Alright, I've left the lovely province of Kashmir and headed to other parts of India.... um... i start to miss Kashmir already.... compared to the crowded city of India, I really treasure the time spent idly on the House boat, reading books under the clear blue sky and warm sun, sometimes staring at the distant Himalayan mountains... (Books here in India are so inexpensive..... I just cant stop myself from buying and now my rugsack is more like a mobile library...... my recent acquired includes "PS I love you" "Tuesday with Morrie" "5 People you will meet in Heaven" "Eragon" and "Eldest", just to name a few..... all for bargain price...... this is a great reason for book lover like me to be obsessed with life here)
Talking about books, I've just finished "PS. I Love You".... i've long heard it's a good story but never find the time to read to book yet... but given the time available to me now and i want to watch the movie when i'm back in HK and know how good/bad the movie is, i chose it as my bed time reading book (remember, i got plenty of time 'sleeping' coz there are in fact, little night life here.... nights are quite boring here).... it's quite an interesting story with lots to reflect on.... No matter what happened, life has to go on.... it's more than just existing, but LIVING, enjoying life, that's an really important spirit, I wish i had read this book earlier.
Okay, back to my trip, I've spent one day in Delhi (Capital of India), it's a (relatively) modern city in India and life there are more resemble of life in CITY (have i mentioned that even Kolkata seems like a 'village'? Though it's already the 4th largest city in India)..... My stomach are quite upset after eating spicy and chilli food for 2 weeks so given the chance of so many foreign fastfood establishment in Delhi, I've indulged myself to almost every fastfood chain available, Pizza Hut, KFC, Subway and of course my favourite McDonald (all in one day).... it's really weird when there's a doorman opening for you and waiter to bring you your food to the table once they're ordered (in all fastfood chain named above)..... it feels more like a good italian restaurant than the usual fastfood that i'm having.... but anyways, this is india, so the menu is still a bit different, if not funny..... no pork or beef in McDonald, what would you order? I miss my Big Mac already....
I am now currently in Agar (after a 3 hour train from Delhi.... 3 hour is really a short ride, considering i've taken some 30 plus hours journey on train already...) Tomorrow morning i'll be waking early to see Taj Mahal with the sunrise.... today i sat on the roof top of my hotel and had a glimpse of Taj Mahal from afar already.... it's such a magnificient structure, no wonder it's voted the new 7 wonders of world..... its colour seems to change from time to time..... from pure white at noon, to pearly white in early evening and ivory at sunset.... so magical colour.....
So much for this time..... will keep on updating.
PS1. Has anyone receive my postcard? I really wanted to know.... i start to worry my post card getting lost..... Indian post are so 'good' at losing the mail.....
PS2. I've lost my mobile handsfree earlier in the trip, meaning no music for large part of my trip.... but thank God, i've found a Nokia Shop in Delhi and bought myself a new one.... Finally some good music along with my trip..... this really lighten up my trip ^^
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
A brief summary of what i've done lately.
Wow... it seems that it's really been some while since i last updated.
It's not entirely my fault.... the connection here in india is just too unrealible and scarce... let me see what i've done over the past week....
I was heading to Darjeeling in my last entry.... I took a long (not so long actually... just 9 hours, more about it later) trainride and get to Darjeeling (ignoring the fact that i almost miss the train as it was delayed for 4 hours and landed on a different platform)... Darjeeling is actually a city built on mountain (altitude around 2000m).... most famous for its tea plantation.... it's quite a lovely place (though a bit cold)...... spent some time exploring this city and spent an unexceptionally good morning watching sunrise at Tiger Hill.... when seeing the sun rise from the peak of Mount Everest, i almost cried.... the scene is just magnificent....
After that I went for a really long train ride this time (to Delhi.... some 27 hours of sitting and sleeping....) I can't imagine how i kill the time in that crowded and dirty compartment... it's so gross when you see small crokroaches roaming everywhere on the bed you're going to sleep..... exhaust myself by reading (one good thing about india, books are really cheap here... can find most of the famous writer here with books half the price than in Hong Kong).....
