Revisited - Phillip Island

I think I had been to Phillip Island for 4 times now. Not because I want to but I have too. But this time round might be my final visit because I am going to leave Melbourne soon. It did change much though only they renovated the buildings at most of the places. 

It was raining, couldn't help much just do what ever we can. Me, zul, Zainah with family, Zainah's Mom, her ister and brother in law with their son. In total, 11 of us and Huzaizi booked a 12 seater van.

We reached Phillip Island bout 11 am and stop at San Remo to watch the pelican feeding and had our BBQ picnic.  

Lot of pelicans than the day before said the Pelican feeder  

All were really hungry. Hungry Pelican

Fighting for food. It was flat head fish.

Catching the fish

Done and satisfied with full tummy. :-)

Pelican Feeding time at San Remo, Phillip Island the video clip

Location: San Remo, Phillip Island, Victoria

Feeding Time, at 12 noon...........

Bird Paradise.....

Not sure how many times I have been here.

Love to come here when we were around Dandenong Ranges area. Nice place for picnic and surrounding by lot and lot of birds at the same time.

Visited this place, Sherbrooke, few weeks back. 

Lajiman and Su said this will be their last time coming here because they are going back home for good in the middle of December 

On top of Lajiman head

Me with the friendly one. (It was drizzling that day)

Slowly but sure

(Blackberry Torch 9800 photo)

Seen a lot of them especially during rainy day. Crossing the street, walk way, in the garden and park. Slowly travelling crossing the street. Hopefully people won't step on them. 

My Style : Rojak Tahu Sambal Kicap,

Came back from Uni, while walking the rain still drop and keep falling on my head. :-) . Suddenly reminded me of some song. It was drizzling still but I was still walking as usual from Uni to home with my rain coat of course. Other wise I will get wet and I don't want to get sick again. 

While I was walking, I was thinking what I want to have for dinner. Time like this love to eat something warm and hot. I remembered my childhood food, 'Rojak Tahu Johor Style' which is Fried tofu with slice cucumber and  bean sprout with black sauce. The black sauce made of garlic, shallots, green chilli, shrimp paste/otak udang/belacan and thick soy sauce. My mom used to make this for evening tea on the weekend. Nice. 

I went to an Asian grocery shop. I bought 12 pieces of tofu and a packet of bean sprout.  I supposed to fried the tofu though but because I want to avoid using oil, I baked it in a Flavo-wave oven. It is like a salad with the main ingredient is tofu. I had 6 pieces and cut into small cube shape on a plate then put all the vege on top then the black sauce. Hmmmmm.. yummm..

Kacang botol @ Melbourne

(Blackberry Torch 9800 photo)

Pergi ke pasar sebentar tadi dalam pukul 2.30pm waktu Melbourne, sajer nak relax tenangkan fikiran. Pasar dengan Uni tak jauh, jalan kaki 5 min jerr. Sampai di pasar dalam mencari cari bahan yang nak di beli ternampak lah pulak ni haa, kacang botol (bungkusan yang paling kanan). Lahhhh 10 dollar / box. Mahal tuuu. Tak per, tak nak beli, tak kempunan pun, balik Malaysia nanti boleh makan puas puas. Campak benih kat belakang rumah senang jerr hidup. Ini  kalau buat ulam makan dengan sambal belacan sedap nyerr kan. :-)

Warm Night

Last 2 days, the temperature had gone up more than 30C , and last night was the warmest night so far after few months. Summer just around the corner and it been predicted that, this summer is going to be the hottest summer. Will wait and see. Anyhow, I did slept well last night despite it was warm and without air conditioning at home. Going to be another hot day today but a thunderstorm coming later in the evening then it going to be a cooling weekend. 

Too much with High Expectation

Giving yourself a pressure

to get excellent and outstanding job

May be good thing or otherwise

I like to have bit of pressure

so I can get most of my work done

Too much expectation

will be a disaster

When failing

Felt really low

Hopeless

Sad

and

Depressed 

Careful with expectation

Knows your limitation

we'll be fine 

Chocolate Cake with Strawberry dip in Chocolate

Made Chocolate cake and a strawberry dip in chocolate. Yummy.....

