drifted away by every single note of it. The strings , the woodwinds , the percussions , all with each distinctive tone yet all were played with one soul. One music , one soul. From the initial string ensemble with moderate tempo , the music gradually built up. The solo performance by the violinist really melted the audience hearts. The skillful articulation of every notes and impeccable coordination with the orchestra just made the whole performance one worth remembering. But nothing beats the climax of the night - Beethoven 7th symphony. The instructor was so agitated , the players were so passionate , the music shrouded the whole hall and penetrated everyone. By the time it culminated ,one just shouted "Bravo!' follwed by whole house of standing ovation which lasted for 5 minutes. I was just speechless and in awe...

A night to remember..

Success and Failure

2006-11-23T00:12:00.000+01:00

I heaved a sigh of relief realising that i passed my anatomy test. Enough by knowing that i passed , with no anticipation for the grades. A , B or C no longer means anythin. Everyone worked hard and strived to survive the torturous torment of weekly anatomy test , yet only half the class emerged with a "pass". Guess i am just lucky to be in that category.

We used to believe that as long as we study , our hard work will be reflected in the results. Yet here , in contrary , hardwork is no longer proportional to the grades we get. Of course everyone work hard here , but not everyone achieve good grades. There are many external factors contributing to the final results : luck is one of it i must say. Sometimes it is not that we do not know the answer , but to answer too much or too less is also wrong. It must be perfectly accurate to gain that mere one mark.

Asian students tend to see marks and grades as larger than life. A loss of one mark is tamtamount to killing oneself. That's our culture and that's how we are being brought up. Parents cane the kids for losing one marks , students beg the teachers for that extra one marks , friends argue for that one mark of difference , see how much one mark can do! But if this attitude is to be carried here , i think one would have committed suicide long ago.

Feel satisfied by getting a C.To see the positive side of it , it is better than fail. Not to be pessimistic by seeing it as inferior to A and B. There is always room for improvement.

Which bring me to this ...
There is a common Chinese saying literally translated as "Failure is the mother of Success". Ironically , many parents do not keep that in mind when reprimanding their kids when they fail their exam. All parents want the best out of their kids , but the fact is everyone is unique on its own with different capabilities as well as shortcomings. Not everyone is meant to do well in study.If everyone were to score perfectly in all exams , there will be all No.1 in class with no one at the bottom. So do not make comparison with neighbour's or friend's children. To cheer for their success and effort but not to belittle their failure. When there is failure , there is always another chance for success.

Life is not just amount scoring high in exams. There are more aims to achieve , more dreams to realise. Sky is the limit. Do not be obsessed by marks...

Belmondos!!

2006-11-18T13:20:00.000+01:00

Finally a day to chill out! Jdeme na party v Pahtek! Pivo? Wino?

Finally i can leave my books behind for a night.
Finally i can let my body recuperate from the physical torment and my brain unwind before the spring got over-twitched.
Finally i can enjoy the night life in Olomouc.

Finally i can unleash all the toxic in me that has accumulated over the week.

Finally............ i can sleep well for a night...Zzzzzzzzzzzz

Teetering on the Verge of Breakdown

2006-11-15T17:06:00.000+01:00

Stress is building up as semester exam is just around the corner. So many things to cover , yet so little time left. 7 days a week is never enough for a medical student. Weeks fly past without even realising it. Every week , there are loads of works to be cleared off before the next week approaches. The accumulated work can easily suffocate and drown a person. It is critical to complete today's task by today.Procrastination will kill... There will always be more things waiting ahead.

It is a mental , physical and emotional challenge. Everyday is about being physically fit , mentally alert and emotionally strong to face the mountains of notes and books lying ahead to study. From memorising the rules , grammar and vocabulary of Latin and Czech language to understanding the mechanisms of how cell works in biology back to memorising and identifing the blood vessels , bones , nerves , muscles in anatomy and finally to analysing over hundreds of chemical compounds in Chemistry , that is our routine everyday.

Before this semester exam , i have one book of chemistry (~1ooo pgs) , one book of biology (~700 pgs) , one book of Anatomy (~500pgs) to cover. Phew!!

It is a path we have chosen , so it is also a challenge we have to face. May God bless us with the energy and strength to continue this tumultous journey to the end...

"Crossroads" v Olomouci

2006-11-09T00:22:00.000+01:00

It's another cultural event in Olomouc. It's the second year of "Crossroads" , a multicultural festival across central europe where they showcase music , arts and films from all over the region.

Not missing this once in a year event , i decided to give myself some chill after a mind-boggling , nerve-breaking morning of anatomy test and lecture. I picked the Jazz performance by 100NKA , a polish jazz trio.

