Saturday, August 14, 2010

Oh, the deception

The other day we held a medical missions, in which a team of doctors volunteered their Saturday afternoon and services for our friends and their families. Few countries have as awesome health care as Canada does, and the Philippines is no exception. Over 200 people decided to forgo paying for some dental, pediatric, optometric, pharmaceutical and general health services.


A bunch of drugs


Partway through I rendered myself somewhat useful by assisting the dentists with cleaning and sterilizing their tools.The crazy hair in the photo is from the fan on the highest setting, pointed straight at the dental tools to hasten the drying process.
Utensils used for pulling teeth

We had drawn such a large crowd that it warranted our own personal mobile ice cream/snack stall.
Snacks: bringing families together since 2010

Many adorable children came.
Getting an eye exam

Beautiful little girl

The other night we handed out some of the glasses to our friends, and some of them recognized us from the medical mission. I was even asked if I was one of the dentists. Masks and gloves: giving the appearance of something you're not, since 2010.

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Home coming


In the last two and a half months, I have been to all the countries I have considered home. Canada: internship training. Philippines: internship. Cambodia: research for the internship and visiting parents. Malaysia: layover to and from Cambodia.

The following is my attempt to summarize the two weeks to, from and in Cambodia, in a nutshell. It's a pretty big nut, but I'll try my best.

KL: Best 5 RM Spent
5 RM (~2 buck) well spent
Somewhere between the city and the airport
The duplicate fortresses
Batu caves
I met up with Apryl, a high school friend from Penang, miraculously during my 12-hour layover

Phnom Penh: Best Photo (sh)Op  

Workin' it with team Cambodia, brought to you by 2 inches of makeup and excessive photoshop
 My cousin Jon and his wife Alicia came from Edmonton on a tour... we saw them in two cities in Cambodia!

This place probably has the best beef in Cambodia
"Don't fall into the water! *chuckle*" - my mom
A beautiful, but confusing drama

Battambang: Most Scenery Viewed on a Train Ride
Train made from panda's favourite food

Battambang countryside
Our ride on the mountain
Self-timer, balanced precariously on an ancient rock lion

Sihanoukville: Most Delicious Food Stuffed in Food
Chicken stuffed squid

Sokha Beach
My immediate ascendants and Jon & Alicia
Dinner

In conclusion, I am too lazy to write very much, but these people aren't (Cambodia interns):

http://willyougo.wordpress.com/2010/07/27/gloria-jeans-and-friends/
http://naomicambodia.blogspot.com/2010/07/ok-fine.html
http://jeffseaman.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/dengue-fever-asian-jokes-and-awkwardness-read-on/

Monday, August 2, 2010

Firsts

Being of Chinese ethnicity and having grown up in Asia, you would think that I have had my fair share of eating and doing weird/interesting things. This is an assumption based on fact, but I have also had my fair share of firsts during this trip. As an attempt to make up for my serious delay in posting, this post will have photos galore.


Any past experience I have had with balut was when my family lived in the Philippines, and my dad would order it when people came over, for the shock factor. On top of convincing visitors that my dad was legit, it grossed my brothers and I out tremendously, which was probably part of the entertainment. 15 years later, I had gathered enough courage to face this abomination.


A veiny, crunchy, fertilized duck egg
Traces of duck fetus on my murderous lips



D and I went to Cambodia to do some research for a week, and I took my vacation the following week to chill with my parents. As an initiation by Steve, Jodi and the water interns in Cambodia, we had tarantulas. They were deep fried, and tasted like oil. Mostly crunchy and a little bit squishy, the mental torture was probably enough to kill a baby seahorse.
Big, hairy, arachnids

On a slightly different note, I rode an elephant for the first time in Phnom Penh. Sambo is an adorable old elephant who dons slippers while taking walks. 
Yeehaw


On a completely different note, a few weeks ago, one of the Ates we live with brought us home to her province. It was a privilege to see the beautiful place she grew up in, meet her lovely family, and breath the cool mountainous air.
Green and blue, like Captain Planet
A flower so pretty it looks fake
A view from the Sariaya Church bell tower
That's it for now, a more extensive look at Cambodia is on its way.