My Ties

Am home for one week and everything is good.. I got good food, less expenses and time to myself.. And today, my ties had a nice spa and sunbath..

Checkpoint

I have reached yet another checkpoint of my university life.. Semester 7 was over and soon it will be semester 8, our last in IMU.. In a blink of eyes, i have already spent 3 1/2 years in IMU.. It was just like yesterday when we had our own orientation.. Then we organised an orientation for our juniors.. A year after that, we looked at how our juniors oriented the grandjuniors and the cycle continued with our grandjuniors orienting our great grandjuniors..

Flew back to Kuching today after spending a few days with Xinni in KL.. It was a bit weird as both of us headed to the airport together, checked in and boarded the plane at the same time.. The only difference was the destination.. She took the plane heading north to Penang while i took another one heading south east towards Kuching..

I still have another two weeks to go before i finally embrace my last semester as an undergraduate.. Shall i clarify here that i don't actually work in the hospital during my attachment.. Different from other courses where attachment means 'to work', i am going to be in the hospital to clerk cases. In another words, i will be looking for real case scenarios to study on.. So, it's not about working there but to expose ourselves to our future workplace..

It's going to be tough in Sem 8, but i believe each of us in B107 will be tougher..

Aloha sem 8!!! Nice to meet you....

My second BNF

Three and a half years ago i got my first BNF, the 49th series... I got it for free after registering with the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society (MPS)... I bet most of us from B107 never really appreciate it, perhaps because we got it for free.. Humans are weird... We don't appreciate things that comes for free but when u spend your own money on it, you'll definitely appreciate it more..

Now, i really appreciate my BNF as it made me RM99 poorer... BNF59 i love you so much!!

Uniqlo so unique

It has been a while since i last blogged.. This is how i always start my entry with and i did it again...

Today i went to Fahrenheit88, another new shopping centre in town.. The previous KL plaza was given a facelift to become the current Fahrenheit88.. To start with, the opening of Uniqlo today was the main thing that has actually brought us there.. Uniqlo was not that unique afterall.. It's just like another Giordano, Cotton On or perhaps topshop.. Somehow, the marketing team did a great job in publicity and managed to drag so many people there including aunties and uncles..

So, I reached there at around 10.50am, 10 minutes before the opening.. When i looked at the entrance of Uniqlo from pavillion, indeed i saw a lot of people, but still, it was acceptable to me..

But as we walked through the main entrance of Fahrenheit88, something wasn't right... The queue outside was actually only a small part of the whole crowd.. And the line stretched to the inside of the building.. Believe me, the crowd almost took up the whole ground floor...

I wasn't actually that into Uniqlo.. Been to one of the franchise in Singapore and it was so so only.. But i do like some of the clothings in Uniqlo.. Almost left with andrew for lunch after looking at the crowd but in the end we joined in the hype.. Had a nice 4-5 hours of queue with bunch of friends before finally entering the shop..

Well, we've got quite a good bargain.. I managed to buy some clothings for myself and xinni..

And there were two things that i salute Uniqlo..

First, i would like to have their marketing team if i own a company next time.. They have really suceeded today..

Second, they managed to poison Malaysians' mindset into thinking that they are living in a four seasons country. Yes, a lot of them bought jackets of one inch thick and shirts that actually generate heat in Malaysia.. Good buy....

10.10.10

It's 10.10.10 and i guess KC should have predicted this post coming.. He is kind of into psychology lately after reading so many books on business instead of caffeine.. He is becoming so good in it that he can decipher almost everything that comes to him.. The latest being a lingerie advertisement poster for minoshe.. I enjoyed and it sounded so true..

So, why do i mentioned so much about KC? I was looking back into my older post with the special dates.. So, in 08.08.08, he commented about me being 'syok sendiri' by talking without using my brain..

In 09.09.09, i didn't get to ask if i have changed..

So now, on 10.10.10, I want to ask, have i improved? I hope i have.. lol... But seriously, i think i have learnt a lot for the past few years in IMU.. I have learnt to be patience, sensitive to certain surrounding, certain people, to be selfish at times and tonnes more.. I think i am prepared to embrace the reality, the adult world.. It's gonna tough but no worries, i am still learning each day..

Till then, hope i still blog when it's 11.11.11... *Will try to capture the moment of 10.10am on 10.10.10 tomorrow... :P

*Captured.. fuhhhh..... I only had one minute to do all this.. To those who have missed it, you still have another chance... 10.10pm on 10.10.10 tonight.. lol.....

Books

Reading books was not my cup of tea.. I still remember my sisters used to be book worms.. Every weekend, my dad will bring us to Sugarbun (KFC alike found in Kuching), not to eat but to borrow books from the small library there..I wouldn't be exaggerating if i say my sisters had read all the books there.. Despite endless efforts from my mum and dad to persuade me to pick up reading, i just don't read..

