1) What an incredible time it has been for me back home - great food, great weather, and great company - but most importantly free from the hustle and bustle of work. These past two weeks have flown by much faster than I would have liked, but I am really glad that I made the choice to save up all my annual leave for this. After working for seven months without much (i.e. any) break, it was clear that I needed some time to destress and recharge my batteries.
2) And recharge my batteries I certainly did. Everyday, my parents would try their best to spend as much as possible with me, showing me around and introducing me to what I've really missed - good proper food! We would target different restaurants and cafes each day; the latter of which Ipoh has become quite well known for lately, with hipster cafes and food trucks sprouting everywhere. In the process, I've regained much of the weight I lost these past seven months, along with some semblance of mental health.
3) Now on to some important news. My 87 year-old grandfather fell down at home a few weeks ago, suffering a left intertrochanteric neck of femur fracture as a result. After weighing our options, and despite the fact it would be high-risk, we went ahead with a left cemented hemiarthroplasty at Fatimah Hospital. It is a testament to the expertise and quality of care that he received, that there were no post-operative complications, pain was well-controlled, and he was mobilising with a walking frame and assistance from the physiotherapy team.
4) It has been three weeks since the operation. Since then, we have had two follow-up appointments at the hospital, once for wound review and blood results, and the other for removal of sutures (STO). Caring for my grandfather along with my dad has made me better appreciate what my patients and their family members go through on a daily basis. It is only apt that I am currently based in trauma and orthopaedics, where we look after patients with neck of femur fractures, among others - so all of this is relatable on a personal level.
5) But as all things (good or bad) must come to an end, so too has my short stay back home. I'm sitting in the departure lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, awaiting my flight back to Manchester. The hardest part is of course saying goodbye to family, but I know I'll be back soon enough - hopefully with more experience and more stories to share. That's all for this edition of my blog, thanks very much for visiting as always, and hope you have a great week ahead. Cheers!
Extended family reunion at Shabuya, Kinta Riverfront Hotel
The "Bird of Malaysia" exhibition on display at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA)
Last photo with my parents before departure
Ya Kun Kaya Toast - serving Singapore's best in Malaysia ;)
P. Ramlee exhibition at KLIA today
The sign reads "Robbers' headquarters" - a replica of the set used in the movie Ali Baba Bujang Lapok (starring P. Ramlee) - itself a satirical comedy based on the story of Ali Baba from 1001 Arabian Nights
P. Ramlee's Theatre
Dinner at Din Tai Fung - a famous Taiwanese restaurant chain famous for their soup dumplings ("xiao long bao")
Mum had the mushroom fried rice
The xiao long bao (soup dumplings) on the right, and liu sha bao (salted egg yolk custard buns) on the left
Little Malaysia gift shop
Amanjaya Terminal, Ipoh - waiting for our bus to KLIA
All aboard now
The Yoyo Express bus service was great
Pigeons all perched on a telephone wire
Beautiful calligraphy seen in Chang Keong Restaurant
Breakfast today
Curry chee cheong fun and iced coffee
Incidentally, the table number (23) is also my house number :)
Starbucks kinda night
Chinese-style dinner tonight
Black pomfret curry, marmite chicken, claypot tofu, and stir-fried potato leaves
David's Diner for lunch today
As American as it gets (other than apple pie I guess)
Lost World of Tambun Theme Park
The nameless restaurant that serves really good iced tea and kaya and butter toast
The perfect ratio of bread to kaya / butter!
The bread is sliced so thinly that it's almost see-through
Breakfast at Chong Yang Restaurant today
Back at one of my favourite Arabic food restaurants - Hadramout Paradise
Chicken mandy, Chicken kabsa, and another chicken with rice dish whose name I cannot recall XD
Knafeh - a popular traditional Middle Eastern dessert made with spun pastry called kataifi, soaked in a sweet, sugar-based syrup called attar, and typically layered with cheese
A pot of traditional adani milk tea to wash it all down
Wooley Food Court is now called "Family Food Court"
Back for some snacks and dessert
(Kaya puffs and ice kacang)
Ice kacang (left) and iced tea (right)
Premium ice creams
Padang Ipoh (or Ipoh Field) with the majestic Perak flag billowing in the wind
Beautiful mural seen at Ipoh Old Town White Coffee
Tamara's Kitchen today - for some authentic South Indian / Sri Lankan cuisine
I got the Ceylon Chicken while my dad had the Masala Chicken set
Spicy food = happy smiles
Me and my granddad :)
Wound review today at Fatimah Hospital - no complications yeay :)
Curry noodles - fiery red but well balanced with lime and mint
Couldn't help myself XD
Sushi Mentai dinner tonight
Lightening my wallet
Etre Patisserie
Yeah it's been open for quite a few years now but this was my first time trying
Chocolate cake whose name I cannot remember, and burnt cheesecake
Honestly the cakes were superb if on the pricier side
The Royale Thor for lunch today
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"
Wise words to live by...
