Dengue Fever

Sigh.

Sigh.

Sigh.

It's not just a sorethroat. It's dengue! Rashes came out after the fever subsided. Hauled ass to the polyclinic and got a few tests done (Hemoglobin, white blood cells, hematocrit and platelets). Needless to say my poor white cells are sorely depleted. Platelet count is still within the normal range but seems to be on a down-going trend. Which means, another round of blood-test is in order (my poor veins). I feel fine otherwise. No overt bleeding but damn my throat is killing me. More to report tomorrow.

I do not recall being bitten by any mosquito, but apparently I am very sweet  :)  Or the mozzies were sweet on me.

p/s Beautiful picture of me covered in spots. While more accurately described as peticheal rash (pin-point bruising), a more confluent pattern would be called Islets of White in a Sea of Red. Doesn't it sound poetic?

Pharyngitis

I gazed into the mirror
And found these staring back at me
Fever, chills and pain of disproportionate suffering
Caused by two little dots petite and 'cute
Much aggrieved I am

Bak Chor Mee

Something not found in Kuala Lumpur.

An odd tangy dish of minced pork, pork liver, wantan and noodle mixed in vinegar and chilli sauce. It's rather novel. An acquired taste, I'd say (first time I see people putting vinegar into their mee)

On the otherhad, the accompanying bowl of broth is rich and tasty. I give it two thumbs up! I'm told bak chor mee comes in a soupy version which I think would make a rather hearty breakfast on a cold rainy morning.

Exploring Singapore's Changi Airport

Had two hours to spare before boarding the airplane, so I went to walk around Changi Airport. Discovered the entertainment deck on Level 1 consisting of a movie theather, TV lounge, free gaming center (with XBox 360 and PS3 to boot), a spa (need to pay) amidst the cafes and duty-free shops.

Awaiting to board the plane

Oasis @ Terminal 2

View from above

Giant koi

Activity table for adults and children

My woodblock print made by rubbing a crayon over the carved surface

Has a rather ethnic feel to it - a good way of promoting local art to tourists

An outdoor sunflower garden (doubled up as a smoking area)

Free gaming room

Another interactive station promoting Baba & Nyoya designs

Embossing stamp

Phoenix from the stamp

Another ethnic motif

In terms of shopping, KLIA has a wider array of duty free goods but when it comes to cultural promotion Changi Airport has gotten it down to a pat! Waiting for my flight has never been more interesting.... I wasn't bored for a moment and was almost sorry to leave!

Mucocele

A swelling in the lower lip.

A mucocle is not to be confused with a cold sore from herpes simplex (Type 2) infection. The former is benign and painless while the latter implies that you've been naughty and have been putting things in your mouth that you should not.

A mucocele is a collection of saliva trapped within the soft tissue due to a ruptured minor salivary gland. If you run your tongue along the inner lining of your lips, you will feel small bumpy lumps that are meaty and nodular (that's the minor salivary gland). Do NOT under any circumstances bite or suck at it. Apparently, that's how I got this swelling (from chewing my lower lip) The end result is a round fluctuating nodule with a bluish tinge at the surface. You can't pop it like a pimple and it grows bigger if you keep worrying it.

If the darn thing grows bigger it is likely to be due to a blocked salivary duct and it's time to go for surgery. The procedure is to excise the salivary gland involved and send for biopsy (to rule out oral cancer). This costs RM400-450 done by an oral/dental surgeon. The minor operation takes less than 1/2 hour and recovery is expected within two days. However, a mucocele should be able to resolve spontaneously without intervention. Just leave it alone and it should  disappear by its own little self after 3-6 weeks.... which was what happened to mine after some reassurance from the good doctor.

Anyways, surgery is an invasive procedure and a mucocele is likely to recur after the initial surgery so it's best to adopt the wait and see approach. I couldn't live with it at first and wanted it out immediately. I'm glad the doctor advised against it - see now, that's why physicians can't heal themselves (plus they make the worst patients). Being in the sick role messes with objectivity and judgement.

Sweet Corn Konnyaku Jelly

I know it's been a long time since I updated my blog. Been so busy with writing assignments that my right hand is stiff from cradling the mouse, and I think I've gone blind in my right eye from staring at the computer screen too long. After a hard week of working through the nights, I am now a converted night-owl. Yesterday, I went to bed at 6am. Not because I was rushing for a deadline but because I haven't adjusted back to my usual sleeping hours. I woke up at 6pm today. My my... seems like Tuesday is nearly over already.

Here's something I made a few weeks back... Personally, I prefer clear lychee jelly, but this I made for the sake of variety.

Sweet Corn in Coconut Milk Jelly

Recipe:

- 10g Konnyaku jelly powder

- 750ml water

- 200ml coconut milk

- 150g castor sugar

-1 can creamy sweet corn

Mix sugar and jelly powder in a mixing bowl and stir evenly. Pour mixture into boiling water and stir until dissolved. Pour in coconut milk and sweet corn. Stir 5-10 minutes. Pour into jelly molds and chill in refridgerator. Serve cold. Be careful when giving Konnyaku jelly to small children as there have been reported incidences of choking and death.

Avillion Admiral Cove @ Port Dickson

Went on an impromptu vacation with mah gurlfriend yesterday - an unexpected invitation to enjoy a beach stay at Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan which is about one and a half hour's drive from the KL. She booked a studio apartment right beside the marina! Woots!!!!

I've been trying out a few new hue functions which I've steered clear of in Paintshop Pro until now. I was feeling that my usual style was getting boring. I know some of the pics are overdone and look a bit fake but I am working on it!