This is Sumo. He loves running around in circles and playing around with little kids. Children (and adults, e.g yours truly) adores him and he enjoys the attention.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Excerpts from my trilogy in progress
This trilogy is loosely based on stories from my grandmother, late mother and my own life. It is mostly real as I remembered sitting on my grandmother’s lap, listening to her tales while I visited my kampong near Tapah during Chinese New Year. At the same time, memories and the stories of my mother lingered on although she passed away for some time now.
My intention is to document three different lives : a hard-working and kind-hearted Chinese girl who came to Malaya for a better future; a young, highly-intelligent and ambitious girl from a small village in the early days of Malaysia as well as a post-globalization, modern techno-savvy Malaysian young lady. It is an interwoven tale of three generations of Malaysian Chinese, as told in three distinctly unique female voices.
“The first time I set my eyes upon Nanyang was at the port of Penang. I was too ill when we made a brief stop-over at Singapore, thus Penang was my first glimpse of the Promised Land. 5th Aunt was praying to the gods that I will not end up being fish-feed. All I remembered about the long and treacherous journey across the South China Sea was a lot of vomiting, chills, poor appetite and the endless blue sea.
Penang in the 1920s was a bustling port city with half-decaying shophouses, noisy hawkers, rich tai-tai dressed in finest qipao and many people of different skin tones and mother tongue. For most of us from China, this first port of call is a heaven-sent destination, a key to a much better life in the many tin-mines and rubber plantation in this warm and sunny land they call Malaya.
The moment I stepped gingerly onto the rickety wooden gang-planks bridging the gap between the junk and the jetty, I was very indifferent to the sights and sounds of this Pearl of the Orient. As we passed through the many trishaws lodged outside the colourful and grand Khoo Kongsi, 5th Aunt mentioned that Penang was pivotal in our motherland’s liberation and independence.
Apparently, Sun Yat-Sen was here to broker many deals and helped with the early days of our nation. I wondered deep inside on whether I still have a nation. Although I was born in the southern province of Guangzhou, near Sun-de where some famous martial arts exponents came from, I never found belonging to anyone or anything in particular. I wonder if I could find ‘home’ in Nanyang, especially in this British colony.
When my parents told me in a very cold tone that they are sending me off to a foreign land so hot that it’s perennially summer, I thought I was sent to ‘hell’. Actually, upon landing in Penang, I actually thought I was delivered from hell. The journey in the cramped boat was beyond my darkest nightmares and as I wobbled weakly after 5th aunt towards our quarters at Burmah Street, I thanked the heavens for sparing me from the wrath of the oceans. I was almost sacrificed at sea!
After a few more steps, I reminded 5th Aunt to make some offerings at the nearby temple as I blinked, took in a deep breath and slowly gobbled up the wondrous sights, smell and sound surrounding me. What I could behold was amazing…the cacophony of foreign languages, the riotous mix of colours in the streets and a heady, chaotic potpourri of scents and aroma wafting from the marketplace! I was turning dizzy from the massive sensory overload.
So, interested to read more about this tantalizing tale? Do pray that this budding ‘novellist’ could find the time to actually complete her most ambitious project to date.
My intention is to document three different lives : a hard-working and kind-hearted Chinese girl who came to Malaya for a better future; a young, highly-intelligent and ambitious girl from a small village in the early days of Malaysia as well as a post-globalization, modern techno-savvy Malaysian young lady. It is an interwoven tale of three generations of Malaysian Chinese, as told in three distinctly unique female voices.
“The first time I set my eyes upon Nanyang was at the port of Penang. I was too ill when we made a brief stop-over at Singapore, thus Penang was my first glimpse of the Promised Land. 5th Aunt was praying to the gods that I will not end up being fish-feed. All I remembered about the long and treacherous journey across the South China Sea was a lot of vomiting, chills, poor appetite and the endless blue sea.
Penang in the 1920s was a bustling port city with half-decaying shophouses, noisy hawkers, rich tai-tai dressed in finest qipao and many people of different skin tones and mother tongue. For most of us from China, this first port of call is a heaven-sent destination, a key to a much better life in the many tin-mines and rubber plantation in this warm and sunny land they call Malaya.