Parmesan crusted salmon
Fish and chips
Ah Ying's Restaurant serves some seriously good soft boiled eggs on toast (roti goyang)
Some soy sauce and pepper on those perfectly done soft-boiled eggs, and the end result is simply heavenly!
Kinta Riverfront Hotel for dinner today
Entrance to Sushiya Restaurant
Thanks everyone for coming to my "reunion dinner"
At Sushiya @ Kinta Riverfront Hotel
Group photo with my mum's childhood friends :)
Premium A5 Wagyu beef
Two Tigers Kopitiam for lunch today
Their nasi lemak with chicken curry and a perfectly poached egg
It's been a while since I last went window shopping
@ Aeon Mall Kinta City
There was a blood donation drive going on in the middle of the shopping complex
McD for breakfast today
MacDonald's tastes different when enjoyed with family <3
International Buffet Dinner @ Weil Hotel tonight
Beef and chicken satay
An assortment of grilled meat with an assortment of sauces
Apam balik / Dai gau min / Peanut pancakes for tea
A trip back would not be complete without some dim sum :)
The Horizon @ Ipoh, located literally behind my house
The morning view here is brilliant
Some ramen for dinner tonight
(Apparently today was their grand opening, hence the bouquets of flowers in the background)
Curry udon was fantastic - served with their chicken katsu (cutlets)
Little Allegra Bakery for tea today
Their apple galette looked slightly charred but the flavours were good
The honest reason I pose in front of signs is so I can remember the names of the places I've been to XD
That's a pomelo by the name of "YuYu" - holding a sign that says "welcome!"
Interesting way of presenting their iced white coffee - with an inverted bottle attached
Fried you tiao with half boiled eggs was an interesting combination
Mama Kim Wellness Kitchen for lunch today
Mum had this super healthy porridge
My dad had the less health pandan nasi lemak set
This is their specialty - passionfruit and apple tea
I literally grew up eating this auntie's food
Every Sunday, my parents would have breakfast at this corner restaurant (whose name I've never found out) and I would order one of her breakfast sets
A wave of nostalgia as I reminisce my youthful days and contemplate my life choices
The other breakfast item I would usually go for - this is you tiao wrapped in chee cheong fun, served with soy sauce and a side of sambal paste
The combination sounds a bit weird but it is seriously delicious!
Back at my local mamak stall - Pelita
Have you guessed our favourite past time yet?
Yeap, it's food!
Just two wannabe sumo wrestlers battling it out in the middle of a shopping complex
@ Ipoh Parade
Back at First Restaurant Coffee House
I've waxed lyrical about their oxtail soup in the past
It is still as good as I remember it to be
My dad went for the curry set which comes with two choices of curry, soup, and dessert
Breakfast today at yet another restaurant whose name I cannot remember, but which I fondly call "Morning Glory" as one of the dishes (see below) is called just that
Yeap, that's "Morning Glory"
Basically spaghetti cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce
Don't let its looks fool you - the loaded cheese and mushroom omelette is incredibly filling
Trying out a new restaurant tonight - Da Ohn Da Korea
And no that's not my car behind me
I wasn't sure what I ordered but it tasted good and that's all matters
New cafe for afternoon tea today - Old Shanghai
Buttered bread with kaya and iced coffee - the standard safe option in any kopitiam
Tandoor Grill for lunch today
Excellent food here at a reasonable price
Not forgetting their famous mango lassi and kulfi ice cream
Tong Sui Kai - Literally Dessert Street
Prawn crackers, an assortment of skewers, and ice kacang
Back at Hadramout Paradise for something different tonight
Shakshokah, Bean, and Hummus combo served with flatbread
I will never tire of their adani spiced milk tea
First meal back home!
Kampai Japanese Restaurant
The feeling of eating proper food for a change is indescribable
I went with the beef teriyaki set
Airplane food
(On my way back home)
Flight EY016 to Abu Dhabi - even the information board is telling me to "Relax"
