A Taste of Indo-China I

Well, the taste is all about Vietnam, specifically Ho Chi Minh.

Oct 18th 2013
The early morning flight to HCM was on time. A very good news for Air Asia flights nowadays. kau, begitu teruk reputasi AA kan...
7 AM flight Malaysian Time + 2 hours journey = 8AM arrival at HCM. 1 hour difference since HCM is on GMT7+ compared to GMT+8 for Malaysia.
So basically, kalau kat HCM pukul 8 pagi, kat Malaysia actually dah 9 pagi. faham?
Kat airport, kari ayam dalam tin kami kena rampas..hukhukhuk..sedeyyy...nasibla serunding, roti, sambal semua ada...

Tu diaaa....muka kami.
comel jugak muka pagi kami kan..hahahah

So, sampai2 harusla naik cari cab kan?
sambil2 Tini mencari cab, i managed to check the exchange rate kat sana.
halamak....rugi woooo tukar kat Malaysia. Tukar kat airport HCM cukup.sanggup akak tukar USD100 ku ke DONG youuuuuu....(wait until the best part pasal currency neh.)
Cab punya fare dalam USD15 for 3 pax. hmmmmm....rasanya mahal neh. tapi takpela..

busynye jalan kat HCM neh

then, naikla cab ke hotel kami Thien Xuan Hotel. Kata Tini, hotel neh dalam RM150/night/room of 1 single bed+deluxe queen bed. Superior room neh mmg sesuai untuk 3 pax la.
Acceptable la tuh. cuma jangan harap ada window sebab bilik kami takde window kaedahnya..
akak jugak panjat toilet nak tengok dunia luar kat tingkap kechik tuh haaa..
and oh, coffee set takde. flask tuh kena refill kat Lobby hokkkaaayyyyyy...
dengar2 setiap hotel kat HCM neh ada bathtub.

sementara menunggu bilik available, kami pilah jalan2 dulu. Dah nampak pasar Ben Thanh tapi kami menonong jalan ikut kaki. pusing punya pusing sampai kat jalan yang ada kedai Hajah Basiroh, Saigon Pink2, Hai Long Hotel 2, kedai 1m, etc etc. sebelah pasar jugak....

kedai makan 1 Malaysia

Nehla hotel yang glamer tuh.

Kat area neh memang ramai orang Malaysia/Indo/Brunei.

sebab tuh rata2 penjual kat sini, tak banyak, sikit boleh cakap melayu.

Macam kat Pasar Ben Thanh, ada aunty jual kopi.

bila tanya kopi Trung Nguyen 3 in 1 - how much?

dia jawab "lapan ringgit".

haaaaaa.....

Neh lagi satu nama yang agak bersepah dalam forum2 tempatan.

Neh gambar kedai makan dia opposite kedai kain dia jugak.

Nehla interior kedai Hajah Basiroh.

Tak Meroyan ko tengok baju2, kain2, ...semualah..

budak pompuan yang jaga kedai tuh pun pandai cakap melayu.

quote rege pun dalam hengget malaysia je.

so, kesimpulannya? sila la bawak dan bayar dengan RM.

sebab kalau kau bayar dengan DONG, dia akan bulatkan je. so kita maybe rugi RM3-4 ringgit.

nehla part yang best pasal currency..hahahahha

kalau kat kedai2 kain, semua quote RM. so buat apa ko tukar duit berjuta2 DONG ber USD bagai?

oh..maybe perlula kot sikit..untuk makan (DONG), shopping kat Russian Market (USD+DONG), peniaga kecil (DONG).

Neh kopi tepi jalan je.

Kata Haji Karim (alaaa..tokey kedai baju tuh), dia kata ambik yang kotak merah dan pakai kopiah.

err...kami dah minum yang jual dengan kotak kuning...waaaaaaa.

acaner tuh?

takpela..insyaallah, halal.

Kopi ais yang amat sedap neh rege dia 20,000VND.

wah...macam beli keheta plak..

dalam RM? alaaa...RM3.60 je...

so lepas tapau nasi kat kedai Hajah Basiroh (lauk ikan goreng, sayur, nasi - 60,000VND = RM10!!!), kami naik bilik hotel. nak makan dengan sambal kering yang Tini bawak...

thanks Tini. sedap sambal tuh. rasa nak order 10kg/...heheheh

Lepas makan memang lepak la atas katil yang gebu tuh kan.

waktu solat plak mmg lain sangat.