I believe this kind of things cannot be forced.. It will come naturally or it might not come at all.. I started reading when i was in early secondary school.. At that time, i read newspaper, starting from the sports section.. Slowly, i began to read the front pages to scout for interesting headlines.. And later on, i follow politics too.. Now, newspaper is like an addiction to me.. When i am rotting in my room having nothing to do, i will be refreshing new portals and online newspapers every now and then, only second to facebook and blogs..

Last few weeks, i bought my second book in my life that has got nothing to do with my studies.. It was during the bookfest in KLCC convention centre.. And also my third and fourth books.. The first book i bought was few years back, written by a famous speaker from my hometown.. Till now, i still don't read story books.. And i don't think i will in the future.. I prefer books on facts or discoveries or reality.. Remember i was awarded 'kepo king' in my class? So i think i have to keep to it.. I read to find out interesting stuffs..

Back to the books.. The first was a random stories on Malaysia.. It was written by a local lecturer from USM and was voted first by Star reader's choice award.. It was so so only.. Nothing special about it..

The second and third were self-help books.. I don't know why they called them self-help.. Maybe because they are meant for people who needs motivation.. I bought them because i find them interesting.. Anyway, i am doing fine now and i am not too desperate for motivation..

'Letting go of your Bananas' teaches us to get rid of our failures, or anything that prevents us from succeeding analogy to ridding rotten ones from a good bunch of bananas.. I thought it might be good for me as i tend to blame life for being unfair.. I used to complain a lot on my life.. I complained for not being given a scholarship.. I complained for not getting accepted into local uni.. I complained for being treated unfairly by the goverment.. Lots and lots of complains.. So, yeah.. Life is unfair.. If you cannot change it, live it...

The third book is the best among all... Everything mentioned in it was so so true.. Even the caption itself has caught my attention.. Here it goes.. 'the secrets to success in business or in life aren't secrets at all. They are principles, values and strategies that most of us already know, recited from our parents and grandparents. In a word - obvious. But because of that, we overlook them' And that's the title of the book, The Obvious.. The lesson that i got from the book is certainly more than the RM9.90 i spent on it..

Previously i didn't get what people say; reading will get you thinking.. Now, i think i understand... It's like a biological on-off switch to get my brain working..

To those who read a lot, please continue.. But there is this one thing that might not be in the book which i believe is true.. Don't be taken away by the title or description of the books.. You don't just read to be successful.. You practise, you try, you fall and you try again... :)

blogs, BLOGS and blogs...

If you have been following my blog long enough, you would have noticed that i complained a lot on lack of reading materials.. As in blogs lar.. Not that there isn't any blog to read but i am particularly choosy in reading blogs.. I am not into blogs which tell about how many times he/she goes to the toilet a day, what he/she eats for the breakfast or when he/she is going to die.. Neither do i bother reading blogs which are filled with pessimism or emoness.. Not always, at least... No hard feelings bloggers out there as each of us has our own blogging style.. I respect that.. And mine isn't any better because i too, feel that my entries are overly negative sometimes..

What types of blogs do i read then? Weird ones, yeah i do like.. I prefer people who has different way of thinking.. To think like no one else.. Motivational ones are ok if he/she is not too vain.. Best are the ones which share their experience in life..

Was moved to blog tonight because i came across another interesting blog, one that suits me.. I couldn't stop reading, one post after another.. It's a bit weird because i am reading backwards, as if i am travelling to the past..

A bit of info..

First of all, don't get me wrong.. A lot of ppl had misunderstood me through my previous entries and told me not to be too sad.. :) I am not 'emo' here.. And neither am i admiring Singapore to the extend that i will beg them to get me registered there..

Had mamak chat few days ago with some batchmates during Mogan's birthday.. We talked about registration of pharmacist in Singapore and they told me i was not totally right in my first post.. Some said we can still register in Singapore after we are fully registered in Malaysia, provided we take extra papers there which are quite tough.. I don't agree with them and promised to find out the truth for them.. And yeah, i am right.. :)

Dear David,

I have attached the list of Singapore Pharmacy Council registerable qualifications.
However if you are registered in UK/USA/Australia/New Zealand/Canada you may apply for pre-registration training in Singapore.

Even though you are fully registered as a pharmacist in Malaysia, you are not eligible for registration in Singapore?
It is not true that you may sit for and pass a few extra papers by Singapore Pharmacy Council.

You may apply to work as a pharmacy technician in any of the hospitals or retail pharmacies as this does not require registration.

Regards,
Shiamala
Shiamala Govindasamy (Ms)
Manager < Singapore Pharmacy Council

Arlar, no then say no lar.. Why offer pharmacy technician? No thanks la.. I would rather rot in Malaysia... lol.....

Between, i am quite excited to end this chapter of life in half a year time.. It's gonna be real fast... :)

2nd IIUM National Pharmacy Quiz 2010

And so, i am back now in vista after a weekend in Kuantan.. Everything is good, everyone is healthy and everyone is happy.. Having done a minimal amount of preparation, we headed for the quiz without high expectation.. The only target was to not 'lose' face, so we succeeded, i guess.. Not too good, not too bad..

