So we woke up about 6am...got ready and rushed to the clock tower at Camp Street to wait for the bus which was leaving at 7am...we were booked on our Milford Sound tour with Kiwi Discovery... our bus departed about 710am...it was a cloudy and rainy day....there were mist covering most places along the way...we passed by Lake Wakatipu, which was South Island's 2nd largest lake...then we stopped at Lake Te Anau (NZ's 2nd largest lake) for breakfast...had steak and cheese pie and a hot chocolate with marshmallow...it was so bloody cold...i was wearing 4 layers and my breakfast barely warmed me up...bought some Wild Ferns product (one of NZ's skin care brand) thinking it was cheap...of course we were mistaken again...
Our next stop was at the MIrror Lakes....the lakes were pretty small but the water was so still that one can see clear images of the mountains on the lake...amazing!!! then we passed by more lakes and stopped at Monkey Creek...which was just before Homer Tunnel...there was a remnant of last year's avalanche...the snow was quite thick and my shoes got wet walking on the snow....we finally reached Milford Sound close to 1pm...it was raining and foggy....we boarded our cruise, the Milford Monarch, at 1pm....
We started our cruise in rain and fog...it really had the Middle Earth feel...even the cruise crew told us that it's the best weather to experience Milford Sound...the cruise lasted about 1 hour 45 mins...we headed out towards the Tasman Sea..although it was raining and freaking cold, we still went to the upper deck for photos...saw a couple (who looked and sounded like Singaporean) doing the Titanic scene on the deck...Cam was pretty envious...hehe...as we were on the way back, the sky cleared a bit and the fog lifted...so we managed to see the Mitre Peak, Mt Kimberley and more stuffs...we saw some seals on the rocks....the ship went very near the Stirling Falls and water was splashing onto us...but everyone was happily taking photos...
Then we saw some dolphins....i went to the toilet for a while and totally missed the blue penguins...when our cruise ended, it felt like we just returned from another world...Milford Sound is indeed a place worth visiting...would be nice if we could have spent more time there exploring the other places...then we got up our bus and headed back to Te Anau (which means the Lion in Maori)...we wanted to buy some fridge magnets but some girl on the bus told us the stuffs in Queenstown are a lot cheaper...on the bus, they were showing a movie called 'The World's Fastest Indian'...the view on the way back was better as the fog has lifted...but i felt a bit nauseated in the bus...finally we reached Queenstown at about 650pm...
Elena went back to the hostel to get the Wi-fi password while Cam and i checked out the price of souvenirs...the girl on the bus was right...stuffs in Queenstown were cheaper...then we went for dinner at PJ's fish and chips...Pia (a Chilean girl whom Elena met on the bus) joined us...the fish was good...after that, Elena went to get her hokey-pokey ice-cream and Pia dropped by at her backpacker...which was called Absoloot...Cam and I asked if there was vacancy as we only booked 2 nights at Alpine Lodge...Absoloot was a new joint...and they had vacancy for the 6-bedded dorm at NZD26 per night...and since Cam thought the receptionist Ryan, was cute...we booked our last night there...we met up with Juana & Alberto at Fergburger...then we headed for the World Bar where we got our IDs checked by the bouncer...it was happy hour when we were there...so the cocktails in teapots were half-priced at NZD8.50...so i had a pot of Smoochable (which i liked a lot coz it tasted like ice-cream soda)...Cam had Ruby Louby which i thought tasted a bit like medicine...Pia and Elena shared a pot of Tropicana which tasted like cough syrup...took us quite a while to finish a whole pot...
Then we got back to our hostel...and yes, i was still sober...but i felt itchy...and my whole body was red...perhaps i was allergic to alcohol after all...anyway, i bathed and took loratidine and the itch kinda subsided...at least i managed to sleep soundly...
Friday, October 15, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
NZ trip - Day 7
We woke at 8am to a clear blue sky...no mist covering the mountains and the sun was shining brightly...so the 4 of us had a light breakfast and headed towards Kea Point track...got a bit lost but managed to get up to the Hermitage Hotel where the track started...so we followed the signboard and walked for about 1 hour to Kea Point...we played with fallen snow along the way...after walking for a while, i felt quite hot so i took off my bulky jacket and was still sweating although i only had my long-sleeve t-shirt on...
At Kea Point, we had a clear and beautiful view of Mt Cook...there was also a glacier lake, the lateral Mueller morraines and Mt Sefton...heard a few avalanches while we were there...the rumbling was pretty loud...saw a small one but didn't manage to get it on camera...after taking enough photos, we headed back...halfway through, Elena called us to look back...so we turned around and lo! a huge avalanche on Mt Sefton...managed to get it on pic...ok, so it wasn't that huge that it almost got us...but it was still a sight to behold...
