Joey @ theBabyKangaroo

Why Do You Run? Why Do I Run?

2009-03-10T06:23:00.000-07:00

I have been a runner for most part of my life! My phillosophy and reason to run has changed over the course of my life.

As a teenager, running gave me a sense of achievement! When I was younger during the school days, running had given me lot's of confidence. Just knowing you are able to do it slightly better and faster then the average girl next door! Running almost brought out the leader in me. Running too had brought me places! Back then, winning was almost everything! It is everything that has to do with a teenagers pride, prestige and popularity in the old school days!

As I got a little bit older, running became a recreational activity. Running still gives me confidence, it is still bringing me to new places and it also lead me to a much wider social network of like minded people. As the race distance becomes longer and longer, working my way towards my first 42km marathon, the friends and training partners grew, the challenges grew bigger too with each distance. The personal sense of achievement continues to grow with each successful lengthening of the race distances. Not to mention the medal tally too!

Is there still any kick in running after hitting the 42km full marathoner title? It is only human nature to keep trying. The challenge continues and it doesn't stop at 42km. Beyond 42km, there are still the ultramarathons (84km if I am not mistaken), ironmans, etc, etc to continue challenging the human spirit to outperform oneself.

Running too has it's consequences! Consequences that impacts ones health, both in the positive as well as the negative manner! It is the discretion of the individual runner to know when to stop and when to keep pushing ones own limits. Running has brought me a fair share of injuries, on top of the health benefits it has allowed me to enjoy. I guess each runner will in their own time mature and learn what is best for themselves.

8 years being a recreational runner, graduating from a full-fledge marathoner, I began searching for a deeper meaning to continue my running passion. Reflections of past achievements from running, somehow failed to bring a deeper meaning to life! With injured knees, I made myself to believe that my running years are numbered. And for all the distances and medals, all I got was 2 injured knees, some cash incentives, some personal best for my own records and a lifetime of memories? Worth it?

So as some of my friends continue their pursuit of ultradistances to better their personal best, I have decided to continue my passion and challenges laterally. I made a new resolution, that for as long as my knees can sustained running, I hope to use them up for a better cause. Of course I still hope running can help maintain my health, but I am also hoping it would make lateral impact on other peoples health, especially those who are less fortunate. Where running comes naturally to most of us, and we use our muscles without requiring much effort, there are those less fortunate where their muscles literally have given up on them. Muscles gone to waste! Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disorder that affects mostly boys where a particular component of a muscle protein is missing which caused muscles to function improperly. These patients experience muscle degeneration as they grow older until paralysis affects them and finally slow death resulting from muscle failures, especially those that affects the heart and respiratory system. There is no cure as yet but research is underway towards a cure for these patients! While still awaiting a cure, patients currently diagnosed with such disorder can only wait for the onset of their symptoms and assistance are mostly in the form of providing aids to help make their lives easier and more comfortable.

So I would like to call out to all my running friends out there, keep running while you race, but why let your muscles go to waste! If you could seize an opportunity to be able to make a difference in your own life as well as the lives of those less fortunate while you run your own race, would you?

As runners, we all know that overcoming a cramped muscle in the middle of a race needs only a mind over matter to complete the race! Overcoming Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) needs MORE than mind over matter!" Unlike patients with cancer, AIDS, and other life-threatening diseases which are afforded much public support and awareness in the form of established societies that extends help to these patients, patients diagnosed with DMD in Malaysia currently lacks such social support and awareness and it is to address this need that my desire to do something for them is born!

"I am not in anyway a great leader, organiser nor manager, but only a person who is trying to make a dream into a reality.

Runners Fundraising Project - Team Duchenne 2009!

2009-02-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

Coming back from Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008 last year... I was inspired! Inspired by a charity program that the organisers put together bridging running & charity called "Run for a Cause". Very much interested to enrol as a charity runner for the event but it was only for Singaporeans. Alas!

Briefly it was a program that allows runners participating in the event as charity runners where each will try to raise a specific sum of funds in order to qualify as a charity runner and have their registration fees waived by the organisers. Funds raised will be channelled to the respective organizations that the runners pledged to support.

