Iceland: A Healing Journey [Prologue]

Up till March 2022, my personal journal has been filled with unspoken words of anxiety, worries, self-contempt, and burnout cries. I was finding it difficult to move on, a lot of factors contributed to that, and I wondered if it was even worth it to keep going.

So when there was an invitation to travel and just break away from everything else, I jumped into it.

Perhaps, it was what I needed.

Iceland, to be honest, has been a healing journey for me.
The next coming entries will be about our trip to Iceland; maybe interspersed with some rants here and there

Kinda dread going back to work next week, to be frank. Fortunately Ramadhan will join us in the next couple of days so I'll be using that and writing the travel log for the Iceland trip to keep my mind away from work.

Introducing the travel companions, N in the middle, D at the back, and me in the front.

One of my favourite photos. Actually, there are A LOT, I just don't know which one to choose

UKM 49th Convocation

Nov 28th, Sidang 2, Faculty of Medicine UKM

Because the date is worth a mention here.
The day we met each other day again after a while, those whom I partly owe the success to and those who walked the same paths;
The day we received our scrolls, names being mentioned, new title being announced;

Honorary mention:
Majid, JK, Agni, Ilham, Dalleen, Hema, Maryam, Ezzaty, Cheong, Hamizah, Amalin

The new norm, no guests (parents) were allowed in the hall, but families were able to watch the convocation live telecast online.

Took the opportunity to take family photos as well after the convo session;
After all, I owe my family A LOT for allowing and easing my Masters journey

And the day before, the girls took the opportunity to take photos together.
(The MDTs (MultiDisciplinaryTeam), Keep on Moving & TsumTsum girls)
These girls who were the pushers, motivators, witnesses, supporters, colleagues-came-good friends, and more like sisters in the fraternity
Each has a different background, different stories, and journeys, different struggles, different pages even though we walk the same path-

Missing Amalin

Looking back, all the blood sweat and tears, was it worth it?
Yes.
It was difficult, yes, but made easier when you had colleagues who were team players and mentors who guided you along-  
And now, each of us is walking a different pathway;
I pray the friendship lasts forever and that our paths will cross again someday.

New role, new commitments
Who knows what's in store for us in the future

Ending page "MMed Journey",
Turning to page "Physician Journey"

Boost(er)

A quick note.

14 Oct: Was informed that tomorrow there would be slots opened for staff who opted for booster dose; those who received their last dose at least 6 months ago, voluntary basis

15 Oct: Took the opportunity to do so, even though the next day I was oncall... better now than never yes?
So, just wanted to put this here, as a reminder.

Side effects of this 3rd dose? Pain at the injection site for slightly more than 72 hours, muscle-ache mainly at the injected arm and left chest area that lasted for 72 hours or so, a bit of flu-like symptoms but resolved within 48 hours. 

Overall symptoms were much less compared to the 2nd dose, Alhamdulillah not needing ant analgesia this time. I was still able to do oncall the next day; my MOs had a bit worse side effects and it showed on their faces during oncall, poor fellas....

The booster dose is on a voluntary basis given to higher risk groups including the frontline health care workers, the elderly, and patients with comorbid.

The Aftermath: Blood, Sweat and Tears

May 3-5th, 2021: Part 3 MMed Exam, Viva- Thesis Defence
4th May marked the day where a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders. Closing yet another chapter which was literally was blood, sweat, and tears.

Like literally.

MMed Batch June 2017- May 2021 (Incomplete quorum)

I started off this journey with a lot of hesitation. The experience as a house officer vs medical officer in general medicine was different; the more I walk this path, the more I don't know, the more difficult I felt, the more intimidated and unsure I became. But Allah has different plans for me- He diverted me back into medical and then into Masters of Internal Medicine where I knew it would be one of the toughest journeys yet. And MMed was literally blood, sweat, and tears no matter how much mentally prepared you thought you were. It would either make you or break you.

And it had almost broken me multiple times, especially during the last leg.

Nevertheless, what did make the difference are the people you met during this journey.

Part of the study group members

Allah eased my journey by letting me befriended friends who watch out for each other, lending shoulders to cry on, ears to listen to, and being keen reminders to each other. Allah allowed us to meet remarkable, impeccable, and impactful teachers, mentors, seniors, and colleagues- people whom we look up to, admired upon and they taught us many, many things from different aspects.  

