New update ( 8th July): 35 cases confirmed
Up to date, there are total 15 cases of positive H1N1, 11 participants, 4 group leaders. Temporary there's not any one from USM is being infected. All of them are being quarantined at Bakti hostel untill 8th July.
5 of the Indonesian girls are discharged today and flying back to Indon this evening.
There are still some of us waiting for the result of throat swab, others without any symptoms one are not tested by the hospital.
Hope everyone will be fine and no more increasing cases.
The 180 of us will be having an extra 1 week holiday till 13th July.
p/s: To all my friends, I'm currently still ok here, so don't worry so much. Thanks for all the messages and concern =)
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Friday, July 3, 2009
H1N1
Our program APPS 2009 would have ended nicely if without the cases of H1N1.On the last day of APPS before our Gala Night, we received a shocking news that 1 of our participants had been confirmed as H1N1 positive. We immediately halted all the event and checked the temperature of all participants,asking all of them to wear the mask.The air was so tense, everyone was panic by that time as those having sharing the same apartment need to be quarantined.
Actually we did check the temperature of all the participants everyday. The girl from Indon had been not feeling well since the 2nd day. We bought her to the Pusat Kesihatan of Usm and only got the result in the last day of our event. It was indeed a big challenge to us as if most of them are quarantined, we need to help them to postpone their flight which was on the next day.
The next day, the 2nd case was confirmed, a Malaysian girl which was not in the same room nor same group with the 1st case.
3rd case was the housemate of 2nd case. Whereas the 5 others cases are all close friends of 1st person. So total 8 cases confirmed up to this moment( 2.00pm). We are praying hard not to get the number increasing some more as there were almost 400 of us including the participants and committees. Some of us have direct contact with those 8 persons. It was really a good experience for us to learn how to handle all this emergency thing. We faced difficulty in informing all those involved as some of them can't reach by international call and they are scattered all over the world. A great challenge for us!
Meanwhile, we realised the action plan of M'sia in handling H1N1 issue is so unclear. We were scolded by the doctor when we tried to get the test done for some of the participants with fever and indirect contact with those +cases. The doctor in Penang GH even allow those suspected to go back to their own countries . Oh gosh, how come M'sia is so poor and terrible in handling such big pandemic influenza?Am curious when they are going to take thing seriously?Is it until there are death cases of H1N1? In fact all 400 of us should be quarantined to stop spreading the diseases.
Now, all the committees are ordered to self-quarantined at the hostel until 8th of July. We will be commercing the class on 13th July, which is a week later than others students. Maybe it is good also since all of us can have a longer break and rest well after the tiring week,haha...
Actually we did check the temperature of all the participants everyday. The girl from Indon had been not feeling well since the 2nd day. We bought her to the Pusat Kesihatan of Usm and only got the result in the last day of our event. It was indeed a big challenge to us as if most of them are quarantined, we need to help them to postpone their flight which was on the next day.
The next day, the 2nd case was confirmed, a Malaysian girl which was not in the same room nor same group with the 1st case.
3rd case was the housemate of 2nd case. Whereas the 5 others cases are all close friends of 1st person. So total 8 cases confirmed up to this moment( 2.00pm). We are praying hard not to get the number increasing some more as there were almost 400 of us including the participants and committees. Some of us have direct contact with those 8 persons. It was really a good experience for us to learn how to handle all this emergency thing. We faced difficulty in informing all those involved as some of them can't reach by international call and they are scattered all over the world. A great challenge for us!
Meanwhile, we realised the action plan of M'sia in handling H1N1 issue is so unclear. We were scolded by the doctor when we tried to get the test done for some of the participants with fever and indirect contact with those +cases. The doctor in Penang GH even allow those suspected to go back to their own countries . Oh gosh, how come M'sia is so poor and terrible in handling such big pandemic influenza?Am curious when they are going to take thing seriously?Is it until there are death cases of H1N1? In fact all 400 of us should be quarantined to stop spreading the diseases.