I had a dream for 2009 where if the same concept was replicated for our local races and the opportunity to run, raise funds and create awareness for whatever charity causes is emulated across a series of races throughout a whole year, wouldn't that be great!

The idea very much interest me as for the past 8 years, running have been pretty much a part of my life and year in year out I have been running for all sorts of reasons, mostly personal in nature, i.e. personal challenge, personal records, rewards & positions, medal tallies. Come 2009, I had a resolution... for as long as my legs are able to run, I'd hope to be able to make parallel impact not only in my own life / health but also be able to reach out in a broader sense.

So I began thinking, searching & trying very hard to turn the idea / dream into a reality. God willing i was able to chance upon a similar concept that is so close to what I was hoping to do here in Malaysia. Action Duchenne - is a program currently running in the UK...http://www.actionduchenne.org/fundraising

How people could get involved by joining the program is via setting a target for the next 12 months to raise funds, any amount you choose to target. Fund raising for the targetted amount could be done by a one off event or a number of events. You could get the idea by visiting the link above. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) appeals to me for personal reason which I am ever willing to share with you if you are interested. Ask away!

Well, to keep it short and simple, I'd like to extend an invitation to anyone at all who maybe keen to join me in this quest for 2009, as charity runners. Ideas, suggestions, feedbacks & fundraising tips are greatly appreciated too! If you are keen don't hessitate to contact me and we could share ideas on this one.

Wishing all runners out there a great running year ahead in 2009! Keep those muscles working and don't waste em!

Wish me luck!

Rod & Line Magazine September Issue!

2008-09-18T07:18:00.005-07:00

Malcolm & friends featured in Rod & Line Mag, Sept issue... together with their price catch of the day at Taman Negara Kelah Sanctuary. Unfortunately the biggest catch he landed didn't quite get away, but caused his Olympus SW750 to follow it deep down into the rivers of Taman Negara! The program they went on was a Catch & Release package which was recently introduced as a new eco-tourism activity at Taman Negara Pahang.

For more info: Grab a copy of the September Issue out now!

MBians stormed over Kapas Island!

2008-09-18T07:18:00.004-07:00

Had a department trip, gracefully sponsored by my Dept. Head. We stormed Kapas Island on 9th - 10th August for some sun, sea, surf and fun!

That's where we are staying dudes!

The beach where we had 2 days of relaxing fun in the sun!

Yours trully going out for some snorkelling in crystal clear waters!

Squid fishing @ Pangkor

2008-09-18T07:18:00.002-07:00

June gone! July thankfully gone too! Reason to cheers!! Let's drink to the passing of the two busiest months at work so far. I need to rejuvenate...

Headed to Pangkor Island again for my dear & my Dad's favourite past time... fishing... specifically squid fishing... Brought my housemates & class-mate to share the experience as well! Diveyak was out at sea again with 3 stooges (Dad, Malcolm & Wan) hunting for squids.

After a day's hard work at sea, everybody sat down to a nice seafood dinner at The Horizon Inn restaurant.

Here you have three baked pretty ladies!

And a very tired Malcolm!
Cmon... gimme a smile please, eventhough I know you didn't caught as many squids as you would like to!

The buzz at work overflow to July

2008-09-18T07:18:00.001-07:00

Trainings, got elected to become a Social committee member at work, trade exhibitions committees, new employees orientation training, Company performance planning & team building at Guoman PD, seminars again & more meetings.... Sure hope this is just a passing phase at work. My 4th month at work and already missing the 1st 2 leisurely months. Being a newbie here sure gets you involved in a whole range of stuffs besides lab research... Here at my company I think they tend believe that getting the newbies totally involved in whatever events there is... Learning... a bit a bit laa.... progress & personal development... too early to tell!

My collegues at our team building session at Guoman PD.

On a personal note, July was a month to celebrate my little brother's commencement ceremony in NUS, Singapore! Congrats lil' bro! I am pround of you! Now, finally I can get free medical advice on prescribed medicines.. haha...

Siemens Run was the only sports I did for this month! Sad but true!

As June buzzes by...

2008-09-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

The month of June flew by in a buzz.

