Songkran Festival @ Hatyai Thailand 2013 (Part 1)

Sawadeekap from Thailand!

  After some decisions being thrown about, Hatyai it was for our (with my family) mini trip during my one week holidays. I don't really get many holidays though, so I was thinking of making this worth while. Well, it isn't just going to be a normal kind of trip, it was a trip to Hatyai of purpose, which I would say, to experience the annual Songkran Festival in Hatyai. Songkran Festival are the Thai's new year, in which yes, you do go around wishing them Happy Songkran.

Songkran Festival

  A chartered van and a few things packed, we soon got on a 2 hour journey from Alor Star right down to the boarder of Thailand, and straight right into Hatyai City. Being a northern Malaysian state, we residents of Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan enjoy the priority of having to use only boarder-passes instead of passports, in which serves to cut down many tedious procedures upon entering the 'King's Land' as they would call it.

Immigration checkpoint

Thai currency, Baht

   Hustling through the streets of Hatyai, our eyes were locked-on the unconstrained, unsystematicly busy traffic. At each moment you would feel an accident is about to happen, with cars and motorbikes changing lanes almost instantly, forcing their way through the clogged traffic. Streets were narrow and congested up to a breaking point. If you think Penang being bad, imagine this of a worst case scenario. A change of view above, one could observe a nestled-spider-web-like electric cable interchanges. For us it may be shocking, but for the locals, it's as normal as it gets. Somehow at one point, I'm glad to be in Malaysia then.

My dad actually went there to pray for luck, Huat arh!

Crazy cables!

  It was evening by the time we arrived at Hatyai City area, hence we decided to make our first pit-stop of the trip. Our driver and tour guide took us to a well-known Thai restaurant, known as Saban-nga Restaurant. Here, we were treated to a wide range of Thailand delicacies. Of any Thai food that you've heard before, you could get it almost all right here. Pictures speak more than words, and I'll let them do the talking here.

Famous Thai restaurant, Saban-nga

Great Thai dinning ambience!

King's of Thailand

A bar outside the restaurant

Thai mango slice fried fish

Thai fried pork trotter

Thai ulam

Sauces for taste

Tom Yam Kung

Pork-filled veggi

Special purple steamed rice (the dye is from flower petals I heard)

Must-try Thailand Green Curry

Mango cubes fried fish

  A check on the schedule saw us heading towards Yong Dee hotel to check ourselves in. It was a decent hotel then, complete with everything you need. Just a tip, that the plugs there (as in every country) are different, so do brace yourselves on charging your electrical devices then. A quick bath and we were soon all ready and set for our next destination ~~ Greenway Market.

Yong Dee Hotel

Comfy!

A coffee bar at the hotel

  Well, from Yong Dee hotel (or any hotel at Hatyai City area) to Greenway Market will only take less than 15 minutes. So I would suggest, not to walk there of course, to take the all-round famous Thailand transport, the tuk-tuk to travel there. It costs only 20 baht per person and it's really refreshing to get a change of transportation. Greenway Market is famous for it's wide range of products sold at bargain prices. From dandy pants to portraits and pictures, you can find it all right there. A tip here is to bargain your prices, get the lowest price as possible there.

A whole lot of goodies for sale!

A scene of Greenway Market

Bargain for better prices!

  All that aside, I would really regret if I had not paid a trip there. Mind you, not because of those fancy women clothing on display, or those eye-catching cigarette lighters in array, but because of the amazing tastes of Thai delicacies it has to offer at the food court!!! I'll just never stop being a food lover.. :)

An art in many ways!

Boosting creativity!

  Yes, it does bring excitement to one's taste-buds, being able to taste so many foods in just one place at reasonable prices, it really is a heaven for food carvers! Be sure to pay a visit here, it will be worth your while.

Thailand LengCheeKang, must-try, lots of tasty ingredients!

Grilled garlic pepper pork slices!

Thailand famous mango durian rice pudding

Som-tam!

  Soon after, we took the tuk-tuk back to Hatyai City center, only to be bombarded with blasts of water from water guns aimed at us. One hint, is that you'll be sitting ducks on a tuk-tuk during this festival, so look out for these attacking maestros who will show no mercy! You could get the water-guns there at a price you'll need to watch out for. For 1500 models, you could get as low as 240 baht, while the 5000 models costs merely 500 baht. Beware of swindlers who overcharge visiting tourists. Cheaper prices could be attained at a flea market, explained in Part 2 then.

Tuk-Tuk

Water-gun fight!!!!