We stopped by to buy some souvenirs at the gift shop at Hermitage Hotel (only to find out later in Queenstown that we've overpaid for the stuffs)...oh well, should have known better...so we went back to the YHA and packed...had chips and chocolates for lunch...that was all that was left of our groceries...we waited for our bus to Queenstown which departed at 230pm..so we said goodbye to Anna who was continuing her stay at Mt Cook for a week (but she will be in Malaysia in October so we'll get to meet again)...the bus stopped at Omaraha for toilet break...then it stopped another time at Jone's fruit stall which was by the roadside...they were selling huge packets of apples for NZD10 per packet...but we only bought a box of mixture of plums, peach and nectarine for NZD6.50...we also feasted on the variety of dried fruits, nuts and nougats that were put out for sampling...liked the apricot nougat so bought some as well..
We reached Queenstown at 630pm...Elena met another Spanish lady while on the bus so we agreed to meet up for dinner at Fergburger at 730pm(apparently this was a must-go fastfood when you're in Queenstown)...so we went hunting for backpacker...we ended up at Gorge St and found the Alpine Lodge which still had vacancy...we got a 6-bedded dorm to ourselves for the night...cost NZD26 each...we put our stuffs and went to look for Starbucks (Elena was thermos-hunting but they didn't have the kind she wanted)...after that, we went to Fergburger...it was packed with people...had to queue up about 10 minutes before they took our orders...and another 20 minutes before my Southern Swine was ready...it cost ND11.50 and the burger was definitely worth the wait...it was probably as huge as Burger King's Whopper...and it tasted real good...
After dinner, we walked to the Lakeside and spent some time at a souvenir shop but didn't buy anything...then we went to the -5 degrees ice bar...but we only took pics from the outside coz entry cost NZD31 with cover drink...Elena, Cam and i went to the Buffalo Club instead...where they had a buy 1 drink free 1 shot or buy 1 beer and free another promotion...i had a glass of white wine for NZD5 and both of them had beer for NZD6.50...not much of a drinker but i think the price is quite cheap...our free shots were sambucca, which was too sweet for Cam and Elena's liking...i found it too sweet as well but for me, it's better sweet than bitter...my white wine wasn't too bad...and the beer wasn't bitter too...then we went back to the backpacker..and yes, i could still walk in a straight line...though i did feel pretty warm after the drinks...so we bathed and slept...would have had a really good night's sleep if it weren't for some idiots who were talking and laughing rather loudly at the lounge outside our room...
At Kea Point, we had a clear and beautiful view of Mt Cook...there was also a glacier lake, the lateral Mueller morraines and Mt Sefton...heard a few avalanches while we were there...the rumbling was pretty loud...saw a small one but didn't manage to get it on camera...after taking enough photos, we headed back...halfway through, Elena called us to look back...so we turned around and lo! a huge avalanche on Mt Sefton...managed to get it on pic...ok, so it wasn't that huge that it almost got us...but it was still a sight to behold...
We stopped by to buy some souvenirs at the gift shop at Hermitage Hotel (only to find out later in Queenstown that we've overpaid for the stuffs)...oh well, should have known better...so we went back to the YHA and packed...had chips and chocolates for lunch...that was all that was left of our groceries...we waited for our bus to Queenstown which departed at 230pm..so we said goodbye to Anna who was continuing her stay at Mt Cook for a week (but she will be in Malaysia in October so we'll get to meet again)...the bus stopped at Omaraha for toilet break...then it stopped another time at Jone's fruit stall which was by the roadside...they were selling huge packets of apples for NZD10 per packet...but we only bought a box of mixture of plums, peach and nectarine for NZD6.50...we also feasted on the variety of dried fruits, nuts and nougats that were put out for sampling...liked the apricot nougat so bought some as well..
We reached Queenstown at 630pm...Elena met another Spanish lady while on the bus so we agreed to meet up for dinner at Fergburger at 730pm(apparently this was a must-go fastfood when you're in Queenstown)...so we went hunting for backpacker...we ended up at Gorge St and found the Alpine Lodge which still had vacancy...we got a 6-bedded dorm to ourselves for the night...cost NZD26 each...we put our stuffs and went to look for Starbucks (Elena was thermos-hunting but they didn't have the kind she wanted)...after that, we went to Fergburger...it was packed with people...had to queue up about 10 minutes before they took our orders...and another 20 minutes before my Southern Swine was ready...it cost ND11.50 and the burger was definitely worth the wait...it was probably as huge as Burger King's Whopper...and it tasted real good...
After dinner, we walked to the Lakeside and spent some time at a souvenir shop but didn't buy anything...then we went to the -5 degrees ice bar...but we only took pics from the outside coz entry cost NZD31 with cover drink...Elena, Cam and i went to the Buffalo Club instead...where they had a buy 1 drink free 1 shot or buy 1 beer and free another promotion...i had a glass of white wine for NZD5 and both of them had beer for NZD6.50...not much of a drinker but i think the price is quite cheap...our free shots were sambucca, which was too sweet for Cam and Elena's liking...i found it too sweet as well but for me, it's better sweet than bitter...my white wine wasn't too bad...and the beer wasn't bitter too...then we went back to the backpacker..and yes, i could still walk in a straight line...though i did feel pretty warm after the drinks...so we bathed and slept...would have had a really good night's sleep if it weren't for some idiots who were talking and laughing rather loudly at the lounge outside our room...
