2nd Year

Finally, by God’s grace I’ve settled down safely in my hostel here in Volgograd, Russia. No doubt that it was distressing that the summer holidays ended really fast. As if it was accelerated pell-mell. Hours spent on plane and train and praying hard just to have a safe spot on Russian land.

Dealt with documentations and VISA stuff and etcetera, all the headache and trouble just to ensure that all this mess will be settled before the semester starts.

Weather is still averagely warm, slightly warmer than Malaysia. Spent my second day cleaning the room and sleeping basically due to fatigue and jet lag. Could not be bothered to do apartment hunting, I’ll probably leave the job through an agent, hoping to get a decent apartment.

Went to do a little shopping to get her pair of flats but ended up with lunch, flat-less

New semester starts tomorrow, having Immunology lecture as early as 8AM. Thank God the place is just 10 minutes or less walk from my place, hence I’m planning to wake up as late as 7.30AM to get ready.

My brain is still not adjust to suit all this hectic study yet, currently resting on holiday mode. First thing I checked on my time table is winter holidays instead of winter exam, talking about the outpouring shame upon me as a med student.

Last day of September, never did it slip through my mind that it was Malaysia’s 54th day of Independence. As much as the number increases, it will make no difference if it does not grow and develop the way it ‘should be’.

New semester starts tomorrow, finally in my sophomore year.

Packing Again

Packing. It affects one deeply emotionally, it can either be jocular and filled with anticipation or despairing. About a month plus ago I recalled myself packing with much excitement because I was heading for my summer holidays to several countries and ironically here I am all ready, packed to return back to Russia as a 2nd year med student.

I’m not the type of person that grieves and sobs whenever I leave home; call me heartless but I just don’t find it necessary to be doleful leaving home. I’ve been shipped overseas for more than 2 years and I am pretty impress at myself for being able to adapt at surroundings efficiently.

Holidays were productive, of course there were several things that I strived to complete but failed to do so. Other than that, all is done. Managed to meet up with some friends, speaking of friends… The longer and more time I spent overseas the fewer the friends I have. Other than having different holidays, different time zones, some of us didn’t share the same mindset as before.

Maybe it’s a leap stone towards adulthood and leaving the adolescent years behind to rot to dust. Some of us change faster than others, gaps appearing in every nook and cranny but still I managed to have conversations with some of my fellow buddies. Confabulations that are priceless and motivating.

I realised how important family is. Not that I have never been aware of it, just that I appreciate my family even more as I go through things each day. I am astounded at how certain flocks of people connect wit their family members, some take their family for granted; some have conflicts that are so minuscule but been magnified into tetrameters; some experiencing cold wars. No family is perfect, it’s how we tolerate and sacrifice for it in order to create a better place called home.

I enjoyed being a rock at home, all that is static and being rooted to a spot at home doing nothing. It’s been eons since I savor upon such tranquility and relaxation of basically doing nothing. Sleeping more than 12 hours a day, engulfing on food, being a couch potato, substantially being an extreme sloth.

All my thoughts being stacked in a messy post, maybe it reflects the blogger’s feeling allusively. Clutters of mixed feeling, anticipation towards a whole new semester and a slight downcast that I spent such little quality time with my family and a little heavy hearted to leave them so soon.

A song to sum this post up.

Language Filtration

Being straight forward doesn't mean that words doesn't go through the brain; but talking blindly without rationality and getting it back at time same time certainly proves that one is a true imbecile, idiot.

Filtration, commonly the mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of unwanted objects by interjecting a medium through which only the ones that are needed can pass. Be astounded, I’m staggered when my brain defines a certain terminology that well; all thanks to science. However, when you compare that to any Oxford dictionary.

Whenever I stumble on something that irritates my nature, I react. The brain simultaneously winds around certain angle to burst out a quote or random saying and next it will stimulate nerves through my ulnar nerve and all that is nearby to post an update typically on Facebook. Hoping that the certain someone will miraculously get what I meant.

