The Arab Nation is cursed!

Well..the Chinese prophecy believes that the Rabbit year of 2011 may not be a great and prosperous year! They may be right as with the ushering of the Chinese New Year in early February, we have seen enough of chaos and uncertainty befallen on many of the Arab Nation, especially those in the North Africa region.The whole Arab world seems to be in a mess! One by one..the Arab big guns have fallen in the most disgraceful manner! First casualty was the Tunisian President Ben Ali, followed by the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.The next most likely to be gunned down will be Gaddafi, the most unpopular Libyan President, who may be tried in International Criminal Court for the aggression against his own people! The Gulf countries like Bahrain, Yemen and Iran are also facing internal dissent and their leaders may not survive the worsening crisis in their own backyards! 

The US will be overjoy to see Gaddafi goes, but it is also the last thing they want to see that the oil price billowing up to the extent that could spark inflation worldwide! The whole world is watching and I believe the US will intervene,and may also consider pre-emptive military strike on Gaddafi's regime should their own interest at the oil-rich Arab nation are breached! Now that the oil price has shot up from USD 3 to USD 100 per barrel and the Wall Street have also slumped ,the US are flexing their muscles by sending warships to the Mediterranean Sea.Not long will we see the end of Gaddafi's era! These are leaders who are crazy of power, and who have overstayed by clinging on to power! Their own people are already getting sick of them and that is why they are so emotional in mounting a great revolution that never waver in momentum!
Bang-bang-bang..one by one was hit. Mubarak was lucky,unlike Ben Ali who was arrested while trying to flee Tunisia!

The world will suffer if the escalation of tension in the Arab Nation is not stopped! Imagine what will happen if the effect of high oil prices start to hit other countries! The economy will be severely affected and this will be made worse if the supply of oil does not meet the demand! The heavy industries, transport ,logistics and flights will come to a standstill! Inflation will affect not only poor countries,but also the rich countries! Prices will go up sharply and everyone will be digging deep into their pockets to make a living! The poor will become poorer! The world economy will collapse to the degree that is hard to recover!
The world is still very much dependent on oil for production,manufacturing and to run the industry. Not only that, traveling by car, bus and even flight will be very costly. A flight ticket may cost several times higher than the original fare. Airport tax will also go up and all the low-cost carrier will no longer be consider as a cheaper alternative! Sigh..traveling will be expensive and the whole world perspective will be changed in a fleeting second!
Alas..Only if Aladdin is still exist..and come to the rescue with its magic lamp and cast a spell on this never-ending madness that the fate of the Arab Nation can be salvaged! Not even the big brother US could help to break this curse!

Crossing the finish line!

To finish a race is a great moment that I would always cherish,especially after a hard and challenging circuit! It is a feeling of overwhelming joy with a great sense of accomplishment!

Whenever you cross the finish line, you could feel like you have conquered yet another great race! You have pushed yourself to the limit, sweat it out and eventually, you feel like you are victorious! 

The first thing I would do when I reach the endpoint is to check out my finishing time..to see whether I have achieved better time. Alas.."I had missed by few minutes".."I could have done better.."those would be my thought if my time is slower than before. Usually, I would speed up my pace when approaching the finish line.
But it is important about how you run your race..the best is to start in a slower pace, then to increase your speed towards the midpoint and maintain the momentum if possible towards the end! Run at your own pace and at a speed which you feel most comfortable! Never overexert for you will become tired out easily! You need to conserve some energy for the last part of the race. If not.. you might not last till the end. Never run too slow too..try to work hard and be serious in your race! If not, you will feel lagging behind far faraway..and you might give up in the end! 

Try to set a target, like short term goal by aiming to run to a particular point. If you have decided that you will have to run for another two kilometers before you slow down your race, then keep running no matter what and do not slow down. If you have the desire and gut to set that short term goal, you have already shown that you are ready and no excuse if you could not achieve it! If you think it is too far a distance as a short term goal, try to set a distance which is achievable! If two kilometers is not your cake, then run one kilometer instead! As you run and completed every short term goal, you will be motivated to run faster!