Sunday, September 26, 2010
NZ trip - Day 6
We had to wake up earlier today...about 0640H coz our bus was leaving at 0740H...so we got ready, packed and checked-out....walked about 2 blocks lugging our luggage to the Intercity bus stop...we saw a shop that was exactly where the bus stop was...it had ads selling party pills etc etc...intrigued, but the shop was closed so didn't get to check it out...our bus left on time and so the 3 of us started our journey together....
The bus stopped at Geraldine for breakfast...i had a sweet chilli sandwich which was delicious...i think when you're cold and hungry, everything tastes good...our next stop was Lake Tekapo...which was a glacier lake...so the water was really a lovely shade of turquoise...there was a church there called the Church of the Good Shepherd...it's the most quaint church...and from the altar, you get the loveliest view of the lake...it started raining while we were there...and we saw a rainbow after that while we continued our journey...
I slept for a while in the bus...and the next thing i knew, we were stopping at Lake Pukaki...i think it's the 2nd largest lake in South Island or something like that...it was really huge...and it was dammed at a certain area...we finally reached Mt Cook Village YHA at about 1300H...there were only 3 accomodations there...it was either the YHA (for cheapos like us), a more expensive budget motel or the super-expensive hotel further up called The Hermitage..but we managed to get a 8-bedded dorm all to ourselves...and we paid NZD27 per night (coz we had the YHA card)...we met another lodger who also just reached the YHA the same day (but she came from Queenstown)...her name was Anna and she was from HK...she actually planned to stay in Mt Cook for a week...i guess you can afford that if you have time...
We had cheese sandwich for lunch at the pantry...from our grocery stock which was running low... then we bundled up and headed for Red Tarn Trail...it was raining and really cold...but the 4 crazy girls decided to go for a hike anyway....we were huffing and panting up the trail when about 1/3rd of the way, Elena met a Spanish couple who were on their way down the trail...we were told that apparently from where we were and from the peak, the view is pretty similar...so no point suffering another 2/3rd of the way yea? so we decided to turn back after taking enough photos...gosh! i'm really getting old...really not as fit as i used to be anymore...
We went to the visitor centre to escape the cold...and also to check out their display and exhibition... we were entertaining and amusing ourselves till about 5pm...then we went to the only restaurant there which was called the Old Mountaineer's Restaurant or something like that...we didn't bother checking out the one in the Hermitage Hotel...we ordered Margharita Pizza, Merino Pie and Spagetthi Napoli...the bill came up to NZD18.70 per person...we shared among 3 of us coz Elena was still persistent in trying to finish up her grocery stock...
After dinner, we went back to the hostel and bathed...ahhh..it was good to have a warm shower... then we hung out at the TV room and watched "The Talented Mr Ripley" on a VCR (i thought VCR was extinct) ...starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow...Cam told us it was an interesting show and since none of us had watched it, we decided to try it out...so we snuggled up on the sofa, by the fireplace, eating chips and jellybeans...and chatted away...the movie started out interesting but it just got weirder and spookier...and i was really haunted by the ending...almost couldn't sleep that night...good thing i didn't have nightmare after that...
The bus stopped at Geraldine for breakfast...i had a sweet chilli sandwich which was delicious...i think when you're cold and hungry, everything tastes good...our next stop was Lake Tekapo...which was a glacier lake...so the water was really a lovely shade of turquoise...there was a church there called the Church of the Good Shepherd...it's the most quaint church...and from the altar, you get the loveliest view of the lake...it started raining while we were there...and we saw a rainbow after that while we continued our journey...
I slept for a while in the bus...and the next thing i knew, we were stopping at Lake Pukaki...i think it's the 2nd largest lake in South Island or something like that...it was really huge...and it was dammed at a certain area...we finally reached Mt Cook Village YHA at about 1300H...there were only 3 accomodations there...it was either the YHA (for cheapos like us), a more expensive budget motel or the super-expensive hotel further up called The Hermitage..but we managed to get a 8-bedded dorm all to ourselves...and we paid NZD27 per night (coz we had the YHA card)...we met another lodger who also just reached the YHA the same day (but she came from Queenstown)...her name was Anna and she was from HK...she actually planned to stay in Mt Cook for a week...i guess you can afford that if you have time...
We had cheese sandwich for lunch at the pantry...from our grocery stock which was running low... then we bundled up and headed for Red Tarn Trail...it was raining and really cold...but the 4 crazy girls decided to go for a hike anyway....we were huffing and panting up the trail when about 1/3rd of the way, Elena met a Spanish couple who were on their way down the trail...we were told that apparently from where we were and from the peak, the view is pretty similar...so no point suffering another 2/3rd of the way yea? so we decided to turn back after taking enough photos...gosh! i'm really getting old...really not as fit as i used to be anymore...
We went to the visitor centre to escape the cold...and also to check out their display and exhibition... we were entertaining and amusing ourselves till about 5pm...then we went to the only restaurant there which was called the Old Mountaineer's Restaurant or something like that...we didn't bother checking out the one in the Hermitage Hotel...we ordered Margharita Pizza, Merino Pie and Spagetthi Napoli...the bill came up to NZD18.70 per person...we shared among 3 of us coz Elena was still persistent in trying to finish up her grocery stock...