Finally get the Delhi... didnt spend much time there except a brief dinner, then get to the airport for my trip to Srinagar, Kashmir.... officially speaking it's still at war with Pakistan.... once i leave my flight i can feel the cold, one is from its low temperature (0 celecius) and by the number of armed army personel at the airport..... but this fright is brief once i got out of the airport and head to Dal Lake, where i will stay for nearly my whole trip in Kashmir..... rent a houseboat and started touring around the city.... too bad i cant upload pictures here yet, or else you'll be amazed.... the lake is so calm and glancing out there's nothing but gorgeous mountains of the Himalayans.... the effect of high altitude kick in and the second day there was a torture for me... great headache...... nonetheless.... got well again and started trekking in the Himalaya mountains.... during the trip it's snowing and snowing hard.... the hills are all covered in white.... luckily i dont have to walk for my whole trip (as exercising at high altitude is killing..... close to 4000m), ride a pony and enjoyed the great mountain view.... the night spent at a gypsy house. They are really hospitable people.... enjoyed a great time there...... I will stay here for 2 more days before leaving, just hope everything's will be fine and i can get the best of India.
Kashmir is so special, it's so different from the chaotic India.... It's a place that I can spend my whole life staying in~~
Gotta run again, it's now late in the evening and i have to get back to my boat before darkness came....
It's not entirely my fault.... the connection here in india is just too unrealible and scarce... let me see what i've done over the past week....
I was heading to Darjeeling in my last entry.... I took a long (not so long actually... just 9 hours, more about it later) trainride and get to Darjeeling (ignoring the fact that i almost miss the train as it was delayed for 4 hours and landed on a different platform)... Darjeeling is actually a city built on mountain (altitude around 2000m).... most famous for its tea plantation.... it's quite a lovely place (though a bit cold)...... spent some time exploring this city and spent an unexceptionally good morning watching sunrise at Tiger Hill.... when seeing the sun rise from the peak of Mount Everest, i almost cried.... the scene is just magnificent....
After that I went for a really long train ride this time (to Delhi.... some 27 hours of sitting and sleeping....) I can't imagine how i kill the time in that crowded and dirty compartment... it's so gross when you see small crokroaches roaming everywhere on the bed you're going to sleep..... exhaust myself by reading (one good thing about india, books are really cheap here... can find most of the famous writer here with books half the price than in Hong Kong).....
Finally get the Delhi... didnt spend much time there except a brief dinner, then get to the airport for my trip to Srinagar, Kashmir.... officially speaking it's still at war with Pakistan.... once i leave my flight i can feel the cold, one is from its low temperature (0 celecius) and by the number of armed army personel at the airport..... but this fright is brief once i got out of the airport and head to Dal Lake, where i will stay for nearly my whole trip in Kashmir..... rent a houseboat and started touring around the city.... too bad i cant upload pictures here yet, or else you'll be amazed.... the lake is so calm and glancing out there's nothing but gorgeous mountains of the Himalayans.... the effect of high altitude kick in and the second day there was a torture for me... great headache...... nonetheless.... got well again and started trekking in the Himalaya mountains.... during the trip it's snowing and snowing hard.... the hills are all covered in white.... luckily i dont have to walk for my whole trip (as exercising at high altitude is killing..... close to 4000m), ride a pony and enjoyed the great mountain view.... the night spent at a gypsy house. They are really hospitable people.... enjoyed a great time there...... I will stay here for 2 more days before leaving, just hope everything's will be fine and i can get the best of India.
Kashmir is so special, it's so different from the chaotic India.... It's a place that I can spend my whole life staying in~~
Gotta run again, it's now late in the evening and i have to get back to my boat before darkness came....
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Waiting for train...
Woke up early today coz the air is just too polluted to breathe.... wonder alone in the streets of Kolkata before packing up and check out the hotel that i've spent my last week in.
That turns out to be a big mistake.... I'm now kept boringly at an internet cafe doing some web browsing..... my train will only arrive at Kolkata around 7 tonight.... should have applied for a late checkout >.<"
Just one more note to my friends.... if luckily, my postcard will get to you in around 1 week (finger crossed...... the post system here is so unrealiable). Just hope things will work out fine.
