As I am heading off to the Cameron Highlands on Thursday, I thought I ought to make the most of my time in hospital this week. This got off to a great start when I wasn't even allowed into theatre Monday morning due to a VIP undergoing surgery in theatre 5. Not dissuaded I went downstairs to the emergency theatres and sat in on a couple of c-sections.

By lunch time I was allowed back in upstairs and got to do a few inductions from start to finish and watch a combined spinal, epidural.

Monday evening I headed back to Fairoz's as I am staying at her apartment until Thursday. Since it is Ramadan everyone was cooking different dishes for a buffet dinner once the sun goes down. At 7.30 we all gathered on the floor around the food and we started the meal with dates, as is tradition. The food was good, with various vegetable dishes, soup and a chicken and rice main. The food is all eaten from the serving plates with either bread or a spoon and washed down with a traditional drink which was cool but full of spices. I was quite an experience to be apart of.

Tuesday was better as I got to do a couple of nasal intubations and put in a throat pack for dental surgery. Even though we added an extra case to the list we were still finished by 3 and I went to the library to read my book (the apartment doesn't have air con and it was a hot day). Since arriving here I seem to have gotten through so many book (on my iphone) and luckily it is commonplace to have your mobile out in theatre, to the point where the anaesthetist will happily answer a call during pre-oxygenation or someone will hold the phone whilst the surgeon talks to his wife during surgery.

Dinner, once again, was really good and we spent the evening discussing Islam and Christianity. An early night was called for after I fell asleep on the couch.

I arrived early on Wednesday for the houseman's teaching but found it had been cancelled so had an hour to chill in the doctor's lounge before surgery started at 9. I managed to do a few intubations, watched a couple of paediatric cases and got quizzed about oxygen saturations. After lunch I saw a femoral block for a knee operation and again was finished by 3.

Walking back home I caught the free wifi that is available in KL and stopped to check emails and update my blog as I cant connect from the apartment. A couple hours later I got back and packed all my stuff up for the coming trip. We had dinner and I said my goodbyes, not knowing if I would see anyone in the morning, before heading to bed. Luckily is was slightly cooler tonight as the last few nights it has been stifling despite the fan in Fairoz's room.

Tomorrow I head to the Cameron Highlands, getting a bus to Tamah Rata, and staying for the weekend!