After dinner, we went back to the hostel and bathed...ahhh..it was good to have a warm shower... then we hung out at the TV room and watched "The Talented Mr Ripley" on a VCR (i thought VCR was extinct) ...starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow...Cam told us it was an interesting show and since none of us had watched it, we decided to try it out...so we snuggled up on the sofa, by the fireplace, eating chips and jellybeans...and chatted away...the movie started out interesting but it just got weirder and spookier...and i was really haunted by the ending...almost couldn't sleep that night...good thing i didn't have nightmare after that...
NZ Trip - Day 5
After a totally knocked-out night, we woke up about 8am, got ready and packed...then we checked out and walked to the train station which was just opposite the backpacker...we shopped for our breakfast and bought some groceries...then we took the shuttle bus to the Interislander Ferry terminal...that cost us NZD2 but i'm glad we didn't try to save that NZD2 and walked there...coz it was quite a drive and there were a lot of turnings...hehe...
So we checked in for our ferry ride...had our breakfast while waiting to board the ferry...we were quite amazed when we boarded the ferry (which was called Arahura) coz it was huge...equipped with a cinema, children's playroom, private lounge, cafe and convenient store...we departed at 1025H and our journey lasted aout 3 hours...i slept part of the way but as we were reaching Picton, Cam woke me up to see the beautiful scenery that surrounded us...so we went up the deck and took lots of pics of the lovely view...after that, we went to the cafe and bought some Rush Munro ice-cream...i had maple walnut while Cam ate hokey-pokey...soon after, it was time to disembark...
We checked-in our luggage through to Christchurch so we didn't have to lug our bags while walking to the train station in Picton...we had about 25 mins to get from the ferry terminal to the train station...our Tranzscenic train left at 1400H and we travelled about 5 1/2 hours before reaching Christchurch...we stopped in between...for views and all...there was a place we stopped which was called Kaikoura...it was famous for whale and dolphin watching...we went down for a while and almost missed our train...along the way we saw seals, sheep, cows on the field, snow-capped mountains and Lake Gressmer, which was New Zealand's main source of salt...the lake was huge and it was separated into squares...and there were also processing factories nearby where we saw heaps of salt...
We reached Christchurch at 1921H...by the time we got our luggage, the info counter was closed...and the last shuttle bus of the day has also left and the train master told us that it would take about 40 minutes to walk to the city centre...so this was the story of how Elena came to join us in our New Zealand trip...so while we were pondering on how to get to the city centre, a Spanish girl came and asked us if we wanted to share a cab...there was another poor helpless Japanese girl who was left behind as well...so the 4 of us shared a cab which cost us NZD20 and stopped at Cathedral Square...the Japanese girl then left us to meet up with her friends...so the 3 of us went to the visitor information centre where we sought help to find a place to stay for the night...unfortunately the Japanese girl there wasn't too helpful..so we tried our luck at some backpackers...BB's Backpacker was full..so we found a backpacker at Gloucester St called Stonehurst...Elena decided to join us to share a triple room with ensuite bathroom for NZD83 per night...which was a pretty good deal coz the room had a TV, coffee/tea drinking facility and it was cozy...about the nicest backpacker we've had by far...
Cam saw a sign on the way to our backpacker which read steak for NZD10 on Wednesday night...so these 2 starving ladies went to fill our stomachs with sumptious steak while Elena stayed back to eat her bread...Cam was doubly happy coz the waiter who was serving us was cute...so after a hearty dinner, we went back to the backpacker...Elena told us she booked her Queenstown to Auckland flight on Sunday (29/8/10)....coz earlier i told her that we'd be leaving Queenstown on Sunday thinking that Sunday was 30/8/10...Damn! due to my stupid mistake, we have caused Elena to book the wrong flight...coz initially she planned to leave Queenstown on Monday as well but i think when i told her that we were leaving on Sunday, she must have decided to travel with us...
So in the end, Cam and i decided to change our itinerary...so we wouldn't be staying an extra day in Christchurch...so we booked our bus to Mt Cook for the next day for NZD63 and then our bus from Mt Cook to Queenstown the day after for NZD78...we also booked our Milford Sound tour on 28/8/10 coz we were afraid there wouldn't be time to do so coz everything was pretty rushed...the tour cost NZD145...really thank God that the reception at our backpacker was this very nice lady who was willing to help us although it was quite late at night...her name was Catherine...
Since we weren't going to go around Christchurch, Cam wanted to go to Cathedral Square to take some photos...it was drizzling a bit...and the square was devoid of human beings except for us 3 girls...and it was bloody cold...we even took a picture of the tram stop since we weren't going to take the tram...so thanks to me, we didn't get to go for river punting, the tram and gondola ride...after we've had enough pics, we went back to the room, bathed and slept coz tomorrow was a full day ahead...
