Something bugging our stomach

It was report in The Star, people with persistent diarrhea, constipation or bloated stomach should go for medical checks as they could be hosting a newly-discovered micro-organism or pathogen called Blastocystis, said world renowned Malaysian scientist Professor Dr G. Suresh Kumar.

He said it could lead to serious illness if not treated correctly. The possibility of it leading to cancer is being researched now but it can still cause other serious gastro-intestinal ailments. The pathogen could be passed to humans through animal faeces and was water-borne.

This news caught my attention since recently I suffered diarrhea after eating cooked food at Cambodia. My stomach purged for 3 days. Where on earth did this 'newly-discovered' creature came from. It just can't appear out of no where like alien and starts to invade us. There are just too many 'creatures' out there lurking somewhere to attack us. Something is not right affecting our mother nature nowadays.

Read the full story here

Memorable last month

December is always a significant month to all of us particularly since it is the very last month of the year. People have the tendency to reflect, review, reassess...however you name it, to see how that particular whole year was spent/invested/used.

For me this month means a lot more if not marks another significant milestone in my personal life as well as my family. I just recently passed my 35th year old mark and celebrated 6th year anniversary with my wonderful wife Soo Pei. So I guest there are more to reflect upon.

Well what can I say about 2008. Unavoidable there were some ups and downs. Overall things can be better (most of the time it is so) but yet not too bad either. One prominent fact is that my family have grown biologically with the addition of our little angle, Reanne. That will be our added priceless treasure we cherish this year from God besides our big little boy Ivan.

Got few new exposure and experience, not forgetting setback too. Yet, thanks to God for His gracious hands upon our life throughout this 2008.

Lord, we thank you for Your unfailing love, provision and protection for our family this entire year be it spiritually, financially and in health. We thank you for the new things You have started in our life and the old things You are pruning away. Lord, please continue to guide and lead us as we lean on You in this new and challenging year ahead of us. We declare for breakthroughs and victories as we move forth. In Jesus' name. Amen

Long way up - snap shots

Port snap shot

Beach snap shots

New Gurney Drive snap shots

Long way up - the chronicle

This year Christmas day was celebrated a bit differently compared to previous year. I decided to bring the whole family including my parents and Silas' family for a long way up to Penang island for a holiday.

We started traveling on Christmas day itself to Malim Nawar, Perak - my mother's home town where my uncles still staying. We put a night at my uncle house before heading straight to Penang the following day. My uncles brought us that Christmas night for seafood feast at Tanjung Tualang which famous for their river big head prawn (Tai Tao Ha). We ate 2kg of big head prawn and 2kg of crab not forgeting also a fresh water fish (Sang Yue) personally caught by my uncle. The food was really good (unfortunately no photos available....to busy eating with both hands and handling the kids).

Traveling from Malim Nawar (which just 30km to Ipoh) took us about 2 hours to reach Penang island. We headed first to George Town, Tanjung City Marina adjacent to the Penang-Butterworth Ferry Terminal. Stop a while and snap some photos here and there. Afterwhich we move on to Komtar area to search for hawker foods. We end up eating at Jalan Macalister. Foods were just ok but small in portion. Average RM3. Char Kui Tiao was RM4.

Next we drove to search for Bukit Bendera (after manage to buy a detail map at Komtar). We managed to find it thanks with some helping hand from my dad which act as my navigator. Unfortunately we were just a bit late as the tram ticket was sold out. Disappointed we make a U-turn back to town but end up eating again at Jalan Air Itam hawker area (entrance road to Bukit Bendera). The duck meat soup noddle just caught our attention for a quick bite.

Without wasting time we buckle up and headed to our next destination at Tanjung Bungah public beach area. How can we not go to the beach when already in the island. We lost our way after trying to a short cut but still able to reach the destination. Spent like an hour there to relax and more photo taking sessions. Ivan just like the beach and the sand.

Our last stop was having our dinner at New Gurney Drive hawker centre. Six of us ordered several kinds of foods like rojak, char kui tiao, prawn mee, fried oyster, popiah, wan tan mee (for Ivan), sotong kang kong and banana abong balik. With our stomach full but not really satisfied with the taste (maybe due to high expectation), we finally decided to head back to Malim Nawar about 8pm. Reaching my uncle's house about 10pm ending our day trip to Penang island.

The next following day (Saturday) we packed up and went home to Kajang stopping along Ulu Yam town for Loh Mee and visiting my grant aunt. Overall we have a enjoyable Christmas family traveling trip on a long way up.