You can try to mark another runner and keep up pace with him! If you could not catch up with him and has lost sight of him, do not be disheartened and mark another runner who is running around you to be your source of inspiration! If you can overtake him, then you know you are ahead of others! It really keeps you moving and running faster with confidence!

Well.. besides the finishing time, I have always looked forward to the finishing medal and certificate! Those are the little rewards for a runner and as great souvenirs for keepsake and as collection too! I personally have a collection of finishing medals too, which is nothing to shout about if I were to compare them with the prize money those professional runners are getting!
Nevertheless, I feel proud to be a runner who can continue to run and keep pushing myself to the limit!
So far..I have run in the following races..

2009
*KL Standard Chartered Marathon -5km (June)
*Putrajaya Night Run -5km (August)
*Singapore Standard Chartered Marathon -10km (Dec)

2010
*Energizer Night Race, Cyberjaya -10km (March)
*Subang Jaya Run -10km (June)
*KL Standard Chartered Marathon - 10km (June)
*Mizuno Wave Run, UPM -11km (Oct)
*KL Malakoff Run -12km (Dec)

I will be participating in upcoming Energizer Night Race ,which will be held this year at the Sepang Formula One circuit on 16th April 2011. Hopefully, it will be a great run!
I aim to run in at least 5 races in a year in my effort to keep myself running for many years to come!

Sports Merit Point

I have always believed one has to take good extra care after passing 30 years of age. It is because the health of a person will not be as good as before during the teenage and young adolescent age. If you do not pay much attention on your diet and rarely go for exercise..chances are you will feel less energetic,gets tired easily and eventually you may end up overweight, if not obese!
Sometimes you may not become fat and still able to maintain your body shape..but the aging process will set in fast and you may not realize that a few years down the line..you will look 10 years older than your age! You may feel your normal self, but out of a sudden you may develop hypertension and diabetes! And the worst scenario is a sudden onset of chest pain and cardiac arrest! And you will get a shock when your doctor tell you that you have Myocardial Infarction!!
When I reached 30 years old..I was feeling old and aging already! I could feel I was lazier, breathing heavier and feeling tired easily..I remember I could not focus better like I did before! And I also realized that I was beginning to lose interest in everything!
That was when I decided that I have to do something about it! I started off pushing myself to go for exercise about six years ago. I tried to go for jogging in the park and garden. Initially, I felt very hopeless as I could barely jog for 200 meters! But I kept motivating myself and pushing myself to the limit..setting goals by running short distance first, and then slowly attempting to run for longer distance!
Now I have no problem running 2.5 to 5 kilometers on a regular basis! Since the past few years, running has become my passion! It is no doubt my favourite pastime and whenever I have time after coming back from a hard day work in the evening, I will go out running! It has kind of become my routine too and I will plan it ahead so that I will keep myself running at least once every few days!
Since the year 2009, I have trained myself to be a serious runner! And I mean running against time! Though I must say I am not a professional runner and I could not run like those marathon runners, I have been feeling proud of myself by making an effort to participate in as many running events as possible! I would usually run in the 10 to 12 kilometers categories. I feel it is an accomplishment to be able to finish the race in about an hour mark! I have tried to do better and improve on my finishing time, hopefully in less than one hour! It is always a great feeling to be able to complete the race and cross the finishing line!
I have created a formula and exercise regime, which will keep me busy working out and doing regular exercise! So far, it is working out well and I have been hitting my target every year! I thought I should share with you on my success and hopefully you can get motivated do the same too! Well.. I have realized that setting new year resolution will not lead you to anywhere, but most importantly is to put in much effort and try to stick to your exercise regime.
My exercise regime is called " Sports Merit Point"
This is my own formula and I hope it can set as a model and inspire you to exercise!

Sports Merit Point (SMP)
Merit point will be accumulated in a year with total up of monthly points

1) Less than 30    = Poor
2) 30 to 60          = Fair
3) 60 to 90          = Good
4) 90 to 135        = Very good
5) 135 to 180      = Excellent
6) More than 180 = Praiseworthy

* Merit point (MP) will be categorised based on the following physical activities
* Running/ Jogging/ Swimming : 1.0 MP
* Gym/ Weight Training : 1.0 MP
* Racket Sports: 0.5 MP

Note: Running and jogging will get 1 point for every 2.5km

The huge caterpillar

This huge caterpillar on my car bonnet

Check out the small black pellet at one end of this caterpillar..it is actually her feces!

