DAY 2343-2381

Jan 31 - Mar 10

1) Another day another dollar - or pound here in the UK. It's been just over a month since my last blog post, and if I'm honest, not much has happened since then other than the fact that I've been rather busy with work. Reflecting on the past seven months, I have learnt a lot about medicine as a career. While medical school tends to place emphasis on book knowledge and passing structured exams, the real world is a completely different kettle of fish. Everyday, I find myself challenged by different scenarios, many of which require me to actually apply knowledge rather than regurgitating it out on a test paper. 

2) Spring is just round the corner, and yet this week we received a weather alert warning us of possible snow. Indeed, in these past few days most of the country has seen sub-zero temperatures, with Scotland recording a freezing -16C yesterday. If there's one thing I've learnt since coming here, it is that "as unpredictable as the British weather" was meant to be taken literally. Thankfully, the winds here are nowhere near as strong as they tend to be in Ireland - so I can get off with just a winter jacket.

3) So I have an exciting announcement to make - I'm coming back after seven months working here in the UK. It will be my first time home after as many months, and I cannot wait. Frankly, I'd used up all my annual leave for this rotation in planning my holiday. I am therefore looking forward to maximising the measly two weeks I have with my family and friends back home. It goes without saying that food will play a huge part in this. Recently, I had a shock after weighing myself - I had lost almost 10kg since coming here! Even more reason to replenish some of the lost pounds back home then.

4) I should probably finish packing up now. Thanks for visiting my blog as always, and hope you have a great week ahead. Take care and stay safe, cheers!

Nothing better to do on an off-day

This is the lightest I've been since high school - not sure how to feel if I'm honest XD

Looking forward to a haircut back home

DAY 2047-2060

Apr 11 - 24

1) Where to even begin - the relief of finishing our surgical OSCE examinations was matched only by the anxiety that preceded it for the past two weeks. It is no big surprise that I've not quite been myself recently, becoming easily stressed, frustrated, and quick to anger - being in final year tends to have that effect. Of course, there were many milestones which we achieved along the way, which led to our final OSCE examinations today.

2) Firstly, we had our last bed-side teaching on Friday, and who better to wrap things up than the Professor of Surgery himself. I had never gotten Prof. Bikram for clinicals before, and I was really taken aback by his reassurance for our upcoming exams, as well as his career advice for the future. In general, I've noticed that the lecturers and consultants are more easygoing towards the final year students (as compared to third years), which is contrary to what I would have expected. Nevertheless, I learnt a lot during the session, even if we were made to stand a couple of hours more than I would have liked.

3) Secondly, we had our last online tutorial on Wednesday, and it was none other than the ex-Head of Department of Surgery himself, Dato' Manjit. Strangely enough, only in final year (and in the final week no less) did I find out that there was actually a book where our online tutorials were taken from, and that it was written by a previous professor of surgery in our college. If only I had known about it sooner, I would have gotten it for myself. Regardless, I have found the online tutorials to provide a useful framework for our revision.

4) Fast forward a few days, and it was our surgical OSCE examinations today, which consisted of seven stations - four active, one passive, and two rest. I have no idea how I fared, and I definitely would have done certain things differently if I could, but all that is in the past. For now, I'm just really glad that this is over, and we have a period of 13 days before our final finals. That would consist of our medicine and surgery long cases, as well as the medicine and surgery written papers. 

5) Everything that has a beginning has an ending - and that would soon apply to medical school as well. One thing I hope it won't apply to is my blog, as I intend to continue updating it for as long as I can. And with that sappy saying out of the way, I'll end my blog post here. Thanks very much for visiting as always, and have a great week ahead. Take care and stay safe, cheers! 

Group photo with the legend himself - Dato' Manjit

Taken in an undisclosed location somewhere in Penang General Hospital

Of course I wouldn't pass up an opportunity for a photo myself :)

An extraordinarily long day in the orthopaedic clinic :)

Group picture in front of the surgical wards, C9 and C10

(L-R: Esther, Rachel, Midun, Ting Ying, Myself, Helmi, Penny, Faizul)

It's been a while since we had Sri Ananda Bhawan's banana leaf rice!