Now, all the committees are ordered to self-quarantined at the hostel until 8th of July. We will be commercing the class on 13th July, which is a week later than others students. Maybe it is good also since all of us can have a longer break and rest well after the tiring week,haha...
APPS 2009
Finally the event has come to an end on Wednesday. The 200 committees of us have been working so hard for the pass 1 year to make the 8th Asia Pacific Pharmaceutical Symposium (APPS) a success. We received 160 participants from all around Asia Pacific region (Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, Korea, Japan etc) , breaking the record of the number of participants for the pass few years.
This is the first time we are organising such a big event. Throughout the organising process, we did face a lot of challenges and obstacles. The first most important problem we faced was the financial problem. USD250 for each participant is certainly not enough to cover all the expenses for 1 whole week as the accommodation alone at hotel already consume a big sum, haven't include all those transportation, dinner at hotel etc. We did not get any sponsor from USM or even the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, so basically we are standing alone . Luckily with the efforts of all committees, we managed to get the sponsors from the drug companies and others to make it through the event.
Since it was the first time for us to hold this prestigious event, we were all starting from 0, learning through the process. We had to think and figure out all the things by ourselves, the registration form and program prospectus alone had been editted more than 11 times. I 'm glad that we had a good team of role players . Me myself was amazed by the events itself such as the Global Village Night. I bet that it was one of the most interesting and fascinating event that I have ever joined. The performances were really a good one, all of the committees of it had put in so many efforts to learn all different cultures performances from different ethnics though we had only limited time. The slide show of the night was really so great, I didn't know that we had such a great team of technical for doing the slide show, nearly like professional standard.
To my surprise, the booklet of APPS which was designed by my direct junior was praised by so many of the lecturers and VIPs. As his senior, I did not even know that my junior was such talented in doing this. It was really a good piece of job, not an ordinary boring booklet like any other event , but full of innovation and creative.
Basically all the programs for the past 7 seven days went smoothly. I was dead exhausted for the past 10 days, sleeping only 2-3 hours per day. We encountered problem needed to be solved everyday, waking up having heart attacking news. It was really a great challenge to us, having to scratch our heads, figuring the solution of every complaints and problems arise unexpectedly.
I learn a lot throughout this whole year organising process, especially during the 1 week of APPS. All those minors things we need to be careful and take note of although it seems not important. Especially for the protocol of every event, we need to be extremely alert of as there were so many VIPs including those from overseas. I certainly enjoyed all the things although I was really exhausted.
p/s: for my friend who wish to know more about this event can surf our official website at www.usm.my/apps2009
This is the first time we are organising such a big event. Throughout the organising process, we did face a lot of challenges and obstacles. The first most important problem we faced was the financial problem. USD250 for each participant is certainly not enough to cover all the expenses for 1 whole week as the accommodation alone at hotel already consume a big sum, haven't include all those transportation, dinner at hotel etc. We did not get any sponsor from USM or even the Malaysian Pharmaceutical Society, so basically we are standing alone . Luckily with the efforts of all committees, we managed to get the sponsors from the drug companies and others to make it through the event.
Since it was the first time for us to hold this prestigious event, we were all starting from 0, learning through the process. We had to think and figure out all the things by ourselves, the registration form and program prospectus alone had been editted more than 11 times. I 'm glad that we had a good team of role players . Me myself was amazed by the events itself such as the Global Village Night. I bet that it was one of the most interesting and fascinating event that I have ever joined. The performances were really a good one, all of the committees of it had put in so many efforts to learn all different cultures performances from different ethnics though we had only limited time. The slide show of the night was really so great, I didn't know that we had such a great team of technical for doing the slide show, nearly like professional standard.
To my surprise, the booklet of APPS which was designed by my direct junior was praised by so many of the lecturers and VIPs. As his senior, I did not even know that my junior was such talented in doing this. It was really a good piece of job, not an ordinary boring booklet like any other event , but full of innovation and creative.