(It not low calorie though he he , that ok once in a while) 

Toooo Long waiting time

See  how Long I had spent my day at the Emergency Department. Mind you this is a public hospital, specialising  in Eye and Ear.

11.00 am : 

Arrival and queuing in line for registration  and triage. ( A long queue when I had arrived. They only have 1 counter for the triage. Should have more because one patients will take a while for the nurse to ask for history and made early assessment and decision for the triage. The queue behind me getting longer and longer and people getting anxious and upset).

              

11.35 am : 

I had finally get my turn for registration, history taking and early assessment done.

Then waiting at the common waiting area. Waiting and waiting.

12.15 pm:

My name being called. An eye nurse made a second assessment. Detailing more of the history taking and medical history. Assessing my  vision and my eye pressure. Then she asked me go and wait at the common waiting area again. 

12.45 pm

My name being called again. A receptionist had asked me to wait at the consultation area. Saw only a consultant and two registrars in action. They were few doctors at the other end discussion some issues. Me and the rest of the patients waiting and waiting. 

1.15 pm. 

An ophthalmologist (I think his the senior most registrar) called my name and start examining my eye in detail. Spent quite a while he managed to make a diagnosis but seems not sure with his finding. He said need to check in side my eyes. He put some drops to dilate my eye pupil. Have to wait at least 20 minutes. Since it was a change over shift time, I have to wait for another doctor. 

Waiting and waiting and waiting.

2.15 pm

A nurse came and check my eyes put few more drops on my eye without explaining for what. But I knew it was meant  for dilating my eyes. Lack of communication, should at least say why. I should ask but a good communication is when if she want to do something to patients she should explain. Anyhow.

Waiting and waiting and waiting

Just before half past 2, few doctors for the afternoon shift came in. Start to call patients 

2.45 pm

Another nurse came and check again my eyes and put some more eye drops. Hmmmm

3.20 pm

FINALLY.... An ophthalmologist lady doctor seen me. She's very good, sharp and precise. She check in side my eyes thoroughly and detail. Actually she did questioned why checking inside my eyes is required. Hmmm, just keep quiet. (She shouldn't said in front of me. I knew the morning doctor shift, for me, he don't look confident and not sure with his finding. He even repeated the same questions to me.)

3.35 pm

Done. Came out from the consultation area. 

Once I came out from the consultation area to the main waiting area. I was shocked, it was full with people. The crowd keep on increasing. Not sure how they going to handle it.

Went to the pharmacy and bought my eye drops.

See how long I had spent my time. 4 and a half hours, slightly more. 

There were few issues here.

1. Triage counter should have more than just one counter. 

2. Communication with patients which I found the main weakness. Not just me, most of the patients around me were also restless and anxious not knowing what they were waiting for. At least explain to them instead just telling them that they have to wait for another doctor to see or something. Another 4 patients who came in the consulting area same with me were all anxious. 

3. The doctor work efficient was lacking. Some of them busy settling their morning shift ward work in the emergency clinic and took too long to finish it. This supposed not to happen. The patients mass is keep on increasing. I saw lot of registrar seeking for second opinion with the consultant but not many consultant around. May be they don't have enough doctors, should anticipate this matter. 

Now I had experienced myself with what most of the patients had gone through. Too long waiting hours. It is a main current issue in hospital services here in Australia.

(Jadi kesimpulannya, keadaan hospital di Malaysia dan kat sini tak jauh sangat berbeza dari segi servis. Sama jerr. Padahal ini negara maju sedangkan Malaysia tidak lagi. Hmmmm)

Admission

First of all before I start, I am fine I am alright and nothing serious. Usually when I am not feeling well, I don't go to clinic here.

Firstly I have stock of medications which I had brought from home such as antibiotics, eye drops etc which need prescriptions if I want to get it here in Melbourne. 

Secondly, Mostly I knew my own diagnosis what I have been suffering. 