Zohor kol 11 pagi waktu vietnam dah masuk dah.

Asar jam 3 petang.

So, lepas semua2 tuh, kami turunlah jalan2.

ingatkan pasar malam start awal. katanya lepas maghrib.

rupanya waktu maghrib Malaysia.

adoiiyaaiiiii

Nasibla Haji Karim kedai kain tuh bagi tau.

Ben Thanh market at night

so, untuk tidak membuang masa, kami pun pegi la makan kat Serai.

hargaboleh tahan la..tapi kat sini boleh makan Pho halal.

apa tuh? gugel la..

lagipun, Put belanja makan sempena birthday aku dan anniversary Tini.

wah! akak birthday dinner kat obersi kau...

ahhahahah...

owner SERAI HCM

so overall, hari pertama dah shopping la. best gak sampai awal2 neh.

apa yang bole beli?

Kain cotton, baju kurung pahang kain cotton, satin-cotton, viscose cotton, telekung lycra, baju2 moden, baju kanak2, macam2 lagi.

tinggal harga apa ko dapat, apa yang ko tawar.

contohnya, kat Pasar Malam, baju kurung murah RM5 dari dalam kedai.

tapi tengok jugakla design dan kualiti sulaman, beads bagai.

secara general, akak lagi suka corak sulaman dan beads kat kedai Hajah Basiroh dr Kedai Haji Karim dan Rohani atau even kat butik Hong Anh.

tapi kat kedai Rohani banyak saiz available dan kain ela cotton 4m bidang 45.

Kat kedai Haji Karim plak cuma ada kain cotton 3.5m bidang 60.

memang trip neh akak tak sempat le nak ke tunnel, mekong bagai.

mmg nak riki2 HCM je kaedahnya.

insyaallah, nak berniaga sikit2.

oklah,....day 2 sambung nanti ye.

akak dah ngantuk haaaa.....

Kenali CP. Sayangi Kami.

hari ini Oya tak mau ke sekolah lagi seperti biasa di SCASFT, PJ.
bila ditanya kenapa, dia hanya menggeleng.

tapi dalam masa yang sama setiap pagi Oya merenung ke arah SKKL yang hanya bersebelahan dgn rumah.

Bila melihat kanak2 lain berbaris setiap pagi dengan kawan2, berbaju sekolah, aku tahu dia amat teringin. Hampir setiap pagi juga Oya akan berkata " nak ikut".

Teringin untuk berjalan ke sekolah. atau mungkin jugak sambil dipimpin oleh abangnya.

Hati ibu mana yang tidak terguris melihat situasi ini hampir setiap pagi sebelum ke tempat kerja.

Bayangkan permulaan hari kami dengan nada sedih, tapi kami masih harus menjadi produktif?

Berilah peluang anak2 CP ke sekolah.
Kenali CP. Sayangi Kami.

ps Tuhan tolong lembutkan hati dia.

Tragedi Oktober betul la

Everything, everyone in ma house was early today.
Cepat bangun, cepat siap, cepat keluar.
by 7am, i was already memusing2 steering wheel untuk menghantar Oya ke PJ- Scasft
And i was thinking "hey, this is early. let'd do Federal Highway . Forget NPE today". of course la mak berfikir dalam bahasa melayu kan. ini propa je.
10 minit jugak la tunggu depan Kurnia building tuh.Not bad.
And it was my turn to jalan and bila sampai traffic light, Polis Trafik angkat tangan sambil tiup wisel suruh berhenti.

"dem, aku lambat sikit je".

ok, fine. sambil tersengih2 kat Polis tuh aku pun berhenti.
tiba2.."daaammmm"..Omaigod..omaigod omaigod..

ok. bukan ahkak yang kena langgar. kereta belakang.
tapi kenapa bole kena langgar? adakah kereta itu emergency brek?
adakah motor itu terbabas?
adakah aku penyebab semua itu memandangkan aku kat depan?

tak kot. sebab Polis tuh tak approach aku pun. 
dan aku berhenti sebab dia suruh.

good luck kepada owner kereta dan motor itu. pandai2lah setelkan.tamo gaduh2.

