now that I've been home for so long, don't really have much to write about india. So, I shall change the theme of my blog. It's going to be about....me! yes, I know it has always been about me...but now, it's me as a final year medical student. No longer the carefree, lots-of-free-time-elective-student-me.
bought some new shoes the other day and wore the colourfu urs shoe today for cai's ballerina shoe bday party. Although the shoe is very pretty, it was super painful. Now i have a big bubble on my feet. gross. All for the sake of beauty.
Wanted to go on a diet to look beautiful for the new school year but guess what?! I went to eat swensen's today. Argh. The swensen's at marina square is having a very good offer because it just opened. For a dollar with every main course purchased, you can get unlimited ice-cream. Isn't it great? I had a total of 4 scoopes. yummy yummy. Don't regret it actually. So what if I'm getting fat? So what if I'm not pretty anymore?
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
Friday, June 10, 2005
Reflections
The timetable for my final year in med school is finally out and I'll be starting the exciting year (yeah) with psychological medicine (double yeah). I wonder how my trip to india will affect me as a medical student and as a doctor. Hopefully in a good way. Seriously, I don't think my time at St. John's has affected me much. It's almost like a posting at any singapore's hospital except I was more slack and spent less time at the hospital. However, the time spent outside the hospital and travelling around india probably has a greater effect on my life.
For example, I've learnt not to take things for granted. Just normal and simple things like brushing teeth. With every mouthful of water i take into my mouth, I am reminded that Singapore's water is so clean that we can actually drink from the tap. Never ever try it in india! Or you will be rewarded with lots of trips to the loo. I used to think that staying at an expensive hotel is the best way of travelling, but I have been proven wrong. The places we stayed in like the hospital annex and the cheap places we found whilst travelling were all extremely comfortable and made the trip much more enjoyable.
The best part about spending money overseas is seeing the faces of those I bought presents for. It's really fun and makes me very happy. Bought a shawl for myself in india, quite expensive and nice, but yet I don't get the same feeling as I get when I look at it compared to the feeling I get when I gave masala tea to my family. Wish I bought more gifts for everybody.
I'm glad I chose india and had the bunch of friends with me there. I can't imgaine going for the trip all by myself. I got the chance to know everybody a little better. Sometimes too well. haha. I'm really happy I got the chance to see India. Even though we did everything on a small budget, I enjoyed myself tremendously and got to see most of South India. I think everybody should pay India a visit if they have time. It's near enough, value for money, and lots of things to see and experience. Especially Kerala...think it's my favourite place there. Now that I'm back in singapore, I'm in kind of a nostalgic mood. Everything now seems so real and year 5 is really happening. Sigh.
For example, I've learnt not to take things for granted. Just normal and simple things like brushing teeth. With every mouthful of water i take into my mouth, I am reminded that Singapore's water is so clean that we can actually drink from the tap. Never ever try it in india! Or you will be rewarded with lots of trips to the loo. I used to think that staying at an expensive hotel is the best way of travelling, but I have been proven wrong. The places we stayed in like the hospital annex and the cheap places we found whilst travelling were all extremely comfortable and made the trip much more enjoyable.
The best part about spending money overseas is seeing the faces of those I bought presents for. It's really fun and makes me very happy. Bought a shawl for myself in india, quite expensive and nice, but yet I don't get the same feeling as I get when I look at it compared to the feeling I get when I gave masala tea to my family. Wish I bought more gifts for everybody.
I'm glad I chose india and had the bunch of friends with me there. I can't imgaine going for the trip all by myself. I got the chance to know everybody a little better. Sometimes too well. haha. I'm really happy I got the chance to see India. Even though we did everything on a small budget, I enjoyed myself tremendously and got to see most of South India. I think everybody should pay India a visit if they have time. It's near enough, value for money, and lots of things to see and experience. Especially Kerala...think it's my favourite place there. Now that I'm back in singapore, I'm in kind of a nostalgic mood. Everything now seems so real and year 5 is really happening. Sigh.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Home sweet home
I'm finally home! Took a nice long shower, the jets of water from the shower head felt a little ticklish. Haha. Never noticed it before, but after bathing for 2 months with a pail and a bucket, you can't help but notice things like that. Although I always yearned to be home when I'm in india and always making numerous plans, I'm feeling quite lost right now. Don't really know what to do at this moment. There are so many things to be done, so many people to meet yet I feel like I'm missing something...kind of a strange feeling because I've been with the gang 24/7 for the past 2 months and now everybody is back home. No more group discussions on where to go, no more going for dinner together. Strange.
