born2roam...Viajero.Reisender.Curso.Voyageur.

Wild Cat,, Conqueoror, New Wave Puritan & Home Soul

2007-03-30T22:07:00.000+08:00

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Life in A&E

2006-07-02T12:34:00.000+08:00

I have finished my last night shift in A&E. It's been a whirlwind on Thursday night when it was soooo busy throughout the night. The cases were non-stop until 630am in the morning! Though they tapered off from 3am onwards, there are still patients who could walk and would come up to the counter for xray instead of us having to go to the Critical Care area to do the xrays. Argh. And there were many youngsters... Mmm... People in their 20s to 30s? I wonder why they were there in the middle of the night. It's not even the weekend. Ran away from home and hope to stay a night in the hospital? Hah!

I think I managed to catch some shut-eye, for 15mins? 20mins? Power nap that was at 5am.

Oh, and this supposedly 'backlog' was caused by the closure of THAT dear hospital in the north for 4 hours from 12-4pm! What the?! I heard from a staff nurse that Wed night was even worse as we managed to 'clear' the patients on Thurs. Mmm... I cannot imagine how Wed night was like, with Thurs night already horrible enough...

Anyway, night shift does funny things to me. At least in A&E. I did not feel like this when I was doing night shifts in IPS. I guess cuz it's busier in A&E and the atmosphere is still very 'lively' and the whole place is brightly lit with all the staff awake and walking around. Whereas in IPS, it's just me and my HCA. The light is often dimmed and we sitting at the front counter, staring into the computers, surfing internet or reading. Boring.

Thoughts of contemplation of the meaning of Life comes to me at times. When I encountered cancer patients sometimes, and they had to admit into A&E in the dead of night cuz of shortness of breath or extreme pain.

When there are RTA (road traffic accident) patients rushed in, and the healthcare personnel would be doing their best to do everything they could to preserve their lives.

When there are drunkards who got into a brawl and have to be admitted, with accompanying policemen.

When there are clubbers who have actually danced till they dislocated their shoulders! (This is real! I had such a patient before!)

When there are heart patients who might have suffered from a transient ischaemic attack and are admitted to locate an impending time bomb of thrombus or aneurysm which would ultimately cut their short their life.

When there are party animals dressed to kill, reeking of smoke and alcohol, slumped on the trolley and vomitting their guts out...

One can only encounter such cases when u work in the hospital at night. This was the only saving grace for me after I learnt of having to do night shifts during the schooling days. I remember trying to psycho myself to think of these as exciting and challenging as what u would see in dramas like 'ER' and such. And I even said I might choose A&E to be the permanant centre I am going to be in after a year.

Yeah, I had chosen, but not given my choice. And I have chosen them for different reasons. But now, the very reasons that had sparked off my interest of working in A&E are what I guess I have been looking for in this line.

Being a radiographer has never ever crossed my mind in the younger days. This is not my ideal career at all. However, as I am drawn into this, I make the best out of it. And it certainly never occurred to me that the kind of cases and patients I meet actually help shape and further compounded on my attitudes towards Life. And I found this realisation in the very department I am in now. This is certainly another HUGE plus factor why I would love to remain in A&E. I do not think my colleagues would think that far and I would not bother to explain this particular reason to them, for they do not know me. That I think so deep. Most probably, they would dismiss me as a person who think too much!

On Thursday night, there were 3 patients admitted for multiple stab wounds. The resuscitation room was jam packed with patients and all the patients required xrays! I was tested to the max, as my partner was at the other side and there were no cases there. But he did not know that it would be so busy here too. I had the thought of how he was relaxing while I was slogging away. However, he did come by after an hour after seeing that I was not back for so long.

The 3 patients got to be my bloodiest cases ever. And I saw how stab wounds are actually. They are nothing more than just incisions in your skin actually, but your internal organs would be bleeding for sure. There would not be any bluish-green on your skin, as seen on many RTA patients, as you were not being impacted. But blood could most probably be flowing non-stop from an outlet.

As I neared the patient, the smell of the blood, the smell of iron actually, was strong. Groaning away in pain, I had to obtain several xrays before they wheeled her into the operating theatre. There were many other personnels around her, all doing their best to make sure she was going to make it.

I was very curious. There were so many questions in my mind. Who would stab these 3 people? 2 ladies and a man. Middle-aged. They are Indians, and they do not seem like they are locals. A robbery? They are like our neighbourhood uncles and aunties, what feud could have cause this?

I never did find out the reason. Nevertheless, this is the kind of case that have unknowingly made me fell in love with A&E. As much as there are MANY crappy people coming in for the most minor ailment and hence treating A&E like a polyclinic, there are also genuine cases waiting to be tended to, waiting to be given a helping hand from the gates of Death. And I have witnessed some really caring and selfless nurses who have such a good temper. Gosh, they must really be angels in the form of human beings.

U can get numbed. U can become desensitized. Especially towards those crappy cases. However, when the time comes, your heart string would be tugged and u know when u have to give, even though there may be no thanks. And it might be hard to get the patient's cooperation.

After writing so much, I am still going to be transferred. I felt terrible last week. The entire Mon-Wed was spent moaning over my fate. More or less. I learnt to move on. I was trying to psycho myself into thinking life at IPS would not be so bad. What a lie. Talk about such life philosophies to my BIG BOSS? Nah! They would most probably pass u off as a 23-year-old who have not seen much of Life yet. I feel like telling them I would most probably have experienced much more things and emotions than they had at my age. Hmph.

I am going to miss the work here definitely. The environment, the colleagues, the atmosphere, the busyness, the camaderie, the off days! Sigh. I am so going to make sure I am transferring back in Oct when the expansion starts. I have have always fought for what I want in my life, and I certainly am not giving in so easily to such a bureaucratic organisation.

I am a part of all that I have met. ~Alfred Lord Tennyson

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after. ~Henry David Thoreau

The issues at stake

2006-05-06T09:40:00.000+08:00

This was an interesting article which I read when I was browsing through the news on Yahoo webpage. Yeah, hope the ones able to vote are mature enough to open up their eyes and mind to what's going on around them and the larger issues at stake. And not let the nitty-gritty silly arguments affect their decision... Wake up, guys!

Saturday May 6, 8:17 AM

Will the real First World voter please stand up?

SINGAPORE: Desepite the James Gomez sideshow and the hysteria that has accompanied it, there is a certain neatness to this particular General Election.

In the first forays that got the campaign on its way, the People's Action Party (PAP) asked: You have this yearning for opposition, but are you being offered a First World opposition?

The Opposition replied: Do we have a First World Government in the first place?

Rhetoric, perhaps, but the real test of Singapore's electoral process coming of age must, we think, hinge on a related theme: Do we have First World voters?

The by-election strategy practised by Singapore's Opposition parties had all but taken this factor out of the equation. Since 1988, by conceding the Government before the first vote was cast, they had reduced the polls to rather narrow dimensions.

By force of circumstances, the debate was narrowed from who should form the next Government to one centred on whether or why an Opposition was needed in Parliament and which candidate was willing to work harder to serve his constituents and manage a Town Council to bring about improvements.

No longer. With only 37 seats uncontested this time around and 47 still to fight for (still too few by First World standards, but it's a start), voters actually have an opportunity to think beyond their immediate surroundings and send a signal on the kind of country they want to live in. They will get the Government they deserve.

Singapore's evolving electorate has in the past shown that it still has some way to go before it can be considered enlightened. In his dialogue with young Singaporeans, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew mentioned how the PAP generally preferred to field Chinese males in single-member wards, presumably because the electorate still carried racial and gender biases to the polling both.

A voter who will refuse to vote for a Ramalingam because he is Indian, a Diana Chan because she is female or a Hazlinda because she is neither Chinese nor male does not deserve to be called a First World voter. Quite simply, the vote should go to the party or candidate that can serve best - and nothing else should matter.

A First World voter would be more persuaded by the bigger picture than who gives the most entertaining rally speech. He would not be swayed by sniping and potshots aimed at the political opponent - empty talk that rates high on style but low on substance.

He will compare visions, weigh the philosophies and examine the personnel before him - without double standards for the incumbent or the opponent. After all, why should the First World voter settle for anyone less capable or with less integrity?

In this campaign, the Opposition has stuck to one recurring theme: Alternative voices, checks and balances. It has argued that no government, however good and honest, can be endlessly trusted to be its own watchdog. It has asked Singaporeans to send its members to Parliament so that they can keep an eye on what, despite the Opposition's nominal challenge, will certainly be a PAP Government.

The ruling party has stressed that the Singapore system is unique. It has asked whether Singapore really needs to follow a model of democracy in which governments are forced to think short-term - from election to election - and come up with populist, if harmful, policies just to keep the Opposition at bay. It has pointed to its track record and asserted that it has both the vision and the personnel to deliver the goods.

A First World voter will think, weigh and decide what is good for him in the long term. He will not be churlish or petty.

He will use his vote wisely. - TODAY /dt

2006-04-17T17:35:00.000+08:00

I watched the 2pm news earlier after lunch just now. Oh dear... What's happening to the world? There were basically about 8-9 news bulletin and none of them, oh yes, NONE of them were good news... All are reports on something bad...

1) Iran nuclear program. Invasion by U.S.? Any move by U.S. and suicide bombers would be sent to the United States? That would really send the entire Middle East region into chaos. Iran had been at war with Iraq for 8 years from 1980-1988. Come on, surely not another war to add to the already conflicting world we have? Sigh... Violence begets violence. When will it all ends?

2) Sri Lanka. Violence has erupted over the past week and killed 63 so far in the Northern and Northwestern areas of the country, strongholds of the Tamil Tigers, further upsetting any improvement to peace plans being made... Sigh.

3) Nepal. Opposition parties urged people not to pay taxes and declared an economic war. Food and fuel supplies are in shortage in the country. Another mass protest set on this coming Thursday. Sigh. This looks like the stage set for an impending emergency state to be annoucned anytime.

4) Turkey. A bomb blast went off in Istanbul, injuring several. What's up this time, man?

5) China. Beijing's resident woke up today to find the city shrouded under a cloud of sand. Sand storms had started last week. I simply hope it would not continue...

The countries I love are simply in a mess. Sigh. And the coutnry I'm going to go has a sand storm raging every now and then?! It seems like there's nowhere in the world that's really safe and perfect right now for travel. Or at least, the countries I love...

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Yeah! The rain has stopped! Time to go running!

What last minute change of plans

2006-04-17T10:10:00.000+08:00

Yeah, it's been confirmed last Wednesday. I am not going to Nepal anymore... I had received an email from my team leader regarding the possibility of trip postponement last Wed, 12th April. Being the practical me, I faced up to reality and was scouring for a new destination as I know it's impossible to postpone my leave and I do not find it appropriate to cancel my leave and go back to work.

Then my team leader called in the early afternoon when I was still at home. The trip need to be postponed at least for 1 week. Then during the weekend, it was postponed for 2 weeks, with them leaving on the 26th April. Yesterday, they were looking at a new destination. India. They are going to trek the Kullu Valley in the Western Himalayas. Guess it must be quite untouched by the modern devastations of tourism... since I have not heard of it! Yeah, the trip is still pending now and I can see my team leader to doign his best to get everything together right and please everyone... Gee... Not easy... Thanks, Alex, though I'm not joining u guys... Like he had said, ABC is always there since it's a well-trodden path. I will be there someday! With my good friends by my side hopefully!

I thought I was ready to move on and not be that disappointed... I was well, wrong. Somehow, waking up at 5.30am on Saturday(on the day I'm supposed to fly off) after having gone to bed at only 12 the night before with the 1st thought that came to my mind, "Argh. I'm not flying off to Nepal today." I forced myself back to sleep cuz I was really tired! Guess my sub-conscious mind really wanted very much to go, if not my conscious self.

I got up at 7, and started looking up at websites and LP's forum and called up agencies at 9 after they opened. Decided on the new destination and went down to get my tickets. I suddenly had so much time on my hands that I felt kind of lost. I had nothing planned for the weekend cuz I'm supposed to be out of the country already! Good Friday was supposed to be the last day in Singapore and I had all events planned up till that day only! Argh.

I thought of going back to work and changing shift with my friend so that I will have maybe 1 more day at the end of my holidays but it's too troublesome. Sigh. Now I understand the saying, "Boredom kills."

The disappointment was real. As I walked along Chinatown, I could hear me telling myself, "I should be on the flight to Kathmandu now." Sigh. No fate with Nepal. What to do? Things happen for a reason. There must be a better time to go there. In fact, I have not planned to go Nepal in the 1st place this year. Everything falls in place. I even forfeited a free ticket to Hong Kong and the chance to travel with a good friend to go Nepal. Sigh. Things are not meant to be. I am disappointed, but it's time to move on and not dwell over such trivial things...

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I read up extensively on Xinjiang in Kinokuniya after getting my air tic from the agency. That was already 2pm when I got to Kino. I managed to borrow an outdated copy of LP China from the Orchard Library and went down to Kino after that. I was happy that I am going somewhere I want. I decided on China as the countries in the nearby region within 4hours' flight have been visited. I would love to revisit Sri Lanka, and the air ticket was going at dirt cheap price as well. But with the recent unrest in the North-Western part of Trincomalee again, and me wanting to see Jaffna(Northern part held by Tamil Tigers), it's not wise to go there now. Besides, I just went there in 2004 Dec. Should wait for a longer period before I go there again...

Destinations like Philippines and East Malaysia are possible destinations too, but I feel I need more time to prepare for them. Checking out the airfares on promotion, I decided to go to China and from there to Xinjiang, the nearest I can get to Central Asia without all the hassles. It's once part of the Silk Road as well and known otherwise as the Uyghur Autonomous State, comprises of more Muslims than any other regions in China, and is more Central Asian then mainland China.

I was fervently reading up on Xinjiang and Xinjiang only. However, after going through the necessary details of getting there and the number of days I can spend there, I realise it's not cost-effective to spend $1000 in oder to just go Xinjiang and I can spend only a mere 11days there... From Beijing to Urumqi is 4 hours of flight or 2days by train. The airfare costs $200 one way when there is discount. The discounts vary day to day actually. $200 is the lowest u can pay. Otherwise, the train journey of 2days cost $200 as well. Well, $1000 on air tickets to get to a destination and spending only 11 days in that place is simply not my style of travel. Sigh. I gave Xinjiang up and now am focusing on exploring Beijing, Shanghai and Inner Mongolia. 15days is more than enough to do this.

I once vowed to go to Beijing before the Olympics few years back after they won the bid. Well, this somewhat forgotten wish is going to be fulfilled! Athens was fulfilled too. There's the Great Wall and Hutongs in Beijing, the Bund in Shanghai and the exoticness of Inner Mongolia to look forward to. I just have to read up LP right now.

I have to seriously think about where I want to go next for the next holiday this year as I still have 19days of leave left, carried forward from last year. I was thinking and planning already. I need to have a plan. Only then do dreams come true...

Aiye. Last minute plans.

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.
~Seneca

Go The Distance

2006-04-09T22:48:00.000+08:00

Oh dear... There are so many things that I want to write about, and certain events on certain are causing a backlog on my entries... Haven't been faithfully writing of late... Been busy reading up more and putting together stuff for my trip... :p *guilty* And of course, busy meeting up friends of late too, while trying to maintain my training schedule... It's not EASY!!!

All right, just missed out on a swim session today because I decided to go down City Hall to meet MH and XY. XY actually messaged me yesterday to ask about solo backpacking and hope to meet up to find out certain things from me. I had wanted to meet YL and Jo after an easy swim after work at 3pm today. It's cancelled as YL was going out for another dinner with LL's parents. Called Jo to join us at City Hall but she was lazy to come out. Mmm... Tough decision for me as I had to swim later after meeting them up and eating. Thought it would not be that hard. In the end, after YQ came to meet us, oh well, heck, it was hard to tear myself away from them, especially since I have not met XY and YQ for a long time!

I met XY and MH 1st and we went to Cedele. My choice. XY's going to Tibet!!! Overland either by train or bus from Chengdu!!!! Oh man!!!! WL had been telling me about the new train route that opened recently from CHina into Tibet lately also, but I forgot from which city... I'm so envious!!! TIBET!?!? *Free Tibet campaign comes into mind. :p* I hope to make a trip there soon too, overland from China on train! I love train rides! She gonna have 6 weeks of travelling before starting work... and she's thinking of going Mongolia too!!! ARGH!!!!!! I am envious... Well, not extreme, as I would in the past. I know I would have my share of fun and travelling too. :)

YQ came after tuition and he was late! We had so many episodes of laughter throughout the meeting and my ribs was aching! It's a kind of pain that I used to have after I started long distance running. Haven't had that for a long time. I love my judoka pals... Haha... Never fail to make my day! We discussed so many issues and kept teasing YQ about his 'F' to 'G' transformation... :p It was totally hilarious everytime he tried his cold jokes on us or try some analogy or talk rubbish! I was really entertained as well as my other 2 compatriots. We were rocking the entire 'Thai Express' with our laughter! :D

Parted with them at 9pm when YQ insisted he wanted to go home to catch his soccer match. Alright, alright. Let him be then. MH has to work tomorrow, and I would be waking up early to do my make up swim for today as well. :p

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Realised that it's only 6 more days to my trip and 5 days for me to get everything together! Mmm... Getting a bit stressed. Control, control. I'm not going to do last minute packing. I can do it. :p

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8th April, Saturday: I have been hyper for the entire day. Perhaps the caffeine in the morning coffee played a part. Work: 8am-3pm. I had to fill in the form for the PA medical declaration and mail it back to Alex. I certainly do not want to go to the GP and pay $30 for a very physical checkup when I face doctors everyday in my work!!! I then decided to get the help of any doctor from A&E to help me sign the form. TR, a HCA that I'm close to, came for work at 2pm and she's on quite good terms with some doctors. WSY, my colleague and classmate, was there to give me the 'support' too. Haha. Approached Dr NR, but he was busy with some patients. Then Dr SA was very free at his computer. Went up to him and ask him to help me with the form. He asked where I am going for my trek and told him 'Nepal' and he went, "Oh, that's my neighbour country."

I went, "Yeah! Which part are u from then?"

"New Delhi."

"Oh, the capital... Cool..."

"Have u been there before?"

"Nope, but I certainly hope to go there one day soon. There's so many things to see and do in India! It's an amazing country!"

"Really? U want to go to India? We would gladly welcome u!"

Or so I hope. Haha. The above conversation was made up by me. :p I would definitely go into such a conversation if I know the person better. The conversation simply stopped at the 'Yeah.' Haha... I wanted to just get it done. He looked through the simple questionaire he's supposed to tick through and then took my pulse. He said my pulse was too slow. He asked me how many beats per minute(BPM). '60?' That was more than a year ago when I took it myself. He said, "No, I think it's 50." Not so low la! Then we took my BP and the monitor showed 117, 76. Healthy range. And my BPM was 55! I was thrilled! WAY went, "Wah kau, u are super fit la!" Hehe... All those long distance swims and runs have not come to naught!

Dr SA then went, "Are you an athlete?" I went, "Yes." Not a competitive one though. Heh... I was worried about my BP cuz when I took it on Tuesday morning at 9am, it was low! 98, 58! Same on both arms! Whoa! Never had low BP before. But I felt very fine that morning. Maybe it's just in the morning.

Dr SA wrote his name, medical registration number, 'SGH A&E' (no clinic stamp!), signed and then passed me the form. I was jumping with joy after that! Literally! Yippee! I got it done! Without going to the GP!