That turns out to be a big mistake.... I'm now kept boringly at an internet cafe doing some web browsing..... my train will only arrive at Kolkata around 7 tonight.... should have applied for a late checkout >.<"
Just one more note to my friends.... if luckily, my postcard will get to you in around 1 week (finger crossed...... the post system here is so unrealiable). Just hope things will work out fine.
Is Europe a country?
So impressive... I can loop this video on train for ages and it'll keep me entertained.
BTW, where is Kellie Pickler borned? Mars?
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Still in Kolkata.
Dear friends,
I'm still doing okay in Kolkata (apart from an irritated stomach result from the constant bombardment of oily food and their spice), right now i've avoided all solid food for 2 days and living only on Glucozade.... hope things will get better in the coming days.
Choice of food here is really limited, no pork and beef because of religious reason (Muslim and Hindu) and all chicken in west Bengal area are culled as they are afraid of the spread of avian flu.... that leave no other choice than mutton (lamb) and vegetable.... the only problem being that the Indian tend to cook their mutton and vegetable with a lot of local herbs and SPICE... eating it once or twice is okay... but on a day to day basis my stomach simply give up and cant stop vomiting.....
Kolkata is really... how should i put it.... contrasting city..... they have got some really rich and well educated people living here but maybe next to them there are people from the slums..... they've got beautiful landscapes and so full of colours but their sky is hazy black from the air pollution.... it has some of the best kept scenic points in india (Victoria Memorial and Church of Mother Thersea) but their streets and roads so lousily maintained that there are always lumps and bumps through out the journey.... Still.... I'm still exploring and experiencing this mystic and charming city...
I've started my visit to dental school 2 days ago, seen quite a number of cases on different aspect of dentistry (some are really astonishing as the incidence in HK are so low that there might not even be one case in 10 years time.. but in here... rare cases are plentiful) .... the hospital that i'm in is a really busy hospital, with 800 new cases coming in each day and around 300 old cases (as it's the only government dental hospital in Kolkata and its nearby region).... the hospital is not particularily well staffed and dentist here have to work fast.... really fast. That's something that really impress me. And another thing that i remember clearly is the disregard of sterilization of instruments and their infection control... apart from major surgery, gloves is never seen in the hospital... the instruments are dipped in hot water only and available for the next patient.... if you put this to the Hong Kong standard, i am quite sure by tomorrow this hospital will be close down by the Hospital Autority~~ Anyways~ the patient here are all compliant and cooperative, the doctor said so, they do so.... this is so much better than the siutation in Hong Kong.... well.... totally different experience for me...... The fee the patient has to paid here is a lot less than in HK, only 2 rupees for examination (around 40 cents HKD).... they charge on each treatment item but the most expensive being the procelaine crown it's also cheaper than HK (just 1000 rupees = 200 HKD), no wonder the hospital have some many patients coming in.... it's good for the dental student here as they can have a lot of chance to learn and practice~ (but frankly, if i were given the chance, i'll still pick HK for sure.... the hygiene condition here is too.... unsatisfactory)
One funny thing to note... it seems that having overseas elective student for visit is a major thing in the city, cause today when we are having the routine tour around the hospital we are called for by the principle of the dental hospital. They have arranged 2 TV crews and 1 newspaper press to have an interview on us..... that's really amazing as i have never thought they would view our visit so importantly..... have a funny feeling when giving the interview.... as a Chinese in a totally Indian population no matter where i go I'm always the center of their attention.... kind of like a celebrity~ I'll enjoy the 'fame' for the rest of my journey (really, it's kind of a cool feeling~)
By Saturday I'll be leaving Kolkata for Daijeeling.... heard it's still snowing right now... just hope that the temperature and weather will get better by the time we arrive there~
Shall write again soon. Do leave me messages.
PS. Janice, I'm not sure the post card will get to you before you leave for Australia, do write me your address by the time you arrive, okay? I can then relay the mail to you.
I'm still doing okay in Kolkata (apart from an irritated stomach result from the constant bombardment of oily food and their spice), right now i've avoided all solid food for 2 days and living only on Glucozade.... hope things will get better in the coming days.