Kumily Thekkady Periyar. They are basically the same place. Kumily is the town where the bus drops you and has lots of nice homestays. Thekkady is probably the road from Kumily to Periyar. And Periyar is the wildlife reserve. Spent 2 nights there and stayed at El Paradiso. A lovely homestay runned by Mr. Babu. Surprisingly, I managed to get a few stuff done there even though I was with Melvin. Both of us are probably the slackest or some say the laziest people in the group. We did the usual boating, cycling and trekking. Although we didn't see any tigers or elephants, we managed to see 2 huge bisons, giant squirrels, monkeys, deers and leeches. Yes, leeches. Yucky creatures they are. When I first saw them, I thought they were earthworms. I thought leeches look like huge slugs that are red in colour but they are surprisingly small and skinny. They climb onto your shoes when you step into wet areas and climb up your leg to literally, SUCK YOUR BLOOD! super gross. Found a few on my shoes, thought i was safe but lo and behold! I saw a leech just above my right knee. Of course, being the chicken-hearted me, I completely freaked out. But the nice guide, Mr Sakkeer, calmly and professionally burnt the leech off with the light of his cigarette. I still have a small red patch on my knee where the leech was. It's not painful at all, just a cute reminder of that day. Do you know that by putting tobacco powder on your shoes and socks, you can prevent leeches from leeching onto you? Amazing right?
Here's a little advertisement for Mr Sakkeer in case anybody wants to go Kerala and needs a guide for trekking. We went for a 3 hour trek into Periyar. Took the less-used route, sometimes there's no route even. Just walking blindly into the bushes with all the leaves blocking your vision. We also walked along elephants' trek. The path taken by the elephants when they climb up the mountain. Not as easy as walking along path made for humans, wonder how the elephants keep their balance with their big feet and huge body. Tiring when I was there but now, looking back, I'm glad I made myself wake up to trek. We ended the trek at Mr Sakkeer's house and he kindly offered us delicious ginger tea. Altogether, Melvin and I pain Rs300 (S$12) for the trek. Quite a bargain. Other people were offering us Rs300 per person. But if you go during the peak season, it'll probably cost much more. I have his email if anyone needs it. =)
...
Took a long nap just now. Was a little disorientated when I woke up. Can't believe I'm back in my own bed. haha. I'll be going for a BUFFET later! Yeah! Even though i still have diarrhoea and colic, I'm still going to gorge myself silly.
Kumily Thekkady Periyar. They are basically the same place. Kumily is the town where the bus drops you and has lots of nice homestays. Thekkady is probably the road from Kumily to Periyar. And Periyar is the wildlife reserve. Spent 2 nights there and stayed at El Paradiso. A lovely homestay runned by Mr. Babu. Surprisingly, I managed to get a few stuff done there even though I was with Melvin. Both of us are probably the slackest or some say the laziest people in the group. We did the usual boating, cycling and trekking. Although we didn't see any tigers or elephants, we managed to see 2 huge bisons, giant squirrels, monkeys, deers and leeches. Yes, leeches. Yucky creatures they are. When I first saw them, I thought they were earthworms. I thought leeches look like huge slugs that are red in colour but they are surprisingly small and skinny. They climb onto your shoes when you step into wet areas and climb up your leg to literally, SUCK YOUR BLOOD! super gross. Found a few on my shoes, thought i was safe but lo and behold! I saw a leech just above my right knee. Of course, being the chicken-hearted me, I completely freaked out. But the nice guide, Mr Sakkeer, calmly and professionally burnt the leech off with the light of his cigarette. I still have a small red patch on my knee where the leech was. It's not painful at all, just a cute reminder of that day. Do you know that by putting tobacco powder on your shoes and socks, you can prevent leeches from leeching onto you? Amazing right?
