My 35 : 30 Minutes from Miri to Mulu

"Follow your heart, but be patience for a while first. Ask questions, then feel the answer. Learn to trust your heart."

From left : Miri Airport; Mulu Airport

090309 0500H - Get up early morning for Fajr prayer and what else, to prepare as soon as possible since we need to check-in at least 30 minutes before the departure time : 0920H. We straight away when to Miri Airport after Checking out from the Telang Usan Hotel, Miri and a quick nasi lemak + Nescafe tarik for the breakfast.

090309 0845 - Arrived at the airport. We manage to be there before the departure time. There were a lot of people wearing jump-suit checked-in with the airlines. MASWings, a subsidiary airlines under Malaysian Airlines provide rural air services (RAS) to the most part of Sabah and Sarawak especially the interior part. Flying Asian Xpress unable to handle it since the airline company not a GLC and they claimed they unable to make profit with these route. It's true since these route not a commercial route but more on community service for the interiors. Guess we need to thank the government that provide the facilities to the people.

From left : Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik - two of Malaysian heritage foods for the breakfast; s**t, it still delayed.

090309 0920 - It announced that our flight delayed for several more minutes due to the bad weather. Yes, March is a monsoon period where the North-East Wind blew from the Northern Hemisphere to the South carries clouds and humidity. I prayed that it is a safe journey and we able to reached there without much problem.

090309 0950 - Finally they've called for the passengers to board the plane. It still rained outside but not too heavy. My heart really beats fast as soon that I realized we actually boarding a Fokker 50, small planes that can accommodate 50 passengers. Gosh - it will be a bumpy ride through the clouds.

090309 1030 - Yes I was right about the ride. It really like riding a roller-coaster where you go up and down (I just exaggerate it!) through the clouds. But alas, we reach Mulu Airport in one-piece. Alhamdulillah. But in my mind, I'm still thinking that we will experience it again on our way back to Miri. God - please help me!

From left : Group photo at the airport; the airport is so not busy - this one of the kind airport you can take picture by the plane, the others will chase you away!

From left : no proper baggage collecting system as you need to collect your bag from the counter - but still I like the way they handle our baggage; see - I told you they just pull it to you!

Still early to say anything, but I'm sure Mulu is worth to visit.

Prologue - Months Before Mulu & Kinabalu

"On the pinnacle of success, man does not stand firm long enough."

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832); German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist.

GUNUNG MULU NATIONAL PARK,
MULU, SARAWAK

I had a call early of January this year from a friend. She's been telling that a few of my colleague from Sandakan, Sabah had planned a road trip from Sandakan to Mulu. What a journey! So, I didn't hesitate to join them, even I will departed from KL directly to Miri. There's goes half of the journey's fun. Really, a road trip from Sandakan(Sabah) - Ranau(Sabah) - Kota Kinabalu(Sabah) - Beaufort(Sabah) - Sipitang(Sabah) - Lawas(Sarawak) - Labu(Brunei) - Bangar(Brunei) - Bukok(Brunei) - Limbang(Sarawak) - Brunei - Miri Sarawak) : it's adventurous and, and, and; can't really described it. I've calculated, it required 7-8 checkpoints as it involved 3 different countries / states that have their own immigration.

Since I'm the only one from KL, across the South China Sea - I just flew there with airline. I waited them in Miri 2 days after the departed from Sandakan. A journey of 2 hours + that covered hundred miles compared to 2-days trip by land from Sandakan to Miri. I've cheated the geographical location. Hahaha.

Well Mulu is worth to visit. It's the earliest place that have been recognized as the World Heritage Site in Malaysia together with Kinabalu National Park in 2000. The place is well-known by the outsiders but not well promoted enough among Malaysian especially in Peninsular. It's like the jewel of Sarawak, rich with it biodiversity of flora and fauna and many more.

So, why should I miss the trip? I just prepared myself with nearly everyday jogging and work-out in gym for 2 months. Wanna make sure I'm fit enough to conquer both National Park. Really, it's crazy but yet excited.

From left : (standing) - Azi (As's younger sister), As, Hana, Haqul, Anuar, (sitting) - Me, Kay and Aslam

Take 5 - Lazy + Full Moon

"Versprechen sind wie der Mond langweiling, wenn sie nicht halten, wenn sie von Tag zu Tag verringern."
"Promises are like the full moon, if they are not kept at once they diminish day by day."
- German proverb.

It's quite sometime I haven't updated my blog. Not that no interesting tales to tell - my journey to Mulu and Kinabalu in March were worth to be shared; but I'm too lazy to post the story. What happening!!!!

