White Wave in White Water!
for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with me (pre-vanora), i’m a crazy outdoor sports goer! i love the rush of adrenaline when i undertake some massive physical challenge like abseiling, caving, hiking, camping, rock climbing, white water rafting, kayaking, flying fox, the like.
but of late, it’s been mellow. i’m not getting too old, as some cynics would chip in about now. i’m not losing touch, as the passion and craving seem more intense than ever. it’s just that with a new life, a new schedule and plenty of obligations, responsibilities and priorities, i feel every moment i spend should be spent super wisely.
well anyways, i just wanted a super lazy one week of hols… of course with all the eating… 
(thank God for Malaysia, and all the festive eating that comes with her!) and then my beloved, precious, angel of a mom, decided to give me a treat. she signed me up for a trip down the white waters of Sungai Kampar, when in fact, she wanted to go for it. wow, moms are super awesome. wat can i say? God is super awesome too.
to think i had missed these spectacular sports for sooooooo long. fri night was so excited, lying on the bed, waiting for my daughter to sleep so i could start packing. as i lay there, my mind started running through my mental to-do list: go online to print the checklist, pack stuff, make sure i’ve ample sunblock…
suddenly something, or someone jerked me. "gene, aren’t you going? did they leave u behind?" AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!! it’s 7 and that’s when they’re supposed to leave. no time to print the list. i took out my bag and put in whatever from experience i thought was relevant. filled my bottle of water, then rushed to bathe. no time for breakfast, (although i know full well, this is probably the most important step i shouldn’t compromise on!) i sped off to church, where the rest were waiting.
was apologetic, but the gang, being the gang, didn’t mind one bit… we packed our fidgety butts into the van and off to Gopeng we went!
navigator and first timer aunty lai kit was excited and eager to know wat this sport was all about. little did she know…
terence drove and his sweetie was just behind his seat, keeping him occupied with nudges and "sweets" this and "darling" that… so sweet!!
the three crazy ppl - deb, joanna and i were just yakkity yakking the whole way through. you see, deb and i have been through the KKB river, and Sungai Sedim, and now this one. never capsized or even been thrown off before…
jo on the other hand was totally a newbie, just like aunty lai kit, so they had no idea wat they were getting themselves into. i guess it only started sinking in when we talked about our past adventures. sungai sedim was level 1-4 (mod to advanced, 5 is most advanced), so there were a few exciting parts, which unfortunately they had to hear about in great detail.
then we finally arrived at meeting point.
that’s the van that was to bring us to the river check point. wow, the adrenaline started up already… wat a stimulant!
oh this is where aunty lai kit starting panicking just a little. as with every other outdoor sport coordinating company, participants were to sign a liability and release form, which legalised negligence of the company, in the event of damage, injury or death. cool!!
before i go any further, i have an important announcement to make: although by the looks of it, and sometimes how he behaves, Josh is a regular guy who just thinks he looks good in pink and likes Minnie Mouse. see, regular guy! 
he’s trying really hard to pose regularly and as macho as he can, but well… the shirt’s a dead giveaway! in the back, for contrast is sarah… nice smile!
well the driver to the check point was norman, who was a sabahan. great bod i must say. in regret, none of the many cameras present actually took the faces of the people in whose hands our lives were in. they were excellent guides and saviours, which i would elaborate shortly.
anyways the moment we hit the base, we changed and slathered sublock lotion on ourselves. the guides were patiently waiting, and when ready we had a briefing on the safety measures, the dos and dont’s, and of course how the journey would be.
then it was into our rafts. we took two rafts: Petrina, Andrew, Josh and Sarah in one raft, and Terence, Aunty Lai Kit, Deb, Joanna and i were in the other. the guides in my raft was initially Sirin and Mac, but later Mac had to join another raft.
i have muscle wasting!!!!!!!!!! bilaterally i think. i couldn’t sustain carrying the raft with the others! which to me, is impossible. never have i felt things were too heavy, especially for these things! wow… major letdown on my side. anyways, mac was sweet enough to take my load…
hit the waters and we were so excited. of course the newbies were a bit frightened and worried, but we were all assuring, and our guide being the expert of Sungai Padas, they felt much relieved.
round the bend and it was all mild and good. we waited for the other rafts as we had to travel by pack. but little by little, the obstacles become tougher, and the water gushing harder. ten minutes into the journey and our raft lost two people. it was the first time a raft i had been in experienced something like that. Deb and Jo were overboard!