Dennis was mentioning this to me, about a guy that posted a foul word of mockery on Facebook, more of an extreme sense of insubordination towards a higher elderly or authority, inserting usage of abhorrent language. No big deal right? Half of adolescents do that when they are in rage – idiots. The funny thing was that, his status update got his own teacher’s attention and the ending can be well predicted.

Making such publications and getting it hit back right on the face is hilarious, you got to admit that. A person accumulates a colossal mass of courage, bravery with idiocy and lunacy leaking between them in order to publicize it to the world, and yet by the end of the day… all he gets is shame and being chagrined by the public. Imbeciles.

About the term filtration, wonder why did I even make such a mess explaining it… Be a smart, rational person in life and filter your words before actually pouring them out, because you never know when you’ll be tag as an imbecile without filtration.  

Thankful Again

I’ve been walking on Earth for more than 20 years, make it approximately 244 months, around 976 weeks, 6,832 days, estimated 163, 968 hours which is 9,838,080 minutes and a total of 590,284,800 seconds. Even by calculating those, I’ve increased the second of my moment being alive.

To keep this in mind, I would probably have more time to live on Earth than others, more chances than others; more things to be thankful for than others. Just a self note to remind myself how precious my life is compared to many others. 

Experienced an extreme rural life when I was doing humanitarian mission trip to Sibu, Sarawak made me realised how lucky and fortunate most of us are. It it wasn’t for this trip, I would not have paused and prompted myself to appreciate what I have in life.

We took everything for granted, especially when we were young. I had almost ever single McDonald's Happy Meal toy when I was young, dad would get it for me or at least I will try to coax him to get it for me. At that time it wasn’t something I need, maybe it was just how I get used to certain habits in life. Bad habits such as being demanding.

Kids here could not even be bothered whether they have toys or not, nor would they know the existence of shops like McDonalds’. Maybe they have the opportunity to know it through the boob tube, but not having any possibility to gain anything from it makes not owning it no difference.

They spent their days going to school if they are lucky, playing around with children from villagers, just randomly running around under searing hot run barefooted and hoping into rivers painted in opaque chocolate. Cleanliness was never an issue to them, maybe their immune system got sick and fatigue over parasites growing in their gastro-intestinal system. 

Things like this, we took for granted. Education, transportation, technology, and even basic cleanliness. We even omit people around us, parents, friends, teachers and every single individual that has at least set a foot print in our heart as we are approaching adolescent years. Not everyone has a perfect family; the perfect family that doesn’t break apart just to ensure that their children has a bright route to stride ahead; or the type that sacrifices time, effort, energy and finance to build up a child’s future.

Some maybe less fortunate, they overlooked and spurned the pivotal role education and proper parenting play in a child’s base. As a result, children whom are grown up in such manner may find it arduous and onerous to be in par with others. They may noticed how much they have lacked and lost compared to others. Thus, I am grateful that I am brought up in a proper manner, despite the minor flaws foibles.

I recalled myself writing posts such as this, it gets to the same point but I tend to oblige myself to remind myself on how lucky I am. It’s difficult to imagine others going through things worst than me when I’m drawn into something dreadful & harrowing, but there are a million other things to be thankful for.

Trusted & Love

“ To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved ”

15 Years

I had a great swim today; apart from the spacious and vast diameter of the pool itself, I managed to catch up with a friend whom I known since kindergarten. It took me several seconds to calculate how years of friendship we shared – a total of 15 years or so.

We had steamboat, an entire table of food shared by the 2 of us. Ironically, a table beside us was organizing some sort of annual gathering. Looking at ours, I asked him: “remember how so-and-so used to organize such activities and it only last for 2 years after primary school?”

It takes so little effort to loose contact or to break any correspondence with people. We may not belong in the same par nevertheless, our friendship goes beyond blood.  

Shared endless jokes and catching-ups, really… I have him as the only friend that I contacted since primary school. The one that lives so near from my house but due to distance, due to relations, due to mindsets; we differ through age. Thankfully a short annual meeting saved it all.

It’s good to have a loyal friend for such a long time.