Basically all the programs for the past 7 seven days went smoothly. I was dead exhausted for the past 10 days, sleeping only 2-3 hours per day. We encountered problem needed to be solved everyday, waking up having heart attacking news. It was really a great challenge to us, having to scratch our heads, figuring the solution of every complaints and problems arise unexpectedly.
I learn a lot throughout this whole year organising process, especially during the 1 week of APPS. All those minors things we need to be careful and take note of although it seems not important. Especially for the protocol of every event, we need to be extremely alert of as there were so many VIPs including those from overseas. I certainly enjoyed all the things although I was really exhausted.
p/s: for my friend who wish to know more about this event can surf our official website at www.usm.my/apps2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
Sum up of the trip
Finally I have finished updating all about my trip. It took quite some times as I was simply too lazy to upload all those photos, haha..
Personally I do like Sabah for its beauty of nature and rich culture. I like back to nature type travel as it relaxes my mind looking at those greeny scenery. Besides that I love to experience the cultures of different etnic, so backpacking is more suitable for me as I can spend more time to stay at certain places or even homestaying to be really involved in their daily activities.During this trip, we visited quite a numbers of islands as Sabah is famous for its beautiful islands. It's nice to lay on the hammock ,listening to the patting of waves on the shores.
I think sometimes I did act a bit weird during the trip, which has frightened my friends I guess. I like to be quiet sometimes, since all of you claiming I'm too noisy,haha... I like to be alone certain times, reminiscing or thinking myself. It 's not that I'm not in a good mood, just that sometimes I prefer to be alone....In some cases I reallywas in an annoying mood , so I just walked away to cool myself down , or certain times I just don't wanna affects others.My friends thought that I' having depression,haha...
There are fews things that we learnt from the trip:
1. Check the car before you rent you, if not things occured on our 2nd day will happen to you
2. If you are planning for islands hoppings,I mean a few islands, it's better to bring your own snorkelling set ( if not you would need to rent it everytime, RM15-20)
3. Sun block is super super important
4. Wear those long sleeves diving suit for snorkelling, if not you will end up becoming charcoal like me,haha
5. Be prepared for riding bus on those bumpy and rocky roads. (No highway there) Plus, the bus system is slightly different from us , too many bus stops/stations ,make you confused where you are~
Basically, we did not really follow the itinerary that we had planned earlier on, we have added in many places to visit, but luckily we still managed to keep the budget under controlled. The next destination I hope to visit is Surat Thani, Thailand. I hope to go there with my parents as that place is suitable for them to relax , especially my dad.
I came across an organization named Contiki recently. They can help us to arrange for the accomodation and bus services. We can choose vary types of accomodation, ranking of those 5 stars hotel, to homestay, or camping etc .It 's all depend on what type of experience you would like to have and also your budget. It's only for 18-35 years old adults. The tour guide which is on the same range of age will provide all the info when you reach the place and you can arrange your itinerary yourselves with bus services provided. There will be many others tourists from different countries to join in, so we will have the chance to know others.Sounds nice, some more it's main on Europe countries, so maybe I will consider joining it ,haha...
Personally I do like Sabah for its beauty of nature and rich culture. I like back to nature type travel as it relaxes my mind looking at those greeny scenery. Besides that I love to experience the cultures of different etnic, so backpacking is more suitable for me as I can spend more time to stay at certain places or even homestaying to be really involved in their daily activities.During this trip, we visited quite a numbers of islands as Sabah is famous for its beautiful islands. It's nice to lay on the hammock ,listening to the patting of waves on the shores.
I think sometimes I did act a bit weird during the trip, which has frightened my friends I guess. I like to be quiet sometimes, since all of you claiming I'm too noisy,haha... I like to be alone certain times, reminiscing or thinking myself. It 's not that I'm not in a good mood, just that sometimes I prefer to be alone....In some cases I reallywas in an annoying mood , so I just walked away to cool myself down , or certain times I just don't wanna affects others.My friends thought that I' having depression,haha...
