July 16, 2026. The world’s most expensive sandwich was consumed at Gleneagles hospital this afternoon. The sandwich cost 1,050 RM, however, the cost included some pain medication. Hahaha This is the real story. I followed my Malaysian doctor’s instructions by going to an ER and get an X-ray of my ribs and get a scan to see if there had been a bleed as I had a bump on my head and a black eye from the fall. I had not eaten breakfast that morning. The other patients in the Gleneagles were brought sandwiches. I was hungry so I asked the staff member for a sandwich. After a brief delay one was brought, it was delicious – brown bread, cucumbers, egg. Yum. I had completed both the X-ray and scan and was waiting for the doctor to get the results. The doctor returned, gave me the good news. My broken rib is very minimal – only one rib, not two. AND I did not have a bleed. In other words, a clean bill of health. I went to the pharmacy to pick up my pain medication and went to the cashier to pay. Of course, I was making a joke. The.1050 RM included the triage consultation, the X-ray and the scan, the ER doctor’s consultation and the sandwich. Hahahaha It was the best ER I have ever had the privilege of attending. SO much better than the experiences I have had at Loh Guan Lye hospital which was inefficient and always insisting on expensive tests, MRIs and colonoscopies when neither was needed. I may write about the experience at length but not at this time. The hospital has the best system, their triage counter manned by an efficient man who had close communication with the doctors on staff, Zhir had the latest X-ray equipment and welded it in a professional and in a friendly, efficient manner. The scan was effortless. A chart on the wall informs patients of the waiting period they will experience based on their presenting symptoms. I was seen quickly as one of my presenting symptoms was a head injury.
I am SO grateful for the excellent medical care and my prognosis. I will present my discharge summary to Dr. Lee when I see him next. I did, of course, text him the good news. His response so humane and caring.
He: Thanks god. No bleeding in the cranium
I am thanking God. This morning . I picked up the inspiration book gifted to me, Nouri My Light to find the perfect poem.
A Second Chance
Be still my breaking heart,
For dawn approaches-
A new day
A new beginning –
You breathe,
You live
Another chance given.
ALHAMDULLILH
The facing page provides a verse from the Quran, a Hadith and Pearls of Wisdom
Quran
Ibraham 14.7 “Surely if you be grateful, I will surely give you more.”
Hadith
“The most grateful of the people to Allah are those who are most grateful to others.”
Pearls of Wisdom
“We can cultivate gratitude for our being on this earth to fulfill some important part of His will. Gratitude is knowing that whatever we have comes from the divine source. Gratitude helps us focus our minds, which has become so difficult today when surrounded by distractions and attractions. Gratitude, therefore, adjusts our perceptions by reminding us that not everything that happens to us does so of its own volition. So we shouldn’t take matters for granted. We can remind ourselves, often, of Allah’s blessings by expressing our gratitude to Him in our prayers and at other times, too!”
Back to yesterday. I happily returned to Lyf, to be greeted enthusiastically by staff. The team knew of the results because I texted Nixon giving him permission to share it with the team.
It was off to Mojo, housed in LYF. Sandman did not have lunch and it was fun to treat him to his usual, the fried chicken sando and orange juice. The sand is huge, I had the delicious smoked wagyu brisket – the most tender meat I have ever eaten. Chef Grandson Cole attributes it tenderness to the smoking process. Ate it without taking a photo first. Instead you shall see a photo of the Moomoo beef stew which I managed to photograph before consuming. It was also delicious, again using wagyu beef. The quality of Wagyu beef which translates to “Japanese cow.” Listen to this commercial of the beef: “It is famous for producing premium beef with intense marbling, which means tiny streaks of fat found inside the red meat. This fat melts at a low temperature, giving the beef a soft texture and rich flavor. This unique trait, combined with strict Japanese breeding practices and exceptional umami flavor, elevates it to one of the most sought-after and luxurious culinary experiences in the world.” Grandson Cole says the beef he purchases comes from Australia.
I am sure that you now know more about wagyu beef then you ever wanted to know.
This blog’s focus on food is most probably the direct result of my health scare. I am now living in the moment and appreciating the blessings I have living in Malaysia. The health care is exceptional, the food is exceptional, the people are exceptional and every day in every way I am loving Malaysia more. Previous blogs have spoken of food.
The June 4, 2026 blog eulogized avocado and spoke of food subsidization programs
All About Food; Avocado Toast Recipe Leads to a Declaration Finding Avocado As Super Food; Malaysian Food Not Only Tastes Better But Wonders, of All Wonders, Basic Foods are Subsidized; The Government Programs Efficient Humane, Compassionate with the Rules Enforced; A Closing Invocation; Foodie Photos
Link it if you have not read it – fascinating I do have to admit. Hahahaha
My enthusiasm for Malaysia is enhanced in anticipation of fully funding my ten year Sarawak visa and the enthusiastic welcoming by Malaysians who are told of my plans. Sandman drove me to the Fed Ex office to mail a distribution request for a US investment to ‘cashed out’ and brought to a Malaysian bank. This will provide funds for charitable giving and make it possible for me to will my property rather than have it escheat to the US government upon my death.
I have decided to make Penang Lyf my home – so I feel at home. Will this change me in any way? I think so. We shall see. I plan to center myself on the people around me and, of course, upon Allah (SWT). No hankering for far off lands and people. Hanker what a funny word. Its meaning: (hanker after/for/to do something) feel a strong desire for or to do something. Used in a sentence: Alexis did not hanker to see the world or go back to the US. In other words, Alexis does not have a longing, crave, desire, hunger, thirst, lust, ache, eating one’s heart out; fancy, pine for, have one’s heart set on to see the world or go back to the US or Canada.
Photo of a Wagyu beef dish and the photo of the screensaver of my phone. My next blog will tell of an amazing experience at the factory where the Kaaba curtain is manufactured.