That's breakfast, lunch, and dinner right there

Arati Villas for lunch today

Stare at the orange enough and it becomes a hernia

One more for good measure :)

DAY 1593-1606

Jan 12 - 25

1) As our country battles a third wave of COVID-19, most states have been placed under a fresh lockdown, initially for two weeks, then subsequently extended for an additional week. During this time, all our clinical rotations have also been suspended. In the midst of all this, there are two factions - those who feel that further lockdown is essential to contain the number of clusters daily; and those who feel that any further lockdown will severely cripple the country's already weakening economy, in particular the small and medium enterprises (SMEs). I can see the arguments for both, and I'm personally on the fence on this. But at some point, difficult decisions will have to be made, which will not please everyone.  

2) Personally, I've enjoyed the two weeks' reprieve from having to wake up early to attend clinics. This is an ideal opportunity for me to (hopefully) catch up with my revision. The downside to this "extra" bit of revision time is that we will now either have less holidays or less study time before our exams. That's assuming that we still get to graduate in time, of course. The way things are going, it is really hard to tell what will happen in the coming weeks. 

3) In the recent weeks, my email inbox has been inundated with emails from potential medical students/ school leavers who are interested in finding out more about medicine at RUMC. It has given me great satisfaction to be able to help these aspiring doctors decide if medicine is for them, and to share my own experience as a medical student. Before entering medical school, I had a few close seniors who were extremely patient in answering my many questions, so in some small way, I think of this as giving back. 

4) A week ago, the landlady came over with the maintenance staff to take a look at my bathroom. For the past few weeks, the toilet had been leaking from one of the pipes. Luckily, with some help, we were able to locate the source of the water (it was very well concealed behind the tank cover). As they did not have the necessary tools to fix the leak there and then, we made an appointment for the plumber to come again. All in all, the repair took just under an hour. I'm very glad as I had initially been told that it would take at least two visits.

5) That's basically it for this edition of my blog. Sorry there is nothing more interesting to read, but then again, these are some really strange times... As always, thanks very much for visiting my blog, take care and stay safe. Cheers! 

We need to stay strong and remain hopeful, and look out for one another :)

DAY 1517-1528

Oct 27 - Nov 8

1) What a difference another two weeks makes! As Malaysia expands its partial lockdown (called the Conditional Movement Control Order or CMCO) to include most states, both my hometown (Ipoh, Perak) as well as where I'm currently studying (Penang) are soon to be affected. This one-month partial lockdown is in response to the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the community, with yesterday recording 1,755 new cases - the highest number of daily cases thus far. As a medical student, what this means (according to the e-mail sent to us from the college) is that all classes will revert to online mode. However, they are hopeful that clinical teaching should continue as before, which means we do not lose out on the all-important practical skills.

2) As it is, my group (Group B) is nearing the end of our psychiatry rotation, with just a week and half left before our end-of-rotation clinical assessment. In the past two weeks, we visited the psychiatric wards, the Health Clinics (at Perak Road & Macalister Road), the psychogeriatric clinics, and the private clinics (at Adventist Hospital). I have had the opportunity of engaging with a variety of patients suffering from mental illness, and I have found the experience to be invaluable. It is really interesting to see how the mental illness develops in a patient, and to explore the bio-psychosocial stressors that predisposed and precipitated the illness. Unfortunately, there also seems to be a lot of stigma and misconceptions regarding mental illness, the result of which is that patients often present late or not at all. Therefore, the onus falls on us to educate the patients and their family (as well as the wider community) about the myths and misconceptions that people generally may have regarding mental issues.

3) An interesting incident happened to me yesterday. After a long day, I was heading to sleep after using the bathroom, when I found myself locked out of my bathroom door. Somehow the door had become locked and the door knob would not turn. I spent a good hour or so trying everything I could, including the old "credit card" method, as well as by using scissors to hold the latch and try to push it inwards. Nothing worked, and I began to panic at the thought of having to call a locksmith. In a last-ditch effort, I searched online and found a method involving a coin placed into the indent of the doorknob. Lo and behold - that saved the day! Few things have given me more joy and euphoria than successfully unlocking my bathroom door. Now I am extra careful in making sure I do not close the bathroom door completely, just in case it gets jammed again. 

4) The next two weeks will be busy for me, as I will probably be preparing for the end-of-rotation assessment for psychiatry. Until then, take care and look out for yourself and each other during this most trying of times. Thanks for visiting my blog as always, and have a great week ahead. Cheers! 

