Myanmar Medical/Dental Mission Trip 2010



Back from my mission trip in Yangon, Myanmar. It was a fufilling and meaningful trip. I will be going for more of these trips if there is in the future. Hopefully i can go with some close friends. Its great to help those who needs our help badly.


Ok. A summary of the 5 days there=)

Day 1 - 21st November 2010


Woke up at 4am!!! Reached the airport at 5am. Had breakfast with mama. SMS the relevant person. Met up with the second team people. Walked around the airport with winnie, found a lost handphone at Cocoa Tree. Of course we didnt koped it. Brought it to customer service. Was wondering 'shit, myanmar no autoroam, i wouldnt know even if the person wants to give me $1million. haha!'


Plane ride is always fun. I was crazy enough to buy a watch on the plane.


Reached Yangon Airport. The rooms werent ready when we reached the hotel, we deposited luggages at the hotel and proceeded to the Orphanage at Kyanmar. It was really fun to be greated by the team 1 people. All equipments were set up already. Had lunch, then its ready for work!

The children at the orphanage are so cute! Me and winnie was in charge of dispensing the medications. Of course i cant speak myanmar language, we've got nice translators to help us with it. And dispensing here is so much simple because we don't really have to tell them details.

I got a chance to bathe a pair of siblings with scabies. Together with shuying and Dr Lim, we PPE-ed and gloved ourselves. Halfway through, Dr Lim was like 'did you double glove?' i was like thanks, you didnt tell me. lol


After a hard day's work, we had dinner at a restaurant. It was at this forest looking place. Food was okay.

After that, a few of us went to the Pagoda. Its so beautiful! The lights are magnificant. I heard it is made of real gold. I'll upload some pictures (if i ever get the time). There was this special light at the tip where you can see different colours at different angles. Red, green, white, yellowm orange? We also managed to see the biggest one. Seriously, i saw blue and purple. =)


Damm tired when we reached hotel. Gonna be another long day tmr!




Day 2 - 22nd November

Had breakfast in the hotel. breakfast was not bad.

Today im all alone at the orphanage, winnie is off to the hospital. i had difficulty coping because i cant really speak, mintzu is busy helping the doctors as well. she wrote myanmar words for me. but kids cant really read, so sometimes, i really struggle for help. on the other hand, the hospital team so shiok LOL. they ended early and even had time to shop and internet. ROFL. the kids over at the orphanage are so cute. they sang for for like dunno how long. they walked us to the gates and they never stopped waving to us when we left in the bus. heartwarming.

dinner was at a dunno what place. food was okay. at the end of the meal, they gave us this haw thorn looking asam thing. everyone thinks its nice and ending up buying many packets. good marketing skills huh.


Another busy day. i just want a good bath and sleep!

Day 3 - 23rd November 10

My 1st day at the hospital. Work is about the same. But there as lesser people. We didnt start as early i think. Were playing with the stethoscopes and sphygomanometer. I learnt how to measure blood pressure with this method, (more accurate than automatic ones ok =)) i nearly burst winnie's arm. listened to lungs as well. i'll learn how to listen to the heart the next time.


had time to go in and peep at the doctors doing consultation when i have the time. mintzu gave us some leafy looking stuff to eat. and heard that it makes one high. -.- i hope i dont faint


went to visit another new hospital during lunch time. the hospital is still undergoing renovations. dialysis centre being built. i cant imagine another ward 42 haha~ am glad that medical treatments are improving. after that we visited a school for the children. undering renovations as well. i really thank those generous donators.

after that went back to the hospital for lunch. then back to work again!

as expected, we ended early. went to Boujouk market. Dr Beng and shuying bought some grasshopper looking insect thing to try. i'd rather die. -.- the strawberry dunno what drink is nice! even though it tasted abit salty. wanted to get jade but they were closed =(


at night, mintzu bought us to some clubbing. i nearly died because 1) i cant dance, 2) the smoke is making me get bronchitis. but overall, its kinda interesting looking at strangers and talking about them and looking at the doctors, dentists and aunties dancing their life away.


by the time we got back, i had to shampoo my hair twice from the smoke. i am too tired to talk.

Day 4 - 24th November 10

Woke up very very very eary despite the lack of sleep because we have arranged to see sunrise and visit the padi fields. We didnt manage to do any harvesting as planned because harvest period is over. -.- we managed to cut the grains instead. it was really beautiful. the road was a difficult one from all the tall grains and slippery prob due to the rain. but everything was worth it cos it was really nice. now you understand li li jie xin ku huh. haha.
After that went back to the hotel for a quick breakfast and headed to hospital. work ended early as well. there was this particular kid i remember vividly. he was only aboyt 5 to 6 years old. his fingers were probably caught in a machine or something. he was yeiing in excruciating pain and u can literally see the fingernail coming off. there was nothing we could do. Dr Teddy Beng gave him an LA (taken from dental side -.-) to block the pain. He told me he was to go to a hospital to get it amputated. i felt very sad. the whole finger was black already and the wound is already one day old :( for once i felt like a doctor or nurse lol cos i helped Dr beng in the mini op. suddenly i had the inspiration to become a doctor. =) well i always do.

After lunch, headed back to the hotel for a rest. when me and winnie went back to our room, it wasnt done yet. -.- went to shuying's room and caught 2pm and shinee on tv =) went back a while later and realise room still wasnt done. went out for a walk. bought lots of dvd. =) esp superjuniors lol. after that went to hotel and took a long bath. then took a nap.

For dinner, it was at the restaurant at the hotel. The Mayor came. Dr Beng pangseh us. but had vegetarian instead. hahahahahaha roflmao.
After dinner, we went to cafe near the hotel. wad drink and then went back to hotel. (Drink as in coffee and lime juice)


Day 5 - 25th November 10
Its our last day! No R&R thanks to someone. Me winnie Dr tan and wife and oh crap i forgot her name, we went back earlier than the rest. didnt go to Inle lake with the rest thanks to argh whatever long story. (went back to work the next day with a black face)
We went to boujouk market to buy jade. then had lunch at a cafe. the beehoon is super nice!
after that went to the yangon museum. we were really amused because we cannot bring any electronics into the museum. -.- well i had my ipod and hp in my pocket all the time -.- after that went to airport and walk around.
touched down singapore around 10pm. mama came and fetch me.
Dead tired.

Overall i enjoyed myself very much. It was very fufilling and enjoyable. No one can understand the art of helping and giving. I will definitely go next year again =)