FIRELESSFLAME: February 2009

Saturday, February 28, 2009

MMMC Orientation

If asked to describe orientation in 1 word, I'll say it sucked. Seriously, waking up at 6am+, travelling all the way down to Melaka from KL, just for a 2hour talk?! Come on, when people talk about "orientation", it's usually 2 long weeks filled with games, fun and interaction. Ours? 2 hours long talk, 30mins refreshment and off you go. I got to admit I nearly dosed off during one of the talks. zzZ

Nevertheless, the talks were very informative. It gave an overview of our course, about Manipal, about being a doctor and so on. The Dean of Medical Faculty used alot of catchy phrases and a couple of poems to encourage us. He told us a doctor is "not an occupation and but a vocation, a life commitment rather than a livelihood, an obsession rather than a profession". He also said that doctor is a noble career, hence we should lead by example. He carried on by explaining the phrase "the power of example is much more powerful than the example of power".

The Dean also gave us a brief intro to our time table. We have classes from 8am-5pm on Mondays till Fridays, with only 30mins break and 1.5 hour lunch daily. Looking down the time table, WHAT?!! WE HAVE CLASSES ON SATURDAY MORNINGS?!! 8am-10am. Damn. I don't mind the duration, but why can't they have it like 12-2pm?? Haih. Besides lectures and practicals, we also have Self Directed Learnings (SDL), Problem Based Learnings (PBL), Personal and Professional Development (PPD). Anatomy dissection classes are usually at 8am-10am in the morning. I wonder how many of us would puke our breakfast out just 20mins after eating it. Swt. Looking from the brighter side, there isn't much to do in Manipal, so a packed time table can fill up my time. Not that bad after all =)

After orientation, Shawn's family brought us to a local Chicken Rice Ball shop in Melaka town. Unfortunately they couldn't join us for lunch. Anyhow, thank alot man. See ya this Sunday, and for the next 2.5years. Haha!

Okay thats enough words for now. I'm looking forward to the MV outing later, which is planned by YeeTheng. It'll be my last time seeing most of my sec schoolmates. Off I go now. Until next time..

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

All Done

I finally got my India Student Visa today!! w00t!

I was supposed to meet Shawn in Straits Building, but I was late, so he already left by the time I got there. Anyway, after I collected my visa, I overheard this 2 penguins arguing with the guy over the counter. It seems they had problems with their passport. When I heard them mention the name "Manipal", I got kinda paranoid that my passport would have the same problem too. So after they were done arguing, I approached them. Of coz I introduced myself as a MMMC student, and asked what was their problem. Apparently the destination printed on their visa was "MM Med Coll, Mumbai". It was supposed to be "MM Med Coll, Manipal". I quickly checked mine again, and mine was correct. So I said thanks and left.

Later that day, I checked my extra copy of the visa application form, and there was only 1 slot to fill up name of educational institution. I really wonder what they wrote in their forms. ~~Kononnya JPA Scholar.~~ LOL!!

From Straits Building, I went to my mum's office, ING building. I did some free labour work there. I helped my mum's secretary to do some filing. Gosh filing can really kill. It's damn sien. I only did for 1.5 hours and I nearly died. Haha!

That's about it for my day today. I'm really happy that I got my student visa done. After all the issues and problems, God has indeed been faithful through out. =)

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Finally..

As most of you would have noticed by now, I've designed and uploaded a new header for FirelessFlame. I wanted to fix the size so it wouldn't exceed the side border, but I failed after 3 attempts. So, screw it. Just let it be...

On the brighter side, I went to India High Commission again today. I was so happy to meet other Manipal students also. A Chinese named Shawn from Melaka, and an Indian named Patrick from KL. I must say they are really cool people. We exchanged hp numbers and chit-chated a bit. Then after getting our application approved, we headed to Straits Building to submit our application forms. I followed behind Patrick's dad car. He was kind enough to drive so slowly so that I could follow. Tks yea!

In Straits Building, we met another group of Manipal students, but we didn't talk to them. So the little statistics I can come up with now is, 3 Chinese guys, 2 Chinese girls, 2 Indian guys, and a whole lot of penguins. LOL!!

By 12.30pm, everything was settled. According to the lady behind the counter, we can collect our Student Visa tomorrow, after 4.30pm. Wee. Finally, I can really enjoy my last 2weeks to the max without any worries.

So, anyone free to go yum cha?!

Monday, February 23, 2009

How Would You Spend Your Last Two Weeks?

Today, my dad called Manipal. After which he told me that Manipal has already settled their problem with the India Government, hence I should not have any problems with my student visa now. I was happy of coz, but I still called the India High Commission to make sure the issue has been settled. The fella who answered the phone was really nice. No only did he clarify the issue, he also explained the entire application procedure.

See, PUSH does work. It worked, works, and will continue to work. Trust me on this.

Checking back all the necessary documents, I'm only short of my student visa. Looks like I'll really be leaving soon. Should I be sad or happy?

