Delayed CNY post

Delayed CNY touch-ups^^

For the past few years, our family tradition during the very first day of CNY had always been going for hill-hiking together. My dad would say:" This year we should climb higher than where we reached last year!才算是步步高升！" 

LOL~

2013 is a totally different year for my family as we've found the dhamma. According to Buddha's teaching, the only way that we can improve our life is through gaining good merits by cultivating Dana, Sila & Bhavana. So, on the very first day of CNY 2013, my whole family went to offer dana at Dhammapiti Monastery. We were kinda worried that the monks won't have enough food to eat that day because we thought that everybody will be busy celebrating CNY and won't have time to do dana. 

Turned out, SURPRISE!!! 

The monastery was full of kind-hearted people who are selfless and willing to sacrifice some of their time to do dana. So happy to see that:))) 

And below are the dishes specially prepared  by daddy & i...Ps, i cooked the garlic butter prawns with broccoli, it was so aromatic and nice^^

Most of the CNY holiday was spent at my Grandma's ancient house at Temoh. I still enjoy the atmosphere where most of the relatives will be back and we will have a HUGE family "discussion" around the dining table. Uncles and aunts will reminiscent their childhood stories, and everybody would laugh at the silly jokes at those old days. The children will enjoy playing cards, running around making noises while the adult will play the mahjong. But somehow, as years go by, children has grown up and the whole atmosphere just became not as CNY-ish as before anymore. Just for a change, this year my younger bro suggested to trot around the village of Temoh and took some nice pics.

Of course, the most enjoyble thing is just simply hanging aorund with my beloved daddy mummy bro and sis! Its really funny when i thought of how badly we fought with each other among siblings when 3 of us were still children. And now we have all grown up and become young adults. No more fighting! Surely mom & dad feel glad because of this, no more headache for them!LOL

We had a great dinner and went to Ipoh Kinta Riverfront to have a relaxing stroll, hoping to burn some of the heavy calories eaten. That was actually on Valentine's day, and my dad did the  sweetest thing-sending my mom valentine's roses! Look at this sweet couple^^

And there was my beloved mom's birthday too! I baked mini oreo cheesecakes for her. Nothing beats my love towards my family:) Ohya, besides i also managed to bake a choco-banana bread which was so soft and fragrant! Yum!^^ Thought of baking peanut cookies and oatmeal cookies but i just couldn't spare out any free time to do so. Will reserve that during my next hols!

medical end posting

Finally, and yet once again, another 6 weeks of major posting>>Medical posting has passed! Definitely no doubt that i was once intimidated by other's warnings about my supervisor, and was trying so hard not to let my perception being too affected by others. Because of the fear others was trying to instill in me, i turned that into some kinda energy that motivated me to keep on working hard, not because of im afraid of failing in my exam with my supervisor. But just wanna prove to myself: if i learn as much as i can, if i tried my best and acquired the knowledge that i should know as a future doctor, if i behave as a nice humble medical student, there's no way that he could penalize me. Looking back, im generally satisfied with what i did during these 6 weeks. This was by far the busiest posting i ever had, the most challenging and also the most knowledge gained!:) From the commonest cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, to kidney, endocrine and infectious diseases. The knowledge in medical field is like a bottomless hole, you can never finish learning.

And then, there were times that I was feeling really stressed. I took my bicycle and went outdoor for a ride. The sky was blue and stretching wide, sun was shining bright, pretty flowers died. A sudden thought came to my mind, that everything is impermanent. This stress that im facing is impermanent, any emotion is impermanent, this life is impermanent, this body is impermanent. Only then i realised how heedless i was. Most of the time we're just like that, we tend to see any problem with a magnifying glass, imagining them like they're the worst thing that ever happened in our life. If we're being mindful enough, we will not get cheated by this negative state of mind.

Well, enough of my long-winded story i guess...