The moment I stepped gingerly onto the rickety wooden gang-planks bridging the gap between the junk and the jetty, I was very indifferent to the sights and sounds of this Pearl of the Orient. As we passed through the many trishaws lodged outside the colourful and grand Khoo Kongsi, 5th Aunt mentioned that Penang was pivotal in our motherland’s liberation and independence.
Apparently, Sun Yat-Sen was here to broker many deals and helped with the early days of our nation. I wondered deep inside on whether I still have a nation. Although I was born in the southern province of Guangzhou, near Sun-de where some famous martial arts exponents came from, I never found belonging to anyone or anything in particular. I wonder if I could find ‘home’ in Nanyang, especially in this British colony.
When my parents told me in a very cold tone that they are sending me off to a foreign land so hot that it’s perennially summer, I thought I was sent to ‘hell’. Actually, upon landing in Penang, I actually thought I was delivered from hell. The journey in the cramped boat was beyond my darkest nightmares and as I wobbled weakly after 5th aunt towards our quarters at Burmah Street, I thanked the heavens for sparing me from the wrath of the oceans. I was almost sacrificed at sea!
After a few more steps, I reminded 5th Aunt to make some offerings at the nearby temple as I blinked, took in a deep breath and slowly gobbled up the wondrous sights, smell and sound surrounding me. What I could behold was amazing…the cacophony of foreign languages, the riotous mix of colours in the streets and a heady, chaotic potpourri of scents and aroma wafting from the marketplace! I was turning dizzy from the massive sensory overload.
So, interested to read more about this tantalizing tale? Do pray that this budding ‘novellist’ could find the time to actually complete her most ambitious project to date.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Renovation in progress...
I need to jazz up my blog…desperately
After a long online hiatus (no internet connection at home for 6 months), I was back online in KL and started browsing through other blogs.
Then it hit upon me..
I am so darn boring. Oh, I mean my blog is a bit on the prim and proper side. Seriously, I think ppl could fall asleep reading my blog. Although I am supposed to be the cilipadi, it is hardly a spicy blog. In my humble opinion, I probably lead a ‘spicy’ life according to modern standards of medical doctors, but hardly ground breaking news. I still can’t cook like Nigella Lawson, or run like Paula Radcliffe or sing like Beyonce. But I can still try…just have to sacrifice a few taste buds, synovial joints and laryngeal muscles in the process!
My dreams of working in a far away land or a war-torn country is still in the drawing boards judging at how hard it is to convince my parents that I could be of use in a country in crisis. They worry for me as I couldn’t even negotiate a curve in a trunk road without crashing my car!
Well, I drove myself home safely this CNY. Without touching my phone on the highway, I concentrated on the road while chuckling at how smooth traffic was. I was driving within the speed limit as carefully as I can, being a very repentful little girl. Anyway, it’s so peaceful driving southbound while half the nation is going northbound from KL. Phew….
All fails. I am still uploading the same kinda pictures, with the same kinda message. The least I could do was to renovate the blog and change the theme. Yeah, I am restless. And young, so I could do anything I want with my blog. Hopefully….
After a long online hiatus (no internet connection at home for 6 months), I was back online in KL and started browsing through other blogs.
Then it hit upon me..
I am so darn boring. Oh, I mean my blog is a bit on the prim and proper side. Seriously, I think ppl could fall asleep reading my blog. Although I am supposed to be the cilipadi, it is hardly a spicy blog. In my humble opinion, I probably lead a ‘spicy’ life according to modern standards of medical doctors, but hardly ground breaking news. I still can’t cook like Nigella Lawson, or run like Paula Radcliffe or sing like Beyonce. But I can still try…just have to sacrifice a few taste buds, synovial joints and laryngeal muscles in the process!
My dreams of working in a far away land or a war-torn country is still in the drawing boards judging at how hard it is to convince my parents that I could be of use in a country in crisis. They worry for me as I couldn’t even negotiate a curve in a trunk road without crashing my car!
