I have made it through another week at work and finding I am getting much more hands on. This has definitely been helped by doing afternoon shifts (3-10pm) as the department is much busier and the doctor seem glad for any help they can get! I've made it out in the ambulances, although several times I have thought we were going to die hurtling along at 100km/hour through the city with Black Eyed Peas blaring. Cars aren't too keen to move out of the way so a loudspeaker on the roof comes as standard, so the paramedics can shout at uncooperative drivers. Generally they are well equipped with the added luxury of several fans and air con in the back which is much appreciated when you are trying to ventilate someone on the journey back to the hospital through hot and windy roads.

Medical cases admitted have been varied and tropical with several cases of Dengue Fever and plenty of Malaria to go around as well as the usual, chest pain, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and muscularskeletal injuries. Diabetes is commonplace here with many patient being admitted with late hand and foot neuropathy and blindness as well as comatose patients with hypoglycaemia. Hence every patient admitted has their sugar levels checked.

Evenings off have allowed us to sample even more of the local cuisine moving on from just Malay to Thai and Chinese this week. In the morning off before late shift we visited the islands for some snorkelling and relaxing on deserted beaches. On Thursday we visited Sapi island, the smallest in Tunku Abdul Rahman Park just off the jetty from KK. When we arrived the beach was full of lifejacketed tourists snorkelling in designated areas but having spied an empty beach just around the headland Emma and myself detoured off one of the paths into the jungle and found ourselves a private beach. Admittedly there was quite a bit of rubbish scattered on the shore but just off the beach was some fabulous underwater sights and we saw many tropical fish as well as starfish and even a lion fish!

After a bit of time under the sun, tanning (or burning in Emma's case, ouch!) we unfortunately had to head back to the jetty to make it in for the late shift. But on the way saw multiple monitor lizards lazing around in the mud as we walked back from the rainforest. What a way to start the day

Plans for the weekend: Diving again on Saturday before a trip north of KK to visit a traditional stilted village on Sunday.