Fishing Trip

Hurray! I'm back from the fishing trip! We caught lots of fishes and likewise a crab and a seaweed. Simply it was an interesting trip to begin with, I think everyone has enjoyed as much as I did!

In the dawn of 20th June, I woke up excitedly way before the alarm could have lifted me awake. Immediately after my usual walk-around in the house, sat on the sofa and then recall what I could have left out. I picked up my bags and fishing accessories and left the house.

We actually were heading to Malaysia's Sibu Island (Pulau Sibu), 100km north-east of Singapore, and about 140km of journey on the road. Not so far away, I took us about 3 hours to reach the Jetty, which should not have taken us more than 2 hours because the newbie driver lost his way on the country road. When we reach the jetty at about 12nn, it had far exceeded the boat arrival time of 10am.

Nonetheless we were just in time to enjoy our sumptuous seafood lunch prepared by the owner onboard the kelong, after a scenic but exhaustive 45mins boad ride. In case you ask 'what is a kelong', well, it's a kind of floating platform in the middle of the sea that was historically used by fishermen purely for fishing activities, which is now used for leisure activities. Such platforms are exclusive to our South-East Asia region, where many other kelongs can be found in offshore Singapore and Indonesia too.

So we had fun, hadn't we? We really enjoyed the facilities and activities there. Mr ong was fishing non-stop and was found still with the hook late at night. For me, capturing the scenic shots was not at all regretted, given that I've sacrificed some fishing time. The environment there was simply beautiful, great! Whether dusk or dawn, even in the middle of the night there'd be something for the camera. It would easily have been the nature's paradise! However, the large amount of pollution the kelong produces gave way to the could-be name. That's because all of our food scraps, washing detergent (what the hell!!), washroom wastes such as soiled toilet paper and shampoo, would all end up in the supposedly clear blue sea. I contemplated on eating our catch, but ended up doing so anyway. That would be really gross if I were to find 'something' in the fishes' tummies.

Yes, I felt tired and went to bed that night. And something dangerous had happened during then - FIRE. A wall-fan just about 2 or 3 foots below the vulnerable attap roof went haywire and caught fire. Everyone whose eyes stayed wide open stayed panic too, with some shouting for fire extinguishers and trying out ways to put the small fire out. Luckily, the few owners managed to extinguish it. The worse thing is that the entire kelong is made up of wood, wood and wood, capped with an attap roof. So if everything is that flammable, what would have happened if everything gets burnt? Roasted human beings with a touch of malaysian flavour? The vicinity is nothing the eye can manage - because everywhere you see would be pitch dark if we were to escape into the sea. What's worse, all these happened while I was snoring my way. That's because, I thought, this credits to my ipod's noise-cancellation ear piece that I just bought. I couldn't hear anything other than Olivia Ong. I got up, after hearing some hoo-hahs, and went back into slumberland again instead. This despite the fire over my head, literally. Mr Ong's eyes remained open all the way until all his children woke after sunrise. I think I should get myself a punishment for not being alert... No more ipod during overseas trip...

At the return journey, we went to johor bahru's new Aeon Tebrau City 'mega mall' which is litterary HUGE. Jusco, comprising its departmental store and supermarket, is the anchor tenant. Dad says we'll drive there next month!!

Overall, it's a good experience and I certainly look forward to another trip like this. Photo time! Please give comments for my photos :) I personally love the one with the bee! The resolution was perfect at 10mp with no digital zoom used.

It's Photos Time!

Karaoke Session!

Against Wasting Food When Others Needs It More

This video is about wasting of food as a general culture of the new age people, especially those who lives in developed countries and cities. I can't say it's food scrap, when at least half of the serving goes to the bin. These leftovers actually can feed a whole lot of other hungry human beings around the world. So, let's not waste food and appreciate them!

"I felt disquiet upon learning that the protracted global economic crisis has brought about increased unemployment and its related social problems.Even sadder is the fact that there are one billion hungry people in the world, and that number is expected to grow.While many in other countries are suffering from food shortages, a lot of Singaporeans never seem to realise how fortunate they are.In restaurants, hawker centres and coffee shops, one can see food left behind by patrons who do not bother to finish what they have ordered.Why can’t we order only what we want to consume?It is common to see diners at buffets piling their plates with food as if there were no tomorrow.Perhaps there is nothing wrong with them doing so, but it can be exasperating when they consume only a portion and discard the rest.They also tend to repeat this wasteful act throughout the course of their meal.Some of us are unaware that the amount of food wasted each day can easily feed thousands of people elsewhere, where food is scarce and some cannot afford the rising prices.Hence, it is our responsibility to drive home the message of food conservation to those indulging in wasteful behaviour."