Stuffs and events related to work was building up momentum. First we had our company R&D Day at Carey Island, then there was the Sime Darby R&D Centre - NUS Bilateral Symposium (which yours truly was emceeing for the first time in my entire 28 years of life! The crowd of slightly more than 60 freaked me out but things turned out alright in the end!), technical meetings, project metings, staff meetings, "future projects" meetings, field sampling excursions (read: masuk plantation!), seminars, meetings on how to design labs, collaboration meetings & more seminars. Boy, have I got the hang of working life or what now?

On the brighter note, still managed to fit in a few events that was non-work related stuffs... there was the Treasure Hunt which we won! And my 4th year anniversary being "a couple" with my MY. We celebrated the occassion at Genji @ PJ Hilton. Hmnnn... our all time favourite... sushis & sashimis! Check out the food that we both are so in love with...

Sadly gotta miss the family trip with Dad, Mum & SG to Chiang Mai, Kenyir & Redang though! Must have missed a great deal of nice pictures, if only I went! :-(

TM Challenge: Shah Alam - Bagan Lallang

2008-06-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Date: 15 June 2008

Starting point: TM Building in Shah Alam
Ending point: Seri Malaysia Hotel, Bagan Lallang

TheBabyKangaroo joined Team Iron Mountain (M) for this treasure hunt challenge.

3 first timers on the team but lucky enough to emerge top 7th position among 50 over teams

So confident that we even had time to pit-stop for lunch...

Everybody goes home happy!

See what we got....

The vehicle and crazy driver who got us to finish line in time!

Relay for Life 2008

2008-06-24T07:51:00.000-07:00

Venue: Bukit Jalil
Organiser: National Cancer Society of Malaysia
Date: 31 May 2008 (6pm) to 1 June 2008 (9am)

Teams of friends who supported the charity event to raise funds for cancer awareness:
1) OutdoorXplorer (Chui Miew, Kam Meng, Boon Keat, Yoyo, Siew Leng, Choon Hoong, Wan Lin, Phyllis, Joey, Steven Khoo)
2) UPM Badminton Gang & friends (Wan, Bee Tein, Seven, Ginny, Yi Ying, Shang Jye, Malcolm, Peng Kiong)

Event grounds @ Bt. Jalil stadium

Team UPM base camp
Opening parade Part of team OX
Relay for life - walk in progress. Celebrities presence at Relay for Life

Team OX and Team UPM Badminton Gang Luminaria lanterns

Luminaria lanterns carrying supportive messages, memories, fighting spirits of cancer survivors lighting the path around the stadium

In memories of theBabyKangaroo's friends who lost their battle to cancer!

On 1 June 2008, just before the end of Relay for Life, team OX put themselves to the test against corporate teams such as MOX and emerge 1st-runner up for the 4 x 100m team relay...

Go Team!

RMAF Half Marathon 2008

2008-06-24T07:15:00.000-07:00

Venue: Sg. Besi air field

Photos taken courtesy of Ng Sze Guan (FYI, that's theBabyKangaroo's little brother)

Warming up styles... Stretch any way you like!
Malcolm, Ah Seng & Peng Kiong

TheBabyKangaroo (using Veteran Man number?) & Lee Lee (look out for this girl at next race!)

After all runners on the route...

Getting ready to receive top runners back...

TheBabyKangaroo is first back... sorry no medals... just for fun run only coz not fair lar... take Veteran uncle medal... hehe...

Cikgu Low fastest again... among veterans!

Peng Kiong on Cikgu Low's heels...

Chase like mad still no. 120... sigh!

Chong Wah from OX. Still maintaining your form fren!

Uncle Chow... form not bad for Veteran!

Upcoming potential racer... boh kiasi.... sprain ankle also run 21km... kau lat!

Finally sweeper for the group...

Bye bye... see you next race around!

Wonders of nature abound in Taman Negara Pahang

2008-06-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

My favs snapshots of man and nature during my recent leisure trip to Taman Negara Pahang in May 2008.

Gingers of Malaysia...

How long does it take to grow this "old" and be worthy of preservation?

Twist and twirll...