So we checked in for our ferry ride...had our breakfast while waiting to board the ferry...we were quite amazed when we boarded the ferry (which was called Arahura) coz it was huge...equipped with a cinema, children's playroom, private lounge, cafe and convenient store...we departed at 1025H and our journey lasted aout 3 hours...i slept part of the way but as we were reaching Picton, Cam woke me up to see the beautiful scenery that surrounded us...so we went up the deck and took lots of pics of the lovely view...after that, we went to the cafe and bought some Rush Munro ice-cream...i had maple walnut while Cam ate hokey-pokey...soon after, it was time to disembark...
We checked-in our luggage through to Christchurch so we didn't have to lug our bags while walking to the train station in Picton...we had about 25 mins to get from the ferry terminal to the train station...our Tranzscenic train left at 1400H and we travelled about 5 1/2 hours before reaching Christchurch...we stopped in between...for views and all...there was a place we stopped which was called Kaikoura...it was famous for whale and dolphin watching...we went down for a while and almost missed our train...along the way we saw seals, sheep, cows on the field, snow-capped mountains and Lake Gressmer, which was New Zealand's main source of salt...the lake was huge and it was separated into squares...and there were also processing factories nearby where we saw heaps of salt...
We reached Christchurch at 1921H...by the time we got our luggage, the info counter was closed...and the last shuttle bus of the day has also left and the train master told us that it would take about 40 minutes to walk to the city centre...so this was the story of how Elena came to join us in our New Zealand trip...so while we were pondering on how to get to the city centre, a Spanish girl came and asked us if we wanted to share a cab...there was another poor helpless Japanese girl who was left behind as well...so the 4 of us shared a cab which cost us NZD20 and stopped at Cathedral Square...the Japanese girl then left us to meet up with her friends...so the 3 of us went to the visitor information centre where we sought help to find a place to stay for the night...unfortunately the Japanese girl there wasn't too helpful..so we tried our luck at some backpackers...BB's Backpacker was full..so we found a backpacker at Gloucester St called Stonehurst...Elena decided to join us to share a triple room with ensuite bathroom for NZD83 per night...which was a pretty good deal coz the room had a TV, coffee/tea drinking facility and it was cozy...about the nicest backpacker we've had by far...
Cam saw a sign on the way to our backpacker which read steak for NZD10 on Wednesday night...so these 2 starving ladies went to fill our stomachs with sumptious steak while Elena stayed back to eat her bread...Cam was doubly happy coz the waiter who was serving us was cute...so after a hearty dinner, we went back to the backpacker...Elena told us she booked her Queenstown to Auckland flight on Sunday (29/8/10)....coz earlier i told her that we'd be leaving Queenstown on Sunday thinking that Sunday was 30/8/10...Damn! due to my stupid mistake, we have caused Elena to book the wrong flight...coz initially she planned to leave Queenstown on Monday as well but i think when i told her that we were leaving on Sunday, she must have decided to travel with us...
So in the end, Cam and i decided to change our itinerary...so we wouldn't be staying an extra day in Christchurch...so we booked our bus to Mt Cook for the next day for NZD63 and then our bus from Mt Cook to Queenstown the day after for NZD78...we also booked our Milford Sound tour on 28/8/10 coz we were afraid there wouldn't be time to do so coz everything was pretty rushed...the tour cost NZD145...really thank God that the reception at our backpacker was this very nice lady who was willing to help us although it was quite late at night...her name was Catherine...
Since we weren't going to go around Christchurch, Cam wanted to go to Cathedral Square to take some photos...it was drizzling a bit...and the square was devoid of human beings except for us 3 girls...and it was bloody cold...we even took a picture of the tram stop since we weren't going to take the tram...so thanks to me, we didn't get to go for river punting, the tram and gondola ride...after we've had enough pics, we went back to the room, bathed and slept coz tomorrow was a full day ahead...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Excuse me, i'm not your one-stop CBD insertion referral centre...
I don't know since when a urology MO has become the only MO who can insert CBD for patients who can't pass urine/ has swollen penis but apparently for the last few days, it has come to that...it's quite irritating to get referrals like that when there are hundred over patients in the clinic waiting to be reviewed...and as if i'm not seeing enough penises and scrotums per day in the clinic, i have to see them in other wards as well...
On Monday an MO from a particular ward called me up to help one of her patient who had bladder tumour and had acute urinary retention...she told me she tried inserting a size 16 urinary catheter but it wouldn't go in...so i went to see the patient...i tried size 18 and 20 but he probably had some anterior urethral stricture coz those sizes wouldn't pass through...i thought of inserting a cystofix but i couldn't even see which was the bladder proper from the ultrasound...so in the end i tried a size 14 and it passed through...phew!!! and i found out from the nurse that the MO didn't actually try inserting a urinary catheter on the patient...
