THANK YOU!!

Detour...

I was looking at my sms-es in the morning while waiting for the freakingly long queue to renew mom's business license at the mpk office...i had to clear my inbox before it bombs...and then i realized something...

I really had a lot of friends and family that gave me very very encouraging words to comfort me during that time while i was in the hospital...some to keep me company while i was bored...some just to encourage me during that 'down' time...it really made me very happy to know that i have such wonderful friends and family with me to support me all the way...

A BIG BIG BIG THANK YOU to Chi Cheng, Shane, Ms Koh, Jill, Sheh Nee, Yan Yan, Lena, Aainaa (aka Makai), Janice, Faye, Ow Yong (Ah Wu), Suraya, Mokie, Joelyn, Adrian, CJ, Geetha, Ben, Elaine, Cheryle, Eugene, Avril, Ber Kim, Maria, Gideon, and whoever else that i missed out mentioning...(list of names not in order ya...whoever i can remember i just put only...hehehe)...

THANK YOU VERY VERY MUCH!!!!

Thank you for the visits, sms-es that contains very encouraging words throughout this whole period...you really helped in a lot in ways that no words can describe...

Thank you once again!!! HUGSsssssss!!!

Second Follow Up @ Assunta

1st Dec 2008

Hi all...i guess this is my first on time update...i'll try to be on time next time...try ah...try...

(not so on time d...sorry sorry)

So yesterday was my second appointment with two doctors...Dr Thye and Dr Sukumaran...nephrologist and ophthalmologist...bombastic titles...hehehe...the best part is...both appointments are at the same time...2pm!!!...but i know Dr. Thye will only be in at around 2.45pm...so i went to the eye doctor first

Days before i had booked bro to make sure that he follows me there since the eye doc told me last time that he wants to check my retina and i'll be blinded after that cause he has to dilate the eyes and cannot drive...and he has to be my driver...

So after lunch...we went to the hospital for the 2pm appointment...just one problem...we only left klang at 1.30pm...so in a way arrived there late...but it doesn't matter anyway since i have to line up also...based on experience...going there in the afternoon normally is empty...I WAS SOOOO WRONG...even at the registration counter there was soo many people and i had to slowly wait my turn...then i went to the lab to draw blood out for the HbA1C test...while waiting for my turn there...i told bro to quickly line up my file first at the eye doctor there so that i don't have to wait so long...

Cut the long visit to the eye doc short...my power increased back but not as high as last time...but higher again d...and the stupid doctor totally forgot about the retina check...and since he's so free to go back at 5pm...and it takes 40 mins to do...most prob the next appointment in 3 months time only check...@#$%^&

So on to Dr Thye's appointment...i left my file there to queue 1 hour earlier...and when i arrived...it wasn't even my turn yet...had to wait for another 30 mins...the nurse even knew me and keep asking me to be patient (halo already a patient la...hehehe)...and keep telling me how many more people to my turn...finally she told me mine's the next one...then i just ask...how's my lab report??...the nurse went...what report??..lucky i asked her...if not i go take blood test also don't know for what...just in time for my turn..

Finally it was my turn to see Dr. Thye...and the first thing she said to me was "wah very good ah...5.5 your HbA1C...see its under the category of ideal, excellent control...very good very good"...then i told her that i left my own notes with the file...she kept flipping the main medical file...then i said i left in the clear file...so another nurse went out to take while she filled someone's insurance form...

The first thing she said when she saw my readings..."wah so low ah...any hypos???"...generally she was looking at my daily averages...and all she saw was 5. something throughout the month...then i said i'm eating normal like last time...even ate bak kut teh...then she asked..."every family in klang must eat bak kut teh at least once a week is it?? so which bak kut teh is the best in klang??"...me and bro replied...which stall is best is very subjective...generally in klang...as long as a lot of people there...the bak kut teh is quite nice la...cause in klang...if your bak kut teh not nice...won't last long...max 6 months...

After i asked her about my medication as it was new...she told me since my initial readings was so high...she cannot give me just metformin when i stopped the insulin...because i told her the meds were quite expensive in the hospital...initially i tot was RM 0.9 more expensive...since one box is 56 tablets...(later i found out inside got loose tablets..) so in the end the hospital is RM 0.6 more expensive than what i can get from caring pharmacy...RM 3.5 only...so Dr. Thye said she could have given me another med called Diamicron...but tht one will make me eat and go hypo...while Janumet won't make me eat so often and won't let me go into hypo...which is true la...

So after explaining all...Dr Thye reduced my dosage of Janumet to only once a day...i was hesitant to take one more box from the hospital...but then bro reminded that its still under insurance...so take...she said try once a day first...and see whether i can maintain low levels...if not then just go back to twice a day...after that she said that she'll meet me again in 3 months and that time do another HbA1C...so since its also 3 months...i put it on the same day as the eye doc...

Just before we left...i told Dr. Thye that my highest recently was on that day itself...5.9 in the morning...she gave a quite loud WAH!!...me and bro asked her...your wah is good or bad wah??...then Dr. Thye said...5.9 you say high ah...you tell that to my other patients they will think you action...some of them trying to get 5.9 also cannot get...then she said its ok...no worries...me and bro were laughing so loud i think the other patients waiting outside must be thinking we are crazy...cause who in the world goes in to see a kidney and diabetes specialist (nephrologist) and come out laughing???

Just like last time...when paying the bill...we were cursing the eye doctor's charges again...bro even said that the next appointment don't even need to go anymore since you can see properly...just that my power fluctuating...somemore the eye doctor talk as if really no need money (...well technically its true...he talk no need money...in the end get money somemore...)...cause just like that he ask me to change my glasses again...as if my lens no need money...not cheap somemore leh my lens...!@#$%^

Next up...my stayover's at CC's and maybe Setiawan Camp...^__^

Graduation Part 2

7th Nov 2008: 4pm onwards

According to the program sheet...4pm - 5pm is the presentation of industry award, speech by some business consultant and the valedictorian...and guess what...the industry award was ahead of time!!!...so comes the speech by Tan Seng Kuan, Business Consultant who has don't know how many years of industry experience...that was about 3.50pm...ahead of time...

Mr. Tan Seng Kuan (former MCA president...who got kicked out last time by can't remember who according to mom)...started off his speech by talking about the US elections which just ended and that his motto is CHANGE...then tell us that we must CHANGE...just like our founding fathers also wanted change...so they fight for the independence...then the crisis in 1964 the petrol increase la...blah blah blah...talk about UMNO la...MCA la...May 13 la...NEP la...world petrol prices la...almost the whole history of Malaysia and how we cope the downturns and crisis...what the world is doing...just for CHANGE...then how the March 8 elections was an indication the people wants change la...he started at around 4.30

In the meantime while he was preaching all those...me, yan and janice were busy talking and snapping pictures with chippy's phone...then the official cameraman came and we asked him to snap the 3 of us...then janice introduced us to the Valedictorian...Loh Von Jack from INTI-UC...find out where he work now...etc etc...the normal stuff you ask people you first know...around this time...almost 30 mins have gone pass...and mr. Tan still asking us to TAN (wait in hokkien)...mind you he was suppose to end after 20 - 25 mins...at 4.55pm...this juncture he was just talking about how UMNO plays its role in Malaysia from last time till now...

At 5pm...all were getting restless d...and started to tell among ourselves...when he ends...CLAP LOUD LOUD!!!...then mr long winded paused...and then someone clap...and we thought he finished!!!...so everyone clapped SUPER HARD AND LOUD...after the clapping...HE CONTINUED!!!!!!!!! We were like...WALAUEH...NOT FINISHED AH...so he continued to tell about the world history of petrol prices and world economy...how Malaysia survived...then about 10 minutes...he paused again and everyone clapped again...very loud...and he continued!!!....

This time he said...If everyone migrated overseas when there is crisis...there won't be Tun Abdul Razak...if all migrated...no Mahathir...all migrated...no Lim Goh Tong and Genting...no Lee Shin Cheng and IOI group...no Teh Hong Piow and Public Bank...if all the engineers migrated...then there won't be the IGN or UEM group...if all doctors migrated...no IJN Hospital...and more examples la...you get the picture...basically he paused another 2-3 times...each time we clap super loud...to ask him to get off the stage!!!...but i think he thought we are asking him to talk longer...which very unfortunately he did...

FINALLY...at 5.45pm!!!! (program suppose to end at 5.30pm!!!)...he said thank you for your time and i wish all you graduates good luck in you...this time...the claps were super duperly loud...with hooting sounds heard everywhere...from being ahead of time...we are now super behind time...poor Von Jack (the valedictorian)...during mr long winded's speech... we keep asking him how long his speech will be and must end it fast...he said his speech only 3 minutes...3 pages...so when he went up to give his speech...we actually timed him...hehehe...and he took 6 minutes!!!...so he owes us lunch from his 1k now...hwahahah...i'm so evel...ngek ngek ngek...

Anyway...the whole thing finally finished at about 6pm...and then the closing procession where all the VIPs exit the MPH...funny part is...normally the graduates will also go out together...but no...we just stood up...then everyone just go wherever...fine with me...immediately i went to find parents and bro...took some pics at the MPH with them and then went to the Sports Hall to makan...so hungry that time...but luckily i ate before the start of the convo and parents and bro ate at the canteen...so not as bad as those who didn't eat at all before the convo...

