Odysseys of George

I am in a dilemma. Just as soon as I lost my companion, Canon A620, replacements choices were informed to me!

Choice A:

A special deal with Canon worth RM2300

Features:
* 10.0 Megapixels
* 6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coating
* DIGIC III and iSAPS with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AE
* 2.5” high-resolution LCD with wide viewing angle and anti-glare coating
* ISO 1600 for flash-free, low light shooting
* Ergonomic design with dedicated ISO and Multi Control dials for fast, easy operation
* 25 shooting modes including full manual control and 2 custom settings
* Extra telephoto reach with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom
* Hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flashes and optional lens accessories

with

a 1G byte memory card

and

canon housing

Choice B

Second hand with a 5 month warranty – used only three times before – worth RM 1700

Basic Specifications

Resolution: 9.00 Megapixels
Lens : 4.00x zoom
(32-128mm eff)
Viewfinder: Optical/LCD
LCD Size : 2.0 inch
ISO : 80-800
Shutter : 15-1/2000
Max Aperture: 2.8
Mem Type: xD
Battery: 2 x AA
Dimensions: 4.0×2.5×1.4in
(102x64x36mm)
Weight: 7.0 oz
(201 g)

with Ikelite housing

Help? Which would you choose!?

There were 3 mishaps on this beautiful trip!

1. Death

Preparations for the first dive took place as usual. We boarded the dive boat as usual clinging closely together. I took my plunge and reached out to receive her. Just as I was about the begin my descend, I realised that she was not responsive. I tugged on her but she just laid lifeless beside me. With tears welling up, I handed her over and with a heavy heart continued my dive without her by my side – it was a lifeless dive. I waited for the dive to be over to inspect on her again but… she was ………… my Canon A620 camera had just drowned itself within her casing as seawater seeped through the button and thus killing it in its sleep!

Well, photos?.. I used my friend camera but the setting was different – lets see whether it turned out well!

2. The breakdown

Well, on our way back, the other 4 wheel drive, the land cruiser decided to give some problems. First it over heated. We took a break and checked everything out. Worried we continued our journey. Then it started to smoke. The gasket was gone and water had entered it! We were a few metres away from the Genting Sempah toll and R&R. We called the MTD hotline and they towed the Ford Cruiser to the Genting Sempah R&R. There we waited for another tow truck to come and tow the cruiser to Shah Alam. Guess what? Typically Malaysian, the tow truck came after an hour or so and as he lifted the cruiser, he realised that the his tow truck tyre was flat!!! Can you beat that!? We reached University Malaya pool at about 1am dead tired!

3. The Accident

Coming behind us, maybe about 30 minutes behind, was the owner of the dive centre. Zol was driving his Hilux with his wife, heading back home to Kuala Lumpur. It was raining somewhere near Marang, if I am not mistaken, his truck skidded and turn turtle! His wife suffered from multiple bruises but both were otherwise well. They then took a bus ride home wile their 4 wheeler, was towed away!

4. The Flood

As we set out away from Dungun, we stopped over to buy newspaper and keropok lekor! Shocked, the newspaper highlighted a flood occuring at the Merdeka Square! I just wrote about the SMART tunnel before leaving to Tenggol and the comments came out true! Another high cost Malaysia Boleh project where somebody is laughing his way to the bank.

The mishaps. I hope to be able to share with you bloggers my photos I took with my friend’s camera. Cross your fingers and mine too!

Hi friends

I am back! My mind still swaying with the coconut leaves that line the beach front. Behind this, dense jungle in it vibrant shades of green. As I gaze…..

Well, we were all waiting at the pool front at University Malaya. Then, our transport arrived, 2 four-wheelers and a Perdana. Many pulled out at the last tinkle as personal agendas took priority. There were only 11 of us from the expected 15. We left at about half past midnight. I was in the Rexton. Our first stop was at the Temerloh R&R and then a straight drive to Dungun jetty.

Part of the crew!

We reached Dungun, at about 5am and pulled up at a so called restaurant infested with cockroaches running up your feet. There we had nasi lemak and some drinks. We then headed to the nearby mosque and later to the beachfront. As we reached this beautiful site, we witnessed sunrise and suddenly,…………….