The outcome - superb! It was really a great performance. They bring new dimension to the music by spicing it with electronic guitar. And they are truly masters of groove and improvisation. A few bars of music can be improvised in so many different ways. The rhythm , the synchopation , the running notes , the diminished and augmented chords , everything was cooked into an awesome dish. Everyone was drifted away by their music.

It's an unorthodox way of playing ,in which the percussionist uses various types of household material like pots , pans and chairs to create the extra sound and the guitarist and basist each with their individual style of improvisation. For some it may sound out-of-tune. For others , it's an appreciation of soulful expessions and freedom in music.

Once again , music has proven to be the common language of all. Despite the communication barrier , we can all sit down and enjoy the same music , be bonded by the same interest , see eye to eye in the same thing. Wonderful!

Snow!

2006-11-03T22:26:00.000+01:00

This is our first experience of snow. Everyone is so excited by the first sight of it. Waking up in the morning and seeing everything in white outside the room , i can't help but to gasp "Oh my God! It's snow!!" Finally i am experiencing real snow! Not like back in Malaysia where we have to pay to experience artificial snow. This is just amazing.Donning my newly bought white jacket with fur , i feverishly got myself ready for school. Anam greeted us with his throw of snow ball. That's it! We started picking up snow and throwing at each other. Still not losing the inner child in us.It was a mesmerising experience to just walk on the road and enjoy the chill as drops of snow fell on the face accompanied by the cold and crispy wind. Refreshing!Anyway the whole place will be covered by snow for many months to go. Till then , we might just get bored of it and yearn back our Malaysian hot scorching sun and humid weather!

Halloween Party

2006-11-01T18:24:00.000+01:00

My first Halloween Party!

We didn't plan to go initially. It was a last minute decision.Party started at 9. We went at 11. So no costume prepared.Hopefully next year i will get myself one.

Anyway it was really fun. Great music , great drink and great friends!

Destiny

2006-10-28T17:23:00.000+02:00

Miracle happens when we least expect it. Destiny changes in a twist of fate. Path that lies ahead turn when choices are made. God's plan for everyone has never been revealed.

We decide what we want and how we want to do things. We decide for ourselves how our lives and our futures are going to be. But there is always something beyond our control. Who would have expected catastrophies to occur out of no where ? Who would have planned for misfortunes to descend on ourselves if we have control over them? No matter how powerful we are , we are still vulnerable and susceptible in face of Him.

Still remember the day when Dad brought me to INTEC 2 years ago when i got my offer from JPA to study in Indonesia. I was in the middle of the cross road. Two paths lie ahead of me which will definitely lead me to very different destinations. Indonesia? STPM? What should i do. I missed home , i missed my friends. I am not prepared , physically , mentally and emotionally. I told Dad i want to go back , i want to reject the offer. Dad assured me everything will be fine at the end of the day. In the end i succumbed to his persuasion.

First semester was an ordeal. Calling home was practically about how i can appeal for a transfer. I had tried to appeal for the umpteenth times. But everytime my hope is shattered, until i finally came to accept the fate that yes , I AM GOING TO INDONESIA. Nevermind what people say , how they think , i will do what i want to do.

And time passed by so quickly. Two years has just elapsed. And i am all ready and well convinced to go to Indonesia. Then out of a sudden , with a twist of fate , i was offered to study here in Czech Republic. Never in my wildest dream have i imagined myself stepping on this piece of land. Honestly speaking , i do not even know where the hell is Czech when i first heard of it. But after almost 2 months here , i am very much adapted to the life here and started to like this place.

In retrospect , what will i be doing if i were to terminate contract 2 years ago. I would be very very far from where i am now. Life is always a roller coster. So sit well , fasten the seat belt , and enjoy the adrenaline rush!

In House Chef

2006-10-28T16:09:00.000+02:00

Can you smell it?

Dhal

Rendang ChickenCurry Potatoes"Kung Pao" PorkWestern BreakfastFried Chicken with BrocolliTom Yam Fried Rice with Pineapple

I like cooking , my roommates like eating , what a perfect combination we make. No matter how tiring a day can be , our dinner can never be compromised , our stomach can never be deprived of good food. Sometimes it may take more than an hour to cook and 10 minutes to finish up the food , but the satisfaction gained will outweigh all the hardwork of preparations.

Hmm..Maybe this can be my second path if one day ,medicine is no longer my choice. Hehe. But till now , i still like the bones and muscles i study. Muscles look very much like our chicken drumstick too!