Fifteen teams from ten universities participated in the quiz.. Both teams from IMU managed to sail through the first round where seven teams were eliminated.. And slowly, one team got eliminated in the quarter finals and another in the semi finals.. And here is the final standings:

1. AIMST

2.USM

3.IIUM

4.IMU

5.UM

6.IMU

7.IIUM

8.UKM

9-15. UCSI, MSU, CUCMS, UiTM

Kuantan is a nice place.. Would be nicer if i have the time to visit Sungai Lembing and Cherating.. Oh well, i will definitely be back.... So, no regrets.. I can see it coming.. :)

We had a great time in Kuantan.. Congrats to IIUM for successfully organising this event.. You guys rock...

I'm heading to Kuantan

Barely a week after coming back from Singapore, i am 'travelling' again.. I will be taking a bus heading east this time.. Had only travelled to the east coast of peninsular Malaysia once in my life, for now... The first was during our class trip to redang back in semester 3..

I will be in Kuantan for a few days before coming back on Sunday.. Honestly, the group of ten had no intention of winning the Pharmacy quiz as we are more interested in the free trip to Kuantan and the experience.. But surely, we will give our best....

Singapore 13 - 16 September 2010

Selamat Hari Raya to all my muslim friends.. And the rest, how was your holiday? Mine was splendid.. Instead of spending RM500 for the flights back to Kuching, I went to Singapore again after being there the last raya.. Had also stopped by Singapore on my way to a workcamp in the Philippines earlier this year..

I have things undone in Singapore, not work of course.. Few years back, i read about Marina Bay.. I was pretty interested in the development of Marina Bay.. Casino wasn't my first priority as i didn't even enter the casino although i was right in front the main door.. What caught my interest was the design of the buildings.. I love the idea of putting a skypark on top of the three hotel towers.. And deep inside my heart, i told myself, i will be up there when it is completed.. And there i was, on top of Marina Bay Sands Casino and Hotels..

Weather was good during my visit to Singapore.. Manage to cover the places that we wanted to visit.. Three altogether; Universal Studio Singapore, Marina Barrage and the Skypark..

The bus departed Bukit Jalil 10.30am sharp on the 13th September 2010.. I was pretty impressed with the timeliness of the bus.. I had a bad experience previously waiting for one and a half hour in the bus before finally departing to Penang.. That was the reason why i rather spent a bit more on this company, Transnational.. They deserve a pat on the back although the bus wasn't as new as i had heard of earlier...

Xinni and i arrived in Singapore at about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, after which we walked a distance to the Lavender station... After switching to another train and travelled for an hour, we reached Sembawang, our base for the trip.. It was her sister's house there.. :)

- my usual breakfast there -

And, our first destination, the Universal Studio Singapore... The studio cost us SGD 66, inclusive of one day pass, SGD5 worth of food voucher and another SGD5 worth of souvenirs voucher.. The concept there was pretty similar to the Disneyland, only different characters.. Had a fun-filled day at the studio minus the heat from the sun... It would be much better if we have winter here.. But credits to the sun also for we have nicer photos with it.. :)

We went to the Marina Barrage the second day.. The idea of building the barrage wasn't new as we also have one in Kuching.. It has few functions.. First, to control flood.. Second, to provide Singapore with fresh water.. And the third was the one which attracted my attention.. They made it in such a way that the building itself is a playground.. It has a green top, overlooking the heart of Singapore.. The roof is planted with grass, and it resembles a big big field.. It is a heaven for kite fliers like me and picnic enthusiasts, especially in a place where land is scarce..

- Sustainable Singapore Gallery, Marina Barrrage -

- Sustainable Singapore Gallery, Marina Barrrage -

- On top of the Marina Barrage -

- Marina Barrage Cafe -

Later in the afternoon, we went to the Marina Bay Sands Casino and Hotels.. The buildings are gorgeous, with a skypark laying on top of them.. The skypark is longer than the Eiffel Tower laid horizontally and four and a half jumbo jets A380.. At the tip of the skypark, the cantilever, is the longest in the world of its kind.. Thanks to Architect Moshe Safdie, i was able to be up there, overlooking Singapore and parts of Malaysia and Indonesia.. But before that, I had to pay SGD20 to go up there.. Burnt a hole in my pocket!!!

- Sunset -

Here are the bird's views of Singapore city from the cantilever.. They are marvellous, i tell you....

Now, i am back in my condo in Bukit Jalil, bringing back together photos and memories from Singapore with xinni.. Am currently down with sore throat and mild fever... Recuperating for Uni this monday.. Got to stay healthy for the trip to Kuantan for the IIUM quiz this friday..

Thanks papa and mummy for the financial support.... :)