I'm going to the Holy Land.

Happy eid to all brothers and sisters. 

Eid al adha reminds me of two things. The most important historical event in which Abraham had to sacrifice his son Ismail and the hajj pilgrimage.

Due to some issues, I did not go back to my hometown to celebrate the feast of sacrifice with family this year. 

In the morning of eid, after fajr prayer, I got ready and wore a baju melayu with kit. Went to the albukhary mosque and joined the crowds to perform the eid prayer.

The sermon was rather emotional. The imam reminded us about the story of Abraham & the journey of hajj. 

I was there at the Holy Land earlier this year performing umrah. And the sermon made me missed the place more than ever. 

Tears in the eyes. And it's not just me. Everyone else looked touched as well. 

There was a sudden surge of motivation to go to work, to make money for the purpose of going for the hajj and nothing else. Just enough that I can bring my parents as well.

is giving out cash good?

The government has spent a large amount of money on scheme in which the poor are given cash in the bid to assist them. I consider myself as coming from this poor category and hence I know that receiving cash would make us feel so grateful (who doesn't?), and the best part is that we actually don't have to do anything to get it! Well maybe we just have to listen to some boring speeches, but it's worth it.

But really, is this actually helping us in a long run? Is giving out cash to people without having them to do anything a good thing? Is it healthy from the economy perspective? I'm no expert in this.

I just think that maybe getting them a job, or assisting them to get one or starting a business or something would be better. No?

The money spent on this scheme can be used for other things to benefit the poor and the rest of the people in the country.

What triggers me to write this is a news that I just read which says that the amount of the cash maybe will be increased if the current ruling political party wins during next election. It sounds like a bribe, no?

I'm not anti government. In fact I'm more of a pro government. And there are good schemes like book voucher and the assistance to improve small biz, are good and have to continue.

Even the opposition using more less the same method. When I was in Indonesia, the Penang government hold a dinner to meet, bond, and answer questions from Malaysian students regarding latest issues. And I remember one of the state minister was saying that they are trying to reduce the number of the poor in the state by giving out cash just so that the poorest have just enough income to put them out of the 'poor category'. hmm does it work that way?

lets start living now!

I have just realised that I should stop chasing the future much and to live more on the present.

While struggling for a better future is a must, I shouldn't neglect the current live, the now.

We deserve to have fun and live to the fullest everyday amid stressful work we have to face or whatever reasons we have to postpone being happy.

We don't have to wait to really living, enjoying it and live to the fullest. Do it now as we're not even sure how long we will be living.

Amir's visit.

A good friend Amir came to my hometown, Lenggong in Perak last week. It was our last activity during the holiday before we actually start working!

I took him to many places where we had loads of fun visiting.

After completed his 274km bus journey from KL, first he had to accompany me to Taiping Hospital because I had a doctor appointment that day haha. After done seeing doctor I took him to several places around the town of Taiping such the Taiping lake garden. (The most beautiful garden i have ever been to hence it is my favourite) and later we went to Kuala Sepetang Mangrove forest reserve and also the Taiping Night Safari. I love zoo!

Kuala Sepetang mangrove forest. It's huge!

Amir trying Mee Udang Mak Jah

Taiping Night Safari! It was cool as we can see lions and tigers running around and playing!

On day 2, I took him to the royal town of Kuala Kangsar for some touristy stuffs and then we headed to Bukit Merah water theme park.

Amir in front of the beautiful Ubudiah mosque.

Sultan Azlan Shah Gallery.

At Bukit Merah Laketown resort. Had loads of fun at the waterpark! omg I love water.

Cool ATV ride at the ATV adventure Larut in Taiping! This is Amir's favourite.

Day 3: Took him around Lenggong, the world UNESCO heritage site, then headed to Seri Iskandar to visit a friend there, and Ipoh at night to watch a football match live.

At one of the many caves in Lenggong.

Inside Lenggong Archeological Museum.

Raban Lake near Lenggong.

Lata Kekabu waterfall

We watched a football match at Stadium Ipoh at night. Love the atmosphere!

 Day 4: he headed back to KL to attend the induction course. We're gonna start working soon!

Train fetish

I like trains since when I was small. Even though I was only manage to see the trains when my father stopped the car when we happened to cross the railway on the road. Haha I remember there was one time when the alarms and the warning lights flashing signalling the road will be closed temporarily for the train to cross, instead of going faster my father decelerated the car so that me and my siblings would be able to see the trains. haha. And the very long cars moving on the track really amazed us, or me particularly :p

And like the other normal kids, having a toy train was my dream. But coming from a not so well to-do family, I never asked for one. My parents never actually spent money on such things like toys. The only toys my sister and I had were the donated used teddy bears (argh).

So when I got my first salary later (yay), I promise I will buy one for me, hmm maybe several of them so that I can connect the tracks together to make a long track for the train haha.

Four days ago I took the ETS train from KL to Ipoh and I love it. It ran 150km/hr, maybe faster, and it was really comfortable and smooth as compared to bus or other transports that use the land road. and I felt safe. Really glad the double tract from KL to Ipoh is done. Now the double tract from Ipoh to Padang Besar at the northest part of the peninsular is under construction. I am following the updates regarding the project closely and can't wait for it to be done. They say it is more than 75% complete now.

Few years back, I took the old train namely Senandung Malam, and it was a one long journey. There was only 1 trip per day due to the single rail track and it's a night trip. It was a noisy and bumpy ride. Now it became history.

Just now I checked on the latest development of the KL MRT project. Love it. Love the artist's impression videos, can't wait for it to happen for real.

And every time there's a news about the possibility of  a fast train project from KL to Singapore, I will read every single word of the news keenly. And I hope it's going to happen for real.

I wish the government will extent the double track project to the east coast of the peninsular and also to Sabah and Sarawak. It would be easier for us to travel to places there. Traveling to these places via road is too mush a hassle and energy and time-consuming. Plus the motion-sickness that I have, is not helping haha.

Train is really the future of transportation on the land.

Knowing about how advanced the technology and the engineering of high-speed trains around the world is, really excites me. And I dream of traveling in the Eurostar from London to Paris one day. Enjoying the views from the window.. I want to try other fast trains too like in Germany and China.

So anyone wants to travel with me soon? hehe

applying housemanship in malaysia for medic fresh graduates

This post is dedicated to those who has just finished medical school especially those graduated abroad. There are several sites and blogs that i found helpful but here i will summarize and put it into numbered points to make it simple.

Here are 5 easy steps :)

1) Fill in the SPA8i form online at Suruhanjaya Perkhidmatan Awam (SPA) website:
http://www.spa.gov.my/

2) Contact SPA to book an interview (via phone/email/go to its office)

3) Download, fill in & send in the Borang 4: Permohonan untuk Pendaftaran Sementara, Malaysian Medical Council (MMC) and Borang Maklumat Tambahan MMC.
http://efenem.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/mmc-daftar.pdf

4) Download, fill in & send in the borang Permohonan Jawatan Pegawai Perubatan, Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia (KKM)

http://www.mediafire.com/?jqggmomhy2lifwo

5) Attend interview at SPA office.

That's it. Read the guidelines carefully as you fill in the forms and get the required documents attested.

Currently I'm waiting for my interview scheduled on 13 March. Wish me luck!