Well, I drove myself home safely this CNY. Without touching my phone on the highway, I concentrated on the road while chuckling at how smooth traffic was. I was driving within the speed limit as carefully as I can, being a very repentful little girl. Anyway, it’s so peaceful driving southbound while half the nation is going northbound from KL. Phew….
It’s hot again this time of the year. So hot that it scorches our brain and fry all productive cells. I was staring at the computer blankly thinking how best to update my blog without resorting to my old, tried and tested formulae.
All fails. I am still uploading the same kinda pictures, with the same kinda message. The least I could do was to renovate the blog and change the theme. Yeah, I am restless. And young, so I could do anything I want with my blog. Hopefully….
Anyway for once, I was trying out a 'bimbo' pose which simply looks weird on someone as studious and conservative as me right? My short-lived stint as a 'model' would probably fizzle out soon as I am reluctant to show much skin. Flaunting assets in public needs a different sort of verve and courage, I think. Sigh...maybe I should just stick to my outdoor sports, gobbling up books and playing my music.
Water babies everywhere...
The hyperactive doctors in Teluk Intan has done it again. Not contented with zooming around town on rollerblades, chatting up random people on the road about life, eating marvellous food and running around in circles, we have invaded the small quiet town of KKB.
Yup, Emily, Peter, Lynette, Amita, Alex and Tse Nee were seen with some KL friends riding the waves at the Sg Selangor near KKB. It was our first experience at white-water rafting (with the exception of boss Peter Wong) and we woke up surprisingly early on a saturday morning for it. It was so early, the sun was just waking up too....
As the water level was a bit low (dry season ahead), we worked very hard manipulating the boat around the rapids. The coordination from the entire team is very important in order to manoeuvre the boat, esp in dry conditions. i love the time when we hung out for a break at the water fall only accessible via the rafts. It was a picture-perfect picnic spot.
So, looking forward to another round of exciting, adrenaline-charged sports affair. I wonder what's up next in this cilipadi's life?
Yup, Emily, Peter, Lynette, Amita, Alex and Tse Nee were seen with some KL friends riding the waves at the Sg Selangor near KKB. It was our first experience at white-water rafting (with the exception of boss Peter Wong) and we woke up surprisingly early on a saturday morning for it. It was so early, the sun was just waking up too....
Anyway, after a little miscommunication about changing into our water-friendly things (some of us quickly mastered the skill of changing in the car, eh?) and a short briefing by one of the guides in a funny language (some form of Manglish), we hit the water with a gusto.
Funny thing about white water rafting guides. They kept on throwing us into the water. first, the boat overturned and all of us were flipped into the water. then, they said that the boat was stuck in low water, and threw us into water. After that, during some of the rapids, we fell off the boat and we were in water as well. In short, we were practically floating in water half the time! it was fun and quite fascinating that way though...hahaha
As the water level was a bit low (dry season ahead), we worked very hard manipulating the boat around the rapids. The coordination from the entire team is very important in order to manoeuvre the boat, esp in dry conditions. i love the time when we hung out for a break at the water fall only accessible via the rafts. It was a picture-perfect picnic spot.
I think all of us got a bit of a work-out, a tan and not only that, plenty of bruises! The laughters, fun, near-drowning excitement, wonderful scenery and greenery, cold water and adrenaline was worth every bruise and scratch...
So, looking forward to another round of exciting, adrenaline-charged sports affair. I wonder what's up next in this cilipadi's life?
Friday, January 23, 2009
A letter to my neglected blog
Dear cilipadidoctor.blogspot.com,
Hi there..I am so sorry for neglecting you. I have been so busy the past 1 month that I cannot update you on anything new. The reality is that my life has been so eventful, exciting and happening that I couldn’t even begin to tell you about it,until now.
It all began on a hot, sunny Friday morning. I was busy putting various scopes into multiple human orifices, i.e. people’s stomach, urinary tract and colon when I suddenly received a phone call from the hospital. My friend reached for my phone and promptly put it to my ear (and no, I don’t hold my phone with my gloved hands stained with you-know-what! ).