The sports hall was packed with people...most of them already eating...after taking some food to tahan before going for better food later on...calls starting coming in to ask where am i...and then after everyone gathered...we realised something...WHERE IS MAKAI??!!...call her...she balik d pulak...stupid tan seng kuan...make us all gotta rush cause he so long winded and keep asking us to tan yi kong wan (wait for him to speak finish in hokkien...)...so not complete without makai in the picture...now have no choice but to photoshop her picture inside the group pic...but then another problem came up...I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO USE PHOTOSHOP!!!....MAKAI!! TELL ME HOW TO PUT U IN THE GROUP PIC???..hehehe

Anyway...our group started to take group pictures...my official camera man (bro) was called all over by me to take pic...so nice...never got the chance to instruct him around...hehehe...(normally is the other way round...big bro ma...)...each group pictures will have at least 3-4 people taking pic...at one point it was only bro taking...but holding 6-7 cameras!!!...smile until chui seng (jaw pain in hokkien)...then while he was taking...the fotorex cameraman will like point to like ask us look where the camera is la...then after bro finished taking...he wanted to take pulak the group pic...must be because all of us so leng chai and leng lui...hehehe...plus we were the only super big group taking pic...heheheh...Thanks to jill...i got to have a bouquet of flowers during the group pics...no she didn't give me...its pinjam...cause she was holding 3 bouquets!!!...

While i was busy taking pictures with the group...dad went over to the fotorex counter to ask about the individual and family portrait...after all the picture taking i was called by dad to go to the studio pictures area to take the photos...the fotorex guy looked at me and said...aiyoooo...your hood so messy...come take out and do again...well he was right...my hood was actually dropping off d...

After he adjusted the hood and gown...i took the individual portrait first with the degree...after that the family portrait...i have no idea whether its nice or not until Dec 15 when i get the pictures from the studio...will upload it then..hehehe...too bad while i was taking the pics...the group was taking the throw hood pic...guess i have to photoshop myself in...hehehe

After the portrait pictures...while we were walking back to the centre of the hall...dad asked me...eh you want to take pictures with your professor or not??...that time Tim Wilson was taking pictures with whoever that wants to take with him...there was a long queue...not a straight line...but more of after one person finishes another person will quickly stand next to him...hehehe...while waiting...Faye came and ask me what's happening...i told her take pictures with Tim Wilson...she was so excited...i want i want also...hehehe...

After a while it was my turn...first we took a picture of just him and me...my goodness...i look so short next to him...think he has to bend down a bit as well...heheheh...think he did that on stage too...hahaha...then it was Prof Tim , mom, dad and me...bro couldn't come in cause he has to take the pic since couldn't find people to snap for us...hehehe...i have to say...quite like the pic that i took with the professor

By this time it was almost 7pm d...the hall was still packed though...but it was time for us to leave and to go celebrate in a proper and nicer place...so during the 1 hour journey back...we were debating where to eat...some more must be diabetic friendly...heheheh...so after crossing out Tony Roma's cause dad a bit sick of it...the other places all they don't wanna go...in the end we settled for Shun Japanese Restaurant in front of SJMC in Subang..

When we reached the restaurant...walaueh...PACKED!!!...but we managed to get a seat...and started browsing the menu...the only thing for sure that i can eat freely is sashimi...the waitress said that currently got special...not the usual kind of sashimi but other variety of fishes...boy was it expensive...RM98 for about 5 kinds of 3 pieces each fish...thank goodness mom was in a good mood since it was my graduation...we ordered about 3 more kinds of sashimi rolls and 1 agedashi tofu...goodness...we waited for almost 1 hour before the first roll came...after a while the sashimi...it was different alright...and then there was this yucki looking yellow slime sea urchin...generally the sashimi tasted ok...except for one fish which i didn't quite like...so ask me whether i will pay tht money again...no way man...but kudos to their presentation though...

After waiting another 30 minutes more...nothing came and we had to call the waitress...and guess what??...they ran out of sushi rice!!!...cannot make sushi!!!...so after finished the tofu...we left the restaurant in a way very unsatisfied as not full at all...and the bill was almost RM 140 just for like 3 stuff???...bulk in the sashimi la...but still...so not worth it since not satisfied..

The next day i went to Sushi Zanmai with bro and jeevan...the menu itself made me don't know what to eat since i want to eat everything...price very reasonable especially the sashimi...RM30 for 3 kinds of 5 pieces each fishes...compared to Shun...this was so much better and cheaper...different fish of course...but satisfaction was there...and then i ordered the sashimi salad...although small pieces...the amount of sashimi was quite a lot...worth the RM13 i paid for...

After eating so much...of course we ordered other stuff...the total bill was only RM120 for 3 persons...compared to Shun...walaueh...i rather go to sushi zanmai anytime man...i started scolding bro for not telling us this place the day before...could have eaten so much more and more satisfied...after eating i realised something...I FORGOT TO BRING OUT MY MEDICINE!!!...in the end i had to run to Guardian to buy...but hoh...they cannot sell!!!...cause pharmacy close at 5pm!!!...WTH!!!...then i had to run all the way to the new wing to Caring to buy...walaueh...had to rush somemore cause gotta go some other place urgently...to make matters worst...the caring cashier super slow!!!...anyway...managed to buy and eat my medicine...RM24 poorer just for an extra 3 days of pills...hai...damn expensive...

Next up...most prob my second appointment with Dr Thye this mon (dec 1)...but don't know when going to post though..heheh

Graduation Part 1

7th Nov 2008

Finally i reached the November posts...hehehe...so i shall now blog about my graduation day at INTI University College in Nilai to complement the pictures that i uploaded earlier..

In a way...i was quite excited that i was finally going to accept that piece of paper which i studied so hard for in 4 years...and also to meet up with college mates again which i haven't seen for 2 months!!! (still miss you guys...)...

Days before i have been telling mom that we need to leave the house by 1145 as i have to be there before 1pm...on that day itself...after doing all my routine (wake up, exercise, makan...) and all the delays as since have to wait for everyone else to get ready...we finally left the house at 12pm!!!...only one prob...since bro lost his camera charger...we have to stop by at dad's office in Shah Alam to borrow the company's (lousy) camera!!!

With the stupid Klang jam...we finally left dad's office at 1220pm!!!...i had to be the driver as dad was busy talking to someone on the phone...plus i'm the only one that knows how to go there without looking at the map...so i had to drive fast...go through some jams...stick to speed limit (thank goodness for cruise control) due to me kena saman on that stretch before...(boo hoo hoo...RM 300!!!)...we reached INTI Nilai finally at 1.10pm...kk...got speed little bit...just a little bit...hehehe

After registration at the room below the sports hall (bloody damn far...)...me, faye and pek gee went to the sports hall...with all our parents tagging along of course...after putting on the gown and hood...i needed to go to the washroom...suddenly bro starting shouting at me to hurry up cause they calling d to take pic...prob was...with the gown so big and long...very susah la...to make things worst...my hood fell off...(and no...it did not drop inside the bowl...hehehe)...i rushed back to the hall...all blur...then i saw the BATUH people all standing on the stage d...so i was like wondering about...asking where is 18 (tht's my number)...then the photographer just push me in...then i ask the feller standing next to me how they stand...she said go by height and just simply stand...so i just simply stand at the side lo...then the girl next to me ask me to readjust my hood...senget d...and the tasle also must put left side...walaueh...so many things to do...then she helped me to adjust all...(THANK YOU!!)

After a while...the camera man standing far far away...shouted with a very angmo (orang putih but weird) accent..."everybody we are going to take 3 shots...look into this camera and on the count of 3 smile!!"..."1..2..3...GOOD...one more time...x3"...he said this thing everytime a diff group goes up...only thing i was disappointed with the group pic was...they didn't do a seperate one for ICSJ students only...go mix us up with Nilai people...i mean HALLO!!! WE DON'T KNOW ANYONE OF THEM!!! WE WANT OUR OWN GROUP PIC!!!...good thing is after every shot they take...the "parents" are allowed to take the pic with their own cameras as well...so free shot...too bad because of the lousy camera...the shots came out in my camera BLUR...WTH???

Anyway...while sitting down and waiting for the other groups to take their pic...we were all kinda mixed up based on our names...thank goodness i was seated next to yan yan and at the back of me were the crazy bunch in class (lena, yoke yeng, sau hang, gary, sheh nee...who got sesat...hehehe...etc)...so not so boring after all...hehe

About 2.15pm...some feller started to brief us on what will happen later in the convocation...and what we are suppose to do...blah blah blah...then about 3.15pm we started to walk towards the multi-purpose hall (MPH) and then they made us stand outside the hall at the corridor there for like...forever...kk...a bit exagerating...but it seems forever!!! (actually just 15 minutes la...heheh)...but it was FREAKING HOT!!!...we were virtually sweating...and the robes we actually making it worst...the staff there switch on the fans...but not helping...BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE CORRIDOR!!!...no fans there!!!...walaueh!!!

Exactly 3.30pm (thank goodness there were on time...)...we were asked to walk slowly into the MPH...procession began with the song LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY playing behind...i was thinking...why in the world are they playing the song that has almost same status as the British second anthem??...must be because UK degree...hehehe...while walking in nearing towards the centre before i had to turn right...someone shouted..."girl girl!!...your tasle!!!"...my tasle went all the way to the back...(and as the feller tht briefed us just now...he said...on the right...not graduate...on the left...graduated...behind...tak tau...own meaning...hehehe)...so i had to quickly adjust it while walking...towards the front...the person there ask me to sit at the second row at the end there with booklet...but then another person stopped me and the second last booklet...well...whatever...

After the academic procession where all the lecturers and angmos from UK are all wearing gown also...some look weird...some look ok...some look cute..hehehe...the ceremony began...sing the INTI Song...the song that nobody in the college knows how to sing (kennysia, 2007)(check it out here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96zUnzdcSmQ )...and is still true looking and hearing at the number of people singing...hehehe...good effort to those who tried to sing though...hehehe...then the speeches by Prof Tim Wilson and other people tak tau siapa...