As for me, let's just do NPE. takde jodoh dengan Federal Highway kot.sheeerrrraaammmmnye...

oh by the way, baru-baru ini ada isu berkenaan nak melayukan etnik2 di Sabah.

Helooooowwwwwwwww.....Islam tetap Islam tak kira apa bangsa kot.
Abis tuh, orang Swaziland ko tak nak melayukan pulak?

Ko cukup jaga sensitiviti dengan bangsa lain, tapi dengan etnik2 kat Sabah Sarawak ko tak nak jaga sensitiviti pulak?

Ko jangan suruh aku keluar dari Malaysia kalau tak suka.
This is my country and we will all fight for what's right.
Lagipun tak bestla kalau semua sehaluan. takde drama ..i love drama!

Tapi appehal pun, aku tetap anak Dusun. and oh anak Bajau as well. or was it Ubian?
tapi yang pasti, aku anak Sabah.

Morning Ride

Ride la sangat kan.

pagi2 lagi aku dah kacau bapak aku minta bawa ke Bunsit. apa itu Bunsit?

neh dia..

local recreation area..the one that is closest to my kampung.

But sadly, not really being taken care of.

Kalau musim hujan, confirm berlopak sana sini.

sekitar area Bunsit. memandangkan hari neh hari isnin, Ramadhan plak tuh, harusla kot kedai2 tutup.

takde kot orang datang secara berjemaah untuk piknik2 hari kerja.

Di kawasan sekitar aku tengok ada kolam memancing (assumed je neh) and construction across the river. maybe nak buat jambatan kot

 

I've seen the herd on my way to Bunsit.

sekali, depa sampai daaaa....aku takut lembu yang bertanduk deeerrrr...

rupanya they come here for grass grazing and minum.

lembu2 sapalah neh agaknya.

neh agak2 boleh rafting tak neh?

hmmm....tubing je la kot sesuai..

Bila on the way balik, lalu lah Kampung Tuntumulod. We decided to take the internal road to Kmapung Tanah Merah via Jaya Baru.

eh Jaya Baru? aku skeolah situ kot masa standard one. Pastuh masa darjah dua aku pindah le ke SK Luagan

so, hari neh, tuh je la aku buat untuk so-called morning -ride kan...

esok nak buat apa?

kalau jadik, nanti aku citer.^_*

Childhood memories..tinggal memori je..

Yes..everything i used to know are no longer there.

Me and my siblings used to mintolop or berendam here.

Now, what's left is a very small stream in danger of becoming a parit T_T

In my year 3 or 4, i used to stay here.

Now, not even the sulap or small house is left.

When i was std 1 or 2, we used to stay here.

Now, there's not even a sign of inhabitants around.

With all the bushes, who would anyway.

so, everything will go away one day.

Whether we like it or not, we just need to hang on to the memories left.

Post from beyond

beyond the south china sea, i  mean. not..the grave!

In points, here's the review of my week:-
1. so, last week, i've decided to just go back to Sabah for some break.
2. Me and Oya took Malindo Air. superb. Got screen attached to the back of the headrest.
3. I've not decided the exact date to fly back to PM though.
4. Oh...i went to Tamu twice including today, and my new discoveries are:-

Local fish-babies (hehe) from local river supposedly.
1 look i was "ewwwwww-ing" already but to m shock, my mom bought it.
okay. i'm sure gotta be careful about dinner tonight.

Green collagen.
or rumpai laut.
or seaweed.
Supposedly the best around AAAA.
me selling to friends at RM10 per 100gram.
Limited stock.

Linopot gu'ol or nasi ditumbuk sampai lembik campur dengan ubi manis.
sayuran local aka tuhau, cendawan comel+daun bawang+ikan bilis+misc.
superb meal!!

