Medan & Lake Toba

I had a good time at the toastmasters’ convention in Medan and enjoyed the rustic charm of Lake Toba.

This was my first toastmasters’ convention outside Malaysia and so it was a good experience for me. About 300 toastmasters came from Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei. Mornings were filled with speeches, workshops and the nights were for merriment. My hats off to the organizers on the success of the convention. During the convention we stayed at the Tiara Hotel and during this time we did not get to see much of Medan.

The first night of the convention was fun as it was the “Ulos Nite” were everyone used ulos a traditional woven scarf by the Batak ethic people. I got myself an orange ulos for RM20.00.

The convention ended on Sunday and after lunch we started our Lake Toba tour. All together there were about 57 of us so we travelled by 2 bus coaches. It took us about 5 hours to reach Parapat, a small town on the shore of Lake Toba. We passed wide plantation of oil palm tress, rubber estates and padi fields. It was drizzling and it took us another 30 minutes to go by diesel boat to Samosir island. Samosair is an island in Lake Toba and is home to the Toba Batak- a prominent ecthic group in the archiplogo. The Lake is bigger than Singapore so just image how big it really is. We spend a night at one of the rest houses and the air was so cold that there was no need for air conditioner and the rooms did not have one anyway.

The next morning, it was so refreshing and rejuvenating to wake up on the island surrounded by beautiful sceneries and fresh air. When you look at the Lake you are will be really amazed at nature’s creation from a gigantic volcanic eruption. We first Tuk-Tuk and Ambarita two tourists centres at the Lake. The locals are well versed in English and communication is not a problem at all. We were brief on the history of the Batak people and did some shopping.

We then left the Lake to go Parapat and spend a night at the Niaga International Hotel. We could still enjoy the view of the Lake. We also visited a monkey rehab centre at Parapat. The next day we left Parapat to Medan and spend the night at Danau Toab International Hotel. During the span of 5 nights/6 days, we had the opportunity of staying at four different hotels. Wow were practically living in suit cases and for once it was quite fun. We also did a lot of shopping for souvenirs and the batiks were beautiful.

Medan’s food is chilli hot as chillies “padi” is one of the main ingredient to the dishes. We also snacked on a lot of fried stuff, chips and crisps as you can find them in abundance.

Medan is only about 55 minutes from Kuala Lumpur by flight. I would like to go to Lake Toba again to enjoy the natural beauty and relaxed ambiance.

Hope to post some photos in the next posting.

Deepavali

I had a few visitors today,
Peace came, brimming with gay
Wealth came, saying “good day!”
Health came, saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away!”
Joy came, singing “oh happy day”
All asked for a permanent place to stay,
So I gave them your address without delay.
And directions so they don’t go astray
They should be at your doorstep sometime today!
Happy Deepavali!!!

That is one of the best Deepavali greetings via sms I received on Deepavali day. I had a good celebration with loved ones and a good rest too!

We indulged in good food and Indian palagarams including a lot of Indian sweetmeats.

As I read my posting last year on Deepavali, I realized that I had written that I will throw a party and invite friends. Well as we have to be economical, I completely forgot the idea until I read my blog. Maybe next year..ha…ha!

We have two maids (our own and brother’s), so the bulk of cleaning up was taken care off…Whew! What a relief! That is why all of us did not feel that tired on Deepavali. I was really lazy this year so I did not take any snapshots to post on the blog.

Since I had time, I decided to join my friends for hospital visit over the weekend. I had not done so for the past two years and definitely it was a bit strange going back as a volunteer.

I will be going to Medan, Indonesia to attend the District 51 Toastmasters Convention this Friday and will be away for a week. Really looking forward for this trip!

Then once I get back, the family will be getting ready for my youngest brother’s wedding on 13^th December.

Lots of celebration to look forward to at the end of the year.
Lite a lamp of life and let it reflect deep inside your soul.
In life’s journey million of tales will be told,
Some happy, like yours & mine
This Deepavali I pray to god that u see beyond this life,
Beyond time & space to feel happy & feel your heart with love.

The Secret

Reading my posts later anyone would get the idea that I have gone into this low beat feeling of gloominess….if this sounds right! Well, that how I felt when I read again, my early posts...ha…ha!

Even when I read other survivors blogs and I do not see their posts for some time, I get worried. I suppose that is what others too must be presuming because as sometimes I get calls from friends to find out if I am okay. I am really touched by their calls.

It just that everyone leads a very busy life style that sometimes you just cannot find the time to sit and blog. I am really amazed at others who can find the time to blog so often.

Last week I just felt stressed…went for retail therapy...bought the book “the Secret” by Rhonda Byrne. The book had always been at the back of my mind. Then a friend loaned me her DVD on it which I did not get time to watch till the end. Coincidently, after that I meet my brother friend near my office and as we talked he said he is reading the book and had made changes to his life. And then I need retail therapy and got finally got the book.

And now lets see one can come out from the cocoon of negativism to a frontier of new energy, vibrancy and full of life…ha…ha!

Today is the last day of Pink October, and I did not participate in any of the events. Well, there are rests of the months to contribute towards the breast cancer cause.