The work flow was all right, with constant cases flowing in the entire time. After knocking off, I went to the pharmacy to get some stuff for the team 1st aid kit. After which it was off to Bt Batok to meet Annie to get my warm clothing from her. She lent me so many pieces! And she also dropped in heat paks, ziploc bags, and a big pouch! Thanks, Annie! She's always so motherly and kind. :)

Rain. Such lazy weather to stay in. I waited for the rain to stop before running at 640pm. Rather late but I still decided to run to 'GH' for it's going to be another 1 month before I get to run there. After I come back, that is. And the heavy rain had given the earth a clean wash and the air was fresh, with the light breeze blowing in your face as u run. The insects and animals would have come alive after the rain. Only bad thing was the wet grounds. Mmm... My shoes are dirty anyway. I just want to enjoy the environs.

Have not ran in 'GH' after a rain for quite sometime. I love the fresh and invigorating feeling. I was on adrenalin high just thinking about my trip and the fact that my HR per minute was 55 and the emails I received from friends in response to the email I sent out. Felicitas, a German lady I met in Iran replied and I was so happy to hear from her. :) She would be in Sikkim while I'm in Nepal! Cool! A very kind lady in her fifties already and she has been travelling since her youth... SHe told me before about how Indonesia used to be before it opened up and before the term 'independant travel' or 'backpacking' came to be the hip thing of the 20th century. Wow. A vast expanse of knowledge behind her... I was in awe of her when I met her in Iran. A very open lady as well. We are still in touch and she's someone I hope to keep in contact with. :)

The run took 1hour 3minutes. I did 3 sets of F/C after that, energy level still running high.
5 min, 5.5 min, 6 min. The moon is half its roundness. Pretty. It was late when I finally got back home and settled down for dinner. 845pm. Whoa.

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Go The Distance - Hercules soundtrack

I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star
I can go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

I will search the world
I will face its harms
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

I think that travel comes from some deep urge to see the world, like the urge that brings up a worm in an Irish bog to see the moon when it is full.
~Lord Dunsany

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~St. Augustine

2006-04-09T22:41:00.000+08:00

Below was the email which I sent out on Friday,7th Mar to friends to inform them about my upcoming trip. Just thought that I want to post it here too. Kind of form part of my blog for that day. Here goes...

Harlow everyone!!

I hope this email finds everyone well. It's been a long time ever since I sent out a mass mail. :) And there's reason to do this cuz I am going for a trip again! Well, for those who do not know yet, I am flying to the country where Heaven and Earth meet, where the highest peak in the world is, and which boasts of some of the toughest people in the world. If u have not guess it, yup, it's Nepal.

My trip will last for 18days, from 15^th April to 2^nd May. I will trekking the Annapurna Circuit, and should be able to complete 80% of the route, if all things go well. My team consists of a total of 17 members, where I am the youngest. Hee.... Most of the others are middle-aged and above. Well, not that this is the 1^st time I?m traveling with people much older than me anyway.

During this 18 days, I would not have any access to communications means, unless I'm in the towns of Kathmandu and Pokhara. But time is precious as we do not have much of it to spend in either towns. Most likely, I would not be writing back at all. My handphone would be off as well. Cut off from Singapore for this period. Just what I prefer on any other trip. :p The last time this occurred was in Myanmar where there was no Internet access also!

I had wanted to write this email 2 weeks ago, but wanted to further confirm everything and wait for myself to be truly excited before I write this. Finally. One week before leaving. It's not too late this time round, right, folks? It's not those just few days before kind of email. And I am really excited right now. In fact, I just finished compiling my list of 'to-brings' and read the LP Nepal guide. Oh gosh, one of my childhood dreams is coming true! I have this list of countries which I have always wanted to go since young. And I mean, really young. At the primary school level? When my age was still a single digit. Those countries are Egypt, Nepal, Tibet, Rome(din know this was not a country at that time!) and Greece. Of course, the list of countries just kept getting longer. My focus had shifted as well. Rome and Greece were because of the Roman ruins and the many Greek mythologies and legends that had fascinated me since young. Egypt: Guess no further explanation needed right? Nepal and Tibet: Because of the mountains, of their elusiveness and of the rich Buddhist culture that fascinated me at a very impressionable age.

As I grow up, the various trekking tales caught my imagination and fascinated me. I had dreamt of becoming an archaeologist before(hence the appeal of the countries with ruins) and later on, a mountaineer. Or maybe perhaps, just a mountain trekker. Haha. Somehow, somewhere along the way, those dreams get blurred and indistinct. U have other obligations to fulfill. U have to walk down a certain path that has been laid for you. U are bound by circumstances. U have to do something else because it's basically impossible to be an archaeologist or a zoologist or a mountaineer or a marine biologist in Singapore! Or simply because, those dreams are not REALISTIC at all in the eyes of those loved ones around you! Ironic, isn't it? How your loved ones should stop u from becoming the person u want to be at times?

At least I have my freedom to pursue my dreams at this moment. A person only has this one life and that much time on earth. It's already April 2006. I realized that it has been almost a year since I traveled independently. My last trip to Iran was in May last year! Time flies, especially more so when u have so many things u want to do and everyday just whiz by with the list getting longer. Hey, it could get shorter too! If u are constantly ticking out those boxes on the list! :)

On a last note, just wanna share with u guys something that happened a few days ago at my workplace. My immediate boss in this department that I am working at now(A&E) is very open and outgoing. He loves to travel too and we often chat a lot about travel-related issues. He had asked me about Vietnam last week as he is going there tomorrow on Sat. I wrote him my itinery when I was there in 2004. When he knew I was going to Nepal, he offered to help me get any medications at discounted prices I might need for my trip from his niece who's a nurse.

This week, there were 2 students on attachment at the department and from our conversations, they know I am going to Nepal. I think they asked him something regarding me and traveling. My boss then told them, "This girl is a traveler. One day, she's going to cover more countries than any of us here." I was washing my hands then after having tended to a patient and he turned to me, "Right or not?" I gave him a very definite answer. "Yeah, I want to!"

In my mind, I was actually thinking of saying, 'I hope to.' However, 'hope' is not strong enough. 'Want' would ensure u will achieve your target. I did not feel I was being boastful at that time, for it was him who came up with that statement! Heh... Anyway, I guess I have in fact covered more countries than most people in that department, or as compared to anyone around my age.

I will always remember what I promise to myself. And make sure that dreams do come true, just like the next trip I'm taking. To the kingdom where u can almost touch the Heavens, where superb sceneries take your breath away and where adventure and magic will unfold themselves in the soaring mountains... :) Nepal, here I come... A girl living out her childhood fantasies...

Warmest Wishes,
An ecstatic Eunice!

One Moment in Time

2006-04-06T18:50:00.000+08:00

I am off today and tomorrow from work. The last 2 days of 'off' before my Nepal trip next Sat! Oh, well, there's Good Friday too. I would be joining the runners at MR for a run in the morning. I have stared to get all my stuff lined up for the trip. I bought more or less, most of the stuff I need. Still need to borrow long johns from a friend. I do hope she has!

I went for a 31min run this morning from 9.37 to 10.08am. I was not feeling well over the past 2 days actually. After my swim on Monday, I wore my wet t-shirt home as the rain which came down when I was still in the pool drenched my entire tee and bermudas. I suffered a sore throat that night. I wonder if it was a result of the rain or simply cuz I have been rather heaty since the week of the biathlon. I started my own self-medication and ate lozenges, Danzen tablets, Panadol and Clarinase.

As a result, my throat did not feel good when I started my run this morn. It had the taste of the lozenges and anti-inflammatory tab that I ate after breakfast. My body did not seem to be able to coordinate very well too. I was breathing kind ohard. Thought my heart was beating too fast. The sun was HOT. I was doing my best to stay in the shade.

After the 1st 20mins, I felt all right. I did not push myself too hard, for fear that I would over exert. After all, I am still not fully well. However, when I had to stop to go climb the stairs, I felt I could continue somemore. I really could go further. However, the focus of the training today was the stairs! :p

And so I went, after changing into the boots that were meant for the trek. I set myself 10 sets at 1st, but pushed it to 12, after thinking that I had done 8 sets last week. An add-on of only 2 sets would not make much a difference. As I climbed, I felt strong and when I was at the 10th set, I decided to make it 15.

Yup, I did 15 sets! Up and down 14 floors. I only felt a bit of the aches at the 13th set onwards. Heh... Good... My legs are already getting accustomed. Anyway, I woke up this morning feeling an ache in my left calf. And I did not train yesterday! Must be all the squatting and bending over in CC yesterday.

I guess I am quite accustomed to moving about for long hours. My line of profession requires me to do that! And thus, I am ready for Nepal, I guess. Hah! After only 2 stair-climbing sessions and 1 trek to Bt Timah!? I will see how my legs feel tomorrow morning. I asked a friend who has been to Annapurna before and she recounted her experiences to me. It's days after days of walking, trekking through different and rough terrain. Average of about 6-7 hours a day? She told me my body would not be used to it the 1st few days, after which it would be bearable. I checked with Alex, my team leader, and it was confirmed that we would have porters carrying our bags for us. We would only be carrying our day pack on our treks. That is a great relief then. My usual day-to-day bag is already heavy enough and I sometimes carry that to go shopping. Mmm... Good training... :p

We would be staying in tea lodges! I feel very relieved to hear that as I cannot fathom sleeping in a tent on such high altitudes EVERY single night. Geez... That would be very cold and I might have problems getting to sleep. Glad to hear that we are going to be sleeping in lodges, be it on beds or simply on a wooden floor, it got to be warmer than sleeping out there in the cold! :p

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It was raining cats and dogs earlier before this. The perfect kind of weather to stay in at home and write... See photos posted... I love to watch the rain come down in sheets and the wind directing them into different paths... The earth would be so clean from the wash after that...

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One Moment In Time --- Whitney Housten

Each day I live
I want to be a day to give the best of me
I'm only one, but not alone
My finest day is yet unknown
I broke my heart for every gain
To taste the sweet, I faced the pain
I rise and fall,
Yet through it all this much remains

I want one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity

I've lived to be the very best
I want it all, no time for less
I've laid the plans
Now lay the chance here in my hands

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will feel, I will feel eternity

You're a winner for a lifetime
If you seize that one moment in time
Make it shine

Give me one moment in time
When I'm more than I thought I could be
When all of my dreams
Are a heart beat away
And the answers are all up to me
Give me one moment in time
When I'm racing with destiny
Then in that one moment of time
I will be, I will be, I will be free,
I will be free

I remember hearing this song after a run on 24th March when I was cooling down. It was only 2 days before my biathlon. The song means a lot to me. It's like an Olympic event song, somewhat like 'Reach' by Gloria Estefan. I was feeling very good after the run that morning and hearing this song only boosted my morale. I was reminded of how long I had come ever since the days of Judo. I remember that moment of glory when I received my 1st medal in 1997 after the National Schools and the classmates cheering for me. *weary smile* I remember those tortuous days of training when we were being tested to the limit under Sir. I remember those crazy 3 days of training camp in a row during the school holidays, and the muscle aches that would not go away after only a week. I remember the recess times spent at the parallel bars at old NY in order to be able to get through the entire length. I remember the tears and laughter I have shared with my dearest teammates...

I teared.

Now, I am doing a solo sport. I have never thought I could still continue to collect medals after the days of Judo. Although these are merely 'finisher's medals', it still attests to the amount of time and effort I put into training for each event. Behind those time and effort lies determination, courage, the will to achieve more and improve oneself and a belief. A belief that one can overcome anything if he allows himself to believe.

I love endurance sports.

"What matters is not the idea a man holds, but the depth at which he holds it."
~Ezra Pound

"Sport is where an entire life can be compressed into a few hours, where the emotions of a lifetime can be felt on an acre or two of ground, where a person can suffer and die and rise again on six miles of trails through a New York City park. Sport is a theater where sinner can turn saint and a common man become an uncommon hero, where the past and the future can fuse with the present. Sport is singularly able to give us peak experiences where we feel completely one with the world and transcend all conflicts as we finally become our own potential."
~George A. Sheehan

2006-04-06T18:49:00.000+08:00

And finally the downpour...

2006-04-06T18:48:00.001+08:00

Getting darker...

2006-04-06T18:48:00.000+08:00

Think this only happens in Singapore

2006-04-06T18:47:00.000+08:00

I am home today. I love clouds, especially those that roll in before a storm. Check out the contrast between the bright sunlight and the dark clouds above.

A ride down Memory Lane

2006-04-05T23:25:00.000+08:00

Today is my rest day fro trainings. It had been a busy past few days in the morning. My shift this week is 8am to 3pm, and it is supposed to be quieter in the mornings. However, this week has been exceptional! From 9am onwards, there would be a constant stream of patients coming in and we would kind of be stuck at CC area from 930am onwards! *argh* Heh... Who's working with me this week? PPP, ZHR on Monday and Tuesday and DAD & KTS today morning. Whew. PPP and DAD are well-known for their 'toxicity'... and with Dr RB on duty yesterday as well... Whoa, lethal combi... There were a total of 3 'multiple trauma' cases at lunch time yesterday! I did a patient in 'Resus' who fell from a scaffolding who required 8-9 regions of xrays! While ZHR did another old lady requiring xrays in 5 regions... I reckon I took about 50minutes to complete everything, with several repeats... With Dr RB adding on a new region every 5 minute or so, the case seemed to be never-ending. At least he's nice enough to say sorry and also justified for the reason why he wanted the xrays for... unlike some other doctors... :p

Knocked off at 3pm today! I hanged around settling some stuff and talking to TYS cuz I would not get to see him until I get back from Nepal. He's flying to Vietnam this Saturday and would be there for the week while I would be away to Nepal from Good Friday onwards for 2 weeks. As usual, our conversations are always peppered with travel related stuff. I finally proposed to him what I had wanted to suggest when I 1^st came to A&E. Rubbish separation which can be sent for recycling afterwards. I remembered on Tuesday when I went running and was very exciting. I know something can be done on going green in the department. There are many different areas to look into. He told me to write him a list of things which I can think up of. Great! Something close to the heart, and can be used as an area of QI which I would definitely be interested in! :)

4th April, Tuesday: I was energetic enough after work, despite the busy day at work. I had slept only 5+hours on Sunday night, and 6hours on Monday night. I had weird dreams which I remembered on Sunday night and woke up too early on Monday morning. Went swimming on Monday after work, and ran after work on Tuesday, and yet I am still energetic enough to adjust to the lack of sleep this week. Last week's shift was 2-9pm, hence I had enough sleep EVERY day. In fact, I slept too much on certain days, and I was still not as energetic as this week. Perhaps, the fact that I'm going to Nepal had subconsciously sunk in and I am excited subconsciously? Hence, the level of energy I had for the past few days... Mmm... Who knows?

Anyway, I made a trip down to Mustafa Centre to get some items for the trip. Little India is actually one of my favourite place in Singapore, if u have not read my previous entries before. In a way, I feel like a traveler in this ethnic enclave of Singapore, but yet, I do know my way around more or less... I love Indian food, especially the vegetarian stuff. There's a whole lot of varieties which I have not tried before and am still on the way to exploring them. And then, there's Mustafa Centre, opened 24hours all year long(even during Deepavali!) and u can really find some great bargains if u know where to look. Basically, their electronic products are always worth looking into, as the prices are lower than those at Sim Lim Square and sports wear there are discounted too! I always get huge tubes of sunblock and moisturizer there as they are really much cheaper than elsewhere.

After getting what I needed, I decided to have dinner before making my way home. I walked through some back lanes and discovered some interesting looking shophouses. What was even more interesting was that there were several ladies dressed up prettily standing at the foot of the stairs. This was the Jalan Besar area, according to the road signs. There was several blocks of flats just behind those shophouses. Mmm... some illicit trade going on behind those shophouses? Many of the shophouses are actually selling vehicle spare parts, or engage in trading wholesale spare parts, with the odd Indian stall selling spices or another dealing in wholesale rice. It was certainly an interesting find. There's more to Little Indian behind the main street if you care to explore. I found several tastefully decorated backpackers lodges as well. :) They sure set the travel itch in me on fire!

It was almost 6.The sky was still clear although it looked like the dark clouds were approaching. I had a masala dosai with teh tarik at Komala's Villa. This restaurant is the 1^st that I ever stepped into back in 1998 when my friend brought us here to eat authentic Indian food. Half of my class had gone for OBS and the other half had a week of free time in school, of which the school actually organized a heritage trip for them to Little India. My form teacher then, Mrs Siva Koh (she married a Chinese), introduced and taught them the bona fide way of eating Indian food, with your fingers! I still have not mastered this! A memory down the years... Who could ever have thought at that time I would fall in love with Indian food now? *weary laugh*

It was already raining when I exited the restaurant. I decided to walk over to Tekka Mall and get threading done. Ouch. My 3^rd time and it still hurts, though not as much. At least I did not tear this time! Went to Sheng Siong to get biscuits and apricots for the trip, since I need to have snacks along the trek!

I was determined to take '67' home as I reckon the train would take me the same time and I need to change train and I would most prob not get a seat on board at all. I kind of lost my sense of directions and walked too long a distance to get to my desired bus stop. In any case, I got a seat on the bendy bus, much to my delight as it was one of my fave seating on the bus.

It was a ride down memory lane. The reason why I chose to take the bus home was partly cuz I had wanted to experience this too. The bus would travel down the stretch of Bukit Timah which had been a daily path of commute for me for a whole 6 years just a few years ago. That route brought back many memories; from the moment it passed by Serene Centre, to Coronation Plaza, to HC, to CHS, to NJ and NY, to 6^th Ave, to KAP... Many landmarks have undergone uplifting work, some restaurants are gone, and the stretch of open-air eating place at 6^th Ave is gone already, with new glitzy restaurants taking up its place. KAP has a new look inside as well, with it having the 24-hours drive-thru now.

Memories did not come flooding back the way I had expected. It was more of a very gentle walk down the growing-up days. I am not the sentimental person I used to be, when certain memories would overwhelm me. Some isolated scenes appeared in my mind. I miss those days fondly, definitely. I can feel warm tears rushing to my eyes. However, those days seem so long ago. It's been 5 years ever since I passed out from college. Somehow, I can never feel the desire to go back to those days anymore.

Is it because I have been hardened by Life? Is it because I am so blinded by the 'Rat Race' that seems to overshadow everything else now that I have started working? Or is it simply because I have grown up? And have learnt to let go...

Perhaps the last reason. Definitely not the first two. I have tasted some of the finest things Life has to offer, in my sense. I am living for the present. No longer for the past. Maybe sometimes for the future. The past has shaped who I am today. The past is a place to look back in terms of gratitude. Sometimes, it can act as a sanctuary to escape from the craziness of modern life when things were so much simpler then. Nonetheless, time can never be turned back and like what Morrie said, "The issue is to accept who you are and revel in that."

'Tuesdays with Morrie' is a wonderful book. For those who have not read this book before, u have miss out a gem. The messages the author and his ex-professor sent out in this book are direct, and if u do not let those words sink in to you, the magic of the book is lost. I love this chapter about aging.

"Weren't you ever afraid to grow old, I asked?"

"Mitch, I embrace aging."

"Embrace it?"

"It?s very simple. As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at twenty-two, you would always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging is not decay, you know. It's also growth. It's more than the negative that you are going to die, it's also the positive that you know you are going to die, and you live a better life because of it."

"Yes, but if aging were so valuable, why do people always say, 'Oh, if I were young again.' You never hear people say, 'I wish I were sixty-five.'