  From then on, it was rocking to the rhythm till midnight. People were dancing to the beat, pumping out to the base. It was an awesome scene and it lasted throughout the night, with DJ's planting high spirits in each and everyone of them there.

DJ's rocking the event!

An appreciated crowd!

  This festival is awesome, where in my opinion, touching a girl or guy with powder (purchased at the spot for 40baht) is of no matter. In fact they willingly let you do so, but remember to wish them Happy Songkran, not for the sake of just touching. (Touching in which I meant their faces and hands ONLY! Treat them with respect and usually we go for the opposite sexes. And yes, I made sure they are REALLY GIRLS! If you know what I mean).

Partying till midnight!

It's a wet night in Hatyai

Plan to get tattoo's here? I swear I almost went in there, :)

Hotel and massage parlor

Weapons for sale!

  A plus point, I admit Thai girls are really pretty, somehow I felt. Don't believe mii? Come experience it for yourself! And, also in my opinion, the more powder smudged on your face, it meant a higher popularity amongst the girls, as for girls amongst the boys. And yeah, I got plenty I would say, high market of mine? Muahahahhahahahaha! Erhem, ok, sorry, back to the point. Aside from all this, there were food stalls around the area as well. A good way to grab a warm bite after a chilly water fight I thought.

Giant fried prawns! 50 baht each!

Lobster feast! 100/200/300 baht depending on sizes!

Lot's of road-side delicacies!

Thailand's famous fried chicken! 70 baht each

  A note that Thailand's time is an hour later than Malaysian time. That said, all the excitement, the colours and the fun died down at 4am Malaysian time. I was told by a few girls to expect a bigger celebration come the next night where their real new year kicks into place. As that, this was just their new year eve, and I'll be expecting more amazement to come as I retired to my hotel for a rest. Part 2 to come then. For now, goodbye!

Happy Songkran Thailand friends!!!

Read more on Part 2 here:

http://nickel-low.blogspot.com/2013/04/songkran-festival-hatyai-thailand-2013.html


Part 3:

http://nickel-low.blogspot.com/2013/04/songkran-festival-hatyai-thailand-2013_25.html





Signing off,

Nickel Low CJ

Life In CUCMS, Now and Then.... (Under Public Demand)

  Alright, alright. Wow, the questions are falling in like the pulsing burst of the Nigeria Falls. Emails, Facebook messages, and blog comments, I'm being surrounded by questions of all kinds about CUCMS. Haha, don't worry, I'm not annoyed, in fact I'm more than willing to help. Now then, this blog is more on CUCMS as a whole, to all those newbies and future CUCMS-ians, really hope this will answer many of your questions.

Beautiful interior

Main desk

  First of all, I'm Low Chen Jie, a would-be-senior if you guys were to step right aboard our ship, am in MBBS 3rd year now and currently enjoying my life as it is. Then, many of the questions asked were:


How is life in CUCMS?
How is it studying there?
Is the university recognized and will it last till the end? (Was amazed by this question, XD)
Compared to other universities, how is CUCMS different from them?
Would you recommend newbies to study there?
How are the lecturers in CUCMS?
How is the management in CUCMS?
Has anyone graduated from CUCMS and how are their lives now?

Bungee jump!!!! Just joking! XD

Great library!

  Well, these are just a few of the many questions forwarded to mii recently. And yeah took some time to reply them one by one. Hopefully through this post, I could answer them all at once. Alright, good or bad news first? There's this one young girl I chatted with, well, she wanted to know the good news first. Let's go with that then shall we?

Foundy night!

  The good of CUCMS, come to think of it, I really am proud to say I've been in one of the best. Academically  CUCMS is no other than 'awesome' could describe. They are really well organized, objectives of each lesson listed at the beginning and yeap, the syllabus are all more than applicable in our future medical lives.

Presentation!

  Starting with foundation, I dare say we're one of the best in Malaysia. The lectures are well integrated and focused on bringing students towards the lines of MBBS and Pharmacy. Meaning, just foundation itself, we students are exposed bit by bit to the medical world, on how to apply our knowledge medically and what not. In fact, the lecturers themselves are amazing, in foundation, look for Mr. Eric. Not only a great and respectable lecturer, but he could be an awesome mentor as well, listening to your problems and helping you in whichever way possible. Till now I myself am indebted to him!

That handsome chubby guy in the middle is Mr. Eric!!!