Then comes the big and super long part...the award of the degree to the recipients....but first we must be presented by the whoever that is supposed to present us...so when Alfred (the Dean of Sobiz ICSJ) presented us...the whole right side first 3 rows all stood up...this continued for all the other programs...and then the first row of graduates started to line up at the side there to be ready to receive their degrees...while they were doing that...Prof Tim Wilson had to declare that he had the power and authority to give us our degrees...(never see that in my bro's convo also...the angmo didn't declare anything)...

One by one...all of us went up to take our degrees when our names were called and take picture with Tim Wilson...the first class graduates went up first...then its was all random according to name...and yes my friends...we really really got our degrees on the spot...and not some "Congratulations on your graduation...please collect your degree blah blah blah..."...

After about 1.5 hours...yes its that long cause of the super big number of people graduating...especially marketing and BA people...walaueh...pity the HOP that read out the names...hehehe...the award of the degrees ended...then came the industry award where the best students nominated by the HOP will get some award and RM1k CASH(!!!) from some company...can't remember got how many awards...but i know is the awards are given equally among ICSJ and INTI-UC graduates...so at least no bias...(JANICE...I STILL WAITING YOUR BELANJA!!!)

To be continued...Part 2...next post

First official appointment

ok..time to update again...

25th Oct 2008

This day was my official appointment with the doctor after my stay in the hospital about 3 weeks ago...prior to this date...my readings have been going up and down...hit a maximum of 10.4 and a minimum of 2.9 (!!! bad hypo levels!!!)...

Since my last visit to dr. thye...my routine has been mainly...wake up about 9 something (yippee no more 7am wake up calls..)..test my blood sugar level...jab insulin...eat oatbran for breakfast...watch drive of life at 1030am...exercise at 1130am after tv...and then test blood sugar again...then lunch...

As i've mentioned...my readings have been going up and down...looks more like those heart beat monitor chart...up down up down...scary part is...due to me jabbing myself with insulin and exercising...i have this tendency to get hypo (means not enough sugar) after i exercise...even with reduced dosage of insulin...the tendency to get hypo was more frequent during the week before my appointment...

On 22nd oct...i got my first major hypo warning on my glucometer...2.9!!!...previous hypos were only at 3.9...this day...after getting hooked up on grey's anatomy while exercising...i tested myself after exercise and got a shock when i saw the reading as i didn't even feel giddy (which is one of the symptom)...most prob is because i was busy walking and watching greys...but my first reaction was like...ok...i have to eat sugar...i have no more sweets at home...and then i saw...TONG GARDEN HONEY ROASTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS on the table!!!...immediately i poured a handful of it and ate it like there is no tmr...i felt it wasn't enough...and then i remembered what dr. thye said...when u get hypo...drink a cup of milo...MILO PING KAO (milo ais tebal) here i come!!!...my my...after being deprived of milo for 3 weeks (and most prob the rest of my life)...milo tasted SOOOO GOOOOD!!!!!...after 15 min...i tested my blood again and it was back to normal at 5.5

The next day...23th Oct...i reduced further the insulin dosage...and again...after exercise...3.8!!...hypo again!!...although not as serious as the day before...but MILO HERE I COME AGAIN!!!...hehehe...the worst part was...i was actually supposed to meet mr. james for lunch!!...at 12pm!!!...but because of this scare again...i had to delay the appointment and focus on raising my blood to normal levels again...

Back to the original story...so my appointment was to be at 1010am...i reached there at 10am...and had to wait for my turn...the queue was quite long in front of me as its a saturday and the clinic only opens half day...dad dropped me there with mom as he had to go off to kota kemuning for a meeting...mom was just there to accompany me until aunty angela came to pick her up for her appointment with the chiropractor at 1030am...and its still not my turn...i called bro who was on his way to the hospital as he is supposed to teman me in and then take me to wherever he is going since both parents have gone to their respective appointments and he is the next best option for me to follow (uh duh...)...

Bro arrived at 1050am...and at about 1055am...it was my turn to see dr. thye...the first thing she ask was how is my blood sugar readings...i immediately took out the tabulated table and chart which i printed for her to see...her first reaction when she saw the tables was..." wah...not bad...got daily and weekly average somemore..."...while reading...she commented that i had 3.9 (hypo level)..and then i told her...later on got 2.9 and 3.8!!...and then she turned to the next page and her reaction was..." wah...got graph somemore...what is your qualification????"...cheeky bro then added on..."i think you just got urself the most kiasu patient"...

After looking through the table and chart...she asked me what is my latest dosage...i told her 14/6...after hearing that...she thought for a while...and then she asked...how many more insulin pens do i have...i said i think 3...expiry date??...i think its 2012 (but in actual is i had 4 full insulin pens left which expires on 2010)...dr. thye then continued with the good news..."i think i will stop your insulin jabs and the 850mg metformin...i'll let u try this drug...its called janumet...50mg/500mg will do...this drug is a bit expensive...but you won't be getting hypo with this medicine and also you won't get hungry very fast as it slows the food absorption in the body"...and checky bro added on..."sorry la...no more milo for you"...to which dr. thye laughed...

Immediately after we came out of the room...bro's phone rang...it was mom (so kan cheong..heheh...but moms are moms..hehe..)...told her the good news that i will be officially off insulin tmr morning...and she was sooooooooooooooo happy...and immediately said that the pau d'arco (paukaliow) worked...(swt...not medicines...not insulin...not my exercise all...but the supplements, paukaliow and swedish bitters...still i don't deny they don't work...hehehe...)

After waiting for another 30 minutes for my medicine to be dispensed...we headed towards midvalley...where bro needed to go there to get something...which explains why he's with me...i kinda had my first exercise for the day...walking 6 floors up the hospital stairs to the carpark because the lift was so freaking slow...by the 3rd floor i was panting...4th floor i was going super slow and panting...5th floor i couldn't go on...but had to force myself up that one more floor...and FINALLY...6th FLOOR!!!...damn bro had to park his car so high up...

Midvalley was my second exercise of the day...why i said that??...because i had to walk up and down the whole complex...including gardens...just to find that shop that bro wants to go...in the end...that shop was situated OUTSIDE the complex...at the boulevard office block!!!..(*&^%$#)...and after visiting that shop outside the complex...we headed over to chilis with his friend...reached chilis and i had this dilenma...WHAT TO EAT???...most of the sause has sugar!!!...eg. BBQ sause...sweet and sour sause...(duh...sweet??)...after going through back and forth the menu...i decided to go for fajitas...but just when i finished giving my order and the waiter going off...i saw there was another menu...just a piece of card...that has GRILLED CHICKEN & VEGETABLES!!!...perfect for me as there is no sause to worry whether there's sugar in it or not!!!...i immediately went after the waiter before he punches in the order...and thank goodness he haven't punched in anything...and i managed to change the order...

The food came...i was so happy that i changed the order to the grilled chicken as it was...yum yum!!!...i never liked breast meat but this time the breast meat was awesome...the vegetables were soft...and the mashed potatoes were...heaven!!...too bad i could only eat half of it but it was a big portion!!...bro helped with the other half...and at the end of the meal...my plate was spick and span!!!...to the extend i was getting worried that my sugar level will go high up...

At night...my official last jab of insulin...and when i tested my blood...it was...(drum rolls after the hugh amount of food i ate at 3pm...heart beating fast...)...4.7!!!!!!...me and bro was like...shocked...esp the amount of potatoes i ate...(kinda above the allowed range)...

Anyway...26th Oct 2008...my first official day off insulin and on oral medication...best part is...i only need to take one med and not 2 like before...routine continues...only diff is since i started work with mom on 3rd nov...i have to wake up earlier just to exercise...like around 730-830...depending on days...and by 930 off to work with mom...

My readings since i started janumet...has been hovering around 4.0 - 6.0...the normal people's range (...sorry readers...unfortunately i no longer am classified as normal people...but as diabetic...)...morning before breakfast will be around 5.3 - 5.8...afternoon is 4.3-4.6 (no longer checking for lunch as of now as it has been very consistent around this range)...and evening will be 4.3 - 5.2 (depending on whether i ate anything before i test as sometimes my mouth tends to be really itchy...hehehe)...

Next up...if you are lucky that i'm in the mood...my graduation day!!!

First visit to the hospital after discharge

Since i'm free now at work...i shall blog...continue story

13th Oct 2008

As i mentioned in the last story post...i had blurry vision the past 2 days and this was freaking me out...so early in the morning i called up Assunta to quickly make an appointment to see Dr. Thye...and manage to get an appointment at 2.30 pm

Initially dad was supposed to follow me there...but somehow it turned out to be my bro following me there...and since he's temaning me...i have to follow him to his office first and then wait until about 1.30pm before we left for the hospital...while waiting...i had lunch there...with my own food of steam chicken and vege...and then eating in front of the other people tht were nicely eating nasi lemak with roast chicken...(*drools saliva...)...elaine and cheryle was kind enough to give me one drumstick (yeah!!) and also managed to eat some ikan bilis...hehehe...so shiok...

We reached the hospital around 2 something...and after all the registration...took my file to Dr Thye's nurse counter...the nurse then informed me that Dr Thye wasn't in but will be back around 2.45pm...so i waited for her while reading my John Grisham book and took out 1 piece of the ikea bread biscuit to munch...bro went to star bucks to use the wireless there and when its my turn...i'll call him...this was around 2.30pm

5 minutes later...Dr Thye returned to her room and looked through the patients files on the nurse counter...then she saw me...her first reaction...eh?? your appointment today meh?? no right???....then i said no...i made the appointment today for something else...then she went into her room to wait for the patients...there was one old lady in front of me...then she came out of the room to look for the nurse...but couldn't find her...then she told the old lady to wait a while as the nurse went to take her xray films...and then she called me in...immediately i called bro to come...and he was like...huh??? so fast ah???...