On Wednesday, i got a call from the same MO...about the same patient...apparently his urinary catheter dislodged while he was sleeping...pretty amazing considering there was a water-filled balloon that prevents the catheter from getting dislodge and one would need to yank really hard and traumatize the urethra to get it out without deflating the balloon...i asked the MO to re-insert another size 14...she asked her nurse to call me back after 15 mins telling me she failed...fine! so i went to re-insert a catheter for the patient...couldn't get a size 14 in this time, so i tried a size 16...it went in easily...no resistance whatsoever...@#$#$%%^
The same afternoon, a Queen Casualty HO called me for CBD insertion...i had just left Queen earlier and had just reached SMC...reason for CBD insertion: to monitor urine output...patient was ventilated for APO...reason for difficult insertion: patient's penis is very oedematous...i asked the HO...did you try inserting it yourself...he said yes but failed...i asked if his MO tried and failed too...his answer, i quote "i don't think my MOs can insert a CBD becoz they haven't done it for a long time".... what the #$%$%&^*^&!!!?!!!
And an ortho HO referred a patient with generalized scrotal and penile swelling to me...patient has been practically bed-bound for a week...has low albumin...and he wants me to rule out scrotal infection....why do i keep getting referrals like that? when i was doing general surgery calls, i used to get referrals for scrotal swelling...now i'm i uro, i still get referrals for scrotal swelling...just wait till i'm back in general surgery...i will never see a scrotal swelling, ever again...
So i went to Queen Casualty after my rounds in SMC...i looked at the patient's penis...yea well, it was swollen...but i could still see the urethral meatus...no reason why any doctor who is not blind shouldn't be able to insert a urinary cathether for the patient...so i tried a size 14....there was only some mild resistance at the prostatic urethra which after some adjustment, the catheter was in the bladder...for goodness sake...i'm not a one-stop CBD insertion referral centre...
What is happening to the doctors these days? what? only uro MOs can insert CBD is it? if this continues, there will come a day when things get so bad that "refer to surgical MO for nasogastric tube insertion" becomes a routine...as it is, i've gotten 2 referrals "refer to surgical MO for proctoscopy"....as if we were never thought how to do a proctoscopy in medical school...oh Lord, give me strength to stay sane...this is really stretching my limit....
On Monday an MO from a particular ward called me up to help one of her patient who had bladder tumour and had acute urinary retention...she told me she tried inserting a size 16 urinary catheter but it wouldn't go in...so i went to see the patient...i tried size 18 and 20 but he probably had some anterior urethral stricture coz those sizes wouldn't pass through...i thought of inserting a cystofix but i couldn't even see which was the bladder proper from the ultrasound...so in the end i tried a size 14 and it passed through...phew!!! and i found out from the nurse that the MO didn't actually try inserting a urinary catheter on the patient...
On Wednesday, i got a call from the same MO...about the same patient...apparently his urinary catheter dislodged while he was sleeping...pretty amazing considering there was a water-filled balloon that prevents the catheter from getting dislodge and one would need to yank really hard and traumatize the urethra to get it out without deflating the balloon...i asked the MO to re-insert another size 14...she asked her nurse to call me back after 15 mins telling me she failed...fine! so i went to re-insert a catheter for the patient...couldn't get a size 14 in this time, so i tried a size 16...it went in easily...no resistance whatsoever...@#$#$%%^
The same afternoon, a Queen Casualty HO called me for CBD insertion...i had just left Queen earlier and had just reached SMC...reason for CBD insertion: to monitor urine output...patient was ventilated for APO...reason for difficult insertion: patient's penis is very oedematous...i asked the HO...did you try inserting it yourself...he said yes but failed...i asked if his MO tried and failed too...his answer, i quote "i don't think my MOs can insert a CBD becoz they haven't done it for a long time".... what the #$%$%&^*^&!!!?!!!
And an ortho HO referred a patient with generalized scrotal and penile swelling to me...patient has been practically bed-bound for a week...has low albumin...and he wants me to rule out scrotal infection....why do i keep getting referrals like that? when i was doing general surgery calls, i used to get referrals for scrotal swelling...now i'm i uro, i still get referrals for scrotal swelling...just wait till i'm back in general surgery...i will never see a scrotal swelling, ever again...
So i went to Queen Casualty after my rounds in SMC...i looked at the patient's penis...yea well, it was swollen...but i could still see the urethral meatus...no reason why any doctor who is not blind shouldn't be able to insert a urinary cathether for the patient...so i tried a size 14....there was only some mild resistance at the prostatic urethra which after some adjustment, the catheter was in the bladder...for goodness sake...i'm not a one-stop CBD insertion referral centre...
What is happening to the doctors these days? what? only uro MOs can insert CBD is it? if this continues, there will come a day when things get so bad that "refer to surgical MO for nasogastric tube insertion" becomes a routine...as it is, i've gotten 2 referrals "refer to surgical MO for proctoscopy"....as if we were never thought how to do a proctoscopy in medical school...oh Lord, give me strength to stay sane...this is really stretching my limit....
Saturday, September 18, 2010
NZ trip - Day 4
After a most suffering night on the bus, we made it to Wellington at 7am...feeling like a zonked out zombie...the bus stopped us at the train station...so we brushed teeth and freshened up in the toilet...then we went for breakfast at the cafe...had an Italian beef pie and hot chocolate with marshmallow....ahhhh..a warm meal to a bloody cold day...it was probably 8-9 degrees Celsius and it's cold even in the train station...we waited for our tour pick-up...we were going for the LOTR 1/2 day tour which we booked with Rover Tour...our guide Randall came on time and Cam and i were the only tourists of the day...
