The Rivaroxaban Launch

I was invited for a product launch at the KL Convention Center on Saturday afternoon. In this day and age, such launch were getting few and far between. This was a new anticoagulants which I was involved in in the clinical trial back in 2006. It is a good product but damn expansive. Yes, I prescribed it to a couple of my current patients since they had budget for it, but I can't see it being used extensively in Malaysia since the alternative is far cheaper, as well as relatively well tolerated.

The Pharmaceutical Company certainly did not pull any punches at the launch, with the dinner reception being held at the Petroleum Club on the Twin Tower. I decided to give it a miss having been at the club a couple of times in the past. But why spent so much money on such reception. As far as the Company is concerned, this is an important drug with two other competing agents in the horizon. Should the product sells well, it is a potential gold mine. Therefore, I do understand why the company was banking so much on the launch.

Walking in the tunnel from Suria to the Convention CenterThis guy apparently supposed to present a blood clot.The product launch itself was full of gimmick. They had a drama troupe giving presentations and mingling around with the guest. A kind of performance art which would not look out of place at an art gallery. They had speaker coming from the States as well for good measure. Delegates from out of town also get to stay for the night at one of the hotel at the Golden Triangle. Not a bad deal all around eh. But unfortunately, such cost would eventually be passed on to the paying patients .....

The Pondering Almost Done

People sit at an Internet Cafe for the free wifi. They drink coffee there to pass the time. I often to go there while waiting for Puan Anita to finish up what she was doing at the mall. And the cafe seemed to be the right place for me to chill out alone as well. In fact, I made a lot of my life decision, figuring things out while sitting at such cafe. Trying to catch a moment of clarity.

Before my boys arrive, such moment were had in the early mornings. My favourite were the early hours of Saturday mornings. Why Saturday? Because I never used to work on Saturday and I can catch up on sleep on the afternoon while having the rest of Sunday to recover.

There had been a catalogue of decisions believe it or not. The decision against heading to Australia for further studies and sabbatical. The decision for a career change. The decision to move. All was actually made at the same spot, over a period of five years. The same very cafe. Not just the same chain of Starbucks, but the same Starbucks. Talk about finding one's muse eh!

So, I pondered again earlier this morning for more decisions. Now that things were finally in place, it was the time for the execution. And the breakfast this morning with Puan Anita at La Bodega was nice as well. But I did most of my thinking alone. And she knows when to leave me to figure things out. After all, she had been with me for the last 25 years …..

Decision time boys!

The Search is On

It certainly was a gorgeous day. A day I spent with Puan Anita mostly looking at apartments. Travelling especially when I was on call can be a problem, so we decided to search for a place around Bangsar. A sort of apartment for the weekend. With a pool of course.

We had a few units in mind and had engaged a property agency to search for a good one. Looking for property can be tiring and time-consuming as well as frustrating if you fail to land on a place of your dreams.

Hopefully our search won't take too long as currently the property market as far as letting is concerned is pretty slow going. We shall watch this space .....

Pavilion Slideshow

A Sunday Stroll at Pavilion

Right after my stop at UM, I decided to take my X100 for a quick spin. Destination, Pavilion and its 300 foot dragon at the main foyer.

Even at 11 am, the place was already crowded and a lot of pushing and shoving was going on. Not my cup of tea. So I did just that. I sat down for a quick drink.

The dragon was a bit of an anticlimax as you were not able to get close. The thing was hanging 50 feet off the ground. Not really close enough for a good snap. The crowd was not helpful either. So, after the obligatory snaps, I went outside Pavilion entrance and I was glad I did that.

The overcast weather allowed for great close-up shots of the details on the Buddy Bear. Spent more than half an hour looking around and got plenty of photos. There were great patterns and colours to be snapped. And the area outside was a lot more open and the crowd were a lot more sensible.

Funnybthat there were plenty to be seen if you look closely enough. The artists clearly put plenty of effort into their work in designing the bear. Taking stock of them really put you back a bit. It soon became clear how lame the USA and the British designs were. But there you go.

Rather than heading out to Bukit Bintang, I decided to hold back and make my way back home. I have a birthday party to attend letter in the afternoon. One of Idlan's classmate's party. Otherwise, I would have gone on. I was on a roll. More on the Buddy Bear snaps later.