So i went in to see Dr. Thye first and told her that i'm having blurry vision intermittenly...then she asked me...so far how is my reading...so i took out my glucometer and then just showed her the readings inside...at this time bro came into the room and joinned the discussion...then Dr Thye did a gluco test for me...and the reading came out 4.1...then she asked me...do you get hungry very fast??...(at tht time i was still having the biscuit in my mouth...opps...)...so i said...yes...its VERY FAST!!!...then she asked...what time u ate...i said about 12.45pm...my bro added on...she ate quite a lot also...then dr thye was like...oh a lot ah...hmmm...ok...i think i will reduce ur insulin dosage...now how much??...(i said 26/20)...ok i will reduce it to 18/20...and then u have to be wise a bit la...if u get hypo or the reading is low...then u just reduce it by 2 units...(yippie!!!...lower dosage!!!...good news...)

After tht Dr. Thye con't to check my eyes to see whether she can see anything wrong with it since my main reason there is because i'm having blurry visions...boy was it hard to look straight with the lights flashing at eyes from the side...everytime i move...she was like...look straight!!!...in the end she said she can't see anything...and that she will refer me to an optimologist (eye doctor)...

At this time i asked Dr. Thye to write me a letter to say that i'm fit for work...then she asked...i thought you working??...i said cause of this no more...then she expressed surprised and said how come like tht??...(well...as Shane puts it well...corporate shit...) Then she said this is the first time she hears someone not getting a job just because she has diabetes...

Then bro asked a very important question...DOES SHE HAVE TO WAKE UP AT 7AM EVERY MORNING JUST TO JAB HER INSULIN???...because mom has been waking me up just to do tht...Dr. Thye was laughing when we told her this...and she said...no need no need...the insulin is very flexible...just jab it when u wake up and before u eat...not necessary to wake up early to jab...literally in front of her i went...YES!!! YIPPEE!!! CAN SLEEP!!!...then i ask...i'm eating a lot of supplements now given by my mom...will it affect the medication??...she gave me a look...what supplements...me and bro went...don't know oh...a lot...got b complex la...fish oil la...herb tea la...a lot...then she went...no need la...she don't need all these...hehehe...(told tht to mom later on and she just dismissed the remark...and said the doc sampat...hahaha)

So i went on to Room 27 to see the optomologist...so i told the old doctor...Dr. Sukumaran about my condition...so he did some checking...and then he asked me...what is my current specticle power...then i told him...i'm not so sure but all i know is right is 800++ and left 600++...then he said...i tell you what is the reading i got...left = 475 and right = 775...i went WHAT!!!...i didn't even expect my power to drop so much!!!...then he let me test my eyes with the new power...and it turns out i can see clearly!!...no blur at all!!...then he said since my difference between both eyes are so big...he will increase the power of the left to 500 and then decrease the right to 750...and when i wear it it will balance the sight...after tht he used the machine to do another test to see whether there are any blood vessels tht are affected by the diabetes...the same one tht dr thye did...only diff is that his machine more canggih as dr thye just use a hand device...the eye doc then wrote a prescription for me to get a new glasses and told me that i'll need 6 weeks for my eyes to get used to it...and he will see me 7 weeks later and will check my retina also...

The nurse counter then gave me the appointment date...1 december...then i asked for sat...the nurse said this doc is only in the hospital every monday 2pm onwards...(wah...work half a day...1 day a week only)...so off to pay the bill since there is no medication...

Bro at first say that the doctors in Assunta quite poor...cause the eye doctor was wearing BATA sandals (Buy And Throw Away shoes)...and then dress quite sloppily also...Dr. Thye dress better...then payment time...the bill was RM249...the bulk of it at the optomologist side...bro immediately changed his opinion on Assunta doctors very poor...

Of the RM249...RM40 was for Dr. Thye...that leaves RM209 for the eye doc...of which...RM100 is initial consultation...RM54 just to test my power...RM55 surgical fee where he shine the light to check my eyes...bro went...hah???...tht 5 min to shine ur eyes also need RM55 ah??? check power also so expensive ah...walaueh...go spec shop free leh...and i said the doctors very poor...so not poor man...rich like don't know what...and he kinda repeated this cursing all the way back to klang...hahahahhahaha

So at night...immediately went to the specs shop to do a new specs...i kinda didn't follow the prescription of the doc...but went for a lower powered right side of 700 (which i regret fully now...will change back to 750 after i see the doc and see what he says)...when i got the specs 2 days later...my goodness...i was seeing even more blur!!!!!!!!...then the shop person told me that since my power dropped so drastically...the brain can't cope and thus can't process it...so it will be a bit blur and needs time to adjust...no wonder the doc gave me 6 weeks...this means i have to buy new goggles too!!!...walaueh...pk d loh...

so far now...its still blurry...but better d compared to 3 weeks ago...i still can't see wordings like subtitles on the tv...unless i sit nearer...road signs won't be able to see until i'm very close...but i still can drive...can see objects...just can't read...but i can see its getting a bit better as the weeks go by...hopefully i can see clearly by dec...then i don't have to increase back my power...

Next up...my official appointment with Dr Thye

Break from the ever long continuing story...hehehe

okok...due to heavy demands...sneak peak at my graduation...want more?? wait la!!...hehehe

First day after being discharged

11 Oct 2008

This day is the first day after i got discharged from the hospital...and also the first for a lot more Firsts in my life...for example:

1) First time eating oat bran for breakfast in the morning...(i refused to eat it last time as it looks so gross...now no choice...)
2) First time drinking Pau d'arco...(which i call Paukaliow...since apparently can cure almost anything...from cancer to diabetes...)
3) First time eating the going to be almost daily twice a day steam chicken and vegetables...

Since i have to like really lose weight...to 60kg (at this time i'm still about 80kg)...and that the doctor told me to exercise to increase the good cholesterol...mom started to make noise to wake me up at FREAKING 7am!!!!!...for what???...couple of reasons:

1) i have to jab my insulin (don't know what gave her the idea that i need to jab at 7am!!!)
2) after jabbing myself...i have to eat my breakfast...which is...oat bran...
3) after breakfast i have to eat my metformin tablet
4) and after all the above...exercise by walking on the treadmill

I was sooooooooooo sleepy...but she was persistent...so i finally (and reluctantly) woke up at 7.15am to do all the above...except number (4)...cause after number 3...i went back to sleep...hahahaha...zzzzzzzzzzzz

woke up again at about 10am...and then after some delaying...went on to do number 4...and exercised for about 30 minutes...the whole time staring at the wall...was it boring man...every minute and i'll look at the time...

Anyway...in the afternoon...went to Aunty Lena's house for popiah...my mom was really controlling my diet...until even popiah skin also cannot eat...so what to do??...improvise la...use the big vegetable leaf as the popiah skin!!!...i'm so clever...wahahaha...in the end...i think i ate more vege than anyone at the table...oh ya...Aunty Lena also specially ordered sugarless soya bean for me...my goodness...it was soooooooooo awful!!!...practically tasteless...and water taste better i think....at first she gave me one huge cup...luckily i reduced to one small cup and gulp it down with much hesitation...thank goodness they didn't ask me to finish the rest...

After popiah...we went to IKEA to buy my rye bread...Aunty Lena followed as well...but before that...we made a stop at the pharmacy in Eng Ann to buy my glucometer...settled for Accu-check Advantange 3 since it has more memory...but the strips and lancets are damn expensive...esp the strips...25 strips for RM53.20...walaueh...did a glucose check on the spot there as learning how to use the thing...and it turned out that my reading was 4.4!!!...whooping good!!!...considering it was at 20 just 4 days before!!!...

At IKEA...we went to the cafeteria there where they serve one of the better meat balls that are affordable...since its the first day out of hospital...mom is a bit hesitant for me to eat...but then dad keeps telling her...its ok la...its meat!!!...so in the end i ate 1 biji of meat ball and a few strips of fries...hoorah to me!!!...(yes yes i know i'm sad...)

After IKEA...continued on to IKANO...and there was the Volvo cars exibition...and who would guess that i would meet...Yvonne!!!...its like 2 months since i saw her...and she's still...the same la...skinny and pretty...hahahha...talked to her (by pretending i'm a customer...by looking at the cars la...and scrutinising the paint work which my dad is in charge...ya...he's in charge of the paint work of volvo cars manufactured here..) about me...and more me...hehehe....

About 7pm...it was time for dinner...but before dinner i have to jab myself again...initially i was supposed to jab myself at the table where the volvo exhibition were...but then...showing my spare tyres in public wasn't a good idea...so i shifted the venue to the toilet...takes skill ok to jab myself in the cubicle...considering i have to swab myself...hold the needle cap...hold the spare tyre...and then jab myself...initially it was quite tough and i had to ask mom to come in to help me hold the needle caps so that it doesn't get dirty...and tadaa...i did my first public jab...at the IKANO toilet...("clap clap clap"...achivement ni...hehehe)

Since i've jabbed myself...i have to makan d before i turn hypo as there's plenty of insulin but no sugar to process...so after much deliberation...we settled on Manhattan Fish Market...i kinda ordered the most expensive...Pacific Grilled Cod...but the portion was so big dad had to take some...especially now since i can't eat much...dad was kind enough to give me a piece or two of the prawns that he had...with the shells taken off...hehehe

At night after coming back home...i noticed something with my eyes...i was seeing bluring visions for a few seconds before it becomes clear again...and then the same thing repeats itself throughout the whole night...and i was scared to hell...especially since blur vision is one of the super serious symptoms of diabetes...and that it can lead to blindness....walaueh!!!...how la ni???

So how???...next post la i tell...hahaha

Hospitalisation Part 4

10th Oct 2008

Yesterday night Dr. Thye started me on this pill called metformin...to act as a guard against sugar in my body...so at night i took one pill...and then in the morning...the nurse gave me two tablets...one thing Dr. Thye warned me about the side effect is that the stomach will be a bit bloated...so will feel a bit uncomfortable...