He smiled. "You know what that reflects? Unsatisfied lives. Unfulfilled lives. Lives that haven't found meaning. Because if you have found meaning in your life, you don't want to go back. You want to go forward. You want to see more, do more. You can't wait until sixty-five."

"Listen. You should know something. All younger people should know something. If you are always battling against getting older, you are always going to be unhappy, because it will happen anyhow."

I guess I have reached the stage whereby I really do look forward. I want to go forward. I want to see more and do more. I really do look forward to each day and want to live out each day like it would be my last. Everything I do everyday would leave me with no regrets even if that day were to be my last. Yes, this is how I live my Life. This is something which I am always doing, but have not spelt out for a long time. In a way, this ride down Memory Lane has allowed me to relook at my firm beliefs and principles. I have taken out my fave book too, and that chapter brought tears to my eyes when I reread it after a long time.

Finding meaning in your Life. I have found mine. I know what I want to do in this Life of mine. I am constantly fulfilling my goals that I have thought would only be dreams in the past. Many dreams have now become aspirations which I want to accomplish. Looking back at how my alma maters have shaped me, and the kind of dreams I used to share with close friends of mine, I am really grateful for all that I had been given. Many friends have stood by me all this while, and we are still walking on side by side in this long journey through Life. :) Thank you so much, pals!

"You only live once. Make it a worthwhile one..."

Nepal... Am I ready?

2006-03-30T11:38:00.000+08:00

Today is rest day for me. I went for a run in the morning yesterday. I actually set my alarm clock to wake up at 7am, having slept at 11.30pm the night before. I did wake at 7am, but shut my alarm clock up, went back to sleep and was shocked to find out that it was already 9am when I woke again! GOSH! I wanted to go an early run! ARGH! I had slept for 9.5 hours! Gosh! I had breakfast and then waited for about an hour for the food to digest bfore going for a 35min run. I had to force myself to go climb stairs...

The run was a bit hard at the beginning. My right thigh and butt was still aching a bit from the biathlon on Sunday. And as I had swam only in the evening on Monday, my body was tired I guess. However, after about 25mins into the run, my body was responding well. Breathing was good as usual, and my pace could be picked up, and I ran strong. However, I had to shorten the run for I needed to go climb the stairs! In order tot rain for Nepal! If I do not start, when am I ever going to start? Geez...

I could still continue to run after the 35mins. Well, heck. I reaached the bottom of the stairs at the 1st floor. I started walking up the stairs slowly. It wasn't as hard as I imagine it to be! Most probably cuz I was warmed up. :) I set myself a goal of climbing up AND down 5 times. Why down also? Cuz going downhill/slope can be a killer on your knees and your calf muscles if they are not well-accustomed to. I need to train to 'come down' too!

After 4 sets of stair climing, I felt good and decided to increase the sets to 8 sets. I checked my watch and estimate that I take slighly less than 4mins to climb up to 14floors and 2mins to climb down. Actually, 14 floors seem to be too low. I did not feel extreme fatigue in my legs when I get up to the top floor and could actually still continue. Mmm...Maybe I should climb a 25 or 30 storey building next time. :p

Well, I completed the 8 sets that I set myself to do. Good! I felt great after that, without the severe lactic acid built up that I expected. It was not like this 3 years ago when I climbed stairs to train for my trip to Gunung Panti in Malaysia. I guess I am much stronger physically nowadays after having completed what I set out to do what only seemed like dreams years ago.

I rubbed on muscle rubs last night after reaching home from work. Mmm... My legs do feel the stretch this morning after I woke up. The muscles aches. Have not have such aches for a long time. They are still very bearable, considering I have experienced worse pains in the past after Judo training. :p Those that does not allow u to stand up or walk properly after standing up. And they last for a few days... Today's aches are 'chicken feet'. I reckon I can still go running, or maybe jogging with them present... :)

I have been trying to meet up with more friends, to no avail though. Due to my my work schedule. Working on weekends most of the time. Geez. Also trying to join the sgrunners for more of their runs. They are really a nice bunch of people. Well, there's a run on Good Friday. Finally a holiday which I need not work on! Cuz I was supposed to fly off on that day initially, but now change to 15th, so I hope I will be able to join them that morning for the run at MR!

Countdown to Nepal: 16 more days! :) I have been trying to spend more time on reading up about the country and getting my frame of mind set for the trip. It's indeed a trip of a lifetime, I'm sure and I want to fully enjoy it. Take whatever comes my way. At the age of 22, I can finally visit Nepal. A dream country since young. I have never forgotten the names, sceneries and mountains of Nepal that have fascinated me at childhood. Tenzing Norgay, Sir Edmund Hilary, K2, ABC, Everest, 8848m, altitude-mountain sickness, sherpas, the kids, the village hill tribes...

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment.
~Hilaire Belloc

So, like a forgotten fire, a childhood can always flare up again within us.
~Gaston Bachelard

2006-03-28T15:55:00.002+08:00

And that's the dri-fit shirt! :)

2006-03-28T15:55:00.001+08:00

There will be more additions in the years to come...

2006-03-28T15:55:00.000+08:00

My Finisher's Medal! :)

2006-03-28T15:32:00.001+08:00

These are the partipants in the WHR!

2006-03-28T15:32:00.000+08:00

There's a support van and police escort with them throughout the run.

2006-03-28T15:31:00.001+08:00

Crossing the road!

2006-03-28T15:31:00.000+08:00

There the runners coming over from Still Road heading towards Marine Parade CC

Navy Biathlon photos up!

2006-03-28T15:21:00.000+08:00

I have finally uploaded the photos from the Navy Biathlon from Sunday! There was a problem with loading 'Hello' last night, hence did not post them. Below are photos from biathlon, and above are photos from the World Harmony Run. Just a few of them as I was only there at one of their stops at Marine Parade CC to support the runners as they ran past! :)

2006-03-28T15:18:00.000+08:00

A group photo of all sgrunners who were at ECP

2006-03-28T15:17:00.000+08:00

Another group photo while I was bathing.

2006-03-28T15:16:00.000+08:00

After the race. From L-R: IMD, Hedgehog, Penguin, DO and me

2006-03-28T15:15:00.000+08:00

And this was the final 100metres dash for the finish line... :)

2006-03-28T15:14:00.000+08:00

Finished the swim leg!

2006-03-28T15:13:00.000+08:00

Out towards the sea...

2006-03-28T15:12:00.000+08:00

while others strolled... I was one of them!

2006-03-28T15:11:00.001+08:00

Some made a dash for the waters...

2006-03-28T15:11:00.000+08:00

Hehe... That's me before the race!

2006-03-28T15:10:00.000+08:00

The Swim Start!

2006-03-28T15:09:00.000+08:00

Finally the big day has arrived. This's the registration counter over at ECP.

1st event of 2006: Navy Biathlon

2006-03-28T00:07:00.000+08:00

26th March 2006: Singapore Navy Biathlon! Over and done with in a day. Time passes so fast!

This is my 1st race of the year! Although I knew I am well-prepared for it, I still had the pre-race jittery. Geez. After all, it IS the 1st race of 2006. It would kind of serves as a morale booster if I should do well for the race! :)

Dad could not fetch me to Bedok this year as he had to go to the cemetery for Qing Ming. Argh. The 1st train from CCK to Jurong only runs at 6.03am on Sunday! I was panicking on the night before the race and actually wanted to share cab with other sgrunners, Balasing. (P/S: that's not his real name, just the forum nick). Another runner, IMD, staying in Dover actually wanted to come out earlier to pick me up with another runner at Clementi... I did not take the ride as I did not want to bother someone whom I did not know very well! :p Oh, they are really kind people by the way. It's just me, don't wanting to bother others.

Hence, after some discussions with one of the runners on MSN on the 25th at 10+pm, I decided to take a cab from Jurong East after taking the 1st train from CCK. It would be slightly cheaper?

I woke up at 5am on the big day. I had breakfast, showered, and did some last minute packing before setting out to the train station at 6am. Think I caught the 2nd train which arrived at 6.10am. I arrived at Jurong at 6.20 and spent about 10minutes looking for a cab. Ah. Crappy. Bala later said I should have sms him in the morning. :p The cab ride cost me $16. Haven?t spent so much for a taxi ride in a long time!

I arrived at the venue at 6.52am. I hurried to the registration counter and then had body marked, after which I met Bala and IMD while walking to the toilet. They were just 10 minutes (or 8mins) behind me?

I changed into my swim suit and then made my way to the transition area to set up my 'square'. I did not see any familiar faces around that time. It was already 7.20am and I was more or less ready.

Caught DO and Penguin, another 2 runners from the sgrunners forum. One was in the Men's Veteran while the other in the same category as me. We chatted a bit and they proceeded on to the swim start to warm up. I fiddled with my stuff for a while more before going over to the swim start.

Warm up. Stretches. As I stood facing the sea, the sun was rising on my left hand side. It was beautiful. A piece of heaven showing itself. The entire sky was lit up by the red sun hidden behind some clouds. It seemed like it was going to be a cloudy morning and certainly friendly for a run later after the swim. I think I had the same thought as last year when I saw this scene. How I wished I had my camera with me.

I swam a while in the water and they were announcing for participants in the 1st wave to be flagged off at 7.45am to gather at the swim start. There were as many participants as I could remember last year. They actually had to close all registration earlier this year as the capacity reached its maximum. This shows that multi-sports events are certainly taking off in Singapore.

Although like any other individual event that I participate in, this time round, I have known many other like-minded enthusiasts who are taking part as well. It is unlike last year, when I was alone and did the entire event alone! I went there alone, took part alone, came back after the event alone... and had no one to share the event with except for Ken, this other biathlete whom I knew. Geez. Although some runners did not take part, they still came to support us! How encouraging of them!

I met Alvo and Meteor at the start line. Thanks to Alvo, I had a picture of myself in swimsuit and swimcap! I loved that pic! Hah! It was really pre-race jittery that got to me as the rubber came out of my goggles as I was wearing it! *screams* I knew I was able to put it back in but guess my fingernails were short and could not pull it back in! I turned to Alvo who was at the side and he helped me with it. Thanks to him I got the rubber back into the side clasp. Phew. Funny. He let out a small scream when I approached him for help. :p

The whistle went off at 7.46pm on my watch and we were off to the waters. I walked to the waters and then started swimming and following the crowd. I got kicked many times throughout the entire swim. There seemed to be too many swimmers! I was just worried that my goggles would be kicked off my face!

There was a turn at the 1st buoy and we would be swimming parallel to the shore, with the open sea on my right hand side. I was swimming on the outer part, as I did not want to be tangled up in the human mess again. All of a sudden, I felt a stinging pain spread across my right wrist and then my right thigh at the posterior part. I wanted to pass it off as fiberglass or maybe seabugs, as I have felt this kind of pain before in other open sea swims and they disappeared quite quickly. NO!!! This time round, the stinging pain lingered on and I was quite certain that it was jellyfish. A jellyfish that had brushed past me!!!!!!!!! I hate these creatures, yet are fascinated by them at the same time as they can be so graceful and bizarrely mesmerizing as they move through the waters.

Only this time round, the 'hate' aspect came into my mind. I don't want these suckers to come near me!!!!!!!! I am aware that they do move around in schools and I though maybe it was because I was far from other human beings. I then swam closer to the crowd and to the guiding line. I was hoping that they would not get close to humans.

Last year, it was choppy waters which caused many swimmers to get lost. This year? Jellyfishes. Geez. The waters of ECP eh. Someone posted on the sgrunners forum that the highest tide was 2+metres at 8am in the morning. I guess this was the reason that brought in the jellyfishes with the changing of tides. Bleah.

The pain was there throughout the swim. I checked occasionally my wrist and touched my thigh to make sure there was no open wound or simply to sooth the pain. Didn't help, of course. I was just expecting for the worst to happen. I hope that they were not poisonous and that I would not knock out in the waters anytime soon! I was thinking also am I the only unlucky one or do others get this too?

I was glad to make a turnabout at the 2nd buoy. This marked the return leg of the swim before turning for one last time which would head for shore all the way. Although the condition of the waters was much calmer and friendlier than last year's, this return leg certainly felt VERY LONG! I had a good swim on this stretch but it really took too long. There were a few times when I wondered if I was lost or swimming in a zig-zag manner. I saw other swimmers dispersed far in front of me and they were wearing red caps. Yeah, correct, we are in the same category. The blue cap swimmers from Wave who were flagged off 15minutes after us, soon caught up with us. Whoa. All from the Men's open category.

I checked my watch after what seemed like an eternity swim. I do not like to check my watch for I just wanted to do my best and not stress myself. However, this was getting too much. Sigh. I knew I would not be able to sub 40mins for my swim already. I persevered on till I finally neared the last buoy! I thought I would be long free from the tresses of the jellyfish but alas! I got stung again! This time on my left forearm! Stinging pain radiating across the entire forearm. Grin and bear it. I have experienced worse pains before.

Finally the exit. I heard Meteor's voice cheering for me. I was checking my time and my wrist and forearm as I exited the waters. Disappointed with the swim time. Almost 44 minutes. I know I am capable of even better timings. *SIGH*

I rinsed myself with a pail of water and hurried to the transition area. Dried myself and then put on my shorts and tee. Last to go on was my shoes. Then took my fuel bottle along which contained 100PLUS to last throughout the run. Spent about 2 mintues in the transition area.

I felt good and strong as I ran out of the transition area. I did not go too fast for fear of stitches which seemed inevitable and to get my body used to the rhythm of running first. Start slow and steady, and finish strong and proud.

I saw DO in front of me, as well as Penguin. Penguin exited the water 1st, followed by DO and then me. However, both DO and I overtook Penguin. She went slow for the run as she did not train. She's really a strong swimmer and a good runner too. Except that she is too lazy to train, which she herself admits. Otherwise, she would make a very strong biathlete! :)

I was pacing this Raffles girl in front of me. Well, she was wearing her sleeveless dri-fit top which had the 'RAFFLES' word sprawled across it. We were at around the same speed as the distance between us was constant more or less. There was once when I ran up beside her at about the 3rd or 4th kilometer and she hurried her pace and sped up. It's okay. It was still early in the run. I kept reminding myself to run at a comfortable pace, for there's still more than half to go. I ran past several female runners who are smaller sized than me (:p) and some men's veteran category guys too. Not pushing myself too hard, I just want to enjoy the run.

The route was exactly the same as last year, but only that it was totally cloudy this time round and the weather was perfect for running. I noticed that the crowd this year seems to consist of stronger participants as I ran past MANY participants from the Men Veteran category last year. Not so this year!

I did check my timing at the 3km mark. Took about 15minutes. If I could continue at this speed, I could sub 1hour for my 10km. In this case, I could maybe sub 1hour 40min for the event. This became my target for the event then.

At the last turnaround, I managed to catch up with the Raffles girl. She was in front of me all the while. There was the last 3km or so to go. I closed up the distance with her though I did not speed up significantly yet. She slowed down, I think. I was running neck to neck with her for about 50metres when she seemed to be challenging me with an increased speed in order to overtake me again. But this time round, she did not make it. Guess she was too tired from the over-expenditure of energy right from the start.

Dad used to tell me all the time when I was younger that one should not expend all his energy in a race at the beginning for there?s still a long way to go. A piece of sound advice which sticks with me my whole life.

My strategy worked! I sped up at the last 2km gradually. I could feel some tightness in my thigh and calves, and was wary. However, I was feeling strong. The last 1km (with signboards indicating every 100metre distance) was where I really took up speed. I checked my watch at the 5km mark and 8 km mark. I could really sub 1hour! As to sub 1hour 40min for the event, that was possible too!

I was really motivated and gave my best in the last 2km. I ran strong and finished the race proud. Finished my race in my own targeted timing. 1hour 39min 27sec. I was happy. The 10km run was my personal best. 54min 17sec. I never expected to sub 55min for 10km, much less after a 1.5 km swim! However, it could just well be the swim which warmed up the muscles and set the whole body in motion!

Alvo, Meteor and Tiwazz were at the railings by the side nearing the finishing point. I met Astrogirl for the 1st time too. Thanks to Alvo and Meteor again, I got a pic of myself running in! :)

I paced up and down the finishing area. I still felt strong after the run. Could still jog on tiptoe to cool down. Got my finisher's medal. Then I met Penguin who suggested me going to the First-Aid Station to see what they can do about the stings.

True enough, it was confirmed to be jellyfish stings. Not poisonous. And there were many other participants who got it as well. Actually one other thing that I was concerned about after the stings got me was that I hoped I would not get stung in my face! :p that must be AWFUL! A lady participant got stung on her neck! YIKES!

Vinegar and some cream later, we moved on to look for the supporters at the railings. We took a few group photos, after IMD and Hedgehog(whom I met for the 1st time) came in. we waited and cheered for Balasing next. I went off to shower at about 10.20. I was hoping to catch Ken whom I knew was taking part, and estimated he should come in at about 10am. No sight of him after half hour. Probably he had come in, or I might have missed him.

After showering, it was more photo taking time. By this time, Renohtaram had come down to cheer us. Oh dear, that boy had lost even more weight after a few months. He's really stressed at work. I met Xuanjing while collecting my certicate too. She did not join us. I met Cheow12 and Violet(his girlfriend) for the 1st time too. DO, Penguin, Balasing and I squeezed into the back seat of Alvo?s car to go to Marine Parade hawker Centre for lunch. I had a hard time choosing what to eat there. Finally, I decided to have the famous Apollo char kway teow. It's my 1st plate of char kway teow in years! And it did not taste fabulous. Too wet and not sweet enough. It did not suit my palate.

I sat at the same table as Balasing, Penguin and later Tiwazz and Sportventurer came to join us too. Penguin had to leave for NUS to go for lecture. I chatted with the others at the table. After everyone had finished lunch, we proceeded on to Marine Parade CC on foot to meet the World Harmony Run runners who would pass by the CC for a 10min break. It's a 37km run whereby the runners would pass by certain places of worship for the 4 major religions and end off somewhere in the east. This run is held throughout the world and the organizer happens to be a sgrunners forum member.

I met Cokiee and Charlotte for the 1st time. There are some other members on the run who were not introduced to me. By the way, Cokiee was a judoka from CJC! What a small world. He knows Alby, Mike, Sureen, Julia, Celeste and Selene... :)

The WHR runners continued on their run after the short break and we departed. Hedgehog, Kops21, IMD, Sportventurer and DO joined them for the last 10km of the run. I went to meet LL to attend a talk at Bedok CC. Tiwazz, Alvo and Metoer went to Planet Fitness for their gym session while Balasing went to shop in Suntec.

What can I say about the entire day? Fruitful and fulfilling. To be able to take part in my favourite event with other like-minded enthusiasts and meeting so many new friends. Even having friends who would come down all the way from home to cheer u on in the early morning even though they are not taking part. I have not felt this kind of camaderie for a long time. Not since the last Nike Real Run in 2003 with the judokas. Sad, but the harsh reality is that everyone moves on in life with new-found targets, aspirations, and goals. We move on into different realms of what Life has to offer. We do not occupy the same reality anymore and I have to find new friends who are into such activities. Once upon a time not too long ago, I had to go for biathlon and runs alone, often envious of those who do belong to a group that offers support. Now, I have found a group that I feel a sense of belonging. It's a great, yet relieved feeling.

Although the disappointment with my swim timings is real, and the stings from the jellyfish pained, the PB in my run timing and the wonderful people I have met on this more than made up for all the shortfalls. There are bound to be more events which I would have a chance to meet up with these pals. Kudos to the sgrunners!

Another race completed. Another worthwhile moment. Another entry into my diary of accomplishments. :) I love doing the things I love! That is what Like is all about, ain't it? :)))

"It never occur to me to stop, or give up."

