tiptoes

green red christmas party

2006-12-23T08:53:00.000-08:00

Thanks Edward & Weiling for a fun, yummy night at Ed's place! Really loved the look of the renovated house, esp the bamboos & ponds outside! Great food too..it's quite amazing we actually wiped out the catered food and had to order pizza. haha. And the gift exchange was a sweet idea..Merry Christmas!

Some pics to remember the night by..

min er & steph. haha with min er's training i think tor will be a very skilled photographer in taking flattering shots! minghui, steph, miner. wah minghui--this babe can really hold her liquor;)steph and the-ever-lovely-weiling
eileen & steph. yay my new neighbour! heh maybe we can go jogging together next time! ;>
the guys who demanded i take a shot of them when they were actually asked to help the girls take a photo. boys. happy people in green & red. yup--the green-red party--geddit?!haha=)

christmas cheer

2006-12-22T18:43:00.000-08:00

heh ok i'm surprised my blog hasn't been shut down after such a long time of inactivity.. my life hasn't been exactly very happening with surgery sip, neuro lec, singhealth lec the past few weeks. But now itz the merry season & i'm getting (trying) into the christmassy mood..;)

GIRLS' NIGHT OUT @MEZZA9, HYATT

the girls: shih hua, leanna, valerie, kalai, lijing, steph

hey babes it was great fun meeting up again..sure beats mugging! had a lovely time catching up & laughing & pecking at our main courses (but totally attacking the dessert like vultures..haha)

Some of the food we had (sorry didn't really take much photos of food..too busy chatting & eating i totally forgot abt snapping food pics..haha):

below: the meat platter--char grilled sirloin steak, marinated lamb cutlets, fatty sausages, pork with apples sauce...yumyum And the very awesome dessert extravaganza to end our meal!

swanky sunday brunch

2006-11-19T03:18:00.000-08:00

PS Cafe, Harding Road
with my dear girl pal Lijing!

Haha this is my 4th or 5th visit to PS cafe but it's very different cos i haven't been for their brunches before..And it was a very nice change! The atmosphere was more laid-back & relaxed, with people bringing their families (young & old). Haha..and what a small world, i met at least 2 people from the medical fraternity there.

Hey Lijing babe we don't do this often but it was FUN! Had a great time just soaking in the chill-out atmosphere, sunshiny day & good hearty breakfast/lunch!

eat all you can

2006-11-18T06:45:00.000-08:00

Straits Kitchen @ Hyatt
Had a fantastic dinner with a few of my cousins at this really awesome restuarant at Hyatt Hotel. Admittedly kinda pricey for local food but sooo worth it, especially if you're hungry. Maybe go to the gym/skip lunch (like what my cousin Agnes did before dinner)..or just cave in, indulge and hope your body's digestive system is not working properly--as if.

Also the layout of the restaurant is very clean, sleek & trendy..a definite match for its famous cousin mezza9 upstairs! It's definitely a good place to savour hawker food in style.

Here's a review i found from the economist.com website:

'For a taste of local cooking, try the lively buffet restaurant in the Grand Hyatt hotel. This is Singapore's most elegant spot to sample local cuisine. Straits Kitchen serves everything from Malay specialities to Chinese dishes. Those in the know go first to the Malay stall for a few sticks of satay and a grilled stingray, then join the queue at the Chinese stall for a plate of Hainanese chicken-rice and an oyster omelette. The best desserts are at the Indian stall, which serves fluffy pancakes, creamy egg tarts and a bowl of bubur cha-cha, a delicious concoction of sweet potato, yam, tapioca jelly and coconut milk. Superb.'

I totally agree with the review! Plus MUST try the roti prata with curry..esp the one with egg & cheese! As good as Jalan Kayu's i dare say! (but then again i'm no prata expert). And of course, the dessert stall where you can get cold, sweet chendol & ice kachang was my favourite(the guy was VERY generous with his red beans!!yay.)

Look at the dessert spread! It's enough to kick my salivary glands into secretion! Haha.

The chicken rice stall..Their hainanese chicken rice is supposed to be pretty darn good!
The satay stall..haha we wiped out all the beef, mutton, chicken satays..And kept going back for more! poor uncle had to furiously fan more & more satays for all the greedy blokes. Fruits fruits fruits! Too bad i didn't have room in my stomach for healthy stuff. haha--the desserts were too good. My cousins..it was great fun cos they're all super funny! And i enjoyed the heartfelt moments where you guys talked about the wonderful memories at Lorong Chuan..=)

Wedding Dinner

2006-11-14T09:24:00.000-08:00

The Night-Part 2
After a restful afternoon--where the aunties rushed to get their hair done & their blingbling in order--it was time for the wedding dinner!

Again..Lots & LOTS of pics! To my gorgeous cousins, feel free to download the pics..but if they're too small/blur etc, let me know and i'll email the full-sized pics to you!=)

judy jie, woon jie, stephhui erh, steph Miyon,Endy,Clara,Mabel,Steph,Angela,Teresa,Savannah, Ivan
Jensey jie (Dr Wong), steph
Yen, Angela, steph steph,Tse jie
Ekmond kor, Steph, Hong kor Steph, Angela, Agnes jieAngela, Steph, Gillian Mummy,Daddy,Angela,steph..Hey Lina, we miss you tons dearie!!:) Table photo with bride & groomAll of us cousins..almost! still missing a few like Lina, HuiMun, HuiYiang, Lua jie.. yup it's a crazy big family!

With compliments..chocolate & a sea-shell photoframe with a caricature of the couple..how sweet!

starters..

crispy chicken--yums!Not many pics of food..too busy snapping people-shots! it was a fun fun night..Love my family, cousins, aunts, uncles, all!

Clarice Jie's Wedding

2006-11-14T02:16:00.000-08:00

The Day-Part 1 (The Night-Part 2)
It was a wonderful blessed wedding and to our dearest cousin Clarice jie: Congratulations and All the Best! There were just sooo many photos! (To all my dearest cousins, msg me if u want me to email/develop any other photos for you! But my photography skills not great..so hope the professional camera crew will develop nice photos for us!!)

Tea ceremony in the morningThe big family..heh sorry tried squeezing everyone in but guess the family was too big! The couple & a bevy of the groom's best men ;>

And a row of the bride's 'best ladies'More pics of my nieces & nephews..why are there so many of them?!

this is kenneth, my latest squeeze..isn't he such a cutie?;)kieran..another cutie. his smile is gonna melt many hearts in future!kenneth & michael..

my cousin Ivan & his daughter Savannah..aren't they such a sweet father-daughter pair?And wedding collages!! i think these collages, when nicely put together, are absolutely gorgeous! Especially when they capture really happy beautiful moments...

aunty steph

2006-11-11T02:20:00.000-08:00

need more wake-up-late days

It's been an absolutely restful week..was stuck in bed for most of the week..cos of a horrid cough & cold.. perhaps post SIP exhaustion, or maybe it was withdrawal..haha. But the long hours in bed made me realise how wonderful SLEEP can be..

Anyz had a birthday dinner celebration for one of my uncles at Crystal Jade, Takashimaya.. The newly renovated Crystal Jade is very glitzy & gilded, especially the wing of private rooms. The food, as usual, was great! Cystal Jade never fails to deliver GREAT food.. special mention goes to..
a special combination of cold meats--crabmeat, chicken, fatty pork. Very nicely done!

sharks fin soup. Kudos to them for serving a generous helping of fins in each bowl.. a stark contrast to other restaurants which serve miserable strands swimming in soup. the soon hock was smooth and fresh..i loooove fish head! the cheeks are the best!!
And my favourite part? Dessert of chocolate cake from Awfully Chocolate..And this terrific dessert which i could not have enough of..and HAD to ask for another one. Yes i'm such a sucker for all things sweet & cold. This dessert is special--served chilled in a nice wine glass: a base of black glutinous rice & chin chow, topped with yummy Haagen dazs ice cream (cookies & cream, raspberry, green tea) The final result was perfect!!

Anyways, i'm feeling very 'AUNTY' now..my cousins were all bringing their little toddlers out.. They were cooing away, saying, ' say hi to jiejie..No, Aunty..Stephanie!', 'This is stephanie, aunty lina's sister!' blah blah..I felt older & older each time i heard the 'A' word..

But kids are cute lah..tried to do develop assessment on them..but not too successful..1 yr 10 months but can run and speak 10-word sentences? never mind..

Couldn't help but snap pics of my nieces & nephews..

ethan

elizabeth

clara

savannah

The real aunts and uncles..hee

And a few of us cousins..The rest were busy playing with their kiddies. haa!Anyz just a quote i chanced upon..a little sad but true..

“Becoming the new feminine ideal requires just the right combination of insecurity, exercise, bulimia and surgery.”---Gary Trudeau, cartoonist

playhouse 2006

2006-11-05T05:58:00.000-08:00

I thought the m5 play was absolutely FANTASTIC with a capital F! Heh i'm surprised we didn't win..but i only watched the m5 play so not sure how good the rest were.. Anyz whether we won or got 2nd, the play was sooo worth the trip down to LT13. Watching the play really made me wish i had taken part in it.. but i'm just glad i didn't miss the play!=)
Congrats to Van and Mark for winning the Best supporting actress and best actor respectively! You guys were sooo good i was laughing till my stomach hurt! And needless to say, Chen seong got best director..who else but him can come up with such a brilliant play in such a short time..(plus all the constraints of SIP)?

girly chat @ starbucks, hollandV

After playhouse, wendy & i headed to holland village to catch up over some coffee..the newly renovated starbucks is really nice..we were just going on and on about our various SIP experiences..so glad we both enjoyed our internships girl! At least there's HOship to look forward to now! Hehe;)

Eric's surprise party at Brewerkz

Renita organised a surprise party for her dear eric..and a few of us old jc classmates joined the law kids at Brewerkz..While the 'law-side' of the table got drunk & loud, we were soberly just drinking & catching up with each other--Weiling it's always great to see you again! Yap & jega, though we are in med we hardly get to talk, so it was nice chatting about our SIP experiences too! And Zhiyong, the only sweet guy who got eric a present! And of course Eric, the birthday boy.. haha thanks for keeping us laughing all the time! And we're so touched by the treat! thanks for the beer--and oreo ice cream cake! Hehe.

(apologies for the grainy blurry pic--hp cams have their limits. argh.)

can't bear to say bye

2006-11-03T06:21:00.000-08:00

So sad! last day of medicine sip! i guess the 2 week study break will be a good break for us.. i need to rest my tired knees (from all the kneeling/blood taking) and my huge facial zit (there is too much damn septic activity going on in the wards!)

Was really sad to say bye to my MOs and HOs (though i've only been with the new team for a couple of days--there was a changeover of doctors recently)..they were all sad to see us leave They say SIP students really brightened their days..or at least i insisted we did! haha;> As they shook our hands, thanked us and wished us all the best, i almost felt like crying! silly old me...

anyz here's my previous team..we bought a chocolate truffle cake for our registrar to share with the whole team...Cos we really liked our team!

Morton's again
Haha finally made it to Morton's by 530pm..nic and i tried last week but by the time i ended it was 6pm and the trip to Morton's prob wldn't be worth it, since fridays get crowded very early! ANyway by the time we reached, it was already full, but the guy at the door was nice enough to find us a place at the bar to stand..so we sipped our lychee and chocolate martinis, grazed on steak sandwiches and gossiped abt our HOs/hospital life..hehe.. We only stayed for one round of sandwiches though cos the place started getting smoky and when the guy next to us lit up, we had to get out..Headed for jap food..

shabu shabu with plum rice (plum rice tastes wierd)

unagi bento (nothing makes my day like a good ol' fatty eel)

daily delights

2006-10-29T06:44:00.000-08:00

Sigh..tmr will be the start of the last week of SIP..feeling kinda sad liaoz..yeah i know i'm a mad girl, but perhaps my experience in ttsh has just been really nice and it's just sad to see it all end.

Today was the last day for my MO..after which she changes posting. I really don't expect praises or outright appreciation for my work, but i was very touched when she came up to me and said thanks and that i should consider internal medicine. That simple comment really made my day (even if my interests may lie elsewhere)..Esp since she's someone i admire too!

Other little delights..(yes, life is great if you tell yourself it is)..

-Ice kachang by the pool..even better after a yummy lunch and post call (don't you feel soo dehydrated during calls? hardly have time to drink water/pee) Thanks dear for the treat! i think tanglin club has the best & most refreshing ice kachang around!

-Wonderful treats by our lovely generous registrar dr ranjana! SHe's the best! Always treating us to morning drinks at kopitiam/starbucks..and a pricey delicious lunch at House of Hunan in Novena Square.. The food was great..from the chilled soya chicken to the steamed soon hock with diced pickled chilli. We returned to the wards full but happy!

-Great shows like 'Little Miss Sunshine'. Chock full of laughs, kick-ass action, touching scenes which made me sniffle & tear (to the extent i wish i wore waterproof eye makeup) It's one of those films which make you want to stand up for the oddballs and say "F*** YOU' to the common/popular crowd. One of my fav characters is the eccentric brother Dwayne..

'Do what you love. Fuck everything else.' --Dwayne

-A little feast at Crystal Jade, Paragon with parents and Angela..

medicine is my life

2006-10-14T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have soo much to say..but this is the gist of the pressured thoughts in my mind..

It's a saturday night..i'm post call..but still got to go back to the wards tomorrow (sunday). Yep i've been going to the hosp every day of the week for my SIP (student internship program)..and it's not like the reg/consultant was mean enough to demand a 7-day-a-week attendance..I really am doing it out of choice. Doesn't matter if it means waking up early and getting home late everday, or that lunches come only around 2plus..

Of course a 23 yr old may wonder sometimes if this is really the life he/she wants: On a fri night when most other young adults are out socializing/schmoozing/chilling, you're either running around setting plugs for old ladies with impossible veins who keep pulling their plugs out, doing ECGs with machines that don't work very well/run out of sticky pads, clerking new admissions, or just trying to sleep in a cold bare call room.

But at the end of the day..i still choose to return to the wards time after time. Cos i feel so alive and fulfilled when i step into the wards. I know we're supposed to have big ambitions and dreams of saving people/ finding a miracle treatment/cure/procedure. But for now, it's really the little things in life which i live for, and which keep my passion for medicine burning.

The NUH/SGH doctors on the SIP committee came the other day to conduct a SIP feedback session for the 4 students on call that night..in my opinion, i would give my SIP experience so far a 10 out of 10. Or maybe i just have low expectations..But all the myths and fears i had about SIP have been dispelled. Maybe it's just that TTSH is a really nice environment to work in..

There are just countless little things that keep me smiling:
Nurses who call you by name and joke with you abt stuff;
Really nice HOs who gossip with us, buy us soya bean drinks and treat us to a not-so-cheap Jap lunch;
A MO who surprised us by remembering we were post call and bringing soya bean milk to us in the morning;
Another MO who takes time during rounds to impart his knowledge;
Patients who greet you everyday as they pass the counter where you're furiously typing discharge summaries and writing blue letters;

Seeing an elderly lady who's been septic the past few days suddenly open her eyes and smile at you one morning (despite what ID says, imipenem does do wonders);
Cute old men who on hearing their hypocount is 20.8 jump out of bed and walk across the ward to reassure you they only ate 2 soon kueh for breakfast..Haha..

I guess medicine has sort of invaded me and become a very big part of my life, like it or not.
Sure, sometimes it's just so darn tiring and daunting but i would never give it up for the world. Cos really, i see more heartfelt smiles here in the hospital than anywhere else.

Just some pics of our lunch at the Jap restaurant..And to the other MOs and HOs who have rotated through the team, and not forgetting our very nice reg & consultant ..Thanks for being good to us too!

joel, philip, hwee seng

elenor,dawn,steph,lizhen

L'ivresse du pouvoir

2006-10-11T07:48:00.000-07:00

French film festival
Went to watch the french film 'L'ivresse du pouvoir' (A Comedy of Power) at The Cathay..with Nic's magnaminous aunt & uncle & his cousins.
It was a truly thought provoking film..not those usual in-your-face-action-packed-full-of-airbrushed-to-perfection-people sort of hollywood films. The film revolves around this powerful lady magistrate..and it actually involves the themes of the balance of power, work, family and personal life. Quite applicable to many women in today's Singaporean context.. Women who want to rise up the ranks, yet in their immense drive they are actually selfishly (albeit unknowingly) placing a strain on their personal relationships. Can we blame them? Afterall, 'until what point can human nature resist the intoxication of this power?'

After a mind stirring 110 mins, it was time for supper at Shokudo, a nice jap restaurant at the basement..Isn't jap food just so li desu yo?!

A special angel

Anyz, this is just a note to all. Do read pg8&9 of today's (wed 11th oct) Mind your Body. It's about a SMA patient Puay Hwoon. She's a real inspiration..despite her many trials and difficulties, she's got an amazing drive that puts most of us to shame. In support of her true courage i've bought quite a few necklaces from her online business (though i already have a few drawers bursting with accessories). So i'm asking you all to support her too! I'm def gonna order more jewellery/clothes from her..

Please check out her websites: http://vgfashionhouse.blogspot.com (highly recommended) and http://vgprettyhouse.blogspot.com (second hand clothes)

There are many pics so the website takes awhile to load the photos..so please be patient. if you want, i can email you the catalogue..much faster cos you can view all the products in thumbnail size pics. And there are alot more products to choose from in the email catalogue..i was totally spoilt for choice! This is what i call retail therapy..i've never felt better about making these pretty purchases!=) Thanks a million Puay Hwoon for being such an inspiration!

riviera dining

2006-10-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

Dinner @ Rivercafe, Robertson Quay
Went to this nice restaurant along the banks of robertson quay last weekend with my dad & angela..It's a quaint little restaurant housed in the singapore tyler print institute..Stepping into it was a pleasant surprise..almost like stepping into one of those restaurant cafes in the back alleys of european towns.

Though there's a european feel to it, Rivercafe actually offers modern australian cuisine, and they supposedly have one of the largest selections of australian red wines in s'pore.

Very romantic, whether you dine alfresco or inside the cosy little restaurant. We went on a sunday so it wasn't too crowded..One of the nicer restaurants where you can have a decent conversation without raising your voice, even with the jazzy/classical music in the background.

Rivercafe in colourRivercafe in sepia handsome daddy ange & steph

The food was great..i had braised veal osso bucco in tangy thai veal jus (yummy--i Love meat!); daddy had the australian beef tenderloin with blue cheese; Angela had the middle eastern spatchcock with minted yoghurt..