Boy was that an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!...since yesterday night i was rushing to the toilet to lau sai (as a friend said...pancut shit)...mind you that time i was still having the drips on...imagine rushing to the toilet and then u have to drag a pole along...not fun at all...and then in the morning...same thing again...more rushing to the toilet and getting more frequent...

About 9am Dr. Thye came in to see me the last time in ward...to inform me that she will discharge me since i know how to jab myself with insulin...and then she ask me whether i feel any side effects of the metformin...then i said...if you mean keep going to the toilet leh...yeah a lot of times...hehehe...then she asked me...how many tablets did they give you??...i said i remember i ate 2 tablets at one time...can't remember was morning or night...then she said...its the morning...i think its too strong for you...so i will reduce to 1 tablet...just take it after meals 2 times a day...morning and night...and then your insulin dosage is quite high...for now is 30/20units...but i will lower it to 28/20units...and you wait for a while...cause the insurance will take quite some time...about 3 hours...and then we've checked...the glucometer is not covered under insurance...so you just go get it outside as its cheaper...then i'll see you in about a month's time for your follow up...

So...me and dad waited in the room from 9am - about 1pm...which in the meantime we were reading newspapers, watching cantonese movies...and also rushing to the toilet...about 10 something i called the nurse to take out the thing in my hand...since i'm already off the drips and going back home...so this nice nurse came to take it out...and it turns out to be a long plastic that was stuck in my hand these few days...and i tot it was metal inside...it took quite a while for the blood to stop flowing out as the hole was quite big...even till today the scar could still be seen...

About 1pm the nurse came in to inform that the insurance is ready and we went down to settle the other payments that needed to be made...and also collect the medicines...somehow...i don't know how...the pharmacy messed up the payment part...and didn't charge the insulin to the bill...only the insulin needles...and if we want to charge it to the insurance...we have to wait another 3 hours...we were like...WTH!!!...in the end...dad paid the extra first and ask them to take that as the deposit...then they can take their own time to go do the insurance...and we come back another day to take back the deposit...

So after collecting the medicines...which comprises of 5 insulin pens, 1 box of Glucopharge 850mg metformin, 1 box of alcohol swabs, and lots of insulin needles (which i have to change every 2 times jab)...we went back to the ward to collect all my medical report, ultrasound film, and also the remainder of the insulin pen which i used to jab myself in the ward...as i was walking back to my room...a few nurses asked me...going back d??...congratulations...must take care d oh...the few nice nurses which i like a lot...as they know what they are doing...and also pleasant...unlike some who don't give you any facial expression...

I left the hospital at about 3pm...with a hospital bill of almost RM3k (all inclusive la...)beared by the insurance company (thank goodness i have medical card...and smart parents)...and...this bill is considered cheap in private hospitals as in other places...the bill is much higher due to higher room charges and consultation charges...

At home...i did my first insulin jab at home...with 4 curious eyes looking at me...it looked scary...but in the end...i didn't feel anything as the needles are so fine...there's not even a speck of blood to be seen coming out from my body...spare tyre area to be more exact...hehehe...mom made me steam chicken and lots of vege for my dinner...eventhough i can't eat sugar anymore (which actually i don't eat sugary stuff a lot...but i drink more of it...which prob got me this...and also family history...)...luckily i can still eat savoury stuff...which most of what i like to eat are...phew...for example...my mee hun kueh and seaweed!!!...hehehe

Next up...my first experience jabbing myself outside...and also my own glucometer!!

Hospitalisation Part 3

9th Oct 2008

Yesterday evening Dr. Thye came in and told me that my liver enzymes are a bit high...and that she suspects that i have fatty liver (means my liver covered with fats...duh...) and scared that i have high cholesterol...which if i do have...will lead to further problems in the future as it will lead to heart attack / stroke...and all sorts of other major diseases that are related to diabetes...so she told me that she will order an ultrasound and another blood test to confirm her suspicion...so she said i will have to start fasting starting midnight...yes my dear readers...puasa...as in no food and water AT ALL!!!...

So the night went on...i was a bit hungry at 9.55pm...so i ask the nurse...can i eat my crackers?? since i'm only starting to fast at 12am...suddenly one senior nurse came in and say i cannot eat and drink anything now because i'm fasting...not even water...i said dr say midnight!!!...she say no its 10pm and put one big sign FASTING on the table...i was like...why didn't say earlier???...i wanna drink water also cannot meh??? i thought can...she was persistant and said no...fine loh...i quickly gulp down 3 mouthful of water after she left...mind you that i didn't drink anything since like 8.45pm...the funny part was...i had to fast as well on the day i was admitted into the hospital...and the doctor said that i can drink water...and now the nurse was saying lipid blood test (means to test the cholesterol) cannot drink water...which even my parents were surprised since they have been checking their cholesterol through blood test and they were drinking water the whole fasting time...

Anyway...after i was on official fasting time...at about 11pm...one nurse came in with a container...and ask me to wee wee for the urine sample before 7am...i look straight at the nurse...how am i suppose to wee wee into that container...when i'm fasting and you all don't even allow me to drink water...and dr say fast at midnight and suddenly u all come in at 10pm to say i must start fasting now...the nurse was like...i also don't know la...think 10pm cause they want more accurate results...then she said...you try and pee la...

So in the morning...i woke up about 6 something just to go wee wee in that container...it was hard man...first i was half sleeping...second nothing much was coming out (sorry la a bit gross here)...anyway...managed to fill the container and gave the nurse....then back to sleep

About 9am...someone came in to take my blood sample...one full syringe of my blood to be send to the lab to see whether i have cholesterol or not...i mean high cholesterol...after she was done...i ask the nurse...can i drink now as i'm damn thirsty (made worst by me talking on the phone for 30 min during fasting time)...the nurse say...sorry cannot yet...u have ultrasound at 1030am...ok...fine...i told them to faster a bit la...

In the meantime while waiting for 1030 to come...i was so bloody thirsty that i washed my mouth a few times just to make my mouth and lips wet...the thirst was so overwhelming that i couldn't even feel the orchestra playing inside my stomach...and then 1030 came...no one came to take me to the ultrasound...i was getting pissed off...i called the nurse (think i've never pressed the emergency button so many times during my stay)...and told them to check and HURRY UP!! (was on the verge of cursing)

FINALLY...one porter (yes...i'm like a luggage where you need a porter to carry you to a designated place) came at 1050am (20 min late!!!) and took me to the radiology department where i'm supposed to do the ultrasound...and then just left me there as like in a queue...i was like...what?? more waiting ah???...thank goodness there was an abondoned newspaper on the seats there for me to read...after waiting for a while...i asked the people there...when's my turn??? the feller checked and said...oh there's 3 more persons in front of you...you wait a while ya...i told her...FASTER LA...I VERY THIRSTY!!!...after reading the newspaper in super detail (which i don't normally do)...it was my turn...at freaking 12pm!!!!!!!!!...yes my friends...i've been deprived of my food and water...my precious water for about 15 hours (if you count me fasting since 9pm since i didn't get proper notice...14 hours if count from 10pm)!!!...so inside the ultrasound room...the nurse told me to wait a while for the doctor and then asked me...so you fasted for 4 hours already right??? i kinda screamed at her at a very nice tone...4 hours??!!! i've been fasting since 10pm last night...and i'm super thirsty...and you ask me i've fasted 4 hours??? faster a bit can or not????...the nurse was like...hah?? ok ok i go get the doctor now...

So the ultrasound was exactly like what you see on tv for those pregnant ladies ultrasound-ing their babies...only difference for me is...i'm ultrasound-ing my internal organs...sorry no baby la...it turns out that i do have fatty liver...according to the doctor...its i see a lot of fats around the liver...the others were all ok...after the ultrasound...i was put into the wheelchair again...and they left me waiting again for the porter...i was so fed up i told the nurse...can i just walk back up to my ward??? its ok...i can still walk...i just hold my iv drips can d...they were like...no no you just wait a while ya...i go get the porter for you...thank goodness at this time one of the nurses from my ward came in and told me that she will take me back...and it was already 1230pm...i told her...don't need to push me la...i just walk can d...faster...she was like...nevermind la...i push you...so while she was pushing me...i had to hold my lab reports which she collected from the lab...so i was looking through it...my pee pee test shows that my ketones were back up...

Anyway...when i finally reached the room...the first thing i did was gulp down 2 bottles of water...the 600ml bottle...and water never tasted so good...i tell you...at that moment...water tasted like cendol, coke, sprite, orange juice, etc...whatever drink you can think of...water tasted as good or better than those...and then my food came...i was so freaking hungry that i immediately started eating the food without even taking out all the covers first...it was fried chicken with 2 types of vege...one of them is curry vege...it tasted good as well...almost the best in the world...of course its not la when u think back...but at that time...it was that good...except for the fried chicken...cause first...it was fried chicken which the dietician said i shouldn't eat...and second...it was all breast meat...i don't eat breast meat...and third...it was quite dry and hard....

While i was eating...gideon and family came to visit...the first thing they said was...wah...eating FRIED CHICKEN AH!!!...you still dare to eat fried chicken ah...then i told them i not eating la...but since i ordered the thing before the dietician came...can't change the menu d...so in the end...olivia was the one ended up eating my chicken...hehehe...and she was so cute...she dare not come near me cause of the thing stuck in my hand and that it was connected to the iv drips...which reminded her of her doctor...which she hates...she didn't even dare to give me a kiss...but instead hid behind her momma's legs...mei mei (isabel) on the other hand...was not afraid at all...instead she was smiling and playing with me...hehehe...think olivia wanted to play as well...as after a while...she asked me to play peekaboo with her...using the curtains...but she made sure she stayed far far away from my iv pole...heheheh

About 2pm...the nurses asked me to give them another pee pee sample...i think to give a more accurate result compared to the one i gave in the morning...(sorry disgusting a bit here)...the colour was a total contrast to that in the morning...i'll let u all figure it urself...