P/S: A colonel passed away after the event, when he was just 600m from the finish line. He left behind a widow and 2 girls aged 2 and 7. My deepest condolences to his family. Many runners voiced their concerns on this issue of pushing ourselves too hard. Our bodies are the best indicators of our physical state. When it needs to slow down and rest, we should allow it to. Taking a step back would save your life and there are always other races in the future. In the pursuit of personal best and pushing the mind beyond, one needs to stay in check of the physical signs of the body and also think of the family... Maybe easier said than done as PB may all that occupies you mind when u race...

"Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go. "
~T.S. Eliot

"The race is not always to the swift, but to those who keep on running. "
~Author Unknown, in reference to Ecclesiastes 9:11, "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all."

"There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream."
~Author Unknown

2006-03-27T17:59:00.000+08:00

Another one

2006-03-27T17:58:00.000+08:00

A portrait view at the same zoom length

2006-03-27T17:57:00.001+08:00

A more aerial view of the sky

2006-03-27T17:57:00.000+08:00

A beautfiul sunset on 25th March, Saturday

Of runs, destructions & passion

2006-03-19T22:01:00.000+08:00

2 weeks since I last blogged. Well, been on a lot of shift work ever since I transferred to A&E. However, I realized that I am growing to like the shift work. I can do my swims and runs in the morning when I'm more energetic and then proceed to report for work at 2pm. I am in fact not tired in this way and most of the time, perform better for my workouts in the morning. When the roster this week required me to wake up at 6am to report for work fro 8am to 3pm, *WHOA OH*, it was quite a killer in a way. I needed my dose of coffee every morning, otherwise I would be suffering at work! Although the swims and runs could be done in the afternoons, it?s usually very hot (just like in the mornings at around 9-10 when I usually exercise) and I would be very tired mentally as well.

There's lotsa free time to myself as well. So much so that I have not have the chance to meet up some friends for very long! *Screams* I miss u girls! :( So hard to coordinate a timing to meet since I'm working on most weekends. Sorry pals... I work mostly 2-9pm too. I have to train for my upcoming biathlon and have been putting much time into the trainings. It's in preparation for my Nepal trip too!

Talking about Nepal, I'm trying to get myself excited about it. Yeah, actually no need to try. I know when the time comes to getting all the last-minute logistics and paperwork to be done, I would be naturally EXCITED. Haha... Of course, I have been reading up very generally on the country as well. The usual prep I would do before visiting any country. But this time round, no need to go into details into the places I wanna visit and the itinery cuz everything's planned!

There is definitely mild excitement as I read about Nepal as there would be in every other trip I went for. However, this is really different cuz to put it simply, Nepal is a CHILDHOOD DREAM. Yes, a country I have always wanted to go the very moment I read about it. Or maybe watched a TV documentary on it. Long before I even started backpacking. Long before I even fascinated about visiting the exotic countries in every nook and cranny. Long before I even dreamed that I was 'born to roam'...

There are 5 countries I always wanted to visit since young. Egypt, Greece, Rome (not a country, but I did not know it last time! I always mixed it up with Greece where all the Roman ruins and architecture are! Hah!), Tibet and Nepal. Each and every country had something that fascinated me at a young tender age when I read about them, seen pictures or watched TV. Of course, the list has grown very long ever since! But these places do occupy a special place in my heart. They are what 'makes a Man big, for he dares to dream'.

Nepal. Here I come. I'm looking forward to stepping on your sacred ground.

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I actually had today off, but a colleague changed his off day with me as he's flying to HK. Have fun, boy! Anyway, it was a kind of a 'normal' weekend for me more or less (besides the fact I have to work today). I had yesterday off and it was precious. I went to GV to do my simulation training for the biathlon next week. The last one before the race. I did 60laps across the pool at 8:27, 8:28, 8:25. 8:25, 8:35, 8:35 and took 3minutes for transition, after which I ran 52 minutes to Hillview area and back. The sun was strong, but there was shade along the way. Still tolerable.

Definitely not as strong as the very 1st time I did the simu-training. Probably due to the fact I did over an hour of swim? Anyway, no serious muscles tension in calves nor thighs after that. Good.

Cooled down with 10laps of B.S and 6 laps of F.S. There was only 3 other guys in the pool at that time! 1pm! 2 were teacher and student. Another was swimming seriously. What a great pool! Yet underutilized.

Wanted to meet LL after that for a drink but she was not feeling well. So off she went to rest at home. Hope she's feeling better now. The weather lately is a killer when u are not in an A/C environment. :p Humid, stuffy and fair(no clouds!) in the morning. That's the sunny island of Singapore for you.

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It was early when I got back today and the weather was relatively cloudy. I decided to get my bike out and go cycling to capture some images that I always wanted to take when I'm out running around GV area. Of the destruction caused by Man in order to build some roads and drain a canal(?!) Sigh. I got those pictures. I really miss the old area which I used to run. I did not take them for granted. I appreciate the moments I get to run there and meet fellow runners or walkers and the friendly smile or greeting I would get from them. Sigh. One stretch is forever gone. There was an uncle who usually runs there and I met him just now with another uncle picking durians. They were talking about how the number of runners along that stretch had dwindled due to the blocked access to another path. Sigh. Of course, even I do not run that stretch anymore. SIGH.

The moment I entered GV, all tension and stress within me seemingly evaporated into the air immediately. I was surrounded by Nature, with just the path before me to watch out for. And the sounds of the birds and insects in the bushes. The sound of the water flowing in the canal. The smells from the bushes or canal, sometimes putrid, sometimes crisp. I have not cycled through GV for very, very long. I almost always ran through it only. Cycling provides a different way of enabling you to enjoy the scenery without feeling the stress of your body weight with each step and the need to concentrate on your breathing. There was a light breeze as I cycled along. It was simply a piece of paradise. I stopped occasionally to take some pictures and appreciate the surroundings, taking in the fresh air that encapsulated the entire environs. *Pure bliss*

I went off-road into the army training grounds. It was mountain biking here. Whoa. Heart rate increased and perspiration dripped. Lactic acid built up as well. It was not for long though. I did not go to the hard trails for this was supposed to be a leisure ride on a supposedly rest-day.

I was going to exit GV soon and cycle to Yew Tee where I wanted to take some pictures of a stretch. I missed the initial feelings of entering GV already, whereby the emotions experienced was one that was indescribable for you have to feel it yourself. *In 7th heaven*

I cycled to Yew Tee and along the way, passed by Mowbray Camp, and of course there was lots of greenery on one side of me. That stretch of road is actually rather quiet on the weekends and the coolness exulted from the greenery on my left side thrilled me! I felt so good. It was a rather long stretch and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Oh gosh... I was reminded of the times I cycled in Ubud, Bali, and of Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka. Not that I cycled in Sri Lanka, but the coolness somehow reminded me of the very cool weather in NE. And the kind of peace and solitude that I enjoyed within was comparable to what I felt when I was in those places. Beautiful memories... :)

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I went swimming on Thursday, 9th March at CCK pool. I forgot to bring my goggles and had to come back home to pick it up. Otherwise, I would swim at Delta which is quieter. It's the school hols, so it's a mistake to come to CCK pool. Maybe due to the fact that it was already after office hours, hence there were many adults as well. Many 'frolickers', I would call them, as they seemed to be nothing but S.O.Ls!!! (ie. space occupying lesions, ermmm a medical term) They do not do serious swimming and some, or in this case, many(!) do not have the basic courtesy to give way to you, knowing you are doing laps. This would not occur in a pool which sees serious swimmers mostly, such as Delta, Queenstown and SPE. Argh. Those people would give way to you. In the 1st place, they would not even take your lane, knowing that you are doing laps! Ah ha!

I was 'massaging' my back in the jacuzzi pool after that (yeah, there's one in CCK swimming pool and the jets are quite strong!) when a mother was speaking to her 6-7 year old daughter in Cantonese. The little girl was very sweet as she spoke to her mum and to hear a young child speaking dialect to their parents is so rare nowadays. I immediately suspect she?s not local. I was right, when her other kids came to join them. Malaysians. Cuz of the Mandarin they spoke. I could not understand a word of their exchange simply. And it reminded me of my own shortcoming of not being able to speak even my own dialect properly. Sigh. I refused to learn when I was young, and I really regret it now. Sigh.

By the way, I find it very pleasant to hear a child speaking in dialect to her elderly. It's so innocent. :)

There's a wave pool at CCK too. There would be waves generated every hour and when it came, many kids from the Jacuzzi pool would flock to the pool. I could see rather well from where I was positioned that people were really enjoying themselves in the artificial waves. Friends would hold hands and try to venture further 'out' into deeper parts and float there. I remembered those times I was in Redang. :) When we tried to jump into the waves whenever one crashes onto the shore.

I just wondered, how could people be just satisfied with just playing with artificial waves? Why don't they try to get out into the sea with REAL waves? I mean, go to the beach or something like that. Some people may view this point of mine as trying to drive at something more parallel to Life. Put it in another way. Some people may be afraid of the unknown when they go to the beach. After all, who have not watched 'Jaws' before? The artificial wave pool could boost their confidence by letting them have a go at what it's like to be out in the open sea. But come on, don't deceive yourself. Those who have been to the sea or even oceans before can never find the same ecstasy when in an artificial wave pool.

Simply put: When you have experienced something that you truly want in Life, you want to keep going back. You would find ways and means to fulfill that objective you have found and relive the exhilaration all over again. Because every time you go through that process, you would feel that you have lived all over again. With no regrets.

Think about it. What is the most passionate thing to you?

Jack Palance: "Do you know what the secret of life is? One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and everything else don't mean shit."
Billy Crystal: "Yeah, but what's that one thing?"
Jack Palance: "That's what you've got to figure out."
~From the movie City Slickers

Reality Check(s)

2006-03-06T10:39:00.000+08:00

Reality Check 1: At this time yesterday, I was going to my friend's place to do a simulation training for my upcoming biathlon. It?s pretty late already as it's only 3 weeks away top the biathlon. I used to start much earlier so that my body could get used to the demands of a biath. I was kind of worrying that I might suffer during yesterday's training.

The weather was good, and I had some hiccups into getting into the condominium of my friend and had to get her to come down to pick me up. Oops, in the end, I could enter at the convenience of some aunties who were lugging a lot of produce bought back from the market. The guard did not even sense this stranger wearing running attire in slippers trying to enter their condo with a bag and shoebag. *Chuckles*

Earlier, I also met Norman who was going to meet SC for a gym session at the Gombak gym. It was actually SC who called me to let me know that the gate had new security features which they will need u to use your card to tap and release the lock. I then called up LL, another friend who' staying at the same condo. Yeah, I'm so lucky to have 2 good friends staying here! And being able to make use of their condo facilities!

After a short chat with LL, I went to change and jumped into the pool. No time to waste! I had to report for work at 2pm and it was already 920am then! I was seriously behind time. I had wanted to start the training much earlier.

After 40minutes (50laps) of swim, I got out, dried myself as much as possible, then put on the attire and shoes and I was out running in 2minutes. Not bad for a transition timing. Reminded myself to start slow and continue at a comfortable pace. I had a small bottle of H2O with me too.

The run was definitely far better than what I expected. My legs and trunk did not feel tired and heavy and I could continue at my ideal pace. Only thing that occurred was some nudging stitches which refused to go away for a long time.

Flashback: I still remembered my very 1st training simulation training in NYP last year during the schooldays. Argh. The swim was good, but when it came to the running, I felt like shit! My body and legs just could not take it! Oh man... Subsequent trainings were not as ideal also, but of course I did improve with time. Then came last year's aquathlon training in Sep. They were definitely better than the 1st biathlon I have done and I wanted to test myself if I could still continue with such activities despite after having started work at the hectic 'A' corridor.

I did it. The aquathlon was testament to my ability to still train and participate in such activities despite having started work. And I did it yesterday as well. I was glad I managed a 50min run after the swim. The distance that almost killed me during the 1st simulation training for my aquathlon last year seemed short yesterday and I even ran another route in order to run a longer distance. 50minutes. I only lasted 40minutes for the 1st run last year. :)
Perhaps it was the H2O or perhaps cuz I'm stronger after having done 2 biathlons, 2 half-marathons and numerous 10km runs. I'm looking forward to doing a triathlon one day and it would be a dream come true. But 1st, I would need a good bike, and gloves and helmet. :p

I cooled down by swimming another 16laps in the pool. 12 laps of B.S and 4 laps of F.S. I love G.V's pool. There's always not many people doing serious swimming there and the pool is long enough for u to train there. Yet it's set in a condo environment, hence giving me a very peaceful and calming atmosphere to train in. A different change from the Olympic-sized pools I always swim in. The run around there is great too, with the route taking me to Hillview area where it?' quiet due to the many private apartments there. Long straight routes which I like too. Hey, pals! Thanks for letting me train in your condo! Hah!

It was home sweet home after the training. Ate lunch and then off to work at 1pm! I was not feeling tired nor having any muscle strains! Miracle~!

Reality Check 2: I did an hour 17min run! And it was in the morning after breakfast! I have not done a morning run for quite some time already and this was a good run. How would I define a good run? As long as my legs and trunk were not feeling like they need a break during the run. I felt really good after the run. I even managed 4sets of F/C, taking only 5,6,5,5 minutes for each set! Whoa oh! Am I high or something?

It was sunny so I decided to run to Yew Tee where there would be more shade along the way and it's quiet too. I carried along my MP3 player and listened to it most of the time. To the radio though. Have I not mentioned that I lost my receiver of 4 years on 15th Feb during a morning run? I was sad......... So sad.... The purple little music player had accompanied me on so many trips aboard and runs as well. It's still working so well after 4 years and the earphones were new too, boasting quality sound as compared to my old earphones. SIGH. I miss it a lot. Oh gosh. I was soooo careless. I left it on the bench while doing my workouts at the fitness corner. After the workout, after half an hour, I simply left to come home and clean forgotten about it! It was only on the train to work at 1pm when I looked for it did I realize it was gone! Called Mum to look for it for me. To no avail. I went to the F/C at 10pm after work. Could not find anything. On the way to swimming the next day, I went again. Nope. It's gone.

To whoever hands it fell into, I hope the person will appreciate it for its quality sounds and the fact that it is still working so well after 4 years despite all the sweat and grit it had endured. Sigh. How would the 'finder's keeper' know?

As to the new MP3 player, it's a 512MB which I bought in Sim Lim for only $120. It looks exactly like a model fro SamSung and the quality of the sounds are as good as SamSung too! The salesman told me they use the same chip as SamSung, except the consumers are paying for the adverts and the brand for the SamSung one. Oh well, whatever. I just need one with radio. I reckon it would be silly to buy back a $45 receiver with only radio when MP3s are so in now and it would be like losing $45 if I replaced the old receiver by buying a new one.

(Sigh. I really don't need an MP3 that much. Heck)

When it was all the rave a while ago, I do not see the need to, as I'm not going to spend my free time downloading music onto the hardware. Yeah, a week after buying this (bought this on 26th Feb), I still have not downloaded any songs in there. Am happy with the radio. :p

Diverted for so long. Back to the run. I ran to Yew Tee, circled the small park for 4 rounds before running to the Kadut canal and the sun was in my face that time! Argh! Back up to Yew Tee and then to the other canal and up and down one lap before I exited the park, ran past the swimming complex before ending at CCK Park. I wanted to stop there and work out at the F/C there, but it was too hot. No shade. Ran back thus.

Trivial details which will bore readers out there, but it's meant for my own record. :p

Conclusion: My runs in morning seem to be getting better! ;)

Reality Check 3: I am going to Nepal! This was confirmed last Thursday when I met my senior who plans the roster after she came back from a week-long holiday. Oh gosh. The fact sunk in quite late and actually till now, the feelings of euphoria and anticipation have left me. I did get uplifted when I do think about it and let myself sink into the reality that I AM GOING TO NEPAL. However, it did not last long everytime. As I am typing this right now, I am not feeling any sense of excitement actually. I wonder why? Most probably, I still have many other things to complete, the next big event being the biathlon. Otherwise, I am living out each day as fully as possible, making the best out of Life. The initial thrill of having to choose between Hong Kong and Nepal did hit me early last month. Having to apply for leave, checking out details and starting serious training for the biathlon then overtook all the excitement and it simmered down.

I would write again about it when I return to my ecstatic mood.

Reality Check 4: A friend recently emailed me and asked if I'm interested in adventure racing. There's going to be one in Singapore on April 2nd. I would like to give it a try but reality-wise, I simply cannot pluck out the time to gather together all the equipment needed and start the training as well. I reckon I should be working on that day too! Being the week after the biathlon and just merely 2weeks before flying off to Nepal(!), I have to start staircase climbing! Argh! To tell u the fact, one has to prioritise and I simply did not show much interest in this race at all. Sadly. Because this would not be me 2 years ago, when I was dying to try out EVERYTHING. From gathering friends to go for runs to looking for partners to participate in duathlons/biathlons to surfing the net for interesting events around the world. Yes, AROUND THE WORLD. U heard it. It can be as near as an adventure race in Malaysia to as far as an ultra-marathon in Morrocco. I have researched and read up a lot. Nah, it's simply to much! Everytime u have high hopes of taking part in something, u have to drop it due to reality. Be it due to commitment in school, or unable to gather a team or simply the cash issue! Sigh. Let's face reality eh? U cannot get EVERYTHING u want out of Life.

Hence, I was reminded of a 'me' in my slightly younger days. Sigh. Do I still harbour thoughts of taking part in an adventure race? Do I still harbour dreams of being an OBS or diving instructor? The former, u bet; but the latter, it could be somewhere deep inside my heart somewhere... Lost dreams, eh?

Sadly, I have to reject my friend. I think it's not the 1st time! Oops. There are much more important priorities right now. And why does everything has to fall right into the same period?!

Reality Check 5: Turkey. I have been watching snippets of Turkey here and there on TV over the past 2 weeks. Chatted with my friends about my trip there in 2003 as well. One dream that I would not forget: To stay for an extended period of time in Istanbul and pick up Turkish! To understand and soak in the culture of the country. *With dreamy eyes, I can imagine myself sitting in a sidewalk café reading a book, sipping café and watching the world roll by in Istanbul right now...* Sigh.

Today is rest day. Not totally too. I'm going to do some core strengthening exercise later. Working 2-9pm today. Monday afternoons. Argh. Do people understand truly what does 'A&E' stand for?!

Something to look forward to end of the week. LL, LM and I are confirmed going to the Civil Service Club. Siok still pending! Have not met up with them for more than a month! Due to my awkward roster after starting work in A&E. Yippee! Chilling out session! Not before the 2nd simulation training that morning!

"Every man dies. Not every man really lives."
~Braveheart

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."
~Abraham Lincoln

InsideOut: Photographs by Migrant Workers in Singapore

2006-02-28T12:26:00.000+08:00

This was an email that I received in my mailbox on the photography project that was done to feature the lives of migrant workers right here in Singapore. I found it a great way to help the locals understand them better and realise that they are after all, also a part of the human race and share this world with us.

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This project was featured in the Special Report of the Straits Times on 18th February 2006.
The official website can be found at http://www.thephotoessay.com/index.html.
Do go down to take a look if you are free, we spent quite some time preparing for the exhibition.

Introduction to the project
No child dreams of becoming a maid or a construction worker. But driven by poverty and a lack of opportunities, waves of Asians take on such work every year, often away from the support of friends and family.

In Singapore, migrant workers clean our homes and help raise our children. They build the offices we work in and the roads we use every day. But we know little of their stories and the dreams that inspire them.

