lost in translation

I was at my favourite fruit stall near Pelita (Grand Palace area) looking for mangoes; theres this row of stalls selling fruits just after the traffic light. It is just shocking how bad the quality of fruits that we get here. I remember going to the supermarket in Sydney (woolworth's) just around the corner from the hotel and there in the basement, the freshest and most beautiful fruits and veges of all colours.... its so freaking amazing. Since the supermarket is so near I just take the lift down and like buy food all the time its so fresh and tasty. Even the eggs are freaking delicious. And tomatoes. And so on... and my parents; they were like high on fresh fruits and produce. The look on their faces when it was time to pay at the counter was priceless.

Anyway, was busy picking mangoes when the auntie keep talking to me in Chinese. She was pointing at something at one point, went to the back and came back with a mango cut in half covered with one of those food plastic cover and showed that to me. She was still talking to me in Chinese and I was not in a good mood at that time so I was just shaking my head. Was minding my own business picking mangoes, handed the fruits to her for weighing and she kept on pointing at some pulasan looking fruits and kept babbling in Chinese. I kept on shaking my head and with a sigh paid and left the stall. Sometimes it gets really annoying, especially if you face this situation every single day... and also especially when I have been buying fruits at that stall all the time... and seeing the auntie all the time!!..

When i was in Phuket people talk to me in Thai. I can be believable as a Thai but I think its the bushy eyebrow... (think Thai PM). Thai people are really "friendly" almost every thai person you see will try to sell you something or get you to go somewhere. I found out the most effective and polite way to get rid of them is to place my hand together (like the buddhist prayer), bow a bit and say kapkumkap. I have no idea but it worked for me.

The offshore visit aftermath

I have been feeling rather under the weather since the offshore trip couple days back. I just recovered from flu before the visit, and getting it again in just a few days is not normal to say the least. Not that I am getting the normal flu sindrome like runny nose, high temp and all that, its just dizzyness and feeling wanting to puke. I think I have figured it out... I might be having the 'land sickness'. Thats when supposedly the brain gets used to the rocking and movement at sea and finds being at land and keeping still disorienting. Its worst when one keeps still, and driving your car around helps. I think that explains everything, or maybe its just another case of me trying to self diagnose and thinking doctors dont know what they are doing.

Having said that, I went to a private hospital here in Miri and enquired about tamiflu before my Sydney trip, and got a blank look from the doctor. He said why would I want a diarrhoea medicine, and he said that with 100% confidence and authority, the look on his face was as if i was talking nonsense. Its just a case of clueless people who gets credibility and or noted just because they are confident. The drug does help with diarrhoea but with Sydney on the top of any swine flu list at that time, why would anybody going to Sydney ask about tamiflu?