  Besides just academic, CUCMS does focus on co-curricular activities as well. Apart from sports day and other stuff, there are also team-building camps organized each and every year up till 5th year. This could really train you, instead of thinking it as a burden, think of it as a challenge and you'll enjoy it very much. Mr. Eric and Dr. Basmullah will also bring you guys on really interesting field trips, so look forward to that too!

Jungle trekking!

You! Come along!

  In CUCMS, we really focus on a system known as a mentor-mentee system. This in my opinion, works great when you get super cool mentors (they will be your usual lecturers), and works erm, poorly if you get care-less mentors (this should be in the bad-news part but, whatever lahhhhh). Still, no matter what, this mentor-mentee system brings bonds closer and also, enables a student to voice out their opinions about the university, the course they are taking and many other things down even to personal matters, like disagreements amongst group members etc.

Future doctors and pharmacists!

  It's a two-way communication system, but as said, works well only if the mentor you get actually likes to communicate. Some would even bring you out for dinner, and some sporty types would love a game of futsal or badminton with their mentees. No matter what, it is something different compared to other universities where students and lecturers don't bond well as we do. Good point, checked!

Yay!

  Next on, CUCMS also upholds an Affective Domain system (you'll hear them blabbling AD system, AD system, well, this is it then) which I think is the core of the university. To a question above, yes, many students have graduated from CUCMS and are now working happily in respective hospitals and clinics. And according to survey, the seniors instead of knowledge, they admitted they gained most on Affective Domain.

Medical checkup programme!

  Well, it's a little hard to explain, but AD is more on the personal attitude of students, where students are trained from scratch in CUCMS to be more cooperative, humane, positive thinking and committed to whatever they do. Really, I don't see any other universities upholding the importance of this matter, and through this we are stronger in a way. In fact, CUCMS students were highly looked up upon in hospitals due to the good affective domain of each students.

Red House, Champions of last year! What about this year?! XD

Morning exercise!

  Now for the bad. 'Is the university recognized and will it last till the end?'. Seriously, this question I think, is one of the most important questions ever. In fact I myself would ask the same way. OK, to be honest, CUCMS has faced problems in the past. The 236 incident is and will forever be a black spot in CUCMS history, where due to CUCMS policy problems, received an intake more than the 150 students limit permitted. And due to that, excess students had to be removed, which in my opinion, by force. It really is something sad, and what affects most is the aftermath of the incident. Students were affected academically and mentally, even myself suffered from the wrath of the incident. More to that, CUCMS was suspended of it credibility and students were left clinging on fearing for their futures.

  But no matter how bad things seem to be, there is always a silver lining. CUCMS learnt from their lesson, and now everything is stabilized  In fact, we've gotten our credibility and we're now listed as one of the official medical universities in Malaysia. Check the papers and you'll know. Everything is back to normal now, the university is growing fast with students increasing each year, but abide all that, those friends who left us for other universities will be remembered forever!

I dissected a frog! Muahahahhahaha!

  Sniff..... No I did not cry! LOL! Moving on, the management. Yes, this is a major point which still needs lots of improvement. Slow, inefficient and lots of procedures to go through to get things done. This really is a problem CUCMS has to settle fast. Do not worry about the facilities in CUCMS. However, the accommodations posed a few problems ~~ sky-high rental fees, slow response to complaints of broken household equipment and other stuff. All these are being fought for now and I myself hope a change could be implemented as soon as possible. However, this is a point to note for students who really have to got through the management. For those who wants to come in, being normal, study-focused students, this is a paradise I would say. But for those like mii, fighting for our student rights, it poses many hurdles and problems for us. Still, being juniors and newbies, I would advice to hinder this problem and just focus on studying. Let your abang and kakak fight for you for now. :)

Classrooms!

  In Cyberjaya, it would be hard to get your meals I would say. There's a canteen but the food there is almost same everyday, it'll bore you out trust mii. And from 2nd year onwards I would advice to get your own transportation, if not car-pool. Hence you really need to plan well in moving about in Cyberjaya. The things in Cyberjaya are also quite expensive, and food outlets in Shaftsbury Square are just too expensive to take as everyday consumption. The food stalls in Cyberia are a little cheaper, but watch out for the hygiene, don't wanna get diarrhoea now would we? If you have time, pay a visit to MMU's cafeteria, it's cheap, clean, of large portions and yummy! Haha, those were my foundation days and how I missed them.

Teamwork!

  Overall, CUCMS is a not-so-bad place to study in. Academic wise is great, other than that you'll just need to adapt well. A tip to survive is to mix around as much as possible. Do not form self-groups and try to mangle around whenever possible. This will really help a lot, better bonds better life. No matter what, the most important thing is to get your mind and will focused on the things you are studying. Make it part of your life and you'll certainly enjoy it much. I dare say every university has problems of itself, it is up to us on how we see things in the end. I am happy with where I'm studying now, and I bet you guys and gals will too if you think positively.