Here's a little advertisement for Mr Sakkeer in case anybody wants to go Kerala and needs a guide for trekking. We went for a 3 hour trek into Periyar. Took the less-used route, sometimes there's no route even. Just walking blindly into the bushes with all the leaves blocking your vision. We also walked along elephants' trek. The path taken by the elephants when they climb up the mountain. Not as easy as walking along path made for humans, wonder how the elephants keep their balance with their big feet and huge body. Tiring when I was there but now, looking back, I'm glad I made myself wake up to trek. We ended the trek at Mr Sakkeer's house and he kindly offered us delicious ginger tea. Altogether, Melvin and I pain Rs300 (S$12) for the trek. Quite a bargain. Other people were offering us Rs300 per person. But if you go during the peak season, it'll probably cost much more. I have his email if anyone needs it. =)
...
Took a long nap just now. Was a little disorientated when I woke up. Can't believe I'm back in my own bed. haha. I'll be going for a BUFFET later! Yeah! Even though i still have diarrhoea and colic, I'm still going to gorge myself silly.
Monday, June 06, 2005
I survived the train in the general cabin!
Today is THE day. My very last day in india. Just reached Bangalore after suffering 7.5 hours of arduous and tortuous ride in the 3rd class cabin of the train. Dunnoe where to start! overall, it's one of my worst travelling experience ever! To get home tomorrow morning, i started my journey at 7pm last night! That's about 36 hours of travelling just to get home! My whole body is aching now. Even my poor fingers are aching, so won't blog much today. The trip to Periyar was wonderful. It's a beautiful place with very friendly people. Cheap and clean rooms with cable and hot water! I definately recommend those who are going to Kerala to visit Periyar. Will talk more about it in my next entry.
Got a plane to catch! See ya guys soon!! Wo hui lai le....
Got a plane to catch! See ya guys soon!! Wo hui lai le....
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
God's own country
Kerala, also known as God's own country is a beautiful place. Better than Goa i think. Spent a day on a slow cruise along the backwaters then spent another day and night on a houseboat. It's sort of like a chalet that moves along the waters. And i slept on the top deck that night, fell asleep whilst looking at the numerous stars in the sky. Pity, didn't see any shooting star. Think i'm blind. Kok pin and von saw 3 that night. WHY??
Now i'm currently at fort cochin. It's a laid back place, almost like a more-developed pulau ubin. All of us rented bikes for the day and cycled around the island. It's really putting our biking skills to the test especially for yvonne cos she made me fall down ONCE! cos she crashed into me and she had so many almost-accidents. Haha. Don't worry, we returned the bikes already and von still has all her limbs on her. She's safe, so DON"T WORRY - to the relatives of von. She's coming home soon!!
Tonight all of us will be going to watch a Kathakali dance, a traditional Keralan dance. They use natural pigments to paint their face. Don't really know much about it but I'll be going to see them get ready for the performance and then perform.
We're staying at the Wilson's homestay at fort cochin. It's a steal man! Super cheap rooms but extremely clean and comfortable. I'm paying S$2 a night. Amazing right? The people there are all very friendly and sociable. Spent the night talking to the receptionist called Xavier. If u read her world April 2005, the journalist came to Kerala and wrote a short piece about Fort Cochin and she mentioned the place i'm staying in and Xavier.
ok. enough for now. Coming home in 6 days.....yeah!....not so yeah cos have school...but still yeah!
Now i'm currently at fort cochin. It's a laid back place, almost like a more-developed pulau ubin. All of us rented bikes for the day and cycled around the island. It's really putting our biking skills to the test especially for yvonne cos she made me fall down ONCE! cos she crashed into me and she had so many almost-accidents. Haha. Don't worry, we returned the bikes already and von still has all her limbs on her. She's safe, so DON"T WORRY - to the relatives of von. She's coming home soon!!
Tonight all of us will be going to watch a Kathakali dance, a traditional Keralan dance. They use natural pigments to paint their face. Don't really know much about it but I'll be going to see them get ready for the performance and then perform.
We're staying at the Wilson's homestay at fort cochin. It's a steal man! Super cheap rooms but extremely clean and comfortable. I'm paying S$2 a night. Amazing right? The people there are all very friendly and sociable. Spent the night talking to the receptionist called Xavier. If u read her world April 2005, the journalist came to Kerala and wrote a short piece about Fort Cochin and she mentioned the place i'm staying in and Xavier.
ok. enough for now. Coming home in 6 days.....yeah!....not so yeah cos have school...but still yeah!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