Dr. Thye came in about 5pm...and then gave me the results of the lab...she said...you have fatty liver...but don't worry its ok...and then your cholesterol is ok la...just your good cholesterol a bit low...so just do more exercise to increase it...just some brisk walking will do...and then you need to learn how to jab yourself the insulin...i will ask the nurses to teach you tonight...and then your ketones are quite low d...so i think i will stop the drips la...finish this bottle and i'll stop it...(at that time the bottle was still quite full)...i will discharge you...but only until you learn how to jab yourself ...so hopefully you can go back tomorrow...and also you need to watch out for hypo...and if you do get into hypo...where you will feel giddy and weak...just take a sweet or drink milo la...then i told her...if tht's the symptom...then i got it this afternoon...she was like...why??...then i said...cause i didn't get to eat or drink until 1230!!! i was shaking actually...the doctor could only smile back as if implying...it won't happen again...

After Dr. Thye gave me the news...I was like...PHEW...no cholesterol...and considering the amout of seafood and high cholesterol food i ate just the week before...i was soooooooooooo relief...then i asked the nurse to check for me my cholesterol level...she said ok i'll check for you...i repeated this for another 3 times and all said the same but none came back...until about 7pm when i ask one nice nurse (most of them are nice...just some will show some face when they come to check my pressure and all...attitude...) to check again my cholesterol level...which i've asked the previous 4 nurses to do so...this time she came back...my total cholesterol level is 3.7...i was like...WHAT??? THAT OK AH!!!???...(its damn good ok 3.7...after 5.4 is high d...)...i was damn surprise at how good it was...even my parents were impressed by it...considering how little i exercise and the super unhealthy food i eat...

About 8pm...Ms Koh came and visit with one full bag of goodies...diabetic friendly misai kuching tea, sugarless strawberry jam and chocolates!!!...at first i didn't know the chocolates were sugarless...and then i told her...you want me to die ah...give me chocolates somemore...and in the typical ms koh's tone...siow ah...this one sugarless la...diabetic friendly one la....the pharmacy say one...(in hokkien ya)

About 8.45pm...the nurses came in to teach me how to jab myself with insulin...i'm supposed to jab at the belly button area...then use 2 fingers from the belly button to measure...and the area after the second finger is where i'm supposed to poke the needle into and jab...so i have to take the swab and swab the area one time and make it the clean area...then wait for it to dry...hold the fats with one hand and hold the pen with the other and jab it in...once inside push the knob down until it stops...and just make sure the hand is stable...first time doing it was scary...but it turned out ok...luckily the needle didn't break inside me...cause i did let it hang a while...hehehe

About 9pm...the nurse came in to remove the iv drip bottle...and that concludes the end of my reliance on the iv drips to get rid of the ketones in my body...the thing was still stuck to my hand though...just that now i don't have to drag the iv pole along to anyway i go...be it the toilet or just anywhere around my room...

More visitors started to come in after 930pm...and they stayed till almost 1130pm!!!...thank goodness i have a single room to accommodate all of them...after they left...it was the first time in 3 days that i finally get to sleep without the iv line getting in the way...my hand was FREE!!! The feeling was so good to be able to move around without needing to be concious of the iv drip line getting entangled or somehow disrupts the flow of the drips...

Next up...part 4...my discharge day!!!

Hospitalisation Part 2

8th Oct 2008

The day went on pretty boring...in the morning...the nurses came in every 4 hours to check my pressure, temperature and blood sugar level...and every hour to see whether my drips needs to be changed...about 9am someone came in with a huge box...and then told me she's there to take my blood...so in goes the needle and out goes my blood...best part was...i have no idea why they were taking my blood sample

Dr. Thye came in about 10 something...and she told me that my blood level is still very high...even though with a high dosage of insulin and she needs to increase it further to bring it down...and also now i have to start eating low GI food...and quaker oats for breakfast...so that my blood sugar level doesn't rise too rapidly after i eat...she saw me with the computer and she told me to go online and find out more about low GI food...but i told her no internet...and she actually told me...go starbucks online la...just don't eat anything there...hehehe

Shane and her friend came at 1.30pm...and she brought me a magazine...a magazine that i've never read...can't remember what magazine was that...i think it was CLEO or something like that...yes yes i know...i damn outdated and not interested in those stuff "specifically" written for females...but can't blame me for trying to save money right???...its RM10 just for that magazine which is just loaded with tons of advertisement...3/4 of the thickness of the magazine is advertisements...sorry la to those that purposely buy those magazines...but i do feel its not worth the money to pay for advertisements...but do not get me wrong here...i do appreciate Shane's effort to buy the magazine for me...fresh with plastic somemore...and i did read a bit...a bit la...

Anyway...after they left...came another round of visitors...this time it was Eugene, Mrs Ang...and Adrian...all the way from ipoh...plus around this time...one nurse came in to inform that my single room is avalible for me...but i have to wait until the patient discharge and till they clean the room...only i can go in...so more waiting...

Around 5pm...the dietician came...she started asking me what do i normally eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner...then she was like...hmm...ur breakfast very late...and quite heavy you eat...dinner timing ok...lunch time also very late...then she started telling me what i can eat and what i cannot eat...at least she told me one very important thing...I CAN STILL EAT BAK KUT TEH!!!...max once a month...but better than nothing...hehehehe...won't know how to survive staying in klang without being able to eat it...walaueh...then she was telling me now breakfast must eat healthy...no more mee hun keh or BKT for breakfast...but have oat meal as breakfast...i kinda told her that my mom will be very happy to hear that...especially since she's been trying to get me to eat oat bran which for all this while i've been refusing due to its yuckiness...then she also explained to me the amount of carbo i can take...like how much rice to eat...and if i eat potato and rice...i have to balance the 2 out...like if i eat 1 biji of potato...then i cannot eat rice...if i eat 1 slice of papaya...i cannot eat 1 biji apple d...etc etc...long list of food stuff and the portion i should take...midway through parents and bro came in...and poor her...she has to repeat all over again so that my parents can hear and know more about balancing the diet...

Around 6.30pm...i finally got to go to my new single room...Room 19...just opposite the old room...the room is quite big...apart from the patient bed...it also has a 2 seater sofa and also a folderble bed which can be folded into a chair as well...and frankly speaking...that bed is quite nice to sleep on as well...i even managed to ask for an extra pillow from the nurse...and i told her to bring a soft one...and she actually did bring a soft one...(the existing pillow was hard and high)...and in this room...i get to watch tv without needing to pay...and surprisingly...they have a lot of channels...especially chinese movies...its a customised tv channel where apart from normal tv...they have their own channels as well...i've never watched so many cantonese movies before in such a short span of 2 days...and most of it are comedys...and has a mixture of old and not so new movies

In a way...i was VERY happy to move to my new room...because since the old lady moved to a single room in the morning...i was having my double room as a single room...that was until 6pm...a new patient came in...with family and all...and they were SUPER NOISY!!!...i was like...phew...can move to new room...they were so noisy that they made the old lady sound quiet...

The whole night in the new room...i kinda did nothing apart from watching the movies channel and calling some friends once i was super bored...parents and bro came back at 10pm...(eventhough visiting hours is still 9.30pm only)...and then the nurse was taking my blood sugar level...bro still in his scared mode...asked whether the nurse can check him also...in a way she was very kind as she agreed to test him...but must be quiet about it...his level turns out to be ok...and he gave a HUGE sigh of relieve...hehehe

Next up...part 3...third day in hospital

Hospitalisation Part 1

ok ok...i know i'm late...but better than nothing right??? so here goes...

7th - 10th Oct 2008

7th Oct 2008

Early in the morning, dad and i went to the hospital for our appointment to have my blood sucked out by a needle into a syringe and also my pee pee to have it tested to see my blood glucose and ketone level...after waiting for about 2 hours (which during that time was just sitting down eating my loh see fun and reading newspaper)...finally the report was out and off i went to see the medical officer that saw me the previous day

Her first reaction?? "you are definitely a diabetic...and that ketones will be there if you are diabetic...and i will now send you to see the specialist...she's a nephrologist...and you can go see her now"...(background is nurse calling the the specialist clinic to arrange an immediate appoinment for me)...soon a porter (some old uncle la...perut buncit sikit...beer belly) came around to take me to the specialist clinic...and after waiting for another 1 hour (was quite packed during that time...and i was last out of a stack of 10 files)...i was finally inside the nephrologist's office...

Dr. Thye (the nephrologist...duh...)...quite pretty and stylo mylo...looked at my report and the first thing she said in a cool calm manner..."your blood glucose level is quite high...and the ketones is very high...so i want to admit her immediately and start her on drips until the ketones are gone...about 2-3 days..."...i was like...ok...i have to masuk (get admitted into) hospital...no need work d...(during this time i still tot i was employed)...and i have a very bad diabetic condition...

Off to the admission counter to do the admission procedure...called the insurance agent to get the insurance policy number all...then the people there said...no room/bed available now...you have to wait until someone checks out...so we went back home first so that i can collect my clothes...before going back...managed to have dim sum, some fried rice and lots of vege at KEC for lunch...courtesy of aunty lena...

Packed my clothes in the suitcase and almost took my pillow to the hospital...as if i pindah rumah (moving house)...i used the same suitcase which i used to go Redang...and it was packed...just like in Redang...dad was asking me how many clothes was i bringing...and the funny part was...it was just only 3 shirts and 3 shorts...for 3 days!!!

Well...4.30pm the hospital called to inform that i can go there now as a double room bed is now available...i was placed in Room 11-2 (second bed)...next to an old lady from Segambut, Johor...she was kinda bed ridden as she couldn't get up at all...was asleep most of the time...snoring...and when she wakes up...she starts groaning...this happened the whole day...even at night...and in the middle of the night...i heard the maid telling her to diam diam (shhhh) and go back to sleep as she was groaning quite loud...until i woke...and for a heavy sleeper such as me??...tht's loud!!