Meet-up after a year! @ Nando's Gurney Plaza

(l-r: Melvin, Melissa, Kuhan, Esther, Myself)

Lunch at Sepoy Cafe with long-time friends :)

(l-r: Myself, Amir, Mad Noor, Alvin)

With my ever supportive sub-group mates (Group B3)

l-r: Myself, Sharifah, Angel, Ain

Psychiatry has been a blast thanks to them ft. myself as moderator for problem-based learning

l-r: Myself, Aida, Fadhli, Ainin, Jia Min, Jit Hong

Very big fish head curry for lunch today XD

The other day I hurt my left knee when I fell while jogging. It had healed quite well until I was forced to wear long pants to clerk patients in hospital. As my wound was still not completely dry, it stuck to my pant leg and when I tugged a little too hard at it, the whole scab came off! So for the rest of the week, I had to apply some antiseptic (betadine), a cotton gauze, and basically wrap my left knee using a crepe bandage. I'm happy to report that the scar is all dry and well now :)

Green curry rice set @ Food Hall, Gurney Plaza

Salmon teriyaki for dinner today :)

Ayam penyet (lit. flattened chicken) set rice

(Lunch menu at Sepoy Cafe)

Night life at campus XD

(Jokes - there is no life at campus)

Beautiful rangoli art in our college (for the upcoming Diwali celebrations)

The door that would not open (a.k.a. my bathroom door)

After over an hour of fiddling around, this was literally my last attempt

Lo and behold - the knob turned!

Never have I been so indebted to a 50 sen coin :')

Signature chilli pan mee @ Food Hall, Gurney Plaza

Even more beautiful Diwali decorations at Gurney Plaza today

DAY 1488-1492

Sept 28 - Oct 2

1) So today's the last day of my post-MSc holiday life, as I shall be returning to medical school in Penang. If there is one thing that I truly dread, it is the hassle of moving. Thankfully, I was not alone in this, and my family decided to come along with me to help me move into my new accommodation in Berjaya Court, Penang. It is a strange feeling of both anticipation and excitement, as I prepare to continue my medical studies (beginning with psychiatry rotations) in Penang.

2) The days leading up to my departure have been bittersweet. On one hand, my parents have indulged me by letting me decide where to go for food or shopping. I've finally gone back to my maternal grandmother's house for a meetup with all my relatives, in celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival. On the other hand, the next time I would see everyone would be Chinese New Year (and even that is not certain, as I am facing problems with the restructuring of my OSCEs for the end-of-fourth-year examinations). 

3) But as the saying goes - this too shall pass. In the blink of an eye, I have been transported here to my new accommodation, and I have unpacked all my belongings and gotten ready for psychiatry. The recent spike in COVID-19 infections is certainly a cause for worry, but as of now, we still have access to the wards and patients, albeit with tighter regulations and precautions. Hopefully, this does not change as only by real patient contact will we improve our clinical acumen and become better (and safer) doctors-in-training.

4) Getting back into the routine and mindset of studying medicine has been a lot harder than I had anticipated, especially after a long year's hiatus. This next year (fourth year) promises to be very interesting and challenging at the same time, with my group (Group B) tackling, in order: Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Therefore, I expect to become very busy, very soon.

5) Starting a new rotation means that blogging has to take a backseat to my studies. I wish I had the time (and energy!) to juggle both, but there is a lot more riding on my studies, including the expectation to graduate in time. That does not mean I will stop blogging, just that I may be busier than usual and have less time to do so. As it is, I want to apologise to everyone whom I've not managed to meet before leaving for Penang. I'll try my best to right this wrong the next time I return for holiday.

6) And with that, I shall end my blog post here. Thanks very much for reading, and have a great week ahead. Cheers!

Photo with the whole family (my aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, on my mother's side)
Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival together at my maternal grandmothers' house in First Garden

Trying out some Korean food for a change - Myeong Dong Topokki @ Aeon Station 18

Jajangmyeon (noodles in a black bean sauce)

Beef bulgogi with rice

Lunch is ready

Afternoon tea with my family at the Food Court, Aeon Station 18

Dinner at Hadramout Paradise, just opposite Kinta Riverfront Hotel

We ordered three sets of "Chicken Mandi", with a pot of adani milk tea (a spiced tea drink from Aden, Yemen)

Fun fact: "Mandi" is a traditional dish originated from Hadharmaut, Yemen, consisting mainly of meat and rice with a special blend of spices, cooked in a pit underground.