Jo got pulled up first but suffered bruises (that’s a normal phenomenon for her, she gets it all the time!), and a few laceration wounds. shaken but safe. just as we reached for Deb, we went down another fall. caught us offguard, but we somehow managed to get her up. thanks to our fantastic guide. He’s the MAN!
after a bit, it was another unsteady tumble and terence flung out and into the water. in a split second, so did i. but i hung onto the the safety rope and was pulled up instantly. ter on the other hand, relying solely on his personal safety equipment, drifted off under the power of the river, gaining distance away from the raft. Sirin tried to steer us toward him but he was too fast. finally, he got hold of a branch, and hung on for dear life till we arrived. then we pulled him up. it was no joke… after that no more falls, but it was nonetheless exhilirating, and to some, frightening.
halfway through, we stopped and were allowed to frolic for a bit so it was picture time.. btw the rest of the pics which aren’t here should be viewed at andrew’s blog site, the moment he puts it up.
then they told us, it was time to body raft! yay… guess who was first in line, as always… the german couple and i went into the water with a guide (sen i think) and he was teaching us some technique, holding each other’s lifejackets and forming a circle… we weren’t fully briefed but the current wouldn’t allow us to stand flat on the river bed, so swish, and down we went… submerged twice at least, but somehow managed… was saved by the raft… woohooo! wanted to do that again! it was fantastic! realised my shoes had decided to swim off without me, thank God they weren’t my adidas water mocs…
after a few minutes of recuperating, i decided to join the others. obviously the guides thought it a bad idea to run that stunt on the others, so they flung a rope across half the river which was pretty shallow and mild(blocked by a huge, solid boulder), then individually body surf down some rapids and grab the rescue rope. it took guts for most of them… but it was fun for me. not as much fun as the other technique, but not bad… they didn’t throw me a rope. rather they tried to but it was way beyond me. hehehe… so swam against the currents toward them… then waited. aunty lai kit and jo did fantastically well for beginners, even sarah and pet were just natural water babies. took pictures then it was back into the boat…
the bottom half, as always is the mellow part of the journey… mini rapids and less adventure, but more than enough for the rest. deb and i were a bit in wanting for more dangerous stuff, but since the newbies were shaken enough…
toward the end, we were just thinking of FOOD! all that water had made us famished. lo and behold the food that awaited us was wow! maybe it was cos we were so hungry, but the presentation tempting… a slice of watermelon, three slices of orange, a crispy fried chicken wing and a double decker melted cheese and tuna sandwich. complimented by a soothing icy cold can of COKE! Mmmm Hmmmm… we ladies had our lunch on a raft and tanned ourselves while doing wat ladies do best: chit chat!
there was a slideshow of all the pics taken during our adventure… excellent stuff. it was too expensive to buy, so oh well… t-shirts too were just too costly…
the guides just unwound with us and well it was a pleasure knowing them really. one by one we changed our clothes (no water so no bathing or even washing up!) then said our goodbyes. it’s definitely worth another trip.
on the way out, we detoured into Kampar town. the guide mentioned this huge pau with chicken curry in it, worth the stop. so we scurried, not wanting to stay too long, yet curious as to wat it was. after stopping for directions at least twice, we finally appeared in front of the shop. looked posh, so held onto our wallets a little tighter. gulp, here goes.
we ordered one. just one! and veg. their special so they say. 
it was HUGE… all nine of us, almost finished it. wow… then there were egg tarts which a few of us packed for home (we were too stuffed to eat anything!). i had to, it was calling my name! mouth watering i tell u!
then it was home time… almost everyone was so tired. except me, since i felt so light. guess too much ward work and classes and seminars finally did me good. alas, i can’t show them pics just yet. in due time, worry not!
well short but sweet version of wat happened. of course i’ll get lotsa comments from the people whose names i have mentioned here, but so be it. it’s more spicy that way! want more words? call me!