There are fews things that we learnt from the trip:
1. Check the car before you rent you, if not things occured on our 2nd day will happen to you
2. If you are planning for islands hoppings,I mean a few islands, it's better to bring your own snorkelling set ( if not you would need to rent it everytime, RM15-20)
3. Sun block is super super important
4. Wear those long sleeves diving suit for snorkelling, if not you will end up becoming charcoal like me,haha
5. Be prepared for riding bus on those bumpy and rocky roads. (No highway there) Plus, the bus system is slightly different from us , too many bus stops/stations ,make you confused where you are~
Basically, we did not really follow the itinerary that we had planned earlier on, we have added in many places to visit, but luckily we still managed to keep the budget under controlled. The next destination I hope to visit is Surat Thani, Thailand. I hope to go there with my parents as that place is suitable for them to relax , especially my dad.
I came across an organization named Contiki recently. They can help us to arrange for the accomodation and bus services. We can choose vary types of accomodation, ranking of those 5 stars hotel, to homestay, or camping etc .It 's all depend on what type of experience you would like to have and also your budget. It's only for 18-35 years old adults. The tour guide which is on the same range of age will provide all the info when you reach the place and you can arrange your itinerary yourselves with bus services provided. There will be many others tourists from different countries to join in, so we will have the chance to know others.Sounds nice, some more it's main on Europe countries, so maybe I will consider joining it ,haha...
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Hiking KK mount
Finally our last destination-KK mount. Due to some circumstances, we arrived at the starting point late and started off around 11am . A young couples from India joined in our group. They were friendly and nice couples working at Singapore, we still kept in touch now.
We started off using the Mesilau trail.
Group photo before departing
All 6 of us were separated on our way up the hill. One of my friends cramped an hour after we started the hike. So the guide left us walking in front while he accompanied my friend to walked in a slow pace behind us. Later , 3 of us were far in front as the India couples were a bit too slow and kept resting. We can't waited and rested for too long as we need to get up the place we stayed before 7.30pm and the before the sky grow darker.
Luckily we managed to reached our hostel around 6.15pm. It was so cool and tiring. The only motivation to move us forward along the way was just our mental strength. I felt like just slept on the way uphill, moving out a step took me a few seconds. We all walked like old granny in 'tongkat' during the last 2 km up the hill.Oh ya, there were many squirrels in the hill, so bad I did not manage to take any pictures of that.
It was already sunset when we reached the hostel . We rushed down to a hostel below to have our dinner as the dinner time will be over at 7.30pm. We packed some foods for the India couples as they reached there almost 8.30pm .
Right after the dinner, we got on the bed . The weather was damn cool and chilling, even wearing a thick jacket still made me feeling cool.We woke up at 2.30am to prepare for the hike to the peak at 3am. We did not go down the hostel for supper as it was quite far from us and we were simply to cool to move any.
We started off in the dark. Soon after, I was separated from my friends, due to some misunderstand and too many people kept moving forward. Left with no choice, I had to clmin the peak following others people as it was damn scary standing alone in the middle of night not knowing where my friends were. I was indeed quite lucky as the guy I followed was a young student guide that guided me a lot. Thanks to him for nonstop hiking, I managed to reached the peak early at 5.15am. Felt so great as we were among the few that arrived earliest top the peak. It was just a small place at the peak.
Pictures taken half way up. Super cool!
Finally I reached the peak, uhoo!
Waiting at the peak for sun rise. But so sad, we did not manage to view it that day as the cloud has blocked the sun. However, the scene at the peak there was really significant .
I was to have known many friends up there as I was kept asking help from others to take pictures for me.
I went down the peak with an uncle since my friends were still missing. Tips to my friends that wish to hike KK next time, remember to wear a thick jacket, thick trousers, thick gloves, and mask. Because it was really really cool up there. Don't forget to have some training before the hike. Even though it's not the most difficult mountain to hike compared to Gunung Tahan all that, but it was very tiring and mental exhausting,haha...Nice hike.