Shall share my story with you by some nice pics=)

My cutie partner Grace. We shared the same supervisor in the medical posting. We worked hard, played hard and laughed hard together! LOL~ Really fun to have good posting groupmates^^

On the very last day of medical posting, at the very last short case session at Hospital Kota Bharu, we had an awesome and fruitful time learning from a great doctor! After that we decided to go for supper as celebration...tried this famous BURGER BAKAR!!! It tasted real nice, much nicer than Mc Donald's i think:)

And just now I just got back from buddy Mike's birthday celebration...Found another nice western food restaurant in KB! Wow, nowadays we can really find some nice food in Kelantan already:)))

I think that's about it for today! Need to rest earlier tonight because tomorrow gotta get up earlier in the morning to cook something for dana offering, so happy! Yay^^ Will touch up more with you guys soon! I haven't even share with you guys about my awesome CNY holiday! Anyway, please stay tuned! More coming up soon cz I'll be entering quite a relaxing posting>>Psychiatry! Can't wait!:D

9 daily habits for a cheerful YOU

Read across this in Yahoo website long time ago and have always thought of sharing it with my dear readers here!

Here you go: the 9 daily habits that will make you happier!^^

1. Start each day with expectation.

If there's any big truth about life, it's that it usually lives up to (or down to) your expectations. Therefore, when you rise from bed, make your first thought: "something wonderful is going to happen today." Guess what? You're probably right.

2. Take time to plan and prioritize.

The most common source of stress is the perception that you've got too much work to do.  Rather than obsess about it, pick one thing that, if you get it done today, will move you closer to your highest goal and purpose in life. Then do that first.

3. Give a gift to everyone you meet.

I'm not talking about a formal, wrapped-up present. Your gift can be your smile, a word of thanks or encouragement, a gesture of politeness, even a friendly nod. And never pass beggars without leaving them something. Peace of mind is worth the spare change.

4. Deflect partisan conversations.

Arguments about politics and religion never have a "right" answer but they definitely get people all riled up over things they can't control. When such topics surface, bow out by saying something like: "Thinking about that stuff makes my head hurt."

5. Assume people have good intentions.

Since you can't read minds, you don't really know the "why" behind the "what" that people do. Imputing evil motives to other people's weird behaviors adds extra misery to life, while assuming good intentions leaves you open to reconciliation.

6. Eat high quality food slowly.

Sometimes we can't avoid scarfing something quick to keep us up and running. Even so, at least once a day try to eat something really delicious, like a small chunk of fine cheese or an imported chocolate. Focus on it; taste it; savor it.

7. Let go of your results.

The big enemy of happiness is worry, which comes from focusing on events that are outside your control. Once you've taken action, there's usually nothing more you can do. Focus on the job at hand rather than some weird fantasy of what might happen.

8. Turn off "background" TV.

Many households leave their TVs on as "background noise" while they're doing other things. The entire point of broadcast TV is to make you dissatisfied with your life so that you'll buy more stuff. Why subliminally program yourself to be a mindless consumer?

9. End each day with gratitude.

Just before you go to bed, write down at least one wonderful thing that happened. It might be something as small as a making a child laugh or something as huge as a million dollar deal. Whatever it is, be grateful for that day because it will never come again.

I believe happiness comes deep inside from our heart, it's always there. But the hustle and bustle of life can sometimes be SO overwhelming that whatever good quality within us is masked. If everybody could just willing to take a deep breath and have some time for ourselves to settle down our ever racing mind and thought each day, and feel peaceful for just a second, life would be indeed much cheerful:)

Quick share

3/2/2013, 9.10pm

Been feeling dizzy and sleepy since afternoon after blood donation

I love to donate blood

Feeling good knowing that part of this impermanent body can help others

Being poked by such large bore needle is not fun

But at the same time it reminds me of how painful is it for the patients in ward who get poked several times a day...

Couldn't have a clear and focused mind to study now

Just go to sleep Vivian

And have a fresh and energy start in the next morning!

Bear it for 3 more days

then you'll get a short & refreshing break;)

A mind of gratitude is one that sees the good in things,

that values things,

and that relishes even the difficult parts of life.

Such a mind tends to grow in freedom, happiness and energy!