No mammography for women under 40 years

I am really annoyed. Last night, I received a call from my friend. She has got a cousin who went to have a mammography done in one of the leading medical centres in the Klang Valley as her breast was painful. However the hospital staff discouraged her from having the mammogram done because she was below the age of 40 years and she was assured she had nothing to be worried about! I suggested a few places to my friend where mammography could be done and where silly presumptions would not be made.

What is really amazing is how someone can come with such a presumption. Do these clowns know that I personally know about 10 ladies who are cancer survivors and happen to be below 40 when first diagnosed with breast cancer including myself! Looks like it is not only the public should be made aware of breast cancer but also the medical profession! With attitudes like these more younger women would not have breast cancer detected at an early stage.

Anyway on another note, these two weeks have been filled with news of two ladies I know having cancer. One is breast cancer survivor who had finished her treatment almost the same time I did but now it has gone to the bone and spread to the liver. Another is a dedicated volunteer in her late 60’s who has been diagnosed with colon cancer.

In the midst of all these I suddenly find my breast painful which I have to wait and see whether is due to hormonal change during the menstrual cycle. As usual all types of disturbing thoughts will occupy the mind.

Not been a very uplifting 2 weeks.

During this time, I also discovered that mastectomy bras are becoming more expensive as it is nothing less then RM100. A friend suggested why not I get bras with pockets from the shelves which are commonly sold. So I found out that the brand “Triumph” has got one bra designed with a pocket. After tying it on, I found that my prosthesis can fit into the pocket with a bit of alteration to be made so as to protect the prosthesis from falling out. That only cost me only RM50.00. Though I have am not wearing it yet, I think it should be okay.

Pledging Our Organs

I read in the newspaper on how a teenager who was kept alive by a mechanical heart received a new lease of life from the heart harvested from another teenager who died in a road accident.

I must take my hats off to the family of the organ donor, who in the time of this great loss, has generously donated their child’s organs and give lease of life to others.

I have always contemplated of donating my organs one day. I know I would not be able to donate my eyes because I already have a poor eye sight and was thinking of donating the rest of the organs. But now after breast cancer it has been decided for me…I cannot be an organ donor.

As more organs are needs, I hope more people will pledge their organs and after their death it is further hoped that their family will not object at the 11th hour when the organs need to be harvested.

Pledging our organ and allowing others to live is a magnanimous gift of life.

A gift for a cancer patient

A friend of mine asked my suggestion on a gift for her friend who is going to have mastectomy soon.

My sms text to her was as follows,”u could by anything tat is beautiful & cheerful…could even be a book about new hobbies…most importantly it is your companionship.”

Yap, I really felt in good spirits up when visitors came to visit me during surgery and treatment as I went through a roller coaster ride.

I told a friend of mine who came to visit me I needed to make juices and did not have a juicer, she immediately bought one for me and I was really touched. There were so many other incidences and gifts that touched my heart too. Another friend gave me some cross stitch materials… although I did not complete it then but it took my mind off things when I started doing them.

Others who came to see including my relatives always came with lots of fruits, organic vegetables., cereals and other food items. I know these are so easily available but by them bringing, it forces you (as you are many moods at times) to have a good diet and also makes you make the juices because you do not want what they brought to go to waste and you know people cared for you. I needn’t had to depend on my family for these things as I was already depending on them a lot.

I also received books and magazines to read whenever I felt like it. A couple of friends of my who came to visit me very often would my me a variety of soft drinks so it would enlightened the taste bud that has been dulled by the chemo. I got to know the existence of the purple colour dragon fruit during this time which is believed to be high antioxidant. My uncle sent the fruits every other week to my house.

I know I received a lot other things but cannot remember them as I post this blog. Ah! Now I remember another friend of my bought me several stylish scarves and I enjoyed wearing them when I went out. Another friend got me very big round ear-rings and I felt then I was setting a trend for scarves and big ear rings like gypsies!

Two weeks after the surgery, my toastmasters friends cajoled me to go for a day’s family trip to some orchard along a stream because they said it will do me good and it did then.

I know some people would rather be left alone during chemotherapy and radiotherapy but for me it was vital that I had people come to make me laugh and cheer me up. Many people helped and contributed in many ways towards my recovery and I shall always be grateful to them.

Vegetarian for a month.

I am vegetarian for a month of Purattasi (tamil calendar month) which started on 18 September 2007 and will end on mid of October 2007. This month is considered a very auspicious month by the Tamilians and special prayers are offered to Lord Venketeswara.

All of us in the family are vegetarians and stick to strict vegetarian diets. We not even consumer any food that has traces of egg.

Special prayers are held on Saturdays at home and after the prayer we all have a authentic
meal served on banana leave.

Although on vegetarian diet, I have never lost weight during this month…because I am hungry often and end up munching a lot.

That is why I went on Sunday to the Pasar Ramadan in my neighbourhood and indulged on variety of traditional malay delicious. This included my all time favourite chicken satay and popiah basah among other things. The food looked oily but what the heck it has been some time I had all these items.

I don’t know about other survivors but I think I am loosing control of my so called planned diet of less sugar, fat and oil. I admire those who have cut down on these and have the discipline to follow their strict diet. I have not been taking my fruit + vegetarians juices.

Sometime I reminder myself about the diet sometimes I tell myself what the heck!