Trip to Sabah-Kundasang & Ranau
We boarded a van to Kundasang and Ranau in the late evening 2 days before our hike to kk mount. It's the gateway to hike kk mount, so we spent 2 nights resting at Ranau to rejuvenate enough energy for the climb.It was a 2 hours drive from KK to Ranau. Between Kundasang and Ranau just roughly 30 minutes journey or less. Kundasang is a highland surrounded by mountains, with lots of mist at night and chilling air. It is just like the Cameron Highlands in West Peninsular where agriculture one of the main economic activities eg growing vege, strawberry, tea etc. But there's nothing much in Kundasang, even shophouses are rarely to be seen, just some resorts and houses. So we have all our meals at Ranau.
We visited the Kundasang War Memorial , a small memorial with nothing much to see.
Besides that, we paid a visit to the Sabah Tea Farm and withnessed ourselves the processes of tea making. ( Not to make you guys bored, so I won't put the processes here=p) But for me, the tea farm in Cameron Highlands has a far more nicer view,haha...You can choose to bike up the mountain here, or have some team building activities.
Before we had our dinner, we went to the Poring Hot Spring where there are a few waterfalls , trekking trails and canopy walk.
Soaking ourselves in the smelly sulphurous hot water ~
The people in Ranau are all quite friendly and nice. In the morning before we started off our journey, I went searching for any car renting service. The people there are so warm , even wanna offered me a ride to the place for car renting. Later while I was waiting for the confirmation of car renting in a restaurant, an Uncle came approached me and started talking to me. Later he insisted on treating me my breakfast. But it was scary as well as I was alone that day, my friends has warned me not to kena tipu by 'Kam yu lou",haha..
Trip to Sabah-Survivor Island
This was another new itinerary that we added in when we reached KK. Pulau Tiga, which is more known as the Survivor Island where the television program 'Survivor' took place in one of the series. It was famous for its mud volcano and snake island nearby. Although the scenery there was really nice, especially the sunset, but this island did leave an indelible mark for me as well as this was the place where I got stung by the jellyfish.
We went jungle trekking the whole evening and dip ourselves in the refreshing volcano mud.
Those beautiful sunset pictures recalled me how I was being stung. My friend and I was playing in the water, he had warned me earlier on to watch out for jellyfish as it was low tide that time. Aihz, I kena stung just when we were walking back after taking pictures in the water, I should have just gone up the shore without turning back to farer side to take pictures. Like what my friend claimed, perhaps that jellyfish was a male one, that's why it just stung me,haha..But now I knew how it felt like being stung by jellyfish. Should be grateful that it was not jellybox, which is very poison and has killed many people even in Sabah, just few minutes after the stung will kill. I suspected that the jellyfish that stung me was a sand jellyfish as I saw spots of sand -like things on my foot after I being stung. It was like fire burning on me once my feet touched the jellyfish, I jumped up to my friend immediately , feeling burning and painful. There was no medicines or doctors in the island, so I was just given some vinegar to apply before I could see a doctor the day after I got out from the island. But the vinegar did not soothe my pain , my feet was burning and painful the whole night, till I hardly fell asleep. Luckily I just kena on one of my feet, not leg or other parts. My leg swelled like 'pig's leg' , reddish for so many days even after seeing the doctor. Now the scar was still there, dunno when it will disappear, ugly black scar covering my whole feet, damn it~ How worried I was that time as there was only 4 days left before my kk mount hike.
Our delicious buffet dinner at Pulau Tiga resort.
After the dinner, we play the snooker and sing karaoko at the resort. This was my first time playing snooker, although some of my friends claimed that they were first-timer also( I guess they tipu wan as they are so 'pro'), but it seemed all of them knew how to play quite well, all the techniques ,rules all that , except me,haha....But I found it was very nice to play it, perhaps should practice more next time.
I searched some information about the jellyfish. Tips for you guys: If you are so lucky being stung, soak the part in the seawater, removed the tentacles using gloves . Can apply vinegar as well to prevent the neomycytes from releasing venom into the body, don't use tape water to wash it, it will just worsen it. For jellybox, you will feel suffocating , seek for doctor as soon as possible.
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