I have been in Malaysia for a week. It is not entirely what I have imagined it would be like. I will try to be brief, but you know me.. Cindy cannot talk in sentences, she talks in essays. (I feel rather sorry for my friends who read this).
Flight - I was impressed with the Singapore airline service.. I love the air stewardess.. I still think "when i grow up, I just want to be just like them... AH! TOO LATE!"
Arrived in Penang in the evening - Hardly recognised Limin who came to pick me up in her wedding photo-shoot make-up and fake eye-lashes.. She looked just like one of the air stewardess (see photo).
First night in Penang - I was fed (the 5th meal of the day!) lots of HOT curry - 3 different types. Ken's parents, Ken and Limin were overly enthusiatic about me eating. They planned the 3 days I have in Penang around food - I AM SERIOUS!
Temperature - Did I mention it was hot? I probably dont need to... but I would like to scream it out loud.. It is hot!!!.. For once, I get to wear all my pretty singlets I do not get to wear without a jacket in NZ.
Shopping - in between eating, Ken and Limin took me shopping.. apparently they would have done MORE shopping if I wasnt there. They said I should be ashamed to call myself a shopoholic or bargain hunter. I certainly was not up to their standards. But oh man, their malls are at least 5 times as big as Riccarton Westfield. I gave up after 2 hours each time.. so we never finish the malls since my legs gave up and I loose attention in what I was looking at.
Traffic - people here do not understand the meaning of lanes.. 2 lanes becomes 3, and sometimes 4. MERGING!!! - this is a city of complicated merging.. people just push and shuff from lane to lane.
Drove to KL - Ken's parents were worried to send me to KL on a 6 hour bus from Penang by myself, so they drove me down with Ken and Limin (they are so good to me!). We arrived at the residential college I have contacted to stay in - not only is it on a hill, but my room is on the 4th floor of the male's block. There was a "no woman allowed" sign at the front. I can see all the Malay dark boys peeking out to look as I walked up to my room. Not only that, I had a man living in my 2 bedroom apartment as I walked in - who I assumed had a key to my apartment. He grabbed his belongings and quickly walked out as discretly as he can. We talked to the "principle" of the residential college (who apparently has a PhD in biomedical something). He was rather angry that I refuse to stay and pay for that apartment. I explained to him I feel unsafe and it was wrong for him to put me there.
Doom - Ken's parents were as worried as me.. where am I going to stay!? All the residential colleges I had contacts before I left NZ were full. Fortunately, Ken's mum had a good friend in KL, 15 minute drive from the hospital that I have my elective in. She, her husband and her family of 3 daughters so kindly offered to homestay me. I nearly cried with joy!
First day of elective - University of Campus was HUGE! Not only that, all the signs were in Malay which I dont read! I spent 3 hours walking in 28degrees+ and getting lost asking for directions. I had to walk to 5 different buildings spread out on campus to sort out paper work, get signatures, pay money, and get student ID. All the elective students had to do it, and they all had as much trouble. I end up going to over 10 buildings as I didnt know which was which, and the campus map was over simplied. Not only that, in the middle of the day, it suddenly poured down with rain. My umbrella was useless. The rain was so heavy I was soaked, and water poured over my shoes. I walked back to the hospital 3 hours later with "squishy" shoes. The day ended on a good note (despite wet feet in wet shoes). My supervisor Dr Sofia Sulaiman was extremely nice. I observed her in ultrasound antenatal clinic.. saw some interesting cases.
Second day of elective - Not bad. Spent my day waiting for one woman to give birth.. she did before 5pm.. so I was pleased. I hope I will get to deliver a baby one day.. That would be my dream.. If I did, it will make this trip all worthwhile..
Homesick - I miss NZ.. I will never live in Malaysia.. It's a fun place to holiday.. but I already learnt the day to day difficulties I will have to face. Language barriers (everyone assumes Im Malaysians and talk to me in Malay.. I need to wear a tag that says "ENGLISH ONLY"), transportation barrier (walking is nearly impossible when it's so hot, buses are packed and never on time, taxi drivers cheat and not use meters and beat people up when you demand for the meter to be used - a Canadian 17 year old big guy was beaten up by 4 taxi drivers when he refused to catch the cab without them using the meter over the weekend!).
I miss my friends.. I miss u guys so much I can shed a tear (or two).
3 comments:
Haha Cindy goos to see u like the fruit. The star shaped one is surprise surprise called STARFRUIT!! You have to try the longans, rambutans, chempadak, durian and stuff it is good. Glad you managed to get ur accomodation sorted out. Yes make sure you carry a portable umbrella around there..... I learnt that soon in Malaysia... you can buy them for a few dollars!!!
Also...... taxis are safe to catch but you have to choose which taxis you catch. There is only one brand of taxi that can be OK to catch, can't remember which brand. But they do use a meter cos I think they are government ones or something like that....... and anyways the taxi will be cheap regardless.
Do you have a cellphone there? It would be wise to get a local cellphone number or at least have roaming....... it is great for emergencies like if you're stuck somewhere. It is best to get a local to get a cellphone for you cos othterwise you have to register your passport etc. to sign up for one.
sounds like you're having a real OE Cindy. I guess i can't give you many tips about what to do and what to watch out for since you already got good ppl with knowledge about the place looking after you ...
Hope you have a good time ...
Keep on blogging
Hey Jase.
Yes I have tried most of the food you listed. I like the Longans best cos they taste like Lychees. Rambutans are alright.. but Durians make me sick - they have such a strong odour, I can smell them in my hands, in my breathe, and in the air. eee.. Will not eat them again.
I brought my umbrella from NZ to here - nearly use them everyday. The rains can get very heavy here I realised - my umbrella was useless in those circumstances.
Im still scared to catch Taxis.. those Malay drivers look so unfriendly and unsafe.
I already got a SIM card here, registered under Ken's IC.. haha.
And I also bought this coolest and slim PDA - Can't wait to see ur face turn green with envy when I show u!
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