InsideOut is a six-month project involving 30 workers from Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines. They learn the basics of photography and, guided by volunteer photographers and
photojournalists, are encouraged to take photos of their daily lives in Singapore.

Through their photographs, we hope to learn from their perspectives and experiences. The sharing of their stories may spark more interaction between host and migrant communities, strengthening links that already exist and building bridges where there are none.

Foreign workers make up about a quarter of Singapore's 2.3-million labour force. These workers, about 600,000 of them, are work-permit holders who take on low-pay jobs in the construction and service industries. About 150,000 foreign domestic workers in Singapore come
from the Philippines, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. Construction workers in the island-state come mainly from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar and China.

Many workers realize their dreams of a better life, but for others, that dream erodes when they run into problems such as the non-payment of salary and, in some cases, physical and mental abuse. The project hopes to reflect some of the challenges all of them face.

InsideOut will be exhibited as part of the M1 Singapore Fringe Festival from Feb 22-Mar 5, 2006, at Objectifs, located at 12A Liang Seah Street, Singapore 189033

Last 2nd day of Feb!!!

2006-02-28T00:48:00.000+08:00

Time flies... It's the end of the month already. I have been in A&E for 3weeks already! Adapting well down there, getting along fine with colleagues, working hard to prove myself. Several friends asked me which centre I would choose to go at the end of the 1 year rotation. Mmm... I have yet to finalise my decision, but I have a sketchy idea of what I want to do. I have to choose between 4 centres, and would have to give up some skills I learnt definitely for different centres focus on different areas of specilities. Sigh. Can I be the special one to request for the change in department only at the end of the year?

It's a 5 day work week in A&E here. Great! I have plenty of time to do my own stuff at home. Which emans I should be blogging more right? But oops no, I am guilty of that, but I am involved with other things at the moment and am trying to squeeze as much time as possible.

I have been working on the past few weekends and the past 2 days were burnt. But I got last Wed, Thurs and yesterday and today off! Am working all the way straight till next Monday after which I will go on night shift next week in A&E. Argh. My trainings gotta be affected again... :p

Due to so much free time on hand, I have been watching much movies. In fact, I just watched 'Munich' a few hours ago at Westmall with my movie buddies, Wanz and MH. We had an animated discussion after that about the movie and all 3 of us walked away after the movie+discussion, with a somewhat clearer picture of what is going on in the world of the Israelis and the Palestinians.

The movie was about how a group of 5 men struggled to seek revenge against a group of terrorists in the aftermath of the killings of the Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The movie lasted for 2hour 40min but it did not seem that long in the end, for the entire plot was well-structured and organised. It allowed the viewers to follow how the group of men who set out to kill the terrorists slowly degraded to the rank of 'terrorists' themselves, dropping further into a game that they cannot win. They lost their souls and the very thing that makes them human. While 2 survived in the end, the other 3 comrades had to perish in this neverending game of vengeance.

The underlying meaning of the whole story is simple : "Violence begets violence." However, as the 3 of us delved into our dscussions at the end of the movie, we began to talk about how the society and life u grow up in can shape the way u think and act in the end. That's the way with the habitants of the Gaza Strip or the West Bank or the African states. They grow up thinking that they have a cause to fight for in the former, while those in the African states would find that violence was a part of their everyday life.

I talked to a South African couple before when I was travelling in Vietnam. They told me that the children growing up in the periods of apartheid took violence as a part of everyday life. They do not see the brutal face of it and paly with guns like how children in other parts of the world woudl play with LEGO or Barbie dolls. It's the very environment that u grow up in, that can shape the person u would become in the end.

As the 3 of us all had some background in sociology/psychology studies, we could relate events or issues to what we had studied before in class. It was really a good thing to be able to discuss such topics with friends who are interested in the world at large and not just be confined to our own little comfortable 'world' on this island. It got our brain juices thinking and I feel it's such an important thing to keep the desire to understand this world better, increasing our knowledge as we move through Life, so that we can appreciate this world in a greater sense.

'Brokeback Mountain' last Wed, 22nd Feb. I watched it myself after a run at ECP in the late morning. My off day. Agonisingly SLOW. However, it allowed us to really 'feel' for the characters(as quoted by Wanz) and experienced all that they were going through. It was a very sad movie. So sad that I teared at the end. U can really feel the exasperation of the main characters. Unable to live the life they want, due to societal pressures. That's really depressing. (Imagine me unable to travel alone cuz of family and society's objections! ARGH! Kill me!) Ok, that's a different issue. I could feel for the characters nevertheless. Great movie with BEAUTIFUL sceneries. *WHOA*

(However, the love-making scene in the tent put me off. I must admit I felt very squeamish and uncomfortable seeing 2 grown-up men kissing each other. :p

'Syriana' on Tuesday afternoon after work with Wanz and MH. I have been wanting to catch this great movie ever since I watched its trailers on BBC! On the Middle East, on the politics between the ME and USA, of the oil industry, of suicide bombers and of the secret agents... Wonderful movie even though I did not understand everything for there's too many characters and too many scenes! My compatriots and I discussed non-stop after the movie and we sought to read the book, 'See No Evil' in order to get a fuller picture.

Sometimes, people in that part of the world do things for they had no choice as they have been suppressed for so long! The only way to get the world's attention was to do something BIG and DRASTIC.

It's always got to do with the oil. Sigh. US, US.... When will u stop becoming so 'money-faced'? Wealth accumulated. U cannot bring that to the graves with u. Why do Man want so much money for?

I watched a BBC documentary over the past 2 days titled, "The Battle for Islam" (hope I did not get it wrong). How the modern world and Islam could go hand in hand. And of how the Koran has to be applied to and be relevant in this day and time to the rapidly globalising world. Very insightful documentary.

All I can say is that the 'fight for peace' (what an ironic statement) will continue as more and more oppressed groups want their voices heard. We can only get on with our lives while making a change in the world by doing whatever we can. I would love to travel the world and meet people from all over!!!

"Give to every human being every right that you claim for yourself."
~Robert Ingersoll

A beautiful day

2006-02-15T12:13:00.000+08:00

Chinese New Year is over. It's back to work, work and more work. Mid-February. Whoa. It was too much feasting and too little work-outs for me over the CNY period, resulting in a huge drop in my stamina over the past week. :p Maybe not cardio's fault but just my legs and body trunk not strong enough after so many days of rest. My runs were no more as swift as they were in Jan or Dec after the SCSM. Just a short hiatus can cause so much disruption. Aiye. Now u know why I have to stick very closely to my training days and goals when I am training for an event.

So I started the new year(lunar, nevertheless) in a new department. I was transferred to A&E last week and I was already being prepared mentally for the heavy workload when it gets incredibly busy. I was not scared out of my wits nor did I panicked, just take it as per normal and did my best to cope. People really do come into A&E for the silliest reasons, one being back pain!?!?! Sigh. The area is not big enough to accommodate all the trolleys and those cases that are really urgent like trauma and accident patients would have to wait for their turn with those non-urgent cases. I really empathise with those 'sincerely-injured' patients who require more immediate attention than anyone else. Sigh.

The department is rather 'laid-back' and relaxed as well. When it's quiet (at times), we can chit chat, surf the net and the manager in charge of the department would chat with us as well. There's no airs about him at all and he's a very open person. I say this because of the topics we talk about, including the department and some politics and also my career advancement, as well as our families, interests and just yesterday, we talked about travel!!! My favourite topic! :) He likes to travel too and he wanted to match make me with some angmohs that he knows who backpack and travel!! Haha. That is how open we get when we chat. It was real fun in fact. I even showed him and my fellow colleagues some websites on travel. Yeah, very often, it's often the people that make of your life. That was the case in Judo, when things were going tough, there's the people whom u can fall back onto and give u a helping hand when u need it most. Work can get unpleasant when it gets busy too and u need a team to support u. It is here in this A&E department. They stress a lot on teamwork and welfare. :)

A new year, with new resolutions. Mmm, sounds familiar? That's because I have listed a few in my previous blog. After this lunar new year season, I am even clearer as to what I would hope to get done this year. Yeah, hope, maybe I should use a stronger word, 'want'. :p
1) Learn roller-blading
2) Take my basic theory driving test
3) Get my Jap rolling!
4) Buy a decent mountain bike? and hopefully
5) Take part in my 1st triathlon this year
6) Run a marathon at the end of the year
7) Increase my financial education

Sounds like a lot of things? I do not think so. With respect to goal number 7, I am currently reading a book by Robert Kiyosaki and it's interesting.
"The mistake adults make when looking at the future is that they see the future from their own eyes. That is why so many adults cannot see the changes that are coming.if u want to see how the world will be in 10 years, just watch a 15-year old girl or boy. Observe the world from their eyes and you will see the future."

"If u can let go of your vision of the world and actually see the world from a younger person?s point of view, you will see a much bigger world, a world filled with tremendous change and an abundance of opportunities yet to come."

Nevertheless, the above was directed at the business world and about making investments. However, I quote it here as I feel that it can apply to many other areas in our life. Seeing the world from the eyes of a young teenager, or even a kid. One that's full of wondrous amazements. That's why I travel.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With the current uproar over the cartoons that wrongfully and indignantly depicts the Prophet Muhammad, I only have one thing to say. Why can't the Western world be more sensitive towards the other religions, especially in this present WORLD situation of the war against terror and Islam being placed in the news more often than not? It's not about press freedom or other rights. It's about the most basic issue in life: RESPECT. Respect towards other human beings. Respect towards the religious beliefs of others who share this common place called 'Earth' with you. If they possess this fundamental quality, the world would be a more peaceful place. Gone would be the abuse of the captives, of the Iraqis. If the suicide bombers would possess the RESPECT towards Life, gone would be their warped thinking.

SIGH.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Look at the many books that Robert Kiyosaki has written so far. No one would have believe that he failed his high school English twice because of his inability to write. He was labelled stupid and a failure at the age of 15. It certainly was a very painful event in his growing up days. When I read this, I remembered my own college results upon receiving the result slip that day. I failed my GP. Yeah, it was a D7. Just failed on the borderline. C6 would have made the passing grade. Looking back, I still have the tiniest regrets, as I believe I am capable of achieving more. My prelim grade for GP was good, with my tutor even encouraging me to keep up the good work. Well, who do not have their regrets? I know I can write well (at least that's what many of my friends told me) and I even had a doctor praise me for speaking 'good, structured English' before. My vocabulary may not be as wide as those high achievers in HC, but I'm sure I can express my ideas across in my writings. And I love writing about travel. Hah!

I once had a dream of writing a book when I retire as I referred to my diaries in my secondary school days. To relive those days when I grow old was the reason why I decided to write diary back then. Those were the most tumultuous days, your growing up days. Probably the most wonderful days I ever would have with friends in schools locally. Nothing can ever replace them. Note that I wrote 'locally?'as I have had wonderful days NOW too, but often OVERSEAS. ;p When I travel, that is.

Good friends even suggest me writing a book on my travels. Yeah, a young Singaporean girl's travels to the exotic places in the world. Not many at the moment, but the list will grow eventually. Oh, how I love travelling!

I will still hold on to the dream of writing a book when I grow old. ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Today is my break day from my work-outs. It's a Wednesday. I had ran on Monday, and swam yesterday. Both days were horribly HOT! The weather today looks so fine, with the sun hidden behind the clouds most of the time. Too bad it's my rest day. Working 2-9pm for the whole of this week from Monday to Saturday, hence gotta get my work-outs done in the morning. Starting to increase the number of work-outs in preparation for Safra Biathlon on the 26th March! I certainly hope I can get an off-day on that day! Otherwise, I would have to change it with someone.

Just a note to myself: Ran 1hour 10min on Monday with 4 sets of F/C

14th Feb (Tuesday): Swam 60laps of F.S. 10:17, 10:35, 10:36, ?, ?, 10:50 + 6 laps of B.S. Lost count of the 30th-50th laps. There was not much on my mind, but just somehow got distracted. Only did 6laps of B.S as the sun was FURIOUS! It was already 11 then! Argh! Enjoyed the spa pool at the other corner of the complex after that. Had it massage my back and calves! Shiok! :)

Monday afternoon was horribly busy at A&E. It's usually like that at the department. Sigh. It's tiring and reminds me of 'A' corridor, except that this time, we have to push trolleys, change patients (if the HCA is not around) and use the stationary grid UNDER the trolley which means we have to carry the HEAVY grid+cassette and keep squatting down and bending... My poor knees and back... I was super tired when I woke up yesterday morning even though I slept for 8 hours already. As MR had said, it's a matter of getting used to... :p

"I soon realized that no journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within. " ~Lillian Smith

A long time since I ran in the morning...

2006-02-13T11:32:00.000+08:00

It was a rather hard run this morning. My body was feeling achy and heavy as I ran. When I woke up this morn, my upper back and neck already felt stiff, most probably due to sitting in front of the comp from 9-5 yesterday!

Ran for 1hr 10min. Did 4 sets of F/C. Whoa. The sun was rising up fast and furious at about 830am when I started the run. Ran to ?GH? and then along the road and back to thread on army grounds before running back. Oh dear. The human trail of destruction was horrible. In order to pave the way for a new tarred road, the entire stretch of greenery and trees were cleared. My heart was aching. There used to be so many trees...... And I never expect them to clear so deep into the bushes to make way for this stupid road that God knows lead to where... I should go and take some photos really soon and show the world the kind of destruction that Man is so capable of. Argh.

I'm reporting for work at 2pm. Needa leave the house at 1250pm in order not to rush. I'm expecting work to be busy at the dept today as it's a Monday and Mon afternoons at A&E are expected to be busy, as I have seen last week! Ian and Yan Yan are joining the dept today, one week after me. I have company!

And yeah, posted some photos of my KL trip below... They are all in a mess although I actually posted them according to dates.Geez... I have so much thoughts in my mind going on and I wish I have more time to write!

2006-02-12T16:42:00.001+08:00

The famous Petronas Twin Towers. A stunner. I was rather awe-struck.

2006-02-12T16:42:00.000+08:00

Landscape view

2006-02-12T16:40:00.000+08:00

This is another part of the building that makes up the KL railway station

2006-02-12T16:39:00.000+08:00

1st Feb: The interiors of KLCC

2006-02-12T16:38:00.002+08:00

Opposite across the road is the KL Railway Station. Stesen Keretapi KL.

2006-02-12T16:38:00.000+08:00

The Railway Administrative Building! Bangunan KTM Berhad. Pretty architecture.

2006-02-12T16:37:00.000+08:00

Front view of the shopping mall

2006-02-12T16:34:00.001+08:00

National History Museum

2006-02-12T16:34:00.000+08:00

The Padang. In the background is a cluster of Tudor-style buildings which houses the Royal Selangor Club

2006-02-12T16:33:00.000+08:00

The LRT

2006-02-12T16:32:00.000+08:00

ermm...Im not very sure what is this building...

2006-02-12T16:30:00.000+08:00

Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, a former colonial admin centre which serves as the Supreme Court now

2006-02-12T16:29:00.000+08:00

How the inside of the comfy train looks like

2006-02-12T16:28:00.000+08:00

The front view of it.

2006-02-12T16:27:00.000+08:00

The LRT which is closest to our hotel

2006-02-12T16:26:00.001+08:00

Our hotel room

2006-02-12T16:26:00.000+08:00

I can actually see the Petronas Twin Towers if I turn to the extreme right angle.

2006-02-12T16:25:00.001+08:00

the view from my hotel room

2006-02-12T16:25:00.000+08:00

30th Jan 06:On the way to Tuas 2nd Link! Crossing into the neighbouring state.

CNY & Kuala Lumpur : 28th Jan - 2nd Feb 2006

2006-02-07T22:52:00.000+08:00

28th Jan(Saturday) : CNY eve. I knocked off only at 230pm. It was not a very busy morning, considering that many patients must have taken home leave to spend the lunar new year at home with loved ones. I went down to Chinatown to do some last minute shopping for the trip to KL. Got some marshmallows and some sweets and chocs for the house. There was a huge crowd gathered at this entire row of tables where the workers were selling the sweets and chocs at only $2 a packet. U take a plastic bag and then fill it up to the brim. Originally going at $8 a packet, the sellers were shouting and selling their merchandise really cheap since it was the CNY eve already. They shouted that their boss is making a loss but he would rather collect cash rather than keep the goods. They are useless after the season. Some slogans sounded rather funny to me. And u can really see the ugly side of Singaporeans portrayed. Some would grab one handful in one hand and balance the filled-to-the-brim bag in the other hand. The sellers warned them not to do that for they would stop and embarrass them. U see, they can see everyone as they are perched squatting on the tables. Sigh. The 'kiasuism' (?) of Singaporeans, or the plain greed of Mankind.

The main roads for the Lunar New Year show in the evening was already blocked off at 3pm. There were the trucks from MediaCorp and crew members cordoning off the area to traffic.

I got home at almost 5pm. It was a weird feeling to be back home so early on a Saturday. Perhaps I still did not have the festive mood. Helped with some household chores and Dad came back after driving his cab for an hour or more. We had the steamboat dinner at 7pm. It was a good and proper one, with no squabbling. I have not expect much from this dinner this year, since reunion dinners hold no meaning for me ever since the incident in 2000. Even before that, quarrels are common on the eve of CNY and on the 1st day of CNY. My family is just not the typical kind of family. That should explain the bad luck that befalls on my family. Dad would always say that we are so unlucky to be quarelling on the last day of the year and even quarrels are unpreventable on the very 1st day of the new year, which is supposed to be very auspicious in the Chinese calendar.

Oh well, guess Mum changed and tried to control that mouth of hers this year. We had a very peaceful and proper dinner which lasted an entire dinner! Till 8pm! And it's 3 of us, seated around the table, eating and chatting away PEACEFULLY. Note: Peacefully. Yeah. Haven't had that in many years. There were years when I would even cry to myself after the lousy dinner. Why must my family be so different from others?

A totally refreshing one and I appreciated the whole affair. Dad went out to continue driving his cabbie and I cleared some stuff, watched TV, prepared some things for the house-visiting the next day.

Mmm... A good dinner, a peaceful 'chu xi ye', a kind of different feeling that follows after so many years of noisy CNY eves, all symbolizing a good year ahead? I certainly hope so. :)

29th January (Sunday): The usual house visiting, except we added in a few more places to go to on this 1st day, since we are not visiting on the 2nd and 3rd day. Went to Da-jiu place 1st, then followed by Grandma?s place in Bishan. Next stop was Da-Yi's place in Bugis and finally Er-gu's place cuz Ah-ma is there. Come to think of it, it's only 4 places. But it took the whole day! We only reached home at close to 6pm, as there is no car and we took public transport. Gone were the days when Dad would ferry us around in his car. We used to be able to get the taxi from the uncle on the 2nd day of CNY, but this is the 1st day, so we gotta move around ourselves. Not too bad, the weather was still bearable with lotsa wind. But my right shoe's sole dropped out after coming out of Bishan MRT! Have not wore that for more than a year? Perhaps 2? Luckily, Xiao-shu has glue. A neat piece of work done by Dad.

I went running after we got back home. I had to run, for I would be going to KL the next few days. It was peaceful and quiet, running to 'GH', clocking 1hour 17min. Got home at close to 8pm, and I showered and got down to dinner. Packed for the trip the next day. I was tired. It always happens to me, the day before a trip. I would feel lazy and hate to do the packing. INERTIA. I hate to get out of my comfort zone at that moment. I guess it got to boil down to the preparation done for the trip and all the excitement can really drains u. This time round, it was not so much of the preparation but the fatigue that comes from working and not getting enough sleep for the past few nights. After a nap from 10-11, I got down to packing. Another night of insufficient snooze.