But the memorable part of the dinner was of course the desserts!

flaming angel cake bomb alaska & wild berries chocolate mud cake with raspberry sorbet & brandy cherry sauce
praline profiteroles with almond tarts & rose meringue

breathe

2006-10-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

SIP is really enjoyable..I'm post call today but not very tired cos i had a very nice & understanding HO..(nice HO=free dinner + lots of rest + trust you to clerk new admissions& all sorts of procedures) And over dinner both my HO and MO agree that it's not fair to work students to death when we're not getting paid! Don't you just love understanding and nice seniors? ;>

Anyway, i'm really enjoying my SIP. Enjoy doing procedures, esp blood taking & setting plugs. Like nic said: the more you do, the more you realise how everyone's veins are different, and each presents with its own set of challenges. Haha i'm the blood sucker (as one MO said) and though TTSH has phlebotomists, they're always on emergency leave, or those in my ward just aren't very good..

Making small talk with patients is also fun--some of them can really light up your day with simple words--whether it's a subutex shooter, an old aunty with cancer or an uncle with HIV..They're all capable of showing you the lovelier side of life somehow. Of course there are those nasty ones, where despite you being nice and friendly with them, they can turn nasty in a second, demanding to discharged against advice..Thankfully these patients are few and far between.

Maybe it's only been 2 weeks of SIP but i already can't wait to start Housemanship! =)
Breathe (2am)
And i've found a new song to listen to non stop--in my car, at home, humming to myself the whole day..It's Breathe (2am) by Anna Nalick. Hey flea, after you sent me the song i have been listening to it non stop lah! Haha i'm addicted. Check out the music video
www.findvideos.com/videos.php?id=1634

septic

2006-09-29T06:32:00.000-07:00

Been sick the last few days. It was horrible...

Tmax 39.7, chills & rigors, thunderclap headache, myalgias, arthralgias, awfully painful throat..
And with differential diagnoses of 'meningitis', 'breakbone fever aka dengue','septicaemia', 'subarachnoid hemorrhage','esophageal cancer' raging through fried brains, it was pure agony.

Stayed home, bedbound for 2 days, chugging on ciprofloxacin the wonder drug..Not too great a start for SIP..

So i returned to the hosp today with 50% attendance so far, and some houseman making snide remarks about me being a slacker. Thank goodness for understanding MOs, registrars & consultants.

Anyz, some verbs/nouns/adjectives i don't want to be associated with
sepsis
septicaemia
staph
strep
sorethroat
sick
sian
did i say sick
Argh.

i really shouldn't whine but it was awful.. almost forgot how it felt..It's only after times like this that you realise how important health is. Really. think i'm going to need a good rest!

Anyz before i go, here's some photos from last week..

Dinner @ Lei Garden, Chjimes with joline, mark, sabrina, lydia

Some highlights..

the prawns battered in egg yolk was absolutely yums peking duck was crispy, light and overall very good!er..i can't remember what this was..oh dear..but i'm sure it was delicious! haha the kailan & noodles were very tasty too!

After a satisfying dinner we headed to Menotti, an italian cafe for dessert.. joline & mark with their tiramisus...
sab & steph

surya & guy chefs

2006-09-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Surya (sun) is the Soul, both of the moving and unmoving beings.
---The Rig Veda

Sun salutations (Surya Namaskar)
I'm getting more and more hooked on yoga! Tried this other class by Adeline, who's one of Singapore's best yoga teachers around. She specialises in more intensive forms of yoga like Vinyasa & Ashtanga..I went for her Asthanga class, which was a real work-out! The thing about yoga is, though you're not running & jumping about, somehow you work out a sweat just by controlling your muscles, stretching and concentrating on your breathing. I may be imagining things but i left the class feeling detoxified & purer!Hahaha..maybe it's all in the mind, but who cares!! ;)

Gathering at Nic's

Last night had a good dinner at Nic's, where he had a gathering mainly for his cg members. We had pasta with spicy tomato, beef & mushroom sauce, stuffed colourful peppers with rice, minced beef & cheese and assorted sushi. Our main chefs? Nicholas (who prepared the first 2 dishes) & Ramesh (who prepared the sushi)!

So there was this discussion over dinner about how guys seem to be doing more of the cooking these days. And coni, shang yee & i agreed we should STRONGLY encourage this trend. (Hehe Zhenbang revealed he cooked for coni several times in paris..and his speciality is Fried Fish. how sweet.)

Anyz, the guys were taunting us girls about our lack of cooking skills and asking us what could we do. Coni said 'We can eat!' And the guys duly reminded us that eating was an ADL (actvitiy of daily living). One guy said: cooking is an IADL (indepedent activity of daily living) so probably 50% of medicine girls are IADL-dependent. Haha. Very funny.

Well, we definitely aren't bra burning feminists, but the guys seem to enjoy cooking! So why stop them? Hehe. Plus somehow i realise guys are alot more methodical & practical so they're less likely to screw up a recipe. Nic has super good sense of timing, like 'We have to throw in the diced veggies when the beef is 90% cooked'. My gosh, how do i tell if it's 90% cooked?

Whatever. I think a guy looks sexy in the kitchen anyway! Hehe..so girls, let's keep praising the guys' cooking and hopefully they'll keep it up!!!!=)

dappled thoughts

2006-09-22T07:58:00.000-07:00

...memories

drove past my old sec school along steven road a couple of days ago.
saw a girl, in the familiar washed out navy-blue pinafore--belt slightly too low, skirt slightly too short, hair in a swinging ponytail, face a look of youthful anticipation and carefree defiance..
she looked just like a girl i knew back in pinafore days..
memories came flooding back, nostalgia hit me hard.

miss those good old days..of innocence, carelessness, simple wants, hardly any needs..honest laughter, naive tears, true blue friends who stuck by you through competitions & detentions..

and i remember they made us sing this song during music class..the tune has stayed with me through all these years.

BOTH SIDES, NOW

Bows and flows of angel hair and ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere, i've looked at cloud that way.

But now they only block the sun, they rain and snow on everyone.

So many things i would have done but clouds got in my way.

I've looked at clouds from both sides now,

From up and down,

and still somehow

It's cloud illusions i recall.

I really don't know clouds at all.

Tears and fears and feeling proud to say "i love you" right out loud,

Dreams and schemes and circus crowds, i've looked at life that way.

But now old friends are acting strange, they shake their heads, they sayI've changed.

Something's lost but something's gained in living every day.

I've looked at life from both sides now,

From win and lose,

and still somehow

It's life's illusions i recall.

I really don't know life at all.

breath of life

2006-09-16T17:49:00.000-07:00

Breath of Life..
That's the title of an AWESOME piece of dance choreography by NUS Dance Ensemble..more on that later!

PS Cafe & Harding Road
i told you i'll be baaaccck!

Yup, this time i tried other main courses and dessert, but still enjoyed the food very much! One thing not so good though--it seems they have tried to squeeze more people in the same room, so the tables are much closer and the place much noisier..so the whole dinner Nic and i had to shout at one another in order to be heard. i think they shouldn't compromise ambience for more patrons lehz. Duh.

But later adrian joined us and we adjourned for the tables outside, where the night air was crisp and cool with the refreshing after-rain scent and crickets singing incessantly in the darkness. That was nice..what i call a great chill out session;>

Mushroom soup for starters..

Seafood filo. Yummy--a mix of crispy spring roll with succulent battered seafood filling and salad with a japanese twist to it (i think it's cos of the sauce) Pink Salmon--Baked & fresh..kind of an oxymoron rite? but yup the fish was simply well cooked!Banana & Mango crumble with vanilla ice cream. haha the name sounds delish & kinda says it all doesn't it?;) Key lime pie..very apt combination of a sweet soft biscuit crust at the bottom and twangy sour lime cake! i like.

The Next Wave 2006 @ University Cultural Centre

I think The Next Wave is one of my favourite concerts of the year, every year! I've been going ever since i entered NUS-- 1st year i was in the audience (that was when i decided i wanted to join dance ensemble!); 2nd year i was manning the ticket & program booth (i was a junior in dance ensemble); 3rd & 4th year i danced (Dancing in The Next Wave is always an amazing experience becos of the large scale of the production and the countless talented choreographers & dancers you work with); fifth year (back in the audience again)

Anyz to those who haven't watched The Next Wave you don't know what you're missing. Like Dan Kwok's item 'Breath of Life'. I was totally blown away by it. There are always these gems of dance items in a show where the choreography is so epically powerful it BLOWS you away and throws your heart & mind into turmoil..just cos it's so achingly beautiful.

Dan's item was one of those. The last time i cried in a dance was when i was part of it. Yep, sometimes you get so immersed in the meaning of a dance that your soul just gets caught up and you cry while dancing. Don't laugh, it's happened to me so i'm not kidding. Dan's item was so powerful, the movements so synchronized, the effect of the costumes so simple yet intense, and the dancers performed with such devotion that it just reached out to you. i think this is the first time i've teared while watching a dance performance!

To the dancers of The Next Wave, congratulations on an excellent show. Our dear classmate taufik was in Dan's item and others as well. Girls, you should have paid $16 just to come see him take off his shirt. Haha.

I think one of the highlights of the show was the dancers' bodies. Naturally the girls all have pretty hot bods--they're generally very toned from all the dancing. But the guys.. hoot..even Ramesh was impressed. it doesn't matter even if half the guys are probably not straight--WTH, they can dance & their abs are rock hard..And like they always say, it gets better when they start sweating and their body starts glistening. haha.

Yippee..the girl with many huge bouquets of flowers & adoring fans after every concert since RGS days. hey girl, dunno how you can juggle work & dance so damn well. Lao shi will be proud that you're still dancing! And please lah, the fact that you can wear a white midriff-baring tube with white hot shorts speaks alot for your body (don't you dare say you're fat, ever). i would NEVER be able to pull of that costume. Felicia. I loved your dances! Choux Pastry Hearts was so sugar-sweet & pretty. Any guy would have been smitten..But the technical standards were pretty high too! Great work. And you & amy were so hot in X.II lah!Amy! Hey babe, Hot stuff in X.II. Haha i think Zaki never fails to shock/amaze and make the audience sit up. He did it again this year! And i personally liked Huang Zheng's item, loved how it's so unique and how there's so much meaning to the dance, AND how she manages to use live music so darn well! i think she's one of the few choreographers who can do so.

ORIANA & TAUFIK: hey didn't get to see you guys but i just wanna say you were beyond awesome. it's dancers like you who really inspire!

And Lijing--Thanks girl for accompanying me to the concert. Glad you enjoyed it! Enjoyed the nice dessert of double chocolate cake & girly talk late into the night with ya too! Perfect way to end a day. ;>

OMMMM...

2006-09-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

Inner peace

Yoga is invigoration in relaxation. Freedom in routine. Confidence through self control. Energy within and energy without. ~Ymber Delecto

Whee..feeling alive! Just got back from a yoga class..
It's been ages since i had such a great stretch, but that euphoric feeling one gets after pushing one's body to the max is finally coming back!

I've stopped dancing for more than half a year, and there have definitely been bouts of desire & wishful longing to dance again..especially since i've been dancing for more than 10 years. (Though my technique was never great, i just loved the rhythm & freedom of contemporary dance!) But then i no longer felt comfortable performing, perhaps because i felt myself ageing (haha..no, really..i mean it) so i stopped..

Now i'm just really glad i'm rediscovering the joys of a good stretch & dynamic postures once again! I completed a basic yoga class years back..but stopped after i got my cert cos i kept falling asleep during class (I swear--i was unusually relaxed--i don't think even yoga is supposed to put you to such an utter state of relaxation)

And the place where i'm now learning is really uber cool--a shophouse with antique furniture, dim lightings & warm chiffon/gauzy curtains (pictures next time). My yoga instructor is beautiful too--she has this hynotic zen look about her. She was an ex-ballerina so you can imagine how flexible & svelte her body is.

Anyz i'm feeling happy, peaceful & calm right now. Hope this lasts..through SIP (though i think that's gonna be tough)..and through year 5 (am i asking too much?)..and through Housemanship (now i really am pushing it aren't i?)

Haha we'll see.

Warrior pose battles inner weakness and wins focus. You see that there is no war within you. You're on your own side, and you are your own strength. ~Terri Guillemets

growing younger

2006-09-12T06:17:00.000-07:00

Sugar in the gourd and honey in the horn,
I was never so happy since the hour I was born. --Anonymous
haha..another birthday come and gone, another year older..
Some people dread growing older, but as long as we stay young at heart, it really doesn't matter!
'It takes a long time to grow young.' - Pablo Picasso

Thanks everyone who msged me all those lovely thoughtful birthday greetings & emails, and shared this special day with me in some way or another! :)

Thanks Joanna & Jon for the birthday treat today..it was awesome seeing you guys=)

A diplomat is a man who always remembers a woman's birthday but never remembers her age. - Robert Frost

sashimi lover

2006-09-11T07:31:00.000-07:00

Tatsuya @Crown Prince Hotel
As a Jap food lover, i can't say i've tried many fine dining japanese restaurants..but 2 of the best so far must be Hachi ( a really small gem of a place that sits only 14 people, and everyone around you is speaking in Japanese. There are no menus, you eat whatever Chef places in front of you. But believe me, you will NOT be disappointed..this place is too wonderful to talk about in public..heh i'll rather not) & Tatsuya.

I've heard sooo much about Tatsuya--from magazines, other food lovers, food reviewers, and my interest was piqued by the fact that there's a restaurant by the same name in Sydney that is consistently ranked top 5 in the WORLD.

Tatsuya is famous for their sashimi & sushi. They sure do not come cheap, but they're supposed to satisfy even the fussiest ofJapanese expatriates. When my family went there today, the other patrons were mainly Japanese too.

Well, it was a real fine dining experience..The food was outstanding, and so was the service. We let our waiter decide what to serve us (since he seemed pretty experienced) and i must say his choice of dishes far surpassed our expectations!

Avocado salad for starters. Ooooh the sashimi was melt-in-your-mouth succulent & fresh, no less. Sigh, i think i can eat sushi every meal, every day..if all sushi was as well done as Tatsuya's. They actually smear just the right amount wasabi between the slice of sashimi/grilled meat and rice..And the rice is delightful! Kama Shioyaki. this was the large cheek of the yellowtail fish. Whoa it was very well cooked, done just right. We also tried their Unagi Kabayaki (eel with egg sauce) but let's say i've had better unagi..
Dessert was on the house! How sweet of the waiter.. Sesame, peach & citrus sorbet.

Mummy & me. Thanks Daddy for the treat! It was a great dinner..but we certainly missed the joy of our family--lina. But guess that makes family get-togethers even more special! Miss you dear! Can't wait for our family to have a nice family dinner again soon!=)

happy as a lark

2006-09-10T06:06:00.000-07:00

The end of break!

i am feeling kinda sad & wishful that hols are over..of course we can always do with longer hols. But i do feel refreshed & recharged somewhat..And i'm glad my mind has been off work the past few days..Did many things i wanted to do but never found the time to during clinical postings: Retail therapy to sooth my muggerish soul, eating to my heart's content, meeting up with friends i don't often see, spending quality time with my dear mummy, enjoying quiet late mornings lying in bed & having leisurely breakfasts while reading the papers, going to the movies, sleeping early.. yup the little things in life, which add up to fill your world with joy!

'We must dare to be happy, and dare to confess it..'
--Henri Frederic Amiel

Also, thanks to people who have made my days extra special!

Thanks dear for being such a sweet guy..Really really love my early bday present. i think it's absolutely gorgeous :)

Thanks Mummy & Tina for preparing a yummy steamboat dinner..for us & angela!
Thanks Angela for the beautiful Crabtree & Evelyn gift basket! So luxurious & pretty.. and lavendar is such a pamper-me-to sleep fragrance. Thanks very much=)

Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. --Abraham Lincoln

local talent

2006-09-09T21:23:00.000-07:00

Oh by the way, forgot to add in my last entry (my mind was only thinking about food then)..
If you haven't already watched it, go go GO WATCH Singapore Dreaming!
i quite like watching local movies (Must suppost local talent mah!)..but this is one of the better ones. i would say it's pretty darn good! Very close to the heart, and i'm sure each of us will be able to identify with some parts of the movie. It'll make you laugh, cry, sniffle inwardly or maybe even outwardly (like it did to me)..and such a movie is hard to come by!

(i mean, seriously, how many of us can identify with the hunky heroes & blonde chicks of those hollywood films? But then again, i cannot wait for Miami Vice to come to theatres! Gong Li is ultra sizzlingly sexy..)

How to be what a pig ought to be

2006-09-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

How to be what a Pig ought to be
Is not easy for young Pigs like me.
Human beings I'm told
Talk of Pigs bought and sold
Never thinking that a Piggy should be free!
-Monard G. Sanford

Sorry i can't help but feel like Miss Little Piggy..cos i'm soooo stuffed from my pigging out session today! *oink*

Ma Maison @ Bugis
Tucked in a little corner of Parco Bigis Junction, this is a hugely popular jap-western restaurant. It was almost 2pm by the time we got here but there was still a queue in front of and behind us!
We noticed it seemed to be pretty popular among expat/local japanese..The staff seemed authentically japanese too. (Not like those annoying local staff at japanese restaurants who scream out japanese greetings whenever you leave or enter in a scary japanese accent--never fails to give me goosebumps)

It has nice interiors.. dark wooden panelling & old english country decor..Gave a cosy rosy feeling=)

Food was pretty good! Especially the pumpkin soup & japanese curry rice.

zhimin, stephthepig, liz, sujen

Imperial treasures @ Marina square

Hey babes: Lijing, Eliana, Val, Shanxian, Gerr..it was fantastic meeting you guys at Marina Square. Too bad couldn't spend more time with you girls but glad u guys had fun in Sentosa.. You girls definitely looked refreshed & 'glowy'! sorry no photos..Gerri i'll get them from you soon!:)

Ah Hoi's Kitchen @ Traders Hotel

It's on the fourth floor of Trader's hotel, and is actually set amidst the rooftop garden of Tanglin Mall. Most people dine alfresco by the poolside, but i'm a sucker for aircon (esp in this humid singapore heat) so Nic & i sat in the cooler interiors..

Ooooh look they served us peanuts in a basket! How cute.

Food was not bad! It serves up authentic local cuisine and some exotic dishes like the crocodile kebabs below! Interesting...slippery but tasty beef horfun with egg.

Mixed vegetables with beancurd. liked the black fungus!:)

Poh piah..i thought it was yummy but nic is certain that his mum makes much better poh piah.. and i do agree!Overall verdict: Stuffed like a stuffed pig..but i'm one happily stuffed pig. Err ok i think i'm pushing that pig metaphor a little too far. Haha.

"But most of all

the small pig likes to sit down

and sink down

in good, soft mud."

-Arnold Lobel

yummy mummy

2006-09-08T04:10:00.000-07:00

Penang Hawker Fare @ York Hotel

It comes only once a year, from 1st to 17th sept, (i think they used to come more often in the past)..the buffet that any food-lover will know is worth waiting for!