Prognosis for Ortho.
on account i have to use good and proper english, and select precise, concise and accurate language with professional terminology from this time forth, i know i will lose half of you in the flood of medical jargon (jargon to most, music to nerds…).
our beloved prof, although with qualifications of about half the letters of the alphabet, did not graduate with a degree of Literature of English. However, having the passion and seeing the dire need in us medical students, he has volunteered to enlighten us in the path of grammatically and professionally sound communication.
and having taken us for a few ward teaching sessions, he was grossly appalled, (and slightly amused) by our lack of good command of the language. in his valiant efforts to preserve the sanctity of the language, he claimed to have multiple attacks of myocardial infarction, and threathened to self-administer sublingual GTN before we proceed with our case presentation.
a few examples were mentioned in a colleague’s blog entry (http://happening-seremban.blogspot.com), hence it would be redundant to describe them here. however, he did mention that in just one group’s case presentations, he had collectively gathered enough phrases to write a fairy tale. "long, long time ago… there was a castle… and there was a woodcutter…"
also he refused to allow sentences with commas, to be recited in haste as the sentences would confer different meanings. "… is a chinese female teacher…" could mean she taught only chinese females, instead of its original intention of describing her ethnicity, gender and occupation.
ah, the many wonders of this professor of english, though a graduate of medicine! although he had generally not much comments for the group i was in, he was thoroughly disappointed with the fact that we were able to avoid the pitfalls laid out for us. finally, in his closing statement, he insisted we were still a sorry lot, for the incompetence of using as little words of the dictionary as possible, without losing significant meaning in the presentation.
However, there is one i must mention, for he is of relevance exclusively in my experience in this posting. he is a surgeon of the hospital, who has reached such a status in his career it may be said, career-wise, he has obtained nirvana. however, in social and communication skills, i find him sorely lacking. granted, i’m in no position to judge, however, in this race, i feel i’ve the upper thumb.
had i minded my own business, had i chosen to wake up late and be lazy, had i not felt subject to learn from watching professionals at their daily rounds in the ward, this encounter might never be. but i genuinely feel, it had to come, so i would know. so i would be stronger, and will not succumb to defeat. defeat to a blow in my ego, and a bruise to my reputation.
i have my fair shares of blunders and well deserving humiliation. i’ve many shuddering moments, yet i know, remorse is not my nature. my strength however, is the ability to pick up and move on. this time, my strength was subject to testing.
as a passive learner in the ward rounds, i sought to observe and jot that which i was unsure, and read in my own time; a method i had devised and deemed most suitable for clinical life peculiar to me. methods, anatomy long forgotten, management, complications, all could be easily digested when i observe, then study. however, this time around, i was shooed away. the surgeon, rendered me daft, and useless and even helpless, and thought me foolish to follow rounds when no one would actively teach me. you see, to him, rounds were business rounds and medical sutdents have no role in particpation, passive or not.
so after direct verbal assault with a battery of absurdly demanding questions, and a lot of criticism ( i assure you it was nowhere near constructive), i was left with a big blow to my ego, and even bigger hole in my heart. for when i see someone of establishment, my heart yearns for accomplishment such as he. but now, given all the blessings heaven can shower, i would never stoop as low as he.
if you know him, God rest your soul. if not, you did not miss much. nonetheless, life goes on. has all these changed my views on ortho, especially as a career choice? yes. and no. yes, because of the morbid fear soon i shall be that which i hate in him; and no, for the very sight of orthopedic surgical tools has left me quite limp, the first moment i laid eyes on them, till this hour.
so prognosis remains, i hate ortho! help me please!!!!!!!!
Uncategorized | Comment (0)casting gene.
so probably (unless you read my prior blog) you would think "hmmm… gene, yea well she’s an actress alright, but casting her?" well not exactly. the ortho group of slackers made full attendance to class… learning POP and doing it as well…
(btw, now that i have a camera at my disposal, the blog won’t be filled with just words… thank God, you’d probably say.)
this is me, the brave volunteer…
that is dr bo and dr sha working poor intan…
and then it’s moulding the cast…
then dr eric started on his O-C work on the O-C himself… hahaha…
(that’s wei shung, btw)
check out the workmanship!
fellowships of the POPs… 
now bo’s turn… 
and then, it’s farewell… to the casts of course. removal of the POP with oscillating saw, spreader, scissors etc… 
one by one, the 
hands were free… except mine of course…
and so, that was our closest encounter with POP, with benefit hopefully. i guess, in time, we would appreciate that class. i mean, not just as a teaching so we can assist ortho medical assistants and ease their work load, but also to empathize truly with the patients. literally put ourselves in their cast… oh joy, gene is finally writing non-melancholic stuff…
ciao peeps…
Uncategorized | Comment (0)darren’s birthday!
check out the food! 
so, this is the wonderful privilege my family and i (and a few other people) have, knowing the best bro and chef around…
it’s his birthday and he cooks for us!
