DAY 1009-1019

June 7 - 17

1) And how time flies. Just as I was starting to get used to the holiday life (waking up insanely late, not having a single worry in the world), it is now time to get back to business. And I better wake up to that fact soon, as our exams (Forensics and Legal Medicine, Professionalism & Medical Ethics) are but five days away! Anyway, just a brief recount of the events that transpired in these past ten days...

2) I spent my second last night in Ipoh with my mom at Parkson Grand (Ipoh Parade). We had dinner at one of my favourite childhood spots - Dave's Deli! Regrettably, I have to say that either a) the standard has dropped; or b) I'm looking back through rose-coloured glasses, which I have a tendency to do. Anyway, I remember one of my fondest childhood memories was ordering lasagna or a foccacia and asking for some parmesan and extra gravy. Somehow, the recent visit left me a tad disappointed. Perhaps I now have more refined taste buds haha. At least we got to relive those good memories :)

3) On one of the weekdays, my grandpa, my parents, and my cousin's two daughters went for buffet at Casuarina @ Meru. It was a Hari Raya themed buffet, hence the variety of traditional Malay dishes, including their cakes (kuih-muih) and desserts. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of meats on offer - there was traditional chicken rendang, chicken curry, fish done a la Portuguese style, prawns, lamb, and even an outdoor grill with fried fish fillets and grilled whole fish! In my opinion, it was well worth the price - plus a great way to spend more quality time with family.

4) And then it was time to say goodbye to my family as I took the bus at Sri Maju Bus Terminal back to Penang. It has been a very good three weeks' holiday and I do believe it was well spent :) And all that remains is to march forward with the rest of the semester (still need to complete Forensics and Legal Medicine, before starting the new semester just TWO days after... Anyway, back in Penang, my friends introduced me to a nice cafe called Canton City Cafe, which sells authentic Cantonese style dishes. I can confirm the food is really good, and affordable too.

5) We celebrated our friend Emma's birthday at Ippudo @ Gurney Plaza. I managed to try their famous kuro ramen (kuro = black in Japanese, referring to the dark-coloured broth made by using black garlic oil). Emma, on the other hand, got all of us free beverages i.e. a HUGE bowl of jungle juice - as the restaurant had this deal if the birthday boy/girl could verify their birthday :) 

6) Other recent exploits include a trip to Nando's the very next day. It has been soooo long since I last ate here (probably because of the price); the last time I remember eating at Nando's was after completing my first ever marathon (the Penang Bridge Marathon 2014). Ahhh, good times... wish I could relive them again. But it's time for me to get back to studying - after all, exams loom ahead, and I need to do reasonably well. Thanks very much for visiting as always, and have a lovely week ahead. Cheers! 

P.S. I haven't forgotten what day it is today. Happy Father's Day to you dad, my #1 blog fan; and to all the fathers out there who sacrifice everything for their children's future! 

Mandatory family photo - my strength and motivation :)

Just relaxing at a random bench in Parkson Grand

Dataran Bandaraya Ipoh (Ipoh City Council)

With my mum at Dave's Deli

I had the lasagna while my mum had the chicken pie :)

Customary photo before makan (eating!)

Ipoh - my hometown for the better part of 20 years :)

Hari Raya buffet at Casuarina @ Meru with family :)

All sorts of meats and curries on a platter :)

Crab with chilli garlic sauce

Baked fish Portuguese style - an absolute delightful and exploding with flavour

That's kuih pulut serunding - basically it's sticky rice with coconut floss :D

An assortment of traditional Malay kuih - so pretty :D

My dad with the more contemporary cakes and cookies ^^

Photo with my cousin's two daughters 

(thus making them my first cousins once removed :) 

Very beautiful decorations for the Hari Raya celebrations ^^

Sri Maju bus express - unfortunately, where I must part with my family once more )':

Saying goodbye from the bus window - onwards to Penang then...

Lunch with the buddies:

l-r: Myself, Hong, Sim, Khee Heng, Nee Kee

A few days in, and I'm enjoying a nice Cantonese-style lunch with my friends

Celebrating Emma's birthday at Ippudo @ Gurney Plaza

Happy birthday!! :D

Free jungle juice came in this enormous fish bowl-like container XD

Kuro ramen - full of smoky pepper and black garlic oil flavour, and accompanied by three fine slabs of moist pork ^^

Lunch at Nando's the very next day! It's been so long since I had Nando's

l-r: Myself, Melvin, Hong, Melissa, Esther, Khee Heng, Nee Kee, Kuhan :)

Chicken salsa bowl with bottomless soft drink :)

My special spot in the library - I didn't know until recently that these cubicles (tables with dividers for privacy) are actually called "study carrels" :D

What a nice way to end the post with a picture of a beautiful flower - spotted at Sri York :D

DAY 499-502

Jan12 - 15

1) So my "holidays" have finally come to an end. To be honest, it didn't really feel as such, as I have been quite busy with moving house and taking care of ongoing tasks. These past days, I have been settling into my new environment, which will be my new home for the coming year.