Thirdly, here in Australia because of the Health Insurance system and bulk billing system you can't get to see doctor in the clinic there and then. You have to make an appointment and most of the time the appointment will be a week later. By that time you already recovered what ever you have. (Payah kan demam hari ni  baru boleh jumpa minggu depan atau sakit terseliuh ker apa apa kerr tak leh jumpa hari ni. Bagus lagi system tempat kita) Unless if it is really urgent you can go to Emergency Department, and the waiting time will be a nightmare. That what had happen to me yesterday. 4 and half hours. (Will tell the story later) or you can shop around to any clinic which still can receive walk in patients. Very rare. and

 Fourth. IT IS SO EXPENSIVE, just for a consultation not included prescriptions. Even though I can claim from the Insurance but  I have to pay first and they will refund only the most 85% from what you had paid. Huuuuuh...Payah.

Because of the above reasons I never go to clinic. But yesterday I don't have any choice because I am out of stock with all my important medications. I had swollen and red right eyes from the night before. Firstly because It is the worst Hay fever epidemic in Melbourne lately, weather wise and because I am using contact lens (which I have  neglected the cleanliness  lately bit lazy taking care and cleaning the lens). 

Anyhow I thought I can wait a while it will subside as long as I keep on using the eye drops which I bought from the pharmacy. I went to Austin Hospital as usual then most of the staffs in the department were worried about me in case if I have scratch eyes by the foreign body and yes I did felt a foreign body in my eyes which made my eye very sore and irritated. The thing was I have to pay 150 dollars for just a consultation exclusion prescription.  Finally I decided I need to go and seek treatment just to make sure there is nothing wrong with my eyes. I don't go to the GP, which I thought it is not necessary straight away to Eye Hospital Emergency department Melbourne CBD. Thanks to Deidre she help me a lot asking the hospital procedure and pricing for me.I went there without any hassle. 

Alhamdullillah, my eyes was fine no scratch or ulcer just inflammation. Today it became much much better no redness and no swollen eyes thanks to the steroid drops that I have to use. Hmmmmmm

My Strawberry Cake

Made my own Strawberry Cake with Fresh strawberry sauce and strawberry

Sunset

Sunset view.............

Senja nan tak merah

(Blackberry Torch 9800)

Balik dari 'Austin Hospital' tadi balik rumah tukar baju dulu sebab nak gi ala ala beraya lah begitu. Ada orang buat open house sempena aidil adha. Satu rumah jerr. Rumah bebudak ni di atas angin nun di tingkat 21.  Dapatlah merasa makan nasi beryani dengan ayam masak merah dan rendang dan acar sayur hari ni. 

View dari jendela rumah memang menarik cuma senja kali ini senja nan  tak merah. 

Salam Eid Ul Adha

Salam Eid Ul Adha buat semua yang menyambut kehadirannya

Eid UL Adha celebrated in state of Victoria today. Work as usual didn't cook much just small about of Beef Rendang, that all.

Lagu Hujan

P :Hujan oh hujan lekas berhenti

L: Hujan oh hujan usah turun lagi, lama sudah ku nanti..

:-), sajer  jerr. Tengah  tension tension ni teringatlah pulak lagu Uji dan Hail Amir pasal hujan. 

Wet weekend

(picture from Blackberry Torch 9800)

Early morning at Flinders street railway station. Raining non stop since the night  before

Have a Break

The last 2 weekend, I didn't go anyway even to the city to have a break. Just between home and Uni, home and Uni. That it. Even have to cancel last week plan to Dandenong due to everybody has other stuff to do. Anyhow yesterday, Saturday,  I manage to have a break and bit of relaxation. As usual me and Zul went to Dandenong and spend time and do bit of activities with Zainah with family and Lajiman with family.

Pick your own berries 2010 season start with Strawberry....

 Blue Hills Berries & Cherries, Silvan, Victoria

It was raining on Saturday, November 13 2010,  when we went to Blue Hills Berries & Cherries farm. Suppose to come here last week but everybody was busy with other stuff. 

We wait until about afternoon when the rain did stop for a while.

Me, Zul, Lajiman and wife, Zainah, Huzaizi and Ashraf went to the farm. The season just started two weeks ago, so still lot of strawberries in the farm.