So off we started our tour...Wellington reminded me of Sydney/ HK...there were lots of houses on the hill...and practically everywhere faces the sea....Randall drove us to Mt Victoria...at the lookout, it was drizzling a bit...and we saw a double rainbow...it felt like a good start to a good day...then we went to the forest reserve where the 1st few opening scenes of "Fellowship of the Ring" were filmed...one was called "Shortcut to Mushroom" where Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were running through a maze field and fell off a slope...followed by the "Get out of the Road" scene where Frodo sensed the Nazgul was approaching....and there was also a scene in the extended version where Frodo was sitting on a tree nook smoking his pipe while Sam was cooking bacon...Cam and i took turns to act out the scene for photo shoot...hehe...
Then we went round the Oriental Bay where there were lovely houses perched on hills...saw another dream house which was perched on a corner of the hill almost by itself...it was a mocha coloured double storey bungalow...beautiful exterior...and location...and i imagine the view from the house would be just amazing...unfortunately i didn't get a photo of it...
Randall drove us to the other side of the city where the Hutt River runs...scenes on River Anduin and River Rohan were shot on Hutt River...then we went to Kaitoke Regional Park where Rivendell was set up...the temperate forest really have the Rivendell feel...Randall made us put on a cloak and fake elf ears and hold a fake Legolas sword...then we posed for pics...posing for the pics was really funny...Cam found it really lame...but i had fun...we also walked the Swing bridge...and had morning tea there where we fed the mallard ducks with blueberry muffins...
After that, our tour was over...but Randall was very kind..he dropped us back at Downtown Backpackers to check-in...he said he was staying in one of the rooms there too...he helped to clean out the kitchen to reduce his rent...after that, he took us to Wellywood (NZ's version of Hollywood)... we saw the production warehouses where the likes of Peter Jackson film and produce their movies...we also visited the Weta Cave....saw a lots of collectibles for LOTR, the Chronicles of Narnia, King Kong etc...thought of buying the 'Ring' or Arwen's pendant...but they were so expensive...
Randall then took us back to our backpacker...we got a twin bunk with shared bathroom for NZD60 per night...the room was pretty old but at least it was clean...we were pretty tired but we still continued exploring Wellington...we walked along Queen's Wharf towards Te Papa Museum...totally dragged ourselves through the floors for about 2 hours...the exhibitions and displays were good...but i think we were too worn out to appreciated them...so we decided to have dinner...Randall told us Viggo Mortensen and the other LOTR cast stayed in Duxton Hotel and Viggo liked having lunch at the Green Parrot Cafe...we wanted to have dinner there but the food was a bit expensive...so we walked further down the road and found Pizzeria Napoli where we had Pizza Garibaldi for NZD18 and calamari fritti for NZD5...it was quite a good deal...the pizza was great...
Randall also told us we should catch a movie at the Embassy Theatre at Courtney Place which has the largest screen and hall in NZ (fills about 800 ppl)...initially we wanted to watch 'Inception' at 845pm but we were exhausted...but it was really a waste coz it's a must-do thing in Wellington..and Wednesday night was movie night so the tickets were NZD10 only...but i think we would have ended up sleeping in the cinema if we went...so we went back to our hostel and bathed...ate our kiwis at the dining room...then went out to see the night harbour view...the moon was full that night... so asked Cam to take a pic of me looking at the moon...
Since we were wearing slippers only and it was damn cold, we decided to get back into the warmth but then Cam realized she lost her camera cover...so we had to go out and hunt for it again...guess she must have dropped it when she squatted to take my moon pic...thank God we found it...then we came back to the room...talked a bit and slept really soundly...
So off we started our tour...Wellington reminded me of Sydney/ HK...there were lots of houses on the hill...and practically everywhere faces the sea....Randall drove us to Mt Victoria...at the lookout, it was drizzling a bit...and we saw a double rainbow...it felt like a good start to a good day...then we went to the forest reserve where the 1st few opening scenes of "Fellowship of the Ring" were filmed...one was called "Shortcut to Mushroom" where Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were running through a maze field and fell off a slope...followed by the "Get out of the Road" scene where Frodo sensed the Nazgul was approaching....and there was also a scene in the extended version where Frodo was sitting on a tree nook smoking his pipe while Sam was cooking bacon...Cam and i took turns to act out the scene for photo shoot...hehe...
Then we went round the Oriental Bay where there were lovely houses perched on hills...saw another dream house which was perched on a corner of the hill almost by itself...it was a mocha coloured double storey bungalow...beautiful exterior...and location...and i imagine the view from the house would be just amazing...unfortunately i didn't get a photo of it...
Randall drove us to the other side of the city where the Hutt River runs...scenes on River Anduin and River Rohan were shot on Hutt River...then we went to Kaitoke Regional Park where Rivendell was set up...the temperate forest really have the Rivendell feel...Randall made us put on a cloak and fake elf ears and hold a fake Legolas sword...then we posed for pics...posing for the pics was really funny...Cam found it really lame...but i had fun...we also walked the Swing bridge...and had morning tea there where we fed the mallard ducks with blueberry muffins...