Thanks Mummy for bringing me to try it out.. it's my first time & definitely not my last..Actually i'm gonna start marking it down on my calendar so i won't miss it every year!

According to Mum, who's been going almost every year since this authentic buffet started in 1986, it used to be alot more 'hawker-style' and crowded, compared to the newly renovated White Rose Cafe, which actually looks kinda chic & more like a place for high-tea. Think my mum prefered the noiser but cosier version..More qi fen!

Nonetheless the food was CAN'T-GET-ENOUGH good! We tried everything, almost.. and i can't say which is my favourite cos they're all uniquely prepared by specialty chefs from Penang! Yup i heard that York Hotel flies in the Penang hawkers themselves!

Here goes..welcome a world where calorie counting is not advisable!

Spicy cuttle fish kangkong..Mummy's favourite. I swear i saw her face light up like a delighted kid!! For that, i really wish someone could tell me where i can get good cuttlefish kangkong so i can see that face everyday!=)Char Kuay Teow..This was the first dish mummy made me try. I usually don't eat fried kuay teow since "cellulite is its main ingredient"..But i was sold when i took my first bite! i think it would be possible to finish a whole wok of it--cockles and all! Hahaha..but there were more dishes to try..

Lor Bak. Variety of fried finger food--lovely light crispy batter. The sweet potato was really good! So was the sweet sauce that came with it!
Penang laksa..Yesh maam and sir, it's got the sourish oomphh so unique to penang laksa! *slurp*
Oyster omelette..'or luak'..This mini stall was hiding in a corner of its own, away from the rest. But it's not to be missed! Sorry dear, i know you absolutely love this and i did think of 'da-paoing'..But no one 'da-pao' at buffets i think?
Prawn Mee. Add in the fried lard pieces and you're in for a good time! *slurp again*
Ban Chang Kueh..doesn't look fantastic but take a bite into this crispy fold of peanut paste and you'll realise: never judge a ban chang kueh from its outside!:)
How better to end off an intensely satisfying meal but with ice kachang (my favourite dessert ever) and ice chendol!?! I always pay 50cents more and ask for more red bean ('jia hong dou') so i was quite skeptical this ice kachang used kidney beans insead of red beans..But now i think i'm gonna pay $1 more and ask to 'jia hong dou and kidney beans'! ;)

Hahaha

2006-09-06T08:21:00.000-07:00

Funny medicine quotes
I love quotes..and if they're humourous that's a bonus!
Thanks dear, for sending me these quotes which really tickled my funny bone. *LAUGH*

Before anyone gets annoyed by these stereotypes, let's just say they're all in the name of fun yah?! But i must say, some of these quotes have some truth in them..hehehe=)

Surgeon: A very bold surgeon is the one who realizes that his patient takes all the risks.

Surgeon: One CT scan is worth a thousand neurologists.

Surgeon: Surgery, like making love must be done gently with adequate exposure

Anesthesiologist: BBB (Blood, brain barrier)- The screen between the anesthesiologist and the surgeon.

Orthopedic Surgeon: If you can't pin it or cast it- than screw it.

Internist: Dermatology is the only specialty in medicine where there are 200 diseases and only three types of cream to treat them.

Medical Student: How many cardiothoracic surgeons does it take to screw in a light bulb? One--he just holds up the bulb and the world revolves around him.

Medical Student: What do you call two orthopedic surgeons reading an EKG? A double-blind study.

Radiologist: How do you hide a dollar bill from an orthopedic surgeon? Put it in the chart. How do you hide a dollar bill from a radiologist? Put in on the patient. How do you hid a dollar bill from an internist? You can't.

General- Internists know everything and do nothing , Surgeons know nothing and do everything , Dermatologists know nothing and do nothing , Pathologists know everything and do everything- but a day too late.

haha.

the devil wears prada..and chanel and gabbana and mark jacobs..

2006-09-04T04:39:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time since i've watched a movie..And to all who recommended this film, thank you thank you! i had so much FUN watching it!
Gosh it's left such an effect on me i feel like interviewing to be an editor for Elle/Vogue..even Her World or Style: but i'll probably be given a scathing look by the interviewer who's gonna tell me i'm not wearing the right shoes, so forget it..Haha.
I seriously doubt my medical education is gonna get me anywhere near the doors of the fashion industry! But fashion is such a transient, ever-changing, fickle thing..i doubt you can ever find true happiness chasing it all the time. Heh but then again, there's no harm getting a kick (however short-lived) hankering after the latest Hermes bag or jimmy choos right? ;)

Right now however, my income (er, what income?) only allows me to 'OOoh' and 'Aaah' over the piles and racks of clothes, jackets, shoes, belts, scarves... Sigh, Anne Hathaway looks like such a darling in those clothes..And Meryl Streep is amazing as the bitchy boss Miranda Priestly! Haha the movie's got tons of funny quotes too!

'You are in desperate need of chanel.'

'You sold your soul to the devil when you put on your first pair of Jimmy Choo's!'

'I'm one stomach flu away from reaching my goal weight.'

'Doesn't anybody around here eat?' 'Not since two is the new four and zero is the new two.' 'Well, I'm a six...' 'Aha, the new fourteen.'

So silly, yet so funny, but pretty sad at the same time.. Not sure whether to pity us girls or just laugh at our strange antics!

full stomach!

2006-09-03T03:39:00.000-07:00

Now that hols are here and i'm not busy in the wards..food rules my day..Haha!

Prima Tower Revolving Restaurant
Whee..was kinda queasy at first when i first stepped into this revolving restaurant. It's one of the most established (another word for 'old') restaurants in singapore, and u get panaromic views of the sea, mt faber, sentosa...
But the lip-smacking authentic beijing food immediately put my stomach at rest, and had me feeling happy for the rest of the night. Their food was really good, including the Braised sharksfin soup with shredded chicken, Braised abalone & mushroom, Panfried beancurd with prawn roe, Shredded scallops with fish and egg white, Home made noodle with stewed meat..And their dessert was a winner too--Souffle balls with mashed red bean stuffing!
Verdict: Stuffed but happy :)

i scream ice cream!
Haha ice cream never fails to make my day, especially on hot hot days! And i'm sure everyone loves Ben & Jerry's! Their flavours are so unique and they've got cute names.. i recently tried a new flavour created by Ben&Jerry's, Dave Matthews Band & Magic Brownies...it's so deliciously called 'Vanilla ice cream with swirls of raspberry & brownies' eUpHORiA! And guess what? These organisations have formed a partnership to help stop global warming!

Doctor in the house

2006-09-01T07:35:00.000-07:00

Who me? Nah...i'm the great big klutz. i have this habit of jogging at night..not really a good idea. Especially when one's a clumsy accident-prone girl like me (knocking my head against open locker doors has become a daily routine--my cg members will know what i mean). And especially when it's dark. The chance of tripping over a rock in the middle of the road is pretty high, and the chance of grazing oneself when sprawled unglamourously on a cement road is 100%.

sigh..so instead of jogging home in my usual endorphin-high state, i was limping home pathetically..and whimpered to daddy & mummy 'i fell down..'

so while i whimpered through a painful shower, and tried to swab my wounds with alcohol without screaming, my parents rushed out to buy some 'first aid stuff'.

And my dad proved to be one of the best emergency doctor-cum wound care nurse i had ever encountered. He seemed to know what he was doing, gently taking the lodged cement specks in my wounds, spraying with antiseptic, applying betadine ointment, covering neatly with paraffin gauze and tagaderm..Whoa..impressive!

Thank you daddy & mummy..you know best!=)

Thunder Perfect Mind

2006-08-26T07:48:00.000-07:00

Prada Parfum
ooooh..check out the movie (abt 4.5min) and commercial (abt 30sec) for Prada's latest parfum at www.pradaparfums.com It's a collaboration between Miuccia Prada & film director Ridley Scott & his daughter. It's about the complexities of being a woman, and is actually a First century poem that 'deals with the endless psyche of being a woman'

It's ultra cool..and beautiful..and the heroine of the commercial is breathtakingly chio--Daria Werbowym, a model from canada & has ukranian parents. Plus it's shot in Berlin..leaves me with an eerie sense of deja vu and longing for something lost in the past..haha ok maybe i'm being melodramatic..but watch it & maybe u'll understand why!

Excerpts of the poem which i like..

'..For i am the first and the last.
i am the wife and the virgin.
i am the mother and the daughter.
i am she whose wedding is great,
and i have not yet taken a husband..
i am senseless and i am wise..
come forward to childhood,
and do not despise it beacuse it is small and it is little.
and do not turn away greatnesses in some parts from the smallnesses,
for the smallnesses are known from the greatnesses.
i am the one who is honored and who is praised,
for i am knowledge and ignorance.
i am shame and boldness.
i am shameless; i am ashamed.
i am controlled and uncontrollable..'

paeds & the pretty pond

2006-08-26T06:25:00.000-07:00

Woah..Paediatrics is tiring, exhausting, draining...you get the idea! Just one week of it and my head is spinning! Really, there's so much to learn and re-learn i think 2 weeks is waaaay too short!!

Nonetheless i've truly enjoyed my one week at KK..the children are adorable, naughty, exasperating yet oh-so-endearing. They can be so stubborn yet so vulnerable..it's lovely to see them smile, but it's really heart-breaking to see them cry or be in pain. I think anyone who's been to the paeds wards know what i mean right??

Anyway, amidst the stress, clerking, tutorials, interactive sessions blah blah, i've found some peaceful moments alone.. and one morning a sight of great beauty greeted me..You know the pond beside KK, where the public carpark is? One morning, the pond was filled with hundreds of blooming water lilies!!! i couldn't suppress my trigger-happy nature..and started snapping away with my hp..

pretty pond pretty pond close uppretty pond even closer up

drained..

2006-08-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

..But i'm still trying to see the bright side of things..

My blog may seem full of happy thoughts/happenings..and some people must be thinking..Man, is steph some super slacker or what..

Well i must admit, i try not to blog about my unhappy things..i'm not too good at blogging my problems without sounding like some miserable wretched b*tch.

Many times in life we all get doors slammed in our face..But too many of us focus on these slammed doors, and can't seem to get past it...When in fact what we should do is look beyond the slammed doors, and focus on things that we can change.

Anyz to all the SIP people, hang in there! Less than 2 weeks to go..Can't believe i've still got 6 weeks..haha..but i'm looking forward to it, really!

Salsa salsa salsa!

2006-08-20T03:16:00.000-07:00

A Play by our very own med classmate!
"April, May and June, three older women suddenly alone in world, had been living together for longer than they cared to remember before finally moving out two years ago for good, or so they thought.

When Anne, an old friend on her deathbed calls and asks to see them one last time, they find themselves back in Singapore, together again, and with one small problem: they don't remember who Anne is.

In the meantime, Anne has hired a salsa teacher to teach her friends to salsa, so that they can let her relive the joy of the dance through them. Their lessons seem easy enough but the reunion become complicated as old wounds are revealed, secrets are revealed and lunacy sets in. Through it all, the beat of the dance goes on, and memory and friendships whirl and turn, as inextricable as dancers on the floor. "

It was a very good play, especially for Chen seong, since this is the first time his play is being produced publicly.. I'm amazed at his talent! So folks, look out for this budding, talented playwright! I'm sure there'll be lots more great work to come..

I thought the story was pretty good, especially the characters who were all female, and very real indeed! They kinda reminded me of my mum & her friends..gossiping, giggling together..And it shows grandmothers and mothers can and should have their fair share of fun too! I've decided..no one's gonna stop me from becoming a happy, flirty grandma who still silly talks with her friends at 70!;) i mean, really, who wants to grow up unhappy & miserable? There's enough sadness in this world as it is already!

steph,nic,chen seong,mark,liat leng,en quan

yet another week

2006-08-18T07:49:00.000-07:00

End of geriatric posting..

I really enjoyed this posting, much as a surprise to myself. i think it's the little old ladies & gentlemen who are so vulnerable yet so stubborn that brighten up our days! I can understand how geriatrics can be challenging, but somehow at the end of it, you feel good about yourself. I think it sorta brings out the beauty, patience & kindness in people..that's why i think the geri team (doctors, nurses, physio & occupational therapists) always have that contented look.. like they know they're doing kind deeds everyday. =)

Heh there's this grand dame of 97, a very cute cantonese-speaking samsui lady, who 'broke from the sisterhood' (samsui women are supposed to be celibate) She has 10 children, but sadly has outlived most of them.. I think she's the cutest grandma around! I played some game involving putting different-shaped blocks into their respective holes with her..she was pretty good! And my heart soared just seeing her smile=) =) =) =)

I went online to find out more about samsui women:
'These women are an extraordinary breed of Cantonese from the upper Samsui districts of the Kwang-tung Province in China. Part of the great wave of Chinese immigrants to nations like Singapore during the early 20th century, these Samsui (literally: mountain and water) women stand out. They had been bred to do hard physical labor that gave them a physical and emotional strength unique among Chinese women. They were the rare women to work alongside men at construction sites in Singapore, enduring the same grueling conditions. They refused to marry, preferring to remain single, during an age when spinsterhood was highly unconventional.'

In the past week..
Imperial Treasure Teochew Restaurant with PuiSuan & Yipman

Thanks Yippee for the appetizing treat! The braised beancurd, marinated sliced chicken, and steamed soon hock..were all exquisite!

And Puisuan, you have a fulfilling & fun time in Germany..Lucky girl! Gute Reise! ;)
Heh anyz it was really fun talking to you girls.. It's been ages!!I really miss those times when we were dancing together in RGS/RJ/Frontier.. you girls have always been damn far ahead of me in terms of technique..and i've learnt lots about dance from you!! Just talking to you babes about dance that night has made me realised how much i miss it..i'll definitely take it up one day again--just as a hobby lah!

PS Cafe @ Harding road, near Dempsey with Mark & Geraldine

Sigh..i am sooo hesitsant to blog about this place..i wanna keep it a secret!!! But i guess sooner or later everyone's gonna start raving about this place..plus we should always share the joy/good food/fats..So here goes!

This is a 'jewel box' (as described by mark)..a glass house standing alone amidst much greenery & away from the hustle of the city. The long winding road led to a really chic, swanky yet chill-out restaurant with great decor. Think wooden panelling, vintage cane chairs with plush cushions, background jazz music, menus scribbled on large blackboards, stately glass walls, an open deck area for al fresco dining that leads out to lush greenery..Whee i loved it at first sight! :>

AND everyone was so beautiful--the girls all so well-dressed & radiant, the blokes all spiffy & model-like (eh geraldine, sorry you only saw that table of hunks towards the end of the meal!) AND of course the food was good, hearty & unique! We tried their beef,mushroom&bacon ragout, moussaka with eggplant,beef,tomato&cheese, and the duck rendang (soo tender!)

The clincher was the desserts (yes yes that's my weakness)..Ohmigosh the ginger pudding was out of this world..Just the right dash of warm ginger spice mixed with sweet vanilla ice cream & creamy earl-grey sauce! I WILL drive across singapore just for it, and it alone! The peacan pie and the blueberry chocolate cheesecake were just as sweet & sinfully delish!

So we left the place, knowing it had us hooked..and that we would be back for more..

to my favourite girl

2006-08-14T06:21:00.000-07:00

To my dearest sister..
Happy 21st Birthday Lina!!

Thanks for being such an amazing sister, friend, comforter, confidante, supporter all these years! The best part of my life were the last 21 years, i.e. after you were born! (The first 2 were boring..boohoo..maybe that's why i was always crying, according to ma & daddy.)

I'm so glad to have had such a great girl to share my childhood tears & laughter, teenage angst & foolishness, and the ideals & hopes of young adulthood with!=)

'For there is no friend like a sister
In calm or stormy weather;
To cheer one on the tedious way,
To fetch one if one goes astray,
To lift one if one totters down,
To strengthen whilst one stands.'
----Christina Rossetti

i love the sea

2006-08-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

Blading at east coast park

Yay! Blading with palm trees and the sky & sea in the background sooo made my day. When angela asked me to go blading with her & some of her work colleagues, i totally jumped at it.. though i like sleeping in on weekends.

After all it's not easy to finally find company to go east coast park (ECP) with me. Most of the time, i'll get an urge and just drive down to ecp by myself to blade by the coast..Anyz the breeze, and the unbelievable freedom you get by blading is always worth the drive down!

Well, it was--as always--an awesome day..Really, nothing beats a day by true blue natural beauty!

the tropical beach with palm trees in the foreground...how peaceful!:)

'And me, I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know its not some place you can look for, cause its not where you go. Its how you feel for a moment in your life when you're a part of something, and if you find that moment... it lasts forever... ' ----The Beach (the movie)

pontini's!!!

2006-08-11T23:24:00.000-07:00

An italian affair!

Haha..one of the best italian restaurants ard..or so Nic & i believe! Haven't been there in a while. We went with Angela (my cousin) and Andrew & James(his cousins).

Here's some of the good-to-try delish picks..

Salmon & vodka pizza..oooh this is one unique pizza with a distinct flavour! Everyone liked it! The pizzas at Pontini's are thin-crusted--just done the way authentic italian pizzas should be.. rather than the heavy doughy american pizzas!

Veal cheek..this was as good as the one we tried at Il Lido..Perhaps not as 'melt-in-your-mouth' but there were 2 cheeks instead of one..PLUS there was a tongue that was meaty yet not too chewy! Sigh..how can i ever give up meat??

Huge vegetarian pizza..which we had to 'dao pao' cos james 'ate like a bird'..haha.

Anyz the highlight of the dinner went to...the desserts (but of course!)

Tortino al cioccolato: Warm chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream & passion fruit sauce

Tiramisu al copa: Italy in a dessert.
Some combination dessert thingie..with a bit of tiramisu, abit of panna cotta, and ricotta cake. There was this other dessert which andrew had..some Ricotta cheese/fruit/nut-cake was made of pistachio nuts, ice fruit cake & ricotta cheese..tasted refreshingly yummy..kinda like cheesecake but a much healthier & lighter version!

geri geri quite contrary

2006-08-10T09:39:00.000-07:00

i thought i was going to dislike geriatrics posting, or that it would make me like internal medicine less..

But i'm finding myself liking internal medicine an awful lot! Oh dear, am i straying from the path of surgery? And i was soo sure i wanted to do surgery.

I haven't done medicine in ages..chose to do mainly surgical electives in year 3 and year 4 (yup i was THAT sure) But now that i'm doing medicine again, my interest has totally been piqued! And though the ward rounds last forever, and each discussion of a patient takes half an hour, and we are grilled on differentials/ethical issues/functional history of each patient, i'm still enjoying ward rounds alot!!

Am i really that fickle, or do i just like everything too easily?..

i'm back!

2006-08-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Fireworks!

Haha i'm back..wow steph is the most fickle girl ever..Tsk.