When we went there, we only seen one car. Think not may people knew you can start pick your own berries now and also because it was raining on Saturday. By the time we arrived it started to drizzle again but we just continue picking the strawberries

They not only have strawberry but also other type of berries, like boy sen berries, raspberries and others. But, at the moment is only strawberry. The people who work's there said that the other berries will start in 2 weeks time. 

This is my 5th visit to this farm since 2007 and I found that this is the best berries farm. They look after the farm well, clean and lot of berries and cherries too. Not like some other places they only have one type which is strawberry and cherry.

Since we went there early of the season, lot of big strawberries were found. While picking and put the strawberries in a container provided we also eat while picking. Yummy and sweet.  I was full with fresh strawberries in my tummy. :-)

I have picked 1.2 kg in this container . I also ate lot of Strawberries too while picking. :-)

Ashraf Love Strawberry

At the Blue Hills Berries and Cherries, Ashraf loves picking the strawberries. Fresh and sweet.

See what Ashraf got on his hand. Strawberries which he pick himself 

Big one and small strawberries.

Yummy, so nice and sweet.

'Menuju Puncak.............'

Reaching

and, 

approaching the end 

of my journey soon

Can't wait the time time

It will

and when the time come

I finally climb to the top of my goal

Hopefully and Surely 

May Allah give me the strength

Achieving that goal

Dinner Pack

My dinner when I stay back late night. :-)

Mind you the menu will be different every day. 

Clean and Tidy

I have 2 work stations, one at the Hospital, Cardiology Research Department and one at Uni. I have quite a spacious workstation at Uni and I have been sitting here for the last 4 years. Lately it became more and more regular spending time at my working space. I will spend more time at Uni 4-5 days a week while at the Hospital 1 - 2 days a week. Yup almost everyday of the week I will be at any of my working stations. Seems that I don't have life at the moment. I need to and I have to other wise I cannot finish my thesis on time. But, I might sneak some time to have bit of relaxation though. Time is really crucial at the moment. Anyhow about my work station, lately I will use at least 2 computers, one desktop and my laptop and one more if necessary. Crazy because I  need to do more than one thing at the same time especially when writing and searching for references. 

The most important thing, my workstation must be clean and tidy. I will always clean it before and after I use it. That why most of the  students here, the post graduate students/honours students whom don't have workstation when they knew I am not around they will use my space and will make sure to clean my table or they won't touch my table at all. Other wise I will make noise. :-) . I hate people who used my space but don't take care, don't look after  and don't take responsibility. 

Usually If  when I am in my own zone, I could spend hours and hours till late night.  

Hard Work

Work Hard

Hard Work

7 am till 9 pm  and more

Working Hard

Like Bee Hard working

Work Hard

Hard Work

Working Hard

Hard Working

Until I  puke 

Tofu

Inspired by Poh's Kitchen recently. Her guest chef which has Phillippines origin showed his childhood dessert. He used tofu as the basic ingredient then adding Palm Sugar and coconut milk. The tofu you have to steam it for few minutes. 

But  I have been informed that the actual Philippines recipe for this dessert is actually tofu, sago and palm sugar no coconut milk which is more Malaysian by adding the coconut milk. Anyhow, I bought tofu, steamed it then add not coconut milk but skim milk (haha) and bit of gula malaka. Still taste nice, silky and sweet. :-)

Blue is 'Biru'

My mind is as clear as a blue sky.

I should 

and

I have and I must think clearly 

and

Calm as calm as the river flowing 

so I could think wisely

Even though I know 

my mind is actually in a total mess

worried

and my heart is pounding

anxiously

trying to get everything ready on time.

I must be calm

I must think clearly and wisely

so many thing to do

stay calm

I should be patience

 all the time.....

Looking at the clear blue sky

no breeze at all

so so calm

Made my mind meditated 

Then 

I walk my way though

still looking at the blue sky

with hope

so I think I could

and I should

and I will

Blue sky

Blue is 'Biru'

Breakfast / Morning Tea / Afternoon Tea

Kuih Sagu Kelapa

My yellow "Kuih Sagu Kelapa"

Another Malay traditional 'kuih' / dessert

Easy to make. Just need tapioca pearl / Sago as the main basic ingredient.