~Ajahn Brahm

Hello February=)

Been so busy for the past 1 month! Im currently stucked happily in Medical posting. I admit that before I enter this posting, I've always think that its a very dry and boring posting, but now Im having a totally different view. I enjoy talking with patients everyday, clerking and follow up with their progress and learn how they are being treated. Ward 7 is just like a live library, filled with live medical textbooks, just so much to learn from every different patients that I've clerked! And eventually seeing them getting better each day, I just can't help feeling happy for my patients:) 

Well, that was the happy part. Of course, the counterpart always follow, like a shadow. Been scold countless times by specialists, with or without any good reason. But its ok for me though, understand their workload. Moreover, medical students are the time when we should accept all the scoldings right? Better being scold now when no damage to patient is done, rather than when we start to work as HO when scolding cannot bring a patient back to life. No affordable mistake that can be made anymore once we start working as a doctor. This may sound scary, because who never make mistakes? But as far as Im concern, I wish I could just stay focus and keep strong mind in whatever thing that I do, and try my best to help my patient.

Oh did I tell you I've got one of the most famous Prof as my supervisor and examiner for this posting? Some gave me loads of advices out of concern, some looked at me with those sympathy expression, whilst some laughed at me for being so-called-unfortunate. No doubt I was once intimidated by the scary rumor, but c'mon! Who knows whether its a blessing in disguise? At least Im having such a good motivation to study and don't allow myself to sink into laziness everyday. And so far everything is good. Im just gonna work my butt off, try my best to improve myself everyday, stop worrying about the future that I couldn't control and accept any outcome that results.

Lastly, can't wait to go back for Chinese New Year! 
My home~my family~my pet~CNY delicacies~~~
:D

Happy 2013:)

This is my very first post in 2013:

Firstly, before writing this I've spent about half an hour reading back my posts in 2012 and only did I realized that there were not as many as I thought have written. To me its not a bad thing as revealing too much of myself through written words in this digital world is not a good way to know me. Yea, because words can cheat, words have no expressions. I have thought of abolishing this blog actually, but in the end I still decided to keep it. As long as Im not wasting too much time on it, its nevertheless a good portal of sharing of my thoughts and a gateway to channel out my emotion, be it positive or negative.

2012 was a really happening year to me. I experienced countless events that were least expected to happen. All the problems and feelings were SO mixed up and complicated till I couldn't even recall the events in sequence. Perhaps its because I decided to let go. The past is the past. Yes, I agree that the tiny thorns are not so easy to remove, but Im still hoping that things can turn better. Just let the nature takes its course.

But, no matter how, Im still standing on my own feet. I've learnt to listen to my heart, to choose and believe on my stand. 

I keep resolutions for every new year, non-exceptionally for 2013:

to work hard, learn as much as I can, and enjoy each and every posting>pass every posting exams making sure I have adequate knowledge in each field in order to become safe doctor in the future>graduate and leave Kelantan>become a House officer who practice medicine safely and be able to take care of the sick, preferably as close to my home as possible:)

Just as simple as that.

Happy new year everyone!

May all beings have peaceful mind, healthy body and practice good morality. 

Together, we can make this world a better place to live.

Quality weekend with my beloved!^^

Had an ever awesome weekend!

Although it only lasted 3 days but its the quality that counts:)

Simple morning hill-hiking with my parents, followed by a plate of Dried Curry Noodle as breakfast, spending time in the kitchen busy cooking with my mom, chatting with daddy in the living room while watching tv, gossiping with my bro & sis, going to the monastery to do dana and learning some dhamma...

What a beautiful weekend spent with my most beloved family!

Though the travelling part can be quite exhausting but its definitely worth it! 

Ps, just hope doctors can forgive me for "fishing" in their class today;)

Guess my homesickness has been cured

will concentrate on my study and looking forward the next trip home on CNY♥

Dearest daddy bought and saved these scrumptious durian for me to savour once I got back home...Ah~silky smooth sweet flesh with a tinge of bitter taste contrasted well with each other...