Sunat-thon!

Basic Life Support activities!

  I know many of you still have many questions to ask. For that, you are welcomed to forward questions to my email or reply to this post. I will try my best to help. For pharmacy life, just post your questions here as well, I have friends who could attend to them. For now then, adios amigos! Hope to see you all soon! XD

Together as ONE!

An old picture of mii! 'Am more handsome now', said my friend Pauline Ng! Thx Pauline! :)

Do you want to know what it takes to being a medical student? Read it here on my LATEST UPDATE!!! 

http://nickel-low.blogspot.com/2014/05/7-tips-on-what-it-takes-to-step-into.html?spref=fb





Signing off:

Nickel Low CJ

Chelsea FC Anthem - Blue is the Colour

It's weird that, after so long blogging, I've never blogged about my lovely Chelsea FC! Now then, the Chelsea FC anthem, Chelsea fans out there, make sure you sing this with your heart! XD




Chelsea FC Anthem - Blue is the Colour

Chelsea - Blue Is The Colour Lyrics

Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.


Here at the Bridge, whether rain or fine
We can shine all the time
Home or away, come and see us play
You're welcome any day


Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name


Come to the Shed and we'll welcome you
Wear your blue and see us through
Sing loud and clear until the game is done
Sing Chelsea everyone


Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.


Blue is the colour, football is the game
We're all together and winning is our aim
So cheer us on through the sun and rain
Cos Chelsea, Chelsea is our name.

C'mon Chelsea, you can do it! Love you guys!!! :)

Signing off:



Nickel Low CJ

Chelsea for LIFE!!

The HOST ~~ Epic, beautiful, lovely!

  Hey readers! Yeap, recently got a chance to feast my eyes on the latest sci-fi film, based on a novel by Stephenie Meyer, low-and-behold ~~~ The HOST! Ok, I honestly haven't got to read the novel itself before this, but I do know it's a sequel-kind-of series. Anyway, I was dragged along by my novel-fanatic friend Jason and together with my other friend Johnny, well that's how I got to watch this movie. I was given an introduction to the movie, and my friend Jason did the honors. Being not fond of scary and horror movies, Jason gave the impression that I was tricked into one. Oh! Who wouldn't anyway if you put it like this: ' An alien invasion into the human race wiping out all humans and controlling their minds and bodies!'. I was like, shit, come on, put it in a better explanation dude! XD

  Anyway, the movie starred Saoirse Ronan (try pronouncing her name properly, challenge accepted?) as the main character Melanie Stryder, Jake Abel as Ian (Wanderer's love crush), Max Irons as Jared (Melanie's boyfriend), Diane Kruger as The Seeker and William Hurt as Jeb (Melanie's uncle). Well now, ever wonder at the thought of having two minds? This masterpiece as I would call it, portrays the struggle between strong human souls and the HOST trying to take over both mind and body of the human race. It's quite complicated actually to explain it unless you have read the novel or just watch the movie and you'll get it.

  All in all to make it short, Melanie's body, known as HOST was being controlled by an alien soul named 'Wanderer', and as humans refer to 'it', it had to struggle for control over Melanie's strong fighting will.  The only way to differentiate humans and alien souls are the blue ringed circles in the eyes. Then there is the Seekers, who seeks out humans and insert alien souls into the human minds, an act said to purify human race. Melanie is in the Resistance where they hide in cover from the Seekers and resist them by trying to find way to extract the souls out of the human body. There are also the Healers who heal wounded bodies just by the spray of some magical gases. Cool! If only I could create such a gas, the medical world would be mine, muahahahhahahahahahha! Sorry, back to the story...

  I wouldn't want to give out too much here to avoid spoilers, but most of the story is based on romance. It was awesome to see Melanie, having her feelings towards the man she loved, Jared. But then, her body in which 'Wanderer' has taken over, had her own feelings towards another man, Ian. Hence, it wasn't just a fight to gain control of the human body, but a conflict in amongst feelings as well. It was epic once again to get one of the scenes where Jared and Ian took turns kissing Melanie a.k.a Wanderer to test Melanie's presence in the body of Wanderer. Shit, if only I were to be that lucky!

