For a long time I wanted to go for a cruise but never had the chance to do it. Upon my return from my holiday in Orlando last June, I was planning for my next family vacation. I bumped into an advert showing an offer by Starcruise. I quickly decided to book 2 cabins on SuperStar Virgo from Singapore to Phuket, Langkawi and back to Singapore. This was my first cruise ever taken.
I must say that it was rather an exciting and fun-filled cruise. I never knew that a ship can have so many restaurants, games, theatres, swimming pools etc floating on the sea! We were served with 6 meals per day with lively entertainments. Other than that, you are also free and easy to try anything on board. Some may have minimal charges but mostly are free for you to use. They even have ping-pong tables, basketball court and mini golf course ! Another interesting fact is that you don’t need to go through immigration when you dock at Phuket or Langkawi. The immigration officers will come onboard and check the passports, which is kept by the ship upon embarkation in Singapore. You only collect your passport upon disembarkation. You can just walk into Phuket and Langkawi without your passport. You just need to bring your access card.
Since this was our first cruise experience, sometimes we did miss some programs and entertainment. Shore excursion to Phuket was well planned but rather short (at night) . Langkawi was rather free and easy for us since we did not take any tour package. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and we would love to go for another longer cruise in the future……
Well, I am back to work again and the Dengue epidemic seem to be unsettling this year. An outbreak that started in April 2013 is yet to settle. The number of deaths, 84 in total is almost double compared to last year. I was told that JB GH is receiving 30 Dengue admission every shift with almost 100 patients in the ward at any one time. WE really need a more structured well planned strategy to tackle this epidemic but unfortunately, our politicians are more interested in spending money on collapsing buildings!!
The public on the other hand is more interested in H1N1, giving birth at home and taking direct selling supplements!! They are least concerned about keeping their neighbourhood clean and tidy…………….
Pagalavan's Avatar 
Dr Pagal,
Good to hear you had a wonderful holiday.
If enforcement do their job properly and slap hefty fines on those found breeding Aedes mosquitoes, the epidemic might come to a quick end.
I wonder what happened to the enforcement officers who introduced aedes larvae into fish tanks?
Dengue spore is also struggling to contain the disease!
Atleast they manage to bring down the number of cases from 900 + per week to about 200-300/week.
I do want to go on a cruise with my family. How much does it cost per person?
Depends on the cruise, type of cabin and number of people. I spent about Rm 10K total for 6 of us(2 cabins with balcony) for 4days 3 night cruise and 6 meals/day!
Dengue control falls under public health?
yup and they don’t seem to be doing a good job
Actually I don’t think should blame those public health officers. They’re doing a great job just that there’re many things holding them back, like our politician. Eg: I was told that they couldnt’ do much fogging as not much funds were given to public health.
As I said, they prefer building collapsing structures than fogging
Dr , is there any problem of taking direct selling supplements ? Please share your view , just curious . Thanks
The latest evidence says that you are just taking placebos!! Supplements do not prevent any diseases.
So, you were saying.. doctors work 24/7 and cant live a luxury live?
If you work 24 hrs a day, what luxury life are you going to have?
Oh and do they send Malaysian doctors to the royal colleges at UK/etc anymore? Or do they just send them to Malaysian universities?
Who is sending who? No one sends no one. I think you should spend more time reading this blog
Royal colleges etc are professional membership organisations. You do not go and have lectures nor train there.
I see. I thought when doctors wrote things like RCSI after their names, they actually went to Ireland and stuff. Thanks for the clarification.
Not necessary. You can get RCSI in Malaysia nowadays! Subcontract may!
Postgraduate specialist medicine and surgery qualifications are not gained by enrollment into a taught course university programme (unlike undergraduate MBBS).
RCSI is an actual medical school though, and provides undergraduate courses in medicine.
http://www.rcsi.ie/school_medicine
Hi Dr Pagalavan..can u comment on health supplements..there are a lot of them selling currently especially the direct selling ones..some supplements even claims to cure cancer..tq
Nothing proven . It is as good as placebo
When I originally commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service? Thanks!
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