I really didn't expect my friends to feel sad about my blog 'closing', and i was even more surprised to learn there were more people reading my blog than i knew. What made me decide to blog again was my mum..She came into my room one night and said she was sad i had stopped blogging..Guess that's the channel where she learns most about my life..No secrets from mummy there!;>

Anyz whatever lah..i just decided to blog again!

I saw FIREWORKS today! They're beautiful!! Really wished they could last forever.. i still remember when my wonderful dad booked a suite at ritz carlton for my sister's birthday a couple of years back, so we could be just inches away from the fireworks in the sky. The fireworks were so huge & beeeaaauuutiful & so close to us i felt i could just reach out and touch them! hey lina..wish you were here to see the fireworks..i can imagine you gushing in awe! but i'm sure HK has great fireworks too!=)

'I do love fireworks, and I have missed them before, and I can't miss them again-oh, that would be horrible!' ---Gisele Bundchen

Btw, Happy birthday Singapore!

Oh yes! Before i forget..Angela is here! Yay! My lovely cousin from NZ! i've got more company!!=) My parents & i have been bringing her & my uncle out to eat quite alot lately...

Anyz here's a quick review of chow places!

Thai restaurant in taka..called Sabai..the food was not bad..anyz, u can't go wrong with thai cuisine!:)

Ng Ah Sio Pork Ribs Soup (Morning) Eating House

This famous bak kut teh store at rangoon road was given even more publicity after it turned away the Chief Executive of HKSAR. You see, the owners are serious about the 'Morning' in their stall name. They mean it when they close by 2pm, and will not budge even if it's the Chief executive of HKSAR. Woah..talk about attitude. We just had to try their BKT.

I thought it was pretty good..liked the strong taste of garlic, black pepper & cloves in the soup..but my dad was adamant that it paled in comparison to those in JB (Yup M'sia is known to serve the best BKT around) I have to admit, though, i was a little disappointed the pork ribs were not more tender..instead they were tough & dry..probably from the lumbar region, rather than the ribs.

But their deep fried you tiao & innards were definitely up to standard! All in all, i had a satisfying lunch.. The only bad part was the wait...You wait to get a table (we almost walked off immediately when we saw the crowd--every table had someone else waiting in line! And we were early for lunch--11am!). Then you wait to have the table cleaned; wait to be served tea; wait to have your order taken...The only part you don't have to wait is when you call for the bill. It'll be on your table before you can even say 'Mai dan!'

how quaint..boiling water in a kettle over a charcoal stove.

teapot & packet of tea..gong fu cha washes down the meal well.

Haha we still managed to clean out the dishes!

Yamagawa Japanese restaurant @ The Concourse

They have fab fab fab jap food!The great chef gary was the chef at my 21st birthday party..prepared all the fantastic jap food.

Er..sorry no pics of food..when it comes to jap food, i like it tooo much to remember to take photos before i dig in! Of course i had my unagi! (only bothered to take a pic of the sake..cos i don't really drink it) hah.

Garlic restaurant @ The Esplanade

'Love it or hate it, the garlic can transform a humble dish into a gastronomic delight with its flavour and fragrance. Aromatic and almost bitter, it becomes delicate and sweet when cooked...

'...Garlic has always been more than just a flavouring. In fact, it is also one of nature's most versatile medicinal plant. It has long been regarded as a natural antibiotic to fight bacteria and as an immune system stimulant. Garlic is commonly used to treat wounds, infections, tumours, intestinal parasites and digestive infections.' Hmmmm..guess there should be some truth to it??

To garlic lovers, do try this place! Esp the garlic fried rice & garlic ice cream! Eeew..despite me loving both garlic AND ice cream..the combination was just plain wierd. Like Angela commented..'Tasted too much like ice cream & too much like garlic.' Imagine chopped raw garlic in vanilla ice cream. We weren't quite sure what to make of it.

And to garlic-haters, don't even bother.

Thanks Woon jie for the treat. Thanks Kim Gor for the entertainment ;-)

goodbye for now!

2006-07-31T05:14:00.000-07:00

the end

it's been really fun blogging for the past few months,

but i'm getting kinda bored..and busy...

so here's bye for now!

maybe i'll blog again, maybe i won't.

maybe my next entry will be next week, next month, next year..who knows..

Hmmm..I guess i've always known the path to becoming a doctor has never been easy, but lately the huge responsibilities as a future doctor has dawned upon me. Everyday, whether in the wards, clinics, tutorials, lectures, or just talking to my fellow medical mates, i cannot help but realise how much more i don't know, and how much more there is to learn. Perhaps it is best surmised by Hippocrates, 'The life so short, the craft so long to learn.'

Of course life isn't all work & no play..even my surgery tutor had to tell me 'All work and no play makes Stephanie a dull girl.' Haha..:> But i guess i don't really have to worry about that too much, since i'm someone who finds it hard to turn down anything fun or yummy! anyz i think i have more hypomanic episodes than depressive ones.

'Neither Aristotle nor the Framers were known for self-indulgence. All believed that happiness is a legitimate goal in life; perhaps, one of the reasons we are here. ' -Gregg Easterbrook

So i'll try to remember: Live life to the fullest..and take time to stop & smell the roses too!

'Life is what's happening when you're too busy to notice.' -Wayne Muller

apple pie a la mode

2006-07-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yay! finally took a pic of the apple pie i've been dreaming about everyday the past few weeks!
Always look forward to drinks & dinner with Nic at Tanglin club.. i think their food is probably one of the yummiest around:D
if i ever take up membership, it'll be because of the food..Not the gym, tennis courts, swimming pool, or other facilities. Tsktsk.
Here's the apple pie turn-overed...with the hot golden apple pie filling oozing next to the crispy crust..Nic serving out our portions of scrumptious javanese nasi goreng & seafood hor fun..;P

s03g gatherings

2006-07-29T07:23:00.000-07:00

Pete's Place
S03G girls...& a guy.
Thanks liz & zhimin & sujen for organizing=)

Here are the pics..as promised!

rachel.steph.elizabeth.sujen.zhimin.chenmei.mervyn.
the so3g girls..zhining has nice long hair now! ;)
Sorry the food pics are kinda blur! i've been taking photos with my nokia phone..only 2 megapixel lah..

Yummy authentic italian food! the best part of the dinner...dessert of course! we ordered 2 chocolate fondue platters..Mmmmm it was delicious! the hot creamy chocolate sauce was kept warm & melted over a candle..while we dipped banana slices, fresh whole strawberries & raspberries, creamy puffs, biscotti, bite-sized cake pieces into the tantalizing warm chocolate.

Near the end, we even poured a shot of amaretto liquer into the chocolate..giving it unique almond flavour..I liked the flavour of the liquor so much i went to find out more about it:

'Amaretto' is italian for 'a little bitter'. The original version comes from Saronno, Italy. It has an almond flavour to it, though it may or may not contain almonds. It's primarily made from apricot pits, and may contain any number of spices & flavourings..

As legend has it, amaretto was created by a widow who posed for Renaissance painter Bernardino Luini in 1525. The widow fell in love with the painter and made her amaretto potion for him. Her original recipe has purportedly been handed down from generation to generation without change.

Here's a close up view of the mouth-watering fondue. i can still taste the buttery chocolate that melts in your mouth..pure satisfaction.

Banana Leaf & Brewerkz

Thanks jega for organizing!

Banana Leaf is located at Race course road, near Little India mrt..where food is served on a large banana leaf--traditional indian style! i'm definitely going there again..perhaps bring my mum, who loves spicy curries & brani..

i especially liked their Lhassi drinks..it's the first time i've tried lhassi & i've already found recipes to make my own lhassi. haha..

Lhassi is a scented yoghurt drink from india. Great served with curries. Very smooth & refreshing in a hot climate.

jega,weiling,steph,zhiyong,cheok,mervyn

Then we headed to Brewerkz at Riverside point for some of their great beer. i'm totally not a beer person..i just can't seem to appreciate it. But the beer at Brewerkz was something else altogether! it was much richer & a little sweeter than other beers i've tasted.

Apparently, they 'use 100% malt whereas industrial breweries use adjuncts such as corn and rice in addition to malt to obtain fermentable sugars. They do this because it is cheaper and it produces a lighter tasting beer. Also, industrial beers have very low hop levels so that basically, these beers have very little hop and malt flavor. '

We were choosing between Indian Pale Ale (their most popular, intensely hopped beer) and wheat ale..and finally settled on a tower of Wheat ale! It's a golden, slightly opaque beer which is supposed to have a 'sharp, clove like aroma' that appeals to creative & artistic people..=)

cheok,weiling,eric,renita
steph,jega,zhiyong,mervynEveryone feeling good after a night of spicy food & aromatic beer..and of course, lots of laughter & jokes. Haha it's been a long time (years!) since we met up & talked so much but it was really fun!

dr talk

2006-07-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

Wow CGH Ortho is pretty xiong... I've never worked so hard in a long time! The tutors all seem really strict with high expectations at first..But so far they've all turned out to be really helpful & enthusiastic teachers! They seem genuinely concerned to help us do well, drilling us during tutorials and all.. It's stressful..but i guess they have our best interests at heart! (i hope.)

Anyz no time to upload nice photos of jc class girls gathering..will do it come weekend! sorry for the delay girls..but it was totally awesome catching up with you guys..And what chen mei said is true..Everyone looks even better than they did in jc! No wonder mervyn popped by & sat at our table for so long..Hahaha..jz kiddin!

Heh it was kinda funny..After ward rounds emily & i joined our team for 'breakfast' at the canteen. S__ (the only HO in the team currently) was looking dismally at his list of 33 patients and swearing under his breath...

HO: If they add any more patients to my list tonight, i'm going to jump from the 6th floor. (The team was 'on take' that night, and the 6th floor is where some of the main ortho wards are)

MO (looking equally tired/jaded): If you do so, just make sure you don't do it when i'm call.

HO: Wah lau, you just don't want to catheterize me.

MO: I think that was the last thing on my mind.

Okok, i was really amused by the conversation and couldn't help sniggering..I caught emily's eye and could tell she was equally amused!

I mean, it'll be a sad day when i get so overworked that my response to a friend who expresses his/her suicidal thoughts to me is 'Just don't do it when i'm on call.'

Haha hope that doesn't happen to any of us! Remember psychomed hor..must assess suicide risk,blah blah blah..

Anyway i hope the HO is ok..I took a look at the team's list this morning..at least 40 patients on the list!!!

Seoul fabulous!

2006-07-24T02:21:00.000-07:00

Sigh..just had first day briefing for ortho at CGH..looks like it's gonna be a busy 2 weeks! Those who did their ortho posting at CGH, you probably understand why i'm whining..

For e.g. one of the instructions are :'Follow the combined Trauma round on Mon, Wed, Thu 7.40am to 8.30am. Attendance is compulsory. Sit in front/second row. Ask questions if you don't understand.' And that's just the first of a whole list of instructions..The rest of the days are packed with clinics, ward rounds, OT, DSOT, clerking..

But i'm looking forward to ortho lah..One of my female seniors once told me: 'The female mind is not engineered to understand ortho.' But i kinda like ortho! Though probably not as a career...

Anyz on a brighter note..
'Seoul fabulous!' was the title of the magazine article recommending Crystal Jade Ginseng Chicken & BBQ (Korean cuisine) at centrepoint...

It's a new addition to the huge crystal jade empire..And the reviews in the magazine were pretty good, so my dad & i decided to try it out on Sunday..we were getting a little bored of dim sum..

The place is very nicely furnished, kinda stylish with hints of luxury & korean touches in the wooden panelling, warm lighting, and especially the traditional Han Bok (korean costume) worn by the pretty waitresses..

The food was really nice too..My dad wasn't too impressed..cos i think he still loves the good ol' chinese (cantonese) food..Hehe. I'm much more easily satisfied when it comes to food.. We were served a colourful selection of homemade starters..Spicy Kimchi, yellow bean sprouts, chilli-steamed radish, spinach salad & beef tenderloin (my dad's favourite dish of the whole meal..Haha)

The ginseng chicken soup was divine! The chicken was so tender! And the melt-in-your-mouth wholesome goodness of the soup was unmistakable! i'm sold! (warning..the ginseng taste wasn't too strong though, so if u're looking for some energising ginseng to kick start ur day, this soup doesn't have that much potency)

Next was the Rice in Stone Cattle with Beef pieces..not too bad..especially if you like the smoky flavour of partially burnt rice..My dad wasn't too fond of that..Chinese like their rice steamed to soft white perfection..heh

quiet reflections of a messy mind

2006-07-22T02:40:00.000-07:00

Psychological Medicine is over! i can't say how glad i am to be of a sound mind (hmm though sometimes i definitely question that)..

i guess we all have a bit of schizy-ness & bipolarity in all of us. Just that they haven't gotten so bad as to take control of our lives.

Actually, it's really amazing how powerful the human brain is..You mess up the chemicals, and you start living a life no one else understands--whether it's having delusions, seeing or hearing things, feeling just so darn happy/sad, not remembering your past...

it's kinda sad, actually..to see young patients have their lives taken over by strange thoughts & beliefs which we can't understand..i doubt they understand too. Either that or they are so fixed on these ideas they can't understand why others don't see things their way.

i think these people are probably the loneliest people in the world. They hardly have human relationships. Even if they do, they'll probably become estranged from their loved ones. Eventually, they'll end up a long-stayer at IMH, a place where no one wants to visit.

ok enough of pressured thoughts...

on friday, prof low cheng hock gave a really inspiring talk about communication in medicine..At the end of his talk, he flashed a poem, which i really liked! i couldn't copy it down before the slide changed, but i scribbled down what i remember..So here it is:

I strived for happiness
Happiness I could not see
I looked for fulfillment
Fulfillment eluded me
I searched for richness of spirit
Richness of spirit left thee
But when I practiced medicine on my brethren
I found all three

Now that we're on the topic of quotes, i've found some really nice ones. On monday a few of us went for 'One Cat Purring' performance by Michael Westlake, one of many events supported by the Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Centres. Thanks Van for inviting us!:)

I liked a few quotes he mentioned..

'To be in control, you must learn to let go.'

'2 swimmers in a river of rapids can either trash around or float, but they will reach downstream at the same time.'

And as we were leaving, we were given 'blessings'..little cardborad packings of home made candy with quotes on them. Thanks hanley & mark for giving me your quotes!

'With your patience & true love for everyone, you have the ability to ease any difficult situation into a peaceful one again.'

'By celebrating the greatness of others, you have become a great soul.'

'You are a courageous soul who recognizes that whatever you face will become the wings with which to fly.'

P.S: Anyone wants to go for NUS Dance Ensemble performance on 15th/16th september? It's really good! i'm not dancing, but taufik, flea & amy are! Remember 'You don't have to know dance to love it!'

Those of you who have seen dance ensemble performances, you'll know their standards are really high..so it's definitely worth the money! Tics are $12/15/18.

I've checked the timetable..It's all short postings..so no need to worry about med SIP!

Please let me know ASAP if you're interested! i'm looking for company..;)

best apple pie

2006-07-16T03:26:00.000-07:00

By the way, i've found the best apple pie...It's at tanglin club..a smooth creamy scoop of vanilla ice cream, sitting on top of a perfect fluffy pie crust, in which oozes the wholesome apple pie sauce with rich apple chunks!

Thanks dear for the treat! yuuummmmyyyy!

heh this isn't a photo of the apple pie we had..but it's the closest i could find online to how the real deal looks!=)

A weekend of Catching Up...

2006-07-16T00:39:00.000-07:00

...With old friends..

Ok, not OLD friends..but just people i haven't met for a really long time.

Like Malathi..the patient with SLE i met during my year 3 medicine posting..She looks fantastic now, so much more radiant & healthy..a happily married & confident woman! We went shopping at Raffles City on saturday and boy was i in for a surprise..

First she bought Chanel lipstick & lipliner (they just launched a new range--Chanel Rouge Allure), then Shu uemura compact powder, then CK fragrance for men..I was getting kinda worried at the rapid speed & decision in which these purchases were made..and was beginning to wonder if i was seeing some episode of mania at work..

Haha but thankfully after her last puchase, dear Malathi turned to me and said, 'Steph i think i better go home before i spend anymore'..I said, 'I think so too.' And we both had a good laugh! She said she hardly came shopping, and it was ages since she shopped so much. Of course i understood..Though i quietly wondered if i was that bad an influence?! :0

But i'm glad she had fun..cos i had a wonderful time with her too!

Then there were my JC classmates..some of whom i haven't seen in AGES! So it was really great catching up with them..people like liz, sujen, joanna, richard (basically the non-NUS med peepz). Too bad others couldn't turn up but i'm sure there will be more gatherings to come!

Anyz it was Weiling's birthday party! The theme was 'Casino' and her st nichs friends were really sporting! The rest of us were there to eat & play games..haha..Thanks weiling, it was super fun!

S03G.. S03G, plus elaine & nic :)steph, weiling, joanna

weiling's sporting friends! they dressed to the theme with ooomph & a touch of glamour!!

sporting & cute!

Also managed to catch up with my ex CG..CG 13! Of course not everyone could turn up..but 5 out of 7 was not a bad attendance rate! plus there was Leonie..i'm sure she had fun with the guys..and their 'crazy-CG cabaret' talk..hey leonie, remember to hire them if u ever have a hen party! And don't forget to invite me yah! haha..

Argh..who's that extra person in blue...spoiling our otherwise nice cg shot!?

Morton's

2006-07-12T05:57:00.000-07:00

Chocolate Martinis & Fillet Mignon Steak Sandwiches
This is definitely one place and deal i wish i had found out about earlier..Thanks Flea for letting me know (too bad it was closed for a private function when we went).. Anyways went to check it out with Lijing..my dear chill-out buddy!=)
The chocolate martinis are absolutely divine! i usually don't like alcohol, but when you have lotsa chocolate coating the wine glass..you can't NOT like it!

The steak sandwiches come at half hour intervals and they're definitely worth waiting for! The steak is tender & juicy..and the best part is..they're on the house! Each customer is limited to one sandwich each round..but if you can be thick-skinned like us, they're can't do anything if you ask for seconds..except maybe give a disapproving look. Haha. *pigs*

So here's the deal..5 to 7pm @ Morton's every weekday..Enjoy!

Back to studying my psychomed! My tutor is SUPER on..we have 2 oral viva sessions tomorrow, 3 oral vivas on Friday.. and we were given a list of cases AND back-up psy patients to clerk & present..What enthusiasm! It's infectious...almost.

HOUSE M.D.

2006-07-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

Hooked!

Glad dermatology posting is over..Not that i didn't enjoy it--it was interesting..and i know ALOT more about rashes now. At least now when i see a red rash i can think of ten other differentials.. so I have alot more to worry about. GREAT help to my neurotic nature.