Pada Waktunya by Ivan Handojo

A great wake up song to remind how beautiful the day is going to be

Ada waktu untuk menangis Tuk tertawa,
tuk bertahan saja
Ada waktu untuk menunggu,
tuk percaya
Bahwa semua akan indah
pada waktunya Ada waktu untuk menangis
Tuk tertawa,tuk bertahan saja
Ada waktu untuk menunggu,
tuk percaya Bahwa semua akan indah Pada waktunya

Education ‘Fun’

A friend of mine recently mentioned this to me: “You’ve missed out all the fun in Malaysia!”

I was wondering, what fun could I possibly be missing out apart from unable to reconnect with friends since most of them are scattered or soon to be flung to different parts of mother Earth. Fun in a sarcastic tonality.

Despite being shipped all the way to the Russian federation, I manually flip through the papers online to catch up with latest issues regarding my hometown. I have at least 7 choices of websites bookmarked under ‘News’ on my Chrome. The tricky thing about online newspaper is that one must be able to be smart to choose which to read, which to absorb, and which to believe.

Personally, I read The Star Online just to update myself on local as well as global issues revolving around Malaysia. You can’t dig any deeper just by reading that, but thanks to the overzealous devout outgrowth of mass media, blogs or other sites easily taught me within minutes of all that is horrible in our country. I wouldn’t put it exactly horrible, owing to the fact that I still patronize this country of mine.

It’s an endless growth, like roots and branches and stems that have been outgrowing since forever; paving every single speck in this nation. From education, with students griping over scholarships that are sought-after, the unbalance quota system that seemed to favour those in their own circle and many more… Even the recent news over a teenager suing Khazanah over Cambridge scholarship. These are just diminutive affairs covering our education system. I pity the future generation, like dolls being manipulated and tested.

Having said that, we still got to move on even if we are tangled among these veins of bloody revolutions endured by children, students, working people near and far throughout Malaysia who literally bleed out for a better future.

If you label this as a race or rally, then it is dejected to say that the outcome will all be the same. It’s because before this rally has even started, the ‘battle’ has already been won. Why fight with thin air and invincible warriors? I salute those who still bear their armors and swords.

Majority might be thinking that I’m currently seated on cloud 9 speaking about this without nothing to worry about education. As a matter of fact you’re wrong, I’m not even on any government-bounded scholarship pursuing my degree. My parents work to fork out every single penny out from their own pockets to ensure that my road is clear. In such position, I still choose to retreat. Back off all the strain and fighting for nothing can be changed, so what if much sacrifice needs to be taken into account? I believe one way or another it makes us stronger.

Nowadays, people go by asking ‘Hey, where is your son/daughter?’ or ‘Wow, sponsored by JPA/MARA/Petronas/Shell… [name whatever scholarships that are available, I bet they’ve memorized them behind their palms]’. It occurs all the time that parents have forgotten to even perform the most intrinsic work as a parent. I cannot comprehend on how Malaysians label people based on a certificate, or what’s worst.. how they brand us as ‘government sponsored’ or ‘private’.

Labels mentioned above doesn’t ensure you a longer run in society, given the best education to someone without the desire to pursue in it does not make him better than any other. 

What we can mobilize within our capacity that will benefit this unwanted situation is not just for the sake of ourselves, but for friends, family and for the sake of our country. Doesn’t matter if it affects people in measurements of nanometers.

On a more personal note, I gained a lot when having conversations with friends regarding issues similar to this. It doesn’t separate us being sponsored or not. I’m very proud of people around me, those that understand the current situation and making the very best out of everything.

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia

One of the main places of tourist attraction in Istanbul and undoubtedly an architectural wonder of the times is the Hagia Sophia.

The magnificent part in the architecture of the Hagia Sophia was its impressive central dome. What’s fascinating is the history behind this building, it was originally a Christian church but converted into a Muslim mosque.       

One of the many fascinating structures of Hagia Sophia.

Another thing I love about Turkey, people here are really good looking. Muslim man and woman here have very distinctive features and all are very open-minded and not overly conservative.

The rich and impressive mosaics depicting various Christian images that were seen throughout the church.