I am surprised to notice that one of the plant in my house garden is dying.. Most of the leaves in that plant are shrivelled and some of them appeared bitten! After taken a closer look all over that plant, I was shocked to see a huge caterpillar on one of the branch! It is no doubt the biggest caterpillar I have ever seen, which I thought would measure upto about 2.5 inches in length! I had tried to remove it from the branch, but found her anchored tightly and refused to be shuffled! I have no other way but to cut off the branch and discard it together with the stalk. I also noticed there were hundred of small black pellets scattered on the ground right below that plant. Those are actually the feacal excretion from the caterpillar! These feces are quite big and appeared disproportionate to the size of the caterpillar! I also observed something interesting when I saw the caterpillar excreting two feces within a span of five minutes! I am just wondering how long the caterpillar has been there living on that plant..and how fast a caterpillar can grow and metamorphosize into a butterfly..
I have tried to understand more about caterpillar by looking up the wikipedia, and I have found this information..
Caterpillars are the larval form of a member of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, with some species being insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered pests in agriculture. Many moth species are better known in their caterpillar stages because of the damage they cause to fruits and other agricultural produce.
Some caterpillars are fuzzy and hairy.. and they are most likely to cause itching of the hands if touched.(Caterpillar dermatits).
Have you heard of edible caterpillar? Well.. "Gonimbrasia belina" is a species of moth found in much of Southern Africa, whose large edible caterpillar, the mopani or mopane worm, is an important source of protein for millions of indigenous Southern Africans!

Avillion Admiral Cove. Port Dickson

Nice and cosy

Standing shower

King size bed

Well -lit and spacious

Great view from hotel room

Marina

Sunset

My sweetheart

At the poolside

Beautiful girl and the scenic view of the marina

It's me in the photo..feeling so peaceful!

Marina Clubhouse

I could still vividly remember about this trip to Port Dickson, which was made about two years ago. It is because I have had a good and lasting memory about this wonderful resort hotel –Avillion Admiral Cove which I am always looking forward to visit again!
Port Dickson ,a popular beach and holiday destination especially to those who live in KL(Kuala Lumpur) and Klang Valley. It is about one and a half hour drive from KL if you’re observing the speed limit of 110km/hour along the North –South Expressway and Seremban –Port Dickson Highway.

It was sometime in September 2008 when I decided to bring my girlfriend for a weekend escapade at Port Dickson. As it was during the Muslim’s fasting month, we had a great deal and a special rate of RM 180+ on the Superior room of Avillion Admiral Cove. We realized it was the best time to go for holiday during the fasting month as most of the hotel would offer special rate! We also noticed that there were not many visitors during this period and this was certainly an added advantage for us who wanted privacy!

Checking in to Avillion Admiral Cove was no hassle! The superior room that we had was so spacious and it looked new! We had a great view of the sea and the marina with yachts parked in such an orderly manner. The waterfront resort is just next to the marina and with its magnificent view, it is certainly one of the popular place for outdoor photography, especially to the newly-wed! During the evening, you can take a stroll along the marina waterfront and enjoy the sunset! 

Well..here is my verdict on Avillion Admiral Cove, Port Dickson.

Reception
Smile and greeting	Ready to serve	Clarity of bill /statement	Speed of handing over room key	Professionalism
*	*	*	*	No
Room
Lighting	Space	Smell	Bed	Shower
*	*	*	*	*
Facilities and surrounding
Swimming pool	Gym/sports	Restaurant/Cafe	Cleanliness	Security
No	No	No	*	*
Buffet breakfast/ Food
Variety	Taste	Freshness	Readily top-up	Ambience
*	No	*	*	*

The symbol * denotes a "Star" awarded!
This hotel scores 3.75 out of a possible 5 stars!