But 2 weeks of seeig diseased skin was really getting to me. On wednesday i noticed a patch of dry skin on my face. But i started to wonder if the dry skin was scaly..and i noticed (ok maybe imagined a little) a slight hyperpigmentation to that patch of skin..and i almost thought i saw (ok maybe i didn't) the patch had an annular border.

Diagnosis changed from 'Dry Skin' to 'Tinea Faciei' (fungal infection of the face)

So thursday and friday were spent checking on that patch, making sure it didn't spread. And on friday i had a nightmare..The patch had turned black and mouldy with secondary smaller patches all over my face! When i finally woke from my nightmare, i was thankful derm was finally over.

Now there's psych med..where i'll be around depressed/manic/schizophrenic people. Just hope i don't start wondering if i'm crazy.

Anyz..weekend has been good & relaxing!

Friday dinner: cooked by NIC, the master chef..He whips a mean dish of pasta..i have no idea where he learnt how to make the perfect sauce, but he was adding minced beef, chopped onions, tomato sauce, mushrooms to the pot like a pro! Anyone would have been impressed, especially a cook-wannabe-but-cannot-make-it like me. Haha. Anyz we finished up the yummy dinner in a jiffy.
Buonissimo, squisito. Sono felice. Grazie.

Friday night/Saturday early morning: Wine Bar & Phuture with Syl & her law friends.. Gosh i haven't danced for a really really long time..my feet were killing by the end of it..But it was fab fun dancing with you babes!

Anyway..the reason i've not been out much on Sat & Sun is this..

"Warning: This crafty new medical drama about a team of CSI-minded docs and their hatefully brilliant mentor may prove addictive."

This was the label on the DVD cover. I should have heeded its advice..
Cos I'm sooooo hooked on House. I can't stop watching and rewatching its episodes! It's soooo bl**dy brilliant..i'm thinking if i were smart enough i'll go into diagnostic medicine..But alas..

To those who think Grey's anatomy is a great medical drama..Try this..it has less about love affairs (thank goodness) and MUCH more about intense, intriguing & intelligent medical puzzles.

Sunday night: Leonie, the lovely indonesian elective student is back! Had a great evening chatting with you girl..and i'll say 'Hi' to the rest of the CG for you..in case you don't get to see them!=)

Ronaldo..the portugese hunk

2006-07-02T05:14:00.000-07:00

Cristiano Ronaldo

I must admit i'm a football idiot. i don't even watch the beautiful game because the players are cute. In fact i didn't even know who Cristiano Ronaldo was until my dad sang praises about him over dinner today.

My dad's a straight guy with pretty high standards..he hardly approves of anyone, not to mention praise them..so when he was 'gushing' about this ronaldo guy, i HAD to check him out online.

Bad Move.

I think i will be a Portugal & Man U supporter/fan from now on. (No offence to anyone...i know many people who are rightly pissed about the World cup right now..sikes) And i want to learn portugese.

Anyz here are some trivia i got about Ronaldo..my dad will be so proud of my research..haha

1. 'Ronaldo first began kicking a football when he was two or three, and when he started primary school at age six, his passion for the sport was obvious. When there wasn't an actual football around, he would make one out of socks..' Awww...so cute!

2. 'After Portugal's stunning loss to Greece in Euro 2004, Ronaldo wept, and Santos (his first coach), who was watching, remembered how Ronaldo would cry when his team lost..' Sigh..what a sweetie

3. He was named the sexiest player of Euro 2004 and World Cup 2006 by Gay Krant, a Dutch gay magazine. So he's hot among guys as well!

4. He endorses Nike, Pepe Jeans, Extra Joss (Indonesian energy drink) and Suzuki cars (although he drives a silver Porsche) Did i hear silver PORSCHE?

5. His favourite movies are "The Rock" and "The Sixth Sense". Those are my favourite movies too! yeah right...

week one

2006-06-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

Back to School/hospital/work/whatever

Just sent my little sis off at the airport. so now feeling a little sad. i always fall into slight depression whenever my sister leaves for HK..i just love having her around the house..I'm definitely gonna miss her bubbly presence. but time passes really fast, and i know we'll meet up again soon! Take care Lina..MUAKS!

Anyway..Call me mad, but i'm glad the school term has started..I like having my life filled up with activites, and the hols were getting a tad uninteresting.

So the past few days I have been waking up early and jumping out of bed to my usual morning routine with much anticipation and excitment..i love the drive to the hospitals, where i keep playing my favourite song of the moment, 'Trouble sleeping' by The Perishers..from the OC soundtrack.

I like to have a favourite song which i play again & again, so that i have a tune to hum to the whole day, especially when i'm alone. Haha yah a little nutz, i know. But knowing me i'll probably get sick of that song really soon..then i'll have to find a new favourite song of the moment!

Anyz, dermatology posting has been rather relaxing, and anyone can see the attractions of becoming a dermatologist..good lifestyle, good pay, many many many customers who demand creams like it's their birthright.

Like many people, i've thought about doing dermatology before, especially since i'm so vain and i've probably researched & tried every skincare brand on the market (haha i'm mad), but the thought of going through internal med for derm just puts me off a little. Plus there's almost no surgical aspect to it, unless you find biopsies & cryotherapy & lasers challenging. Also, i'm kinda wary about skin conditions being so easily spread by contact..esp those nuisance warts..arg!

But i must say, there's sooo much more to derm than aesthetic skincare. I was posted to CDC on friday, where we saw patients with REAL skin problems like Bullous pemphigoid, GED, pompholyx, severe atopic dermatitis, Epidermolysis Bullosa Acquisita..I found the morning ward round extremely interesting..and my heart really went out to all those patients.

This week, i met up with a couple of close friends from JC...weiling & jon! Thanks weiling for noticing the change (you-know-what).. you are one of the very very few close friends who could tell! *hugs*

Thank you thank you Brian for the seafood dinner treat at Blue Lobster! Nic & i really enjoyed the seafood platter..and it was very fun chatting with you & your lovely Ruixin!=)

BBQ!

2006-06-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Summer night barbecue
It was a fantastic night of schmoozing, eating, bbq-ing, catching up with friends, playing games, drinking..heh i love parties, especially those with great company! i had invited some close friends including my ex-CG mates (i'm gonna miss you guys), anatomy group mates (glad our anat gp spirit is still strong..heh! too bad some of them couldn't come..), my rgs girlfriends (i Love you girls!) & a few other close med friends...

But really, the most important people i have to thank are my wonderful mum, dad, sister & maid! Without them, none of last night would have been possible..especially the yummy food! Thanks a million for everything....
My fun-loving, gorgeous girlfriends from rgs & rj! It's been a while since we had our usual girlbonding gatherings at my place..but it's always sooo fun with you girls around! *Muaks*

My ex-CG..Haha ok not our full CG but you guys are my some of my favourite people in med anyz! Though we're changing cg and all, really glad to have known great people like you! Keep in touch yah=)

Thanks everyone for coming! i had lots of fun..hope you did too! haha=) Sorry didn't take everyone's photo..oops..cos we took it at the end when some of u guys had left!

family feasts

2006-06-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

Family foodies!

The past couple of days my family have been eating really well! Just glad we're spending quality family time together before my school starts and my sis leaves for HK next week..

Patara Thai restaurant @ Tanglin Mall
We love thai food especially my dad..It's got all the nice spices as ingredients, it's not too oily, it's not too bland, it tastes great!

Min Jiang @ One Rochester

I guess 'One Rochester' is on everyone's lips as the latest chic hang out place to chill, eat, drink... Well we wanted to try Min Jiang and see if it was as good as the one at Goodwood..I was really looking forward to their famous peking duck..but it was just ok, not fantastic. But their desserts were good..especially the black glutinous rice with ice cream & the mango pomelo sago with ice cream!

The ambience was really cool though..Chinese food in a colonial style bungalow. The lighting was warm and gave everything a nice glow. We sat at the main hall, with a great view of the al fresco dining area, but safe from the mosquitoes!

The other restaurants which were just a walking distance from Min Jiang looked really alluring too..I definitely want to go back to try them!=)

Music Dreamer's Cafe @ Marina Square

Yen, Lina and I went to Music dreamer's cafe to support Woon jie & her 2 friends in their performance. The singing and music was great..though I'm not an expert in Chinese songs, their voices were so nice I couldn't help enjoying the ballads! And Woon jie, I think your voice and piano playing is really good lehz! I really admire people who can sing & play the piano simultaneously..I always go off key whenever i tried in the past..haha=)

jap desserts

2006-06-15T05:16:00.000-07:00

Azabusabo

Too bad Morton's was closed for a private event on Wednesday night..was really looking forward to the steak sandwiches and chocolate martinis Felicia told me about! Never mind Flea, we'll definitely check it out some other time k!

Anyz we chanced upon this jap dessert and tea restaurant--Azabusabo, which serves all sorts of jap desserts, green teas and also savoury food. I absolutely adore jap desserts cos i love their maccha ice cream, rice flour and sweet red bean filling (also known as anko)..

I had a kakigori..something like ice kachang (one of my all time favourite 'food') with ice cream, red bean and green tea syrup. It was delightful & refreshing! Perfect for summer=)

Flea had a really nice dessert of rice dumplings in a sea of sweet red bean filling plus maccha ice cream..Also very yummy..i couldn't help but help myself to her red beans!

happy birthday yen!

2006-06-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Birthday girl..

Thanks lots Yen Yen and family for the extremely tasty dinner..The food was abundant but we managed to finish most of it anyway cos it was just soooo yummy!

And it's always fantastic meeting up with the cousins and other relatives once again!

Thanks too for the unbelievably good chocolate birthday cake from bakerzinn! i'm gonna start ordering all my birthday cakes from there now!!

Anyz, while i was shopping for a present for Yen in the US, i chanced upon a Philosophy gift pack (with creams & some make up) which i nearly wanted to buy..partly cos i liked the words on the white bag so much! But later decided it wasn't worth the exorbitant price...Heh anywayz i'm sure the present we got for Yen in the end was much more to her liking!=)

But i just would like to share the words on the bag with everyone..They're so uplifting! For those who can't make out the blurry words on the picture, here they are:

birthday girl.

philosophy: Be grateful to have been given one more day, let alone one more year, remember to dance in your nightgown, to sing in the shower, ride a bike, fly a kite, and take an occasional "wind bath" in your bare skin, give those you love big kisses, huge hugs, and the words "i love you" often and always, nurture your body rather than starve your soul with fad dieting, spend time with the old and the weary to better appreciate your life, on your birthday, call your mother and father wherever they are to thank them for all that they have done for you, even if you think they haven't done enough, watch the movie "life is beautiful" at least once a year, remember that you are not guaranteed a tomorrow and that today is "as good as it gets", thank God for every "thing", every "day", every moment.

Lunch at sakae

steph, eliana, val, lijing, huiling

It was really nice meeting up with the other girls huiling, eliana & sylvia (who couldn't make it for lijing's birthday dinner) after soo long..hey sylvia dear, sorry we took the photo before u came! We'll take more this sunday @ sentosa k! heh :)

New Haven New Jersey..Singapore!

2006-06-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

3 cities in a week--New Haven, New Jersey, Singapore

Back home in Singapore! Finally!

I was soo happy when the plane finally touched down at changi airport. However exciting and interesting US may be, nothing compared to the warm fuzzy feeling that washed over me as I saw the sunny island with its HDB estates and palm trees. It feels really good to be home.. being with my dad, mum & sis..and my dog rocky!=) boo..rocky's lost so much weight cos i wasn't around to feed him my share of cookies, chocolates & cakes!

Been too busy settling in & continuing with my ophthalmology elective at NUH, and meeting up with family & friends to have time for jet lag! Haha...think i recovered from jet lag as soon as i hit the airport!;)

Anyz..after a month of general surgery, it sure feels great to be back at ophthalmology again! The people at the department, the ophthalmolscope, the lens, eyelids, cornea, optic nerve...i sure missed them! Heheh.

And..on Wednesday i met up with some of my dear girl buddies to celebrate lijing's birthday! We met at one of our fav girlie restaurants--Marmalade Pantry. So much fun, giggles, b*tching, indulging..the food was fantastic! And we had a lovely time.. here's a photo collage i took from lijing's blog with her permission..Like Lea says, lijing's camera takes really flattering shots..and the collage is so nicely done i just had to have it! Thanks again birthday babe! =)

But of course here are more pics of my favourite subjects..FOOD!
Salmon teriyaki with chilled soba..yummy yummy but definitely needs a larger serving..the salmon fillet was so small!

Chicken pot pie..my all time Marmalade pantry favourite! The biscuit is done just right! not too crispy, not too soft!

And the best part (well at least for me) were the cakes! And cos it was lijing's birthday, we got free ice cream to go with them! Lip-smackingly good!

Flashbacks..Here are some photos of my final leg in New Haven & New Jersey.. I had a great time, and was pretty reluctant to leave U.S..kinda sad the adventure had to end..Or maybe not!

NEW HAVEN

Dinner at Pacifico was rather expensive but the latin american food was unique and yummy.. esp Nic's spanish seafood paella..

Yale university

Yale medical school

Louis' Lunch Est 1895..Did you know hamburgers originated in New Haven? Yups..this place near Yale is famous for their original burgers..it's more like a sandwich with a generous serving of beef patty!

NEW JERSEY

Great bbq dinner at New Jersey with Nic's Aunt Sok & Uncle Ian.. Thanks dear for being such a great bbq chef! The beef and tuna were scrumptious!:D

I love New York!

2006-06-01T09:21:00.000-07:00

'If you can only have one great love, then the city just may be mine. ' --Carrie, Sex & the City

'I'm always surprised when anyone leaves New York. I mean, where do they go?' --Samantha, Sex & the City

I must admit New Haven is charming and peaceful and quiet ..But I somehow feel as if there is a layer of dust over this sleepy town that's getting on with her age & not keeping up with the times.

I took a side trip down to New York the other day cos I was bored in the Elm City.. So i hopped onto a train, tucked in with a really good book..'Style' by Kate Spade (haha i admit it's the pretty drawings and chic quotes which got my attraction)..And in 2 hours time, I was in Grand Central Terminal!

I felt as if I stepped into another world altogether. I've been to New York 2 years ago, and as soon as I stepped into Grand Central and its whirling crowds, deja vu hit me. All the excitment and adrenaline started rushing through my veins..The whiff of starbucks, the pulse of the peak-hour commuters, the incredible style & fashion in this city that never sleeps. I felt all energised immediately!

Thankfully, Mark was in New York, visiting his friend, so I had company for the day..We hit Fifth avenue at once, and allowed ourselves to be overwhelmed by the glitz & glamour of NY's haute couture..Tiffany's & Gucci..we just went in to gawk at the beautiful jewellery and clothes..and prices. Then of course there was Nike town, Abercrombie & Fitch.. The staff in Abercrombie were all so HOT..the girls & guys all looked like they had just stepped out from a summer fashion shoot! The store was so well decorated, with thumping music in the background and it seemed to scream 'Buy buy buy our american culture!' I tried to resist. Really. Visited the new Apple Store in fifth avenue. Daddy & Lina would have loved this place.. iPods, Mac, Genius Bar where you can get technical & creative help. I'm not a big Apple fan (not yet) but I was pretty blown away by the architecture & layout of the store!

We spent some time in Central Park, Soho, Greenwich village.. Greenwich village is generally known for its bohemian & alternative culture, and its colourful artistic residents.

There were many nice little cafes and restaurants..we were hungry and settled for an italian eatery round the corner. I had linguini al pesto which i totally enjoyed..The classic garlicky basil Pesto sauce is just perfect for summer! Too bad mark's spaghetti vongole was a tad too salty & the flavour of the wine wasn't really there..

And of course there was Times Square. There is no NY without its bustling bright famous square!
All too soon, it was time to hop onto the train and head back to New haven.. Oh well, at least i ended it with a very yummy dinner with nic! We both finished one large pizza (with extra cheese & meatballs) and 10 spicy chicken drumsticks/wings!

Last weekend in Boston

2006-05-29T17:29:00.000-07:00

Last boston weekend

Now i'm in New Haven..i'm missing Boston sooo much! All the memories of vanderbilt hall, longwood medical area, the tube, newbury street and of course, MGH..will be etched in my memory forever!

But it was a fabulous weekend to end off my stay in Boston! Nic came down from Yale, New Haven..and we had a sumptious dim sum lunch at Chau Chow in Chinatown. (Chinese food never tasted soo good!)
Nic, mark, doug (nic's cousin), steph @ chau chow

Nic really brought good weather with him! Boston turned all summery and pretty this weekend.. We had a nice walk across Boston common..where we saw people lazing by the greens, taking a ride in boats on the lake, and the animals werwe out and about too! Many squirrels scampered across our paths, and we saw a really adorable sight of a mother duck and her nest of ducklings! Aawwww...

Douglas, Mark, Nic & i had a really nice afternoon strolling along newbury street. Everyone was in their pretty summer frocks & laid back casuals and the al fresco cafes were all abuzz with people chilling over cappucinos and iced teas. The weather was also perfect for Ben & Jerry's ice cream..and the streets were filled with people licking their ice creams in sheer contentment.

Before dinner, we popped by Fenway Park for some phototaking. Vanderbilt hall is actually really near the park and Mark and I have been saying we must visit the stadium for a red sox game before we leave..but that never materialized. Well, next time I come to Boston i better catch a game! Fenway Park is the home of the Boston Red Sox, and resounds with the echoes of great baseball players: Cy Young, Babe Ruth, Jimmy Collins to name a few.

Dinner was another yummy affair. Met Joanna and other Sinagporean harvard students at Kaya, a famous japanese-korean dining place. It was a fantastic meal of BBQed succulent beef slices, beef tongues, kimchi, tofu, UNAGI (yay!!!) and rice.

Yups..anyways..i've had a really unparalled experience in Boston. And just wanna say a big 'Thank you' to all the nice Bostonians and non-Bostonians i've met..You've all made my stay in Boston a truly precious one, and i would not have given it up for anything else in the world!

Of course I can't forget to thank Mark for being a great hallmate! Thanks for helping me with my laundry..for all the conversations over dinners in the Vanderbilt kitchen..weekend breakfasts at Au bon pain or starbucks..Not forgetting that very good al dente pasta with pesto sauce and fresh juicy prawns that you whipped up..Not bad at all for a first try Chef Mark!

Bye MGH..I'm going to miss you!

2006-05-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

I can't believe 4 weeks just flew by! What can I say but it has been an incredible experience.. No words can describe the sense of contentment and acheivement i feel in overcoming the steep learning curve, cultural barriers and long hours standing in the OR! Haha.

I'm really inspired by the surgeons here. Their drive for excellence is manifested in their work attitude and aptitude. The hours they work, the sacrifices they make..it's really their passion for surgery that carries them through.