  Besides the wonderful showpiece and story-line, it was great to see Saoirse Ronan and Jake Abel back on the big screen once again. The last time I saw, erhemmm, watched their movies was Saoirse Ronan in 'Lovely Bones' and Jake Abel in 'Percy Jackson: The Lighting Thief' and 'I am Number 4'. Saoirse has really gotten beautiful though I still have problems pronouncing her name. Johnny 'fell in love' with her instantly! haha!

  Everything was going well till the end. They said 'All's well that end's well' right? Hmmmm, I wouldn't say it ain't a happy ending. It IS a happy ending, just the new form in which Wanderer took when she left Melanie's body was somewhat of a shocker for many. Could hear laughter, and gasps, and cries of 'oh no!' in the cinema. Even Jason started complaining beside mii. Well the new form is just really unexpected. I've forgotten the name of the actress, but I'm sure the producers could pick a better one though. And I wonder how Ian could still love the new form of Wanderer. If it were mii, I'll just stick with Melanie, Saoirse that is! She's just so so much prettier!

  Anyway, I guess that's true love (In which I don't get it that if you love a person, you love everything as the whole package, not just the soul. Would you love a soul in a very beautiful body, and then the soul changes to another non-appetizing body would you still love, that soul? Remember, you've already kissed that beautiful body. Food for thought). Other than that shocker, I would really recommend that you take some time admiring this masterpiece. It is a bit slow, the tempo, but it was really worth it, and it will worth more if you were to watch it with your loved ones. I was complaining actually in the end to have watched this movie with two guys, yuck! What the hell!!! I really need to get a girlfriend, FAST!!!

  It really is a beautiful movie, of course from a very lovely novel. It was great to watch something fresh and different once in a while. Amazing movie, must watch!!! And yeap, it's definitely a better movie than Twilight. Till then, adios!






Signing off,

Nickel Low CJ

My Life, Complete?

  A cooling bath at the stroke of midnight, a couple of good songs to get my mood going, a couple of friends for company and hitting away at keys of reach, I'm back blogging once again. It's been a long time I know. Today is much of a blank I would recon, nothing's much in my mind, no worries, stress-free, stuff like that. Then and then again, if small things like a melody could get your day going, a laugh to get your spirits all pumped-up high, and great food to go with of course, each bite relaying hidden bits of happiness; you know, well, at least I know, it's a life free from thoughts of all kinds, at peace, serenity to be of more of a description. Blah, I'm smiling now even so with each sentence racing to the full-stops of their lines. My life, is it complete then I wondered? Many times in fact, a struggle between bursts and sparks of doubt and convincement. Am I, at ease?

  That cool bath really got mii up and thinking, am I enjoying life as it is? Honestly, it would seem that I've lost my marbles. Then again, I am waking up to a smile each and everyday now. The reason remains a mystery. Girls? Money? Or drugs triggering the receptors of my sense of happiness? None of that comes to fit. (Oh, ignore the drug part, XD). A recap on my recent life, I am enjoying the way life walks for mii now. Leaps and bounds may it be, a smile settles it all, with each breath enjoyed in a peace of mind. Most probably it's because I'm letting life decide for itself instead of mii making those decisions and only to regret them in the end. No! It really is different from letting fate take the course of life, and it certainly isn't just giving up on it either. In fact, with each passing day, the sense of appreciation grew, the flow insued. 

  With each part of life in their very own place now, it really is no wonder I have no worries lately. My mind is just blank as it is, blank off stressful thoughts, blank off unnecessary feelings. Look around and I see smiling faces, glance afar and I see happy souls. Even if a downfall came crashing along, I just couldn't help smiling back at it. That said, a melody would seemed to mean the whole world to mii, and I thought; that's beautiful, just beautiful. And while words and sentences carry much more than they initially meant, communications with the ones I love and care would promise warmth like never before. That is the feeling I'm experiencing lately, regardless of what might happen next, each moment is very much alive to mii indeed. 

  Had no idea where this is taking mii to, but for once in a very long time, I felt sincerely happy in life. Things would not last is of utmost understandable, and be it the end the next day, the next minute or even be it the next stroke and chime, I could say I lived a happy life up till now. Just one advise to all, life is just too short to be taken seriously, and I abide to that much!

Things are going the way as it should be, 

Hence so it continues, an unfolding journey;

 

One would wonder of the agonizing past, 

Weird not as it doesn't seem to last; 

A new day awaits, ending this with a joyful hum, 

Hoping hard to wake up the next, a smile to greet, please be a joyful one!

  I am now at peace, inner peace.... (reminds mii of Master Shifu in Kungfu Panda!) 

Signing off,

Nickel Low CJ