Made a tray, a lot for one person. It will take me a while to finish the whole lot. :-)

Every morning must have at least one of this for breakfast. But you can have it when having morning tea or afternoon tea or as part of the dessert after lunch or dinner. Nice

Snack Time : Kuih Gunting,

I am trying to cut down and try not to buy something which I could make myself at home. I have been making lot of Malaysian Traditional snack for myself  rather than I bough all those chips from the supermarket/shops. I like making traditional Malay food which is my childhood food and it easy.

This is one of the traditional Malay cookie/snack. Kuih Gunting. Easy to make spicy and crunchy. Preparation time less than 30 minutes including frying and eat it..:-)

The ingredients:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup rice flour
1/2 teaspoon salts
1 table spoon cumin
1 table spoon coriander
1 table spoon curry powder
1 table spoon chilli powder ( if you like it hot just add some more I add more than 1 table spoon :-) )
1 egg
and water, the amount of water just  enough to make a dough

Method:
1. Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl.
2. Add the egg then water small amount at a time.
3.  Mix it and kneed the dough till it not sticking
4. Then take some of the dough roll it with roller pin as thin as you can.
5. Cut it with scissor with what ever shape you like.
6. Then fry it .
Finally enjoy...the crispy spicy and crunchy Kuih Gunting

What cooking.....

Nothing unusual, I went to asian groceries shop and saw frozen 'petai'.Then, I decided I want to make 'sambal tumis petai' for lunch and for the whole week. I had my 'sambal tumis petai' with 'Nasi goreng belacan ikan bilis'. (habis lah bau petai kat rumah)

My New Favourite: Anuar Zain Ku Berjanji Karna Cinta

New song from my favourite Malaysian Male singer, Anuar Zain. Just FYI I sang few of his songs in some of my performances and one of his song I sang for a competition and I won. :-) 

People said my voice sounds like him or visa versa.. (hahaha perasan kan...)

Love this new song. His new song is so typical Anuar Zain ballad. Doesn't matter I love it.

So enjoy..........


Ku Berjanji Karna Cinta

Up and Down

Up and down mood this week.

No idea and not motivated.

Still, have to push myself try to do as much as I could

My recipe: Low calorie Low fat Lemon Cheese cake

Slightly different from the one I have made previously. It lemony and I change totally most of the ingredients to low fat low calorie ingredients and less sugar. Even the crust for the cheese cake is low calorie. 

The recipe.


Making the crust.


        Ingredients: 

             180 g corn/rice crackers brand Corn Thins, Real food ( you can use any finger biscuits or plain biscuits such as digestive or Marie etc. I used  Corn Thins because low calorie and low fat crackers compared to other biscuits)

               90 g butter ( I used extra light western star extra light because of low calorie low fat and contain low sodium)

Crush the corn/rice cake crackers in a food processor. Then add melted butter, mix until both mixture combined well. Place the mixture into the baking tray about 20 cm size tray. Pressed down firmly in the base. Then baked for 10 minutes in a pre-heated oven at  160C. Let the base set and cool  

Making the filing:


          Ingredients:

                 250 g  Philadelphia Low fat Cheese ( I choose the lowest calorie available among these brand)

                      250 g ricotta cheese extra light 

                      250 g yogurt brand Yoplait Forme ( Prefer this brand because I like the taste and has low calorie too per serving. Can use any brand you wish)

                        1 egg ( can add one more egg)

                        1/3 cup Caster sugar  ( up to you how much sweetness you like can add to 1/2 cup or 2/3 cup of caster sugar. Even you can use any of the sugar substitute to make it even lower in calorie. But for me I don't like the taste of the sugar substitute and 1/3 cup of caster sugar is just enough)

                        25 ml freshly squeeze lemon 

        grated lemon skin (can leave some of the grated lemon skin for decoration/topping) 

Mix all the above ingredients in a food processor/ using a mixer until smooth. Pour it all over the cool base and then baked for another 40 - 50 minutes. Once cooked let cool. 

This is my version of low calorie low fat Lemon Cheese cake.......

Staying Home

Raining for the last 2 days and it nice to stay at home instead. Did a lot of house keeping and groceries and cooking. :-)