Trying out nasi lemak at Gourmet Square - tasted real good with the sambal chicken :)

The kaya puff at Wooley is something that I truly crave - filled to the brim with creamy coconut custard, and encased in this golden brown baked crust <3

Tried another nasi kandar restaurant in Canning Garden, called Veventhen (not sure if I spelled it right)

Huge portion sizes at a decent price too!

My dad surprised my mum and myself when he came to look for us at Texas Chicken (

his tuition class had been cancelled so he was free tonight)

I frequently mention Wooley but I've never really taken the time to photograph the food complex - here it is :)

Wooley Food Court with my dad

It's been soooo long since I actually ran a decent distance. This is my first 10km of the year, and I spent it running at night with my dad. It was the worst feeling ever as my dad is really fit and I could hardly keep up...

Trying out a new recommendation from my parents: The Museum @ Greentown Business Centre

They specialise in what is known as "Tor De Char Siew" (as seen on the menu) - which is BBQ pork which is really high in fat content

Decor in "The Museum"

This is the "tor de char siew" - extremely fatty but if it isn't the most succulent and juicy meat I've ever tried XD

Paku vege (a type of edible fern) stir-fried with sambal belacan. Trust me, it's really good

Pomphret fish in simple soy sauce - very fresh and meaty!

Stopping by my mom's laundromat business to take a pic

My mom and myself, at my maternal grandmother's house

My nephew Wen Bin decided to photobomb just as I clicked XD

A buffet-style section had been set up, with fried noodles, curries, fried yong tau foo, veggies, acar (pickled spicy vegetables), and some sweet treats!

Some of the aforementioned food items on my plate :)

This is black sesame soup - a popular dessert in Cantonese cuisine. Personally, I prefer sweet peanut soup (or paste, depending on the consistency)

My maternal grandmother, or "popo (婆婆)" as I know her

Setting the table with mooncakes and different fruits (in preparation for praying)

A beautiful coconut jelly made by one of my aunts :)

This is a really interesting (and colourful) take on a mooncake - the filling is still the same (lotus bean paste), but the outside is shaped differently compared to a regular mooncake. Made by my aunt

Group photo with my uncles and aunts

The Mooncake Festival is all about gathering together and enjoying the full moon - we certainly did with our beautifully-made lanterns!

With my niece She Rou

With my mom and nieces

Always a child at heart

(I remember so vividly lighting lanterns with my cousins when I was a kid)

Mooncake jelly infused with bird's nest and goji berries (or wolfberries)

Mooncake biscuits, or "kong zai peng" (公仔饼)

Pomelo

My last day in Ipoh with family, and my dad and I spent it having brunch at the famous Medan Selera Dato' Sagor, just opposite the J.W.W. Birch Memorial

My last dinner with my family was awesome - we order food catering, plus there was leftover dishes from the Mid-Autumn festival the previous evening

Some leftovers from the festival

Getting ready to move out (yes, I have a lot of things...)

Nope that is not our car but a good friend of my mum's

Stopped by Ikea in Batu Kawan

Grabbing some brunch

Wear a mask, save some lives

This is my second time in Ikea - the first was when I was really young, we went to Ikea in Singapore

Trying out their much-publicised Swedish meatballs - 16 for RM16.50

IKEA being a furniture shop, did a really good job in advertising their products, especially with their interior decoration

Pretending this is my new room in Penang (one can dream, right?)

The famous warehouse aisle where people usually get photos taken XD

Decided to jump on the bandwagon myself

Having dinner at a Nyonya Restaurant in Gurney Plaza (this is after we reached Penang and I had moved my stuff into my new room)

My mom had the fried rice with pandan chicken

My grandad very happy to start eating his spaghetti!

I had the nasi lemak with otak-otak (grilled fish cake made with ground fish meat, tapioca, and spices)

Now I can store all my clothes!

Walked all the way to Gurney Plaza (okay it's not that far...)

There is a new Food Hall at the 4th floor

It's been a while since I last came here

The Food Hall is not completely open yet - from Oct 15 it will :)

Already there were loads of people - just imagine how crowded it'll be when it fully opens!

In the end, I decided to go with the signature chilli pan mee

Bought dinner after my daily run around the small park outside my apartment (yes I'm making it a point to exercise daily in a desperate attempt to shed some pounds)

First day of Psychiatry let's gooo!

Sepoy Cafe's nasi penyet

Psychiatry please treat me well - for the next 7 weeks at least!

Back to school - RCSI-UCD Malaysia Campus (RUMC)