I'm also really thankful to have gotten a great supervisor. I think he's a fantastic surgeon with great dexterity! He's allowed me to close quite a few wounds (subcuticular stitching) by myself till i got quite decent at it. I even got the chance to do some laparoscopic surgery like inserting the trochars into the abdomen and clipping the bile duct laparoscopically!

Anyway, this was a trip where I met many new people, including the other 2 overseas medical students who were in the same general surgery service as me--Yoshua from Mexico and Joe from Taiwan. We didn't really hang out much during the 4 weeks of posting cos we were so busy and we were in different surgical teams. But we finally decided to have dinner together on the second last day of our rotation..after 3 of us had finished presenting for Baker rounds.

It was great! We talked alot..and it was nice to find out i was not alone in feeling sick and tired of waking up at 4am in the morning,walking in the cold boston drizzle, being a little put off by cultural differences and so on..Plus as we exchanged stories about medical school life in our different countries, we realised medical students from everywhere were all stressed and overworked. Haha.

Another girl i met who stays in the same hall as me is Mariko..a really pretty Japanese girl. She's a great cook, always grilling salmon and vegetables and other nice dishes with rice in the kitchen. We always bump into each other in the toilet at night cos we both have the habit of having late night showers..Haha..but it's great talking to her. She's one of the sweetest girls i've ever met!

Another new friend i made is a Singaporean girl doing her masters in Public health in Harvard..Geraldine. She's really nice, and it was Mark who introduced her to me. Thanks geraldine for hanging out with us..it was great fun! And thanks so much too for the purple bedsheets--they made my room feel so much more like home!

It was a great dinner at Cottonwood Cafe..strawberry magaritas..slurp slurp! And yummy Tex-mex food!

The food at Durgin Park, north hall..near quincy market was great too! very boston atmosphere..had their famous chicken pot pie, crab cakes, corn bread and chicken tenders..plus lots of fries!! Also met up with my distant cousins..One's from jakarta--Jovita, and one's from papau new guinea--Marcy. We had great korean steamboat at this cosy restaurant in brookline..The beef slices were so fatty and yummy!

Fabulous Boston Spring!

2006-05-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

Play in Boston 2

WHoo..the quote 'Whoever said shopping doesn't bring happiness doesn't know where to shop' is true! Yesterday was a saturday. I was at the hospital by 6am to do rounds cos my intern and resident were on call. We started at 6 and ended at 11! Cos we had to cover other teams as well.. By 10.30, my intern was grumbling that is was starting to feel alot like a medicine round. Haha guess some things cross cultures!

I was quite exhausted by then, and was ecstatic when my resident said to me 'Why don't you do yourself a favour and get out of here?' So I hit newbury street immediately! It's boston's quaint yet exciting street of shops--8 blocks filled with fabulous dining, boutiques and salons. I was happy as lark walking down the street, taking my time to browse through vintage clothing, 2nd hand kate spade bags & dkny dresses, people-watch the al fresco dining at Armani cafe, Stephanie's on Newbury's and Tealuxe, and spent a whole afternoon in Sephora at the nearby Prudential centre--I love the packaging of Philosophy, Too faced, Benefit, Cargo & Stila!

And to end off an already great day, Sabrina's brother and wife invited us to their place at MIT for dinner--Home cooked Hainanese chicken rice! It was Tracy's first time cooking but she did a great job! And it was just so great being in a homely environment eating home-cooked food!

Though we were stuffed, we still had cheesecakes from The Cheesecake Factory for dessert--fresh strawberry cream, godiva, vanilla bean, chocolate peanut butter! I think i've probably tried most of their flavours of cheesecakes already..Tsk tsk!

ANyz Mark's friend Sabrina is a really nice girl and we hit it off quite well. Here's some other pics..
We had dinner at Harvard's square's famous Bartley's burgers, where their burgers are named after presidents! Haha. But the burgers are fantastic..the meat is sooo thick and juicy and amazingly good..It makes the thin beef patties at Macs seem so miserable. And last week we walked an very long distance in the cold boston rain till our shoes & socks were soaked with cold rain water and our faces were beaten cold by the coastal winds just for good seafood. It's called the No name seafood i think..by the pier. We had totally yummy hot clam chowder, garlic bread, fried scallops and shrimps and the best best best boiled lobsters ever!

mark,lydia,tracy,sean,sabrina,steph

cHiLLiNg iN bOsToN

2006-05-14T16:49:00.000-07:00

Boston-Play
I have to apologise the photos don't really follow any chronological order.. they're just haphazard memories of mine!!

Vanderbilt Hall..the hall for harvard medical and dental students. It's a nice building..which Mark keeps saying reminds him of Hogwarts. Oh well i would like to think Hogwarts was grander, but the interiors of Vanderbilt are nice and cosy. And i've met some really nice people too! Japanese, Taiwanese, Americans, Singaporeans..it's a cool place!

And my room though small is a cosy little space..I'm always glad to return to it after a long day in the hospital..Especially after i fixed the desk lamp--all by myself!Haha i went through quite alot of trouble getting the extension cord, the lamp, the light bulb..so I'm very proud of it! It gives the room such a warm orangey glow!

With joline and mark at cheesecake factory (prudential)..just one of our several visits there. Well..don't blame us--blame the cheesecakes! Especially the Godiva, lime raspberry, the toblerone and reese's peanut butter cheesecakes! ;>

Another visit to the cheesecake factory (cambridgeside) with Em & Nic who came down to Boston for a few days and some other Singaporeans studying in MIT: Jian Long, Kah Keng and Kah Seng.

With Joanna and her friend.. we were watching a dance concert..felt a tinge of nostalgia when i went backstage and saw all the dancers with their costumes, makeup, dressing tables, flowers..

More photos to come...

Heh i have more time to myself now cos I finally finished my presentation for the Baker talk! It was one of the most stressful events in my life. It's a weekly journal club-cum M&M meeting, and visiting medical students may be arrowed to give a talk..In front of the whole MGH general surgery department, attended by other medical students, interns, residents and attendings.

I spent weeks mulling over my presentation topic. But finally decided on a recent journal article from Annals of Surgery on a randomized control trial comparing partial hepatectomy to Percutaneous local ablative technique for resectable hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC). Doing a pubmed search, I realized there is increasing debate over surgery vs less invasive techniques for many tumors. I chose HCC cos I figured that was one thing I might know better than them (since HCC is quite an uncommon cancer in the US)

Well despite not having much sleep a few nights in a row, and being extremely nervous (I could not stop shivering that morning--both due to the cold and the anxiety), the talk went well! The surgical oncology expert said my talk was very good and the study was a very powerful one. Yay. What made my day was when my supervisor said I did a good job, and the presentation was 'as good as it could get'. When I told him didn't sleep the whole night, he let me off early (4.30pm) But I was in too high a mood to go back early to sleep! So had a feast at cheesecake factory instead!

wOrKiNg iN BoStOn

2006-05-13T11:42:00.000-07:00

BOSTON-work (play will come later when i find time to blog again!=P)

It's been 2 weeks in Boston..but it's felt like 2 months or even years. These 2 weeks have certainly been one of the most unforgettable experiences in my life so far.

Not that it was FUN. No way. It was just so intense and demanding, yet so fulfilling and enjoyable. I've always liked working hard believed myself to have quite alot of drive and stamina. But compared to the general surgeons at mass general hospital I realize I a looonnng way to go..

I have always held some fascination and respect for surgery. There was just something about cutting through the skin and layers of fascia that seemed so violable, yet intimate at the same time. Then there were the people who practised this art—the surgeons themselves. These were people who with guts and grit—no pun intended—and seemed to thrive on stress and sleeplessness. Every hour of every day in every place—the operating room, the outpatient clinics, the wards—they made moment-to-moment decisions, about matters of life and death.

They were in the hospital by 6am latest to start rounds, then rush to the Operating room (OR) by 8am and operate till late in the day. After which they will do evening rounds and then head home--if there are no emergency night cases.

These 2 weeks I've been thrown unsuspectingly into this crazy world of theirs. In an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar faces, it really wasn't easy. My first few days were spend feeling cold, tired and sorry for myself. I felt so homesick. It didn't help I was attached to Baker team 5--one of the busiest teams in mass general. And my supervisor was Dr M L, a brilliant and skillful surgeon, but someone quite strict with very high expectations.

I had to wake up latest by 4am so I could reach the hospital for morning rounds. Then I would rush around to get the patient's files and charts. Then I would spend the rest of the day in the OR. These were probably my favourite times. I scrubbed up for all the cases, got to retract, cut, staple, use the GIA stapler, suture and even got to suture a whole incision using subcuticular stitching by myself!Of course my supervisor was watching over me the whole time so I had to keep telling myself 'keep cool steph'..

There really wasn't much time in between operations except to read up on the anatomy of the operation so you could answer the questions the attendings asked. It didn't help that the attendings in my team were all foremost surgeons in their field, having written books and lots of articles on their subjects.

Apart from anatomy questions they also asked things like who Kocher and Cushing were, what they were famous for, history of cancer etc etc. But it was fun. I realised that if I racked my brains hard enough and actually bothered to think, i could actually come up with the answers (though not always correct/complete)

I realised I never bothered to use my head much in Singapore. If a consultant or someone asked a question, I would: straightaway give an answer if i knew, or say whatever first came to my mind without thinking it over, or just shrug and say 'don't know'.. Or they would just give the answers straightaway without giving you the chance to figure it out yourself.

Here they gave you time to think as the surgery went on. And they wouldn't allow the interns or residents to help you. So there I was, finding myself very alone, watching the operation go on, yet racking my brains for answers and trying to remember anything I may have read before. It was stressful but exhilirating and addictive nonetheless.

My supervisor, a senior resident is a very smart, skillful surgeon. He was quite aloof at first but I've gotten to know him a little better. I guess he saw I was eager to learn. He is an intense guy but I like how he dispenses his advice..it's almost poetic! I'm someone who love quotes so I love it when people tell me important pearls of life, and I'll definitely remember them better..

'When I say pick up the skin, you pick up the skin and nothing else. One thing you must learn from this rotation is accuracy. It's very important in surgery, as in many things in life'

'When I move, you move. It's almost like dancing' (I was helping to grasp the skin as he cut the fascia')

'Even something as simple as closing the skin, you must focus. Cos if you do a perfect whipple but the skin gets infected, the patient can go downhill from there' (Can't remember exactly what he said but something to that extent)

Anyway I better go..it's like my only free saturday but I decided to use it to blog before I never get the chance to..(I gotta go for call on a sunday. argh) There's so much more I got to tell but i think it would never end if i carried on...

an eerily pretty night in boston as i walked back to hall one day

Boston here I come!

2006-04-26T17:39:00.000-07:00

The past few days i have been languishing around, feeling moody and hypothyroid (lethargic, slow mentation..i think we all know that lousy feeling).

But today i woke up and felt totally awake and energised! Finally snapped out of the dumpy blues! Yes!! Maybe it's cos the fact that I'll be leaving for Boston tonight has finally sunk in=)

And my bags are more or less packed..last night my parents had to help me with major repacking of my stuff to a bigger suitcase..haha..pillow, blanket, sleeping bag, clock, shoes, lots of clothes, a few heavy heavy books, thermos flask..all stuffed into a big blue luggage--30kg! Haven't packed all my toiletries (you won't believe how much i have!! they'll probably require another mini hand carry luggage of their own..haha)

But it feels so surreal..can't believe i'm leaving tonight! And knowing how GREAT i am at directions, i think i'm gonna have an adventure finding my way around Boston by myself! Hahaha..CAN'T wait!

I better start reading up on my general surgery though..heard the americans love asking questions, so each OT session is like a viva that lasts a few hours long..and I'm in a team that does lots of Whipples..Oh man, someone please save me! That's like how many hours (6 hrs at the very least!!) of standing, holding retractors and trying to answer questions of the pancreas, duodenum, biliary system...So better start reading...

i wish that was me studying..but i was actually diligently reading the menu at Lei Garden..Went there for lunch with my dad last sunday..their cantonese dim sum rocks!! Go try it!

sYdNeY Part II

2006-04-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

'Sydney, a free spirited, vibrant city built around one of the world's most beautiful harbours, with scores of sparkling beaches within easy reach of its cosmopolitan heart - that's Sydney, capital of New South Wales, Australia's largest and oldest city, a sparkling jewel by the harbour pulsing with energy and a dazzling city life...' Sydney was where my sister and I were born but we haven't been back since we were little kids! So it was a great feeling going back 'home', though I still felt very much a tourist in this pretty harbour city..

Haha..perhaps that's cos our dear daddy booked us a hotel that was right smack in the main shopping belt..where David Jones, Myers, Portsman, Supre etc were all at our doorstep. WHO's complaining? Not Us! :)

We met our cousin Ranui at the hotel lobby. It was wierd at first cos we hardly knew each other..but he was a great host to us over the next few days..and glad to say, we've gotten got much closer. Anyone going sydney next time, let me know-- i'll introduce you to the best tour guide ever! hehe..Plus, he's really popular with the girls (and guys) ;>
Dinner was at Customs house, in a really chi chi la la restaurant called Cafe Sydney. It was great meeting Aunt Alicia, Uncle Patrick, our pretty cousin Camille & her husband Theo. The rooftop restaurant commanded spectacular views of the harbour..AND the waiters. Haha No kidding. Especially the one serving us who said he was from S'pore! Think of the cutest TCS actor (erm is there one?), multiplied by a hundred thousand times!Trust me girls..this is one waiter you'll wanna tip. Hahaha.
Lina, steph, ranui, camille..long lost cousinsNext day was SHOPPING day! Haha lina & i were probably the 2 happiest girls in sydney that day. 'Nuff said. To serious shoppers, you must visit queen victoria building..it's a beautiful way to shop cos of its romanesque architecture..

i personally liked the Strand Arcade for its many espresso cafes, haute couture & australian fashion (think Alannah Hill, Lisa Ho, Zimmerman) Of course we could only window shop..though the clothes all looked sooo pretty. Sigh..can't wait to start earning my own money!

But to those who want more affordable brands, there are really great Australian ones like: Cue Design, Kookai, Country Road, the average brands like Sportsgirl, Portsman, Supre, and of course all those cool surf brands like Billabong, Quiksilver, Rip Curl..Ok, better stop--i'm starting to sound like i'm working for the fashion industry.

That night Lina and I met Aunt Alicia & Uncle Patrick to watch 'The Ring--An Orchestral Adventure' at the Sydney Opera House. Haha guess my sis and i aren't really the sort to appreciate orchestras, not to mention an orchestral 'adventure'. Haha Lina, only you and i know what happended eh..*wink* After that, Ranui brought us to this Sydney Blu Horizon Bar, where the view of the city at night was really breathtaking!

Day 3 in Sydney..was a blissful & wonderful day. After a hop-on hop-off bus tour of the city (made mandatory by dad..haha. But we enjoyed ourselves really!), ranui brought us to Manly..a seaside resort just a short ferry-ride away from sydney.

I loved the place as soon as I stepped foot on it. There was this relaxed & chill-out & happy atmosphere that washed over you immediately. Everyone was smiling & laughing..the beach & sea were filled sunbathers, surfers, swimmers, divers, snorkellers..Everyone & everything was beautiful! :)

Plus we had a 3 hour long lunch at Whitewater restaurant, where we chose to dine outdoors where there was a great view of the beach & surf..We had the seafood platter..a feast of lobster, crab, oysters, tiger prawns, salt and pepper squid, clams, and mussels. Ultimate freshness. Plus we had dessert of warm chocolate pudding with vanilla sauce, choc&hazelnut cake and smooth chocolate sorbet. Tell us one reason why we should stop smiling hah! =) =) =)

Later we hiked up some cliff..the view up from there was absolutely worth it!

The sun set from North Head was really pretty too..with cotton candy-coloured pink & purple skies tinged with orange. I love sun sets!

Sydney has been great..Just hope the wonderful memories never fade away!!=)

SyDnEy part I

2006-04-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

Haha here's part 1 of my blog on sydney..
And it's ALL ABOUT FOOD!

Juz look at the pictures which kinda say it all! Haha don't drool;)

And dun ask me about putting on weight..All food and no exercise, what do you think?! Haha but ok lah, we did walk alot: shopping in Sydney and hiking at Manly(a beautiful beautiful seaside resort a ferry ride away from Sydney)

Anyz..'There is no love sincerer than the love of food'--George Bernard Shaw

*smack lips*

auckland

2006-04-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Holidays April 2nd to 9th 2006 hello hello hello diary!

i've been wanting to blog about my recent trip to Auckland& Sydney but local electives have just been busier than i expected..That's cos you're expected to join all their extra activities in addition to clinics..like grand ward rounds, CME activities etc..which usually ends late in the evening. And they are all way beyond student level (like discussing the technicalities of cataract surgery, LASIK and so on..i tried to cover my sense of loss by scribbling notes (albeit sometimes unrelated to the lecture topic) down.

But it's interesting to hear them talk, and there's no stress that i must know everything. Plus the ophthalmologists are all really nice, especially my tutor, who let me use the slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopes on patients. I felt so 'pro' fiddling with the machines and wearing that head gear (which in my opinion all the female ophthalmologists look super sexy in) Haha. Except i looked like an idiot..i didn't even know where the light switch on after i put it on and adjusted it snugly to fit my head. So i had to take down the gear and examine all the knobs to decide which was the switch. All this in front of 2 ophthalmologists and the patient. Wah..paiseh.

Anyz, i gotta start preparing for my overseas elective too. Judging from Joline (who's doing the same general surgery rotation as me at harvard, but one month before me), the medical student is left by herself to clerk new admissions when you're on call. Boy, i wouldn't want to turn up on the first day of my rotation only knowing all about the eye. That'll be scary--for me, my tutors and the patients.

But ok..here's happy happy stuff. My trip to Auckland & Sydney was totally amazing, fantastic, mind-blowing, unforgettable..haha you get the idea. No No i didn't do crazy stuff but i met up with my dear Aunt Shirley, Uncle Sam and cousin Angela in Auckland, and Aunt Alicia, Uncle Patrick and cousins Ranui & Camille (& Theo) in Sydney. It's always great to catch up with loved ones, and meet long lost cousins whom my sis and i never knew.=)

But i'll blog about auckland first..sydney in my next blog..cos i'll need time to make the photo collages..There are just so many lovely pics i have more trouble deciding which ones to put up than actually making the collage itself!

In Auckland the first thing Lina and i did was to pay our respects to YeYe and MaMa, our paternal grandparents..We placed fresh bright flowers on their graves, and wished them a peaceful rest. I never knew them very well, but really, without them there wouldn't be my parents, not to mention me. So i feel we're always indebted to our elders. You know luo ye gui gen..falling leaves return to their roots.

