Odysseys of George

I always loved the waters. My parents used to take my sisters and I to beaches. I tend to go crazy seeing the beach and would run to the seas to swim in it. I loved the taste and the smell of the seas.

As I grew, I got to know about diving probably from TV. I wanted so much to learn how to dive. My parents would definately not allow their only beloved son to do such and furthermore they already did so much that I felt bad asking. As time passed by, the love for diving never faded but maybe grew more. I was always on the look out as to the prices to get license. They were too expensive for me and time did not permit me to do so being in the medical faculty. While working, it was busy that I barely had time to ponder and when I did, I was in places where the word diving was as rare as the place I worked.

In 2000, I joined the Masters programme and came back down to the city KL. The stress was too high that I felt a need to unwind. The caling for dive grew stronger but I gave it up everytime I looked at the price. I began to realise that despite the fact that I love my work, life has a greater meaning than just that. In 2003, there was a dive course which was not only cheap but also conducted by the university itself. I quietly took it up and passed the basic open water diver license and ever since there was no turning back.

Then, as the interest grew, I saved and bought the diving equipments slowly and after a while decided to take underwater photography. Why? The underwater world is a totally different world altogether and it is magnificently beautiful. I was unable to share this with many unless I can capture them in pictures. Especially to those who fear the seas, it was difficult to make them appreciate the seas. So, underwater photography it was but I learnt things the hard way.
I realised that cameras were designed for land and not for water. Taking pictures also took a turn as I realised that I never looked at my pictures again after taking them. I learnt that it had to be good shots - cover magazine like shots for anybody and I to appreciate the beauty of the underseas. So, I enrolled myself for an underwater course and now am learning to take shots that makes me view them again.

Well, I was shocked to hear this despite probably the last to know. A fellow blogger in the medical blogosphere was suspended for a week from her hospital for what she wrote in the blog. It was reported in the Melbourne daily. Surgeon’s Blog Vents Her Guts and Spleens in TheAge.com.au reports that Barb (Jillian Tomlinson) was temporarily suspended by the Alfred Hospital Board for one week because of concerns over her blog. The hospital declined to comment.

Well, MSSPNexus did an excellent write on this too. She also gave links to others who wrote about Barbados Butterfly.

Her plight was highlighted in the medscape blogrounds recently by Dr Dork.

Well, for such a developed country, suspending a person from work for the reasons given appears to me as too child-like-response with bleak transparency.

Well, I for once got burnt on this trip. I seldom get sunburnt but this time I did - tanks to the poor management of the dive centre, Watercolours. They had some good Divemaster with probably my best debriefing ever by Mike.

The swells were high and there was strong currents on many of the dives. The wrecks were beautiful but personally there were more colours and marine life in Redang. It was the smallest boat I have ever dived off from and had to literally crawl into the boat - a good experience though.

The boat I spoke about

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

Yellow boxfish

Yellow boxfish

Seychelles Squirrelfish

Phyllidia coelestis(Nudibranch)

The group - Phik See, Laurent, Sia, Yoong BK, Ee Laine, Bee & Yvonne

Sia - my buddy for the dive

Black-botched porcupinefish

Star puffer

Eye of a blue spotted stingray

Christmas tree worm

Siti Kahdijah Market in Kota Bahru

Sia, I and Yoong

Eye of the Jekins Rayfish

After being tagged by Bernard for this, I suppose only now I got the time to do it. Shocked Bernard! Don’t be - I will do as promised only will need time. But this time, due to the delay, I shall not pass the baton.

Well, there are many who I would like to be with on a deserted island - only problem most of them aren’t bloggers. However, being an island enthusiast, I presume this would not be that difficult.

To begin,

Bernard aka Giligan, my good friend, will be one I would definitely not regret having on the island with me. A good and attentive doctor is an asset but above all a trusted buddy.

Then, I would love to invite along Eastcoastlife as I find her to be a very interesting person. Furthermore, I did invite her for a trip one day. I could also convince her to take up diving and anything else that may interest her!She could be Ginger to complete the castaways of Gilligan’s Island.

The third, would be somebody in the likeness of the Professor in Gilligan Island. For this, I think azrin would be a good candidate. Then again with his experience we could survive almost anything.

Now, who could be my Mary Sue. She loves to cook and thus an important crew to our deserted island.

So who shall this be……Firehorse. She is energetic, i am sure she can cook - better can!, and has lots of manglish humour! I like! Her kopitiam sure can sell one!

Now that makes it including I, 3 guys and 2 ladies. So obviously, to be gender fair for long term intentions on a deserted island, the next has to be a lady. In line with the theme, this has to be someone who would say, “I don’t know how we’re going to explain to our friends that we spent several years with people who aren’t even in the social register.”
It’s Mrs Lowey Howell. And the blogger, who most likely sit in those shoes would have to be, Eve.

Well, that is it from me for now. Next would be another meme. So hold your breath and hope you have enjoyed being marooned in the island with me.

Wow! When I read that “CLEAN” was the topic for this week, I could not help but remember my Jakarta trip.

Isn’t that clean? Trust me it was.

As much as we humans need a clean “cleaning station” so do these beautiful underwater creatures I came across recently. Here is a school of bumphead parrotfish sitting themselves at a “cleaning station” ,

and getting cleaned by this small beautiful yellow blue Cleaner Wrasse(Labroides spp.)

It was late evening. A young girl of 8 years old, was crying and screaming in pain. The pain she localised it to the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. It has been three days now and the pain was getting worse. The parents took her initially to a general practitioner who then referred her to us. On examination, her pulses were racing and she was warm. Her abdomen was so tender all over but she braved herself to be examined. Her abdomen was tensed and tender. It was also guarded(stiff). She was taking short quick breaths. Having admitted her, she was quickly resuscitated and her pain was relieved. Despite this, the pain was still present. She was booked for surgery with a suspicion of a perforated appendix.

I was notified that she was going into surgery. Not long after, I was called into the operating theatre.

So what do you think is going on?