25th September 2008 : Aquarium Setting

It had been sometime since I had done some work with aquarium setting. It seem that ever since I went to college I had totally stop setting up aquarium.

I think I was too lazy and seem to loss interest in fish keeping. We still do keep an matured oscar during this period. But I seem to loss any interest in it. May be the sense of ownership was loss when I was in

Today , first time since 2002 I involve in setting up the aquarium. A week ago the previous aquarium that we keep our oscar seem to be leaking. My believe is that the foam under the aquarium was terrorized by the small tiny ants. They seem to remove the foam, bits by bits. Eventually,a part of aquarium was in contact with the stand and it leaks due to the pressure of the tank is concentrated on the certain area.

So our poor old fish had to be keep in a tub for a week before we start buying a new aquarium today. Her appetite during this period was poor. Obviously she is very stress over here !!!

Well, my dad help me in this adventure and it only took about less than 2 hours before all the project was done!! However unfortunately, we dont have the anti chlorine solution. I was aware of the danger putting the fish in a newly changed tank. So I put some bait fish (the fish I give for the oscar food) first before I introduce the oscar.

Unfortunately, all the bait fish died. I strongly believe that this is due to the high chlorine concentration in the water.

So what I did was to put the filter and water pump in the aquarium. This I believe increases the rate of chlorine to disperse from the tank.

So I tried putting in new fish in the tank and this time, none of the fish died. So I believe that the chlorine level in the tank now is in the acceptable level. So I put my old oscar in the tank.

So I hope my hunch is correct! The oscar should be ok!!

My Good Friend Hanqun

I am dedicating this blog for my best buddy at the zoo, Lee Hanqun. He been at the zoo since last August (2007) which is roughly a week after I join the zoo. And after 10 months working in the zoo together with him, he is leaving the zoo for his national service.

I (and probably the whole) vet department found him to be a kind, honest and fun loving person. He also a hard working and competent colleague. Having such fine qualities a person, it only second nature that he become a good friend to all of us at the vet department.

Being a trustful individual at the department, I found out that many of my colleague share their feeling or frustation to him. I am of course not an exception in this case. Well, I found that is a blessing for me to have a good ear to share my troubles and joy with him. He is by all means a good listener and advisor in many issue. I certainly owes him many for his valuable advises!!!

Having only mention his good quality, I think it is fair for me to mention some of his not so good quality (depend how you take it la). Well, as a good friend I found a bit worrying for me to know him a rather prolific mah jong player. From what I know, his mah jong session can be rather frequent and long. I pray that he wont venture beyond some mah jong games especially with the intergrated resort coming about in Marina Bay!! Another shocking features about him is that he have one of the most strangest e-mail account; babylee02@hotmail.com . It been subject of debate among us. We all agree that this e-mail seem to be rather feminist for comfort! He claimed that this e-mail is named after his pet dog baby lee.

Well, speaking about baby lee, I forgot to mention that Hanqun is an avid lover of animal. He have 3 gerbills and a malezzia infested cockiel spaniel at home and two of his younger brother in the ward (the hybrid langurs). It very happy to find someone that really love his animal! Being an animal lover, I think it is natural for him to have an ambition as a vet.

Unfortunately, due to some constraint in life. His ambition as a vet isnt that easily come by. I really felt sorry for him that his life ambition isnt an achievable one in the next few years. I wish i could do something for him to obtain his ambition but I am very sad to say that I am useless to help him in this case. All I could do is just pray and give some encouragement for his life goal.

Bro,..dont give up on your dreams. There are many heart warming stories about indivuals that had achieve their life's dream to become a vet. God or any Vet School didnt state that a person should be below 30 to be a vet. For me, I person should be a vet because he really deep in his heart want to save an animal life. And you have it!! So bro I will be waiting for you to join in the vet team no matter how long it takes!!!

Studying is Lonely

I was reading some books on reptile in JB today that suddenly that I began to felt the sense of loneliness again. So almost immediately I send several text message to some of my friends. I think I did so to appease my loneliness.



Now come the trouble question of loneliness; Is loneliness is associated with boredom? I mean I do like reading but of course after a while you do get very boring reading especially if you are studying instead of reading!!



If that so, I wonder that why I am so miserable at Singapore! I mean, I will on regular basis read some journals and text books on veterinary medicine. I know you guys will think that I am some sort of freak by doing this. But I am in tough position to do so because I feel that I am truly lack of knowledge in many sense.