Auckland felt so familiar to Lina and i. We did all the usual stuff..And like lina said..it brought back all the memories of our frequent childhood trips to Auckland. The house at sommerville, the mall at meadowlands (my gosh even the supermarket and video shop are exactly as we know it), the delicious dimsum (why is the dim sum in auckland TONS better than singapore's?), and my wonderful relatives..everything and everyone gave such a feeling of comfort and nostalgia.

Of course there were some changes..like the shops in newmarket seem alot trendier and higher-end, and there's the new mall Botany's (Angela's 2nd home!). And then of course there's us.. the 3 cousins who loved food, shopping, and gossip..well we still love all that, but we have definitely grown & matured(Yes we have!) The stuff we shop for (like work clothes, stylish heeled shoes, bags, make-up, skin care, blah blah)..The food and places we eat at (yes more cafes for us please..remember we're still spend an afternoon at that chi chi starbucks cafe in HK Landmark shopping centre)..The things we discuss (people, relationships, work..no politics yet please!)

Glad to see we've all wisened up somewhat..and no matter how old we are, we all manage to click like brownie and vanilla ice cream!

And thanks a million Angela for taking time off work to bring my sis and i around.. we enjoyed ourselves tremendously!

A perfect day

2006-03-31T05:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a perfect day...

Peaceful afternoon at spa botanica

An afternoon at sentosa's spa botanica was just what i needed...Haha my favourite part of these spas is actually pouring over the spa's menu and deciding which treatment you want to pamper yourself with. Heh. rather narcissistic and self-seeking but what the heck--if you don't indulge yourself, who will? ;>

There were endless choices..stress-relief massages, body wraps, aromatherapy massages etc etc..but in the end i decided on the sumatran coffee scrub..'Enliven your skin with this exfoliating blend of coffee, cocoa and cinnamon. Coffee has a diuretic and stimulating effect on the body. Cocoa is high in omega fatty acids that nourish and moisturise. Cinnamon gently warms skin to boost blood circulation.' Heheh sounds good eh?=)

Dinner with Nic was at Il Lido (the new restaurant at Sentosa Golf Club)..To those who love good food, great views, lovely ambience.. you HAVE to try this chic italian restaurant! Especially if you liked Pontini's..their head chef moved here..so you can be rest assured what you get is authentic fabulous italian food! The view is even better than The Cliff..cos what you see is an extraordinary view of the Singapore Straits. And if you go at the right time, you can catch a beautiful sunset!

And though I wanna gush some more about the view, their food deserves special mention. Nic had the veal cheek (special of the day)--I tried a piece since i was curious to know how veal cheek (yup the cheeks on the face, not butt--i hope) tasted--Oh my goodness, i don't think i can ever touch meat without thinking about that piece of divine-melt-in-your-mouth veal again.

I had their speciality: Aglio e olio pasta with sea urchin. What a name..Well it was really good, a little out of this world! i don't think i've actually pasta like that before..the sauce was actually mashed up sea urchin & italian parsley mixed with white wine, olive oil & garlic. The more i ate, the more i liked it, but it was finished all too soon. (Why are all their portions so small??)

To end off a really good meal, the dessert was just the thing. Venetian tiramisu..definitely one of the best i've ever tasted! A sure winner!=)
Well it was just an awesome dinner..Both Nic & i thought it was great..so here i am spreading the word! It's not as ex as certain restaurants, so definitely worth trying!;>

Lady's Card

2006-03-29T16:38:00.000-08:00

The UOB advertisement for their Lady's card is so cool! The TV version is even better..i like!

Hurricanes are named after me.

I am strong. I am tempestruous.

I am the calm of Audrey Hepburn

Before the storm of Charlie's Angel.

I may not be able to read road maps sometimes.

But at least I can ask for directions.

I love shoes; one pair is never enough.

I can do everything Fred Astaire did.

Backwards and in high heels.

I am woman, hear me roar.

be with me

2006-03-29T08:39:00.000-08:00

Yay Pathology is finally over!
Haven't stopped mugging since the start of 2004--first O&G, followed by patho..So I'm REALLY lookig forward to a holiday! Before the start of electives! Quick--Book spa, go shop, travel, check out nice restaurants & good food, get more than 4 hrs sleep a night, watch DVDs of the movies i missed--before electives start in a week and a half!

The patho paper today, by any standard/definition, was pretty screwed up. They tested us on topics that no one spotted--TB was reasonable, HCC was already pretty bad (it's such a rare cancer compared to liver/lung/breast/CIN/colon..), but the forensic qtn and the road traffic accident (RTA) qtn just left everyone totally flabbergasted..As i was answering the RTA qtn, i felt like i was in some emergency med exam or smtg. Oh well, but the 2 and a half hrs passed eventually..and believe it or not--It's finally officially post exams. Phew.

Anyz for those who want to watch a good movie, check out Eric Khoo's 'Be with me'. It's no longer showing but can go rent the DVD..It was the opening film at the recent Canne's film festival's director fortnight. Here's part of the film synopsis :

'..The cinematic equivalent of a hymn, Be With Me is a film about human beings and their search for love. In his latest film, Eric Khoo manages to explore the themes of urban loneliness and the sentimental "spleen'' without sinking into a cynical abyss. Neither does he resort to cruel psychological stereotypes. In fact, the film is a veritable song of hope; it reclaims the real meaning of the word "humanism"...'

The show really touched me..Parts like one girl's love for another had a kind of aching beauty to it, and the scenes of provision shops with tinned biscuits evoked nostalgia in me, but it was the devoted love of an old man to his wife that wrenched my heart with sorrow and hope..that such true love & commitment existed. Of course i cried..the tears were inevitable. Well i really liked the show..but of cos not everyone may agree.

Ok..time for sleep. Hehe some advice from magazines: Put night creams/serums at night cos skin is at it's most active repair rate while we sleep..cos it's not busy fending off environmental pollutants, UV light, etc etc. Haha that's why they call it beauty sleep. And that's why the fastest way to get premature skin ageing is to enter medicine where you have a surplus of stress, late nights, coffee and more stress to cause irreversible insult on your skin. Argh.

best mum and dad

2006-03-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

ok..oops sorry i have been totally negligent in blogging cos of mugging for patho exams, doing my UROP, preparing for overseas elective--can't believe harvard just replied--after i sent my applications EONS ago!=), etc etc..

but just wanna say a BIG 'Thank you' from the bottom of my heart to my wonderful parents.. for being sooo supportive of me going over to Boston for my overseas elective. Haha they're probably just as excited as I am..and I know the flight tickets, tuition fees and accommodation (not to mention my shopping/eating/phone expenses) are gonna add up to a frightful sum..but they are still so WONDERFUL about it! Hope I'll make full use of the elective & learn lots in massachusetts general hospital and not let them down!

and i wanna say 'Thank you' to a wonderful study partner too..who has made this whole period of studying for patho so much less lonely and boring..can't wait to cook us some dinner in new haven..haha

and lina...looking forward to spending quality time with my dear sister in sydney and auckland.. it'll be great hanging out with angela at sommerville again huh?!=) hang on..less than 2 weeks to go! Haha mummy & daddy have already checked out shows for the syndey opera house..They're such dears!;)

Bipolar girl

2006-03-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

i think we're all abit bipolar..i mean i was still high & happy not too long ago..but now just feeling kinda dysthymic (not yet depressed lah)

sigh..the moody side of me acting up again..heh..today i was getting irritated over insignificant things, having hot flushes & mood swings (oh dear..sounds premenopausal?) Must be the stress of the exams getting to me..Thankfully, i've got a great study partner(thanks dear!) who keeps me smiling with his funny smses & jokes=)

this world sometimes just throws funny things your way..and you just gotta accept it. recently i got good news..something i've been waiting very long for finally came true..but things just took an unexpected turn..and now i'm not sure whether to be happy or sad. haha ok maybe i'm just making a big deal out of things..like i always do..hmmph :/

oh well...right now pathology is my life (how sad is that)..i disliked patho in yr 2, but i realize it's soo different studying patho now in yr 4..starting to like it--even if it's just a teeny bit. But really, after going through clinicals & having learnt so much more, studying patho now is alot more meaningful to me. At least i now see a point in mugging papa & baby robbins!

a charming night at HV

2006-03-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

7th March 2006
Night out @ HV

Hey wendy dear! sorry for the late post..haha but anyz i had a great time that night! thanks babe! The food, music, gossip, relaxed atmosphere at holland V, ICE CREAM & waffles, and of course-- the company--were all divine ;)

Was feeling quite stressed in the med lib that day, seeing how hard everyone was mugging..but the pressure was good in a way i guess--At least it made me realize i had been playing a bit too much..tsk tsk. So have started to study harder the past couple of days..yay, feeling like a good girl again..haha

Anyway, wendy & i planned a girls' night out @ HV, and i wasn't gonna let patho spoil my mood! We had a yummy dinner at Sushi Tei..Haha i was so happy to find out wendy & i were both unagi lovers! There was this unagi roll which was beyond delicious-- a thick juicy slab of unagi on top of a sushi with sweet tamago in the centre..Thankfully it wasn't cheap..Any cheaper and they would have had me hooked!

Apart from the usual sushi & agadeshi tofu, we also indulged in soft shell crab that was so good to eat cos it was deep fried & crispy & oily..Man, lucky we lost count of calories..Cos we went Gelare next! hehe.

Yup, the main reason why we decided to come on tuesday was cos it was halfprice-for-waffles-day at Gelare..and for those who haven't tried Gelare waffles, sigh..you don't know what you're missing! Please try!! Top up the waffles with ice-cream & fresh whipped cream, and the effect is almost as good as LSD..Haha..To top off a great night..we found great music @ Wala's! Tuesday nights are not so crowded, so we got seats near the stage..the music was good..and we recognized all the songs they played that night..so basically, we had a blast! =) but we decided to call it a night after we started looking polycythaemic despite less than a full glass of drink each..haha, so lousy rite..i think i'll die of plethora (can u die such a death?) first before i ever become an alcoholic!

a vote to stay or change

2006-03-06T03:24:00.000-08:00

My good friend once told me 'The one who cares the least is the one with all the power.' i think it's true to a certain extent..

oh well my problem is kinda silly i guess. today we all got to place our votes on whether to stick to the same cg or change cg. I thought about it quite alot and finally decided to stick to my cg.. after all i felt i had gotten to know the people there alot better the past year or so and i had certainly learnt alot from them. Sure it was stressful but i think pushing myself has made me a better and improved person. Most importantly, i honestly liked my cg mates quite alot..So i was kinda upset though not surprised to hear that only me & another person had voted to keep the cg..everyone else had voted a change..Sigh. Silly of me to get upset over it, but i couldn't help feeling a tad sad for the rest of the day..

And it didn't help when i heard most of our other classmates had voted to keep the cg..Nic's cg even had a discussion and ALL unanimously voted to stay together..

Ok but i'll snap out of it..maybe all they wanted was a change..not that i mind..Look on the bright side..It's always nice to make new friends =)

a night of Mexican food & taboo!

2006-03-03T18:59:00.000-08:00

Gathering at Nic's
CG 6 & 13 & a few other lovely guests

The food was great! Tacos with beef & onion, corn, cheese, refried beans & other fillings prepared by Nic..Capsicums stuffed with minced meat & Dominican fried rice coustesy of Hong Yi, Sangria prepared by Ramesh (which I got all RED from by just half a cup!), Konnyaku jelly by Delice, Banana & strawberries dipped in chocolate fondue prepared by LiQi (best thing was it was sugar-free yet tasted better than normal chocolate!), Apple enchiladas--apple pie filling wrapped in flour tortillas--baked by steph..

Some shots of everyone having fun at the party..

HongYi, YanXian, LiQi & Nic

Jason, Errol, Reema, SuiAn, Delice & KunDa

Kun da the jelly monster

Steph, PeiLing, Nicola & Emily

Taboo Time! First, cg 6 against cg 13, followed by guys against girls..can't remember who won..Haha

Our dear host Nic & his favourite party game Taboo=)
CG 6: hongyi, nic, errol, liqi, reema..missing ramesh & delice
CG 13..kunda, steph, emily, sui an, jason..missing winston & clinton

Anat group mates still after years..heh we should organize an anat gp gathering soon! steph, nic, kunda, xinni.

Dinner time!

2006-03-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

1st March 2006

me & some of my cousins ..

mummy, daddy & me..

yay..finally took a photo with you, yen!=)

Two of my male cousins..one's 27 & the other's 25 yrs old. They're rich, handsome, suave and one is a Star in HK..haha..but sorry girls, they're VERY taken..Not only are they married, they're both fathers now! That's why we were having the dinner..celebrating the belated one month birthday of one of their newborns..Savanah! Here she is..such a cutie pie! And that's her dad on the right..(shirley, judy & woon jie..here's the photo you've all been waiting for..haha);> And here's my family with the Chow family..My aunt & uncle are in their 40s but already have 2 beautiful daughters-in-law and 2 beautiful grand daughters! How lucky!
Anyz the food was GREAT! I haven't stuffed myself with such good food for a really long time.. Sharks fin, abalone, sea cucumber, goose, mushroom wrapped in beancurd skin, pomfret with salted vegetables, century egg with fried silver fish, sweet cakes & dumplings..all sorts of chinese delicacies really! I felt terribly sinful but couldn't stop eating!=P

And my aunt got all of us L'Occitane soaps as a token of appreciation for coming for the dinner..the soaps were soo fragrant! i can't bear to use them!

Frisbee Fun

2006-02-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

27th feb 2006
Frisbee at Botanical Gardens

the girls=)

relaxing at the orchestra stage while waiting out a passing shower..and having a picnic..

Wow..i've concluded: too much studying is BAD for your health!

Today i was SOB (short of breath)+++ after just a game of frisbee @ botanical gardens.. and it didn't help that i sorta forgot a frisbee is supposed to be thrown horizontally instead of vertically.. hahaha. But it was FUN FUN FUN!=) Though there was once when i collided with ramesh and thought i had ruptured my spleen or liver or worse--an abdominal aortic aneurysm..for the rest of the game i was unconsciously watching out for signs of a haemoperitoneum..crazy girl.

And i went running with Van after that..but i immediately regretted it once i started. I was damn freaking tired..but i kept telling myself not to give up (i love running..but stopped for some time when the O&G exams were drawing near)..and Van is so FIT! it was not easy keeping up. Honestly, i felt sharp chest pains and kept wondering if i was having an AMI or smtg. But i started to relax after a while and decided to stop my Medical Student Sydrome nonsense. (Haha that's what one tutor called it when i asked the tutor if i might have some sort of neuropathy cos my feet kept jerking involuntarily)

But anyz it was a great day..exercise always makes you feel really GOOD about yourself. I feel so much healthier and more muscular already..haha. Yeah right, like one day makes a difference girl..Hehe but to me it does--so who cares!;>

all sweaty and tired--but happy--after an afternoon (ok, more like an evening) of frisbee..After that we went Adam Road food centre..had a bowl of the famous delicious prawn noodle..felt i deserved all those calories after running so much! hehe.

girls' night out

2006-02-26T04:34:00.000-08:00

25th february 2006

Well i've kinda recovered from feeling sad..heh a pretty fast recovery but decided no point brooding anyz!

Saturday night out with the girls was really fun..thanks lea & syl! =) We missed you lijing!

Dinner at Sun With Moon at wheelock was great..took sylvia's advice and had the kamameshi, the restaurant's speciality--something like claypot rice, jap style..heh. It was pretty good..just wish mine had more unagi though..haha. I LOVE unagi!

And we had yummy desserts to satisfy our sweet tooth cravings..lea had sesame pudding, syl had konnyaku jelly with ginger ale, steph had tofu cheesecake (which tasted like normal cheesecake) except it was sooo pretty! It came in a bamboo cage with an origami paper crane next to it..i felt bad eating it.. After dinner we walked around orchard..hoping but doubting any shops were still open at 9pm. But to our delight, shaw isetan was still open! Although the shops were so obviously closing we were still determined to a bit of shopping..haha. talk about shopaholics..plus lea & i were suffering from severe shopping cravings after not shopping for soo long!

that's us, still shopping when all the make-up counters were closed..haha

Sylvia said we had to get some drinks, since both of us didn't drive, which was quite rare..heh. so we checked out the balcony at heeren, but didn't stay cos there were no empty seats..But we DID get stopped at the door by the bouncer who thought we looked 18!!! Haha we were delighted;>

Anyz we ended up at the wine bar..shared some drinks, gossiped some more, started to feel flushed and sleepy, so we left..

Totally zonked out without drying my hair or switching off my room lights once i got home.. What a week!

26th February

Today was a GREAT day..spent it with two of the dearest persons ever--Nic and my mum!

haha had a Yummy yummy lunch of XO fish head bee hoon @ Holland drive with Nic..the soup version was just DIVINE!! then we went Settler's cafe to play some games..argh i think my brain is too fried after O&G, couldn't concentrate or strategize at all!! all i could concentrate on was how nice my root beer float with vanilla ice cream tasted..

And spent the late afternoon shopping with my mum..gosh i've never felt such a strong impulse to spend like today! Tsk tsk..guilty guilty=/ Heh ok never mind, i'll just spend less for the rest of the month..haha which is ending anyway! Here comes march!;>

Finally

2006-02-25T01:09:00.000-08:00

Dear God

Please give me the peace to accept the things i cannot change,

the courage to change those that i can,

and the wisdom to know the difference.

Sigh..O&G is finally over..it has been a LONG and mentally, physically and emotionally draining 8 weeks..After Obs ended today, i just cried..partly cos the examiners were drilling me so unsmilingly, and partly from all the stress of the MBBS coming to an end. It didn't even hit me my posting was actually over. And i just woke up from an afternoon nap, where i was being chased for a third case write up. Ok this has got to stop..

ALrite..no point brooding over it now...At least i know i tried my best, and prepared as much as i could! heh will be going out to meet my dear gfs now! hopefully some time with the girls will cheer me up!=)

drained

2006-02-21T00:54:00.000-08:00

I'm really really tired..from all the late nights, the early mornings, the last minute cramming of facts, the non-stop worrying about my clinical tests, the fact that i need coffee to sustain me through the day, the thought of wasting such a sunny day by staying cooped up at home or in the library, the stress on everyone's faces, the growing eyebags on mine...

I am soooo looking forward to a well-deserved break! And the spoiled brat in me is just hankering after some pampering..massage, spa, retail therapy..haha. and i wanna just lie in the sun and get my melanocytes stimulated by the UV rays for all i care.

Ok enough of daydreaming and back to work...But to be honest, the more i study, the more i enjoy O&G, or more accurately, medicine in general. I love talking to patients and seeing them laugh..they're really the ones who keep me going, who remind me why i wanted to do medicine in the first place. Everyday i may go to sleep tired, and even wake up tired, but in my heart i know it'll all be worth it. Every second, every wrinkle, every worry of my little life.. it'll all be worth it, i know.

bEsT fRiEnDs

2006-02-11T22:21:00.000-08:00

Best Friends

hey val babe..it was wonderful meeting up with you on saturday--as it always is. No matter what, i feel like we always have stuff to talk about & that we have no problem connecting no matter where we left off...heh that's why we're best friends i guess! hehe..