30th January(Monday): I got up earlier than my alarm clock! Most probably due to the excitement contained within? Bio clock already fine tuned itself. Hah! Breakfast, followed by shower and Mum washed up the last of the clothes we wore for the night and off we went to Bt Panjang with the cab. Dad did not sleep the entire night as he continued driving and the cab was downstairs at the car park. We drove to BP to pick up the uncle and then drove to Golden Mile Complex, where we would be boarding our bus and thereafter Uncle would take over the cab.

The 18-seater luxury bus. Wah. Cost me $93 for 3 2-way tickets. Bleah. Expensive. The bus took off at 9.40am, after a delay of 10minutes for Dad and I went to the toilet. :p There was no stop for lunch along the way. However, it was fast. We arrived at KL at 2.15pm.

3pm: Checked into Grand Continental Hotel. It's old and not too spacious a room. 3-star hotel. What to do? Only cost me RM489(S$215). There's a queen-sized bed and a super single bed, with breakfast for 3 on the 3 mornings that we stayed there! It's a great bargain! I'm not fussy! Neither are my parents!

We took the monorail to Times Square after that. Gee. I read it somewhere before that the monorail lines are operated by different companies and if u need to switch line, u have to buy another ticket! Yikes! Let's say, if u have to take the MRT from Orchard to Buona Vista and u have to change at City Hall, u have to buy another ticket on the East-West line which is operated by another company. Argh. In this way, it is so not cost-effective!!! We spent RM3.60 for the 1st line, and then another RM3.60 for the transfer, when it could have cost us only around RM5 to get to Times Square by taxi. Geez... it would take less time as well. But well, at least I have taken the LRT and monorail in KL!

There was a mini theme park inside Times Square. A roller coaster even! Just watching the turns of the track simply twists my stomach. *Bleah* Cannot imagine myself riding it. It was noisy though. There was also a Cineplex in the mall. We wanted to catch 'Fearless', Jet Li's last action movie, but there were only front row seats left. Hece, we decided to shop instead.

I got a new pair of sandal, Mum a new bag, Dad got 2 shirts. I also bought 3 books from Borders where the books were on sale whereby I paid only for the price of 2 books. We had Baskin Robbins ice cream (YUMMY!) and then only left the mall at close to 10. We crossed the road and ate Indian food at an eatery across the road. There were naans, roti prata, chappati and tandoori chicken, all washed down with a mug of teh tarik. Sedap.

31st January (Tuesday): It's a pleasure waking up anytime u want on a holiday. Such is the advantage of a free & easy trip. We had a sumptuous breakfast and then went out for a sightseeing tour, at least for me, it was.

Took the monorail to Benteng and then I followed the itinery that my guidebook suggested. I took an opposite route and lost my way. We asked for directions and realized I had read the map upside down! In a way, I did not feel very comfortable bringing my parents along with me on this walking tour. Maybe I was streesed subconsciously. What a HUGE mistake to read the map upside down! Arghh! Got to Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque) which is the city's oldest mosque and I have to 'cover up' in order to get in for a look. My parents were standing suspiciously outside and my mum shook her head fervently, saying she did not want to enter. Ok. I should have guess it. Neither did my dad although he did not have to put on anything. I wore the long flowing robe and used a scarf to cover my hair. Off I went in to explore its surroundings while Mum and Dad went off to somewhere for a drink. I was supposed to meet them 40mins later.

I merely took 20minutes and I had to find them in order not to waste time. They were at the Burger King nearby. They bought a drink. Mmm... We just had a buffet breakfast u know?! We continued on and the 2 of them were always lagging behind me! Mmm... I was thinking of just separating form them and we meeting up at a later time at a shopping mall.

So that was the agreement. I would meet my parents at Lot 10's MacDonald at around 6-630pm. I had a great time wandering around myself that. I wandered to the Padang, the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad which was a former colony administrative centre. There was the Royal Selangor Club, Dataran Merdeka(Independence Square) and the National History Museum which was just beside the Padang.

Next stop was the General Post Office (it's a huge building) which acted as a landmark to search for an underground pass to get across the busy streets in order to reach the National Mosque, which is the biggest mosque in KL, able to accommodate 10,000 people at a time in its prayer hall.

The highlight of the day must be the Bangunan KTM Berhad, aka Railway Administration Building and its sister building, the Stesen Keretapi KL(KL Railway Station). Both buildings were of Moghul-style, designed by A B Hubbock, who had spent time in India before. It was a pleasure to find such architectural marvels in the heart of hustle-bustle KL.

I wanted to get to Pasar Seni, but lost my way and ended up at Chinatown instead. I had been here in 2002 before, the 1st time I went to KL with my parents. That was in the night, and I have not walked the streets of Chinatown in the daytime before. Spent sometime exploring the place. I realized how much I have changed ever since the very 1st few times I went abroad in 2001, or 2002. Night markets and fake branded stuff used to fascinate me, from Chinatown in KL to Patpong or Pattaya in Thailand. Nowadays, I still like walking around the night markets, but not so much for the imitation goods. It's more for the atmosphere and simply knowing what they sell, observing the people by the roadside stalls, and perhaps tasting some streetside food are the highlights to me now.

I managed to find my way to Pasar Seni (Central Market) which is a renovated air-conditioned marketplace where artists ply their work and sell their wares. A huge framed photo that is being lit up by some special neon lights caught my eyes. It was a place in Saudi Arabia. Not the kabaa in Mecca though as there was not black box in the centre. However, there was a huge mass of people in the picture and they seem to be swirling around this huge court. Funny thing is, I do not remember this as the kabaa because there is no black box! But how do u explain the swirling of masses of human bodies then? I remember asking the owner where is this and she told me it's Mecca. I was wondering if it?s Medina in Saudi Arabia, as that is the 2nd or 3rd holiest site in Islam. That photo was captivating anyway, and I have always been fascinated by the kind of dedication and faith that a devotee can give of himself to his religion. Especially of Muslims who have to make a sacred pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in his lifetime. And the entire aerial view of the kabaa must be one that is astounding and breathless. If only I have the chance to view it from an aerial view in real life. I'm sure it would be one of those unforgettable moments in life.

Anyway, I ended up taking the LRT to the KL Sentral Station which is the main railway station in KL now, where the inter-state trains would pass through. I was awe-struck by the glitzy building as it was certainly big and I thought I had entered the airport upon entering it! It reminded me very much of the railway station in Tehran. Caught me off-guard as well. I had to change to the monorail and get to the Sungei Wang area where all the major shopping malls are located.

Alas! There is no MacDonald's in Lot 10! I wandered outside the mall and fortunately, Mum spotted me from across the road where she and Dad were sitting by a sidewalk café. We gathered and I wanted to shop in Sungei Wang for a while before going down to Chinatown for dinner.

To cut it short, dinner sucks and we did not finish the food. :p It was oily and expensive. Trashy food. My stomach was churning from the excessive oil after the meal.

1st Feb (Wednesday): It was a day spent shopping. What a typical Singaporean way of spending a day. :p We took a cab to Mid Valley Megamall after breakfast, bought tickets for 'Fearless' at 2.30pm and then shopped. I found it such a waste of time as I did not manage to get anything that I wanted to get. I cannot understand why people would window-shop. I used to do that in the secondary school days when u have so much time to spare and not much money. But nowadays, there?s so much more to do! Aiye. Window-shopping is a waste of time, of energy and your youth.

There's a good meaning to the movie 'Fearless', but I did not enjoy the movie as much as I did when I watched the old films made by Jet Li. He was my idol since young and I love those 'Huang Fei Hung' movies made by him. Perhaps this movie was too violent, and perhaps I have not watched a Chinese action movie for a long, long time... My taste in movies has become very high over the years. Still, it was good catching a movie with my 2 oldies. :-p

More shopping. Took a cab down to KLCC next. Highlight of the day: Petronas Twin Towers. They simply blew my mind away. I love huge towering buildings whereby they are simply awe-inspiring. What a remarkable human architectural feat. It was drizzling when we exited Mid Valley. KLCC was a high-classed mall. I enjoyed the front views of the building from the garden with a dancing fountain. Pretty.

We sojourned back to the hotel at 8pm. Mum was determined to eat seafood at the restaurant just beside our hotel where the taxi driver recommended. We had crabs, soup, veggies, and fish. The food was good, in large portions with generous amounts of garnishings and ingredients(especially in the soup!) and cheap! Cost us only RM93!!!

2nd Feb (Thursday): Dad and I made our way back to the hotel. I showered and we made our way to Pasar Rakyat. I realized a one way ticket from KL to Singapore cost only RM56 for the luxury 18-seater and only RM35 for a 26-seater!!! Why do I have the feeling that I have been grossly cheated here? *Cries* Time always seem to fly when u are holidaying. It was time to pack up! Dad and I went down to Sungei Wang to do some last minute shopping. I wanted to try my luck to see what else I could buy. To my pleasant surprise, I managed to get a pair of cargo pants at only RM10!!! I could not try it though, but as I was wearing Bermudas, I simply pulled it on. And 2 tees that cost only RM14. All right, at least I did get some clothing in KL after all. The pants was perfect for backpacking. :-p

Ate a plate of mee goreng for lunch. Again, too much oil for my stomach was churning after the meal again. All the way till we got back to Singapore.

I watched 'Forrest Gump' on the bus. My very 1st time watching it, after hearing so much about it. Very good show indeed. If only everyone need not fret about life like Forrest and yet still have things turning out well for them. Perhaps sometimes, innocence is really bliss.

I watched only half the movie of 'Matrix'. Another show that I have heard so much about, but not watched it. Interesting. I did not catch everything about the movie but it proved to me that it does has a philosophical side to it after all. Remember a friend telling me before. I would love to watch the entire series if time permits.

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That more or less sums up my KL trip. Throughout the trip, I must say there is certainly bonding with my parents although squabblings were quite often. I have also said to them many times that I would never travel with them again. Yeah. Prhaps I would have to bring other friends along and their parents also, so that they would not focus on me only. And definitely no more free & easy with them. I hate packaged tours. Maybe we could go for trips to Taman Negara or Cameron Highlands where there would not be much waling to do in the 1st place. :p

Happy Lunar New Year

2006-02-04T14:33:00.000+08:00

It's been a week since CNY eve! Time flies man! I was at work this time last week! The spirit of the festive season was in the air definitely, with my work place so near to Chinatown. There's throngs of people flooding the MRT station every night for the past 2 weeks before CNY. Today is my off day and I?m working tomorrow. Mmm... Back to reality after the CNY hols. This is my 1st time spending CNY admist work. I did not feel much of the festive spirit for work takes up so much of your time! And I did not specifically go shop for new year clothes for I had new clothing bought in the month of December and just decided to 'reserve' them right up till CNY before wearing them. Mum and Dad did not buy much goodies this year too, which is a good thing, cuz we always cannot finish them! :p The less u have at home, the less u will eat, the less calories u take in! Ah ha!

More updates on KL trip upcoming...

Just an update

2006-01-27T23:33:00.000+08:00

Today is the eve of CNY eve. I knocked off at 4pm. It was a quiet day at work. I did not go out on any portable rounds at all from 2-4pm after lunch. I spent quite a lot of time chatting with my colleagues. I'm gonna miss them after I transfer to A&E after CNY. Sigh. Time flies. It's already 4 months in IPS. Even though I hate it at times when it's so busy during the weekends and I have to cover so many areas, there are times when it's quiet to make up for it. I wish I ned not go to A&E. It's simply busy, busy and busy down there. The night shifts are gonna be harder than IPS ones and I wonder if my body can take it or not, without any sleep the entire night. I do catch a wink or 2 at IPS. Aiye, just don't like working at night when your body's supposed to be resting. Except for the freedom and the less workload as compared to morning shift, it's no good to do it too often. Hmph...

I had a good swim at Delta after work today. I was contemplating if I should come home to run instead. I ran yesterday already. The weather was perfect for running. I was very tired yeaterday for the day had been so busy and the patients HEAVY! I exhausted 75% of my energy during work? I was desperately looking for a seat on the MRT after work cuz my knees were kind of aching. Nah, fat hope.

I pushed myself out of that front door after putting on my run suit. Everytime I wear my running tops and shorts and shoes, I would feel so 'free', so light. The outfit is light literally and my entire body is not weighed down by any heavy bag nor uncomfortable footwear. Absolutely 'weightless'. Hah. I started out slowly and ran without my receiver, which is another burden off. I realised lately that I would rather enjoy the peace and quiet that the green areas I run through offer me than music to my ears.

Although my legs felt heavy and trunk rather sore, I was mesmerised by the beauty of nature around me as I ran through 'Green Haven'. It's really my favourite stretch in my running routes and there was the occasional fellow human being. Other than that, all that u hear would be the sounds of insects, birds chirping away, the wind that blew past you and the water flowing in the canal. Not to forget your very own breathing and the thumping of the shoes against the ground. It was dry and the water level in the canal was lower as compared to the last time I ran there when it was the rainy week. What's more, the weather was brilliant with the sun setting behind a mess of clouds and the entire sky being cloudy for most of the day. There was a constant light breeze blowing as well. *WHOA*

I ran off track to the military training grounds and I remember telling myself I need not go to MacRitchie to enjoy Nature. This is right at my doorstep.

Naturally, my heart was calmed and my entire well-being was enhanced spiritually and mentally. I felt refreshed after the run. I felt alive.

The run actually allowed me to sort out many things on my mind and came up with solutions that I am going to make about certain issues. It also reminded me of how long I have come before I started running long distance.

I love running. I love 'GH'.

I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs. ~Jesse Owens

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.
~Author Unknown

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

Be true to your dreams...

2006-01-25T00:19:00.000+08:00

I went for a swim after work today. I felt rather tired during the swim, probably due to walking too much at work. Nevertheless, I felt good after the swim. Several thoughts went through my mind today. It has been a long while since I blogged. Recently, I went back to normal office hours for work and it was quite tiring last week.

It is almost the end of January and that would mark the end of the 1st month of the year. Accomplishments? Nah, hardly any. I realized I have to get something done as the 2nd month of the year is already approaching and I have yet to get any of my resolutions up and kicking!

Quoting from a friend who said that 'there's simply too many things to do in life', I cannot agree more. I remember I once wrote down a list of things I want to get do in this life of mine after reading an article from 'Chicken Soup' in secondary school. I don?t know where that list is now, but I certainly wonder how many of those things I have gotten done after these years.

I met a friend who was enlisted in the Navy on a Friday 2 weeks ago. It got me asking him many questions about life in the Navy and whether there are other females who are working on the Navy vessel and about the voyages they make out to other countries. He cleared so much of my queries and gave me even more information. Thereafter, I realized the Navy is not for me. Yeah, I did once thought of joining the Navy for the thrill of working on a huge ship and learning all that I could learn about a moving vessel out in the huge oceans. Alas, after hearing about the number of years u have to be bonded to the Navy and the prospects after that if u are not one of the 'elites', mmm... I have my hesitations. Nah, I might be better off working on a commercial cruise ship.

It was quite an impromptu hike from Bt Timah to MR with MH on last Saturday, 21st Jan. I have not been at home for a long time on a Saturday. After the hike, I came back home and bought a copy of Saturday Times. It was good flipping through the entire newspapers as I concluded that being able to read the papers is indeed a luxury. I even looked through the classified ads. Oh well, I saw an advert looking for crew cabin on Qatar Airways. It got me reminded of yet another thing I have wanted to try out one day perhaps. Yeah, air stewardess.

See my point? There's so many things that one wants to do or experience in life! And yet, how long does one life last? I have certainly a great deal of other things that I hope to try my hands at. The different jobs and the different activities. My list is certainly a long one... Yet being a radiographer is never on my list of 'life experiences' at all! It is a comfortable job, paying u enough to get by (in a restructured hospital) and giving u the sound security that a stable job will give. However, I want to do more. I want to get out of my comfort zone and do things on my 'list'. It's never easy, especially when u are worried about the basic bread and butter everyday and at the end of the day, u end up in an endless rat race, forgetting who u are and why u are here for. I can see so many forlorn faces on the train every morning. People who probably have forgotten what their hearts have used to show them and pushed their dreams away in a corner. After working for almost 8 months, I can see that it's not difficult to fall into such a state.

I should really make a list of the things I wanna do online one day, so that I would not lose it as I have written it down on paper long ago. At least, my passion for travel has never failed me. The underwater world has fascinated me in the past, very much so, and not I am still fascinated by it. However, if given a choice between taking up diving and travelling the world (when money is not an issue), I would choose the latter. There are as many things, people, cultures, landscape and mystery on Earth to fascinate me as the underwater world offers.

I love travelling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BUGGER: The 'bugger' is getting to me again. Argh. After hearing 'her' complaints of 'him' last night. I have to say it did affect me today at work. When I thought about how I would be coming home to more naggings, it simply upsets me. My peace of mind was not present. It was distracted every now and then. My mind was in a way, mentally 'unsound' for I was bothered. Don't they understand?!?! Nope, they would never. Especially 'her'. I really wonder if I would simply break down one day. I had been through tougher days before and survived them. My spirit is unbreakable. And so, I hope.

Reach by Gloria Estefan

Some dreams live on in time forever
Those dreams, you want with all your heart
And I'll do whatever it takes
Follow through with the promise I made
Put it all on the line
What I hoped for at last would be mine

If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment in my life
I'm gonna be stronger
Know that I've tried my very best
I'd put my spirit to the test
If I could reach

Some days are meant to be remembered
Those days we rise above the stars
So I'll go the distance this time
Seeing more the higher I climb
That the more I believe
All the more that this dream will be mine

If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
From that one moment in my life
I'm gonna be stronger
Know that I've tried my very best
I'd put my spirit to the test

If I could reach
If I could reach, higher
Just for one moment touch the sky
I'm goona be stronger
From that one moment in my life
I'm gonna be so much stronger yes I am
Know that I've tried my very best
I'd put my spirit to the test
If I could reach higher
If I could, If I could
If I could reach
Reach, I'd reach, I'd reach
I'd reach' I'd reach so much higher
Be stronger

The Hunger Site

2006-01-09T19:45:00.000+08:00

HUNGER: DO YOU KNOW THE FACTS?
It is estimated that one billion people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition. That's roughly 100 times as many as those who actually die from these causes each year.

About 24,000 people die every day from hunger or hunger-related causes. This is down from 35,000 ten years ago, and 41,000 twenty years ago. Three-fourths of the deaths are children under the age of five.

Famine and wars cause about 10% of hunger deaths, although these tend to be the ones you hear about most often. The majority of hunger deaths are caused by chronic malnutrition. Families facing extreme poverty are simply unable to get enough food to eat.

In 1999, a year marked by good economic news, 31 million Americans were food insecure, meaning they were either hungry or unsure of where their next meal would come from. Of these Americans, 12 million were children. The Hunger Site began on June 1, 1999.