Waiting at jetty to embark on visit to Kelah Conservation Sanctuary

Sit back and relax ...

Shoot all you want with the cams but nothing else. These guys are protected-lar!

Jerry briefing us on the efforts taken to conserve the kelah's in the river wild...

Having a cuppa in a canteen in the middle of the jungle? Comfort redefined... campsites are available just around the corner... river view a plenty while you enjoy your cuppa!

Think big... think really BIG! These leaves are large enough to wrap a man (6 footer man mind you!)

Hong Kong short tour 10 - 13 April 2008

2008-06-07T04:53:00.000-07:00

Took a short trip with my mum to Hong Kong. Malcolm was stationed in Hong Kong, New Territory at Tuen Mun for work for slightly over a month back in March - April.

Below are some info of itinerary for our trip:

10th April 2008:

- Touch down at Macau International Airport via Air Asia from KL LCCT (3hr 45min flight).

- Headed to ferry terminal and transfer to Hong Kong via New World ferry (1 hour)

- Arrived at Tsim Tsa Tsui ferry terminal and transport to Tuen Mun MTR station (New Territory).

- Taxi to Hong Kong Gold Coast apartment.

11th April 2008:

- Visit to Madamme Tussauds HK, Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram, Lan Kwai Fong, Star ferry from HK island to Kowloon, Victoria Bay, Gallery of Star walk

12th April 2008:

- Visit to Lantau Island and shopping at warehouse emporium, Big Buddha statue, Times Square HK, tram ride, Ladies Street, Sports Shoe Street.

13 April 2008:

- Dim sum at Tsim Tsa Tsui, ferry back to Macau.

Pic taken at Lantau Island with mum

Kangaroo spotted back at running events!

2008-06-07T04:13:00.000-07:00

The GE 30km run started off my running calendar for 2008.. and I made it into a total disastrous comeback. Big, BIG mistake to begin the year with such a big bang overdistance event. I've since decided to stick to under distance events (read below 21km) for the time being... at least until the form is back!

30th March 2008 - KL International Marathon, 10km

27th April 2008 - New Balance Klang Pacers Half Marathon, 10km

25th May 2008 - RMAF Half Marathon, 10km

31st May - 1st June 2008 - Relay For Life KL - 16 hour relay

And the medal tally....

KLIM - 1, NBKPHM - 1, RMAF - nil (took part in Men's category), RFLKL - 1 from 4x100m relay with Team OX.

World's Highest Via Ferrata in Malaysia!

2008-03-06T23:57:00.000-08:00

MOUNTAIN TORQ... the world's highest and South East Asia's first via ferrata is on Mount Kinabalu, Malaysia!

There's a new sport in town. Something less demanding than rock climbing and a little more challenging than mountian hiking. Via ferrata!

OFFICE

Adventure Factors Mountaineering Centre Sdn Bhd

Lot 126, 1st. Floor, Wisma Sabah, Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

T +60 88 268 126

F +60 88 269 126

enquiry@mountaintorq.com

A speech that reaches way further than just the ears....

2008-02-27T16:41:00.000-08:00

This excerpt was picked from an email I received... I find it special therefore here I am sharing it with the wider world out there... Maybe all of us do need speeches like this once in a while, during some point of our life... Read on...

This was a speech made by Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Anna Quindlen at the graduation ceremony of an American university where she was awarded an Honorary PhD.

'I'm a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know. Don't Ever confuse the two, your life and your work. You will walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree: there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life.Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on a bus,or in a car, or at the computer. Not just the life of your mind, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank accounts but also your soul. People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is cold comfort on a winter's night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've received your test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume:
I am a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my work stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the centre of the universe. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say. I am a good friend to my friends and they to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cut out. But I call them on the phone, and I meet them for lunch. I would be rotten, at best mediocre at my job if those other things were not true. You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are.

So here's what I wanted to tell you today:
Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger pay cheque, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast?

Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze at the seaside, a life in which you stop and watch how ared-tailed hawk circles over the water, or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a sweet with her thumb and first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Pick up the phone. Send an email. Write a letter. Get a life in which you are generous. And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Take money you would have spent on beer and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister. All of you want to do well. But if you do not do good too, then doing well will never be enough. It is so easy to waste our lives, our days, our hours, and our minutes. It is so easy to take for granted the color of our kids' eyes, the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again.