5. Bazaar Ramadhan Kg Tudan Baru. Gonna look for something else today.
6. i spent most of my time watching TV, laying around, FB-ing, candy crush-ing. i think by the time i go back to work, i'll be at level 100++.

okaaaayyyyyyy.....as per no 6, i have nothing much to do. so nothing much to update as well.
so, later!!

perluke? Pantang? Abstinence...alaaaaaaa

As if mcm aku tak kena pantang makan even without this operation kan?

so, kalau ikut budaya melayu, memang banyak pantang larang nye cik kak...lagi2 kalau pantang bersalin.hambek ko...so, macam aku, orang Dusun + bajau neh, applicable jugak la kan..lagi2 mak aku ...perghhhh....2 minggu jangan mimpi nak mandi la beb...lepas 2 minggu pun mandi air herba okay...

tp time besalin aku memang jaga sikit.
sebab yang first one aku sikit lagi masuk hangin kau...so yg no 2, akak careful la kan..
yang no 3, tak payah pantang. sebab kucing aku yang beranak..bukak ah-kak...okayyyyy..

so, hari neh, aku carik2 la kat web apa yang kita patut pantang makan..kalau applicable untuk beranak, kira applicable jugak la untuk yang berpantang sebab potong bedah sana-sini kan..

eh..kenapa tiba2 ahkak berminat pasal pantang?
sebab ahkak teringin nak makan ikan sardin dalam tin tuh haaa...
tapi pesakit cancer tak digalakkan makan mende2 dah proses neh..alaaa..mecik!

so, tengokla kat bawah neh ha...banyak kan? folo, jangan tak folo!

MAKANAN                                     BOLEH                                  TIDAK BOLEH

AYAM & DAGING

Burung puyuh Burung merpati ayam hitam ayam didik ayam selasih ayam kampung daging batang pinang

Ayam biasa (takut gatal)

IKAN Penting: Ikan berbisa jika dimakan oleh ibu-ibu dalam pantang boleh menyebabkan turun darah dan bentan Ikan haruan menyembuhkan luka. Ikan yu membanyakkan susu ibu	Ikan haruan Ikan yu Ikan selar Ikan gelama Ikan jenahak Ikan merah Ikan tenggiri Ikan kurau Ikan bawal putih Ikan senangin Ikan bilis	Ikan kering Ikan masin Ikan keli Ikan bawal hitam Ikan terubuk Ikan duri Ikan pari Ikan sembilang Ikan parang ikan kembung Ikan tamban Ikan cencaru Ikan tongkol makanan laut udang sotong kerang
ULAM ULAMAN Ulam-ulaman ini mengandungi fiber, zat galian (mineral) dan pelbagai vitamin, termasuklah A, C dan E, bersifat anti oksidan. Jantung pisang membanyakkan susu ibu Ulam kunyit mengembalikan kecergasan badan dan menyembuhkan luka dalaman	halia Serai Lengkuas pucuk pegaga pucuk mengkudu pucuk ulam raja lempuyang jantung pisang rebus daun atau ubi cekur bunga kantan kunyit hidup daun lemuni hitam daun kaduk daun sekentut daun kesum daun cemumar daun pudina daun kari daun bebuas daun ruku
SAYUR-SAYURAN / Penting: Mengambil sayur-sayuran  menjalar, sejuk serta beranginboleh menyebabkan ibu-ibu kembung dan sakit-sakit badan. Lobak putih dan peria membanyakkan susu ibu Peria memudahkan buang air besar, membantu membersih dan melancarkan peredaran darah dalam tubuh.	Ubi kentang Peria Sawi Lobak merah Lobak putih	Ubi kayu Kangkung Petola Terung Cili Timun Tomato Brokoli Kubis Seledri Terung Timun sayur keladi pucuk ubi pucuk paku bayam sayur atau daun keti (bunga putih) kacang panjang kacang botol labu rebung jeruk maman petai jering
BUAH-BUAHAN Penting: Makanan tersebut dilarang kerana dapat mengakibatkan sakit tulang dan sejuk otot serta lemah sendi. Penyakit-penyakit tersebut diketahui telah banyak berleluasa di barat dan dikenali sebagai artritis dan rheumatisme.	Buah anggur Kurma Oren Epal merah Strawberi Peach Prune Kismis Longan cina	Nenas Limau buah lai tembikai susu tembikai merah tembikai cina epal hijau kiwi buah pear pisang jambu belimbing durian belanda mangga betik ciku langsat nangka cempedak pisang masak hijau pisang nangka pisang embun pisang udang ubi kayu ubi keladi sengkuang manggis macang kuinin binjai
LAIN-LAIN MAKANAN Asam jawa membantu membuang air besar selain dari menyegarkan tubuh badan	Biskut Roti Nestum Quaker Oat Cornflakes Masakan panggang Masakan rebus Masakan kukus Masakan bakar Masakan salai Asam jawa Asam keping	Tempe Burger Nugget Sosej Bihun Mee Kuey teow Laksa Telur Semua jenis ubi Semua jenis makanan laut Masakan berminyak boleh tetapi sedikit/jarang-jarang
AIR Penting: Ibu-ibu tidak boleh minum minuman sejuk, tajam dan jus daripada buah-buahan yang dilarang Air kunyit mengecutkan rahim dan mencuci darah. Air rebusan pegaga ini membersihkan darah dalam tubuh ibu yang baru melahirkan anak. Manjakani berfungsi untuk mengering dan mengetatkan pangkal rahim. Air jus halia kurma boleh membuang angin dalam badan dan menambah tenaga. Air madu memanaskan badan.	air suam air pati kunyit jus pegaga air halia air kopi air manjakani  jus halia kurma air madu	air ais air sejuk air bergas air tebu air cincau air kelapa muda air jus buah-buahan yang dilarang