- Adapted from http://soshiok.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1735#post1735.

Last Day at Emergency

Alright, I'm back from work. Read the news? There are 17 more new cases of H1N1 carriers in Singapore, bringing the total number of cases to 77. More than 6 of whom had came to the emergency area which i'm working at. At about 3.30pm, a slip of paper was passed down from the top asking us to be prepared for the arrival of a family of four, who had arrived from Jakarta the day before. Their little girl, age of about 8 years old, was tested positive during yesterday's visit to the emergency department. But the problem was, where is at all their responsibility? Yes, they did not take public transport, they drove. But not at all a protection - the infected girl wasn't wearing any mask, and even during the arrival at the emergency counter. She was coughing non-stop, not even at least covering with her hand, which had me and the other staff sanitising the area thoroughly for at least 10mins. I still had to use my gloved hands to help her put on a mask, so you see where has their social responsibility gone? I could have called them selfless, and ignorant if I could. Immediately we rolled down out PPE and quickly changed to a new one, after they were quarantined. The quartet did not just end there without yet another anti-triumphant action - making a fuss over which dinner to have tonight is definitely uncalled for.

"Children's Emergency NAME of IC NUMBER H1N1 Please put to Fever Facilities" (Censored for privacy reason and contracted 'non-disclosure clause')

There isn't any identity leakage, neither did I mention my place of work. Anyway there were over 300 number of emergency cases today, or at least during my time of duty. Patients and visitors walk in and out seeking entry to the clinic were denied dutifully and often we ended up getting reprimanded for that. I hope people just understand that it's getting rather serious out there, and limiting the number of people in contact is currently the way to go, which is in line with the MOH's strategy concurrently. There was simply no room for breathing, because every few minutes someone will rush into the premises seeking for urgent help. And literally, we were wrapped up with the PPE (personal protective equipment) and trust me, there's totally not a single pore could be found. If only the pores on my nose could be transferred there and help me perspire less, I'd love to have such PPE one day. My clothes are wet just after two hours from wearing one, so imagine having to wear till the 10pm from 3pm. We were literally wearing plastic. Yes plastic. You can imagine.

Here comes the real-life stories. There was a todler, perhaps just over 2 year-old, was rushed in by a van driven by his father. Upon reaching the ambulance bay, the driver sounded the honk repeatedly to gather our attention, who had successfully done so. Three staff, including me, dropped whatever we had on hand, and even skipped some patients in the queue, and ran to the bay and had the baby pushed into the Children's Emergency. The boy probably had either epilepsy or fits, who couldn't respond and move. I could see the anxiety and distress his parents were suffering while waiting for his treatment results. I could have easily teared, but hell no I knew I was there to work and serve. It was heartening.

Linking to the case of fits, I had successfully brought a persistent patient back to the hospital from a grass patch under a tree at the roadside. She actually ran away from the ambulance after it had reached the hospital - for fear of being jabbed. I did not witness what had happened before until someone actually came to my call because this old lady had suffered fits while at home. According to her brother, she had regained consciousness after awhile but was nonetheless sent onto an ambulance for her health sake. Unwillingly, she went with it but ended up dashing across the road for a good shelter under the tree. The plot sounded funny, but when present at reality it wasn't at all the case, and instead, the truth belies in the reality. The family, including the brothers, grandchildren, and while waiting for her son to arrive, looked uneasy in deciding whether to give her a tranquilizer jab, or simply to tie her to the stretcher and get her butt into the hospital. But none agreed to any suggestions because tying is indeed inhumane. The brother came in and seek for help, none was free so I went instead. I dashed across the road and surprisingly the taxis and cars halted their movement to what look like giving way to me. Perhaps being dressed in the bright-yellow PPE looks like a red light to them, given them the sense of urgency or whatever they had thought. So I found her, under the tree. It wasn't anywhere visible from the building. Their relatives squatted hopelessly were trying to give another shot to get her to the doctors. But she was afraid of me, probably due to my alien-like appearance, because only my eyes appeared. But fortunately I still have my hairs not covered. So I went ahead anyway despite her fear, and told her that her sister needs to be warded, 'could you please come with us to the clinic?' She agreed. That shows at least my level of hokkien is still good and can bring across simple messages almost effectively. Another plus! Luckily her sister was there, who was older than her, wheelchair-bound and always frustrated, and that I could use her in the name of, yea, help. Am I insane? At least she is now treated.