It is so easy to exist instead of to live. I learned to live many years ago. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good in the world and try to give some of it back because I believed in it, completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned.

By telling them this:
Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in the back yard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness, because if you do, you will live it with joy and passion as it ought to be lived'.

Test Subject 001 - Diveyak by Sevylor

2008-02-26T22:37:00.000-08:00

Those of you who know this Baby Kangaroo will know the limited amount of experience I have with water-based activities. Yeah, have probably done a bit of swimming, kayaking, jet-skiing, white water rafting and that's about it! Diving is one sport which have yet to make it's mark into my water-based activities list.

Nevertheless, somewhere in the beginning of 2008, I had the opportunity to test out the Diveyak ST6699 by Sevylor. For those of you who wonder what exactly is a Diveyak... here goes...

This is my description:

Sit-on top, inflatable kayak made for divers.

Anyway it's really a great piece of diving gear to have. The diveyak is nice and wide and sits very well in the water, great in calm situations. Not too sure about choppy seas though. The day we brought it to test at Pangkor Island, the area we were paddling did experience some rather strong undercurrent. Paddling was rather difficult... but not too sure if it was because we overloaded the 2-seater Diveyak with 4 pax or it was because 3 pax was sitting on the kayak on top of it being heavily loaded with fishing gears there was another dude hanging on to the tail end and snorkelling along.

Anyway... to cut a long review short... here are the final scores:

Performance: Good

Appearance: Good

Quality: Good

Ease of use: Good

Value for money: Ok (Not sure how tough and lasting the materials will be)

Record breaking feat at 2008 GE 30km

2008-02-03T23:21:00.000-08:00

Record breaking feat, yes... but not those which become the proudest moments in some athletes racing achievement! The GE 30km held at Taman Tasik Perdana, KL on 20th January 2008 marks the brand new racing year for 2008.

Yours trully here looking for the next tree to run to...

Scoring a timing of pass 4 hours definately made me review my options for the upcoming KLIM 2008. The lack of training would definately call for a switch of category from the full to the half, which means I will have to pick another event to pursue my full marathon for 2008!

The efforts to complete the total 30km was hampered by two busted knees; one at the 15km and the other pass 20km mark. I had great encouragement from my significant other from 20km all the way to the finishing point! For that I only have two words for my dear Malcolm "Thank You"! Thank you for sharing the embarassing moments with me when we cross the finishing line after taking ages to complete the race and for towing me all the way back despite my constant thoughts of taking the ambulance!

Here are some pics which my dear Malcolm snapped along the route. Next time it'll be my turn to carry the camera okay... ! Then I won't have to publish pics of myself looking all tired out and sweaty!

We met Leong here... boy I was tempted to grab his number (for 20km category) and make a dash for the 20km instead of the 30km...

Then along came the top 30km runners from our Serdang running group, PK and Teacher.

Poor Malcolm was accused of "paktoh-ing" on the route instead of serious racing when he stopped to snap this picture, of course yours trully was just a step behind him as he was doing so.

Thomas, another 20km runner on his route back!

Yong and Uncle Chow, the veterans on the 30km route... somewhere pass the Hartamas U-turn... hmnnn.. looks like everybody have a running partner eh!

And finally along came yours trully ...

Next race: KLIM 2008 Half Marathon - Aim is to complete the 21km within 2.5 hours. Achievable? We shall see!

A Quickie On Tabur Hills - My Last Hike for 2007!

2008-02-03T20:08:00.000-08:00

Tabur Hills (Bukit Tabur) also inaccurately known as Bukit Melawati by some local hikers (you guess it right!), is located near Taman Melawati, almost 20km from the city centre. The Klang Gates Ridges were gazetted as a wildlife sanctuary back in 1936. This quartz ridge was recently gazetted as the longest quartz ridge in the world, measuring 16 kms long and 200 metres wide. It is also recognized as the world's single largest quartz dyke. Recently, local authorities recognizing the need to preserve such a unique piece of national treasure had included the ridge as part of the Selangor Heritage Park established in 2005.