My legs buckled! My eyes almost popped out. I was in tears as pain rushed across my abdomen weaving its way along the length of my intestines, intermittently. I could feel every urge to open my bowels. The cramps got stronger as I managed to get my friend to bring me to a nearby run-down hotel. What a way to start my trip, I told myself as I self diagnose to have food poisoning! Luckily, I came prepared with medications!

The ride on the slow boat was painful as it took almost two hours to reach the island, Tenggol.

The other half of the crew!

The boat

The promise of paradise

Tenggol, was paradise! The resort was on a quiet beach strip within a lagoon. It was the last undisturbed paradise. I was in heaven and suddenly I felt better!

A tree top view.

I was happy that this island was left away from the eyes of our ever greedy politicians! For once there was still an unmolested island but for how long I wonder!

The resort rooms were average in standard, losing its’ stars for the poor water supply and the food served. I would say the food was okay but the water pressure was too low to have a decent bath!

The dive centre, Discovery Divers, manned by Mr Zol, was excellent with good facilities and excellent care for divers.

The dives – well should I say more! Magnificent!

Related Articles:

My next dive – Tenggol Islands

Well these two are really twins! I refused to believe so not until this week was over, well at least for me!

Well, so much happened and I really feel of mixed emotions that I can’t display any one of them significantly! Sounds familiar or is it just me!?

The good news:

1. I attended the Good Clinical Practice Workshop about two weeks ago which was held at Mandarin Oriental,Kuala Lumpur. The course was good and informative but was packed with lectures. At the end of this dry course, (I must say the organisers tried to make it as interesting as possible) there was an exam and one could only make 8 mistakes out of 40 questions. Guess what? I did it – hooray! I received my certificate today! Thanks to Jody and Dr Muruga.

2. My row of on calls are over! Well this is really my doing as I have requested many days to be not on call as so that I can go for my diving!

3. I am going for a series of serious diving – there will be one every forthnight! Yipee!

4. My patients – so understanding and nice!

5. A good friend of mine has passed her open water diving license and another 2 more friends of mine are doing it this weekend!

6. I have many friends

The bad news:

1. Well, my application for upper GI training (subspeciality) was rejected after the comittee felt that it should be given to somebody older! My 2 cents: A lame excuse! For a speciality with very scarce specialist, why train only one and there are only 2 applicants! Furthermore, older does not mean more experienced not in the modern setting. Why do I say this? Well mainly because unlike those days, many seniors are not keen to bear the responsibility of mistakes of their juniors and therefore, rather than assisting and correcting them, they place a gag-like conditon which paralyse the development of junior surgeons. Those who have worked with me can definitely vouch that I have a good variety of exposure and experience compared to the gentleman they picked. Mind you, I applied for the training post much earlier! During the interview, a point was highlighted which I took a particular note – does being young means lack of maturity or does it just mean lack of exposure. Well I suppose they felt that since my exposure was better than the other, the former most likely suited me! Never in my life has anyone manage to severe my interest in anything, but this made its impact! Perhaps it is because I feel I deserve it more and perhaps I have great plans for the future of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery! Should I bother now or just bow out of government service and go private? A friend told me once, being in government service in Malaysia, one has to expect such decisions. Another good friend of mine, spent almost an hour on the phone shifting my depressed self to a topic close to his heart, Anthony Robbins! I wonder how many bloggers have attended his talks? I haven’t but many have and swear by it!

2. My car is giving me problems again – so much for proton! It starts to jerk when the air conditioning is swiched on. And this is not always. When the AAM staffs arrive, the problem cease to exist!

3. There are suddenly an efflux of cancer cases for which I need to settle as soon as possible.

4. Many unsolved issues in life!

The key word in that beautiful song is that the greatest thing in life is to love and be loved in return. This is true isn’t it? So, true! It would be so sad then if we fail to realise that we are being loved or the person whom we love does not love you in return or does not realise it as such.
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Proceed with caution! Not for the faint hearted! A friend sent me this images.

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