as you can see, ter is a real big eater… not shy at all…
even when the cake came over, he insisted it was for all the oct babes… so his sweetheart wrote that on the cake… (actually i can’t remember
who suggested but it’s nice to blame someone!)
and the birthday song… can you believe at such a age we still sing that song?
well after that… the food was all gone and wiped clean… and when it couldn’t get any cleaner, the MPPJ came to enforce clean
liness for all mankind…
ha ha… that’s ben chong… and at the back is ps. sam, part of the team…
so once all the food which so unites us, finished, there was chatting and catching up with each other. i had to leave early although i was still casted and eager to talk about it (another story :P), to be with my baby, who was so sleepy. after she finally dozed off, no one was left. 
so sad…
so anyway… here is to darren, my ko ko, my bro… and my friend… just keep in touch will ya? luv ya!
muaks
gene.
Uncategorized | Comment (1)who am i?
Genevieve, your city style match is Los Angeles
Hooray for Hollywood! Like LA, you’ve got a big, bold personality that attracts admirers everywhere you go. You’re outgoing and social and don’t have a problem being in the spotlight. In fact, that’s probably where you really shine.
From the Sunset Strip to Rodeo Drive, you’ll be right at home with your cool and trendy style. Fashion-forward, you keep up with the latest trends and add your own unique twist to them. With accessories, unusual accents, or interesting fabrics, you’re not afraid to mix things up and make an impact. No matter what you wear, rocking your own style is always cool. You go!
A trendsetter like you probably doesn’t get much extra time to primp.
Genevieve, the first color you chose reveals that you’re feeling Cheerful today.For centuries, colors have been known for their energizing, calming and empowering qualities. In schools of psychology, a leading color theory suggests that your color preferences can also indicate what’s on your subconscious mind. From your choices, here’s what we found out about you. Like other people who choose Yellow first, you are probably a friendly person who has an open heart. The fact that you chose Yellow first also indicates that others probably see you as welcoming and easy to be around.
How rare is this color choice? 6% test takers also chose Yellow first, but less than 0.10% of test-takers share your exact 8-color sequence.
Genevieve, your summer style is All-American!That’s right, it doesn’t get more classic than you. Whether you’re striking it up with red, white, and blues or digging into your closet to update the latest in fashionable preppy looks, you aren’t afraid to show your stripes. You embrace tradition, and you know how to take care of yourself and those you love. Blowout barbecues and family reunions are good fun, and you love making the most of the warm weather.
Genevieve, your flavor is Crazy CranberryWe have to hand it to you. With your self-confidence, gumption, and joie de vivre, you’re usually two steps ahead of the pack, willing to try anything once (and usually twice). We’d guess that kind of devil-may-care attitude has won you loads of admirers, particularly those wanting in on some of that positive energy (or maybe just wondering what the heck you’re going to do next). Regardless, you’re always refreshing with a little kick — a combination sure to juice up any crowd.
You’re a real self-starter, and tend to be motivated by the unknown. For you, the possibilities are endless. And that kind of adventuresome attitude is contagious. That’s probably why people tend to look to you to shake things up — you never know what kind of fabulous cocktail you’ll come up with.
i do these funny tests for kicks. i seem to like these things an awful lot. but the funny thing is, i dunno. am i like that? before, yes, i guess. now, i’m not too sure.
was at a gathering last weekend. and during supper, i just sat in this corner (if u knew me before u’d know i never sit in corners… no fun!) and spaced out. i realised i’m losing my touch; to interact, to be the centre of attention that i used to be so effortlessly.
is it maturity? maybe. age does catch up. is it my new role as a mom? perhaps. but really, is it that i’m finally becoming a faceless, a lost-in-the-crowd?
perhaps, perhaps. more than wondering what this is all from, i want to know, where do i go from where? what is to become of me? the past was, and my future’s sealed, but what lies from here to there? kinda like lost in sea and all u see is this flickering light, far off in the distance. sure i’m homeward bound. but right now, all i see is the thick blanket of darkness and eerieness that envelopes and blinds me.
for those who can’t take it, i urge u not to venture further, for my heart longs to release hidden dark thoughts it’s been carefully holding on to for so long. the next few days, with more soul searching, more should resurface. yet, in light of the lability of my mood, i’m sure there should be some pretty blogs too. this is it peeps. the core of me. finally reached i guess.