Located at the fringe of the city, Bukit Tabur commands a spectacular view of both the city skyline and the water catchments area of the Klang Gates Dam, making it an ideal place for a short breakaway.

If catching the essence of a sunrise is in your agenda, be sure to be there early... Otherwise when the sun is higher, you may risk developing overexposed shots as most parts of the ridge are exposed!

How To get There: Head for Taman Melawati, entering from the junction of Jalan Genting Kelang-Middle Ring Road or the “main” entrance near Zoo Negara. Continue until you reach the Bulatan Mas roundabout and take the Klang Gates Dam turning. The narrow road will lead to the Recreation Garden. There is a small trail leading to the ridge’s summit. It is advisable to get an entry permit from the Pejabat Hutan Daerah Selangor Tengah before reporting the trip to the nearby police station.

Some quick bytes I took on my recent hike. I wouldn't claim it's the picture perfect way to show this national treasure to the world though... but enjoy it anyhow. Promise there will be better shots next time! Stay tune!

Be prepared to use all four limbs on certain parts of the route! Malcolm unexpectedly posing as my model hiker for this shot.

And on certain parts of the more challenging stretches, it's a near vertical climb! This is a shot of PK as he tackles the vertical limits!

And more action as both of my male models for the day compete for the best cliff-hanger photo award!

And at the end of the ridge, the terrain changes from pure rocky cliffs to one which is more sheltered.

Counting down to my Mount Kinabalu XPDC

2006-05-01T18:38:00.000-07:00

In about 3 days plus 15hours more, I'll be on my way to visit the highest peak in Southeast Asia. Actually I should say revisiting the peak. My first encounter with the majestic mountain was way back in March 2003 where I had enjoyed my maiden trip to the 3rd largest island in the world, Borneo. Sabah, being known as the "Land Below The Wind" lies on the northern part of this island and did you know that Sabah got the name above as it lies just below the typhoon belt.

Sabah had given me many wonderful memories and what strikes me most was the friendly and laidback nature of the way local folks carried out their lives over there. Laidback and relax but not unprogressive. And as for friendliness, warmth and hospitality, at least to visiting tourists, I'd say Sabah scored high on my list. Way to go for a tourism boon factor! Isn't the Sabah government lucky to have such human factor as plus points for their tourism industry.

The Word on Love - Forever and eternity!

2006-04-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

"Money is nothing if you do not have someone you love to share it with." How true is that saying? We've got to ask those in love and of course with loaded pockets. But what is love if you do not have someone you love to share it with? So I'd like to come up with my own quote:

"Love is nothing if you do not have someone you love to share it with."
It will then only be interpreted as an adjective... a word that means no more to those who have yet to experience it! Who would deny, with love, one tends to associate words such as always and forever. But is there such thing as always and forever? In our subconscious world, perhaps love will remain forever, and it is possible for someone to always love you or for you to always love someone. In reality, things are normally much more complicated! Time and the world around is constantly changing and therefore declarations such as "I love you forever" and "I'll always love you" is only possible momentarily. The impact is shared between two and felt on the spur of the moment but as time passes, it will then only remain a fraction of the many passing moments that life brings us. Cherish such emotions, and keep them with you forever, but it is only within a place, deep in our souls that such precious joys are kept. Let it be then, for love to live on till eternity deep in our hearts!

7 Laps of 272 step

2006-04-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

Steps climbing training at Batu Caves. Up and down and up and down and again. There we were doing the laps of the 272 steps of the Batu Caves temple as part of our training for climbing Mt Kinabalu. Rather nice place for a Saturday morning workout, as the sun never gets to you and you get your fair share of cool breeze when half way up! Would be nice to do it once more, but perhaps with a loaded backpack, it would give more impact on the training. Hey, I get to burn quite a few calories for an hours workout, so why not?

EMA Syndrome

2006-04-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

I'm suffering from excruciating EMA syndrome! What syndrome? EMA - Extreme Muscle Aches syndrome! Got that after my recent hike to Gunung Datuk in N9. It's already 3 days post hiking and by right my muscles should have recovered well by today, but heck no! Must be experiencing some delay effects!