Anyway...back to me...immediately after i settled down on my hospital bed...a bunch of nurses came in with the long iv pole and one doctor (i presume) to start me on my iv drips...the needle that the doc used to poke the back of my palm looks big...and although it did hurt a bit...they did it in a way that i didn't even know that they're done putting the thing that channels the drips into my veins...it did feel weird to have something inside you...poking ur hand...from the inside this time...while at the same time flowing fluids into the body just to make sure i don't faint...and so...wherever i go now...even to the toilet...i have to drag along the big long roller iv pole that holds the iv drip bottle that contains 0.9% of sodium chloride...if i'm not mistaken...salt water...(makai, betul tak???)

Dad and later on aunty Carine accompanied me until 7.15pm...which during the whole time i learned what my medical card covered (thank goodness i have medical insurance...)...after that dad had to leave for meeting as it was special ministry week (church meetings)...I was bored...i can't watch tv in the double room as i had to pay RM12 just to watch it...i can't log into the internet eventhough there was wireless...i can't go to starbucks just to go online due to the big long pole i had to drag around...(imagining myself with my long pole and in shorts sitting in starbucks with my laptop and maybe sipping my americano)...in a way...thank goodness i have my laptop with me...which contains loads of unseen tv drama episodes...but then i had to watch it with the laptop speakers...and i couldn't put it too loud in case it affects the next bed...so i had to struggle a bit just to hear the drama's conversation...

After 1 episode of House...i gave up...i couldn't hear anything...i needed my headphones...it was only 8pm...i was bored!!!...i started calling some friends to chit chat...then came 8.45pm...i got the first enquiry call from Eugene and Avril (cousins...same phone call)...i like how Avril ask her question..." eh hannah...i know you are going to answer this question the next few hundred times...but what happened???"...and indeed she was right...i did answer that question A LOT of times...because my phone rang non stop...be it in phone calls or sms...until i had to silent my phone at 11pm in case it disturbed the maid at the next bed...still the phone did not stop vibrating...even i had to keep waking up from my sleep to read and answer the sms-es...not that i'm complaining...as i feel touched by the concern shown by all...but...replying sms-es with one hand is tiring...since my other hand will be poked by the long plastic that is stucked in my hand...

The most common question and reaction i got from those who called me was...eh what happened?? yesterday i saw you, you looked ok what...why you get diabetes one??...aiyo must take care oh...aiyo...so young!!!...yup...those were the reactions of most people that got the news...mom and dad was telling me the funny story that happened in church...since i was already in the hospital, a few of my cousins that were in church got the news first from my mom...so Gid (one of my many cousins) prayed during the meeting for sister hannah to get better from her hospitalisation...only problem was...there was another sister (aunty) hannah (doss) in church and so happens that she was ill as well and not there...so everyone thought it was aunty hannah that was hospitalised...even Eugene thought it was aunty hannah that was hospitalised (as he overheard uncle victor telling brian currie how unwell she was) until Avril told him it was me...so generally everyone did not expect me to be hospitalised...especially since they just saw me the day before talking and laughing happily to them as if nothing happened...my parents said that i kinda sent shockwaves across and scared everyone to bits as i was young and no one expected me to kena (get) this...and now everyone wants to eat healthy...(come come join me eat healthy food...^_^)

During this whole time...the nurses will come in every 4 hours to check my blood pressure, blood sugar level and tempreture...everytime they will say...pressure normal and no fever...blood sugar level was still high though...hovering around 14-16...highest at 18 as i ate mom's food which she brought when she came...plus...before dinner...the nurses came to inject me with insulin...i think the needle was so fine that i didn't even notice that they've finised injecting me...and i went...hah?? finish d ah??...then dinner came around 7pm...it was stewed chicken...to be very honest...it tasted good...don't even think it as hospital food...it definitely didn't taste like one...

So far for the first day in hospital...up next...the next few days in hospital...stay tuned!!

ps: thanks for the patience reading my super long and detailed (windy) post...hehehe

First day at "work"

6 Oct 2008

This day was my first day at work at Deloitte as a Tax Assistant. They offered me RM2450 to take up this position, and was to report to work at Level 16 at 8am. Dad sent me there in the morning and i actually arrived there at 7.15am. Went for breakfast at the nearby coffee shop, although dim sum was tempting at that time...but i opted for the cheaper pork noodles. Hang out at the coffee shop till about 7.45am and i went on to Level 16 of Uptown 1.

When i arrived there...i was confused...both doors were shut...how in the world am i supposed to get in?? at that time...someone came out with huge stacks of files...and i told her..."er...today is my first day at work..." and was like "...oh oh...come come...door not yet open...you walk straight in can d.."..then she left me...all alone...blur like hell on where to go to...met another person and i asked for the HR feller...and he pointed me here and there again...and there i go...searching for the HR feller...

After managing to find the HR feller...she took me to her superior (i guess) who gave me my offer letter and all other necessary documents...and then announced to me that their working time has changed to 8.30am...after all the formalities and all...she took me and another new person to our respective teams at level 15.

I was to be assigned to the team lead by the team leader, Wen Ching. When i arrived...only Amelyn was present (one of the group members)...out of the 7 people in the group...i guess it must be due to the change of work time to 8.30am...funny part was...when i arrived...Amelyn showed me my workstation...and then people from other groups starting coming over to talk about their raya holidays...and how one of them...Carol i think..."pok kai" during the holidays (as in fell down from a bike)...heheheh...and then they realised i'm there...and they go...new one ah???

Anyway...830 came by and all the team members came in...including my GL...i have to say...my group members were all VERY nice...very helpful eventhough they were busy...anyway...as i had to fill in the form for EPF and go cop my fingerprints in front of some internal accounting feller...i left my workstation for a while...the GL gave me the permission to do whatever necessary i need to do...after that i was to go to the Medijaya clinic to have my medical checkup...

I went to the clinic about 930am...met more newbies there from Deloitte...and then had my eyes, weight, height and urine sample checked...1030am...it was my turn to see the doc...and that's where i got the news...

And what was the news??? my glucose in the urine and ketones indicators are full...i was like hah??? what full??? then the doc asked me whether i feel thirsty frequently...whether i pass urine frequently...do i feel tired...etc etc...then she told me to do a blood glucose test...which cost me RM10...and the reading came out 20.9!!!...the doc was like...ITS FREAKING HIGH!!!...ok ok...she didn't say tht...but she stopped short of saying that...and she told me this...you are a diabetic and i want you to go to the hospital emergency ward NOW...not tonight but NOW!!!...your glucose level is very very high and you have ketones in you body...which means your body is acidic and is dehydrating itself...you most probably need to go on drips to hydrate your body...if you are not driving...i want you to call whoever to come and fetch you now and go to the hospital...NOW!!!...and she sent me away after telling me that she will call the Deloitte HR feller and will not send in my medical first...

I called dad immediately to ask him to come and fetch me...and when he answered the call...i told him...dad i have bad news...i have diabetes...dad's response??? huh!!! (as in the i told you so those kinda tone...a snort)...so i told him he has to come asap and take me to the hospital emergency...then i called mom and gave her the bad news...

In the meantime while waiting for dad to come and pick me up...i went to the HR department...and the HR feller came and talk to me as she just got the call from the clinic doctor...while she talked to the HR director about my situation...her superior (the one that gave me the offer letter) asked me...you got diabetes ah?? i also got...hehehe...but i 46 years old woh...you how old ah?? Hah?? only 21 ah?? aiyo!!!...quite cute her reaction...hehe

I went back to my workstation and told my GL that i need to go to the hospital...i didn't tell her i have diabetes...but she was understanding...and told me to just do whatever i need to do...so while i was waiting for dad...i asked her for things to do...and she gave me the 2 thick tax handbook to read...after 30 minutes...about 1230...i got the call from dad...and i went out of Deloitte...

Dad decided to send me to Assunta Hospital as he says the doctors there more specialized...and also if go government hospital...wait like "siow lang" (orang gila...crazy feller)...so i gave my letter from the clinic doctor to the Accident & Emergency department...and registered myself and waited to see one of the medical officers...while waiting..the nurses checked my blood pressure and pricked my hand again to check for the blood glucose level...it did improved from the morning...to 19.9..improved by 1 point...but it was still super duper high...as the normal range is from 4.0 - 8.0...above 8.0 and you're a confirmed diabetic...so i'm a super confirmed diabetic

After waiting for about 1 hour...it was my turn to see the medical officer...Dr. Parimala...she saw the letter and then asked me...what does this mean?? glucose and ketones full?? what is full???...i went...er...i don't know...So the doc ask me to come back again the next day in the morning after fasting...so that i can have a fasting glucose and another urine test...

On the way back...we stopped by at Carrefour to buy some groceries...and dad being his cheeky self...asked me...eh eh...want some ice cream??? coke want ah??? cendol want ah??...then he saw the oreo wafer stick and he went...oreo want ah?? oreo nice hoh...i looked at him...want!!!...wanna give me or not...hehehe...obviously those are out of bounds for me d...

At night i went for ministry meeting...and after meeting...i was swarmed with the question...how was work ah?? in all honesty...how in the world do i know?? i just sat at my desk for only 30 minutes!!!...but of course i just answered...ok la...and then just stayed in front and talked to chi cheng the whole time until i went back...

In the car...koko (my bro) told me how shocked he was when he heard from mom about me...and then was telling me that now he's worried too cause of the family history of diabetes...even the doc at the clinic said...you have a nasty family history...both sides have diabetics...my chance of getting it??? no family history...1 in 10...with family history...and this bad...1 in 5...anyway...