Well, loneliness never bother me when I was doing salsa. But I do have admit that I do feel a bit sad when dancing because of not able to have my girl friend with me at that time. But at least, I don't feel lonely.

If studying brings loneliness than I got no words to say. I am stuck between a loneliness and career!

April 18th 2008- Low Spirited Vet

I am having difficulties in my work today. I am by all means mentally tired over the issue of my relationship. I find it is difficult for me to do things around. My mind couldnt help to think about the future of my relationship.

I find myself very hard to make myself efforts to do things. I simply couldnt any spirit to do things on my own. I just need to be ask or told to do things.

I know a man (especially Vets) couldnt let emotion over come our work. But still emotional feelings linger in my soul and heart.

Everytime I tried to put off my thoughts over issue. But still each time that I see young couple together in the zoo; my heart rages with despair and even jealousy.

I guess God just like make me to a sad man in this world. Probably He wanted to test my patient over life matters? Well, what ever it is please stop this test. My patient is runnung low!

I am also fortunate to have good friends like Hanqun around. They are people that are willing to spend time to listen my sorrowness. I feel that it is a great honour to have such friend close about.

Well, I think at the end of the day it all depend on yourself to put way with the misery and carry on life. You must at the same time share your disappointment of the matter with your buddy first and seek his advise if necessary.

It is getting late now and I am still at the office. Wasting my time doing nothing professional but doing this blog. Personally I think that I should focus more on my work but with this problem looming on my head. But this seem hard and improbable to come by!

17th April 2008- The Sad Guy in Singapore

Life hasn't been very nice to me! Recently I had some arguments with my girl friends over some issue. Well, I have to admit it that it is a bump thing to quarrel about but still I still feels that it is necessary for me to brought up the issue with her.

Well, unfortunately things didnt turn up as I hope for. Probably she took things negatively. I wont mention over what issue that we quarrelled about but I personally think that this is not necessary.

However, to be honest, I still think that the issue that I brought up brings sense toward the relationship that we have. I hate to say this but I think that I am not being fairly treated for most of the time. I mean, I have to do all the sacrifice over issue on our relationship but in return I got nothing but bitter disappointment.

Now with this issue looming over my head. I began to hate my life. To many, my life would be a fitting one over them. But to me, it is just so sad. Many would argue that I am the only person that will make my life more furfilling and meaningful. But because of issue of other people in life, I became upset over myself. It seem dumb but I am like that! Strange right?

Well, I have to admit; life over here also been very dull for me. I work with the most exciting job in the world but at the end of the day. I am all alone in my room. Doing nothing but read journal or doing other things. That why I always like to spend go back late from office because that I think it is too unbearable for me to just stay in my room alone for most of the time.

I wonder should I change my lifestyle. I should go for more outing and make more friends? I know that I dont like this kind of things but I think it would make me feel better I am suppose? Hmmm,...

I am A Zoo Vet Now!!

Hi There!!!

It been 7 month since I had worked in the zoo. And I just got the confirmation letter!! Yeah! Yeah! I am a zoo vet now!

It had been both a fun and meaning full journey for me. I not only gain new knowledge and experience but also friends!

My Best Friend and Bro at the Hospital

I felt myself very lucky to have such experience early in my life. It really a privelege for me to start it here in Singapore Zoological Gardens! They have all the facilities for us to help with the diagnosis of the cases and also the sifu (my seniors) to guide me!!

Vasectomy on a wild caught long tail macaque in the careful guidance of Serena

I am so fortunate to have the privelege to learn to attend cases, blow and gun darting, field diagnosis, lab diagnosis and of of course field X-ray.

Taking X-ray on a Lioness with Sonja

I think the most important thing in life is not about learning or making the most of your job. But I think is making friends as you work!

Spending quality time with colleagues

Apart form just learning veterinary stuff and making friends. I learn also do some night life! Recently met a volunteer from Germany who taught me about Salsa and go clubbing! I hope my GF wont kill me on this occasion!!

Me with Carol after salsa dancing!

Well, the first few months been the most difficult for me. As I have to adjust myself to working life, my job and also my separation from my GF. But now, as things had settled down now, I think life over here is not too bad.

I guess in life, we need to be patient and resillient over different situation. And take every challenge and situation as an opportunity to gain knowlege, experience and new friends!!!