Uncategorized | Comment (1)irony
how is it, that a person of mixed heritage (referring to me, and others who suffer my fate, not necessarily pertaining to all the products of mixed heritage. need to put these disclaimers in once in awhile) who should have the resources of dual languages in the least at disposal, can still remain clueless to the languages, that were supposed to be part of me…
and how is it, that a person of my attitude, with the slackerness (i know i know, am supposed to elaborate on that… next time k? i seem to procastinate a lot…) ends up in the vicious world of medicine school life? after all, i hate studying and like the easy life… so of all the courses, i chose a long and competitive, not to mention, physically and mentally straining course.
what is there then, in life, that makes us take paths we would never foresee ourselves taking? is it just irony? fate? or something way more, out of reach from the human mind? don’t get me wrong. i’m not in doubt, fear or insecurity. but i wonder, had i not known Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of my faith, what would i owe my existence to? in a sense, i’m trying to find out, what other people are looking at, and if i were in their shoes, would i attribute the same way?
i guess had i not had Jesus, i would have other coping mechanisms. but since i knew Him at such a young age, it’s difficult to imagine my life otherwise. so, upon much reflection and observation on my part, i suppose i would not have religion whatsoever. i would probably rely on Me, Myself and I. atheist if u will, or self worshipper… a self made woman.
how then, given my circumstances, given the position i’m in today, how is it i would cope, much less survive? or, would i at all? i suppose it would be an All or Nothing Rule to apply. either i survive and recover fully with no scratches, or not at all… which boils back to the age-old question, what then is the purpose for living, had i no God to believe in, and only myself to provide answers?
truth be told, i have no clue. i’m sure, though, my ramblings would strike a nerve somewhere. perhaps, it annoys people to question my faith in public. however, it isn’t a question we ought to hide in the deepest recesses of our souls. the very fact that i’m bringing it up is to only emphasize my faith. is there any answer which i believe, except what i’ve practised all my life? undoubtedly not. yet, i must ensure that it is so, from time to time, lest there be webs of doubt spinning, only to be discovered when too late.
perhaps, it sparked a light somewhere in your own soul. gene, watever seemingly incoherent talk u wrote actually makes sense. i probably asked myself that before. if that’s u, u better do some soul searching. always worth the find.
or perhaps, u think i’ve spent more than my share with loonies, inside the wards and clinics, and out. well perhaps you’re right. after all, this "revelation" had only come to me now, after six weeks with Ketua Negaras and I-hear-the-devil-speaking-to-me type people. could the inspiration be, from those paranoid with the end of the world, or depressive people sure that life has no meaning, or even the religiously preoccupied? (they scare me. sometimes i wonder, if they’re so fervent, could we, the "normal" people, be the skeptics?)
after all the hard core words, questions left in mid air, and comments to stir the soul, i leave you. (actually it’s cos i wanna sleep. it’s getting late, and i have a feeling i gotta wake up with the two ladies for sahur!)
ciaoz amigoes…
Uncategorized | Comment (0)hypomania?
the mood is elated, feel like goin on a shopping spree, think i can conquer the world… it’s not just because my exams are over. i guess it’s just time i picked up my mood. spent the whole night by myself, and really just reflected (i know i was supposed to be studying but i did that too..) prayed, and just found myself again. i needed that bit of time with nothing and no one. coincidentally there was no phone. phone here spoilt and mobile at home. just perfect for "relaxation therapy" which btw i did as well… (quack is self-medicating…)
anyways i gotta go pack now… goin to my second home… then go shopping… ah feels great…
muaks everyone! ciao!!
Uncategorized | Comment (0)duisburg…
sigh… my bro has left the nest… it’s odd tho. for a baby bro, he’s def travelled more than both darren and i… somehow, this time is just different you know. he was away from home for two years because of a levels and that was, well, crazy. i didn’t think i’d miss him soo much. and he came back for a few months, but i felt as if it was just a few days. i guess that was cos i was in seremban most of the time… and then now, there’s just this HUGE block of distance. even with webcam and phones and email and msn… it just seems different… sigh…
anyway, this is like a major life event. he’s so far away, and alone, and to this place where their national language sounds like a slurred man cursing… but i’m glad he’s got his apartment and all that settled.
so Din if u read this, all the best. keep God as number one. we miss you and luv you and are waiting for u back home…
*muaks*
gene. (and vanora too!)
Uncategorized | Comment (0)