Christmas?

Honestly this year Christmas was less 'festival' and celebrating to me. Things was pretty hectic along the week not to mention need to travel thousand of miles just few day before Christmas. Not forgetting having been rushing the Cambodia project matters to be ready before flying there for meeting. By the time I was back home on 23rd Dec (after 2 hours of flight delay) it was already quite late about 11pm. The next morning back to office for work again.

I was still being bug by diarrhea on that morning in as such have no mood to work. I decided to take MC but until I finished my Cambodia report. Well, I finally went home that Christmas eve at about 4.30pm just one hour before office hour for my so called half day MC.

That evening, Christmas eve celebration was being held at our church and I was on duty for the video crew. Things didn't turn out that well......not to the satisfactory level. First I was late and cause the other crew members to temporary struggle. Second, I was still rusty when handling one of the video camera. I did not really enjoy that night Christmas celebration. Frustrated again, tired, not satisfied and just wanting to go home and crash on the bed!

Many have blessed us and our children with lovely gifts that night. Unfortunately we did not return any.....since we did not managed to purchase any to share with. We feel quite bad about it. On the other hand, most of all I feel I have not really honor the true meaning of Christmas that night....Jesus, the Gift from God. Lord, I am sorry to have distracted on my so called 'duty' and 'responsibility' that I did not honor Your son Jesus for His birth that which gives me hope and joy to celebrate with daily. Blessed belated Christmas!!!

My 2nd trip to Cambodia

As I previously mentioned I was quite frustrated when the work trip to Cambodia was postponed to much later date......just few days too close to Christmas Day itself. We have to fly on Sunday (21st Dec) afternoon since earlier date was fully book and schedule to return on 23rd Dec. We took the one and only usual afternoon AirAsia flight (only one a day).

This time around, the flight was not really occupied (say about 60%) so plenty of vacant sit. Well, being trained by my other 'season traveler' colleague, four of us sit at the emergency door area. To be exact, roll 12 and 14 (they don't have no. 13 if you wonder typo error)........leg room bigger woh. And actually we need it. You see my Senior Group GM is a very tall person. By the way, also being trained by my season traveler colleague, we book with Express Boarding...meaning cut the queue and board first. Sound 'exclusive' hah, but with an additional price lah.

Our first day there was very much relax since it was a Sunday. By the time we reach our hotel it was already time for dinner. Unfortunately it was there my misfortune begins. The dinner that I ate that evening gives me few days of miserable stomach diarrhea....a.ka. Lao Sai (Part II). Somehow the squid that I ate cause indigestion cum diarrhea. It got worst on my 2nd night there. I hardly can managed to finish my dinner. Anyhow thank God, thing still manageable until I came back KL.

As usual, the time schedule we have at Cambodia was quite tight. Meeting and discusion all day. Gladly this round able to have a fast stop by at one interesting place, the local call it Russion Market...something like our Petaling Street/Chow Kit road (see photo below). They got plenty of goods sold there. Well, here are some of the photos I managed to capture for sharing...

Photo at the development site my company involved in.
River sand was being ship to the site area and later pump to fill the site.

Russian Market scenary. Cramp and plenty to see

Local morning market just below the hotel we stay

Workers busy sorting charcoal in the early morning for selling

Wet luggage

I read of this open letter at The Star Online describing a group of traveler experienced wet luggage episode after boarding AirAsia flight at LCCT Sepang when heading to Guilin China. Click here to read the full story.

I personally have been boarding AirAsia flight at LCCT Sepang so I guess I know what actually happened. My last travel got me experience some drizzle when coming down from the plane going to the arrival hall. But the pilot was considerate enough to park the plane closer to the cover walkway.

In my opinion, though the terminal was designed and mainly mean for low cost carrier some form of basic facilities should be built in for the passenger safety, security and protection which should goes with their luggage. Malaysia Airport Berhad (MAB) who operator and run the terminal ought to consider this factor since low cost carrier is such in demand in this region. It definitely a win-win situation both for the operator and the carrier. In return both parties will boost the passengers volume and thus increase income. Hey the world is big enough for all to gain......not only one.

Bird Flu at Cambodia

Today I just discovered news about the detection of avian influenza at Cambodia via The Sun newspaper. Immediately it caught my attention.

Yesterday the Ministry of Health of Cambodia has announced a new confirmed case of human infection with the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The unfortunate victim is a male from Kandal province, the same place where the development project I am involving right now. That is really close. So for precaution sake, better stay off from chicken meat in my meal.

Further reading click here