SOURCE: http://damyakaudihatiku.blogspot.com/2012/06/jadual-makanan-yang-boleh-dimakan-tidak.html

A date with Dr Ng

A date?
Several dates, to be exact.
well, those were actually appointment with my surgeon, Dr Ng Char Hong. some said he is among the best in his field. one of the best Breast surgeon? general surgeon? as fas as i am concerned he is my cute surgeon. (lalalalalalalala).

My last chemo was in early June and a week after, it was decided, mastectomy it is.
I kinda just go with the flow. I didn't look further than what alternative treatments i have in hand, but i trust the decision taken was in the best interest of my family especially Oya.

Yes, i kinda feel i don't have much time if i don't act fast.

So on June 25th 2013, i had the operation done.

Oh yes, i was anxious. Who wouldn't. It's kinda a major op for me (apart from c-sect) and also the thought of losing my right breast is...was....surprisingly didn't really bother me at all.

Oh yes, i was more afraid of the pain after the drug was gone than losing my breast.
I was kinda hoping that i'd have similar sensation as my 1st and 2nd c-section. I didn't feel much pain during those 2. Only those "pedih2, perit2" at the end of the stitches.

So, i  was warded for 2 nights at UMSC. ....UMSC you'd say? yes, it's the private wing of UMMC @ PPUM @ UH. Many are not aware but the main building is located between MAHSA College and entrance to UM. But the ward is located at Menara Timur UH, Level 10.

on the 2nd day, my blood pressure dipped till 75/44 from 90ish/50ish. so i guess naturally i do have a low BP but at this reading? hence, the doc ordered 2 bags of blood 0+ for me..yummeh (ewww)..

I was discharged with 2 tubes attached to me for drainage. hence today, i had a follow-up to remove tube for Bottle B and dang it was painful !!!! i know it was only for 10 seconds but it was like having a knife cutting through your finger.

Bottle A is another story. When it was attached to me, the nurse forgot to remove the lock function and there was no fluid in the bottle. so i went to UMSC today with high hopes of getting both removed.
unfortunately, the good doctor unlocked the bottle and a gush of 30ml blood+liquid poured in.
so, in 24hrs, if the level is less than 30ml on top of today's measurement, i could have it removed by monday.

But i guess i won't be able to buy my ticket back to Sabah (for a well-deserved rest) yet since at 6.41pm today, the measurement is already at 100ml (additional 40ml). oh no..:-(

in case you're wondering:-

Frequently, a drainage tube is inserted during surgery in their chest and attached to a small suction device to remove subcutaneous fluid. These are usually removed several days after surgery as drainage decrease to less than 20-30 ml per day

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastectomy

 sub·cu·ta·ne·ous  (sbky-tn-s)

adj.

Located or placed just beneath the skin: subcutaneous tissue; a subcutaneous implant.

---

subcu·tane·ous·ly adv.

source: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/subcutaneous

but i guess all is just gonna be ok. hopefully the liquid+blood will dry up soon.