Not only that, Allah gave me more than what I asked for:

- supportive family and friends outside the MMed circle and to be honest they are one of my strongest pillars of support and buffers

- challenging cases and incidents but full of lessons and wisdom and although they almost make me fall to pieces each time, I was supplicated by many hidden mechanisms to pull me through them  

- new opportunities and welcome distractions 

Ending one chapter means the beginning of another.
Successfully climbing one hurdle means facing a bigger one.

I honestly don’t know how the next chapter will be and what challenges it will bring.
To be honest, I'm more nervous than excited, especially to leave this comfort zone.
But if anything past 5 years has taught me, there’s always, ALWAYS reasons and meanings behind each event.

I just hope that in the future I will be able to look back into this post and this episode to remind myself of this.

Bismillah...

"We made it guys!" Sincerely, Tsum Tsum Girls

Pin: Ramadhan Kareem 2021 & (throwback) 2nd Dose

Another year welcoming Ramadhan

Let this graceful month enlighten all our darkness, wash away our sorrows and ease our pain.
May the blessing of Ramadhan be on all of us and may our prayers and deeds get accepted.

Ramadhan kareem, everyone!

---

The April series photos part 1: the incomplete quorum

April 11th, lunch with them, an incomplete quorum of the Zenols

April 10th, brunch with them, an incomplete quorum of Funtastic 4 + the aunts

April 9th, dinner, and coffee with them, an incomplete quorum of MDTs

---

Throwback to 2nd dose of covid-19 vaccine, Thursday 1st April
- it was the day before the submission of our thesis/dissertation manuscript, so we decided to go slightly later in the afternoon.

The jab itself wasn't painful, but I experienced slightly worse minor side effects (compared to the first dose) afterward- feeling feverish, headache, arthralgia, and myalgia akin to viral-like symptoms that warranted regular paracetamol... they lasted for about 48 hours and after that, you'll be okay.

The SNs were so gentle that you felt nothing and it was over in an instant

Completed 2nd dose. Let's all do out part, protect yourself, protect others :)

Pin: 1st dose

 

Ad-hoc list today.
1st dose.
Just to document this here.

A Picture A Day: Week 48-52 + 2

This is the reason why I was reluctant to start any photo project... It's January 2011 and I still lag 5 photos to complete 52 weeks. I did have fun however. This year, though I'm not planning on any photo project, I think I'll just post up some photos occasionally when I can get a hold of the camera. 365 Project looks interesting and I have a friend who does this but I don't think it's possible for me at this point. Alphabet challenge also looks interesting, I'll keep that for later when I'm a bit more free (a.k.a. hopefully in 6 months time?)

I went to a dear friend's wedding in Ipoh on January 1st, had a sleepover in the sleepy town of Ipoh with Perth ex-colleagues/friends, which was very refreshing. Then I joined my friends for a short trip in Manjung-Ipoh and came back to KL on Monday night. That trip in itself deserves another separate post- some recommended places to eat, Kelly's castle and some random shots =P

So as to close last year's A Photo A Week project, here are the remaining 5 pictures that I shot past one week:

 2010 closed with all of us passing Professional 2 Exams. Congrats, Frontiers!

 Addition to the Lamp Series? This chandelier was shot at the wedding dinner

 Badminton enthusiast~ Clearly not mine xD

 Bunga kenanga or ylang flowers a.k.a. Cananga odorata

 Wedding favours... Err.. pardon the box all crumpled up (>.<)

 Nadhirah & Fozzil, 1.1.11

Monday Morning~

So, what's your new year resolution?

A Picture A Week: Week 47

A Picture A Week: Week 45-46 [Reflection]

 

Since tomorrow is Awal Muharram, it's time to do some reflection before the year end and think of how we can improve ourselves, don't you think?

Yup, we'll take a better version of this shot next time, okay?

A Picture A Week: Week 41-44 [The Lamp Series]

These were taken at my aunt's house...

This one:

And this one:

are basically the same lamp (chandelier?), but it has different lights... blue and yellow. 

Too high for me to take the details and I don't have the appropriate lens

I personally love this colourful one~

Moroccon-theme? Indian-theme? You decide.

This is in one of the rooms

Placed at the stairs

A Picture A Week: Week 40

Vintage attempt...

Syu told me about this awesome website a long time ago.... well, a few months ago. Had some attempts with some pretty profile pictures from magazine scans and my personal collection. 