The Islamic masters adorned the Hagia Sophia with attractive geometrical designs and also made extensive use of expensive colored stones, carved wood craft, gold and mother of pearl.

The interior of Hagia Sophia has splendid lightings and really detailed handworks of Islamic elements.

Among all the places I have visited during this summer trip, I find Istanbul the perfect place for shopping. Got myself some apple tea and Turkish delights, a gift that I received almost everytime whenever an acquaintance visits Turkey. 

A local university in Istanbul, how gorgeous is that! This is only the entrance, really looks like some castle along the way.

Dinner was a real let down, food literally tasted like overnight food, apple tea and chicken/lemon soup was nice though.

For the final night of my summer trip, all of us gathered upstairs at the lounge to have a drink of cocktail. Prattled on almost everything till we actually fell asleep upstairs till 3am to lug our bodies back to our rooms. 

Turkey, a place that I’ll definitely return someday.

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern

On the way back from Vienna to Malaysia, I had more than 24 hours transit in Turkey. Hence, did a last minute booking in Cheers hostel. So far, the best hostel I have ever stayed throughout my summer trip. What a coincidence that most of my friends that have travelled to Turkey stayed here as well!

A golden retriever ready to welcome you to Turkey. According to this super friendly owner of Cheers, they actually adopted him few years back when he was only a puppy and now.. he’s all grown up.

On the top floor there is a lounge for travelers to chill, all 4 of us slept here all morning because we arrived in Turkey around 5AM and we could only check in pass 12PM.

Lunch was chicken in some sauce with yoghurt wrapped around in Turkish bread, tried out their so-called famous beverage apple flavoured BOZCA but turned out to be Zapple. 

One thing about Turkish people, their forte is definitely business. Right after dinner they invited us next door to see how hand made crafts were made and what to you know… after so much persuasion we ended up carrying back bags of scarves.

Turkey is famous for apple tea, here’s a model manipulated for promoting purposes.

Visited an underground city, Basilica Cistern. This reminded of the Labyrinth in Budapest. It is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul.

There were two statues of Medusa and a brief history about her, I managed to wait patiently in order to snap these pictures cause’ all the professional photographers were hogging the entire area with their Dslr. 

Came across a park with heaps of people, mainly children feeding pigeons! There was this particular boy with light blue spectacles, a stand-out among all the kids because he was the cutest.

An overview of Istanbul, Turkey through the lounge on the top most floor of Cheers hostel. 

Salzburg: Sound Of Music Tour & Mozart

Met a Malaysian family here touring with their daughter, recently graduated from law school in London, they suggested us to take a ‘Sound of Music Tour’ with them to visit Salzburg in it’s prettiest estate. No doubt, we were entertained by a really amusing tour guide.

Clouds were slightly gloomy but thank God there wasn’t any rain because according to weather forecast, it was supposed to rain with a temperature of 12 degrees. Couldn’t be trusted sometimes.

We were astounded by nature’s beauty, mountain cliffs and houses and cottages along the way that were all so splendid. Exactly like living in a fairy tale of happy endings.

We came to a town where St. Michael’s church is located, I donated several Euros and got a bottle of Holy water to bring back home.

I had an afternoon tea with Eelin, tasted one of the famous apple strudel & cheese strudel in hot vanilla sauce, perfect for chilly weather. 

We arrived in a garden as the tour ended, nothing fancy compared to those in castles but this was really spectacular. Flowers blooming everywhere, imagine walking in this with a perfect weather of 20 degrees. Scent of heaven everywhere.

Spent quite sometime here just walking, life here moves in slow pace. It look me quite sometime to get used to it, to actually admire the beauty of nature.

Wanted to do some shopping since shopping streets were everywhere, ZARA, H&M as large as a 4 storey building but there were too many tourists flooding the area so I ended with a leather sling bag for mum. 

Mozart’s birthplace

We had ‘lunch’ at some desert place, ordered a table full of cakes.. I had chocolate orange cake and a cup of coffee. Entertained by street performers opposite the place we ate.

Took a picture with Mr. Mozart himself before bid adieu to this lovely place.