Another case happens to an eight-year-old boy whose mother had to speed his son to the resus room (a room with lots of curtains where urgent treatments are held with all sorts of complicated machines, like those seen on TV) because he has a heart problem, which he felt breathless. Even after I left work at 10, they were still waiting at the foyer. I really could feel for them.

So for today, I did almost all things not listed on my job scope - from cleaning, housekeeping, messenging, to bluffing, eating, and blogging, they completed my day with a sense of fulfilment which I will always love to have. A firm handshake from the satisfied relatives feels really good too, till the extend that skipping dinner is peanut to me.

For now, I'd self-isolate from tomorrow. I've brought N95 masks home, I don't want my family to get contracted with the deadly virus... If you consider yourself a friend of mine, simple text, call, msn, or whatever when needed but just don't meet me for a few days. I'll skip the Malaysia trip this sat if fever comes my way. If not, of course I'll still go... =) Anyway, a community spread is likely on its way very soon. So people, it will be good if you can stock up some face mask at home and prepare to wear them out of home should the health ministry declares a pandemic. Be responsible, be prepared. And, be serious about it.

Say 'I'm a cheese'! So, who's not serious here? lol

For that, it signifies the end of my stint at the emergency department. From tomorrow onwards, I'll be stationed at other parts of the hospital, which I hope is less easily to be in contact with the potential ultimate viral traffickers.

Subsequent Days at work

So I probably will add on to my 'blog debt' if I still were to use Day 1 and Day 2 all the way till the end of the course of work. 'Subsequent days' will probably cover my laziness to blog. Though the scope is like nothing, at the end of the day I'll still feel exhausted, feeling coarse and dry. This is especially so if I work evening shift the previous day, and then morning shift the next. This is translated to be only less than 6 hours to sleep. Nonetheless, I feel happy!

Monday was my first time at the Emergency department. I had to be wrapped up like a bachang using the yellow 'PPE' or personal protective equipment, gloves, and N95 mask. Walk-in patients, some feeling breathless, in pain, already fainted, or seriously ill, approached us the counter staff hoping for help. That's inevitable. Some had their fingers broken, still blood shedding, have to have it cured immediately. Anxious relatives had to hopelessly wait outside at the foyer. One infant, still on arm, just days after born, suffered from severe high fever. All these lead to the softer side of me, hoping to just help everyone of them. Judging from the face of their friends, families, or parents, they simply looked as tensed as if my parents were to send me for treatment. An obese indian lady who is pregnant for seven months, fell onto the ground and was shouting with great pain. I had to carry her out of the taxi, with the help of her husband, and pushed her right in for the doctor on a wheelchair. She was vomiting and crying in pain; I wonder how is she now. All these jobs are not part of my job scope; there was simply nobody available to help other than the security guard who was on duty, which I don't think is part of her scope too. Probably it's my instinct to be of service to whoever needs help... Or I just can't bear to see people struggling in pain.

Today and tomorrow, I'll be stationed at the Emergency dept again. And I shall witness again these sights with interest. By the way, it isn't nice to be wrapped. It's non-absorbent and non-breathability properties are killing. I was all wet, and had changed 4 suits in a day.

Day 2 at Work

It was Day 2. Like yesterday's morning, I held position at the main lobby front desk. Nothing was unusual there, except that there were many patients who look really ill, and visitors, facial expressions of gloom and grief. Some patients who were heading for appointments look really weak, and immediately I could tell whether they are cancer or mental patients. Of course, patients heading for other treatment clinics such as the urology and neuro centres couldn't be recognised by their appearance. Time passes very quickly as I witnessed people moving in and out of the hospital. At sometime close to evening, a group of people rushed in and panicky wrote their particulars and rushed into the elevator. I reckon that one of their loved ones could be sitting on the edge of his life, awaiting their urgent arrival. Many other patients come from other countries such as Indonesia and Myanmar, together with their relatives. Most of them are probably rich people, as coming to Singapore for treatment would cost them dearly without the local rate, government subsidy and the 3Ms (Medisave, Medisheild and Medifund).