And I took below photo quite some time ago- had a sudden urge to photograph the perfumes the three of us have at home... And err.... 7 out of 10 are... mine XP Actually, in this particular picture, I missed out one bottle, CK Eternity, which is empty already but I still keep the bottle, because perfumes are just love xD

The photo turned out to be dull. It's bland. And boring. So I thought I'd 'spice it up'. I've been thinking about making it vintage-like since Syu told me about the website. Check it out, it's really nice.

Below the cut is the original photo and another two that I saved while editing it to the final product above. You can see the differences~

A Picture A Week: Week 39

Wanted to take the photo of the... let's see....6-7 cars convoying I guess, during one of the days of "jalan-jalan raya" but got the shot of the dusk from the side mirror instead xD

A Picture A Week: Week 38

While I'm at home with internet connection~

Another err.... attempt at micro shot? Not close enough but it'll do since I didn't have the correct lens ^^;

A Picture A Week: Week 37 (and quick update)

// siblings meeting @ one of the kopitiams near our house; Eid 2010

Since the five of us are scattered around, in and outside Malaysia, we thought we might just continue with this when we can get together, at least once a year...

Quick update:

- Internet hasn't been most cooperative nowadays, reported to TM, most probably cable problem; they're going to send someone to have a look sometime next week

- Orthopaedics Week 2: We drew lot, I'll have my assessment next week T_T

- "Jalan raya" will continue this week... Unfortunately the camera is 3 hours away so to those who wish for picture taking session, someone else have to be the photographers ^^;

- Read the translation lyrics for Dear Snow, love it! ♥
- Am loving NatsuNiji's OST too ♥

A Picture A Week: Week 36

This is one of the collection that I am planning to archive here. I'll bring the whole batch later on when I have more time to do the archiving properly.

// The Petronas Twin Tower, KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) at midnight

One of the night shot I experimented with... This was taken... I think some time 2 years ago...
I'd like to do this again to be honest, night shot in KLCC, next time, probably with the flash-light and tripod, so I don't have to lie down on the grass to take the shot =P
-

A Picture A Week: Week 34-35 [Reflection]

I was reading this (or rather, viewing it) a few weeks ago: 13 Fun Self Portrait Mirror Shots

And I only realized about this post today: My Camera and I Weekly Photography Challenge

When I was reading the first article above, I remember I had taken something similar along the theme in October last year:





But because I'm too shy to join the fun in the second link above, I'll just post it here.

I'm moving a huge collection of pictures from another place to here, for archiving purposes sometime in the future (which I've been procrastinating for... err... months?), so please excuse the picture spam ^^;;;;

♠♣♦♥♫

A Picture A Week: Week 33

Random picture. I like the bubbles. It's actually car air freshener; smell a bit like roses and pot pouri....
My sister doesn't like it tho =P

It's raining. Heavily.
Somehow...
There's pain in this heart
Sadness envelopes
Why?

A Picture A Week: Week 32

Running so behind with A Picture A Week (>.<) but I haven't been taking photos nowadays...
These are the two new pairs (right and left) that I bought recently... because my old pairs can't stand the long ward rounds and lots of walking.... poor feet were suffering... and I've decided to add some colours, instead of the same old black XP

*runs off to visit Tok Su in Kelana Jaya*

A Picture A Week: Week 31 (Food Outlet Rec)

//This is some fish (Dory?) with white sauce and believe it or not, banana fritter and jam (pineapple, or apple, I can't remember) Weird combo? Yeah, tell me about it. BUT! It tasted really yum~! Everything fit perfectly, even the banana and jam. Seriously. I can't remember the name of the dish but... err... I guess you can read the menu and the description? =P

And so you'll ask where was this taken? Picture below will answer your question: 

Location? Prangin Mall, Penang. I'm sorry that I don't know any other branch/outlet other than this one...

The other food was good but my recommendation still goes for this specific fish ^^

On the other note, I'm starting Paediatrics tomorrow~

Oh, and before I forgot, to all Muslim, Ramadhan Kareem~ May this blessed month brings a lot of goodness and rahmah. May it be a month for us to reflect and better ourselves, insyaAllah...

A Picture A Week: Week 29 & 30

// During Le Tour de Kedah 2 (Sunathon) @ the house where we gather before departing to Penang

// After Le Tour de Kedah 2- Dessert @ Bayou, Alamanda. Initially we wanted to order the chocolate lava cake but apparently the cake isn't there in the menu anymore but there's the mudcake (picture above)

On the other note, I read in fb that a friend is posted in Sarawak. All the best, there!

And on the different side of another note, I received an email saying that my copy of 僕の見ている風景 has been shipped today =D *waits patiently*