Until that time...my condition was pretty like secretive...as only my own family and a few close friends know about my condition...thanks for the support that you all gave me during that day...while i was waiting for the new blood test and also when i was waiting for the doc to see me..

Next up...my stay in the hospital

Redang

Ok...i know i'm late...but better than nothing right???...hehehe

so...the journey continues...

2nd Oct - 4th Oct 2008

we left Kuantan at 8am in the morning and continued our long 4 hour journey to the Merang Jetty so that we can board the Laguna ferry to Redang. We reached the the jetty at 12pm with our ferry scheduled to be at 1230pm...but as usual...Malaysians...we were delayed and in the end...the ferry departed at 1250pm

We had to transfer to a bigger ferry at the river mouth as the big ferry couldn't get into the jetty as it was low tide...the journey to the hotel in the big ferry...to be honest...wasn't nice especially on the upper deck as the whole place was shaking due to the ferry's engine laying right below the deck...so imagine having to sit through the whole 1 hour as if your whole body is vibrating the whole time!!!...the lower deck wasn't so bad but unfortunately...if you want a nice view of the beautiful ocean which turns blue at the middle of the sea...upper deck you go...the ferry was fairly empty as it only ferried about 30 people...when the capacity load was 112 persons...this was because before that the ferry was ferrying those who were coming out from Laguna...and it was PACKED!!!

Anyway...we reached Laguna Resort after an hour's journey on the ferry...and right from the ferry when i saw the CRYSTAL CLEAR BLUE WATER...i fell in love with the island straight away...and that was before i saw the famous Pasir Panjang beach where the movie Summer Holidays were shot...imagine my feelings when my eyes set hold of the beautiful and spectacular view of the ocean and beach...CLEAN WHITE SAND AND CRYSTAL CLEAR BLUE WATER...beat that...

Since we arrived late...we had late lunch and eventually missed the open sea snorkelling trip...not to miss out on anything...we (my family only) immediately jumped into the clear blue waters in front of the hotel...and my goodness...it was super duper salty!!!...ok ok...i know its sea water what do you expect...but can't blame me...i'm used to pool water...not sea water....but the clearity of the water was...i would say...as clean as a very clean swimming pool....and there were lots of fishes there as well...who says we need to go deep sea snorkelling to see fishes and corals...there were all there in front of the hotel!!!...and i could see clearly thanks to my powered goggles...no longer like last time in Perhentian when my cousin was pointing and shouting NEMO!!! through her mouthpiece and the only thing i could do was shout back with my mouthpiece...I CANNOT SEE!!!

Anyway...the others later joined us with their life jackets and snorkelling gear...and bread!!! my my...the fishes follows you everywhere you go as long as your hand is holding some bread!!! it was amazing looking at the fishes and corals just right in front of our hotel...and i've never swam so far out of the beach before...maybe its because now that i know how to swim...not pro but better than nothing...and also because its 100x much easier to tread water in the sea than in the swimming pool!!!

At night we went to try out our snorkelling gear...then we found that they were renting out POWERED MASK!!! its like i finally can snorkel properly and see whatever is in the water!!! since my whole family wears glasses...its only natural that all four of us rent the powered masks to see clearly...the lifejackets looks old but at least its still in good condition...so its not so bad..

The next day in the morning we went to the Marine Park...dad was at first hesitant to go there because his colleague was telling him that you see more humans than you see fishes...and wherever you turn you bump into someone...after much persuation we decided to go for it and pay the marine park ticket...when we arrived there...the first person to go OO AHH was dad...cause of the huge number of fishes which can be seen clearly right at the jetty...

The fishes at the Marine Park i would say are very very "tam chiak" (greedy makan)...why???...before you could even tear some of the bread off to feed them...they would come and just eat the bread off your hands while you are holding it...and i got some fish biting me just because they tam chiak...however swimming with the life jacket on can be quite a pain...especially if they keep moving around and the underleg strap keeps going up!!!

In the afternoon we went for the deep sea ocean snorkelling...this trip requires us to go into the water from the boat...means climb down from the back of the boat...as the boat was full of people...with half of them scared of water...the queue gets stuck...and when the queue gets stuck you find a faster way to get down into the water...so dad asks us to cross over to the other boat to get down...bro was already in the water...calling excitingly to us to quickly get down...mom and dad crossed over to the other boat...and now it was my turn...i called dad to hold my hand but he didn't hear me...the sun was getting hot and the deck was burning...so i decided to cross myself...how hard can it be??...so while i was holding the top of the other boat...with my right leg crossing over to the other boat...suddenly...i slipped!!!...the deck was slippery!!!...in the process of slipping...as mom and bro says...i did a Paul Scholes tackle on the China lady...which i could have been red carded...hahahah...the end result???... i got a big blue black bruise on my hand...not sure about China lady though...the only consolation i could give her was...SORRY YA...ARE YOU OK??...YOU OK??..SORRY YA...SORRY YA...

Back to deep ocean snorkelling...remember i mentioned that the fishes in the Marine Park were tam chiak??...well the fishes in the ocean were very "tiao keh" (tarik harga...snobbish)...your give them bread...they swim away...unless you push the bread down into the water...only will they eat it...and in the marine park..the fishes fight for the food and normally one fish will eat more than the rest...in the ocean??...the fishes were polite...they take one bite and they leave...u hold the bread in front of them??...it takes ages for the bread to disappear unlike in the marine park which takes seconds!! however...honestly speaking...the fishes in the ocean were much smaller than i expected them to be...the fishes in front of the hotel and also at the marine park were much bigger...and less choosy of course...hehehe...so we came to this conclusion as dad puts it well...at the hotel and marine park...the fishes see humans and they see food...in the ocean...the fishes see human and they see themselves as the food!!!...hahaha

During the night time...we saw people crowding along the beach near the water...then bro mentioned something about blue sands...it turns out that when the water comes in...they will be some sand particles that will glow in blue when it reaches the shore...however it only lasts for a few seconds before it dims away...we saw some after some effort in finding it...and it was a new experience...

About the hotel...we stayed at Laguna Resort...the famous site of the Hong Kong movie Summer Holiday...which they built the set replica next to the hotel...the MORE MORE TEA INN...which currently runs as a gift shop...the room we stayed in was Deluxe Garden which has 3 beds...2 single 1 double bed...seperate toilet and shower...and the room was quite big...they even have a channel to just keep airing the movie Summer Holiday...and that time...the water is just as nice as it is now...the food in Laguna is quite nice...all buffets...which served a big variety of food...however...i don't quite enjoy the spread that they have for breakfast...lunch and dinner are much better...the things that the hotel sells are reasonably priced...unlike those hotels that charges super duperly expensive for a normal nestle ice cream...they only like charged RM1 extra as what u pay now in the city...furthermore...their RM8 mango ice kacang is quite big and nice...

That's all for my super long post of my journey to Redang...

Next up...what happened to me at my first day at "work"

Kuantan

Ok...what happened to me after my first post?

30th Sept - 1st Oct 2008
Went to Kuantan and stayed there for 2 days...en route to Redang Island. Had crappy small crabs there...so not worth it...but its still crabs...yum yum...although some of them were a bit lembik inside

Second day...since we were bored...we decided to go up towards Terengganu to some water fall at a place called Jeram Penitih. The newspaper cutting said go towards Bandar Seri Bandi and then go along 6km of estate road. So the 3 car contingeon journeyed up...and as usual...me jadi the map navigator. So instead of using the Chukai way...which we missed the turning due to bad road signs...we took the kijal way...and journeyed towards Bandar Seri Bandi.

On the way there...at one point where the road was on top of a hill...the view was breath taking!!! Anyway...back to waterfall...on the way to Bandi...I saw a sign saying Air Terjun Jeram Penitih 9km...we turned in and all that we saw was big excavators and palm trees...and a super narrow dirt road which we 3 big cars were supposed to take to get to the waterfall...unfortunately the other 2 cars were not so adventurous...so we decided to go to Bandar Seri Bandi to eat...

Bandar Seri Bandi...on the map it was labelled as a major town...sounds grand too right??? well...we drove there...found a sign saying pusat bandar...so we headed there to see whether they sell anything for lunch...when we got there...WALAUEH!!!...the whole town centre...grand pusat bandar of Bandar Seri Bandi was just A ROW OF SHOPLOTS with all of them closed!!!...you may say Raya time sure close la...oh no...the row of shoplots i think has only max 10 shops...of which some were EMPTY!!! what kind of pusat bandar is that??? I mean like...the grandest thing there i can see is just probably the hospital and balai polis...the rest were just...kampung style

Anyway...after a good laugh at the grand Bandar Seri Bandi...we headed back towards Kuantan using another way...no waterfall...no lunch at Bandi...just travelling on with empty stomachs...

Halfway through...dad saw signboards indicating waterfalls...we turned in...if i'm not mistaken...to Kg. Air Putih...we were sooo hungry that we saw kedai runcits and just stopped to buy bread and biscuits while wishing the malays there Selamat Hari Raya...dad saw a gerai and went there to ask whether they were selling food...the owner in turn invited all 12 of us to his house for open house....my my...they had one of the best lemang i've ever tasted!!! truly kampung taste...the beef rendang was nice too...very kind of our host to provide lunch for 12 hungry tummys...although i think only 8 ate as the other 4 were not used to malay food...their lost...

Anyway...after the show of kindness by our host...we travelled back to Kuantan...Mom wanted to go to Carrefour and we ended in East Coast Mall...a new shopping mall in Kuantan. Bought 2 blazers/coats at the MNG outlet there...and 2 pants, 1 skirt and 1 blouse at the Brands Outlet next door....they were cheap to be honest...2 coats and its the same price as the coat that i bought at Jusco...

The end for Kuantan stayover...next post...Redang!!!

p.s: Sorry no pics...don't think will have any in this blog due to the blogger not owning a camera