WARNING!!!! Kalau cepat rasa geli or gross, sila la tengok ye...hahahah....

Cycle# 5 & 6 - Chemo & Post Chemo

Oh..it's been so long..told ya i'm not a blogger tegar....
well, Alhamdulillah. The last chemo (i'm crossing my finger) is over.
The result from the 5th one..well, was not so encouraging. The tumour size remains unchanged at 5cm.
But hey, it must really love my breast kan...wakakakak...
This last round..i feel the effect for about 1 week. Even as i was typing this, i still feel the heavy-chested feeling and my metal-mouthed has just started to reduce. phewwww.....

but, i've decided to do a right breast mastectomy. say what? yes my dear. I'm gonna remove the whole right breast and the chirpy surgeon announced happily that he ill also remove the lymph nodes. All this while he was looking at my breast wondering what size is my bra,. hahah...ok ok. he just had to do it. maybe he thought i was gonna do recon.

Recon is reconstruction of the breast. It's cosmetic procedure and you need doctor to actually lie for your insurance to pay for it.
so, i guess i'm not gonna do it. I'll just buy the bra that can give the same effect.

The surgery is gonna be on June 27th and reading on post-op care, well, do scare me a little.
Can i move my right hand? yes but not heavy lifting. means no dukung2 Oya for a month or so.
and oh,while the drainage tube is gonna be attached to me, i can't drive for min 2 weeks from what i read.
Thank god a friend has offered chauffeuring me to and fro office when i need to.
Thank god my boss has also offfered work-from-home thingy,.

Let's just see what happen then. Insyaallah, everything is gonna be just fine. Allah kan ada :-)

For those who wonder how much chemotheraphy costs, well here it is.
Hospital: PPUM/UMMC
Non-gov staff so has to pay on my own.

Pre-chemo (a day before chemo) - 3 weeks from the last chemo:
Take blood for test (immunity). Chemo will need to be postponed if my Blood count was not sufficient. (Luckily, mine was ok. all 6)
Review appointment with Oncologists to check on my condition.
Measure the tumour.
Get MC and prescription.
Go get anti-vomitting medicine.
Cost:
Oncologist & Blood test: RM67.00
Medicine: RM5 (From kaunter ubat biasa) and RM27 for 1pc of Kytril (from PharmUMMC-Farmasi).
Total: RM99.

Chemo day (if blood test ok. No news means good news):
Chemo which lasted about 2 hours.
Cost: about RM30

Total per chemo: RM129.00 excluding other expenses and extra medicine from pharmacy (if any).

But company got insurance kan? so claim la.
It's covered under Daycare and fee deducted from Hospitalisation fund (not the Clinic care fund).

haaaaa.....costly kan. betul la. preventive is better than cure.

My OP pun kalau buat kat PPUM is gonna cost around RM3000.00.
But i have decided to do it in UMSC(Private wing of PPUM). It gonna cost around RM12000.00.

kalau bayar sendiri...pergh....meroyan.

tapi takpela. betulkan nawaitu.
Kerana Allah SWT. Insyaallah, everything is gonna be just fine :-).

Cycle# 3 & 4 - Chemo & Post Chemo

Chemo is a terrible experience one can go through.

No matter how positive you are, there's the undesirable effects that can bring us to the lowest point of our life.

Nope. I have no problem with being bald or having darkened nails.

It's the not-feeling-so-good feeling, bodyache, metal-mouthed, angin dalam perut, morning-sickness that had me complaining.

This time around i had less metal-mouthed feeling but morning-sickness feeling was seriously terrible.
Now i know why people escapes from chemo treatment. I constantly have angin in my tummy and i need to snack very2 frequently to combat the nausea thingy as well as the angin.

My left arm is also achy since the drug went in thru this arm. so, it's completely normal for the said arm to ache even to the point that the veins actually gets darkened and surfaces. What i do? i just tuam tuala panas to reduce the pain looooo....

Tapi hidup kena teruskan. after a week usually i'll feel better and pening2 pun dah kurang.

Again, thanks for all the support dearies. I have two more to go.

and oh yes, initially the size of the tumour was 12x12cm. after the 3rd chemo, it has reduced to 7x6cm. alhamdulillah. what more can i ask for?