A heated heart

I have named my blog as "Hati Hangat", which literally means "A heated heart" in Malay language.This is because I am commonly known as "Hati Hangat" at my workplace!You must be wondering why my colleagues, especially the nurses would usually tease me with the word "Hati Hangat"??Well..it was a long story dating back to my housemanship posting, while I was working at the so-called smallest hospital in the state of Perak, Malaysia.
At that time,"Hati Panas" was considered the most commonly heard catchphrase or exclamation by the few of us who were rather unfortunate to be posted to such an isolated place to work. We were sulking after working for sometime there and repeatedly pressing for transfer back to City! Life was never easy working there..especially with shortage of manpower, limited resources in term of laboratory facilities. Hence, we would always complaint and lament about our predicament there.That was how the word "Hati Panas" came about!
It was later followed by "Hati Hangat" when we became increasingly more frustrated! It was our way to let out our steam and anger. By doing that, we actually feel better by not holding on to our grudges! We would find ourselves teasing each other while doing round in the ward!
Now that I am working at one of the biggest and busiest hospital in Malaysia..things could only get worse! With my emotion running high and wild at times..especially when the ward is very busy and when we are facing difficult situation like dealing with fussy parents and managing very ill and critical patients..it is hard not to control our feeling and by blurting out the word "Hati Hangat" it would actually make me feel better!
Mind you..I am actually learning to control and subdue my emotion! Hence, when someone heard me saying that word..it is easy to understand that I am angry! But unlike others..I do not scold or let out my anger at anyone! Sometimes, they will tease me by asking "Are you hati hangat or not today?"
"Hati Panas" is less heaty if compared to "Hati Hangat". Just like the Kelvin scale of temperature, I would use different words to describe my anger..It has different levels of heat..the lowest being Hati Panas(Hot), then Hati Hangat (Heated up), Hati Steam (Boiling hot), Hati Hangus (scorched) , Hati Hangit (burned) followed by the worst..Hati Rentung (Completely burned to ash)!!
Similarly,when I am feeling great and cool..I would use words like Hati sejuk (Cold), Hati Bersalji (Snowing) to tease my colleagues! We would laugh our hearts out by teasing each other!
By naming my blog "Hati Hangat", it does not mean I am angry whenever I am writing this blog.. I feel it is a very unique name with a touch of Malaysian identity! In fact, if you translate the word "Hati Hangat" to Chinese, it can mean "being passionate about something"!
The word "Hati" actually has many meanings too.It means Liver in Malay Medical terminology! But it is commonly refering to as Heart or Love in Malay literature.
Well..Whether I am angry or passionate about writing.. you can judge me by reading my blog !

Writing about anything..

I was pondering how should I project my blog and what would I be writing..Whether it would be a travel blog, food blog or political blog? I decided that I would write just about anything..It will be my personal blog, which will allow me to deliver my thought and express myself in words. I do not want to categorize my blog like most other blogs do. Despite the fact that blog with particular category would appear more interesting and popular with readers, I feel I could not associate myself with just one certain category.
I love traveling and I have many wonderful experience to share. But I do not travel often and so it does not fit in to be a travel blog. Food blog?? I love food and would try out any kind of food! I would probably share with you and would write about some of my great dining experience. Politic is interesting but I do not wish to invite problem and create controversy! So a personal blog will be the most befitting for me!

Trying to be a writer..

I love reading but it does not mean I am good in writing. It has always been my dream to be a writer. I admire those prominent and prolific authors who have been successful in their career of writing. I still remember how much I was so engrossed in reading novel in paperback, to the extent of skipping my meal and totally forgotten about day and night. It was no doubt my favourite pastime when I was a teenager. I love reading novel written by John Grisham, Jeffrey Archer, Sydney Sheldon and Erich Segal.
My childhood dream was to be a journalist. I have never thought of becoming a doctor. I have realized that how much I missed reading after I had graduated and started practicing as a doctor. When I was in medical school, I still could find time reading novel.. It really helped in filling up my loneliness while studying medicine in a foreign land.
Life as a doctor is very challenging but monotonous. I am trying to rekindle something which I have always love doing..reading and now writing! I have no experience in writing a blog, let alone in editing it. I would like to see how far I can progress..I am now embarking on a journey which I hope would lead me to somewhere..Not that I am lacking in goal and direction, but I am here giving myself an opportunity to become a writer. I hope my writing will arouse interest and most importantly, I look forward to and welcome any criticism which will help in shaping my writing..