And though i know lots and LOTS of things have happened these few years--for good and bad--i'm really thankful for our enduring friendship=) it still amazes me when i think about how much we've grown since we were innocent girls who wore our belts too high in sec 1 to who we are now. but thanks for the memories..will always remember the fantastic time we had cheerleading for WADDLE house together, dancing in all those abstract dances of lao shi's, meeting up everytime you're back from down under..Thanks for everything girl..just hope you continue to stay strong & beautiful! Love ya!

8th february

2006-02-07T14:16:00.000-08:00

i will always treasure this day..:)

to my favourite guy: thanks for everything..including picking me up from the airport, going for salsa classes with me, making sure i eat more than a few grains of rice, making me laugh, calling me silly names like you-know-what..haha..and lots more!

Just the two of us

I see the crystal raindrops fall

And see the beauty of it all

Is when the sun comes shining through

To make those rainbows in my mind

When I think of you some time

And I want to spend some time with you

Just the two of us

We can make it if we try

Just the two of us, just the two of us

Just the two of us

Building castles in the sky

Just the two of us, you and I

We look for love, no time for tears

Wasted water's all that is

And it don't make no flowers grow

Good things might come to those who wait

Not to those who wait too late

We got to go for all we know

Just the two of us

We can make it if we try

Just the two of us, just the two of us

Just the two of us

Building castles in the sky

Just the two of us, you and I

I hear the crystal raindrops fall

On the window down the hall

And it becomes the morning dew

Darling, when the morning comes

And I see the morning sun

I want to be the one with you

what a week

2006-02-02T05:38:00.000-08:00

Life just keeps getting busier! anyway yay finally got my camera back..so here's the photos my cg took at our very rare 'cg lunch' with leonie the exchange student from indonesia.. Heh but it was a fun lunch anyz..had a good laugh joking abt the you-know-whos!

on thursday, after a whole morning of neonatology lectures, quiz & tut in KK, it was lunch break..before we had a tutorial in the afternoon which ended at 4pm, then we had to rush for our next tutorial in NUH at 4pm. So there we were--4 medical students scuttling around in our labcoats..didn't even have time to take them off in the car..Haha, what a silly sight we must have been!

anyz on friday, i spent one whole wasted morning at kelantan clinic..only did one speculum examination. But i left the clinic with a choked up feeling of sadness and disappointment--not so much cos there weren't more patients to practise speculum exam on (DUH)--But because the sex worker simply left me feeling inexpicably confused..

perhaps i had never come face to face with a sex worker before..but her nonchalant talk about business being bad (bad means about 10 guys a day) left me disgusted yet sorry all at once. at that time i couldn't help but view prostitution as a thankless and grim occupation that degrades not only the prostitutes themselves but the whole feminine gender as well.

But after thinking about it for sometime, i do realize not all prostitutes are abducted and forced into prostitution..some are there out of their own will, some because of poverty, and some--esp the smart attractive ones--probably make 'more money than consultants do' (like my friend winston said). Nonetheless, what ever their story is, i just feel kinda sorry..

On a happier note, hey angela: here's the photo we took at the airport while you stopped over from shanghai back to home sweet home auckland! hope you're enjoying the nice sunny weather back home..and relishing the 7d dried mangoes..Hahaha..let us know if you crave for more!=)

And hey nic & ramesh, from the way you guys talk about O&G..i think you're probably 2 of the very few guys who are more comfortable in the posting..probably cos you're such lady killers! haha;>

in love with a geisha

2006-01-30T07:11:00.000-08:00

gEiSHA gLaM

i went to watch Memoirs of a Geisha alone..hehe it was kinda fun watching a movie by myself..i mean i usually go shopping alone cos i enjoy the freedom to Spend Spend Spend and linger over pretty stila products without worrying about making others wait...but i never tried watching a movie alone..but to those who think it's wierd walking into a cinema alone, i say--Try it! it's a strangely cathartic experience!

i was so enchanted by gong li's beauty i couldn't stop wishing they would stop showing zhang ziyi's and michelle yeoh's faces and show more of hatsumomo (the angry jealous but nevertheless beautiful geish played by gong li) Oh gosh..how can someone look so fantastic at 41? perhaps some women just grow more beautiful with age? heh that gives all of us not-too-pretty girls out there some hope? or there's always plastic surgery...nah

but gong li aside (i better stop before i sound un-straight..haha), the movie got me quite interested in geishas..the word geisha means 'artists' in japan..'A geisha will make herself a living work of art, and the goal they work for is one that can never be reached-- perfection in their chosen skill, whether of music, dance, or singing. A geisha attempts to make her life art, and polish her character until she shines with it. She sells ideas, dreams, and fantasies. She will hint at her sexuality, but never flaunt it.' In fact, the idea of sexual favors being included as part of their "entertainment" is reprehensible to most geisha, at least the serious ones.

A successful geisha must demonstrate beauty, grace, artistic talent, charm, impeccable etiquette, and refinement..Wow..i doubt we have any equivalents of geisha in our society but i would definitely love to see such culture, beauty and elegance (all of which i think are sorely lacking in our society) around!

'What attracts a woman to this profession is, above all, the conscious and deliberate choice to make art her life.'--Liza Dalby, author of Geisha

"Charm is arranging kindness, teasing, and wit into something that will please the ear." --Shizuka geisha.

hAha ok so now i'm a little more inspired to be more graceful & poised, less klutzy & ungainly.. heh wish me luck!

"Just be yourself, but with a geisha twist." --Shizuka maiko Kitsuneko, on how to be a successful geisha.

quiet reflections on chinese new year

2006-01-28T21:22:00.000-08:00

Chinese New Year 2006

'The best cure for the body is a quiet mind'--Napolean Bonaparte

but a quiet mind is hard to come by even when one is alone.

It was an uncommon feeling..to feel bored and restless on chinese new year. i woke up expectantly, like today was supposed to be some special day..but all that greeted me was quiet.

i had a nice time alone at the breakfast table, savouring my favourite meal--cornflakes and milk--and snacking on all the new year goodies that were untouched and begging to be eaten. It was relaxing browsing through the newspaper page by page--a luxury i hardly have time to do since o&g posting started. i was just beginning to enjoy having the house to myself when the neighbours started waking up..

as strains of chinese new year music and hearty laughther wafted in from the windows i felt a pang of nostalgia and ache for my family and relatives. i called my sister, who was alone in HK..and i took some comfort that i wasn't the only one in the world spending new year alone. she was just about to go shopping by herself, which made me feel a sudden urge to get out of the house and get soem retail therapy for myself, so we both wished each other luck that the shops would be opened, greeted each other happy new year again, and hung up.

so now i am gonna put on some bright coloured dress for the sake of it being a festive season, grab the keys and maybe catch a nice movie to lift my spirits.

but i do miss her, and the good old days, and i doubt i'll ever get used to growing up. and i know for sure that while being alone gives you freedom and independence, i think i'll always need loved ones around me to keep me feeling alive=)

'The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was never found solitary in any breast. '-- Buddha

a house warming

2006-01-21T17:13:00.000-08:00

21st Jan 2006, Saturday
Luan jie's & Julian's house warming
at a bali-resort looking house along jalan istimera, just next to jelita :)

It's family time!

Saturday, also known as salsa day for me..heh i realli look forward to my weeky salsa classes at attitude dance studio with Nic. Haha nic is a great salsa partner.. he gets the steps pretty fast! no wonder there's this other girl who's always rushing to partner him..hehe;>

And i absolutely love my salsa teacher who's called lavina but we all call her luv..she's HOT! Tall and sexy with beautiful eyes.. and she can really move her body!

This session was fun..i especially liked the enchufla move! think it'll look really nice if done fast and professionally..haha i'm sure we'll get there eventually..just need to practice more!;)

In the evening i had my cousin (luan jie's) house warming. She and her husband have the perfect family..3 very beautiful kids--a daughter and 2 sons--who are absolutely heart-melting!

luan jie and her daughter joanna

my charming nephews..christopher and matthew (who's got a way with women..watch out girls!)

It was great meeting up with all my cousins and aunties..(most of the uncles were too busy/lazy to come) I really enjoy hanging out with my cuzzies cos they're all such happy people. They enjoy great food & shopping & gossip nonstop! There's no place without loud mirthful laughter with them around..they're what i call having the SPIRIT!

woon jie and me

my lovely cousins! hmmm..where have all the guys gone? for some strange reason the guys are mostly overseas..or weren't around for the photo..hehe

And it was great meeting new people too! like jaime, this tennis pro who's only 1 yr older than me but was the first singaporean to go to the american tennis academy..she was telling me she was in the same class as andy roddick and played against the who's-who of tennis like kim clijsters! whoa..

Malathi

2006-01-21T09:41:00.000-08:00

20th Jan 2006
Malathi's wedding

I remember the day when Malathi shyly told me, 'Steph, i've got something to tell you--i'm getting married!' I was ecstatic! No wonder something was different about her that day we met over coffee & tea at the AH cafeteria--there was a glow about her that i felt--though she was still the same dear Malathi to me.

Malathi and i met at one of the wards in AH at the start of my 3rd year medicine posting. She's a regular patient there because she has SLE. For those who know her, it's terrible how much she's been through, yet at the same time it's amazing how she keeps such a bright outlook to life! Honestly i don't think i would have the strength of character to stay so happy and cheerful..already with all my blessings--good health, caring parents-- i'm still b*tching about life more than i think necessary.

Anyway, she's one of those few angels in the world whom i really respect..and i'm proud to say we've become fast friends, meeting once in a while to catch up over dinner--whether in town, near her home or even at her home for deepavali dinner or even over a ballet concert under the stars! And i never thought the day would come when i would attend her wedding..I knew she always wanted to get married but was always discouraged by the men who could not accept her chronic disease and cushingnoid habitus (because of her steroids) Thus i'm truly happy for her and so honoured to be invited! She knew my ex-CG mates and invited them as well, but wendy and i are the closest to her and probably the most excited about her getting married. (Haha wendy was screaming with joy when Malathi and i called her to tell her the good news!)

Wendy and i went shopping for a wedding gift and got her a dining set..we were lugging this HUGE box of fragile crockery into the temple and when we saw no one else carrying presents we were having second thoughts. heh. Also we were seriously thinking of turning back to change into our prom dresses (we were wearing our work clothes) when we saw how beautiful the ladies were in their colourful saris and stunning gold jewellery and pretty flowers in their hair! But we saw the men wearing jeans and even berms(!!!) and decided we were't so bad after all.

Well we enjoyed ourselves tremendously, though we didn't really understand the ceremony. But it was a different and novel experience which we really appreciated.

Haha then came the last part of the day which was probably our favourite too..dinner time! We treated to a really sumptious meal at the canteen of the temple..fragrant saffron rice, crispy fritter, vegetable curry, vegetarian 'beef rendang' etc etc. And we had the remarkable experience of eating with our hands. We were trying hard to mimic the people around us but the rice kept dropping onto the plate before it reached our mouth. Hehe the Indian ladies next to us took pity and kindly taught us the correct way..We got better but still ended up being one of the last few to finish. Haha..unforgettable!

beautiful babies

2006-01-13T08:21:00.000-08:00

Jan 13th 2006
My first week of Obstetrics at the delivery suite and antenatal ward was tiring but wonderful-- Tiring because I was always rushing to be at ward 96 before 7.30am for Q&A sessions (every mon, wed & fri) where we got grilled by difficult mcqs and tutors; Wonderful because of the babies and their mothers (and dads). The joy written all over their faces is just amazing and very contagious! It gives me a rush of something indescribable, like i've just witnessed some miracle taking place. And i just can't help but be thrilled by the fact that we all actually went through such a tiny stage of life! haha

A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on --Carl Sandburg

Babies are such a nice way to start people --Don Herrold

And not forgetting the mothers of course, who i can't help but find really beautiful. You know what they say about mothers looking their worst during labour? It's not true at all! They look gorgeous, even sans make-up or jewellery. I find the whole process extremely touching--that a mother has to go through sooo much to bring her own child into this world. And the serene smile on her face after her baby is brought to her is perhaps the one of the greatest sense of satisfaction one can ever experience!

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. ~Rajneesh

A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. ~Tenneva Jordan

Then there's the dad, or rather, dad-to-be. He is the anxious man pacing around the corridors outside the delivery suite before the wife is in labour. He is the loving husband staying by his wife's bed the whole time she is in labour, trying to be strong and encouraging with a brave smile and reassuring words of 'Push, you can do it, push!'..Yet the worry in his eyes betrays the concern he has for his wife and child. To me, it is a handsome picture of love and strength.

There are three stages of a man's life: He believes in Santa Claus, he doesn't believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus. ~Author Unknown

Women's Liberation is just a lot of foolishness. It's the men who are discriminated against. They can't bear children. And no one's likely to do anything about that. ~Golda Meir

We Miss Crystal!

2006-01-06T08:34:00.000-08:00

6th Jan 2006

my cg mates..sui an,clinton,kunda,me & crys

Whew..just got home.. A whole week of O&G lectures are no joke! and it's amazing we survived 9 hrs of lectures & 2 PISERS (heheh it was fun but i think the system couldn't take our ethusiasm towards the end) today!

Well despite all the spirit-crunching pressure we've been experiencing in O&G, today it was wonderful meeting our dear friend and ex-CG mate from cambridge..Crystal (jing jing).

Hey girl, what can i say--but i really really missed ya! I miss having someone to banter, gossip, and laugh with! I'm glad you're enjoying youself in Cambridge, but i know i'm always gonna miss the great times we had.. i still remember the little things like laughing alot along the halls of IMH with you, us trying understand thalassaemia in KK macs, the CG outings we always talk about but which never seem to happen (haha)..and lots more!=)

Well, we had fun (as we always do) tonight at Pizza Hut! Lots of laughs..great food..delightful company..i'm sure we all had a great time. Take care girl..see ya again soon! looking forward to it already;)

yummy pizza..chicken bak kua slices, mayonaise, cheese and chicken floss toppings on a thick doughy crust..just for chinese new year!

'summer vegetable' soup.. wishing it were 'salmon and vegetable', which i heard wrongly as. hehe. but honestly, think it tasted just minestrone soup

kenon, crys, jason. haa kenon totally entertained us with stories of guys being 'market spoilers' in his salsa classes.andrew, crys, sharon, elaine. hey elaine glad someone loves 'Memoirs of a Geisha' too! no prob, i'll lend u my book..can't wait for the movie! these 3 girls--sharon, crys and weiying-- really know how to pose! haha=)

darryl & crys..harhar can't believe darryl believed clinton that mok (an elective student from penang who joined us for dinner) was her bf!

crys and me..thanks for being such a great friend!=)

* picture of crystal hitting clinton * censored by request. hahaha

the start of work

2006-01-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was the start of a new posting..but I started it off feeling not-too-great about myself, basically cos of my anaesthesia marks. guess it's partly cos everyone in my cg is so freaking smart and do so well, plus my self esteem isn't that high to start of with.
But it's silly wallowing over marks..
Anyz i was really cheered by several things and people..there are always angels to brighten your day! And like i've heard in a song once..'If we don't count our blessings then we're wasting our time..' So true=)

yIPpee! my wonderful dear mother came home from HK last night. Thanks ma for jetting back and forth HK and s'pore to look after your daughters..We love you! *Hugs*

Thanks bunches munches Zhimin for these fried cookies from taiwan! They're delish, like nothing i've tried before! Only thing is..my family opened the box while i wasn't home today and there aren't many left now..hmph.So rocky my dog only gets a tiny piece from me!
And of cos, thanks so much once again to you and your aunt for bringing my sis, cousin and me around taiwan.. Had a great time that day..probably wouldn't have gone so many nice places if you weren't there!
Thanks Lina for the lovely agnes.b black pouch..i was really desparate to get a new pencil case to replace my old and scruffy ROXY one(though i'm gonna miss it..had it since RJ times=p) But i was ABSOLUTELY delighted to see the black agnes b box Ma left on my bed last night.. I really like it..so classy. Love ya girl, you're the best!=)
Thanks to a gentleman called Sui An.. for helping me with my heavy stuff in the HOT sun! hey girls, he's VERY available! hehe

And thanks loads Wendy for the sweet card and message, the lovely crabtree and evelyn toiletries, and the dining voucher for Top-of-the-M! I've always wanted to go there..yay. Please thank your sis for me..And she's most welcome about the dress..bet she looked fabulous in it.. it's one of my fav gowns too!

taipei trip..i miss dou jiang you tiao=)

2006-01-01T22:25:00.000-08:00

December trip to taipei

along the streets of taipei..after a yummy breakfast of dou jiang you tiao and other steamed breads with different types of fillings like vegetables, yam, egg yolk..the you tiao was so light and crispy it just melted in your mouth! pair that with warm, not-too-sweet dou jiang--heavenly! for once, i didn't mind not having cornflakes with fresh milk for breakfast!=P

A merry christmas eve dinner at WASABI, the famous japanese restaurant at 101. since we didn't make prior bookings, we had to eat late at 9pm..we were so famished that sashimi and even sea urchin never tasted so GOOD!

my cute and bubbly sister.. a gong li-look alike!

spent christmas in taipei..well it wasn't snowing so it wasn't exactly a white christmas like i would have liked, but it was cold so that was enought to make me happy!
taipei was really enjoyable..eating the little snacks at the night market, along the streets, shopping at ximending (funky trinkets and jap-inspired street fashion) and 101 (christian dior, paul & joe, hugo boss, aka i-can't-afford) taking in the sights of china's lost treasures at the national museum..BUT most of all, it was wonderful just to spend time with my family..really missed my sister and my mum, both of whom were in HK before the trip (my sis is studying med in HK) It felt fantastic to hang out as one complete family again--with an extra--my lovely cousin angela! she had just completed a job stint in shanghai and was on her way back to NZ, so she joined us for a short break.. haha she turned out to be the most tireless and determined shopper of us all! it was FUN having her around!
now we're all back in our respective countries..my sis in HK, angela in NZ, me in S'pore.. i miss them tons..but we'll meet again don't worry! Love you all!

ON TOP of 101.. the tallest building in the world! we were just posing with a picture of it=)

maiden post

2006-01-01T21:34:00.000-08:00

31st dec 2005 to 1st Jan 2006

rocky, charlie, xiao die and their proud owners at tanjong beach..it was a tiring day of swimming in the sea for the dogs! dogs are truly the cutest & most loyal friends men will ever find=)
Ushering in the new year at the Balcony outside Heeren..with my babelicious gfs leanna and lijing. poor sylvia's car ran out of petrol.. we missed her!