Saturdays are boring, said one colleague. Indeed, for the whole day there were only about 300 visitor arrivals at my side. Usually there were more than 1000 per day, per entrance. So during the free time, the few of us chatted 'vigorously' and understood some life's problems and we managed to offer some brilliant solutions to one guy. So for a typical guy's talk, surely relationship problems top off the list. One guy problem was a triangular relationship, and again, we managed to help him solve and he's once again a happy person.

On another occasion, we had another life's experience session with an over 50 year-old security guard. He was a product engineer, had a diploma, degree, and he took about 4 years to reach the top salary of $8000 per month. He used to own everything from a big car, luxury condominium, country club memberships, and flies to other countries. His annual income tax was $12 000 per annum, which led us to suspect how much he had earned in the past. Three years ago, he got retrenched and there goes all his ownerships to what he loved at that time. Surely it was depressing to see these luxury go off, and had all his possessions wiped out overnight. Few months after his retrenchment, he signed up for a job as security guard. He accepted it with pride, saying that life has its ups and downs, its okay to experience life in another way. Wow, I salute him for that. I look up to him. And guess what? He's heading back to school to complete his masters in engineering soon. Kudos to him!! People, just don't give up no matter what happens in life =)

Some time past 8pm, a group of three Bangladeshi workers came in and requested to see a friend who is hospitalised. I know it's the end of the visiting hours (5 - 8pm), but the bloody security guard on duty simply shove them off with a straight no with waving hand gestures. One replied that "we work late everyday, only today we can come see him". I was quickly and entirely softened, and maintained my stand again. I wanted to invite them in, but the security guard insisted with a 'sorry, come back tomorrow'. They looked completely lost, and kept staring at me for an approval. But I knew I can't. So what I did was, I gathered them and led them out of the building to the foyer, removed my face mask and hand signalled to them to enter the hospital through another entrance. They understood me after my three tries of winking and hand side-shoving, they smiled and quickly left to enter from the car park. What made me pissed off was that just a few minutes later, someone what look like a Singaporean chinese couple, was allowed to enter without a noise made by that bloody fucking idiot. I wonder what's the double standard, and the 3rd-level racism for.

Shortly after that, I left work for home. Along the journey, made some new friends, who are part of the 100-strong workforce. Some were professionals in the past before they got retrenched, and end up looking for several temporary jobs to sustain their families. Poor people, they're live examples I should feel for, not just spend money life nobody's business. I'm thrifty nowadays, by the way.

That's all for today! I really feel exhausted but gladly so because I've seen so many things today. Tomorrow I'll not report for work. Come monday, there will come the most interesting part. I'll be stationed at the Emergency Department, a.k.a A&E. I'll be seeing life's worse cases like the aftermath of a traffic accident, howling and crying relatives over just-dead loved ones, among other saddening reality. I don't know how much I'll get affected. But emotions aside, I just have to know that these are realities which I can't avoid. Seeing these more often could lead me to be prepared for the unforseen in future.

Goodnight!

Day 1 at Work

Does it sound like it's my first day as a doctor? don't drop your jaws, it isn't as glamorous. But at the same time not that unglam... My first day at the hospital as a temporary triage staff who takes patients' and visitors' temperature and particulars at the entrances of the premises. H1N1 is getting more serious here, with the latest increment to 27 cases. But does that signal to our never ending job? Yesterday, the health minister revealed that the country will be gradually changing their strategy towards mitigating spread of virus, instead of containment. All temperature taking measures will be redundant in minimising spread. So let say if there are communal spread in the public, will we still be needed at these entrances of the hospital? Yes, all the worry for my job, for now. Later, I'll start to worry when my family and friends are more prone to catching the virus in public. What about stopping NS because of H1N1?