Who cares about the weight gain when its the King of the fruit's season???^^

And then, finally I got to make these traditional dessert for Winter Solstice Festival with my mummy and bro...Two flavours were made, red bean filling and another with chocolate filling specially for my sis...

Glutinous rice ball served with "Lai Kee" Soya milk, simply warm and divine

This time back home, sis and cousin are working as part time promoters, as a reward for their hardwork of standing whole day long, I prepared lunch boxes for them...

French Toast topped with honey, they said "yum!"

If you ask what's the most delicious food and what I missed the most when Im away from home, its definitely Mama's cooking!!!

I've always enjoyed staying in the kitchen and helping my mom to chop this and that, occasionally play with a few stirs in the wok. Call it miracle, I got some flu attack before I was home and mommy's Chicken Herbal Soup chased away the flu! I can even eat tonnes of durian without getting "heaty" and sick...hehe

Wow! Really, nothing beats my mommy's home-cook dishes...

Sweeeet surprise for my mommy & I, from GongCha!!! We were just planning to try out this newly opened Bubble Milk Tea stall, never thought that its actually free giveaway hours:D

Since I found some left-over sweet corns from Cameron Highland in the freezer...Decided to try out this Japanese inspired dish I learned from a cooking show:

~Sweet Corn Doughnut~

1. Prepare 150g of sweet corns, 150g of cake flour, 1 tablespoon of baking powder, 50g of sugar. Mix well and add in 1 egg and some milk until a smooth, runny dough is formed. 
2. Scoop a spoonful of the dough into a well-heated oil and deep fry till golden brown in colour.

ps1: Do not add too much milk at a time! Try out your dough by frying one doughnut, then adjust the consistency of your dough by adding milk as needed.

Good reflection on Dooms day

Today was supposed to be the Dooms day as predicted by the Mayans! Although I never believe in this, but wouldn't it be a great day to reflect on how fortunate we are, just to be able to stay alive? Im practicing this everyday, whenever I wake up in the morning, The very first thing that I do is to notice my breathing. Yeah! Im breathing in and out, Im still alive. So Im gonna make myself a better person and a wholesome mind compared to yesterday. And this motivates me to live a better day:)

☂☂☂

Seems like our friend, Mr Monsoon is officially paying us a visit and decided to stay with us for a few weeks from now! Showering is such a torture nowadays as the water is freezing cold! And this cold weather is making me constantly sleepy, losing all my mindfulness lol

Luckily my study button was turned on today. This is me, when I feel like it, I really enjoy studying, reading books, learning interesting facts and using my super colourful series of pen to create my own handwritten notes. And yea, when I feel like it I can really do this for one whole day. Ah, relieved that Im on the way of preparation for end-posting exam next week. You know, when you have exam every 6 weeks, you'll tend to lose the anxiety and enthusiastic necessary to prepare for it. I actually found out that I have become less stressful than before even though Im in clinical year now. Maybe I've immuned, or I've develop better stress-coping strategy, or perhaps I've learnt to relax and let things go after understanding some dhamma. The latter helps the most I think:) Another thing is that Im a believer of "consistent effort reaps sweet fruits". Trust me, it works. But I do understand if my dear reader=you think that Im a nerdx) Yes, we're medical students and we need to read books, be nerdy and knowledgeable so that we can heal you;)

Today's Winter Solstice Festival too, and this will be my 5th year away from home during this traditional chinese celebration. Called mummy and she was making glutinous rice balls. Can't wait to go home! Can't wait to see my family! Counting down the days to fly back to my nest^^

French toast 

1. Beat 1 egg with 1 1/2 tablespoon of milk, mix well.
2. Coat a piece of bread evenly with the egg mixture and fry it with a teaspoon of melted butter until golden brown on both sides. Repeat with another piece of bread.
3. Spread some chunky peanut butter in between the toasts and top with a dollop of your favourite fruit jam.