My bet is because of the full moon - yes Fuaz, blame it to others for your own mistake. But really I've read somewhere in the articles, mention that some theory suggesting that there is correlation between specific stages of the Earth's lunar cycle and deviant behavior in human beings. There's a lot of scientific study done involving this area such as a study concluded that schizophrenic patients show signs of deterioration, in terms of quality of life and mental well-being, during the time of a full moon. However most of these studies based on a small-scale research and some did contained at least one statistical error. I hate the statistician that make this wonderful or magical phenomena unrealistic.

BTW, still I've experienced it and some do experience it. Even though it's only a Evidence-Based Level V or E (I think so, since 3rd party experience doesn't really count as evidence) - the experience is there. So as what Agent Fox Mulder said - "This whole phenomena is a mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in a government agenda." ; but at least our government doesn't involved in this. Hahaha

Recap : March 2009

With 31 days in the month of March passed us, here are some recaps.

1. Earth Hour 2009The event started in Sydney 2 years ago has gathered 88 nations and 4,000 cities all over the world this year with raise awareness towards the need to take action on climate change. Finally, we do agree on the same issue and it takes not one but all to tackle the global warming.

KL during Earth Hour 2009 - not much different yeah!

2. Rasuah vs Politik Wang
Well the controversies doesn't end - yet. Even with the recent election and probably the best ever line-up, UMNO still struggling to clear up it image from this problem.

3. Thanks Pak Lah and Welcome Najib

It already confirmed, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi retired it post as President of UMNO and possible Prime Minister of Malaysia with his replacement, none other the son of second Prime Minister of Malaysia - Dato Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak. Well he shouldn't worry about his legacy as his son-in-law - Mr Khairy Jamaluddin win the post as 'Ketua Pemuda', and maybe as the next Prime Minister-to-be. It seems like the previous Malay sultanate where the head of state runs by certain family.

4. The Battles Begin

After a 'successful' AGM with the new line-up, UMNO enter the battles of 2-hills and 1-river facing Pakatan Rakyat (People's Pact) and other Independence. All three are significance battles with Bukit Selambau showed first time in history 15 candidates eyeing for the ADUN post. Bukit Gantang surely a referendum for Perakian towards BN's back-door government and Batang Ai will give a signal whether PKR's presence in Sarawak is acceptable and able to form the next new state-government in less than 2 years time.

My 34 : Kota Marudu (Ep 2) - More Pictures

Scenic paddy-field in Kota Marudu

From left : Kampung Ulu Kukut - located in Kota Belud but most vehicles that plan to go to Kudat division including Kota Marudu and Pitas will through this rough road; examples of the road - most of the time if I travelled to Kota Kinabalu, I need to fix my car's absorber

From left : the weekly 'tamu' in Kota Marudu; it will be flooded once in 4-5 months, so bad that sometimes patient unable to come to hospital

From left : the 'Carrefour / Tesco' of Kota Marudu - More Chance; the only mosque in Kota Marudu

From left : it's quite far from the town itself; my rented house in Kota Marudu - the main problem is water!, every house in Kota Marudu will require extra water-tank

From left : the hospital main building - small yet one of the busiest district hospital in Sabah; two 'mascots' in Kota Marudu - posisang and corn, we even have Annual Corn Fest with Queen of Corn elected among the local girls ;p

Sloppy road to Kota Marudu

My 33 : Kota Marudu (Ep 1) - Good Memories Remained

“Memory is a way of holding on to the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose."
- Kevin Arnold

I wouldn't say that my stay too long, but I did enjoy Sabah. Even with less than 2 years a lot happened compare to my stay in Kuala Lumpur for my whole life. Sabah provides a lot of excitement, bet it either city or village, modern or traditional, concrete or jungle and many more.

In term of my practice, here I learned a lot compare to my Peninsular colleague. Here you can perform most of the surgical procedures, manage patients with limited facilities, learn without much pressure from your superior but more on the cases you see and plus, plus, plus. I do really miss Sabah, and I won't regret to be in Sabah - thanks to MOH that put me there. But I do regret I have to come back early nevertheless I do hope I can be back there as a specialist.

So here some of my memoirs about Kota Marudu, a lonely district in Kudat division - fame for Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili (the MP), corn and posisang! What? Posisang - yes a tiny smelly beetles that came-out during full-moon. They can turned white pole - to back pole.

From left : Hospital Kota Marudu or locally known as Hospital Lotong; hey - that's me!

From left : my room; with my dedicated director - Dr Zayrod, really adore his passion and hardworking. Best teacher and collegue.

My last surgical procedure - BTL. Here I learned a lot - LSCS, appendectomy, BTL, etc.

Below here are pictures with most of the staff, quite a small hospital with huge commitment. They are all my friends, teachers, mentor and everything. Miss all of you a lot!

Flag of Sabah

Mount Kinabalu - viewed from Kota Belud, I think this is the view they've taken for the flag of Sabah