This afternoon, we gave Eilene one last surprise in LCCT before she left to Australia. She thought I would be going alone to send her off, but in the end 10 of us went, including her sec school and college friends. Eilene, hope you had a wonderful farewell. Sorry I had to leave early. I swear I would have stayed longer if time permitted.

It isn't very hard to count that I only have 2 more weeks left in Malaysia. (Damn I'm already missing Msia even though I'm still here.) How should I spend my last 2 weeks? Of coz family time cannot be reduced. These few days, I make it a point to talk to my parents every night before they sleep. Of coz I also enjoy the family time we have over meals, mainly dinner and supper. On the other hand, if my friends are free, of coz I'd like to go yum cha, few games of L4D, movies, lepak, singK, or even just sit somewhere to chui shui. But well, I also understand that everyone should be busy with college/uni now. (Don't mind me, I'm not hinting anything.)

Its late, I should be sleeping. But before I go, a question for all to ponder. "How would you spend your last two weeks?"

Sunday, February 22, 2009

God's Plan?

I've always thought the reason I ended up going to India to study Med was because my thought of being a Doctor kicked it late, hence applications for Med in Aus were all closed. But I'm starting to think otherwise now.

Today in Church, our youth class discussed about Missions and Missionaries. Uncle Tat Ho showed us this statistical world map labelled based on the percentage of Christians in an area. Green was for areas with lots of Christians, while Red was for little/no Christians. As expected, countries like USA and Australia were of coz very green. But you know what? The entire map of India was labelled RED!! At that moment I felt something. I don't really know how to describe it, but I feel that it was all in God's plan that I'm sent to India.

I believe He has a greater plan for me. Sad to think that it would be in India, but as long as it's in His plans, I'll go. And hence, I trust that I'll be able to get my Student Visa soon.

See, I told you. In any difficult situation, just PUSH [P]ray [U]ntil [S]omething [H]appens. If it works for me, it'll work for you too!

Tagged by WeiHan

Rules: Use the first letter of your name to answer each of the following questions. They have to be real, nothing made up! If the person before you had the same first initial, you must use different answers. You cannot use any word twice and you can't use your name for the boy/girl name question.

*Note: Improper spellings/answers used..

1. What is your name: Cheng Kok Mun

2. A four letter word: Cash

3. A boy's name: Chris

4. A girl's name: Celeste

5. An occupation: Carpenter

6. A colour: Colour..

7. Something you'll wear: Cloths!

8. A food: Curry

9. Something found in the bathroom: Clay (your toilet bowl is made of clay k..)

10. A place: Cuba

11. A reason for being late: Crying in the toilet

12. Something you'd shout: CB.. xD

13. A movie title: Cars

14. Something you drink: Cranberry Juice

15. A musical group: Is Chris Brown a group??

16. An animal: Cat

17. A street name: ChengKokMun Street =D

18. A type of car: Celica

19. The title of a song: Consuming Fire by Hill Songs United

I Tag: Celeste, Eilene, PingSern, Jasmine, Sonia Fz..

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Japan Trip Part 2

Yo people! So what ya think about Japan? Not good enough? Here's part 2 of my Japan trip. It'll be all on FOOD. Try HARD not to drool k?

What would Japan do without Sushi?

God-knows-what is that.. Haha

Smoked Salmon Sushi

More Sushi-s!

Sashimi!!

A variety of Sushi-s. Sorry about the flash.

Kani Miso (Crab Miso Soup)

Steven's Corner 3D

Crab Steamboat, known as "Kani Nabe" in Japanese. Try to read it fast..

Sashimi again. This time with the fish's bones.

Poisonous Puffer Fish Sashimi

Ramen!!

Would you queue up that long for Ramen??

BBQ. Darn nice.. Especially the beef and chicken..

Shabu-Shabu. Ownage..

Kobe Beef

Best eaten at "medium" state..

White wine, Red wine, and Orange Juice

Sake. Japanese rice wine

Sake Red Bean Bun. You MAY get drunk eating this. LOL

Japanese Bento Set

Unagi + Tempura Bento

Pepperoni / Curry Chicken Pizza

Cawan Mushi (Steamed Egg)

McD's Pork Teriyaki Burger. Better than Big Mac..

McD's Ebi (Prawn) Fillet Burger. And I thought Fillet-O-Fish was nice..

Peking Duck. 500Yen (RM20) per slice.

Nice large Strawberries. 20 for 9.8kYen (

My Breakfast =D

For all you Ice-Cream lovers out there..

Drooling already? HAHA!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Japan Trip

I spent my 1st week of Febuary in Japan. And I must say Japan is a really nice and expensive place to visit. One bowl of Ramen is 900+Yen, which is close to RM40. Anyway, instead of me blabbing about the entire trip, I'll leave you all to the pictures. Note that the pictures are not in chronological order. ~~I forgot the chronology of events myself.~~