2) Recently I've gone back to Iceland (the supermarket chain, NOT the country XD) to re-stock my collection of frozen meals, and was pleasantly surprised to find that their selection is even more extensive than I had previously imagined. Udon noodles, laksa (!), pies, stroganoff - basically a worldwide collection of staple dishes, ready made. And they taste very authentic (either that or I'm just really hungry XD) .

3) But today's blogpost will not be complete, but for the appreciation that I have for every single one of you who wished me on my birthday. I see myself as having simple needs, and it is these little things that I truly cherish in my life. I know my birthday has long passed, but just two days back I received mail from two really close friends of mine, and it truly made my day. And on that very happy note, I shall end my blogpost here. Tomorrow is the beginning of yet another semester, and this time at Beaumont. Thanks very much for reading, and stay tuned... for the next one. Cheers!

 I was honestly not expecting this

THANKS SO MUCH GUYS :')

 

Thanks so much Vik!!! :D

 

 Thanks so much Denise!!! ^^

 

I now have a UCD scarf woohoo ^^

 

Chicken and mushroom risotto

 

King prawn alfredo

 

King prawn and chicken laksa noodles(!)

 

Chicken, king prawn and chorizo paella

DAY 369/370/371

Sept 4,5 & 6

1) The past few days have been chalk full of activity! School officially began on the 5th for us, while the 1st years had orientation on the 4th, followed by the customary White Coat Ceremony on the 5th. It's the first time anyone of us had been in the "Desmond Auditorium" for lessons, and it was, in a word, terrific! The larger seating space, coupled with the powerful audio system, two projected screens on either side, as well as the ever enthusiastic lecturers - ensured that our lessons were never boring. Which is just as well, seeing as our 8-5 lesson woes begin as early into the semester as tomorrow... Can't wait for the pain to begin then.

2) With the influx of old and new students, the new academic building is now operating at maximum capacity. Even waiting for the lift can take a while, so I have just resorted to using the stairs. On an unrelated note, in between lessons today (actually it was lunch break), some of us had signed up for a quick photo-shoot at the new building. We all met at the third floor, and the photographer took us to some really fancy rooms, to pose for photos. We modelled various procedures, including venipunctures (drawing blood from a patient's vein for a blood sample), delivering babies, performing CPR in a state-of-the-art operating theatre, among others. It was really fun doing stuff we haven't learnt yet, especially since we got a first hand look at the latest gadgets and gizmos in the National Surgical Training Centre (Levels 4 and 5 of the New Academic Building).

3) Today was also Club and Societies Sign-Up Day! Lots of clubs and societies, not to mention various tidbits for those who stopped by to sign up. As a committee member of the RCSI Cancer Society, I was promoting our society's first event - the Pink Party! We had loads of people come by to sign up, and quite a few bought tickets for the Pink Party, which is next Thursday (9pm onwards) at DTwo. The Sports Complex (the venue of the event) was buzzing with activity; all the committee members were doing their best to attract the others over to their booth. I did my best too, but after well over an hour, I needed some rest. So I returned to the library (2nd floor is my territory), and had a short nap. It feels odd sleeping in the library especially when there are no dividers (there were dividers in the old Mercer library), but if you're tired enough... XD

4) Anyway, I woke up reenergised, but still not mentally prepared for an 8-5 session tomorrow. I suppose that's one of the challenges of any university student - just waking up in time for lessons. That's the gist of the past few days, and I hope you enjoyed reading about them. Thanks very much for visiting, and have a great day. Cheers!

 Yeap, that's a dummy not a real person...

Seniors and juniors bonding session at the new building :D 

 Celebratory/reunion lunch at Dicey's Garden

(I'm reminded of the huge portion sizes ^^)

Our first lecture at the Desmond Auditorium

The cameraman at the back is taking a picture of me taking a picture of him XD

Such a great experience using all the latest tech and equipment

(even if only for modelling haha)

 Clubs & Societies Sign Up Day

 RCSI Badminton Club

(it's been a while...)

 Photographic proof that they opened the box of doughnuts!

(the fancy one on the left I mean...)

 At the PMCSA Booth Melvin and Esther, and Faiz as cameraman ^^

Manning the RCSI Cancer Society Stand

(pardon the obscured sign at the back)

CU Cupcakes!!

With Joshua at the Christian Union Booth

Still with Joshua at the Christian Union Booth XD

Miniature ping pong (table tennis) was soooooo much fun!!

Look at the plagues at the back! 0.0