Please remember to click every day to give help and hope to those with nowhere to turn. Every click counts in the life of a hungry person.
http://www.thehungersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites.woa/wa/gotoSite?destSite=HungerSite&ThirdPartyClicks=THSreminderM

The above was what I extracted from The Hunger Site. It's simply a very simple thing to do by clicking on the banner on their website and it generates a cup(or2) of rice for a hungry child, enough to feed him for a day. Incidentally, I found that there are other sites for us to click as well which fund free mammograms for women, fund healthcare checks for children, fund books for children, conserve rainforest reserves and fund food for animals. All it takes is just a click on our mouse and it will generate funds from sponsors. Henceforth, I urge everyone who happens to come across this to add this website to their 'favourites' list. :)

Busy like a bee - Kept on my feet the whole while at work

2006-01-02T00:10:00.000+08:00

I reached home afer work at about 9.50pm earlier. It's the 1st day of 2006 right? It did not seem to go very well for me at work. Mmm... I simply have to record down just what happened. Yesterday, at MICU, it was my top that was torn by the metal tray standing by the side of the wall. Who knows when I walked past it, my top actually got caught in it and there was a shearing sound. The next moment, there was a flap at the side! Yikes! What a way to end the last day of 2005! I went back to the department telling my colleagues that this would be the way to end all the bad thigns to happen to me in 2005 and not let them carry over to 2006. Mmm... That was what I hoped.

And yet today, the moment I arrived at work, I was informed by my senior that my partner for the afternoon, Yolanda, a very motherly Filipino lady, had already gone to O.T. I am the one who's supposed to cover all the portable cases and O.T. as well. While she's doing the room cases. My luck with O.T. has never been very good, since I was called up to O.T. the very 1st time I worked on a pre-night Sunday. Argh... And my partner then, Benedict, called me 'Miss-T' (T for toxic) RAAAA......

Yeah, the O.T. required the I.I. Yoli called me at 2pm from the O.T and informed me that she would be coming down. She had pushed in the machines for me and I would just have to wait for the O.T to call again before going up. She even told me to relax and take my time, since the O.T. called at 1.30pm. And I was starting work at 2pm. The person in the shift before that did not go up to O.T. then and wanted to wait for me to cover. Geez. And I always arrive on time for work, seldom earlier. Thus, Yoli helped me to go up. She's just such a good and wonderful senior!!!

I went up at about 3pm after I went on 1 round of portable whereby there was only 3 cases! Normally, I would only go when there's about 6 cases. But since u don't know when the O.T. would call, u just have to clear your portable cases before the call comes.

That's when the accident happened. My pants got torn by the portable machine during my 1st case! It was around the knee area and I suffered 2 small cuts as a result. Argh... What LUCK!!! Ever since Sec 2 or 3, I have been falling down at least once every year and suffered superficial wounds on my knees. There's many scars to attest to that. My parents say I'm too naughty and it's a form of punishment. :p And this is one small wound as compared to my other scars, but it's happened on the 1st day of the year! There's a small hole in my left pant leg as well! Just earlier, my HCA was just telling me that the machine has some sharp edges that tore her pants before as well, as I was telling her about my top the day before. And this happened to me later!!! Argh...

Last day of 2005 - Tore my top
1st day of 2006 - Made a small hole in my pant
What's to come next??

After the 1st case of I.I. whereby the docs can actually just settle for a plain xray, they told me there's going to be another case that requires I.I. Another 1 hours perhaps. So I changed and went back. Cleared another 3 portable cases before they called again at around 430pm. I was doing my last case then! I went back and Yoli helped me to process the 3 cassettes. I then rushed to O.T. They were impatient man! Called me 3x! What the?! I told them I was clearing an urgent case at the ward what?!

In the end, I have to wait when I got there. Tsk tsk. The nurse apologised for calling me so many times and then making me wait. RAAA... What a bunch of low E.Q fellows. Guess who the surgeon is? L.Foo... Not going to write what kind of crossings I had with him but what 'fate' to meet him on a new year day again!!! Geez...

This case took longer than expected and it was already 615pm when I exited the O.T. After making my way back to the dept, I sat down to eat my dinner at 630pm. When I almost finished my dinner at 7pm, the H.P. rang!!! It was from O.T again!!! Now they need plain xrays for an elbow. Sigh. I had to abandon my food for the time being and go there again. So troublesome and 'lei jeh' to change.

I came back at 745pm and realised that Yoli had cleared my 5 portable cases for me! I'm so grateful to her! There were not many room cases for that whole afternoon- evening and she took the initiative to help me since she's free. So nice of her... :) If it's some other colleagues, they would not be that helpful... I kept thanking her and she frowned and simply passed it off by saying that we should help each other when the other is free. And told me not to mention it. :) Otherwise, I would have to go on my last round of portable from 8pm to 840 perhaps?

What a way to start my 2006 eh? Hah. So much walking to and fro O.T. However, this is still nothing as compared to working at A corridor. That was really the ultimate. U have to do EVERYTHING yourself. From taking in the forms, calling patient, doing the xray, process the cassette, get the xray and passing them to patients in cases of foreigners, or otehrwise remember to ask them to go off when the xray is ok. WHEW!

That was my report for the 1st day of work in 2006. It was quiet after that with another 3-4 cases for the room before we knocked off at 9pm. Fulfilling day at work eh?

What is the use of a house if you haven't got a tolerable planet to put it on?
~Henry David Thoreau

Are right and wrong convertible terms, dependant upon popular opinion?
~William Lloyd Garrison

Happy 2006!

2006-01-01T11:22:00.000+08:00

It's the 1st day of 2006!!! I woke up to a rainy and cool morning. Overcast. Wanted to go for a run but it has been raining for the past 3 hours ever since I woke up! Aiye. Shall postpone my run to tomorrow.

I would be running now if I'm not going to work later. The rain has become lighter considerably but I would not have the luxury to go about slowly and run a long run for I have to rush back to go work at 1pm! Sigh. Yeah, I am working on this day, the 1st day of 2006. It's never happen to me before. Geez. I was, and still am, rather 'mentally-unbalanced' when I learnt that I have to work today, tomorrow, and on Hari Raya Haji! That's for being a healthcare worker. The hospital operates 24 hours eh? U cannot ask it to stop operating on public holidays. That's how noble a medical worker is. I'm not talking about myself, but all those who willingly give their time and energy. Even though we are paid extra, it's not really that much and I would serioulsy rather spend time at home doing things I want. My own personal time. Yeah, that's how important my personal time is to me. Have not been having enough of it lately. For quite long already actually. Hence, no time to blog much, nor write my personal diary at home.

Others are having a long weekend at home, but I have to report to work later. Sigh. Sad man. My friends are very understanding though. I have spoken to many of them and they understand when I have to go home early, or spend time at home instead of meeting them these few days. I'm starting night shift this coming week and needs the rest. Thanks pals.

The rain outside my widneow is like snowflakes now. I can see each droplet being scattered sparsely. It's reminiscent of the snowflakes in the mountains of the Iranian landscape that I passed through enroute to Rasht. It's magical, my 1st encounter with snow, with a white landscape that speaks of desolation and idealism at the same time. I have not been thinking of Iran for a long time, I realise...

It's the festive season and I have received xmas cards from aboard. From Maddy in London and Xue in JB. It's still aboard although it's the neighbouring state! More online xmas greetings from my Iranian friends - Kourosh, Gity and family, Maryam and family, and Gity's son who's in Philippines. And also from a Sri Lankan tour guide whom I knew from my trip in Dec 2004.

Time flies. Looking back on 2005, I'm utmost glad that I have gone to Iran for my grad trip and made all the friends. It's amazing we are in touch still and I'm going to keep it this way for as long as possible.

A little bit of retail therapy for me yesterday. I knocked off at 2pm, and went down to Orchard, intending to look for a decent pair of new shoes for CNY. Nope, none that caught my eyes after browsing through Centrepoint Robinsons and Taka. Simply not my type. I rather get a pair of Birks. I got a new saucepan for the house though! It's long overdue as the current one is horribly scratched. Mum should be happy that I'm contributing to the household yet again. :p

My fave stop next: Kinokuniya. Ah ha... I have the discount from YL with me here and $70 vouchers from my bday last year. Wanted to get something, but no urge to get any books of late, unlike last year when I went on a spree after receiving the vouchers from my NYP classmates. I actually still have a couple of books at home which I have not read yet! I browsed through, taking my time... Then I cannot resist but go to the travel guides section. No urge to go anywhere. Serious! But just wanna walk to taht section and see what new guides LP has for 2006. :)

I spotted a book titled, 'Bluelist' published by LP and it's a whole lot of places to see and things to do in 2006-07. Cool pictures from around the world, good quality paperback, right size to place on my book shelf, and the price is great too! Going at $35.70, it would only be $28.55 after the discount. After much consideration, I decided to get it for myself as a new year present. Haha... Xmas cum new year present then. I have spent quite a lot the past month but realised they are all spent on gifts for friends and colleagues. Nothing for myself. This would be the gift for myself then! :) It's a collector's item anyway. And everytime I should feel weary of life, I reckon this should be the best book to open up and reminds myself of what I'm living for. :)

The queue looked long, but they're fast. I heard someone behind me telling his mum to go get more books in perfect Mandarin. And it sounded like a friend. I did not want to believe that it could be him. After only a few seconds did I decide to turn around. No harm right? Haha! What a coincidence! It was really YK! What a small world! He just got back from U.S. the week before and I actually did thought of asking him to meet up the day before. Realised it's a bit last minute, so decided against it. And what a real coincidence to see him queuing up behind me! Haha... We did 'meet up' after all. Would arrange for a proper lunch meeting soon.

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During one of the runs last week, I found that I have so many groups of friends I have yet to meet up with in 2005. I have been very discliplined training for my half marathon the last few months. I treasure my own personal time at home as well and love staying in at home to write or read, or simply catch up with my fave documentary on the telly. I can say I'm still quite adamant about running and swimming twice a week each. My schedule would be organised around them, rather than arrange them around my schedule. After all, they are important moments of silence for me in which I can hear my innermost voice and sort out my thoughts. That was what happened last Thurs during the run. I have to manage my time even better in order to meet friends. It does not help that I have shift work. I have more personal time, and am unable to meet. Sigh. U cannot have the best of both worlds eh? It's good that I always feel I could do better with more time on hands. That simply means I am really truly living out each second. Not wasting any away.

2006. My fave number. Heh. A new year, with new hopes and resolutions. When friends ask me where I'm hoping to go this year, I replied them, "That has to depend on how much leave I can apply for at one go." The time of year is also a factor. I am happy at work now, even though I do complain a bit at times. That's inevitable, isn't it? I have learnt to be grateful to the institution that allows me to travel during my school days due to the sponsorship that they have given me. Otherwise, I would not be able to realise my dreams so early in life and know what I want to do really with Life. :)

Happy New Year.

The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months!
~Edward Payson Powell

What a Tuesday!

2005-12-27T23:31:00.000+08:00

I was supposed to go running after work today at 5pm. I had planned to come home to run. Unfortunately, I was held up for more than an hour after work due to some STUPID IDIOTIC incident! A patient's CVP line was accidentally dislodged while I was doing xray for him! Bloody hell. Stupid SICU nurses. Thanks so much for not helping in the 1st place man. Actually, I'm not afraid at all cuz I know I'm not in the wrong at all. I mean, it's my fault for going ahead with the xray after waiting for like 1 whole minute for them to come. And that's all! My senior back in the dept emphasized the importance of 'No nurses, no xray.' This is most importantly so in the ICUs. Ok, ok, I have learnt my lesson. Argh. I'm just very pissed for having to stay back to write a stupid incident report.

I learnt from my senior that many similar cases have happened with SICU in the past. As a result, our relationship with them is not very good. So, what does that say? They are the ones with the attitude problem in that case. This does not occur in CTSICU whereby the moment u enter, 2-3 nurses would be at bay to help u lift the patient up! Aiye. SICU ought to learn from them man... :p

That's why Mr Goh went to see Ms Koh to ask what to do for my case. I had to type out my report, and it was emailed over to Ms Koh. We have to let H.O.D know first before the H.O.D of SICU writes to him. In fact, I was quite unlucky. Cuz the bunch of doctors who were standing outside the SICU did not help us when they saw us struggling, but only after the matter happened did they let their dear H.O.D know that something similar happened during night shift and at IPS CT scan. What the?!?! 'Add pepper, add salt' la, eh? L-O-S-E-R-S. That's what I call them. So the H.O.D was very angry and wanted to write an incident report. Otherwise, I learnt from my senior that they would usually just let me off with a verbal warning. What's more, the patient's CVP line was not totally dislodged, just that the tip was ALMOST out. Pui.

I asked Mr Goh what is going to happen next and he told me that B.S. Tan is most probably going to call him up. I don't mind him calling me up also, just don't do it after office hours! I have a life man! K.N.S!

I also received a call from one of the ward nurses who called to tell me that she was in the next room when I exposed a patient for chest xray in ward 76. She is pregnant, that's why she's so anxious. When I picked up the phone, I thought she was speaking up for the patient in the same room as the patient whom I did the CXR for. Then she told me she was the nurse who's pregnant and I told her I did not have any staff with me in the room then. She told me she was next door!!! WHAT THE?!?@?!?!?@?! Heck la! Please don't be like an ignorant toad living deep in the depths of the well can?! As long as u are 2metres away from the direct beam, there's no energy in the scatter radiation that reaches u by the time it travelled the 2 metres!!! ARGH!!!! Why are the ward nurses and doctors so IGNORANT?!?! They are simply FOOLISH! Argh. Taking a plane high up in the atmosphere would generate the same amount of radiation as hundreds of CXRs!!! Stupid fools!

When I arrived back at CCK today, it was 7.05pm already. Raining cats and dogs here. No chance to run as well. I so badly wanted to run. There goes my only chance of letting off steam. Got some stuff from Lot 1 before I came back home. I prepared tomorrow's lunch and ate my fruits as dinner. Then it was off to reading some materials before I came online. I had wanted to sleep at 10+ for I want to run tomorrow morning. Don't think I want to rush myself and do a short run in the end. So I decided to run on Thursday instead!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was missing the judokas a lot this morning. And the memories of the gathering with them on Sat still lingers on my mind when I went to work this morning. As well as the great rest day I had yesterday and the short meeting with Lili, Limin and Liting at GV. How I wish I were a student again. Able to have more free time and do the thing I want. Nah. Fat hope. Not at the moment at least. However, as I reported to work, I realised that Man is such an adaptable creature. At least for me. I soon immersed myself in work after the 1st hour and it helps that u have good colleagues too. :)

12am! Time to turn in! It's going to be a long day tomorrow, with another gathering in the evening with NY gals!

I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence. ~Frederick Douglass

Sunday stay-home!

2005-12-19T00:20:00.000+08:00

I woke up so late this morning! At 1115am!! Far too late to my liking. :( No choice, slept at 330am last night only. I cleared lots of stuff in my bag and read some mails, packed some stuff. Watched a documentary on BBC news 'Reporters' which talked about the crisis in Zimbabwe right now. Robert Mugabe totally sucks man. U can read more about this man on this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Mugabe The people are suffering right now and it's due to his stupid policies. I really take my hats off the program producers and reporter who went into Zimbabwe and even secured exclusive footage from locals despite the risks involved. That is what I call professionalism in journalism. To report the truth and let the world knows what's going on in spite of the dangers and risks.

Late afternoon: 5pm. Rained heavily again. A passing shower which was very heavy but soon stopped after half an hour. I went running at 6.07pm. It was a good run. I started out slow and suffered from a stitch in the right abdominal area which migrated to the left and then eventually subsided. I ran through 'GH' and then towards Jurong and back all the way straight beside the road that led from Jurong to Bt Batok and then to CCK. Wanted very much to run on long straight stretchs, hence I chose not to run through 'GH'. When I arrived back at the starting point, it was already 7.30pm. I still felt strong and could run more. Why not? I ran one more round around the estate and did a 1hr 33min run in all. Still feeling good at the end. Hah. Calves aching a bit, but could certainly still hang on. Cool. I love running.

Along the stretches, there were times when my brain was just point blank, thinking about nothing but just the road ahead. There were times that I would think of the week ahead and plan my days mentally. Which days to run, which says to swim and which days to meet friends. Also think about the Xmas gathering next week with my dear judokas. Then also about the D&D last night, about work... About sgrunners... abt the new year...

Things I hope to get done in 2006:
1) Do my part-time degree
2) Take my driving lessons
3) Take my diving course (again)
4) Buy a new mountain bike!
5) Learn my Japanese/Malay (hopeless me... :p)
6) Take up roller blading!

The 1st 4 would cost me a bomb. Argh. (4) & (5) have to depend on my discipline. Besides running and swimming, I ought to do some otehr sports as well. Those that I can interact with others. Mmm...

I finished 4 sets of F/C!!! Happy... I felt so good today. Since I had the strength to push myself, why not? And I increase the number of times for the heavy log to 20 instead of the usual 15. Took 27mins in all only.

1hr 33min of run. 27min of F/C. Totalled 2 hours of workout in all. I was damn thristy after that! Whoa! Had my fruits and yoghurt as usual. Dragon fruit, banana, papaya, and water melon.
Yummy.

Going to sleep already. Will write more on D&D tomorrow.

2005-12-19T00:18:00.000+08:00

Group photo of those that were left after the dinner(L-R): Amelia, Ian, Illyyas, Lily, me, Darfi, Ariel, Suriyati

Stay-home Saturday (if I could)

2005-12-17T17:14:00.000+08:00

It's raining cats and dogs outside right now. There's going to be an SGH annual dinner held at Suntec City later. I actually planned on going out a little earlier so that I can pop by MPH along the way to check out some books. The rain is putting that on hold.

I worked today from 8.30am to 1pm. It was a slack morning, with not many cases, and many being 'CXR'. I had a good time 'bonding' with the other RGs, especially those Filipinos. I also talked to Geanet and she's applied to work at another hospital and also another country. If both applications do not get through, she would go back to Philippines. Hence, she did not wish to divulge any information right at the moment as to whcih hospital or country. She did not wish to go back home, for whatever reasons I did not ask. It seems like she likes to travel to work, but there seems to be another underlying reason/s why she did not want to go home. I did not probe. Probably poverty. Well, same as me in a sort of way, how I wish to go overseas to work and travel. To escape from home.

It's smooth and quiet at the moment at home, but beneath all these, I wonder when the volcano will erupt again. I am simply taking things as the day goes by. It's 2006 soon. Time to set new resolutions and targets.

Adios. Gotta go and prepare to go out now. Meeting some other colleagues outside Suntec Starbucks at 7pm.

P/S: I have not been at home on a Saturday afternoon for God-knows how many Saturdays. It feels good to be home on a lazy afternoon without the crowd and madness everywhere else. I feel so lazy to go out on this cool evening... :p

Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways. ~Stephen Vincent Benét

2005-12-17T17:10:00.000+08:00

My very dear medal, number tag and tee

2005-12-17T17:09:00.000+08:00

Lin & me after the run at her office!

Standard Chartered Half Marathon 2005

2005-12-15T23:56:00.000+08:00

It has been almost a month since I last blogged. Major reason being too lazy to blog and even write my own personal diary! Have been very focused on training for my half marathon the past 2 weeks. It was on 4th Dec and it's over already... Having clocked a better time than last year of 2hour 7min 19sec. It was an improvement of about 4 minutes plus from last year's timing of 2 hour 11min++. I was hoping to sub 2hour 5min. But well, there's room for improvement next year then! :)

5th Dec : I woke up at 420am, after only getting about 5hour+ sleep only as I could not get to bed until 11pm the night before! Met YL downstairs at 5am and Dad fetched us there to City Hall area. Thanks to my dear Daddy who made the detour to stop his taxi-driving for the hour and fetch me to the venue. Otherwise, I would have to catch the bus from the stadium at an earlier hour!

We arrived at City Hall at about 5.30am, way ahead of the starting time of 6.30am. I had to go to the loo and we queued up for the cubicle toilet. Argh. Disgusting. There was no water to flush and it was dark fortunately. I hate it.