I woke up at 6.30am and left the house at 7, took me about an hour to reach the workstation. Getting used to the environment was an easy task. The moment I reach the entrance, 'wow its a hospital'. So not much of a fuss. I initiated around the reception desk, and subsequently sat there, watching the thermal scanner like a zombie, and had a good laugh with fellow colleagues. Awhile on, we went for a training conducted by the hospital's HR dept at the neighbouring auditorium. We had a good laugh too. Half of the audience of about 80 - 100 were blind folded; I was one of them. The other half will come back into the hall and found themselves each a partner. These partners, became the Service Providers, weren't suppose to communicate a word with their 'established blind man'. Later, the SPs would hold onto their arm, guide them the way through thick and thin, going up and down flight of stairs, and after about 15mins we were led back to our seats. There was no room for cheating by the way, integrity was held in the way. I felt a total lost, dependent, and had given a full trust for the one leading me the way. So that's actually the aim of the training - to let us understand how the patients feel when they're at the life's most critical point, and have to make them trust you for your service, making their kins sure they're dealt with at good hands.

After lunch, I was transferred to another station. This time, hell not, I was given the best seat of all. Devi hit the 'B' button on the elevator, and upon stepping out of the lift, many huge water pipes for NEWater, normal water supply, sewage pipes, and electrical wire tracks could be seen. There I was, at the basement of a hospital, where the unseen could be seen. After a few good 300m of walking, we finally found the workstation. Devi said: "Okay, you'll be stationed here with another guy. Eh you look there, it's the mortuary." Oh gosh! That's the respond I had for that moment, knowing that I'll be there till 9pm. However, everything went alright and in good state until about half plus four. Being the basement, as I said, all unseen could well be seen, and there I saw something not usually seen - a corpse, being pushed on a wheeled stretcher on its way to the mortuary, accompanied by some next-of-kins or relatives. I didn't really see the body, or rather, the body was put underneath the 'bed' and was covered by a PVC material so it was hard to be seen, even after several tries to peep in. There was not just one, but three, between the first and the last at about 7pm. I guess it is a daily ritual till the extent that the staff have gotten so used to it that it doesn't matter for them to even spend their night in the mortuary (but surely outside of the fridges).

To add on to the thrill, we were chatting on the topic of paranormal, which sparked some needless chill down our spines. But interestingly so. One malay female security guard, who was seated by our side, and stationed there, told us about her past experience. According to her, the security guards don't have to just secure the premises. Some at ******dra Hospital have to wrap the dead body, carry them, and push them to the mortuary, that was the reason she didn't take up a job there. Though she didn't, she could see 'things'. At a chinese traditional funeral at her void deck, she could see figures without eyes and broken legs, just to say a few, sitting by the roadside at one herd and many others, moving around the empty field next to the block, heading towards the funeral. At that time she was arriving home on a taxi, so she asked the driver did he see anything unusual. 'No', he said. That's when she know she has a third eye. After that, she repeatedly described our current location, with much hand gestures, that some spirit may be there, there, and there, and on our table. I could have sprung up and pushed back my computer chair, but did not instead. There were a few more stories which I don't think is, say child-safe, unsuitable here. But all I would say is, again, be safe than sorry.

At the end of the shift, we left the building, leaving only one male security guard on duty. He is used to it, anyway. Those stuff isn't in his mind, so he didn't worry nor seeing anything unusual during the darkest hour.

When I reach home, I was utterly exhausted. I went into bed immediately after bath, and bathing time was immediately after I entered the house. No thoughts on those stuff though, that's the norm of a typical life, the operation of a hospital, and seeing the usually-unseen stuff was already enough to be an eye-opener and a bonus for working at a hospital, which I otherwise wouldn't get the chance to be there getting paid while exploring the ever on-going facts and the interest in me, without being a doctor or a nurse. It will be a life's experience, I would say. I'm now getting ready for Day 2! Depending on my state of mind, I'll see if I'll blog. =)

Bermuda Triangle?

The recent Air France jet incident has led me to think: Has the plane hit the Bermuda Triangle? I've been rather interested in the happenings at or around the site to the south of Atlantic Ocean and near the south-east coast of the North America continent.

On 1 June, Air France flight AF-447 took off Rio de Janeiro Airport at about local time 7pm, supposedly to reach Paris at about 11am on Monday. However just three hours into the flight, the electronics probably went haywired and lost contact with the air traffic controls at grounds. Till date, no information has been found, and not even the black boxes, except for a floating in-flight seat that probably belongs to the aircraft.


News reports that probably the plane was hit by a lightning. Perhaps so, but what about the Bermuda Triangle? The jet flew 100km (54 nautical miles) off and away the runway, and in nowhere near the bermuda triangle. Or has the triangle expanded? I don't know either, the mystery will remain. Keep researching..