Choice of food here is really limited, no pork and beef because of religious reason (Muslim and Hindu) and all chicken in west Bengal area are culled as they are afraid of the spread of avian flu.... that leave no other choice than mutton (lamb) and vegetable.... the only problem being that the Indian tend to cook their mutton and vegetable with a lot of local herbs and SPICE... eating it once or twice is okay... but on a day to day basis my stomach simply give up and cant stop vomiting.....
Kolkata is really... how should i put it.... contrasting city..... they have got some really rich and well educated people living here but maybe next to them there are people from the slums..... they've got beautiful landscapes and so full of colours but their sky is hazy black from the air pollution.... it has some of the best kept scenic points in india (Victoria Memorial and Church of Mother Thersea) but their streets and roads so lousily maintained that there are always lumps and bumps through out the journey.... Still.... I'm still exploring and experiencing this mystic and charming city...
I've started my visit to dental school 2 days ago, seen quite a number of cases on different aspect of dentistry (some are really astonishing as the incidence in HK are so low that there might not even be one case in 10 years time.. but in here... rare cases are plentiful) .... the hospital that i'm in is a really busy hospital, with 800 new cases coming in each day and around 300 old cases (as it's the only government dental hospital in Kolkata and its nearby region).... the hospital is not particularily well staffed and dentist here have to work fast.... really fast. That's something that really impress me. And another thing that i remember clearly is the disregard of sterilization of instruments and their infection control... apart from major surgery, gloves is never seen in the hospital... the instruments are dipped in hot water only and available for the next patient.... if you put this to the Hong Kong standard, i am quite sure by tomorrow this hospital will be close down by the Hospital Autority~~ Anyways~ the patient here are all compliant and cooperative, the doctor said so, they do so.... this is so much better than the siutation in Hong Kong.... well.... totally different experience for me...... The fee the patient has to paid here is a lot less than in HK, only 2 rupees for examination (around 40 cents HKD).... they charge on each treatment item but the most expensive being the procelaine crown it's also cheaper than HK (just 1000 rupees = 200 HKD), no wonder the hospital have some many patients coming in.... it's good for the dental student here as they can have a lot of chance to learn and practice~ (but frankly, if i were given the chance, i'll still pick HK for sure.... the hygiene condition here is too.... unsatisfactory)
One funny thing to note... it seems that having overseas elective student for visit is a major thing in the city, cause today when we are having the routine tour around the hospital we are called for by the principle of the dental hospital. They have arranged 2 TV crews and 1 newspaper press to have an interview on us..... that's really amazing as i have never thought they would view our visit so importantly..... have a funny feeling when giving the interview.... as a Chinese in a totally Indian population no matter where i go I'm always the center of their attention.... kind of like a celebrity~ I'll enjoy the 'fame' for the rest of my journey (really, it's kind of a cool feeling~)
By Saturday I'll be leaving Kolkata for Daijeeling.... heard it's still snowing right now... just hope that the temperature and weather will get better by the time we arrive there~
Shall write again soon. Do leave me messages.
PS. Janice, I'm not sure the post card will get to you before you leave for Australia, do write me your address by the time you arrive, okay? I can then relay the mail to you.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
In Kolkata
In Kolkata now.... everything's good except for the air.... really too polluted.....
Got tonnes to write but too little time (as i only have 15 mins of connection time).....
Dont worry about me. Do leave messages here, I'll check from time to time.
Till next time.
Got tonnes to write but too little time (as i only have 15 mins of connection time).....
Dont worry about me. Do leave messages here, I'll check from time to time.
Till next time.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Chantal Kreviazuk - Leaving on a jet plane
"So kiss me and smile for me, tell me that you'll wait for me. Hold me like you never let me go."
Happy Lunar New Year
It's the Year of Rat, i personally do not have any good favour in this zordiac year.... it has nothing to do with Fung-Shui or previous experience..... it's just.... I was born in the year of rat and everytime when this 12 year cycle come again... i'm 12 years older..... got the feeling that I'm old..... Still got a lot to achieve~~
Was so mo liu and flipped through the fung shui book seeing how well i'll do this year. Despite the fact that me and all those born in the year of rat is 'violating Tai-Shui'.... I shall have a pretty fruitful year, especially in my work and studies (definitely needing it), the health is okay and for the romance part it's said that i should wait till after Sept 08 before any real romance will come (that's pretty good prediction i guess, as i'll need to work my arse off for my final exam till late June)..... um... first time wanting such superstition to be true ^^
I've got everything for my trip packed.... it's such a large back pack now that i can hardly lift it... guess this is the best free-workout i can get during my trip.... dragging it up and down the stairs and train ~~" Whatever.... my trip's gonna start, wish me luck.