Signs and symptoms of EMA:
1) Normally would experience difficulty in controlling leg motion
2) May experience weakening of thigh and calf muscles
3) Extreme pain when bending the legs, walking, going down stairs, going to the loo (especially in the squatting position)
4) Massaging would invoke extreme pains in affected areas

Anyone with advice on how to overcome and relieve these symptoms can kindly email me!

Grandfather's Hill ... easy hike!

2006-04-16T18:14:00.000-07:00

GUNUNG DATUK, REMBAU DISTRICT, SEREMBAN

16 APRIL 2006

A group of 7 person (2 guys and 5 gals) all training for a Mt. Kinabalu trip in May 2006 made a visit to Gunung Datuk on this particular Sunday morning. More than half of the group were first timers therefore it took almost 2 hours for the ascend and the final assault on the rock surface proved just too much for some beginners. When one have been doing this sport for some time, it becomes almost second nature and it is so easy for me to overlook that the challenges at hand could become such daunting tasks! The near vertical ladders proved too much for some and they decided to forgo the last section. Perhaps next trip around they would have overcome their fear and will eventually make it to the top! Some took a longer than usual amount of time hanging on to the ladders before finally became relaxed enough to overcome the initial fear and made it to the top! Guess everyone learned a thing or two about themselves that day. For those who overcome their fear and made it safely top and return, I hope this will be a good beginning for them. While those who have yet to get pass the comfort barrier and gave up this time, try again next trip! Fear is something that we should learn to conquer. Either conquer it or be conquered! Chewah... sounds like some Fear Factor advertisement pulak! And as for me, I guess I made my speediest mountain descent ever attempted. My PR for G. Datuk would now stand at 35minutes descent from summit campsite. Almost non-stop running down the mountain.

Mountain Info:

Where: Rembau, Negeri Sembilan

Height: 870m / 2900ft

The Trek: The trail is really straightforward as there's one clear path leading all the way to the peak. It's well-trodden and pretty wide, so trekkers should not get lost nor get tangled with thorny plants. The best part of the trek is at the peak. There is no beirut, nor muddy ground, nor tall trees and bushy shrubs to block one's view. Formed by several gigantic granite boulders (that's really not the word coz they are much bigger than what the word suggests), the area around the peak is spacious. Whoever braves the few rungs of metal ladders and sits at the peak will be offered a 360-degree view. On a clear day, one can see the Seremban town and as far as the Straits of Malacca. Once at the top, be prepared for for some of the strongest winds on an open mountain top. After the walk up, sitting with the strong cool winds blowing in you face is truly a refreshing experience.

How to get there: Gunung Datuk is about 1½ hours drive from KL. To go there, get onto the North-South Expressway and head South for Rembau, Negeri Sembilan. Take Exit 223 (Pedas/Linggi). Immediately after the toll, take a left turn at the T-junction. Go all the way along the road until you reach a round-about. If you follow the signboards along the way, you will be directed to take the 12 o'clock exit to Pedas town. However, a much shorter and quicker route is to take the 3-o'clock exit (you'll by-pass Pedas). Continue along the road until you come to the traffic lights at the end of the road. Take a right turn. Keep going forward (you will soon pass another set of traffic lights) until you see a signboad indicating a left turn to Gunung Datuk. Take the left turn and move on for about About 4km. There will be a junction to the left. This road goes through a rubber estate. Not long along the road, there is a fork; take the left turn. Go all the way and you'll come to Gunung Datuk's base camp.

Fees and Registration: As of August 1, 2003, the District Office of Rembau has given authority to the Kampung people to collect fees to maintain the chalets and cleanliness of the area. Among the items and sevices that they charge included that of chalets, guidesm canopy rental, chairs, rubber tapping, trekking permit, issuance of trekking certificate, and P.A. system.
The only fees we are aware of are:
Trekking Permit
RM1.00 per person
PermitCamp Site
RM3.00 per tent

My new past time

2006-04-14T04:11:00.000-07:00

This will be the beginning of my blogging world! Stay tune!