Malaysian Rojak

2006-10-28T01:51:00.000+02:00

Coming here has made me realise one thing - i am truly a Malaysian Chinese. Having been brought up from this multi racial country with her rich and diverse cultural banckground, i am moulded to become a Chinese with my own identity , far detached from my ancestor back in China. And i am who i am as a result of years of assimilation of cultures and languages that trangress all borders of races.

When i speak Mandarin , i speak Malaysian Mandarin (Ma-Man maybe) which is very much different from our Taiwan friends. When i speak English , i too speak Malaysian English(Manglish) that is very much different from our UK friends. But who cares? That is who i am and that is how i speak.

People sometimes do not understand us , as if we speak another alien language. It is no big deal for all Malaysian students , as we are so well adapted to our own version of Rojak Language."Eh , what did you makan just now?" "I makan the what liao , erm how to say that , oh , tang hun ar , you know?" "Oh ya. Walao eh , you very keng ha , here also can find tang hun ho!" What a myriad of colours. What a wonderful rojak we have whipped out!

They are even more amazed by our self-created exclamation. Waliu! Walao eh! Fuiyo! Fulamak! Alamak! Ah Pa Ah Ma! It is meaningless yet blurted out so spontaneously.It's sort of a personal identity. They try to imitate us , our language , our accent ,and yet there are some among us who try to fake their British/ American accents. For God's sake , what's the point? What's so wrong with our own Malaysian accent?

Just be proud of who we are la...

Deeparaya Celebration

2006-10-22T22:41:00.000+02:00

Festive mood is in the air once again. The smell of Indian Dhal , of Malay Rendang , and a fusion of both , it's Deeparaya!Sadly to say , none of us can fly back to be with our beloved families and friends. But we had our own celebration of it. Small reunion dinner in the room and open house for all Malaysian students in Anam's place. Uphloding the spirit of Malaysian Rumah Terbuka.

The night before Deepavali ,we had some , in fact only two fireworks to play with. Everyone got out of the apartment and waited for 15 minutes just for a display of fireworks which lasted only for split seconds. And it's a chilly night of about 5 or 6 degree celcius.
Deepavali day. Makan day. For Malaysians , all celebrations are eating feasts. So all ingredients are prepared. Chef is ready to dish out all the Malaysian cuisines - Rendang , Dhal , Nasi Briyani and Gong Pao Pork.
Outcome , yummy yummy. Not bad though. Not of self praising. Hehe...
Hari Raya , another makan day. Big feast again. Really really sumptuous , mouth-drooling delicacies. Stomach is filled to its maximum capacity , followed by photo sessions at the hostel lobby. Everyone is donned in traditional costume.What a sight to behold!Selamat Hari Raya and Happy Deepavali!

Sunday

2006-10-21T02:54:00.000+02:00

Yawn..... 9 am in the morning. Woke up.
Perfect breakfast of omelette with ham , cheese , tomatoes and garlic.

With one cup of hot coffee with thick milk. Whiff of aromatic coffee alerted the olfactory sense.
Getting ready to............. STUDY

My Day Out

2006-10-21T02:26:00.000+02:00

It has been week since my last outing. There are loads of work to be done in so short a time. Almost asphyxiating as i can say. From anatomy to biology to biophysics to chemistry , not forgetting Czech and Latin language. Practically all the waking hours are spent with books , and also my new found joy - bones and muscles.Finally here came a weekend with less work , not to say totally free. So better grab this once in a month opportunity to explore Olomouc , to the new undiscovered territory.I must say we were pretty lucky that day. See the tram in the photos? It is one of the oldest tram in Olomouc, And it operates only a few times in a year. It's prefect timing and sheer luck to be able to get into one. Wa laa... Taking a tram back in time..The town of Olomouc still retain many of its glories of the olden days. Basking in the autumn sun , strolling along the brick path and taking in the breathtakingly beautiful scenery of the town square , what a way of relaxation!

Not forgetting the existence of a small community of Vietnamese here in Olomouc. They live by selling cheap imitates of clothes and shoes. Pretty cheap. However , some locals ostracise them as they do not oblige by the Czech laws. In Czech , all products sold are under 2 years warranty. Obviously with such cheap price , we do not expect these comprehensive after sell services. It's just like our very own Petaling Street , boasting with international "brands" of Gucci , CK , LV... Everyone knows things there are fake , yet people still patronise them..

Olympia - the premier shopping complex in Olomouc, comparable to JB Aeon Tebrau , but relatively smaller in size. It's autumn sale now. Great bargains are on the shelves. I bought a jacket at only RM80 plus. Not imitate duh...
That's all for a day. Zzzz