After that, our tour was over...but Randall was very kind..he dropped us back at Downtown Backpackers to check-in...he said he was staying in one of the rooms there too...he helped to clean out the kitchen to reduce his rent...after that, he took us to Wellywood (NZ's version of Hollywood)... we saw the production warehouses where the likes of Peter Jackson film and produce their movies...we also visited the Weta Cave....saw a lots of collectibles for LOTR, the Chronicles of Narnia, King Kong etc...thought of buying the 'Ring' or Arwen's pendant...but they were so expensive...
Randall then took us back to our backpacker...we got a twin bunk with shared bathroom for NZD60 per night...the room was pretty old but at least it was clean...we were pretty tired but we still continued exploring Wellington...we walked along Queen's Wharf towards Te Papa Museum...totally dragged ourselves through the floors for about 2 hours...the exhibitions and displays were good...but i think we were too worn out to appreciated them...so we decided to have dinner...Randall told us Viggo Mortensen and the other LOTR cast stayed in Duxton Hotel and Viggo liked having lunch at the Green Parrot Cafe...we wanted to have dinner there but the food was a bit expensive...so we walked further down the road and found Pizzeria Napoli where we had Pizza Garibaldi for NZD18 and calamari fritti for NZD5...it was quite a good deal...the pizza was great...
Randall also told us we should catch a movie at the Embassy Theatre at Courtney Place which has the largest screen and hall in NZ (fills about 800 ppl)...initially we wanted to watch 'Inception' at 845pm but we were exhausted...but it was really a waste coz it's a must-do thing in Wellington..and Wednesday night was movie night so the tickets were NZD10 only...but i think we would have ended up sleeping in the cinema if we went...so we went back to our hostel and bathed...ate our kiwis at the dining room...then went out to see the night harbour view...the moon was full that night... so asked Cam to take a pic of me looking at the moon...
Since we were wearing slippers only and it was damn cold, we decided to get back into the warmth but then Cam realized she lost her camera cover...so we had to go out and hunt for it again...guess she must have dropped it when she squatted to take my moon pic...thank God we found it...then we came back to the room...talked a bit and slept really soundly...
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Happy Malaysia Day!!!
Had a good call last night...thank God for His mercy....totally slept from 1130pm till 8am this morning... and amazingly, no calls...finally got up about 1030am to bathe....then went to K-box to meet Elaine for our Chinese lessons...asked Grace but she was tired from her call last night...so she didn't join us... we had lunch at K-box and sang for about 2 hours plus...sang some new songs...like JJ Lin's 一个又一个 , 神木與瞳's 宽恕, 好想为你哭, 王力宏's 材米油盐酱醋茶....but they didn't have his 你不知道的事...
After that, i came home and tried sleeping some more...but kept waking up...so decided to wake up... saw my boss online so was chatting with him...guess he was having a good call since he could be at home online...hehe...was feeling hungry by about 6pm...so had a stick of chocolate...and messaged Sharon if she was free for dinner...she was...so we went to Fruit Monster at Lintas...haven't met her for about 2 months de...so it was good to catch up...i was basically complaining about work...and she said i was scaring her into not coming back to work...hehe...
She told me she had a dream about me having a baby...i was like, weird...so i asked if my baby was brown...and she said it was a boy...and he looked like a Chindian...and she was carrying the baby and saying "he looks so cute"...good, guess he took after me then...hahaha...and i asked her, i don't suppose there was a 'husband' by my side...and she said, yea there wasn't...i hope her dream isn't prophetic...but funny thing was, i was thinking that if it did happen, then it wasn't a bad thing after all...i got my baby...it may be difficult to be a single mother...so i don't need a man who would add to my misery...Sharon's lucky to have Pang...he's a good husband and father...who loves his wife and would do the housework to help Sharon out at home...
Oh well, guess it's que sera sera...Happy Malaysia Day!!! tomorrow i'm on call again...
After that, i came home and tried sleeping some more...but kept waking up...so decided to wake up... saw my boss online so was chatting with him...guess he was having a good call since he could be at home online...hehe...was feeling hungry by about 6pm...so had a stick of chocolate...and messaged Sharon if she was free for dinner...she was...so we went to Fruit Monster at Lintas...haven't met her for about 2 months de...so it was good to catch up...i was basically complaining about work...and she said i was scaring her into not coming back to work...hehe...
She told me she had a dream about me having a baby...i was like, weird...so i asked if my baby was brown...and she said it was a boy...and he looked like a Chindian...and she was carrying the baby and saying "he looks so cute"...good, guess he took after me then...hahaha...and i asked her, i don't suppose there was a 'husband' by my side...and she said, yea there wasn't...i hope her dream isn't prophetic...but funny thing was, i was thinking that if it did happen, then it wasn't a bad thing after all...i got my baby...it may be difficult to be a single mother...so i don't need a man who would add to my misery...Sharon's lucky to have Pang...he's a good husband and father...who loves his wife and would do the housework to help Sharon out at home...
Oh well, guess it's que sera sera...Happy Malaysia Day!!! tomorrow i'm on call again...
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