After the toilet relief, we went ahead to deposit our bags and I heard someone call my name when I was searching my bag for something. It was Norman and SC! Ah ha! So my old friend of 17 years was running in her virgin half marathon as well! :) Norm was telling me that he actually told SC to call me the night before. He?s doing the full marathon.

Norm went ahead to the starting line as the full started at 6.We chit chatted and lingered around, soaking in the atmosphere. The sky was not bright yet! But what a vibrant air it beheld! For there was loud music, emcees on the microphones and lotsa runners out there thronging the bridge of Esplanade, waiting to start their run. Great feeling.

We proceeded to the starting line at 6.10am, after the full marathoners were flagged off. I felt thirsty and wanted to look for a bottle of water. I turned around and someone tapped on my shoulder. It was Meixuan! What a coincidence! I had wanted to email her earlier to ask if she was participating in the run this year as a runner officially signed up. (She gate crashed last year.) I got my answer. She was doing the half and several of her friends were doing the full. She's a nurse I got to know through the BCLS course in SGH and she's working at Jurong Polyclinic now. An ex-canoeist who's very fit and so into adventure racing nowadays. She's my model of inspiration!

I managed to hunt down the tentage where they handed out bottles of water before the run. All 4 of us shared a bottle.

It was 6.25am when they sounded the horn. Off we went. Meixuan was off at the front and I went my usual speed, constantly reminding myself to go in a comfortable manner. To watch my pace so that I would not be going too fast at the beginning. I need to relax my shoulders and straighten my arms to let the blood flow as well.

I ran ahead of SC and YL and we had our 'OTOT'(own time, own target) to meet. I wondered if I should actually drink the 100plus provided along the way or not, after talking to Philip the day before about rehydration and he not believing that I can do the entire run without any water at all.

About 20minutes into my run, which means 50min into the marathoners' times, the top Kenyan runners ran past us...they would be approaching their 21km soon. Kaoz. Btw, the top 3 male runners clocked 2hour 15min 55 sec, 2hr 15min 58s and 2hr 16m 34s respectively! *Kowtow to them*

About 4-5km into my run, Balasing ran past me and he tapped on my shoulder. I said 'Jiayou' to him, the usual thing we always used to do during those Judo days. He's a runner from the sgrunners' forum. Geez... When I read his blog, he wrote that I 'shrieked'. Was I really that loud? :p Anyway, earlier in the morning when I saw Meixuan, I shouted as well and she was very shocked and went 'Shhhh...' Haha... They do not know me very well obviously! :p

There was 100plus water points at every 6km mark. At the 2nd such point, I decided to just take one cup and ran slower in order to drink it down. I took about 5 sips before I threw the cup away. The water supply this year came in 'Ice Mountain' water bottles and it was so WASTEFUL and ENVIRONMENTALLY UNFRIENDLY!!! It was simply a huge waste since many people would just take a sip or 2 and throw the entire bottle away!!! And I have heard of people tripping over the bottles or bottle caps! No one is going to hold on to the bottle for the rest of their runs! Why can?t they just pour the water into paper cups instead!?!?

After having that half cup of 100plus, I ran the rest of my run with a stitch in my abdomen. Argh. It was bearable since it did not concentrate in just one spot but spread across the entire abdomen. I just had to breathe properly and control my pacing. Not to step down too hard. Aiye.
There were times at the beginning of the run when I would keep looking to the other lane to see the oncoming runners in case I spotted any familiar faces. I did see TLR. Then when I was 1/3 into the run, I decided to concentrate on my run and simply focused on the route ahead of me instead of darting my eyes to the right lane. I had to conserve energy for the entire run and to focus on my breathing and posture and thinking as well. Looking at the other lane would only serve to distract me. :p

Hence, it was really coincidental that I spotted Xianru(XR) on the other lane around Marina Bay area. I happened to look over at the other side that time and spotted a guy running with his girlfriend. Then I looked at the girl and it turned out to be XR! I shouted, 'Xianru, jiayou!' She turned back to see me and smiled, though I was already a distance away. *Fate*

It's her virgin half marathon also, and I understood that she only took up long distance running as recent as August? Kudos to her for her courage to take part in a 21km as her 1st event. :)

21,000 runners this year. 40% increase from last year. The increase was apparent. With the crowds. And of course some restful strollers blocking your way. *Distaste*

Beautiful sunrise over the horizon at Marina South!!! Coincided with the passing of a ship! It was almost surreal. Misty and cool and with the fumes coming out from the ship's chimney... it looked too dreamlike to be real. Yet it was. Meixuan and I were talking about how beautiful it was at that moment, but sadly, I noticed that the runners around me did not even turn to look in the direction of the rising sun. Too glaring? I do not find so. These are the little things in Life which u can never capture on film but are often the most beautiful which chances upon u when u least take note. Once gone, that moment will never be able to be replicated. I have experienced many of such moments during my runs. Somehow, they just keep u going and signals that there' always Hope ahead if u dare surge forward.

Ships. Sunrise. Fumes. Chimneys. Sea. How I wish to travel. How I wish to work on a ship one day. *Reminiscent*

There were far too many people at the stretch from Esplanade to Kallang and back. It was about 15-16 km then and many people were walking! I had to run in a criss cross manner in between people and it irked me to do so, wasting time and energy. At one point, I ran onto the pavement where there were nobody and it was a logn stretch ahead. I sped up. I love long stretches when I'm in the mood. I would have the tendency to speed up and there I was, running faster than earlier and surprised at my energy level at that point.

Nearing 16km, or somewhere around there, just before the U-turn at Kallang Riverside Park bridge, I saw Balasing and shouted 'jiayou' to him again while running past. I found out later on that his ankle was giving him problem. Hence he slowed down... I was surging forward with a renewed sense of energy even though the sun was out. How I wished he could have run well too!
Sun. Hot day. It was relatively cloudless. So much for the prediction of rain before the run by SC and YL. Haha. The few days before, it has been raining cats and dogs most of the time. Think the heat surprised many people. I felt quite okay. The heat did not get to me that much. *Lucky* So much for running under shade at 9-11 on Sunday mornings...

Last stretch up the Esplanade Bridge. I was 'cheated' here last year into thinking that it was the end at the end of the bridge! Argh. Not fooled this time! Conserved my energy and I am still amazed by my sprint for the last 100m of the run. I felt pain in my right knee and ankle though. Probably some old injury that resurfaced since I really gave my 101% for this last stretch. Which goes to show that I never over-exert myself during my runs, for they do not hurt during those trainings!

Well, well, I felt good at the end of the run. Although I did not manage to sub 2hour 5 min, I know I have done my best. Especially with me not feeling well 2 weeks before the run after going on night shift and my body having to readjust to the different timings of work everyday. It was raining heavily many days in the earlier 2weeks as well. The weather did affect my training sometimes, but I managed to stick to it and got through the entire 'regime' and came out to be an even more disciplined person.

I grabbed a can of cold 100PLUS after the run. I was so glad they were giving them out to runners. The heat was only going to get worse. I hopped around, waiting to cool down and I met Meixuan. I found out later that she finished at a few seconds later than me. We then chatted under the shade while stretching and I met Meteor(Susan) from sgrunners forum. It's her virgin half marathon and she clocked 2hour 6mins+! Whoa oh! Way to go, girl! I have met her at the carbo loading session the day before at Suntec and she's a friendly lady. :)

I also met SuperBoy(from sgrunners) who told me that he had to run to the toilet several times during the run! That?s terrible. Oh man... It would be the worst thing to happen to me. :p Meixuan and I then went on to return our race chip and got our finisher's medal. We queued up for our bags which took 1hour 45 min in the end! Argh! Luckily I had her to accompany me, and we talked the whole time. She had to go get drinks for us again after 1 hours of waiting in the sun. It was horrible. The entire bag collection was simply a screw-up.

Towards the end, I met Sing Cheer at the queue too. We had to hold up our numbers for the volunteers to see. Some lady was screaming out numbers tagged to guess what? Shoe bags. And she was not clearing the other bags! People from other queues got frustrated and they even helped to chorus in unison every number that the bag was brought out. Eventually, people went in to look for the bags themselves. That's what I did too and I found Meixuan's bag, then Sing Cheer's and my bag within 3 minutes! Oh man. It's because we recognized our own bags and need not look for a pathetic number tagged to the bag! Argh. Wasted so much time that I could run another half marathon! :p

After getting our bags, I came out and saw YL in the queue. I barged in and found her bag within a minute. We were on our way to get changed. Meixuan made her way to the finishing line to wait and cheer for her friends while SC went to wait for Norm to come in. YL and I made our way to her office to wash up.

I met DO(from sgrunners) after getting my bag out. He bought ice cream for BrokenRunner's(sgrunners) children. He told me that they would gather for a group photo at the end of the marathon. Oops. I did not turn up in the end.

I was famished! Have not felt so hungry in a long while! :p We decided on Kenny Rogers in the end for lunch. Great. What a satisfying carbo reload for my system. Guess what we did for the next 3 hours? We went shopping at Carrefour. I wanted to check out their chocolates. I was amazed to find out they had so many different products under their house brands! :p And the stuff underwent QC, so they are of a certain quality. I was having loadsa fun browsing through all the imported stuff and deciphering the words on the labels. FUN! I bought quite a number of items in the end!

Balasing sms me to ask how was my run. The sgrunners did gather at the end and some of them went for lunch. What coincidenece to meet Bee at Carrefour! Her mum told her to get something and she was there shopping. I had some updates from her regarding the marathoners. Great support. It's a good thing that people with a common interest can bond so well.

We were tired by the end of the shopping. I wanted my ice cream!!! We opted for New Zealand ice cream in the end as we could sit down in the food court to eat it. 'Ben's and Jerry's' was full! They should have a bigger outlet with more tables and chairs man.

Home sweet home at almost 7pm. Late. I thought I could get home earlier to rest and blog. Haha. Hence the delay in this entry... Simply too lazy to write lately...

To conclude, this year's run was better than last year, although I wonder if I should have taken that cup of 100PLUS after all. I still don't feel ready to do a marathon although I know I have the ability to do it. I love running even more now. Lalalala... Every run nowadays is a chance to get away from the daily mundanes of Life. I no longer have to look at my watch to see how far I have run. That placed a limitation on me in the past. Now, I simply run as far as I wish and as long as my legs can take me.

My feet are itching to run another event, but it seems like it is going to be a disappointing 2 months ahead with no major events to train for, except for the biathlon in March. Oh man... It's 2006 soon. Time flies. I have so much undone business in 2005.

"I always loved running... it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." ~Jesse Owens

There are a million ways to lose a work day, but not a single way to get one back. ~Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister

2005-11-22T13:34:00.000+08:00

Rain, rain, rain! It was cloudy and gloomy when I woke up this morning at 830am. Geez... The shift work has zapped me of my energy and I need to replenish my strength with enough rest. Mentally draining... When I was working office hours, I could survive very well on just 6.5 hours of sleep everyday!

And it's raining now... It started off as a drizzle at around 10am, got a bit heavier and till now, it's still raining... Certainly one of those cold November monsoon day when it's nicest to snuggle in at home under your covers and read a book! A great day to stay in actually, and I would not be doing this if not for shift work.

My work starts at 4.30pm till 9.30pm today. I was supposed to meet MH for 'Harry Potter' in the morning, but was not feeling very well last night, hence decided to postpone it. True enough, I woke up with a sore throat. Must be the combination of Milo and fried fish and 'nyong hiang' that I had for dinner last night! :p

I have posted many photos of my hike with LL and SM in the east on Saturday when I was off on that day. It was a day well-spent in the company of these 2 dear friends. We had so much fun. Just going to do some recording of my activities of the past fewd ays before going into the details of that day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
16th Nov, Wednesday: My 1st night of night shift from 9pm to 8am the next day. I already felt tired at 10+ but it was not very busy so I could lie my head down at the front counter and catch a wink every now and then. My HCA, Latifah, was an extremely nice lady and she practically took charge in answering the phone calls. And hence, I was in good hands on my very 1st night! The cases were mostly 'room' cases, and I only went out on 'Portable' rounds for 3X that night. Good, good...

Had a swim at CCK park in the morning. It was shining hot! The pool was quiet and I love it! It was a very good swim as well, looking at my timings. I tried to nap in the afternoon but I was too energetic to do that.

It rained in the evening though. At about 7pm. What a time to rain. On my 1st night of shift. I was thinking, "Everyone would be comfortably sleeping under their covers that night, while I'm working in the hospital!" :p

17th Nov, Thursday: I went for a run after I woke up. I could not sleep much. I slept from 10am till 2.50pm. I was still tired and tried to go back to sleep, but could not! Hence, decided to wake up, washed up and ate some bread. That was only 4hour 50mins of sleep. Geez.

Went for a run since I had the time and though I was tired when I started, the fatigue soon overcame itself as I ran further. I ran to 'GH', and towards Jurong East, then back to the canal before heading into the off-road terrain and onto another canal where the army camp was and back to CCK central. I met an uncle when I ran to the end of the canal. He was standing on the otehr side of the canal and he waved to me. I waved and smiled back, though he might not be able to see it. I could sense his smile as he waved. A friendly gesture of a wave as u meet another fellow runner in this 'untrodden' paths.

The route took me 1hour 13minutes. My body trunk felt rather heavy but legs were all right. It could be due to the fact that I did not get to lie down flat on a bed the night before.

As I have written earlier, my 2nd night was horrible. BUSY!

18th Nov, Friday: It was my rest day. I came back to sleep from 10am till about 5pm before I woke up. However, it was not a restful sleep as I woke at 4pm and my head was still groggy, so hit the bed again.

I went cycling at 620pm. Just to get the blood circulating and my appetite whetted for dinner since Mum was cooking. I needed to pump the bike's tyres as well. Easy ride of 40minutes. Mu bike is rusty and certainly not one that I would bring it on any event! :p

19th Nov, Saturday: My day off! It was a hike started late and the day ended late too. We were supposed to meet at 8am, but ended up 9am! We arrived at Pasir Ris at 10am, got breakfast and took a bus to Pasir Ris Park. Since SM already drew out the map of park connectors in the east, and armed with her street directory, we started on our hike. :)

We went to walk in the Maze Garden in Pasir Ris Park, took some pictures at the Mangroves in front of the coast, when there was incessant laughter from LL and me. Haha... Due to something we saw and it was just tickling... Our little secret among the 3 of us... Haha... It did not help that we still brought it up throughout the day! :p

Then it was off to Pasir Ris Town Park where there was a large fishing pond in its middle. We noticed along the way that many people in the East seems to cycle, and that there are way too many parks in the East, and even the flats are of a prettier and more colourful design! There are many more things too... Like good food in the East, the coastal areas in the East are well developed in the East (whereas in the West, u only have a pathetic SHORT stretch of West Coast Park!!!), more long stretches of green, undeveloped land in the East, and cheap fruit juice stall! Due to the fact that we chanced upon a fruit stall that sells a BIG packet of juice for only $1.50!

Tsk tsk... Are we just biased? Nope, don't think so.

Due to the fact that there are so many army camps in the West and North, the government cannot possibly develop the green areas in these parts of Singapore as they did in the East! So UNFAIR! And we Westerners have to make our wya all the way to the East for the parks and good food found there! Especially East Coast Park!

We discovered Pasir Ris Park to be really BIG and quiet, as compared to ECP. Maybe we could come here instead of ECP the next time.

We made our way to Sun Plaza Park where there was a playground! It was a big one and it was covered with sand, complete with swings and slides! Oooohh..... Those childhood days.... We relived our wonderful childhood days, indulging ourselves in the swings and 'flying fox'. HAH! I had a great ride on the swing, all thanks to SM who gave me really hard pushes on my back! WHOA OH! It was really FUN!!! Not to forget, photos taken too!

Sun Plaza Park was only a stone's throw from Tampines MRT. We made our way to Cafe Cartel for lunch and then continued after an hour break for lunch at 2.30pm.

SM followed the directions on the street directory and we cut through many blocks of flats before arriving at a long canal which would lead us to Bedok Reservoir at the end of it. This was when we discovered the fruit stall selling cheap juices too! :)

Temasek Poly is situated just in front of Bedok Reservoir! So envious! It's like VJC being situated so near to ECP! All 3 of us mountain tortoises finally seen the Bedok Reservoir that's so talked about, especially with the recent wake boarding competition being held there. It was a serene place, perfect for a rejuvenation of the senses.

We were blessed with good weather throughout the day. It only drizzled lightly when we were at Sun Plaza Park playground, and thereafter ebing very windy! ;p

Having walked for about 5 hours, we decided to make our way back to LL's place, after shopping at the NTUC in Bedok. Bedok, reminds me of those Judo days, where the competitions are always held here...

It was already close to 6pm when we arrived at LL's place. We made the cheesecake, and then went down for a swim and spent some time at the jacuzzi and steam bath. SHIOK! We had pasta(made by LL's mum) and then LL made her newly created chocolate banana milkshake for us to try. It was so fun! We promised to have more such sessions of cooking and bonding in future! At around 10pm, we took out the cheesecake and simply ate it, albeit it being still soft. It was great, just needed to be a bit harder. :)

Great day. Great company. Great weather. Memorable day. :)

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Brrr.... It's a cold day today... Seems like the rain is not going to stop any sooner. What a gloomy day to be making my way for work later at 430pm. Actually I had planned for a run today, but my body was feeling so tired last night after the swim that I decided to give myself a rest. On hindsight, I have not given myself a break for 12 days! It's either swim or run or cycle or core trunk workout... Giving my body a well-deserved break today...

It's just another 12 days to the half marathon!

Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.
~Stephen Vincent Benét

2005-11-22T11:59:00.000+08:00

Great running route! Great for cycling, walking or reading at the reservoir's peripherals as well! *envious of the Easterners*

2005-11-22T11:58:00.000+08:00

The Singapore Dragon Boat team which was yelling their lungs out during training on the reservoir... They sounded rather funny... *Chuckles*

2005-11-22T11:57:00.001+08:00

Final destination: Bedok Reservoir!

2005-11-22T11:57:00.000+08:00

Rather nice graffiti in the canal!

2005-11-22T11:56:00.001+08:00

We arrived at TP!

2005-11-22T11:56:00.000+08:00

Something we did 2X thruout the hike... Heh...

2005-11-22T11:55:00.001+08:00

Albeit a mini one!

2005-11-22T11:55:00.000+08:00

...and the 'Flying Fox'!

2005-11-22T11:54:00.001+08:00

Say 'cheese'!

2005-11-22T11:54:00.000+08:00

There's the swings...

2005-11-22T11:52:00.000+08:00

We're not leaving without indulging ourselves in the childhood games 1st! :p

2005-11-22T11:51:00.001+08:00

We arrived at the park!

2005-11-22T11:51:00.000+08:00

Another 1.2km to go beofre we arrive at Sun Plaza Park!

2005-11-22T11:42:00.000+08:00

A wide plot of land after crossing the bridge... Seems like u can only find this in the East...

2005-11-22T11:41:00.000+08:00

Crossing a very LONG overhead bridge...

2005-11-22T11:40:00.000+08:00

Dark clouds looming over the East... Great weather to hike in as it did not rain!

2005-11-22T11:39:00.002+08:00

EGRETS! There were quite a lot of them by the canal, which reminds me... I haven't been to Sungei Buloh yet...

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Graffiti on the ground

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Lost? Cannot find your way out??

2005-11-22T11:38:00.001+08:00

This was the Maze Garden at Paris Ris Park.

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We are going to Tampines from Pasir Ris using the park conenctors.

2005-11-22T11:37:00.000+08:00

We are here!