Spent my last few days catching up with friends and having 'tun-nin rice' with them.... it's really been some time since i last met them..... chatting with them is so much fun... really... i can hardly imagine my life without them..... (personal experience, when i was staying in hall last night, the whole floor (and the hall as well) is deserted.... it's just.... so lonely) Gonna buy them souvenirs and write them post cards ^^
Suddenly have a self reflection... What kind of person/friend am I to you? Maybe this sound too serious.... what i mean is... if I am a beverage, what would be my taste? Will I be a Coke that you can always enjoy with joyful feeling? Or am I like a good coffee, that's bitter to you, but somehow you still miss sometime? Or will I be like milk tea or lemon tea or even green tea that suit your taste? I wish to know~ (Originally I have thought of using another analogy, one using different wine/liqueur... vodka that's hard to the throat, bailey that sweet etc.... but nevermind.... alcohol is always a taboo subject....)(frankly, i'm not a heavy drinker.... i'm serious about alcohol, i love everything about it, but still, i'm not going to risk my liver in order to know it~)
If i dont get the chance to write in India, this will be the last entry before i come back.... do leave me message, there's always a slim chance i can check it ^^ My friend, take care and missing you already~
Was so mo liu and flipped through the fung shui book seeing how well i'll do this year. Despite the fact that me and all those born in the year of rat is 'violating Tai-Shui'.... I shall have a pretty fruitful year, especially in my work and studies (definitely needing it), the health is okay and for the romance part it's said that i should wait till after Sept 08 before any real romance will come (that's pretty good prediction i guess, as i'll need to work my arse off for my final exam till late June)..... um... first time wanting such superstition to be true ^^
I've got everything for my trip packed.... it's such a large back pack now that i can hardly lift it... guess this is the best free-workout i can get during my trip.... dragging it up and down the stairs and train ~~" Whatever.... my trip's gonna start, wish me luck.
Spent my last few days catching up with friends and having 'tun-nin rice' with them.... it's really been some time since i last met them..... chatting with them is so much fun... really... i can hardly imagine my life without them..... (personal experience, when i was staying in hall last night, the whole floor (and the hall as well) is deserted.... it's just.... so lonely) Gonna buy them souvenirs and write them post cards ^^
Suddenly have a self reflection... What kind of person/friend am I to you? Maybe this sound too serious.... what i mean is... if I am a beverage, what would be my taste? Will I be a Coke that you can always enjoy with joyful feeling? Or am I like a good coffee, that's bitter to you, but somehow you still miss sometime? Or will I be like milk tea or lemon tea or even green tea that suit your taste? I wish to know~ (Originally I have thought of using another analogy, one using different wine/liqueur... vodka that's hard to the throat, bailey that sweet etc.... but nevermind.... alcohol is always a taboo subject....)(frankly, i'm not a heavy drinker.... i'm serious about alcohol, i love everything about it, but still, i'm not going to risk my liver in order to know it~)
If i dont get the chance to write in India, this will be the last entry before i come back.... do leave me message, there's always a slim chance i can check it ^^ My friend, take care and missing you already~
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Dental 08 v 10
So proud to be one of them~
It may be amateur football only.... but i really treasure the spirit that bind us together~
One last match after my india trip, gonna win the football championship again and for the last time as dental student~
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Friends are friends for life
Tonight, it's so great that i can spend my night with my friends.... friends that i havent seen for ages (half year maybe?)
A decent dinner, a couple of drinks, a thoughtful conversation.... nothing can be better....
Dont know why... but i feel such occassion are getting less and less common... especially i had a bad feeling towards my india trip.... am i simply getting paranoia??
A decent dinner, a couple of drinks, a thoughtful conversation.... nothing can be better....
Dont know why... but i feel such occassion are getting less and less common... especially i had a bad feeling towards my india trip.... am i simply getting paranoia??
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