Then the news came. I was being transferred. And it came 9 months after I put in my transfer request. 9 MONTHS! Just like the human gestational period, it took the relevant authorities 9 months to process a request for transfer to another hospital 1 hour away by car, within the same state. Being a good girl, I promptly finished my scope and took the phone to hear the extent of the new. It got even better..I was supposed to go in 2 bloody day’s time. Pardon my French, but WTF!!!! anyway, I calmed down and told them that I will be going to the new hospital after CNY. After all, I need to finish up my calls according to the call schedule and I am NOT about to leave my colleagues high and dry with so few of us trained people around. I would love the opportunity to practise in another big town but I disliked the fact that it was so last minute....sigh.....
Thus began my marathon oncalls I was doing 36-hours work-day 3 times a week the past 3 weeks. It was tiring but as I was very motivated to help out, I didn't really mind the calls. Not only that, I was trying to spend as much time as I could rollerblading with my roller-kaki and practicing my mime/sign language performance (which I was about to upload). Add to that, a very fun and productive photoshoot, my first time at white-water rafting, a first-year anniversary for my CF and a trip to Ipoh, I was about to go bonkers with activities.
Anyway, I guess these are all fodders for my upcoming, juicy blog posts as I resume my online activities again once back in town. Yup, I am back in good old Muddy Banks for a few days…..until I got thrown to the land of yummy taugeh and beautiful limestones again.
By the way, pardon the poor quality of the pictures. I have yet to wield the magic of Photoshop on them and I’m still using my cheapo camera. Economy slowdown, u see. Anyway, pictured below is my new wonderful phone, courtesy of the sweetest colleague and friend one can hope for. What could I say more?
Sincerely,
CPD
Hi there..I am so sorry for neglecting you. I have been so busy the past 1 month that I cannot update you on anything new. The reality is that my life has been so eventful, exciting and happening that I couldn’t even begin to tell you about it,until now.
It all began on a hot, sunny Friday morning. I was busy putting various scopes into multiple human orifices, i.e. people’s stomach, urinary tract and colon when I suddenly received a phone call from the hospital. My friend reached for my phone and promptly put it to my ear (and no, I don’t hold my phone with my gloved hands stained with you-know-what! ).
Then the news came. I was being transferred. And it came 9 months after I put in my transfer request. 9 MONTHS! Just like the human gestational period, it took the relevant authorities 9 months to process a request for transfer to another hospital 1 hour away by car, within the same state. Being a good girl, I promptly finished my scope and took the phone to hear the extent of the new. It got even better..I was supposed to go in 2 bloody day’s time. Pardon my French, but WTF!!!! anyway, I calmed down and told them that I will be going to the new hospital after CNY. After all, I need to finish up my calls according to the call schedule and I am NOT about to leave my colleagues high and dry with so few of us trained people around. I would love the opportunity to practise in another big town but I disliked the fact that it was so last minute....sigh.....
Thus began my marathon oncalls I was doing 36-hours work-day 3 times a week the past 3 weeks. It was tiring but as I was very motivated to help out, I didn't really mind the calls. Not only that, I was trying to spend as much time as I could rollerblading with my roller-kaki and practicing my mime/sign language performance (which I was about to upload). Add to that, a very fun and productive photoshoot, my first time at white-water rafting, a first-year anniversary for my CF and a trip to Ipoh, I was about to go bonkers with activities.
Anyway, I guess these are all fodders for my upcoming, juicy blog posts as I resume my online activities again once back in town. Yup, I am back in good old Muddy Banks for a few days…..until I got thrown to the land of yummy taugeh and beautiful limestones again.
By the way, pardon the poor quality of the pictures. I have yet to wield the magic of Photoshop on them and I’m still using my cheapo camera. Economy slowdown, u see. Anyway, pictured below is my new wonderful phone, courtesy of the sweetest colleague and friend one can hope for. What could I say more?
Sincerely,
CPD
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