A hearty breakfast to start my day in a freezing weather in Kelantan♥

ps1: I used wholemeal bread instead of white bread. Love the texture, and its definitely a healthier choice!

ps2: As an alternative, you can top it with a slab of butter and some honey, the way traditional French toast should be eaten. Either way its delicious^^

Not a secret anymore

The secret is:
Sometimes I can just be so pissed off by myself.
Im already 21 years old.
Yet, I can still be incredibly homesick.

Yes,
I yell like a baby girl whenever I call home.
I miss my daddy mummy like hell.

The great thing is:
Life's trying to teach me some lesson,
by always throwing me into far away land to study.

The sad thing is:
After all these years it seems like
I've still not learnt the way to give up my attachment.

Trust me,
After learning some dhamma,
Im trying, in fact, really hard to stop this negative emotion from arising.
And yea, Im still striving.

Simply frustrated with my baby girl nature:(

Indeed.
Being born into this world is suffering.
Getting old is suffering.
Being sick is suffering.
Death is suffering.

Lets strive to get out from the whole cycle of Samsara:)

But before that, I just NEEEED to go home next weekend. It will be my end-posting and coincidentally a long weekend! Been struggling with my thoughts for a few days, caught into the dilemma of whether to go home or not. Finally made my decision. Listened to my heart and she told me that its a good choice. If not, my mind will be so restless till CNY holiday comes. I won't be able to study in peace.

Nownownow~I can finally rest my mind, and get my battery charged for studying tomorrow! End posting exam for Ophthalmology posting is just around the corner. Its a relaxing and fun posting. Those specialists and doctors are so helpful and willing to teach! And as usual, good times always slip much faster than the bad times. Well, I just hope that Im not being excessively relaxed, Im gearing up myself to learn, learn, learn! I'd better stop my long-winded story and go to bed with a peaceful heart relieved by the thought of able to go home soon...

Night!

Peeps...

Eyes are so beautiful

Ophthalmology posting is fun:D

Simply because...

1. We got our own pupil dilated on the very first day of posting! And we learned how to use a direct ophthalmoscope to examine the fundus(the region at the back of your eyes). Such great satisfaction when we managed to see the real optic disc, optic cup and all the retinal vessels! They're just too fascinating and beautiful to see! It's not an easy job indeed, you're taking risks of "kissing" your patient you know:P
2. No ward rounds for 3 weeks in Ophthalmology posting! All we have to attend is clinic, procedure room with all high-tech machines and OT.
3. Finally, I can leave my room later than 8am every morning because the earliest clinic or classes will start at 8.30am. Ps, though Im an early bird, I still enjoy the morning lingering in my room hehe

Finally, after the two nerve-wreckingly busy posting, I've got my turn to unwind, relax and slow down my pace, just for a little short period before another major one >> Medical posting starts. Yes, it's indeed fun using the funduscope but it can be quite boring if you spend your whole life looking at THE EYES everyday! Many of my friends started to develop interest in pursuing this specialty because of the stree-free atmosphere and relatively shorter working hours compared to others super-duper busy specialty like O&G, General Surgery and Orthopaedic. 

"The only certainty is uncertain." said Ajahn Brahm.

Although I seems to be giving comments about every posting I went through, some are positive while some are negative. But who knows what will happen in the future? We can always plan, but things usually won't turn out exactly the same as we wished or planned. Perhaps, I might graduate from medical school and open a food stall at Pasar Malam! 

Haha! Just kidding lar~ 

I love medicine:)

Garlic-sauteed mushroom with broccoli

1. Thinly slice up 1 clove of garlic. Heat up some butter and saute the garlic till fragrance.
2. Add in thinly sliced fresh shitake mushroom, stir-fry until it's almost cooked through.
3. Add in small florets of broccoli and stir-fry together with the garlic and mushroom. Add some water if necessary to ensure even cooking. Season with some salt and italian mixed herbs.
4. When the broccoli is fully cooked, turn off the heat and add in half slice of cheese. Mix everything together evenly.
5. Enjoy your nutritious vege dish!^^

You might think that Im crazy, but I can just eat one large bowl of this broccoli as my main meal! Yum~